(TALLAHASSEE – March 18, 2023) – I just started a petition titled “Tell the Florida State Board of Education That Black History Matters”! My name is Brianna Beadle, and I am an alumna of Florida public schools and Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Just yesterday, Governor Ron DeSantis rejected the College Board’s request to approve its Advanced Placement African American Studies course.1 His argument: Teaching advanced Black history  “significantly lacks educational value.”2 This is complete and utter nonsense.  Though born and raised in Florida, I attended K through 3 in Connecticut; there I attended a charter school with predominantly Black educators and students. But when…

(ANNAPOLIS – March 5, 2023) – According to sources close to the State of Maryland’s procurement offices, the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) program’s biggest challenge is resources. Hence, if Gov. Wes Moore is going to make strides in the realm of MBE, he is going to have to put unprecedented resources into the compliance aspect of the various programs in the state’s agencies. The states around the country with MBE programs follow similarities of the federal government’s model for the DBE Program. However, each state is left to determine for themselves how serious they are about ensuring actual MBEs benefit…

(BALTIMORE – March 4, 2023) – One of Baltimore City’s favorite sons past a few days ago. Damon Hughes grew up on the Westside and graduated from Morgan State University. Thereafter, he embarked on his professional career in the design field and the corporate world simultaneously. Somewhere along the way, his passion for social equity and economic engineering inclusion surfaced and he became, at first a student … and then a legend. His first assignment in government enabled him to create a world-class MBE/WBE compliance and goal-setting mission with Baltimore County government with county purchasing. Often he would clash with County…

(BALTIMORE – February 17, 2023) – The debacle over the BGE Conduit deal is a brutal indictment of our Strong Mayor system of government in Baltimore. We must respond by democratizing the Board of Estimates to make it more accountable to our residents. Or, we could just abolish it. Yesterday’s vote was rushed. There has not been adequate time for community input. There are unanswered questions about equitable infrastructure investment, the impact of the deal on electric rates for City residents, and the impact on our City workforce. A former Council President wisely warned us of this bad outcome while…

By Derrick Burnett (BALTIMORE – February 13, 2023) – We’re asking  Everyone to go support our Divine 9 Brother Edwin Avent ( Kappa) and his Baltimore Collegiate School For Boys on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023, at 5:30 pm at the Baltimore City Public Schools Headquarters Building as they are trying to close down his charter school to educate young African American men for political and unjust reasons. A DIVINE “9” EFFORT is needed to support his ongoing efforts. He has an excellent school and principal in former Baltimore Polytechnic Institute Principal Dr. Barney Wilson. Please reach out to Edwin for…

(BALTIMORE – February 10, 2023) – Simply put, history is a story, record, and interpretation of the past.  John Hendrik Clarke, the historian extraordinaire, highlights its importance in his remarks,  “The events which transpired five thousand years ago, five years ago or five minutes ago have determined what will happen five minutes from now, five years from now or five thousand years from now.  ALL HISTORY IS CURRENT EVENTS.” He who rules has control over the historical record which includes interpretation of that record and thus, all others are forced to view the world through the eyes of the dominant…

By Terrence Thrweatt (BALTIMORE – December 3, 2022) – In 2015, I was a bright-eyed graduate of St. Mary’s College of Maryland. I was younger and full of life. I had hope. I interned on Capitol Hill for Congressmen Elijah Cummings and Hakeem Jeffries (NY). When I got back to Baltimore City, I was determined to make a change. I joined the campaign of Yitzy Schleifer running against 40-year incumbent Councilwoman Rikki Spector. I put up campaign signs in West Arlington, Glen, and Grove Park. I vouched for him with the folks that did not think he’d represent “Lower Park…

Judge Vickie Gipson garnered 103k votes, more than any Black candidate in Anne Arundel (ANNAPOLIS – November 26, 2022) – Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Some of the political pundits predicted a “red wave” and others had hoped for a “blue wave”, what came instead was a “black wave” that changed the political complexion of Anne Arundel County politics. Here is one for the history books. For the first time in Anne Arundel County history, voters ushered into office a new sheriff, register of wills, a judge on the Orphan’s Court, and a new member of the Maryland General Assembly. What…

(BALTIMORE – November 14, 2022) – I am so grateful to be one of the first elected members to the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners! I am proud that my neighbors across Baltimore chose me as their advocate on the school board. As a mom of a future Baltimore City Public School Student, I am going to work hard for our families. Over a year ago, I applied for a vacancy on the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners. I applied because I did not hear board members raising issues I deeply understand. I was not selected to interview…

(HARLEM – November 10, 2022) – The Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards (11.4) is the brainchild of Donald Morton “Doni” Glover. I’m so honored to be partnering with such an amazing person that always makes room for me at any table. When Doni asked me if I have names of people doing work in the community and making an impact – of course, many names came to mind. Having a background in community revitalization and impact, I realize that there are countless individuals doing this work. Congratulations to the awardees who have been influential in the work that they do.…