Afro e-Edition 05-10-2024

Commencement season 2024:

College seniors speak on graduating in tumultuous times

This commencement season is full of triumphs and challenges as students across the nation step out into the real world. While some commencement ceremonies have been carried out successfully, others have been canceled altogether as protests against the Israel-Hamas war and calls for a ceasefire increase. This week, the AFRO spoke with graduating seniors like Ericka Alston Buck (left) and Kairee Hunter, both members of the graduating class of 2024 at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and Penn State, respectively, about matriculating during a global pandemic and graduating in a season of protest.

By Aria Brent AFRO Staff Writer abrent@afro.com

As commencement season begins, the AFRO spoke with Black graduates from colleges and universities near and far about receiving their degree during a time of protests related to the Israel-Hamas war and the right to freedom of speech. Many students in the class of 2024 also either graduated high school or started college during the 2019- 2020 school year, which was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

For high school students, the contagious illness made it nearly impossible to socialize in group settings–making the cancellation of traditional events like prom and graduation nonnegotiable. For college freshman, the first year experience was curtailed as coronavirus spread from city to city, ultimately making numerous laps around the globe as different strains emerged.

been through so much during my high school experience, so I was looking forward to my big moment.”

Kairee Hunter, 22, a native of West Baltimore, graduated from Penn State with a degree in animal science on May 4.

He started at Penn State’s Harrisburg campus in the Fall of 2019, thinking he would have a full freshman year like so many students before him. Instead, he went home for spring break in 2020 and didn’t return again for more than a year.

“I don’t think that schools are responding in the appropriate way by calling the police, tearing down the camps and taking away the graduations. This is our Constitutional right. It’s very backwards.”

Ja’Miyah Stokes, a recent graduate of Jackson State University, was a high school senior when the pandemic abruptly halted her day-to-today life.

“Not having an actual graduation ceremony was hard,” she said. “I was mad for a while because I had worked hard and had

“It was kind of weird because we didn’t even finish the first year,” Hunter told the AFRO. “We were on spring break and they told us not to come back.”

Once the campus reopened with the option to return in his sophomore year, Hunter decided to remain at home with his family. But it was no easy feat. Hunter was trying to matriculate at a university in a degree program that was heavy with lab work for future veterinarians.

“It was weird transitioning and picking up where we left off –trying to act like nothing would be affected. It was weird in terms of the comfortability levels in the classroom. Some went back, but I stayed virtual from Fall 2020 through Spring 2021,” he said.

Throughout two years at Penn State’s Harrisburg campus,

Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump leads class action against Geico, alleging discriminatory practices

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

On May 7 plaintiffs in a sizable class action lawsuit against insurance giant Geico joined prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump at a press conference in the nation’s capital. The lawsuit, alleging contractual breaches regarding policy renewal commissions and accusations of unjust enrichment, represents a coalition of minority business owners formerly associated with the company.

At the heart of the allegations is the contention that Geico, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, systematically deprived minority Geico Field Representatives (GFRs) of critical business opportunities through what Crump termed as “unfair and unlawful” practices.

“It is important to note that Geico had quality reports that detailed Geico field representative’s metrics. These reports were downright discriminatory for the Hispanics, and Asians who

AFRO Ballot

The AFRO American Newspapers is proud to present a list of endorsements ahead of Primary Election Day on May 14.

Make sure you have this week’s edition of the AFRO in hand for easy reference when you make your way to the polls!

1st District -

2nd District - Danielle McCray R3rd District - Margo Bruner Settles R4th District - Mark Conway

R5th District - Issac Schneider

R6th District - Sharon Green Middleton

R7th District - James Torrence

R8th District - Bilal Ali

R9th District - John T. Bullock

R10th District - Phylicia Porter

R11th District - Eric Costello

R12th District - Robert Stokes Sr. R13th District - Antonio Glover

R14th District - Odette Ramos RJudge Michael S. Barranco RJudge Patricia M. DeMaio RJudge Marc A. DeSimone RJudge James L. Rhodes

worked for Geico,” Crump declared, noting that the names of the reports were themselves steeped in racial bias. “Geico, you are better than this.”

The news conference spotlighted several key revelations:

1. Disproportionate Termination: In an unprecedented move in March 2023, Geico terminated agents across the United States, with a staggering 67% of those affected being minorities.

2. Exploitation of GFRs’ Labor: Plaintiffs assert that Geico reaped the rewards of GFRs’ hard work, retaining commissions generated from the business portfolios they painstakingly built. Moreover, Geico’s purported control over various aspects of GFRs’ operations allegedly left many questioning their professional futures post-termination.

3. Representative Testimonies: Present at the conference were four terminated GFRs, all from minority backgrounds:

Courtesy photos

Photo courtesy of NNPA Newswire Ben Crump is representing plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Geico, alleging contractual breaches regarding policy renewal commissions and accusations of unjust enrichment. Crump has filed the lawsuit on behalf of a coalition of minority business owners formerly associated with the company.

Black civil rights activists, politicians among diverse group of Medal of Freedom recipients

By Darlene Superville

The Associated Press

President Joe Biden on May 3 bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom on 19 people, including civil rights icons such as the late Medgar Evers, prominent political leaders such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. James Clyburn, and actor Michelle Yeoh.

Biden said the recipients of the nation’s highest civilian honor are “incredible people whose relentless curiosity, inventiveness, ingenuity and hope have kept faith in a better tomorrow.”

One of them, Clarence B. Jones, said in an interview that he thought a prankster was on the phone when he answered and heard the caller say they were from the White House.

“I said, ‘Is this a joke or is this serious?’” Jones recalled. The caller swore they were serious and was calling with the news that Biden wanted to recognize Jones with the medal.

Jones, 93, was honored for his activism during the Civil Rights Movement. He’s a lawyer who provided legal counsel to Martin Luther King Jr. and helped write the opening paragraphs of the “I Have a Dream” speech that King delivered at the Lincoln Memorial at the 1963 March on Washington.

The White House said

the recipients are “exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.”

The 10 men and nine women hail from the worlds of politics, sports, entertainment, civil rights and LGBTQ+ advocacy, science and religion. Three medals were awarded posthumously.

Seven politicians were among the recipients: former New York mayor and philanthropist Michael Bloomberg, former Sen. Elizabeth Dole, climate activist and former Vice President Al Gore, Biden’s former climate envoy John Kerry, former Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., who died in 2013, Clyburn, the Democratic congressman from South Carolina, and Pelosi, the Democratic congresswoman from California.

Biden in his remarks acknowledged that Clyburn’s endorsement in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary helped him score a thundering win in South Carolina, powering him to his party’s nomination and ultimately the White House. Bloomberg mounted a short-lived bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.

“I can say this without fear of contradiction,” Biden said. “I would not be standing here

as president making these awards were it not for Jim. I mean that sincerely.”

In addition to representing North Carolina in the Senate, Dole, a Republican and the widow of former Sen. Bob Dole, also served as transportation secretary and labor secretary and was president of the American Red Cross. She currently leads a foundation supporting military caregivers.

Pelosi is the first and only woman ever elected to the speaker’s post, putting her second in the line of succession to the presidency. Biden referenced her legislative achievements, noted her actions during the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, and said “history will remember you, Nancy, as the

Jim Thorpe, who died in 1953, was the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal for the United States.

Judy Shepard co-founded the Matthew Shepard Foundation, named after her son, a gay 21-year-old University of Wyoming student who died in 1998 after he was beaten and tied to a fence.

Jones said he felt “very touched” after he digested what the caller had said.

greatest speaker of the House of Representatives.”

Evers received posthumous recognition for his work more than six decades ago fighting segregation in Mississippi in the 1960s as the NAACP’s first field officer in the state. He was 37 when he was fatally shot in the driveway of his home in June 1963. His daughter, Reena, who was 8 years old when her father was killed, accepted his medal.

Yeoh made history last year by becoming the first Asian woman to win an Academy Award for best actress for her performance in “ Everything, Everywhere All at Once.”

“I’m 93 years old with some health challenges, but I woke up this morning thanks to the grace of God,” he told The Associated Press in a telephone interview May 2. “I’m looking forward to whatever the White House would like for me to do.”

The other medal recipients are:

— Gregory Boyle, a Jesuit Catholic priest who founded and runs Homeboy Industries, a gang-intervention and rehabilitation program.

— Phil Donahue, a journalist and former daytime TV talk-show host.

— Katie Ledecky, the most decorated female swimmer in history.

— Opal Lee, an activist who is best known for pushing

Sponsored by Pfizer

to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. Biden did so in 2021.

— Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman in space and the second female director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

— Jane Rigby, an astronomer who is chief scientist of the world’s most powerful telescope. She grew up in Delaware, Biden’s home state.

— Teresa Romero, president of the United Farm Workers and the first Hispanic woman to lead a national union in the U.S. The union has endorsed Biden’s reelection bid and backed him in 2020.

In 2022, Biden presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 17 people, including gymnast Simone Biles, the late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and guncontrol advocate Gabby Giffords.

Biden knows how it feels to receive the medal.

As president, Barack Obama presented Biden, his vice president, with the medal a week before their administration ended in 2017.

This article was originally published by The Associated Press.

Why Real-World Learnings Matter for Black Women Living with Breast Cancer

Incredible progress has been made in the fight against breast cancer, from screening to treatment – but this progress has not reached everyone equally. Compared to white women, Black women are more likely to have metastatic breast cancer – cancer that has spread to other areas of the body – as well as aggressive forms that are challenging to treat. And despite having a lower rate of breast cancer than white women, Black women are 40 percent more likely to die from the disease. There are multiple contributing factors, including that Black women are less likely to receive guideline recommended care. Additionally, there is a lack of racial diversity in clinical research for breast cancer treatments.

“Despite the impact breast cancer has on our community, some studies have shown that as few as 3 percent of breast cancer clinical trial participants are Black,” said Ricki Fairley, Chief Executive Officer of the patient advocacy group TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance. “Ensuring diversity in breast cancer research is critical to understanding which treatments are most effective in Black women and addressing the disparities our community faces. Through TOUCH’s initiative When We Tri(al), we are working to empower Black women to learn more about the clinical trial process and opportunities to participate.”

Types of Studies that Evaluate Breast Cancer Treatments

Randomized clinical trials are considered the gold standard and are reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to decide if a treatment is safe and effective. However, there are challenges: in addition to Black individuals, older people are underrepresented in clinical trials. Given that a greater number of older adults of color are expected to face a cancer diagnosis in the coming years, improvements in clinical trial diversity are needed. The FDA Oncology Center of Excellence has established Project Equity, a public health initiative working to improve access to oncology clinical trials for underrepresented groups.

Clinical research can be complemented with real-world evidence: information gathered after the FDA approves a medicine to learn more about patients’ experiences. Although real-world evidence is not meant to replace randomized clinical trials, it can be an important consideration for Black women with breast cancer, as it can provide insights into the use of a treatment among a more diverse

group. Taken together, clinical trial data and real-world evidence can provide information to help decide on an appropriate treatment plan.

Importance of Self-Advocacy

“After finding a lump in one of my breasts at the age of 32 and being told initially that I was ‘too young’ to have breast cancer, I know firsthand the power of self-advocacy and of empowering others, particularly marginalized communities, which is why I have spent the past 18 years amplifying patients’ voices, and working to ensure that Black women have more equity in healthcare,” said Maimah Karmo, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Tigerlily Foundation, which provides breast health, educational, empowerment wellness and transformational programs to young women.

“My goal is that every woman facing a breast cancer diagnosis feels empowered to work with their healthcare team to understand their treatment options and get the care they deserve.”

Those diagnosed with breast cancer can consider talking with their doctor about the research results and effectiveness of treatments in both clinical trials and everyday practice. Some questions to ask include:

How have these medicines been studied?

What were the experiences of others who were treated with these medicines?

Have these medicines been studied in people of the same ethnic group or age as me?

More resources are available at ThisIsLivingWithCancer.com. You can learn more about TOUCH at touchbbca.org and Tigerlily Foundation at TigerlilyFoundation. org.

AP Photo / Alex Brandon

President Joe Biden awards the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, May 3, 2024, in Washington.

Commentary

Remembering our purpose: A tribute to James Alfred Washington

By Bobby R. Henry Sr.

While in Dallas to memorialize our dear friend, James Washington, my visit routinely found me engaged in stimulating conversations as I saw old friends and met new ones. The common thread in all these conversations was the future or the plight of America’s Black Press. While I said the common “thread”; it would be more appropriate to label it the common “lament.”

Everybody I spoke to agreed that the “old liberating voice” of the Black Press is needed now - more than ever! For too long others believe they can speak for us.

There was unanimous support for the need to rekindle the spirit evident in our documentary “Soldiers Without Swords,” to report the news “without fear or favor” and use the pages of our newspapers to “light the road to freedom.” We cannot afford - literally - to fail

heeding Frederick Douglass’ admonition that “power concedes nothing without a demand!”

So, I start my “demand,” brothers and sisters of the NNPA— the Black Press of America—with us. We must invigorate the content in our pages. As the one true, trusted source of news and information expressly for the benefit of Black People, we have no choice but to draw on the giant historical reservoir filled with the ink and blood of those publishers whose memories we laud and cherish.

Succinctly put, we must get out of our comfort zones and “… get about our Father’s business…!” What do we have to lose, you ask? Everything!

Why should Black America - jostled and pushed about daily— flimflammed and bewildered by the propaganda mills of some mainstream and social media— not have the benefit

Photo courtesy of The Atlanta Voice

The late James Alfred Washington, known for his role as president and general manager of The Atlanta Voice, is being remembered across the country as a longtime activist and advocate in the Black community.

of our rebuttals? Why are our voices silent when the perspectives available online and over the air do not reflect the lives lived in the communities we serve?

Photo courtesy of Dallas Weekly Bobby. R Henry Sr. shares his thoughts about the importance of Black Press, inspired by the recent death of James Alfred Washington. Henry is publisher of the Westside Gazette in Florida and chairman of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

The reflections of those who spoke on the life of our dear, departed brother, Jim, convinced me that we – the NNPA - must do something different than what we’ve

grown accustomed to doing. Our responsibility to Black America, bequeathed to us by Russwurm and Cornish, by Douglass, Wells, Rolark, Sengstacke, Murphy, Reeves, Goodlett and all those nameless, faceless soldiers whose labors - today - go unrewarded, is to speak clearly, coherently, and incessantly on behalf of Black America.

Please don’t misunderstand me. I am one hundred percent convinced that we are up to the job. I’m simply saying that we must do it!

In a nation hell-bent on rolling back the hard-fought gains chronicled in our pages - in a nation that has stigmatized affirmative action, diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and critical race theory, all while thumbing its nose at the constitutional protections paid for in blood - in a nation that our ancestors - stripped of their humanity, dignity, and the right to pursue happiness –do we sit silent??

I say no! I say that the NNPA-the Black Press of America must reclaim its rightful place in the hearts and minds of those who once relied on us for truth and justice. Our recent Lifetime Achievement awardees, the Zipperts, affirmed what we know to be true – “… our readers depend on their weekly paper for its news and are upset with any disruption in its delivery.” It won’t be easy. It wasn’t easy in 1827 when Freedom’s Journal exploded into the American conscience. But fear never moved a mountain. And we’ve got mountains that need moving.

Thank you, Dallas. Thank you for the spirit evident in the life of James Alfred Washington. Thank you for rekindling the spirit that has guided us for 197 years. Long live the Black Press … we’ve got work to do!

This was originally published by the Dallas Weekly.

Team AFRO wins big at the 2023 MDDC editorial and advertising contest

By Aria Brent AFRO Staff Writer abrent@afro.com

Throughout the last year the AFRO has worked hard to produce content that is worth consuming and that hard work was recognized and rewarded at this year’s Maryland, Delaware, DC (MDDC) Press Association’s Editorial and Advertising contest. A total of 18 members of the AFRO’s staff and freelance writing teams took home awards, including recognition in the General News Photo, Best Photo Gallery, Breaking News and Social Media, Editorial and Editorial

The Afro-American Newspapers Baltimore Office

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Cartoon categories.

Coverage of events such as the March on Washington’s 60th anniversary, the 2023 CIAA basketball tournament, the Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary and the Morgan State homecoming shooting were reported and covered with diligence by the 131 year old publication during 2023. Featured AFRO team members that took home an award from the 2024 ceremony for their work in 2023 include: Helen Bezuneh; Aria Brent; Darius Brockett; Rev. Heber Brown III; Ericka Alston Buck; Marnita Coleman; Reuben Greene; Ariyana Griffin; Re’Jon Jones; DaQuan Lawrence; Tashi McQueen; Ralph E. Moore; Dana Peck; Alexis Taylor; Kofi Tyus; Megan Sayles; Jared Still; Reginald Williams and the AFRO staff at large.

AFRO managing editor Alexis Taylor was amongst this year’s award recipients. As a writer and leader of the AFRO editorial team she was proud to see the publications progress awarded, noting that even through times of difficulty the staff created stories that were factual and well written.

“I am so proud of the entire AFRO team, but the award that really made me feel like we are truly making progress as a publication was the “Best in Show” award for breaking news on social media,” said Taylor. “The night of the Morgan State University shooting was a rough one. As a Morgan alum, it was heartbreaking to watch such a tragic event take place during a week meant for homecoming celebrations. I gave a call to

Ms. Ariyana Griffin, a student at Morgan, and she immediately jumped into action.”

Taylor thanked Griffin, who was an intern at the time, for her hard work and service to the AFRO

“Her reporting is why we have that award. Her willingness to leave the comforts of home in the middle of the night for a story led us to take a category usually reserved for the mainstream media giants of our market. Ms.Griffin and writers of her caliber will surely take the AFRO into the future.”

Several awards were won collectively by members of team AFRO such as the Religion Reporting award, which was won by Marnita Coleman, Rev.Heber Brown III, Jared Still and the AFRO staff at large. Additionally, several staff members were recognized for their work in the category for Continuing Coverage, including DaQuan Lawrence, Aria Brent, Ralph E. Moore Jr., Re’Jon Jones, Helen Bezuneh and the AFRO staff at large.

Long-time AFRO writer and columnist, Ralph E. Moore Jr., reflected on how it felt to contribute to the legacy of Maryland’s oldest Black owned business and have his work recognized.

“It was a wonderful surprise to receive awards for columns I wrote for the AFRO American Newspaper. It is the honor of my life to have worked for such an esteemed media source,” Moore stated. “The AFRO is an important institution in Baltimore and the award from the MDDC Press Association for AFRO writing is a tremendous honor for me.”

Members of the AFRO team weren’t the only journalists of color to be recognized. After the ceremony, the AFRO was delighted to catch up with Baltimore Banner data reporter and MDDC Rookie of the Year award winner, Greg Morton.

The award is given out each year to a promising journalist that’s been working professionally for less than 18 months. Following the award ceremony, Morton discussed what journalism means to him.

“For me, journalism is about getting the opportunity to do interesting research and to do research that’s a little more actionable and accessible,” Morton stated. “That’s what it’s about for me really– getting to do research that makes an impact on the community.”

The budding journalist also shared a piece of advice for other journalism rookies.

“Do the stuff that you think is interesting,” he said. “A lot of this came from me getting the opportunity to work on stuff that I thought was fun to talk to people about and fun to work on. I think the quality of the work was respected and reflective of that.”

As the year continues, the AFRO is excited to continue covering the news that matters most to our readers and the opportunity to create stories that are helping shape the landscape of Black media.

The full list of AFRO team members that won at this year’s award ceremony and their respective awards can be found below.

• Helen Bezuneh: 2nd Place for Continuing CoverageDivision F

• Aria Brent: 2nd Place for Continuing Coverage- Division F

• Darius Brockett: : 1st Place for Multimedia Storytelling (Sports)- Division F

• Rev. Heber Brown III: 1st Place for Religion ReportingDivision F

• Ericka Alston Buck: 2nd Place for Arts/Entertainment Reporting- DIvision F

• Marnita Coleman: 1st Place for Religion ReportingDivision F

• Reuben Greene: 1st Place for Public Service- Division

The AFRO team is home to more than 15 awards from the MDDC Press Association Editorial and Advertising Contest. Shown here: Ariyana Grifin (left); Reginald Williams; Tashi McQueen; Ralph Moore; Marnita Coleman; Mylika Scatliffe; Erica Alston Buck; Alexis Taylor and AFRO Publisher and CEO, Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper.

AFRO photo/Andre

A win for Black entrepreneurship: Is the new FTC ban good for Black businesses?

By Taalib Saber

Historically, noncompetes have been used to restrict employees from working in the same industry after leaving their former employer. Though the intention is to protect the intellectual property of businesses, non-competes have often negatively affected competition in product and service markets, especially with Black workers.

In what has since created shockwaves across the nation, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted 3-2 for banning noncompete agreements, which goes into effect 120 days after the rule is officially published in the Federal Register. This decision will undoubtedly have a significant impact on both employers and employees alike, but what about Black entrepreneurs?

The FTC defines a noncompete clause as, “a term or condition of employment that prohibits a worker from, penalizes a worker for, or functions to prevent a worker from (1) seeking or accepting work in the United States with a different person where such work would begin after the conclusion of the employment that includes the term or condition; or (2) operating a business in the United States after the conclusion of the employment that includes the

term or condition.”

If written properly, most non-competes have outlined specific restrictions of a current or former worker, who can be their employer, where they can work for said employer, and for how long they aren’t allowed to work for an employer, which can be unduly burdensome. Imagine being told who to work for and who not to work for. That basically is a non-compete. Those who have signed non-competes and wish to increase their salaries, will either have to accept where they are or change industries and possibly, locations. These are all unnecessary hassles that restrict a competitive market and perpetuate wage suppression.

I have reviewed contractual agreements of several Black clients who I have worked with in a variety of areas, from tech to entertainment. Many of my clients desired to venture out or hang up their proverbial “shingle,” signaling the start of their own business, but have been deterred by these non-compete clauses. Approximately 18 percent of the workforce, which is about 30 million people, is covered by noncompete agreements. In the Black community, there’s a saying that goes, “If a White person has a cold, then a Black person has pneumonia.” What this

essentially means is that if majority of Americans are suffering from a particular thing, that thing already has, currently is, or will be suffered much more by Black people. Here, if many Americans are experiencing the effects of wage suppression and restrictions in the market, then the Black community feels it worse. Add in Black workers who want to start their journey to entrepreneurship and it becomes an almost impossible task to accomplish.

FTC estimates that the impact of banning noncompetes could increase worker pay by $300 billion and it can lead to 8,500 more new businesses each year. For Black entrepreneurs, the elimination of non-competes can now open the door to new innovations, creativity, and fairer competition in the marketplace. This ban can help business owners attract top talent, as there would be no restrictions on the mobility of skilled workers; thus, strengthening their businesses and enhancing their competitiveness. With that stated, there will be several legal challenges to the implementation of the FTC’s non-compete ban. Within 24 hours of the vote being published, both the United States (US) Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business organization, and the

Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers of America’s leading companies, filed suit against the federal agency.

In a statement released announcing the lawsuit, the US Chamber of Commerce declares, “[t]he FTC contends that by using regulation they can simply declare common business practices to be ‘unfair methods of competition’ and thus illegal. This is despite the fact that noncompete agreements have been around longer than the 110-year-old FTC and until now no one has suggested that they are illegal.” It goes on to state, “[i]f the FTC can regulate noncompete agreements, then

they can decide to regulate or even ban any other business practice. All without a vote from Congress.” I believe that many more businesses, organizations, associations, and groups will file lawsuits and lobby against, what they believe, is an overreach by the Federal Trade Commission on governing business transactions. Furthermore, if any of the federal courts who hear the cases decide to grant a stay or a preliminary injunction on the ruling, the effective date could be postponed. Then, if the cases are appealed thereafter, the ruling would be delayed for many more months.

So while this non-compete

The problem of higher education: Why President Biden should speak at Morehouse College

By Quardricos Driskell

In recent days and weeks, there has been a plethora of protests across college campuses. The IsraelHamas war has popped up on an increasing number of college campuses following last week’s arrest of more than 100 demonstrators at Columbia University. Students across the country are calling for universities to separate themselves from any companies that are advancing Israel’s military efforts in Gaza — and, in some cases, from Israel itself.

Understandably so, as more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children. More than 77,000 have been injured. Every hospital and university in Gaza have been destroyed. None of this would have been possible without the support and sponsorship of longstanding U. S. policy, and this unfortunate reality has caused a stir at my alma mater, Morehouse College. The protest and criticism of alumni, faculty and students of President Biden’s upcoming speech at

Morehouse commencement is a direct result of the genocide. And while the murder of innocent lives should keep us all awake at night, this war also holds significant promise in addressing the pressing problems plaguing the higher education sector.

Commencement addresses are not often without purpose. They typically leverage specific platforms to deliver a particular message. As such, do we want to have a substantive foreign policy debate? If so, Morehouse should be able to host the sitting President of the United States and create space for high-quality debate, discussion, and disagreement. The president’s (focus on the office, not the man) invitation does not mean that the Morehouse College community supports or is acquiescent to the genocide of Gaza or any other war in which the U.S. has engaged or supported. There are always significant policy criticisms/disagreements with a sitting president. Presidents are polarizing figures by the very nature of U.S.

politics. The invitation is an opportunity for Morehouse, a higher education institution with a long history of protest, to challenge the President on his tactical execution of the long-term policies of U.S. foreign policy and for the College to uplift its moral paragon.

There are online comments that suggest any college or university that gives its commencement stage to President Biden at this moment is endorsing genocide. We are seeing another phase of the longerrange continuity of U.S.Israel/U.S.-Middle East policy. If Morehouse has done its job, the graduates should represent the best hope for a new America. I do not believe that a commencement address by the sitting President of the United States (other than Trump) somehow diminishes Morehouse’s stalwart and storied legacy.

Morehouse College’s sixth president, famed minister, educator and scholar Dr. Benjamin E. Mays said during his charge to a graduating class: “It will not be sufficient for

Morehouse College, for any college, for that matter, to produce clever graduates,” but rather honest graduates “who are sensitive to the wrongs, the sufferings, and the injustices of society and who are willing to accept responsibility for correcting the ills.”

Should students protest peacefully without disrupting their fellow brothers during commencement? Yes. For HBCUs like Morehouse, the imperative to embrace intellectual diversity is paramount, and these institutions have a rich legacy of serving as incubators of American and global thought and leadership, challenging the status quo, and advocating for social justice. By inviting the President, the students can carry the honored legacy and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom and inclusivity while protesting peacefully.

However, this speaks to a more significant issue: higher education struggles with respect for diversities of viewpoints. Colleges should not be in the business of avoiding controversy. The

current political landscape is rough for college and university presidents, but Morehouse’s President David Thomas has said that he will not rescind the invitation, and good for him. John Stuart Mill argued in “On Liberty” that ignoring alternative viewpoints compromises our capacity to pursue truth, to understand other perspectives, to realize when we are wrong, and even to defend our positions when right adequately.

Colleges and universities–including HBCUs– have a moral and intellectual obligation to uphold the principles of free expression and open inquiry. By actively inviting individuals, including the president with whom they disagree on policies and ideologies, colleges and universities can foster critical thinking and intellectual growth, promote community engagement, and uphold their legacy as beacons of knowledge, enlightenment, civility and student protest.

I wonder how President Biden might have been received in any other year, but this isn’t another year.

It is, in some ways, a repeat of 2020, and Morehouse College, through its invitation of the President, has an opportunity to illustrate, within higher education, that we both can respect the office of the presidency and yet challenge the policies of our government—in doing so, we reaffirm our commitment to the principles of academic freedom, diversity and inclusion that lie at the heart of higher education.

ban could take some time to go into effect, Black entrepreneurs should start positioning themselves to take advantage of it.

Courtesy photo Attorney Taalib Saber discusses the Federal Trade Commission’s new ban on non-compete agreements and how it affects Black business owners.

Courtesy photo Professor Quardricos Bernard Driskell is a federal lobbyist and an adjunct professor at The George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. He lectures on race, religion, cultural wars, and politics.

Commencement season

and three years at the historic institution’s main campus, Hunter overcame mountain after mountain.

First, there was the aspect of learning how to become a veterinarian– virtually.

“It made me less focused. When I was on Zoom I was more distracted,” he recalled.

Then there was the isolation. For Hunter, who was already comfortable being by himself and “marching to the beat of his own drum,” the social opportunities missed began to take their toll.

“I definitely missed out on the social aspect,” he said. “It was hard to actually envelop myself. Normally I would talk to different people, we would study together or compare assignments.” None of that was possible in a global pandemic with – at the time– no vaccine to fight it.

Looking back, Hunter is just glad he made it through and was able to actually have a graduation– something that is eluding more and more students across the nation as protests and calls for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war intensify.

On Oct. 7 terrorists from Gaza shot, assaulted and kidnapped thousands of Israelis in an early morning attack, prompting an Israeli response that many say is unfairly impacting innocent Palenstinians in Gaza. Now, American college students are protesting, staging sit-ins and calling for the U.S to stop Israel’s plan to wipe Hamas “off the face of the earth,” according to the words of Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.

“It’s not at all fair,” said Hunter, speaking on the canceled graduation ceremonies being canceled as American students demand divestment from Israel and call for the country to stop the brutal attacks in Gaza.

“I don’t think that schools are responding in the appropriate way by calling the police, tearing down the camps and taking away the graduations. This is our Constitutional right,” said Hunter. “It’s very backwards.”

President Joe Biden recently spoke on the chaos unfolding across the country on college campuses. “Violent protest is not protected –peaceful protest is,” said Biden. “Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes and graduations – none of this is a peaceful protest.”

Misty Copeland and Stevie Wonder are set to speak in Baltimore for the Peabody Conservatory’s commencement ceremonies on

Biden also spoke against protestors that threaten or instill fear in others.

“There is no place for hate speech, or violence of any kind: anti-semitism, islamophobia, discrimination against ArabAmericans or Palestinian-Americans,” said Biden. “It’s simply wrong. There’s no place for racism in America.”

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is one of the universities throughout the U.S. that has canceled their classes due to protests and encampments turning violent.

“Late last night, a group of instigators came to Royce Quad to forcefully attack the encampment that has been established there to advocate for Palestinian rights. Physical violence ensued, and our campus requested support from external law enforcement agencies to help end this appalling assault, quell the fighting and protect our community,” said Gene Block, the chancellor of UCLA, in a statement to the UCLA community on May 1. “I want to express my sincere sympathy to those who were injured last night, and to all those who have been harmed or have feared for their safety in recent days. No one at this university should have to encounter such violence.”

“We are still gathering information about the attack on the encampment last night, and I can assure you that we will conduct a thorough investigation that may lead to arrests, expulsions and dismissals,” continued Block. “We are also carefully examining our own security processes in light of recent events.”

Jenae Talison is a second year graduate

student at UCLA who has watched over the last two weeks as the turmoil on campus has unfolded. As graduation approaches, she noted that the ongoing protests on campus have resulted in an increased police presence and disruptions to campus activities.

“We’ve been virtual for like the last two weeks and it’s been weird having to continue life as a student like people aren’t being attacked and arrested down the street,” stated Talison. “They just randomly emailed us about classes being virtual and the abruptness of it all reminded me of COVID.”

The soon-to-be graduate explained that although she lives off campus, the effects of the protester and police interaction have affected her motivation to finish classes strong this quarter. She recalled the events that happened on campus that led up to the current environment the student body is dealing with. Talison clarified that UCLA is still scheduled to have their main commencement ceremonies the weekend of June 14 to June 16, however she is fearful that they’ll cancel them in the month they have left before the big ceremonies.

“They canceled USC’s ceremony and I’m a little nervous we’re next. We’re a public university so our policies for protesting are a little different, but they’ve been enforcing similar police protocols for the protesting that’s been happening,” she stated. “We need more security for the students’ safety.”

Although institutes like Columbia University and the University of Southern California have canceled their commencement ceremonies,

4. Steve Ching, a Navy veteran of Asian descent, was the sole minority GFR in the Pacific Northwest, operating in Portland, Oregon.

5. Kim Dao, a Vietnamese woman, saw her Atlanta, Georgia, office shuttered while those managed by white GFRs remained operational.

6. Denise Buckley, a Latina based in Houston, Texas, was the only Spanish-speaking agent in a region with a significant Latino population.

7. Kevin Ware, an African American with a decade-long tenure at Geico, managed the largest agency in the Midwest before its closure.

other colleges, like Lincoln University in Philadelphia, have held their graduation exercises according to plan. On the list of 2024 graduates were two special names: Ericka Alston Buck, the AFRO’s arts and culture writer, and the legendary icon, Stevie Wonder, who received an honorary doctorate of humane letters. Alston Buck has been working on her undergraduate degree in human resources for two decades. On May 5, she walked across the stage and officially earned her degree after the challenges of adult life, parenthood and a global pandemic.

“Lincoln University understands the needs of adult students. Being able to graduate while working full time and being a parent made this 20-year journey possible for me,” said Alston Buck. “Receiving my degree on the same day that Stevie Wonder received his honorary doctorate made the moment all the more special. He is an iconic figure in the music industry and a champion for social causes.”

“He epitomizes the spirit of excellence and service that Lincoln University instills in its graduates,” Buck continued. “His presence added an extra layer of significance to an already momentous occasion.”

Stevie Wonder’s next commencement stop will be the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, where he is set to speak on May 23 after Misty Copeland gives her address at the institution on May 22.

AFRO Political Reporter Tashi McQueen contributed to this article.

The lawsuit, initiated on Nov. 7, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, alleges a litany of legal violations, including breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and misclassification.

After Geico’s parent, Berkshire Hathaway’s, recent annual shareholder meeting on May 4, 2024, scrutiny has intensified on the conglomerate’s corporate governance. Crump and the plaintiffs have galvanized attention toward what they see as Geico’s discriminatory treatment of minority GFRs, igniting a national conversation on equity and accountability within the insurance industry.

This article was originally published by NNPA Newswire.

7 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW TO PROTECT YOUR

1 2 3 4

VERIFY your Registration Status and Your Poll Location Before Election Day by calling your local Board of Elections, 1-866-MYVOTE1 (1-866-698-6831) STAND YOUR GROUNDif there is a problem at the polls you have a right to cast a provisional ballot if you are certain you are a registered voter.

VERIFY the proper identification needed to vote in advance. Be sure to TAKE PROPER ID TO VOTE. To check ID requirements for your state visit:vote.org

VERIFY that YOU will be in town on Election Day – If available in your community, vote early or absentee ballot. To verify the rules in your state, call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683).

5 6 7

For more information go to unitycampaign.org Maryland Early Voting: May 2 - 9, 2024 MD Presidential Primary Election Day: May 14, 2024

YOU HAVE A RIGHT to file a complaint if your rights have been violated. If you need assistance call 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

OR ON ELECTION

DON’T BE AFRAID TO REQUEST HELP from poll workers. Poll workers are there to help YOU.

BALTIMORE-AREA

Protecting young Black lives and the neighborhoods we call ‘home’

By Angela G. Galeano

Many things are synonymous with summer in Baltimore.

An egg custard snowball with marshmallow topping at Ice Queens, digging through a pile of crabs in search of the heaviest crustacean at a family cookout, and–unfortunately–the scream of dirt bikes flying up the street. That last image conjures up mixed emotions for many Baltimoreans. Some see themselves in these young men

“Enforcing the laws on the books for dirt bikes is not an attack on the Black community… it is restoring safety to the community for residents in an effort to keep children safe.”

and women, enjoying the feeling of invincibility that comes with being young. For others, the loud bikes weaving in and out of traffic and on sidewalks are more than an annoyance– they can be frightening for both pedestrians and drivers. It is for the safety of everyone in the community, including the young people riding helmet-less and driving at breakneck speeds, that compels State’s Attorney Ivan Bates, as the top prosecutor in the City, to enforce the laws already on the books regarding dirt bike riding. Furthering our prioritization of collaboration and partnership, with thanks to the Mayor and to other city officials who offered their support of the citation initiative, announced by State’s Attorney Bates last July, the enforcement of laws against illegal dirt bike activity is tempered with reasonable alternatives to prosecution. We have developed a plan with BPD that is intended to prevent

Greater

Coppin State University Gala 2024: A night of celebration, inspiration and philanthropy

residents to acknowledge the growth of the university and raise money to expand resources offered by the institution.

Ericka Alston Buck Special to the AFRO ealstonbuck@afro.com

On the evening of May 4, the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel was flooded once again with displays of Black excellence, as Coppin State University hosted their second annual gala.

Under the resplendent theme of celebrating and inspiring students on the path to “be more,” the gala pulled together a diverse tapestry of esteemed guests, including elected officials, community leaders, artists and philanthropists.

The 2024 Coppin State University Gala was more than just a glamorous event—it was a manifestation of Coppin’s commitment to shaping a brighter future for its students and the surrounding community. With a mission to raise $25 million over five years through the ‘BE MORE’ campaign, Eagle Nation aimed to bolster student support, expand scholarship opportunities and enhance academic offerings.

outstanding achievements and contributions.

Throughout the evening, guests were inspired by the stories of resilience, dedication and leadership exemplified by the honorees. Their unwavering commitment to making a positive impact served as a reminder of the transformative power of philanthropy and community involvement.

One of the highlights of the evening was undoubtedly the five-star surf and turf seated dinner, expertly prepared. Attendees savored every morsel of the sumptuous meal. Each dish, from the perfectly cooked filet mignon to the succulent mahi-mahi, was a testament to culinary excellence and the dedication of the catering team.

“Since 1900 Coppin has stood as a beacon of hope. In over 124 years, we have proven ourselves to be a university that is invaluable and irreplaceable. What started in the basement of a local high school, today, is a leader in urban higher education.”

The gala commenced with a VIP reception, where the air was thick with excitement and camaraderie. Among the attendees was Dion Lawson, a proud Coppin alum, who reminisced about his college days.

“Coppin State gave me everything I needed in terms of being a leader, in terms of looking at the future. If it wasn’t for Coppin State College, I don’t know where I would be,” he said.

As the doors to the main ballroom opened, guests were greeted by the melodious strains of an orchestra, setting the stage for an evening of elegance and sophistication. Ballerinas gracefully danced throughout the room, adding a touch of class and charm to the atmosphere.

The gala served as a platform to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to Coppin State University and the wider community. Among the distinguished honorees were Brian D. Pieninck, president and CEO of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, who received the Blue and Gold Impact Award for his corporation’s outstanding commitment to philanthropy. Carim V. Khouzami, president and CEO of Baltimore Gas and Electric, was honored with the Wings of Excellence Award for his innovative solutions and significant advancements within the community.

Joseph H. Lewis, a Coppin alum, was presented with the Eagle Legacy Award in recognition of his exemplary civic and charitable responsibility spanning over ten years. Dr. Tammira Lucas, also a Coppin graduate, received the Eagle of the Year award for her

Destiny-Simone Ramjohn, vice president of community health and social impact for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, spoke with the AFRO about why the company helped sponsor the event.

“Historically Black colleges and universities, along with PBIs or predominantly Black institutions and minority serving institutions, are part of my personal and professional mission,” she said. “Carefirst BlueCross BlueShield believes that educational attainment and economic opportunity are the social drivers that can most move the needle on individual and community health outcomes.”

To conclude the event, Anthony Jenkins, Ph.D., president of Coppin State University, delivered a moving speech on what it means to invest in the future of the West Baltimore university and the Coppin State community at large.

“Since 1900 Coppin has stood as a beacon of hope. In over 124 years, we have proven ourselves to be a university that is invaluable and irreplaceable. What started in the basement of a local high school, today, is a leader in urban higher education,” said Jenkins. “Education still remains the greatest equalizer in our nation. That is why the work we do at Coppin State University is so important.”

“We educate a diverse, multicultural, multigenerational student population,” he continued. “At the hands of our incredible faculty and our dedicated staff, they are transformed into the thought leaders... the solution finders and the change agents that are helping shape and lead our world. At Coppin, our commitment to improving the human condition and creating upward, economic mobility is unmatched and unwavering.”

Jenkins implored those in attendance to help financially support the institution’s goals and the scholars who attend the historically

Continued on B2

Gov. Moore announces over $125 million for state revitalization projects

By Tashi McQueen

Political Writer

Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced on May 6 that over $125 million will be allocated to State Revitalization Programs under the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to support community, housing and economic development projects.

“We must ensure that our cities, towns and communities are strong and resilient. Serving as viable, vibrant economic and social hubs with pathways to opportunity for all Marylanders,” said

“We must ensure that our cities, towns and communities are strong and resilient.”

Moore in a news release. “Our State Revitalization Programs foster partnerships with local governments and stakeholders and provide critical capital resources to address the unique redevelopment goals and challenges of Maryland’s diverse communities.”

The funding will be available through seven programs, which include Community Legacy, Maryland Facade Improvement, Strategic Demolition FundProject C.O.R.E., Strategic Demolition Fund-Statewide, Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative, National Capital Strategic Economic Development Fund and Seed Community Development Anchor Institution. The Governor’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget includes:

• Community Legacy: $8 million capital • Maryland Facade Improvement Program: $5 million capital • Strategic Demolition Fund – Statewide: $10 million capital

Baltimore Committee to unveil regional economic opportunity strategy at 69th annual meeting

By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer

msayles@afro.com

The Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) will hold its 69th annual meeting at Tradepoint Atlantic in Sparrows Point on May 23. The event will mark the unveiling of the organization’s 10-year economic opportunity plan, which will create a roadmap to achieve a globally competitive and equitable economy in the region.

The strategy is a part of GBC’s larger multi-year agenda that is designed to accelerate economic opportunity, transportation, infrastructure and collective impact in Greater Baltimore.

“Over the last year, we’ve pursued the Tech Hub, we’ve launched an effort to design a regional brand and an effort to tackle the city’s vacant housing challenge. The 10-year plan will institutionalize that level

of work,” said Mark Anthony Thomas, CEO and president of GBC.

“We’ll outline the types of things the region needs to collaborate on, the areas of big opportunity where we see growth and potential job opportunities and the ways we want to collaborate to create opportunities that are critical for the region.”

Established in 1955, GBC maintains over 400 partners, including leading businesses, higher education institutions, nonprofits and philanthropic organizations. Together, they work to address civic challenges and advance the region’s economy.

In 2022, GBC merged with the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore, aligning the two organizations under the mission of positioning Greater Baltimore to prosper in the global economy. Thomas became president and CEO the same year.

Mark Anthony Thomas is the CEO and president of the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC). The organization will reveal its 10-year economic plan for the region during its Annual Meeting at Tradepoint Atlantic on May 23.

Under his leadership, GBC became the lead organization of the Baltimore Tech Hub, a designation bestowed by the federal government last October. Through the program, Greater Baltimore is competing for funding for projects in predictive healthcare technologies.

GBC also joined Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Baltimoreans United In Leadership Development (BUILD) in an agreement to confront Baltimore City’s vacant housing crisis over the next 15 years.

Thomas considers the Greater Baltimore region a hidden secret.

“We have a lot of great assets. People obviously know the institutions that are here,” said Thomas. “But, when you think about development language and the narrative that the rest of the world looks for in markets where they’re expanding and investing, we haven’t had the chance to tell

that story the right way.”

He thinks GBC’s recently released Investment Scorecard for the Region and the upcoming 10-year economic plan will help to better illustrate the economic momentum of Greater Baltimore.

“These are foundational efforts to start to build awareness around Baltimore as a place where people should be investing and Baltimoreans as a people that folks should be investing in,” said Thomas.

GBC’s Annual Meeting will run from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Registration for the event closes on May 21.

“If you’ve never been to Tradepoint Atlantic, and you’ve never seen our port, export and industrial economy up close and personal, we’d love to have you at the meeting to be a part of it,” said Thomas.

Megan Sayles is a Report for America Corps member.

Photos courtesy of the Baltimore City Office of the Mayor / J.J. McQueen

The Coppin State University Eagles are celebrating the success of their second annual gala, which took place at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel on May 4. Honorees, elected officials and members of the Coppin community joined with

Shown here: Mistress of Ceremonies Megan Rivers (right); Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Coppin State University President Anthony L. Jenkins, Ph.D., and Pamela Richardson Wilks, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs at Coppin State University (left).

Courtesy photo

Protecting young Black lives

Continued from B1

individuals from fueling dirt bikes at city gas stations. Due to current departmental policies, BPD does not issue citations to juvenile offenders. However, through greater vigilance and concern for our youth, we have worked with law enforcement to emphasize the role that parents are required to play to ensure that their children are not allowed to ride a dirt bike.

Dayvon Love, director of public policy at Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, is a committed activist and devoted advocate for Black and Brown people. However, we question his understanding of our office’s work in his recent article in the AFRO, “Dirt Bikes, Black Youth and Baltimore.”

Mr. Love references B-360, a stellar organization led by founder Brittany Young, as a superior alternative to traditional punishment in reaching dirt bike riders. Combining STEM education and workforce training, B-360 prioritizes connection with dirt bike riders, encouraging them to channel their interests into a productive outlet. Mr. Love clearly does not understand that our office is an active partner with B-360 in the facilitation of our Citation Docket. We refer citation offenders to this innovative organization instead of traditional prosecution.

Mr. Love goes on to say,

“Many of the youth who ride dirt bikes are young people who aren’t reached by existing mainstream interventions.” This false narrative is one that the State’s Attorney has been actively combatting since his first day in office when he announced that accountability would return to Baltimore.

Mainstream interventions, whether it’s citations or juvenile

Angela G. Galeano serves as deputy State’s Attorney and chief of staff for the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City. This week, she responds to a commentary written by Dayvon Love, director of public policy for the Baltimore-based think tank, Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle. The commentary, titled “Dirt Bikes, Black youth and Baltimore,” was published in the Baltimore section of the AFRO American Newspaper printed the week of April 27- May 3.

services, can and should reach young people and change the direction of their lives when they begin to stray down the path of illegal activity. This year, State’s Attorney Bates advocated in Annapolis for changes to our juvenile system so that young offenders can receive more substantive resources through programs and services in a timely and impactful manner. The goal should be to make mainstream interventions more effective, not to take away intervention altogether so that people are left with nothing.

Furthermore, Mr. Love says that dirt bikes should be returned

to individuals when confiscated. We could not disagree with this more. What kind of message does that send about how seriously we take this illegal activity? The law clearly states that dirt bike riding and improperly storing dirt bikes in the City of Baltimore is illegal. To return bikes to children, as young as 10 or 11 in some cases, so that they can go back out and ride 70 mph down Franklin Street– with no helmet– is irresponsible and dangerous and lacks any regard for that child’s safety.

Taking care of Black communities, especially our children, means making neighborhoods across Baltimore safe for every age group. However, because we genuinely believe in the work that B-360 does and the vital service they provide our community, the State’s Attorney would support B-360 being able to take ownership of the confiscated bikes to use for parts and educational resources within their program.

The evidence that dirt bike riding in our city is dangerous isn’t speculation. In October 2021, a dirt biker died after colliding with a fire truck on Hineline Road. In December 2022, a dirt bike rider ran a red light and collided with a vehicle on North Avenue at Bentalou Street, leaving them in critical condition. In July 2022, a dirt bike rider was killed in a crash in the Harlem Park neighborhood. As a mother, I cannot fathom telling a parent that their child was killed in a dirt bike accident after law enforcement returned the bike to them in a city where that very bike is classified as illegal.

See more on afro.com

The opinion of this article are those of the writer 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

Coppin State University Gala

Continued from B1

Black campus.

“Before you could be the cure for cancer–the next nurse who may save your or a loved one’s life, the teacher who may be responsible for your child or grandchild- the next great CEO, judge, political leader, actor, scientist, professor, athlete or military officer,” he said, voice swelling with passion.

“At Coppin we challenge our students and we push them beyond their intellectual and creative limits and we help them understand that the sky is not the

limit. We help them to appreciate and understand that earning your degree does not make you educated- the education comes from the evolutionary transformational journey that we immerse them in.”

“It is during this time and this space that they transition from student to scholar and leader.

That is the power of a Coppin State education,” said Jenkins, as the audience erupted in applause.

As the night drew to a close, guests took to the dance floor, celebrating the success of the

Gov. Wes Moore

Continued from B1

• Strategic Demolition Fund – Project C.O.R.E.: $50 million capital to accelerate the elimination of vacant properties in Baltimore Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative: $20 million capital, $2 million operating

• National Capital Strategic Economic Development Fund: $19 million capital, $1,200,000 operating

• Seed Community Development Anchor Institution Program: $10 million capital Interested applicants should apply by June 26 at 3 p.m. The governor’s office advises firsttime applicants to reach out to a regional project manager for more information on the process and to determine eligibility.

“Each year, State Revitalization Programs support hundreds of community improvement projects and

gala and the bright future ahead for Coppin State University. With sold-out tickets and a growing reputation as a mustattend annual affair, the gala served as a beacon of hope and unity, attracting attendees from near and far who were eager to support Coppin’s mission and be part of its transformative journey towards excellence.

and economic development, according to a May 6 announcement.

activities that generate millions of dollars in additional public, private, and nonprofit investment,” said Jake Day, secretary of DHCD, in a news release. “I am extremely grateful that Governor Moore recognized the importance of these resources to local communities by maintaining or increasing funding for these important programs in his budget.”

Eligible projects should align with strategies outlined in

an approved local government sustainable community plan. There will also be application training webinar sessions on May 20 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. To register, visit https://dhcd.maryland. gov/Communities/Pages/ StateRevitalizationPrograms/ default.aspx.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America Corps member.

Guided by the Regional Transit Plan (RTP)—MTA’s 25-year plan for improving public transportation in Central Maryland—BMORE BUS will present recommendations for improving bus service types, frequency, and destinations based on public priorities, travel data, and capital resources. Once complete, BMORE BUS will inform the annual updates that MTA makes to bus service each fall, working to implement the priorities identified in this plan.

Learn more and provide feedback!

Help us shape the BMORE BUS plan at mta.maryland.gov/bmorebus

Share your feedback and tell us what types of bus service improvements are most important to you!

Gov. Wes Moore (D) is making $125 million available for local projects supporting communities through housing

Photo courtesy of Office of the Governor

Courtesy photo

Final victim in Key Bridge collapse recovered

By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer msayles@afro.com

Authorities have discovered the sixth victim of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. Salvage crews from Unified Command located the body of 37-year-old José Mynor López on May 7.

Investigators and officers from the Maryland State Police, Maryland Transportation Authority Police and the FBI then recovered the late construction worker. López’s family has been notified.

“With heavy hearts, today marks a significant milestone in our recovery efforts and providing closure to the loved ones of the six workers who lost their lives in this tragic event,” said Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr., superintendent of the Maryland Department of

State Police, in a May 7 media release.

“As we mourn with the families, we honor the memory of José Mynor

López, Alejandro Hernandez

Fuentes, Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, Maynor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval, Carlos Daniel Hernandez

Estrella and Miguel Angel Luna

Eight men in total were working on the bridge when it was struck by the

Baltimore City taxpayers do not want– or need– new taxes

Dear Editor,

We know that in Baltimore City, residents of lowerincome Black communities are disproportionately affected by difficult economic circumstances, including inflation, the high cost of housing and high unemployment. These problems lead to more crime we are experiencing. Our communities are especially vulnerable to price increases, taxes and fees.

Though the costs of inflation, housing and gasoline keep going up, our wages have largely stayed the same.

The last thing we should do is make things worse.

The Mayor’s FY25 Budget thankfully contains no new taxes or fees. As the Baltimore City Council considers this budget, its members should hold firm on not proposing taxes and fees of its own as a means to increase revenue. It was a relief to see that the mayor’s budget did not impose a new tax on the hardworking people of Baltimore, and I thank him for this. But the City’s reliance on new fees and taxes in the past, including the ill-advised container tax a few years ago, has severely hurt lower-income working families and small businesses that can least afford it.

We have the right to expect that the City will live within its means. The Baltimore City Council needs to find other ways to address budget shortfalls besides taxes and fees. It needs to provide adequate services and safer streets and do so with the funds they already have.

Enough is enough. I hope the council can finish its work on the budget without adding another burden for residents who are already struggling to make ends meet.

Signed, Maurice Nobles Munchie’s Gourmet’s, Owner

José Mynor López of Baltimore, Md. is the final construction worker to be recovered following the fatal Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse on March 26. Authorities discovered his body on May 7.

James Fields / AFRO News

Gonzalez.”

Dali container ship and subsequently collapsed on March 26. López is one of six construction workers killed in the disaster. Two

men were rescued.

Megan Sayles is a Report for America Corps member.

Coppin State University hosts second annual gala

Ericka Alston Buck

Special to the AFRO

On the evening of May 4, Coppin State University hosted their second annual gala at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel.

The event served as a celebration of the historically Black instution’s growth and included testimonies from students, speeches from esteemed honorees and a moving call to action by the university’s president, Anthony L. Jenkins, Ph.D.

The school currently has a goal of raising $25 million over five years through the ‘BE MORE’ campaign, as they work to expand courses offered, resources available to students and increase their impact on the City of Baltimore.

Prior to the main event, a VIP reception was held. Once the main program began, audience members heard from students like Tori Haynes-Harrison, a senior enrolled in the early childhood education program, and Mister and Miss Coppin State University, Jawaad Williams and Kailah Griffin-Randall, respectively.

Event sponsors included CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and Baltimore Gas and Electric. Throughout the evening a host of awards were presented, including the Eagle Legacy Award to Joseph H. Lewis, a Coppin alum who has displayed exemplary service in the community.

The night ended with guests grooving to the sounds of DJ Ryan Kersey on the dance floor, as Coppin– for a second year in a row– proved to be home to one of the best galas in town.

New Psalmist Baptist Church installs new pastor

By AFRO Staff

n May 4, New Psalmist Baptist Church installed a new pastor. The torch was officially passed

from Bishop Walter Scott Thomas Sr. to his son, Dr. Walter Scott Thomas Jr. in a ceremony complete with all the appropriate pomp and circumstance.

Though Dr. Walter Scott Thomas Jr. is taking over the helm, he will be under the guidance of his

father for the remainder of the year, gleaning bits of wisdom all along the way.

See story on C1

Members of the congregation look on as Dr. Walter S Thomas Jr. (center) becomes pastor of New Psalmist Baptist Church with his wife, First Lady Jarrette L. Thomas (front, left), kneeling alongside him.

Bishop Walter S. Thomas Sr. (back) prepares for the installation of his son as pastor with Minister Benny Thomas.

First Lady Jarrette L. Thomas (left) stands proudly with her husband, Dr. Walter S Thomas Jr., who is only the fourth man in the history of New Psalmist Baptist Church to serve as pastor.

Photos by Belinda Merritt

Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott shares a moment at the 2024 Coppin Gala with AFRO Director of Public and Community Relations, Diane Hocker.

Rachel Graham, who currently serves as CEO of the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, is spotted in the crowd.

Tori Haynes-Harrison, a senior at Coppin State University studying early childhood education speaks about her time at the institution.

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks listens intently as members of the Coppin community speak on the institution’s growth and the limitless potential of its scholars.

Joseph H. Lewis Jr. accepts the Eagle Legacy Award for his exemplary service in the community, spanning more than a decade.

Photos courtesy of the Baltimore Office of the Mayor / J.J. McQueen

Help a student reach their full potential by donating to Coppin State University today. Using the camera feature on a cell phone, scan this image and click the website link that appears on the screen. Donations can also be made by texting “giveCSU” to the number, 71777.

Mister Coppin State University, Jawaad Williams, looks out at the gala audience with pride with Miss Coppin, Kailah Griffin-Randall, at his side.

‘Take Me to the Water’ is not being sung in Flint churches

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware Word in Black

Residents of Flint, Michigan, still don’t drink the water.

They drink bottled water. They use filters to purify the water that flows from their faucets. But after 10 full years, and much assurance from political leaders, they still don’t trust that the quality of their water — once so contaminated it was compared to an Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site — is now safe enough for their consumption.

Therefore, the churches of Flint still don’t regularly conduct baptisms. Not yet.

“For many years since the inception of the problem, we did not baptize at all,” says Bill R. Quarles, deacon at First Trinity Missionary Baptist Church in Flint. “We had one about eight months ago, but we still don’t baptize on a regular basis.”

It’s a stark departure from their faith, given the importance of baptism in religious ceremonies. But it also indicates the degree of trauma inflicted on the church by the Flint water crisis a decade ago, and a desire to keep congregants safe.

The problem, however, is much more than just the loss of the baptism ritual.

In 2014, Flint had a population of just under 99,000 people. By 2022, the most recent year U.S. Census Bureau data is available, only 79,854 residents remain in the city.

“Five Black churches have closed in the last three months,” says Rev. Derrick Aldridge, senior pastor of Second Chance Church. And due to the inability to easily cook with water, First Trinity still has no fellowship meals, which is a hardship in Baptist churches.

Roots of the crisis

On April 25, 2014, not long after officials switched the city’s water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River in a cost-saving move, residents began to complain the water looked filthy, smelled foul, and tasted of chemicals. Officials insisted the water was safe, but those who could afford it switched to bottled water.

Further testing, however, revealed that the water contained dangerous levels of bacteria and lead, leaching from the city’s aged, decrepit water system. The crisis became a national scandal: a majority-Black city with a 40.1 percent poverty rate became a highprofile example of environmental racism.

Without regular baptisms or fellowship dinners, Black congregations

the effects of the city’s

Then-Gov. Rick Snyder sent in the National Guard to distribute bottled water to poor residents while local, state, and federal government officials bickered about how to solve the problem, who was to blame — and who would pay for it.

As the crisis dragged on for many months, officials eventually agreed on a plan to overhaul Flint’s water system, gradually upgrading pipes, enhancing the filtration system and making the water safe for all. By then, however, residents had come down with mystery illnesses, strange rashes, and hair loss, and tests revealed children had alarmingly high levels of lead in their blood.

While the water crisis disrupted everyday life, from doing dishes to learning loss in schools, not much attention was paid to how it affected the city’s faith community.

The toll on Black churches

Quarles, of First Trinity Missionary Baptist, has been closely involved with the church for over 42 years. He says he has worked tirelessly to find solutions when people’s lives and health were threatened by unfit water.

Through their Flint Water Relief Mission, Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, partnered with First Trinity for over two years, providing 20,000 cases of water to

Flint residents. “They sent teams to work with us, and we’re still in touch,” Quarles says.

Nowadays, the church is still “blessed to have partners, so we have water boxes that hold and filter water before it’s given out in 2or 5-gallon containers,” he says, which they do every Wednesday and Thursday.

Some churches joined in the distribution of bottled water to poorer residents, and churches served as repositories of important information and updates. They also helped bring people together, forging resiliency in a time of crisis. But not much thought was given to how it changed the ritual of baptism.

Redefining baptism

Flint-area pastors collectively reflected on and developed principles around baptism in the city. In a 2022 paper published in “Sacramental and Liturgical Theology of Healing and Crisis Rites,” the pastors wrote that “Baptismal faith and identity were expressed in networks of solidarity that both facilitated church parking lots piled high with pallets of water and sustained those who sat around countless tables in tense rooms demanding accountability and justice.”

They “found themselves examining their own understanding of baptism — what it is, what it means — during a time when the

water was a sign of dehumanization and environmental racism.”

As a result, “The call to pastoral care rapidly expanded outward as folks recognized a need to act beyond the church walls,” according to the paper.

Significance of baptism

Most churches celebrate new membership with some form of baptism, christening, or drizzling. For Baptists, full immersion is the most often employed method — dipping the new member’s entire body into a water-filled tank, or a nearby body of water. But if the water is not clean enough, most pastors look for alternatives.

While salvation is not dependent upon baptism — baptism is an outward sign of an inward transformation — it is quite important in the life of the church and of the family. Fully immersing a candidate in water symbolizes a formerly sinful person’s metaphorical death and resurrection into a new life in faith.

Faith-based calls for accountability

Despite an ongoing, massive overhaul of the city’s water system, Flint’s faith community is still not sure their water is safe enough for baptism, one of the church’s most sacred rituals.

Aldridge, of Second Chance Church, says baptism “was a big deal, like a bar mitzvah.” Families would gather to celebrate the event, with meals and fellowship with the congregation.

Since the water crisis emerged, Aldridge says, baptism “has lost momentum and is now disconnected from the church’s purpose.”

Fortunately for Aldrige, his church building gets water from a different source. But he is frustrated that, a decade after the first cup of dirty water was drawn from the Flint River, no one has been held to account for the problem.

“Someone needs to take responsibility,” he says “Someone needs to be held accountable. The people of Flint need to be made whole again.”

This article was originally published by Word in Black. This story is part of “Flint’s Still Fighting,” Word In Black’s series about the decade-long water crisis, and the struggles and triumphs still transforming the majority-Black city.

Nationally influential Black church gets new leader

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware Word In Black

Given its rich history, it’s safe to say that New Psalmist Baptist Church is as much a part of Baltimore as crab cakes, Orioles baseball games and “The Wire.”

Founded in the basement of a house just a few decades after the CIvil War, the church grew from a few dozen souls in the late 1800s to a congregation that at one point reached 7,000 active members. Revs. Martin Luther King and Jesse Jackson have visited; so have Pastor T.D. Jakes, former President Bill Clinton and then-Sen. Barack Obama. New Psalmist ministers to the poor, the deaf, the homeless and the formerly incarcerated, among others.

Yet in 125 years of existence, through growth and change, New Psalmist has had just three pastors shepherding its congregation: its founder, Rev. Junius Gray; his successor, Frederick C. Atkins; and its current leader, The Right Rev. Walter Scott Thomas Sr.

Passing the torch

On May 4, however, the church received its fourth leader. After 49 years at the helm, Bishop Thomas will step down as the church’s pastor to make way for New Psalmist’s next leader: his son, Dr. Walter Scott Thomas Jr.

“I’m excited to see him run against the wind and to accomplish

“We often see a church in transition because someone has died or even left the church, and there’s no time for the new leader to glean from the previous leader.”

the sight you see when you make that last turn and start heading down the straightway,” he says.

As one of the nation’s most influential Black churches — and Thomas’ profile as Bishop and Presiding Prelate of The Kingdom Association of Covenant Pastors — the installation ceremony is likely to receive national attention.

But Bishop Thomas also knows it’s time to pass the torch.

“The last thing I wanted for New Psalmist was for them to be left with a vision of me dying in the pulpit,” he joked, acknowledging it’s not an unusual occurrence. “We often see a church in transition because someone has died or even left the church, and there’s no time for the new leader to glean from the previous leader.”

A lifetime of preparation

Fortunately for him, Dr. Thomas has had a lifetime of preparation to fill his father’s enormous shoes, even though he found the idea daunting in the beginning.

“First, just the thought that my pastor was retiring — that was a big thing to take in,” he says. Then came the decision whether to leave First Baptist Church of Steelton in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he’d been senior pastor since 2014, and move his wife and young children to Baltimore.

But the young minister said he

and Jarrette, his wife of 15 years, prayed continually until they were content with their decision.

Dr. Thomas grew up in New Psalmist and will now pastor people who have known him his entire life. As with most preacher’s kids, his experience included doing maintenance, cleaning up trash, working with the catering ministry, serving food and cleaning the bathroom. But his call to ministry seemed almost preordained.

After hearing the call to ministry in 2001, the preacher’s son graduated Cum Laude from

Morehouse College, majoring in Religious Studies with a minor in Psychology. He then went on to obtain his master’s of divinity from Howard University and his doctorate from United Theological Seminary. All the while, his ties with New Psalmist deepened.

Thomas started as an usher and slowly took on more responsibility over the years moving to choir board and many other roles. Eventually, he joined the staff fulltime as an intern with the media director.

The succession process Dr. Thomas says him being his father’s successor wasn’t guaranteed.

“The church had to vote and they could have said yes or no,” he says. “I’m grateful that the process was one where the vote happened while my predecessor, my pastor, is still in position, so we can walk this journey together.”

He hopes other churches will follow the succession model they’re putting into practice, leaning into what a blessing the senior pastor can be to the incoming pastor.

For Bishop Thomas, it was an emotional moment watching his son take the church into the future. “I’ll serve with him through the year, and then he will be running that race,” he said. “I’m excited to see what that leg will look like.”

This article was originally published by

Word in Black.

Courtesy photo

The Rev. Walter Scott Thomas Sr. (left) welcomes his son, Dr. Walter Scott Thomas Jr., as the new pastor of New Psalmist Baptist.

Unsplash/ Jametlene Reskp

in Flint continue to feel

water crisis.

Tim Howard’s Hall of Fame induction honors his legacy on and off the soccer field

By Tracey Reavis Special to the AFRO

For nearly a quarter of a century, Tim Howard proudly wore his red, white and blue jersey emblazoned with the U.S. crest across the front and a number one across the back. His first start for the U.S. men’s national team was in 2002, and Howard says it is right up there as one of his most memorable career moments.

“Without question, that first day in Birmingham, Ala., at Legion Field, pulling on the national team shirt and walking across the line for my first cap— playing for my country, at three

World Cups, and being a part of three World Cup teams— any little kid will tell you, that’s the most special thing you could possibly do is play for your country,” said Howard. That little kid’s dream led to an award-winning 21-year career for club and country, and a career-defining honor for arguably the greatest goalkeeper in U.S. men’s national team history.

Howard was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame on May 4. Howard, 44, was elected in his first year of eligibility.

At the induction ceremony, Howard was presented his Hall of Fame red jacket by

Chris Sharpe, Colorado Rapids goalkeepers coach with whom he formed a great relationship while playing for the Major League Soccer (MLS) team.

“I often think about what it is I most want people to know about me. I hear people

began when he joined the Olympic Development Program at 13. He eventually played in the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship with the U.S. U-20 MNT (Men’s National Team). After earning his first MNT cap in 2002, he made his

“I don’t think soccer in America has ever done enough for the Black and Brown communities. We do a terrible job in America of going into underserved communities and taking one or two players out of that and thinking we did a great job.”

talk about me all the time, and they say, ‘God-given ability.’

I don’t know what that is.

That’s ambiguous. It’s vague and it’s subjective. What’s not ambiguous and vague and subjective was my desire to be the greatest goalkeeper this country has ever seen,” Howard stated in his acceptance speech.

Howard’s career is most definitely Hall of Fame worthy. The New Jersey native played 21 years for Major League Soccer and the English Premier League, and holds the record for the most caps, 121, for a U.S. goalkeeper.

Howard’s soccer journey

first FIFA World Cup roster in 2006.

By the 2010 World Cup, Howard was the starting keeper for the U.S. His masterclass performance during the 2014 World Cup, when the U.S. took on Belgium in the Round of 16, earned him the “Secretary of Defense” nickname after setting a record for the most saves in a World Cup game with 16. Howard was voted the Concacaf (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) Goalkeeper of the Year in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

“Tim Howard, in my

opinion, is the best goalkeeper in the history of the USMNT,” said Briana Scurry, former U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper, World Cup champion and Olympic Gold medalist. Scurry is also a member of the Hall of Fame 2017 Class. “More importantly, I have tremendous admiration for the inspirational figure he has been off the field, particularly in the Black community, as a role model to the next generation of soccer players that we are now seeing start to feature on today’s USMNT.”

Howard’s play in goal could also have a significant influence on the next generation of U.S.

players and goalkeepers.

“What Howard represents is a milestone, something for future U.S. goalies to aspire to,” said Clemente Lisi, author of “The FIFA World Cup: A History of the Planet’s Biggest Sporting Event” and “A History of the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team.” Lisi added, “As an African American, Howard was also part of a generation that saw the national team become more racially integrated and better representative of the United States. That should be something that is also part of Howard’s legacy.”

See more on afro.com

AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan

United States’ goalkeeper Tim Howard dives to make a save on Germany’s Thomas Mueller during the group G World Cup soccer match between the United States and Germany at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil, June 26, 2014. Tim Howard joins Tony Meola, Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel as modern-era American goalkeepers in the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Inductee Tim Howard speaks during a ceremony for the National Soccer Hall of Fame on May 4 in Frisco, Texas.

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

Local pastry chef to star in Food Network’s ‘Next Baking Master: Paris’

By Aria Brent AFRO Staff Writer abrent@afro.com

DeAndra Bailey’s introduction to her career in the culinary arts was unintentional.

something in her that she thought would make a great chef and although she had no idea what was ahead of her she was excited for the new opportunity. Amidst this impromptu

“I got a lot of experience in the kitchen with my family but eventually I did go to culinary school but I did not stay because I found out they wanted you to have experience. So I decided to go ahead and get on the job training.”

Over a decade ago, she applied for a job as a hostess at a restaurant and somehow ended up as a line cook. Bailey’s manager at her first restaurant job saw

career change, she discovered that she was extremely passionate about cooking, so much so that she enrolled in culinary school. While working as

a line cook, Bailey was given the opportunity to pursue baking and pastry artistry– something she had always been familiar with but never considered as a career path.

“I’ve been professionally baking for about 11 years now. Altogether, I come from a line of baker’s so I’ve been in the kitchen since I was about three or four,” Bailey explained. “I got a lot of experience in the kitchen with my family, but eventually I did go to culinary school. I didn’t stay because I found out they wanted you to have experience. So I decided to go ahead and get on the job training.”

It’s been nearly 15 years since she started working in the food industry and the young pastry chef hasn’t looked back. Bailey’s affection for cooking and baking has taken her many places, the most recent being Paris, France. Food Network’s “Next Baking Master: Paris” premiered on May 6 and the Baltimore native made her TV debut. Throughout the series 10 American bakers will get the chance to showcase their skills all the while pushing the boundaries of their technique, creativity and innovation.

Bailey shared with the AFRO that just like her start in the world of cooking was ignited by the encouragement of someone else, her journey to entering this competition started after being reassured and backed by several other chefs and colleagues in her circle.

Stars shine at 2024 Met Gala with innovative fashions from ‘The Garden of Time’

By Ericka Alston Buck

Special to the AFRO ealstonbuck@afro.com

New York City came alive with the glitz and glamor of the Met Gala 2024 as celebrities descended upon the Metropolitan Museum of Art for fashion’s biggest night. The red, or rather, green and white carpet, witnessed a spectacle of style, creativity and daring looks as the stars strutted their stuff in outfits designed to capture the essence of “The Garden of Time.”

This year’s gala was held May 6 and featured attendees such as hiphop star Doja Cat, Jack Harlow, and Lil Nas X, who all made waves with their finest threads, each bringing their unique style to the forefront.

The theme for this year’s Met Gala, “The Garden of Time,” stems from the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” which was curated by Andrew Bolton. The 2024 theme went hand-in-hand with the dress code, which encouraged attendees to explore the concept of time through their fashion choices. Guests embraced earthen looks, floral motifs and away-from-the-body elements, resulting in a breathtaking array of outfits that ranged from the ethereal to the avant-garde.

Leading the charge as co-chairs of the event were Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya, Chris Hemsworth and Bad Bunny, along with honorary chairs Shou Chew and Jonathan Anderson. Their presence added an extra layer of excitement to the evening, setting the stage for an unforgettable night of fashion and glamor.

Among the standout looks of the evening were Lopez’s Custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture gown, which took over 800 hours to make. The dress, designed by Daniel Roseberry, featured warm silver pearls, rhinestones and 2.5 million silver foil bugles, resembling butterfly wings and perfectly encapsulating the theme of the night. Other celebrities made equally bold statements with their fashion choices. From Kim Kardashian’s metallic Maison Margiela Artisanal ensemble to Doja Cat’s wet Vetements T-shirt dress and glitter tears, the red carpet was a showcase of creativity and individuality.

Designers also made a splash with their sustainable and innovative creations. Stella McCartney highlighted sustainability with ensembles featuring lab-grown diamonds and vegan leather, while

Harris Reed wowed with vintage couture made from repurposed materials.

As the night unfolded, photographers jostled for the perfect shot, yelling out celebrity and designer names in the hopes of capturing the most iconic moments. Livestreams from various publications and news outlets provided fans with real-time updates, allowing them to follow along as their favorite stars made their grand entrances.

Overall, the Met Gala 2024 was a night to remember, showcasing the best of fashion, creativity and celebrity culture. As the stars mingled and posed for the cameras, it was clear that the spirit of the Met Gala - to celebrate art, innovation and individuality - was alive and well.

For those of us that were not on the list for this exclusive invite only event, we can eagerly await the latest installment of The Baltimore Met Gala curated by local visionaries Larian Finney and Derrick Chase, who’ve been intentional about providing

a space that raises funds for local nonprofits, showcases regional designers and boasts culinary giants from our own backyards. This year’s Baltimore Met Gala’s theme is “Adam and Eve: Enter the Garden” and will be held on Sept. 14.

Jennifer Lopez (left) and Zendaya Stoermer-Coleman live up to their fashion icon status as co-chairs for the 2024 Met Gala. Lopez arrived in a captivating sheer Schiaparelli Haute Couture gown covered in silver pearls and rhinestones. Though Zendaya arrived in a metallic blue and black gown designed by John Galliano for Maison Margiela Artisanal, she eventually slipped into a black vintage Givenchy gown from the 1996 spring collection, worn for the first time at the Gala on May 6.

AP Photo/Evan Agostini

DeAndra Bailey is a Baltimorean in Paris competing for $25,000 in Food Network’s “Next Baking Master,” a televised pastry competition.

Instagram/ Baileys_Daily

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2023ADM000876

MAXINE HOOVER JACKSON Name of Decedent

JOHNNY M. RIDDICK, ESQUIRE 505 CAPITOL COURT, NE. SUITE 100 WASHINGTON, DC 20002 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs

DUANE JEFFREY JACKSON, whose address is 6423 2ND PLACE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20012, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MAXINE HOOVER JACKSON, who died on JULY 5, 2020 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before NOVEMBER 03, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before NOVEMBER 03, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of first publication: MAY 03, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

OF WILLS 5/03, 5/10, 5/17/24

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM000440 JOYCE ANN MALLORY AKA JOYCE ANN SMITH Name

Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before NOVEMBER 03, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: MAY 03, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

JOCELYN K MALLORY Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 5/03, 5/10, 5/17/24

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM000443

MARY T. HARRIS Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs

DONOVAN T. HARRIS, NECANDRA T. WILLIAMS, whose addresses are 5149 8TH STREET, NE WASHINGTON, DC 20011, 14303 KATHLEEN LANE BRANDYWINE, MD 20613, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MARY T. HARRIS, who died on FEBRUARY 29, 2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown

03, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before NOVEMBER 03, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of

DUANE JEFFREY JACKSON Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 5/03, 5/10, 5/17/24

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM000414

PATRICIA O. DANIELS Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs

CLARANCE JOHNSON, whose address is 38200 SOUTH PAR COURT, TUCSON, ARIZONA 85739, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of PATRICIA O. DANIELS, who died on JUNE 21, 2023

without a Will and will serve without Court supervision.

All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before NOVEMBER 03, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before NOVEMBER 03, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of first publication: MAY 03, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

CLARANCE JOHNSON

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

REGISTER OF WILLS 5/03, 5/10, 5/17/24

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2023ADM000947 CHRISTINE PRICE

Name of Decedent

Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs

JAMES E PRICE, whose address is 246 37TH PL SE WDC 20019 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of CHRISTINE PRICE, who died on APRIL 22, 2020 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 OCTOBER 26, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before OCTOBER 26, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of first publication: APRIL 26, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

JAMES E PRICE Personal Representative

OF WILLS 4/26, 5/3, 5/10/24

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2023ADM001295 CHRISTINE COFIELD Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs

LAVENIA COFIELD, whose address is 8811 LOTTSFORD RD #544 LARGO, MD 20774 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of CHRISTINE COFIELD, who died on AUGUST 12, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before NOVEMBER 10, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before NOVEMBER 10, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: MAY 10, 2024

Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

LAVENIA COFIELD Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 5/10, 5/17, 5/24/24

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM000508

ELIZABETH JANE FARRELL Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs ANDREW FARRELL WALLACE, whose address is 3101 NEW MEXICO AVE. NW, APT 220 WASHINGTON DC 20016 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ELIZABETH JANE FARRELL, who died on MARCH 06, 2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before NOVEMBER 10, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before NOVEMBER 10, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of first publication: MAY 10, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

ANDREW FARRELL WALLACE Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 5/10, 5/17, 5/24/24

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION

ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM000427

DORENDA RENEE CANTY Name of Decedent

OLESYA SIDORKINA,ESQ. ( BAR NO.1034094) 2001 MOUNT VERNON AVE ALEXANDRIA VA 22301 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs OLA SIMONE CANTY, whose address is 563 WINTHROP STREET, MEDFORD, MA 02155 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of DORENDA RENEE CANTY, who died on NOVEMBER 28, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision.

COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE PROPOSED POLICY CHANGE TO 2024 ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN AND ADMISSIONS AND CONTINUED OCCUPANCY POLICY

The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) is providing notice of a Public Hearing and Comment Period to solicit comments on the agency’s proposed policy change to its 2024 Administrative Plan and Admissions and Occupancy Policy (ACOP).

To request a copy of the proposed Administrative Plan or ACOP changes, please call 771-240-4377, send an email to publiccomments@dchousing.org, or download from the DCHA website at www.dchousing.org/AdminPlan

The Public Hearing will take place online at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21 To join the live event, please visit https://www.dchousing.org/PublicHearing at that date and time, and when prompted enter 2316 709 3926 and webinar password tdPvMefh957. This event will also be live streamed at DC Housing Authority’s Facebook page.

Comments Written comments regarding the proposed policy change to its 2024 Administrative Plan and ACOP will be accepted through 11:59 p.m., Saturday, June 3.

Email your comments to publiccomments@dchousing.org

Alternatively, you can mail comments to:

District of Columbia Housing Authority

Office of the General Counsel

Attn: General Counsel 300 7th Street, SW 10th Floor

Washington, DC 20024

Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation

DCHA strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. It is the policy of DCHA that all agency-sponsored public meetings and events are accessible to people with disabilities. DCHA is committed to providing equal access to events for all participants & residents with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, or assistance in participating in a meeting or event due to a disability as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact our ADA/504 Program Office at 202-535-1000 or at ADA504@dchousing.org with your complete request. Every reasonable effort will be made to meet your request.

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STUDY

WEST BALTIMORE UNITED RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES PROJECT

The City of Baltimore’s Department of Transportation has been authorized to request the Office of Boards and Commission (OBC) to advertise Project No. 1389 Planning/Feasibility Study West Baltimore United Reconnection Communities Project for selected services.

It is the expectation of the City that interested firms providing these services must demonstrate and document the following, to undertake a federally funded planning/feasibility study for the 1.4-mile-long US 40 Expressway corridor in West Baltimore that includes the development of transportation and redevelopment concepts and associated analysis in conjunction with deconstructing or reconfiguring the US 40 expressway Consultant services funded in whole, or in part, with Federal-aid highway program funds shall be procured and administered in accordance with the requirements of Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR 200). In addition, contracts for engineering, planning and design related services which utilize Federal-aid highway program funds and are directly related to a planned construction project must also comply with the requirements established in 23 U.S.C.§112 and 23 CFR 172. Engineering and design related services are defined as program management, construction, management, feasibility studies, preliminary lated services, (as specified in 23 U.S.C.§. 112(b)(2)(A) and 23 CFR § 172.3). Many additional Federal laws and regulations apply to the procurement and administration of engineering, planning and design related services including the Brooks Act (40 USC Chapter 11).

City personnel will utilize the City of Baltimore Guidelines for the Performance Evaluation of Design Consultants and Construction Contractors for this contract/project.

Prequalification Requirements

All firms listed in the specific proposal for the project, whether prime or subcontractors, must be prequalified by the Office of Boards and Commissions for each discipline in which they propose to perform work at the time of submittal for this project. Any contracting firm listed in this specific proposal to perform work must also be prequalified. A copy of the prime and all subcontracting firm’s current prequalification must be included in the submitted package. Information regarding the prequalification process can be obtained by calling the Office of Boards and Commissions in 410396-6883

Submittal Process

Five (5) copies of the Federal Form 330 and response to the detailed technical proposal (NOTE: DO NOT PROVIDE A COST PROPOSAL) must be submitted on or before 12:00 P.M. (Noon) on 06/21/2024 to the Office of Boards and Commissions 4 South Frederick Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.

To obtain a detailed scope of work and to obtain an invite to the pre-submittal meeting, please contact Brenda Simmons at Brenda.simmons@ baltimorecity.gov.

The Department of Transportation will be hosting a virtual pre-submittal meeting on 05/17/24, at _11:00 AM. All interested parties must email their Firm Name, Representative Name, Email address and phone number to Brenda Simmons at Brenda.Simmons@baltimorecity.gov, no later than 5/13/2024, in order to revive an invite. DOT ask that no more than two representatives from your firm participate in the virtual meeting.

Failure to follow directions of this advertisement or the application may cause disqualification of the submittal.

All questions should be submitted to Mr. Stuart Sirota at Stuart.sirota@ baltimorecity.gov no later than 05/22/2024 at 11:49 PM. Questions will be compiled, and responses sent on 05/29/2024 to those that have provided e-mail addresses.

DBE Requirements It is the policy of the City of Baltimore to promote equal business opportunity in the City’s contracting process. Disadvantaged Business Enterprise

Industry veterans team up to create mechanical HVAC company

By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer msayles@afro.com

Real estate veteran Gina Merritt and construction consultant Michael Karnes have joined forces to establish NREUV Contracting and Mechanical. The D.C.based company specializes in designing and installing HVAC systems for new and existing construction properties.

Together, Merritt and Karnes bring decades of experience in HVAC, project management, real estate development and finance. Through their new venture, the duo aims to work with Black and Brown communities.

“We’re a new company. We’re still very small, but our goal is to create an opportunity for people from underserved communities to get training, apprenticeships and create a career pathway,” said Merritt, CEO of NREUV Contracting and Mechanical. “Our goal is to grow the company in a way that brings high-value jobs to the communities we serve and build in.”

The company also intends to team up with minority subcontractors on projects. Part of Karnes interest in partnering with Merritt was the opportunity to ease capital challenges for minority firms.

“One of the reasons I shifted away from consulting to starting this company with Gina is because there’s a very

Prince George’s County Council gives business owners a say in juvenile curfew zones

By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writer tmcqueen@afro.com

The Prince George’s County Council recently passed a resolution allowing local business owners to chime in on the enforcement of juvenile curfew zones.

Little Rock Nine activist Daisy Bates honored with statue in U.S. Capitol

By Ashlee Banks Special to the AFRO

A statue of civil rights activist Daisy Gatson Bates was unveiled at the National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol on May 8.

U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey (DMd.) spoke with the AFRO about the honor.

“The unveiling of her statue in the halls of Congress shows the arc of history bending towards justice,” said Ivey. “It is an honor to be a member of this body as we enshrine her legacy.

U.S. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas also weighed in on what the recognition means.

“Considering the current climate that we’re in as it relates to politics and race, it’s important that we remind people of our history. I think we need to consistently remind people of our history and what really matters,” said Crockett. “And hopefully we can find

it in our hearts to recognize the future historians who are currently doing their part to better this country.”

U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y. said that he is excited to see a statue

the horrors of the civil rights movement without the triumphs. This is an opportunity to celebrate the triumphs, keep working and looking for more triumphs.”

“Those who do not know their history tend to repeat it. I feel like we’re in a moment where we may be repeating the horrors of the civil rights movement without the triumphs. This is an opportunity to celebrate the triumphs, keep working and looking for more triumphs.”

of Bates at the U.S. Capitol.

“Those who do not know their history tend to repeat it,” said Bowman. “I feel like we’re in a moment where we may be repeating

Bates was born in 1914 in Huttig, Arkansas and while she was an infant, her mom was murdered by three White men. That tragedy inspired her to become a civil rights icon who broke barriers.

In her fight for justice, Bates and her husband L.C. Bates launched “The Arkansas Weekly,” which was an African-American newspaper solely dedicated to the civil rights movement.

Bates took her advocacy a step further in 1954 after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional for schools to remain segregated. Following the verdict, Bates ensured that Black students were able to attend allWhite institutions and in 1957 she

As some lawmakers look to regulate AI fakes, free speech concerns remain

By Lisa Woelfl Capital News Service

Music artist FKA twigs is urging Congress to ban unauthorized use of artificial intelligence to replicate her image or voice.

The singer, whose full name is Tahliah Debrett Barnett, said that she uses the technology herself to engage with fans in different languages or respond to press requests.

“What is not acceptable is when my art and my identity can simply be taken by a third party and exploited falsely for their own gain,” FKA twigs told a Senate Judiciary Committee’s intellectual property subcommittee on Tuesday. “Our careers

AI has been used to generate sexually explicit images of Taylor Swift, emulate President Joe Biden’s voice in robocalls and sell dental plans using a replica of Tom Hanks’ likeness.

A bipartisan Senate bill aims to address all of these issues. The proposal would hold individuals, companies, and platforms liable if they produce or host unauthorized replicas, but includes some exceptions to protect free speech.

The council’s resolution authorizes the chief of police to enforce and create curfew zones for juveniles under 17 when requested by commercial property owners in Prince George’s County. The bill took effect immediately.

and our livelihoods are in jeopardy.”

Generative AI has been used to create songs, such as “Heart on my Sleeve”, which replicated the voices of popular music artists

Drake and The Weeknd. Works like these take away revenue from the original artists, industry leaders argue.

But the problem is much bigger than that.

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Delaware, and chairman of the subcommittee, said that he created his own AI-generated song using a replica of Frank Sinatra’s voice.

“The song was fun to

create,” Coons said, adding that he had the permission of the rights holder to do so.

Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, the ranking Republican on the panel, said that he uses the generative AI ChatGPT for one hour every day as part of his news feed. Congress has to be careful not to overstep the rights of others

“Our biggest priority is making sure we’re in partnership with the business community, law enforcement and the residents of our county.”

“The resolution we passed today will fill the gap as the Juvenile Curfew Bill becomes law,” said Council Chair Jolene Ivey (D-District 5) in a statement on April 30. “Our county executive put an executive order in place specific to National Harbor, but we want to allow other commercial property owners in the county to apply for a curfew zone if they feel it’s needed.” Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks’ executive order prohibits unaccompanied minors 16 and under from the National Harbor between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The curfew went into effect on April 26.

“The safety and wellbeing of our residents, visitors and businesses at National Harbor are of the utmost importance,” said

Inset photo courtesy of the National Women’s History Museum/Photo courtesy of Britannica

The U.S. Capitol building is now home to a new statue of Daisy Gatson Bates (inset), who helped desegregate schools in Arkansas in 1957 as part of the Little Rock Nine.

Capital News Service/ Lisa Woelfl

Music artist FKA twigs (left) wants to protect her legacy from artificial intelligence. She was a witness before a Senate subcommittee on May 6.

FDIC report outlines misogynistic, patriarchal, ‘good ole’ boys’ workplace culture

By Fatima Hussein

The Associated Press

An independent review of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) workplace culture describes an environment that fostered “hostile, abusive, unprofessional, or inappropriate conduct,” and questions whether the agency’s chairman is credible to lead the agency through a cultural transformation.

The report released May 7 by law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen and Hamilton outlines incidents of stalking, harassment, homophobia and other violations of employment regulations.

The incidents span from field offices to headquarters in Washington, and ”arose within a workplace culture that is ‘misogynistic,’ ‘patriarchal,’ ‘insular,’ and ‘outdated’ — a ‘good ole’ boys’ club where favoritism is common, wagons are circled around managers, and senior executives with well-known reputations for pursuing romantic relations with subordinates enjoy long careers without any apparent consequence,” the report states.

More than 500 workers reported incidents of harassment, discrimination and other issues.

Examples of the worker complaints included a woman stalked by a coworker who was continually harassed even after complaining about his behavior; a field office supervisor referring to gay men as “little girls”; and a female field examiner describing receiving a picture of an FDIC senior examiner’s private parts.

The report comes after the Wall Street Journal last November published an investigation that outlined details of the agency’s workplace

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culture. The FDIC’s board then ordered the independent review FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg’s behavior is also examined in the report, describing “deeply unsettling exchanges” between the chair and his subordinates. Several instances of the chairman losing his temper are outlined in a chapter of the report, stating in one example that as recently as last year, he held a 45-minute rant on bank failures where he threatened that he could “fire” or “reassign” anybody he wanted. Attendees described the meeting as “embarrassing and inappropriate.”

His “reputation raises questions about the credibility of the leadership’s response to the crisis and the ‘moral authority’ to lead a cultural transformation,” the report states.

“Far too many employees and for far too long, the FDIC has failed to provide a workplace safe from sexual harassment, discrimination and other interpersonal misconduct,” according to the report.

“We also find that a patriarchal, insular, and riskaverse culture has contributed

An independent review of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s workplace culture describes an environment that fostered “hostile, abusive, unprofessional, or inappropriate conduct,” and questions whether the agency’s chairman is credible to lead the agency through a cultural transformation.

credibility around internal reporting channels, has led to an underreporting of workplace misconduct over the years.”

The agency last December

“Far too many employees and for far too long, the FDIC has failed to provide a workplace safe from sexual harassment, discrimination and other interpersonal misconduct,” according to the report.”

to the conditions that allowed for this workplace misconduct to occur and persist, and that a widespread fear of retaliation, as well as a lack of clarity and

Bates

released a plan to address the issues outlined in the report, which Gruenberg mentioned in an apology posted to the agency’s website on May 7.

“To anyone who experienced sexual harassment or other misconduct at the FDIC, I again want to express how very sorry I am,” Gruenberg said. “I also want to apologize for any shortcomings on my part.

As Chairman, I am ultimately responsible for everything that happens at our agency, including our workplace culture.”

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill have called on Gruenberg to resign from his post.

House Financial Services Committee Chair Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), said the report “makes clear new leadership is needed at the FDIC” and Democratic committee member Rep. Bill Foster from

Illinois said “sweeping changes must be made to mend the toxic work environment that has run rampant for far too long, and that starts with a change of leadership. It is time for Chair Gruenberg to resign.”

Sen. Tim Scott(R-S.C.), ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee said “it’s time for Chairman Gruenberg to resign so the FDIC can move forward with the leadership it deserves and desperately needs.”

The FDIC is an independent government agency that protects bank deposits in the event of a bank failure.

This article was originally published by The Associated Press.

when trying to regulate AI use, he said.

The current draft might infringe on First Amendment rights, experts and industry leaders warned the committee.

Ben Sheffner, senior vice president and associate counsel at the Motion Picture Association, warned of a chilling effect new regulations might have in the use of technology for storytelling. He used the example of the film classic “Forrest Gump,” which features the main character interacting with digital replicas of former presidents. That might not be possible under the proposed bill, he said.

Sheffner said a new law is not necessary, but if Congress wants to address AI issues, legislation should be narrow and deal with gaps around election fraud and sexually explicit images.

Adding a federal layer to the existing “patchwork of state laws” will only exacerbate the problems, Sheffner said.

Lisa Ramsey, law professor at the University of San Diego, echoed free speech concerns. She said a new law should include specific exceptions to liability for expression protected by the First Amendment. Additionally, the current draft’s basis for permitting legal action against a person or entity allegedly misusing AI is too broad, she said.

“What is not acceptable is when my art and my identity can simply be taken by a third party and exploited falsely for their own gain. Our careers and our livelihoods are in jeopardy.”

“I’m glad that we are taking up this bill,” Tillis said, despite the challenges to balance privacy rights and free speech. “We need to get it right.”

Coons said that the committee will refine the bill in the next two weeks and he hopes to introduce it later this month.

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recruited nine students, known as the Little Rock Nine, to integrate at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.

On Nov. 4, 1999, Bates passed away and President Bill Clinton posthumously awarded her with a Congressional Gold Medal.

“We all stand on the shoulders of the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s,” said Ivey. “Daisy Bates’ work with the press and with the NAACP as it pertained to the integration of Little Rock’s Central High School and the Little Rock 9 makes her one of the early catalysts of change during those turbulent years.”

Crockett told the AFRO that stories like that of Bates are “a part of the fabric of who America is. When you

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Alsobrooks in a statement. “The implementation of a juvenile curfew is a necessary step to address the recent incidents of unruly behavior and ensure public safety. We are committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to preserve the vibrancy and security of National Harbor.”

Eligible business owners must meet particular criteria before submitting an application for a curfew zone, which includes a letter of support from the county council member of that area.

“Our biggest priority is making sure we’re in partnership with the business community, law enforcement and the residents of our county who have all been strong supporters of these measures,” said Ivey.

With the Juvenile Curfew Bill the council aims to enforce more aggressive measures within the juvenile curfew zones in order to handle youth violence.

The bill is expected to be voted on at the end of May.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

talk about the greatness of America that’s what made America great. We never needed an orange man to make us great.”

“It was people like Daisy Bates, the people who weren’t seeking the glory, weren’t looking for cameras but really believed in doing the real work,” said Crockett. “The people that lived out what it meant to be a Christian, instead of using Christianity as a tool of war to oppress other people.”

A statue of American singer-songwriter Johnny Cash was unveiled alongside Bates’ statue at the Capitol on May 8. The statues replace those of 19th-century politicians like attorney Uriah Rose and former Arkansas Gov. and Sen. James P. Clarke.

AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File

Unsplash / Noor Younis

As juvenile curfew zones are being considered by the Prince George’s County Council, businesses are given a say.

HVAC company

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big disparity in access to capital when it comes to minority firms versus White companies,” said Karnes, president of NREUV Contracting and Mechanical.

Before going into business with Merritt, Karnes ran a consulting business following 28 years in the HVAC industry. His goal was to help minority subcontractors grow from exclusively supplying labor to general contractors on projects to providing materials and equipment.

However, the costs associated with

“There are so many people in Black and Brown communities who just need access to economic opportunity, and if they had the access, they would kill it.”

construction materials and equipment are steep.

“The number one biggest issue in construction right now is that the subcontractors finance the job, not the banks. Even though the banks say they’re financing the project, they’re delaying payment for 30, to 60, to 90 days in some cases,” said Karnes. “When you’re a small, minority contractor that has $100,000 in the bank, you can’t carry a job for four months before you get paid.”

“We had an idea to hire these subcontractors and make them laboronly,” said Karnes. “Then, we can help them grow their capital to self-finance and help them get their credit up in order to obtain financing.”

Merritt is no stranger to connecting

underestimated communities to employment opportunities. The New York native started her career on Wall Street before venturing into real estate development.

In 2002, she started Northern Real Estate Urban Ventures (NREUV), a community development firm focused on serving low-income communities. The firm has supported the construction of more than 7,000 multifamily units and has $600 million worth of projects in its pipeline today.

Merritt, herself, lived in affordable housing as a child—a reality she didn’t realize until her 20s. She said her Bronx neighborhood was a beautiful community, and she loved growing up there.

With real estate development, Merritt thought she could create and

maintain communities like the one she grew up in. She wanted to ensure they had longevity and investment. In 2008, she established another business, Project Community Capital, to leverage her industry relationships to connect underserved individuals with employment, subcontracting and entrepreneurship.

“There are so many people in Black and Brown communities who just need access to economic opportunity, and if they had the access, they would kill it,” said Merritt. “Our platform has proved that. We place all kinds of folks in jobs that they would otherwise not hear or know about, and we leverage our social capital to make those connections.”

As interest rates have skyrocketed in the housing market, Merritt is hoping NREUV Contracting and Mechanical will

help offset cash flow for NREUV.

“Development has slowed down because interest rates are so high. We can’t borrow as much,” said Merritt. “I needed another way to throw off cash flow to run my development business.

NREUV Contracting and Mechanical secured its first $2-million contract with Brookfield Properties in Delaware. The townhouse development is about 152 units.

“We hope we’ll be awarded another seven-figure contract— close to $3 million— in the next 30 days,” said Merritt. “My hope is that we wind up being a $100-million HVAC company one day.”

Megan Sayles is a Report for America corps member.

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Photo courtesy of Gina Merritt

Gina Merritt is the founder and principal of Northern Real Estate Ventures, a community development firm established in 2002. She recently partnered with HVAC veteran Michael Karnes to launch NREUV Contracting and Mechanical.

Photo courtesy of Michael Karnes

Michael Karnes is the president of NREUV Contracting and Mechanical. Before joining the venture, he ran a consulting business to support minority subcontractors.

Passport DC hosts “Around the World” embassy tour

By Patricia McDougall

On May 4 Passport DC’s “Around the World” embassy tour opened its door to thousands of people despite the rain. The success of this event was due to the 60 embassies that opened their doors and participated in the occasion. The embassies are the heart and soul of the tour, offering a unique opportunity for visitors to experience different cultures and traditions.

The embassy tour provides a platform for cultural exchange and understanding, allowing visitors to explore various countries without leaving Washington D.C. It showcases the diversity and richness of different nations, fostering a sense of global unity and appreciation for different cultures. The tour not only brings people together, but also celebrates the cultural heritage and diplomatic relationships between nations.

The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and the African Union to the United States of America hosted many of the embassies. This has become a cherished tradition in Washington D.C., as many include locals and tourists alike participate in the festivities.

The Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago collaborates with Passport DC to bring music, food and dancing to those in attendance.

Dania Jolley (left), director cultural programs for Events DC enjoys the event with Jan Du Plain, embassy liaison for Passport DC’s “Around the World” embassy tour, and Allyson McKithen, executive director of the World Trade Center in Washington, D.C., at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China US Passport DC Event.

Ambassador of Chad to the United States, Kitoko Gata Ngoulou, welcomes attendees looking to learn more about her country.

Peniella Ndayizeye, of the Embassy of Burundi, participates in Passport DC at the University of the District of Columbia.

Sarah Mutesi, of the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda to the United States, participates in the Passport DC tour as part of the African Union Representation Mission to the U.S.

The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia displays camels, which are a staple in their native land.

Shown here, Emile Wallace-Waddell (left), a community relations officer for the Embassy of Jamaica, and Joshua Collins, a public information officer with the Office of the Secretary of State of the District of Columbia.

Latisha Malcolm (left) and Delita McCalam at the Embassy of Jamaica to the U.S.