Author: NNPA

A mass overdose at Baltimore’s Pennsylvania and North Avenues has laid bare the city’s chronic neglect of its most vulnerable communities. In this searing opinion piece, Michael Eugene Johnson calls for urgent, systemic investment in accessible healthcare and addiction services to prevent further tragedy and restore dignity to a historically overlooked neighborhood.
The post A wake-up call written in tragedy: Baltimore’s drug crisis laid bare on Penn and North  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman has reintroduced the “Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act,” a bill designed to address the mental health crisis affecting youth, particularly Black youth, by increasing access to culturally competent care and supporting research into racial disparities in mental health. The legislation proposes $995 million in grants to fund research, reduce stigma, and train providers to meet the unique needs of minority communities.
The post Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman aims to empower Black youth with mental health legislation appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

A July 12 rally at Athletic Republic in District Heights, Maryland, will honor Shahid Omar Jr., Myles Prentice and Donnell Stephenson—three young men lost to gun violence. The event, hosted by Kim Lee King and supported by the S.E.L.F. Foundation, will feature guest speakers, music, food and a raffle to remember the lives lost and call for justice.
The post Community rally honors three young men lost to gun violence appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Student producers from Morgan State University’s Black SoccerLab are now analyzing culture and technique as part of “Goalkeepers,” a podcast and video series spotlighting African diasporic perspectives during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The post Morgan State’s ‘Goalkeepers’ spotlights African Diaspora on the soccer field during World Cup  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Baltimore police have released bodycam footage showing the fatal shooting of 70-year-old Pytorcarcha Clark-Brooks, a mentally ill woman who approached officers with a knife during a welfare check. The NAACP is demanding an independent investigation, condemning the use of lethal force and calling for systemic change in how mental health crises are handled.
The post Baltimore police release bodycam video in fatal shooting of 70-year-old woman  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.