Attorney April N. Richardson has ridden along in a client's sewer truck. She has stood in a gutted, dilapidated building alongside a general contractor, walking the space her client is renovating into a childcare center. None of that is technically her job. All of it, she says, is exactly her job.
"I am not that lawyer. I am a dirty lawyer. I'm gonna jump in your business with you," says Richardson, who runs DIRTY GIRL LEGAL, a Baltimore law firm built for entrepreneurs.
For Black Business Month, the Baltimore Times sat down with Richardson to talk about one of the four pillars every business owner needs in their corner: the right attorney. Not just any lawyer. The right one.
Not Your Typical Lawyer
Richardson's path to the law runs through business ownership, not around it. Before she was Esquire, she was a girl from Baltimore City's west side, raised by a mother who had her at 16. Richardson calls herself "News Channel 2" — a nickname her grandmother gave her for always asking questions and reporting back what she learned.
The Rev. Raymond F. Edmonds Jr., Pastor of Union Bethel AME Church located at 8615 Church Lane in Randallstown, MD recalled his mother adjusting to life after his father passed away in 2022. His parents had been married for more than 60 years.
The Rev. Raymond F. Edmonds Jr., Pastor of Union Bethel AME Church located at 8615 Church Lane in Randallstown, MD. His vision focused on the creation of a ministry that addressed the needs of widows and widowers.
Photo by Ursula V. Battle
The concept of “law and order” has been used as a racial dog whistle. Nixon and Reagan used the term to advocate for harsh mandatory sentences and increase police militarization. Centrist Democrats attempted to co-opt the term in the 90s, with Biden and Clinton pushing harsh mandatory minimums in the crime bill and even advocating for increased use of the death penalty.
Leftists claim to challenge both the liberal center and the right. Surprisingly, some of the left are calling themselves “law and order” leftists. In theory, this is a response to the lawlessness of Trump. From ICE executions, to rampant corruption, the idea is to frame a willingness to prosecute political corruption as a way to justify “good” uses of police. Popular figures in left media, including Krystal Ball and the co-hosts of the “Chapo Trap House,” have said, “We can’t abolish prisons because we have to arrest Donald Trump.”
In reality, this reflects the intense anxieties of some of the left around what they call “woke 1.0,” the 2020 era where phrases like “defund the police” were common. Now seeing “defund the police" as politically unpopular, the left is walking back their “woke” 2020 rhetoric, with even Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently saying “woke 1.0 was crazy.” This was widely seen as her distancing herself from “defund the police.” The argument boils down to a simple position: “Let's save our political capital, not fight for unpopular things like 'defund,' so we can focus on popular things like opposition to ICE and cutting the war budget.”
Police budgets have increased over 30% since 2014 to approximately 135 billion dollars, according to the Urban Institute. Does anyone believe a left afraid of even talking about challenging police spending domestically will succeed in stopping ICE or cutting the trillion-dollar military budget when the same logic of racialized fear powers both policing and immigration and military spending?
In reality, the college-educated but downwardly mobile base of groups like DSA have their own anxieties around the Black community and violent crime, leading them to support police and be ashamed of their 2020-era rhetoric.
The left should take lessons from working-class Black folks who have argued for shifting funding from police to community services for decades before Bernie and DSA. In a July 2026 protest, community rallied behind a 74-year-old elder assaulted by several youths. Baba Oday, a veteran of the Baltimore Black Panther Party, was assaulted in a 7-11 parking lot, where years before, a young man, Victorious Swift, was shot and killed. That young man’s mother was one of the organizers of the protest.
Rather than calling for more p
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is preparing for a major change to its African elephant program, announcing plans to transition to an all-male herd while transferring its longtime female elephant, Felix, to another facility.
Zoo officials said the move is being made in coordination with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ African Elephant Species Survival Plan, a program designed to support the management of African elephant populations in zoos across North America.
Under the new plan, the Maryland Zoo will focus on housing male elephants, also known as bulls, and may add additional males in the future. Officials said the shift will help create space at other zoos for breeding-age females while allowing the Baltimore facility to build on its experience supporting elephant reproduction programs.
The Zoo has had growing success collecting reproductive samples from bull elephants for use in artificial insemination at other facilities with active breeding plans. Zoo leaders said that work can contribute to broader conservation and population management efforts even if breeding does not take place in Baltimore.
As part of the transition, Felix, the Zoo’s 43-year-old female African elephant, is expected to move to another facility. Felix has lived at the Maryland Zoo for 19 years and is a familiar presence to generations of visitors and staff.
The decision follows the death of the Zoo’s other female elephant in 2024, which reduced Felix’s opportunities for the kind of social interaction female elephants typically experience. While Felix continues to interact with the Zoo’s two male elephants, zoo officials said relocating her to a female herd will better support her long-term social wellbeing.
“Female elephants form supportive groups much more than males, who have loose coalitions but frequently spend time on their own,” said Erin Cantwell Grimm, mammal curator at the Maryland Zoo. “We will all miss her but having social companionship in a female herd is the best thing for Felix’s overall wellbeing.”
Maryland Zoo President and CEO Kirby Fowler described the transition as beneficial for the Zoo, Felix and elephant conservation programs at other institutions.
“This move is a win-win-win for all involved,” Fowler said. “Zoo guests will be able to enjoy an active male herd in Baltimore as we support breeding programs in other accredited facilities. And, Felix will once again be in the company of female elephants.”
Felix weighs approximately 7,450 pounds and is the mother of Samson, the Zoo’s younger bull elephant. Samson was born in Baltimore in March 2008. In the wild, male elephants typically separate from their birth mothers and family groups as they mature, making his continued development i
Bocking, now making its world premiere at Baltimore Center Stage, is bold, explicit, funny and determined to make audiences uncomfortable. Written by Preston Crowder and directed by Stevie Walker-Webb, the approximately 90-minute comedy explores sexuality, religion, family, childhood trauma and desire through a distinctly Black and queer lens.
The story centers on two very different families who are forced together after their children repeat inappropriate phrases at school that they apparently overheard at home. What begins as an awkward meeting between parents opens the door to revelations about marriage, sexuality, shame and unresolved trauma.
From its opening moments, Bocking makes clear that little is off limits. The production contains extensive profanity, graphic sexual references, fetish practices, religious satire and deliberately outrageous humor. During a conversation surrounding the premiere, producer Lena Waithe asked Crowder how many people he hoped would walk out. His response was essentially: a lot. That desire to provoke is embedded in the play’s DNA.
The cast approaches the material fearlessly.
Rebecca L. Hargrove is one of the production’s great comic pleasures. Her physical comedy is precise, her timing impeccable and her presence consistently commanding. Learning that Hargrove is also a two-time Grammy Award-winning opera singer makes her range even more impressive. Costume designer Orla Long complements that performance with authentic First Lady ensembles, particularly a procession of elaborate church hats that nearly become characters themselves. Each time one disappeared, the audience seemed eager to see what would come next.
Kalen Allen, widely known for his work on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, is funny, assured and nuanced. His character raises an interesting question about the assumptions people make when someone appears queer, even if that person’s experiences do not necessarily fit the identity others have assigned to them.
Sis Thee Doll brings both tenderness and sharp comedic timing, while Blake Morris, as Javon Wing, gives one of the production’s strongest dramatic performances. Morris brings gravity and tension to complicated revelations without overplaying them.
Christopher Sears is fearless as Pierre Day. As the sole white character in a predominantly Black ensemble, Pierre bears the brunt of many of the racial jokes, and Sears takes them in stride while fitting naturally into the cast. His role as a cisgender queer husband in an interracial marriage adds another layer to the play’s exploration of sexuality and relationships. During the exorcism scene, Sears goes all in, fully committing to the physical comedy.
Adrienne C. Moore is the standout. Best known to many audiences as Black Cindy on Orange Is the New Black, Moore is magnetic, hilarious and essential to the production’s
Lincoln, Nebraska — The National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) is proud to announce that Dr. Sandra L. Kurtinitis, President of the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the NCHC Distinguished Leadership Award, recognizing visionary leadership that has advanced honors education and expanded opportunities for students to pursue academic excellence.
Established in 2025, the Distinguished Leadership Award honors individuals whose sustained leadership has strengthened honors education and whose commitment to scholarship, innovation, and student success reflects the mission and values of the National Collegiate Honors Council.
For more than two decades, Dr. Kurtinitis has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to honors education by championing the belief that academic excellence should be accessible to all students with the curiosity, motivation, and determination to pursue it. Her leadership transformed CCBC's long-standing Honors Program into a comprehensive Honors College designed to provide rigorous academics, undergraduate research, leadership development, experiential learning, and transfer opportunities while remaining firmly grounded in the mission of an open-access community college.
Guided by the NCHC Shared Principles and Practices, the CCBC Honors College was intentionally developed as a college-wide initiative centered on academic rigor, inclusive excellence, interdisciplinary learning, and student success. Under Dr. Kurtinitis's leadership, the institution invested more than $3 million to establish the Honors College, expand scholarships, renovate honors facilities on three campuses, increase dedicated honors faculty and staff, strengthen undergraduate research and study abroad opportunities, and create innovative transfer pathways that prepare students for success at some of the nation's most selective universities.
Dr. Kurtinitis's commitment to honors education extends well beyond financial investment. Colleagues describe her as an engaged and visible champion for honors students and faculty—one who regularly attends honors events, celebrates student achievements, advocates for institutional support, and remains personally invested in the success of individual students. Her leadership has cultivated a thriving honors community where students are challenged intellectually, encouraged to lead, and supported as they pursue ambitious academic and professional goals.
Her vision has produced remarkable results. Today, CCBC Honors students transfer to institutions including Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, Princeton University, and Stanford University while earning prestigious scholarships and demonstrating levels of academic achievement that rival those of selective four-year instit
Baltimore families looking to add a little extra magic to their holiday season will have another reason to head downtown this December.
Cirque du Soleil is bringing its holiday production, ‘Twas the Night Before…, back to Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center for a limited engagement from December 17 through December 27, 2026.
The production will take the stage for just 16 performances, combining the breathtaking acrobatics Cirque du Soleil is known for with a festive story inspired by the classic poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore.
At the center of the story is a young girl who has become jaded by the holidays but embarks on a journey that helps her rediscover the joy, wonder and spirit of the season.
Audiences can expect plenty of Cirque du Soleil’s signature acrobatics along the way. A cast of 26 artists from around the world will perform acts including aerial straps, hoop diving and gravity-defying hair suspension, along with high-energy dance performances.
The show’s soundtrack also gives familiar Christmas favorites the Cirque treatment, reimagining holiday classics to accompany the production’s colorful characters and larger-than-life performances.
As Cirque du Soleil’s first holiday production, ‘Twas the Night Before… was created with audiences of all ages in mind, making the show an option for families hoping to introduce younger theatergoers to the world of Cirque while creating a new holiday tradition.
Tickets and Show Information
Tickets for ‘Twas the Night Before… are now on sale and can be purchased online through BaltimoreHippodrome.com or Ticketmaster.com.
Tickets are also available in person at the Hippodrome Box Office, located at 12 N. Eutaw Street in Baltimore. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on show days from 11 a.m. until showtime.
Groups of 10 or more can contact [email protected] or call 888-451-5986 for group ticket information.
The limited engagement runs Dec. 17-27, 2026, with 16 performances at the Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center.
For more information about ‘Twas the Night Before…, visit CirqueDuSoleil.com/twas-the-night-before.
East Baton Rouge Parish Prison Reform Coalition's North Star is clear: end deaths in custody. I’ve spent seven years in and out of courtrooms, bearing witness to progress toward that North Star – progress that sometimes is so small that it’s nearly invisible. But I withstand because we are moving the arc of justice towards freedom.Rev. Alexis Anderson with Marcela Hernandez, immigration activist and Executive Director of Familias Unidas En Acción.
During difficult times, there are three ingredients that sustain me as we work to achieve this vision:
My faith
My village
My guides
My Faith
I am a woman of faith. My faith allows me to believe in the potential of every human being; and it teaches me that the least of them are the apple of Jesus’s eye. The work of the Coalition is to bring accountability and transparency for those who are considered throwaways.
Before the Coalition’s founding, deaths in East Baton Rouge Parish custody were not discussed at any meaningful public level. It was only when my friend's son died after a bogus traffic stop that this journey into how my faith could bring practical tools to ending deaths in custody began.
As an ordained minister, I love telling people that Biblical principles can help us see the work through, whether you are a person of faith or not. On many occasions, the Coalition has been told what we could not accomplish, but three Biblical principles always work in our favor. First, tenacity: Galatians 6:9 tells us not to grow tired of doing good because at a proper time we will reap a harvest. Second, building capacity: Luke 5:17 tells us that if they don't allow you to enter through the front door, climb to the roof and get the job done. Finally, stay focused on the work, not the attention: Proverbs 29:18 says without vision, the people perish.
These principles sustain us, shore up our resolve, and allow us to withstand the headwinds of opposition.
My Village
My village is key to my will to withstand. The people and places that form my village never fail. When my oxygen becomes low, I find a room with community, and I breathe deeply.
Small, local and emerging construction businesses in Baltimore will have an opportunity this fall to strengthen their operations, build industry relationships and prepare for future contracting opportunities through the Turner School of Construction Management.
Turner Construction Company, in partnership with Morgan State University, will offer the free eight-week program from September 9 through October 28, 2026, at Morgan State University’s CBEIS Building, located at 5201 Perring Parkway in Baltimore. Classes will be held on Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The program is specifically designed to support Small, Local and Emerging Business Enterprises working in the construction and building supply industries. Participants will receive practical instruction on the business and operational skills needed to compete for projects, manage growth and develop strategic relationships within the construction industry.
For many small contractors, success requires more than technical expertise in the field. Companies must also understand insurance requirements, bonding, financial management, scheduling, safety standards, business development and the administrative processes that come with increasingly complex construction projects. The Turner School of Construction Management is structured to address those areas and help participating companies better position themselves for future opportunities.
The 2026 curriculum will include instruction in safety, bonding, finance, insurance, preconstruction, lean construction, business development and marketing. Participants will also explore project management, scheduling and operational excellence, along with strategies for becoming a successful subcontractor.
The program's focus on subcontractor readiness is particularly important for smaller firms seeking opportunities on major construction projects. Understanding how larger contractors evaluate potential subcontractors, manage project schedules and establish expectations can help emerging companies compete more effectively while also strengthening their internal business practices.
Turner’s construction management training program also provides participants an opportunity to develop relationships with other business owners and industry professionals. Those connections can be valuable as businesses look for potential partnerships, subcontracting opportuni
