Modern families redefine love, parenthood and connection
By Andrea Stevens AFRO Staff Writer
In place of the once standard nuclear model, a diverse range of family structures has emerged in modern society, reflecting new social norms, legal progress and personal choice.
Same-sex marriages, blended families, single-parent homes and chosen families are reshaping modern households.
One notable shift is the growing visibility of LGBTQ+ married couples raising children together, a right legally recognized nationally only in the past decade.
Married couple Jessica and Shiquita Counce have been together for eight years and married for five. They are raising three children in a blended household and shared insight into how their family functions day to day.
“Shiquita aka ‘MommyDoc’ is the provider and protector. She cuts the grass and brings home the bacon. I am also ‘Mommy’ and the caretaker. I cook, clean and manage the family,” said Jessica.
raising a blended family alongside her husband, understands that complexity firsthand.
“Our family is beautifully blended, rooted in love, teamwork and mutual respect,” she said.
Her household includes her husband, Devern’s teenage daughter, their toddler and a baby on the way. She said their modern setup functions much like any other family, centered on shared responsibility and intentional parenting.
“We didn’t get to this point overnight but it took mistakes, growth, maturity and developed respect from all parties,” Jerilyn said.
Having been a stepmother since her bonus daughter was just 2 years old, Jerilyn reflects on how their relationship evolved over more than a decade.
Research shows children in same-sex households experience similar outcomes to those in heterosexual households. Still, LGBTQ+ parents may face legal and institutional challenges, including issues with recognition and school support.
yourself grace, strive for stability, never argue in front of the kids, eat dinner together,” Shiquita said.
For the Counce family, prioritizing quality time is a guiding principle. Creating a happy and healthy home environment is at the center of everything they do.
“Family time first, give
Your History • Your Community • Your
She also offered heartfelt praise for her wife and advice for families navigating similar dynamics.
“Jessica is the best parent because when she’s sick or busy everything falls apart,” Shiquita
praised her spouse. She also shared some principles for maintaining a healthy family: “Just accept what comes with each person, always explore both ways of doing things, be honest with your intentions and speak with love.”
Representation of same-sex families continues to grow in media, education and public policy, but legal disparities
between states still create complications, particularly in custody disputes, adoption processes and healthcare decision-making.
Blended families, formed when partners bring children from previous relationships into one home, are increasingly common and shaped by their unique histories and structures.
Jerilyn Coleman, who is
“The most rewarding part of being a bonus mom is experiencing a deep, genuine connection with a child I didn’t give birth to but love as if I did,” she said. Their bond, she added, is one that was built deliberately, with care and mutual trust.
“That kind of love is unique because it wasn’t automatic; it was earned, nurtured and chosen by both of us.”
Black family reunions are powerful intergenerational spaces for reconnecting, learning, and healing. Passed down through generations, these gatherings preserve history and joy despite centuries of separation and systemic oppression.
The power of Black family reunions
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer tmcqueen@afro.com
Family reunions have long been a vital part of Black Americans coming together, learning from and enjoying one another.
From the printed T-shirts and lavish cookouts, to card game tournaments, line dancing and other activities, Black family reunions are often events that live long into the participants’ memories.
“It’s one of the largest intergenerational spaces you’ll find in the Black community,” said Aleya Fraser, a cultural historian and ethnobotanist. “You have great-grandparents, great-aunts, great-uncles, babies, toddlers—everyone in one space.”
This annual tradition, passed down and upheld through generations, helps people remember where their family came from, unite with one another and find joy— something that has been rare
for Black Americans throughout the years of slavery and systemic racism.
“During the period of enslavement, Black families were ‘torn asunder’ with fathers, mothers and children facing the constant peril of being sold away from each other,” said Angela Siner, director of African Studies at The University of Toledo. “However, the physical separation did not diminish the emotional attachments individuals had for their loved ones. They held loved ones in their hearts, and believed that they would be reunited again.”
Siner explained that at the end of the Civil War, the top priority for the freed people was to reunite with family members.
“According to historical records, individuals placed ads in newspapers and even walked to the last places where they had seen them,” said Siner. “This time of reunification became the
“It’s one of the largest intergenerational spaces you’ll find in the Black community. You have great-grandparents, great-aunts, greatuncles, babies, toddlers— everyone in one space.”
basis for future Black family reunions.”
Fraser also discussed how young adults today can use family reunions as a way to connect with their elders.
“One of the major complaints of our generation is that our family members and elders did not pass down everything they knew. This is only partially true,” said Fraser. “We do not spend enough time with elders, asking them
questions, building deeper relationships with them, and observing their actions. The moment I start coming around more often and showing love, the floodgates of information open and most people are more than happy to share.” She also recommended engaging in an ancestral task with them—such as shucking corn or shelling peas—and using that time to ask open-ended questions.
Photo courtesy Jessica Counce
Married couple Jessica and Shiquita Counce put an emphasis on raising children in a happy and healthy home. The Counce family is blended from children Jessica had from a previous marriage, and the daughter they both share. Seen here is Jessica Counce (left), Khyri Boone, Lily Counce, Trenton Boone and Shiquita Counce.
Courtesy Photo Jerilyn Coleman
Jerilyn and Devern Coleman have a blended family rooted in love, teamwork and mutual respect. Seen here is Jerilyn Coleman (left), Khylee Coleman, Jaxyn Coleman and Devern Coleman.
AI-generated photo courtesy of Google’s Gemini
Dads to Doulas: Empowering fathers to advocate amid maternal health crisis
By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com
In the face of an escalating Black maternal health crisis, a new program is empowering Black men and expectant fathers with the education and training needed to advocate for their families from pregnancy to infancy. Dads to Doulas was launched in 2024 by Dear Fathers, a St. Louis-based platform, in an effort to reduce disparities in Black maternal and infant health outcomes.
Brad Edwards, community engagement and program strategy director for Dear Fathers, designed the program alongside Kyra Betts, a full-spectrum doula, lactation counselor and infant care specialist. Edwards was moved to create the program after the stillbirth of his twin boys in 2017.
“There was nothing that I could say to blame the medical system. Their mom was in Chicago finishing pharmacy school, and I was in St. Louis. I went to one doctor’s visit during her pregnancy,” said Edwards. “I didn’t know that things could go left so quickly, and I didn’t know that there were so many different things I needed to do to prepare myself for that process.”
He thinks if he had been a part of a program, like Dads to Doulas, he would have navigated the situation differently. Later, Edwards began working on a mental health initiative with friends from college. The work introduced him to more Black families who experienced their own tragedies during childbirth.
“I had a unique opportunity to interview all of these Black moms that were doctors and high-earners—everything you think would save you from a horrific experience, yet they all had these traumatic stories,” said Edwards. “The one thing I noticed was that they were all avoidable if they would have had medical staff that understood or a partner that could properly advocate for them.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than their White counterparts. This disparity becomes even more troubling given that 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.
After collaborating with Betts on virtual maternal health workshops, the pair decided to formalize the coursework with the Dads to Doulas program. The six-week curriculum covers topics, including the history of birth, pregnancy and labor physiology, perinatal mood disorders and intervention, partner advocacy and infant care.
“One thing that I’ve learned in my time as a doula is that we don’t give dads enough to do and, therefore, we have very low expectations of them,” said Betts, curriculum designer and lead
Love, loss and the toll of caregiving
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
Keith Brown, 56, knows firsthand the emotional and physical toll of being a caregiver. Since his mother, Gertrude Jordan, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014, Brown has learned to navigate this heart-rending journey with faith and family.
“I call her my new mommy because the mommy that I knew for 45 years of my life is no longer the same individual,” said Brown. “I’ve come to love her, nurture her and know her as my new mom.”
Brown, who describes himself as a “mama’s boy,” said the most difficult part of this process has been watching her physical deterioration.
“When I travel out to Los Angeles to visit her every few months, something else has changed,” said Brown. “Her physical abilities have been minimized even more. Her appearance has been minimized, even more. It’s mentally and emotionally taxing to see that.”
Brown emphasized how his family has gotten through this challenging time, by operating as a village for their mom and one another.
Brown shared that in the early days of her diagnosis, family members shared the full-time responsibility of caregiving for his mom with one another.
“She went from home to home, month to month,” said Brown. “She was loved, nurtured and cared for. Between me, my wife and son, and my sister and her family, we were able to share those duties.”
care for her and share the financial responsibilities of her diagnosis.
Brown spoke candidly about the weight of caregiving responsibilities, especially the financial burden.
“Mom’s caregiving is extremely expensive,” said Brown. “She does have health care and retirement as an educator of over 40 years, but caregiving is so astronomically expensive now that what she brings in is not enough. It takes both families to support mom financially.”
According to a 2021 report by AARP, family caregivers contribute an estimated $600 billion in unpaid labor. The economic impact of that surpasses the United States’ out-of-pocket spending on health care in 2021.
As his mother’s condition worsened, his sister and brotherin-law stepped in as her primary caregivers. Still, Brown said he makes it a priority to visit
facilitator for Dads to Doulas. “We have created a culture in which they’re not involved, but there’s such a place for them.”
She pointed out that since women typically only receive minimal instruction on reproductive health, men’s knowledge on the subject is likely even more limited.
“We need our partners to be informed and to be able to be present and supportive,” said Betts. “So much of that is going to have to come from the right education.”
Many of the program’s concepts were not new to Julian Pearson, father of five daughters. His wife is a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse. Over the years, he’s absorbed much of her knowledge through a kind of osmosis—learning about medical racism, the Black maternal mortality rate and the roles of doulas and midwives.
“My biggest thing was if my wife can’t speak for herself at the moment, I have to know exactly what to say and what to do—not only for her, but for my daughter,” said Pearson. “That’s been my stance five times over.”
Pearson joined Dads to Doulas last August to learn about other fathers’ experiences.
Though he said he and his wife were fortunate to never encounter racial bias during their reproductive journey, his second daughter’s birth was somewhat traumatic.
After a long labor at home caused by what they believe was a miscalculated due date and a difficult fetal position, their midwife recommended a hospital transfer out of concern for blood loss. But, before they could make it inside, his wife gave birth in the emergency room bay. He said the experience was so intense that hospital staff still recall it today.
Dads to Doulas has helped Pearson to better understand the intricacies and nuances of what the mother’s body endures during pregnancy and labor. It also provided him with more knowledge about the postpartum recovery process and how to offer meaningful support
advocates for their families during pregnancy, birth and infancy.
during that critical period.
Pearson praised Betts for engaging him and the other fathers and holding them accountable for their coursework, which he called “phenomenal.” He said his participation in the program has reaffirmed that he has a voice in the reproductive journey, and he can use it to stand up for himself, his wife and his children.
“You can support your partner. You can support yourself. You can stand up for what you believe in. You can make your birth plan and stick to it. You can feel confident that if you’re being pressured into something you can stand on what you wanted to do,” said Pearson. “That’s what the course taught all of us.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than their White counterparts.
The maternal health crisis becomes even more critical to address as more than 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.
regularly and support his family however he can.
“Caregivers all deserve a break,” said Brown. “They have to have that respite time, time to release, relax and restore.”
According to a 2017 survey by the New York City Department for the Aging, at least 1 in 4 of each group of caregivers reported that they need respite care but have not received it. Two of the most prevalent barriers to supportive services for caregivers and their loved ones is a lack of knowledge about what is available and financial limitations.
Jane Barton, founder of Cardinal, highlighted some other challenges caregivers face. Cardinal is a consulting firm that produces educational programs to aid people in confronting the challenges caused by aging, illnesses and disability.
Photo courtesy of Brad Edwards
Brad Edwards is the community engagement and program strategy director for Dear Fathers, a St. Louis–based platform dedicated to telling real stories about Black fatherhood. He helped to launch the Dads to Doulas program in 2024 to prepare fathers with the knowledge and skills needed to serve as
Nappy.co/ Alyssa Sieb
The Dads to Doulas program empowers expectant fathers to advocate for their partner and children.
Courtesy photo
Keith Brown (left) is pictured with his wife, Wakea Champion-Brown, his son, Keon Jamal Brown, and his mother, Gertrude Jordan, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014. The family comes together to
Black dads: A quiet comeback or steady commitment?
By Andrea Stevens AFRO Staff Writer astevens@afro.com
For decades, the image of the absent Black father has shaped both policy and public perception. But a new wave of research—and testimony from Black families themselves— suggest that narrative is shifting.
In 1960, according to U.S. Census data, nearly 78 percent of Black children lived with married parents. By 2011, however, that number had “dropped significantly, with more than 70 percent of Black children born to unmarried mothers,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported.
However, recent statistics suggest a modest rebound. From 2012 to 2022, the number of U.S. children living in homes without a father or both parents dropped from 20.6 million to 18.4 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And a 2013 CDC
study also found that “among fathers living with their children, Black fathers were more likely than their White or Hispanic counterparts to participate in daily tasks such as feeding, bathing and helping with homework.”
For Shanice and Steve Cook, a married couple of 12 years raising three children together, the data mirrors their lived experience.
“I’ve definitely noticed more Black fathers in the home with our friend groups and this generation,” Shanice Cook said. “It’s more realistic now. Fathers are being intentional, trying to give their kids what they didn’t have—or what they did.”
Steve Cook, who was raised by a single mother after his parents divorced, said he feels a strong sense of purpose in changing the narrative for his own children.
“I believe it has become more apparent that Black fathers are needed in households to provide stability and balance,” he said. “A lot of us were
raised by single mothers, and we’re trying to do better for our children.”
He added that he sees the difference firsthand.
“From my lens, I’ve seen the impact of Black fathers in the home. You can see that the children are loved. They’re not out chasing something they didn’t get at home. There’s an ascension of Black excellence with the generations after us.”
Shanice Cook, who did not grow up with her biological father in the home, said raising children in a two-parent household is a powerful and healing experience.
“It’s definitely fulfilling,” she said. “To be able to give my children something I didn’t have—a family with mommy and daddy in the house, family vacations, love—it’s life-giving.”
Steve Cook emphasized the importance of expressing love openly.
“Growing up, I didn’t always feel
“To be able to give my children something I didn’t have—a family with mommy and daddy in the house, family vacations, love—it’s life-giving.”
the love because my mom had to be so strict,” he said. “Now, I want my kids to know right away that they are loved and everything we teach them is out of love.”
Tisha Moorer, a single mother with a 4-year-old son, gives her take on single parenthood with the father’s support.
“Our dynamic is a little complex. We live together to coparent but are not together romantically,” she said.
“His father is very active, and my son gets to play with both of us at
the same time and see how healthy coparenting can present itself in a unique way.”
She emphasizes the importance of her son having his father around so that he has the perspective that he needs.
“Having his dad in his life is important because he can explain things to him in a way that I can’t,” she said. “Ayo was potty trained very quickly and that’s a testament to the bond and understanding his father brings.”
Glenn Ivey’s balancing act: a congressman, a husband, a father
By Ashlee Banks Special
to the AFRO Abanks@afro.com
In a city where power meetings stretch into the night and policy fights often drown out personal lives, Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.-4) has found a rare and resonant rhythm, balancing the demands of public service with the quiet duties of fatherhood and family.
Speaking with passion about his purpose and priorities, the Maryland congressman told the AFRO he pours his energy into public service and family, with little room for anything else.
“I love what I’m doing. I’m totally committed to doing it, you know, 110 percent,” said Ivey. “I don’t have hobbies, I don’t play golf, I don’t garden… I love working and I love focusing on my congressional duties when I’m not spending time with the family.”
For Ivey, a Black father and devoted husband to Jolene Ivey, a former state delegate and Prince George’s County Council member, family is not a footnote in his political journey. It is the foundation.
In a Congress filled with cross-country commuters, Ivey’s home is within 20 miles of the U.S. Capitol, a proximity he acknowledges as both a privilege and a perspective-shifter.
“It’s a different kind of issue for me,” he
said, reflecting on colleagues with young children who travel weekly from places like California or Hawaii.
“You’re spending a whole day traveling each way, and then they’re here for three or four days a week. That only leaves them like a day or two to see their kids. I know that’s not easy,” he told the AFRO
But, even without the grueling travel, Ivey is honest about how politics can stretch a family thin. When Jolene launched her own political career, Ivey was then serving as Prince George’s County state’s attorney, an already demanding job that suddenly required another set of skills–being a primary caregiver.
“At first, I wasn’t cooking dinner. I was ordering pizza,” he admitted, laughing. “And then, you know it’s bad when the kids start complaining about pizza again. They actually took up a collection and got a cookbook.”
So, he learned to cook and he grew to enjoy it.
Later, when Jolene ran for lieutenant governor, the household burden shifted almost entirely to him. The load was heavy, but he did not complain. Instead, he adjusted, adapted, took the hits and found the humor in it.
“It was pretty much just me,” he said simply, with the practiced humility of a man who has spent decades navigating public life while trying to keep private life intact.
“I don’t have hobbies, I don’t play golf, I don’t garden… I love working and I love focusing on my Congressional duties when I’m not spending time with the family.”
But, the Iveys are not your typical Washington family. Politics is not just dinner table talk, it’s dinner itself.
“Some of our family members who aren’t in politics have to leave the table if they want to get away from the political conversation,” he joked. With both parents steeped in public service and one of their sons, Julian, also holding elected office, the Iveys represent a multi-generational commitment to civic life— and to each other.
In a Congress often defined by
brinkmanship, bitterness, and burnout, Ivey offers something different. His story is not just about juggling responsibilities, it is about reimagining what leadership looks like, rooted in service, sacrifice, humor and love.
As lawmakers continue to debate policies on work-life balance, childcare, and family leave, Ivey’s lived experience gives him a front-row seat to the stakes. He is a reminder that behind every vote is a father trying to get home for dinner, a husband who once learned to cook because
were
Courtesy photo/ Tisha Moorer
Tisha Moorer, a single mother, understands the importance of her son’s father being in his life.
his kids
tired of pepperoni.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
Congressman Glenn Ivey (D-Md.-4), seen leaving a committee meeting on Capitol Hill, exemplifies how a Black father and husband can balance the intense demands of public office with deep commitment to his family, choosing service over hobbies and adapting his home life to support a politically engaged household.
Courtesy photo/ Shanice Cook
Steve and Shanice Cook have been married for 12 years, and are raising their three beautiful children with love and intention. (From left: Shanice Cook, Sydney Cook, Saxon Cook, Sayon Cook and Steve Cook.)
Raising sons with care: Black fathers lead by example and build community
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer tmcqueen@afro.com
With the odds often stacked against Black boys, it’s crucial to shine a light on how Black fathers and community leaders are guiding them forward. Even before their sons have learned to speak, many Black fathers are thinking about how to protect them from a world that won’t always love them back.
For dads like Colin Rocker, a content creator based in New York, and leaders like Dr.
Alan-Michael Graves, a national fatherhood advocate from Los Angeles, raising Black boys is intentional work. It means planting seeds of community and value early on.
“Black parents have to teach their children, especially their boys, about how society perceives us and how to navigate it,” said Rocker, 29.
Rocker is a new father to 1-year-old, Isaiah. Even at this young age, Rocker makes sure to lead by example.
“I was given really good advice before he was born that, as a dad, calmness is a superpower. I make sure that he sees that in me,” said Rocker. “I respect his mother. His mother respects me. We work as a team, and we don’t resolve conflicts by yelling; we talk things out.”
Graves, senior director of Learning and Capacity Building with Good+Foundation, echoed this sentiment.
“We can’t expect the younger guys and the guys coming behind us to do what they don’t see,” said Graves. “When you know better, you do better.”
Rocker believes that raising Black boys requires a village of role models.
As a dad, Rocker said he sees it as his responsibility to paint a clear vision of the kind of role models his son should have in his life.
“If you want to go far, you’ve got to go together,” said Rocker.
Graves also recommends reaching young men as early as possible.
“Rather than waiting until we come into a system to learn about child support and all of those things that are barriers to us later in life, I am an advocate of providing that education early on,” said Graves, 54.
Graves regularly works with several groups of young men and older men in the community, where they share their experiences and learn from one another.
“We’re sitting talking about education,” said Graves. “We’re talking about mortgages. We’re talking about long-lasting relationships. We’re talking about being healthy and strong fathers.”
One of the main things he’s realized in his 18 years of work is that young men need to
“It’s not good enough to be a better dad than you had. You have to be the best dad for the moment you’re in right now.”
learn how to separate themselves from some of the lessons they were taught at a young age.
“I believe our parents did the best that they could. But we’re at a different age, and we need a different set of tools to be equipped for it,” said Graves. “We need to equip boys with the tools to manage their feelings and emotions. We are taught not to express or show our feelings and emotions, but nine times out of 10, that gets us in trouble.”
“The old adage of men don’t cry—I
debunk that all the time,” added Graves. “Let this man show up how he shows up. If he’s feeling sensitive and emotional, let him be sensitive and emotional because then he’s not aggressive and violent.”
Though still early in his journey as a father, Rocker has already learned a few valuable lessons.
“It’s not good enough to be a better dad than you had,” said Rocker. “You have to be the best dad for the moment you’re in right now.”
Community programs uplift Black single fathers through mentorship, school engagement and support
Kendra
Community-based programs within Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) are connecting Black single fathers to provide fellowship and guidance as they navigate parenthood.
“Through our bi-weekly mentorship gatherings, school-based programming and community support networks, we have helped hundreds of fathers re-engage meaningfully in their children’s lives,” said Markus Trent, executive director of Fathers Fighting 4 Fathers (FF4F).
FF4F launched in 2022 and is in partnership with 31 Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS), including Calvin M. Rodwell Elementary/Middle, James McHenry Elementary/Middle and Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women (BLSYW).
Trent’s inspiration to start the nonprofit stemmed from his own life experiences with the raising of his daughter, facing many obstacles despite
being educated, and the lack of connection with the school system. He began hosting breakfasts and the Fatherhood Parent Teacher Association (PTA).
“Many of the single fathers believed that they weren’t welcome into their children’s schools. It’s a common misconception that dads don’t get involved in their children’s education, but this is not
necessarily the 1940s or ‘50s anymore, where dads were just particularly playing one little role,” said Trent. “In the program, we encourage fathers to introduce themselves to their children’s teachers and get to know their social workers.”
Having single fathers present in their children’s schooling has allowed many positive changes to occur.
“The fathers feel empowered, but the children feel a sense of pride when their fathers are there for breakfast or reading to them in the classroom,” said Trent. “We have letters of reference from over seven schools over the last two years showing how attendance has improved with the fathers being involved.”
Hazman Tarrant, a disabled veteran and single father of two children, is also a member of FF4F. The program has helped him overcome his challenges with parenting.
“There were times when I was just frustrated–not so much at my children, but [at] the situation of me raising them by myself,” said Tarrant. “I viewed it as such a negative, but the program allowed me to view it as a positive.”
Many Black single fathers find themselves hesitant to work with the court systems because of the history of unequal treatment.
“Walking into the court system as a young Black man to take a paternity test felt like I
By
Bryant AFRO Intern
Courtesy of Everette Mitchell Capital Youth Empowerment Program (CYEP) hosts an initiative called Fathers in Tech for single fathers in Washington, D.C., and Arlington, Va. The program hosts several outings to foster ties between fathers and their children.
Courtesy of Everette Mitchell Everette Mitchell (right) and his daughter, Amauri R. Mitchell share quality time both inside and outside of the Capital Youth Empowerment Program (CYEP).
Courtesy of Markus Trent
Fathers Fighting 4 Fathers (FF4F), in partnership with 31 Baltimore City Public Schools sites, hosts a tour of the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum for fathers and children from the Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys.
Courtesy photo
Colin Rocker (left) and his son, Isaiah share a moment of connection as Rocker embraces the intentional journey of fatherhood.
Photo by Devin Allen
Black fathers are being encouraged to show up in their sons’ lives and educate them so they can become exemplary men.
was being criminalized,” said Everette Mitchell, a single father and programs manager of Capital Youth Empowerment Program (CYEP). “But I faced it head-on.”
“There’s no secret that the family court systems contribute to the emotional strain that single fathers go through,” said Trent. “The court often looks down on Black fathers with questions like, ‘Oh, you’re the custodial father or guardian?’”
CYEP provides career coaching, peer support and guidance to single fathers through programs like Fathers in Tech. They recognize that fatherhood involves emotional and financial responsibility.
According to The Annie E. Casey Foundation, custodial fathers were less likely to be unemployed, 9 percent versus 22 percent for custodial mothers.
“One father recently came into the program, having been released from incarceration, and is struggling to find steady employment,” said Mitchell. “After joining, he secured a job in the tech field and is not only financially stable, but he’s emotionally present.”
As a young single father, Mitchell also experienced
how financial struggles could impact parenting.
“The judge calculated my payments based on recent overtime wages I had earned, which gave an inaccurate picture of my income. At the time, I was working part-time at a local grocery store, and it was clear that I couldn’t support myself and my child on that salary,” said Mitchell. “I tried to explain to the judge that I had an opportunity to go to college and play football on scholarship.
His response? ‘Don’t think about college. Get a job at McDonald’s.’”
Despite the challenges they face, many single fathers in these programs remain committed to being present and involved in their children’s lives.
“You can aspire to be a doctor, a lawyer, all of those things are great,” said Tarrant. “But the one thing that we should really push more is wanting to be a good parent.”
“You can aspire to be a doctor, a lawyer, all of those things are great,” said disabled veteran and single father, Hazman Tarrant. “But the one thing that we should really push more is wanting to be a good parent.”
Courtesy of Everette Mitchell Everette Mitchell (right) and his son, Brandon J. Quattlebaum have overcome several trials since Mitchell earned full custody. Quattlebaum is now a father and a graduate of the Father in Tech program.
Courtesy of Markus Trent Fathers being present in their children’s schools gives them a sense of pride. Fathers Fighting 4 Fathers hosts breakfasts and Fatherhood PTAs to help single fathers, like Mr. Brooks, who is seen here with his son, feel more welcomed into schools.
After losing their children to police violence, these mothers are fighting for change
By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com
Prince George’s County, Md. resident Marion Gray-Hopkins created the Coalition of Concerned Mothers (COCM) in 2015 to cultivate a safe space for mothers who’ve lost children to police and community violence. The organization not only provides a community for grieving mothers to heal, it also supports families in seeking justice and accountability, while advocating for legislative reforms to foster safer communities.
Gray-Hopkins was motivated to start COCM after the untimely death of her 19-yearold son, Gary Hopkins, at the hands of law enforcement in November 1999. Gary Hopkins, a college student and part-time nursing home worker, was fatally shot by Prince George’s County police after he helped to break up a fight outside of a dance at a Lanham, Md., fire station.
“My husband and my son had always told me how very strong I was, and it gave me the fuel that I needed to begin to fight for others,” said Gray-Hopkins. “I’ve always said that this is not Gary’s fight, or Marion’s fight or the Hopkins family fight. This is a fight for all of us because if it could happen to Gary, it could happen to anyone.”
Though unarmed, officers claimed Garry Hopkins was a threat. One pulled him from a car, and another shot him in the chest. No officers were ever held criminally accountable.
Just 16 days before her son’s death, Gray-Hopkins lost her husband to metastatic bone cancer. Gary Hopkins only went to the dance that night after his supervisor at the nursing home, seeing how deeply he was grieving, encouraged him to go.
“I was devastated of course, but I didn’t have time to think, ‘Oh, woe is me.’ I got into this fight because I needed to do it for Gary, for my husband, for my other children, for my nieces and my nephews,” said Gray-Hopkins. “I had to try to do something to say that I’m not going to allow Gary’s death to be in vain.”
“The loss of a child is something that no one can prepare themselves for.”
Losing a loved one as a result of law enforcement action is all too common for the Black community. According to the latest report from Mapping Police Violence, at least 1,260 people were killed by police in 2024. Twenty-five percent of them were Black, though African-Americans only make up 13 percent of the population.
COCM empowers impacted mothers to lean on one another and affirm each other’s experiences and emotions. One of the group’s biggest priorities is to end qualified
Rhanda Dormeus, treasurer of the Coalition of Concerned Mothers, holds a photo of her daughter, Korryn Gaines, who was killed by Baltimore County police on Aug. 1, 2016. In the midst of a mental health crisis, Gaines was fatally shot by an officer after an hours-long standoff that began when officers entered her home to serve a warrant for a minor traffic violation.
immunity, a legal doctrine that often protects police officers from being personally sued—even when they violate someone’s rights.
Rhanda Dormeus, treasurer of COCM, believes qualified immunity only exists to keep law enforcement from facing meaningful consequences.
“From my perspective, qualified immunity was birthed to cover up bad behavior,” said Dormeus. “They want to protect people who are doing wrong in the capacity of them being employed.”
Dormeus’ 23-year-old daughter, Korryn Gaines, was
fatally shot by a Baltimore County police officer on Aug. 1, 2016, after an hours-long standoff at her Randallstown, Md., apartment.
Officers had entered her home using a key to serve a warrant related to a minor traffic violation. Gaines, who was in the midst of a mental health crisis and legally owned a shotgun, armed herself, fearing for her safety. Police also shot and wounded Gaines’ 5-year-old son during the incident. Despite Dormeus’ repeated pleas to speak with her daughter and her efforts to involve Gaines’
therapist, police refused her requests.
Gaines’ family filed a civil lawsuit against the county and the officer who killed her, Cpl. Royce Ruby Jr., in 2018, ultimately winning a $38 million jury verdict. However, the decision was later overturned when a judge, who was a former police officer, granted Ruby qualified immunity, ruling that his use of deadly force did not violate a clearly established constitutional right. This came after the jury had already ruled that Ruby was not entitled to qualified immunity.
“The loss of a child is something that no one can prepare themselves for. I don’t
care if it’s due to sickness or an accident, but I think the difficult aspect of it is to have someone intentionally kill your child,” said Dormeus. “That’s the gut punch.” For Dormeus, it’s an unspoken understanding that binds the women of COCM together. They don’t need words; sometimes, a shared glance or quiet tears are enough to communicate their grief.
“You need to surround yourself with people who will help you fight through this pain, and that’s what the coalition gives me,” said Dormeus. “They give me hope, and that’s all we want. We want hope.”
A path back home: Former detainee reflects on reentry and family reconnection
By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com
After experiencing the reentry process firsthand, Foster Sellers decided not to run from his past, but lean into it. Following his own reintegration into society after involvement with the legal system in 2016, Sellers began volunteering with Community Family Life Services, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that specializes in women’s reentry and supports individuals facing poverty and homelessness.
That experience sparked a passion for the work and eventually led him to the National Reentry Network for Returning Citizens, where he now serves as project coordinator. The AFRO connected with Sellers to discuss his personal journey with reentry and family reunification, as well as the network’s efforts to help formerly incarcerated individuals rebuild their lives.
AFRO: What did your own reentry and family reunification process look like after being involved with the legal system?
Foster Sellers: The first hurdle was employment. When you’re inside you lose your employment and benefits, and that trickles down to transportation, health care, food, clothing and shelter. You have to have money to pay for rent, provide food yourself and clothes yourself. My situation became about survival. I tried to maintain some sense of normalcy given the fact that I did
not have a support network or social system to assist me as I was navigating unknown territory.
I was in a homeless shelter, and I was going to Miriam’s Kitchen to get food services. They were also able to help me with clothing. Then, I got connected with Thrive DC, and they were able to provide me with some social services.
For me, my immediate family was in the area but that did not necessarily mean I had a place to live. They wanted to know how I was going to contribute, what my game plan was and see some things in place. It was a process.
My parents were not necessarily involved in my reentry. They took a very standoffish approach. It took me back to my time going through the system and the night of my arrest. My parents were far away— out of sight, out of mind. That begins to resonate with you because when people you think would come to your rescue start to distance themselves it gets dark. It’s the start of disunification as opposed to reunification.
One of things I had to confront was the lost time. The night I was arrested was an emotional time because I thought my parents would be the first to come in and try to do all they [could] to advocate for me or that we would be a united family. But, it wasn’t like that. It was a journey. I had to rebuild trust, and that is a slow walk. It’s not easy.
AFRO: Where would you say you are now in your journey of
for Returning Citizens Foster
took emotional intelligence. I had to decide whether I had the grit to get through something like this when my family was far away and when I felt so alone. If I didn’t figure things out on my own, I would have been in a position of relying on other people. I had to come to terms with that and not be angry and upset.
reconnecting with your family?
FS: I think I’m in a healthier phase. I’ve done the work to address the big six, or employment, shelter, food, clothing, transportation and health care. Doing that was the biggest way I could prove–to myself first but also my family–that I was ready to start coming around and interacting with them more. I secured a housing situation where I had a chance to reconnect with my siblings. That helped me to prove to them that I wouldn’t be inconsistent. Ultimately, I’ve moved from barrier to breakthrough, and that
AFRO: What might families of returning citizens misunderstand about reentry?
F.S. I think there is a misconception that all returning citizens want to be taken care of and that they cannot take care of themselves. There needs to be more of an opportunity for returning citizens to show a different side of themselves that they don’t readily get a chance to show because of the situation they’re in. They come out of a system that’s been telling them what to do, how to do it and when to do it, which makes reintegration challenging. Communities should be finding ways to allow
returning citizens to take care of themselves and dismantle that myth.
AFRO: How does the National Reentry Network for Returning Citizens support the family reunification process?
FS: One of the things we do is offer the Ready 4 Work Program. If a family member or loved one knows someone who will be returning soon, they can refer them to the program to help them find and prepare for employment.
We also do a lot of community outreach and relationship building. We work with organizations, like the READY Center, where families are always engaging and looking for programs to benefit returning citizens. We also have monthly community focus groups, allowing the larger community to come in to learn about what we do. They can ask questions about how they can support a family member and what kind of support we can provide. It varies. The reunification process is unique to each family.
Meta (Facebook)/ The National Reentry Network
Unsplash / 7EAVEN
Reconnecting with family members and reintegrating into one’s home
Photo courtesy of Marion Gray-Hopkins
Marion Gray-Hopkins, co-founder and president of the Coalition of Concerned Mothers (COCM), holds a photo of her son, Gary Hopkins, who was fatally shot by Prince George’s County police on Nov. 27, 1999. She established COCM to provide impacted mothers with a safe space to grieve, heal and advocate for change.
Photo courtesy of Rhanda Dormeus
How to move forward after trauma
By Victoria Mejicanos
“What happens in this house stays in this house.”
“Stop crying before I give you something to cry about.”
“Fix your face.”
These are all sayings that many within the Black community grew up hearing, but their deeper impact often goes unnoticed until it’s too late. While these may seem harmless, and some may even find them amusing, these sayings promote behaviors that can quickly become toxic to a family dynamic. By encouraging secrecy, suppression of emotions and control based on shame, these sayings teach children – who carry the lessons
households, like “Fix your face” and “What happens in this house stays
this house,” are reexamined for their lasting emotional harm.
Origins of homecoming
By
African Americans have proven their ability to adapt and thrive, curating a rich heritage centered on community and deeply entrenched in family relationships. And homecoming celebrations have been a means of cementing those bonds and memorializing shared history and traditions.
According to BlackPast.org, during the Great Migration, 1915 to 1960, Black families moved their southern roots to the north and west in search of greater economic opportunities, less oppressive racial conditions, hopes of prosperity and a better life.
“My grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins were actively engaged there. My sister was the usher board president. But, after the pandemic, the numbers dwindled.”
Thomas,
her newly-married husband, Bravette. After marrying in 1950 in North Carolina, Bravette “caught a ride to Baltimore” to look for work. He landed a job with the Bethlehem Steel Co. in the Sparrows Point Shipyard facility in Baltimore County. At that time it was a thriving manufacturer of steel, considered one of the largest in the world. A year later, the now established husband sent for his 19-year-old bride.
Although millions of Black families relocated to northern states and other areas, their hearts were still very connected to “home,” as Thomas said.
With the same enthusiasm and emotion of college and university alumni, Black families faithfully returned annually for homecoming celebrations. People wanted to go back home where they were raised, to the places with which they were most familiar, the people whose faces they cherished and communities steeped in shared history.
Over 68 years of marriage, the Thomases built an incredible life with the goal of returning home to North Carolina when retired. They diligently saved, purchased land, built a house and returned every holiday, sharing special moments with family and friends in anticipation of their eventual retirement.
Churches also held homecoming celebrations, where hundreds of people came from all over to fellowship. These gatherings of past and present congregants and community residents offered exciting activities, great food and fellowship and the chance to reminisce on memories of the way things were.
Charles E. Johnson, who resides in Prince George’s County, Md., recalled homecoming events at his family church, Lawson Chapel Baptist Church in Roxboro, N.C., usually held on
into adulthood – to hide pain, silence themselves and prioritize obedience over emotional health, creating a never ending cycle that becomes harder to break.
Sometimes it isn’t just phrases, but expectations placed on children from a young age. Javion Postell, a 20-year-old man from Oklahoma City was the oldest of four siblings. He said each day growing up consisted of not only getting himself ready for school, but his siblings as well. His responsibilities only grew over time.
“A lot of times, especially when I got older, I was cooking dinner, I was watching my siblings, I was doing a lot of very adult things from a very young age,” said Postell. The young adult shared that often he had to choose between doing homework and doing chores, and when he didn’t choose what his parents wanted, he was berated.
down from generation to generation because we’re afraid to talk about it,” said Smalls.
The shame and secrecy then spill over into conflict which leads to resentment down the line. For Smalls, the first step is acknowledgment.
“In my family, we feel like that’s starting drama if you have those conversations, but it’s not, it’s starting healing. That’s where the healing process starts,” she said.
The author and wellness coach added that it’s OK to take distance from family when needed, especially if a productive conversation with boundaries and humility takes place prior.
“I think whenever your peace is consistently compromised that means there needs to be some distance,” said Smalls.”Regardless of who it is, God did not put us here to be in constant turmoil, to be in constant distress, and it’s OK to walk away.”
“I think whenever your peace is consistently compromised that means there needs to be some distance.”
Nijiama Smalls, the CEO and founder of the Black Girl’s Guide to Healing Emotional Wounds, said she was inspired to start the virtual space to help people heal themselves after working with people of color in Washington, D.C. She said that a lot of her clients had learned toxic behaviors in the 1980s and ‘90s, but it didn’t stop there.
“I think our community as a whole has embraced toxic behavior that we celebrate, like when we curse each other out when we’re upset,” said Smalls.
One such toxic behavior is the burying of family secrets, which according to Smalls, can be harmful. “We keep those secrets, and in those secrets, there’s a lot of shame, and that shame we keep passing
She reassured that taking some distance from family does not mean complete hatred or disownment.
However, acknowledgment is not always possible for some people and accepting that fact is key to healing, according to Smalls.
“Acknowledgement requires one to sit with themselves. It requires time alone. Time in silence. It requires maturity and courage that not everyone has,” she said.
In terms of how to rebuild, Smalls said it requires time and hard work. Steps such as journaling, praying and reading self-help books are solutions as long as a person is ready to begin.
“There are no obstacles to healing,” Smalls said. “Healing is free.”
the fourth Sunday of October.
The church was founded and supported by relatives from his maternal lineage, inclusive of the Lawson, Jeffers and Thomas families, he said.
“My grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins were actively engaged there. My sister was the usher board president,” he said beaming with pride.
“But, after the pandemic, the numbers dwindled,” Johnson added disappointedly.
In 1967, while attending North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, N.C., Johnson, a native of Roxboro, N.C., began traveling to Baltimore for work during summer breaks. As fate would
have it, he met a girl, fell in love, married and remained in the DMV (Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia). Still, he never stopped returning home. It has been a consistent way of life for him–always checking on loved ones from his hometown or showing up at their events. Johnson said that he would “hop on his bike,” or “gas up the RV” in a heartbeat to go home. He is committed to his roots and stays involved in that community.
For Johnson, as for many, homecoming is more than returning to a home, church or HBCU for a celebration. It’s about strengthening bonds, and affirming shared faith, history and heritage and creating legacy.
AFRO Intern
Courtesy photo
Life and wellness coach Nijiama Smalls says when children are forced to bury painful secrets, that secrecy translates to shame, and that shame can carry on into adulthood and down through generations, causing untold harm.
Unsplash/ Dylan Sauerwein
Common phrases in Black
in
Geneva
of Baltimore’s Howard Park community, says this was the case for her and
Marnita Coleman Special to the AFRO
Nappy.co/ Nappy Stock
For many Black families, homecoming represents more than tradition—it’s a powerful affirmation of faith, identity and generational love that transcends distance.
Black families on communication dynamics
By Elijah Qualls AFRO Intern
The AFRO went into the Washington, D.C. community to speak with Black family members of all ages, and many backgrounds to
better understand how varying communication norms have affected their upbringing, social interactions, and perceptions of their future. Here, the “generational curse” is addressed, analyzed and combatted.
AFRO Photos / Elijah Qualls
Latondria Carter, 41 Atlanta, Ga.
Human resources director
“Oftentimes in Black families, we don’t say how we feel. We don’t say, ‘[I] love you.’ We don’t say, ‘I care about you.’ We don’t say, ‘I understand.’ That’s something I grew up lacking in my household, so it’s something that I passed on because I didn’t receive it. I make sure my nieces and nephews receive that love, hear it and feel it. Also, it’s kind of a changed mindset now because my mom, who was very unaffectionate growing up, is now very affectionate and very communicative in terms of how she feels about the grandkids. But she wasn’t that way with her own children. We’re learning to be more affectionate and say how we feel.”
Freddie Thomas, 36 Washington, D.C.
Recreation center and camp director at So What Else (SWE)
“That’s where families get messed up, bad energies in these homes. The kids don’t know who to look at. They don’t know if the mom’s good, the dad’s good, even the auntie. They don’t know what’s going on. There’s so much bad energy going on, then the kids get corrupted and are going to school crying. It starts with home; all this stuff starts with the house. You’re going to do what your parents allow you to do and what you get shown. Even if you see your friends doing it, that doesn’t mean anything. But most of the time, people look at their parents. My kids look up to me, so whatever they see me do, they want to try to do it.”
Shana Grant, 22 Washington, D.C.
Math and science teacher
“I think what I notice the most is the idea of taboo. The idea of keeping up appearances and keeping things appearing to be copacetic doesn’t allow for deep emotional conversations. It doesn’t allow for people to express themselves, because they feel like it’s going to go against what is acceptable within the family or what’s acceptable in the image of the family.”
“Men back in the day were taught to keep things inside. They didn’t express issues or concerns with the family. They just felt like they had to keep all of that stuff on themselves in order to take care of it, and that really diminished their mental health. Transitioning and passing that way of learning and communicating down to future generations, it caused a divide in the family. When the family can’t even communicate within one generation of each other, it’s really sad. It’s not until people step outside of the box and try to break those generational curses and those cycles, and force communication that things start to get a lot easier. The family dynamics get better. There’s a lot more cohesion. A family that sits down at the dinner table and communicates with each other is a lot stronger than the family that eats in separate quarters of the home.”
Toni Benau, 56 Houston, Texas
Employed at Texas Department of Treasury
“I would say growing up, it was very distant. Love was not shown at all, no hugs, no ‘I love you.’ None of that. My upbringing was more of you ask the question, you get an answer. No type of support. Growing up, I knew that if I had a family, I would want the dynamics to be different. With my kids, every time we talk, we say ‘I love you.’ We hug each other. We love each other. We support one another. And I think it makes a big difference because we’re connected. It makes you closer when you have that support and love and you know that everyone is on one accord. Regardless if it was said or done, you know it’s there, but it feels better when you hear it and experience it.”
Amir Jones, 16 Syracuse, N.Y. Student
“If someone wants to communicate, they would actually communicate with you instead of not doing anything and not keeping you updated on life. Communication is what gains trust from people and what gains a lot of good things from people. Without communication, there’s no trust.”
Courtesy photo / Shana Grant
Christopher Glenn, 45 Buffalo, N.Y.
Program manager at non-profit organization, Urban Christian Ministries
Three biblical principles for the Black Family
By Marnita Coleman Special to the AFRO
Biblical principles have helped to shape the Black family for hundreds of years. Discipline and life lessons would often be delivered with a supporting scripture. The bonds between married couples were affirmed and deemed a sacred covenant in the pages of the holy book. Grown children lovingly took on roles as caregivers to ailing mothers and fathers, reminded of their biblically-directed responsibility to honor their parents.
More broadly, disruptions that derailed oppressive systems against African Americans were actually rooted in scriptural law. For instance, imago dei (image of God), a powerful principle affirming that every human is created in God’s image, rejected ideologies that suggested Blacks were inferior to other races.
Israel’s miraculous exodus from Egyptian enslavement symbolized God’s personal disapproval
of oppression. Moreover, the declaration that “all” are one in Christ demonstrated God’s holistic blueprint for the equality of every believer.
The Bible has been a trusted navigation system for Black families, empowering resilience and hope. And, its divinely authored teachings continue to provide instruction in every area of life.
Here are three time-tested biblical principles that are essential for growth and sustainability for the Black family:
Generational legacy and succession
Generational legacy and succession is the forward approach to building a stronger family, supportive community, prepared leadership and increased prosperity.
Apostle Dr. Michael A. Freeman, pastor of Faith City Central, which has campuses in Brandywine, Catonsville and Temple Hills, Md., advised that, “Christ centered priorities must be the
foundation for every family.”
The concept can be seen in the narrative between Moses and Joshua. Moses was chosen by God to lead Israel out of their enslavement in Egypt, through the wilderness – reinforcing their trust in God – and ultimately into the promised land.
After Moses’ death, Joshua (his trained assistant) was installed as successor to finish Moses’ mission and pass down family customs and practices to the next generation. Hence, a godly legacy and succession grounded in biblical principles.
Apostle Freeman said families have to be “taught” about generational wealth, faith transfers and “committed to uphold lifestyles” that reflect integrity and right living through God’s word.
As Black families prepare their generational legacy, it’s important to groom successors for the passing of the baton to continue the mantle of leadership, values, responsibility and traditions.
“Success is not success without a successor,” Freeman said. “Good, successful legacy is not automatic; it must be planned strategically, intentionally and with the full buyin of everyone involved.”
His youngest offspring, Brelyn Freeman Bowman and husband, gospel recording artist Tim Bowman Jr., have been ordained as successors to Freeman’s pastoral ministry. Pastor Brelyn represents the fifth generation of Freeman pastors.
“It’s been said often that it takes teamwork to make the dream work. Succession must be a full team effort to be impactful and significant,” Apostle Freeman concluded.
Unity, love and forgiveness in the family Unity, love and forgiveness
are the biblical framework for a thriving family. The precedent of “one Body, one Spirit and one Father” denotes the inextricable oneness of God which is a model for followers, love being the proof of concept and distinguishing mark of transformation.
Jesus conveyed to his disciples that “in Him” they would have peace, but in the world, they would have “trouble.” Life happens. Challenges will come. Relationships will be tested. He encouraged them to “take heart” because he had overcome the source of their problems.
Rev. Daphne Alexander, co-pastor of Real Truth Full Gospel Ministries in Randallstown, Md., said that we must endure with one another and forgive one another. Love is the power piece that holds all peace together. No family is exempt from challenges. There will be schisms, but the scriptures will equip you with emotional intelligence.
“Put away the offense,” and “discover the roots of your wounds,” Alexander advised. She reassured readers that in Jesus, “Everything that we go through has been dealt with.”
Looking beyond hurt and pain, breaking cycles of toxic behavior and self-inflicted wounds are things “Black families must submit to which lead to forgiveness,” “new beginnings for healing,” and “releases yourself and others from guilt and misunderstandings,” she stated. Reconciliation of the family is the goal of unity, love and forgiveness.
Identity in Christ / Imago Dei (Image of God)
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, Black youth are plagued with internalized inferiority. Accepting their
identity in Christ–not labels from the world–perpetuates the proper energy for success and self-esteem.
Right off the bat, God created mankind in His image. He wasted no time designing his creation and forever solidifying them through regeneration in Christ Jesus. Although Black families have a speckled past involving societal rejection, negative stereotypes and trauma, “adoption to sonship” through Christ overrules prejudice and judgment.
Richard Gross Jr., from Baltimore’s Reservoir Hill neighborhood, said his identity was marred as a youth because he only had the “shadows of the hood” as a model.
“Raised in church,” attending services with his family at least three times per week, he
professed having a personal relationship with the Lord beginning in middle school and believed he had a purpose, but a disability held him captive.
“I was the odd one among the crowd,” he recalled. “I stayed quiet, didn’t talk much because something was wrong with me.”
Gross suffered with undiagnosed anxiety, stuttering and panic attacks. The embarrassment imprisoned him with shame, insecurity and fear, causing abandonment of his dreams.
His family never sought healing for him, but as an adult, he stepped out on faith and received treatment. He overcame the stigma, opened a successful cleaning service and soared. The stronger our identity and self-worth, the higher we rise above the vicissitudes of life.
Unsplash / Aaron Burden
The Bible has served as a guide for African American life, including for nurturing their families, since the days of Black enslavement in the United States.
Courtesy photo Apostle Michael Freeman urges families to build strong successors through faith, planning and a commitment to generational leadership.
AFRO NEWS
Black and Missing: Baltimore woman found, but her disappearance highlighted ongoing national crisis
Alayia Berry returned to family
By Ashleigh Fields Special to the AFRO afields@afro.com
Local police found Alayia Berry, a 21-year-old Baltimore woman who went missing on July 10, after a massive search involving dozens of police officers and volunteers, a helicopter and even a drone. The official search ensued after the woman’s family had been searching on their own for days.
“I am relieved to announce that my niece, Alayia, has been found. Hallelujah!!!” said aunt Alison Perry in a social media post July 15.
“To everyone, I extend my heartfelt appreciation for your prayers and well wishes. Thank you for maintaining hope.”
Authorities reported that they found the young woman at a local
hospital July 15, though they would not offer any details about how she got there and her condition.
Her family previously told police Berry disappeared under mysterious circumstances around 10:45 on July 10. Based on security footage, she was last seen leaving her home near the 3600 block of Bowers Avenue, wearing gray spandex pants and a black tank top, with cornrows in her hair.
“She was in the bed and it appears that someone called her and she got up and went outside. We don’t know who that someone is,” her grandmother, Deneen Penny Rymes, told the AFRO
“She went outside and went towards the dumpster–the ring camera showed that. But she never came back. The lights were left on in the house, the door was left open, and all her belongings were in the house,” she added.
Rymes said her granddaughter left her belongings, which shows Berry was not planning to go somewhere.
“The only thing she had was her telephone, which was found thrown in a wooded area on somebody’s lawn in Catonsville, which is way across town,” she told the AFRO, adding that Berry’s older brother went to the last location stamped on the phone.
Rymes and the rest of Berry’s family contacted and were working with the Black and Missing Foundation (BAMFI) to seek assistance with finding their loved one. The organization helps families take the best course of action after a loved one goes missing.
“When their family members go missing it can be a very taxing process. It’s important to alert the community; someone could have seen or known something they can share,”
Deltas set Guinness Record
Federal probe targets diversity efforts at George Mason under first Black president
By Zenitha Prince AFRO Contributing Editor
Less than three weeks after pressuring University of Virginia president, James Ryan to resign, the Trump administration is at it again. This time, they are targeting George Mason University President Greg Washington, the school’s first Black president. The former American University professor became the eighth president of the Fairfax, Va.-based institution on July 1, 2020.
The Department of Education launched a civil rights probe into hiring practices at GMU, Virginia’s largest public university, on July 10. The investigation is part of Trump’s campaign to reshape higher education to conform to his agenda, including his crackdown on diversity and equal opportunity policies. On his second day in office, the president signed an executive order mandating the erasure of all diversity and inclusion polices
and programs at institutions that receive federal funding.
Institutions like Harvard and Columbia faced the first round of scrutiny, and became the focus of investigations, alleging that the universities had violated Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act by failing to protect Jewish students from harassment and discrimination during
anti-war, and pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
More recently, former University of Virginia head James Ryan came under fire for its DEI commitments when “a group of conservative University of Virginia alumni, the Jefferson Council, published blog entries and newspaper
BAMFI co-founder Natalie Wilson said in an interview with the AFRO Sadly, Berry’s disappearance –though her story had a happy ending – is part of an epidemic of missing Black people, whose stories often get overlooked.
Wilson said 40 percent of missing individuals are persons of color and their disappearances are rarely reflected in local or national news.
For Black women and girls specifically, data shows they represented 36 percent of the 271,493 girls and women reported missing in 2022, despite the fact that Black women and girls comprised only 14 percent of the U.S. female population at the time, according to the National Crime Information Center.
Wilson offered some advice for families whose loved ones are missing.
“Instead, we recommend families come straight to us,” Wilson said.
“We take a holistic approach, help create and circulate flyers while actively making sure the work is being done to find your loved one.”
“When it’s a child time is of the essence, same with someone with special needs,” Wilson said, noting oftentimes families are scammed or asked for ransom after posting a flyer with their contact information.
Former AME Zion bishop pleads guilty in widespread church fraud case
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer tmcqueen@afro.com
Staccato Powell, a former bishop of the African Methodist Episocopal (AME) Zion Church, pleaded guilty to wire and mail fraud and conspiracy to commit fraudulent activity in connection with an extensive scheme to gain control of properties belonging to the church in California via forged documents, deception and false statements, the United States Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of California announced on July 15.
Powell, 65, was officially disrobed by the AME Zion Church in 2021. The denomination, with approximately 1.4 million members worldwide, remains a pillar of the African-American community.
Powell was indicted on Jan. 25, 2022, by a federal jury, alongside Sheila Quintana, a former church lay leader. Quintana, 71, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud on April 22.
Court documents say Powell and Quintana were chief executive officer and chief financial officer, respectively, of Western Episcopal District, Inc., (WED) an entity that Powell established in 2016 after he was chosen as bishop of the AME Zion Church’s Western Episcopal District.
In 2016, Powell directed pastors of AME Zion churches in the Western Episcopal District, which consists of churches in several states throughout the western region of the U.S., to sign deeds granting WED title to their congregation’s property – such as the church building, lots and residences used by the pastors. At Powell’s instruction, Quintana and
From Africa to the Caribbean, 47th president’s policies
cause fear and trepidation
By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO kmcneir@afro.com
Once viewed as a promised land where the “American Dream” could become a personal reality for millions across the globe, the United States is now being seen through a harsher lens since the 47th president took the helm.
With stringent trade and diplomatic policies that have cut off aid to impoverished countries, sparked tariff wars with allies, undercut climate change remedies and demonized immigrants, the current administration has squandered its cache of international goodwill. Adverse policies like travel bans appear to target African countries. But it’s not just Blacks from Africa who face uncertainty and harsher policies – other members of the African Diaspora, including those from Haiti
and other Caribbean islands, also question the inhumane and seemingly unfair policies of the 47th president’s administration.
Less than a week after Americans celebrated Independence Day, the White House announced new visa restrictions for Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana and Nigeria that have immediately raised hurdles for students, professionals and travelers from the four African nations who seek to visit or study in the United States. The new policy limits nearly all non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to nationals of these countries to a single entry valid for just three months and represents a significant reduction from previous conditions allowed under the Biden administration which granted multi-entry visas valid for two years or more.
Photo courtesy Family of Alayia Berry Alayia Berry, who was reported missing on July 10, has been found, police reported.
Photo courtesy of George Mason University George Mason University President Greg Washington faces growing pressure as the current White House administration launches a federal investigation into the school’s diversity efforts.
Photo courtesy of Facebook (meta)/Bishop Staccato Staccato Powell, a former bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, pleaded guilty to wire and mail fraud in a scheme to fraudulently gain control of multiple church properties in California, using forged documents and false statements.
Video screenshot / YouTube
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority has earned the Guinness World Record for the largest wobble dance. The fun-filled feat was accomplished July 8 when 2,385 sorors participated in the line dance during its 57th national convention at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. See the story on Afro.com.
D.C. Council gives preliminary approval to mayor’s budget
By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO kmcneir@afro.com
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) may have hoped that the D.C. Council would give a rubber stamp to her fiscal year 2026 budget during the first hearing and subsequent voting process on July 14.
But with two voter-approved initiatives causing dissension between several council members and the mayor, and the future of the Washington Commanders team in the District on the line, the council meeting turned into a marathon session.
While Bowser’s proposed $21.8 billion budget includes cuts to several social programs on which residents have come to rely, two of the biggest challenges she faces include her opposition to Initiative 82 and the method by which Initiative 83 will be funded.
Since 2018, voters have twice approved Initiative 82, which calls for the elimination of tipped wages for workers and allows for those wages to gradually increase to correspond with the standard minimum wage, which currently stands at $17.95 per hour.
However, in the past few months, Bowser has made it clear that she wants to repeal the initiative as the language in the budget confirms.
In an effort to compromise,
Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said on July 13 that the council was prepared to reduce the hourly rate of tipped workers from $10 to $8 with the caveat that employers would be required to make up the difference if the $8 wage and tips combined did not equal $20. In addition, the compromise stipulated that restaurants would agree to cap service fees charged to customers at 10 percent.
But not everyone on the council believed that compromise was in the best interest of their constituents – a belief that was confirmed by Ward 4
Councilmember Janeese Lewis George, who introduced an amendment during the meeting on July 14 to kill the measure.
Lewis George got the votes she needed, 8-4, which ended the compromise and keeps the policy of tipped minimum wage in effect.
“As you all know, Initiative 82 was voted on twice by voters because our workers really do want and deserve a living wage,” Lewis George said during the meeting. “It’s important for us to preserve that.”
As for Initiative 83, which voters also approved and would allow for ranked choice voting in D.C., the budget failed to include money to fund implementation of the policy. However, Mendelson and his colleagues, pulling a rabbit out
of the hat, found $1.5 million, again on July 14, and voted 8-4 to approve the funding for the measure. So, it is feasible that voters could have the option of ranked choice voting during next June’s primary elections.
Mendelson further thwarted Bowser’s plan to bring closure to an agreement between the District and the Washington Commanders after he removed several parts of the deal from the budget that included funding for the RFK Stadium deal, and set it aside as separate legislation that the council would have to vote on.
But there’s still hope for the millions of fans who want to see the burgundy and gold don their cleats and return to D.C.
Funding remains the biggest issue on which the council and the mayor will eventually need to agree, and with an estimated price tag of $1.1 billion, final approval on this line item of the budget will likely not happen swiftly.
The mayor and the Commanders had hoped that a deal would be reached by July 15 – the date allegedly needed if things are going to remain on track and allow for the team to open the 2030 season back at RFK Stadium.
Meanwhile, the Washington Commanders, in a statement, warned that “any substantial delays in the stadium deal would jeopardize D.C.’s ability to attract premier concerts,
D.C. Council adopts ranked choice voting, affirming November ballots
By
Washington, D.C. council members voted to approve funding for ranked choice voting July 14 in the first of two votes on the District’s budget.
The measure, known as Initiative 83, would allow unaffiliated voters to participate in the party primary of their choosing and gives voters the option to rank candidates on the ballot from their most desired contender to the least.
The winning candidate must receive more than 50 percent of votes to advance as the elected official. If no candidate wins that majority, then an “instant runoff” occurs: The candidate who received the fewest firstchoice rankings is eliminated, and voters who ranked the now-eliminated candidate first have their ballots added to the totals of their next-choice candidate, according to the Campaign Legal Center.
D.C. Council members affirmed support for Initiative 83 in an 8-4 vote during the council’s budget hearing after a majority of Washingtonians voted in favor of ranked choice voting in the November election.
D.C. Councilmembers Christina Henderson (I-AtLarge) and Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1) introduced the budget amendment seeking to add funding for the measure on July 14. Nadeau encouraged her colleagues to approve Initiative 83 in an effort to give voters “more agency” and “honor” Washingtonian’s November election, in which more than 70 percent of local residents voted to approve
/ Element5 Digital Washington, D.C. legislators vote to advance funding for ranked choice voting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, affirming an initiative greenlighted by District voters in November.
the legislation.
Henderson said she supports ranked choice voting due to her own experiences. She was one of 24 candidates running for a slot on the Council and said in votes with numerous prospects, a person who gains 10 to 15 percent of the ballots shouldn’t win as outlined under the current rules that require a simple majority ballot count to advance.
“The District is in a strong position right now and this is a logical next step as our elections have become more competitive and more people are interested in serving their community,” Henderson said in a statement after the vote. Currently, Maine and Alaska are the only two states to fully adopt ranked choice voting in state and federal elections.
“Every way I slice it, ranked choice voting leads to
global talent, and marquee events – including the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup.”
Ward 7 Councilmember
Wendell Felder, like the mayor, wants the council to move forward and support the RFK
more voter choice, and I think that’s a good thing,” Councilmember Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2) said after the vote.
“Today I voted to adopt ranked choice voting in D.C. elections, listening to the 73 percent of voters who advocated for this in a ballot initiative last election,” she added.
However, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D-D.C.), Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D-At-Large) and Councilmembers Anita Bonds (D-At-Large) and Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4) have each shared concerns about Initiative 83.
“I think it’s going to make elections take longer, be confusing to many voters, and I think the net result will not be better government. I also resent initiatives that come to us from out of state interests,” Mendelson said in a statement last November.
While Lewis George originally opposed open primaries, she ultimately voted to support the budget amendment to approve funding for Initiative 83 on July 14.
“There is much to be proud of in this budget as D.C. faces unprecedented fiscal challenges and one of the most difficult budgets in recent years,” Lewis George said after the budget vote.
“Let’s get this right and pass a budget that keeps our promises to District residents and protects the services our city relies on most.”
Stadium deal.
“This is not just a development deal,” he said. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to secure a real investment.”
The council will take a
second go at the living wage initiative and ranked choice voting, as well as the deal between D.C. and the Commanders on July 28, before sending the budget to the mayor for her signature.
Trayon White reclaims Ward 8 council seat
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority returns to D.C. for 57th National Convention
By Andrea Stevens AFRO Staff Writer astevens@afro.com
Thousands of members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority gathered in the nation’s capital for the organization’s 57th National Convention, celebrating more than 112 years of sisterhood, scholarship and service. The biennial event, held July 8-13, welcomed more than 20,000 attendees to Washington, D.C., where the sorority was founded in 1913. Founded by 22 collegiate women on the campus of Howard University, Delta Sigma Theta is one of the largest historically Black sororities, with more than 350,000 initiated members and over 1,000 chapters worldwide. The
return to its birthplace marked a meaningful homecoming for many members and served as a powerful reminder of the sorority’s legacy and continued impact.
Elsie Cooke-Holmes, the 28th international president and chair of the board of directors, welcomed attendees and reflected on the significance of the convention.
“This is Delta’s home, and I know for some of my D9 (Divine Nine) brothers and sisters, you’re at home too,” she said. “This convention is more than a convening — it’s a homecoming of strength and purpose. A sacred opportunity to reflect on where we’ve been, what we’ve built and the vision we carry forward as we continue to serve.”
The five-day event featured a mix of business sessions, service initiatives, educational forums and cultural celebrations. One of the highlights was the public meeting held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, featuring remarks from civic leaders, educators and national figures who applauded the sorority’s commitment to social action, economic development and public service.
Several awards were presented during the public meeting, but for the AFRO team, the Lillian Award stood out with deep personal significance. The Lillian Award
Ashleigh Fields Special to the AFRO
Unsplash
was named in honor of Lillian Pierce Benbow, the sorority’s
AFRO Photo/ Andrea Stevens
Sorority members from all across the country have come to Washington, D.C., to the 57th National Convention of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. (From left, Delicia Arnic, Delois Woodard, Deandria Arnic, Deloren Arnic and Felicia Arnic)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson Washington, D.C. residents from Ward 8 voted in a special election July 15, ultimately re-electing Trayon White to the council seat that became vacant after White was expelled earlier this year over federal bribery charges. See story on Afro. com.
In Prince George’s
County,
Sheriff Carr leads with service, not sirens
Law enforcement official centers community engagement in crime prevention efforts
By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO kmcneir@afro.com
In a world where slogans like “Stop Racist Police Brutality,” “Defund the Police,” “Black Lives Matter,” and “Hands up, don’t shoot,” often dominate the headlines, there remain law enforcement officials who care about the people they serve and collaborate with local leaders on behalf of their collective community.
And, based on the word on the street, Sheriff John D.B. Carr, of Prince George’s County, Md., counts as a member of and leader within the law enforcement community who’s on the right track.
At least that’s the sentiment of two highly respected local activists: Dr. Lamont Bunyon, president of 100 Black Men of Prince George’s County Chapter; and Franklyn Malone, CEO and founder, 100 Fathers. Both men joined Carr on a recent segment of his new podcast, “Behind the Badge with Sheriff Carr,” which provides insights into the Sheriffs Office’s initiatives, statistical reports and community efforts.
The trio of men were joined by Taylor Thomas, who served as host and has been a noteworthy fixture within the Washington Metropolitan Area’s media circle (radio and television) for the past two decades.
Carr, who began his career in 2002 and was elected sheriff in 2022, has served in every rank and currently leads a managerial team responsible for nearly 400 sworn and civilian support employees, serving over 900,000 residents of Prince George’s County.
He said the idea for the podcast came because of his two decades of commitment to principles which remain the foundation of his role as sheriff: transparency, honesty, service and community.
“I believe it’s important that we ensure that the community we serve is both protected and informed and, whenever possible, I seek ways to foster buy-in from local businesses and nonprofit organizations in efforts
to provide additional services and activities that benefit youth, seniors and families,” Carr said.
“Inviting men like Dr. Bunyon and Dr. Malone on the show was an easy decision because of the outstanding work that they’ve been doing in Prince George’s County and Washington, D.C., for so many years.”
Carr lists the task of making broken families whole again as one of his top priorities along with other goals such as tackling and eradicating domestic violence, increasing mental health services, and increasing investments for youth development on a variety of fronts.
“We know the statistics related to youth-involved carjackings, violent outbreaks and fights at the National Harbor and other negative and often illegal actions. And while it’s the job of the sheriff’s department to protect and serve, we are equally focused on offering services and programs that represent a more preventive and proactive mindset,” Carr said.
“What’s going to happen when Six Flags closes in Maryland at the end of the year? What do we offer that youth can do that’s both fun and safe? And how do we approach not only those who are the victims of domestic violence but those who have perpetrated such crimes?” Carr continued. “These are the questions and challenges that weigh heavily on my mind and to which I am fully committed to finding, or at least working toward securing solutions.”
Bunyon said Carr has been a great partner with the 100 Black Men of America because of the organization’s mission since its founding in 1963: mentoring youth.
“It’s easy to be critical of our youth, but if we want to see things change for the better, we have to show them pathways that lead to successful outcomes and help them achieve their dreams,” Bunyon said. “Like Sheriff Carr, our members know that you must listen to youth first. Then, if you’re serious about reaching them, you must show them that they can be more than
they think they can be.”
Bunyon said one of the things he admires most about Carr is his ability to connect with the community, regardless of age or ethnicity.
“Carr is doing a stand-up job and he’s innovative,” he said.
“Our youth are beginning to understand and believe that the law is meant to work for them, too. Rather than looking for what’s wrong, the sheriff is working to promote what’s right.”
Malone said he’s a big supporter of Carr because he’s a man with big and laudable ideas.
“Sheriff Carr is more focused on identifying resources for our youth instead of locking them up when they make poor decisions – that’s the sign of a man with great leadership skills and vision.” Malone said.
“He’s the kind of person I prefer to work with because he’s all about prevention, intervention and innovation. My organization stands firmly behind him in bringing his goals, his vision of a better Prince George’s County, into reality.”
On any given evening, one might find Carr and his staff working in collaboration with local organizations to keep youth engaged in educational and funfilled activities – from STEM-related classes to outdoor sports like flag football or soccer.
“Allowing youth to let off steam through sports is certainly important, but if our children are going to be ready to take our place in the future, they’re going to need 21st century skills,” Carr said. “We must prepare and train them now, so they’ll be ready tomorrow.
“When we were young, there was no such thing as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity or computer technology experts. That’s why we have to listen to our youth and find out what moves and motivates them, what excites them. Then, we look for ways to help them make their dreams come true.”
Sheriff Carr’s podcast airs monthly on Prince George’s Community Television (CTV) on Verizon FIOS Channel 42 and Comcast Channel 76. Check local listings for days and times.
Iconic D.C. staple Ben’s Chili Bowl to close temporarily for renovations
Ben’s Chili Bowl, one of Washington, D.C.’s iconic eateries, will be temporarily closing its historic location on U Street to conduct essential repairs and upgrades, the restaurant announced in a recent press release. This marks the first closure to the iconic building for repairs in over 60 years.
“We’ve welcomed generations of guests through our doors, and now we’re taking this time to care for the space that has meant so much to so many. It’s time to give it some love, so it can serve another generation,” said
While repairs are underway, the restaurant will open a temporary “pop-up” location, just across from their U Street building, where they will continue to serve their renowned “halfsmokes,” according to the press release. The new location will open at 11 a.m. on July 17. A community anchor since 1958, Ben’s Chili Bowl has seen many celebrities, locals as well as prominent politicians and leaders come through its doors, evident in the pictures on its walls. This temporary closure for essential repairs is, as the restaurant put it,“not a goodbye, but a see you soon.”
Ben’s Chili Bowl founder Virginia “Mom” Ali in the statement.
By Ali Halloum AFRO Intern
Courtesy photo
Ben’s Chili Bowl’s U Street location in Washington, D.C., pictured here, is temporarily closing for renovations, the restaurant announced in a press release.
Photo courtesy Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office.
During a recent segment of “Behind the Badge with Sheriff Carr,” a new podcast that airs in the Greater Washington Area, host Taylor Thomas (left); Prince George’s County Sheriff John D.B. Carr; Franklyn Malone, CEO and founder of 100 Black Fathers; and Lamont Bunyon, president of 100 Black Men of Prince George’s County discuss a range of issues related to youth and family, including how to keep children engaged and out of trouble, preparing youth for employment and identifying resources to reduce the effects of mental illness and domestic violence within families.
BALTIMORE-AREA
Mass overdose at Penn-North underscores ongoing opioid epidemic in Baltimore
By Megan Sayles and Tashi McQueen
Staff Writers
AFRO
msayles@afro.com, tmcqueen@afro.com
The recent mass overdose that left 27 people in need of emergency medical care in Baltimore’s Penn-North neighborhood drew national attention—with the size of the event being largely considered unprecedented.
But, for local health care workers on the frontlines of the city’s opioid crisis, it was less an anomaly and more a magnified version of what they face day-in and day-out.
“It’s really hard. I’m happy in a sense that it shed some light, but once one, two, three days are gone and the news is gone, we’re still stuck here,” said Josie Dantzler, a nurse practitioner with Penn North Recovery. “We do this every day. It’s a shock to the world, but this is our every day.”
On the morning of July 10, first responders from the Baltimore City Fire Department, along with other city agencies and community partners, responded to the mass overdose incident and remained on the scene through the evening. Of the 27 people, seven were reported to be in critical condition and 15 were in serious, though not life-threatening, condition. There were no fatalities.
Despite the intersection of Pennsylvania and North avenues being
Josie Dantzler, a nurse practitioner with Penn North Recovery, stands at the scene of the mass overdose, where she worked alongside first responders to assist those affected on July 10.
the scene of the staggering event, the incidence of overdoses extends well beyond the neighborhood. In fact, Baltimore City has the highest overdose fatality rate of any city in the U.S. In 2023, according to the city’s health department, 1,043 people died as a result of alcohol or drugs—921 of those deaths were related to fentanyl, the drug likely linked to the mass overdose. Black Baltimoreans are also disproportionately impacted by overdose deaths. Maryland Department of Health data reveals that in 2023, alcohol- and drug-related deaths among African Americans more than
the crisis on July 10.
Chart courtesy of the Maryland Department of Health Overdose
double those among White residents, 691 compared to 286.
Dantzler noted that she works with several other local substance-use treatment facilities in addition to Penn North Recovery. Many of the people she treats today are people she grew up with—old teachers, friends and even family members.
Born and raised in West Baltimore, a community that’s suffered decades of disinvestment, she believes much of what’s fueled the city’s opioid epidemic is rooted in trauma, poverty, racial neglect and a lack of resources.
“I’m not sure if it’s going to get any better, unfortunately, because money drives almost everything, and we don’t have a lot of money around there at Penn-North,” said Dantzler.
She emphasized that community organizations are in dire need of more funding and infrastructure to combat the crisis. She also stressed that mitigating the opioid epidemic requires more than just medical intervention—it also means meeting people’s social needs, like access to job training, record expungement and educational opportunities.
“Right now, we don’t have that,” said Dantzler. “We’re treating them medically, but they still need life skills, therapy and long-term support, so they can try to turn it around.”
In a July 10 social media post, Baltimore Firefighters International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 734, a labor union representing city firefighters, paramedics and dispatchers, said that the mass overdose underscores the toll Baltimore’s fentanyl crisis is having on emergency services. Paramedic shortages and scaled-back response units have limited life-saving care. Despite opioid settlement dollars, long-term staffing and funding deficits persist.
The union called for the recovery of advanced life support units, investment
in Baltimore’s emergency medical services workforce, more effective use of opioid settlement finances for lasting solutions and enhanced response plans for overdose emergencies.
The scale of the crisis left overdose response teams stunned.
“Nobody has ever seen anything like this before,” said Vincent Timmons, an outreach specialist for Tuerk House, as the sweltering heat of the day weighed upon all of those responding to the scene. “All of these people falling out… It started at 10 o’clock this morning and is still going. This is unbelievable.”
“Nobody has ever seen anything like this before.”
The Tuerk House is a crisis stabilization center based in Baltimore that provides people under the influence of drugs or alcohol or recently overdosed, connecting them with recovery resources and more.
According to response teams, reports of people overdosing came out between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. By noon, first responders and community partners were on site.
“Everybody knows Penn-North and what it’s for,” said Timmons, referring to the area’s reputation as a well-known drug hotspot.
On the heels of the mass overdose, Baltimore’s coordinated neighborhood stabilization response was enacted. The Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE) alongside community partners are expected to provide harm reduction, overdose prevention support and other wraparound
services through the ensuing weeks.
During a July 11 press conference, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott spoke on the incident.
“Yesterday was a terrible day for the Penn-North community,” said Scott. “At least 25 residents suffered overdoses. Countless others were traumatized by what they saw and experienced, and we know that folks will be feeling the impacts for a long time, and we will be here to support them every step of the way.”
He also praised the efforts of those who responded to the emergency.
“Our community partners stepped up and saved countless lives because of their quick action,” said Scott. “They were out here all day and all night, canvassing, administering Narcan and getting folks connected to the care and support that they need.”
According to the mayor, the incident is still being investigated by the Baltimore Police Department, whose priority is to determine the source of the mass overdose. In a media release, the Mayor’s Office of Overdose Response and Baltimore City Health Department published a reminder to people in the city who use drugs to engage in harm and risk reduction practices, which include: Never use drugs alone. Have someone around in case you overdose.
Carry Naloxone/Narcan. Both are available for free through the Baltimore City Health Department.
Test your drugs. There are Fentanyl and Xylazine test strips available through the Baltimore City Health Department.
Go slow. The illicit drug supply is potent and mixed with various substances, so use smaller amounts if possible.
The Baltimore City Health Department encouraged anyone in need of immediate assistance to contact the Baltimore City Operator at 410-396-3100 for Harm Reduction Services.
Baltimore County redistricting plan faces opposition from Woodlawn coalition
By Victoria Mejicanos
A group of Woodlawn residents are condemning a redistricting plan, which they say fractures their community. The self-named Westside Map Coalition, comprising Black pastors, churches, community organizations, sororities, and fraternities from Woodlawn and surrounding areas, has offered an alternative map. Earlier this month, the Baltimore County Council held a legislative session to discuss the redistricting commission plan, also known as the 2-2-5 map.
Linda Dorsey-Walker, chair of the Westside Map Coalition, claimed during her testimony that the proposed map would divide Woodlawn into three separate areas and called it “just wrong.”
The Coalition’s proposed alternative, called the “Woodlawn Approach,” she further argued, is the only map that has had its numbers carefully scrutinized at each public hearing. Yet, other maps, such as the one proposed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, collected data where they used the term “any parts black,” she continued, arguing it dilutes the Black population.
“The Westside Coalition map does not dilute the actual census numbers and power of the African-American community on the west side of Baltimore County,” said Dorsey-Walker.
“It is the only map that does not deny Woodlawn, the community with the highest percentage of Black population in Baltimore County, the right to have its own designated council district.”
A concern with each map is whether or not it is in compliance with the Voting Rights Act, which – among other things – prohibits practices that dilute minority voting power.
Dorsey-Walker reminded the council members that Kareem Crayton, who was a consultant brought in by the commission from the Brennan Center For Justice, informed the commission members that the Woodlawn Approach map could stand up to a Voting Rights Act challenge if the Baltimore County government re-endorsed it.
Peta Richkus, who is a resident of what is currently District 6, shared her support for the 2-2-5 map, which she said is fair and complies with the Voting Rights Act. She emphasized that the expansion of the Baltimore County Council, approved by voters last November, was not merely a numerical change. “It was a call for better
courtesy
The Westside Map Coalition is opposing Baltimore County’s proposed 2-2-5 redistricting plan (left), arguing that it fractures Woodlawn and dilutes Black voting power. Instead, the group has proposed an alternative map, right.
representation, especially for the Black, Brown, immigrant, and other historically underrepresented communities that now make up nearly half of our county,” said Richkus. “The 2-2-5 map recommended by the redistricting commission reflects that diversity and complies with the Voting Rights
Act. It ensures that no one community is unfairly disadvantaged.
“The 2-2-5 map provides a framework system that departs from past decades of packing minority voters into as few districts as possible to dilute their voice,” she continued. “This is a once-in a generation opportunity
to build trust in our local democracy.” Roland Patterson, associate vice president for the Baltimore County branch of the NAACP, which created another map in collaboration with the ACLU, said there generally needed to be more discussion prior to the Oct. 1 deadline faced by the council.
AFRO Photo/Tashi McQueen
First responders and community partners work at the scene of a mass overdose at the intersection of Pennsylvania and North avenues in West Baltimore, where dozens were impacted by
AFRO Photo/Tashi McQueen
Dashboard
A chart from the Maryland Department of Health Overdose Dashboard shows that in 2023, an estimated 3,103 Black people visited the emergency department for opioid-related overdoses, compared to 577 White people.
AFRO Intern
Illustrations
Westside Map Coalition
Black Restaurant Week returns to Baltimore for 5th year of food and culture
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer tmcqueen@afro.com
Black Restaurant Week, a campaign that spotlights local Black-owned restaurants throughout the United States, returns to Baltimore for a fifth year.
“It invites diners to support Black-owned restaurants, food trucks, caterers and bartenders by offering special menus, partnerships, grants and business-development opportunities,” said Warren Luckett, co-founder of Black Restaurant Week. “The focus is on showcasing the true diversity of Baltimore’s Black food scene, highlighting different cuisines like Caribbean, African, Creole, vegan and fusion. We look for businesses that offer authentic stories, quality food and strong community ties, prioritizing those that benefit most from extra exposure.”
Black Restaurant Week, which aims to boost visibility, foot traffic and economic sustainability for Black‑owned culinary businesses in Baltimore, takes place from July 13 27 this year.
“Participating in Black Restaurant Week is more than a marketing opportunity—it’s a moment of reflection and recognition,” said Milan. “It’s a platform that has helped amplify my voice and my food, putting The Empanada Lady on the map for people who might not have otherwise discovered us. It’s driven traffic, media attention and connections that have turned into lasting community relationships.”
respect with her work ethic and consistency.
“There’s power in turning ‘no’ into motivation—and in Baltimore, we make something out of nothing every day,” said Milan.
Luckett expressed how important this work has been as the federal disinvestment of equal opportunity initiatives has swayed the private sector to follow suit, adversely impacting local Black owned businesses.
Restaurant Week can do for the future of Black-owned culinary businesses.
“Black Restaurant Week pushes our stories and our flavors into the spotlight, helping to shift the narrative and the market share,” said Milan. “It makes it clear that we belong here, and we’re not going anywhere.”
In the 10 years the campaign has been around, it has supported over 5,000 people and their culinary businesses. The campaign helps people by providing a 10 or 14 day marketing blitz that business owners may not otherwise be able to afford. This marketing technique includes social media, print and online content and public relations services.
Black owned culinary businesses are able to participate, from food pop ups to fine dining.
Luckett said Black Restaurant Week selects participating restaurants through an open call and active outreach to ensure a wide range of
Elisa Milan, co-founder of The Empanada Lady, reflected on what participating in Black Restaurant Week has meant to her.
Carmelo Anthony comes home with a legacy-fueled vision for Baltimore
NBA legend and newly inducted Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony returned to his hometown of Baltimore on July 7 for a powerful, invitation only fireside chat moderated by New York Times bestselling author D. Watkins. The event, held at the Justice Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center in West Baltimore, brought together a handpicked group of community leaders, creatives and change agents for a candid and heartfelt conversation about legacy, resilience and the future of the city they all love.
This wasn’t just a nostalgic celebration of a hometown hero—it was the spark of something bigger. Guests mingled over catered bites, sipped from Anthony’s own Peace and Power wine collection, and leaned into a conversation that felt more like a family reunion than a formal event. What unfolded was a bold unveiling of Anthony’s upcoming cultural initiative: a citywide exhibition at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, designed not only to honor his journey but to empower a generation.
“First of all, thank you,” Anthony began, addressing the crowd with humility. “This building we’re sitting in, I used to run around right outside. The Robert C. Marshall Rec Center—just a few steps away—was my football field, my baseball field, my safety. That was my world.” He reflected on his move to Baltimore in the summer of 1992, the challenges of growing up in Murphy Homes, and how those early experiences never left him—even as he played 19 seasons in the NBA.
“You talk about the top 75 players to ever touch a basketball—one of them came from West Baltimore,” he said, drawing loud applause. “But this isn’t just about what I did. It’s about what we can do now. It’s about claiming our city, telling our stories and investing in what comes next.”
That investment comes in the form of a groundbreaking exhibit launching Oct. 24 at the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s central branch. The immersive installation will explore five storytelling themes— Home and Family, Community, High School
NBA Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony is challenging Baltimoreans to “get on the court” and play their part in transforming their community.
Legacy, NBA, and Leaders—and extend its reach through satellite programming across all 22 library branches in the city.
The project’s creative director Kai Deveraux Lawson, who has worked alongside Anthony for over 17 years, offered a glimpse into the vision:
“This isn’t just a tribute to ‘Melo. This is a celebration of Baltimore’s soul. It’s a call to action, a blueprint for what’s possible when we invest in legacy and community at the same time.”
That blueprint includes workshops led by local and national experts in media, tech, fashion, film and more—many of whom grew up just like Anthony, unsure how to break into professional spaces that often felt out of reach. Watkins underscored the urgency: “We’re not just giving kids something to look at—we’re giving them access, mentorship, skills [and] opportunities we never had.”
Throughout the evening, Anthony’s message was clear: everyone in the room had a part to play.
“We all have roles,” he said. “Some of us are point guards. Some rebound. Some shoot. But we all have to be on the court if we want to win. If we can’t get this done—in this room, right here—it ain’t meant to be done.”
The impact of the exhibit is expected to ripple far beyond Baltimore. With projections of up to
The Empanada Lady is located at 10 South St. in Downtown Baltimore, where they serve Puerto Rican style empanadas, salmon bites, specialty drinks, wings and more.
Milan explained how as an Afro-Latina woman in the culinary business, she has had to “kick down doors that others walked through,” and demand
“While the equity, diversity and inclusion backlash has raised challenges, Black Restaurant Week continues by leaning into local partnerships, emphasizing Baltimore’s rich culinary culture, and working with private sponsors who remain aligned with the event’s goals,” said Luckett.
Milan acknowledged what opportunities like Black
With the help of Black Restaurant Week, The Empanda Lady’s success has skyrocketed but Milan’s not planning to stop there.
“A food truck is in the works, and I’ve got my eyes on D.C. for our next location,” said Milan. “I’m also deepening our roots here—more community partnerships, cooking classes, mentorship programs. This isn’t just about feeding people. It’s about building something that lasts.”
Photo courtesy of Instagram / Black Restaurant Week
Warren Luckett, co-founder of Black Restaurant Week, works to amplify Black-owned culinary businesses nationwide through marketing, partnerships, and communitydriven support.
By Ericka Alston Buck Special to the AFRO ealstonbuck@afro.com
AP Photo/David J. Phillip
Photo courtesy of The Empanada Lady Salmon bites from The Empanada Lady, a downtown Baltimore restaurant known for its Puerto Ricaninspired flavors and creative comfort food.
WHAT’S TRENDING ON AFRO.COM
National Park Service hosts 150th birthday fete for Mary McLeod Bethune
By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO kmcneir@afro.com
A small but enthusiastic and diverse group of supporters attended the 150th birthday celebration for civil rights activist, presidential advisor, educator and women’s rights advocate, Mary McLeod Bethune, during an event hosted by the National Park Service (NPS).
The celebration, held annually and dating back for more than 50 years, took place on July 12 at Lincoln Park in Washington, D.C., and featured a keynote address, music, a spoken word presentation and a wreath laying ceremony led by NPS officials at Bethune’s statue located in
the park.
Kelvin G. Mayner, executive director of alumni affairs at Bethune-Cookman University (BCU), counted as one of over a dozen graduates of the university who came to D.C. for the event. Some, like Mayner, traveled from as far away as Daytona Beach, Fla., the city in which Bethune founded the school in 1929, to participate in the annual pilgrimage.
“Mary McLeod Bethune represents one of the greatest women of our time, one who has a storied history that merits the recognition of all Americans,” he said. “Not only was she the only Black woman to serve as a consultant to the U.S. delegation that formed the United Nations
Proud graduates of Bethune-Cookman University
in Washington, D.C.’s Lincoln
in San Francisco in 1945 but she was a trailblazer for Blacks and women during a time when both groups were denied equal rights.”
Mary Hunter, an alumna of BCU who graduated during the heyday of the Civil Rights Movement, said she owes her life and career in the military – from which she has since retired – to Bethune.
“Like Mary McLeod Bethune, I was born and raised in South Carolina, and it was only because of the generosity of the university she founded that I was able to attend college,” Hunter said. “While attending church
one Sunday during my senior year in high school, our pastor shared the news that scholarships were available at Bethune-Cookman for those who wanted to continue their studies but whose parents could not afford it. Before the service was over, I, along with two others who would go on to become a teacher and a minister, had surrounded the youth advisor for more information.
“Our youth need to study her and understand the many obstacles she faced and the ways in which she overcame them,” Hunter added. “From the time she persuaded White children to do the unthinkable – to teach her how to read –Mary McLeod Bethune was determined to show America that Black children had just as much talent and abilities as their White counterparts.”
Special guests who participated in the celebration included: Raenatta Floyd, president, Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the BCU Alumni Association; Januari Hester, second vice president, Washington Section, National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), which Bethune founded; former NPS Director Robert Stanton; the Rev. Shavon Arline-Bradley, president/CEO, NCNW; and Dr. A. Lois Keith, national chair of the board, NCNW.
Three NACE (National Capital Parks-East) Historic Home Conservation interns William Levi, Kenyen Rose
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Photos by D. Kevin McNeir
stand before the monument erected
Park, which honors the contributions of Mary McLeod Bethune. Pictured are Chandra Fleet (left, front), Derrick Jones, Edwina Sanders, Angela Pringle, Guy Molock, Kelvin G. Mayner, Krystal Allen (left, back), Tunisia Johnson, Monique Jones, Erika Haley and Mary Hunter.
An assortment of artifacts showcases the items worn by the Six Triple Eight Battalion – the only all-Black female unit to serve overseas during World War II.
Photographs from the 1940s that illustrate the heroic contributions made by Black women during World War II were on display during the 150th birthday celebration for Mary McLeod Bethune on July 12.
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ads decrying the president — in part for focusing too heavily on diversity efforts,” ProPublica reported.
Likewise, GMU’s president is being accused of illegally considering race in faculty hiring and promotions, the Education Department stated, based on complaints from “multiple professors” at George Mason.
One of the particulars that the agency found problematic was “the creation of a Task Force on Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence (ARIE) to make university policies which will ‘advance systemic and cultural anti-racism’ at GMU.”
“This kind of pernicious and wide-spread discrimination— packaged as ‘anti-racism’—was allowed to flourish under the Biden Administration, but it will not be tolerated by this one,” said DOE’s Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor in a statement.
The school has refuted the claims of “racial preferencing,” however, saying it does not discriminate.
“George Mason University
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sorority’s legacy and continued impact.
Elsie Cooke-Holmes, the 28th international president and chair of the board of directors, welcomed attendees and reflected on the significance of the convention.
“This is Delta’s home, and I know for some of my D9 (Divine Nine) brothers and sisters, you’re at home too,” she said. “This convention is more than a convening — it’s a homecoming of strength and purpose. A sacred opportunity to reflect on where we’ve been, what we’ve built and the vision we carry forward as we continue to serve.”
The five-day event featured a mix of business sessions, service initiatives, educational forums and cultural celebrations. One of the highlights was the public meeting held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, featuring remarks from civic leaders, educators and national figures who applauded the sorority’s commitment to social action, economic development and public service.
Several awards were presented during the public meeting, but for the AFRO team, the Lillian Award stood out with deep personal significance. The Lillian Award was named in honor of Lillian Pierce Benbow, the sorority’s 15th national president, who championed the positive portrayal of African Americans. It is conferred upon outstanding individuals in the field of communication.
AFRO Publisher Frances “Toni” Draper was one of this year’s Lillian Award recipients. Draper is a descendant of one of the sorority’s founders, and she
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(GMU) received a new Department of Education letter of investigation this morning, as it was simultaneously released to news outlets, which is unprecedented in our experience,” a July 14 statement read. “George Mason University again affirms its commitment to comply with all federal and state mandates. The university consistently reviews its policies and practices to ensure compliance with federal laws, updated executive orders and ongoing agency directives.”
Some onlookers say the Education Department probe appears to be a targeted campaign against Washington, especially given how quickly the news was released to the media.
“This latest witch hunt against President Washington is a blatant attempt to intimidate those who champion diversity,” Virginia NAACP President Rev. Cozy Bailey said in a statement. “We will not allow the progress we have achieved to be dismantled by political opportunism. Our universities must remain bastions of inclusion, not retreat from it. President Washington should not be targeted for his commitment to fostering an inclusive academic environment.”
Black Press USA’s Laura Burke contributed to this story.
shared a heartfelt tribute to her grandmother.
“‘Be strong. We’re not here to play, to dream, to drift. We have hard work to do and loads to lift.’ That hymn was my grandmother’s favorite — not just a melody, but a mandate,” Draper said. “She didn’t just hum it; she lived it. She leaned on those words through joy and heartbreak, from trials to triumph. She then passed that strength on to her family, her church and her beloved Delta Sigma Theta.”
Media personality Joy-Ann Reid, another honoree, also spoke passionately about the power of Black storytelling.
“We have to call our own names. We have to tell our own stories. We have to assert our dignity on our own terms,” Reid said. “It is up to us to make sure that
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other WED officers worked to complete the transfer of the titles via grant deeds. From early 2017, Powell directed Quintana and other officers to secure loans using the properties of
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Under the guise of achieving “global reciprocity realignment,” the U.S. Department of State has repeatedly stated that the changes are meant to conform with visa terms offered to Americans by the four African countries, adding that these, and other newly enforced policies are “subject to ongoing review.”
But for some Nigerians, including one of the nation’s most popular radio talk show hosts known as Daddy Freeze, it’s not the reversal or elimination of policies that have him and so many others up in arms as it is the swiftness with which they have been invoked.
“Only Donald Trump would wake up and say, ‘I’m not going to do it anymore,’” said Ifedayo Olarinde,
“Orange Is the New Black.”
Fawn Weaver is an American author and entrepreneur who serves as CEO of Grant Sidney Inc. In 2017, she helped launch Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, where she also acts as chief historian.
Donna Lease Brazile is a veteran Democratic political strategist, who became the first African American to direct a presidential campaign, acting as campaign manager for Al Gore in 2000. She’s also twice served as acting chair of the Democratic National Committee. The author and adjunct professor also has served as a political commentator on several networks, now acting as a contributor for ABC News.
Toni Townes-Whitley is a global tech executive and the third Black woman to be-
local AME Zion churches as collateral. To comply with what lenders wanted, Powell arranged for the creation of false church resolution documents to support WED’s loan applications. He told Quintana to create and sign these documents on behalf of local church officers. Powell pleaded guilty to fraudulently gaining control of mortgages
Photo courtesy Daddy Freeze, YouTube Ifedayo Olarinde, a NigerianRomanian broadcaster, radio show host and one of Nigeria’s leading social media influencers, internationally known as Daddy Freeze, said recent U.S. policies provide little time for Nigerians to find alternative ways to tackle inequities in health care and to achieve financial stability.
also known as Daddy Freeze, during a recent broadcast that garnered input from hundreds of Nigerian listeners.
“The fact – the way that it was done so abruptly and that the whole world followed suit is hard to believe. Don’t
and own a company, ActOne Group, valued at over $1 billion.
Swintayla Marie Cash is a former professional basketball player who played for 15 years in the WNBA and overseas leagues. Since 2019, she has held the role of vice president of basketball operations and team development for the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans.
Dana Elaine Owens, widely known as Queen Latifah, has had a decades-long career in entertainment—from her groundbreaking rap debut in the late 1980s to starring in iconic works like “Living Single” and “Set It Off.”
The convention also brought significant economic impact to the region, generating millions for the District through hotel
“This convention is more than a convening — it’s a homecoming of strength and purpose. A sacred opportunity to reflect on where we’ve been, what we’ve built and the vision we carry forward as we continue to serve.”
we don’t disappear, that our stories, our narrative, don’t disappear. Storytelling is how we do that, and I’m just honored to be in the business of telling our stories.”
This year’s convention inducted eight honorary Deltas—women recognized for their impact in their respective fields, some of whom have made history, and all of whom exemplify Black excellence:
Danielle Brooks is a Grammy and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award winner, who starred in the Broadway revival of “The Color Purple” and is best known for her breakout role as Taystee in
750,000 visitors, the initiative could bring global attention—and revenue—to the city. But Anthony emphasized that the true success won’t be measured in ticket sales or headlines. It would be measured in mindset shifts.
“How do we make a library card cool again?” he asked. “How do we get a kid to feel proud for reading a chapter, writing a book report, or exploring a career they didn’t even know existed? That’s what this is about. This
come a Fortune 500 CEO— the first to head a company in the defense sector. She is currently the CEO of Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC).
Jackie Joyner-Kersee is a former track and field athlete who competed in the heptathlon and long jump. She earned three gold, one silver and two bronze medals across four Olympic Games. Joyner-Kersee also won four gold medals at the IAAF World Championships.
Janice Bryant Howroyd is an entrepreneur, author and business leader. She made history as the first African American woman to establish
is about reaching our young people, inspiring them and showing them that their story matters.”
He spoke with passion about integrating financial literacy, mentorship and trade school exposure into the programming. “Not everybody’s going to the NBA. But you can be a writer, a politician, a teacher, a tech entrepreneur. You can be whatever you want to be— but first, you have to see it.”
The Rev. Dr. Alvin Hathaway, CEO of Beloved Community Services Corp., offered
bookings, transportation and tourism. Mayor Bowser went on to thank the sorority for its long-standing political engagement and for choosing the nation’s capital as its convention site.
“Thank you for your advocacy in City Hall during ‘Delta Days’ every single year for budgets that affect us. Thank you for your advocacy on Capitol Hill. Your legislators must hear from you,” Bowser said. “We appreciate you for spending those long Delta dollars in the nation’s capital, but beyond that, thank you for choosing this city for your convention.”
on the following church properties: Kyles Temple in Vallejo, Calif.; First AME Zion Church in San Jose, Calif.; Greater Cooper AME Zion Church in Oakland, Calif.; University AME Zion Church of Palo Alto, Calif.; and First AME Zion Church in Los Angeles.
you think the harshness poses challenges that could have been avoided if this was done more subtly, especially in a world that has benefited from Nigeria and Africa? And it’s not just HIV medication and vaccines that donors have cut or withdrawn. It’s also programs that were in line to help Nigeria develop clean water that would have been self-sustaining, and which are sorely needed in our country.”
But Nigeria faces even more challenges. As Africa’s most populated nation, with an estimated population of over 237.5 million based on 2025 data – more than double that of the second most populous country, Ethiopia (135.5 million inhabitants) – the task of educating the next generation has also become more difficult because of the Trump administration’s dismantling of global aid agencies and programs and slashing of funds.
NPS Park Ranger Ife
and Vince Vaise, program manager, Visitor Services for National Capital Parks - East, participating in a wreath laying ceremony in recognition of the 150th birthday of Mary McLeod Bethune.
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and Zora Sanders also participated in the program, during which they performed an original spoken word piece entitled, “Mary McLeod Bethune: A Monumental Legacy.”
A further highlight of the celebration was an exhibit of memorabilia and photographs used and taken, respectively, during World War II that showcased the exemplary contributions of the only all-Black female unit to serve overseas during the war – the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, also known as the Six Triple Eight.
Two young women of color, NPS Park Ranger Ife Calhoun and Sanders, the NACE intern, donned historic uniforms worn by women during World War II, and were on hand to answer questions about the Six Triple Eight. They also shared the rarely told story which illustrates how Bethune used her
influence in the White House and friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt to secure a place for the Battalion overseas.
Vince Vaise, program manager of Visitor Services for National Capital ParksEast, said he considered it an honor to be part of a tribute to a woman like Bethune.
“She is finally reaching the kind of recognition she deserves and is approaching the level of honor that Frederick Douglass has already achieved in America,” Vaise said. “NPS has been hosting this celebration for more than 50 years – the largest drawing more than 20,000 visitors when we dedicated the monument to Mary McLeod Bethune here in Lincoln Park on July 10, 1974 (Bethune’s 99th birthday).
“But it’s not the number of those who attend that matters because this is an important ceremony that honors an American woman, a Black woman, who paved the way for equal rights for all Americans.”
“This isn’t just a tribute to Melo. This is a celebration of Baltimore’s soul. It’s a call to action, a blueprint for what’s possible when we invest in legacy and community at the same time.”
a prayer and a charge: “Greatness begins right here. We don’t need to import it—it’s already in this community.”
One audience member, Catonya Lester summed it up best: “This isn’t just about basketball. This is Carmelo Anthony redefining what it means to come home by pouring into the very streets that poured into him.”
In his final remarks, Anthony reminded the room of the stakes.
“This isn’t for me. This is for the next generation. For my kids. For your kids. For our city. We want people around the world talking about Baltimore—in Tokyo, in Germany, in places we’ve never even been. We want them to say, ‘They did something different there.’”
AFRO Photo / Photo by D. Kevin McNeir
Calhoun (left)
COMMENTARY
The silence on Superman’s citizenship: Why hasn’t Clark Kent been deported?
By Harold A. Carter Jr.
I am guilty of having an affinity for old television shows that take me back to my formative days, shows like “Hogan’s Heroes,” “The Andy Griffith Show,” “Leave It to Beaver,” and “The Wild Wild West.” On a recent Saturday night, “Star Trek” had ended, and as I was about to turn the TV off, I was surprised to see “Adventures of Superman,” the 1950s television series, coming on with the motto “Truth, Justice and the American Way,” words commonly associated with Jerry Siegel’s and Joe Shuster’s 1938 original comic book character.
The words, “the American Way” caught my attention, as never before. Really? Not by today’s “way,” I thought to myself, as I quickly began jotting down additional thoughts. For example, how can Superman be the American icon that he has become, but he’s from another planet, the planet Krypton? Wouldn’t he be one of this present administration’s illegal immigrants? I have never seen or read anything to the effect that his adoptive parents, Kansas farmers Jonathan and Martha Kent, applied for U.S. citizenship for their “son,” whom they named Clark. If ever an alien existed on earth, surely Clark was one, even well before the aliens crashed in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947—if you believe that.
Here’s my point: as the next Superman movie opens this month, why hasn’t anyone been sounding the alarm from the White House that Superman, aka Clark Kent, has to go? Why haven’t there been calls for him to be sent back, deported or at least exiled to Alligator Alcatraz? Where is I.C.E. or Homeland Security when you need them to conduct a raid on the Daily Planet?
Here’s the backstory for those who are uninitiated. Kal-El, Superman’s “real” name as devised by his earthly literary creators, was born on the
technologically advanced planet Krypton to parents Jor-El and (note, in the Hebrew language el means “god” or “diety”) and Lora lor-Van, both scientists who recognized that their planet was about to be destroyed because of its combustible core. So, they took their child and put him in a small spacecraft – like the Bible’s Jochabed put Moses in a basket of bulrushes and placed him on the Nile River (to later come of age and deliver his people from the oppression of Egyptian enslavement) – and launched him to Earth. The spacecraft crash landed on the Kents’ farm in Smallville.
The Kents found Kal-El, adopted him and raised him as their own, putting a strong sense of morality in him, and teaching him to use his powers— superhuman strength, speed, bullet-proof skin, flying and thermal and x-ray vision— responsibly.
Now, let’s be real. Yes, the storyline that Clark’s parents “adopted” him is widely accepted, but considering that the storyline dates back to the 1930s, it was also understood that birth certificates and DNA tests were sketchy in most rural areas. All Jonathan and Martha had to do was inform their doctor or state officials of Clark’s home birth and no one would be the wiser. He probably came of age with little, if any, documentation or legal paperwork. Bottom line, who would suspect the Kents of kidnapping? And there were no reports of a missing baby. Documents, if requested or
needed, were just “pushed through.”
Where are you, Mr. President? You did eventually admit in 2016 that President Barack Obama was born in this country, but silence, nothing but silence on this issue of Superman’s questionable citizenship. So far, you’ve been successful via the Supreme Court in advancing your agenda regarding birthright citizenship, as universal injunctions have been curbed. But, the question of Superman’s, or Clark Kent’s, U.S. citizenship remains unchallenged.
Superman came into Americana originally as a violent socialist, writes Paul Hersch, author of “Pulp Empire: A Secret History of Comic Book Imperialism.” He was, early on, a champion for the under-privileged masses. The BBC’s Nicholas Barber continues Hersch’s writing, dealing with the question, “How did Superman start as a radical rebel?
“If Superman truly represents the American Way, then like all the rest of us, let him abide by the laws of the land—or be sent back to where he came from.”
“The comic-book industry was founded largely by people barred from work in more legitimate fields,” Hirsch explains to the BBC, “because they were Jewish (like Superman creators Siegel and Shuster), they were immigrants, they were people of colour, they were women. It was a creative ghetto where a lot of very talented people ended up because they weren’t able to get a Madison Avenue advertising job, and they couldn’t write for Life Magazine. A lot of those people were radical – or at least not mainstream – and DC was founded by men who very much fit that [mold]: men who
were recent immigrants, men who had leftist sympathies from growing up in New York City at that time.”
Clearly there were young people who were frustrated with the injustices of the world as young people tend to be the leaders of most movements of uprising or change. Siegel and Shuster were simply two young Jewish men coming of age just before World War II, who envisioned a kind of alter ego who could not only mitigate and fight external threats to America but internal threats against justice, truth and the American Way.
“There was plenty to be angry about, so the Superman character could speak to their concerns and hold the corrupt accountable,” writes Matthew K. Manning in “Superman: The Ultimate Guide.”
Unfortunately, as Superman evolved, the stories became less socially conscious and more about fantastical villains and his relationship with Lois Lane. Nevertheless, all the wrongs Superman made right do not change his illegal status that has existed for more than eight decades.
Incredibly, Superman continues to loom large with or without legal or official citizenship. He came across the border and still remains widely accepted. Personally, I’ve found no connection with this caped man in red and blue. To the contrary, I have found some connection with Batman—the Dark Knight—and, to some degree, Spiderman. But America’s love affair with “the man of steel” leaves me mostly nonplussed. I’m just not a big fan. But, if he represents the American Way (which, to me, hints at the same negative emotions and thoughts I have when I hear the words, “Make America Great Again”), then like all of the rest of us, let him abide by the laws of the land, self-deport or the Trump administration should send him back home. James Gunn, director of the newest Superman movie, is quoted as saying that there’s a scene where Superman
We know what hurts us, and we know what heals us
By Floyd Taliaferro
July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month—a time to recognize the unique mental health challenges Black communities face and to call for real, meaningful change. This month reminds us that mental health is not just an individual struggle but a community issue rooted in history, culture and systems of care that often fail us.
In Baltimore, the crisis is painfully personal. According to The Washington Post, nearly 1 in 5 people fatally shot by police in the U.S. were experiencing a mental health crisis. Here, those numbers are not abstract; they represent our neighbors, our family, our friends. I have met too many families who lost loved ones–not because they were violent but because they were vulnerable. And vulnerability in our city is often met with bullets.
Just weeks ago in West Baltimore, our community lost Bilal “BJ” Abdullah, a well-known Arabber, who was shot and killed by police. Shortly after, a man in a mental health crisis died after being restrained by officers near the Upton Metro station. In another heartbreaking loss, 70-year-old Pytorcarcha Clark-Brooks died when police responded to a mental health emergency. She was reportedly holding a knife, but no mental health professional was present to help deescalate.
Ms. Clark-Brooks could have been my aunt. The young man lost in Upton could have been a boy I used to mentor. The mother I met last week, crying in her car because her son hasn’t been the same since his friend was shot, could have been me. We see the cost of untreated mental illness every day. We see the fear in people’s eyes when they call for help, worried they will be arrested or worse.
What happened to Ms. Clark-Brooks is not an outlier. It is a pattern. Here in Baltimore,
to new parents, those experiencing homelessness to those navigating high-pressure careers. Mental health challenges do not discriminate, but the response often does.
We see it when police are dispatched to crises that should be met with care. We see it in neighborhoods saturated with trauma but starved of resources. And we see it in the faces of those left behind after violence that could have been prevented.
I’m not writing this from an office tower or behind a podium. I’m writing as someone who is from here, who works here, who hurts here.
Minority Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us that our pain is real. But more importantly, so is our power. We know what hurts us and we know what heals us. We just need this city to choose healing with us.
Because the next call for help should never end in tragedy. Awareness without action is hollow.
is hurt and bleeding after a battle. He calls for Krypton, the Superdog, for help, and upon the pup’s arrival asks him to take him home. Gunn asserts that he hopes the Superman movie will act as a place “we can all go home” to, in the same way I find comfort in some classic TV shows. Yet, the irony is that Superman’s home doesn’t exist anymore.
Perhaps, Superman’s or Kent’s immigration will be one of this administration’s exceptions–especially given the superhero’s European looks. The 47th president may even claim him as family. Without a doubt, “the orange man,” does possess an ego that allows him to think of himself as a superhero. In fact, on July 10, the White House posted a movie poster with the 47th president’s face superimposed on the Man of Steel’s body. I guess, then, he would have to deport himself, but to where? Where? Who, or what country would be willing to take him? Where is home for the orange? “Red and yellow, black and white, we’re all precious in His sight…” goes the Sunday School song. But is there a place for the orange?
competent care is out of reach. Waitlists stretch for months. Transportation is a hurdle. Trusted providers who understand Black life are scarce. But the consequences are not just clinical; they are fatal. In many cities, Black people are more likely to be killed in these encounters even when family members are the ones calling for help.
Baltimore is no exception. These tragedies demand a better system and a new set of priorities.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notes that suicide is now the third leading cause of death for Black youth ages 15 to 24. While violence is often framed as a public safety issue, it is also a public health issue. When trauma becomes normalized, so does hopelessness, and hopelessness kills.
too many of us have learned that if you’re poor and in pain, the system treats you like a problem, not a patient.
We live with a mental health infrastructure that wasn’t built for us, doesn’t speak our language and doesn’t understand our grief.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Black adults are 20 percent more likely to experience serious psychological distress yet far less likely to receive proper care. Many face barriers like long waitlists, lack of insurance, stigma or simply the absence of providers who understand their lived experience.
But this isn’t just about race or economics. It is about how our systems treat people who are suffering—from elders to teens, returning citizens
Maryland must fund mobile crisis teams that can respond 24/7 without police. The city must invest in neighborhood-based mental health clinics with culturally informed practitioners. Our state must continue efforts to divert people with mental illness away from jails and emergency rooms and into long-term care.
We must also speak openly in our homes, churches and schools about the pain we’ve carried for generations.
These aren’t isolated tragedies. They are everyday realities for too many Baltimoreans, across generations and neighborhoods. If this city is serious about equity, healing and public safety, then mental health must be treated not as an afterthought but as a matter of life and death.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, only 1 in 3 Black adults with mental illness receives treatment. Stigma, misdiagnosis and systemic racism are all barriers but so is geography. In many parts of Baltimore, culturally
Baltimore has made progress. Homicides are down significantly. In April, the city recorded just five homicides—the lowest since 1970. Initiatives like the Group Violence Reduction Strategy and Safe Streets have contributed to reductions of 23 to 45 percent in homicides and non-fatal shootings in key neighborhoods.
But progress in statistics does not always translate to healing on the ground. Each shooting reopens wounds for entire blocks. When these traumatic experiences go unacknowledged or untreated, they compound and pass silently from parent to child.
There is hope. But it begins with listening. We urge Baltimore’s leaders—not just this month but every month—to invest in mental health with the same urgency as policing and infrastructure. Support local organizations doing this work. Ensure that every resident, regardless of ZIP code, has access to care that affirms who they are and honors what they’ve been through. Healing is possible. But it takes commitment and care.
Courtesy photo
Floyd Taliaferro IV is the CEO of All Walks of Life (AWL), a Maryland-based organization focused on improving urban communities through culturally responsive mental health care. This week he shares insight into the need for a new response to the mental health crisis.
Courtesy photo
Harold A. Carter Jr. is the senior pastor of New Shiloh Baptist Church in Baltimore, Md. This week, he offers sharp and satirical commentary, questioning why Superman an undocumented alien has never faced deportation, especially under currently strict immigration policies.
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM000662 ZENOBIA LAMONT Name of Decedent
KEITH A. ANDERSON 4700 BLAINE STREET, N.E. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20019 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
KATRINA LAMONT, whose address is 743 TOLA COURT, HYATTSVILLE, MARYLAND 20785 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ZENOBIA LAMONT who died on NOVEMBER 22, 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 JANUARY 11, 2026. 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 JANUARY 11, 2026 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
BOARD OF LIQUOR LICENSE COMMISSIONERS FOR BALTIMORE CITY NOTICE – JULY 2025
Petitions have been filed by the following applicants for
sell alcoholic beverages at the premises set opposite their respec
tive names. The real property for these applications will be posted on or about July 14, 2025. Written protests concerning any application will be accepted until and including the time of the hearing. Public hearings may be scheduled on or after July 24, 2025 at 10:30 AM in the Liquor Board Hearing Room, located at 200 St. Paul Place, Suite 2300, 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: Adi Hallo, Inc. T/a Angyls Wine & Spirits - Daniel Teklemariam
Petition: Transfer of ownership requesting delivery of alcoholic beverages Premises: 249 W. Chase Street 21201 (City Council District: 12th; State Legislative District: 40th)
2. CLASS “B” BEER, WINE & LIQUOR LICENSE
Applicant: Vivians, LLC T/a Vivians - Jacqueline Erin Mearman
Petition: Transfer of ownership requesting outdoor table service and off-premises catering
Premises: 3100 E. Baltimore Street 21224
(City Council District: 13th; State Legislative District: 46th)
Applicant: Bula Lounge, LLC T/a Bula Lounge - Arteara J. Watkins, Arthuretta Sanders, and Nathaniel Branch, III
Petition: New restaurant license requesting live entertainment, outdoor table service, and delivery of alcoholic beverages
Premises: 5707 Belair Road 21206
(City Council District: 2nd; State Legislative District: 45th)
Applicant: Chihuahua Brothers, LLC T/a Chihuahua Brothers - Kevin Matthews, Meredith Brown, and David Shapiro
Petition: New restaurant license requesting outdoor table service
Premises: 58 W. Biddle Street 21201
(City Council District: 12th; State Legislative District: 40th)
Applicant: Kneads Canton, LLC T/a Trade Name Pending - Loic Hemery and Adam Paterakis
Petition: Transfer of ownership with continuation of outdoor table service, requesting off-premises catering (Amended)
Premises: 3601 Boston Street 21224
(City Council District: 1st; State Legislative District: 46th)
Applicant: Satguru Nanak Ji, LLC T/a Akbar Restaurant - Khalid Pervcaz Mir and Jaslaveen Singh
Petition: Transfer of ownership
Premises: 823 N. Charles Street 21201
(City Council District: 12th; State Legislative District: 46th)
Applicant: B-More Thai, LLC T/a Bodhi Corner - Thomas LaGrange and Kevin J. Stevens
Petition: Transfer of ownership with continuation of outdoor table service
Premises: 3500 Chestnut Avenue 21211
(City Council District: 14th; State Legislative District: 40th)
Applicant: Autentico Brazilian Steakhouse, LLC T/a Trade Name Pend-
ing - Cruz Rodney Espinal Soto and Dalton Fernandes Teixeria
Petition: New restaurant license requesting outdoor table service
Premises: 701 S. Eden Street 21231
(City Council District: 12th; State Legislative District: 46th)
Applicant: SSS Bar and Grill, Inc. T/a Supano’s Steakhouse and Sports Bar - Geminiano Sicadsicad and Ali Kemal Sahin
Petition: Transfer of ownership with continuation of outdoor table service
Premises: Harborplace – 301 Light Street #1445 21202
(City Council District: 11th; State Legislative District: 46th)
Applicant: 5716, LLC T/a Angeli’s Pizzeria II - Cuneyt Ozturk
Petition: New restaurant license requesting outdoor table service
Premises: Harborplace – 301 Light Street #2405 21202
(City Council District: 11th; State Legislative District: 46th)
3. CLASS “D” BEER & LIGHT WINE LICENSE
Applicant: B-All Thai, LLC T/a Bodhi Federal Hill - Natnutda Sompra-
City of Baltimore Department of Finance Bureau of Procurement
Sealed proposals addressed to the Board of Esti-
mates of Baltimore will be Received until, but not later than 11:00 am local time on the following dates for the stated requirements.
August 6, 2025
• PROVIDE RENTAL SERVICES of VARIOUS SIZE VEHICLES RFQ 000741
September 17, 2025
• SOUND SYSTEM EQUIPMENT and INSTALLATION for MYERS PAVILION RFQ-000734
ENTIRE SOLICITATION CAN BE VIEWED AND DOWNLOADED BY VISITING THE WEBSITE: https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/supplier/baltimorecity/SupplierSite
CITY OF BALTIMORE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
OFFICE OF ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
NOTICE OF LETTING
Sealed Bids or Proposals, in duplicate addressed to the Board of Estimates of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore and marked for WATER CONTRACT NO. 1285R-Caroline Street and Vicinity Water
Main Replacements will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204 City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until 11:00 A.M on August 20, 2025. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. Bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates and can be watched live on CharmTV’s cable channel 25/1085HD; charmtvbaltimore.com/watch-live or listen in at (443) 984-1696 (ACCESS CODE: 0842939) from City Hall at Noon. The Contract Documents may be examined, without charge, at Contract Administration 4 South Frederick Street Baltimore, Maryland 21202 on the 3rd floor (410) 396-4041 as of July 18, 2025 and copies may be purchased for a non-refundable cost of 100.00. 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 OBC at 4 S Frederick St., 4th Floor, Baltimore, MD 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 Category required for bidding on this project is B02551 – Water Mains. Cost Qualification Range for this work shall be $20,000,000.01 to $30,000,000.00.
A “Pre-Bidding Information” session will be conducted via Microsoft Team Meeting. Vendor can call 1 667-228-6519 Phone Conference ID: 743 649 21# on July 29, 2025, at 1:00 PM. Contractor questions shall be submitted via email to Rupak Karki at Rupak.Karki@baltimorecity.gov by August 8, 2025, before 4:30 PM. Question submitted after the deadline may not be responded to and Contractors will be required to submit their bids based on the available information.
To purchase a bid book, please make an electronic request at: https://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/dpw-construction-projects-notice-letting and dpwbidopportunities@baltimorecity.gov. For further inquiries about purchasing bid documents, please contact the assigned Contract Administrator Latonia Walston at lwalston@baltimorecity.gov.
Principal items of work for this contract include, but are not limited to: Abandonment and/or removal of existing water mains and installation of various sized new ductile iron pipes, valves, fittings and appurtenances, pipe restraints, replacement/installation of fire hydrants, small (residential) meter settings and meter vaults, renew and replacement of existing water services, temporary bypass piping, erosion and sediment control measures, maintenance of traffic measures, sidewalk restoration, curb and gutter, and roadway paving, as required.
This project is a recipient of the Maryland Water Quality & Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and U.S. EPA Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Programs.
The WBE
The MBE goal is 22%
Bids or Proposals,
ects-notice-letting and dpwbidopportunities@baltimorecity.gov. For further inquiries about purchasing bid documents, please contact the assigned Contract Administrator Amber Coles-Johnson Amber. Coles- Johnson@baltimorecity.gov
Principal items of work for this contract
