Written by Rev. Janette R. Smith / Director of Church Growth As Bethel AME Church – Baltimore prepares to host the historic 209th Baltimore Annual Conference, there’s another historical celebration already underway. Bethel Baltimore also proudly marks its 240th anniversary, commemorating its long-standing commitment to faith, justice, and community empowerment. But before we get into the festivities, let’s address the friendly debate that has kept historians, scholars, and AME members buzzing for generations—who was first: Mother Bethel in Philly or Bethel Baltimore? A Tale of Two Bethels: Who’s REALLY First? We love our AME family, but let’s talk facts (with a friendly wink…
Author: admin
Hip-hop legends Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg are making their mark in downtown Nashville with the opening of the Still G.I.N. Lounge, the brand’s first location. The venue brings West Coast swagger to the city’s entertainment district, blending hip-hop culture with Southern hospitality. Located inside the 50,000-square-foot Nashville Live! Hospitality & Entertainment complex on 2nd Avenue North, the lounge is positioned near Category 10, a nightlife spot opened by country music star Luke Combs. Reed Cordish, principal of The Cordish Companies and CEO of Live! Hospitality & Entertainment, said in an interview with The Tennessean that the Still G.I.N. Lounge…
On February 3, 1965, SNCC, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, invited Imam El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz to speak at Tuskegee Institute, an 1890 Land-Grant HBCU in Alabama. On February 4, 1965 he traveled to Selma, Alabama and spoke in Brown Chapel A.M.E Church as SCLC, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, was building the Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights Campaign. Imam El-Hajj Malik articulated concepts and themes from his two classic speeches: “Message to the Grassroots” and “Ballot or the Bullet.” His mission was to convince the Civil Rights Establishment to elevate the domestic Civil Rights Movement debate to the international venue of Human…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nashville General Hospital (NGH) celebrated its 135th anniversary on April 23, 2025. In honor of this historic milestone, during the Hospital Authority’s April 24, 2025, meeting, Board Chair Dr. Raymond Martin shared a proclamation by Mayor Freddie O’Connell, officially declaring the date as “Nashville General Hospital Day.” Established in 1890 as the city’s first hospital, NGH continues to serve as a vital safety-net institution committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality care to all. During the Hospital Authority Board meeting, several key decisions were announced:• Interim CEO Appointment: Dr. Veronica Elders was unanimously appointed as Interim CEO of the…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Mayor Freddie O’Connell announced the hiring of Phyllis Hildreth as director of Nashville’s newly established Office of Youth Safety. Funding for the office was approved in the Fiscal Year 2025 operating budget, and the work the office will undertake is outlined in Mayor O’Connell’s Executive Order 53. “Phyllis’s passion for supporting our youth goes all the way back to her childhood, where she watched her father support kids in her community as a high school guidance counselor and Sunday school teacher,” Mayor O’Connell said. “Her background includes work in both education and juvenile justice – giving her…
NASHVILLE, TN — Fisk University is set to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2025 with the Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremonies on May 3 and May 4, 2025. These events will highlight the resilience, dedication, and achievements of our graduates, marking a significant milestone in their academic journey. Dr. Agenia Clark, President shared, “As the Class of 2025 joins the ranks of Fisk’s proud sons and daughters, we celebrate not just their academic success, but the legacy they will continue to build upon. This class, like those before them, exemplifies the values of resilience, leadership, and service that Fisk…
Nashville, TN. (TN Tribune) -Rushton Stakely announced that shareholders, Dennis R. Bailey, Alan T. Hargrove, Jr., William S. Haynes, and Frank J. Stakely have been selected as “Lawyers of the Year” in the 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, a guide that is highly respected in the legal community. Lawyers are selected based on extensive reviews by their peers, and only one lawyer in a specific practice field and location is selected annually for this publication. Mr. Bailey is being recognized as a Lawyer of the Year for the fifth time, with this years’ recognition honoring him for…
Pope Francis, the Argentine-born pontiff known for his efforts to modernize the Catholic Church and for advocating on behalf of marginalized communities including LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, and the poor, has passed away at the age of 88, according to a Vatican announcement early Monday morning. Cardinal Kevin Farrell confirmed the news in a statement issued by the Vatican. Plans are underway for a conclave to choose the next leader of the Catholic Church. Francis is expected to be laid to rest at the historic Basilica of St. Mary Major, located outside the Vatican walls.
Starting BlockJean Patton Latimer, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, started her race with her parents Cornetta Dickinson Ford and Shelby Patton along with her brother Robert H. Edwards on February 18, 1931. Jean was educated at Nashville Public Schools at Meigs School, Washington Junior High School, and Pearl High School. She represented Pearl High as a member of the Girls’ Basketball Team. Her accomplishments in basketball and her victory in a school-sponsored “May Day Race” signified the beginning of her successful journey. Her performance in this race motivated her teachers to support her application to Tennessee State University. Second Leg…
Several YMCA locations across Middle Tennessee will host Healthy Kids Day® on Saturday, April 26, 2025. The free event is open to the public and features a wide range of activities designed to promote healthy habits, physical activity and family engagement. With summer just around the corner, Healthy Kids Day® offers families an opportunity to get moving together and learn how to maintain active and healthy lifestyles. Events will include games, nutritious snacks, fitness demonstrations and information on YMCA summer offerings such as Summer Adventure, day camps and youth sports. The national sponsor for Healthy Kids Day® is Peanuts. Event…