GYIFT is proud to be a facilitator for the Stephen V. Pearce Scholarship Fund at the University of Virginia. For more information about Stephen and the scholarship click here. To donate to the scholarship fund click here. mission Global Youth Initiatives for Transformation (Gyift Foundation) is a 501(c)3 youth development organization established in 2015. We are based in Long Beach, California, with operations in California, the Eastern Seaboard States and Southern Africa. Our mission is to promote the socioeconomic and emotional wellbeing of youth living in minoritized communities. Our focus is on breaking cycles of poverty, promoting equality and developing the overall…

JUST ANNOUNCED: Ping-Pong Tournament at the Easterwood Reunion! It’s official — we’re adding even more excitement to the Easterwood Reunion! CALLING ALL PING-PONG PLAYERS in Baltimore! We’re hosting a Ping-Pong Tournament at the Rec, and the competition is open to all skill levels. Whether you’re a basement champ or a spin master, this is your moment! Entry Fee: $10 Prizes: Two trophies up for grabs Vibe: Fun, friendly, and fiercely competitive Come for the fun, stay for the bragging rights — but don’t forget to bring your A-game! RSVP to Easterwood.eventbrite.com

(BALTIMORE – August 1, 2025) — At a special demonstration event held at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI Airport), researchers from Morgan State University’s National Transportation Center (NTC), Safety and Mobility Advancements Regional Transportation and Economics Research (SMARTER) Center, and Center for Equitable Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Systems (CEAMLS) unveiled an innovative autonomous wheelchair technology. This adaptive wheelchair, which was designed to respond to user commands intuitively via a smartphone application, showcased its potential to revolutionize mobility aids in bustling environments like airports. The demonstration marks the culmination of more than five years of research and development conducted at Morgan State…

(BALTIMORE – July 31, 2025) – Last week, Walter P. Carter Institute for Leadership & Service announced the official launch of the Community Leadership and Empowerment Program (CLEP) , a free, nonpartisan initiative designed to grow civic understanding, build local leadership, and connect Baltimore residents to the tools of power. Baltimore has long been home to powerful civic movements and neighborhood-based leadership. From tenant unions to cultural institutions, the city has always produced people who organize, resist, and reimagine. What sets CLEP apart, aside from its nonpartisan, no-cost structure, is its founding team: Kristerfer Burnett, former Baltimore City Councilman and longtime…

🔥 TOMORROW at 9 AM! 🔥BlackUSA.News’ Emmy-nominated Doni Glover ShowStreaming LIVE on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube Join us Tuesday, July 29, 2025, for a powerful episode featuring Baltimore legends who not only made their mark—but give back with purpose. 🎓 Timmy Greene (Poly)🎓 Tim Rock (City)🎓 Choo Smith (Dunbar)🎓 Ralph Lee (Dunbar) These proud alumni from Baltimore’s iconic high schools are doing more than repping their schools—they’re reinvesting in the next generation, one move at a time. From courts to classrooms, from mentorship to entrepreneurship—this convo is about legacy, leadership, and love for our city. 👉 Don’t miss it!📺 The…

🔥 TOMORROW at 9 AM EST! 🔥 BlackUSA.News’ Emmy-nominated Doni Glover ShowStreaming LIVE M-F 9 am EST on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube Join us Tuesday, July 29, 2025, for a powerful episode featuring Baltimore legends who not only made their mark—but give back with purpose. 🎓 Timmy Greene (Dunbar)🎓 Tim Rock (Poly) 🎓 Greg Branch (Dunbar)🎓 Choo Smith (City)🎓 Ralph Lee (Poly) These proud alumni from Baltimore’s iconic high schools are doing more than repping their schools—they’re reinvesting in the next generation, one move at a time. From courts to classrooms, from mentorship to entrepreneurship—this convo is about legacy, leadership,…

📅 Date: Saturday, August 16, 2025🕙 Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM📍 Location: The Cube Cowork, 4709 Harford Road, Baltimore, MD 21214💵 Cost: FREE (Registration Required)🅿️ Parking: Street parking + lot behind Zeke’s Coffee It’s time to turn barriers into business plans. Baltimore is a city rich in creativity, hustle, and resilience—but too many of our residents face economic roadblocks due to past incarceration. The RIDE (Returning Citizens Inspired to Develop Entrepreneurial Ventures) Program at Morgan State University’s EDAC is here to change that. Join us for the RIDE Entrepreneurship Center Summit, a transformative, one-day event designed specifically for formerly…

(BALTIMORE – July 28, 2025) – Please join us on Thursday, August 7th at Lexington Market for LIGHTS CAMERA ACTIV8!—a red carpet gala + film premiere to benefit Elev8 Baltimore. More than just a great party, this is an urgent opportunity to invest in Baltimore youth. Your support will help close the gap left by Federal funding cuts—ensuring that thousands of students have access to nutritious meals, caring mentors, and a safe space to thrive next year. Dress Code is Hollywood Glam — no rules, whatever makes you feel fancy! RSVP here: https://givebutter.com/activ8gala Event Schedule  🎉 Red Carpet 6 pm-6:30 pm Cocktail Hour…

Baltimore Weekend Recap: Royalty, Legacy, and Love from All Corners of the City (BALTIMORE – July 7, 2025) – There’s simply no other way to explain this. As a Westsider with Eastside roots, I can say with all my heart and soul – I love all of Baltimore. This weekend, I had the distinct pleasure of spending time with Baltimore royalty from all four corners of the city. From former star athletes to loyal community supporters, it was a celebration of history, culture, and unity. The weekend began with a fundraiser for Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. My personal journey includes both…

From prison to world champion, the ‘Camden Buzzsaw’ leaves behind a legacy of grit, love, and inspiration (BALTIMORE – July 26, 2025) — Dwight Muhammad Qawi, the fierce two-division world champion who rose from the prison yard to boxing immortality, passed away yesterday, Friday, July 25, 2025, at the age of 72 following a five-year battle with dementia. Born Dwight Braxton on January 5, 1953, at Baltimore’s historic Provident Hospital, Qawi was raised in Camden, New Jersey, where early hardship and bullying shaped the fire within him. “He was hungry to win,” said his sister Wanda Marvay King, recalling how being…