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Celebrating Black music month: From Billie to Gabby, Go-Go to Gospel

Celebrating Black music month: From Billie to Gabby, Go-Go to Gospel

Black Music Month is a celebration of the Baltimore-Washington corridor’s rich musical tapestry, from jazz legends Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington to hip-hop artists like Sisqó and Gabby Samone, and gospel choirs like the Howard Gospel Choir and Morgan State University Choir.
The post Celebrating Black music month: From Billie to Gabby, Go-Go to Gospel appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

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Gov. Moore announces first Road to Careers funding recipients to promote high-skill workforce development

Gov. Moore announces first Road to Careers funding recipients to promote high-skill workforce development

Gov. Wes Moore has announced the first $4 million in Road to Careers grants, aimed at training nearly 1,200 Marylanders for high-demand construction and transportation jobs. The initiative targets historically underserved communities, offering wraparound services to support career development and help close the racial wealth gap.
The post Gov. Moore announces first Road to Careers funding recipients to promote high-skill workforce development appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

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PG Council adopts $5.8B budget, prioritizing health and re-entry programs

PG Council adopts $5.8B budget, prioritizing health and re-entry programs

The Prince George’s County Council has adopted a $5.8 billion budget for fiscal year 2026, focusing on core services, education, safety and infrastructure amid financial challenges. It includes funding for the Black Maternal Health Fund and various community programs.
The post PG Council adopts $5.8B budget, prioritizing health and re-entry programs appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

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Rev. Jamal Bryant’s Corporate Challenge Earns Top Black Press Honor

Rev. Jamal Bryant’s Corporate Challenge Earns Top Black Press Honor

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Bryant, the Senior Pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in metro Atlanta, launched a 40-day fast—aligned with Lent—as an economic protest against Target after the company announced in January it would end its DEI initiatives and cancel a $2 billion pledge it made in 2020 to support Black-owned businesses following the murder of George Floyd. “After the murder of George Floyd, [Target] made a $2 billion commitment to invest in Black businesses,” Bryant said during an earlier appearance on the Black Press’ Let It Be Known news program. “That commitment was due in December 2025. When they pulled out of the DEI agreement in January, they also canceled that $2 billion commitment.”

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Bailey and Martell: Honoring the legends who shaped country music’s past, present and future 

Bailey and Martell: Honoring the legends who shaped country music’s past, present and future 

DeFord Bailey is known as a pioneer who helped shape country music, even though he and other Black artists were often sidelined. Their contributions challenge the idea that country music was ever a homogeneous space.
The post Bailey and Martell: Honoring the legends who shaped country music’s past, present and future  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

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Cherry Hill Festival returns July 4 to unite Baltimoreans in shared celebration

Cherry Hill Festival returns July 4 to unite Baltimoreans in shared celebration

The Cherry Hill Arts and Music Waterfront Festival returns to Baltimore on July 4 at Middle Branch Park, featuring live performances, family-friendly activities, and a custom drone show. The event, now in its ninth year, will partner with the city’s Inner Harbor festivities to offer an all-day celebration of art, culture and community.
The post Cherry Hill Festival returns July 4 to unite Baltimoreans in shared celebration appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

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City leaders respond to Bilal “BJ” Abdullah Jr. death with resource fair as body-cam footage is released

City leaders respond to Bilal “BJ” Abdullah Jr. death with resource fair as body-cam footage is released

Baltimore City officials and community members gathered for a resource fair to provide aid and support after the police-involved shooting death of Bilal “B.J.” Abdullah Jr., with vendors offering testing for STDs, housing resources, drug rehabilitation programs, food, books, and school supplies.
The post City leaders respond to Bilal “BJ” Abdullah Jr. death with resource fair as body-cam footage is released appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

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Snapshots of sound: A look at the icons who shaped Black music

Snapshots of sound: A look at the icons who shaped Black music

Black Music Month celebrates the achievements, activism, and work of Black creatives across various genres, including country, jazz, rhythm and blues, and gospel, while also recognizing Black music icons who shaped the music industry and American culture.
The post Snapshots of sound: A look at the icons who shaped Black music appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

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Mayor Scott Appoints Dr. Melanie Bryant as Director of the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs

Mayor Scott Appoints Dr. Melanie Bryant as Director of the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs

By The Baltimore City Office of the Mayor BALTIMORE, MD (Wednesday, June 25, 2025) — Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced the appointment of Dr. Melanie Bryant as Director of Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs. Her leadership will play a crucial role in supporting the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community policies and initiatives that […]
The post Mayor Scott Appoints Dr. Melanie Bryant as Director of the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

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Senators mark Juneteenth with call to action on racial and economic justice

Senators mark Juneteenth with call to action on racial and economic justice

On the evening of Juneteenth, four Democratic senators gathered at the U.S. Capitol for a candid discussion with Black media outlets, using the moment not just to commemorate emancipation but to issue a pointed call to action. On June 18, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Cory Booker (D-N.Y.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) reflected on the historical significance of Juneteenth and the enduring struggle for racial justice in America.
The post Senators mark Juneteenth with call to action on racial and economic justice appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

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More Than 8,500 First Responders Arrive in Birmingham for the 2025 World Police and Fire Games

More Than 8,500 First Responders Arrive in Birmingham for the 2025 World Police and Fire Games

By Solomon Crenshaw Jr. |The Birmingham Times For many Birmingham-area first responders, this week’s 2025 World Police and Fire Games (BHM 2025 WPFG) is about more than competing against peers from around the globe. It’s a family reunion, they say. “It’s competition. It’s athleticism,” said Sergeant Dana Sartalamacchia of the Birmingham Police Department, who’ll compete in […]

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Birmingham City Council Approves Mayor Woodfin’s $591 Million Budget for Fiscal 2026

Birmingham City Council Approves Mayor Woodfin’s $591 Million Budget for Fiscal 2026

The Birmingham Times The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved Mayor Randall L. Woodfin’s proposed $591 million fiscal 2026 operating budget which focuses on neighborhood revitalization,  resurfacing our streets, advancing a public safety strategy, recruiting more police, and investing in young people. The fiscal year begins July 1. “I want to thank the council […]

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