By Nicole D. Batey, Special to the AFRO After 20 years of faithful service as pastor, Rev. Frances Murphy Draper, known by the nickname “Toni,” has retired from her role as pastor of Freedom Temple A.M.E. Zion Church. Draper preached her last sermon as pastor of the South Baltimore church on Dec. 11. “It has
By DaQuan Lawrence, Special to the AFRO FEMA Administrator Criswell spoke with the AFRO about winter weather and holiday travel in a one-on-one interview today. With more than 150 million people across the U.S. currently expecting some form of inclement weather this holiday weekend, Criswell discussed best practices for Americans to follow if they encounter
By JPMorgan Chase Bank The holiday season is often a time of joy where gatherings, gifts and gratitude are plentiful. While decking the halls, shopping, and sending love to friends and family are big parts of the holidays, they also can place a strain on your personal finances. This is especially true in the current
By Dr. Ramona Roberts, CCTP-II, CCSExecutive DirectorCaron Outpatient Treatment Centerwww.Caron.org Lose weight. Stop smoking. Balance a budget. Get organized. They’re all great New Year’s resolutions that take a lot of hard work and dedication, but do you want to feel tired, groggy, and irritable while you’re making the effort to keep them? Sleep hygiene is
By Dr. Tich Changamire, Chief Medical Officer, CareFirst, BlueCross BlueShield While I – and many – have the same recommendations every year for how to become our best selves through healthy lifestyle choices, this year, I want to focus on preventive medicine as part of our overall well-being. Investing in our health fosters a culture
By Nijiama Smalls, The Black Girl’s Guide to Healing Emotional Wounds Consider this scenario: Your partner says something off-putting to you at a party in front of your closest group of family or friends. While you know your partner loves you and would never intentionally harm you, you still feel frustrated, angry, and ashamed. Your
By Vorlea Chaneyh Mood is everything nowadays. The realizations and lessons we learned through COVID-19 have shown how swiftly life can change. In some instances, changes sparked by the pandemic are irrevocable and force us to embrace a “new normal.” New normals may come with challenges, but we are able to manage them effectively with the
By Michelle Richardson, Special to the AFRO The Dance Institute of Washington (DIW), a minority-led dance organization in the nation’s capital, will stage its annual holiday performance celebrating Kwanzaa, the annual celebration of African American culture. Kwanzaa is celebrated from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. ‘The Spirit of Kwanzaa’ is a winter holiday celebration that
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com D.C.-based Momentus Capital, a nonprofit, mission-driven financial services organization, and leading department store Macy’s, are working together to invest in diverse-led suppliers. The pair recently launched S.P.U.R. Pathways: Shared Purpose, Unlimited Reach (S.P.U.R. Pathways), a multiyear funding program that seeks to help diverse-owned
By Marcia Ra-Akbar, Special to the AFRO There is no denying the growing popularity of yoga. With more than 300 million participants worldwide, its integration of mind, body, and soul has created its unique lane in the fitness sector. The benefits of yoga are long documented and widely known, and in an era focused on