Afro e-editon 8-29-2026

Volume 135 No. 4

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AUGUST 29, 2026 - SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese now holds the record for most rebounds in a single-game or a season. Reese crossed the threshold, set in 2003, during an Aug. 24 game against the Los Angeles Sparks.

Angel Reese breaks WNBA single-game and season rebounding records

The Atlanta Dream’s Angel Reese broke the WNBA single-game rebounding record on Aug. 24 with 26 rebounds. In the same game, which ended in a 78-71 win against the Los Angeles Sparks, she also broke the league’s season record for rebounds in the same game.

Reese surpassed Chamique Holdsclaw’s

record of 24 rebounds, set on May 23, 2003, for Washington.

The Dream star has 458 rebounds this season, seven more than A’ja Wilson’s mark set in 2024. Atlanta still has six games remaining in the regular season.

“I’m just in awe watching her rebound,”

afro.com

Baltimore ranks No. 2 in violence prevention as city develops next plan

By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com Baltimore ranked second in the Community Justice Action Fund’s (CJAF) 2025

Violence Prevention Index (VPI) with a score of 85 out of 100 points. The yearly national analysis assesses the programs, services and Continued on A3

Photos by J.J. McQueen

Mayor Brandon M. Scott speaks during a May 26 event celebrating a year with no homicides in Penn-North’s Safe Streets site. Baltimore recently ranked second in the Community Justice Action Fund’s (CJAF) 2025 Violence Prevention Index (VPI) for the second time.

teammate Allisha Gray said after the game.

“That’s a talent.”

Reese finished with 11 points. She secured her WNBA-leading 27th double-double of the season on a basket with 13.9 seconds left in the game.

The Dream have won four straight games

— all on the road.

Gray led Atlanta (25-13) with 20 points.

Rhyne Howard added 18 points to eclipse 3,000 for her career. Gray set an Atlanta record for field goals in a season with 247.

Continued on A3

Actor Michael Wright, known for ‘The Five Heartbeats,’ dies

By Ericka Alston Buck Special to the AFRO Actor Michael Wright, whose unforgettable portrayal of troubled soul singer Eddie King Jr. in “The Five Heartbeats” made him a beloved figure in Black cinema, has died at 70.

Wright died Aug. 19 in Los Angeles following heart failure and complications from a rare neurological disorder. His nearly five-decade career included roles in “Sugar Hill,” “The Principal” and HBO’s “Oz.” But for generations of fans, Wright remained Eddie King Jr., the gifted, charismatic and complicated lead singer at the center of Robert Townsend’s 1991 cult classic.

Following news of his death, social media filled with fans sharing favorite Eddie King Jr. lines, movie clips and memories of Wright and the character that made him unforgettable.

Baltimore resident Tonette

McFadden said word of Wright’s death prompted her to immediately watch “The Five Heartbeats” again.

“I know every line Michael Wright said in that movie. He was always my favorite part of the film,” McFadden said. “I also thought Robert Townsend was a genius for coming up with the concept, and watching it again after Michael Wright’s death just confirmed for me how brilliant it really was.”

Wright himself understood the film’s enduring place in Black culture.

“Of course, I love ‘The Five Heartbeats,’” he told SHEEN Magazine in a 2021 interview. “It was a breakout movie and it ultimately became perhaps the number one favorite film of African American audiences.”

More than three decades after its release, Wright’s performance as Eddie King Jr. remains one of the most memorable in Black film history.

Copyright © 2026 by the Afro-American Company

Actor Michael Wright is remembered for his unforgettable portrayal of troubled soul singer Eddie King Jr. in “The Five Heartbeats,” a staple of Black cinema.

A2 The Afro-American August 29, 2026 - September 4, 2026

WHAT’S TRENDING ON AFRO.COM How 99 MPH winds left Gary in the dark for two weeks

By Calvin Davis A 99 mph wind gust — comparable to a Category 2 hurricane — tore through Gary on Aug. 11, battering neighborhoods and knocking out power to nearly 38,300 utility customers in the city.

Ten days later, about 20,000 NIPSCO customers remained without electricity on Aug. 21.

That’s meant nearly half of the roughly 43,000 customers were still without power across Northwest Indiana.

The power company has said Gary experienced the most widespread outage of any community in its Indiana territory.

The utility targeted 11:59 p.m.

Aug. 25 for full restoration in Gary, making the city one of the last Northwest Indiana communities expected to have power fully restored. Still, more than 2,000 customers were in the dark as of noon on Aug. 26– more than 200 of them in Gary, and another 747 in Westville, not too far away.

But wind speed alone doesn’t explain how the storm — classified as a derecho — could leave so much of a city without electricity for two weeks.

Atmospheric and environmental researchers say the

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Indiana State Rep. Vernon Smith (D- Ill.- 14) (center) volunteers and hands out free boxed lunches at City Life Center in Gary, Ind., on Aug. 20, more than a week after a deadly storm passed through the area.

Daryan Bryant and her daughter Riley Andrews leave after picking up free boxed lunches at City Life Center more than a week after a deadly storm passes through the area.

devastation resulted from a punishing combination: unusually broad and sustained straight-line winds sweeping across rain-saturated soil, uprooting trees that then crashed into an electrical system heavily dependent on overhead power lines. The scale of the damage also raises a longer-term question: What investments can make electrical systems more resilient to severe storms?

constrain and sometimes damage root systems over time.

She stressed that though the benefits of tree canopy — including stormwater diversion, urban cooling, and cleaner air — are clear, regular maintenance, good tree care and infrastructure management are key.

A different kind of wind

Dan Chavas, a Purdue University atmospheric science professor who leads the Purdue Extreme Weather Laboratory,

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said a derecho’s broad reach helps explain how one storm could cause damage across so much of Northwest Indiana.

“Typically, a tornado will be swirling over a relatively small area, and it can be quite violent, something like 200 miles an hour,” Chavas said. A derecho, by comparison, can produce somewhat weaker winds across a much broader area.

“This one in particular, which was something like 70 to 100 miles an hour, but over a much broader area so you’re impacting a much larger footprint,” Chavas said.

That’s how the storm played out across the city. The wind didn’t rip through homes and buildings the way tornadoes did in Gary last year. Instead, widespread straight-line winds swept across the city, exerting sustained force on thousands of trees at once.

But wind was only part of the equation. What was happening beneath those trees mattered, too.

Sarah Mincey, an environmental resilience researcher at Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute, has studied Northwest Indiana’s tree canopy, which NiSource Utilities executive Melody Birmingham identified as a factor in the city’s extended restoration period.

Canopy cover measures the share of an area covered by tree branches when viewed from above. Researchers use aerial imagery to calculate it.

Her study, done in partnership with Davey Resource Group

and funded by a grant from the USDA Forest Service, analyzed coverage around the region.

Gary’s average canopy coverage was about 28 percent, Mincey said. That is not unusually high for a city.

“Many cities get up more into the 30s and 40s percent canopy cover,” Mincey said. By comparison, researchers measured Hammond’s canopy coverage at about 16 percent in 2025.

The problem, then, isn’t simply the trees. The condition of the ground matters.

Mincey pointed to a 2018 climate impacts assessment her institute is currently updating, which found Indiana’s precipitation is trending not just more frequent but more intense.

“I think what’s significant to the story is that there is just heavier precipitation,” she said.

“So, it’s not just that there’s more frequency of rain events, but they’re heavier, extreme precipitation,” Mincey said.

“So heavy rainfall events, heavy downpours are going to contribute to massive saturation of the soils. And when our soils get saturated like that, we have heavy wind, then we have a saillike factor happening with the canopy of the trees.”

Mincey added that in urban areas like Gary, trees already work with less room to anchor themselves than trees in less developed areas.

“Typically, in urban areas like Gary, you have limited rooting space for those trees,” she said, pointing to sidewalks, roads, and buried utility lines that

Preparing the grid for the next storm

A harder and potentially more expensive question is what, if anything, could limit the damage from storms like this in the future.

Emmanouil Anagnostou, a Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of environmental engineering at the University of Connecticut who has worked with utilities across the country on storm preparedness, laid out how that preparation generally works.

“Typically utilities, the majority of their distribution lines are overhead,” Anagnostou said.

“And overhead power lines, the age and also the vegetation around them, affects or interacts with the severe weather.”

That leaves utilities with several potential approaches to reducing risk, including vegetation management, strengthening poles and other equipment, creating greater redundancy in the electrical system and, in some cases, burying power lines.

Moving electrical lines underground, however, comes with an enormous price tag.

Sam Gomberg, associate director of climate and energy at the Union of Concerned

Scientists, said underground electrical lines can cost seven to 10 times as much as installing poles and overhead wires.

Anagnostou similarly described widespread undergrounding as cost-prohibitive.

But burying power lines is not the only way utilities can make their systems more resilient.

Gomberg said utilities can also build greater redundancy into their systems, creating alternative routes for delivering electricity when transmission or distribution infrastructure is damaged. That could allow portions of the system to continue operating, or power to be restored more quickly, while damaged infrastructure is repaired, he said.

Anagnostou said there is no single solution for protecting electrical systems against severe weather. Utilities have to weigh the costs of strengthening infrastructure against the likelihood and potential consequences of different types of storms.

“Every utility has to look at this holistically over a period of several years,” Anagnostou said.

For some extreme storms, he said, the better investment may be in preparation and response, including ensuring enough crews are ready to deploy quickly and restore service after widespread outages.

Calvin Davis is Capital B Gary’s government and politics reporter. This article was originally published by Capital B. Gary and made available to NNPA member papers via The Indianapolis Recorder.

Sean Grayson, Sonya Massey’s Killer, dies in prison at 32 Sean Grayson, the former Illinois sheriff’s deputy convicted of killing Sonya Massey, has died in prison at 32.

Grayson died Aug. 23 while serving a 20-year sentence for second-degree murder, NPR reported. His former attorney, Daniel L. Fultz, confirmed his death.

Grayson had Stage 4 colon cancer and was undergoing treatment, according to CBS News Chicago. The Illinois Prisoner Review Board recently rejected his request for medical release. His cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.

The former Sangamon County deputy was convicted in October 2025 in the fatal shooting of Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman who called 911 in July 2024 to report a possible prowler outside her home.

Grayson and another deputy responded to Massey’s call.

According to body-camera footage cited by The

Photo courtesy of Black Press USA

Sean Grayson, a former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy, has died in prison at age 32. Grayson was convicted of second-degree murder for fatally shooting Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old mother of two, in her Springfield, Ill., home in July 2024 after she called 911. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison in January 2026.

Associated Press, Grayson told Massey to move a pot of hot water she had taken from the stove.

Massey said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” before Grayson threatened to shoot her. Massey apologized and ducked behind a counter, but Grayson fired three times, killing her. Grayson later said

he believed she was going to throw the water at him.

He was fired following the shooting.

Massey’s killing sparked protests across the country— from New York to Chicago—and even a July 2024 demonstration in Jackson, Mississippi, where protesters marched for justice following

the release of body-camera footage, according to WAPT. The case also brought increased scrutiny to police hiring and use of force, leading Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker to sign the Sonya Massey Act into law last year, which strengthened vetting requirements for law enforcement applicants. Additionally, the U.S. Justice Department reached an agreement requiring policing reforms in Sangamon County, The AP reported.

Attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, who represent Massey’s family, said Grayson’s death does not change the loss the family continues to endure.

In a statement obtained by CBS News Chicago, the attorneys referred to Grayson’s “death in custody from cancer” and said it “does not bring Sonya back.”

This article was originally published by The Chicago Defender and Black Information Network.

Karmelo Anthony denied new trial by recently appointed judge

August 29, 2026 - September 4, 2026 The Afro-American A3

By Defender News Service A judge has denied Karmelo Anthony’s request for a new trial in the murder of Austin Metcalf, rejecting arguments from Anthony’s new defense team that problems with his original trial warranted throwing out his conviction and 35-year prison sentence.

Judge Michael Chitty issued the ruling Aug. 25 following a hearing that stretched into the evening of Aug. 24.

Anthony, 19, was convicted of murder in June in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Metcalf during a Frisco ISD track meet in April 2025. A Collin County jury rejected Anthony’s claim of self-defense and found that he intentionally stabbed Metcalf during an altercation.

Chitty was appointed to handle the matter after the judge who presided over Anthony’s murder trial was removed from the post-trial proceedings.

In his Aug. 22 order, Chitty said he considered the defense’s arguments, evidence presented during the hearing, and applicable case law before denying the motion.

“Upon reviewing the motion, the record, the evidence and argument, the briefs, and the relevant case law, the Court has determined that the motion should be denied,” Chitty wrote.

The ruling leaves Anthony’s conviction and 35-year sentence intact, although his attorneys can continue challenging the case through the appeals process.

Facebook / Karmelo Anthony

Karmelo Anthony is dealing with a setback, after a judge denied his request for a new trial in the murder of Austin Metcalf.

Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis said prosecutors anticipated the ruling.

“We respect, and expected, the court’s decision denying the motion for a new trial,” Willis said in a statement.

“The jury’s guilty verdict stands, and we remain confident in the process. Every defendant has the right to appeal, and our thoughts and prayers remain with the Metcalf family in the painful wake of last week’s hearing.”

Defense challenges fairness of trial

The hearing produced new details about Anthony, Metcalf, and the decisions attorneys made leading up to and during the murder trial.

Two attorneys who are close friends personally but found themselves on opposite sides of the case took the witness stand. At one point, testimony grew heated as questions focused on whether Anthony received a fair trial.

Anthony returned to the courtroom and sat alongside his new defense team as attorneys argued that the circumstances surrounding his

Prevention Continued from A1 policies cities have established to reduce gun and other forms of violence.

This is the second time the city has received the nation’s second-highest score.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott celebrated the achievement in an Aug. 20 news release, attributing the ranking to significant investments in community violence intervention, victim services and wraparound support for people with the highest risk of engaging in violence.

“The historic progress we have made as a city is not a coincidence; it’s because Baltimore has been intentional about evolving the way we think about public safety, building the systems needed to support our shared vision for public safety and investing in intervention and prevention alongside constitutional law enforcement,” said Scott. “Our focus now is sustaining this work because any one life lost to violence in Baltimore is one too many.”

Since 2022, Baltimore has seen a consistent downward trend in homicides and nonfatal shootings. The shift has in part been driven

by Scott’s comprehensive violence prevention plan (CVPP), a strategy launched in 2021 that treats gun violence as a public health issue.

From 2022 to 2025, homicides have fallen from 324 to 133. In 2025, specifically, Baltimore saw a 31 percent decline in homicides and a 24 percent decrease in nonfatal shootings. The progress has continued into 2026, with homicides dropping by an additional 22.9 percent and nonfatal shootings by another 6.7 percent—building on reductions experienced in previous years.

In CJAF’s VPI, Baltimore ranked second among 100 U.S. cities, which were selected because they had the highest levels of gun violence in 2021 and 2022. The analysis evaluated the city on 35 criteria across intervention and risk factor reduction, addressing the root causes of violence, and local offices of violence prevention.

Stefanie Mavronis, director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE), said the ranking reflects Baltimore’s steady presence as a national leader

murder trial were so unusual that his conviction and sentence should be set aside.

One of the key witnesses was Toby Shook, a member of Anthony’s trial defense team.

Shook testified that prosecutors had put the defense in a difficult position as attorneys considered whether Anthony should testify in his own defense.

According to Shook, the original plan called for Anthony to take the witness stand. That strategy changed, however, because of an agreement between prosecutors and defense attorneys limiting the introduction of information about the backgrounds of both Anthony and Metcalf.

Anthony’s new attorneys argued that decisions surrounding his ability to testify and other aspects of the original proceedings deprived him of a fair trial.

Chitty ultimately disagreed, leaving the jury’s murder conviction in place and setting the stage for Anthony’s legal fight to move to the appellate courts.

in public safety and violence prevention.

“Our achievements in creating the infrastructure needed to truly address violence as a public health issue are not ours alone,” said Mavronis. “They are thanks to community partners, frontline violence intervention workers, hospitals, government, law enforcement and prosecutors all working together for Baltimore. This index is a valuable snapshot for how far we have come, as well as a resource as we continue our collective work to create a safer, stronger city for all.”

Both MONSE and Scott are in the process of developing the city’s next CVPP, which will guide Baltimore’s violence prevention efforts through 2031. Baltimoreans have been given an opportunity to weigh in on the roadmap through a public engagement process.

During a summer listening session on the new CVPP, Mavronis said the plan will sustain evidence-based interventions, like the Group Violence Reduction Strategy and community violence intervention, while adding new priorities such as housing support for returning citizens, youth diversion programming, alternate response infrastructure and making MONSE a permanent city agency.

“The next five-year plan has to continue the proven work that’s helped us get this foundation, but also it needs to respond to today’s violence dynamics. They look a little different than when we put this first plan out in 2021,” said Mavronis during the listening session. “Most importantly, we have to make sure the plan meets community needs.”

One public safety area Baltimore residents have said needs to be improved is the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve. During the June 29 listening session, which invited residents to provide feedback on the next CVPP, Baltimorean Shannon Baldwin emphasized the need to strengthen trust and communication between the police and neighborhoods.

“I recognize that there’s a huge disparity among law enforcement officers and specifically Black communities,” said Baldwin. “We need to find a way to bridge the gap and create a happy medium—whether that’s through education, community engagement or having roundtable talks.”

The next CVPP is expected to be finalized and released this fall.

AP Photo/LM Otero

A native of Maryland, Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) has made a name for herself in the WNBA. Shown here, Reese (5), up against Dallas Wings forward Jessica Shepard (32) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Arlington, Texas, July 29.

Angel Reese Continued from A1 Nneka Ogwumike had 27 points and 16 rebounds for Los Angeles (13-25), which has lost nine straight games in the series. Dearica Hamby and Cameron Brink each scored 15 points.

Atlanta trailed 37-36 at

halftime before starting the third quarter on a 9-2 run.

The Dream also began the fourth on a 9-2 run to make it 71-57 with 6:57 left.

Angel Reese hails from Baltimore, where she was a graduate of Saint Frances Academy’s Class of 2020. Reese played for the

University of Maryland for two years before transferring to Louisiana State University. After graduation, she was drafted by the Chicago Sky and later, in April 2026, traded to the Atlanta Dream.

This article was originally published by The Associated Press.

A4 The Afro-American August 29, 2026 - September 4, 2026

COMMENTARY

Back-to-school season belongs to Maryland’s working adults, too

By Dr. K.L. Allen As students return to classrooms this fall, another group is opening laptops after work, studying at kitchen tables and reconsidering goals they once placed on hold: working adults. Their return is more than a personal milestone. It is evidence that higher education must evolve around the realities of today’s learners and the demands of a rapidly changing economy.

Careers no longer follow a predictable path from one degree to one lifelong job. Artificial intelligence, automation and new digital tools are changing how work gets done and which skills matter. Employers increasingly focus less on where learning occurred and more on whether a person can apply relevant knowledge, solve problems and contribute on day one. That makes flexible, skills-based education essential, not optional.

Maryland offers a clear example.

Although 43.4 percent of residents age 25 and older hold a bachelor’s

degree, statewide averages mask unequal access and persistent talent needs. The Maryland Department of Labor reports the strongest workforce demand in healthcare, IT and cybersecurity, construction and transportation and logistics. Meeting that demand will require opening practical pathways for adults in every region of the state.

Higher education should be designed to fit those lives without lowering expectations. Online learning can remove barriers of place and time.

Competency-based education can allow students to move forward when they demonstrate mastery rather than simply accumulating hours in a classroom. Prior learning and transfer credit should count when there is credible evidence that a learner has achieved the required outcomes. Access and quality must advance together.

Artificial intelligence can also help make learning more accessible and navigable. Used responsibly, it can identify knowledge gaps, provide timely practice and help institutions

tailor support. But technology should strengthen, not replace, the human relationships that keep students moving.

Faculty, mentors and peers provide encouragement, judgment and accountability that no tool can replicate.

Adult learners are also careful consumers. They ask whether a program is worth the time, sacrifice and money it requires. Colleges must answer with clear value: affordable tuition, relevant curricula informed by employers, strong student support and transparent outcomes. A credential should represent more than completion. It should signal that a graduate is prepared to apply what they have learned.

As regional vice president for Western Governors University’s Northeast region, I see that determination every day. Most WGU students are working adults pursuing a promotion, changing careers, reskilling for an evolving field or finishing a degree they began years ago. They bring experience, resilience and urgency to their studies.

When education meets them where they are, they show what is possible.

For adults considering a return to school, begin with the outcome you want. Choose a program that aligns with your career goals and offers a schedule you can sustain.

Ask how prior learning will be evaluated, what support is available and how the institution measures graduate success. Build a circle of family members, friends, colleagues and mentors who understand the commitment. Most importantly, give yourself permission to learn at a pace that works for your life.

This back-to-school season should remind us that education is not reserved for one age or one stage.

Working adults are not an exception to the future of higher education; they are helping define it. By building learning around flexibility, affordability, relevance and high standards, we can open more pathways to opportunity and strengthen the workforce our communities need.

For anyone wondering whether it is too late to return, it is not.

The next chapter can begin now,

Courtesy photo

Dr. K.L. Allen serves as regional vice president for Western Governors University. on your terms, with an education designed not around the life you are expected to have but the life you are already living.

When disabled people are priced out, we lose more than a home

By Janiah Miller For those in the disability community, it has always taken a village.

When your life is filled with doctor’s appointments, chronic illness symptoms and navigating a world that isn’t built for accessibility, being surrounded by reliable family, friends and peers doesn’t just enrich the day-to-day — it makes the day-to-day possible.

Yet the cost of housing is throwing this critical ecosystem out of balance.

As home prices climb and renters contend with skyrocketing leases and utilities, disabled people often have no choice but to leave the communities they’ve built because they’ve been priced out.

Disabled Black women — like myself — are more likely to struggle to pay our rent than our white counterparts. We shoulder the compounding stress of affording where we live while also managing the costs of doctors’ visits, medications and mobility aids. All of these factors make it harder to find quality, affordable places to live.

That’s where the community around

Courtesy photo

Janiah Miller serves as the senior campaigns organizer at Black Feminist Future. us comes in. Neighbors and peer networks have long filled the gaps left by underinvestment in social programs

and safety nets through everyday acts of care. Neighbors exchange rides, share childcare responsibilities, check in on elders and support one another in ways that make daily life possible.

For many disabled people, these relationships also make our communities more accessible to us, empowering us to navigate and participate in everyday life with greater dignity, autonomy and connection.

But as housing costs continue to rise and people are displaced, these informal systems of care become harder to sustain. When affordability forces people farther from family, neighbors and community, it weakens the very relationships that help everyone survive and thrive.

As a Black, disabled woman renting in the metro Atlanta area, I’ve felt the direct impact of policies that prioritize corporate profits over tenants’ livelihoods. Every month, I receive worryingly expensive utility bills from the private water and sewage corporation that contracts with my apartment complex. And every month, as I watch the amount grow for no discernible

reason, I wonder if I’ll be able to make my base rent.

The fear isn’t just about losing my home but also losing the friends I’ve made, the doctors I rely on and the community that sustains me as a disabled woman.

Housing is supposed to provide stability and peace of mind. But for people with disabilities and anyone struggling to make it under this economy, it often feels like you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. Finding affordable housing can mean moving away from the support networks that make independence and living a socially enriching life possible.

What’s missing from today’s housing debate is a recognition that accessibility isn’t just about ramps, elevators, or widened doorways, but whether disabled people can afford to remain in the communities that enable us to thrive.

Any future housing bill must embed accessibility into its core design, which means regulating predatory utility billing practices, enforcing maintenance standards so tenants aren’t forced to

advocate for basic repairs, and ensuring that affordability measures account for the additional costs disabled people shoulder every month.

Accessibility also means protecting the social infrastructure that makes independence possible. When disabled people are pushed out of neighborhoods, they often lose transit access, nearby doctors, trusted neighbors and the informal care networks that fill the gaps our healthcare system leaves behind.

Accessibility is a policy choice. And right now, policymakers are choosing to leave disabled people behind.

There is a future where everyone can have what they need to meet their needs while still leaving space for joyful connection. It’s a future where people with disabilities are surrounded by neighbors who want to help and build community. It’s a future where instead of just scrolling on our phones, we actually talk to each other. It’s a future built for people with disabilities, but it’s also one where everyone works to enrich the community they live in.

That’s a future that we all deserve access to.

Maryland has an important role to play in the fight for reparations

By Davyon Love Advocacy to advance reparations in Maryland garnered major traction over the last few years.

Former Delegate Wanika Fisher (D-Md.-47B), former state Sen. Jill P. Carter (D-Md.-41), Delegate Marlon Amprey (D-Md.-40), Delegate Gabriel Acevero (D-Md.-39) and Delegate Aletheia R. McCaskill (D-Md.-44B) have all put in legislation to advance reparations policy dating as far back as 2021.

Maryland established the Truth and Lynching Commission, which has completed its work in studying the harms done to Black people in Maryland as a result of lynching, and making recommendations about how to address those harms. Maryland established the Community Repair and Reinvestment Fund in 2022 which uses revenues from the taxation of recreational cannabis in order to invest in the communities that were hardest hit by the war on drugs.

Baltimore City created the Community Reinvestment and Reparations Commission in 2023 as the vehicle to direct resources that come from the state via the Community Repair and

Reinvestment Fund.

In 2025 the Maryland General Assembly, under the leadership of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, passed legislation to establish the Maryland Reparations Commission, which is tasked with studying the impact of chattel slavery, Jim Crow and racial oppression against Black people in general. The commission also has a goal of producing recommendations on how to implement reparations policies in Maryland.

In spite of this legislation being vetoed by the first Black person to serve as governor of Maryland, the legislature overrode governor Moore’s veto in December of 2025.

There is College Park Restorative Justice Commission that was established in 2022, that released recommendations in October of 2025 regarding remedies to address the harm caused by local municipal government toward the historic Black community of Lakeland.

These are just highlights of the range of reparations efforts that have been underway in Maryland over the last several years. With this volume of work on reparations, Maryland is proving to be a hotbed of reparations

activity. With such a strong and vigorous civic environment, organizers are doing the work to advance reparations. Black people in Maryland have an opportunity to impact the national reparations advocacy landscape.

The historic reparations bill, HR 40, was initially introduced in 1989 by late U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), and was taken up by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas-18) when Conyers passed away. Now, it has been picked up

by Congresswoman Ayanna Presley (D-Mass.-7), who has an opportunity to make important legislative progress. HR 40, which is a bill that would establish a federal commission to study the issue of, and make recommendations for how to enact reparations in the U.S. has struggled to advance at all in the legislative landscape. The year 2021 was the first time that the bill advanced out of a congressional committee in almost four decades.

With the Democrats poised to take back control of the House of Representatives, and a puncher’s chance of taking control of the U.S. Senate, we have an opportunity to move HR 40 through the entire chamber in the U.S.

House, and begin to make progress in the U.S. Senate. Maryland is uniquely able to have influence over how HR 40 and other reparations related legislation move through congress.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08) will serve as chair of the House Judiciary Committee if/when the Democrats take control of the U.S. House next year.

This is the committee that HR 40 will be assigned to. We have an opportunity to urge Raskin to publicly commit to moving HR 40 out of committee, which will help to create additional pressure on Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.-8), who will likely become the next Speaker of the House when the Democrats take control of the U.S. House, to put HR 40 on the House floor to pass the U.S. House of Representatives. Not only does this help create additional leverage in moving HR 40 in the U.S. Senate, but putting HR 40 on the table helps to create additional space for other reparations related legislative initiatives.

HR 40 is one of many reparations related legislative efforts that are being advocated on the national level, and Maryland has an opportunity to play an important role in advancing reparations nationally.

Photo courtesy of K. Finch Photography

Dayvon Love serves as director of public policy for the Baltimorebased think tank, Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle. This week, he speaks to the role Maryland lawmakers could play in advancing reparations nationally.

To support the effort to ensure that HR 40 will move out of committee in the next congress, contact Congressman Raskin’s Office and urge him to publicly commit to moving HR 40 out of his committee within the first 90 days of the next congress.

The opinions on this page are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the AFRO. Send letters to The Afro-American ∙ 233 E. Redwood Street, Suite 600G Baltimore, MD 21202 or fax to 1-877-570-9297 or e-mail to editor@afro.com

August 29, 2026 - September 4, 2026 The Afro-American A5

New CDC director acknowledges agency problems in first large staff meeting

By Mike Stobbe In her first large staff meeting, the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention promised on Aug. 19 to advocate for the agency while acknowledging that congressionally funded programs lacked staff and employees were feeling burned out.

Dr. Erica Schwartz also said she wouldn’t hesitate to disagree with U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. if necessary — but said she wouldn’t do so publicly.

Schwartz started at the head of the Atlanta-based federal agency last week, taking the reins from a series of temporary directors. She spoke to CDC employees on Aug. 19 at her first “all hands” staff meeting. The Associated Press heard a recording of the meeting.

Schwartz mentioned an AP story this week about CDC programs that have congressional appropriations but functionally are dead or nearly dead because the CDC staffers who did the work were laid off by President Donald Trump’s administration or remain on leave.

She did not say exactly what she will do about these “zombie” programs and about staffers who feel exhausted and overloaded, but said she will meet with CDC staffers to learn more about the situation and what can be done.

“The good news is, I’m here,” she said. “I’m Week 1 of being here, and now I can certainly be able to advocate for the CDC. I think when

you have (had) that leadership vacuum, it’s, you know, it’s hard to get that advocacy.”

Schwartz previously served in uniformed government jobs with the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Public Health Service. When she disagrees with other leaders she does so in private, “because that’s just part of the uniformed service person in me,” she said. She said she would continue to do so, but “not in front of the media.”

She also promised to build public trust in the agency through “radical transparency, scientific rigor and honest communications,” echoing language used by Kennedy.

Schwartz is the 22nd leader of the CDC, which is charged with protecting Americans from preventable health threats. In her talk on Aug. 19, she acknowledged the challenges agency employees have faced.

Largely due to layoffs and resignations, the agency has lost 3,000-plus employees, more than one-quarter of its workforce. Morale has plummeted as a succession of mostly temporary leaders has come and gone. The front office has been staffed by political appointees with little or no training in medicine or public health.

Kennedy, a leading voice in the anti-vaccine movement, took several steps that ran counter to CDC research and recommendations, including disbanding an expert advisory committee and appointing his own panel that included several vaccine skeptics.

CDC staffers asked

AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib

Dr. Erica Schwartz testifies during a Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions committee confirmation hearing to be the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During her first all-hands staff meeting on Aug. 19, she pledged to advocate for the agency and rebuild trust. questions on Aug. 19, including one about Trump’s executive order calling for revamped childhood vaccine recommendations that promote his long-held but discredited theory that childhood shots should be spaced out into separate medical visits.

Schwartz said a task force on childhood vaccine safety is being established and she

is on the panel. It has not met yet, she said. The panel has been given 90 days to report to Trump, she added.

Some current and former CDC employees said Schwartz appeared to be earnest, but want to see what she does.

The National Public Health Coalition, an organization of former and current CDC workers, issued a statement

after the meeting.

“CDC staff and the American people deserve a strong, independent leader who will follow the science, defend public health expertise and put the health and safety of the public ahead of political pressure,” the statement said. “Dr. Schwartz has spoken about rebuilding trust. That trust must be earned through action.”

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

This article was originally published by The Associated Press.

Former detective: Tupac murder suspect had final say in shooting A former Compton gang detective testified Aug.25 that Duane “Keffe D” Davis was a high-ranking “shot caller” whose authority meant younger gang members would not have opened fire on Tupac Shakur with Davis present unless he allowed it.

Robert Ladd, a former Compton police officer who spent years investigating gang homicides, described Davis as a leader of the South Side Compton Crips who could

order younger members to act.

Prosecutors have not accused Davis of firing the shots that killed Shakur in Las Vegas nearly 30 years ago.

Instead, they allege Davis orchestrated the shooting in retaliation for a casino brawl hours earlier involving Shakur and Davis’ nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson. Under Nevada law, someone who helps another person commit murder can be convicted of

Caroline Brehman/Pool Photo via AP

Duane Davis looks on during his murder trial related to the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur. the crime.

Ladd testified that Shakur’s shooting triggered a 10-day

war in Compton between the South Side Crips and Mob Piru, resulting in three killings

Caroline Brehman/Pool Photo via AP

Family members of rapper Tupac Shakur, including his sister, Sekyiwa Shakur (front,right) attend the murder trial of Duane Davis related to the 1996 killing of Shakur, at Clark County District Court Regional Justice Center, in Las Vegas, Aug. 24.

and 10 attempted murders.

Davis has said in past interviews that he was riding in a white Cadillac with Anderson and two other men when they pulled alongside Shakur and Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight in a black BMW. In a 2008 police interview played for jurors last week, Davis said he provided the gun and Anderson opened fire.

Asked Aug. 25 who would have been the leader among the four men in the Cadillac, Ladd answered, “Mr. Davis.”

Ladd said that Anderson, a younger-ranking gang member, could not have opened fire with Davis in the car without Davis’ permission. If Davis had told the others to handle the dispute later, Ladd testified, “there wouldn’t have been a shooting.”

Defense attorney Michael Sanft emphasized the lack of physical evidence supporting that theory. Ladd acknowledged that, aside from Davis’ own admissions, he had no

physical evidence placing Davis in Las Vegas that night and no phone records showing Davis ordered the shooting.

Law enforcement experts said they collected bills and letters from Las Vegas hotels in Anderson’s and Davis’ residences, but they didn’t know when they were dated, or the current location of that evidence.

Prosecutors have argued that Davis’ own words are central to their case, while Sanft has characterized his client’s accounts as fabricated bravado and accused investigators of failing to corroborate them.

Ladd was the 23rd witness called by prosecutors. Closing arguments were slated for Aug. 31. ___ Associated Press Entertainment Writer Jonathan Landrum Jr. reported from Los Angeles.

This article was originally published by The Associated Press.

A6 The Afro-American August 29, 2026 - September 4, 2026

January 27, 2024 - February 2, 2024 The Afro-American

C3

The latestFAFSA tool toform helphelps prevent maternal mortality: Updated Black students get morewristbands aid broader maternal mortality crisis in the U.S. And they noted the wristHospitals across the U.S. bands’ popularity is emergmillion students applied for financial areOver tryingone to reduce maternal ing as Trump’s 2025 lawaid is through Free Application Federal Student Aid deaths andthe complications after for expected to reduce Medicaid pregnanciesinusing one small spending by more than $900 (FAFSA) the first week of its opening.

However, tool: a silicone wristband billion over 10 years, accordthis year was different. On Dec. 30, the Department stamped with the declaration ing to a Congressional Budget of Education released the updated and redesigned “I Gave Birth.”

Office analysis. Medicaid, application.

The wristbands are part the federal-state program theinitiative Better FAFSA now 24/7, we arefor of a“With growing first that live covers healthcare launched the

by North Carolow-income families, pays for moving federal financial aid application into the lina-based ECU Health as at least 40 percent of births 21st century and, in the process, putting affordable Congress sought to address nationwide. higher education within the reach of 610,000 students the nation’s growing materElisabeth Wright Burak, a nal mortality crisis during policy researcher at Georgethe Covid pandemic. Since town University’s Center for 2021, nearly 50 North CaroChildren and Families, said lina hospitals and the state’s Trump’s tax-and-spending health department have begun law is stifling the momendistributing the wristbands, to tum states had been gaining give mothers and care provid- with maternal care since ers a visual reminder of the 2022. That’s when Congress life-threatening health risks allowed states to extend postafter birth. partum Medicaid coverage The Connecticut state from 60 days to a year, which health department; large nearly every state did. from low incomesNow, whothose will extensions now be healthfamilies systems inwith Arkansas, Georgia, for and Pell Mississippi; on the U.S. chopping eligible Grants and for thecould veryend firstuptime,” hospitals in at least 24 other block, Burak said, as Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in astates states have also embraced the seek ways to manage Medicstatement in January. program. The wristbands are aid losses.

According toemergency the department,“There nearlyis1.5 million that intended to make no question more students receive $7,395, the maximum award workers aware ofwill postpartum HR 1 risks setting the clock risks, ensure better treatment, back for maternal health,” of the Federal Pell Grant, bringing the total to more and help maternal mor-TheBurak said. should take than 5.2 lower million students. new form tality rates in the U.S., where A report she co-authored in around hour to complete, and andpostpartum their nearly 70anpercent of pregnanJulystudents warned that families skiphappen “as many 26 questions, depending cy-relatedcan deaths after aspatients have more to worry the day of delivery — and about with the new law than nearly 40 percent happen after simply cuts to Medicaid. the six-week mark.

States are also setting up systems that may not adequately Moms in jeopardy track pregnant and postparyear,Williams North Carolina tum enrollees who should be ByThis Joseph plans to expand the initiative exempt from the law’s new Word In Black with part of the $213 million work requirements, erroneit received through the Rural ously dropping them from an For the Black community, education is considered Health Transformation Procoverage, Burak’s report said. investment, the best way for Black children to get ahead gram, a provision of President in life, and a key to overcoming systemicmortality racism. But a Donald Trump’s signature Maternal new study indicates the schools One Big Beautiful Billstates Act, are short-changing U.S. maternal mortality also known as HR 1. ratesthe have risen and fallen Black children attend, worsening achievement gap.

Dr. Tamika Auguste, a over the past seven years, A study titled “The Adequacy and Fairness of State physician and the board chair with 649 maternal deaths in School Finance Systems” found that Black students are at the American College of 2024, according to the most twice as likely as White students to attend in Obstetricians & Gynecolorecent Centersschool for Disease districts with subpar government funding and more data. than gists Foundation, praised the Control and Prevention wristbands had underfunded” the worst three timesasasa useful likely tool to live in Tennessee “chronically “to increase awareness and maternal mortality rate in districts. education around postpartum the nation from 2020 to At the same time, researchers found that “educational health.” But she and others 2024, around 42 deaths per opportunity unequal in every100,000 state — that according is, higher-to who focus on is maternal health births, poverty districts funded less thandata lowersaid efforts like theare wristband an adequately analysis of CDC by campaigns are only part of Research poverty districts,” according tothetheCongressional report. what’s to combat the are Service.

Carolina’s rate Theneeded funding disparities likely toNorth further increase

By Andrew Jones

By Overs KFFBria Health News Word In Black

“We have heard from students and families that the new FAFSA form is a better experience that’s easier to complete.”

tried to find meaning in her that the U.S. “Back to Sleep” “We have heard from and families that the circumstances.

She spent a students campaign, which educates new FAFSA form isshea said, better experience that’s easierpracyear feeling isolated, parents on safe sleeping often because people don’t tices with to complete,” said Federal Student Aidbabies, Chief dramatically Richard know whatintoasay. reduced rates of sudden infant Cordray statement.

Mellon said wearing one death syndrome for several Congress passed the Fostering Undergraduate Talent of the wristbands would have years after it launched in by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act been a painful reminder of her 1994, though rates plateaued in 2019 and the FAFSA Simplification in 2022, loss. in the earlyAct 2000s.

Now shechanges works as to a doula In 2020, thetoCDC a allowing the form. According the tried 2024in Asheville, North Carosimilar national campaign, 2025 Better FAFSA Better Future Roadmap, more lina. Mellon said what she “Hear Her,” aimed at helpfeatures will come in the nearing future. thinks new moms need most women speak up when “Financial aid is a critical part of thefelt college something wrong after is community and emotional delivery.are unaware of the support. The wristband planning process, butcould many families CDC released a study help encourage that some necessary steps tofor take or don’tThe think they qualify for patients, she said, but isn’t for on the campaign years later support when they actually do,” said Autumn Caviness, that said it “had the unintendeveryone. director Talk.

Real Talk is a “career of and college KFF Health News/University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences ed consequence appearing “There of areReal so many risks, exploration initiative” for Black students andontheir Hospitals are embracing a low-cost tool designed to to put the burden the and it’s just like you almost protect women after childbirth wristbands. people are college pregnant or become invisible,” said. families as part ofsheBigFuture, a free who online postpartum to speak up.”

More than 80 percent of planning guide. was about 29 in 100,000, with “The bracelet itself is ECU Health Medical Cenpregnancy-related deaths A 2018 National Center forterEducation Statistics a national average of 23. simply a reminder of, ‘Hey, I created the wristband iniare preventable, according report found that 72 percent of Black undergraduate In its Rural Health Transgot education,’” said Barbhuiya Jessica tiative in 2021 and published to the CDC. The Centers Unsplash/ Towfiqu students received a Federal Pell Grant average Noble, a nurse with East Carformation Program applicaa study twowith yearsanlater.

In it for Medicare & Medicaid The Department of Education expects the updated and tion, North Carolina said the olina University-connected the authors noted the pregServices in March published annual amount of $4,900, more than any other racial redesigned financial aid form to help students get more initiative creatingeducation. the “I Gave ECU Health who pioneered readmission guidance, developed during group.

Caviness said there hasnancy-related been a lot of interest for their higher the initiative.

Birth” wristbands reduced rate at the Greenville hospital the Biden administration, from Black students and families in their offerings, It’s also intended to alert postpartum readmissions by fell 0.77 percent. It attributed that urged hospitals to create on their individual circumstances.” specifically their event about FAFSA with financial aid first responders and other nearly a third at ECU Health the change to the “education better emergency department MoreCenter questions are skippable because the department healthcare providers that a Medical in Greenville, provided to patients, famprotocolsfrom to catch postpartum experts colleges and universities. recentlyare given without elaborating.

In online thatwoman members, and medical complications and to measure previously acknowledged not allhas students “in “We believe that all youngily people, especially our birth and to check for postpromotions, some hospitals personnel” in their work against state and touch with their parents” and “approximately 300,000 underrepresented students, deserve accessthe to initiative, the partum complications, such as national maternal health data. have claimed the wristband without elaborating. students are experiencing homelessness.”

The new necessary information that opens all doors,” low blood pressure, bleeding, campaigns can save lives, Campaigns likeshe thesaid.

“I form allows users to securely and directly import tax or infections. Emergency dethough many have recently More research needed Gave Birth” initiative are information fromimpact the Internal Revenuestaff Service (IRS) and EMS worklaunched and their has partment But those efforts faced a far from a final solution This article was originally published

by Word Into ers sometimes don’t have yet to be studied. major threat last year when maternal mortality, said Noinstead of manually entering it.

Black. adequate training to recognize the Trump administration “Additional research is ble, the campaign’s architect postpartum complications, needed to conclusively consought to cut CDC fundand lead author on the ECU firm the outcomes of such ini- research shows, which can ing for state-level maternal Health study. If she “had be dangerous when those patiatives,” said Hannah Jones, mortality data in its proposed a magic wand,” she said, tients end up in an emergency 2026 budget. While Cona spokesperson for the North North Carolina would not room.

Carolina health department. gress rejected that move, the just have better postpartum Postpartum wristbands administration did lay off staff care but would also address gained traction across the ‘Hey, I got an education’ tracking postpartum patients’ the root causes of pregnancountry through health aware- health.

Hospitals provide a cy complications. “But I ness campaigns fueled by sowristband to patients who The Trump administration don’t have one, and I can’t cial media posts and evening have given birth and instruct tried again to cut $113.5 milmake system-level change news segments. New mothers them to wear it for weeks or lion in CDC maternal health immediately.” appeared in promotional months, hoping they’ll be research in its proposed 2027 This article first appeared photos and videos wearing the budget. Congress has instead reminded to check in with a on KFF Health News and wristband and raving about physician if they feel chest proposed increasing funding is republished here under a the accessory, saying it celepain, have headaches, or to $115.5 million.

Creative Commons Attribubrated childbirth. start bleeding. The accessory Without more research, tion-NonCommercial-NoDSome postpartum patients resembles the yellow Livesit’s unclear how effective the erivatives 4.0 International who faced traumatic births or trong wristband, part of a wristbands are in encouragLicense. mental health struggles saw it ing postpartum patients to cancer awareness campaign KFF Health News is a nadifferently. seek care when they need it. launched by cyclist Lance tional newsroom that producA U.K. study of mass media Armstrong’s foundation. A es in-depth journalism about campaigns to improve health nurse also talks through postPreventable deaths health issues and is one of the outcomes, such as preventing partum risks with the patients, Alexandra Mellon gave core operating programs at risky substance use or encour- KFF—an independent source and they’re sent home with birth last year. Her daughter aging exercise, found that the pamphlets and guidebooks was stillborn. Devastated, of health policy research, on how to care for their new she sought out a therapist, campaigns didn’t change bepolling, andNappy.co/holisticcare journalism. child and themselves. donated her breast milk, and haviors.

Another study found Learn more about KFF. A new report reveals how hundreds of billions of dollars have been snatched away from the nation’s public schools

For Black kids, underfunded public schools are inequality factories

“opportunity gaps” between Black and White children, since 2016. creating what one researcher called “inequality spending deficit, meanwhile, cost schools “over $360 factories.” And the disparities are occurring as school billion between 2016 and 2021,” the report states. districts set academic achievement standards that Yet “most states have increased their expectations

By Jennifer Porter Gore districts often struggle to meet. children in underfunded Word Black for the performance of schools, teachers and students” TheInfindings, compiled by a team of researchers without increasing funding needed to reach the higher from the Albert Shanker Institute, the University of HIV remains a serious pubbenchmarks, Bruce Baker, a University of Miami Miami and Rutgers University, evaluated the K-12 lic health crisis, with Black school finance systems of all 50 states and the District of professor and one of the report’s co-authors, said in people accounting for about a statement. The “permanent divestment” in public 40 percent ofThe people livinganalyzed data from 2009 — the Columbia. project schools, he says, is a mistake by states who “have with HIV representing depths ofdespite the Great Recession, during which revenuejust 12 percent of the U.S. starved states slashed education budgets — to the 2020- refused to make their districts whole after the disastrous population. Stigma and socicuts during that recession.”

21 year, roughly a decade after the economy etalschool norms continue to derail The report also found that 20 percent of all U.S. recovered. vital conversations around the epidemic — a public health of education quality, school A thumbnail measure crisis that has disproportiondistrict spending varies across the country, with some “The reality is that it costs more ately impacted Black commuschool districts and states spending far more per pupil — nities for more than 40 years. to achieve higher educational and paying teachers more — than others. Yet spending But confronting sexually matters: data has linked higher district spending to better transmitted infections is still outcomes, and we’re unlikely a touchyperformance, topic — and even student test scores and outcomes. to see much return onPhoto our more so within Blackeconomy faith courtesy of ViiV Healthcare When the U.S. entered a sharp downturn, communities. The relationNikole Hannah-Jones (from left), Ciarra Brown, Rev. Don Abram, Eva Marcille, Dr. Jackie revenue-starved states slashed education budgets. investments when we’re not really ship between faith commuWalter, and Randevyn Piérre at ViiV Healthcare’s NABJ plenary “Separation of Church & But when the economy rebounded, however, not all nities and HIV advocates Sex: Faith and the Fight Against making HIV.” those investments.” education bounced back. has evolvedbudgets dramatically, marking some progress communities. and counseling to housing and “Good school finance systems compensate for factors working to prevent disease during the four decades of Pioneering faith-based orand improve health outcomes spiritual support for people states cannot control (e.g., student poverty, labor costs) the epidemic. What began as ganizations such as The Balm public among those they serve. attend “chronically living with HIV. school students below using levers that they can control (e.g., driving funding fear, misunderstanding and, at in Gilead Inc., of Richmond, Today, thousands of conThat legacy of advocacy adequate” districts, in which actual state funding is to districts thatrejection need ithas most),”Va., according to thetostudy. times, outright were founded progregations across the United took center stage recently the furthest below adequate levels.

But 60 percent of “We have devised a frameworkvide thateducation evaluates transformed into a movement andstates advocacy States serve as vital links in when experts, advocates and districts are in just 10 Sun Belt states: Alabama, of compassion, healing for faith- and the HIV care continuum, prosupporters gathered at the based largely on how and well theytools accomplish thiscommubalance. those Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, advocacy within many faith nity-based organizations viding everything from testing National Association of Black We assess each state’s funding while accounting directly Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina and Texas. for the students and communities served by its public “The reality is that it costs more to achieve higher schools.” educational outcomes,” said Baker, “and we’re unlikely

The Black Church can’t fight HIV without confronting its past

revenue but are choosing not to do so.”

Not surprisingly, Black students bore the brunt of the funding Journalistsdownturn.

Convention for a head of U.S. external affairs panel discussion titled “SepaViiV Healthcare.

Black students “are twice asat likely as White students ration of Church & Sex: Faith Walters discussedadequate how to to be in districts with funding below estimated and the Fight Against HIV.” work toward eliminating levels, and 3.5 times more likely to be in ‘chronicallydisThe panel was presented by parities in care and ensuring underfunded’ to the study.

The ViiV Healthcare,districts,” the only according that everyone — especially discrepancies between Hispanic and White students, the pharmaceutical company 100 those in underserved commureport states, “are but nities still large.” percent dedicated to smaller HIV. — has access to prePulitzer Prize-winning vention, andstates treatment The largest opportunity gaps “tendtesting to be in such author Nikole Hannah-Jones resources. as Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts,” where moderated the panel, opening “I think if we can make statewide spending adequacy people is relatively high “but the discussion with a call to feel comfortable where wealthier districts contribute copious amounts break the silence that has long and not judged, they’ll startof local (property tax) revenue totalking their schools,” according surrounded the epidemic. more to their phySo, we releaseinthe to the study. “This exacerbatessicians. the discrepancies The costadequacy of silencebetween these fears, we release dread funding districts andthe their less “Silence has consequences. and doom that we put on this affluent counterparts.”

We know this as journalists. stigma around HIV and we Matthew Di Carlo the Albert Silence fuels stigmas thatofcan can beShanker there for Institute, safety and who co-authored report, believes opportunity delay prevention andthe care health,” the she said. and many people gotwith one goal: We gapsleaves “are too essentially inequality “We’ve factories, affluent feeling isolated and unsupwant to keep everyone safe districts funded to achieve higher student outcomes ported from the resources and and healthy. Between the than lower-income districts, year after year.” And the communities that can help doctor’s office and the church, inequality, said,said is awhile featurewe —have not the a bug. same goal, just them thrive,”he Jones “We cannot expect to closedifferent achievement gaps,”Everyhe classrooms. introducing the panel. needs to their Joining her states’ on stagesystems were arebody said, “when designed toknow reproduce model, them.”actress and TV person- status, especially their HIV status, and we talk about a lot ality Eva Marcille; board cerBridging those gaps will require states to make in the office,” Walters said. tified OB-GYN and “Married a host of changes district funding, including to Medicine” star Dr.toJackie revamping district funding Seeand full increasing story on AFRO.com Walters; and Randevyn Piérre, targets revenue, particularly state aid, according to the report.

Researchers also believe the federal government must step up to help states that, due to high poverty and small

August 29, 2026 - September 4, 2026 The Afro-American A7

Baltimore Center Stage kicks off an ambitious 10-show season with ‘Bocking’ BCS’ latest production pairs imagination and humor with an examination of sexual shame and the social taboos that can make ordinary human experiences feel like secrets.

By Alanah Nichole Davis Special to the AFRO Baltimore Center Stage recently kicked off its 2026/2027 season with the premiere of “Bocking,” a play that pushes beyond the theater’s more than 60-year history of classic literature adaptations and youth and family programming.

The show runs in Baltimore at Center Stage until Sept. 13.

Written by East Coast-based playwright Preston Crowder, “Bocking” confronts the social taboos that often come with an unspoken set of rules: We don’t talk about that. We don’t do that. We certainly don’t say that out loud.

For many Black Americans, those rules can be deeply connected to family, religion and ideas about respectability. Whether you grew up in church, where premarital sex, masturbation and secular influences may have been frowned upon, or with guardians who considered themselves “old school,” the boundaries around what can be discussed can shape how people understand their own desires, shame and trauma.

Teresa Castracane

Blake Morris and Rebecca Hargrove in a scene from “Bocking,” now showing at Baltimore Center Stage.

Teresa Castracane

Shown here, from left, Christopher Sears, Sis Thee Doll, Rebecca L. Hargrove, Blake Morris and Kalen Allen are part of the ensemble cast of “Bocking.” The show runs in Baltimore at Center Stage until Sept. 13.

“Bocking” asks what happens when those supposedly private experiences are brought into the open. What if the people we are embarrassed to talk to are experiencing many of the same desires, questions or struggles?

In an earlier interview following the first table reading for “Bocking,” Crowder, who identifies as a Black queer creative, said the inspiration for the play came from the confusion he often encountered when talking with others about queer intimacy, what it can look like,

and the shame those conversations generated around his own desires. He wanted to explore the roots of that shame and guilt, ultimately challenging audiences to consider: “What does it mean to remove those masks and be honest with the ones that we love?”

Directed by Center Stage Artistic Director Stevie Walker-Webb, the production also has a familiar name behind it: Lena Waithe, who serves as a presenting producer.

Some audience members may know Waithe from the

coming-of-age drama series “The Chi” or her playwriting debut at Center Stage earlier this year with “trinity.”

“It’s important to get into the things we get into when nobody’s looking,” Waithe said. The producer, who has been spending more time in Baltimore through her relationship with Center Stage, also shared that she enjoys a good breakfast at Dooby’s.

There’s even a playful nod to Waithe’s dating orbit in the opening scenes, but “Bocking” doesn’t rely on those

pop-culture Easter eggs to carry the production.

Instead, the play establishes itself as a fast-paced comedy with a cast that includes Baltimore-area performer Rebecca Hargrove, who plays a first lady confronting her own set of temptations. On opening night, Hargrove quickly emerged as a crowd favorite, drawing some of the strongest reactions from the diverse audience.

Adrienne C. Moore, perhaps best known for her role in “Orange Is the New Black,” also stood out as a woman whose hustle, determination and grit feel distinctly familiar to anyone who knows the women of Baltimore.

The play features several other characters that Waithe says will have audiences gasping and laughing, including Erikson. Played by Kalen Allen, the character embodies the idea of doing things when no one is looking.

Allen, who has also been spending time in Baltimore

and ruffling feathers in the best way with his presence at the Baltimore Farmers’ Market, an interview with Gov. Wes Moore and more, brings a playful energy to the production. Still, ahead of opening night, Allen told this writer that his approach was to bring seriousness to the role, treating Erikson’s experiences and character arc as if they were completely real, even when the circumstances themselves are absurd.

At its heart, “Bocking” is interested in the things families and communities often struggle to discuss openly.

For some, that might mean sex, sexuality, mental health, money, grief or family conflict.

It might mean questioning religious beliefs, challenging elders or pushing back against authority. In other families and communities, conversations about race, class and other sensitive social issues can carry their own set of boundaries.

See full story on AFRO.com

Baltimore Beat’s inaugural Legacy Gala celebrates guardians of Black storytelling

By Ericka Alston Buck Special to the AFRO The people who preserve Black stories were celebrated during Baltimore Beat’s Legacy Gala at the Baltimore Museum of Industry on July 24. The inaugural event honored three trailblazers whose work has shaped Black journalism, publishing, art and historical preservation while raising awareness and support for the publication’s mission of providing free, community-centered journalism.

For Baltimore Beat co-founder, Publisher and CEO Lisa Snowden, the evening represented more than a fundraiser. It was an opportunity to carry the responsibility of documenting Black life for decades while reaffirming Baltimore Beat’s commitment of telling the stories that too often go untold.

“We really want to prioritize giving people free access to journalism,” Snowden said. “We do things like this to raise money so that we can keep doing that, so that people that can’t afford to pay for their news can still get the news.”

Snowden explained that she and co-founder Brandon Soderberg launched Baltimore Beat after witnessing how frequently stories affecting Black communities were overlooked or inaccurately represented.

“Brandon Soderberg and I founded Baltimore Beat because we saw how many stories, especially the stories of Black people, were mishandled or not told at all,” Snowden said. “We know that stories make us human. We know that people live and die by the stories told about them. We’re gathered here because we all understand the power of the

AFRO Photos / Ericka Alston Buck

Accepting the award on behalf of Afro Charities, Director of Programs and Partnerships Deyane Moses highlighted the importance of archives like the AFRO’s and announced the projected opening of its Martha E. Murphy Research Institute in March 2027. Moses (center) is seen with Baltimore Beat Publisher Lisa Snowden (left) and Editor-inChief Sanya Kamidi (right). narrative. We understand that when everyone is included in the narrative, we are all a bit more free.”

Snowden said as part of that mission, they wanted to honor people and organizations that had been capturing the Black narrative.

“It was really important, especially at this point in time, to talk about the people that have been doing the work to honor Black stories for so long before the Beat or myself was even thought of,” Snowden said. “It’s really important that we talk about the AFRO and Afro Charities, Paul Coates and Dr. Leslie King Hammond … . We really need them the most.”

She said honoring this year’s recipients was intentional. Each honoree represents a different pillar of Black history.

Publisher W. Paul Coates, founder

of Black Classic Press, has spent decades preserving Black literature by publishing works that have amplified African-American voices and safeguarded books that may otherwise have been lost. Accepting the inaugural Legacy Award, Coates praised Baltimore Beat’s role in carrying that work forward.

“The Beat is a part of the generation that is coming,” Coates said.

“When I look out and see young people that are fighting in different areas, that are making change in different areas, that are setting examples in different areas, it just relieves.” He concluded by applauding “young change-makers and doers and activists, people who are not running their mouths; they are actually doing the work.”

Dr. Leslie King-Hammond, a

nationally recognized artist, curator and educator whose career has transformed opportunities for Black artists and scholars, is an historian and the founding director of the Center for Race and Culture at the Maryland Institute College of Art, where she is also graduate dean emeritus. In her acceptance speech, she reflected on a lifetime devoted to service rather than recognition.

“I spent my career, my life in the arts because it was the only thing where I found a reality of truth and justice and humanity,” Hammond said. “I did not go into my career looking for title or awards.” Instead, she said she chose “not to veer far from wherever creativity was in need of support and recognition, acknowledgement and respect.”

Closing her remarks, Hammond reminded the audience that meaningful work is never accomplished alone.

“If you all were not doing what you were doing, I could not do what I have been doing and will continue to do,” she said.

Accepting the award on behalf of Afro Charities, Director of Programs and Partnerships Deyane Moses highlighted the importance of preserving the historic archives of the AFRO-American Newspapers, describing them as an essential record of Black life. Afro Charities works to preserve the archives while expanding public access through education, research and community programming.

“We’re deeply honored to accept this inaugural Legacy Award,” Moses said. “Archives are more than collections of old newspapers, objects and photographs. They are a living record of our resilience, our brilliance and our humanity.

AFRO Photos / Ericka Alston Buck

Publisher W. Paul Coates, founder of Black Classic Press, receives his Legacy Award.

They ensure that future generations remember not only our struggles, but also our triumphs, our joy and the voices that refuse to be silenced.”

Moses also announced plans to open the Martha E. Murphy Research Institute in March 2027, creating a permanent home where visitors will be able to explore stories that have shaped Baltimore and the broader Black experience.

By honoring leaders who have safeguarded Black journalism, publishing, art and history, Baltimore Beat’s inaugural Legacy Gala celebrated more than individual achievement. It affirmed that preserving Black stories is a shared responsibility and that the next generation of storytellers is already carrying that legacy forward.

A8 The Afro-American August 29, 2026 - September 4, 2026

How to make the most of parent-teacher conferences, back-toschool night and more

By Cheyanne Mumphrey Parent-teacher conferences can conjure a familiar scene: adults crammed into child-size chairs, listening to teachers run through a list of students’ achievements and struggles.

For many families, they can also mean frustration. Today’s school conferences are sometimes 15 to 20 minutes, with little time for parents to ask their own questions. Adults may arrive with their own baggage about their time in school. They may be worried about being judged or dreading what a teacher may say about their child.

For teachers, conferences can mean pressure to give a snapshot of a child’s progress, with the next opportunity to connect months away — if at all.

The conference may be brief, but it can set the tone for a family’s relationship and partnership with the teacher. Parents, teachers and school administrators have these tips to make the conference productive and help build a stronger connection between home and school.

Communicate early and figure out what works

Schools typically offer several early opportunities for parents and teachers to connect, from meet-theteacher events and back-to-school nights to open houses. By the time conferences are on the calendar, parents and teachers should already be communicating.

But sometimes it can take weeks, or even months, to hear from your child’s teacher, who must establish relationships with dozens of families. Don’t wait, say parents and teachers alike. Take the initiative and reach out yourself.

“Do you want to set your child up for success? It’s a yes or no. And if it’s a yes, then you have to be very involved,” said Bell White, a Houston mother of two.

When her son Lennox, now 8, was in preschool, four teachers came and went during the school year. White quickly learned how important it was to stay engaged with the school.

Since then, she has introduced herself to each of her son’s teachers at the first opportunity, even if virtually. She tells them how she prefers to communicate — whether over email, phone or via a school app — and when she’s most reachable.

Technology can make it easier for parents with multiple children or busy schedules to stay connected and for teachers to send quick messages or reminders. But with schools using multiple platforms, some parents say it helps to establish a preferred way to communicate.

Early in the relationship, parents and teachers should focus on building trust, said J.B. Robinson, a clinical psychologist and dean of students at National University in San Diego. Positive interactions are like putting money into a relationship bank that can be drawn on when challenges arise, he said. For parents, that can mean showing interest in the classroom and recognizing the effort that goes into creating a positive learning environment.

Teachers can similarly begin with questions about the individual child, rather than immediately moving into classroom expectations or academic performance.

Whatever the nature of your first communication with a teacher, try not to worry that you’re bothering the teacher. Your child’s growth is the priority, and communicating with you is part of the teacher’s job.

Make the time count

Parent-teacher conferences are designed to address students’ academic and social progress, identify concerns and discuss what comes next, but there may not be time to cover everything parents or teachers want to discuss.

“The teacher and the parent need to go in with realistic expectations as to what can actually be accomplished in one parent-teacher conference and see that more as a starting point for a conversation,” said Robinson, the psychologist.

The meetings can also be ripe for tension. Teachers may be having dozens of back-to-back conferences, while parents may arrive

Unsplash/Antoinette Plessis

Parent-teacher conferences offer families and educators an opportunity to build trust, discuss student progress and strengthen the connection between home and school. with weeks’ worth of questions, all seemingly valid. Depending on the school and the child’s grade, some teachers follow a set agenda, with presentation slides, packets or lists of topics to cover.

Emily Henderson, who teaches first and second grade at BASIS Charter School in Flagstaff, Ariz., says her conversations are mostly individualized, with some focusing more on academics and others on social-emotional needs.

“We use parent-teacher conferences to really talk about strengths, talk about weaknesses of students, and then come up with a plan together to address those concerns or address those needs,” Henderson said.

Given time constraints, parents should come with just a few thoughtful questions, teachers say. But remember this is a starting point.

It’s totally reasonable to set up another conference later in the year, even if your school doesn’t have one scheduled. Or you can continue the conversation online or over the phone.

What to do if your kid is present

Some schools recommend that students join the conference, and in other cases, a parent may want to bring them along — or need to, if they lack child care. For younger students, teachers recommend asking in advance whether they should attend, if that is an option. If you do

plan to bring the student or younger siblings, let the teacher know ahead of time so they can prepare for a more engaging meeting or set up a few distractions.

If younger students are present, it is up to administrators and teachers to engage them and speak directly to them, said Kellie Hintze, head of school at BASIS Flagstaff.

“When I have younger students at a meeting, we typically have a mini meeting with the student and the parent,” she said. “Then we can dive a little deeper or have those long, drawn-out conversations that a student wouldn’t want to be a part of or be able to focus through.”

Older students have more agency over their learning and are better positioned to contribute to discussions about their progress, challenges and possible next steps, experts say.

“We’re doing students a disservice when we’re not teaching them how to advocate, when we are not teaching them those communication skills, to have the tough conversations when they need to be had,” said Kendrick Friendly, who is a high school assistant principal with Denver Public Schools. “This is a safe space for those conversations to happen.”

Questions to consider

Parents don’t need to arrive with a long list of questions. A few thoughtful ones can help clarify what a teacher considers success, what they are seeing in the classroom, what

support is available and how to stay connected throughout the year.

Consider asking:

1. How do you prefer to communicate with parents, and how often should we check in?

2. What does success look like for my child this year?

3. How do you identify when a student is falling behind, and who should I speak with about getting additional support?

4. What are you noticing about my child that I might not see at home?

Leave with a plan

Parent-teacher conferences do not resolve every concern, but they should identify next steps, whether those are regular check-ins, strategies for improved behavior or additional resources, such as tutors, specialized instruction or extracurricular activities.

Before leaving, make sure everyone knows what happens next, who is responsible for it and when you’ll check back in. Don’t be afraid to request another conference later in the year. Remember: Your child’s growth is the priority, and it will take everyone in the room to get there.

This article was originally published by The Associated Press (AP).

Education coverage by AP receives financial support from multiple private foundations.

STUDY SAYS CO-PARENTING CONFLICTS PEAK IN AUGUST:

7 ways to get ahead of it

By Natalie McGee Divorce and family court filings do not spread evenly across the calendar. A University of Washington study that reviewed 14 years of filing data found that family-related court actions consistently peak twice a year, in March and in August, a pattern researchers linked to the end of major family holidays and summer vacations. The same study found a matching seasonal spike in guardianship filings, suggesting the pattern is tied to shifts in family routines rather than random timing.

WSM Law, a family law firm that represents women in divorce and custody matters across several states, looked at seven ways families can prevent common co-parenting conflicts that typically arise in August.

The August peak in child custody conflicts For separated and divorced parents who already share custody, August has a related kind of pressure. It is the

month when summer parenting schedules end, school enrollment decisions get finalized and two households that run on different routines for weeks suddenly need to sync up again. Court filing data does not measure day-today friction between co-parents directly, but that overlap of deadlines is a predictable source of conflict for separated households.

The number of families facing that collision is significant. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent report on custodial parents, roughly 13.9 million people in the United States were custodial parents in 2022, raising a combined 22.2 million children under 21 while the other parent lived elsewhere.

That is more than 1 in 4 children in American families. Fewer than half of those custodial parents reported having any formal or informal child support agreement in place, a gap that hints at how much coordination between separated households happens informally, without a court order spelling out the details.

School enrollment is one of the clearest flash points.

Decisions about which school a child attends, along with major choices about health care and religious upbringing, generally fall under legal custody rather than physical custody. When parents share joint legal custody, both have to agree and August is when that agreement either gets finalized or falls apart in front of a deadline.

Much of the conflict that surfaces in August could be prevented with earlier planning. Here are seven approaches drawn from that research.

1. Review the custody order before the first bell rings.

Many parenting plans are written when children are younger or before a family move, and some do not clearly address school choice, transportation or after-school care. Reading the order in July, rather than assuming it still fits, gives both parents time to resolve gaps before they become disputes.

2. Confirm who holds legal custody over education decisions.

Legal custody, the right to make major decisions about a child’s schooling, health care and upbringing, is often confused with physical custody, which governs where a child lives day to day. Knowing which parent has the authority to make a final call, or whether both do, heads off arguments rooted in a misunderstanding of the order itself.

3. Put information in writing.

The Arizona Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, a regional organization of family court professionals, recommends that co-parents share information that is accurate, complete and timely, particularly around school, health and scheduling details. A shared written record, whether through email or a co-parenting app, reduces the chance that one parent is caught off guard by a decision the other has already made.

4. Set a homework and routine policy that works across both homes.

Unsplash / Henri Pham

Keeping children out of parental disagreements and addressing scheduling and school concerns early can help separated families navigate the August transition.

Children benefit from consistency between households when it comes to study time, screen limits and bedtime during the school week. Agreeing on the basics before classes start prevents the back-and-forth negotiation that tends to happen once teachers start assigning homework.

5. Address extracurricular costs and scheduling early.

Sports, clubs and after-school programs bring their own set of decisions about cost-sharing and whose parenting time they fall on. Settling how many activities a child will do and how the costs will be split, before sign-ups open, avoids a scramble once registration deadlines hit.

Read more on AFRO.com

August 29, 2026 - September 4, 2026 The Afro-American A9

Back-to-school season: How to lower stress and build community at school

By Andria Park Huynh for Talkspace If the Sunday scaries were a month, it would have to be August: the start of back-to-school season. Saying goodbye to summer in preparation for a new school year can trigger a flood of difficult emotions, whether that’s anxiety, sadness, excitement or even fear.

You might feel a sense of dread about adjusting to a more rigid, less flexible routine; or you might feel anxious about looming expenses, shorter days or a combination of all the above. Even if you’re anticipating the new school year, the good kind of stress (known as eustress) can feel uncomfortable.

If you or your teen is feeling overwhelmed with back-to-school stress, know that these emotions are normal and valid. This guide from Talkspace provides tools to make this transition easier. It also highlights the important role community plays in the process and shares new ways to build your community if you’re looking to expand your circle.

Why is back-to-school season so stressful?

The back-to-school season can be unnerving for students, parents and families alike. It’s important to acknowledge that back-to-school stress is far from an isolated experience. Some factors that contribute to back-toschool stress include:

• Seasonal shifts: Experiencing the end-of-summer blues or a more severe form like seasonal affective disorder (SAD) could explain feelings of exhaustion, depression, or a loss of interest in the things that normally bring joy.

• End-of-summer guilt: Maybe you had a lengthy bucket list of all the things you wanted to do this summer, but didn’t even cross off half of the list. The stress you’re feeling might be a result of grief over the passage of time you can’t get back.

• Financial concerns: As a parent, the costs of sending your child back to school can add up quickly. From buying uniforms to school supplies and course materials, let alone tuition if your teen is off to college, it’s understandable to feel as if your budget is stretched thin.

• Juggling more responsibilities: As next-level classes offer a more demanding workload, teens may feel swamped at the thought of a schedule packed with classes, homework, and extracurricular activities. That’s a stark contrast to the laid-back summer months, when they had infinite free time. Your work schedule might also pick up at this time, which can be stressful when trying to balance your teen’s return to school.

• Social challenges: While teens may generally feel excited to reconnect with friends, those who feel like outsiders or are entering new schools with different classmates can have a harder time adjusting. Diving back

into an environment where they’re exposed to their peers and teachers daily can also be overstimulating after a long break away from them.

How community helps at school Teachers, administrators, school nurses and guidance counselors all play a critical part in helping teens feel mentally and emotionally supported throughout the year. When students feel welcomed and connected to their school community, their mental health improves, they do well academically and are less likely to engage in high-risk behaviors like drug use and violence, according to a 2018 review of 82 studies. Fostering a sense of belonging at school can aid in the back-to-school transition; this all starts with prioritizing community.

How to build community in school

Starting the school year can feel scary without a strong support system.

Encourage your teen to step outside of their comfort zone one day at a time.

Here are some ideas.

Leaning into interests

From drama club to the school newspaper, there’s a group that appeals to most students nowadays. Teens should actively seek out extracurricular clubs and sports they’re interested in and feel supported in participating.

After-school activities are a great way to form meaningful friendships based on shared interests and offer a creative

Unsplash/ Oluwaseyi Akinlolu

Parents can help teens ease back-to-school stress by encouraging them to explore interests, expand their social circles and connect with trusted adults. outlet they can pore over after their studies.

If the school doesn’t offer a club for a topic they’re interested in, they may be able to start one of their own if there’s enough interest from classmates and support from a faculty member.

Branching out of your core group

Community doesn’t have to be limited to the same three friends you chat with every day. Encourage your teen to grab lunch with someone outside of their usual circle this year. Connecting with people you wouldn’t normally connect with can help tap into other circles and broaden ways of thinking.

Not to mention, having friends outside

your immediate group can provide a “social safety” net in case the group dynamic shifts.

Taking advantage of office hours

Office hours are a low-pressure way to visit teachers after class to clarify concepts taught in class, ask questions about homework assignments or just to say hello. Students can also take advantage of this time to connect with their teacher one-on-one outside the hurried nature of a lesson plan. Teachers are there to ultimately support their students’ growth, even in areas unrelated to their schoolwork.

Read more on AFRO.com

Why kids refuse to go to school, and how to help them feel ready to return

By Amanda Morin for Understood It can be stressful when kids flat-out refuse to go to school. Your child might be complaining about stomach aches every day, begging to stay home.

Or they may become increasingly emotional as the school day approaches. You may find yourself wondering: Why is this happening? What if they’re never willing to go back to school? And what’s the best way to handle this?

School refusal (also called school avoidance) can be frustrating to deal with. But rest assured, you’re not alone.

Refusing to go to school is common.

In fact, up to 28 percent of students struggle with school avoidance at some point during their school years.

“School refusal can happen with any child,” said Andrew Kahn, Psy.D., Understood’s associate director of expertise and behavioral health innovation. “But for neurodivergent kids, school can feel like a minefield.” That’s because challenges with social skills, learning, attention and executive function can all get in the way of learning and doing well in school, he says.

If your family is dealing with school refusal, Understood broke down what you need to know: what it looks like at different ages, why kids refuse to go to school and how to help.

Why kids refuse to go to school

It can be tempting to view school refusal as defiance. But it’s important to dig a little deeper. Knowing why your child is avoiding school is often the first step toward helping them feel safe, supported and ready to go back.

Often, kids refuse school because they feel like they can’t succeed there.

School feels like a scary place where teachers and peers don’t understand or support them, Kahn says. For kids with a health condition, like stomach problems, refusing school can also be about a fear of getting sick in front of others.

Avoiding school is also more common during transition periods like Monday mornings, after summer or holiday

breaks, and even during morning wake-ups, according to Kahn. “Leaving a comfortable setting can be extremely hard for an anxious child, so refusal is one of many strategies,” he explained.

School refusal is often not just about school. The causes can be personal, like a learning disability. Or it could be environmental, like conflict at home.

Here are some other reasons kids might be refusing to go to school: • Changes at home, like a divorce, a new sibling or a death • Negative experiences at school, like an embarrassing incident • Academic struggles or difficulty keeping up • Social challenges, like trouble making friends or feeling like they aren’t fitting in • Anxiety or fear about making mistakes or taking tests • Trouble understanding the rules at school • Feeling overwhelmed by executive function challenges • Bullying or teasing • Having physical symptoms and illnesses • Being overscheduled or burned out If your child is having academic or social challenges on top of refusing school, reach out to the school or your child’s pediatrician. It could mean your child has an undiagnosed learning disability or ADHD. You may want to explore getting an evaluation.

School refusal symptoms by age

School refusal happens when your child experiences fear or anxiety about going to school. They may say they feel sick, have a tantrum or refuse to get dressed.

“Oftentimes, a child will exhibit anger, sadness, frustration or anxiety in anticipation of going to school,” Kahn explained. That stress doesn’t just affect the child — it can spread to the whole family.

School refusal is more common at

Unsplash/Eye for Ebony

Parents can support children with school refusal by validating their feelings, identifying triggers and creating calm, consistent morning routines. ages 5–6 and at ages 10–11. But it can happen anytime during your child’s school years. It’s especially common if they’re having academic challenges, experiencing bullying or struggling to make friends.

Kahn says that warning signs often show up before a child starts refusing outright. For some kids, the worry starts the night before or the morning of school. For kids with more intense fears or concerns, it can start as soon as they get home from school or even on the weekend.

Physical symptoms like headaches, stomachaches, and other complaints are common at any age, according to Kahn. A doctor’s visit often won’t find a medical cause. Still, it’s important to get your child checked out. That way, you won’t assume every request to stay home is only about emotions.

Anger and outright refusal to go to school are often signs of anxiety, but that’s easy to miss, Kahn explained.

That’s because these signs can look like acting out or misbehaving. But they’re often desperate attempts to avoid or escape school.

Here are some other signs of school refusal you may notice at different ages: Preschool and kindergarten

• Clinging • Crying • Tantrums These signs are usually tied to separation anxiety. Also, kids this age often don’t realize their physical symptoms are actually caused by anxiety.

School-age through middle school • Crying • Running away instead of going into the building • Trying to leave school once they’re there • Saying things like they’re afraid, that no one likes them, or that they feel stupid High school • Skipping school entirely • Leaving school grounds without permission • Taking other, more active steps to avoid class

What to say when your child refuses to go to school

School refusal can disrupt your whole family’s daily life. It can also affect your child’s ability to thrive in school, and their overall well-being.

But there are ways you can support your child.

Here are some school refusal

behaviors, and what you can say to help.

Tantrums about school

If your child is having tantrums about school, acknowledge their feelings. When they’re calmer, suggest that you talk about ways to make things better. Be clear that even though you’re supportive and willing to problem-solve, they still have to go to school.

Try saying: “I know there’s something about school that worries you.

When you’re able to speak calmly, then we can talk about what that is.

I’d like to try to help you find a way to make it easier to go to school.”

Meltdowns about school

Be patient and make it clear that your child is safe and you’re there to help. Kids aren’t in control of meltdowns, so there’s nothing more you can do when they’re happening.

When the meltdown stops, use short and concrete sentences to manage the moment. Try saying: “That was a big reaction. Let’s figure out if you need a break before we talk about school.”

Have that conversation at a quiet time when everyone is calm.

Read more on AFRO.com

A10 The Afro-American August 29, 2026 - September 4, 2026

WASHINGTON AREA

Black illustrators and authors shine at 2026 National Book Festival While technological advancements like Kindle, Audible and artificial intelligence have augmented the ways in which we can access books for our reading, viewing or listening pleasure, there’s still something gratifying about curling up on your couch and turning the pages of a creatively crafted book.

But don’t take our word for it, because while the final numbers have not been posted, more than 80,000 people registered for the 2026 National Book Festival, held on Aug. 22.

That’s nearly double the tally of visitors, an estimated 45,000, who have flocked to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., for the festival in recent years.

Festival Co-Chair David M. Rubenstein highlighted the work of five authors ahead of the event’s

official start. Included in the number was PBS NewsHour co-anchor, Geoff Bennett, who appeared at this year’s one-day extravaganza.

“We have assembled some of the most compelling writers and thinkers of our time with the people who love their work,” Rubenstein said.

“These authors, who have spent years imagining, researching, questioning and creating, are celebrated by readers who are eager to enter the worlds they have made.”

Rubenstein explained how young and old can benefit from attending the National Book Festival.

“For a young reader, meeting a writer can make the impossible seem possible. For all of us, listening to an author can help deepen our understanding of the world and even change the way we see it,” he said.

The 2026 festival, themed “America 250: It’s Your Story,” marks the 26th annual event and featured more than 80 bestselling authors, poets and illustrators.

Image courtesy of Mahogany Books

Photo courtesy of Meron Hagos

By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO

D.C. author Bsrat Mezghebe makes her National Book Festival debut with “I Hope You Find What You’re Looking For,” a novel honoring the Eritrean community in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area.

For those who attended, the most difficult decision remained how to best fit dozens of discussions or book signings into an 11-hour schedule with headliners that included people like Cynthia Erivo, Kate McKinnon, Martin Scorsese and Ann Patchett.

But given our readers and our commitment to the Black community, AFRO News chose to speak with and attend sessions which featured authors and graphic illustrators who represent our village: Kadir Nelson, Sean Qualls, Geoff Bennett and D.C.’s own Bsrat Mezghebe.

Mezghebe said she has fond memories of attending the festival during her formative years but this year represents a personal milestone: it’s her first time as a featured author.

She spent the past nine years researching, writing and shaping her work of fiction, “I Hope You Find What You’re Looking For,” and even returned to her family’s native country, Eritrea, to conduct more interviews.

“The book is a love letter to the DMV’s (D.C., Maryland and Virginia) robust Eritrean community and it’s set in 1991 D.C. on the cusp of Eritrean independence from Ethiopia,” said Mezghebe, who added that she wanted to showcase the kinds of “extraordinary circumstances” her parents and ancestors have endured both in Eritrea and upon immigrating to America.

As Mezghebe develops her three main characters, all women who represent three distinct generations, she said she wanted to provide a more thorough understanding of the challenges faced by her community during their quest for independence.

“All three of my characters deal with trauma in their lives

AFRO Photo / D. Kevin McNeir

Graphic illustrator Sean Qualls signs a copy of his book, “Fros, Fades and Braids: A Brief History of Black Hair in America,” during the 2026 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Aug. 22, at the Convention Center in Washington, D.C. – sometimes all they could do was laugh to ease the pain,” she said.

“That’s one way humans survive and I was no different, especially as a teenager with immigrant parents.

“We had one of the largest Eritrean communities from the diaspora here in D.C. during the early ‘90s and we struggled with the tension of achieving the promises made

by America versus the realities we experienced coming to and living in this country. I wanted my readers to understand the costs and tragedies faced by immigrant families who abandon everything they’ve ever known in hopes of securing a brighter future for children. Ours is a story that’s rarely told.”

Graphic illustrators agree – a picture is often worth a thousand words During an interview conducted by Tajay Ashmede, a former

WNBA standout and a current university professor, graphic illustrators Sean Qualls and Kadir Nelson emphasized the importance of including Black history within the annals of the American story.

Qualls, who has served as an illustrator for more than 27 books, said in this, his first solo work, he wanted to emphasize how Black hairstyles have played an integral role in the self-expression of African Americans.

“For many years, Black people tried to fit in and attempt to assimilate into American society,” Qualls said. “But in the 70s, we began to grow more comfortable with our own unique crowns. That’s the message I wanted to share with readers of all ages through my illustrations and words in ‘Fros, Fades and Braids.’ In our evolution, which continues today, the afro was just the beginning.”

New school year brings hope across Prince George’s County

By Dr. Deborah Bailey AFRO Contributing Editor

AFRO Photo / Patricia McDougall

BackYard Band female vocalist Tiffany “Sweet Thang” White sings for the crowd.

Go-Go faithful celebrate Chuck Brown Day despite familyorganizer rift

By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO Thousands of devout fans and followers of the “Godfather of Go-Go” swarmed the grounds of Fort Dupont Park in Southeast Washington, D.C., on Aug. 22 for the 12th Annual Chuck Brown Day despite disputes between Brown’s family and organizers that threatened to upend

the event.

Those drawn to the beat and brashness of go-go showed up in force, undaunted by a change in venue, street closures and train delays or a late-breaking announcement that the family of Chuck Brown had withdrawn its support for the event.

And so, in remembrance of Brown’s birthday and to continue a tradition first

established in 2015 by D.C. city officials, the show went on.

The Brown family, in an official statement, explained its reasons for withdrawing its support for the first time since the event began.

“After three years of being marginalized in both the planning process and the overall Continued on A11

The first day of school in Prince George’s County started off in spectacular fashion on Aug. 26 as County Executive Aisha Braveboy kicked off the morning with a lightshow and marching band on the brand-new football field of Frederick Douglass High School.

The historic school, located due south in the unincorporated Croom community near Upper Marlboro, is the first school to admit Black students in the county. The school functions as an international baccalaureate school and boasts an enrollment of a little more than 1,180 students and a 92 percent graduation rate.

In her kick-off speech, Braveboy said the county is focusing on getting resources to the school district to support fundamental subjects like reading and math. She also mentioned the county’s support in ensuring special needs students receive the support they need to maximize their potential while in school.

“I had the privilege of welcoming students and families as they stepped into a new year filled with possibility. There’s nothing like seeing a child walk

AFRO Photo / Dr. Bailey

Prince George’s County students wait for buses after the first day of school on Aug. 26. through the doors–backpack on, head high–knowing an entire community is rooting for their success,” Braveboy said, in a statement posted on Facebook. “To every parent, educator, staff member, and student: thank you for the

energy you brought today.

Thank you for showing up with hope. Thank you for reminding us that when we move forward together, our children rise.”

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2026 Total as of 8/26

A11 The Afro-American August 29, 2026 - September 4, 2026 OPINION

From curious onlooker to true believer: What Dancin’ Tony taught me about being myself

By Angela Shuford I’ll admit it plainly: I did not grow up knowing who Dancin’ Tony was. I’m part of a younger generation that came to hand dance sideways — through a video clip, a friend’s invitation, a night out that turned into something unexpected. But over the past couple of years, and especially in these last few weeks since his passing, I’ve come to understand exactly why so many people speak his name with reverence, and why his story deserves to be carried forward by dancers like me who never got to shake his hand on the floor.

How my eyes were opened

Funny enough, my first real exposure to that energy came before I even knew Dancin’ Tony’s name, Gene Ray Artis.

I remember watching Randi Payton out on the floor, clearly having the time of his life — playful, unpredictable, pulling people into his orbit and back out again with this infectious joy. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was watching a piece of Dancin’ Tony’s spirit passed forward. It wasn’t until later that I learned the flair I’d been admiring traced straight back to Dancin’ Tony himself.

My real introduction to who Dancin’ Tony actually was came through the recent wave of tributes that have swept through the community — culminating in the celebration

held this month at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library downtown, where friends, family and fellow dancers gathered to honor his life as a hand dance legend (DC Public Library event listing). Watching people of every generation fill that auditorium, trading stories and demonstrating his signature moves, I finally understood: this wasn’t just a local dance figure; this was somebody who shaped a culture.

That event, a tribute organized by the National Hand Dance Association (NHDA) and Awesome Foundation DC, pulled back the curtain for me and, I suspect, for a lot of other younger dancers who’d never had the chance to see him in person. Suddenly his name was everywhere — in conversation, in old video reels, in the way seasoned dancers lit up describing him, and in the way I now recognized his fingerprints on dancers like Randi who carry his spirit onto the floor today.

Hand dance has always been an improvisational art form — it was built in the 1950s in Washington, D.C., out of swing and lindy hop, shaped by dancers who made the rules up as they went (Kennedy Center). Watching Dancin’ Tony, you can see that spirit distilled to its purest form. He wasn’t imitating anyone. He wasn’t chasing a “correct” version of the dance. He was playing, flirting with the beat, taking risks, and inviting his partner along for the ride.

That’s the real inheritance he leaves behind: permission.

Permission to stop worrying about doing it “right” and start doing it like you mean it.

As someone newer to the floor, that reframes everything. I used to think hand dance was about mastering steps. Now I understand it’s about finding your own signature inside the basic steps — the way Dancin’ Tony found his, and the way I later saw it echoed in Randi long before I had the language to name it.

The style that taught me to be myself

The work of preserving his legacy

What struck me most, once I started watching footage of him, wasn’t just his technical skill — it was how unmistakably his movements were.

Dancin’ Tony didn’t dance like a textbook. He danced like himself, fully, without apology, and that is the lesson that has stuck with me most as a younger dancer still finding my own voice on the floor.

None of this reaches dancers my age by accident.

It happens because people in this community have spent decades doing the unglamorous work of documenting and preserving it.

NHDA, founded in 1994 in Washington, D.C., has made it its mission to “promote, educate and preserve” this art form, including specific

initiatives aimed at introducing hand dance to younger people. That mission is exactly why a dancer like me, decades removed from Dancin’ Tony’s prime, can still find my way to his story today.

Central to that preservation work is Beverly Lindsay-Johnson, NHDA and hand dance historian and a filmmaker who has spent years documenting this culture through work that includes documentaries such as “Hand Dance: A Capitol Swing,” “Dancing Through The Flames: How the DC Dance Culture Survived 1968,” “Swing, Bop and Hand Dance,” and the Emmy Award Winning documentary “Dance Party: The Teenarama Story.” Her decades of filming, interviewing, and archiving hand dance pioneers are the reason this history didn’t stay locked in the memories of one generation. Materials from NHDA’s archive — including oral history projects like “Let’s Talk Hand Dance” — now live at the DC Public Library (DigDC, DC Public Library).

Dancin’ Tony’s story and the broader legacy of DC Hand Dance are preserved in a public, permanent home at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library “People’s Archive” repository in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the NHDA — accessible to anyone curious enough to look, including dancers who, like me, are just now discovering it.

Why his legend will keep growing I think that’s the real story here. Dancin’ Tony’s legend isn’t shrinking with his death on Aug. 14, 2026, at the age of 90— it’s expanding, precisely because of the combination of community tribute events, NHDA’s preservation

Chuck Brown

AFRO Photo / Patricia McDougall

New School Continued from A10 Braveboy’s comments came in the wake of the county’s recent scores on the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program. Prince George’s public schools ranked near the bottom in both math and reading comprehension. PGCPS CEO Dr. Shawn Joseph has characterized the county’s scores as “a story of momentum and lift off” focusing on opportunities for the coming year.

Up at the northern tip of the county in Beltsville, the first day of school at High Point High School

started quietly, but with a united effort by students and faculty to push toward a brighter future.

The 2026-2027 school year started in the same building the school has occupied since it opened its door in fall 1954 with very minor upgrades.

The enrollment has been the main thing that has changed. High Point High School currently hosts more than 3,000 students – 1,000 more than the building was originally designed to house.

Senior Alicia K’avia said her first day back at school for her senior year was uneventful. The honor student said she has been through the ups and downs of overcrowding for four years, but she feels somewhat

mission, and the documentary and archival work that’s made his and the hand dance culture’s history public and lasting. A young dancer today can watch footage, walk into a library or attend a tribute and come away changed, the way I did — or simply watch someone like Randi out on the floor and, without even realizing it, catch a glimpse of the legend who came before.

I never got to dance across from him. But because of the people who made sure his

story didn’t disappear, I got to learn the most important thing he had to teach: don’t just learn the steps. Find your own flair, and dance like nobody else can.

Dancing Tony’s funeral will take place Sept. 4 at 11 a.m. inside of Union Temple Baptist Church, located at 1225 W Street SE Washington, DC 20020.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the AFRO.

direction of the event, we no longer believe the event reflects the level of collaboration, respect, and stewardship that Chuck Brown’s legacy deserves,” the statement said. “We would only consider supporting the event if new project leadership and direction are established to ensure the family’s role as guardians of Chuck Brown’s legacy is respected and that our input, concerns, and wishes are meaningfully incorporated into all aspects of the event.”

The family’s statement further reiterated the commitment to protect Chuck Brown’s legacy and reputation serving as its “highest priority.”

Despite the family’s withdrawal and call for new leadership, the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), which manages the event, continued with its plans, bringing live performances, a kids’ zone, local vendors and food trucks, honoring go-go’s 50-year legacy and its creative founders.

DRP Director Thennie Freeman, while unavailable for comment, issued a press release on the District’s website (www.dpr.dc.gov) that focused on

the city’s goals for the event but did not address or respond to the family’s allegations and concerns.

“Chuck Brown Day is always a special moment for our city – an opportunity to come together, celebrate DC’s cultural legacy, and honor the man who helped shape Go-Go music,” Freeman said. “This year, we’re excited to deliver an even more dynamic event for families, music lovers, and fans of Go-Go from across the nation.”

Longtime Chuck Brown fan Anthony Selby said while he was aware of the disagreement between the event’s organizers and the Brown family, he hoped it would not impact the outcome of the annual celebration.

“I don’t know the full story and have only heard one of Brown’s children address the family’s concerns, so I can’t take either side,” Selby said.

“However, I remain in full support of our gathering on Chuck Brown Day to honor his legacy, celebrate the music and remember what he did both for D.C. and go-go music.

“When you take everything into perspective, go-go music and the genius of Chuck Brown extend far beyond the streets of Washington, D.C.” And while native Washingtonian Jessie Nowlin shared similar sentiments, he added a unique perspective

because of the personal relationship he and Brown forged while both were serving sentences at D.C.’s Lorton Reformatory in Lorton, Virginia.

“I knew Chuck Brown way before he became a superstar when he was perfecting his ability to play guitar – even before a brother from the hood took dudes like him under his wing to teach how to read and write,” said 76-year-old Nowlin who added that he’s never missed attending Chuck Brown Day. “I knew some of the guys who played with him in the early days, like his drummer – my brother even sang with his band for a while,” Nowlin said. “What made Chuck Brown so special was his spirit. He was a beautiful, loving person who helped his community whenever he could, supported Chocolate City, and brought us together in ways that most folks could only dream about.”

It is that spirit of unity that people should continue to guide the city’s celebration of the music icon, he added.

“I don’t know anything about the rift between his family and the organizers,” Nowlin said. “What I do know is people showed up today, like we have for the past 12 years. Even more than last year if you ask me. We showed up for Chuck Brown just like he always showed up for us.”

melancholy when she thinks about plans for the new building gaining momentum as she prepares to graduate.

“Today didn’t feel as congested,” K’avia said about the normally packed hallways she has encountered between classes for her entire student journey. “But it’s kind of a disappointment that they waited so long to start moving forward on the new building so that all of us who were here as freshmen and are now seniors won’t be here to see it.

“The school’s pretty old. There’s not a lot to do. The fields are old and not fresh,” K’avia said of the facilities.

Veteran instructor Sherry Felix has said she is on board to see the

plans for the new building through until completion. She is excited and energized by the meetings and discussions that have been held to gain input from instructors and the community on every aspect of the school’s new building, which will be built on the current land where the original school is housed.

“This is a long time in coming. We won’t necessarily have more space, but the layout will give us more than we have now,” she said.

Felix said the plans for the build have been stalled twice so she understands why some of her peers are greeting a new school year with caution.

“I’m excited, but understandably,

when ground is broken, everyone will feel the energy,” Felix said.

Jade Hernandez Sanchez, also a senior honor student said upgrades are needed with both facilities and instruction.

“In my AP classes, I got the instruction I needed, but in math I wasn’t getting the necessary math that I needed to learn,” he said. “I’ve been struggling a lot with math and it has shown in my scores and tests.”

Hernandez Sanchez said she is studying to retake the SAT because she wants to do better on her math scores before applying for college.

PGCPS reported that more than 130,000 students returned to classrooms across the district.

Continued from A10

Celebrity artist jazz saxophonist Eugene Chapman entertains the crowd.

Photo courtesy of The Awesome Foundation

Family and friends are still mourning the death of Gene Ray Artis, better known as “Dancin’ Tony.”

August 29, 2026 - September 4, 2026 The Afro-American A12

Chuck Brown Day 2026 celebrates legendary artist, 50 years of go-go music On Aug. 22 District leaders and residents celebrated Chuck Brown Day on what would have been the legendary artist’s 90th birthday. The festivities also marked 50 years of go-go music, the unique Black sound hailing from the Washington, D.C. area. All came out to honor and celebrate the legacy and birthday of Chuck Brown,

known as the “Godfather of Go-go.”

The event was sponsored by the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and served as a family and friends day of music, food, face painting, fun games and more.

Though there was a rift between organizers and members of the Brown family, lawn chairs and

blankets packed the park and attendees sang and danced along with the various go-go bands, including Junkyard Band, BackYard Band, Experience Unlimited (EU), Major League Band, A-Team featuring Go-Go All-Stars, DJ Kool (DJ) and DJ Flexx (MC).

AFRO Photos/ Patricia McDougall

Frankie Bethea (left) and Da’Quon Morrow celebrate a birthday at Fort Dupont Park in D.C.

James Shird enjoys the music and fun activities at the Chuck Brown Day celebration.

Artist Demont Pinder completes a rendering of Chuck Brown for audiences in real time.

Hundreds attend the Chuck Brown Day at Fort Dupont Park in Washington, D.C., Aug. 22.

Brenda Daniels (left), Dr. Finie Hunter and Kent Wilson-EL, DPS hand out resources at the event.

Dr. Myrtle P. Alexander, Ms. Senior DC 2026’s second runner-up, celebrates Chuck Brown Day.

Sugar Bear performs live at Fort Dupont Park in D.C. in honor of Chuck Brown.

Valerie Shackelford (left), Monique Bland and Jasmine Campbell share a moment during the celebration.

Keith “DJ Flexx” Clagon, of WPGC 95.5, proudly holds his 2026 Legends of Go-Go Award.

Anwan “Big G” Glover, of BackYard Band, makes an appearance.

Keema Hinkle (left) paints Sudi Rodway’s face at the celebration.

To purchase this digital photo page or photos contact editor@afro.com

August 29, 2026 - September 4, 2026 The Afro-American A13

BALTIMORE AREA AfriThrive secures $800,000 in federal funding to expand Essex food center

By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com AfriThrive, a Baltimore-Washington nonprofit strengthening food security and health equity for African diaspora and immigrant families, recently received $800,000 in federal funding to renovate its community food center in Essex, Md. Truphena Choti, founder and CEO of AfriThrive, said the funding is one of the most significant public investments in the organization’s infrastructure to date and will make the fresh produce it provides more accessible to the families it serves.

The money will be used to improve food handling systems and create a classroom for nutrition education. The investment will also expand the center’s refrigeration capacity, which solves a problem that currently limits the ability to make change. At present, the facility receives food for distributions and, to avoid spoilage, must give it away on the same day.

“Some families who are not able to get the day off don’t find food because we don’t have cold storage,” said Choti. “This investment is going to give us an opportunity to create that permanent community-based food center, which is now going to scale to needs that we’re seeing in the community.”

AfriThrive began its work in the Baltimore area in 2020, partnering with Baltimore County to address food insecurity amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The

Photo courtesy of AfriThrive

AfriThrive founder, Dr. Truphena Choti (right), gives remarks during a federal funding presentation for the nonprofit organization, which works to advance food security and health equity for African diaspora families in the Baltimore-Washington area. organization held food distributions outside in parking lots before acquiring the Essex facility in 2023.

The federal investment for the community food center was secured by Maryland Sens. Chris Van

Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks through an appropriations bill.

“Our communities cannot thrive if our people are not fed. AfriThrive is doing essential work of ensuring families across Baltimore County and Baltimore City have access to fresh, healthy foods,” said Alsobrooks.

“We worked to secure over $800,000 in federal funding to transform AfriThrive’s Essex community food facility, which will now help feed even more families and give families access to nutrition education, programs and skills development.”

The mission of AfriThrive is personal to Choti, who emigrated from Kenya to the U.S. more than 20 years ago. A graduate student and a mother of young children, she struggled to find food she could identify with at local grocery stores and had difficulty reading food labels.

“For the first few months, it was very rough. Many times, I relied on my mother sending me dried vegetables from Kenya,” said Choti.

“Eventually, I began looking around to see where I could grow some vegetables that I was familiar with, and I found I could do something in my backyard. I did that and eventually moved on to a community garden.”

Last year, AfriThrive’s food assistance program supported more than 13,000 families, representing nearly 49,500 individuals across the Baltimore-Washington region.

Continued on A14

Baltimore Officer Robert Parks convicted, fired following viral police pursuit

By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com Baltimore Police Officer Robert Parks was found guilty of second-degree assault, reckless driving and three counts of misconduct in office on Aug. 20, following a viral video that captured him chasing a man in his police cruiser last October. Parks was found not guilty on second-degree attempted murder and first degree assault.

The verdict came down after a two-day bench trial before Baltimore City Circuit Judge Dana Middleton. Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates reacted to Parks’ conviction in a statement issued on Aug. 20.

“While we respect the court’s decision, the behavior demonstrated by Officer Parks seriously threatened the life of the victim and the general public. As in any case, we will now prepare to advocate for an appropriate sentence that reflects the defendant’s serious actions,” said Bates.

“Police officers are entrusted with tremendous authority and an obligation to protect the public by making decisions on the job that prioritize safety. When an officer instead engages in reckless conduct that threatens the lives of our residents, it undermines the critical trust

between law enforcement and the community.”

On Oct. 28, 2025, Parks approached a group of people outside Wylie Liquors Bar in Park Heights before pursuing Antrell Smith, who walked away from him after a brief verbal exchange. The pursuit continued through a grassy area, an alley and into the backyard of a nearby residence, where Parks’ vehicle became disabled after driving through a resident’s chain link fence. It was later discovered that Parks had a misdemeanor warrant for Smith, who said he was never told about the warrant.

Smith alleged Parks struck him with his cruiser during the pursuit, while Parks has maintained that he never hit him.

A day after Parks’ conviction, the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) announced that it had terminated the officer. Police Commissioner Richard Worley issued a statement about the firing on Aug. 21, saying that he has continued to emphasize that Parks’ conduct did not align with BPD’s standards or expectations.

“Today’s termination reflects our commitment to accountability and to ensuring that the men and women who serve this city uphold Continued on A14

18-year-old suspect in the Jada Sellers homicide found dead sympathies to the families and loved ones of Jada Sellers and all those involved.

While the circumstances surrounding their deaths are very different, both families are now left to grieve the devastating loss of two young people. Our thoughts remain with them during this incredibly difficult time.”

In an official statement, Sellers’ family stated that they take “little comfort” in

By Ariyana Griffin Special to the AFRO Christian Hursey, an 18-year-old suspect in the Jada Sellers homicide investigation, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Aug. 20, according to authorities.

Members of the Baltimore Police Department’s Homicide Unit and Baltimore County Police Department’s SWAT Team said they heard a single gunshot coming from the basement after entering the property in Woodlawn, Md., to execute a search and seizure warrant.

Hursey was pronounced dead at the scene.

He was wanted in connection with the shooting of Sellers last month. On July 31 Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers responded to a shooting on the 700 block of Lyndhurst St. in Southwest Baltimore.

They discovered the injured 17-year-old.

Sellers was identified and hospitalized at the University of Maryland Medical Center for nearly two weeks before she succumbed to her injuries on Aug. 12. She was a rising senior at Milford Mill Academy in Windsor Mill, Md. Sellers and Hursey reportedly were previously in a relationship.

The Baltimore Police

Instagram / Baltimore Police Department

Christian Hursey, 18, was wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of Jada Sellers, 17, before he was found dead from a selfinflicted gunshot wound during a police search in Woodlawn, Md., Aug. 20, 2026.

Department asked the public for help locating Hursey on Aug. 20, with a total reward of $11,500 eligible for his arrest. Pressure to find him mounted, culminating with the self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“Last night’s events mark a tragic ending to an already tragic case, in which two young people lost their lives to senseless gun violence,” said Police Commissioner Richard Worley in a statement.

“The Baltimore Police Department extends its deepest

sincere gratitude to Mayor Scott, the Baltimore City Police Department, federal agencies and the countless community members (including Jada’s many friends) who assisted our family and this investigation. Your service, love and support has been greatly appreciated.”

A 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indi-

“We won’t find full solace until all girls and women are safe from the sin and crime of interpersonal violence.”

– Family of Jada Sellers Hursey’s death.

“While we are thankful that he is no longer able to hurt anyone else, we recognize that the factors of his life that led him to commit such a heinous act are still present in our society. We won’t find full solace until all girls and women are safe from the sin and crime of interpersonal violence,” the statement read. “Jada’s legacy will extend far beyond this moment and continue to inspire us all. We extend

cated that about 1 in 12 teens experienced physical dating violence, and that “female students experienced higher rates of physical and sexual dating violence than male students.”

If you or someone you know needs support or resources to deal with teen dating violence, Love is Respect, the national resource on teen dating violence, is available 24/7 by calling 1-866-331-9474 or texting “LOVEIS” to 22522.

Photo courtesy of Anthony J. Brown

The Baltimore Police Department offered a reward for information about suspect Christian Hursey, 18, while investigating the homicide of 17-year-old Jada Sellers, who died on Aug. 12 after sustaining life-threatening gunshot wounds during a July 31 shooting in Southwest Baltimore.

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A14 The Afro-American August 29, 2026 - September 4, 2026

Baltimore leaders sue Kalshi, Polymarket over alleged illegal sports betting

By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com Mayor Brandon M. Scott and the Baltimore City Council are suing Kalshi and Polymarket, alleging that the prediction market companies function as illegal, unlicensed sports-betting platforms and mislead consumers about their products’ legality and regulatory status.

The lawsuit, filed in the Baltimore City Circuit Court on Aug. 13, argues Kalshi and Polymarket violated Baltimore’s Consumer Protection Ordinance. In the complaints, the city asserts that the platforms allow Baltimoreans to wager on game winners, point spreads, point totals, player statistics and other outcomes routinely offered by licensed sportsbooks.

“These companies are running sportsbooks without licenses and betting that a new label will put them above the law,” said Scott in an Aug. 13 news release. “It won’t.

Baltimore will not let multibillion-dollar companies put profits over people and harm our communities through illegal gambling.”

The complaints say that

Kalshi and Polymarket describe wagers on their platforms as “event contracts,” or prediction-market trades, but the city claims they effectively serve as sports bets. The suit alleges that the companies offer these wagers without required licenses under Maryland law, which enables them to evade the oversight, taxation, responsible-gambling obligations and consumer protections that traditional sportsbooks must adhere to.

It also asserts that Kalshi and Polymarket misleadingly advertise their platforms’ products as lawful and properly regulated, while making gambling more accessible to consumers. The city believes the outcome of the case could have implications for the future of prediction market oversight.

“Allowing prediction market companies to evade gambling laws would set a dangerous precedent far beyond Baltimore,” said Dicello Levitt, founding partner of Adam Levitt and member of the city’s legal team, in an Aug. 13 news release. “These companies cannot be permitted to use new terminology and new technology to operate outside the rules designed to protect consumers and communities.”

Parks Continued from A13 the law, our policies and the trust placed in them by the community,” said Worley. “We will continue to hold our officers accountable when their actions fall short of those standards.”

Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott also shared a statement on Aug. 21, saying Parks failed to live up to his oath of protecting Baltimoreans.

“As always, we will not hesitate to hold anyone accountable who endangers the safety of our communities, especially those sworn to protect them,” said Scott. “I want to thank both the Police Department and State’s Attorney’s Office for their work on this case, and reiterate our shared commitment to constitutional policing and continued trust building between BPD officers and our residents.”

Parks’ sentencing will take place on Jan. 12, 2027.

Cross-examination During the cross-examination, Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney Steve Trostle pressed Parks about his belief that Smith was armed. Parks acknowledged that he

Kalshi responded to the litigation in a statement to the AFRO, saying consumers use prediction markets, like Kalshi, because they are neutral, fair and transparent.

“Kalshi spent years getting regulated by the federal government and abides by all applicable regulations, including consumer protection laws,” wrote Kalshi. “If the mayor has genuine concerns about guardrails, we’re always happy to chat. In the meantime, we will defend these claims in court.”

A Polymarket spokesperson also issued a statement to the AFRO, arguing that the company’s prediction markets are subject to federal oversight by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), rather than state and local regulation. .

“City-specific action runs counter to the CFTC’s established framework for regulating prediction markets,” wrote the spokesperson. “As courts have recognized, prediction markets on CFTC-registered exchanges are governed by federal, not a patchwork of state and local rules.”

The Baltimore lawsuit comes as sports betting has become an increasingly prominent part of Maryland’s

gambling landscape. Mobile and online sports betting officially launched across the state in November 2022, following a 2020 referendum and a 2021 law signed by former Gov. Larry Hogan that legalized sports wagering.

Shandra Parks, president of the Maryland Council on Problem Gambling (MCPG), noted that her organization has seen an increase in the visibility and accessibility of gambling since sports betting’s implementation. She said the activity particularly appeals to younger adults because of its connection to sports culture, social media and mobile applications.

“What concerns me most is the combination of accessibility, technology and normalization,” said Parks. “With sports betting, gambling can be integrated into something people already enjoy—watching a game. The person does not necessarily have to travel to a casino or purchase a lottery ticket. They can place a wager from their phone, receive promotional messages and immediately place another wager.”

According to a survey conducted by the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, 17 percent of

Maryland residents reported betting on sports in 2024, with 12 percent reporting that they bet on online or mobile platforms. The share of residents who reported betting on sports in 2022 was just 3 percent.

The survey also found that 15 percent of Maryland sports bettors met the criteria for disordered gambling. Among African Americans specifically, problem gambling rates are nearly three times higher than their White counterparts, or 10.6 percent compared to 3.6 percent.

Parks emphasized that the Black community is not monolithic and should not be characterized as inherently more vulnerable to problem gambling. She noted that more broadly, populations experiencing adverse social determinants of health may view gambling as a solution to the challenges they face “Financial stress, inequity, limited access to wealth-building opportunities and historical and structural barriers can influence how individuals perceive gambling,” said Parks. “When someone is experiencing financial pressure, the promise of a quick financial gain can become particularly compelling.”

Parks stressed that there is a need for more

testified Aug. 18 that “the gun was “patently unreasonable” and asked at the top of my brain,” and said he the court to focus on a statement believed the man had a gun because Parks made in his testimony: “Why he appeared to be pawing at somewould I do that? We can get him thing in his pocket. tomorrow.” Trostle argued that Ultimately, Parks admitted that he statement was at the crux of this “never saw the firearm in question.” case, saying Parks did not need to Trostle also questioned why endanger himself, Smith or other Parks did not call for other officers civilians by pursuing Smith in the to assist with the arrest and did manner he did. not immediately call for backup if He repeatedly emphasized that he believed Smith was armed and Smith’s warrant was for a misdeposed a threat. Parks said he entered meanor and argued that Smith could a note into the department’s comhave been killed during Parks’ puter-aided dispatch (CAD) system, pursuit. informing officers of a possible “He got ticked off that this man arrest. had the audacity to walk away from (Screenshots courtesy of TikTok) Parks also testified that he had him,” said Trostle.

Officer Robert Parks is no encountered Smith multiple times The defense, meanwhile, argued CITY OF BALTIMORE longer a member of the before this incident and that Smith thatDEPARTMENT Parks was attempting to corral OF TRANSPORTATION Baltimore Police Department had never previously refused to Smith and prevent him from fleePUBLIC NOTICE In an effort ing, to share antraining update with the community the upcoming following his Aug. comply with him. In body-worn using he received from on (BPD) meetingPolice will beDepartment. held. TR19303 Park20 Heights Ave conviction on charges camera footage, Parks can beproject, heard a community the Baltimore Rehabilitation from W Strathmore Ave to W Rogers Ave. Join us of second-degree assault, saying Smith had never run on him Defense attorney Chaz Ball also to review the semi-final design of a project that will include repaving reckless driving and three before after the incident tookthe place. asserted that the prosecution had road and rebuilding the road base underneath, rebuilding curbs, sidewalks, upgradingthat pedestrian ramps so they meet of ADA counts misconduct in office “I have no vendetta,” said gutters, Parks. and failed to establish Parks intendupgrading traffic signals, andto a viral pursuit in relation “I have no personal problem standards, with ed to kill the or seriously harmadding Smith.curb extensions bus bulbs, installing new high-visibility crosswalks, pavement makings Mr. Smith.”

“He wasn’t killed because Officer last October. BPD announced and signage, improving the storm drains, adding green space and Parks’ termination on Aug. 21.

Closing arguments Parks had no intent to kill him,” trees.

In closing arguments, Trostle said Ball.

PUBLIC MEETING urged Judge Middleton to consider Ball argued that Parks had two Smith beyond carrying out the FOR Parks’ actions as she would those of lawful reasons to investigate/detain warrant. a civilian, rather than viewing his Smith: the active warrant and what “We don’t Park Heights Ave Rehabilitation from W Strathmore Ave judge officers on actions through the lens of his role Parks perceived as armed behav20/20 hindsight,” said Ball. “We to W Rogers Ave as a police officer. ior. He also contended that Parks judge them based upon that Wednesday, 23, 2026 moment.”

He called Parks’ response had nothing to gainSeptember from arresting 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM JCC of Greater Baltimore - Park Heights 5700 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD 21215 Identification required for building entry

Unsplash / Tingey Injury Law Firm

culturally-responsive services and resources for marginalized groups experiencing problem gambling. Overall, she said the goal should not be to reduce gambling altogether but to reduce the harm that it creates and expand pathways to wellness and community healing.

“There is life beyond gambling harm,” said Parks.

“Recover is possible, and asking for help can be the first step toward restoring your health, your relationships and your financial well-being.”

Individuals who are struggling with problem gambling can contact the state’s helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER for support and referrals to resources.

Loved ones can also seek support through the Family and Friends of Gamblers (FFOG).

AfriThrive Continued from A13 Choti said what makes the organization distinct is its ability to connect food access with health, culture and dignity. Instead of distributing pre-made, curated packages of produce, AfriThrive operates a choice-style setup—allowing families to select items as if they were in a grocery store.

It also partners with healthcare organizations to teach community members living with chronic conditions about how food can be used to improve their health and lifestyles through its “Food as Medicine” program.

As part of the community food center’s renovation, AfriThrive will be expanding its work to promote healthy eating with the addition of a space to hold nutrition classes for local residents.

As the facility undergoes its transformation, Choti is looking forward to deepening AfriThrive’s presence in Baltimore County.

“Every family deserves access to healthy food that reflects who they are and supports their well-being,” said Choti. “I’m excited to do this work and to watch this vision. Coming to this point where we are having a permanent building for the African community is very humbling.”

BALTIMORE CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL NOTICES CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC NOTICE In an effort to share an update with the community on the upcoming project, a community meeting will be held. TR19303 Park Heights Ave Rehabilitation from W Strathmore Ave to W Rogers Ave. Join us to review the semi-final design of a project that will include repaving the road and rebuilding the road base underneath, rebuilding curbs, gutters, and sidewalks, upgrading pedestrian ramps so they meet ADA standards, upgrading the traffic signals, adding curb extensions and bus bulbs, installing new high-visibility crosswalks, pavement makings and signage, improving the storm drains, adding green space and trees.

PUBLIC MEETING FOR Park Heights Ave Rehabilitation from W Strathmore Ave to W Rogers Ave Wednesday, September 23, 2026 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM JCC of Greater Baltimore - Park Heights 5700 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD 21215 Identification required for building entry Virtually: HTTPS://REBRAND.LY/6XG8O8A Meeting access code: 2342 232 7102, Meeting password: pnQpphE6u54 By phone: 408-418-9388 If you have any questions, comments, or need special accommodation, please contact via mail: Jakey Zabawa, Community Engagement Liaison Districts 5, 10, and 12

Virtually: HTTPS://REBRAND.LY/6XG8O8A Meeting access code: 2342 232 7102, Meeting password: pnQpphE6u54 LEGAL By phone:NOTICES 408-418-9388

If you have any questions, comments, or need special accommodation, please contact via mail: Jakey Zabawa, Community Engagement Liaison Districts 5, 10, and 12 Department of Transportation, 417 E Fayette St, 5th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202 Email: DOTEngagement@baltimorecity.gov, Subject: Accommodation Park Heights Ave Or by leaving a voicemail at: 443-984-3144 Accommodation requests should be received by Wednesday, September 9, 2026 More information can be found at the Park Heights Ave Rehabilitation Streets of Baltimore page: https://streetsofbaltimore.com/parkheightsave Comments on the semi-final design should be received by Wednesday, October 7, 2026 Receive regular updates via Facebook, at the Baltimore City Department of Transportation’s project website www.streetsofbaltimore.com, on Instagram @BmoreCityDOT or on X, formally known as Twitter, @BmoreCityDOT.

Berke Attila, ACTING DIRECTOR Baltimore City Department of Transportation

LEGAL NOTICES 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.

October 7, 2026 • Supply & Delivery of Bulk Chemicals (Assorted)- RFQ-000770 September 16, 2026 • Armed Security Services- RFQ-000847 September 30, 2026 • Lead Hazard Reduction and Healthy Home Intervention programs-RFQ-000859 ENTIRE SOLICITATION CAN BE VIEWED AND DOWNLOADED BY VISITING THE WEBSITE: cityservices.baltimorecity.gov/suppliers/bidopportunities

August 29, 2026 - September 4, 2026 The Afro-American A15

Back to School Kick-Off prepares Baltimore City scholars for return to classroom

By AFRO Staff On Aug. 22, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott held the 2026 Back to School Kick-Off at War Memorial Plaza.

Hundreds attended the event, which offered school supplies for students and a host of community resources for the entire family.

Attendees enjoyed a day of wholesome entertainment and fun alongside Coach B and Fred D. Watkins, who served as hosts.

Last year, Baltimore City Public Schools served 76,362 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Scholars returned to school on Aug. 24 with a new CEO, Dr. Jermaine Dawson, in place of former CEO Dr. Sonja Santelises.

All AFRO Photos / James Fields

Mayor Brandon M. Scott (second from right) shares a moment with all the contest winners.

Dr. Jermaine Dawson, CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, addresses the crowd.

Hundreds turn out for the Baltimore Mayor’s Back to School Kick-Off at War Memorial Plaza.

Members of African Dance and Culture, Inc. entertain the crowd.

Baltimore City Councilwoman Phylicia Porter, who represents District 10, enjoys the festivities.

Aiden (left) and Tyson Brewer enjoy the Aug. 22 celebration before the start of classes.

Twan Tillan, a student at Mervo High School, receives free school supplies ahead of the first day of school.

Charles Stafford, of the Family League of Baltimore, assists attendees looking for resources.

Phylicia Estep and Aubrey Edwards take advantage of the resources offered at the Aug. 22 Back to School Kick-Off.

Elajah Strickland flashes a smile after a stop at the face painting station.

Shown here, Byron Marshall helps his son, Warren, get a better view.

Elijah shows off his new backpack with dad, Eric Rose.

Shown here, Jerrel (left) and Joshua Garner.

Ava Wilson takes a turn on a bubblemaking machine bike.

Kacy Harris gives back to the community from the Ice Queens snowball truck.

To purchase this digital photo page or photos contact editor@afro.com

A16 The Afro-American August 29, 2026 - September 4, 2026

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LEGAL NOTICES

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LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2026ADM000781 IONA TAYLOR HARGRAVE Name of Decedent WILLIAM C. KING, POWERS, LEWIS, & KING LLC 5039 CONNECTICUT AVENUE NW, BUILDING ONE WASHINGTON, DC 20008 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs NICOLE M. CHESTANG whose address(es) is 251 W. INDIAN CREEK DRIVE, MOBILE, AL 36607 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of IONA TAYLOR HARGROVE who died on MARCH 25, 2026, with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before FEBRUARY 14, 2027, 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 FEBRUARY 14, 2027 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 14, 2026 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: AFRO American Newspapers

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2026ADM000787 MARY L. CLINTON Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs RALPH BELK whose address(es) is 4110 ROCKY MOUNT DRIVE, TEMPLE HILLS, MARYLAND 20748 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MARY L. CLINTON who died on JANUARY 3, 2024, with a Will and will serve without Court supervision.

All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before FEBRUARY 14, 2027, 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 FEBRUARY 14, 2027 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 14, 2026 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2026ADM000802 MARY JUANITA COLEMAN Name of Decedent ALYCIA F HERNANDEZ CONSTANT SPRING LAW PLLC 1750 H ST NW, SUITE 360 WASHINGTON, DC 20006 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs ANITA COLEMAN-LLOYD whose address(es) is 3306 ARDOR TERRACE, BOWIE, MD 20716 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MARY JUANITA COLEMAN who died on FEBRUARY 16, 2009, without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before FEBRUARY 14, 2027, 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 FEBRUARY 14, 2027 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 14, 2026 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: DWLR AFRO American Newspapers

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2026ADM000574 NIKO ESTEP, JR Name of Decedent KATHRYN ALI ALI & LOCKWOOD LLP 501 H STREET NE, SUITE 200 WASHINGTON, DC 20002 Name and Adress of Attorney

RALPH BELK Personal Representative

NICOLE M. CHESTANG Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 08/14, 08/21, 08/28/26

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 08/14, 08/21, 08/28/26

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION 2026FEP000111 December 2, 2025 Date of Death JANE R. L. ROBISON aka JANE ROBINSON LEVANT ROBISON Name of Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS PATRICIA L. YOUNG whose address is 3605 28TH STREET, NE, WASHINGTON, DC 20018 was appointed personal representative of the estate of JANE R. L. ROBISON aka JANE ROBINSON LEVANT ROBISON, deceased, by the ORPHANS COURT/ REGISTER OF WILLS Court for MONTGOMERY County, State of MARYLAND, on APRIL 22, 2026.

Service of process may be made upon VICKEY A. WRIGHT-SMITH, 1629 K ST., NW, WDC 20003 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real property: 2818 27TH STREET, NE, WASHINGTON, DC 20018.

Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills for the District of Columbia, Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.

Date of first publication: August 21, 2026 Name of newspaper, and/or periodical: AFRO-American

ANITA COLEMAN-LLOYD Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 08/14, 08/21, 08/28/26

AUTUMN DRAYTON Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 08.21, 08.28, 09.04.26

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2026ADM000791 LEONARD JOHNSON Name of Decedent JOHNNY M. RIDDICK, ESQUIRE 505 CAPITOL COURT, NE, SUITE 100 WASHINGTON, DC 20002 Name and Adress of Attorney

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2026ADM000804 JOHNNIE MACK VILLINES Name of Decedent IZU I AHAGHOTU, ESQUIRE 3724 12TH STREET, NE WASHINGTON, DC 20017 Name and Adress of Attorney

CAREER CORNER

Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs JEANETTE HILLIARD, whose address is 2329 KIRBY DRIVE, TEMPLE HILLS, MARYLAND 20748 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of LEONARD JOHNSON who died on NOVEMBER 17, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before FEBRUARY 28, 2027 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 FEBRUARY 28, 2027 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 28, 2026 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Law Washington Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs PRISCILLA E. VILLINES, whose address is 3100 24TH STREET, NE, WASHINGTON, DC 20018 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of JOHNNIE MACK VILLINES who died on APRIL 27, 2021 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before FEBRUARY 28, 2027 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 FEBRUARY 28, 2027 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 28, 2026 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Law Washington Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

JEANETTE HILLIARD Personal Representative

PRISCILLA E. VILLINES Personal Representative

Administrative Specialist II (Represented) Administrative Specialist III (Represented) Animal Services Adoptions and Events Coordinator (Management Aide) Automotive Mechanic II Automotive Mechanic II - Heavy Truck Mechanic Bucket Truck Operator Bureau of Watershed Protection & Restoration Senior Project Manager (Senior Engineer) Capital Budget Analyst (Budget & Management Analyst III) Case Manager Specialist (Special Program Manager I) Computerized Maintenance Management System (Program Specialist II) Deputy Sheriff Lateral Detention Officer Engineer III Engineer Manager Environmental Health Specialist I/II -Food Protection Services (Environmental Sanitation II) Equipment Operator II -Waste Management Equipment Operator I - Highways Equipment Operator II Highways Equipment Operator III - Utilities Infrastructure Facilities Maintenance Mechanic I/II (Proficiency Advancement) Firearms Examiner Generator Technician II (MCP) GIS Programmer (Systems Programmer II) Landfill Manager (Waste Management Services) Landfill Supervisor (Solid Waste Supervisor) License Inspector Maintenance Worker I (Highways) Maintenance Worker II (Highways) Network Analyst (Systems Analyst) Personnel Assistant I/II - Benefits Plumbing (Backflow) Inspector Police Communications Operator II Police Officer - Lateral Police Officer, Entry Level Review Analyst (Planning Technician II) Roads Maintenance Supervisor (HWY) School Age Child Care Director Senior Engineer Senior Equipment Operator -Waste Management Services Sheriff’s Communications Operator Solid Waste Mechanic Surgical Veterinarian Technician (Animal Control Technician) Traffic Maintenance Worker II (Maintenance Worker II) Tree Crew Worker Utilities Construction Inspector Utilities Crew Leader I Utilities Infrastructure Program Manager (Program Manager) Utilities Maintenance & Repair Supervisor Utilities Support Worker II Utility Asset Manager (Program Manager) Vacuum/Rodder Operator Wastewater System Technician I

PATRICIA L. YOUNG Personal Reperesenative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 8/21, 8/28, 9/04/26

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 08.28, 09.04, 09.11.26

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 08.28, 09.04, 09.11.26

BALTIMORE CLASSIFIEDS CONTINUED LEGAL NOTICES CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Hilton Street Traffic Calming Public Meeting Join us to review proposed traffic calming on Hilton Street from Frederick Ave. to Edmondson Ave. This meeting will cover a proposed multimodal lane with other traffic calming features.

Hilton St. Traffic Calming Project PUBLIC MEETING

Wednesday, September 2, 2026 6:00p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Green Street Academy 125 N. Hilton St. Baltimore, Maryland 21229 If you have any questions, comments or need special accommodations, please contact dotengagement@baltimorecity.gov subject line Hilton Street Traffic Calming Or call 410-396-6802 Accommodation requests should be received by Wednesday, August 26, 2026 Receive regular updates via Facebook, “X” formerly known as Twitter @BmoreCityDOT. Instagram @BmoreDOT

Veronica P. Perry, MSL, DIRECTOR Baltimore City Department of Transportation

Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs AUTUMN DRAYTON, whose address is 1900 HALF STREET SW #255, WASHINGTON, DC 20024 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of NIKO ESTEP, JR who died on NOVEMBER 3, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision.

All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before DECEMBER 5, 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 DECEMBER 5, 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: JUNE, 5, 2026 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Law Washington Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BALTIMORE CITY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS WEBSITE MAINTENANC AND SUPPORT RFP NUMBER: B-2057-26 The Housing Authority of Baltimore City (“HABC”) is requesting proposals from qualified and interested individuals or firms to provide comprehensive website maintenance and support services including, but not limited to: internet and intranet site design and maintenance; writing, graphic design and editing services; web hosting, site and server maintenance; 24/7 cross-platform technical support, consulting, integration, Mac networking, printing and maintenance services; and database development and administration. Services will include maintaining the design and back office (e.g., server, firewall, operating system) of the existing public website.

PROPOSALS WILL BE DUE no later than 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, October 2, 2026.

A non-mandatory pre-proposal conference will be held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., which will be scheduled as a virtual meeting.

The RFP and all supporting documents may be examined and obtained on or after Monday, September 7, 2026, at the following location: Housing Authority of Baltimore City Division of Fiscal Operations, Procurement Department Attention: Mary Kate Gagliardi, Senior Buyer Tel: (410) 396-3105 mary.gagliardi@habc.org Questions regarding the RFP should be directed in writing to the address and individual indicated above and must include the reference: HABC RFP Number B-2057-26.

LEGAL NOTICES ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

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. Deadlines to apply are posted on the website.

An Equal Opportunity/Drug Free/Smoke Free Employer