(BALTIMORE – October 29, 2025) – There are roughly 150,000 children in Maryland living in poverty. For too long, concentrated childhood poverty has existed in neighborhoods across the state — denying many children the ability to reach their full potential. But every child deserves more than just a chance to survive; they deserve the opportunity to thrive. For decades, government programs have tried to reduce poverty without directly listening to the people most affected — and with mixed results. ENOUGH flips that model on its head. The initiative brings together state agencies, local nonprofits, philanthropies, and community leaders with shared…

(BALTIMORE – October 29, 2025) – Tonight’s West Baltimore Business Meeting at The Mill on North is the fruit of years of quiet labor by committed Baltimoreans who see the bigger picture. You won’t find these people in headlines or viral clips — they’re too busy in the trenches, building block by block, nurturing the next harvest of hope. And every now and then, a leader emerges. Then another. Ten years ago, West Baltimore stood in ashes after the city’s first major uprising in nearly half a century. Smoke lingered at Penn-North. Glass crunched beneath every step. The fire at the…

(BALTIMORE – October 27, 2025) – On or about October 16, 2025, Maryland’s Department of General Services (DGS) issued a notice to vendors adopting the position of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) regarding the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Interim Final Rule (IFR) on the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. In plain language, this rule removes the long-standing presumption of eligibility for firms owned by racial minorities and women. It marks a fundamental shift in how minority business participation will be recognized — not only in Maryland but across the nation. USDOT’s justification for this IFR stems from recent federal court rulings…

(BALTIMORE – October 20, 2025) – Followers of BMORENews.com know that helping empower Black-owned businesses is a top priority for us. We understand that the stronger our businesses are, the more likely they’ll be able to hire Black people. This is particularly meaningful in an era where any and every allocation designed to level the playing field for minorities is evaporating before our very eyes. The truth is, nobody is coming to save us. So, in partnership with Elev8 Baltimore, we’ve pulled together a powerful setup with some dynamic business owners and leaders for a critical community gathering next week.…

The DOT’s October 3 rule ends 40 years of demographic protections. Black and women-owned firms must now prove discrimination individually—and time is running out. (BALTIMORE – October 15, 2025) – On October 3, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued an interim final rule that fundamentally restructured the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, eliminating the demographic presumptions that have anchored federal contracting access for Black-owned, women-owned, and other disadvantaged firms for four decades. The consequences are immediate and severe. All existing DBE certifications are suspended. Firms must recertify by proving they have faced specific discrimination in their business history. The…

Effective immediately, firms must prove disadvantage individually—reshaping access to federal contracts (WASHINGTON, DC – October 15, 2025) – The U.S. Department of Transportation issued an interim final rule on October 3, 2025, fundamentally restructuring how the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program operates. The new rule eliminates race- and sex-based presumptions of disadvantage that have anchored the 40-year-old federal contracting initiative, requiring all firms to demonstrate economic hardship on a case-by-case basis. The shift has immediate consequences. All existing DBE and Airport Concessionaire Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) certifications are effectively suspended pending reevaluation under the new standards. Federal agencies are prohibited…

America Just Took the Ball and Went Home  (BALTIMORE – October 14, 2025) – As I read numerous articles on the recent Trump Administration ruling to remove Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) opportunities from the books, my thoughts go far beyond the obvious women-owned and minority-owned businesses that are most affected. My thoughts are on the Black women who nursed white babies with their own breast milk. I think of Chevy pickup trucks with Confederate flags in the rear window. I’m thinking about the kid who brought his basketball to the court, but he took his ball and went home when…

For business owners, particularly those with ties to Sandtown-Winchester – Harlem Park (BALTIMORE – October 5, 2025) – The Sandtown-Winchester/Harlem Park Collective invites all business owners and entrepreneurs connected to the 21217 area to attend an important community meeting on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at The Mill on North (2636 W. North Avenue), just west of Coppin State University. 👉 RSVP: https://westsidebusiness.eventbrite.com Purpose Our mission is simple but powerful: to identify shared priorities and unite our efforts toward building a stronger, more sustainable future for West Baltimore. Small businesses are the economic backbone of our…

(BALTIMORE – October 5, 2025) – The Sandtown-Winchester/Harlem Park Collective invites all business owners and entrepreneurs connected to the 21217 area to attend an important community meeting on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at The Mill on North (2636 W. North Avenue, just west of Coppin State University). RSVP to https://westsidebusiness.eventbrite.com. Our Mission: To identify shared priorities and unite our efforts toward building a stronger future for West Baltimore. Small businesses are the economic backbone of our communities—creating jobs, employing local residents, and driving positive change. The more we strengthen our businesses, the greater impact we can make together. Who…

(BALTIMORE – September 15, 20025) – Once upon a time, you had to walk into Blockbuster on a Friday night. If the movie you wanted was gone, tough luck. Then came Netflix, shipping little red envelopes to our mailboxes. A few years later, streaming went mainstream — and Blockbuster was history. Netflix wasn’t just about movies. It was about freedom and convenience. Watch what you want, when you want. No late fees, no gatekeepers. Amazon followed with Prime, Hulu jumped in, Disney, Apple, Paramount, Peacock — you name it. The old cable bundle collapsed. Now here we are in 2025,…