Special thanks to Diane Bell’s Opportunity Connections, G. Grant Griffin Media Group, Sanjay Thomas Allstate Insurance, Attorney J. Wyndal Gordon, Simple Wellness Day Spa, Edible Arrangements – Govans, Tylino’s Caribbean Restaurant, Next Phaze Cafe, Georgia Peach, Rabbit’s MD Crab Soup, and the
MD-Washington Minority Companies Association (MWMCA).
(BALTIMORE – July 2, 2025) – First, let me thank God for allowing me to see my 60th birthday. I don’t take it for granted—not one bit. Some counted me out along the way, but God had other plans. Even in my failures, shortcomings, and bad decisions, His faithfulness never wavered. Without Him, I am nothing.
Second, thank you to everyone who made June 27th so special. Turning 60 is a milestone, and it felt incredible to be surrounded by people who love this city and state as much as I do. The energy in the room was electric, and the love was real.
And then—the First Lady of Maryland walked in.
All I could say was wow. Having worked in and around politics for nearly 30 years, I know what it means when someone of her stature shows up. Much of what I do is behind the scenes—quiet phone calls, emails, and late-night texts trying to connect people with jobs, housing, business opportunities, childcare, or health resources. Most of it never makes the headlines. And I don’t do it for the glory. I do it because I was raised to serve.
My father used to say, “Boy, don’t be so selfish.” My mother—at her last Thanksgiving, over 40 years ago—handed me two foil-wrapped plates of food and said, “Here, go give these to somebody.” I asked, “To whom?” She said, “Anybody.”
That’s how I was raised. That’s what Jesus would do. Help anybody.
Lillie and Doc Glover instilled in me a sense of purpose: give more than you take. And that’s why, on my birthday, I chose to honor others. A reporter from the Afro asked why I would do that on my special day. The answer is simple: It’s not about me. God has been too good. My dad once told me, “With a closed hand, nothing gets in and nothing gets out. But with an open hand? There are endless possibilities. The moral to the story: Help somebody.”
That principle brings me joy. It’s how my mother lived—always moving, always making sure everyone had a plate, even if she didn’t sit down to eat herself.
I’ve had the privilege to do things others may never experience. The right thing to do with those blessings is to share them. While I’ve seen the First Lady in action before, for many people in that room, her presence meant the world—not just because she’s the First Black First Lady of Maryland, or a possible future First Lady of the United States—but because she’s a force: sharp, compassionate, and politically brilliant.
Dawn Flythe Moore doesn’t come to play. She comes to win. Friday night, she came, she saw, she conquered. That should be her mantra. And truth be told, she all but sealed re-election in my book.
As for her husband, Governor Wes Moore, he’s handled the job with resolve. His term hasn’t been perfect, but leadership never is. He stepped up when the Key Bridge collapsed. He made tough personnel changes when juvenile services demanded it. He’s protected Marylanders from harmful federal threats. And he’s done all this while knowing the national spotlight is inching toward him. It’s not lost on me that Trump likely sees Wes as a future opponent—and that the governor must maintain his cool while navigating that storm.
To boot, he contributed $50 million to state Senator Antonio Hayes’ vision for West North Avenue and invested another $300 million in historically underserved communities. Ummm, I love that!
So yes, I’m grateful. Grateful that Dawn Flythe Moore took the time to be there. Her presence electrified the evening. She’s not just the First Lady—she’s the secret weapon. And that, among many reasons, made my 60th birthday absolutely unforgettable.
