IR News

There was a time when the beautiful grounds and facilities of Druid Hill Park were marred by segregation along racial lines. Sixty years ago, one protest match did something to change that.

In honor of that event, the Department of Recreation and Parks hosted “24–Love: The 60th Anniversary of the Historic Tennis Match in Druid Hill Park” at the Howard Pete Rawlings Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

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On Thursday, July 25, activists, organizers, and collective members from across the city convened at the “2640 space” (St. John’s Church, 2640 St. Paul Street) to discuss the recent and much-publicized uncovering of a covert surveillance program initiated by the Maryland State Police to monitor anti-war and anti-death penalty protest groups. According to an ACLU of Maryland report, the program lasted 14 months, spanning 2005 and 2006.

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From community activists to Hip-Hop artists, fighters and writers came together with an extended invitation to the general public to “The State of Black Baltimore,” a town hall forum to discuss the many ills that oppose the African-American community in Baltimore City.

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Munir Bahar means business. Beating away at a heavy bag in his personal gym, his moves are swift and calculated, his focus is sharp and his words are carefully spoken as he recalls his past with the ill tone of regret, but the proud look of his redemption.

The slow and excruciating transition towards a better society requires cooperation and trust between the People and their elected officials. The state of the homeless in Baltimore is another sad example of what happens when this relationship breaks down.

Hue Voices is an online talk show that focuses on the lively and vibrant African-American communities of Baltimore/Washington, D.C. Covering social progression, politics, business, sports, arts& entertainment, and bringing a new perspective to general media is Hue Voices, the greater reflection of you. This week Hue Voices' host Bobby Marvin observes Aids awareness month by taking a closer look at HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in Baltimore City.
click here to watch http://www.huevoices.com/shows/0627.html

On June 12, 2008 the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) released its annual report on Childhood Blood Level Surveillance. In 2007, 624 children or 3.5% of the 17,667 children aged 0-72 months tested in Baltimore City had elevated blood lead levels (at least 10 micrograms per deciliter). This represents a decrease from 843 children or 4.6% of the children tested in 2006.

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“Youth Engagement” was the theme for the bimonthly Mayor’s Night-In, which took place on Monday, June 2nd inside the War Memorial Museum.

“This is a great gathering of young people helping to decide their own futures,” said 14th District Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke.

Dozens of community adults and youth occupied tables inside the museum for a two hour session facilitated by the Mayor’s Office.

The goal was to articulate community concerns and needs between youth and adults, and how within a community structure, gaps could be bridged between both parties.

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All eyes are on Mayor Sheila Dixon and the group of young people known as Peer-to-Peer Enterprises following the suspension of the student hunger strike. The strike went on for 5 days before the mayor agreed to sit down and discuss the students’ $3 million demand. In a bold move, the city council then called off the budget vote Wednesday night—buying some time and possibly signifying that the mayor and the council may now understand the importance of what could be the most revolutionary development in youth employment programs to date.

The other week I was talking on the phone to an activist friend from London. He asked me if the left in this country understood that it is possible to construct a ‘dual path’ in order to shape policy through electoral politics. He explained to me that the Communist Party in Britain in the last generation had made a strategic decision to do two things at once: work to strengthen and influence the Labor Party while simultaneously maintaining its ideals for long-term systemic change.