NEWS FROM OUR PUBLISHERS

The Youth Mental Health Corps (YMHC), launched by the Schultz Family Foundation, is expanding to 11 states — including Maryland — deploying 600 young adults to provide near-peer mental health support in schools, nonprofits, and clinics. The program aims to address the youth mental health crisis by training diverse young adults, ages 18–24, to offer culturally relevant support while earning credentials and exploring careers in behavioral health.
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The Rev. Dr. Heber Brown III is a community organizer, clergy-activist and executive director of the Black Church Food Security Network. Over the next several months, he will write letters to the descendants of formerly enslaved and formerly lynched loved ones. This is the first series in that installment.
The post A letter to Howard Cooper’s family: His legacy demands repair appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Misty Copeland, the first Black female principal dancer in American Ballet Theatre’s 85-year history, performed her farewell show Oct. 22 at Lincoln Center, marking her retirement after 25 years with the company. Surrounded by family, colleagues and admirers including Oprah Winfrey and Debbie Allen, Copeland celebrated a career that broke racial barriers in classical ballet while pledging to continue advancing diversity through her foundation and advocacy work.
The post Misty Copeland hangs up her pointe shoes after performing for adoring crowd at retirement show appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Megan Sayles, AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com Credit: All photos by Devin Allen Back in 2009, a group of local players in Baltimore’s fashion scene came together to open City of Gods, an urban apparel store in West Baltimore’s Hollins Market neighborhood.  What began as a collaboration between multiple independent clothing brands quickly became a […]
The post City of Gods: Where Baltimore fashion meets community  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times With a theme that included the words “art,” “justice” and “creativity” the Birmingham Museum of Art was the ideal place on Friday to honor renowned sculptor Joe Minter. The City of Birmingham’s AWAKEN event, held annually during Magic City Classic Week, was themed “Art as Resistance — Awakening […]

dcwins.com The Birmingham school board on Thursday gave Superintendent Dr. Mark Sullivan a favorable review in an evaluation that was heavily weighted to measure outcomes for students and the system overall. School board member Mary Boehm, chair of the superintendent’s evaluation committee, said Sullivan met expectations when looking at measurable achievements in the district as […]

Shohei Ohtani’s remarkable performance in Game 4 of the NLCS playoffs, where he hit three home runs and struck out 10 batters, has earned him a spot among the greatest postseason players of all time as the Los Angeles Dodgers prepare to face the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 World Series Finals.
The post Players to watch in Major League Baseball’s 2025 World Series Finals appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The Office of Equity and Civil Rights (OECR) hosted the 32nd Civil Rights Breakfast on Oct. 17, kicking off the 2025 Civil Rights Week. The program, led by WMAR 2 News reporter Ja Nai Wright, sparked conversations amongst city leaders, lawmakers and activists to take action against today’s democracy.
The post 2025 Civil Rights Week breakfast sparks conversation on justice and equity  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The discovery of 100 unmarked graves near Cheltenham Youth Detention Center highlights Maryland’s failure to protect children in the justice system.
The post 100 unmarked graves, 33 automatic offenses: Maryland must stop failing children appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

From a Disney performance in 2021 to “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” and now “American Idol” and beyond, Gabby Samone is proving that her story is only beginning. For Baltimore and for fans nationwide, the rise of Gabby Samone is one to watch — a young artist grinding, glowing, and stepping fully into her moment.
The post Baltimore’s Gabby Samone: From ‘American Idol’ breakout to rising R&B powerhouse appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The United Domestic Workers (UDW) union has endorsed Proposition 50, a ballot measure aimed at establishing fair congressional district maps, and is sponsoring a voter mobilization campaign to support its members across the state.
The post United Domestic Workers Endorse Proposition 50 to Protect Vulnerable Communities appeared first on Black Voice News.

By Solomon Crenshaw Jr. | For The Birmingham Times Ramsay High School Principal Carolyn Russell-Walker can be found anywhere in Legion Field during the Amazon Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola on Saturday, Oct. 25. “I sit everywhere,” she said. “I’ll sit in the box. I’ll sit in the stands. I’ll walk on the field.” […]

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times The Jefferson County Commission on Thursday agreed to abate non-educational sales taxes for a Wisconsin-based industrial laundry to locate in Jefferson Metropolitan Park in McCalla. ITU AbsorbTech, the largest Wisconsin-based supplier of environmentally friendly industrial absorbents, towels, mats, garments, will make a $24.5 million capital investment in JeffMet McCalla […]

By Donald Hunt | For The Birmingham Times After a week off, Alabama State and Alabama A&M should be ready to battle each other in arguably one of the biggest HBCU games of the year. The two long time rivals will play in the 84th Magic City Classic on Saturday, Oct. 25 at Birmingham’s Legion […]

By Alicia Rohan | uabnews.com The University of Alabama at Birmingham on Thursday celebrated the ribbon-cutting and grand opening of the Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building, a transformative facility that will accelerate breakthroughs in precision medicine, genomics, informatics and data sciences. It is the seventh new or renovated facility to open on campus […]

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The Maryland Bankers Association and the Center for Strategic Entrepreneurship at Coppin State University will lead a conversation on credit equity in Maryland on Oct. 24.
The post Maryland Bankers Association to host community talk on credit equity at Coppin State appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Adrian Muldrow, a father and community activist, spent seven years in prison for a murder he did not commit, and is now fighting to reclaim his identity and rebuild his life while facing the stigma of incarceration and the lack of resources to navigate the digital era.
The post When innocence isn’t enough: The long road home after a wrongful conviction appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Dermell Brunson, founder of Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center, is speaking publicly for the first time since former Baltimore City teachers sued his nonprofit and the school district over unpaid wages. Brunson said delayed payments from City Schools and other partners—compounded by outdated systems, tighter banking requirements for Black-led nonprofits, and post-COVID funding challenges—have created financial strain, though he stressed LTYC has acted in good faith.
The post AFRO exclusive: LTYC founder responds to teacher lawsuit, cites delayed payments and funding challenges appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The California Teachers Association (CTA) is urging voters to pass Proposition 50, a ballot measure aimed at preventing President Trump’s cuts and protecting public education funding, which would also add five Democratic seats to Congress and protect voting rights.
The post CTA Supports Proposition 50 to Safeguard Public Education and Democratic Processes appeared first on Black Voice News.

By Jennifer Porter GoreWord in Black When Congress couldn’t agree on a budget to fund the government before Oct. 1, officials used some budget trickery to guarantee that the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, known as SNAP, would continue through the end of the month.  But if Congress doesn’t pass a budget by Nov. 1, millions […]
The post USDA warns states about November SNAP benefits appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By April England-AlbrightWord in Black The Supreme Court’s October 2025 session may be its most consequential yet in the long fight for Black freedom. Louisiana v. Callais, which was reargued on Oct. 15, is the latest case testing the Voting Rights Act — a law the court has steadily weakened over the past decade and […]
The post To the Supreme Court: The Callais decision will show us who you are with Louisiana v. Callais, SCOTUS could strike a death blow to the Voting Rights Act. appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Morgan State University is now the recipient of a $63 million donation from Amazon co-founder MacKenzie Scott. President David Wilson described the gift as not just a financial boost, but an affirmation of the university’s trajectory as a research institution.
The post As others retreat amid anti-diversity sentiment, MacKenzie Scott deepens her commitment to HBCUs with $63M gift to Morgan State appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Solomon Crenshaw Jr. | For The Birmingham Times When Alabama State University (ASU) and Alabama A & M University (AAMU) meet in the 84th Amazon Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola on Saturday, October 25, at Birmingham’s Legion Field, two student-athletes on opposite sidelines will not be strangers — ASU’s Jalen Jones and AAMU’s […]

By Solomon Crenshaw Jr. | For The Birmingham Times While a strong game plan is one key to success in the Magic City Classic, Eddie Robinson Jr., the fourth year Alabama State University football coach knows it’s not just about X’s and O’s, but you’ve got to have Jimmies and Joes — talented players — […]

By Jerry Underwood | Made In Alabama Alabama Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair announced Wednesday that SmartWiz, a rapidly growing Black-owned tax software technology company in Birmingham using advanced artificial intelligence to streamline the work of tax professionals, is expanding its operations with plans to create 66 high-paying jobs. Founded in 2021 in Birmingham by a team of […]

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times Community leaders, breast cancer survivors and advocates gathered inside the Jefferson County Courthouse Wednesday morning to unveil a mural during Breast Cancer Awareness Month that spotlights the journey of healing, restoration, and hope. The Jefferson County Commission, partnered with Virtue, Inc., a local non-profit organization to promote awareness […]

JALEN WRIGHT, ALABAMA A&M LINEBACKER ON THE UPCOMING 84TH ANNUAL MAGIC CITY CLASSIC AT BIRMINGHAM’S LEGION FIELD ON OCT. 25; THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES, OCT. 23.

The California Teachers Association (CTA) has endorsed Proposition 50, a redistricting initiative, and is reaching out to California’s Black voters to counter the political climate in states like Texas and to protect education and voting rights.
The post California Teachers Association Rallies Behind Prop. 50: A Stand for Education and Democracy appeared first on Black Voice News.

LUT WILLIAMS BCSP Editor The last week of October begins a key stretch of the 2025 black college football season. CIAA and SIAC teams start the final three weeks of regular season play determining who […]

Experts say behavioral therapy and structured support can make a lasting difference By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects an estimated seven million U.S. children ages 3 to 17 — about 11.4 percent of all children, according to 2022 […]

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson returned to the practice field Oct. 22 after missing two games with a hamstring injury, giving the struggling team hope as they prepare to face the Chicago Bears. Although Jackson was limited in practice, teammates and coaches welcomed his presence, while Coach John Harbaugh remained noncommittal about Jackson’s status for Sunday’s game.
The post Lamar Jackson back on practice field for Ravens after missing 2 games with hamstring injury appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS For years, 10,000 steps a day has been the gold standard for fitness trackers. But according to new research, the magic number may not be as essential as once believed. The […]

Guest commentary by Jerry Burnet, former president, Huntsville/Madison Co. NAACP Black Americans are among the top consumers in the United States, yet we remain at the bottom of the nation’s wealth-building chain. According to data from […]