Aging school infrastructure continues to expose Black children to toxic lead, with cities like Cleveland and Milwaukee reporting some of the highest contamination rates. Experts warn the damage from lead exposure is irreversible, yet many schools in Black and low-income communities remain dangerously unaddressed.
Category: Word In Black
Posted inBaltimore News
YouthWorks: Offering career paths—not just paychecks
For over 50 years, Baltimore City’s YouthWorks program has provided thousands of city youth with paid summer jobs, offering critical skills, mentorship and career pathways. Now expanding into year-round internships and credentialed career tracks in fields like healthcare and clean energy, the program is evolving into a powerful pipeline for workforce development and long-term economic mobility.
Posted inWord In Black
Youth activism: The crucial role of family support
Young changemakers are leading movements for climate action, gun violence prevention and equal representation—supported by families who help them heal, organize and sustain their activism.
Posted inWord In Black
What do ICE raids teach kids?
ICE raids and anti-Black racism are creating a climate of fear and trauma for immigrant students, undermining their mental health and ability to learn. Advocates and educators warn that without urgent protections and systemic reforms, schools will continue to fail the vulnerable students they’re meant to serve.
Posted inWord In Black
Why gunshot injuries disrupt manhood for Black men
A new Rutgers study reveals that Black men disabled by gun violence often struggle with a loss of independence, identity, and their perceived ability to fulfill traditional roles of manhood. Many survivors feel like burdens to their families and experience emotional and psychological distress as they navigate life-altering physical and mental health challenges.
Posted inWord In Black
Sen. Blunt Rochester pushes for action on Black women’s pay gap
Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester has introduced a Senate resolution recognizing Black Women’s Equal Pay Day to call attention to the stark wage gap that leaves Black women earning just 66 cents for every dollar a White man makes. Citing systemic racism and sexism, the resolution aims to drive intersectional policy reforms that address long-standing economic inequities.
Posted inWord In Black
Chronically absent: Why Black kids are still missing from classrooms
Chronic absenteeism in public schools has surged post-pandemic, with nearly 40% of Black students missing 10% or more of the school year—far above the national average. Experts cite systemic barriers like housing insecurity, school disinvestment, and political attacks on education, calling for community-driven solutions that reengage students and support families.
Posted inEducation
DCPS rolls out districtwide phone ban to cut distractions
D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee gives information on the districtwide ban on personal cell phones and electronic devices for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.
Posted inOpinion
Why do schools keep failing Black kids?
Despite dire statistics, advocates say there is hope — and progress — in American cities, where investments in youth programs are beginning to improve outcomes for Black students.
Posted inCommentary
How Maryland’s governor can reframe the politics of reparations
By Roger House Maryland’s Gov. Wes Moore (D) recently caused a stir in the movement for reparations in his state. As the nation’s only Black governor, he vetoed a bill to assess the wrongs of slavery and Jim Crow and propose various remedies. The act had been championed by the state legislature and the Black […]
Posted inWord In Black
Rev. Jamal Bryant: Target is canceled. Dollar General’s next
On the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, faith leaders held prayer vigils outside Target stores to protest the company’s retreat from its racial equity commitments, leading Rev. Jamal Bryant to announce a full cancellation of the retailer. Calling it the most successful Black boycott since Montgomery, Bryant said the movement has cost Target $1 billion in valuation and is now turning its focus to holding Dollar General accountable for failing Black communities.
Posted inCivil Rights
Post-Floyd, Americans are more pessimistic about racial equality
The gap in perception is wide: while a majority of White Americans still believe racial equality is achievable, most Black Americans say they don’t think they’ll ever have equal rights in this country.