Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards Returns to Downtown Baltimore on May 28 (BALTIMORE – May 12, 2026) – When you talk about the future of clean energy, workforce development, and economic justice in Maryland, one name continues to rise to the top — Cherie Brooks. On Thursday, May 28, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m., the Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards will honor Brooks, Visionary Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Power52 Foundation, for her groundbreaking work at the intersection of environmental sustainability and economic empowerment. Held at 110 W. Saratoga Street in downtown Baltimore, Black Wall Street JODY…

Special thanks to Fulton Bank, R.E. Harrington, Pleasant Yacht Club’s Lafon Porter, Esquire, Constellation Energy, and Derrick Jones Funeral Home (SPARROWS POINT, MD – May 11, 2026) – Being from Baltimore — West Baltimore, that is — Dundalk, Essex, Sparrows Point… all of that always felt like another part of the world to me. Not unfamiliar, just different terrain. But anybody who understands Baltimore understands the Eastside’s importance: the water, the port, the ships, the cargo. Commerce moving in and out like a heartbeat. Jobs — real jobs — sustaining families and communities for generations. And nestled within that industrial landscape…

(BALTIMORE – May 8, 2026) – Margaret “Betty” Watkins has been doing hair in Turner Station for 53 years. Tomorrow, she gets her flowers. Watkins is among the honorees at Black Wall Street SPARROWS POINT, the latest stop in the Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards series, founded by Doni Glover. The event celebrates Black entrepreneurship, legacy, and economic empowerment rooted in community. Betty’s story is Turner Station through and through. A native of the historic waterfront community, she graduated from Sollers Point Junior/Senior High School in 1964 before studying at Earn Power Business School, where she trained as an…

BALTIMORE — May 9, 2026 — The Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards returns to Baltimore County with its highly anticipated Black Wall Street SPARROWS POINT edition, bringing together some of the region’s most impactful leaders, public servants, and community builders for an afternoon of recognition, reflection, and connection. Set for Saturday, May 9 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Pleasant Yacht Club—Baltimore’s only Black-owned yacht club—the event continues a 15-year tradition of honoring excellence across industries while reinforcing the power of Black entrepreneurship and community leadership. A Celebration of Leadership Across Sectors This year’s honorees reflect a powerful…

(BALTIMORE – May 3, 2026) – I met Robbie at Morehouse. When you’re 700 miles from home and you run into a homeboy—somebody who understands you before you say a word—that’s a bond that holds. Robbie stayed in Atlanta. I made my way back to Baltimore.But we stayed in touch. Over time, I came to know his father. O. Patrick Scott. It took years before I realized they were father and son. When I found out, it made perfect sense. O. Patrick Scott was not just a man. He was an institution. A visual artist and graphic designer whose work helped…

(SPARROWS POINT, MD — May 3, 2026) — A powerful cross-section of leadership, legacy, and community impact will take center stage as Black Wall Street SPARROWS POINT returns to Baltimore County on May 9, honoring a distinguished group of trailblazers whose work continues to shape the region and beyond. Set against the backdrop of the historic Pleasant Yacht Club—Baltimore’s only Black-owned yacht club—the event will celebrate individuals across business, public service, faith, entertainment, and grassroots leadership. This year’s honorees include: Jade Johnson Servant Courtney Speed Arkia Wade Betty Watkins Kevin Clash Ronnie Lacks Chief Louis Winston Gloria Nelson Johnny Mathis…

(TURNER STATION, MD – May 3, 2026) – A towering figure in Maryland politics and a lifelong advocate for justice, Kweisi Mfume will be honored at the upcoming Black Wall Street SPARROWS POINT event for his decades of service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the people. A proud son of Turner Station, Mfume’s journey is deeply rooted in one of Baltimore County’s most historic Black communities. Born in Baltimore and raised in West Baltimore, his life story reflects resilience, intellect, and purpose—qualities that have defined his path from local activism to national leadership. A graduate of Morgan State University, where he…

(SPARROWS POINT, MD – May 2, 2026) — A true pillar of Turner Station and a lifelong servant leader, Servant Courtney L. Speed will be honored at the upcoming Black Wall Street SPARROWS POINT event, recognizing her decades of unwavering commitment to community, family, and legacy. Rooted in faith and guided by the principle that “he that is greatest among you shall be your servant,” Speed has lived a life defined by humility, resilience, and impact. Born in Baltimore and raised between East Baltimore and Virginia’s Eastern Shore, Speed’s early life instilled in her the values of hard work, discipline,…

(BALTIMORE – May 9, 2026) — In a profession where seconds matter and leadership can mean the difference between life and death, Fire Chief Louis Winston has built a career defined by service, discipline, and unwavering commitment to community. On Saturday, May 9, the Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards—now in its 15th year—will honor Chief Winston at the Black Wall Street Sparrows Point edition, taking place from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Pleasant Yacht Club. Chief Winston currently serves as Fire Chief of the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services, a role he has held for…

(BALTIMORE – April 29, 2026) – When Bishop John Richard Bryant shows up for your ribbon-cutting, you know you have arrived. But hold on — is that Imam Earl El Amin, too? It sure was, as dozens of fans and supporters — including the young men from Uncle T’s youth program — gathered Sunday afternoon for the 2:30 pm ribbon-cutting at Kevin Scott’s newly-renovated, two-story office building on West Mulberry Street in downtown Baltimore. Senator Antonio Hayes and Downtown Partnership’s Shelonda Stokes were both on hand. Kevin Scott’s Benedetto Haberdashery got the welcome it deserves. For 25 years, Kevin has…