(BALTIMORE – August 7, 2025) – Baltimore is more than a city. It’s a proving ground. It’s a crucible of grit, grace, and relentless grind. Out of this fire come individuals who don’t just survive—they transcend. Five brothers in particular come to mind: Ben Johnson, David Miller, Akio Evans, Choo Smith, and Mario Armstrong. These men aren’t just success stories. They are Baltimore in motion. Ben Johnson You haven’t truly experienced a circus until you’ve been to the UniverSoul Circus. And you haven’t truly understood the UniverSoul until you’ve heard Ben Johnson’s story. A son of Edmondson Avenue, Ben’s work is more than entertainment—it’s a celebration of Black culture, history, and excellence. He didn’t just join the circus. He helped redefine what it could be. Dr. David Miller To understand David Miller, you’ve got to know his mentor, Ademola Ekulona. A rites of passage program changed David’s life, helping steer him from the trauma of watching his best friend gunned down a block away after leaving O’Dell’s. Today, he’s Dr. David Miller—author of 15+ children’s books, educator in Ghana, and a national voice for our boys and girls. He didn’t just survive—he transformed. Akio Evans If you don’t know East Baltimore, you don’t fully know Akio. You’d have to walk down Eager Street, Holbrook and Hoffman, feel the crunch of glass underfoot, and catch the breeze off the harbor. Akio took that energy and poured it into art, turning pain into purpose. He went from dodging warrants on the West Coast to international acclaim—sharing his work in Australia and snapping pics with A-list celebs. He faced his demons, and he won. Choo Smith Sure, the world knows Choo as a Harlem Globetrotter. But I know him as the man who mentored Meadowlark Lemon in his final days—and who lights up a room full of kids like nobody else. Choo has spent decades pouring into youth and community. His accolades are many: Presidential Service Awards, Hall of Fame inductions, leadership roles with retired players’ associations. But ask him what matters most? He’ll point to the family of a child he coached who was killed—and the fact that he showed up for them. That’s who Choo is. Now, he’s spearheading a $120 million “Choo Smith CommuniVersity” development with Ray Lewis, planned for 52 cities. Just weeks after losing his mother, he kept moving. That’s not just resilience. That’s divine purpose. Mario Armstrong Before AfroTech was a hashtag, Mario Armstrong was putting Baltimore on the tech map. Writing, reporting, broadcasting—he did it all. He pitched a show to WMAR and landed it. Then he leveled up to the Today Show. Mario’s a media force—equal parts entrepreneur and evangelist for Black brilliance. Think Tyrone Taborn for the next generation. These five brothers are more than individuals—they are a movement. They’ve taken their pain and their promise, their Baltimore battle scars and blessings, and built something unstoppable. They didn’t conform. They carved new lanes. They bet on themselves. And they won. Ben kept a circus…
(BALTIMORE – August 5, 2025) – On Saturday, September 6, 2025, BMORENews.com will once again host the BMORE Black Business…
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(BALTIMORE – July 18, 2025) — In the wake of a mass overdose incident that sent 27 people to local hospitals, BMORENews.com has published an exclusive in-depth feature titled “Penn-North…
(BALTIMORE – April 25, 2025) — Ten years ago, the world turned its gaze to Sandtown-Winchester. The death of Freddie Gray while in police custody sparked national outrage and local uprising—but for those of us who call this community home, it wasn’t the beginning of our grief. It was the boiling point of a pain that had long been ignored. For generations, Sandtown has endured trauma layered deep—poverty, violence, disinvestment, institutional neglect, and systemic racism. These scars run through our schools, our streets, and our spirits. They show up in every shuttered recreation center, every broken promise from government, and…
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(BALTIMORE – April 24, 2025) – For generations, Sandtown-Winchester has endured deep, layered trauma—far beyond what’s typically depicted by mainstream, non-indigenous media. These narratives often misrepresent the community, glossing over its rich history, unshakable resilience, and the systemic injustices it continues to confront. The grief of losing loved ones—whether to violence, poverty, or police misconduct—cuts deep. The 2015 Freddie Gray Uprising may have stunned the nation, but for Sandtown residents, it was not a beginning. It was another painful reminder of the ongoing harm inflicted by institutions like the Western District Police Station—an emblem of decades of abuse targeting Black Baltimoreans.…
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Community Gathering Scheduled for Sunday, April 27, 3–5 PM at Sharon Baptist Church (BALTIMORE – April 23, 2025) – As the city marks ten years since the death of Freddie Gray, the Sandtown-Winchester Collective will host a heartfelt community reflection on Sunday, April 27, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Sharon Baptist Church, located in the heart of the neighborhood that forever became a symbol of both tragedy and transformation. The event, organized in partnership with BMORENews.com, invites Baltimore residents, local leaders, media, and national observers to engage in a truthful, community-led conversation about what has changed—and what still must…
(BALTIMORE – April 23, 2025) – This year marks the tenth anniversary of the death of Freddie Gray. We knew this day would come, and we’ve been praying for the wisdom to hear and share God’s message to the people. In recent weeks, reporters from various news outlets and representatives from numerous organizations have reached out to BMORENews.com, all asking the same question: Who has done what since then? My answer has been the same to each one—I’ve invited them to come to church with me this Sunday, April 27th, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Sharon Baptist Church in…
(BALTIMORE – April 23, 2025) – Yesterday marked a major milestone for East Baltimore as East Baltimore Development, Inc. (EBDI) celebrated the groundbreaking of its Phase 2B Public Roadway Infrastructure Project—a transformative $9.6 million investment aimed at modernizing transportation infrastructure in the heart of the Eager Park neighborhood. Construction is scheduled to begin in May 2025 and continue through spring 2026. This project represents the next major step in EBDI’s long-standing mission to build a vibrant, mixed-use, mixed-income community in East Baltimore. Since 2002, EBDI has led revitalization efforts backed by more than $1.8 billion in combined public and private…
(BALTIMORE – April 23. 2025) – Yesterday, Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed Senate Bill 4 and House Bill 258 into law—historic legislation aimed at revitalizing West Baltimore and the West North Avenue corridor, one of the city’s most historic yet long-neglected commercial and residential areas. Signed as an emergency measure, the bill responds to decades of disinvestment in West Baltimore neighborhoods and affirms the State’s commitment to reversing these trends. The legislation officially designates the West North Avenue Development Authority (WNADA) as Maryland’s lead economic development agency for Baltimore City. “I’m proud of the collaboration between Governor Moore, Senate President…
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