For many, owning a business is a symbol of the American dream.
It can be exciting to imagine becoming your own boss, working for yourself and offering employment to others – all helping build financial security for your family and community.
Building a successful business requires a solid plan and lots of help along the way, however, and many budding entrepreneurs soon discover that having a great idea is just the beginning of their small business journey.
Mikal Quarles, head of community business strategies for Chase Business Banking, shares tips for setting up a small business, what to do, what not to do, and what to watch out for when starting your entrepreneurship journey.
1. Before even starting your small business, what are the top considerations for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Entrepreneurs run the gamut from someone with a side gig, to someone jumping into the deep end with a
No community is complete without successful small businesses and entrepreneurs. JPMorgan Chase is committed to helping businesses of all sizes at every stage of maturity achieve their financial goals. Our teams offer global capabilities and specialized expertise, all delivered locally to position your business for long-term success. Learn about our programs for minority entrepreneurs at: chase.com/businessconsultant
business acquisition. Here are a few things that I feel apply to any entrepreneur:
• Passion does not convert to currency but value does. Make sure to confirm there is a demand for what you are interested in doing and a need that hasn’t been met.
• Everyone doesn’t want to be a CEO. Some entrepreneurs like the freedom of being paid for services rendered. We need to create different swim lanes so business owners understand their journey and how to create milestones along the way.
• Your credit is the business’ credit. There is no other place else to look to gain understanding on how business responsibilities will be managed.
• There is so much support out there, don’t take this journey by yourself. Join an industry association, chamber or other resource group. Connect with others having similar challenges and remember that “Iron Sharpens Iron.”
2. Where should entrepreneurs begin to make their small business idea a reality?
Deciding to start a small business can be an exciting time. Aspiring entrepreneurs should set themselves up for success by having a solid plan before taking the leap. A good business plan proves your idea is viable and helps you set important goals that reduce risks and avoid potential pitfalls. Here are some questions you should ask yourself before you get started:
• Why do I want to start this business? What’s my reasoning or inspiration?
• How does my business stand out from the competition?
• What is my unique value proposition?
• Who are my target customers? How can I reach them?
• Who is already on my management team? What gaps do I need to fill?
• How can my business make a profit? How soon will it break even?
When I moved my family from Chicago to Los Angeles I couldn’t get to my mailbox without turning on my GPS. Just think of your business plan as your GPS.
3. What are some pitfalls for entrepreneurs and small business owners to avoid when starting their business?
There are many pitfalls that entrepreneurs can get caught in when starting a business. The most common reasons businesses fail are due to lack of capital, lack of market impact or need,
unresearched pricing (too high or low), explosive growth that drains your capital and stiff competition. To avoid these, you should have a plan to navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and a team of trusted advisors to provide expertise. All business owners should have a CPA/ bookkeeper, attorney, insurance broker and a business banker they can rely on. Lastly, pivot when you see the markets have changed.
4. How can small businesses prepare for future growth?
We have talked a lot about planning but the best way to prepare for future growth is to plan for it. Growth can happen organically, through strategic partnerships or acquisitions, or through increased marketing efforts but usually doesn’t happen by accident. You have to be intentional about your growth plans for your business and take the steps to set you and your business up properly for success. Part of planning for growth is securing the capital you need to fuel the growth when you are ready. Often that means securing financing when you don’t need it so you have access to it when you do. But don’t forget the most critical aspect of growth…your people. Surround yourself with people that are smarter than you and trust that as you expand they will prove it
5. What are some of the resources available to help support aspiring and current small business owners with their business needs?
There are a lot of resources – both in person and online – a business owner can tap into to help them understand trends and to see around corners. For example, business owners can head to Chase.com/Business to see a range of free articles, courses and tools that gear business owners with everything they need to help start, run and grow their business. I also lead a consulting program for entrepreneurs, where business owners can receive one-on-one coaching from an experienced senior business consultant. We now offer the program in 21 U.S. cities and have mentored over 5,000 minority business owners since 2021.
Launching your business can be the first step toward a bright financial future, but all entrepreneurs need a great team and a great plan to make that success possible.
If you’re hoping to start your own business, start planning today, and don’t hesitate to reach out to your local financial institution to get the help you need to make it happen.
For the last four years the AFRO has been hosting their Black Business Matters Expo, where they’ve highlighted national and local organizations while also providing attendees with business savvy tips, resources and expertise.
On Thursday, May 30, from 4 P.M. to 7 P.M. EST, AFRO friends and family are welcomed to join Maryland’s oldest Black owned business for an evening of enriching insight and must-have business knowledge.
AFRO Executive Director Lenora Howze spoke on the importance of Black business owners working together to close the racial wealth gap.
“Other cultures have done a better job than we have in keeping and circulating their dollars within their communities. When it comes down to it, we’re all we have,” said Howze. “If we don’t support us, we can’t rely on other communities to do so. We have to create generational wealth
to build a solid foundation for our families and community.”
This year’s event is focused on celebrating and uplifting small Black owned businesses and all that they bring to our communities. Along with celebrating small Black-owned businesses, a series of
on Small Black-owned businesses who have their own unique set of challenges. Several community leaders are scheduled to speak during the event including Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman, Special Secretary of Small,
“When it comes down to it, we’re all we have. If we don’t support us, we can’t rely on other communities to do so. We have to create generational wealth to build a solid foundation for our families and community.”
speakers and one-on-one interviews will be happening with industry experts and emerging entrepreneurs.
“Since its inception in 2020, it’s always been our goal to have the Black Business Matters Expo be a platform to uplift, educate, and encourage Black businesses,” explained Howze. “With May being national ‘Small Business Month,’ we thought it was fitting to specifically focus
Minority and Women Business Affairs
Yolanda Maria Martinez along with a variety of notable Black business figures.
In addition to this guests, can expect to be dazzled by musical performances from Elyscia, a contestant from season 25 of NBC’s singing competition, “The Voice ‘’ and the Morgan State University Choir. The event is taking place online, and the 131 year old publication is bringing
the expo to viewers all across the world using the groundbreaking platform, STEM City. Virtual attendees can anticipate indepth workshops and interactive activities that are designed to help business owners further their knowledge and network of resources.
“Just as in previous years, we will offer a host of virtual workshops and sessions to help Black-owned businesses and those looking to start a business, grow and thrive. Some of the session topics include: 3rd Eye View: Removing The Blinders In Business; Championing Black Business Growth & Empowerment and The Need to Create A Pipeline for Black Executive Leadership & Opportunities.”
The AFRO is proud to present this event to you with the support of the following sponsors: JPMorgan Chase; United Bank; TEDCO; United Way of Central Maryland; Giant; Security Plus Federal Credit Union; PNC Bank and Live Casino and Hotel.
Tickets for this event are available for free online at AFROtix.live.
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the U.S. population, they own just about 3 percent of the country’s businesses. In comparison, White entrepreneurs own 85 percent of companies– even though their share of the population is about 60 percent.
Nevertheless, according to a Pew Research Center analysis, Black businesses are on the rise– and they’re making more money. The center reported that there were 161,031 Blackowned businesses in the U.S. as of 2021, up from 124,004 in 2017. During this time period, Black business owners revenue grew from nearly $127.9 billion to $183.3 billion, a 43 percent increase.
Anne-Marie Knight, executive director for the Black Business Alliance (BBA), said this progress is limited.
“The state of Black business is fluctuating. There’s been growth in Black business over the years, and in particular, growth in Black woman-owned businesses,” said Knight. “But, we are still not succeeding in certain areas.”
Knight has led the BBA since 2020, bringing years of experience in consulting and entrepreneurship. The Connecticut-based organization works to empower, promote, and grow small and medium Black small businesses by providing education, funding and capacity-building.
As far as who can step in to reduce these divides, Knight urged the Black community to look inward. According to the McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility, African-American buying power is expected to hit $1.7 trillion by 2030.
Knight thinks Black people should prioritize spending with businesses from their community. Black businesses should view each other as allies rather than competitors.
“These systems haven’t worked for us for hundreds of years. They’re not designed to work for us. Part of what we can do is take control of our actions,” said Knight. We can agree to network amongst ourselves, support each other, build our businesses by doing business with each other first and spend our money with Black-owned businesses first.”
Anne-Marie Knight is the executive director of the Black Business Alliance, an organization focused on empowering, educating and growing Black businesses. She has also been an entrepreneur for more than 20 years.
“We don’t have enough small Black businesses that have employees and are successful to be able to make that big of a difference for our economic wealth,” said Knight. “Our businesses are primarily in the service space. We’re salon owners or in retail or restaurants, we’re not in some
“Having stable and growing Black-owned businesses is a solution for our community.”
of these high-yield business areas, which are better for building wealth.”
After the 2020 murder of George Floyd and subsequent racial reckoning, a number of U.S. companies made racial equity promises that included commitments to closing the racial wealth gap. A main component of these pledges was expanding capital access for Black and Brown businesses.
Knight thinks these actions have helped, but funding remains sparse.
“Though the spotlight has been shone on capital issues, and we’re starting to address them, we still have a long way to go,” said Knight. “We’re still at the 1 percent mark for venture capital funds.”
As entrepreneurship is considered a common path for wealth creation, Knight said it can help to close the racial wealth divide. She also thinks running a business has become more than a means of supporting a family for Black people. It’s a way to create lasting impact in their communities.
“Having stable and growing Black-owned businesses is a solution for our community,” said Knight. “If we’re going to close that gap, we have to increase not just the number of Black-owned businesses but their capacity to grow six- to seven-figure businesses in their communities.”
Megan Sayles is a Report for America corps member.
This month marked the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board decision, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled school segregation as unconstitutional. It is no surprise we’ve yet to achieve the full vision of Brown v. Board. However, scars borne from Brown are healing thanks to education freedom.
As a longtime advocate for school choice, I’ve seen firsthand the lingering impact of well-intended but flawed policies. Brown’s mandate for desegregation stripped away much of the Black leadership in our schools. Thousands of Black teachers and administrators who were pillars in their communities found themselves without classrooms or were demoted. This loss was profound, affecting more than just those educators; it disrupted the mentorship and representation that is critical for young Black students.
Today, there have been a number of research studies that speak to the benefits of Black teachers for Black students.
Growing up, I saw the impacts of having Black leadership in my community.
Teachers who looked like me, who could share in my experiences and understand my
challenges, were rare. I struggled in my traditional public school. But then I went from making D’s and F’s to A’s and B’s because of a Blackfounded private school I was able to attend on a school choice scholarship.
This isn’t just my story, but a common thread in the narratives of many Black families, where schools often feel punitive rather than like places of learning and growth. This is why I am so passionate about school choice today. It’s more than just a policy preference—it’s a lifeline. It’s about putting the power back into the hands of parents and communities to choose schools that not only offer high academic standards but also embrace and reflect our cultural heritage. School choice is helping us rebuild what was lost over decades.
In 2020 I founded Black Minds Matter, where we maintain the only directory of Black founded schools in the country. To date we have more than 500 schools in the directory led by Black school leaders who are changing students’ lives.
I’m proud to be an advocate of a growing movement of Black school founders who are rising up and creating spaces where our children are not just
Denisha Allen is senior fellow at the American Federation for Children and Founder of Black Minds Matter.
seen and heard, but where they thrive. We’re not just filling gaps; we’re constructing new pathways of success that resonate with our community’s needs and aspirations. Every day, I witness talented educators determined to make a difference. I am inspired by the resilience of our communities and the drive that our children deserve the best.
School choice has given Black education entrepreneurs the opportunity to lead by example again—to show that schools can be more than just places of learning. They can be safe havens that celebrate our identity and empower our children. In these schools, our students see leaders who look like them, who share their
Those who argue against former President Donald Trump’s conviction on any of the criminal charges against him often argue that this will have a chilling effect on future presidents and their ability and willingness to make the hard decisions that a head of state is called upon to make. He himself has maintained that a president is immune from prosecution for anything he does while in office—even if it is in violation of an existing law.
I’m neither a constitutional scholar nor a lawyer, but I did serve in government for half a century, twenty years in the U.S. Army and thirty years as an American diplomat, and from my point of view as someone who raised his hand and swore
to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, I have a completely different take on the issue.
I must say, first of all, that I strongly support the American justice tradition that a person is innocent until proven guilty, but if a jury of his or her peers determines that a crime was committed and the evidence shows that the person indicted is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, that person should not only be formally convicted, but should be sentenced according to the law. And, that includes former presidents.
Why do I say this? I take issue with the belief that convicting a president of violating the law will inhibit the ability of future presidents to carry out their duties. One of
their duties is to faithfully carry out the law of the land. It’s in Article II, Section,1, Clause 8 of the Constitution: Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation. “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” In Section 3 of Article II it says that the President shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed. Now, again, I’m no lawyer, but my understanding of these requirements is that this person should NOT be violating the laws which he (or she) is enjoined to take care that they be faithfully be executed. To think otherwise strikes me as playing
“Republicans are the party of Abraham Lincoln, but Black people are stuck on the Democratic plantation.” Please stop saying this. Every time someone makes this argument, an angel in heaven loses a few brain cells.
It’s 2024, and Virginia school board members have voted to put the names of Confederate leaders on two public schools. At the same time, the state’s Republican governor, Glenn Youngkin, has still not signed a Democratic bill passed in February to eliminate tax breaks for the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Meanwhile, in Mississippi, Republican Governor Tate Reeves declared April to be Confederate Heritage Month. In Florida, Republicans are trying to punish local officialswho remove Confederate monuments. And in Texas, Republican Governor Greg Abbott has invoked a Confederate theory of secession to justify violating federal law.
After lecturing Black people to “move on” and stop talking about the legacy of slavery, white Republicans just can’t stop celebrating the racist traitors who lost the Civil War nearly 160 years ago. That’s one of the many reasons why Republicans are no longer the “party of Lincoln.” That party died long ago.
Republican Abraham Lincoln served as president from 1861 until he was assassinated in 1865. For the next 12 years, Republicans led the fight for Reconstruction, creating the Freedman’s Bureau, passing landmark civil rights legislation, and ratifying the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery, the 14th Amendment guaranteeing citizenship to Black people, and the 15th Amendment granting Black men the right to vote.
Then it all ended.
Nearly the entire history of Republican legislative and policy accomplishments for Black people rests on the four long years of the Civil War and the 12 short years of Reconstruction that followed it.
While many noble Black and white Republicans carried on the cause of racial justice for the next century, the Republican Party itself effectively abandoned Black people with the Compromise of 1877 that allowed Republican President Rutherford B. Hayes to take office in exchange for the removal of federal troops that protected African Americans in the South.
In the decades that followed, Republican politicians and judges would enable racist Democrats and Ku Klux Klansmen to terrorize Black communities in the South, drive out Black elected officials, and impose
an oppressive new racial caste system called Jim Crow segregation. In fact, for most of the twentieth century, both parties were openly racist.
It took 100 years after the Civil War for the parties to switch roles when a famous Southern Democrat signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and an Arizona Republican condemned it.
So, when Republicans today claim to be the “party of Lincoln,” they want you to focus on what their party did way back in the 1860s and 1870s but ignore what the same party has done since the 1960s and 1970s.
Some even quote Malcolm X, who rightly condemned both political parties for their racism in a famous speech called “The Ballot or the Bullet.”
But history didn’t end in April 1964, when Malcolm X gave that speech. In the years that followed, Democratic President Lyndon Johnson went on to sign the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968, and he appointed the first Black Supreme Court Justice.
But what have Democrats done for Black people lately?
In the past few decades, the Democratic Party delivered the first Black president, the first Black vice president, the first Black woman on the Supreme Court, and the first Black party chairman in American history.
fast and loose with the meaning of the Constitution.
So, back to the effect of convicting our former president. I say, let the jury see and hear the evidence, let them make their decision, and then respect that decision. What will it achieve? It will send a message to future presidents and their staffs that we are a nation of laws and flaunting the laws will not be tolerated. It will say to the nations of the world who call us hypocrites when we call them on their violations of and disrespect for the rule of law that we are quite serious in our belief that no one is above the law.
I see this as a benefit to our system of government and our status in the world.
To see it any other way makes me fearful for the health of our democracy, and makes me
Democrat Barack Obama signed a federal hate crimes law in 2009 after a Black man named James Byrd was murdered by three white supremacists in Texas. And the last major civil rights bill, the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, was passed by a Democratic Congress and signed by Democratic President Joe Biden in 2022. That’s how far the party has moved from its racist history.
And that’s why no Democratic candidate for president has won the white vote since 1964. Not Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, or Joe Biden.
At the same time, the Republican Party has moved in the other direction, adopting a notorious “Southern strategy” that evolved from loudly using the N-word to quietly deploying “tax cuts” to appeal to white racial resentment. Today’s Republicans love to brag that the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed by a bipartisan margin, but it was a Republican Supreme Court that gutted the Voting Rights Act in 2013, and since that time, Republicans have been blocking every effort to renew the very law that they love to take credit for.
How else do we know the parties switched roles? Because Republicans love the racist Southern Democrats of yesterday. Fifty years after Strom Thurmond bolted from the
wonder what it was I spent half a century of my life sacrificing for. The Founding Fathers were not perfect, but they were wise, and I don’t think we should twist the meaning of their words to suit the whim of one man, or even one group of men who wish to avoid taking responsibility for their deeds. There is nothing in the Constitution that says a president cannot be held accountable for breaking the law. There is nothing in the Constitution that says any citizen cannot be held accountable for breaking the law, and we assume then that when a citizen breaks the law, there will be accountability. The Constitution requires that the president be a citizen.
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Charles A. Ray is a veteran of the world of foreign affairs. He served 20 years in the U.S. Army and 30 years in the U.S. Foreign Service, with assignments as U.S. ambassador to Cambodia and Zimbabwe. He has also served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for Prisoners of War and Missing Personnel Affairs.
Democratic Party to run for president as a segregationist, Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott openly embraced him.
And when Obama tried to remove racist Southern Democrat Andrew Jackson from the $20 bill, it was Trump who reversed him. In fact, two of Donald Trump’s first official acts as president were to hang a portrait of Jackson in the Oval Office and to visitJackson’s Tennessee slave plantation.
Why would a 21st-century Republican president show so much love for a 19th-century racist Democrat?
It’s the same reason why Trump vetoed a national defense bill so he could preserve a Confederate general’s name on a military base in North Carolina.
And why Republicans in 2023 fought to protect a Confederate Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.
The party of Abraham Lincoln, who once appealed to “the better angels of our nature” and fought the Civil War to preserve the American union, is dead. The party of Donald Trump, who appeals to the worst demons of our disposition, and seeks to destroy the union, is alive and kicking.
This article was originally published by Word in Black.
“Black Vote, Black Power,” a collaboration between Keith
Keith Boykin is a New York Times–bestselling author, television and film producer, and former CNN political commentator. A graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School, Keith served in the White House, co-founded the National Black Justice Coalition, co-hosted the BET talk show “My Two Cents,” and taught at the Institute for Research in African-American Studies at Columbia University in New York. He’s a Lambda Literary Award-winning author and editor of seven books. He lives in Los Angeles.
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In 2023, 25 percent of Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland’s (Live!) supplier spend went to minority business enterprises (MBEs). The dollars amounted to more than $14 million.
This year the gaming destination is on track to exceed that figure. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) director Edward Evans projected that supplier spend will rise to $20 million in 2024, reaching somewhere between 29 and 32 percent participation.
“A lot of companies will set a target for minority business participation, and we find that a lot of times it’s just that, a target,” said Evans. “With us, it’s a goal. It’s tied to my performance review. It’s tied to my merit increases. There’s accountability to me and the company to make sure we’re doing the work.”
Every fresh flower found in the casino is supplied by a minority-owned business. MBEs also participate in construction projects, serve as alcohol vendors and contribute to gaming integration.
Evans’ refers to his approach for attracting minority businesses as “100 pennies to a $1.” Rather than pursuing large leaps, he grows participation with smaller, gradual gains. This allows the company to take on MBEs that may have less capacity than larger competitors.
“People tend to aim for big splashes in the minority business arena, whereas we look at every way we can find an MBE to participate with us from a business standpoint,” said Evans. “We meet the company where they are. You can discredit certain companies based on their size and scale, but we find where they fit within our company.”
One of the first steps in preparing
digging into all of your personal business. It’s a vetting process, and it’s painless,” said Evans. “I’m a hand-holder through the process.”
Aside from his MBE goals, Evans is also striving to connect with every historically, Black college and university (HBCU) in the country by this time next year. There are 107. The aim is to introduce Black and Brown students to career opportunities in gaming, as their exposure may be confined to dealer and hospitality positions.
“Although we do see improvement in the minority gaming industry, it still lags behind where it should be. It’s about access.”
for supplier opportunities with Live! is for businesses to become formally registered as minority business enterprises. Evans said the process can seem intimidating or intrusive though that’s not the case.
“It’s not a process where we’re
When you’re starting a business or expanding, when you partner with us, you’ll get local market insight, quick turnaround, and access to a number of creative solutions tailored to help make your venture a success.
“If you don’t know the opportunities are there, then you have limited knowledge, which then restricts your access to an industry that has proven to be very fruitful,” said Evans.
He hopes his efforts will help increase minority representation in the gaming industry’s leadership positions.
“Although we do see improvement in the minority gaming industry, it still lags behind where it should be. It’s about access,” said Evans. “We need people to understand that they have an opportunity to grow with this multibillion dollar industry that is gaming.”
MeganSaylesisaReportforAmerica corpsmember.
The Black Leadership Circle is a local auxiliary group dedicated to providing a safe space for Black leaders in the Baltimore area. The organization is brand new, but they’ve got plans to tackle issues that are decades old. With a focus on uplifting the Black community and protecting the sanctity of Black spaces, the small but mighty group is ready to make their impact. Much like the AFRO, they
“....Black people need to be successful for our ecosystem of work in society to be successful.”
believe that Black businesses matter. This week, founding member Chrissy Thornton spoke to the publication about Black business and the Black Leadership Circle as the AFRO prepared for the fourth annual Black Business Matters Expo.
AFRO: What is the black leadership circle?
Chrissy Thornton: The Black Leadership Circle is not its own entity or organization, I like to call it an auxiliary group. It’s powered by Associated Black Charities. It’s an advisory council right now that will build into general membership. It started as an interest group in September of 2023 and we officially launched in January of 2024.
It sought to serve a couple of different purposes.
The first was to be a safe space for Black leaders in the Greater Baltimore region, to be a trusting, safe, inclusive and progressive space for us to navigate challenges that leaders face–specifically those where we intersect with being leaders of color and Black people.
The second reason we launched this initiative was because we believe that we should be focused on helping to develop a professional pipeline for more Black people, Black career people and Black workers. We want them to ascend into executive leadership positions because when we’re in those positions, we have both the authority and the interest to make sure that other people have career trajectory and opportunity to ascend to advanced positions as well.
The Black Leadership Circle is an outgrowth of our goal to put together a group of people who would walk in alignment. Many of us have individual interests. We are comprised of nonprofit leaders, corporate leaders, business owners and entrepreneurs in the Greater Baltimore region. We have many different interests– in some cases, competing interests–but we are aligned on one thing, and that is that Black people in our region and worldwide should have the opportunity to be successful and to thrive; and that some of the barriers that Black people face can be mitigated with advocacy.
AFRO: Tell us how will this auxiliary group go about moving forward with the mission of supporting a pipeline for leadership positions in the Black profession? Whether that be through a series of events, maybe some programming. What can we anticipate from
importance of the Black Leadership Circle and the work they do for entrepreneurs throughout the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area and beyond.
you guys, especially because you just got your start at the top of the year ?
CT: It’ll be in a number of ways. One of the things that we’re committed to is professional development webinars, we’ve actually already started that series. A month or so ago, we held a webinar on leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) in Black professional spaces. It was well attended, but also a really great learning opportunity to learn about how we can maximize the opportunity that this nuancing technology is presenting. We want to start to close the racial wealth gap, to start building knowledge bases in our community and that we can take advantage of this trend of AI and the way it’s showing up in the workplace. We have one coming up that is all about taxes– federal and state and local taxes–led by one of our auxiliary board members. We will continue to produce content to give Black professionals and others the opportunity to not only learn more about these topics, but also explore them from a lens of how they affect Black people. We also will launch a mentorship program for some of our members who want to reach back into the community and have the capacity and the bandwidth to do so to share their expertise and to share shadowing opportunities, which is really important to us as well.
AFRO: Do you have to work for Associated Black Charities in order to benefit from the
work that the Black Leadership Circle is doing? As somebody who’s on the outside, how can I benefit from this? How can I get involved ?
CT : Oh, absolutely not. In fact, Associated Black Charities is really upholding the operational structure of this group and that’s it. The group itself right now consists of about 36 advisory council members and they represent most of the organizations that we’re familiar with across this region. Many of them are nonprofit organizations, some of them are very high visibility corporate organizations and then we have a number of venture capitalists, and business owners, who are in this region who are also part of the group.
The group is not staffed or for people in relationship with Associated Black Charities, it’s quite the opposite. Associated Black Charities, through my membership, gets the benefit of being a part of this group. There are many things, like our professional development webinar series, that the general public can partake of, and there will be other opportunities that will be member based. We planned to open general membership in April, but we’ve pushed that back a little bit because we want to make sure we get it right.
AFRO: A large part of your mission is aimed at creating change by cultivating an environment of support, sponsorship and alignment , what does that look like to you guys?
CT : I think it looks like having a collective voice. You go to other assemblies of groups of professional people and you see that. Most leaders don’t look like me and when you congregate in a room of leaders who have influence, who have resources and who have authority, they tend to be rooms of older White men. While that has been the status quo for some time, the landscape is starting to shift and change.
We need to make sure that our collective voice not only can push forward change, but can keep our communities at the forefront of that change to make sure that when we’re talking about access we’re considering Black people. Specifically here in Baltimore, it’s so important. Our demographics rely on the fact that Black people need to be successful for our ecosystem of work in society to be successful. There are people in the rooms that are talking about Black people, willing to talk about the challenges our communities face because of structural racism, having the words to use to do so and having the safety to do so.
This story has been edited for clarity
Djam All Naturals is a beauty and homegoods brand that offers a series of products that have been carefully curated with the highest quality of ingredients and materials. Every product has a story behind it and they all give you a look into the life, perspective and interests of Madhyatu Taylor, the founder and CEO of Jam All Naturals. Taylor spoke with the AFRO leading up to their Black Business Matters Expo and explained the inspiration behind her brand, how entrepreneurship has helped create wealth for her community and the new products that customers can anticipate.
“Djam is a lovely combination of my experiences and my passions and interests. It is a combination of my love of high quality products, natural products, world cultures, beautiful people and beautiful things,” Taylor explained. “There’s a story behind each of the Djam offerings. They’re either products that I’ve created and have been using for a while and I’m now sharing them with others, or they’re things that I’ve found through my travels and networking.”
Djam is a natural luxury
brand that prides itself on how meticulous they are in their curation process. Taylor says only the highest quality of ingredients are used with hopes of evoking
“Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and when opportunities present themselves, take advantage of them.”
a feeling of pleasure that is exclusive to Djam All Naturals. And although there are many companies with similar offerings to the small, minority-owned business,Taylor explained that she is sure of Djam’s unique selling factor and appeal.
“Djam is a complement, it’s not a competition,” she stated.
When you have a variety of products that are in high demand and a natural hair oil that sells out before it’s even restocked, you move with a special kind of confidence. But the success didn’t happen overnight. How the company’s
natural hair and scalp oil came to be was explained to the AFRO
“I knew exactly what I wanted and I kept trying until I got it right,” said Taylor.
“This took me five years to develop.”
Having found success with all the products offered, Taylor is eager to drop the next product: herbal teas. With two signature flavors lined up for
release soon.
As business booms and the lineup of products continues to expand, Taylor’s motivation for continuing this business endeavor does as well. The detail-oriented
business woman noted that the determination to use her talents to spread love and joy to others has been one of her greatest reasons for further pursuing Djam All Naturals.
“There are several why’s [that motivate me] one is the determination to use my talents and my gifts to share peace, love and joy with others. This is my passion.
This is what I feel like my purpose is,” said Taylor.
She went on to further explain that her greatest challenge as a business owner has been having the confidence to continue. However, as she is learning how to stay confident in her brand, she encourages all entrepreneurs to put themselves out there and take advantage of all opportunities presented to them.
“My greatest challenge is having the self confidence to just keep it moving. I think lots of people have encouraged me, but whenever you venture into the unknown, or you put yourself out there, it’s an uncomfortable space–but if nothing is ventured, nothing is gained,” stated Taylor.
“Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and when opportunities present themselves, take advantage of them,” she said. “There will be lots of people who come along the way either to encourage or to discourage. Learn to let the negative be filtered out and let the positive enrich you and encourage you.”
As America’s #1 business lender, we’re invested in local economies with over $40 billion in business loans. Our commitment includes providing funding to under-resourced business owners and supporting entrepreneurs with the tools and resources to help them make every move matter.
My teammates work closely with entrepreneurs here in Greater Maryland. We are here to help them start and grow their business, so they can continue to create jobs and keep our community strong.
Janet Currie President, Bank of America Greater Maryland
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In April, employers in the United States added 175,000 jobs, signaling a slower but steady pace of labor market growth. According to the latest Labor Department report, this is the 27th consecutive month the unemployment rate has remained below 4 percent.
The slight uptick in the unemployment rate to 3.9 percent contrasts with previous periods of low unemployment. Notably, the rate has been sustained at historically low levels, comparable to those recorded during low-unemployment periods between 1967 and 1970 and 1951 and 1953.
Following a robust start to the year, April’s job growth represents a cooldown, with the smallest increase in half a year. Average hourly wage growth also moderated to $34.75, up 3.9 percent from the previous year. Despite this, wages have
consistently outpaced inflation since May of the prior year, marking a significant shift after years of lagging behind.
“The great American comeback continues,” stated President Joe Biden in response to the data while emphasizing the creation of over 15 million jobs since he took office. “When I took office, I inherited an economy on the brink, with the worst economic crisis in a century,” he continued.
“Now we are seeing that plan in action, with well over 15 million jobs created since I took office, workingage women employed at a record high rate, wages rising faster than prices, and unemployment below 4 percent for a record 27 months in a row.”
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries echoed Biden’s sentiments and highlighted the positive trends in the job market.
“The April Jobs Report showed another month of consistent job creation by the Biden-Harris
comparable to those recorded during low-unemployment periods between 1967 and 1970 and 1951 and 1953.
administration,” Jeffries stated. “Wages are up, unemployment remains near historic lows, and the American economy is continuing to grow at a steady pace.”
Both leaders acknowledged the ongoing work required to ensure widespread economic prosperity, contrasting their approach with that of congressional Republicans.
“While House Democrats
are working to build on this economic progress, House Republicans are continuing to push Donald Trump’s extreme MAGA agenda to benefit the wealthy, welloff, and well-connected,” Jeffries asserted.
The healthcare and social assistance sectors saw the most substantial job growth, reflecting ongoing demand for services in the post-pandemic economy. Health care added 56,000
jobs, with notable gains in ambulatory health services, hospitals, and nursing and residential care facilities.
22,000 jobs, while retail saw an increase of 20,000, particularly in general merchandise and building
“When I took office, I inherited an economy on the brink, with the worst economic crisis in a century. Now we are seeing that plan in action, with well over 15 million jobs created since I took office, working-age women employed at a record high rate, wages rising faster than prices, and unemployment below 4 percent for a record 27 months in a row.”
Social assistance, including social work and counseling, also experienced an increase of 23,000 jobs.
Meanwhile, the warehousing, transportation and retail sectors showed signs of rebounding after the slowdowns experienced during the pandemic. Warehousing and transportation added
material, garden equipment, and supplies dealers.
Construction added 9,000 new jobs, indicating a slower but still noteworthy pace compared to previous years despite sensitivity to interest rate hikes.
This article was originally published by NNPA Newswire.
The AFRO’s fourth annual Black Business Matters Expo is quickly approaching. Once again, Career Communications Group (CCG) CEO Tyrone Taborn is stepping in to host the virtual event on his metaverse platform, STEM City USA.
The platform is a community of digital twins, or virtual replicas of the physical world. Its aim is to make science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education globally accessible and to advance diversity and inclusion.
“The metaverse is nothing more than a platform. It’s what you put on the platform that makes it the metaverse,” Taborn told the AFRO in a previous interview about the platform. “We have virtual reality, 3D and artificial intelligence. The majority of the world will embrace the metaverse through webbased platforms, which is exactly what we’re doing now.”
When expo attendees click on a session to attend,
they will be transported to one of STEM City USA’s classrooms. There, they will be able to see and hear speakers in real-time.
Business leaders will offer insights and strategies for growing and scaling enterprises.
This year’s theme for the expo is celebrating small business— a pursuit that is fundamental to the work of STEM City USA.
“It’s very important because Black-owned small businesses often face unique challenges, including access to capital and resources. Supporting these businesses really helps create economic opportunities, reduces the wealth gap and fosters financial independence within Black communities,” said Alana Winns editorin-chief and chief content officer for CCG.
STEM City USA is continuing to expand its digital world and enhance its technological capabilities.
The platform already houses health and
a historically, Black college and university (HBCU) village and education centers.
It’s also developing an AI-powered 3D digital library called Collin AI. The model applies to STEM and academia topics through the lens of people of color.
“It’s really important for us to create these systems where we can uplift Black entrepreneurs,” said Winns. “We want to create platforms for them to continue being role models who inspire the next generation of business leaders within the Black community.”
The AFRO’s Black Business Matters Expo will take place on May 30 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. To register and receive your free ticket, please visit Afrotix.live.
In a candid conversation with the AFRO Andrew and Jasmine Dill, the dynamic duo behind Liquid Intrusion Brewing Company (LIBCo), shared insights into how they balance their personal lives with their business endeavors. Together, the two have learned how to overcome challenges as pioneers in the craft beer industry, all while making a significant impact in Prince George’s County and keeping the flame in their marriage burning bright.
Q: How have you managed to balance your personal relationship with the demands of running a business together? What strategies have you found most effective in maintaining a healthy work-life balance?
LIBCo: We put everything on a calendar— personal plans, work schedules and business tasks. We even schedule our date nights. Creating boundaries is essential. Communicating our needs and respecting each other’s space helps maintain harmony. We’ve been together since high school and know each other’s rhythms well. Each morning, we discuss our agendas to coordinate effectively, ensuring neither of us feels overwhelmed.
Q: As Prince George’s County’s first Blackowned brewery, what unique challenges have you faced in the craft beer industry? What have been your most significant triumphs in overcoming these obstacles?
LIBCo: Access to capital has been a major challenge, as funding opportunities for African Americans in the alcohol business are scarce. Despite systemic barriers, we’ve experienced significant triumphs, particularly the support from our community. People who look like us appreciate our efforts, often expressing gratitude for representing and breaking stigmas around Black people enjoying craft beer. This affirmation from our community is incredibly rewarding and motivates us to continue pushing forward.
Q: You mentioned that the pandemic was a twisted gift that allowed you to tap into new talents. Can you share more about how this challenging time influenced your decision to start brewing and eventually launch Liquid Intrusion Brewing Company?
Note: During the pandemic, Jasmine transitioned to working from home, while Andrew, who was a general manager at a beer bar, was laid off.
LIBCo: With more time on our hands, we started exploring homebrewing, which was initially a way to save money on beer. A significant turning point was when we were gifted a complete homebrew setup by the family of a U.S. Air Force veteran. We began experimenting with recipes, and the positive feedback from friends and family encouraged us to take the leap into brewing professionally. Our first successful batches, particularly the “DC Pale Ale” and the “Queen of Seven Seas IPA,” were pivotal moments that solidified our confidence in our brewing capabilities.
Q: You’re passionate about increasing diversity in the craft beer sector. What specific steps are you taking to promote more diverse representation in the industry, and what impact do you hope to achieve?
LIBCo: We make it a point to attend every
event we’re invited to, ensuring we represent and communicate the challenges and successes of being Black-owned. We support other Blackowned breweries through collaborations and community building. Additionally, we hold non-Black-owned breweries accountable for cultural appropriation. Our aim is to change the industry’s predominantly White male image and highlight the rich history of beer, which originated in Africa, brewed by women. We also engage in advocacy on county, state and federal levels and ensure we always represent our brand professionally.
Looking ahead, once we have our brick-andmortar location, we plan to host community outreach events, educational programs and job fairs. We aim to introduce the science behind brewing—its chemistry and biology aspects— to local high school students, demonstrating the diverse and viable career opportunities in this field.
Q: Where can our readers purchase your product?
LIBCo: You can find our products at various bars and restaurants, as well as beer and wine stores all over Maryland and Washington, D.C. We are available as far north as Frederick and as far south as Lexington Park in Saint Mary’s County, and in Ocean City. Notable accounts we’ve acquired in the year and a half we’ve been in the market include being the first Black-owned, self-distributed brewery at BWI Airport, located in Concourse C. We’re also at the Marriott International Headquarters in Bethesda, all World of Beers locations in Maryland, all Whole Foods in D.C., and all Southern Maryland Green Turtles locations in Maryland.
In the end, Andrew and Jasmine Dill’s journey from homebrewing during a global pandemic to pioneering as the first Blackowned brewery in Prince George’s County is a testament to their resilience, passion, and commitment to diversity. Their story not only inspires but also sets a powerful example of how love and business can merge to create something truly impactful. With Liquid Intrusion Brewing Company, the Dills are not just brewing beer; they are brewing change and breaking barriers in the craft beer industry.
This article was edited for brevity and clarity.
The year was 2019 when Marilyn Van Alstyne decided to co-found Wifey Wines with a friend also toying with the idea of starting a wine business. The decision to strike out into the world of wines and spirits was aimed at creating a brand that would make wine drinking experiences more enjoyable and accessible to Black women. The company aims to educate people on the many details of wine that are often confusing, all the while providing culturally relevant selections to the Black community and beyond. The AFRO caught up with Alstyne leading up to the fourth annual Black Business Matters Expo to talk about all things related to Wifey Wines.
AFRO: Can you please tell us about Wifey Wines? When did it get started?
Marilyn Van Alstyne: I had a client that I was doing marketing activities for and one day we got into a deep conversation about what we want to do after the evolution of our current chapter. I said, “I’ve always wanted to open a wine company. I’ve actually started to research wineries and different vineyards in Italy to find a producer.” He said, “Oh, I always wanted to do it too,” and I said, “Well, maybe we should do it together.”
This was around January 2019 and literally, it took us all that year to finalize our juice, the packaging and
“It could be 80 million brands in your space and in your lane, the thing that’s going to make you different is your story and how you tell it and your consistent application to wanting to be successful.”
coming out with a softer bubble, a mojito and a margarita. They’re all wine based and we’re so excited to get back on the market mid-summer.
everything and get the product into the U.S. We got the product into the U.S a little bit before Christmas of the same year, so we had a quick production.
AFRO: What wine options do you have and what can we anticipate coming from the company, as Summer 2024 approaches?
MVA: We are actually rebranding. We looked at the brand, we looked at our financials and we decided that we need to pivot a bit again. Prior to our rebranding, we had a wine that was a dry, sparkling Rosé.Then we had a sweet white wine that was also sparkling. Now we’re going into it based on where the market is going, where our consumers are and what they want to drink. We’re going into a more ready to drink style. We have a ready-to-drink mimosa
AFRO: As a woman in business, what strategies have you employed to overcome challenges–whether that be underestimation or intimidation. What advice do you have for other women who are looking to get into an entrepreneurship role?
MVA: The wine and spirits industry is a male dominated industry. I’m often the minority in a room. I have two strikes against me: I’m Black and I’m a woman. Those groups are often overlooked no matter what industry you’re in. When I walk in the room, I already know I’m being underestimated and sometimes they may even try to intimidate me. I don’t let that bother me. There are so many people in the wine business. I’m not a grower. I’ve never said I’m a sommelier and I don’t go around acting like I know what temperature the soil needs to be or how much it needs to rain to grow the grape. I’m not one of those people. I am a marketer though and I am a businesswoman. I do believe
a good concept, a good story, good packaging and a good juice will result in success.
What I try to do is I always remind myself there’s two ways you can proceed in life. Sometimes it calls for you to be fair and right, and you get one outcome. And then sometimes the question is “What is your goal?” and “What are you trying to get to?”
Those two things don’t coexist together.
It’s either “Do I want to give him a lesson on how to deal with Black women and women in general?” or do I want to make sure we get shelf presence at these restaurants and get to my goal. At the end of the day, I’m just doing business with this guy–your opinion of me or women in general, does not bother me. My advice to other entrepreneurs–especially women– is sometimes people are going to test you. It’s about whether you want to be right and fair, and you want to stand on a hill and argue about it, or do you want to get what you want? Because those are two different pathways and two different outcomes.
AFRO: What would you say to
women looking to pursue this line of work in spite of so much competition?
MVA : I’ve mentored so many women and if I’m out at a panel or doing interviews, that is the number one question I get. I will give you two examples. Y’all know, QVC, the shopping network. QVC has been around since your grandmother was young and it’s been around for our age group– it’s been a generational brand. Tech has changed, the way we shop has changed, the way we consume products has changed– but QVC is still here.They still make revenue. I say that as an example of a business plan that stayed intentional about what they wanted to do and who their consumer base was. I also always use the eyelash industry as an example. There are so many young ladies and men that start hair lines and extension supply brands. There are so many, and the only difference between your brand and someone else’s brand is your story, your consistency and your need to win. That’s the only difference. There could be 80 million brands in your space and in your lane, the thing that’s going to make you different is your story and how you tell it and your consistent application to wanting to be successful.Even if you want to go into an industry that you feel is oversaturated with talent, there is a customer out there. There’s a consumer group out there for you–someone that resonates with you or someone who just likes your product.
This story has been
for
Baltimore native Ramsey L. Harris has a passion for serving communities. Not only is he PNC’s senior vice president and Greater Maryland market manager for the bank’s Community Development Banking and the Corporate Responsibility Group, but he’s also the pastor and founder of City Sanctuary Ministries.
“I’ve been able to create a community-focused banking career that dovetails with who I am outside of the bank as a third-generation Pentecostal pastor with a desire to help people,” he said.
Harris spent his elementary years in Baltimore City before moving to the county. His parents split when he was young, and Harris was primarily raised by his mother.
She was determined to keep him out of trouble but, despite her efforts, Harris got into mischief early on. Consequently, his paternal grandfather, an Apostolic Pentecostal bishop and civil rights activist, stepped in to steer Harris back onto the right path.
“That’s where my life began to take a turn toward who I am today,” said Harris. “My grandfather was my hero. He personified what it meant to be a strong, positive and successful Black male.”
Harris said he felt compelled to become a leader in the community like his grandfather. He first acted on this instinct by becoming a minister.
Harris was trained under his grandfather and licensed before college. When it came time to pick a school, he had plans of attending Morehouse College. But, he ultimately chose University of Delaware to be closer to home and support his grandfather’s church.
While there, he landed a telemarketing internship with Bank of America, his first foray in the world of banking. Then, during his senior year, a PNC recruiter reached out to him about entering the bank’s management trainee program.
“After undergrad, my goal was to either go to seminary or law school. I decided to temporarily give [the program] a shot because I thought it could help me save more money to go to seminary or law school,” said Harris.
Banking drew Harris in because it enabled him to help others become financially empowered.
“There was an interest there, but I didn’t see it as a long-term career because I’m a third-generation Pentecostal preacher and I had desires to obtain a law degree. I saw myself eventually pastoring a church and going into some type of law practice to help people,” Harris said. “Once I got into the banking industry, the rest was history.” Harris started his career with PNC in Delaware. But, after his mother got sick, he relocated to Baltimore to take care of her. While in the training program, one of
Harris’ capstone projects was supporting the opening of the Charles Village Branch of PNC.
Before getting into community development banking at PNC, Harris spent stints as a branch manager and business development officer, supporting Black and Brown entrepreneurs who frequented branches in low- to moderateincome neighborhoods. All the while, Harris remained active in ministry.
“Then, I continued to climb the corporate ladder. I became a leader and even
“Once I got into the banking industry, the rest was history.”
a territory executive in our Community Reinvestment Act small business lending space,” said Harris. “I was very instrumental in authoring the playbook for how PNC supports and lends to small, minority business enterprises.
“That kind of laid the foundation for a national department that we’ve created at PNC called the Minority Business Development Group. That organization is 100 percent dedicated to providing dedicated bankers and resources to Black and Brown businesses throughout the country.”
Harris then took over the helm of Community Development Banking in PNC’s Greater Maryland market. The group serves low- to moderate-income communities by investing in economic development, affordable housing and community service projects. It also provides free financial education.
Under his leadership, the group has deployed capital to developers, like Beloved Community Services Corp. Led by the Rev. Alvin C. Hathaway, the organization is restoring the family home of civil rights activist Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. and the law office of his wife, Juanita Jackson Mitchell.
The group also invested $3 million in Baltimore Community Lending to support loans for minority businesses and real estate developers.
Harris’ team is creating workforce development opportunities for returning citizens and older adults to secure gainful employment. They’ve collaborated with organizations, like the Job Opportunities Task Force, the Center for Workforce Inclusion and Baltimore Corps. This year, the group is heavily focused on addressing affordable housing in the region.
“We want to deploy more capital. I want to connect with more developers and provide equity to projects that are doing to transform our communities,” said Harris.
“Long term, our end game is to have contributed to wealthbuilding in our communities. We want to look back 10 years
from now and say we played a part in making a generational impact throughout our region.”
When former colleague Eugene Allen came to PNC, he wanted to become more entrenched in the community. He was quickly directed to Harris for support.
The pair worked together to increase supplier diversity at the bank, going into communities to talk to entrepreneurs about doing business with PNC. Harris became Allen’s mentor.
“Ramsey was integral in terms of me finding my niche, and he talked to the regional leaders about my work,” said Allen. “It got to the point where I was known for not just being in the community but adding to the bank’s bottom line.” Allen said Harris was an earnest leader.
“You know he’s guiding you because of the love for what he does but also the love he has for you as an individual, the love he has for the company as an organization and the love he has for his community,” said Allen.
Megan Sayles is a Report for America corps member.
Policymakers who create and administer the U.S. tax system often trumpet “fairness” as a guiding principle in how the system is designed. Yet, ironically, many people consistently complain that the U.S. tax system is quite the opposite.
When discussions about “fairness” arise, some envision a level playing field where every taxpayer is subject to the same rules and regulations – a notion that the U.S. Tax Code ostensibly upholds. After all, race doesn’t factor into the tax code’s text and the IRS doesn’t collect data on taxpayers’ racial backgrounds. In theory, individuals in similar financial circumstances should face identical tax burdens. However, reality paints a different picture –one marred by disparities and inequities.
It is widely recognized, even within the IRS, that low-income taxpayers have more difficulty navigating the tax system than other taxpayers. Even the IRS
recognizes this disparity. In response, Congress allocated funding for the creation of the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic program under the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998. Over a hundred of these independently run
“In theory, individuals in similar financial circumstances should face identical tax burdens. However, reality paints a different picture – one marred by disparities and inequities.”
clinics, scattered across the nation, aim to provide free tax and legal assistance
to those who can’t afford representation. In Baltimore, where I work at one such clinic, we witness firsthand the formidable challenges our clients encounter due to certain aspects of the tax system.
Low-income taxpayers often grapple with unstable housing and unreliable internet access, exacerbating their difficulties in interacting with the IRS. The agency predominantly communicates via mail, which presents an obstacle for those without stable housing or who
frequently transition between short-term housing. While the IRS avoids contacting taxpayers by phone due to prevalent IRS impersonation scams, the current lengthy wait times worsen the problem for those who need assistance.
Although the IRS has hired more staff and expanded its online services, this has done little to help lowincome individuals with limited internet access or technological proficiency. Unfortunately, many elderly taxpayers face similar
hurdles. These barriers to service impede timely resolution of audits or disputes and often result in escalating penalties and debts.
Recent analyses of internal IRS systems revealed that Black taxpayers are audited more frequently than non-Black taxpayers.
In early 2023, the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR) released a report showing that Black taxpayers are audited nearly three to five times more than their non-Black counterparts. According to the report, much of this disparity focused on the IRS’ selection process for which tax returns claiming Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) to audit.
The EITC is one of the most important tax credits available for low- and middleincome families, giving them a break on their taxes based on how much they earn and how many dependents they have. But because the rules for who qualifies can be tricky, some people claim the credit when they shouldn’t, leading to more audits.
What’s worse, even Black taxpayers claiming the EITC get audited more often than
non-Black taxpayers who also claim it. The problem seems to be with the IRS’ computer systems, which go after as many potentially wrong returns as possible, instead of focusing on finding the most unreported income. If the IRS targeted more complicated returns, the gap in audits between Black and non-Black taxpayers wouldn’t be so huge.
In response to the SIEPR report, the IRS publicly pledged to reassess its policies and pursue fairer practices. However, whether this commitment translates into tangible change remains to be seen. Similar promises were made after the IRS faced criticism for prolonged wait times by phone during the pandemic. This yielded some progress, but still fell short. American taxpayers must continue to speak out against injustices in the U.S. tax system to ensure we have a system that works in the best interests of everyone and treats us all fairly.
John Hardt can be reached at 443-451-4061 or jhardt@ mvlslaw.org.
Washington, D.C.
Mayor Muriel Bowser opened the District’s second Safe Commercial Corridor Hub in the Anacostia neighborhood of Ward 8 on May 13. The first safe commercial hub was opened in Chinatown in February.
The hubs connect residents to an array of city services they may need, aiming to keep community corridors safe.
“The
idea is very simple, these are places where residents can walk in to get help from D.C. agencies.”
“The idea is very simple: These are places where residents can walk in to get help from D.C. agencies,” said Bowser, at a live-streamed press conference on May 13. “It is particularly aimed at improving public safety to make sure that people are getting the behavioral health services that they need.”
The new hub will be staffed by outreach teams from several community
CMV Black Nurses Rock President Perina Gaines speaks to those gathered on April 27 to receive resources offered by the D.C. branch of the Collaboration for Equitable Health, an initiative operating in 11 different U.S. cities. The event welcomed members of the community, such as teen twins Andrain and Andrea Bland (right), to learn about steps they can take to improve their health.
By Ashlee Banks Special to the AFROPresident Joe Biden recently announced his nomination of four individuals to federal circuit and district courts. The list includes Judge Embry J. Kidd, an African-American judge.
Kidd, a graduate of Yale University’s law school, currently serves as the Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. He was appointed to the bench on July 25, 2019. If approved, Kidd would become a judge for the United States Court of
By Deborah Bailey AFRO Contributing Editor dbailey@afro.comThe Washington View community in Southeast Washington D.C., with its majestic views of the city’s landscape below, has a new distinction. It serves as D.C.’s Ground Zero for a national health initiative launched in 11 cities designed to change the channel on negative health outcomes in communities of color throughout the United States.
Bank of America donated $25 million to establish a partnership between The American Diabetes Association (ADA), The American Heart Association (AHA), The American Cancer Society (ACC) and The Uni-
“We
know that the risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer in this community are disproportionately high in relation to the rest of the city.”
versity of Michigan School of Public Health (U of M). The three major health organizations and U of M are challenging 11 cities to engage new approaches to combat health inequi-
ties based on connecting with Black, Brown, Asian and Indian Americans who are at risk and dying at disproportionate rates from heart disease, cancer, diabetes and stroke.
The national partnership is called the Collaboration for Equitable Health. The D.C. chapter has targeted parts of Wards 5, 7, and 8 for interventions designed to bring health prevention and intervention strategies out of the doctor’s office and right into the community over the next two years, according to Malaika Hill, director of Healthy Equity and Community Impact.
“The risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer in this community are disproportionately high in relation to the
‘The Experience’ spotlights minority businesses in pop-up marketplaceBy Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer msayles@afro.com
Chase for Business
welcomed D.C.’s small business community to
“The Experience” on May 8, a free, day-long event with marketing workshops, panel discussions and networking opportunities. The financial institution handpicked six local minority-owned businesses to exhibit their products in a pop-up marketplace during the occasion.
Kristina Sicard, senior business consultant for J.P. Morgan Chase, said the event gave business owners the chance to learn how to advance their enterprises
regardless of their growth stage. It also allowed them to discover the resources the firm has to offer.
“We are the largest bank. We have a big reach, but we still have a unique, touchy-feely relationship with our clients,” said Sicard. “This is an opportunity to show D.C.
Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Earlier this month, Biden sent Kidd’s nomination to the U.S. Senate, along with the nominations of Judges Adam B. Abelson, Joseph F. Saporito and Meredith A Vacca. If confirmed, the three judges would fill vacancies in district courts in Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York.
The White House released a statement which read, that the nominations “continue to fulfill the president’s promise to ensure that the nation’s courts reflect the diversity that is one of our greatest assets as a country – both in terms of personal and professional backgrounds.” In a statement obtained by the AFRO,
By Ama Brown AFRO Editorial Assistant
Howard University’s (HU) commencement ceremony took place May 11 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
The venue was filled to the brim with the largest graduating class in the history of HU, with more than 2,500 degrees conferred. Many of this year’s graduates were high school seniors who missed their graduation day due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which began March 2020. The building overflowed with people wanting to show up for their graduates in person. In addition to this year’s graduating seniors, graduates from the class of 1974 were present to celebrate 50 years as Bison Blue Alum.
President Ben Vison III led his first commencement since taking on the 18th presidency of the historically Black institution from Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, who served the university on an interim basis in 2013 before officially stepping into the role of president in 2014.
The keynote address, delivered by Thasunda Duckett, president and CEO of the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA). She spoke to them about having courage and told the group that courage is the way forward through all that life will bring you. Her honorary degree was given alongside those of J. Willard Marriott Jr., of Marriott Hospitality, Attorney Fred David Gray and astronaut Victor Jerome Glover.
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relations, human services, public safety and behavioral health agencies that can respond to community challenges in real time.
“We’re excited to have this resource in the community and we learned some lessons from the Chinatown hub. There we’ve seen a 15 percent drop in crime since we opened the hub, including a 78 percent drop in violent crime,” said Bowser.
“We’ve also connected more than 200 people to DHS (Department of Human Services) and to the Department of Health through walk-ins.”
The Anacostia hub is located at 2300 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., S.E. It is open to residents Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Time and time again, we hear from residents and business owners and you speak about your desires to have more Metropolitan Police Department officers
in your community,” said D.C. Chief of Police Pamela Smith. “This is certainly an opportunity for us today to be able to enhance and embark upon those things that you have constantly shared with us over and over again.
“This hub will offer several benefits
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rest of the city,” said Hill.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control confirm that the prevalence of diabetes in Ward 8 is almost twice as high as the city average of 7.7 percent.
“The reason why we chose Washington View is because we knew we would have an expansive reach. We could connect with everyone from youth to our elderly citizens,” Hill said, adding that 10 percent of Washington View’s population consisted of persons 65 or older.
D.C.’s Chapter of Black Nurses Rock are key partners in the multi-agency health initiative and will literally set up an office in the Washington View neighborhood to bring health screenings right to the doorstep of many in the community, according
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to Perina Gaines, BSN, RN, president of the Black Nurses Rock’s D.C., Maryland and Virginia chapter. [2]
“The goal is to help the community enhance their knowledge about health care,” Gaines said. Our nurses have started meeting with residents in Washington View, knocking on doors, and connecting person-to-person to get to know residents,” Gaines said.
“Ward 8 has the highest instances of diabetes and diabetes is closely linked with heart health issues. Blood pressure issues link with kidney disease and many other health issues,” she added.
The nurses have started twice weekly health screenings and information sessions in a residential
for us,” continued Smith. “It will give our officers more accessibility for police services through their police desk. It’ll give the officers the opportunity to be readily accessible, and we will cut down on response time when things are happening in this area.
unit at 2683 Douglas Street S.E. Neighbors can come right to the Black Nurses Rock apartment to speak to a nurse for office hours – instead of an office or building from home.
The D.C. Collaborative for Health Equity recently held their first event for the Washington View Community, billed as the “Health Vibes and Wellness Expo,” held April 27, in the parking lot on Douglas Ave. Black Nurses Rock said their twice weekly screenings and served as a trial run to introduce the community to the health partnership.
apartment complex and were on board to serve as the new generation of health ambassadors.
“This is something new. Something I can learn about,” said Bland. “ I think this is helpful and I’m going to start coming to the meetings.”
“My grandmother has diabetes, but it can stop with me,” she continued.
‘The
We will have officers here on bike patrol. We’ll have officers in this area on foot patrol.”
McQueen is a Report For America corps member.
“I’m going to help get more kids out to have fun at events like this and tag my sister along with me” Bland concluded as her sister nodded in agreement. Then the twins turned to join other youth in line for hot, fresh popcorn.
In addition to Washington D.C. The Collaboration for Equitable Health is active in Albuquerque, N.M;
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While the on again, off again rain kept a huge crowd away, scores of residents, like teen twins Andrain and Andrea Bland were excited about the partnership coming to their who we are as a firm and how we show up while giving them resources at the same time. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Steven Horsford, D-Nev. applauded Biden’s nomination.
“Judge Kidd is an immensely qualified candidate with more than a decade of experience in private practice as well as time as a federal judge and Assistant U.S. Attorney,” said Horsford.
The Nevada lawmaker added that the president’s nomination of Kidd builds “on his promise to ensure that the federal judiciary reflects the diversity of backgrounds and lived experience in our nation.”
“Judge Kidd is an immensely qualified candidate with more than a decade of experience in private practice as well as time as a federal judge and Assistant U.S. Attorney.”
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, both representatives of Maryland also praised Biden’s choices and endorsed Judge Abelson, who if confirmed by the U.S. Senate would become a judge in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.
Van Hollen said in a statement that Judge Abelson “has served the people of Baltimore for more than a decade. He has proven commitment to equal justice under the law and a strong command of a wide range of legal issues.”
Cardin also weighed in on the nominations.
“Marylanders should be confident that Judge Abelson will continue to carry out his judicial oath and guarantee equal justice of the law to all parties that come before his courtroom,” said Cardin, in a statement.
Now that the four judges have been nominated, the Senate Judiciary Committee will conduct confirmation hearings for each nominee.
Two of the businesses featured in the local marketplace were Brix Fitness, led by Robert Glover, and MahoganyBooks, owned by Ramunda and Derrick Young.
Glover started the online fitness brand after losing 160 pounds with an approach that leveraged mindfulness and emotional awareness alongside diet and exercise habits. It offers virtual group and one-on-one weight-loss coaching and personalized meal plans.
The Youngs, a husband and wife team, founded MahoganyBooks in 2007 to ensure readers across the country have access to books written by and about the African diaspora. The couple maintain an online bookstore, as well as two brick-and-mortar locations in the Greater Washington area.
The Youngs and Glover are participants in the Chase for Business Coaching for Impact program, which supplies free, oneon-one consulting and executive coaching to business owners regardless of who they bank with.
“It’s an intentional time to strategize with someone who’s in finance. It helps us look at our profit and loss statements in a different way,” said Ramunda Young. “It’s funny, you can be in business for 17 years and still not understand how cash flow works and how to optimize that. [The program] has helped us understand what we’re looking at and how the numbers speak to us.”
In Glover’s case, the logistics of entrepreneurship were tiresome. He established Brix Fitness out of a passion for holistic weight loss, not for business operations.
Atlanta; Charlotte; Denver; Detroit; Memphis, Tenn.; Philadelphia; San Antonio and St. Louis.
This article is the second in a series written with the support of a journalism fellowship from the Gerontology Society of America, the Journalists Network on Generations and the Commonwealth Fund.
He said The Coaching for Impact program has helped him better understand the basics of running a business.
“I’m a passion-based business and understanding the logistics wasn’t super important to me. I need some help with that,” said Glover. “For me, it was about learning the intricacies of being an entrepreneur. They provided me with resources, and it helped me steer my business in a different direction where we’re poised to scale now.”
As he primarily operates Brix Fitness virtually, The Experience gave him the opportunity to meet community members face-to-face. He said most people that approached his booth were dancing around the idea of addressing their health goals.
Glover was able to share his personal journey with them—something he hopes proves they can meet any goal they set for themselves.
At MahoganyBook’s booth, Ramunda Young offered books by business leaders. The works included “I Am Debra Lee,” a memoir by the former Black Entertainment Television (BET) CEO, and “More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say),” a memoir by award-winning fashion journalist Elaine Welteroth.
“As an entrepreneur, you can have lows and feel like you’re by yourself,” said Ramunda Young. “To have a book about someone who’s a millionaire or billionaire and see the struggles that they’ve gone through can help.”
Megan Sayles is a Report for America corps member.
Police departments across the nation are struggling to fill law enforcement positions. Now, members of Congress have introduced the Recruit and Retain Act to address the police hiring crisis.
On May 14 both U.S. Reps. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, and Glenn Ivey, D-Md., took to the House floor to introduce the measure. If enacted into law the bill would increase recruitment for qualified officers, provide departments across the nation with grants to reduce application-related fees such as background checks, psychological evaluations and testing and require the Department of Justice to create new guidelines for police agencies applying for Community Oriented Policing Services grants.
Hunt said in a statement obtained by the AFRO that “In recent years law enforcement agencies have found recruiting new officers to be a major challenge. The Recruit and Retain Act addresses this challenge and provides real support to help law enforcement.”
Ivey said in a statement “Recruiting and retaining highly trained law enforcement professionals is of the utmost importance. Our ability to attract and develop the best, brightest and most compassionate and
dedicated men and women of differing backgrounds is vital to the health and well-being of our nation.”
This statute was introduced just days after Roger Fortson, a Black senior airman was shot and killed by a Florida deputy while in his apartment. Fortson’s name has been added to a long list of Black Americans who have died at the hands of police officers in recent years.
U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo. opposes the measure and said in a statement that “Michael Brown. George Floyd. Breonna
“Our ability to attract and develop the best, brightest and most compassionate and dedicated men and women of differing backgrounds is vital to the health and well-being of our nation.”
Taylor. Tamir Rice. Theirs and so many other precious lives have been lost or permanently altered due to our country’s failed approach to public safety.”
She added, “As a leader in the movement for communityled safety and as someone who has met with and responded directly to the needs of both community members and police chiefs across my district, I believe that public safety is a matter of public health.”
Ivey told the AFRO that this act aims to quell the issue of police brutality by requiring police officers to be properly vetted and have “diverse and culturally competent” backgrounds to better serve their communities.
The Maryland lawmaker stated that police brutality has been a hot button issue for nearly 15 years, “you started seeing the videotapes of the excessive force and people who are not African American finally realized that this is a real issue.”
He added “The question
became how do we address it and one of those was training. But, the other one was maybe we need to pick better people for these positions to start with.”
Ivey strongly believes that if more departments recruit officers who are culturally
sensitive then that could help with “better policing” and creating a stronger relationship between communities and law enforcement.
To date, the act has been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Organizations, the National Sheriffs Association, Major County Sheriffs Association, Major Cities Sheriffs Association, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, and R Street.
If passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, the bill will need to pass in the U.S. Senate and be signed into law by President Joe Biden.
In 2020, when millions of people worldwide took to the streets to protest the murder of George Floyd, a small school district in northwestern Virginia — an area that gave safe haven to Confederate forces during the Civil War — quietly stripped the names of 3 rebel commanders from two of its public schools.
But the Shenandoah County School Board’s low-key act of racial justice, made in a virtual meeting during the COVID-19 lockdown, triggered an intense backlash. A coalition of White parents and residents, angry at what they saw as a disrespectful move made without public input, launched a four-year campaign to reverse it.
Last week, they succeeded.
In the first action of its kind, the board voted 5-1 to re-rename a high school for Stonewall Jackson and return the names of Robert E. Lee and Turner Ashby to one of the district’s elementary schools. Despite substantial opposition, the board said it was correcting the previous board’s “kneejerk reaction” to public protests about Floyd’s murder.
Board member Gloria E. Carlineo told CNN that race wasn’t a factor in their decision; rather, the board, she said, acted to restore residents’ trust. “Wrongful actions by governmental systems can and should be rectified” through official channels, she said.
But experts say the school board’s decision — along with right-wing discrediting of DEI programs, new state laws restricting classroom lessons on Black history and the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision gutting affirmative action programs in college admissions — is another sign that the Great Racial Reckoning of 2020 is probably over.
Not forgotten or forgiven
“It’s deeply disturbing to me to hear that they reverted to names that present
symbolic violence to a large swath of the American public,” says Gregg Suzannah Ferguson, an educator, anti-bias trainer and director of Hampton University’s Upward Bound program. “I am very saddened that we have to fight again (against) unconscious bias hiding in plain sight.”
The Confederate names were stripped from Stonewall Jackson High School and Ashby-Lee Elementary School back in July 2020, renaming them Mountain View High and Honey Run Elementary. The community was shut down due to the pandemic at the time, but protests erupted after a police officer killed Floyd in Minneapolis a few months earlier.
At a virtual meeting, the board voted to drop the names, declaring they were in conflict with a recently passed resolution condemning all forms of racism. The county’s population is 78 percent White and just 6 percent Black.
The reaction was swift and enduring. Outraged residents condemned the switch as a back-door move borne from political
correctness — and with next to no public notice. A revote on the in 2022 ended in a tie, allowing the name changes to stand, but it became a hot-button issue in subsequent school board elections.
Located about 60 miles from Washington, D.C., near the West Virginia state line, the Shenandoah Valley established itself as a pro-slavery stronghold and saw significant fighting during the Civil War. Supporters of the restored names pointed to that history, arguing that Lee, Jackson, and Ashby were men of bravery and honor.
But opponents said the Confederate commanders were fighting for slavery and Black oppression — and lost. They also pointed out that the painful history of Shenandoah County’s segregated public schools wasn’t that long ago, and erasing those names is a step towards reconciliation.
Indeed, even in 2024, Black residents of Shenandoah County often have to drive past Confederate flags flying from businesses and front porches. Many of
those who fly the banner defend it as a celebration of heritage, not a racist symbol of hatred.
Pride for some, pain for others Ferguson — a former classroom teacher at Stonewall Jackson Middle School in Charleston, West Virginia — says the name change and reversal in Shenandoah County is an equal protection and safety issue. In 2019, she studied the effect schools named after Confederate figures and White supremacists have on Black teachers and students.
For them, the schools represent “a symbolic trifecta for White supremacy,” Ferguson wrote. “These names amplify racial inequities in society, the opportunity gap for black and Latinx populations, and the White privilege that allows many educators to remain oblivious to the suffering of students and colleagues of color.”
By using those names, school systems and elected officials “are tacitly endorsing the White supremacist agenda that sustained American slavery and continues to deprive students and educators of the respect and dignity they deserve,” she wrote. Teachers and students in those schools, she wrote, experience microaggressions and emotional trauma every time they walk into a building, earn a diploma, or put on a sports uniform with “Stonewall Jackson” or “Robert E. Lee” written on it.
“I’m a Black person. I don’t understand White people in this sense,” Ferguson says. “I’m not gonna say it’s a moral deficit, but there is some faulty logic somewhere causing people to believe that the suffering of others in the society in which we live — and the context in which we evolved as a society — has nothing to do with the now.”
We must have a proactive and innovative plan to enhance communities in Baltimore County like Randallstown, Woodlawn, Windsor Mill, Winters Lane, Campfield, East Towson, Overlea, Owings Mills, Rosedale, Lochearn, and Turners Station. The plan must account for and address structural racism.
The structural racism can be defined as the “overarching system of racial bias across institutions and society. These systems give privileges to White people resulting in disadvantages to people of color.” Understanding how racism is built into various social structures and quantifying its long-term effects is fundamental to the anti-racist work of dismantling these barriers.
Many of the disparities between Black and White communities in the United States are an outgrowth of a long history of discriminatory and dehumanizing laws and policies that have created and exacerbated inequality in almost every sphere of life. These laws and policies are built into the fundamental
Ryan Coleman is president of the Randallstown NAACP. This week, he speaks on how issues like housing costs, de facto segregation practices and a lack of investment are causing Black residents and neighborhoods of Baltimore County to struggle.
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writer tmcqueen@afro.com
Appointed by Gov. Wes Moore, Judge Michelle Greer is making history as the first African-American woman to be appointed to the Baltimore County Orphan’s Court in its nearly 250 years of history.
On May 8, in a touching ceremony, Greer was joined by around 200 people, including her loved ones, friends, colleagues and government officials.
“I am humbled and honored to accept this appointment as judge of [the] orphan’s court for Baltimore County,” said Greer at the ceremony. “I’m looking forward to bringing not just a strong skill set but tremendous empathy to the bench. More often than not, people are hurting, and they just need to know that the judge cares.”
“The reality is that the administration of estates can be a very emotional and challenging process. Often, the filing with the judicial probate takes place at a time when family members are still grieving. There may be confusion or uncertainty about the way forward,” said Ballou-Watts. “The deceased may have left the will, making very clear how their property was to be divided. Yet, there can still be a family member that insists that certain property was promised to them.”
“I’m looking forward to bringing not just a strong skill set, but tremendous empathy to the bench. More often than not, people are hurting and they just need to know that the judge cares.”
As an orphan’s court judge, Greer will help oversee the management of estates of people who have died by approving administration accounts and ensuring proper payments are made from estate assets and distributions are made to the correct beneficiaries or heirs. They also preside over disputes regarding a will or estate.
Vicki Ballou-Watts, an associate judge at the Baltimore County Circuit Court, spoke about the nature of the job that lies before Greer.
BallouWatts also said there can be concerns of undue influence in the last days leading to that person’s death or unknown children that have a right to the property in another state.
“These are just a few examples of the issues that orphan’s court judges confront on a regular basis,” continued BallouWatts. “Judge designate Greer is well suited to join the orphan’s court and resolve these issues. Not only because of her good temperament and her experiences as a probate and family law attorney but also because, as someone mentioned earlier, she brings with her a skill set as a trained and certified mediator, a crisis management specialist and a children’s advocate.”
Greer has been a certified paralegal for around 20 years and has worked as a divorce coach and mediator.
“I was blessed to work for and be mentored by some of the greatest trial lawyers in the state and in our nation,” said Greer.
Maryland Chamber of Commerce honors Key Bridge heroes
By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer msayles@afro.comIn the early hours of March 26, the Baltimore County Fire Department received a call reporting that a cruise ship had struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, leaving 13 people in the Patapsco River. They would later discover the information was inaccurate.
It was a 984-foot cargo ship, the Dali, that crashed into the bridge, and eight construction workers were in the water—six of whom died
“While we will never fully comprehend the challenges these heroes have faced, we are forever grateful for their extraordinary bravery.”
in the catastrophe.
“There were a lot of challenges because it was nighttime. There was nearly zero visibility so there was no way to get divers into the water,” said Marcus Johnson, assistant fire chief for the Baltimore County Fire Department. “We were able to deploy marine units to do a quick survey, but we couldn’t get them as close as we normally would because of the wreckage that could have threatened the safety of our first responders.”
Johnson was one of many first responders honored by the Maryland Chamber of Commerce during its Inspire MD event at the American Visionary Art Museum on May 9.
AfroPreak was the sunshine on a cloudy day!
Baltimore’s Black excellence showed up and showed out at the 149th running of Preakness Stakes. Preakness for AfricanAmerican attendees, was infused with the Black culture of the AfroPreak Lounge experience, an event that seamlessly blended culture, style and community.
This year’s AfroPreak, held on May 18 at Pimlico Race Course, marked a significant expansion in both guest list and footprint, offering an elevated, elegant, customized infield pavilion opposite the Turfside Terrace.
Produced by the dynamic duo of events, AfroPreak is the brainchild of LaRian
Finney and Derrick Chase. First introduced in 2022 with 300 guests during the George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, the event has grown exponentially, with the 2024 edition welcoming 1,000 VIP and premium guests.
AfroPreak provided a vibrant cultural experience featuring diverse food, music and fashion, all set against the iconic backdrop of the American classic horse race.
“The AfroPreak Lounge has grown to be the heart and culture of Preakness,” said Finney. “From starting in 2022 as a concept with 100 guests to 1,200 guests for Preakness 149, it’s clear that this event resonates deeply with our community.”
Among the notable attendees were Ravens players Zay Flowers
and Malik Cunningham; Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott; City Council President Nick Mosby; Delegate Malcolm Ruff; members of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland; Shelonda Stokes, president of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore; and Rachel Graham, CEO of the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts. Guests enjoyed performances
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structures of our societies—our systems of labor, housing, education, voting, healthcare and justice. They are deeply entrenched, intertwined, and insidious, and they form the foundation for structural racism.
This piece will only discuss how housing is being used to further structural racism.
Housing policy and practices excluded Black families from opportunities to build home equity and accumulate wealth, creating generational repercussions. In contrast, federal intervention and investment has helped expand homeownership and affordable housing for countless White families.
We continue to find that homes in Black neighborhoods are valued roughly 21 percent to 23 percent below what their valuations would be in nonBlack neighborhoods. My conclusion is that at least 15 percent of homes are at risk of under-appraisal in majorityBlack neighborhoods, and this has a modest but meaningful effect on overall valuations and final sales prices—limiting wealth accumulation for homeowners in majority-Black neighborhoods. It also allows the over saturation of group homes, and Section 8. Housing inequality is a primary culprit behind the large racial wealth gap between Black and white households in the U.S.
Mobilizing public and political will to craft and implement remedies necessary for a more just future is critical to rectifying the years of unjust housing policies that continue to impact families today.
The Baltimore County Council can pass the following legislation to help stabilize black communities in Baltimore County:
1. Increase opportunities for Black homeownership
To start, we must set a goal of closing the Black homeownership gap in Baltimore County by:
• Increasing access to down payment assistance. Discriminatory policies that have excluded Black families from homeownership, education and job opportunities often leave Black parents with less wealth to pass on to their children. Increasing access to affordable credit. Given the history of redlining and discriminatory lending in Baltimore County, we must extend mortgage and business credit to underserved, minority home buyers and communities. Investing in affordable homeownership. Even when down payment assistance is available, unaffordable home prices remain a major obstacle to homeownership. Expanding government grants that finance affordable home construction can help builders create lasting, sustainable homeownership opportunities.
2. Invest in distressed, racially segregated communities
Many formerly redlined and segregated neighborhoods continue to suffer from disinvestment and economic distress. This makes our communities food deserts and limits the type of stores that black residents want.
Reinvestment and tax incentives targeting these communities would help spark recovery and opportunities. The new County Executive and the Baltimore County Council must come up with a strategic plan to tackle racial disparities in homeownership and asset -building, and to improve neighborhood investment.
3. Stop perpetuating segregation
Today’s economically exclusionary zoning perpetuates this segregation. Baltimore County must be obligated to increase opportunities for Black households to live in neighborhoods with good schools and safe streets. The Baltimore County Council can do this by:
• Reforming zoning to allow mixed-income communities. By diversifying the types of homes allowed in their communities, Baltimore County can make them more racially and economically inclusive.
• Building and preserving affordable homes in communities of opportunity.
Zoning reforms are necessary but often insufficient alone — governments must also increase investments in affordable homes in non-segregated communities. Incentivizing mixedincome housing developments and making public land in well-resourced neighborhoods available at low cost for intentionally affordable homes. Creating legislation to limit the over saturation of group homes, and vouchers.
4. Invest in affordable rental housing
The Baltimore County Council must create rent control legislation that sets price controls on the rent as a price ceiling. The rent control legislation must include:
• “Strict price ceilings,” also known as “rent freeze” systems, or “absolute” or “first generation” rent controls, in which no increases in rent are allowed at all.
• “Strict” or “strong” rent control, in which the rental price can rise but continues to be regulated in between tenancies.
• “Tenancy” or “secondgeneration” rent control, which limits price increases during a tenancy.
5. Minimize the damage on Black households
A crucial, immediate step for remedying racial housing disparities is preventing eviction and foreclosure. On average, Black renters and homeowners are at higher risk of losing their homes, having entered the health and economic crisis with less access to stable and affordable homes. Eviction legislation and foreclosure moratoria as well as forbearance options are critical for stabilizing households. Foreclosure prevention assistance targeting low-income and middle income homeowners, emergency financial assistance for renters facing eviction, and extended repayment options for renters.
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“Lawyers like A. Dwight Pettit, Billy Murphy and the late Robert E. Donadio and Russell White, to name a few. I was also blessed to meet some of the greatest legal minds of our time.”
Tisha Edwards, secretary of appointments for the Moore-Miller Administration, spoke on behalf of the governor to Greer’s ability to do the job.
“In your career, you have shown so much compassion for people in their time of loss and misfortune,” said Tisha Edwards, secretary of appointments for the MooreMiller Administration, at the ceremony. “You have a remarkable success record as a legal mind in our state,
as a paralegal, attorney and a certified mediator. You will bring invaluable experience to the bench.”
Greer’s experience with the death of her loved one and how she came through it is another reason the governor chose her.
“In 2003, my husband of 19 years passed away from a sudden massive stroke. He was 40 years old and I became a widow at the age of 32. My children were seven and 11,” said Greer. “I had not experienced a loss quite as devastating other than the murder of my dad when I was 10 years old.”
“Just before my husband passed we decided that it was time for me to resume my
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The organization recognized members of the Unified Command, Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Baltimore City Fire Department, Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management, North Point Edgemere Volunteer Fire Department and Baltimore County Fire Department.
Mary Kane, president and CEO of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, said the responders emerged as heroes to support rescue, recovery and rebuilding efforts following the tragedy.
“Their selflessness, dedication and quick-thinking undoubtedly saved countless lives and prevented further devastation, while also helping to restore stability to our residents, communities and businesses,” said Kane.
“While we will never fully comprehend the challenges these heroes have faced, we are forever grateful for their extraordinary bravery.”
Johnson is the first African American to serve as assistant fire chief for the Baltimore County Fire Department. He said he was honored to receive the recognition although it wasn’t required.
“I don’t need the recognition. This is what we’re called to do. We serve the public. We want to ensure the public is safe,” said Johnson. “I think it’s part of the job. I’m honored to be able to serve, and I’ve enjoyed the 21 years I’ve been able to do it.”
Megan Sayles is a Report for America corps member.
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for his work with Def Jam Recordings and his role as CEO of 300 Entertainment, led the audience in a calland-repeat to hip-hop classics, adding to the vibrant atmosphere.
“Honored to grow our partnership with Preakness over the past three years,” said Finney. “Our team looks forward to playing an integral role in reimagining Preakness with AfroPreak and intentional community involvement at the center.”
AfroPreak was not just a
social event but a celebration of community and culture.
Derrick Chase highlighted the broader impact: “AfroPreak celebrates our elegance and stands as the bridge to making Baltimore better.”
This year’s event saw collaboration with 1/ ST, allowing 12 African American-owned companies to participate in the Preakness, showcasing local entrepreneurship and talent.
The atmosphere and decor of AfroPreak set a new precedent, combining
studies and pursue my law degree. My acceptance to the University of Baltimore arrived two days after his death,” continued Greer.
“Within two months as a single mom and young widow, I embarked upon what became my greatest lesson in perseverance, sacrifice and hard work. It took my children and I 11 years to complete my undergraduate studies, as well as law school.”
She went on to explain that she experienced the impacts of being unprepared in suddenly losing a loved one and navigating the estate process.
“As judges we are tasked with making the right
decisions in circumstances where quite often there’s more than one victim and many are impacted beyond those in front of us, and yet we have to make the decision,” said Greer. “I believe that how we make these decisions is just as important as the decision itself. I believe that humility goes places that the ego cannot. I believe in empathy, and its place in the delivery and execution of justice.”
Though Greer has begun serving on the bench, she will still need to be officially elected into the position in the 2026 midterm elections.
Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.
mid-century modern and bohemian aesthetics to create a welcoming space for everyone. Attendees donned their best Preakness hats and fascinators. Some attendees clearly dug into the back of their closets for signature pieces while many clearly opted for custom-made attire, ensuring that no one came to play. They all stood on Preakness—AfroPreak business.
From beginning to end, AfroPreak was a whole vibe, a testament to
unstoppable dynamic duo of
As AfroPreak continues to grow and evolve, it stands as a shining example of how communitycentered events can enrich cultural traditions and foster unity. AfroPreak truly was sunshine on a cloudy day, proving once again that the convergence of culture, elegance, and community can create an unforgettable experience.
The legacy of groundbreaking artist Elizabeth Talford Scott is being highlighted around the City of Baltimore with a series of exhibits displayed at nine different sites at different points throughout the year.
“No Stone Left Unturned: The Elizabeth Talford Scott Initiative,” pulled together five museums and four university sites across the city in a unified tribute and celebration of Scott’s work. Each venue has worked with students in the Exhibition Development Seminar (EDS) at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) to organize a free public program and create a presentation of Scott’s work for their gallery spaces.
Although the EDS course is taught at MICA, students from several schools including Johns Hopkins, Morgan and Coppin State Universities are enrolled in the course and have been involved in the curation and development of the exhibits. EDS instructor Deyane Moses, who also serves as Afro Charities’ curator of Archives, spoke on the origins of the program and what it’s bringing to the Baltimore area.
“The city of Baltimore is getting the chance to learn more about Black women artists and to be re-introduced to Elizabeth Talford Scott, the mother of Joyce J. Scott, who is a well known artist in Baltimore. She [Elizabeth Talford Scott] was a fiber artist and the way in which she thought and worked is different than anything I’ve ever seen before,” Moses explained. “She included rocks
and stones and other types of archival material like beads and different fabrics that she inherited from other people and her own personal travels and experiences.”
One of the museums participating in the initiative is the Reginald F. Lewis Museum. Their exhibit, “BLACK WOMAN GENIUS: Elizabeth Talford Scott— Tapestries of Generations,” has been on display since February of this year and it features art from Scott and several other artists including her daughter, Joyce J.Scott. The multigenerational exhibit is broken up into four different themes, all of which pay homage to the impact the legendary artist made on the world of art.
“The show is separated into four themes and the four themes are ancestry tradition, healing and fiber narratives. in our fiber narratives theme, we have pieces from Murjani Merriweather, and her work is focusing on pushing back against Eurocentric beauty standards that Black people and more specifically in this show Black women have faced,” explained Imani Haynes, the curator at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum.
“We also have work from Glenda Richardson. We‘re featuring one of her quilts ‘Black Lives Still Matter’ and it is a quilt where it’s remembering the lives of those who were murdered at the hands of police and in the center of that quilt, she has a Black woman with the Black Power fist raised and an African proverb quote, that says ‘They tried to bury us but didn’t know we were seeds.’”
The Lewis Museum has one of Scott’s earliest pieces on display along with some of her other quilts. As the Lewis
Museum honors her legacy they’ve also dedicated part of the exhibit to her trailblazing influence in the world of textile art and in regards to Black women in art overall. Other artists such as Merriweather and Richardson are being featured in the exhibit as well to help emphasize the creativity and beauty that exist within Black textile art.
“When developing the show, we were thinking of her genius as a Black woman and fiber artist.
“BLACK
WOMAN GENIUS” is an exhibit where we are celebrating the life and legacy of Elizabeth Talford Scott, but we also wanted to position her as the mother figure to Black women and the fiber arts,” stated Haynes. “With Elizabeth being as groundbreaking as she was as a quilter, we wanted to make sure that the work of our featured Black women artists
were doing the same.”
In addition to the Lewis Museum, the Walters Art Museum displayed some of Talford Scott’s work and highlighted her unique craftsmanship that has since inspired generations of artists.
“Stitched Memories: Celebrating Elizabeth Talford Scott” highlighted Talford Scott’s creativity explored the artist’s ability to fuse cultures and history. The Walters featured two of the three small sculptures that were created by Talford Scott and are simply Dany Chan, associate curator of Asian art at the Walters Art Museum, spoke with the AFRO on how the pillows added to the already extensive Chinese textile collection at the Walters.
“The student curators came on board and they found out that Elizabeth had actually used a Chinese robe to make
a total of three pillows and we were able to secure a second pillow. Two out of the three pillows [were] on display in the exhibit,” said Chan. ‘“Stitched Memories’ [is] unique [because] the students were able to connect Elizabeth’s work to our historical Chinese Textile Collection. On view, we
“Elizabth
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I feel like her work is something only she could come up with. We would not have the amazing artist we have now if it had not been for her.”
have a 19th century Chinese woman’s ceremonial cloud collar, and that cloud collar shape [was] invoked in the pillows.”
“Elements of the cloud collars fabric and motifs were also used in the pillows themselves. We [were] able to make connections for our visitors to demonstrate this great melding of time periods, of cultures but also of shared motifs,” Chan continued.
The exhibit at the Walters Art Museum closed on May 12, but there is plenty of work to still be enjoyed. The work of Talford Scott is timeless and it continues to inspire and remain relevant to artists everywhere. The textile art pioneer is often overlooked and undermined, however projects like EDS and artists like Moses are helping keep her legacy well and alive.
“Elizabeth Talford Scott, when you look at her work, it really shows you what creativity is. I feel like her work is something only she could come up with,” Moses exclaimed. “We would not have the amazing artist we have now if it had not been for her.”
Information on the open and ongoing exhibits can be found below:
Eyewinkers, Tumbleturds, and Candlebugs: The Art of Elizabeth Talford Scott Nov. 12, 2023 – April 28, 2024
Baltimore Museum of Art 10 Art Museum Drive | artbma.org
BLACK WOMAN GENIUS: Elizabeth Talford Scott—Tapestries of Generations Feb. 1 – Sept. 30, 2024
Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture (RFLM) 830 East Pratt Street | lewismuseum.org
Material
By Ama Brown AFRO Editorial Assistant
Morgan State University (MSU) held Spring 2024 Commencement Exercises May 16 and 18 at Hughes Memorial Stadium, located on the historically Black institution’s Northeast Baltimore campus. Scholars of all different ethnicities and religious and cultural backgrounds convened with family, friends and university leadership to celebrate their accomplishments. Not even the steady downpour of rain could dampen the spirits gathered to recognize the Black excellence on display.
The keynote address was given by Sir Samuel Esson Jonah, current chancellor of the University of Cape Coast. Jonah spoke with graduates about the future they are tasked with, such as the rise of artificial intelligence and the changes that the advanced technology will bring. Esson was given an honorary doctorate along with Valerie LaVerne Thomas, Ed.D., one of the many Black women who worked at NASA in the 1960s and 1970s. Thomas graduated from MSU in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in physics, making the 2024 recognition a full circle moment.
Congressional Black Caucus members are putting pressure on the Biden-Harris administration to grant protections to Haitians fleeing to the U.S. amid the unrest in the Caribbean nation.
U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., told the AFRO the administration needs to stop deporting Haitians who are seeking refuge in the U.S.
“To deport anyone to Haiti right now is nothing short of a death sentence. The headlines may have faded, but this humanitarian crisis continues to worsen with every day,” said Pressley. “We’re not waning in our advocacy and in this fight –we’re going to keep fighting
“To deport people back to Haiti is a cause and kiss of death. There is nothing in Haiti but suffering, so we have to say to the president of the United States, ‘stop the deportation.’”
and holding everyone accountable to keep their word on behalf of the people of Haiti.”
U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., also weighed in.
“To deport people back to Haiti is a cause and kiss of death,” she said in a statement. “There is nothing in Haiti but suffering, so we have to say to the president of the United States, ‘stop the deportation.’”
U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus McCormick, D-Fla. said in a statement obtained by the AFRO that “in the face of the crisis in Haiti, our moral compass and international duty compel us to step forward, not just to alleviate the immediate suffering of the Haitian people, but to address the systemic problems forcing Haitians to flee their homeland.”
In recent months, Haiti has seen an uptick in violence due to armed gangs targeting the nation’s police stations, airports and the country’s largest port, which has resulted in food insecurity.
Members have stressed that many Haitians are on the verge of starvation and it is essential that the Biden-Harris administration intervene.
The violence in the Caribbean nation comes as gang members have grown frustrated with the postponement of presidential elections following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. After Moïse’s death, Ariel Henry, who recently stepped down as Haiti’s prime minister, came into power and held the position for three years. Gang members believed Henry was abusing his
authority and demanded he step down.
Last month, Henry resigned and Haiti’s transitional council named Fritz Bélizaire as the country’s new prime minister in hopes of quelling the violence in the nation.
U.S. Representative Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., told the AFRO “Haiti deserves a democratic transition led by its own civil society. This right to self-government is inherent to every nation. It means that the Haitian people— not external forces—should decide the concepts of consent and sovereignty that guide their future.”
Clarke added,“The United States can help repay a debt to Haiti by fostering a democratic transition that allows its people to freely determine their path.”
In a tragic incident on May 19, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and several highranking officials, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, perished in a helicopter crash in the foggy, mountainous region of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. The crash has sent shockwaves throughout Iran and the international community, intensifying the already complex geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.
The incident
State media reports that the helicopter carrying Raisi and his entourage went down in a remote area, prompting a strenuous rescue operation that ultimately confirmed the worst. Among those on board were the governor of East Azerbaijan and several bodyguards. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with initial reports suggesting challenging weather conditions as a potential factor.
Ebrahim Raisi: A controversial figure
Ebrahim Raisi, 63, had a significant and contentious impact on Iran’s domestic and foreign policies. Seen as a protégé of Supreme Leader Ayatollah
presidency was marked by hard-line stances and aggressive regional maneuvers. His tenure included escalations in uranium enrichment, bringing Iran closer to developing nuclear weapons capability, and extensive support for militia groups across the Middle East.
Raisi’s foreign policy was assertive and often confrontational. Just last month, under his leadership, Iran launched an unprecedented drone-and-missile attack on Israel amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Raisi’s administration also supplied bomb-carrying drones to Russia for use in the Ukraine conflict, further straining relations with Western nations.
Domestically, Raisi’s rule faced significant challenges. Iran has been gripped by widespread protests, particularly over economic hardships and women’s rights. The 2022 death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody sparked a nationwide movement demanding greater freedoms and governmental accountability, leading to a brutal crackdown by authorities.
Reactions from around the world
The international response to Raisi’s death has been mixed. Russia, Iraq, and Qatar have issued formal statements of concern, highlighting Raisi’s role in shaping current Middle Eastern dynamics. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences, emphasizing the strategic partnership between Tehran and Moscow, particularly in military collaborations.
In contrast, some Western nations have reacted with cautious optimism, viewing Raisi’s departure as a potential opening for diplomatic negotiations on nuclear and regional security issues. However, the immediate impact on Iran’s policies remains uncertain, with First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber stepping in as interim leader until new elections are held.
Looking ahead
Supreme Leader Khamenei has called for national unity and prayers, urging the government to continue its work unabated. Under Iran’s constitution, a presidential election must be held within 50 days to elect Raisi’s successor. The potential candidates and their stances will likely shape the future course of Iran’s domestic and international policies.
Raisi’s death has also reignited discussions about the succession of the Supreme Leader, with speculations around Mojtaba Khamenei, the leader’s son, potentially taking on a more prominent role. This possibility raises concerns about the further entrenchment of a dynastic element within the Iranian theocracy, reminiscent of the monarchy overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The sudden loss of President Ebrahim Raisi marks a significant moment in Iran’s contemporary history. As the nation mourns, the international community watches closely, anticipating how this tragedy will reshape the geopolitical and internal dynamics of a country at the crossroads of numerous critical issues. The upcoming months will be crucial in determining whether Iran will see a continuation of Raisi’s hard-line policies or a shift towards a different political direction.
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM000509 CAROL B. BOYD Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
JENNIFER COOPER SCALES, whose address is 3114 AMADOR DRIVE HYATTSVILLE MD. 20785 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of CAROL B. BOYD, who died on FEBRUARY 25, 2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before NOVEMBER 17, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before NOVEMBER 17, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: MAY 17, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
JENNIFER COOPER SCALES Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 5/17, 5/24, 5/31/24
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM000444
JANICE MARIE FLETCHER Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: MAY 10, 2024
EDWARD FLETCHER, whose address is 1309 GABES PL HYATTSVILLE MD 20785 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of JANICE MARIE FLETCHER, who died on FEBRUARY 6, 2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before NOVEMBER 17, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before NOVEMBER 17, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: MAY 17, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
EDWARD FLETCHER
Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 5/17, 5/24, 5/31/24
5/17, 5/24/24 SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM000427 DORENDA RENEE CANTY Name of Decedent OLESYA SIDORKINA,ESQ. ( BAR NO.1034094) 2001 MOUNT VERNON AVE ALEXANDRIA VA 22301
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM00047
MICHAEL E SHELL Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
LINDA B SHELL, whose address is 618 UPSHUR ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20011 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MICHAEL E SHELL, who died on MARCH 17, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before NOVEMBER 17, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before NOVEMBER 17, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: MAY 17, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers LINDA B SHELL Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 5/17, 5/24, 5/31/24
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO.
SOTURA DONALDSON, whose address is 7005 DUNNIGAN DR. CLINTON MD 20735 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of BOBBY DONALDSON, who died on MARCH 2, 2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before NOVEMBER 24, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before NOVEMBER 24, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: MAY 24, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers SOTURA DONALDSON Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 5/24, 5/31, 6/07/24
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE
2 , 2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before NOVEMBER 24, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before NOVEMBER 24, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: MAY 24, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers DIANA MARIE OLLIVIERRE Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 5/24, 5/31,6/07/24 SUPERIOR COURT OF
BOARD OF LIQUOR LICENSE COMMISSIONERS FOR BALTIMORE CITY NOTICE – MAY 2024
Petitions have been filed by the following applicants for licenses to sell alcoholic beverages at the premises set opposite their respective names. The real property for these applications will be posted on or about May 20, 2024. Written protests concerning any application will be accepted until and including the time of the hearing. Public hearings may be scheduled on or after May 30, 2024 at 10:30 AM in City Hall; 100 N. Holliday Street, Room 215, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. Please visit llb.baltimorecity.gov under the link for “Hearing Schedules” for confirmation of the date, time, and place for all matters being heard by the Board.
1. CLASS “A” BEER, WINE & LIQUOR LICENSE
Applicant: Sahani, Inc. T/a One Stop Shop Liquor - Pushpa Sharma, Janak Pun Magar, and Nim Sahani
Petition: Transfer of ownership
Premises: 4905 Frankford Avenue 21206
Applicant: 12 Bhairab, Inc. T/a Winchester Liquors - Pallabi Bijukchhe and Patricia D. Anderson
Petition: Transfer of ownership
Premises: 1141 Poplar Grove Street 21216
2. CLASS “B” BEER, WINE & LIQUOR LICENSE
Applicant: Risky Biscuits, LLC T/a Bunny’s - Brian Acquavella
Petition: New restaurant license requesting outdoor table service and off-premises catering
Premises: 801 S. Ann Street 21231
Applicant: September Trees, LLC T/a Rize + Rest Café - Randall Jovan Matthews Petition: Requesting outdoor table service
Premises: 3100 E. Baltimore Street 21224
Applicant: Eden Sports Bar & Grill, LLC T/a Eden Restaurant - Jer emy Freeman Petition: New restaurant license requesting live entertainment and outdoor table service
Premises: 6317 Belair Road 21206
Applicant: Red Crab Sushi, Inc. T/a Red Crab Sushi House - Kong Fei Chen Petition: New restaurant license
Premises: 438 E. Belvedere Avenue 21212
Applicant: Alma Cocina Latina, LLC T/a Alma Cocina Latina - Irena Stein
Petition: Transfer of ownership requesting live entertainment and outdoor table service
Premises: 1701-05 N. Charles Street 21201
Applicant: Crockett & Tubbs, Inc. T/a Nola Seafood & Spirits - Andrew Lasinski and Lonnie L. Shaulis
Petition: Transfer of ownership with continuation of live entertainment
Premises: 32-36 E. Cross Street 21230
Applicant: Copper Café, LLC T/a Copper Café - Mark D. Larkin, Jr.
Petition: New restaurant license requesting outdoor table service, off-premises catering, and delivery of alcoholic beverages
Premises: 5736 Falls Road 21209
Applicant: Demari, Inc. T/a Zella’s Pizzeria - Mert Ozturk
Petition: Transfer of ownership requesting off-premises catering and delivery of alcoholic beverages
Premises: 1143-45 Hollins Street 21223
Applicant: Baltimore Beach Fish, LLC T/a Nick’s Fish House - James R. Weisgerber and John Kelly Dayton
Petition: Transfer of ownership with continuation of live entertainment and outdoor table service
Premises: 2600 Insulator Drive 21230
Applicant: Facci Ristorante of Baltimore, LLC T/a Facci Ristorante - Luigi Palma-Esposito and Jacob S. Dellheim
Petition: Request to add live entertainment, outdoor table service, and off-premises catering
Premises: 414 Light Street, Suite 102 21202
CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NOTICE OF LETTING
Sealed Bids or Proposal for the TR-23004R, INSPIRE SCHOOLS SIDEWALK RECONSTRUCTION, will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until JUNE 5, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. Board of Estimates employees will be stationed at the the Holliday Street entrance to City Hall from 10:45 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. every Wednesday to receive Bids. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. The bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall at Noon. As of MAY 17, 2024, the Contract Documents may be examined, without charge by contacting Brenda Simmons at brenda. simmons@baltimorecity.gov or (443) 865-4423 to arrange for a copy of the bid book labeled “NOT FOR BIDDING PURPOSES” to be emailed to you. Anyone who desires to purchase a bid book to be used for bidding purposes must do so in person and by contacting Brenda Simmons at the email address or phone number above. The non- refundable cost is SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($75.00) to be paid at the Department of Transportation 417 E. Fayette Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 made payable to the Director of Finance. Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package. All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be prequalified by the City of Baltimore Contractors’ Qualification Committee. Interested parties should call (410) 3966883 or contact the Committee at 4 S. Frederick Street, 4 th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. If a bid is submitted by a joint venture (“JV”), then in that event, the document that established the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes. The Prequalification Categories required for bidding on this project is D02620 (Curbs, Gutters & Sidewalk) Cost Qualification Range for this project will be from $800,000.00 to $1,000,000.00. A “Pre-Bidding Information” session will be conducted via Microsoft Teams on May 29, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. hosted by the Department of Transportation. All Bidders must email your contact information to include your name, company name, phone number and email address to michael.donovan@baltimorecity.gov to receive an invite to the Microsoft Team (video conference meeting. Principle Items of work for this project are: 5” Concrete Sidewalk – 96,300 SF; 7” Plain Cement Concrete Pavement Mix #6 – 4,300 SF. The MBE Goal is 30%; The WBE Goal is 15%. APPROVED: Celeste Amato, Board of Estimates
Applicant: Savoy’s Spot. LLC T/a Savoy’s Spot - Dominque Frances Sa-
CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NOTICE OF LETTING
Sealed Bids or Proposal for the TR-23014, STRUCTURAL REPAIRS ON BRIDGE CITYWIDE JOC 1, will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until JUNE 5, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. Board of Estimates employees will be stationed at the Security Unit Counter just inside the Holliday Street entrance to City Hall from 10:45 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. every Wednesday to receive Bids. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. The bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall at Noon. As of MAY 17, 2024, the Contract Documents may be examined, without charge by contacting Brenda Simmons at brenda.simmons@baltimorecity.gov or (443) 865-4423 to arrange for a copy of the bid book labeled “NOT FOR BIDDING PURPOSES” to be emailed to you. Anyone who desires to purchase a bid book to be used for bidding purposes must do so in person and by contacting Brenda Simmons at the email address or phone number above. The non- refundable cost is SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($75.00) to be paid at the Department of Transportation 417 E. Fayette Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 made payable to the Director of Finance. Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package. All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be prequalified by the City of Baltimore Contractors’ Qualification Committee. Interested parties should call (410) 396-6883 or contact the Committee at 4 S. Frederick Street, 4 th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. If a bid is submitted by a joint venture (“JV”), then in that event, the document that established the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verifi
