By Marc H. Morial
“Public safety is people having a roof over their heads, good-paying jobs, strong schools, and accessible mental health care. That’s what safety looks like.” — Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson
“The status quo has failed. We cannot police our way out of crime. We have to invest in people, prevention, and healing.” — Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott
American cities reflect the soul of the nation. From their skylines and cultural institutions to their small businesses and neighborhoods, cities are where American identity is built, tested, and transformed. They are global symbols of innovation, diversity, and resilience, and their leadership is central to the nation’s future.
For generations, Black mayors have shaped that future by fighting for equity, accountability, and justice. Their leadership has centered marginalized communities and expanded access to opportunity. Today, that legacy is as vital as ever.
This past week, misleading statements from national leadership describing the District of Columbia as overtaken by “violent gangs,” “roving mobs of wild youth,” and “drugged-out maniacs” evoked a familiar and troubling pattern. Once again, fear-based narratives are being used to justify federal overreach and to undermine local governance, particularly in cities led by Black mayors. These attacks are not only factually inaccurate, but they are also politically motivated, racially coded, and historically rooted.
media, one off-site—remains the gold standard for backups. Build recovery into the plan before you need it.
Our businesses are more than revenue streams—they are vessels of culture, trust, and community pride. For decades we have celebrated those who paved the way, but now we must add a new layer to that celebration: protecting our digital houses.
Succession may not always be part of our conversations, but it should be. Because protecting what we’ve worked so hard to build is the truest way to honor our past and safeguard our future.
Want to take the first step in protecting your digital legacy? Visit www. legacyeventshub.org/legacybusinesschecklist and sign up to receive your free 90-Day Digital Legacy Checklist— a practical guide to help you secure your data, brand, and business before passing the torch.
Questions about succession and digital protection? Reach me at tabraham@legacyconsultingpros.com.Serving the Columbia, Charlotte & Charleston communities.
Tenita “AI Advisor” Abraham is a Financial & Business Strategist, and Business & Technology Columnist for the Carolina Panorama Newspaper.
Across the country, Black mayors are demonstrating that community-based leadership is effective and transformative. The work of mayors past and present illustrates a sustained commitment to justice, even in the face of systemic barriers and public criticism.
In the 1970s, Detroit Mayor Coleman Young eliminated the city’s notoriously violent STRESS unit and implemented one of the earliest models of community policing. He understood that policing without accountability erodes public trust.
In New Orleans, my father, Ernest “Dutch” Morial, fought to integrate city departments and create more equitable access to public services. As the city’s first Black mayor, he laid a foundation for representative governance at the local level.
During my own two terms as New Orleans mayor, our investments in innovative youth programs and a commitment to police accountability slashed the rate of violent crime in half and transformed a corrupt law enforcement agency into a national model.
Washington, D.C.’s Mayor Marion Barry expanded youth employment and education programs, launching the city’s first summer jobs initiative and establishing a precedent for municipal investment in young people.
Today, that legacy continues.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott’s Group Violence Reduction Strategy, grounded in community engagement and public health, has contributed to the lowest levels
of homicides the city has seen in more than 30 years. In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson has prioritized early childhood education, youth employment, and mental health access, alongside a measurable decline in gun violence.
Mayor Karen Bass in Los Angeles is advancing housing-first strategies to address homelessness and has pushed back against federal attempts to criminalize urban poverty and violations of the Constitution with the attempted ICE
takeovers this June.
These leaders and many others are governing with urgency, guided by data and driven by the needs of their communities. They are not only responding to crises. They are reshaping systems.
“Dr. Toni Sims Muhammad brings more than 30 years of exceptional leadership and innovation in higher education to the role, as she returns to Allen University after previously serving in several key academic leadership positions, including Interim Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs & Distance Education, and Department Chair of Social Sciences. Her previous tenure at Allen University was marked by dynamic leadership, innovation in distance education, and impactful student success initiatives.
Most recently, Dr. Muhammad served as Associate Vice President for Teaching & Learning at Howard Community College in Columbia, Maryland, where she led four academic divisions and managed a team of direc-
tors and academic support staff. During her tenure, she spearheaded a campus-wide academic realignment that resulted in over $1 million in cost savings, launched a dual enrollment pathway projected to increase enrollment by 10 % , and managed an $8 million academic affairs budget. Her work directly advanced institutional efficiency, student retention, and strategic partnerships with K–12 and higher education partners.
“Dr. Muhammad’s return to Allen is a significant milestone as we continue to grow as an institution committed to innovation, academic excellence and student success,” said Dr. E. McNealey, President. “Her depth of experience, especially in online learning and strategic academic planning, aligns perfectly with our vision for the future.”
In her new role, Dr. Muhammad will lead Allen’s academic enterprise, overseeing curriculum development, academic accreditation, faculty advancement, and student-centered learning initiatives.”