Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) officially launched his re-election campaign for 2026 on the morning of Sept. 9. The governor is seeking a second term with Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller (D) as his running mate once again.
“I am incredibly excited to go back in front of the people of Maryland, because I think we have an important story to tell,” said Moore, standing in front of reporters in Annapolis, Md., on Sept. 9. “I think the people of the state of Maryland know and see that our priority is here, our priority is them. I’m excited to ask them for another term.”
During Moore’s press conference he addressed questions about his campaign.
Moore responded to concerns about having
his eyes set on the presidential seat in 2028 during the middle of his second term, if he were to be re-elected.
He said he has never expressed interest in the presidential role.
“I appreciate that the people in Maryland, the people around the country are paying attention to the progress we’ve made,” said Moore. “But, I am very clear and laser focused on making sure that the people of our state are going to be okay.”
The Moore-Miller campaign touted their record from their first two years in office, citing 100,000 new jobs, reduced crime through law enforcement investment and $9.8 billion invested in K–12 schools.
“I served in the legislature under the old governor, I know first-hand we can not afford to go back to the old Maryland way where we kick the can down the road for the next
By Victoria Mejicanos AFRO Staff Writer
“Together
person,” said Miller, in a statement. “We need leaders of action, and Governor Moore’s leadership is proof we work across party lines to give people a better way forward and we will continue this work when we earn your vote next November.”
Moore also underscored success in cutting middle-class taxes and leading the state through the Francis Scott Key (FSK) Bridge collapse, which is expected to reopen in fall 2028.
Support for the re-election bid quickly followed.
“Governor Wes Moore has been a tremendous leader who has stood up for working
families across our great state, made our communities safer and strengthened our public schools,” said U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) in a statement. “Even in these difficult times, he led with humility and a laser focus on his North Star: bettering the lives of Marylanders. I’m proud to endorse him as he seeks re-election.”
Baltimore City Council Vice President Sharon Green Middleton (D-District 6) also praised Moore’s leadership, pointing to his record of standing with Baltimore.
AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) is officially seeking re-election, announcing his 2026 campaign for governor on Sept. 9.
AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (#22) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 7.
WHAT’S TRENDING ON AFRO.COM
Efforts for 6888th Battalion Forever Stamp continue after USPS denial
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer tmcqueen@afro.com
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) on Aug. 28 declined a proposal to issue a Forever Stamp honoring the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only majority Black, all-women Army unit deployed overseas in World War II.
Launched in June by Elizabeth A. Helm-Frazier and her nine-member team, the campaign featured a Change.org petition and outreach to leaders, veterans’ groups, Black media and descendants.
“I love stamps and I thought this would be the crown jewel for a unit whose mission was mail,” said Helm-Frazier.
While disappointed, Helm-Frazier said she remains hopeful, noting the USPS left the door open by stating the unit was not recommended “at this time.”
“Each year, The Postal Service receives tens of thousands of suggestions for new stamps,” James McKean, a senior public relations representative for USPS told the AFRO. “Of those, roughly 25 to 30 topics are selected each year. With a limited number of postage stamps to be issued each year, the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) makes every
effort to celebrate different aspects of U.S. history and culture.
“CSAC has considered the idea of a stamp issue for the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion,” said McKean. “CSAC has not recommended this idea for commemoration at this time.”
McKean said the idea will be eligible for re-consideration in April 2027.
“Because of the length of time required to develop stamp designs, clear all legal matters, and produce and distribute stamps, the postal service works on its stamp programs two to three years in advance,” said McKean.
In recent years, thanks to advocates like Col. (Ret.) Edna W. Cummings and Helm-Frazier, the 6888th Battalion has received tributes, including monuments, a Netflix film, renamed post offices, state commemorations and even the Congressional Gold Medal on April 29.
“After the ceremony for the Congressional Gold Medal was over, I started moving in the direction of getting a stamp,” said Helm-Frazier.
The team first met in June, creating a petition and reaching out to governors, congressional representatives, descendants and Black media, including AFRO News, to build support for the initiative. As of Sept.
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Shown here, the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion standing in formation in Birmingham, England, in 1945. The women of the 688th made history as the only all-female Black unit to serve in Europe during World War II, and the unit recently received the Congressional Gold Medal in April 2025.
10, the Change.org petition had 4,762 signatures. Helm-Frazier said their goal is to get as many signatures as possible and spread the initiative nationwide.
Helm-Frazier said she holds onto the phrase “this time” in the letter.
“I was a little bit disappointed, but I have to keep focused on the mission,” said Helm-Frazier. “The door is not closed.”
In addition to signing the Change.org petition, advocates for the stamp are strongly encouraging supporters to write
a letter and mail it in to the Citizen’s Stamp Advisory Committee, requesting the approval of a 6888th Forever Stamp. The only way to reach the committee is a letter via mail, as members of the Citizen’s Stamp Advisory Committee do not discuss requests via phone, email or text. They also do not consider requests made via social media.
To send a written letter in support of the 6888th Forever Stamp, please address it to the Citizen’s Stamp Advisory Committee, with the subject listed as
“Letter of Support to honor the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. The letter should be mailed to the following address: Stamp Development ATTN: Citizens’ Stamp Advisory committee475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3300Washington, DC 20260-3501
Organizers of the effort are also asking that a copy of any written letters in support of the 6888th Stamp Project also be emailed to the6888stampproject@gmail.com, so a copy of the letter can be filed.
Gov. Moore
Continued from A1
“As a councilmember for more than a decade, I’ve been grateful to have a governor who is committed to the success of Baltimore City and the people I represent,” said Middleton in a statement.
“When it comes to state investments into historically disenfranchised communities, his dedication to our region after the collapse of the FSK Bridge, and his commitment to stand with the city to address public safety, Governor Moore continues to have Baltimore’s back and I’m proud to have his.”
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball III (D) echoed that support, referencing Moore’s focus on inclusivity.
“He has consistently focused on expanding economic opportunity for families, growing small businesses and supporting our students and educators,” said Ball in a statement.
“His campaign for re-election is another way he is showcasing his unwavering commitment to our state. I remain an ecstatic partner as we continue our work together to build a stronger Maryland for all.”
Pastor Jamal Bryant launches digital boycott of Dollar General
By Andrea Stevens AFRO Staff Writer astevens@afro.com
Civil rights advocacy is taking a digital turn as the Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant spearheads an electronic boycott of Dollar General. The protest, launched in late summer, targets what Bryant describes as systemic exploitation of Black workers and communities by one of the nation’s largest retailers.
Dollar General has yet to release a public statement in response to or in acknowledgement of the boycott or the statement Bryant has made
regarding the campaign.
“Dollar General is twice as large as Walmart and Target combined,” Bryant said. “They’ve doubled their stores, especially in rural and impoverished areas, and yet nobody’s paying attention.”
Bryant is senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Ga.
The civil rights leader said the boycott of Target has dominated public discourse, but Dollar General has escaped similar scrutiny– until now
“We had to take a different
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Sinclair Broadcast
Continued from A1
The complaint states that Sinclair “paid Ms. Rollins less than it paid employees who are not Black to perform similar work.”
The complaint also states that Rollins was assigned work that White employees were either unavailable to perform or could not perform, but continued to be paid less.
When she reported the pay disparity to her manager and to human resources at Sinclair, the company repeatedly refused to adjust her salary to remedy the unequal pay, despite bringing the disparity to their attention several times and she was eventually fired.
EOCC stated in a press release that Sinclair’s alleged conduct violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits race discrimination. The settlement requires Sinclair to “provide periodic reporting, monitoring, and training to employees to ensure compliance with Title VII. The decree also requires Sinclair to maintain policies stating it does not prohibit employees from discussing or disclosing their pay.”
Group “No worker should be subjected to unequal pay because of their race.”
“No worker should be subjected to unequal pay because of their race,” said EEOC Philadelphia District Office Regional Attorney Debra Lawrence. “The EEOC is committed to enforcing Title VII’s prohibition against race discrimination.”
Sinclair responded with a statement to the AFRO stating that they are paying the settlement to prevent costs of legal fees and did not admit wrongdoing.
“Sinclair has entered into a consent decree to resolve this matter without any admission of wrongdoing, allowing us
to move forward and avoid unnecessary further legal expense. We remain committed to maintaining an inclusive workplace and will fully comply with the decree’s terms,” said the statement.
This is not the first EOCC settlement for Sinclair, according to the press release. The agency sued the company twice in September 2022. The first lawsuit accused Sinclair of disability discrimination for firing an employee after learning she had a disability.
Current anonymous reviews on the companies Indeed and Glassdoor profiles skew negatively with an average rating having 2-3 stars. Common complaints are about management and “contradictory”company values.
Sept. 6-12
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
The Rev. Jamal Bryant, senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church is promoting a nationwide electronic boycott of Dollar General.
The
edition of the AFRO incorrectly identified the position of Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (right) and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (left) in the photo on B6.
Family mourns death of Dacara Thompson as advocates push for change in media coverage
Suspect charged with murder, held without bond
By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO kmcneir@afro.com
Officials have announced that the man accused of taking the life of Prince George’s County teen, Dacara Thompson, will be held without bond.
Police have charged Hugo Hernandez-Mendez, 35, of Bowie, with first and second degree murder. According to information released by the Prince George’s County Police Department’s (PGPD) Homicide Unit, on Aug. 23 members of Thompson’s family reported the 19-yearold as missing after she was last seen the night of Aug. 22. Her car was found Aug. 24 with her purse inside. Her phone was gone and disabled. Days later, on Aug. 31, officials reported that a woman’s body was found “in a grassy area off of Route 50 in Anne Arundel County.”
SUV in the early morning hours of August 23, 2025.
After speaking to the driver, Ms. Thompson is seen entering the SUV,” PGPD officials said in a statement
“Our entire state mourns the horrible loss...”
“PGPD Homicide Unit detectives were able to locate additional surveillance video which showed Ms. Thompson approach a black
released on their official Meta social media account.
“The driver then drove to a home in the 12000 block of Kembridge Drive in
Fast Beauty Initiative aims to boost D.C.’s beauty industry
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), on Sept. 8, launched the District’s new Fast Beauty Initiative at the grand opening of Yeleen Beauty Makerspace, a co-manufacturing facility and tech hub in Ward 7. The aim of the initiative is to refine licensing requirements in the beauty industry and make Washington, D.C., more competitive.
“Our growth agenda is about making it easier to do business in D.C. so that we can grow our economy and get people connected to great jobs,” Bowser said in a statement. “We have a thriving beauty industry in D.C. and this new initiative and this new makerspace will ensure we keep more of those dollars in our community and in the pockets of D.C. residents.”
The initiative will reduce requirements that make cosmetology and barbering professionals complete
Bowie.”
After obtaining permission to search the property, authorities say “evidence was located suggesting Ms. Thompson had been murdered in a bedroom in the residence. Based on the totality of the evidence of the investigation, detectives arrested and charged Hernandez-Mendez with her murder. The suspect has access to the black SUV and lives in the bedroom where the murder occurred. Detectives are working to determine whether the suspect and victim were known to each other prior to August 23, 2025.”
The death of Thompson has resparked conversations about the lack of media attention given to cases in which Black girls or women
minimum training hours in several disciplines, even if they intend to focus on only one. The changes aim to save professionals from committing hundreds of unnecessary training hours.
“The changes reflect DLCP’s (D.C. Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection) ongoing commitment to removing barriers, lowering costs and expanding opportunities for entrepreneurs by streamlining processes and modernizing standards to help beauty professionals launch careers and grow businesses,” said Tiffany Crowe, director of DLCP. “Initiatives such as Fast Beauty advance Mayor Bowser’s vision for a thriving, inclusive local economy.”
The announcement took place during the grand opening of Yeleen Beauty Makerspace, a recipient of a $640,000 D.C. Locally Made Manufacturing Grant. The purpose of the facility is to reduce barriers to market entry for local plantbased beauty entrepreneurs through
are the victims.
One young journalist, a graduate of Clark Atlanta University with over a decade of experience at iHeartRadio, The Black Effect, Revolt TV and The Young Turks Network, is on a mission to change how their stories are told and help to put an end to this vicious cycle through her podcast, “Hunting 4 Answers.”
“Each day, Monday through Friday, we hunt for answers during our crime podcast on cases related to missing Black women and girls – cases not being covered by mainstream media,” said Hunter Gilmore, 29. “And the numbers tell the story – Black women and girls are being ignored, overlooked and forgotten.”
Gilmore said while she’s pleased that the Dacara Thompson case has gained national attention, the opposite tends to be the norm.
“I listened to a press conference recently during which Dacara’s mother spoke and I was quite disturbed,” she said. “Social media has taken this case and people have made comments that disparage the young girl’s character. Her mother said she wishes people would be more cognizant of the pain the family is now enduring. I just think it’s cruel to speculate about her character, but in these cases, Black women are often oversexualized or blamed. No one deserves such a fate.”
According to the FBI National Crime Information Center, Black women and girls accounted for 97,577 of 262,447 missing female entries in 2024 – nearly 37
Rohulamin Quander, retired judge and family historian, laid to rest
Friends and family gathered on Sept. 6 to celebrate the life and work of native Washingtonian Rohulamin Quander, who died on Aug. 16 from natural causes. Born Dec. 4, 1943, he lived to be 81 years old.
Quander is remembered as a dedicated judge and the historian of the famed Quander family. He was also a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., a Howard University alumni, an archivist and strong advocate for the community.
Quander is survived by his wife, Carmen Torruella-Quander, and their three children, Iliana, Rohulamin II and Fatima. He also leaves behind his granddaughter Egypt Quander Crenshaw and three siblings, Joherra Harris, John Quander and Ricardo Quander.
Regarded as a human encyclopedia, Quander traced
his own family lineage back to Ghana and Barbados. He was revered for tracing the histories of others in the community.
His eldest daughter, Iliana, says the most amazing thing about him was “his ability to be in a room full of people and talk about their lineages.” He was able to do this while still staying committed to his family.
Quander founded the League of Enslaved Mount Vernon Descendents to help honor and preserve the stories of both formerly enslaved and free Black people on the Mount Vernon Plantation, which included the Quander family.
Quander also wrote several books about historic figures, including a biography of his ancestor Nellie Quander, a founder of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, titled “Nellie Quander, An Alpha Kappa
business and education support for companies that sell products for the hair and body.
“Come and support them with your dollars, because when we keep investing, amplifying and supporting the brands in our communities, we
change our communities for good,” said Rahama Wright, founder and CEO of Yeleen Beauty, during the livestreamed event. “Let’s make D.C. not only our nation’s capital, but the beauty capital.” Wright cited a McKinsey study
Photo courtesy of GoFundMe.com / Carmen Thompson Family and friends of 19-year-old Dacara Thompson are mourning her brutal death and reigniting conversations about missing Black women and media neglect.
Photo courtesy of Facebook (meta)/Mayor Bowser Rahama Wright (left), founder and CEO of Yeleen; D.C. Councilman Wendell Felder (D-Ward 7); D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and Nina Albert, deputy mayor for planning and economic development, tour the Yeleen Beauty Makerspace during its grand opening on Sept. 8.
By Jonathan Forney Special to the AFRO
Photo courtesy of Iliana Quander
Rohulamin Quander is remembered as a retired judge and family historian who served his community with dedication.
Quander Thompson
percent. And in a peer reviewed study in The Lancet Regional Health Americas in February 2024, using CDC data, Black women were found on average six times more likely to be murdered than White women.
“We must do a better job at getting information out to the public as soon as it’s suspected that someone is missing and may be the victim of foul play,” she said. “My podcast presents cases that have gone cold as well as those that are recent. It doesn’t matter. I just want to help families find their loved ones and if someone has been killed, I want to help them get justice. Perhaps that will help them find the closure they need.”
Maryland Governor Wes Moore released a statement on the death of Thompson, stating that the “entire state mourns the horrible loss...”
According to Moore’s statement, Thompson participated in the most recent Maryland Service Year Option as one of the “patriotic Marylanders committed to public service. She yearned to be part of our mission to solve big problems with bold solutions through her passion for the arts.”
Moore continued, stating that Thompson “was a bright light” in Maryland.
“We will use every tool at our disposal to ensure those responsible for this crime are held accountable and honor D acara’s legacy of service
through our unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of all Marylanders,” he said.
As authorities continue to investigate, Gilmore hopes to fill the gap in reporting about such cases.
“It’s hard for me as a Black woman to turn a blind eye about cases like this when it’s clear that we are facing a national epidemic which calls for a nationwide response,” she said. “True crime podcasts are among the most viewed in the U.S., but they fail to adequately focus on Black women and girls.
Gilmore can be reached via email at hunting4answers@moreehunter. com. You can find her podcast at Hunting 4 Answers on I-Heart radio, Apple or Spotify.
Continued from A3
Alpha Pearl: The Story of the Woman Who Saved an International Organization.”
As a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. for 60 years, Quander’s impact was far-reaching. His family has asked for donations to go to Omega Men for Homeless Men, Alpha Omega Chapter in lieu of flowers—a program Quander was actively involved in later in his life.
Quander’s advocacy efforts included consulting work and historical preservation. He was also known for supporting seniors in the community.
“If you were alone and didn’t have anybody else, you were probably going to get a call or a visit from him,” Iliana Quander said.
Quander’s wake was held Sept. 6 at Saint Augustine Catholic Church (2101 15th St., N.W. in Washington, D.C.), followed by an Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. memorial. After a funeral mass service, Quander was interred at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, located at 1300 Bladensburg Rd. NE, Washington, D.C.
Fast Beauty Initiative
Continued from A3
Leaders emphasized how the initiative and the makerspace opening will support Black-owned businesses.
“This is not just a manufacturing hub, it is a launch pad for dreams…a space that provides access to training and resources they need to compete in an industry that has too often left them behind,” said D.C. Councilmember Wendell Felder (D-Ward 7). With the Fast Beauty Initiative and Yeleen’s expansion, leaders say it reflects the wider endeavor to strengthen the region’s economy while ensuring all entrepreneurs, businesses have a chance to succeed.
“Come and support them with your dollars, because when we keep investing, amplifying and supporting the brands in our communities, we change our communities for good.”
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Meta (Facebook)/ Hunter Elisabeth
Journalist Hunter Gilmore is founder of Hunting 4 Answers, a platform that spotlights missing Black women and girls.
BALTIMORE-AREA
Maryland leaders reject president’s National Guard plan for Baltimore
By Tavon N. Thomasson Special to the AFRO tthomasson@afro.com
At a Sept. 5 press conference outside St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Park Heights, Gov. Wes Moore and Baltimore City Mayor M. Brandon Scott denounced President Donald Trump’s plan to send the National Guard to Baltimore.
Trump’s Sept. 2 declaration that he was prepared to send federal forces into Baltimore drew swift criticism from Maryland leaders, who dismissed the proposal as unnecessary. By Sept. 5 that rejection was on full display in Park Heights, where Gov. Moore and Mayor Scott stood in the church parking lot, flanked by police officials and rows of neighborhood advocates, to underscore their opposition.
“We do not need an occupation and we do not need people putting in performative and theatrical resources,” Gov. Moore said during the press conference. “If you want to learn what works, come spend time and learn what we need.”
Mayor Scott, who grew up in Park Heights, echoed the message, urging for investment in people rather than militarization.
“We do not need troops on our streets, but we do need folks who want to be at the table to recognize that people in Baltimore are humans,” Scott said during the press conference. “Our young people aren’t born to be criminals. They are a resource to invest in, not a problem to solve.”
Trump has long portrayed Baltimore as a city plagued by crime — once calling it a “hellhole” — and has argued the National Guard is needed to restore order. Gov. Moore and Mayor Scott pushed
back, pointing instead to historic progress. They noted the city recently recorded its lowest homicide numbers in
August represent the fewest in the first eight months of any year in more than 50 years. August closed with
said during the press conference. “What we are saying is that we, as a collective, [are] in the best position that we
“We do not need troops on our streets, but we do need folks who want to be at the table to recognize that people in Baltimore are humans.”
more than 50 years.
In a Sept. 1 press release, the mayor’s office reported that Baltimore has recorded 91 homicides and 218 non-fatal shootings in 2025, marking a 29.5 percent drop in killings and a 21 percent decline in shootings compared with the same period last year.
The 91 homicides through
Funeral services set for retired Morgan State dean Clayton Stansbury Jr.
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
Clayton C. Stansbury Jr., beloved retired dean of Morgan State University’s Honors College, died Aug. 30 at age 93. His funeral services will be held Sept. 16. The wake is scheduled for 10 to 11 a.m. ET at Morgan State University’s Murphy Fine Arts Center, 2201 Argonne Drive in Baltimore. The funeral will follow at 11 a.m., with burial at Woodlawn Cemetery, 2130 Woodlawn Drive in
to AFRO reporting from
Stansbury was
among
Photo courtesy of Jacob D. Howard Ill Clayton C. Stansbury Jr., retired dean of Morgan State University’s (MSU) Honors College, died Aug. 30 at age 93. Funeral services will be held Sept. 16 at the MSU’s Murphy Fine Arts Center.
talk with them each morning while teaching at the college. He was active across campus, serving on several committees and often lending his time to support fellow colleagues. Stansbury was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
for
just seven homicides, a historic low for a month that has long been one of Baltimore’s deadliest.
Scott credited years of partnership between city agencies, grassroots organizations and state leaders for the turnaround.
“None of us are celebrating and saying that we solved gun violence,” Scott
have been in 50 years.”
Police Commissioner Richard Worley emphasized that lasting progress requires more than just policing and must involve community trust and collaboration.
“We know law enforcement alone is not enough, and it never has been. It
Maryland Cycling Classic sparks dialogue on Black health and inclusion
By
The Maryland Cycling Classic returned to Baltimore Sept. 6, with cyclists racing from Harbor Point to the Inner Harbor for the first time in three years.
Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka, of Poland, took home the winning jersey for the four-lap, 71.6-mile inaugural women’s race and Sandy Dujardin, of France, was declared winner of the six-lap, 107.4-mile men’s race.
Local fitness vendors Charm City Run and Coppermine were featured at the
event to encourage health and wellness.
“I think it’s a great event to promote being active, especially for us African Americans,” said attendee Michael Law. “I love how the sport is growing among our people.”
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), obesity is a grave concern among African Americans, with nearly 48 percent of Black adults classified as clinically obese. Kevin Rhodes, a Chicago native and member of Velo
New PrattForm program supports Baltimore youth’s entrepreneurial goals
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer tmcqueen@afro.com
Through the help of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore teens are learning how to turn their ideas into businesses.
“It’s given me the mindset and the opportunity to expand my foam roller business,” said Brayden K. Leake, a student at Archbishop Curley High School who participated in the PrattPreneur program this summer. “I was given full creative control of my business with the assistance of multiple mentors. I was able to create my logo and to see my idea come to life. Knowing what steps to take legally has helped me to understand the back side of the business. It’s more than just having a product and selling it.”
The PrattPreneur Program is a six-week summer program for teens aged 14 to 16 in grades ninth through 11th.
It guides participants through business development, pitching and product creation. Students also receive a marketing package and a stipend for participating.
“We’re not just thinking about opportunities or something for students to just do throughout the summer, but wanting to leave the lasting impression and plant seeds within our youth,” said Alayna “Lay” Davenport, director of the PrattPreneur and PrattForm programs for the Enoch Pratt Free Library. “We want to create a pipeline, an ecosystem that will encourage and empower students to pursue non-traditional pathways such as entrepreneurship.” The PrattPreneur program, which has just wrapped up its second year, is now getting a sister program that will allow
Courtesy photo
Brayden K. Leake, 15, is looking forward to building his business ideas through PrattForm, a new seven-month program designed to support the entrepreneurial endeavors of Baltimore teens.
Kendra Bryant Special to the AFRO
Attendee Michael Law is excited for the future of Black people and cycling.
Photo courtesy of the Baltimore City Office of the Mayor / J.J. McQueen Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (left) speaks as Gov. Wes Moore (right) looks on during a Sept. 5 press conference in Park Heights. Both leaders have rejected the 47th president’s plans to send the National Guard to Baltimore.
students to continue shaping their business ideas with the help of mentors at Enoch Pratt. The new PrattForm program will extend the help PrattPreneur offers into a year-round opportunity running from October 2025 through April 2026.
Four students from the PrattPreneur program will be joining the PrattForm program. One of them is 15-year-old Brayden.
Brayden said one of the most valuable skills he has learned through the program is being a boss.
“Being a boss sometimes means you have to be fair as well as make some hard decisions in order for your business to be successful,” he said. He said he looks forward to leaning into the community of teens and mentors that the new program will provide over the coming year.
“We can support each other,” he said.
The expansion will offer teens access to ongoing workshops, pop-up events to network and pitch their businesses and gain hands-on experience.
Davenport said students
Alayna “Lay” Davenport, director of PrattPreneur and PrattForm at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, helps Baltimore teens develop entrepreneurial skills to build and grow their business ideas.
throughout the Baltimore area are welcome to apply for the PrattPreneur program. The PrattForm program is currently exclusive to PrattPreneur graduates.
“They’ve been able to have conversations around fiscal responsibility, the fiduciary component of running a business and how that translates into personal banking on financing and integrity,” said Davenport.
“This is something that our
youth, specifically our Black youth, will be able to carry with them…. They will never forget it.”
Through the support of Enoch Pratt’s entrepreneurial programs, Brayden said he hopes to open several businesses and gain wealth, and hopes the same for the other teens that participate.
“I want all of us to be successful,” said Brayden. “There’s enough money out there for everyone.”
“We want to create a pipeline, an ecosystem that will encourage and empower students to pursue non-traditional pathways such as entrepreneurship.”
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City Riders Cycling Club (VCRCC), whose members hail from the greater Baltimore area, has gone from 189 lb. to 125 lb. from daily cycling.
“I ride 15 to 50 miles a day through Baltimore. I ride through Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Light Street and even York Road, daily,” said Rhodes. “For a break, I stop at Whole Foods, grab a piece of fruit. Ride past R. House, St. Paul, and right back home.”
Rhodes was inspired by the boredom of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 to introduce cycling to young Black men in his community.
“I think it’s a great event to promote being active, especially for us African Americans.”
even fix bikes, and one day work in a shop. If they’re entrepreneurs, they could one day open their own shop,” he said.
Still, some attendees felt that the representation in cycling is limited.
“This experience has–representation-wise, it’s been very slim here,” said Baltimore native Tiffany Bryant.
Shayla Simmons said she hadn’t heard of the race before Sept. 6.
learning more about the marketing behind this and speaking with the promoters.”
“I had the idea of starting an initiative. A way for young Black men to learn how to ride, to compete, or
“Until the street closures, I didn’t know [about the event],” she said. “Why aren’t more of us here? I would love to see more of us involved. I’m interested in
According to Andscape, cycling is one of the Whitest sports in the world. During the 2021 International Cycling Union (UCI) World Tour, less than 1 percent of the riders were Black. At the Sept. 6 race, the Benin women’s national team made history as the first African female team to compete in a large American UCI race. The four-woman team did not finish, but their presence was still honored.
AFRO Photos/Kendra Bryant
million in taxpayer dollars each day.
never will be,” Worley said during the press conference. “That’s why our partners at MONSE, We Are Us, Roca, and most importantly our community leaders are helping us rebuild trust and create a stronger Baltimore.”
In addition to decrying the president’s misrepresentation of crime in Charm City, Moore, a U.S. Army veteran, took particular offense at how the National Guard is being used by the White House.
“These are people who live in communities. These are people who have families, and we’re asking them to deploy to do things that are performative?” the governor said during the press conference. “That is so deeply disrespectful to them. It’s so deeply disrespectful to the American taxpayer.”
Experts estimate the National Guard deployment in Washington, D.C., is draining about $1
Arnetta Shelton, who works with the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, said federal resources would be better used through genuine collaboration with local leaders rather than imposed from the outside.
“What we do need is more collaboration. We need him down on the ground. We need his partnership — not just throwing resources to what he thinks works for Baltimore,” said Shelton.
In the end, everyone who spoke in the church parking lot sang the same refrain: Baltimore is turning a corner, and the work of city agencies, grassroots groups and residents is paying off. If Washington wants to help, they said, it should build on that momentum, not undermine it with an unwanted occupation.
As Gov. Moore said in his press conference: “We will work with anybody, but we will bow down to nobody.”
Courtesy photo
Chicago native and cyclist Kevin Rhodes is a member of the Velo City Riders Cycling Club (VCRCC) based in Anne Arundel County. The club is known for its 105-mile ride from Mt. Vernon to the Washington Monument in D.C.
Benin’s women cycling team makes history as the first African female team to compete in a large American UCI race. The team includes cyclists from left: Captain Estelle Agossounon, Hermionne Ahouissou, Raimatou Kpovihouede and Charlotte Metoevi.
COMMENTARY
My boss said my religion was wrong and to join their church– now what?
By Dr. Kendrick Roberson
Word in Black
Although religious freedom and expression are firmly protected in the workplace by the 1964 Civil Rights Act, President Trump’s Office of Personnel Management (OPM)— following the suit of other agencies disregarding standing law and precedent — has issued a memorandum titled, “Protecting Religious Expression in the Federal Workplace,” which kicks open the door for a supervisor to convince their direct employees to join the religion of the supervisor.
The Trump administration’s excessive entanglement of church and state in the federal workplace is likely to lead to hostile work environments for many federal employees. And it will almost certainly lead to a rise in religion-based discrimination cases, as what should be a personal choice and belief for each worker could now create power imbalances and pressures among supervisors and
employees, despite our freedom of religion.
Specifically, the recently released memorandum reads, “Employees may engage in conversations regarding religious topics with fellow employees, including attempting to persuade others of the correctness of their own religious views, provided that such efforts are not harassing in nature…The constitutional rights of supervisors to engage in such conversations should not be distinguished from non-supervisory employees by the nature of their supervisory roles.”
Providing those in positions of power with a cover to use their position of authority to influence their employees into their own religion is deeply problematic, especially in an environment where union protections have been stripped from 1 million workers and agencies are actively terminating existing collective bargaining agreements. As with any job, employees
already feel pressure to meet the desires of their boss.
However, when an employee’s boss challenges their religion (or lack of religion), what is the employee to do? The employee knows that by rejecting the advance of their supervisor, they are de facto revealing that they do not hold the same beliefs.
Our inalienable right to religious freedom
Our nation was not simply created around some flimsy notion of religious freedom. Rather, the foundation of our country is squarely enshrined in the inalienable right for all people to choose their own religion, or no religion at all. And the Trump administration is infringing on those rights — the simple suggestion that someone with power over you, your job, and your livelihood be protected to “persuade” you of the “correctness of their own religious views” in the workplace opens the door to significant religion-based-discrimination. And of course, the cost burden for this rise in religious
discrimination will fall squarely onto taxpayers through the very federal government and administration defying religious freedom, since its agencies would be responsible for investigating each religious discrimination claim.
OPM claims that this new guidance aligns with President Trump’s Executive Order titled, “Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias,” but a prudent taxpayer might ask if these extraordinary measures are data-informed. They are not.
The current trend of charges of religious discrimination in the workplace is down. Claims of religious discrimination filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) have dropped by 74 percent over the past couple of years. Since reaching its peak in 2022, religion-based charges went from 19 percent of all charges filed, or 1-in-5 charges, down to just 4 percent in 2024, or 1-in-25 charges.
Religious expression in the workplace is currently
protected by federal law, but the expansion of those protections to proselytizing supervisors creates an excessive entanglement between church and state that will result in more religious discrimination, not less.
Congress must exercise its constitutional authority to provide oversight over OPM and rescind this guidance. There is a distinct difference between a supervisor hanging a cross on their office wall, and a supervisor asking their employees to abandon their religion and join the supervisor in prayer before the cross. This commentary was originally published by Word in Black.
The unfinished work: Black Intellectuals and the MAGA Backlash
By Delgreco K. Wilson
In 1967, the social critic Harold Cruse published “The Crisis of the Negro Intellectual,” a magisterial and blistering assessment of Black thought leadership that remains startlingly relevant today. Writing as the civil rights era was coming to a close, Cruse argued that Black intellectuals had failed to develop independent cultural institutions, formulate a distinct ideology, and provide strategic political and economic leadership for their community. Instead, they relied on White liberal patronage, imported Marxist theories, and integrationist fantasies that left Black America vulnerable to the very power structures it sought to overcome.
Nearly six decades later, Cruse’s framework offers a provocative lens through which to view the role of Black intellectuals in contemporary America—especially in the face of the relentless racist White backlash embodied by the MAGA movement. This backlash, characterized by efforts to dismantle diversity initiatives, suppress historical narratives of race, and undermine Black cultural institutions, demands a response that Cruse would recognize as both ideological and institutional. Yet, too often, Black intellectuals remain tethered to the very dependencies he critiqued.
The Crusean framework: A blueprint for self-determination Cruse’s analysis was unsparing. He saw Black intellectuals as cultural architects whose primary role was to build autonomous institutions that could nurture and defend Black identity and power. This required:
• Cultural independence: Cruse believed that Black intellectuals must create their own theaters, publishing houses and media outlets to control their narrative. He criticized productions like “Porgy and Bess” as White-dominated misrepresentations of Black culture. Without cultural self-determination, he argued, Black America would remain trapped in a cycle of seeking validation from White institutions—a cycle that perpetuated dependency.
Ideological clarity: Cruse rejected imported ideologies like Marxism and integrationism as inadequate for addressing Black America’s unique position. He insisted that Black intellectuals develop a homegrown philosophy rooted in the specific historical and cultural experiences of African Americans. This meant confronting uncomfortable truths, such as the tensions between Black and Jewish intellectuals in leftist movements, rather than subsuming racial justice under class struggle.
• Political and economic strategy: Beyond protest, Cruse called for intellectuals to chart a path toward tangible power—economic cooperatives, political coalitions, and educational
Creative Commons
Black intellectuals face renewed pressure in the MAGA era as efforts to defund cultural institutions like the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture echo Harold Cruse’s warnings about dependency and erasure. His call for autonomous institutions and homegrown ideology remains urgent in the face of White backlash seeking to silence Black voices.
institutions that could operate independently of White liberal patronage.
Cruse’s analytical framework was not without flaws. His excessive focus on Harlem led some critics to accuse him of regional bias, and his blunt critiques of figures like Paul Robeson and Lorraine Hansberry often felt personal. Yet, his central insight—that intellectual work must be tied to institution-building—remains powerful and applicable over time and across the entire nation.
The MAGA backlash: A challenge to Black intellectualism
The MAGA movement represents a modern incarnation of the White backlash Cruse anticipated. Its tactics include:
Defunding diversity initiatives: The Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle DEI programs and undermine Black cultural institutions (e.g., attempts to control the Smithsonian and Library of Congress) echo Cruse’s warnings about White resistance to Black cultural autonomy. For instance, Trump’s executive order “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” explicitly targeted the National Museum of African American History and Culture, accusing it of promoting “narratives
that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive.”
Erasing history: Book bans and legislative attacks on critical race theory seek to sanitize America’s racial narrative, denying Black Americans the tools to understand their own oppression. This assault extends to federal efforts to slash funding for libraries and museums dedicated to Black history, as seen in recent budget cuts to the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
• Co-opting narratives: MAGA’s rhetoric often appropriates the language of pluralism while promoting a homogenized vision of America that marginalizes Black voices. This includes persistent attacks on “wokeness” as a cultural threat and unabated efforts to impose a “patriotic history” that erases the complexities of racial oppression.
This backlash is not merely political; it is cultural. As Cruse recognized, culture is the terrain where power is contested and identities are formed. The MAGA movement understands this intuitively—hence its war on “wokeness” as a cultural threat.
The contemporary Black intellectual: Strengths and failures
Today’s Black intellectuals—academics, artists, journalists and activists—have made significant strides since Cruse’s time. The rise of Black Studies programs, the proliferation of Black-owned media platforms, and the cultural influence of movements like Black Lives Matter demonstrate progress toward Cruse’s vision. Scholars like Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Cornel West have built institutions that center Black thought.
Yet, Cruse’s critiques still resonate:
• Dependency on White institutions: Many Black intellectuals still operate within predominantly White universities, media outlets and philanthropic structures. This dependency can dilute radicalism and prioritize White approval over community needs. As Cruse noted, this often leads to a “brainwashing” where Black intellectuals serve external agendas rather than their own community’s interests.
Ideological fragmentation: The Black intellectual class remains divided between assimilationist, Marxist and nationalist traditions—often mirroring the same imported ideologies Cruse criticized. This fragmentation weakens collective action.
• Neglecting institution-building: While cultural production thrives (e.g., Black film and music), sustained investment in Black-owned economic and political institutions lags. Without these, cultural influence remains vulnerable to co-option or suppression.
A Crusean path forward: Strategies for the current moment
To address the MAGA backlash, Black intellectuals must return to Cruse’s blueprint—updated for the 21st century: Fortify cultural institutions: Support and expand Black-owned media, publishing houses and digital platforms. Institutions like the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit and the Schomburg Center in Harlem are modern equivalents of the autonomous spaces Cruse championed. As the Black Arts Movement understood, culture is a weapon that can “dethrone the great myth of White superiority.”
• Develop a unifying ideology: Forge a pragmatic ideology that blends historical awareness with contemporary realities. This ideology must be pluralistic yet rooted in authentic Black experiences, rejecting both colorblind liberalism and dogmatic Marxism. Cruse’s emphasis on “cultural pluralism”—where groups maintain distinct identities while engaging in society— offers a model.
• Build political and economic coalitions: Create alliances with other marginalized groups, but on terms that prioritize Black self-determination. Cruse was skeptical of shallow solidarity that subsumed Black interests, but he also recognized the need for strategic coalitions grounded in mutual respect.
• Reclaim education: Defend and expand Black Studies programs against political attacks. These programs are not just academic exercises; they are vital for nurturing the next generation of Black intellectuals. As Cruse argued, intellectuals must “assail the stultifying blight of the commercially depraved White middle class.”
Embrace organic leadership: Intellectuals must engage directly with communities, translating theory into actionable strategies. This means partnering with grassroots organizations, supporting local economies, and prioritizing tangible outcomes over rhetorical victories.
Conclusion: The unfinished work Harold Cruse’s legacy is a challenge—one that remains unmet. The MAGA backlash is not an aberration but a symptom of America’s unresolved racial tensions. For Black intellectuals, the response must be more than reactive; it must be transformative.
As Cruse wrote, the special function of the Negro intellectual is cultural. It is to build, to theorize, and to lead—not from the periphery, but from the center of an autonomous Black world. This is not separatism; it is self-determination. In a moment when White backlash seeks to erase Blackness from public life, that self-determination is not just a strategy. It is a necessity. The crisis of the Negro intellectual, Cruse warned, was a failure of vision. Today, the vision is clear. The question is whether Black intellectuals will have the courage to build it.
Photo courtesy of AFGE.org
Dr. Kendrick Roberson is a national vice president for the American Federation of Government Employees, which is a labor union that represents over 800,000 federal employees. This week, he discusses religious freedoms being rolled back in the workplace.
Court rules Lisa Cook can remain a Fed governor while fighting president’s attempts to fire her
By Christopher Rugaber and Lindsay Whitehurst
A federal court has ruled that embattled Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook can remain in her position while she fights President Donald Trump’s efforts to fire her.
The ruling, which will almost certainly be appealed, is a blow to the Trump administration’s efforts to assert more control over the traditionally independent Fed, which sets short-term interest rates to achieve its congressionally mandated goals of stable prices and maximum employment. Congress has also sought to insulate the Fed from day-to-day politics.
U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb late Sept. 9 granted Cook’s request for a preliminary injunction blocking her firing while the dispute makes its way through the courts. Cobb ruled that Cook would likely prevail in the lawsuit she filed late last August to overturn her firing.
Trump, a Republican, said he was firing Cook on Aug. 25 over allegations raised by one of his appointees that she committed mortgage fraud related to two properties she purchased in Ann Arbor, Mi., and Atlanta in 2021, before she joined the Fed. Cook is accused of saying the properties were “primary residences,” which could have resulted in lower down payments and mortgage rates than if either was designated a second home or investment property.
The White House insisted Trump had the right to fire Cook.
“President Trump lawfully removed Lisa Cook for cause due to credible allegations of mortgage fraud from her highly sensitive position overseeing financial institutions on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said Sept. 10 in a statement. “This ruling will not be the last say on the matter, and the Trump Administration will continue to work to restore accountability and confidence in the Fed.”
But Cobb ruled that the allegations likely weren’t sufficient legal cause to fire Cook. Under the law governing the Fed, governors can only be removed “for cause,” which Cobb said was limited to actions taken during a
governor’s time in office.
The “removal of a Federal Reserve Governor extends only to concerns about the Board member’s ability to effectively and faithfully execute their statutory duties, in light of events that have occurred while they are in office,” Cobb wrote. Cobb was appointed by President Joe Biden, a Democrat.
“President Trump has not stated a legally permissible cause for Cook’s removal,” the ruling added.
The decision means Cook will be able to participate in the Fed’s meeting Sept. 16-17, when it is expected to reduce its key short-term rate by a quarter-point to between 4 percent and 4.25 percent.
Federal Reserve governors aren’t like cabinet secretaries and the law doesn’t allow a president to fire them over policy disagreements or because he simply wants to replace them. Congress sought to insulate the Fed from political pressure, the court noted, by giving Fed governors long, staggered terms that make it unlikely a president can appoint a majority of the board in a single term.
“Allowing the President to unlawfully remove Governor Cook on unsubstantiated and vague allegations would endanger the stability of our financial system and undermine the rule of law,” Cook’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said in a written statement. “Governor Cook will continue to carry out her sworn duties as a Senate-confirmed Board Governor.”
The court also directed the Fed’s board of governors and its chair, Jerome Powell, “to allow Cook to continue to operate as a member of the Board for the pendency of this litigation.”
Lowell had argued in court filings that Cook was entitled to a hearing and a chance to respond to the charges before being fired but was not provided either. The court agreed that she was not provided due process by the Trump administration. Her lawsuit denied the charges but did not provide more details.
The case could become a turning point for the 112-year-old Federal Reserve. No president has sought to fire a Fed governor before. Economists prefer independent central banks because they can do unpopular things like
lifting interest rates to combat inflation more easily than elected officials.
Many economists worry that if the Fed falls under the control of the White House, it will keep its key interest rate lower than justified by economic fundamentals to satisfy Trump’s demands for cheaper borrowing. That could accelerate inflation and could also push up longer-term interest rates, such as those on mortgages and car loans. Investors may demand a higher yield to own bonds to offset greater inflation in the future, lifting borrowing costs for the U.S. government, and the entire economy.
If Trump can replace Cook, he may be able to gain a 4-3 majority on the Fed’s governing board. Trump appointed two board members during his first term and has nominated a key White House economic adviser, Stephen Miran, to replace Adriana Kugler, another Fed governor who stepped down unexpectedly Aug. 1.
Trump has said he will only appoint to the Fed people who will support lower rates.
Congressional Black Caucus members condemn Republican redistricting as threat to Black representation
By
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus gathered at the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 9 to condemn Republican-led redistricting efforts, describing them as a “racist” strategy that threatens to weaken Black political representation in Congress.
U.S. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.-30) told the AFRO that President Donald Trump and members of the GOP are “incredibly cowardice.”
“They rushed through tax breaks and then cuts to Medicare and a tax on Social Security and cuts to American jobs,” said the California lawmaker.
Kamlager-Dove said that once the current administration “realized that the American people were aware of their shenanigans” and “going to hold them accountable in 2026,” they came up with “this new scheme to rig elections, silence the votes of hundreds of 1000s–if not millions–of voters, and work to snatch away representation in the form of seats that are held by Black members of Congress.”
U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md4) told the AFRO that Republicans are “scared.”
“They’re way underwater with Trump’s big, ugly bill, the trillion dollar cuts in Medicaid,” said Ivey. “They’re trying to find seats and I think they recognize they’re going to be losing seats in the election. So essentially, they’re just trying to cheat.”
The press conference was hosted by CBC Chair Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.-09). The New York lawmaker was joined by several
members of Congress including U.S. Reps. Wesley Bell (DMo.-1), Al Green (D-Texas-09), Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio-13) and André Carson (D-Ind.-07).
Many of the lawmakers in attendance, who represent districts where Republican-controlled state legislatures have redrawn congressional maps, say they plan to challenge the maps in court and mobilize public opposition.
Clarke told reporters during the press conference that if these “racially gerrymandered maps” are upheld by the courts, the CBC could lose seats.
“[This] would undermine decades of progress in securing fair representation for our community,” said the Democratic lawmaker. “Their strategy is clear dilute the voting power of black and brown communities to cling to power by any means necessary. What we’re seeing in states like Texas, Missouri and others, is nothing short of a direct assault on our representation in Congress.”
Missouri is one of the states at the center of the dispute. The state legislature recently approved new congressional lines that would add another Republican-leaning district, a move that could divide the Kansas City-based district represented by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.5), a 20-year veteran of Congress and a member of the caucus.
During the press conference Rep. Cleaver told reporters that the legislature in Missouri is “out of control.”
“We are at a moment where there are powers trying to place this nation into the 1950s and
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are condemning Republican-led redistricting as a racially motivated effort that threatens Black political representation. Shown here, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.-09).
they’re trying to reverse the direction of the country,” said Cleaver.
“I grew up in the South. This is one of the ugliest moments I’ve seen and felt in my lifetime,” he added.
Texas has also advanced a new congressional map that would strengthen Republican chances in districts currently represented by Democrats, including Green, Marc Veasey (D-Texas-33), Julie Johnson (D-Texas-24), Greg Casar (D-Texas-4) and Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas-37. That plan depends heavily on Republicans sustaining their recent gains among Hispanic voters throughout the 2026 midterm elections.
Reps. Green and Veasey, said during the conference that the racial motivations behind the
maps must be made explicit as the U.S. Supreme Court considers a pending case out of Louisiana. That case challenges the constitutionality of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits voting procedures that discriminate on the basis of race, color or membership in a language minority group.
CBC members warned that the Court’s ruling will not be limited to Louisiana, but it could ultimately reshape majority-minority districts across the country.
Rep. Kamlager-Dove told the AFRO that these redistricting tactics by Republicans are “regressive.”
“Instead of moving us to the future or making us great again, Donald Trump is making us Jim Crow again,” she added.
Trump has repeatedly attacked Powell and the other members of the Fed’s interest-rate setting committee for not cutting the short-term interest rate they control more quickly. It currently stands at 4.3 percent, after Fed policymakers reduced it by a full percentage point late last year. Trump has said he thinks it should be as low as 1.3 percent, a level that no Fed official and few economists support.
Powell recently signaled that the central bank was leaning toward cutting its rate at its meeting next week.
Cook is the first Black woman to serve as a Fed governor. She was a Marshall Scholar and received degrees from Oxford University and Spelman College, and prior to joining the board she taught at Michigan State University and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
AP writer Will Weissert contributed to this report. This article was originally published by The Associated Press.
Bryant
Continued from A2
approach,” said Bryant. “In many regards, it [Dollar General] amplifies the food deserts in our community, [but] it’s the only option. I dare not, out of compassion, tell our people to starve to death.”
Instead of encouraging a physical boycott, Bryant is urging supporters to engage in what he calls an electronic boycott–flooding the company with emails, phone calls and social media posts demanding accountability.
“We have to figure out a food co-op in our community so that people get access to fresh vegetation,” he said. “Something is wrong if it is more affordable for me to get a hamburger than it is for me to get a salad.”
Bryant said the issue goes beyond retail policy.
“It’s not just because of gun violence or the Klan,” he said. “It’s because of health and nutrition. And health and nutrition is a civil rights issue. We have to speak to it.”
He said the campaign’s rural focus is intentional.
“When you think of Georgia, you immediately think of Atlanta,” he said. “You don’t think of Warner Robins, Columbus, Tifton. A lot of those rural communities are deserving of our attention and our affection at the same time.”
Speaking on economic injustice and the resilience of the Black community, Bryant pointed to a history of loyalty despite systemic neglect.
“Black people are the most forgiving people on the planet,” he said. “We overwhelmingly still pledge allegiance, still register to vote, still pay taxes and have never received reparations. Our patriotism is never called into question.”
Bryant said it’s time for the Black Church to lead on issues of economic inequality.
“Preachers have lost their prophetic voice,” he said. “Eighty-seven percent of Black people don’t own a single share of stock, and yet when they come to church, the only investment they hear about is tithing.”
Bryant acknowledged that speaking out against powerful corporations comes with personal risks. His advocacy, he said, has led to threats and security concerns that affect not just him, but his family.
“I’ve had to change my phone number,” he said. “I’ve talked to my daughters’ colleges to make sure they’re safe. These are real issues.” Despite the challenges and personal toll, Bryant said he has no intention of backing down. For him, the work is not optional. It is a calling.
“This is not a hobby,” Bryant said. “This is what I was called and born to do.”
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Federal Reserve Board of Governors member Lisa Cook listens during an open meeting of the Board of Governors at the Federal Reserve.
Ashlee Banks Special to the AFRO
AP Photo
Purple in a sea of blue: A Ravens fan’s wild Buffalo ride
By Dr. Frances Draper AFRO CEO and Publisher
From hotel surprises to tailgate mayhem, Baltimore fans made their mark — even in the NFL’s first-ever 41–40 thriller.
Primetime excitement
My first ever away trip as a Ravens fan is one I will never forget — for both the highs and the heartbreak. This wasn’t just any game. It was Sept. 7, a Sunday night under the lights, the long-anticipated MVP-versus-MVP showdown: Josh Allen versus Lamar Jackson. The entire nation was watching. The stage was massive, the energy electric and I was right there in the middle of it — excited beyond words.
Pregame in Buffalo:
Tailgates and blue everywhere
Our Sept. 7 morning flight felt like a purple parade — Ravens fans everywhere. But don’t get it twisted: once we landed, we were outnumbered. The Bills faithful dominated the scene, and we couldn’t even reach Buffalo’s aging but iconic stadium — hosting its final season opener before the new one is finished — without walking past their tailgates. They were loud and rocking. Bills gear of all types and description-- everywhere. The smell of wings and pizza filled the air, drifting out of tents and pickup truck beds. Our purple felt bold on the plane. On that street, it felt like a drop in a sea of blue streaked with red. Neighbors closest to the stadium offered parking on their lawns or in their driveways for $30–$50
Shown here, Ravens Chaplain Johnny Shelton
Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, AFRO CEO and Publisher; Andre Draper, AFRO director of Operations, and Kevin “MPeckable” vice president of Marketing and Technology.
— some even advertised bathroom access with the deal. Unreal.
A hotel surprise
The weekend came with an unexpected bonus: being in the same hotel as the Ravens was a complete but wonderful surprise. Since the players were still in the building, check-in was delayed — so we sat in the lobby, hoping to catch a glimpse. Security was tight, and most of the guys slipped out the back. Before the team headed to the buses, though, I did see Zay Flowers in the weight room, fully locked in before kickoff.
Familiar faces
I also crossed paths very briefly with a few familiar Ravens/Baltimore leaders in a hallway near the elevator. Team president Sashi Brown carried himself with the calm confidence he’s known for.
Ravens Chaplain Johnny Shelton offered a hug and a quick greeting. I exchanged a few words with my friend and fellow prayer warrior Augie Chiasera, president of M&T Bank’s Greater Baltimore and Chesapeake regions, and also with WBAL’s Gerry
Sandusky.
Horton’s family in full flock
One of the most memorable moments? Meeting the women of special team’s coordinator Chris Horton’s family. They made the trip from Los Angeles, New Orleans and Houston — dressed head to toe in original Ravens-themed ensembles, carrying heavy coats for Buffalo’s chill. What made it especially meaningful was that the look had been created by one of his aunts and embraced by the family. Another aunt added to the spirit of the day by wearing a purple “It’s My Birthday” banner draped over her carefully coordinated outfit, smiling ear to ear. I even recorded a video with Horton’s mom and aunts, who brought a joyful energy that matched their coordinated ensembles. It was perfect football weather for those of us from Baltimore, but you could tell they came prepared. That’s how the Ravens Flock shows up — from all over, but united with purpose.
Ravens in command
On the field, the offense
Orioles to feature R&B Singer Lloyd on Sept. 18 at HBCU and Divine Nine Night
The Orioles will celebrate Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the Divine Nine organizations at Camden Yards on Sept. 18, with a special pregame concert headlined by R&B singer Lloyd.
Kerry Watson, Orioles Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, said in a statement to the AFRO that although he did not himself attend an HBCU, while in college, he worked at Howard University Hospital, and has experienced the joy and culture provided by an HBCU.
“The HBCU sports experience is different. All of the action isn’t on the field. It’s in the stands. It’s the bands. It’s the music,” said Watson. “The energy is unique and special. Every year, we are going to grow and bring new fans to Oriole Park, and those fans will come back for more memories.” Watson also stated it’s not just about welcoming Black fans, but getting them excited about the home team and making sure they are enjoying all Camden Yards has to offer.
“Our city is home to two of the most dynamic HBCUs in the land, so I think we are obligated to make them proud of Baltimore through the Baltimore Orioles”
Lloyd is the R&B singer who rose to fame in the mid2000s with his songs “Southside” and “You.” The New
courtesy of Instagram / Lloyd
The Orioles will celebrate HBCUs and members of Black Greek Letter Organizations at a Sept. 18 home game. Singer Lloyd will headline a special pregame concert.
Orleans native has collaborated with artists such as Ashanti and Lil Wayne.
Gates will open at 6 p.m with a set from Nicole Mosley, “DJ heat,” a Morgan State University alum and D.C native. DJ Heat is currently the DJ for both the Washington Mystics as well as the Washington Wizards.
After the performances, the Orioles will face off against the New York Yankees, with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 p.m.
was humming. Derrick Henry ran hard all night (and let’s be real — that one turnover didn’t cost us the win). Lamar Jackson was everything you want him to be: sharp, creative, and fearless. Zay Flowers kept making clutch grabs, and DeAndre Hopkins looked like he’d been with the team for years. For most of the game, Baltimore was the stronger team — and they played well in a deafening stadium where Bills fans booed our players before the first kick was even made.
Heartbreak in history
When the Ravens went up by two scores, we — along with plenty of Bill’s fans — decided it was safe to head out. We caught a cab and made the 10-minute ride back to the hotel, rushing into the lobby to watch the finish, only to see Buffalo storm back. The first 41–40 final score in NFL history, and of course, we were on the wrong end of it. One point. Just one.
Home-field advantage
And one more thing — inside the stadium, the only replays they showed were Bills highlights. Not a single Ravens highlight got replayed. That’s home-field advantage for you, but it stood out.
Out of bounds
I’ll give Bills fans this: yes, they know how to tailgate and yes, they bring the energy. But not everything was classy. During the celebration of DeAndre Hopkins’ amazing touchdown catch, a Bills fan slapped the helmets of both Hopkins and Lamar Jackson. Lamar immediately pushed the fan back into the seats, and security ejected
the individual. The fan was completely out of order — no excuse for that kind of behavior. Lamar later admitted he let emotions get the better of him, but he was right not to just let it slide. Boundaries matter, and Baltimoreans don’t take kindly to bullies — whether in the stands in Buffalo or the halls of power in D.C.
Next play
Here’s the truth: our offense is legit, but the defense must tighten up. You can’t give up 41 points and expect to win.
If we want to be a serious contender for postseason play, that has to change.
The good news? The season is just getting started. The Cleveland Browns come to Baltimore next week for our home opener — and they just lost by one to the Bengals. Somebody’s going to bounce back, and it might as well be us.
Still, I’m not discouraged.
This hurt, but it’s just one game. I’ve been hooked on
Baltimore football since I was nine or ten, when my mother — a die-hard Baltimore Colts fan — made sure we (my brother, sister and I) followed the game whether I wanted to or not. Back then, that meant listening on the radio or watching on TV. Ever since, I’ve been a passionate, knowledgeable fan of this sport and this city’s teams. Like many of us, I countdown the days from the last whistle of one season to the first snap of the next. And just as my mother nudged me, I’ve been encouraging others (especially younger women) to learn the game, lean into it, know the stats and the players. I celebrate every time I see more women breaking into the commentary booths, on the sidelines, and leading the surge in women’s flag football leagues.
For me, no other sport compares with football. It is absolutely the sport of all sports... And for me — it’s forever. Let’s go Ravens!
The night will feature other pregame activities outside the ballpark in the Bullpen Picnic Area, including marching band performances, tabling from local HBCUs and appearances from school mascots.
Fans who purchase tickets for HBCU night will receive a limited edition cap, with $5 from each purchase going towards initiatives to support HBCUs and the Divine Nine organizations.
AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (#10) grabs a pass for a touchdown in front of Buffalo Bills linebacker Keonta Jenkins (#49) during the second half of their Sept. 7 football game.
By Victoria Mejicanos AFRO Staff Writer
Photo
Photo courtesy of Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper
(right);
Ravens opening game disappointing at best
By Edward G. Robinson III AFRO Sports Editor
Flush it.
Let’s hope the Baltimore Ravens flush this Week 1 disappointment–a crushing loss 41-40 to the Buffalo Bills in their NFL season-opener–down the toilet.
Flush it and forget it.
Who wants to remember the Bills rallying from a 15-point deficit with seven minutes remaining? Who wants to remember Derrick Henry fumbling the ball late in the fourth quarter? Who wants to remember Buffalo kicker Matt Prater nailing a 32-yard field goal to secure the game at Highmark Stadium?
Flush it. Let it swirl away.
Don’t think about it. Don’t talk about it over coffee. It’s too early in the season to allow this type of trauma to fester.
Good times are around the corner for this team–but only if it can move beyond the Bills, a franchise that has been trying to get past losing four Super Bowls in the 1990s. These types of losses stick with you if you let them.
“We are just going to have to regroup and get ready to go play a long season,” said Ravens Coach John Harbaugh, in a post-game press conference. “We’ve got 16 games in front of us.” Flush it. A loss to Buffalo at this point in the season, after that last loss to Buffalo last season, can create a phobia hard to overcome later in the season. It happens.
The Baltimore Ravens entered the Sept. 7 season-opener with a desire to
avenge a 27-25 loss to the Bills in last season’s AFC Divisional playoff round. That loss was clear motivation for Harbaugh and his team, especially the way things went down.
Remember, the Ravens pulled within two points
late in that game and had a chance to tie the score. After orchestrating a touchdown drive, the Ravens elected to try for a two-point conversion. Quarterback Lamar Jackson hit tight end Mark Andrew near the right pylon and he dropped the ball.
Season over.
They still haven’t flushed that hurt.
Harbaugh was asked before the Sept. 7 game what the team learned from last season’s playoff game with the Bills. He said, “You certainly don’t flush it, because there’s
schemes were,” Harbaugh said during a preseason press conference. “There were a lot of chess moves going on in that game that will be built upon this game on both sides of the ball.”
He was right. Harbaugh, who is in his
a lot to learn.”
As a coach, a very wise man, he was right. There’s so much to learn from your mistakes–until you become obsessed with them.
“We have to understand how the game went, how they played us and what the
18th season, is the second-longest-tenured head coach in the NFL. The Ravens own 12 playoff berths in the past 17 seasons. He clearly understands what’s needed to coach a football team through the season and into the playoffs.
He’s qualified to coach this group into the next game against AFC North rival Cleveland. His staff will review film, make corrections, prepare notes and construct an intelligent game plan.
But, this one, they’ve got to flush it.
“Our mindset has to shift to the Browns,” said Jackson in a postgame press conference.
Move on as if the result didn’t happen. Start over and play with the unadulterated freedom of three quarters and the two Ravens’ drives before Henry’s fumble. That’s when the Ravens looked mostly unstoppable.
At the very least, they appeared to have two of the league’s most vaunted assets –Jackson and Henry–a dynamic duo with a Mike Tyson one-two punch.
In one defining fourth quarter drive, the Ravens gave us an early look at their enormous potential on the night of Sept. 7.
Faced with third-10, a gaggle of Buffalo Bills defenders forcing him backwards, Jackson found an escape route and turned a negative into a 19-yard gain. His fleetfoot scramble set the Ravens up for first-and-10 at the 46-yardline.
On the next play, Jackson handed off to Henry out of the I-formation. He sprinted left off tackle and raced up the sideline past defenders into the endzone for a 46yard touchdown run.
Henry continued to make history on Sunday. He surpassed Jim Brown in career touchdowns and moved into sixth most in NFL history.
Jackson continued to amaze. He completed 14
for 19 pass attempts for 209 yards and two TDs. He completed a 29-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins that will make top-10 lists for the remainder of the season.
Hopkins, running full speed and a step in front of single coverage, pulled in the crowd-pleasing pass with his right hand while a defender yanked on his left arm.
For anyone watching, the combination of Jackson and Henry served as an impressive statement as the Ravens’ swarming defense held off the Bills until … they didn’t. Then the Buffalo defense made way for its star quarterback Josh Allen to calmly lead the Bills to victory. The league’s MVP passed for 394 yards, rushed for two touchdowns and passed for two more. He scored late in the fourth quarter on a dive play where he leapt over the pile for a 1-yard TD.
On the game’s final drive, Allen led the Bills down the field, zipping passes to receivers, completing five attempts, including a 32-yard attempt to Joshua Palmer to set up the game-winning field goal. That part causes nightmares. Some teams don’t conquer nightmares. For players, the mistakes replay in their minds, the mistakes fester and they want revenge. They look for an edge and never grow past the loss. What will Jackson do?
“Probably let it linger for tonight,” he said. “We all hate losing on our team…But then forget about it.”
Exactly. Flush it. The Ravens will face off against the Cleveland Browns at 1 p.m. on Sept. 14 at M&T Bank Stadium.
AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (#8) runs for a touchdown past Buffalo Bills safety Cole Bishop (#24) during the first half of the NFL football game on Sept. 7. The Bills emerged victorious over the Ravens, with a final score of 41-40.
Unlocking sickle cell mysteries: Dr. Ambroise Wonkam speaks on genetic modifiers and patient outcomes
By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com
When Dr. Ambroise Wonkam walked into a panel on medical genetics out of curiosity, he had no idea it would shape the course of his career. Born in Cameroon, Wonkam has dedicated his career to studying genetic and genomic variations in African populations and their impact on conditions, like sickle cell disease.
Today, he is the director of the McKusick-Nathans Institute and Department of Genetic Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His father’s advice has been one of the guiding principles behind his work.
“He always said you have to have three major objectives in your life. One was being useful to yourself, the second was being useful to your family and the third was being useful to your nation,” said Wonkam. “My nation is the African nation, and I did not remember seeing a single African at the time who was a geneticist. I thought if I did genetic medicine, I would certainly be useful to my nation.”
This week, the AFRO connected with Wonkam to discuss the role of genetic modifiers in sickle cell disease and their impact on patient care.
AFRO: Can you explain in simple terms what “genetic modifiers” of sickle cell are?
Ambroise Wonkam: Sickle cell disease is a genetic condition that affects red blood cells. It is caused by
Photo courtesies of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Dr. Ambroise Wonkam serves as the director of the McKusick-Nathans Institute and Department of Genetic Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
a mutation in the gene that makes up the hemoglobin, which is the protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen in our body. It is a condition that evolved in Africa as a variant to confer resistance to malaria if you only have one copy of the mutation. If you inherit two copies of the mutation from your mother and father, you develop the disease.
In Nigeria, it is known that without treatment, 50 percent of children will die before their fifth birthday. It’s also the case in Nigeria that without treatment, some children will still live up to 60, which is the life expectancy for sickle cell in America.
The question is: how is it that one of two people in the same environment— even if that environment is very harsh in terms of health care provisions— will survive well above their 50s without appropriate treatment? That’s where genetic modifiers come in. If the environment is that bad and you still survive with a very severe condition that suggests that in some part of your body there is some other variant or mutation that improves the severity of the condition in you.
Genetic modifiers are important because they allow us to understand why one kid is very sick and the other is not when they have the same mutation. When we understand those modifications, they can be amenable to therapeutic modifications for treating the condition.
AFRO: What have you learned about these modifiers through your research?
AW: In our research, we have revealed modifiers in many sickle cell disease complications. For example, kidney disease and sickle cell disease are modified by three genes: APOL1, alpha thalassemia and HMOX1. For APOL1, there were some clinical studies published last year showing that if you modify that gene by inhibiting it using genetic technology or a pill, you
reduce the occurrence of kidney dysfunction. Importantly, this was in people without sickle cell, suggesting that knowledge we have from sickle cell can also help the general population.
We’re also very interested in genetic modifiers of fetal hemoglobin. Fetal hemoglobin is the type of hemoglobin present in babies before they are born. It progressively reduces when we’re born and becomes nearly zero in all of us as adults. If you maintain the capacity to produce fetal hemoglobin at 8 percent, it positively modifies your disease.
Earlier this year, we published a study about a fetal hemoglobin modifier that we call “FLT1,” which we strongly believe can be a target for therapeutics in the near future.
AFRO: You’ve discussed how Africa is underrepresented in genetic research. Why does this matter for sickle cell patients?
AW: It matters for humanity as a whole. There are three reasons why African genomes, in general, are critical for all of us. The first reason is ancestry. We are all African. The first human being evolved in Africa about 300,000 years ago. Present-day Europeans and Asians moved out of Africa only about 50,000 to 70,000 years ago. Yet, 98 percent of the genomic data we currently have comes from people of European ancestry. If we only study those genomes, they only represent a small fraction of humanity variation. The second reason is the geography of Africa. Africa stretches north to south. If you look at Europe and Asia,
they’re quite horizontal, extending east to west. Africa crosses many regions with different climates and environments. For example, in Cairo, you have the Mediterranean climate. In Central Africa, you have the rainforest. Different environments have different impacts on your genome. For example, skin color changes based on sun exposure.
The third reason is if you have different environments, you also have different types of infection. For example, you don’t have mosquitos producing malaria in Europe, but you do have it in African rainforests. As a result, the sickle cell mutation evolved in Africa as a survival mechanism to resist malaria.
AFRO: How could more inclusive genetic data change care for sickle cell patients globally?
AW: This ties into genetic modifiers. In the study we published earlier this year, we found 14 new genes that modify fetal hemoglobin. One of which is the FLT1. The variant we discovered in FLT1 was African-specific, meaning that if we did the same research on one million Europeans we would not have found that variant.
If you don’t study the African population, you refuse the opportunity of discovering new potential targets for sickle cell disease therapeutics. Additionally, studying African populations does not only improve the care for a condition, like sickle cell in Africans— it also helps us to understand the human genome, improving care for all of us and for many other conditions.
Lifesaving blood donations: How to become a regular donor
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
Black donors are crucial for the U.S. blood supply, yet their presence continues to lack. This gap means sickle cell patients are not getting blood that matches them the best.
“If you have the more diversity of the blood donor supply, the higher the chance that you will find blood that’s a match for sickle cell patients,” said Dr. Christina M. Barriteau, physician and medical director of the blood bank at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. “The diversity of the blood donation supply is definitely not matching the increasing diversity of our nation.”
and other minority group donors, the numbers still fall short of reflecting the nation’s diversity.
“Working with community partners, we’ve rebuilt and strengthened our Black and African-American donor base by a 74 percent increase from the lowest point during the pandemic— surpassing pre-COVID-19 levels,” said Marder.
“Prior to the pandemic, blood donors who are Black represented just about 4 percent of all Red Cross blood donors, which made it challenging to collect enough lifesaving blood donations to meet the needs of sickle cell patients and others in need,” he added.
Barriteau said many are eligible to donate blood but recognized the historical mistrust of the medical system that can make increasing turn
“The diversity of the blood donation supply is definitely not matching the increasing diversity of our nation.”
According to Scott Marder, regional communications manager for the National Capital and Greater Chesapeake Region of American Red Cross, Black people have unique structures on their red blood cells that can make it difficult to find a compatible unit of blood in other donor populations. Sickle cell impacts 100,000 people in the U.S., about 90 percent of them are Black.
While the American Red Cross reports progress in recruiting more Black
out difficult.
To improve this situation, Barriteau called for greater awareness of the need for blood donation, coordinated communication campaigns and stronger partnerships with communities. She said organizations should not just go into a community and ask for blood, it needs to be a sustainable commitment carried out alongside them.
She noted that more diversity among donors increases the
Black donors are critical to the U.S. blood supply, yet remain underrepresented. Greater
matching for sickle cell patients, a disease that disproportionately affects Black individuals.
likelihood of finding a match for sickle cell patients.
“If you have the more diversity of the blood donor supply, the higher the chance that you will find blood that’s a match for sickle cell patients,” she said. “Black individuals tend to have a better match for patients with sickle cell disease, so they’re more likely to be a match.”
Both Barriteau and Marder honed that donating blood is a safe process, and people should not hesitate to give or receive blood.
“Our donor health history screening helps to protect the blood supply,” he said. “The screening checks a donor’s temperature, blood pressure and hemoglobin levels and asks a series of questions designed to ensure that a donor is healthy enough to
donate and that their blood is as safe as possible for patients.”
Marder said blood is only collected from donors who are healthy and feeling well at the time of donation.
Barriteau noted that individuals with anemia, bleeding disorders, blood disorders or cancer are not eligible.
Marder and Barriteau offered insight into what it takes to be a regular donor and what the donation experience involves
“The entire donation process takes about an hour, and the actual donation lasts about 8-10 minutes,” Marder said.
He said in most states, individuals who are 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. Blood can be safely
donated every 56 days, up to six times a year. The donation of Power Reds, two units of blood during one visit, can be donated every 112 days. Platelets can be given every seven days, up to 24 times a year.
“Every day, volunteer blood and platelet donors across the country are needed to help save lives,” said Marder. “Even when hospitals are fully stocked with blood products, unexpected events can cause a sudden drop in the availability of lifesaving transfusions. We need donors of all ethnicities and blood types to ensure the right blood product is available at the right time.”
Those interested in donating can go to RedCrossBlood. org or call 1-800-Red Cross (1-800-733-2767).
Unsplash
Photo/Obi
diversity improves
From Jamel’s short life to new hope for sickle cell families
By Dr. Frances Murphy Draper AFRO Publisher and CEO
When I think of my little sister Jamel, I see a bright, inquisitive child with a smile that lit up every room. She was the daughter of my stepmother, jazz singer Damita Jo, and my father, James “Biddy” Wood, a respected music promoter. From her earliest days, Jamel’s life was marked by painful sickle cell crises that sent her to the hospital time and again. There was no real cure, no lasting relief. In 1973, at just 3 years old, this vibrant toddler died in Baltimore while her parents were away on the road performing—a heartbreaking reminder of how unpredictable and devastating the disease could be.
That was more than 50 years ago. Since then, medicine has dramatically reshaped what it means to live with sickle cell disease. Today, newborns are screened automatically, children receive vaccines and antibiotics that protect against life-threatening infections, and doctors can detect stroke risk before tragedy strikes.
Medicines such as hydroxyurea reduce painful episodes, and for the first time, FDA-approved gene therapies offer the possibility of a lasting cure. More than 98 percent of children born with sickle cell in the United States now survive into adulthood—progress my family could scarcely have imagined in Jamel’s day. Yet, the story is not only about science; it is also about equity. Sickle cell disproportionately affects Black families, who make up the vast majority of U.S. cases. That reality has too often meant neglect. Patients still describe long
delays in emergency rooms, disbelief in their reports of pain, and stigma that follows them from hospital to hospital. Too many children on Medicaid never receive proven treatments like hydroxyurea or regular stroke screening. And in many neighborhoods, families must travel hours just to find a specialist who understands the disease. The disease is hard enough—bias and barriers make it even harder.
Policy shapes these realities as well. The new federal budget law—praised by some as the “Big Beautiful Bill” but more accurately described by many as the “Big Ugly Bill”— underscores why progress cannot be measured in science alone. Its tighter Medicaid rules and new work requirements threaten to strip coverage from families who already struggle to keep up with the demands of chronic illness. Retroactive coverage is narrowed, leaving many exposed to crushing hospital bills. The law does include a provision to make gene therapies available to Medicaid patients, and that is a step forward. Still, one bright spot cannot outweigh the broader harm of policies that punish vulnerable people for circumstances beyond their control.
So progress has been made—but it is uneven, and justice still lags behind science. I will always remember Jamel as smiling, curious, and engaging—even when her small body ached too much to run and play like other children her age. My hope is that future “Jamels” not only smile through childhood but thrive into adulthood with more pain-free days, more possibilities, and more fairness. That would be a future worthy of her memory.
How Baltimore schools support students living with sickle cell
By Andrea Stevens: AFRO Staff Writer astevens@afro.com
When students with sickle cell disease walk through the doors of Baltimore City Public Schools, they are not just met with a classroom. They are met with a care team, led in part by dedicated school nurses who build individualized plans to support their health and education.
Mary Caudle, manager of nursing for Baltimore City Public Schools, has worked closely with students who live with chronic illnesses like sickle cell since 2018. Her work focuses on ensuring every child can access their education safely, without stigma or unnecessary barriers.
“Sickle cell disease presents differently for each student,” Caudle said. “We go
accommodations for students with chronic conditions. For students with sickle cell, this may include access to the nurse at any time, the ability to carry water throughout the day, or extended time for assignments.
“This child needs a 504 plan,” Caudle said. “They’re going to go through periods where they can’t leave their house, and they need to be held harmless for those things.”
Stigma can be another significant barrier. Classmates may not understand why a student misses school, leaves class often or skips recess during cold weather. Caudle believes open communication can help.
“Anything that sets a child apart from their peers and their peers don’t understand why... it can cause separation,” she said. “Talking to the class lowers the stigma and makes the child feel more a part of their classroom community.”
“You’re both there to make sure they can go to school and access their education. You’re also helping them learn to better navigate their disease process.”
through what it looks like for them, what their triggers are, how we prevent exposure, and what their treatment processes are.”
The process begins when a family notifies the school. Nurses then gather medical documentation, meet with families, and collaborate with health care providers to build a care plan tailored to each child’s needs. This plan becomes the foundation for managing the student’s health at school.
But Caudle’s work goes beyond logistics. It includes empowering students to understand and advocate for themselves.
“You’re building a team with your student,” she said. “You’re both there to make sure they can go to school and access their education. You’re also helping them learn to better navigate their disease process.”
A key component of that support is a Sec-
tion 504 plan, a legal document that outlines
While resources for diseases like diabetes are widely available, Caudle notes that similar materials for sickle cell are lacking.
“The American Diabetes Association has put out an entire curriculum for schools. It’s remarkable,” she said. “I haven’t seen anything like that for sickle cell — but something like that would be wonderful and very helpful.”
Finally, Caudle emphasizes that care plans should never be static.
“These plans are all fluid,” she said. “They can be changed at any point based on student needs, parent reports, medical needs or even what we’re seeing in school.”
For students with sickle cell disease, support from school nurses and staff is more than a health plan, it’s a pathway to inclusion, understanding and academic success.
Unsplash / Sixteen Miles Out
This week, the AFRO shines light on all sickle cell diseases, with a special space held in memoriam for Jamel Wood, the daughter of jazz singer Damita Jo DeBlanc Wood and James “Biddy” Wood.
Ghanaian nonprofit steps up in the fight against sickle cell
By Andrea Stevens AFRO Staff Writer astevens@afro.com
In Ghana newborn screening for sickle cell disease is rare, with many children going undiagnosed until painful symptoms force emergency care. The International Sickle Cell Centre (ISCC), a nonprofit in Accra, is working to change that through education, advocacy and financial support for patients in need.
to abnormal, sickle-shaped red blood cells that block blood flow and cause severe health complications. According to the World Health Organization, the disease is most common in individuals of African, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Indian descent, with sub-Saharan African descent, accounting for nearly 80 percent of global cases.
Douglas Aikins, a university student and patient through
“No baby should be disadvantaged because of their geographical location. We need more clinics, better-trained personnel, and access to life-saving medication like hydroxyurea.”
“In Ghana, universal newborn screening is not readily available or accessible,” said Dr. Mary Ansong, CEO and co-founder of the ISCC. “Children are usually screened around age 4, and that’s only when they come to the clinic with a severe pain episode or complications.”
Sickle-cell disease is an inherited blood disorder caused by a gene mutation that leads
the ISCC, was diagnosed at 15 after years of undiagnosed pain crises that were mistaken for rheumatism.
“Anytime I had a pain crisis, I used to stay in the house, battle with it [and] drink water,” said Aikins, adding that if a family member wasn’t around to help him apply pressure to the painful area, he just struggled his way out. Aikins’ early care was
shaped by traditional beliefs and limited medical access.
“The pastor said the pain was caused by witchcraft… it created tension in my family,” said Aikins. “My grandmother used to treat me with herbal medicine. It wasn’t until I came to stay with my mom in the city that I found out it was sickle cell.”
Spiritual interpretations are common, said Diana Dwuma-Badu, a nurse specialist of hematology in child health at the ISCC.
“There’s a lot of superstition,” she said. “People either seek help from churches or herbalists before ever seeing a doctor. We see many patients only after these efforts fail.”
“Families send sick children to prayer camps to find out the cause. We documented a real story of a girl forced to confess to witchcraft during a pain crisis. When she refused, they locked her in an uncompleted building. She passed away two days later,” said Dr. Ansong.
Dr. Ansong confirmed that the use of untested herbal remedies can make patients sicker.
“We caution them about the damage herbal medications can do to their liver and kidneys…but ultimately, it’s their right. Many only return after serious complications,” said Dr. Ansong.
Despite his challenges, Aikins eventually connected with ISCC and began receiving proper care. When he was hospitalized and could no
longer afford treatment, ISCC provided 1,000 Ghanaian cedis, roughly $82 in American currency, to cover his medical bills and lab tests.
“That really helped me,” Aikins said. “I used to struggle alone. Now I know what’s happening in my body, and I get support.”
Nurse Dwuma-Badu has seen the effects of delayed diagnosis.
“I’ve seen a 15-year-old with sickle cell come in with a stroke—their first-ever visit to us. The damage is done by then, and the quality of life is drastically affected,” Dwuma-Badu said. “With late diagnosis, we lose the chance to provide life-saving interventions like penicillin prophylaxis or stroke prevention. That gap results in avoidable deaths and disabilities.”
ISCC and similar organizations are advocating for early screening and holistic care, offering both medical and emotional support to families.
“Sickle cell affects entire households,” Dr. Ansong said. “The financial strain, the social stigma, even marriages fall apart. But with awareness and early diagnosis, so much of this can be prevented.”
Dwuma-Badu states that treatment should be accessible to everyone regardless of where they live.
“No baby should be disadvantaged because of their geographical location. We need more clinics, better-trained personnel, and access to life-saving medication like hydroxyurea,” said Dwuma-Badu.
Ansong said more awareness is needed when it comes to the fight against sickle cell disease.
“Sickle cell is a neglected public health condition, even globally,” said Ansong. “We must break the stigma, drive political will and close the massive health disparities in treatment and care.”
Photo Courtesy Diana Dwuma-Badu
Nurse Diana Dwuma-Badu works with children living with sickle cell disease and says late diagnosis often leads to irreversible complications.
Photo Courtesy Dr. Mary Ansong
Dr. Mary Ansong, CEO and co-founder of the International Sickle Cell Centre, says most children in Ghana aren’t diagnosed with sickle cell disease until painful symptoms appear.
Photo Courtesy Douglas Aikins
Douglas Aikins was diagnosed with sickle cell disease at 15, after years of undiagnosed pain crises and traditional treatments.
Experts urge families to seek genetic counseling early
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer tmcqueen@afro.com
With around 280 million people worldwide living with a genetic disease, it’s crucial that expectant mothers and families seek genetic counseling as early as possible.
“It’s not just about getting information; it’s also about having the time and space to ask the hard questions, process the answers and make truly informed decisions with clarity,” said Natalie Sampson, a board-certified genetic counselor.
Genetic counseling includes finding the right tests, collecting blood or saliva samples, and helping parents understand their options. Test results typically take three to four weeks, said Sampson.
Geraldine Bliss, a health advocate and founder of CureSHANK, emphasized the importance of accurate diagnoses through genetic testing. CureSHANK is a nonprofit dedicated to finding treatments for Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS), founded for her son who has the disease.
“It prevents doctors from prescribing the wrong medications,” said Bliss. “Parents need to know that it is scary when you have a child who has a whole constellation of complicated health problems. Trying to navigate this by yourself, without any answers, is the hardest situation.”
Bliss said that if parents can get their child a genetic diagnosis, in most cases, there’s a community of support awaiting them.
“There is likely to be a community of
support online through Facebook, Instagram or Tiktok that you can connect with and learn about,” she said. “Often, those families know more than most doctors about how to take care of individuals with that particular genetic condition. That alone is worth so much.”
With proper guidance, families can understand the risks for sickle cell and other rare diseases and make informed decisions about their child’s health.
Sickle cell disease is a major inherited condition, especially for African Americans.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it affects about 100,000 Americans, and over 90 percent of them are Black.
“Sickle cell isn’t just a diagnosis; it affects every part of a child’s life, from early infancy into adulthood,” said Sampson. “It can impact energy levels, cause pain crises, increase the risk of infection and even affect organs over time.”
Sampson said many parents are unaware that they carry the trait, which can pose serious risks.
“When two people who each carry the trait have a child together, there’s a 25 percent chance with each pregnancy that the child will inherit the disease,” said Sampson.
“Through genetic counseling, they can learn about the condition, discuss different paths forward and feel supported throughout the process. Regardless of the end decision, knowledge becomes a tool, not a burden.”
Parents should also be aware of Tay-Sachs, blood disorders that can cause anemia, and hereditary cancers, which genetic counseling
“It’s not just about getting information, it’s also about having the time and space to ask the hard questions, process the answers and make truly informed decisions with clarity.”
From heredity to environmental influences, numerous
changes within the human body. Genetic testing
alterations, informing medical decisions and guiding
can help detect. Tay-Sachs is a fatal childhood disorder that gradually deteriorates the central nervous system, beginning early in pregnancy. Cancer can develop from DNA changes that can occur at any point in life, even in utero, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Sampson warned that while genetic testing has become more accessible, parents should be cautious of at-home tests or non-expert orders.
“A part of what we do in genetic counseling is making sure we’re ordering the appropriate tests and that it’s medical grade,” she said.
Sampson and Bliss also highlighted several disparities in genetic testing that remain.
“Unfortunately, research shows that Black patients are less likely to be offered genetic testing,” said Sampson. She and Bliss
encourage people to educate themselves about genetic testing and speak up with their doctors to make sure they receive the tests they need.
“Most genetic research has historically focused on people of European descent which means variants in Black and Brown populations may be classified as uncertain which can leave more questions than answers,” said Sampson. “The more people from diverse backgrounds who undergo testing, the stronger and more accurate the genetic databases become for everyone.”
Ultimately, genetic testing can help parents and families be better equipped to handle the important and often challenging choices they must make regarding their children’s health. With the support of a genetic counselor, a dark, uncertain path can become one filled with clarity, hope and guidance.
LaRuby May and team of attorneys file suit against Pfizer, claim negligence in premature release of sickle cell drug therapy
By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO kmcneir@afro.com
Sickle cell awareness month, observed annually in September, is a time to raise awareness about sickle cell disease, a genetic blood disorder that affects millions of people worldwide.
Throughout the month, medical professionals and nonprofit organizations like the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Inc. sponsor events that educate the public, highlight the challenges faced by individuals with the disease, advocate for research and treatments and provide support for sickle cell patients and their families.
Historically, one treatment for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) has been a stem cell transplant, also known as a bone marrow transplant. However, with medical advancements, there are now different treatments for SCD in the form of drug therapies. However, they are intensive and expensive procedures, often carrying with them significant risks, including the possibility of death.
One drug therapy, Oxbryta, developed and released by Pfizer in 2019 after being approved by the FDA, has since been withdrawn from the market. But not without damaging ramifications. And that’s where LaRuby May, a former D.C. city council member and attorney, enters the picture.
As a partner of May Jung LLP, she, and her law partner, Je Yon Jung, are currently representing clients who were treated for SCD with Oxbryta and who continue to suffer in various ways. The other members
of her legal team include Shelby Yarbrough and Starr Culpepper.
“We have the results of the clinical trials and know that Pfizer voluntarily withdrew the medication off the market,” May said. “As of 2024, they were facing charges that included negligence, false advertising [and] product deficiencies. There are other claims as well. Our team is committed to representing our brothers and sisters who were harmed by this drug. The science is there – the drug was released prematurely and
has caused irreparable damage.”
May said she still waits for the day when America’s leaders will do the right thing when it comes to people of color.
“The drug therapy Oxbryta was approved on an accelerated schedule under Donald Trump in 2019,” she said. “In July 2025, again under Trump, it was taken off the market. At the same time, the Administration revoked research that the NIH was doing to treat and cure SCD. I don’t have concrete evidence, but it is
Meta (Facebook)/ Thalassaemia International Federation
The Pfizer drug, Oxbryta, a sickle cell drug approved in 2019, is now withdrawn after reports of harmful side effects and alleged negligence.
certainly quite a coincidence.”
May added that Blacks people have, for far too long, lived with health disparities when compared to White people.
“The health care disparity in America is real and it’s not getting smaller– but larger. Black [people] are dying from SCD, HIV/AIDS, hypertension, diabetes–you name it. There’s an unacceptable gap in almost every aspect of health care and the quality of services that Blacks receive,” said May. “SCD is just one of many examples. People may be silent about SCD but it’s not because they don’t care. They just have so much with which they must contend that it’s sometimes overwhelming” May said her team is “in it to win it.”
“One of our team members, Starr, has a daughter with SCD, so this is personal to her,” May said. “I believe
we have assembled a powerful team. We are holding Pfizer accountable to their corporate responsibilities and are demanding that they put money into credible research that will lead to a cure for SCD.
“Black [people] are tired of being used as test dummies without giving our permission. That’s why we often fail to become involved in clinical trials – we don’t trust the scientific community,” said May. “But to find a cure, we need more Blacks to become involved in clinical trials. For that to happen, drug companies and medical professionals are going to need to be transparent and honest.”
If you or a loved one has sickle cell disease and you have taken the medication Oxbryta, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact LaRuby May at (202) 869-3735, or email: laruby@mayjung.com.
Chart courtesy of the National Cancer Institute
elements can trigger genetic
plays a vital role in identifying these
preventative strategies.
Courtesy photo
Attorney LaRuby May and her legal team represent patients who say they suffered from Pfizer’s withdrawn drug, Oxbryta.
Nine ADHD symptoms in children parents should look out for
By Charlotte LoBuono
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, affects about 7 percent of children and adolescents in the U.S.
In general terms, children with ADHD often have trouble staying focused and exhibit hyperactive and impulsive behaviors. Roughly twice as many boys as girls were diagnosed with ADHD in 2015-2016. ADHD is a chronic condition that may carry over into adulthood.
HeyTutor compiled a list of nine common ADHD symptoms found in children. While HeyTutor consulted established medical organizations including the CDC and the Mayo Clinic, only health care professionals—child psychologists, psychiatrists and primary care providers— can appropriately diagnose children with ADHD. Diagnosing ADHD can be challenging because so many of its symptoms are, in milder forms, common behaviors seen in most children—from trouble listening to loud play.
Parents can take the first step in helping children who exhibit ADHD symptoms by contacting a medical professional for a consultation (or several) to confirm whether the symptoms fit a formal ADHD diagnosis. A doctor will be able to determine whether another condition may better explain the
symptoms—or, as is often the case, if the child has a coexisting condition along with ADHD.
Treatment for ADHD ranges from behavioral changes in parents, such as breaking down tasks into manageable pieces or providing more structure, to a variety of medications. Medical professionals widely agreed that the earlier a diagnosis happens and treatment begins, the better. Keep reading to learn more about nine common ADHD symptoms in children parents should look out for.
Trouble staying focused on homework
Children with ADHD may make careless mistakes on homework assignments or have a difficult time completing the tasks. Organization, time management and focus and attention are the most common roadblocks many children with ADHD face when doing their school work. Frequent homework mistakes may also be a symptom of a learning disorder. According to Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, as many as 50 percent of children with ADHD also have a learning disorder, compared to 5 percent of children without ADHD.
Difficulty organizing tasks, activities
Children lose things, but
those with ADHD are more likely to lose what they need for homework and other activities. Assignments, pencils, and toys may go missing. Difficulty staying organized is a sign of inattention—one of the core symptoms of children with ADHD.
Prone to distraction
Children with ADHD often forget to finish homework or chores, or may not do them at all. Following through on a set of instructions is a common challenge for many children with ADHD. Finding alternative means for keeping children on track when trying to complete
a task will often be more beneficial than sticking to standard methods. For example, “redirecting rather than reprimanding” is likely to yield a more positive outcome in a child struggling to stay focused.
Avoidance of tasks requiring sustained mental effort
It can be difficult for children with ADHD to stay mentally focused long enough to complete things like school projects, so some children may avoid them altogether. They may become depressed because they can’t focus, while other kids seem to finish school assignments with
Exercise and young children: An expert educator’s advice and ideas
Recently, Michelle Carter, the director of Educational Content and Programs at the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America) was interviewed by the National Newspaper Publishers Association, the trade organization which includes the AFRO and more than 200 other Black newspapers.
SHAPE America serves as the voice for over 200,000 health and physical education professionals across the United States.
Carter says that movement for young children doesn’t need to be structured workouts or expensive programs; it’s all about creating safe spaces for play, exploration, and joyful movement each day. She says movement is a natural part of how babies and young children learn about their world, build strength, develop confidence, and lay the foundation for lifelong health.
Carter is deeply passionate about promoting healthy, active lifestyles from the very start of life.
NNPA: When should a new parent begin thinking about exercise or physical activity for their baby? Is there a period one should wait?
Michelle Carter: Thinking about physical activity truly starts in infancy, right from birth. For example, tummy time is one of the first forms of physical activity we give babies to build their neck, shoulder and core strength. While movement looks different for infants than it does for older children — focusing more on exploration and natural development — it’s important to incorporate opportunities for movement as early as possible to support healthy growth, motor skill development, and brain development.
The Active Start guidelines from SHAPE America emphasize that physical activity should be encouraged daily from birth, with infants needing
NNPA: How can parents motivate and encourage young children to be active if they’re not inclined to do so?
MC: The biggest thing is allowing kids to play and explore. For children, movement doesn’t need to be a structured exercise program; play is their natural form of physical activity. Parents can motivate their children by:
• Being good role models and showing enjoyment in being active themselves
• Joining in their play, whether it’s dancing together, building obstacle courses, or exploring outside
• Creating a supportive environment by providing time, space, and simple equipment or toys that encourage movement Remember, children are more likely to be active if they see their caregivers enjoying movement and if it feels fun rather than forced.
NNPA: What if a parent worries exercise will overly excite a child who already might have “too much” energy?
supervised floor-based play throughout the day in safe environments.
NNPA: Where can a new parent go to learn best practices/ guidelines? What does SHAPE America offer?
MC: SHAPE America offers the Active Start: A Statement of Physical Activity Guidelines for Children From Birth to Age 5, which outlines how much physical activity young children need and what it should look like at each stage of development. These guidelines are grounded in research and provide practical recommendations that parents, caregivers, and early childhood educators can easily implement in daily routines to promote lifelong healthy habits.
no problem. About 14 percent of children with ADHD have depression, compared with 1 percent of those without ADHD. Depression often follows ADHD.
Difficulty listening
Neurotypical children often have short attention spans and can exhibit ”selective hearing,” but many with ADHD have trouble listening even when being spoken to directly. Children with ADHD are more likely to be on the autism spectrum than those who do not have ADHD, which can affect how they interact with others speaking to them.
Constant fidgeting
Children with ADHD generally have trouble sitting still, often tapping their feet or squirming in their chairs. Some people with ADHD have tics, or rapid, involuntary movements, and 60 percent to 80 percent have Tourette syndrome, a type of tic disorder. Giving a child an outlet to cope with hyperactivity— through playing with tactile toys, for one example—may help improve memory and build social skills.
Constant motion
Young children are naturally energetic, to the point of wearing out their parents. However, many children with ADHD are always on the go, constantly moving
and running around. They may not be able to stay seated when they need to, such as during class, and they also may be on the go during inappropriate times.
Interrupting others
Although wanting in on the fun is a natural impulse, children with ADHD may intrude on other kids’ games and activities. Some children who are a part of a group may have trouble waiting their turn to play.
About 40 percent of people with ADHD have oppositional defiant disorder, which means they have trouble following rules and may deliberately annoy others. In line with following the rules, children with ADHD may also interrupt other peoples’ conversations.
Difficulty playing quietly
Children with ADHD often have trouble playing or working on projects quietly. This may result in outbursts during school or recess and inopportune times.
Teaching children with ADHD how to self-monitor their behavior is one method to help with playing quietly, allowing them to learn and recognize when certain actions are more appropriate than others.
This story originally appeared on HeyTutor and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
MC: Generally, no. Children get the nutrients they need through a well-balanced diet. Sports drinks are only necessary if a child is participating in high-intensity activity for an extended period of time, such as competitive sports tournaments in hot weather. Otherwise, water is the best choice for hydration during physical activity. Nutrition bars are often unnecessary for children unless advised by a healthcare professional for specific dietary needs.
NNPA: Do parents need a certain type of gym equipment? Or what everyday items can be used for activities?
MC: It’s understandable to think that physical activity might make an energetic child even more wound up. However, research shows that regular movement helps children manage their energy levels better. Physical activity provides a healthy outlet to release excess energy in a structured way, which often results in children feeling calmer, more focused, and better able to regulate their emotions and behavior afterward.
This is why SHAPE America promotes integrating physical activity throughout the day, including calming cool-downs or stretching at the end to help children transition smoothly back to quieter tasks.
NNPA: Are sports drinks and nutrition bars helpful or needed?
MC: Absolutely not. You don’t need special gym equipment to encourage physical activity at home. Many everyday household items can be used creatively:
Empty milk jugs as lightweight weights
Plastic grocery bags for tossing or balancing games
Pillows or couch cushions for obstacle courses
• Painter’s tape or sidewalk chalk for balance beams or hopscotch on the floor
Many physical education teachers create equipment out of recycled materials, and SHAPE America has a free resource called Move and Play at Home, which provides parents with easy activity ideas to keep their children active and engaged: Move, Play, and Learn at Home: Infants Move, Play, and Learn at Home:
Toddlers
• Move, Play, and Learn at Home: Preschool
NNPA: How can a parent assess a pre-K program for its exercise/ physical activity offerings?
MC: Parents can use SHAPE America’s Active Start guidelines as a benchmark to ensure their child’s Pre-K program:
Provides daily opportunities for structured and unstructured physical activity
• Encourages a variety of movements that support motor skill development
• Uses developmentally appropriate practices
Asking about how physical activity is integrated into the daily routine and whether educators receive training in physical development can also help parents assess quality.
Read more on AFRO.com
Michelle Carter has experience as an educator in the District of Columbia Public Schools. She now serves as an internal subject matter expert for SHAPE America, where she provides guidance, resources, and professional development to support educators in promoting lifelong physical activity and well-being for all students. Carter is passionate about empowering teachers to help children build the skills and confidence they need to lead healthy, active lives. She lives in the Northern Virginia area with her two children, ages 7 and 10.
Photo courtesy of Stacker Studio via Shutterstock / Jacob L.
Experts say trouble staying focused on homework tasks can be an indicator of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Unsplash / Sandor Rodriguez Castro Experts say exercise is crucial– especially for small children who are developing healthy habits they will carry into their golden years.
Photo courtesy of NNPA Newswire via SHAPE America Michelle Carter, serves as the director of Educational Content and Programs for SHAPE America. This week, she discusses the benefits of exercise for young children.
Eight
questions to ask your child to check their mental health
By Taylor Hiers
It can be tough to know what’s going on in your child’s world. Little kids may not have the language to name their feelings, while older kids and teens may be resistant to opening up.
Counselors recommend checking in with your children regularly. If we’re not asking, how can we really know what they’re experiencing? Plus, mental health challenges don’t discriminate by age—kids of all ages can experience anxiety and depression. About one in five children ages 3 to 17 in the U.S. has a mental, emotional, developmental or behavioral disorder.
Intentionally checking in with your child doesn’t have to feel clinical. Think of these as “soft” checkins that naturally open up conversation and help you understand what’s really happening in their daily life.
Below Thriveworks Counseling shares the most important questions to ask by age group, plus exactly what their answers reveal about their mental health.
stage. Grade school kids often respond with wide-open answers and may struggle to understand their feelings. Tweens and teens may give more vague responses, but can use more sophisticated feeling words.
Questions for younger kids: Ages 6-11
Younger children are still learning how to put words to their feelings. They might feel anxious, for example, but lack the vocabulary to express that to you. The goal of these questions is to help them understand and articulate their emotions.
1. “Tell me about something you did today. Who did you hang out with at recess or sit with at lunch?”
This question is more specific than “how was your day?” which usually gets you a one-word “fine” response. Asking about recess or lunchtime helps you learn about their social interactions and provides a story that reveals the temperature of their peer relationships.
“If we’re not asking, how can we really know what they’re experiencing?”
Highlights
Ask different questions based on your child’s age. Younger kids (611) need help naming emotions, while teens (12-18) can discuss specific worries and their support systems.
• Focus on specific situations, not general feelings. Ask about recess, lunch or weekly highs and lows rather than “How was your day?” to get meaningful responses.
• Physical symptoms often reveal mental health struggles. Changes in sleep, appetite, energy, or unexplained aches can signal anxiety or depression before emotional signs appear. Know when responses signal serious concern. Immediate professional help is needed for self-harm talk, unexplained injuries, substance use, or overwhelming emotions they can’t control.
• Create the right conversation conditions. Timing, staying calm, and choosing side-by-side activities (like car rides) make kids more likely to open up honestly.
The essential questions by age group
The questions you ask should match your child’s developmental
5. “What happened here?” [pointing to a cut, bruise, etc.] It’s possible that a bruise is from lacrosse practice, but go ahead and ask in a non-judgmental, non-accusatory way. It’s easy for parents to avoid potentially difficult topics, but it’s worth the gentle inquiry.
If it is something concerning, you’ll probably get a deflective answer. That’s OK—it draws awareness to the issue and shows you’re paying attention.
6. “What are things that are worrying you lately?” or “You’ve seemed [sad/upset/ angry] this week. I’d love to know if something happened that you want to talk about.”
Teens are smart and insightful, but remember, their brains are still developing. Their responses may seem outsized or “world is falling apart” in nature. You can use this as an opportunity to validate their feelings while helping challenge automatic thought processes.
Two examples:
You might discover that someone is picking on them or one of their friends, which opens the door for additional questions and problem-solving together.
2. “I see you’re [crying/ pushing/stomping]. Can you try to put a word to how you’re feeling?”
It’s completely normal for younger kids to have big feelings they don’t fully understand. If they’re in a happy, safe home, they often aren’t trying to hide their emotions—you see it all. As they respond, reflect back what you hear: “Wow, sounds like so-and-so really hurt your feelings.”
But resist the urge to immediately fix the problem, even though that’s what we want to do as parents. The goal is to help them experience negative emotions, ride the wave, and then check in with them again when they’ve calmed down.
3. “What do you mean when you say [you don’t want to go to school/your mind is driving]?”
Parents might want to put words in their children’s mouths, but it’s better to listen carefully and ask clarifying questions. When children mention something concerning, let them try to work through it a bit first. Then you can help them identify those feelings: “It sounds like you’re feeling anxious,” or “It sounds like it’s hard for you to focus in class.”
Questions for tweens and teens: Ages 12-18
The advantage with older kids is that you can communicate with them on a more adult level. They don’t want to be treated like little kids, and with their improved ability to verbalize thoughts and feelings, you can have more productive conversations.
4. “What is one high and one low from your week?”
This question is helpful because it requires more description than “How was your day?” Some weeks, you’ll notice it’s easy for them to talk about something good, and other weeks, it’s easier to mention the bad. This is valuable insight into their current mental state.
It’s also a natural conversation starter that shows you’re genuinely interested in their life. If your teen mentions someone you don’t know, you can follow up with “Who’s that again?” or “Remind me what you like about them as a friend?”
• Your teen says: “I’m so stupid, I’m so bad at math.”
• You might respond: “Hold on. Remember last month when you got 100 on that test?”
Your teen says: “Everything is falling apart!”
You might respond: “I hear you, but there are parts of your life that are stable and not falling apart. And you have people who care about you and want you to succeed.”
7. “Who do you feel like you can talk to when things get tough?”
This question gives you insight into their support system—who they feel is truly in their corner. Their peers have enormous influence at this age, so you want to ensure they’re maintaining healthy relationships.
Parents often want to be the person their teen turns to for every problem, but there may be situations where they don’t feel they can come to you. While their answers will probably include friends, it’s also encouraging if they can name other trusted adults in their life.
8. “How are you sleeping and eating lately? Do you have headaches or stomach aches?”
Depression and anxiety often manifest through physical symptoms. Along with persistent sadness or worries, watch for fatigue, loss of energy, changes in sleeping habits (either too little or too much), and appetite changes that cause weight loss or gain.
If they answer “fine,” you can point out something specific you’ve observed: “I’ve noticed it’s harder for you to wake up for school. Can you tell me what that’s about?”
How to read responses
Here’s what to watch for when trying to determine if something more serious is happening with your child’s mental health: Green light responses: Keep communication open Depending on your child’s age and personality, they may be more willing to open up and provide details. It’s a positive sign if they can express and name their emotions, point to coping strategies that help them, and identify trusted, safe people in their life.
This doesn’t mean everything is perfect. Children regularly face situations that they need help processing or that require extra attention. Sometimes there’s an active problem they’re responding to appropriately. For example, if there’s bullying at
school, it would be completely normal for your child to feel sad. You can provide support, help them work through the problem, and decide if additional people should be involved (like bringing in a teacher) if you need more information or intervention.
Yellow light responses: Monitor closely
If you notice concerning behavior that doesn’t align with your child’s baseline, continue monitoring the situation closely. Maybe they’re usually happy-go-lucky but are now consistently down. Maybe they’re using negative self-talk like “no one likes me”—an indicator that their confidence is suffering.
Getting an evaluation from a healthcare provider like your child’s pediatrician is always worthwhile. They can help assess whether a child’s words or behaviors are a normal part of development or require further evaluation.
Red light responses: Seek help immediately If your child is displaying aggression or expressing any desire to hurt themselves, these are serious warning signs requiring immediate professional help.
Self-harming statements include phrases like “I want to die” or “I wish I was never born.”
Self-harming behaviors could include cutting (visible cuts or scars on their body), head-banging, punching themselves, consuming harmful substances, or intentionally trying to injure themselves in other ways.
How to make these conversations more effective
These conversations aren’t always easy, but you can make them more comfortable and productive for your child with these strategies:
• Time it right: Some questions work well at the dinner table or around bedtime when things are naturally quiet. For tougher topics, choose activities where you’re together but side-by-side—like car rides or walks. Make sure you have enough time to talk and that it’s during a calm period, not in the middle of an argument. Check in regularly: Some of these questions you might ask weekly. Others may be situational—when you sense a problem or notice changes in their behavior.
• Stay calm: Leave space for them to explain without jumping in to dominate the conversation. Avoid letting your emotions take over, even when what they share is concerning. Ask listening questions that start with phrases like “I hear you’re saying…”
Leave the door open: If they don’t want to talk or only give you part
of the story (and your gut tells you there’s more), let them know you’re available when they’re ready. Then gently follow up again later.
When to get professional help
Self-harming behaviors or thoughts, substance abuse issues, overwhelming emotions they can’t cope with or control (anger, sadness, extreme worries), or panic attacks are all situations that are difficult to address at home—find professional help immediately.
Panic attack symptoms include racing heartbeat, dizziness, shortness of breath and trembling.
Even without red flag problems, connecting your child with a therapist can be valuable if they seem reluctant to open up with you or express interest in talking to a neutral third party who’s there to support and listen to them.
Let them know it’s completely okay if they want to connect with someone who isn’t you, but reassure them that you’ll be here when they’re ready.
This story was produced by Thriveworks and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. This story was reprinted with permission from Stacker under a Creative Commons license.
Photo generated using DeepAI.org
A parent’s simple, thoughtful questions can open the door to honest conversations about a child’s mental health.
Photo generated using DeepAI.org Mental health professionals say a therapist can be a valuable tool when it comes to getting a child to open up about issues impacting their emotional and mental health.
Photo generated using DeepAI.org Experts say keeping an open line of communication is crucial for parents when dealing with the mental health of children between the ages of 12 and 18.
Healthy beginnings: How parents can reduce the risk of birth defects
By Mylika Scatliffe AFRO Health Writer
Planning for and conceiving a baby is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated and exciting times in a couple’s life. From the beginning, parents-tobe dream about baby names, gender reveals, future college plans and wedding days just to start. First and foremost their desire is for a healthy child.
Birth defects are more common than most people realize. They affect about one in 33 babies born in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While some birth defects cannot be prevented, multiple steps of prenatal care help protect an unborn baby. Understanding the risk for birth defects is imperative for anyone currently expecting a baby or thinking about becoming pregnant.
A baby’s development begins at the start of pregnancy. Highly critical phases– such as the formation of the brain, heart and spine – occur in the first weeks of pregnancy, even before a woman knows she is expecting. Prevention doesn’t just occur during pregnancy, prioritizing health–even before conception–facilitates a safer pregnancy and reduces the risk for birth defects.
Some of the key prevention strategies recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics are well within a woman’s control. These include:
1. Proper nutrition
• Consuming 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid per day, beginning at least one month before becoming pregnant, and continuing throughout the pregnancy. Folic acid helps prevent serious defects in the baby’s brain and spine. Some foods are fortified or enriched with folic acid, but the easiest way to get an adequate amount is to take a vitamin that has folic acid every day. Research has
shown that it is helpful in preventing anencephaly and spina bifida.
2. See your doctor Talk with your doctor before you become pregnant. Together come up with a plan to keep you and your baby healthy.
Manage chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or thyroid disease. Your doctor will answer questions or adjust medications as needed.
• Make sure you know about and stay current with recommended immunizations. Prior to getting pregnant, you may need the shot for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). This will protect the baby from rubella, an infection that risks lifelong birth defects. The MMR vaccine is needed at least one month before becoming pregnant.
Staying up to date on all recommended vaccines during pregnancy is important, including those that help prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), flu, COVID and whooping cough.
• Don’t forget about routine screenings for sexually transmitted infections, as these can have harmful effects on babies before and during birth.
3. Aim for and maintain an appropriate weight and try to stay in shape
A healthy lifestyle consisting of good nutrition and habitual exercise will help maintain a healthy weight before becoming pregnant.
• Staying physically active with light to moderate activity, like walking or prenatal yoga, is beneficial.
• Being underweight, overweight, or obese increases the risk of birth defects and pregnancy complications, including pre-term birth.
4. Stay away from harmful substances
Avoid alcohol, tobacco and
recreational drugs. Any amount of these substances can harm a baby any time during pregnancy.
5. Be aware of your environment
Avoid exposure to harsh chemicals and toxins like lead, asbestos, pesticides, heavy metals. Know the risks of exposure to dangerous toxins at work and home.
Health disparities among Black mothers and babies cannot be overlooked. Research presented at the 2024 American Academy of Pediatrics conference showed that Black infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) were 40 percent more likely to die within their first year of life than White infants.
Other key findings from that study are that while overall infant mortality rates for CHD have decreased, the racial disparity between Black and White infant survival rates persist. Potential contributing factors to these disparities include poverty, limited access to health care services, implicit bias among healthcare providers, and the need for health system reform. It is not always possible to detect birth defects in utero, but high-resolution ultrasounds make it possible to diagnose significant defects before birth.
Dr. Ahmet Baschat, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Fetal Therapy recommends pregnant women have the first trimester nuchal translucency scan between 11 and 14 weeks and the anatomy scan between 18 and 20 weeks.
“These two ultrasounds provide us with the best opportunity for detecting birth defects,” said Baschat.
Some pregnant women have opted out of the first trimester ultrasound in recent years because a maternal blood test now exists to screen for Down syndrome. However the ultrasound is still strongly recommended because other serious defects can be detected in the early stages of pregnancy.
Treatment of birth defects while the baby is still in utero is possible, and it is optimal to try to correct those that damage vital organs prior to the baby being born.
The Center for Fetal Therapy specializes in treating several of these defects while in utero, including congenital diaphragmatic hernia, which is a hole in the diagram that allows abdominal contents to enter the chest and restrict lung development. This defect can be treated in utero through fetoscopic endotracheal occlusion, a surgery that improves lung function and increases survival rates by a significant amount.
Lower urinary tract obstruction occurs when the flow of urine is blocked from exiting the fetus’ body. This obstruction can be surgically corrected in utero in order to protect the kidneys from permanent damage.
Fetal treatments also exist for conditions that can make a baby unwell, but are not considered birth defects, such as a fetal irregular heartbeat. Medication can be given to the mother to cross the placenta and treat the fetus.
Treating fetal conditions in utero
rather than waiting until after birth greatly increases the chances of survival and reduces the need for major surgery for newborns and infants.
Babies with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, where identical twins develop a blood volume imbalance, can die without intervention. With laser surgery in utero, there is an approximately 95 percent chance that at least one of the babies will survive.
“Success rates vary depending on the condition, available treatments and individual patients, but overall, where fetal interventions are available, we see a much higher rate of survival for affected fetuses,” explained Baschat.
While not every birth defect can be prevented, many risks can be reduced with thoughtful choices and early planning. Nutrition, lifestyle, medical care and emotional support are all powerful tools for parents to influence their baby’s health.
Taking these proactive steps and working as a team with healthcare providers, families can move forward with confidence knowing they are making every effort for the healthiest possible start in life for their babies.
Questions and answers for parents of children with disabilities
If you are a parent of a child with a disability it’s important to remember that every child has strengths. The strength may be in doing artwork, in personality or in motor skills– but the truth remains– every child has strength.
As we discuss children’s health this week, it’s more important for us to focus on what children can do, and their abilities, rather than their disabilities. Read below to see how we can use children’s abilities to assist the areas that they have most challenges with right now.
Q: How can I communicate with my child with a disability and how do I know when he/she wants to communicate with me?
A: Some children with disabilities will be able to speak with you. Others will not be able to speak. But they do communicate, even though they don’t speak. For example, when a newborn baby comes into a family, that baby communicates without speaking. You learn the baby’s likes and dislikes by whether they smile, laugh, or whether they cry. The same occurs with children with disabilities
who can’t speak. They tell you what they like by smiling or laughing, and they tell you what they don’t like by crying or making an upset face.
Q: What can I do in my day-to-day to make sure I’m stimulating my child and his/her brain development?
A: Children are stimulated by everything in their environment: by the sounds, by the interactions, by your smile. So, if your child with a disability is around you, you should make sure that you spend time talking with them, explaining in simple language what it is you’re doing, smiling with them, telling them all about their environment, making noises around them so they can respond to noises. Everything that you do, as you are moving about the house, as you are doing your housework, involve and include your child in it. Move your child into the room in which you are working. Tell them what you are doing: you are washing the dishes, you’re dipping the dishes in the water. Tell them exactly what you are doing. All of that will stimulate them. You can also stimulate them by directly playing with them, by making little toys in the home, putting stones in a bottle and shaking it, by waving ribbons in front
those who can’t, can be fed expressed breastmilk, because breastmilk is the best.
Q: Why are the early years of every child’s life so critical?
A: The early years of every child, whether they have a disability or not, are critical because when we stimulate the brain during these early years we are ensuring that the brain develops to its full potential. We are making sure that children have the best development that they can have and this happens for children with disabilities and children without disabilities.
Q: How do I play with my child with a disability?
of time to play with your child, there may be other family members in your home who will be able to play with your child with a disability. Brothers and sisters are great around children with disabilities. They stimulate them because they talk to them a lot and they play with them. They don’t seem to be concerned about whether a sibling has a disability. They play with them just like anyone else.
Q: What is your advice to parents who suspect that their child has a disability?
of their eyes, different colored ribbons. There are many things that you can do with just things around your house.
Q: Can I breastfeed my child if he/she has a disability?
A: Breastfeeding is
important for all children, but is especially important for children with disabilities. Breastfeeding is important for children’s growth, nutrition, and brain development. Many children with disabilities can breastfeed, but only a few are not able to breastfeed. And
A: Children with disabilities enjoy being played with just like any other child. They enjoy you reading to them, showing them pictures, tickling them, hugging them, cuddling them. They respond to you with laughter and smiles. If they don’t like a particular play that you are doing, they will tell you. They will stop laughing, they’ll stop smiling. Try something else. You will find something because you know them best.
Q: If I don’t have time to play or money to afford toys, what can I do?
A: If you don’t have a lot
A: If you have a concern that your child has a disability, go to your nearest health provider and let them know your concerns. Some concerns may turn out not to be a problem at all, but some may, and your child may be identified as having a disability. It’s just as important to provide children with disabilities with a loving environment. Children who are shown warmth and love grow up to be loving, warm people. A child with a disability who is shown warmth and love will grow up to be an adult who may have a disability, but who is a wonderful person to be around. This article was originally
Unsplash/ Ema Studios
Doctors say prevention of birth defects starts before conception, with nutrition, screenings and the management of chronic conditions.
By Maureen SammsVaughan
Photo courtesy of Results 4 Development
Maureen Samms-Vaughan is a Professor of Child Health, Child Development, and Behavior at the University of West Indies in Jamaica. She is an advocate for vulnerable children, particularly children with disabilities and those impacted by violence, and has published significant research in these areas.
Public health experts warn Florida vaccine rollback puts children’s health at risk
By
For generations, mandatory vaccines have been one of the most effective ways to prevent outbreaks of potentially life-threatening diseases. But a new era of measles and polio outbreaks could be on the horizon now that Florida is poised to become the first state in the nation to phase out all childhood vaccine mandates.
The change, announced Sept. 3 by state officials, comes as children return to classrooms. Public health experts warn that Florida’s decision, framed by state officials as a matter of individual freedom, will deepen existing racial health inequities, expose more children to preventable illness, and further politicize science.
“This is a terrifying decision that puts our children’s lives at risk. For decades, every state in America has had school vaccination requirements because they prevent illness, save lives. and protect health,” Dr. Richard Besser, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former acting director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, said in a statement. (Disclosure: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation supports Word In Black’s health journalism.)
A radical departure from health norms
Before the Sept. 3 announcement, Florida required children to be vaccinated against measles, chickenpox, hepatitis B, Diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP), polio and other diseases if they were going to attend child day care facilities and public schools. The proposed shift means families will no longer be required to immunize their children against these diseases before they enter a classroom.
“When leaders talk about pulling back vaccines, they’re talking about disrupting student learning and making schools less safe,” the Florida Education Association said in a statement. “State leaders say they care about reducing chronic absenteeism and keeping kids in school — but reducing vaccinations does the opposite, putting our children’s health and education at risk.”
Comparing vaccine mandates to slavery
Black Americans have typically had lower vaccination rates, for reasons ranging from lack of health insurance and low access to care to concerns about the medical profession’s racist history with vaccines.
But the state’s Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo cast the proposed change as one that liberates families to decide whether or not to protect their children.
“Who am I to tell you what your child should put in their body?” Ladapo, a vocal critic of vaccines, told a crowd in Valrico, Fla., near Tampa. “Your body is a gift from God.”
Despite scientific evidence that vaccines save lives, Ladapo compared vaccine mandates to slavery. “Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery,” he said.
“This is not a slip of the tongue,” Los Angeles-based pediatric allergist Zachary Rubin told his 1 million-plus followers on Instagram and Substack.
“It’s a calculated move in the ongoing politicization of public health, where evidence, history, and
responsibility are traded for applause lines and culture-war soundbites.”
In 2023, the Biden Administration described some of Ladapo’s statements about COVID vaccine safety as “ misinterpretations and misinformation.” Rubin noted that “vaccines are not shackles, they are shields,” and also called Ladapo’s policy shift “dangerous.”
Federal vaccine policy in turmoil
Florida’s announcement comes as experts report increasing vaccine skepticism and misinformation nationally. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has dismissed long-standing vaccine advisory committees, fired the CDC director, and reversed recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination for children and healthy pregnant women. His moves have triggered lawsuits from medical organizations as well as bipartisan calls for his resignation.
Several members of Congress, a bipartisan group of nine former CDC directors, and roughly 1,000 HHS staff members have called for him to step down. And
in light of this upheaval, the Senate Finance Committee is requiring him to appear at a hearing on Sept. 4.
Earlier this year, the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, which is housed at the University of Minnesota, launched its Vaccine Integrity Project in response to the CDC’s changing approach to vaccines. The project is committed “to safeguarding vaccine use in the U.S. so that it remains grounded in the best available science.”
It’s also likely that health insurers operating in Florida will decide not to cover the cost of vaccines since they won’t be required. Such decisions could leave Black families to bear the brunt of increased infections and future pandemics.
A Dangerous time to retreat from vaccines
Meanwhile, the United States faces rising numbers of cases of preventable disease.
A recent CDC report announced that the nation had 23 more measles cases than the previous week. This increase brought the country’s total number of cases to 1,431, the most since the country declared the disease eliminated from our shores in 2000.
The confusion over vaccines also comes as the COVID-19 Variant XFG surges in the U.S., and cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, have increased because not enough children and adults have been vaccinated to sustain herd immunity.
This story was originally published by Word in Black.
What parents need to know about the measles vaccine
A measles outbreak earlier this year, involving hundreds of people across the country, put a spotlight on the role of vaccines in treating preventable diseases—especially as childhood vaccination rates have declined for several years. In early April, a school-aged child who was not vaccinated and had no known underlying conditions died from the outbreak, according to Texas health officials. Days later, the life of another child had been claimed. In all, more than 700 people tested positive for the disease.
Parents and caregivers, in particular mothers, make important health decisions for their families. Though it can impact people of different ages, measles is considered a childhood disease and unvaccinated children under 5 years old are among those who are most at risk for severe illness, The 19th reports. Here’s what parents need to know about measles and vaccines.
What is measles?
How serious is it?
Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease that spreads when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. If you do not have immune protection from measles and you come into contact with a person who has been infected—or even if you enter a room where an infected person was in the previous two hours—it is highly likely you will get infected.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, symptoms for measles include:
• fever
• cough
• runny nose
• red, watery eyes
• a skin rash
Measles can make people very sick: 1 in 20 people get pneumonia; 1 to 3 in 1,000 people get brain swelling (encephalitis); and 1 in 1,000 people die. Children who
That has changed as parents increasingly decline to vaccinate their children, with emerging instances of measles outbreaks, which involve three or more cases. In 2019, there was an uptick in measles cases, with a major outbreak reported in New York. In 2023, there were four outbreaks. In 2024, there were 16 outbreaks. Three months into 2025, there have been three outbreaks reported.
Measles still regularly occurs in many parts of the world, said Dr. Lori Handy, associate director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
are infected with measles typically stay home from school. And since symptoms can emerge over several weeks, parents could be out of work for a prolonged period of time to care for their child and keep them in isolation.
The death of a child who was infected with measles in Texas is the first measles death in the United States in a decade and the first measles death involving a child since 2003.
How do you prevent measles?
Vaccination is the key to measles prevention. Routine childhood vaccination provides 97 percent protection from measles through the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Following the childhood vaccination schedule, which is reviewed by multiple medical organizations, helps prevent hospitalization, long-term injuries and death. Because the disease is so contagious, community protection from measles requires at least 95 percent immunity to prevent outbreaks.
How often do measles outbreaks happen in the United States?
The widespread use of vaccines has meant that measles has not been common in the United States—so much so that it was declared eliminated from the country in 2000.
There has always been a risk that an unvaccinated child in the United States could be infected with measles from an international traveler who enters the United States. But the risk is greater now amid lower vaccination rates in kindergarten-age children.
“As a parent, it’s important to update that framework—that this is no longer the rare, ‘international traveler brings measles back home to a highly vaccinated country.’ This is now people within our own country have measles, and we have an under-vaccinated population, and so we are likely to see more spread in more regions,” she said.
I am vaccinating my child according to the childhood vaccination schedule. How worried should I be about outbreaks?
It depends on the age of your child and whether they are old enough to get the MMR vaccine. The first dose is administered between 12 and 15 months old and is 93 percent effective against measles. The second dose, which is administered between 4 and 6 years old, can add an additional 4 percent of immunity.
If you and your family are fully vaccinated, you can go about your routine activities, according to Handy. If you are vaccinated but you have a young child who is not old enough to receive an MMR shot,
you should make sure that the people around the child are vaccinated. People transmit measles to other people only when they are showing symptoms of the viral infection.
“A fully vaccinated parent has a very, very low risk of getting infected with the measles virus, and therefore should not be a risk to their infant,” Dr. John Swartzberg, clinical professor emeritus at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, said in an email.
It is important to be aware of outbreaks in your region. Handy said if you live in an outbreak area, be very cautious about bringing a young child who is not yet vaccinated to crowds—or avoid it if at all possible. If you find out your child has been exposed, immediately call their pediatrician to learn about post-exposure care that can be taken to prevent infection.
At a community level, ensure your friends and family are aware of outbreaks and the importance of vaccination to protect themselves, their children and their community.
Can my child receive an MMR shot early?
Some children who are traveling abroad can get an MMR shot as early as 6 months old, but it could still require two doses later. Parents should consult their pediatrician.
Handy added that there can be unusual circumstances; she gave the example of a parent with an 11-month-old traveling into a state or region with an outbreak for a social event like a wedding. That child is on the cusp of being old enough to receive the first dose of the MMR vaccine and may be able to get the shot early even though they’re not traveling abroad.
“That’s kind of the one-on-one conversation families will have to have with their care provider,” she said.
Swartzberg said that the most important thing a parent can do is make sure everyone who lives in or visits their home is vaccinated against measles.
“If someone is ill with a respiratory infection in the household, they should wear an N95 mask and stay away from the infant,” he added.
Children who have received their first MMR shot can receive the second as early as 28 days after the first dose, which may be the best option for people who live in or travel to outbreak areas or are traveling internationally. Handy said a second MMR dose helps individuals who may not have responded to the first dose. About 7 out of 100 people do not become immune after one dose; the second dose brings this down to 3 out of 100.
Handy again recommends that parents talk to their pediatricians about the best course of action.
“Related to the immunization schedule, I think the most practical information that people should have is that the way it’s designed right now is to give your child the best protection at the earliest time we can safely give vaccines. And with that in mind, deviation from that should be the exception,” she said.
I’m an adult but I’m not sure about my vaccination status. How can I check if I’ve had the measles vaccine?
If you were born before 1957, you have immunity due to the natural spread occurring then. If you were born after 1957 and have access to your records, check these. Most individuals vaccinated after that time will be protected except for a group of people who received a certain type of vaccine prior to 1968. If you do not have access to your records, you can ask your doctor to check your immunity through bloodwork to see if you need a dose of the vaccine.
The MMR vaccine gives long-lasting protection. No booster is needed, including for parents of young children, said Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University.
“The vaccine is extraordinarily effective,” he said.
Jennifer Porter Gore Word in Black
AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File
Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Health, Admiral Rachel Levine, left, claps after Dr. Nizar Dowla, right, administered a vaccine, to Emiola Adebayo, 3, the daughter of fellow doctor Emy Jean-Marie, center, on June 28, 2022, at the Borinquen Health Care Center in Miami.
By Barbara Rodriguez The 19th
Unsplash / Towfiqu barbhuiya
A measles outbreak, attributed to decreasing vaccination rates, has spread across multiple states, leading to the first U.S. child death from the disease in more than 20 years.
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 MARCH 01, 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 MARCH 01, 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 Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: AUGUST 29, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers RONALD WALKER
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION
2025ADM000976
Estate of IRMA SIMMS BROWN Deceased
NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE
(For estates of decedents dying on or after July 1, 1995)
Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by PATRCIA BROWN & KATHERINE BROWN for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading inthe form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.
*admit to probate the will dated JANUARY 31, 2014 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise
*order any intrested person to show cause why the provisions of the lost or destroyed will dated JANUARY 31, 2014 should not be admitted to probate as expressed in the pettition
*in the absence of will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter an order determing that the decendent died intestate
*appoint an unsupervised personal representitive
Date of first publication:
SEPTEMBER 12, 2025
Names of newspapers: Daily Washington Law
AFRO American
THOMAS P. HARTNETT 700
City of Baltimore Department of Finance Bureau of Procurement
Sealed proposals addressed to the Board of Estimates 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
•STORM DRAIN INLET HEADS with GALVANIZED FACEBAR RFQ 000728
ENTIRE SOLICITATION CAN BE VIEWED AND DOWNLOADED BY VISITING THE WEBSITE: https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/supplier/baltimorecity/SupplierSite
heard by the Board.
1. CLASS “B” BEER, WINE & LIQUOR LICENSE
Applicant: Seppia, LLC T/a Trade Name Pending - Amy Lefenfeld
Petition: New restaurant license requesting live entertainment, outdoor table service, and off-premises catering Premises: 901 W. 36th Street 21211
(City Council District: 14th; State Legislative District: 40th)
Applicant: D&M Sports Bar & Grill, LLC T/a Trade Name Pending - Darryl J. McCallum, III and Michael P. Kennedy
Petition: Transfer of ownership with continuation of live entertainment
Premises: 6317-19 Belair Road 21206
(City Council District: 2nd; State Legislative District: 45th)
Applicant: Play Baltimore Restaurant & Lounge, LLC T/a Play Baltimore - Gia Darden Petition: New restaurant license requesting live entertainment
Premises: 6820 Eastern Avenue 21224
(City Council District: 2nd; State Legislative District: 46th)
Beason Petition: Transfer of ownership of a Class “BD7” BWL license and Class “AE” Adult Entertainment license with continuation of live entertainment
Premises: 427 E. Baltimore Street 21202
(City Council District: 11th; State Legislative District: 46th)
Applicant: Sheldon 2021, Inc. T/a Sheldon’s Lounge - Gurdial Singh and Elisabeth Anotado
Petition: Transfer of ownership
Premises: 4325-27 Belair Road 21206
(City Council District: 2nd; State Legislative District: 45th)
Applicant: LimeandSalt Investments, LLC T/a Lime and Salt - Cesar
Flores Petition: Transfer of ownership requesting off-premises catering (Amended)
Premises: 1747-49 Belt Street 21230
(City Council District: 11th; State Legislative District: 46th)
Applicant: Little Chang, LLC T/a Ni Hao - Pengliang Zhang and Helen
Tse You
Petition: Transfer of ownership requesting off-premises catering
Premises: 2322 Boston Street 21224
(City Council District: 1st; State Legislative District: 46th)
Applicant: L&L Independent Living, LLC T/a New Club ThunderbirdGeraldine McClairn
Petition: Transfer of ownership
Premises: 2201 E. Chase Street 21213
(City Council District: 13th; State Legislative District: 45th)
Applicant: B-Moore Hangout, LLC T/a Trade Name Pending - Demetrius
Moore Petition: Transfer of ownership
Premises: 3301 Foster Avenue 21224
(City Council District: 1st; State Legislative District: 46th)
Applicant: Royal Thai, LLC T/a Thai Restaurant - Nuttawood Metawiparee
Petition: Transfer of ownership and location of a Class “BD7” BWL license presently located at 3316 Greenmount Avenue to 3100 Greenmount Avenue (Amended)
Premises: 3100 Greenmount Avenue 21218
(City Council District: 14th; State Legislative District: 43A)
Applicant: Urbano Baltimore, LLC T/a Trade Name Pending - Chad Sparrow, Larry Walston, and Traci Moxson
Petition: New Class “BD7” BWL license
Premises: 301 Mission Boulevard, Suite 3127 21230 (City Council District: 11th; State Legislative District: 46th)
Applicant: Eszar, LLC T/a Eszar Lounge - Steven L. Washington
Petition: Transfer of ownership
Premises: 2101-03 E. North Avenue 21213
(City Council District: 12th; State Legislative District: 45th)
3. CLASS “D” BEER, WINE & LIQUOR LICENSE
Applicant: Jinjoo, LLC T/a Bar Jinju - Kevin Irish and Christopher Richards Petition: Transfer of ownership requesting outdoor table service
Premises: 1900 Aliceanna Street 21231 (City Council District: 1st; State Legislative District: 46th)
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MARYLAND Annapolis, Maryland ANNOUNCEMENT
REQUEST FOR BIDS
On or after August 25, 2025, Plans and Specifications may be obtained from the Anne Arundel County Web Page at the following address: https:// www.aacounty.org/departments/central-services/purchasing/P.O.R.T./
PUBLIC NOTICE
BALTIMORE CITY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
NOTICE TO ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
REQUEST FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Baltimore City Department of Transportation has certified the need to utilize the services of architects or engineers for Project #1411, Restoring Connections to Druid Hill Park, a federally funded study to advance concept plans to 30 percent design along the Druid Park Lake Drive corridor from Greenspring Avenue to I-83.
Specific details about this Project and information for Firms interested in being considered for work on this Project can be found on the eMaryland Marketplace Advantage website at https://emma.maryland.gov solicitation No. _____________
BCDOT will have a pre-submittal meeting on September 24th, 2025 at 3pm. Applicants can attend this meeting virtually at the following Microsoft Teams link: Microsoft Teams Need help? Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 255 657 472
Visit our website at www.aacounty.org for additional information and to apply online. You may access the internet at any Anne Arundel County library, or visit our office at 2660 Riva Road in Annapolis, MD.
