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Reggae Rise Up Florida returns to Vinoy Park

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As you’re reading this, an army of 400 is swarming over Vinoy Park, on the St. Petersburg bayfront, setting up for this weekend’s Reggae Rise Up Florida Festival.

The workers, the majority of them locally-hired, will be toiling day and night to put the music and lifestyle celebration’s three stages and associated public areas together, plugging everything in and making sure it all works. Then there’s the temporary fencing that goes around the festival site.

It’s been this way since 2014, when Utah-based LNE Events first brought the reggae music extravaganza to Vinoy Park. It began as a two-day event, then expanded to three, then to four. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com.

Development offering $350 monthly rents breaks ground

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The extensive public-private partnership behind the SkyWay Lofts II is celebrating construction commencing on the much-anticipated affordable housing development with monthly rents starting at $358.

Wednesday morning’s groundbreaking ceremony represented a culmination of three years of collaborative efforts between St. Petersburg and Pinellas County officials and the Blue Sky Communities development team. It was also the first of several planned throughout the spring commemorating over 400 new affordable and workforce housing units. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com.

State Senate approves $20 million for Dozier School abuse victims

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Wiping away tears, men in their 60s, 70s and 80s watched Monday as the Florida Senate unanimously gave final approval to a plan to steer $20 million to survivors of abuse at the notorious Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna and another state reform school.

Roy Conerly, who turned 78 on Monday, is among the men known as the “White House Boys” who’ve been traveling to Tallahassee for more than a decade seeking compensation after being raped, beaten and tortured as children in the care of the state at the now-shuttered Dozier school. Read more at www.flcourier.com.

Minnesota faces complaint over alleged unfair treatment of Black children and families in its child welfare system

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The Minneapolis Branch of the NAACP and Children’s Rights, an advocacy group, have filed a complaint with the US Department of Health and Human Services against Minnesota for allegedly discriminating against Black children and families in its child welfare system.

Minnesota’s “pattern and practice of utilizing federal funds to discriminatorily surveil and separate Black families, specifically in Hennepin and Ramsey counties, as detailed herein, clearly warrant investigation into the violations of Title VI and its implementing regulations,” the complaint, filed Monday, stated. Read more at www.cnn.com.

Jack LeFlore Memorial Scholarship Application

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The Winter Park Achievement Foundation Inc. and The Winter Park (FL) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. is pleased to announnce that they will award $10,000 in scholarship funds for the 2024-2025 academic year. 

The Foundation and Winter Park Alumni annually present scholarships as part of a joint mission to provide higher education opportunities to at-risk or disadvantaged youth who would benefit greatly from such support. Click here to register today.

Gaining Access to Pinellas County Government Contracting

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Tue, March 12, 2024, 9:00 AM ET

Tue, March 12, 2024, 10:00 AM ET

The Pinellas County Contract Compliance Management System-B2G workshop will cover system functions including using the dashboard, system navigation and purpose by entering sub-contractors information, payments and reporting. The class also covers the types of insurance required to do business with Pinellas County. Click here for more information.

African American issues dominate Darryl Rouson funding requests

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TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 4/29/21-Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, speaks against the election reform bill, Thursday at the Capitol in Tallahassee. The Senate passed the revised bill and now returns to the House. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 4/29/21-Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, speaks against the election reform bill, Thursday at the Capitol in Tallahassee. The Senate passed the revised bill and now returns to the House. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO

Funding for sickle cell research and cultural amenities feature prominently. 

Sen. Darryl Rouson is asking for nearly $78 million in funding for local projects, with the biggest asks for those who would benefit a large chunk of his constituents — those in the African American community. 

Of the $77.9 million, spanning 58 requests, the largest ask is for the Hillsborough County African American Arts and Cultural Center, for which Rouson is requesting $10 million. Read more at www.floridapolitics.com.

Oprah Cuts Ties With Weightwatchers, Donates Shares To NMAAHC

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JUNE 30: Oprah Winfrey attends 'From the Page to the Stage and Beyond: A Discussion of the nearly 40-Year Legacy and Impact of The Color Purple' at the 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on June 30, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JUNE 30: Oprah Winfrey attends ‘From the Page to the Stage and Beyond: A Discussion of the nearly 40-Year Legacy and Impact of The Color Purple’ at the 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on June 30, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Oprah Winfrey has decided not to seek re-election to the Board of Directors of WeightWatchers International. She has donated all her stock to the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC).

“I look forward to continuing to advise and collaborate with WeightWatchers and CEO Sima Sistani in elevating the conversation around recognizing obesity as a chronic condition, working to reduce stigma, and advocating for health equity,” Winfrey said in a Feb. 28 press release. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com.

The cast of ‘A Different World’ launch HBCU tour to fund scholarships and boost enrollment

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After 35 years, the cast of “A Different World” has reunited on a tour of historically Black colleges and universities to promote enrollment and raise scholarship funding for current and future students.

“A Different World” was a spin-off of “The Cosby Show” that followed Denise Huxtable’s character, played by Lisa Bonet, as she attended Hillman College, a fictional HBCU in Virginia.

The “A Different World HBCU College Tour 2024” kicked off Thursday at the Atlanta University Center as the cast visited Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse College. Read more at www.cnn.com.

How the family fortune behind a major American pharma company has quietly funded conservative causes

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From the Ambien and Dramamine in millions of bathroom medicine cabinets, to the sugar substitute that makes diet sodas sweet, to the first-ever birth control pill, some of America’s most common medicines and supplements can be traced back to the G.D. Searle pharmaceutical company.

Now, more than a century after the company’s founding, the massive family fortune built from those scientific advances has emerged as a major benefactor of the right, mostly out of the public eye. Read more at www.cnn.com.

Terrence Howard Faces $903,115 Tax Bill Amidst Claims of Injustice and Slavery Legacy

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Terrence Howard has racked up a mighty tab in unpaid taxes.

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the “Empire” alum owes the government $903,115 for unpaid taxes accumulated between 2010 and 2019, as ruled by Philadelphia, U.S. District Judge John F. Murphy. 

That grand total also includes interest and penalties after he allegedly threatened Justice Department lawyer, Maria Elizabeth Ruwe. But Howard is standing ten toes down as he believes it’s “immoral for the United States government to charge taxes to the descendants of slaves.” Read more at www.bet.com.

Breaking Barriers In Business: How A Black Woman Raised $230M And Built A Billion-Dollar Company By Defying 7 Common Myths

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At the inception of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey in 2017, before it became the world’s most-awarded Bourbon for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, and before Nearest Green Distillery grew to become the world’s 7th most visited and fastest-growing distillery, I faced the colossal task of raising capital to build what is now a more than $1 billion company. It shouldn’t be surprising that Uncle Nearest was considered a very high-stakes venture, and every venture capital, private equity company, celebrity, and well-known athlete I pitched initially passed on the opportunity. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com.

Raheem Fitzgerald discusses his intimate portraits at The Factory on Feb. 29

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Raheem Fitzgerald’s portraits startle with the emotional information each piece delivers.

“It’s in the eyes,” intoned his cousin Juan DaCosta. “The way they look at you.”

Fitzgerald has been a curator at The Factory in St. Pete for several years, bringing several art shows and music events to the space. “Re:Definition” is his first solo show in the space. Read more at www.theweeklychallenger.com.

Beyoncé likened to a dog by actor who starred in sitcom featuring car with confederate flag

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An actor who starred in a sitcom featuring a car with a confederate flag has compared Beyoncé to a dog following her surprise release of two country songs.

According to Newsweek, “Dukes of Hazzard” actor John Schneider recently appeared on the OAN network, where he attacked the entertainment industry for not allowing conservatives to gatekeep country music.

“They’ve got to make their mark, like a dog at a dog walk park,” Schneider said of the “lefties,” “you know every dog has to mark every tree, so that’s what’s going on here.” Read more at www.thegrio.com.

Introducing Technology & Enterprise With April Walker: A Q1 Conversation About Tech

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The proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI), Generative AI, ChatGPT, data privacy, and cybersecurity, and how these things will play a critical role in the way every industry shapes and influences societal norms, human condition, public health, policy, economic development, skills, and careers.

A truly full circle moment – I have been an avid reader of BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine since the beginning of my professional career, starting in the late eighties and early nineties.  Read more at www.blackenterprise.com.

Why this millionaire gifted his own money to Tulsa survivors seeking reparations

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Reparations into his own hands: As the two remaining survivors of the 1921 Tulsa race massacre await their day in court, philanthropist Ed Mitzen, who gifted $3 million to their families, reflects on why the wealthy White community needs to “step up.” Learn more here.

Tyler Perry inks first-look TV deal with Netflix

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More Tyler Perry television series are coming to Netflix. The multi-hyphenate has landed a first-look series deal with the streaming service, per Deadline.

The deal is one of many for Perry, who currently has a feature deal with the streamer, as theGrio reported last year. Under this new deal, Perry will bring TV shows to Netflix, including “Beauty in Black,” which was greenlit as part of the new arrangement. Perry will write, direct, and produce the 16-episode drama series. Read more at www.thegrio.com.

White House Hosts Historic Gathering Of Descendants Of Black Civil Rights Leaders

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At the White House on Feb. 13, Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the descendants of some of the most influential civil rights leaders, who convened in the same room for the first time, according to NBC News.

The gathering included families with legacies rooted in the struggles and triumphs of the 1950s and ’60s, echoing the monumental contributions of their ancestors. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com.

Black History/White Lies: The 10 biggest myths about slavery

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Because theGrio celebrates the legacy and the past of African America 364 days a year (to appease Ron DeSantis, we take a day off to celebrate white history), it’s always a difficult proposition to find new ways to celebrate Black History Month. 

This year, instead of presenting interesting-but-meaningless nuggets of trivia like the first man to slit a piece of fried baloney (Levester Jermaine Robinson in 1823), we decided to explore some of the misconceptions, myths and misunderstandings that created some of the popular, almost true narratives that many people believe.  Read more at www.thegrio.com.

Black Father-Daughter Lawyer Team Faces Disciplinary Action Amidst Racial Discrimination Controversy

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An African American father-daughter pair of lawyers, Jerry, and Brooke Girley are in the eye of Florida’s ongoing racist storm after a judge recommended 30-day suspensions for their vocal criticism following the overturning of a $2.7 million jury ruling in a racial discrimination case.

In addition to suggesting suspension, Judge Lisa Herndon, presiding over the Florida Bar’s disciplinary case against the Girleys, also ordered the duo to attend a professionalism workshop. However, the Florida Supreme Court holds the key to the final decision, with potential penalties ranging from suspension to disbarment. Click here to read more.

Recent Black History: 20 Black Firsts in Tampa Bay Since 2010

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Hillsborough County Judge Jessica Costello, as featured in Tampa Magazine’s Top 10 Under 40 (Photo: Tampa Magazine)

This year, the Power Broker Magazine is celebrating Black History Month with a twist. We will continue to recognize titans and milestones from “back in the day.” But this time, we will also celebrate recent Black history and those charting historic firsts for the community. 

We begin with cameo coverage of 20+ historic firsts for and by local African Americans since 2010. 

Higher Education

Dr. Tonjua Willaims (Photo: St. Petersburg College).

In 2017, Dr. Tonjua Williams became the first to break a racial barrier to occupy a previously all-white chief executive role of one of the area’s largest mainstream institutions (St. Petersburg College).  

Economic Development 

Others who’ve broken the barrier include Dr. Cynthia Johnson, the first African American and first female to serve as director of economic development for Pinellas County (since 2021); and Bemetra Simmons, the first Black and first female head of the Tampa Bay Partnership (also since 2021); along with James Corbett, the first African American to head economic development for the City of St. Petersburg. Corbett’s title is City Development Administrator and he was named to the post in 2022. 

Philanthropy  

Dr. Tomalin unveiling her vision for the future of the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg in Nov 2023 (Photo: Foundation).

Dr. Kanika Tomalin holds several spots in the history books. She was the first African American to serve as a citywide Deputy Mayor, from 2014 to 2021, and later, from 2017 to 2021, simultaneously served as the first African American City Administrator for St. Petersburg, since the city’s transition to a strong mayor form of government.

Prior to her, the late Don McRae served as the first and only Black City Manager for St. Pete, and Dr. Goliath Davis served as Deputy Mayor for the area known as Midtown.  

Dr. Tomalin broke another barrier in June of last year when she became the first African American to head a major philanthropic organization in Pinellas (the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg). 

Political & Judicial Firsts 

Kenneth T. Welch was elected the first Black mayor of St. Petersburg in 2021, becoming the city’s 54th chief executive. The photo above is of Mayor Welch being sworn into office.

He is only the second African American elected to lead one of Florida’s top five most populous cities, if my research is accurate. Alvin Brown was the first in this category. Brown was elected as Jacksonville’s mayor in 2011. 

Darryl Rouson (Photo: Florida Politics).

Darryl Rouson is the first African American based in St. Petersburg to serve in the Florida Senate. He was preceded by Hillsborough County’s Arthenia Joyner, who held the seat from 2006 to 2016. 

House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, seen here at a Democratic Party event in July 2022 (Photo: Tampa Bay Times).

Fentrice Driskell was elected Florida House Democratic Leader in 2022 and is the first Black woman to serve in the role. The Hillsborough Democrat leads the caucus through 2024. 

St. Petersburg City Council Chair Deborah Figgs-Sanders, and Councilmembers Richie Floyd and John Muhammad (Photos: City of St. Pete).

The St. Petersburg City Council gave us four recent historic firsts for African Americans. One, 2022 marked the first time in St. Pete history that three African Americans were seated at the same time – current Council Chair Deborah Figgs-Sanders (left above), member Richie Floyd (center) and member John Muhammad (right). 

Two, in 2021, Figgs-Sanders became the first African American ever elected to represent District 5 (a majority-white district). She is running for re-election this year.

Three, Muhammad is the first Muslim American to serve on the body. He was appointed to the District 7 seat in late 2022 and recently announced that he will not seek election to continue in the role. 

And four, Floyd is the first African American to represent District 8, which is adjacent to and north of District 7. 

Rene Flowers and supporters announcing the endorsement of Chris King in 2020 during her run for the Pinellas County Commission (Photo: Spectrum Bay News 9)

Rene Flowers has made history several times, most recently as the only African American to be elected to three legislative bodies in Pinellas County. Flowers has served on the St. Petersburg City Council (where she was the first Black female Chair) and the Pinellas County School Board, and at present, is a Pinellas County Commissioner (the first Black female elected to the role). 

Judge Moore being interviewed by Spectrum Bay News 9 in 2022. (Photo: Spectrum Bay News 9)

St. Petersburg native Judge Patrice Moore also claims a first Black female status. She was elected as Circuit Court Judge for the Sixth Judicial Circuit in 2010 and is the first African American female to serve in this capacity. Moore was re-elected in 2016. 

Judge Costello, as featured in Tampa Magazine’s Top 10 Under 40 lineup in 2022 (Photo: Tampa Magazine)

Judge Jessica Costello was appointed in 2019 to serve as a Hillsborough County jurist, making her one of the youngest judges in Florida and the first Black woman appointed to the Hillsborough bench in 20 years. Costello was 34 at the time.

The Non-Profit Sector

Gaskin-Capehart speaking on the need for ownership opportunities at the Historic Gas Plant in Dec 2023 (Photo: Tampa Bay Rays) 

Last September, we saw the historic first female appointment of Nikki Gaskin Capehart as CEO of the Pinellas County Urban League. She has announced her intent to take the agency in bold new directions, while building on the legacy of her predecessor, the late Rev. Watson Haynes

As it happens, the League scored another first this January when Dr. Tonjua Williams became Chair of the board, which created the first-ever female CEO-Chair leadership duo for the agency. 

Rev J.C. Pritchett (third from right) at his Legacy Awards dinner in February 2024, with, from left to right, Mrs. Karen Pritchett, and this year’s honorees, Council Chair Deborah Figgs-Sanders, Janice Starling, Bemetra Simmons and Leon Russell

In 2021, Rev. J.C. Pritchett was appointed as the first African American president of the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club. Pritchett also serves as president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance. 

(Photo: Dr. Sandra Braham)

Dr. Sandra Braham made history as the first African American CEO of Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services (2016 to present). She charted another history milestone as the first Black female Chair of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber board of directors (2021 & 2022). Braham is also one of only two individuals in modern history to serve in the role for more than one year. 

The first African American to Chair the Chamber board was Dr. Ricardo Davis, in 1996.

Business & Corporate

Troy Taylor speaking on secrets of success in 2018 (Photo: Magzter)

Businessman Troy Taylor claims two historic firsts. One, as the first African American CEO in the Tampa Bay region to surpass business revenues of $1 billion (his Coca-Cola Beverages Florida took in $1.5 billion in 2021).

And two, in 2015, Taylor’s enterprise became the first franchise awarded to a new owner in the Coca-Coca network in 60 years. 

Starting in 2010 through 2015, St. Petersburg native Bridgette Heller (above left) served as Executive Vice President of Merck & Co. and President of Merck Consumer Care, making her the first local African American to hold a top executive role with a Fortune 100 corporation. 

Heller held top exec roles with two other Fortune 500 brands – as one-time President of Johnson & Johnson’s Global Baby Business Unit, and most recently, in a several roles with Danone, including Executive Vice President of its Early Life division (2016) and in the dual role of Executive VP of the Advanced Medical Nutrition division (2017) and president of Danone’s Nutricia division. 

Valerie Stafford-Powell is the first African American female to serve as CEO of a St. Pete-based corporate employer. She is president and chief executive officer of HCA Florida Northside Hospital, a role previously held by Dia Nichols, from 2013 to 2019. Nicholas is a Black male and was the first African American CEO of the hospital.  

To share other recent Black history with the Power Broker team, please write to me at [email protected]

White House tackles anxiety around gun violence: ‘Too many children dying’

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Though some trends of gun violence incidents are declining in the United States, it remains a top concern for the White House as administration officials continue to work on solutions to dramatically reduce the number of American lives killed by firearms. Read more at www.thegrio.com.

David Oyelowo partners with Roku to bring a channel that amplifies Black stories worldwide

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“Mansa is dedicated to showcasing a wide array of narratives that are authentically steeped in Black culture,” Oyelowo announced in a statement, per The Wrap. “We’re thrilled to deepen our relationship with Roku with the launch of our first FAST Channel, Mansa Mix, that elevates and celebrates the richness of the culture worldwide.”

Mansa Mix provides an array of films and television shows focused on expanding the scope of Black storytelling. As an expansion of Mansa, the streaming service Oyelowo co-founded in 2021, its curated programming offers viewers authentic and diverse narratives showcasing Black culture worldwide.  Read more at www.thegrio.com.com

Watch: Biden responds after drone attack kills three Black Army reservists

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On this week’s edition of “The Hill with April Ryan,” theGrio’s Washington Bureau Chief and White House Correspondent, April D. Ryan, discusses the federal investigation into U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., and her use of campaign funds to pay her now husband who served as her personal security.  It is not against the federal election law to use campaign money for security, and the two-term congresswoman denies any wrongdoing. In international news, three Black U.S. Army reservists are dead following a deadly drone attack in Jordan. President Joe Biden vows to respond to the deadly drone attack at the hands of an Iran-backed group. Read more at www.thegrio.com

St. Petersburg Council member will not seek another term

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City Councilmember John Muhammad has had a change of heart. In late December, he told the Catalyst that he fully intended to launch an election campaign long before St. Petersburg’s June 18 deadline.

Muhammad, appointed to fill former Councilmember Lisa Wheeler-Bowman’s vacancy in October 2022, will not run for the District 7 seat in the November election. The announcement came in a community blog post, published and sent to the Catalyst at around 12:30 a.m. Saturday. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com.

Five ways you can make a positive impact in St. Pete

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If you’re searching for a way to give back to your community, the Catalyst’s Impact Connector is here to help. Each week, we feature five organizations in the Tampa Bay area that need your input, whether that’s time, talent, items, funding or simply awareness. We’re certain you’ll find something here that matches your interests and will positively impact the community. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com.

US identifies three soldiers killed in attack in Jordan

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The three US soldiers killed in the drone attack on a US military outpost in Jordan were identified Monday as Sgt. William Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia; Specialist Kennedy Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia; and Specialist Breonna Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia, according to the Defense Department. Read more at www.cnn.com.

New Pinellas Urban League CEO focuses on housing, equity

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Nikki Gaskin-Capehart has had a busy four months since she was named president and CEO of the Pinellas County Urban League, but her work has just begun.

Gaskin-Capehart took over the 46-year-old non-profit group in September, succeeding the Rev. Watson Haynes, a towering Pinellas civil rights leader who led the organization for a decade before his death in 2022. Read more at www.wmnf.org.

Atlanta’s Spelman College just got the largest-ever single donation to an HBCU

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A billionaire couple is giving $100 million to Atlanta’s Spelman College, which the women’s school says is the largest-ever single donation to a historically Black college or university.

The donation was announced Thursday by Ronda Stryker and her husband William Johnston. She is the billionaire granddaughter of the founder of medical device maker Stryker Corp. and he is the chairman of money management firm Greenleaf Trust. They live in Michigan. Read more at www.thegrio.com.

The King Center Announces The Passing Of Chairman And Leader, Dexter Scott King, Son Of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And Mrs. Coretta Scott King

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 14: Dexter King at 2019 V-103 Winterfest at State Farm Arena on December 14, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 14: Dexter King at 2019 V-103 Winterfest at State Farm Arena on December 14, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)

The King Center for Nonviolent Social Change sadly announced the passing of Dexter Scott King, the youngest son and the third child of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King.

The civil rights leader’s youngest son, who was 62, died Jan. 22 following a battle with prostate cancer. Born in Atlanta, Dexter would have celebrated his 63rd birthday on Jan. 30. He was named after the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where his father served his first pastorate.

Dexter was the second-born son of Dr. and Mrs. King and was only 7 years old when his father was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968. Like his father, he grew up in the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where his grandfather served as pastor. The son of the civil rights figure graduated from Frederick Douglass High School, where he played football and participated in many other school activities. He was an alumnus of HBCU Morehouse College. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com.

Dave Chappelle calls out Katt Williams for comments about other comedians

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Chappelle addressed Williams during a stand-up show Friday at MonDeRays, an event hosted by comedian DeRay Davis, according to Deadline. Williams went viral this month for his comments about Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, Rickey Smiley, Kevin Hart and others during an appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s “Club Shay Shay” podcast. Read more at www.thegrio.com.

Opinion: ‘Origin’ brilliantly exposes America’s caste system. Here’s how we tear it down

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Keith Magee is senior fellow and visiting professor in cultural justice at University College London Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose. He is the author of “Prophetic Justice: Essays and Reflections on Race, Religion and Politics.” The views expressed in this commentary are his own. Read more opinion on CNN.CNN — 

In a week when would-be GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis told a CNN town hall, “The US is not a racist country,” and his rival Nikki Haley told Fox News, “We’ve never been a racist country,” the release of the movie “Origin” could not be more timely. Read more at www.cnn.com.

Dozens of possible graves from former Black cemetery found at MacDill Air Force Base, military officials say

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Years after Florida military officials say they were first notified about potential graves of a former Black cemetery on the grounds of what is currently MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, 121 possible graves have now been located.

In 2019, the Tampa Bay History Center reached out to the MacDill Air Force Base after finding archival evidence about there possibly being a former Black cemetery on land now occupied by the base, MacDill Air Force Base Deputy Chief of Public Relations Terry Montrose told CNN on Saturday. Read more at www.cnn.com.

Black people are 2.9 times more likely than white people to be killed by cops, report says

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Police across America killed a record 1,329 people in 2023, and Black people were nearly three times more likely to be slain than whites, according to the Mapping Police Violenceproject.

It’s the most deaths at the hands of police since the project began collecting data in 2013, when 1,079 people were killed, a chart on its website shows. Read more at www.thegrio.com.

Giannis Antetokounmpo And His Brothers Start Media Production And Brand Strategy Company

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Milwaukee Bucks superstar and two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has founded a production and brand strategy company with his brothers.

Improbable Media was co-founded by Antetokounmpo, his brothers Thanasis (who also plays on the Bucks), Kostas, and Alex, and former Chicago Bulls guard and ESPN basketball analyst Jay Williams.

Jonathan Stern, who previously held roles with Red Bull Media House and Bunim/Murray Productions, will serve as Improbable Media’s chief executive officer. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com.

Guess What New Racist Move Florida’s Board of Education is Pulling…

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In a devastating yet somewhat predictable turn of events, Florida’s State Board of Education shared Wednesday that there will be “strict regulations” to restrict public funds being used for anything related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in 28 state college campuses.

Additionally, the rule forbids Florida College System institutions from using state or federal money to operate programs that “categorize individuals based on race or sex for the purpose of differential or preferential treatment.” Read more at www.theroot.com.

Florida author presents new book on the role slavery played in the prison industrial complex

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Dr. Deborah G. Plant, editor of The New York Times bestselling “Barracoon: The Story of the Last Black Cargo” by Zora Neale Hurston, joins African American Heritage Association president Gwendolyn Reese, to discuss her new book, “Of Greed and Glory: Black Freedom and the American Pursuit of Popular Sovereignty.”

 The event, presented by Tombolo Books in partnership with the Heritage Association, will be held Friday, Jan. 19, starting at 7 p.m. at Allendale United Methodist Church. Read more at www.theweeklychallenger.com.

The surprising reason this Oscar-nominated filmmaker shot new film in 37 days

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CNN’s Erica Hill sits down with Oscar-nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay to talk about her new film “Origin” based on the best-selling book “Caste” by Isabel Wilkerson, and why the filmmaker wants audiences to hear the film’s message before the 2024 presidential elections in the US. Visit www.cnn.com for more.

MLK Leadership Breakfast highlights progress, ongoing challenges

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Dr. Eddie S. Glaude Jr. asked a sold-out crowd at the St. Petersburg Coliseum to do more than celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and impact Monday morning.

Glaude, a Princeton University professor, best-selling author and MSNBC contributor, was the 38thannual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Awards Breakfast’s keynote speaker. He told the more than 850 people who attended to “rip down the barriers that blind us to the humanity of those with whom we live.” Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com.

Report highlights a Black exodus from St. Petersburg

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A recently released report found that St. Petersburg lost 10% of its African American residents between 2018 and 2022; the demographic grew by 16% across the rest of Pinellas County.

St. Petersburg-based Urban Market Analytics (UMA), a Power Broker Media Group subsidiary, released the 26-page analysis Dec. 27. Power Broker Magazine simultaneously opened a survey to discover why the “Black exodus rate reached record highs over the past three years.”

According to the study, UMA officials shared a previous version with local equity leaders in May 2023. It states that the latest census data, released Dec. 7, “not only confirmed the trend but showed it gaining speed.” Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com.

Taraji P. Henson Called Oprah To Advocate For ‘The Color Purple’ Cast

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Taraji P. Henson hasn’t been holding back these days when it comes to demanding her worth as an actress. Now she’s revealing the advocacy she had to do behind the scenes for The Color Purple cast.

The musical remake of Alice Walker’s landmark novel hit theaters on Christmas Day and made over $18 million in ticket sales. It was a given that the movie would do well, being a star-studded musical remake of the 1985 original directed by Steven Spielberg that starred Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, and Danny Glover. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com.

Did Steve Harvey Steal Jokes? Katt Williams and Mark Curry Say Yes! So, the Internet Dug up These Receipts

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Among the still-cascading effects of Katt Williams’ Jan. 4 interview on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast – which has 33 million views at press time – is the glut of receipt-digging everyone is doing to corroborate the many claims Williams made. 

He made crystalline that he has zero love lost for “Mr. Potato Head” Steve Harvey. But outside of his hilarious ad hominem attacks – and the fact that he caused so many people to just now discover that Harvey used to wear a “man unit” when we had that figured out during Barack Obama’s first presidential term – Williams made the damning accusation that Harvey jacked entire jokes and concepts from other comedians. Read more at www.theroot.com.

A racist mob forced Opal Lee out of her home more than 80 years ago. Now, she has the land back.

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In 1939, when Opal Lee was just 12 years old, she and her family fled their Fort Worth, Texas, home following threats from a racist mob who eventually destroyed the house and the family’s belongings. Read more at www.thegrio.com.

Opinion: Dave Chappelle walked off stage. Blame audience members who don’t follow rules

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Typically, I don’t blame the audience when things go off script. That’s as true for me now in my work with the media as it was back in the days when I was a full-time comedian.

But in the case of Dave Chappelle walking off the stage during his stand up show last week in Florida it was, in my view, 100% the fault of the audience member. Read more at www.cnn.com.

Harvard president Claudine Gay resigns amid plagiarism claims, backlash from antisemitism testimony

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Harvard University President Claudine Gay resigned Tuesday amid plagiarism accusations and criticism over testimony at a congressional hearing where she was unable to say unequivocally that calls on campus for the genocide of Jews would violate the school’s conduct policy.

Gay announced her departure, which came just months into her tenure, in a letter to the Harvard community. Read more at www.thegrio.com.

New Data Show Black Residents Leaving St. Pete in Record Numbers; Survey Searches for Reasons

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St. Petersburg’s Black population is shrinking at a rapid pace, according to U.S. Census data released on December 7th. The city’s African American population shrank for a fourth year in a row in 2022. 

From 2018 to 2022, St. Pete lost 10% of its Black population, while the rest of Pinellas County experienced double-digit Black population growth, and Florida had 7% growth in Black residents.

A report released this week by Urban Market Analytics (UMA) shows that outmigration is the biggest contributor to the trend, which means that more African Americans are moving out of the city than the number moving in. 

St. Pete had negative net migration of African Americans for 10 of the past 12 years of census data available, but the Black exodus rate reached record highs over the past three years. 

The trend appears to be strongest among younger and college-educated African Americans.   

A local survey project is hoping to discover why Black residents are leaving St. Pete. 

Among 20 African Americans who previewed the report to lend perspective, over three-quarters speculate that housing costs are to blame, and nearly two-thirds say that lack of employment and business opportunities for African Americans is a factor. 

Rents and home prices in St. Petersburg have skyrocketed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading many to seek out less expensive markets. 

Some are relocating to nearby cities such as Clearwater and Largo (which are among 15 cities in Pinellas that saw significant Black population growth over the past decade). 

But a large portion are leaving Pinellas County altogether. Anecdotes collected by the Power Broker suggest that Atlanta, New York, Miami, and Washington, D.C., are among the cities attracting young professionals and other African Americans from St. Pete. 

Closer to home, St. Pete has lost Black residents to Bradenton, Palmetto, Brandon, and Tampa. 

Ashon Nesbitt, CEO of the Florida Housing Coalition, identifies himself as one of many in his age group who left the city. The 43-year old St. Pete native says housing costs and shortages are a key issue, but also points to cultural factors. 

His opinion: “I think retaining and growing the Black population will take a multi-pronged approach. The more our kids pursue education and training in jobs that are growing in the city, the more they see themselves in the local culture, the more they will stay.” 

Nesbitt, who now lives in Tallahassee, continued, “Projects like the redevelopment of the Deuces (22nd Street South) and cultural events that take place there are important not only for their economic value, but for their cultural impact – becoming the destination for younger people to build connections with others and in effect with the city.” 

Reasons for the trend may soon become clearer. The Power Broker Magazine is asking current and former African American residents of St. Pete to take an opinion survey to help identify top factors driving the city’s Black population losses. The survey is also open to African Americans who currently or previously worked in St. Petersburg. 

Watch for a report on survey results in January 2024. 

In the meantime:

Click here to take the survey (and please share with others); 

Click here to for the new report on African Americans leaving St. Pete in record numbers; and  

Feel free to email me your thoughts and questions at [email protected].

Richard Hunt, prolific Chicago sculptor whose public works explored civil rights, dies at 88

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Richard Hunt, a prolific Chicago artist who was the first Black sculptor to receive a solo retrospective at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art and whose public works drew praise from presidents, has died at age 88. Read more at www.thegrio.com

RaceWithoutism’s BurGala celebrates diversity and inclusion

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 RaceWithoutism, Inc. presented BurGala 2023 on Dec. 2, an event to celebrate and promote diversity and inclusion. The evening featured special guest Dr. Charles B. Dew, who discussed his book “The Making of a Racist: A Southerner Reflects on Family, History, and the Slave Trade.” Read more at www.theweeklychallenger.com.

Teen is one of the first in the world to get his genes edited. Why he describes the process as ‘cool and freaky’

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CNN’s Meg Tirrell sits down with Johnny Lubin, one of the first in the world to try a new kind of medicine that uses a gene-editing tool called CRISPR to offer a potential cure for sickle cell disease. Watch full interview at www.cnn.com.

VP Kamala Harris Makes History With 33 Tiebreaker Votes, Receives Golden Gavel

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The Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, broke the record for casting the most tiebreaker votes in the Senate with 33 votes.

The first woman and first person of color, the VP received a golden gavel from New York Democrat and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for the accomplishment on Dec. 5, according to The Associated Press. The news outlet reported that her record-breaking 33rd vote went in favor of a new federal judge in Washington, D.C.. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com.

Why St. Pete’s community benefits council chairperson resigned

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A founding member of St. Petersburg’s Community Benefits Advisory Council (CBAC) resigned amid potential conflict of interest discussions. However, Gypsy Gallardo believes she is better suited helping the city achieve its equitable economic development goals.

Mayor Ken Welch appointed Gallardo, CEO of Urban Market Analytics, to serve on the CBAC in 2022. The non-partisan board helps city officials measure and increase a project’s community impact. Read more at www.sstpetecatalyst.com.

Opportunities for public input on historic Gas Plant Redevelopment Project slated for Dec. & Jan.

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City of St. Petersburg residents are encouraged to save the dates for several opportunities to provide public input on community benefits for the Historic Gas Plant Redevelopment project, including a $50 million commitment to intentional equity.

The public is invited to attend an upcoming Community Benefits Information Session for the community benefits associated with the Historic Gas Plant District Redevelopment on Wednesday, Dec. 13, at 5:30 p.m. at The Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N.

A formal public notice and meeting details will follow. On Dec. 13, the public will have the opportunity to learn specifically about the proposed community benefits directly from the Hines Historic Gas Plant Partnership. Details on how the public can provide input on this portion of the project are forthcoming. Read more at www.theweeklychallenger.com.

Fisk University Gymnastic Team Will Host Historic Black Women Gymnast Meet

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Fisk University’s gymnastics team is looking to make history again as the program’s second competition season will start with a meet against teams coached by Black women. As the Fisk gymnasts continue to diversify the predominately white sport, the all-Black team will bring together five other squads led by history-making coaches to host the 2024 meet on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. NewsChannel 5 reported that a woman of color coaches each team. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com.

Protect Your Assets: Advice For Entrepreneurs

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Black Owned Business, sign outside restaurant, Queens, New york. (Photo by: Lindsey Nicholson/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Black Owned Business, sign outside restaurant, Queens, New york. (Photo by: Lindsey Nicholson/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

When we think about wealth, most of us are focused on two things: How to acquire it and how to grow it.

However, long-term financial stability and success relies on your ability to protect your wealth. Unfortunately, most people fail to think of wealth protection until it’s too late—when assets are in peril or after they’re lost. In nearly all cases, the money saved by not taking steps to protect your assets is easily dwarfed by the financial damage incurred when what can go wrong does. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com

Introducing Maryland’s First Black Woman-Owned Comprehensive Care, IV Hydration, And Therapy Practice

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Mrs. Tameka G. Anthony, Owner, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner, and IV Hydration Specialist, announces the opening of a new comprehensive care practice Wellness Cube LLC at 9131 Piscataway Road, Suite 150, Clinton, Maryland. The new practice focuses on mind, body, and spirit featuring IV nutritional vitamin therapy, wellness visits, weight loss programs, diabetes education, as well as mental health coaching. The company’s mission is to alleviate and lessen the need for frequent recurring relapses, possible sepsis, and/or latent recovery due to post-surgery complications and dehydration. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com

Studio@620 transitions to new leadership as Bob Devin Jones announces retirement

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One of the stalwarts of the St. Petersburg arts scene has announced his retirement. In a press release today, celebrated caretaker of the arts Bob Devin Jones announced that he will be retiring from Studio@620 in June of 2024, with Erica Sutherlin tapped to take over as the Artistic Executive Director. Read more at www.ilovetheburg.com

Nas, Steve Stoute, And Others Give $500K To Hip-Hop ‘Contributors Who Didn’t Get What They Deserved’

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Hip-hop has created a lot of millionaires and even billionaires in its 50-year history. But some early pioneers never got their just due, and Nas, Steve Stoute, and others are looking to change that. Nas and Stout have joined forces with Andreessen Horowitz co-founder Ben Horowitz and his wife, Felicia Horowitz, to pay homage to hip-hop pioneers through financial support. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com.

Black Communities Are Leveraging the Power of Cutting-Edge Technologies

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Black Wall Street USA Informational Technological Council will be reaching out to Directors and their Administrators in the coming weeks to understand the technology needs of each district  and implement software and training as needed. The IT Council will address the most pressing technological challenges faced by each district while simultaneously revolutionizing traditional practices. By leveraging the power of cutting-edge technologies, strategic collaborations, and a deep understanding of each district’s needs, the IT Council aims to find and implement software solutions and training that benefit each district and the businesses they serve. Learn more at www.blackwallstreet.org

Biden Names 2 Black Female Judges In 41st Round Of Judicial Nominees

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On Nov. 1 President Biden announced nominations for Judge Julie S. Sneed for the Middle District of Florida and Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin for the District of South Carolina. The two join the record number of Black female federal judges nominated during the Biden Harris Administration. Read more at www.balckenterprise.com

Community Of Black Women Investors Expands Across The U.S., Shares 3 Tips For Beginners

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Meet Black Women Invest, a sisterhood formed around the mission to turn one million Black women into high-level investors.

Schelo Dorin founded Black Women Invest after an abrupt end to her “dream job.” It started as a Brunch Tour in Atlanta, Miami, Dallas, and Houston that brought together their online Facebook community of more than 12,000 women.

Since forming the community of investors, Dorin has helped more Black women gain knowledge about investing in stock and developing an investment portfolio. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com.

New election data reveals key findings about Black women and the economy

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Since the historic election of America’s first Black president, Barack Obama, Black women have been lifted up as the backbone of the Democratic Party. 

The high turnout rate among Black female voters led to many critical victories for Democrats over the years, most notably the election of Joe Biden as president and Kamala Harris as America’s first Black female vice president. Read more at www.thegrio.com.

The suspect charged with killing Tupac Shakur is set to be arraigned today in court

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The 60-year-old man arrested in the killing of rapper Tupac Shakuris expected in court Thursday, where he will be arraigned on a murder charge.

Duane Keith Davis, known as “Keffe D,” is accused of orchestrating the shooting that cut short the life of Shakur, a 25-year-old trailblazer whose brief, prolific career cemented his legacy as one of the most influential hip-hop artists of all time. His untimely death added a grim layer to that mystique, and for years it had been the subject of conspiracy theories. Read more at www.cnn.com.

The Military Conducted Testing In Their Neighborhood During The Cold War. Now, These Former Residents Are Demanding Answers – And Restitution

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CNN; Published By Justin Gamble

In the 1950s and 1960s, the Army sprayed chemicals around the Pruitt-Igoe housing development as part of secret Cold War-era testing. Chester Deanes, left, and Ben Phillips lived in the development and say the chemicals, which the Army maintains were nontoxic, have made people sick.

Former residents of a low-income, majority-Black housing development in St. Louis, Missouri, are seeking restitution from the US Army over a Cold War-era testing program they say made them ill.

Ben Phillips was five years old when he moved with his family into the Pruitt-Igoe housing development, a predominately-Black and low-income housing complex located northwest of downtown.

Phillips, now 73, told CNN he had fond memories of his decade spent growing up in the high rise.

“There were two separate developments. Igoe for Whites and Pruitt was for Blacks,” he said, adding despite the segregation “it was a very wonderful, tranquil area, a brand-new high rise.”

But Phillips said he also recalls chemical mist being sprayed from vehicles and from rooftops of several buildings in the housing development.

At the time, he said residents thought the mist was just a pesticide.

“The majority of it was done at night. So, you know, you’re at home, it’s a summer evening, you got your windows opened up on the seventh floor because you don’t have air conditioning. And it’s spewing this stuff off the roofs.”

As he got older, Phillips’ perception of what he inhaled as a child changed. Read more

The affirmative action battle shifts to a new front

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Anyone who hoped the US Supreme Court’s recent decision on affirmative action in college and university admissions would likely stop at traditional higher education got an ominous sign this past week.

The US Naval Academy was sued October 5 over its race-conscious admissions practices by the same anti-affirmative action group whose lawsuits against Harvard and the University of North Carolina prompted the nation’s highest court to declare race-based admissions policies at such institutions unlawful. Read more at www.cnn.com.

New director plans to lead the Deuces’ rebirth

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For The Deuces Live and many other stakeholders, St. Petersburg’s historic 22nd Street South corridor represents “the art and soul of St. Pete.”

Latorra Bowles plans to help usher the organization, and the area, into a new era. The Deuces Live’s board of directors recently selected Bowles as the nonprofit’s new executive director.

The St. Petersburg native, a mother of two, brings 18 years of human resources and operations management experience to her new role. She called the appointment “profound.” Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

‘Black Barbie: A Documentary’ Acquired By Netflix & Shondaland Following Work-In-Progress SXSW Debut

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Deadline; Published By Matt Grobar

Lagueria Davis, Aaliyah Williams
Kamiesha Turner/Alyssa Armstrong

Netflix and Shondaland have snapped up worldwide rights to Black Barbie: A Documentary, a new film from Lagueria Davis that screened a previous cut, to critical acclaim, at this year’s SXSW Film Festival.

Pic is exec produced by Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers as part of their overall deal with Netflix, which was extended in 2021, following the Bridgerton duo’s initial signing with the streamer in 2017. It arrives at a time when the doll made world famous by Mattel has taken on a new level of cultural cachet, thanks to Greta Gerwig’s fantasy comedy Barbie, which has grossed over $1.43B worldwide since its July 21st release by Warner Bros, coming in as the highest-grossing film of 2023, as well as the top grosser in the history of the studio, and for a solo female director.

While resonating with the themes of that film written by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, Black Barbie looks at both the company and its product from a different vantage point, celebrating the momentous impact three Black women at Mattel had on the evolution of the Barbie brand as we know it. Through these charismatic insiders’ stories, the documentary tells the story of how the first Black Barbie came to be in 1980, examining the importance of representation and how dolls can be crucial to the formation of identity and imagination. Read more

Simone Biles Wins Women’s All-Around Final to Secure Record 21st World Championship Gold Medal

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CNN; Published by Ben Morse

Simone Biles continued to make history at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, winning the women’s individual all-around final on Friday to secure her 21st world championship gold medal.

The 26-year-old American put on another near-perfect display in Antwerp, Belgium, to win her sixth all-around title at world championships, as she finished ahead of Rebeca Andrade in second place and Shilese Jones in third.

Biles flashed big smiles and hugs with teammates and coaches when her final, winning score was revealed.

She then wiped away tears from her eyes while the US national anthem played.

“I was emotional because it was my first worlds here 10 years ago and now my sixth one, so it is crazy, but I swear I do have something in my eye that’s been bothering me for like four hours and I cannot get it out,” Biles told reporters. “So while I was looking up there, it was like a combination of both.”

By winning gold, she also became the most decorated female or male gymnast ever, surpassing Belarusian Vitaly Scherbo’s record of 33 overall medals across both the Olympics and the world championships. Read more

Meet the 7 Black scholars and artists named among the MacArthur ‘Genius’ fellows class of 2023

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On Wednesday, the MacArthur Foundation announced this year’s class of “Genius” fellows, and among the 20 grantees are seven Black scholars, artists, and musicians. This year’s 20 recipients span various disciplines and focus, including law, art, environmental studies, literature, poetry, anthropology, and more. Read more at www.thegrio.com

Kerry Washington Opens Up About The Source of Her Struggles With Body Image

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When it comes to beauty and style, it doesn’t get much better than Kerry Washington. The Little Fires Everywhere actress joined the likes of Kelly Rowland and Halle Berry in the pages of PEOPLE’s coveted 2013 Most Beautiful issue. But lately, Washington has been opening up about her struggles with an eating disorder – something she revealed in her new memoir, “Thicker Than Water.” Read more at www.theroot.com.

Issa Rae appointed creative director of 2024 American Black Film Festival

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The 2024 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) appointed Issa Rae as its creative director. The annual festival is scheduled for June 12 –16 next year in Miami Beach.

The ABFF created this new position for Rae, according to Variety. The actress will help curate the festival’s programming, working closely with co-founders Nicole and Jeff Friday. At the 2022 ABFF, Rae served as festival ambassador, previewing her HBO Max series, “Rap Sh!t.” Read more at www.thegrio.com.

St. Pete hosts sprawling supplier convention for local business owners this week

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This fall, a first-of-its-kind experience for local business owners is coming to St. Pete. The city announced that it will be hosting the inaugural Supplier Diversity Day on Wednesday, October 4 from 10 am – 3 pm at The Coliseum.

Put on by the City of St. Petersburg Office of Supplier Diversity, the convention will serve as a networking and educational resource for small business owners in the area, with a focus on supporting diversity in the local economy. In addition to networking and educational resources, the event will help connect local businesses with procurement opportunities in St. Pete and the Tampa Bay Area. Read more at www.ilovetheburg.com.

Federal appeals court approves injunction to block grant for Black women entrepreneurs

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A U.S. federal appeals court has granted a conservative group’s request to temporarily block a Black-owned venture capitalist firm from awarding grants exclusively to Black women entrepreneurs. 

In a 2-1 decision, judges from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals granted the American Alliance for Equal Rights’ motion for an injunction on Saturday, temporarily halting the Fearless Fund, a Black women-owned venture capitalist firm, and its foundation from awarding its Fearless Strivers Grant exclusively to Black women. Read more at www.cnn.com.

Trump Appointed Judges Block Fearless Fund’s Grant Program For Black Women

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On Saturday, a panel of federal appellate judges temporary blocked the private and Atlanta-based Fearless Fund from awarding $20,000 grants to Black women entrepreneurs. 

They wrote that the program was “racially exclusionary” and “substantially likely” violating a federal law that forbids racial discrimination when it comes to contracting. Read more at www.theroot.com.

Family of 8-Year-Old Girl Fatally Shot by Pennsylvania Police Reaches $11 Million Settlement

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CNN; Published By Maria Sole Campinoti and Jessica Xing

Fanta Bility was 8 years old in 2021 when she was shot and killed by police gunfire in Pennsylvania.
Courtesy Bruce Castor Jr.

The family of an 8-year-old girl who was shot and killed by police gunfire near a Pennsylvania high school football game in 2021 has settled its lawsuit against a Philadelphia suburb, its police chief, and the three officers involved for $11 million.

Fanta Bility was shot and killed when police opened fire on a car in Pennsylvania’s Sharon Hill Borough, CNN previously reported. Police started shooting after a verbal fight between teens escalated to a gunfight, according to officials. Three others were also injured in the shooting, including Fanta’s 12-year-old sister who was inside the car.

Three former police officers – Brian Devaney, Sean Dolan, and Devon Smith – were fired and later sentenced to probation in connection to Fanta’s death in May. They pleaded guilty to charges of reckless endangerment. The three men were initially charged with manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter, but the charges were dropped as part of a plea deal.

“There is no amount of money that will ever bring Fanta back or erase the memory of the horrible tragedy that occurred on August 27, 2021, from our minds,” said Siddiq Kamara, a spokesperson for the Bility family, in a statement. “However, with the criminal and civil cases now resolved, we hope to move on and focus specifically on the Fanta Bility Foundation and keeping Fanta’s legacy alive.”

The family established the foundation on what would have been Fanta’s 10th birthday to “ensure she is never forgotten,” advocate for police training, and help support families and children around the country, according to the nonprofit’s website.

Investigators were unable to determine which officer fired the fatal bullet, according to the Delaware County District Attorney’s office. Read more

St. Petersburg hires first Chief Equity Officer

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City officials on Tuesday announced the hiring of Lenice C. Emanuel asSt. Petersburg’s first Chief Equity Officer.

According to a news release, Emanuel is an executive with 25 years of experience in nonprofits, including as chief executive officer of the YWCA of Tampa Bay from 2010 to 2015. Her work starts Monday.

Emanuel’s job is to create and carry out policies and practices that put everyone on the same playing field, in and out of City Hall, and make sure equity and inclusion are baked into city government policies, procedures and practices, according to the job posting. Read more at www.tampabay.com.

Deion Sanders still winning in Black community after first loss at Colorado

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Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, center, exits the field following an NCAA football game against Oregon, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Eugene, Ore. Oregon won 42-6. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, center, exits the field following an NCAA football game against Oregon, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Eugene, Ore. Oregon won 42-6. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

One of Trevon Hamlet’s core memories from attending the University of Colorado is living on campus his freshman year and being able to count on one hand how many Black people he’d see in a day.

Hamlet, who played lacrosse at Colorado from 2014-19 and still lives in the area, was the only Black person on his team in a school where African American students made up less than 2% of the population. He said a lot of those Black students were athletes. Read more at www.thegrio.com.

Plight of the Working Black Woman: Work, Cry, Die

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Temple University’s acting president JoAnne A. Epps suddenly collapsed on stage during a memorial service last week. After an officer carried out her limp body in front of the crowd of students and attendees, she was taken to the university hospital where she was pronounced dead, according to AP News. Read more at www.theroot.com.

Expansive event highlights how ‘Women Mean Business’

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Tampa Bay’s women-owned business community continues growing alongside the region, and Jessica Rivelli reflects on its precipitous rise and increasing impact with pride.

Rivelli’s organization, Working Women of Tampa Bay (WWTB), is now in its 14th year. Its signature annual event, the “Women Mean Business Expo,” took over the Mahaffey Theater Wednesday morning.

Over 60 exhibitors, 25 speakers and 400 attendees helped Rivelli celebrate the conference’s 10thanniversary. She credited the area’s lack of female-focused entrepreneurial resources in 2009 for WWTB’s growth. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

Simone Biles Condems Gymnastics Ireland For Racist Incident

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Gymnast Simone Biles looks on during the final day of women's competition at the 2023 US Gymnastics Championships at the SAP Center on August 27, 2023 in San Jose, California. Simone Biles dazzled on floor exercise August 27 on the way to a record eighth all-around title at the US Gymnastics Championships, another step on a comeback trail pointing toward the Paris Olympics. The four-time Olympic gold medallist electrified the SAP Center crowd with a soaring floor routine that included a rock-solid landing on her signature Biles I tumbling pass of double layout with a half-twist. (Photo by Loren Elliott / AFP) (Photo by LOREN ELLIOTT/AFP via Getty Images)
Gymnast Simone Biles looks on during the final day of women’s competition at the 2023 US Gymnastics Championships at the SAP Center on August 27, 2023 in San Jose, California. Simone Biles dazzled on floor exercise August 27 on the way to a record eighth all-around title at the US Gymnastics Championships, another step on a comeback trail pointing toward the Paris Olympics. The four-time Olympic gold medallist electrified the SAP Center crowd with a soaring floor routine that included a rock-solid landing on her signature Biles I tumbling pass of double layout with a half-twist. (Photo by Loren Elliott / AFP) (Photo by LOREN ELLIOTT/AFP via Getty Images)

Simone Biles is making it known that racism has no place in sports. She has condemned Gymnastics Ireland, the national governing body for the sport in Ireland, for a harrowing incident that showed a young Black competitor blatantly skipped over during an awards ceremony.

The incident occurred in March 2022, according to the Daily Mail, and shocked viewers as the little girl’s excitement turned to sadness when she was embarrassed by the medal bestower. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com.

Call for Recipes – Tampa Soulwalk Community Cookbook

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The City of Tampa’s Soulwalk has curated and connected a variety of the city’s historic sites into one continuous “trail” for people to better understand Tampa’s history and communities of color.  Like the historic trail, the Soulwalk cookbook companion will curate recipes and other points of interest and organize them into one cohesive journey through the hearts and bellies of Tampa’s community of color. Submit your recipe here.

People Capable To Be the Next Black President of the U.S.

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The Root; Published By Noah A. McGee

Photo: Brandon Bell //Anna Moneymaker (Getty Images)

Although Barack Obama was the first Black person to become the President of the United States, he likely won’t be the last. There are plenty of qualified candidates who have the brains and skills to become the next leader of the nation. So we decided to come up with a list.

Some of the names generated by The Root staff might be expected; others may surprise you. Tell us what you think—and who we might have missed. Read more

Kerry Washington Shares Shocking Revelation About Her Biological Father

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The Root; Published By Shanelle Genai

Kerry Washington attends The 2023 Met Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City.
Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Karl Lagerfeld) (Getty Images)

Kerry Washington is opening up like we’ve never seen her before ahead of the release of her new memoir, Thicker Than Water, recently revealing shocking details about her biological father.

Speaking to the New York Times, the Scandal star shared that the man she thought was her father was not and that she found that out thanks to Henry Louis “Skip” Gates (founder of the The Root) and his Finding Your Roots series.

Washington explained that when she went to go collect DNA samples from both her parents, they were initially hesitant and that raised some red flags. Gates then had a conversation with Washington’s parents privately where they asked him if “the possibility that Washington not being their biological child would “come up in the testing.” As a result, he urged them to have a talk with he Django Unchained star about their worries sooner rather than later.

Upon discovering that the man she had always known as her father was indeed not and that she was a product of a sperm donor, Washington said that it helped contextualize some of the feelings of disconnect she’d always had with her dad. Read more

The Internet Is Already Making Plans for Usher’s Super Bowl Halftime Show

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The Root; Published By Stephanie Holland

Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Karl Lagerfeld (Getty Images)

Even when you move through life with the confidence of Usher, sometimes you have to shoot your shot to make things happen. Back in April, the Confessions singer said he’d “be a fool to say no” to the Super Bowl Halftime Show gig. Now, he’s getting his wish, as it was announced on Sunday that the “Yeah” singer will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show at Super Bowl 58 on Feb. 11 in Las Vegas, Nev.

“It’s happening. Obviously a legacy. But more than anything the fact that this is the most grand stage to ever play on,” Usher told Apple Music 1. “Those 13 minutes mean everything. Been on my bucket list for a long time. Just the excitement in this moment to really be able to savor this moment. You remember the first time you ever heard your record play on the radio. You remember the first time you ever heard your voice on a format or radio. This is like that for me….I’m very, very happy.” Read more

America Has Always Been Uncomfortable With Confident Black Folks. Deion Sanders Is Evidence Of That

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The Root; Published by Candace McDuffie

Head coach Deon Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes walks on the sidelines against the Oregon Ducks during the second half at Autzen Stadium on September 23, 2023 in Eugene, Oregon. 
Photo: Tom Hauck (Getty Images)

On Saturday, the University of Colorado Boulder Buffaloes—led by Deion Sanders—had their very first loss of the season against the University of Oregon Ducks. Under Sanders’ leadership, the team was 3-0 until Saturday’s game.

Sanders’ confidence—which some have critiqued as being too much—has drawn immense criticism over the last several months. It makes sense since this country has always been uncomfortable with self-assured and confident Black folks.

However, Sanders puts his money where his mouth is and the Buffaloes’ success is proof of that. Oregon head coach Dan Lanning said that the opposing team was more focused about online popularity as opposed to the game itself.

“The Cinderella story is over, men. They’re fighting for clicks, we’re fighting for wins. There’s a difference. This game ain’t going to be played in Hollywood. It’s going to be played on the grass,” Lanning stated in the video. Read more

Washington National Cathedral Reveals New Racial Justice Stained Glass Windows to Replace Those That Honored Confederate Generals

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CNN; Published By Dakin Andone

Washington National Cathedral unveiled new racial justice themed stained glass windows to replace those that honored Confederate generals

Washington National Cathedral on Saturday revealed four new “racial-justice themed” stained-glass windows to replace others honoring Confederate Gens. Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson.

The new windows are titled “Now and Forever” and show demonstrators during a march or protest. Some demonstrators carry signs that say “Fairness” and “No Foul Play” as the group marches across the four windows.

“Today’s event has been organized to highlight one instance where a change of symbolism is meant to repair a breach of America’s creation promise of liberty and justice for all,” Kerry James Marshall, the artist who designed the windows, said at the dedication.

The windows “reinforce those ideals and aspirations embodied in the Cathedral’s structure and its mission to remind us that we can be better, and do better than we did yesterday, today,” said Marshall, a MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient known for depictions of Black lives.

It was a moment that had been years in the making.

The cathedral belongs to the Episcopal Diocese of Washington but is often used for national services. Leaders first began considering replacing the windows in 2015, when then-Dean Gary Hall called for their removal after a White supremacist fatally shot nine Black churchgoers at Mother Emanuel AME in Charleston, South Carolina. Read more

Georgia Gullah-Geechee Community Fighting to Preserve Land Under Attack By State Officials

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Dionne Hoskins-Brown, Chair of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission, speaks at Station Creek Landing in St Helena, South Carolina, on July 10, 2023. Isolated on islands scattered along the coast, ancestors of those in the Gullah Geechee community relied on the land and sea. They created their own culture, fed by their African heritage, and even developed their own Creole language. Hundreds of thousands of people are today part of the community -- which is threatened by climate change, gentrification, and real estate developers circling like hawks. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Black Enterprise; Published By Iman Milner

Dionne Hoskins-Brown, Chair of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission, speaks at Station Creek Landing in St Helena, South Carolina, on July 10, 2023. (Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

Nationwide, members of the Gullah-Geechee community are fighting to preserve their rights to land that has been protected for decades against growing pressure from developers and ever-increasing tax rates. The latest battle is taking place on Sapelo Island off the coast of Georgia.

According to NBC News, McIntosh County commissioners have unveiled a proposal to do away with zoning ordinances that limit homes to modest sizes near the dwellings of about 30 to 50 Black residents. The rules, introduced in 1994, fall under the Cultural Protection Overlay (CPO) and have protected the residents of Hogg Hummock along with other Gullah-Geechee communities throughout several coastal islands in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

“It’s the erasure of a historical culture that’s still intact after 230 years,” said Reginal Hall, a Hogg Hummock landowner whose family’s roots are deeply connected to the island, told NBC News. “Once you raise those limits and the land value increases, we only have two to three years at most. If you talk about the descendants of the enslaved, 90% of us will be gone.” Read more

A College President in Florida Tried to Resign. Then Things Got Weird.

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Chronicle; Published By Megan Zahneis

TORI SCHNEIDER, TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT, USA TODAY NETWORK
Gregory A. Haile speaks at a news conference in 2019.

Leadership at Broward College, in Florida, is in flux after the public institution’s president, Gregory A. Haile, resigned last week. But Broward’s Board of Trustees refused at an emergency meeting to accept Haile’s resignation, and several community leaders pleaded with him to stay.

Broward’s board, whose members were taken aback by Haile’s decision, meets again on September 26. In the meantime, Haile appears to be president in name only; while a statement from the college said he remains in the role, Haile has indicated his access to his Broward email and office has been cut off. Read more

HBO Receives Backlash Over Upcoming ‘Savior Complex’ Documentary

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Volunteer caucasian woman giving grain to starving African children. Poor African children keeping their hands up - asking for food.

Black Enterprise; Published By Daniel Johnson

HBO announced a documentary premiering on its Max app September 26 and Black Twitter had plenty to say about the matter.

Savior Complex centers around Renee Bach, a white American missionary who went to Uganda on a missionary trip, and started a charity for malnourished children. She then started treating the sick children herself. There was just one problem: Bach had no medical qualifications to do so.

According to HBO, “the three-part docuseries examines the thorny complexities of foreign aid work done in the name of humanitarian and religious ideals.”

HBO posted a trailer to its official account on Twitter/X. That’s when things got heated.

Multiple users questioned the integrity of HBO making a documentary on this particular subject while others pointed to the Ugandan investigative documentary titled The Messiahs ThaWere Not by Munjuni Raymond and Next Media Uganda as an alternative.

Other users observed that Bach settled in a Ugandan court after allegedly impersonating a doctor and performing medical procedures she was not qualified to attempt. Read more

Clearwater: American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Applications

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Investing $22.48M in ARPA(Show info) Funds Today —
For a Bright and Beautiful Clearwater Tomorrow
The city of Clearwater has received a total of $22,483,893 under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA(Show info)), through the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds program as passed by the United States Congress on March 11, 2021. The allocation of funding must be committed or contractually encumbered to projects and programs by the end of 2024. All money must be spent by 2026; any money unspent at that time must be returned to the federal government. Read more

The Rays have a stadium deal; what’s next?

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Local leaders were already eyeing the next steps in an ongoing quest to redevelop Tropicana Field before celebrations surrounding their agreement with the Tampa Bay Rays/Hines development team subsided.

St. Petersburg administrators will present stadium and development term sheets to city council members in October at a Committee of the Whole Meeting. The Community Benefits Advisory Council will offer its recommendations in November. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

Opening Statements Begin in the Trial of Officers Charged in the Death of Unarmed Black Man Elijah McClain

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CNN; Published By Andi Babineau and Eric Levenson

See the police encounter that led to Elijah McClain’s death

Opening statements began Wednesday in the trial of two Aurora, Colorado, police officers who arrested Elijah McClain, an unarmed 23-year-old Black man who died after their encounter more than four years ago.

Randy Roedema and Jason Rosenblatt have pleaded not guilty to charges of reckless manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and assault causing serious bodily injury in connection with McClain’s death. Rosenblatt was fired by the police department in 2020 and Roedema remains suspended.

Prosecutors began their opening statement after Judge Mark Warner seated the jury, which includes 14 members – 12 primary jurors and two alternates.

The case stems from the arrest of McClain on August 24, 2019, when officers responded to a call about a “suspicious person” wearing a ski mask, according to the indictment. The officers confronted McClain, a massage therapist, musician and animal lover, who was walking home from a convenience store carrying a plastic bag with iced tea. Read more

Open House October 3rd & 10th 2023 at Pinellas Technical College

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Pinellas Technical College (formerly known as PTEC) will be having an Open House on each of its campuses: PTC St. Petersburg Campus on Tuesday, October 3rd and PTC Clearwater Campus on Tuesday, October 10th. Open House will take place from 5:30 pm until 7:00 pm each night. We’ll be offering campus tours, attendees can meet our instructors/students, and we’ll have some free services (such as manicures, hair braiding, haircuts) offered by a few programs as well.

Kyesha Robinson

Managing Officer, Workforce Innovation

Pinellas Technical College

727-893-2500 ext 2338 (office)

Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg Presents: RFP Submission Week – October 2-6, 2023

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For applicants selecting the in-person submission option, portions of the application will be completed via an in-person presentation at the Foundation for a Healthy St Petersburg located at 2333 34th Ave South, St Petersburg, FL 33711, between October 2, 2023, and October 6, 2023. You must sign up for a one-hour timeslot below. Each of the five application reviewers will attend your presentation, which will be video recorded and uploaded into the grants portal by Foundation staff. The in-person presentation will be guided by each section of the application and will not allow you to share information outside of application questions. Each section of the application that allows for an in-person presentation will have a time limit. Any portion of the presentation exceeding the time limit assigned to that section will not be reviewed. The reviewers will not ask questions of the presenters. Upon reserving your time for the presentation, should you choose this submission option, you will receive an email with detailed information regarding logistics. Please select October in the calendar below, review the dates between Oct 2nd and 6th, select a date, and then select the time that works for you and your team.

TECO Tampa Electric Hiring: Electrical Line Workers

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ELECTRICAL LINE WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM

Program Information

The Electrical Line Worker Training Program is designed to provide students with the fundamental knowledge and basic skills needed when seeking a career opportunity in the electric utility industry as a line worker trainee.

The following certifications will be earned upon class completion:

  • OSHA 10-Hour
  • CPR & AED
  • First Aid

Start Date: Tuesday, January 23, 2024

End Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Class Meeting Dates: Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays (No class on 3/12, 3/13, and 3/14 for Spring Break, and No class on 4/16 for HCC All College Day)

Class Meeting Times: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Plus weekly online homework)

Training Location: HCC Brandon Campus

Tuition: $6,500 (TECO scholarships available for those who qualify)

Admission Requirements:

  • 18 years old or older (By start of course)
  • High school diploma/GED (By start of course)
  • Pass a level 2 background check
  • Pass a drug screen
  • Must be able to lift 50 lbs

Students who successfully complete the four-month program are encouraged to interview with TECO for an entry-level Electrical Line Worker trainee position. Hourly wage starts at $26.98 and in five years can increase to $50 per hour or more. TECO is very dedicated to the safety of its team members, and offers an excellent benefits package that includes health insurance, retirement benefits and generous time off.

Steps To Apply:

  1. Click Here to Complete the Application (SUBMIT ONE APPLICATION).
  2. Receive approval from HCC-ICCE staff to attend Discovery Bootcamp (allow 2 to 3 business days).
  3. Receive a link to register for the mandatory Discovery Bootcamp Assessment Course (Cost $93).
  4. Attend Discovery Bootcamp Assessment Course on Saturday, January 6, 2024, 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at the HCC Brandon Campus.
  5. The highest scoring 16 Students who pass the assessment will then be required to pass a background check and drug screening test.
  6. Receive a link to register for the Electrical Line Worker Course (allow 2 to 3 business days).

$27M Reparations To Be Paid To Descendants Of Enslaved People Sold To Fund Georgetown University

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Tanzania, Zanzibar Archipelago, Unguja island (Zanzibar), town of Zanzibar, Stone Town district, unesco world heritage, old slaves market
Tanzania, Zanzibar Archipelago, Unguja island (Zanzibar), town of Zanzibar, Stone Town district, unesco world heritage, old slaves market

Georgetown University and the Jesuits have pledged $27 million in money and land donations to the descendants of 19th-century enslaved people who were sold to fund the highly prestigious institution.

According to CNN, the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation confirmed the gifts of $10 million from Georgetown and an additional $17 million from the Jesuits in the form of financial retribution and plantation land. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com.

5-Day ‘Your First Funnel’ Challenge!

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“Give Us Just 90 Minutes A Day… And Over The Next 5 Days We’ll Show You How To Quickly
Launch Your Idea And Turn It Into A Business That You’re Proud Of!” Register here

Experience What is Possible at The Microschool Dream Summit

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After this 2-Day event you will leave with vision, confidence, and the next steps to start your own business through opening a dream microschool. Register here

Fifty Years Ago, The Great Clemente Made Hall of Fame History

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MLB; Published by Nathalie Alonso

There was no doubt that Roberto Clemente was bound for the Hall of Fame when he stepped off the field on Oct. 11, 1972, at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati — the day the Reds eliminated his Pirates in Game 5 of that year’s National League Championship Series. Less than two weeks earlier, on Sept. 30, the last day of the regular season, the Puerto Rican-born outfielder had notched his 3,000th career hit with a double. Only 10 other men before him had reached that number, and as the 11th, Clemente was guaranteed a plaque in Cooperstown.

His other credentials were also overwhelming: In 18 Major League seasons, all of them with Pittsburgh, Clemente had also clobbered 240 home runs, driven in 1,305 runs, won 12 consecutive Gold Gloves in right field from 1961-72 (tied with Willie Mays for the most by an outfielder) and been named the 1966 National League MVP.

He finished 1972 with a .317 career regular-season batting average. And numbers like his 255 career assists in right field — a National League record since at least 1900 — and lifetime .973 fielding percentage (a rudimentary measure compared to today’s next-level metrics) hardly do justice to his powerful, accurate throwing arm and spectacular, acrobatic catches. Read more

Diddy launches e-commerce business to support Black-owned brands

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Sean “Diddy” Combs has joined the growing list of celebrities investing in Black brands.

Forbes reported the entertainment mogul recently unveiled Empower Global, a one-stop shop for Black-owned fashion, art, and beauty businesses. Deon Graham, chief brand officer of Combs Enterprises, said Combs got the idea after seeing a video on Black Wall Street, a booming Black neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Greenwood District, that was destroyed in 1921. Read more at www.thegrio.com.

Online Bookshop Connects Parents to Books That Uplift Children of Color

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When it comes to the books our Black children read, we know that representation matters. Research supports that reading books with characters that look like them helps improve children’s self-esteem. And although things are getting better, the industry still has a long way to go. According to the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, only 12 percent of books published in the United States in 2019 featured Black or African primary characters or topics, making it tough for parents to find books for their Black children that reflect their identity. Read more at www.theroot.com.

Slutty Vegan’s Pinky Cole Cries Over Making Time100 Next List

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 13: Pinky Cole attends a celebration for Time Magazine's Next 100 at Bar Vegan on September 13, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Joi Stokes/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – SEPTEMBER 13: Pinky Cole attends a celebration for Time Magazine’s Next 100 at Bar Vegan on September 13, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Joi Stokes/Getty Images)

Slutty Vegan Founder Pinky Cole is getting emotional after Time magazine announced her inclusion in their annual TIME100 Next, a list of up-and-coming power players.

The vegan food entrepreneur took to Instagram to share about the heartfelt moment, revealing how she is the first person she has ever known to be bestowed the honor. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com

Here’s why many Black people despise Clarence Thomas. (It’s not because he’s a conservative.)

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Long before he became a Supreme Court justice, Clarence Thomas told a story at a public gathering that still sounds shocking years later.

At the time, Thomas was a relatively unknown conservative who had paid his way to attend a conference of Black conservatives just before Ronald Reagan entered the White House in 1981. At the conference, Thomas told listeners that he opposed public assistance because it had caused his sister and her children to become dependent on welfare payments. Read more at www.cnn.com.

Daughter of Jim Brown Files Lawsuit, Claiming His Will Is Invalid

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MANHATTAN BEACH, CALIFORNIA - JULY 13: Cleveland Browns Full Back, NFL Champion and Actor Jim Brown attends the Sports Academy Foundation 50 For 50 at Manhattan Country Club on July 13, 2017 in Manhattan Beach, California. (Photo by Greg Doherty/Getty Images)

Black Enterprise; Published By Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

Jim Brown in 2017 (Photo: Greg Doherty/Getty Images)

Kimberly Brown, the daughter of late NFL legend Jim Brown, claims that her father’s extreme chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) makes his will and trust invalid.

RadarOnline reports she petitioned the courts to negate his current will, saying he was unfit leading up to his death. The famed athlete and civil rights activist died of natural causes in May at 87.

Kimberly Brown called out her stepmother, Monique Brown, for allowing her father to sign the documents in 2016 without his full capacity or knowledge of what he was agreeing to. According to Kimberly Brown, her father was dealing with a combination of cognitive decline, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease at the time. Because of this, he was not capable of making his own decisions for his best interest. Read more

Breaking Into the St. Pete Arts Scene – Beyond ABA Panel Discussion

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Panel Discussion featuring Jeremy Carter, Sheila Cowley, and Catherine Woods

  • $10 per session
  • $50 pre-pay for all six sessions
  • FREE for ABA Alumni and SPAA Members

The Arts Business Academy has helped our local artists gain business skills for many years, and we’re ready to take this impactful program a step further! Beyond ABA offers monthly, one-off workshops to help our local artists learn from community leaders and strengthen their arts businesses. Each month, we bring together a diverse group of community leaders, industry experts, and successful artists who share their expertise, inspire thoughtful discussion, and assist local arts entrepreneurs on their professional development journeys. Register here

Alpha Kapp Alpha Sorority, Inc. Opens First-Of-Its-Kind ‘For Members Only’ Credit Union

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 03: Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. attend the game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on March 03, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Black Enterprise; Published By Stacy Jackson

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – MARCH 03: Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. attend the game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on March 03, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc members recently participated in a special ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The organization held a grand opening for its new “For Members Only” (FMO) credit union. The ribbon-cutting occurred at the organization’s corporate headquarters in Chicago, ahead of the 2023 Leadership Seminar.

“FMO is the first Black-owned, women-led, sorority-based digital banking financial institution in the history of the United States, and some of our Sisters even signed up on-site!” the organization wrote on Instagram.

ABC7 reported that the 115-year-old sorority initiated plans for the credit union a few years ago, focusing on efforts to generate economic and financial stability for women of color. “Everyone doesn’t understand the impact we make financially, so you have to start doing things so folks know we know how to control our money,” Danette Anthony Reed, international president and CEO of AKA Sorority, told the outlet. Read more

St. Pete gears up for CRIT Championship Tour, a fusion of cycling and culture

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St. Pete is no stranger to its streets (and even waterways) being closed for big-time racing, and now another event is set to take over the town. St. Pete-based Orange Belt, a newly established organizer of cycling events, is set to host the CRIT Championship Tour, a thrilling criterium bike race taking place Saturday, October 21 in the heart of the EDGE District. Read more at www.ilovetheburg.com

Here’s why many Black people despise Clarence Thomas. (It’s not because he’s a conservative.)

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Long before he became a Supreme Court justice, Clarence Thomas told a story at a public gathering that still sounds shocking years later.

At the time, Thomas was a relatively unknown conservative who had paid his way to attend a conference of Black conservatives just before Ronald Reagan entered the White House in 1981. At the conference, Thomas told listeners that he opposed public assistance because it had caused his sister and her children to become dependent on welfare payments.

“She gets mad when the mailman is late with her welfare check,” Thomas said in a remark that has since been widely quoted. “That is how dependent she is. What’s worse is that now her kids feel entitled to the check, too. They have no motivation for doing better or getting out of that situation.” Read more at www.cnn.com.

Dwyane Wade On His Family Leaving Florida, They Didn’t Feel ‘Protected, Safe, Seen’

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SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 12: Dahveon Morris, Jolinda Wade, Zaya Wade, 2023 inductee Dwyane Wade, Kaavia James Wade, Gabrielle Union and Zaire Wade attend the 2023 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Induction at Symphony Hall on August 12, 2023 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS – AUGUST 12: Dahveon Morris, Jolinda Wade, Zaya Wade, 2023 inductee Dwyane Wade, Kaavia James Wade, Gabrielle Union and Zaire Wade attend the 2023 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Induction at Symphony Hall on August 12, 2023 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

Dwyane Wade is opening up about his family’s decision to relocate from Florida to California due to not feeling “protected” or “safe” in the place he “called home” for over a decade.

The NBA alum spent 14 of his 16 seasons as a standout on the Miami Heat. Even after his retirement in 2019, Wade and his family appeared settled in Florida up until earlier this year when he revealed why they relocated to California. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com

Pinellas Urban League names first female CEO in its history

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Following a national search to recruit a new leader, the Pinellas County Urban League on Thursday announced that Nikki Gaskin-Capehart, former director of urban affairs for the city of St. Petersburg, will be its new president and chief executive officer.

She is the first woman to ever hold the position for the 46-year-old organization. She succeeds the late Rev. Watson L. Haynes II, who served for 10 years in the role. Read more at www.tampabay.com.

IYKYK: Black-Owned Businesses Are Being Acquired By Major White-Owned Companies 

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Happy black businesswoman and businessman shaking hands at meeting. Professional business executive leaders making handshake agreement. Happy business man closing deal at negotiations with african american woman.
Happy black businesswoman and businessman shaking hands at meeting. Professional business executive leaders making handshake agreement. Happy business man closing deal at negotiations with african american woman.

Black-owned businesses experienced the quickest growth from 2017 to 2020; the greatest increase was seen in Black women-owned businesses. 

According to the Brookings Institute, businesses owned by Black women increased by 18.14%, outshining women-owned and Black-owned businesses, which increased by 9.06% and 13.64%, respectively. Amid the growth trends, there have been concerns about Black companies being sold or taken over by white businesses, according to Forbes. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com.

Prosecutor In Dominican Republic Investigating Second Complaint Against Wander Franco

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SEATTLE, WA - JULY 11: Wander Franco #5 of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on during batting practice prior to the 93rd MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – JULY 11: Wander Franco #5 of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on during batting practice prior to the 93rd MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

A special prosecutor in the Dominican Republic is investigating a second complaint that Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco engaged in a relationship with a minor.

ESPN reports that after the first complaint on July 17, another girl alleged she had a relationship with the MLB player to the specialized prosecutor’s office for boys, girls, and adolescents. Authorities are also investigating a third girl who alleged a relationship with Franco, although she has yet to speak with police or the prosecutor’s office. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com

Clarence Thomas Acknowledges Undisclosed Real Estate Deal With Harlan Crow and Discloses Private Jet Flights

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ProPublica; Published by Joshua Kaplan, Justin Elliott, and Alex Mierjeski

Justice Clarence Thomas Credit:Bloomberg/Getty Images

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for the first time acknowledged that he should have reported selling real estate to billionaire political donor Harlan Crow in 2014, a transaction revealed by ProPublica earlier this year. Writing in his annual financial disclosure form, Thomas said that he “inadvertently failed to realize” that the deal needed to be publicly disclosed.

In the form, which was made public Thursday after he’d received an extension on the filing deadline, Thomas also disclosed receiving three private jet trips last year from Crow. ProPublica reported on two of those trips.

Thomas defended his previous practice of not disclosing private jet flights provided to him over the years.

In a statement Thursday, an attorney for Thomas, Elliot Berke, said that “after reviewing Justice Thomas’s records, I am confident there has been no willful ethics transgression, and any prior reporting errors were strictly inadvertent.” Read more

RUSSELL WESTBROOK WANTS TO BECOME A BILLIONAIRE ‘SOONER THAN LATER’Auto Draft

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 01: Russell Westbrook attends The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 01: Russell Westbrook attends The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

NBA player Russell Westbrook aspires to become a billionaire “sooner than later.”

In an exclusive discussion with Forbes, the Los Angeles Clippers point guard wants to join the company of fellow athletes LeBron James, Tiger Woods, and former player Michael Jordan in achieving billionaire status. He is a little more than a third of the way there, as the media outlet estimates his net worth currently sits at $375 million.

Westbrook said he lives by the mantra, “Why not?’ I live by that. It took 75 years for somebody to average a triple-double. Well, I did it four times,” the former MVP continued. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com.

The Scary Commonalities the White Mass Shooters in Jacksonville, Buffalo, and Charleston Shared

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The Root; Published By Noah A. McGee

Photo: Saul Martinez for The Washington Post (Getty Images)

History has repeated itself in the worst possible way.

Over the weekend, a white man in Jacksonville, Fla. walked into a Dollar General store and killed three Black people, fatally shooting Angela Michelle Carr, 52, Anolt Joseph “AJ” Laguerre Jr., 19, and Jerrald Gallion, 29.

The shooter, 21-year-old Ryan Christopher Palmeter, used a swastika-emblazoned assault rifle and yelled racial slurs at the victims before fatally shooting them and then killed himself at the end of the assault.

After the mass shootings in Buffalo, N.Y., and Charleson, S.C., this incident is yet another example of the malice and hate certain individuals can have in their hearts against other people simply because of their skin tone.

The worst part, these suspects write out their intentions in terrifying manifestos where they describe and uphold these symbols of hatred against people who don’t look like them. It’s a scary reality that Black people live in. Read more

Remembering The Black Victims of White Racist Violence

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: Facebook, Twitter

The black and white archival images of the brutality African Americans endured in the 1900s often misleads some people into believing racist violence is a thing of the past.

White folks may not be hanging Black bodies from trees anymore, but instead, they are writing white supremacist manifestos and plotting domestic terrorist attacks to “cleanse” America of its Black population.

The nine people killed in a Charleston AME church in 2015, the ten people killed in the Buffalo supermarket in 2022 and the three people killed in the recent Jacksonville, Fla. shooting all died by the hands of white men who demonstrated the deep-rooted hatred of Black people is still alive and lethal.

The victims of all of these massacres were fathers, mothers, sons and daughters who had no idea they would leave home to run errands or fellowship to be executed because of the color of their skin.

None of these 22 Black people should have lost their lives to such hate. Never forget them: Read more

Who are the Blacks Indicted with Trump in Georgia?

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Florida Courier; Published By Stacy M. Brown

Harrison Floyd

Two prominent African Americans have found themselves in the middle of the unfolding legal drama surrounding former President Donald Trump.

Harrison Floyd and Trevian Kutti are publicists who have turned suspects and stand among Trump’s 18 alleged co-conspirators in his attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has hit both, along with Trump and others, with serious racketeering charges.

Floyd led a Trump-founded group to bolster 2020 voter turnout for the MAGA Republican, while Kutti is a celebrity stylist and publicist best known for previously working with Kanye West.

Trevian Kutti, the then-director of operations of the Old Town neighborhood boutique G’bani, sits in one of the storefront windows in 2004. The Chicago store had two storefront windows with anti- Iraq war sentiments.HEATHER STONE/TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Floyd, also known as Willie Floyd, was the executive director of Black Voices for Trump and emerged as a key player in Trump’s 2020 campaign. According to Newsweek, Floyd’s role extended to the Trump campaign staff.

The charges against Floyd include violating the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, conspiracy to solicit the dissemination of false statements and writings and attempts to influence witnesses.

Floyd’s LinkedIn profile reflects a career spanning over 15 years, encompassing operations, crisis management, government affairs, and political campaigns.

His experience stems from engagements on Capitol Hill, presidential campaigns, and collaboration with the Marines.

Kutti, a seasoned publicist with Chicago roots, faces allegations of traveling to Atlanta to influence the testimony of Fulton County election worker Ruby Freeman before the Georgia grand jury regarding allegations of election fraud.

The indictment asserts that Floyd engaged pastor Stephen Lee to orchestrate a meeting with Freeman and Kutti, ultimately pressuring Freeman’s testimony.

The charges against Floyd, Kutti, and Lee span “conspiracy to commit solicitation of false statements and writings” and “influencing witnesses.”

Trump now faces 91 felony charges that could result in the demagogue and GOP presidential front-runner serving more than 800 years in prison after being four times indicted, twice impeached, and already found guilty of sexual assault by a civil jury.

Like Trump, Floyd, and Kutti have until noon on Friday, Aug. 25, to turn themselves into the Fulton County Jail for processing. Read more

Evacuations begin ahead of ‘major’ hurricane

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Pinellas County Commissioners declared a State of Local Emergency and issued mandatory evacuation orders Monday as Tropical Storm Idalia approached the Gulf of Mexico.

Forecasters anticipate Idalia becoming a hurricane later today. Pinellas and its municipalities are now under a hurricane and storm surge warning.

Local officials expect a “life-threatening storm surge” and tropical storm force winds to reach the area around 7 p.m. Tuesday and persist through Wednesday morning. The emergency declaration enables County Administrator Barry Burton to quickly approve expenditures and issue evacuation orders. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com.

Little Rock Nine Members Continue to Fight For Civil Rights In Arkansas

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The Root; Published By Jessica Washington

15-year-old Elizabeth Eckford is followed by a sullen mob as she attends her first day at Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, 4th September 1957Photo: FPG/Archive Photos (Getty Images)

The Little Rock Nine changed everything the day they crossed the threshold of Little Rock Central High School in September of 1957. Under threat of death, the nine children integrated the Arkansas high school, demanding equal access to education for all.

Now, several surviving members of the Little Rock Nine are calling out another form of injustice, threatening to erase their hard work decades earlier. Earlier this month, the Arkansas Department of Education announced that Advanced Placement African American Studies won’t count as an AP course credit. The decision will no doubt discourage schools from offering the course and students from taking it. Read more

Self-Service Sandbag Locations – Pinellas County

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*Residents build their own sandbags here, City staff will be on-site and available
to assist as needed. Hours of Operation: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. – Monday, August 28

  • Lake Vista Tennis Court Parking Lot – 12th St. S & 60th Ave. S
  • Lakewood Sports Complex Parking Lot – 2001 Country Club Way S
  • Grandview Park Parking Lot – 3734-3814 6th St. S
  • Childs Park Pool Parking Lot – 1227 43rd St. S
  • Campbell Park Shelter Area Parking Lot – 1360 5th Ave. S (Adjacent to
    Interstate 175)
  • Azalea Athletic Fields Parking Lot – 1600 72nd St. N
  • Walter Fuller Soccer Field Parking Lot – 2800 75th St. N
  • Garden Club of St. Petersburg – 500 Sunset Dr. S
    Full-Service Sandbag Locations
    *City Staff build the sandbags here, and help residents load into their cars.
    Hours of Operation: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. – Monday, August 28
  • Northeast Park – 955 62nd Ave. NE
  • Lake Maggiore Shelter Area – 3601 Dr Martin Luther King Jr. St. S
  • Northwest Swimming Pool Parking Lot – 2331 60th St. N
    Other county locations available
  • John Chesnut Sr. Park: 2200 East Lake Road, Palm Harbor
  • Walsingham Park: 12615 102nd Ave, Seminole
  • City of Dunedin
    ◦ Highlander Park parking lot 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • City of Pinellas Park
    ◦ Helen Howarth Park: 6301 94th Ave N. Pinellas Park, FL – Monday
    (8/28) hours 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
    ◦ Pinebrook Park: 7202 118th Ave N. Pinellas Park, FL – Monday (8/28)
    hours 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
    ◦ Broderick Park: 6101 66th Ave N. Pinellas Park, FL – Monday (8/28)
    hours 8:00 am – 7:00 pm

HERNANDO COUNTY
Residents will be able to get sandbags at the following locations from 8 a.m. – 5

p.m.

  • Linda Pedersen Park – 6300 Shoal Line Blvd., Spring Hill, FL, 34609
  • Anderson Snow Park – 1360 Anderson Snow Rd., Spring Hill, FL, 34609
  • Ridge Manor Community Center – 34240 Cortez Blvd., Ridge Manor, FL,
    33523
    MANATEE COUNTY
    Self-serve sandbag locations:
  • Bennett Park, 400 Cypress Creek Blvd, Bradenton
  • Rubonia Community Center, 1309 72nd St. E., Palmetto
  • Myakka Community Center, 10060 Wauchula Road, Myakka City
  • JUST ADDED: Buffalo Creek Park, 7550 69th St E, Palmetto
    Full-service sandbag locations:
  • Manatee Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach (Northwest Parking lot)
  • Bayfront Park, 310 North Bay Blvd. Anna Maria (North end by the recycling
    center)
  • Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive, Bradenton Beach (South Bayside near
    the guardrail)
  • G.T. Bray Park, 5502 33rd Ave. Dr. W, Bradenton
  • Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto
    All locations will be open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Pinellas Orders Mandatory Evacuations for Idalia

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Pinellas officials have issued their first evacuation orders ahead of Idalia, the tropical storm swirling south of Florida that’s expected to hit the state as a powerful hurricane later this week.

County officials ordered a mandatory evacuation for those living in evacuation Zone A and for all mobile home residents.

The release noted the threat of “life-threatening storm surge” in the county once the hurricane hits. The evacuation order goes into effect at 7 p.m. Monday.

Residential health care facilities are also included in the order, the release said. Get updates at www.tampabay.com.

The Children’s Trust is Hiring

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The Children’s Trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County by making strategic investments in their futures. The Trust is guided by principles and values that include targeting early intervention and prevention services to our most vulnerable children, families and neighborhoods, while advocating for, and supporting, the increased availability of needed services for all children and their families. The Children’s Trust is an equal-opportunity employer. We consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital, disability or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Learn more about working for The Trust by visiting the Staff Resources page.

Jewish Community Services of South Florida is Hiring: Intake Counselor

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This position entails intake and assessment skills, (primarily over the telephone), of clients requesting a myriad of services, with particular focus on Russian/Ukrainian speaking clients. The Intake Counselor must assess whether the individual needs clinical and/or case management services as well as provide information that will help them access appropriate community resources. The individual must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to multi-task, and have a good working knowledge of community resources. This position requires the ability to engage the client over the phone or in person. The individual must also possess the ability to interface with all aspects of the Agency and its resources as well as possess sensitivity to diverse cultures. Individual MUST be fluent in English and Russian/Ukrainian.

ABFE Racial Equity Leadership Program: Selection Criteria & Application

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To support nonprofit leaders in being deliberate in their work to advance racial equity in their communities, ABFE has partnered with Allegany Franciscan Ministries to provide a two part cohort opportunity geared toward building and strengthening competencies on these issues. This program’s objectives are as follows (according to the two parts):

  1. Assist minority leaders from nonprofit organizations foster a deeper historical and structural understanding for what it means to advance racial equity as an organization, both operationally and programmatically
  2. Implement ABFE’s three core tools for advancing racial equity towards a few real time examples from participating organizations, to create a community of practice

Facilitated by ABFE: A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities, participating 

leaders will receive focused racial equity trainings for equipping them with the shared 

knowledge, skills, and tools needed to better understand and implement racially equitable practices. For the nature of this opportunity, priority will be given to Black applicants. 

Five Tips on How to Work Remotely from the Caribbean

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For those of us with portable jobs, it’s easier than ever to fly off into the wild blue yonder to work far from home, especially in countries where the cost of living is lower than in the United States.

Though the travel expense can seem like a hurdle, it could actually be less expensive and more productive to work in places like Belize, Jamaica, the Bahamas, or South Africa. I haven’t tried the west coast of the Continent yet, but I’m told that that too can be affordable, depending on your lifestyle at home.

Here are five tips to help you save money while traveling (or at least break even).

1. Rent or sub-lease your U.S. home

Since housing costs are most people’s biggest monthly bill, think about covering your mortgage or rent at home by temporarily sharing the space with a vacationer or business traveler who needs a temporary place. One or more of my adult children covers my home base while I’m away, and it may be an option for you to welcome a relative or friend to use your home as well.

2. Shop for deals on airfare

Longer stays can make it easier to shop for better ticket prices, especially if your travel dates are flexible. Finding great deals has become easier with all the online travel services competing for business.

3. Lodging will be your next biggest expense but it doesn’t have to cost a mint 

Off-season is the best way to find affordable rates on rooms. I happen to enjoy the Caribbean which has a predictable seasonal pattern of much lower rates during the late spring, summer, and hurricane seasons. And if you watch the weather closely enough, you can jet home if you see a major storm on the horizon.

Room rates can be as low as $25 per night – depending on where you go and how adventurous you are.

I prefer beachside, which will always cost more but with social media groups often dedicated to helping expats or tourists navigate foreign terrain, plus Airbnb and other services, a little elbow grease can land you an affordable rate.

4. Adjust your eating habits and shop domestically

Believe it or not, food can actually be more expensive, even in countries where wage rates are much lower than in the U.S. This is especially true for imported foods. If traveling to a country that does not produce much of what it consumes, expect higher prices for just about everything you buy at home.

I save by buying domestic brands (foods grown or manufactured in the country), and by patronizing food stands and restaurants where the locals eat. It’s a bonus that portion sizes are smaller in many places, which helps you drop a few ounces or pounds while away! You will also notice that you waste less as you adjust to cultures accustomed to scarcity or moderation.

5. Transportation

It’s fairly easy to save on transportation relative to costs in the U.S., but this depends on your comfort level with local transit such as group taxis that charge as little as $2 for a ride to the nearest town center. I like to stay in walkable areas too, which gets me more exercise and makes shopping or running errands free or more affordable.

There are other considerations for remote workers in foreign places, including security and internet access. But I find that as long as you take usual precautions (don’t randomly accept rides or allow strangers to walk you home, etc.), and if you can live with 2G and 3G internet speed, you will be fine.

For those of us who are compensated on an hourly basis, you may even find your earnings increase because of the time savings of not having to dress and drive to meetings like you would at home.

So if it’s on your bucket list to try for remote work, don’t let cost hold you back; and if you choose to make a move, bon voyage!


School superintendent apologizes after assembly singled out Black students

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The principal of a Flagler County, Florida, elementary school and one of the teachers are on paid administrative leave after an assembly was held for fourth and fifth-grade Black students who were collectively told to improve their school performance, regardless of how each student was doing individually. CNN has reached out to the school’s principal for comment. Read more at www.cnn.com.

NI**AS 4 TRUMP’ Fall Into Sunken Place: ‘We Should Make Him King’

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A former New York State gubernatorial candidate has gone viral for proudly declaring himself as the leader of the “Ni**as 4 Trump 2024” movement.

Derrick Gibson, a proud Republican who ran for governor of New York but was disqualified from the Republican primary scheduled on June 28, 2022, has now geared his efforts toward supporting Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential bid despite his recent arrest on felony charges in connection with efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com.

Biden-Harris Admin’s Historic Wins Are Fulfilling Martin Luther King’s Famous Dream, Says Insider

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Sixty years ago today, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. outlined his dream for America. The motivation for his message – “we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check” – was as much economic as it was ethical. After all, the March on Washington was for both jobs and freedom.

Those both came slowly over the ensuing decades, until when under the previous Administration, our nation reversed course. From the top down, discrimination went unchecked, diversity was deprioritized, divisions were deepended, and decency was discarded along with basic rights and freedoms. Read more at www.theroot.com.

St. Pete fire personnel celebrate chief’s return

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St. Petersburg Fire Chief Jim Large is back leading the department, nearly three weeks after Mayor Ken Welch placed him on administrative leave amid an investigation into misconduct.

Anonymous allegations that Large, 68, fostered a work environment hostile to minorities and women first surfaced July 19. However, Welch said Wednesday that a “careful review of the facts” did not substantiate the myriad claims.

“Given the lack of any credible evidence that he violated city policy and insufficient proof or documentation of inappropriate statements being made, I am concluding my review of this matter and am reinstating Chief Large,” Welch said in a video to city employees. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com.

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch to reinstate Fire Chief Jim Large

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Mayor Ken Welch announced Wednesday in a video update to city employees that he has made a “final decision” to reinstate St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Chief James Large, who has faced accusations of creating a hostile work environment for women and minorities.

The decision goes into effect Thursday. Read more at www.tampabay.com.

Facebook Is Settling A Class Action Lawsuit For $725 Million. Do you Qualify?

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If Facebook settles a class action lawsuit that alleges they let third parties access user data, the company could owe roughly 70 million Americans money.

“The Rage Doctor” Chops it Up w/ St. Pete’s Dr. Ladonna Butler

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“Why and how “rage” manifests in Black communities, and the differences between rational rage, redemptive rage, and righteous rage, were among the topics covered by Dr. Ladonna Butler in her Power Broker interview of national systems change leader, author, and professor, Dr. Jennifer Mullan.

Dr. Mullan – in town as part of the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg for its Speakers Who Inspire series – also shared why she practices “decolonizing therapy,” what that term means, and how we can all begin the healing process.

In her forthcoming book, titled “Decolonizing Therapy: Oppression, Historical Trauma, and Politicizing Your Practice,” Dr. Mullan challenges therapists to re-think their concept of the “core wound.”  She also challenges everyday readers to harness the healing power of rage. The book is scheduled to be released this fall.

Dr. Butler, who is the President & CEO of The Well for Life in St. Petersburg, capped the interview with a powerful bonus question.

To learn more about the Foundation’s new grant funding program for mental health, visit this link. To connect with Dr. Mullan, follow her work @decolonizingtherapy on Instagram.

Resurfaced Video of The Blind Side Author Joking About Michael Oher’s College Grades Has Me Feeling A Type of Way

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The Root; Published By Noah A. McGee

Photo: David Levenson // Roy Rochlin (Getty Images)

The focus for the last week has been on Michael Oher and his relationship with the Tuohys. Oher claims he was tricked into signing conservatorship documents and Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy allege that Michael is attempting to shake them down of money. It’s a classic battle of “he said, she said,” and there is no clear resolution in sight.

Michael Lewis, the author of the 2006 book “The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game,” (the book the movie was based on) recently gave his thoughts on the situation, saying that Oher has turned down royalty checks from the movie and that the “money is not in the Tuohys’ pockets.”

The Root spoke to Oher prior to his petition against the Tuohys about the 2009 film.

But just days later before he made those statements, a short clip from an interview he did nearly 16 years ago resurfaced on the internet, and it showed him making some interesting and questionable comments about Michael Oher’s college grades and the state of college football at the time.

When he was asked about how Oher was doing at Ole Miss academically, he said, “Google him now, he’s on the dean’s list at Ole Miss, which says a lot about the dean’s list at Ole Miss,” which led to laughs from the crowd in attendance. Read more

Dolphins’ Xavien Howard Accused Of Filming Sex Partner And Sharing Videos

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Sun Sentinel; Published By Rafael Olmeda

John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel
 Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard before the game against the New York Jets at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Miami Gardens. A negligence lawsuit against Howard alleging he transmitted genital herpes to a woman has been dismissed.

Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard filmed himself having sex with a woman and shared the videos with other people, according to a lawsuit filed in Broward Circuit Court.

Because of the nature of the allegations, the plaintiff identified herself as “Jane Doe” in the lawsuit she filed in May. The woman said she dated Howard during the first half of 2022 and engaged in sexual relations with him. There are no allegations that the sex was anything but consensual.

Filming it, on the other hand, was another story.

“Several of the videos are of Jane Doe and directly identify her,” according to the lawsuit. “Defendant non-consensually recorded sex acts between himself and Jane Doe and non-consensually disseminated these sex videos to a third party … The videos of Jane Doe  depict hardcore, full on sexual intercourse with defendant and are terribly devastating to her.”

The suit seeks more than $50,000 in damages for invasion of privacy and infliction of emotional distress.

The plaintiff said she found out about the recordings when she received messages on Instagram from a third party. Read more

Calling All High School School Students In House District 62! Bill Writing Contest – Deadline October 1, 2023

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I’m excited to announce HD 62’s first ever Bill Writing Contest for the upcoming 2024 Legislative Session! This contest will serve as an opportunity for high school students to get more involved in the legislative process as well as improving our community.

High schoolers looking to submit, need to:

  • Recognize and identify an issue in our community.
  • Craft a one-page solution that will address this issue.
  • Submit your work to [email protected] by the deadline.

The deadline to submit all bill ideas will be October 1, 2023. If chosen, your bill idea will be among one of the bills I will sponsor for the 2024 Legislative Session.

I look forward to working together on solutions!

Trial For FedEx Attack Ends Abruptly Due To Police Errors

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

Photo: Hunter Cloud/The Daily Leader (AP)

The two white men accused of chasing and shooting at a Black FedEx driver last year left trial just as fast as they went in thanks to a few errors by the Brookhaven Police Department. It’s unclear if their murder charges will be tried again.

In January 2022, D’Monterrio Gibson was dropping off packages in Brookhaven, Miss. wearing his uniform but riding a delivery van without the company logo. Authorities say Brandon and Gregory Case followed him for 15 minutes in their pickup truck before getting out of the car, firing shots at the vehicle while Gibson was inside and commencing to a vehicle chase until he was out of town.

During the trial hearings this week, Brookhaven Police Department detective Vincent Fernando testified that the Cases made calls to one another moments before Gregory called to report a suspicious vehicle with driver “up to no good.” Yet, no information was given about the content of their conversations prior. Shortly after their 911 call, the detective said Gibson called the police to report that his van was shot at.

However, outside the presence of the jury, the detective mentioned a crucial piece of evidence that neither side of the court had been presented. Read more

Stephen A. Smith, Shannon Sharpe Will Make Sports Television History

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The Root; Published By Noah A. McGee

Photo: Gabe Ginsberg // Allen Berezovsky (Getty Images)

I don’t think people understand: The forces of Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe have the potential to make sports television history. No matter how annoying or frustrating you may find them, they will put eyes on the TV screen every time they show up in a segment together.

If you haven’t heard, Sharpe will be signing with ESPN and will debate Smith Mondays and Tuesdays on First Take during football season, according to the New York Post. This comes nearly two months after Sharpe said goodbye to Skip Bayless and his uber-popular FS1 debate show, Undisputed.

But just hours after the news was announced, Smith attempted to temper fans’ expectations by saying on his podcast, The Stephen A. Smith Show, that ESPN has not officially “signed on the dotted line” and that reports were premature. Read more

You’ll Be Shocked At Who Is Accused Of Fatally Shooting This 8-Year-Old Girl

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: TikTok (Fair Use)

A young girl was dropped off at a family friend’s house to be babysat. That night, she was shot in the head and died from her injury two days later. Authorities say the suspect arrested in connection to her shooting was not the babysitter but an 11-year-old boy.

Fon Dockery said his 8-year-old daughter, Jenesis, and her 5-year-old sister were dropped off at a family babysitter’s house on July 25 in Cumberland County, Nc., per ABC News. Within the hour she was dropped off, Dockery received a call from the sitter that Jenesis had been shot in the head by the sitter’s 11-year-old son. She died two days later, just before her birthday. By Aug. 11, the sheriff’s office executed a warrant for the juvenile’s arrest and charged him with manslaughter and larceny of a firearm.

It’s still unclear at the moment how the boy even ended up with the firearm given how quickly the incident occurred but that’s seems to be the question for every other incident where a child ends up with a gun. It may honestly be more common than we know. Read more

A Gallery Of Beyoncé’s Black Backup Dancers For The Renaissance World Tour

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The Root; Published By Amira Castilla

Photo: Kevin Mazur / Contributor (Getty Images)

The Renaissance World Tour is one of the most coveted stages for people to boost their careers in the entertainment industry! These Black dancers picked by Beyoncé are some of the luckiest people in the world. Here are her dancers and their other projects that make them the best in the game! Read more

Speak for Success Presents: Learn How You Can Build Your Speaking Confidence with Speak for Success!

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You know your fear of public speaking is keeping you from becoming the person you want to be at work. You’re sick of shying away from leadership opportunities. And, when you do say yes, you’re tired of feeling nervous for days in advance. Something’s gotta change. But what?

Luckily, there is a simple solution: practice. 🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️

Speak for Success is an annual membership program designed to help you build your speaking confidence and communication skills alongside a supportive community of coaches and like-minded emerging women leaders. By registering for this program, you’ll have access to ongoing support, training and resources for an entire year.

Our training will give you the opportunity to practice your public speaking skills, answer pop questions, structure your thinking, help you get comfortable addressing a group, and meet other Speak for Success members all in a fun, safe and supportive environment.

Starts on Mon, Sep 4, 2023 5:00 PM EDT

Tampa (Online) 3654 Ethels Lane Tampa, FL 33602

Dream That Big Publishing Presents: The Prosperous Author Networking Mixer

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📚 Unlock Your Author Success: Contracts, Copyrights, and Royalties Masterclass! 📚

Are you a budding author yearning to navigate the labyrinth of contracts, copyrights, and royalties in the publishing world? Look no further! At August Networking Mixer you will discover the crucial business aspect of publishing. Ignorance can hinder your profitability. It’s not just about your content, but also the savvy business choices you make. Join us to expand your publishing acumen.

🎤 Introducing Our Expert Guest Speaker: Shaunette Stokes, Esq. 🎤

Shaunette is a licensed attorney and Managing Partner of Stokes Law Group, PLLC, with expertise in estate planning, wealth management, and intellectual property. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Hillsborough Community College, teaching paralegal studies and speaking to various groups about the law. With experience as an entrepreneur, she provides insightful advice to clients on growing their businesses and navigating legal challenges.

This event is tailor-made for first-time authors, aspiring writers, and authors seeking to pivot their careers. No matter where you are in your literary journey, this masterclass will equip you with the knowledge and tools to take your writing career to new heights.

Hyatt Place Tampa Downtown 325 North Florida Avenue Tampa, FL 33602

Saturday, August 19 · 12 – 2pm EDT

1 Million Cups With The Greenhouse, St. Petersburg, FL

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Wednesday, August 23, 2023 – 9:00 AM, located at The Greenhouse, 440 2nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701

St. Pete’s MLK celebrations receive Elite Event funding

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While St. Petersburg’s MLK Dream Big Weekend does not fill local hotels like the four-day Reggae Rise Up music festival, it will now receive the same tourism funding.  

Pinellas County Commissioners unanimously agreed to waive Elite Event criteria for the city’s celebrations honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The program awards project funding according to an event’s impact on the local tourism economy.

Due to its marketing and economic impact score not meeting program criteria, the Tourist Development Council (TDC) did not include Dream Big Weekend in its five funding tiers. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com.

Four for four? DeSantis removes yet another elected official in Florida – all Democrats.

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Elections have consequences, as election winners like to say whenever they do anything unpopular.

In Florida, elections have consequences except when the winner is a Democrat in an urban area. Then, the governor sometimes decides that elections don’t really count.

And so, the governor has removed another Democratic state attorney from office because of policy differences rather than misconduct. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced last week that he was suspending elected Orange-Osceola prosecutor Monique Worrell. Read more at www.news.yahoo.com.

Alpha Phi Alpha moves 2025 convention out of Florida over ‘racist’ policies

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The Black men’s Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has announced it will move its 2025 general convention from Orlando in light of “racist” policies. 

The fraternity announced the news Wednesday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, citing “Governor DeSantis’ harmful, racist, and insensitive policies against the Black Community,” as the reason behind the decision. Read more at www.thehill.com.

It’s Bigger Than the Fire Department; Black City Employees Are Less Happy & Secure in Their Jobs

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Mayor Ken Welch speaking at the State of the City address 2023 (Courtesy City of St. Petersburg Flickr page)

St. Pete has a workforce challenge much bigger than beleaguered Fire Chief Jim Large, who was placed on paid leave last week by Mayor Ken Welch, after findings of a recent employee climate survey, and fall out from it, painted Large as guilty of sexism, racism, and homophobia.  

Following the St. Pete NAACP’s call for Large’s termination, I reviewed the 240-page climate survey report by Inclusivity, LLC, with a specific focus on the experiences of Black workers.

The data tell a story of two cities where – as ever – the experiences of African Americans are vastly different from those of whites who make up the majority of the City’s workforce and a super majority of its highest-ranking and highest-paid staff.

Before delving into the racial differences, though, we should all take notice that across all racial and ethnic groups, the survey revealed high percentages of workers experiencing what some would call toxic conditions.

Over one quarter of respondents said they have experienced or witnessed inappropriate behavior by their supervisor (27%), and over a third saw these behaviors from coworkers (34%).

But the situation among African Americans is worse. Here are the things that stood out to me as worthy of a closer look.

More African Americans are witnessing inappropriate behavior by supervisors, and many see this behavior daily

Close to one-third of Black survey takers (30%) said they have seen or witnessed inappropriate behavior by their supervisor, such as intimidation, abuse, ill-treatment, and inappropriate remarks. A smaller share of whites experience these behaviors by supervisors (23%).

There is an even bigger racial gap in how often workers experience inappropriate behavior by supervisors. One-third of African Americans (33%) say they see or suffer these incidents daily or weekly, versus 24% of white workers who do.

Black workers are demoted & disciplined at higher rates and their jobs are less stable

The climate study found that negative personnel actions, namely demotions and disciplinary actions, affect a higher percentage of Black workers than the percentage of this group in the City workforce.

The report also found that Black workers were re-hired at higher rates, which signals higher turnover for African Americans and/or that more Black workers are in cyclical or temp jobs.

The report did not contain data on personnel actions by race, making it impossible to gauge how severely Blacks are overrepresented in negative actions. This should be looked at more closely.

The Public Works team clearly has something to say

Several data points indicate that there may be major racial and cultural issues in the Public Works department, which had the largest number of Black survey respondents.

First, Public Works had the second highest survey response rate among departments reported (indicating that either the department did a strong survey outreach program and/or people are itching to talk).

Three out of four Public Works employees (or 76% of the department) took the survey, compared to only 40% of workers in other departments.

Survey answers by Public Works employees paint a department rife with bad behavior. Public Works had the highest percentage of workers who’ve seen or suffered inappropriate behavior by supervisors (35%). The Fire Department had the second highest (33%).

Likewise, Public Works had the highest ratio of workers witnessing inappropriate behavior by coworkers (41%).

The problem appears not only pervasive but daily. Public Works had the second highest percentage of workers experiencing inappropriate behavior by supervisors on a daily basis (21%, second only to Neighborhood Affairs, at 28%).

Whites more than others feel the City’s employment practices are racially fair

When asked to react to the statement “City practices enable the success and promotion of individuals from all racial/ethnic groups,” 69% of white respondents agreed, versus only 53% of Black workers and 47% of Hispanics.

There is a clear racial divide in perceptions about and/or the reality of City practices.

African Americans are less convinced of the City’s commitment to equity, despite the promises of St. Pete’s first Black mayor

Mayor Welch was installed as St. Pete’s first Black chief executive in January 2022. He has been unequivocable that his administration is comprehensively committed to equity and inclusion.

Yet fewer Black workers believe that the City is committed to and actively promoting values and that enhance equity, and fewer believe the City is working to remove barriers.

Only half of Black workers surveyed agree that the City tries to reduce bias in the workplace, versus 61% of white workers who believe the City is trying.

African Americans are less convinced that the City “promotes a core set of values to enhance equity.” More than two thirds (68%) of white workers agree that the City promotes equity-enhancing values, versus 59% of African Americans.

On the flip side, nearly twice as many Black workers disagreed that the City promotes such values (12% of African Americans versus 7% of whites), while 26% of Black workers were neutral (neither agreed nor disagreed) and 3% said they don’t know.

Black workers are also less convinced that City leaders are “committed to advancing equity principles.” Two thirds of whites (66%) agree that the City is committed, versus 57% of black workers.

More African Americans believe City rules and policies are based on biased beliefs and assumptions

Nearly a third of Black workers surveyed (32%) feel that City rules and policies may be biased, which is twice as high as the ratio of white workers who perceive bias (16%).

As “perception is reality,” this tells us that too many City employees are showing up to work every day for an institution they believe harbors bias.

Only half of Black workers agree that the City understands the communities it serves, and half believe the City is attempting to do better

About 53% of Black workers versus 66% of whites believe that City staff understands the communities it serves, “including their culture, values, norms, history, customs,” and the discrimination and exclusion they face.  

Barely half of Black workers agree that the City attempts to reduce bias it or its employees may have about communities served (51% of Black workers versus 64% of whites).

More Black workers say it’s hard to feel close to people of other cultures

Several survey questions shed light on a possible need for dialogues on race and relationship with African Americans especially, who express more interest than other groups in getting to know others’ differences, as well as more discomfort with the process.

  • Black workers had a higher percentage of people who find it really hard to feel close to a person from another culture (11% versus 3% of whites)
  • More African Americans said that getting to know someone from another race is generally an uncomfortable experience (11% versus 2% of whites)
  • More African Americans said their biases and prejudices affect how they interact with people from different racial/ethnic backgrounds (16% versus 9% of whites).

The challenge for Mayor Welch

Despite the Mayor’s oft-repeated and highly publicized commitment to equity and inclusion, much of his workforce is not seeing his principles play out in their everyday jobs (and a too-large share of City workers appears not to know of their boss’ commitment).

The challenge isn’t new and it certainly isn’t his alone. The last climate survey done, under the Kriseman administration in 2020-21, also showed signs of a struggling culture that took shape decades ago.

But in the post-George Floyd context, and given the vision Welch has cast far and wide, many will be watching closely for the Mayor’s next moves.

It’s positive that the 2023 climate survey got four times more responses than the one done a few years ago. It could mean that more workers tuned in this go round, possibly inspired by the Mayor’s push around the survey. If so, that too raises the bar.

Mayor Welch announced in a recorded video last week that he has requested corrective action plans from department leaders to address problems in their organizations. The question remains, though: What if the departmental leader is the problem?

Henrietta Lacks’ Family Is Coming For More Companies that Used Her Cells Without Consent

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The Root; Published By Angela Johnson

The family of Henrietta Lacks at the unveiling of a statue on the 70th anniversary of her death at Royal Fort House in Bristol. The statue, created by Bristol artist Helen Wilson-Roe, is the first public sculpture of a black woman made by a black woman in the UK.
Photo: Ben Birchall/PA Wire (AP)

Decades after her death, the family of Henrietta Lacks continues to seek justice from the companies who use her biopsied cancer cells for medical research without consent.

Last week, the family settled for an undisclosed amount with Thermo Fisher Scientific. And on Thursday, with the help of high-profile civil rights attorney Ben Crump and co-counsel Christopher Seeger, the family filed a lawsuit in a Baltimore federal court against California-based biopharmaceutical company Ultragenyx.

According to a statment from their legal team, the Lacks family’s suit alleges that Ultragenyx “made a conscious choice to sell and mass produce the living tissue of Henrietta Lacks, despite the corporation’s knowledge that Lacks’ tissue had been taken from her without her consent by doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The retrieval of her tissue is considered part of a conspiracy to harvest tissue for research from Black women without their knowledge or consent in racially segregated wards throughout the 1950s.”

And the Lacks family’s lawyers are putting other companies on notice, saying they plan to go after additional entities profiting at Ms. Lacks’ expense. Read more

Why ‘Now’ is Different in City Decision-Making Over Embattled St. Pete Fire Chief 

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President Esther Eugene of the St. Petersburg NAACP sat down with Power Broker Magazine’s Latorra Bowles to share what she is hearing from workers about incidents of sexism, homophobia and racism within the St. Petersburg Fire Department following an NAACP letter to city officials earlier this week calling for the termination of St. Pete Fire Chief Jim Large. Concerns about Large’s leadership surfaced during a recent employee climate survey commissioned by Mayor Ken Welch. 

President Eugene shares her thoughts on why it took so long for allegations to surface, and why her Executive Committee gave a unanimous vote to call for Large’s termination. 

First New High School In Nearly 20 Years Open For Palm Beach County’s Return To School

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South Florida Sun Sentinel; Published By Jack Lemnus

Students attend the first day of school at Dr. Joaquin Garcia High School on Thursday. The school is Palm Beach county’s newest high school in nearly 20 years. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

It’s back to school for Palm Beach County students, as school bus drivers hit their routes, teachers returned to the classroom and students filed to their desks.

But Thursday marked another first: the opening of Dr. Joaquin Garcia High School, the county’s first new high school in nearly 20 years.

Nearly 1,700 students occupied the sleek, contemporary campus that had been a construction site along Lyons Road in western Lake Worth for nearly two years.

Joining students walked down the halls was Palm Beach County Superintendent Mike Burke, who paid a special visit for the high school’s opening.

“It’s great to see it rise up out of the ground,” Burke said. “It’s a really impressive facility, especially the sports complex.”

As the high school first opened its doors, teachers conversed about lesson plans in the halls, parents tested their luck navigating the new drop-off circle and school administrators guided the fresh student body to their pristine, lustrous new classrooms. Read more

OJ Simpson Questions Former NFL Player Henry Ruggs’ 3 to 10-Year Sentence For DUI Killing

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LOVELOCK, NV - JULY 20: O.J. Simpson attends his parole hearing at Lovelock Correctional Center July 20, 2017 in Lovelock, Nevada. Simpson is serving a nine to 33 year prison term for a 2007 armed robbery and kidnapping conviction. (Photo by Jason Bean-Pool/Getty Images)

Black Enterprise; Published By Cedric ‘BIG CED’ Thornton

LOVELOCK, NV – JULY 20: O.J. Simpson attends his parole hearing at Lovelock Correctional Center July 20, 2017 in Lovelock, Nevada. Simpson is serving a nine to 33 year prison term for a 2007 armed robbery and kidnapping conviction. (Photo by Jason Bean-Pool/Getty Images)

Former NFL player, Henry Ruggs has been sentenced to prison for three to 10 years Aug. 9 for killing a Las Vegas woman and her dog in November 2021 while driving dunk in his vehicle. Former NFL Hall of Fame player, OJ Simpson had some words after learning the prison term.

Simpson took to his Twitter account and lambasted the sentencing as he was given a more lengthy sentence by the same court and it pertained to a robbery where no lives were taken due to his act.

He captioned the post, “The math just does not add up.”

He goes on to say, “I know I went to college on a football scholarship but somehow this math is not adding up to me. You’re driving a car at roughly 160 miles an hour on a public street and end up killing a girl and her dog and you get three to ten years?

“You go to a hotel room that you’re invited to, to retrieve your own personal stolen property, property I now have because it was ruled to be mine by the state of California, and you get nine to 33 years?” Read more

Black Teacher Accuses White Supremacist Group Of A ‘Racial Attack’ As He Was Playing Saxophone

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The Root; Published By Noah A. McGee

Charles Murrell, center, fends off a marcher from a group bearing insignias of the white supremacist group Patriot Front on July 2, 2022, in Boston. The Black musician who says members of the white nationalist hate group punched, kicked, and beat him with metal shields during a march through Boston in 2022 sued the organization on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023.
Photo: Michael Dwyer (Getty Images)

It feels like these stories are becoming more commonplace than ever before. Black people who are simply minding their business are getting harassed and assaulted simply for the color of their skin.

Charles Murrell III is a teacher and musician who lives in the Boston area. He says that on July 2, 2022, he went to the area surrounding the Boston Public Library to play his saxophone. Sounds sweet right?

He alleges that in the middle of his performance, he was surrounded by members of the Patriot Front, a white nationalist hate group from Texas, and brutally punched, kicked, and beat with metal shields during their march through the Boston area a year ago.

Murrell claims it was a “coordinated, brutal, and racially motivated attack.” He was taken to the hospital and treated for lacerations which required stitches, according to the Associated Press.

As a result of the injuries he sustained and the unwarranted reasoning for his alleged assault, Murrell filed a lawsuit against the white supremacist group. Read more

Utah School District Pays Millions For The Death Of A Black 10-Year-Old Student By Suicide

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

Photo: Rick Bowmer (AP)

The Davis School District in Utah has agreed to pay $2 million in settlement to the family of Isabella “Izzy” Tichenor, a 10-year-old girl who died by suicide after being bullied. The settlement implies the district had no rebuttal to the allegations that their neglect allowed Tichenor to be tormented.

The suit alleged that the girl was the only Black student in her class at Foxboro Elementary School and was bullied not just for being Black but also for being autistic. She was called slurs and mocked for her skin color and the suit alleged teachers turned a blind eye to the behavior. Tichenor’s mother, Brittany Tichenor-Cox, aslo claimed the bullying caused her daughter to fail her classes.

When the district finally conducted an “independent” investigation into the concerns, the report found that the school didn’t acknowledge the district definition of bullying, fostered an environment where said bullying went unreported and that staff mistreated Izzy along with her peers, per AP News. The torment caused Tichenor to take her own life in November of 2021. Read more

St. Pete GreenHouse Entrepreneurial Academy Presented by Lake Michigan Credit Union – September 11-October 30, 2023

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The Entrepreneurial Academy® is an eight-week in-person course that teaches existing and future entrepreneurs the essentials of starting and owning a business.

With a combination of subject-matter experts, direct mentoring, coaching opportunities, pitch practice, and timely content, the Entrepreneurial Academy highlights the fundamentals of launching and growing a business.

WHEN & WHERE
Fall Semester 2023 Dates: September 11th – October 30th.
Classes will be held at The Greenhouse every Monday evening from 6 – 9 PM

Tuition for the program is $449

Tuition includes:
Upon successful completion of Entrepreneurial Academy®, graduates will receive a free 1-year Startup membership to the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce ($475 value).

***There is limited space available, and it will be first come first serve

Ron DeSantis Suspends Orlando Prosecutor From Office

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SunSentinel; Published By Christopher Cann & Jeff Weiner

State Attorney Monique H. Worrell speaks with members of the media at the State Attorney’s Office in Orlando on Monday, August 7, 2023. (Rich Pope, Orlando Sentinel

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday announced the suspension of Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell, a decision that has been looming over the prosecutor since February, when the governor condemned her office following a deadly shooting spree in Pine Hills.

At a press conference, DeSantis said Worrell and her office has been “clearly and constitutionally derelict” in her duty and said her policies justify her removal from office. Andrew A. Bain, a judge in Orange County, has been appointed by the governor.

DeSantis said Worrell had a pattern or practice to avoid minimum mandatory sentences for gun crimes, drug trafficking offenses and a pattern to allow juveniles to avoid serious charges or incarceration altogether. He also accused her office of limiting charges for child pornography.

“It does not accomplish anything to prosecute a case with no intent to stop crimes,” Bain said. “I will make this office accountable to the community we serve and ensure criminals who poison society, cause mayhem and murder are held accountable under the law.”

Both DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody mentioned the shooting in Orlando that left two police officers injured over the weekend as an example of the consequences from Worrell’s policies.

On Monday, two days before her suspension, Worrell rebuked accusations from police union officials who said her office should have done more to keep the man accused of shooting the officers behind bars when he was arrested earlier this year. Read more

The Montgomery Brawl And Other Rebellions In ‘Black August’

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The Root; Published By Noah A. McGee

Photo: David Fenton (Getty Images)

We are kind of joking about Montgomery brawl, but don’t get it confused, Black August is real and does not replace Black History Month, which still takes place in February. This particular commemoration is meant to honor Black resistance fighters and their movements to free Black people from oppressive obstacles.

Created in August 1979 in San Quentin State Prison, it was originally meant to remember Black Panther George Jackson, who was killed during a 1971 uprising at the California prison. Now, it’s a time for Black people everywhere to learn and celebrate the Black revolutionaries and freedom fighters who fought for Black liberation.

Here are some dates often remembered throughout the month. Read more

State Tour Continues, From Tampa Bay to Tallahassee and Beyond, for Florida Girls Initiative

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Florida Girls Initiative Listening Session, Tampa Bay, July 11, 2023, at The Factory St. Pete; Thema Campbell, CEO of Girl Power Rocks; Nikki Gaskin-Capehart, Senior Coach & Moderator Anysia McDowall.

Last month, Tampa Bay was the site of the first stop in a statewide tour by the Florida Girls Initiative (FGI) to reach the hundreds of local organizations that work with the population FGI calls “at promise girls” (commonly referred to as “at risk”).

The FGI team’s Tampa Bay tour – led by FGI founder Thema Campbell and campaign chairperson Nikki Gaskin Capehart –involved visits to three program sites, along with three sit-down meetings and an evening panel discussion featuring experienced practitioners in fields such as juvenile justice and human & sex trafficking.

CEO of Girl Power Rocks, Ms. Thema Campbell speaks about Florida Girls Initiative and Mama Hattie’s House at the 1st Regional Listening Session in Tampa Bay

Audrey Mcghee, Delinquency Prevention Specialist with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, along with Attorney Keongela Randle, Criminal Juvenile Crossover Attorney with the Public Defenders Office, Sixth Judicial Circuit, and Joseph Smith, Retired Police Officer & Community Outreach Coordinator with the United States Attorney’s Office – Middle District of Florida, anchored the evening dialogue.

The two-day series began with a welcome by State Representative Diane Hart and Marcia Mejia of U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor’s office for an update on state and federal legislative efforts.

The following day, the Miami-based FGI team engaged with program leaders and youth at the Pinellas County Urban League’s S.T.Y.L.E. (Summer Training in Youth Leadership & Employment) Program; the St. Petersburg College Midtown campus; and Youth Farm.

An evening listening session – held at The Factory in St. Petersburg – drew 50-plus attendees for networking and a buffet dinner followed by just over an hour of dialogue with the panelists. Local champions of the initiative who attended the dialogue included State Rep. Michele Rayner-Goolsby, Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers, and School Board Member Caprice Edmond.

Rayner-Goolsby’s office is spearheading a local partnership project with FGI’s Gaskin-Capehart.

Next stop for FGI: Tallahassee, for a series of meetings with local officials and leaders of girls-specific programming. The Tallahassee visit will be co-hosted by Alicia Turner, Public Information Officer with Tallahassee Police Department also former News Reporter, FOX46.

Left to Right: Representative Michelle Rayner-Goolsby, Caprice Edmond, Pinellas County School Board Attorney Keongela Randle, Criminal Juvenile Crossover Attorney; Thema Campbell, CEO of Girl Power Rocks; Nikki Gaskin-Capehart, Senior Coach; Audrey McGhee, Delinquency Prevention Specialist; Joseph Smith, Formal Community Outreach Senior Coordinator

They will meet with state lawmakers while in the capitol. The FGI team met earlier this year with Florida Senators Ileana Garica, Shevrin Jones, Joe Pizzo, and Rosalind Osgood along with State Representatives Ashley Gantt, Dan Daily, Christopher Benjamin, Kevin Chambliss, and Michele Rayner-Goolsby. Also, FGI met with Secretary Shevaun Harris of the Florida Department of Children and Families.

The goals of the initiative include winning funding for local programs across the state in next year’s legislative session and completing a statewide study on the state of Florida’s “at-promise” girls.

“The sense of urgency around this was my biggest takeaway,” said Christopher King, CEO of The Gentlemen’s Course. King served as keynote speaker at FGI’s first annual conference, held in Miami this past April.

“Our engagements in the Tampa area uncovered a wealth of new insights and connections with people who are battling for girls success every day of the week,” said Campbell. “From the Salon Talk initiative spearheaded by Audrey McGhee and the sponsorships raised by Keongela Randle to the unmatched experience of Joe Smith,” we came away with a body of data that will grow as we travel the state.” 

Anysia McDowall, who served as moderator for the Tampa Bay panel, described the event as “phenomenal.” McDowall says “Our audience was engaged, responsive, open, and energized to be a part of the conversation. Truly a win!”

Ms. Gloria Richardson, Youth Advocate for Foster Kids with Florida Youth Shine, July 11, 2023, at The Factory St. Pete

Like the Tampa Bay visit, the Tallahassee tour will be end-capped with a listening session on Tuesday, August 15th at 5:30 pm at the Capital City Country Club.

The FGI team will continue the tour with stops in Jacksonville, Orlando, and Miami.

To learn more or to RSVP for the listening session, click here. To learn more about FGI champions and study advisors, https://floridagirlsinitiative.org/home.

County Officials Create New Business Alliance

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By Mark Parker

From back left: Councilmember Gina Driscoll; Councilmember Lisset Hanewicz; Mayor Ken Welch; Dr. Cynthia Johnson, economic development director for Pinellas County; and Councilmember Ed Montanari at the St. Petersburg Innovation District’s State of Science and Innovation event. Johnson is helping form a new county business alliance. Photo by Mark Parker.

Pinellas County Commissioners recently approved dissolving an economic advisory council that ballooned to 100 members; a smaller, invite-only business alliance comprised of C-level executives will soon take its place.

Commissioners established the Pinellas County Economic Development Council (PCEDC) in 2003. Its 100 members represented local businesses, organizations and trade associations.

However, a county document states, “Over time, the ineffectiveness of electing and maintaining a board comprised of 100 members became more cumbersome than the benefits gained from holding meetings.” Commissioners approved repealing an ordinance establishing the PCEDC without discussion at a July 18 meeting.

Dr. Cynthia Johnson, economic development director for the county, said administrators are now creating the One Pinellas Business Alliance. While they are still establishing its membership structure and engagement format, she expects to begin sending invitations to join this fall.

“The purpose will be a fact-finding committee that will provide industry insights and perspectives,” Johnson said. “These industries that we spend a lot of our time focusing on are those industries that typically have higher wages.” Read more

The City Of St. Pete Is Hiring!

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Attached is the current job list for positions available with the City of St. Petersburg. You are receiving this information because you either signed up to receive this email or forwarded your email address to someone at our facility for inclusion on this list. To apply for a position with the City of St. Petersburg, FL, please go to www.stpete.org, select the Human Resources Department tab and make appropriate subsequent selections.

Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) Black Business Cultivator Program

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The Black Business Cultivator Program serves Black-owned Innovative Technology and STEM businesses that are domiciled in the state of Florida.

The program is intended to break down barriers to capacity, contracts and capital for Black-owned innovative technology and STEM businesses who are looking to scale.

If you are a Black-owned business in Innovative Technology or STEM, apply to become a Protégé.

If you are interested in providing business expertise and want to help a company to grow, apply to become a mentor.

Mayor places fire chief on administrative leave

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Update: Here is an excerpt of prepared statements by Mayor Ken Welch and a personalized video emailed to city employees that was released to the media late Monday afternoon.

“It is important to underscore our executive team members are held to the highest standards and the administration did not take this decision lightly,” Welch wrote.  “The City will continue its assessment and evaluation of all circumstances while weighing the facts and information received via the Employee Climate Survey and thereafter.

“I understand there will be more questions revolving around this action, but at this time, this is a personnel matter.” Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

Fade In The Water: Here Are The Best Memes, Reactions To The Montgomery Riverboat Brawl

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The Root; Published By Stephanie Holland

Screenshot: WVTM 13 News

Black people know we have to revel in the small victories because they don’t come along often. One of these unforgettable moments happened on Saturday, when an all-out brawl in Montgomery, Ala. led to one of the most viral incidents in the history of Black Twitter (yes, we’re still calling it that). While the mayor is busy talking about how “Justice will be served,” the rest of us are getting jokes off. From the folding chair, to fight play-by-play, to the awesome names for our favorite new superhero, these are the best memes and reactions to the Montgomery riverboat brawl. Read more

St. Pete, Gulfport Leaders Partner On Business District

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By Mark Parker

St. Petersburg Councilmember John Muhammad (left) with business and community stakeholders at a recent 49th Street South Business District meeting. Photo: Facebook.

City council members representing both sides of 49th Street South are leading the push to create a business district encompassing a commercial corridor vital to the cities it intersects.

St. Petersburg City Councilmember John Muhammad and Gulfport City Councilmember Ian O’Hara hope to increase connectivity and support growth and innovation along the thoroughfare. Business owners and community stakeholders recently decided incorporating a Business District would best help achieve those goals.

The two city officials will host a Strategic Visioning Session Aug. 28 to further establish a strategy. Muhammad is encouraging area business owners to participate in the long-awaited process.

“We are the ones that we’ve been waiting on, and the opportunities are in front of us now,” Muhammad said. “This is the time to get involved so that you can really have your voice included in the chorus of voices who are looking to determine and decide what happens.” Read more

Embattled St. Petersburg Fire Chief Placed On Administrative Leave

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Tampa Bay Times; Published By Colleen Wright

St. Petersburg Fire Chief Jim Large has been placed on administrative leave.

St. Petersburg Fire Chief Jim Large was placed on paid administrative leave Saturday, according to a memo from Mayor Ken Welch, who cited allegations made in an employee climate survey and other information that accused Large of fostering a workplace environment hostile to women and minorities.

“After numerous conversations and feedback received from multiple individuals, along with the allegations made and information received in the Employee Climate Survey, as well as other information received, Chief James Large is placed on Administrative Leave effective immediately,” Welch wrote in a memo addressed to his cabinet members.

Welch also said Assistant Fire Chief Robert Bassett will serve as acting fire chief.

Large’s leadership has been in question since an anonymous sender emailed comments from a city employee survey done earlier this year to city officials, including council members. They included accusations that Large regularly makes sexist, racist and homophobic remarks.

Two City Council members, Richie Floyd and Brandi Gabbard, have called for new leadership. Gabbard, chairperson of the council, said she has been met with“disrespect, bullying, and attempts at intimidation” by Large when she has questioned his direction. Read more

Henrietta Lacks’ Family Settles Lawsuit With Biotech Company, Paving The Way For More Claims, Says Attorney Ben Crump

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The Westside Gazette; Published By Carma Henry

 Living relatives of Henrietta Lacks have reached a confidential settlement with Thermo Fisher Scientific, the multi-billion-dollar biotechnology company that has used regenerative cells taken from Lacks decades ago without her consent.

The settlement sets a precedent, potentially leading to complaints seeking compensation and control of Lacks’ cells, famously known as “HeLa” cells, the world’s first cells capable of replicating outside the human body.

Represented jointly by attorney Ben Crump, renowned for his advocacy for Black victims of police violence, and attorney Chris Seeger, known for leading significant class action lawsuits in U.S. history, the family called a news conference in Baltimore on Tuesday, August 1, which coincides with what would have been Lacks’ 103rd birthday.

“The parties are pleased that they were able to find a way to resolve this matter outside of court and will have no further comment about the settlement,” Crump and Seeger wrote in a news release.

The Lacks family’s lawsuit addressed a problem that had persisted for 70 years following the unlawful removal of Henrietta Lacks’ cells while she was receiving cervical cancer treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

The family argued that the cells rightfully belong to Lacks and that companies like Thermo Fisher Scientific should pay for using them in research and product development.

In a 2022 interview, Crump called the situation “indicative of the Black struggle for equality and respect in America.

“Because it’s a racial justice issue when you think about it in the purest form,” Crump asserted. “The children of Henry Ford, they’re able to benefit from his contributions to the world.”

Thermo Fisher Scientific, in its defense, contended that Lacks’ descendants waited too long to take legal action and that other companies worldwide also use HeLa cells without the family’s consent.

Lacks’ cancer treatment in 1951 was unsuccessful, and she tragically succumbed to the disease a few months after her diagnosis. Read more

Jury Acquits Yet Another Cop For Beating A Black Man On Video

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The Root; Published By Noah A. McGee

Photo: Rogelio V. Solis (AP)

Do y’all remember Jacob Brown? If not, let me give you a refresher. He was a former Louisiana state trooper until he was recorded beating a Black man with a flashlight.

In May 2019, Aaron Bowman was pulled over for a traffic violation and forcibly removed from his vehicle by other state troopers. Brown showed up later because “he was in the area and was trying to get involved,” according to the Associated Press.

When he arrived, Brown claimed that he saw Bowman hitting an officer, which led him to strike the Black motorist more than 18 times in less than 24 seconds, claiming that the act was a form of “pain tolerance” to get Bowman in handcuffs.

Bowman has denied hitting any officers involved in his arrest.

As a result, Brown was indicted by a grand jury for a civil rights violation and was charged with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law. Read more

Mississippi ‘Goon Squad’ Faces Consequences For Torturing, Sexually Assaulting Black Men

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The Root; Published By Noah A. McGee

Michael Corey Jenkins stands outside Taylor Hill Church in Braxton, Miss., March 18, 2023.

Warning: This article contains graphic details that may be disturbing to some readers.

Would you look at that? Police officers are actually facing consequences for the crimes they commit against Black people.

On Thursday, six former Mississippi police pleaded guilty to federal charges for brutally torturing and sexually assaulting two Black men in January, according to CNN.

The group of officers coined themselves “The Goon Squad,” since they were known for unlawfully using excessive force against citizens and not reporting it to their superiors. The charges they pleaded guilty to include conspiracy against rights, deprivation of rights under color of law, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and obstruction of justice.

The officers charged include Hunter Elward, Brett McAlpin, Jeffrey Middleton, Christian Dedmon, Daniel Opdyke, and Joshua Hartfield. The officer facing the most serious of charges is Former Rankin County Sheriff’s Department deputy Elward, who was charged with the discharge of a firearm.

These officers were only investigated after their victims filed civil rights lawsuits in federal court. The victims, Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker recall six white officers entering their home in January without a warrant and brutally torturing them for more than two hours. Read more

Jury Acquits Yet Another Cop For Beating A Black Man On Video

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The Root; Published By Noah A. McGee

Photo: Rogelio V. Solis (AP)

Do y’all remember Jacob Brown? If not, let me give you a refresher. He was a former Louisiana state trooper until he was recorded beating a Black man with a flashlight.

In May 2019, Aaron Bowman was pulled over for a traffic violation and forcibly removed from his vehicle by other state troopers. Brown showed up later because “he was in the area and was trying to get involved,” according to the Associated Press.

When he arrived, Brown claimed that he saw Bowman hitting an officer, which led him to strike the Black motorist more than 18 times in less than 24 seconds, claiming that the act was a form of “pain tolerance” to get Bowman in handcuffs.

Bowman has denied hitting any officers involved in his arrest.

Video shows trooper pummeling Black man, who defended attack as ‘pain compliance’

As a result, Brown was indicted by a grand jury for a civil rights violation and was charged with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law. Read more

Two Members Of The ‘Tennessee Three’ Will Win Back Remainder Of Their Terms In Special Elections, CNN Projects

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CNN; Published By Eric Bradner

The two young, Black Tennessee state House Democrats whose expulsion sparked a nationwide controversy in April, will win reelection on Thursday, CNN projects.

State Rep. Justin Jones, who first won the overwhelmingly Democratic, Nashville-area District 52 seat with no Republican opposition in the 2022 general election, will defeat his largely unknown GOP opponent Laura Nelson.

State Rep. Justin Pearson, who first won the deep blue Democratic, Memphis-area District 86 in a special election earlier this year, faced no Republican opposition for his seat, but he will defeat little-known independent Jeff Johnston.

Both Jones and Pearson were reinstated on an interim basis by local officials within a week of their expulsion. But the two needed to win Thursday’s special elections in order to retain their seats for the remainder of their two-year terms.

The GOP supermajority had cited breaches of decorum after the lawmakers had led a gun control protest from the statehouse floor in response to a Nashville school shooting that left three children and three adults dead. Their protest alongside Democratic state Rep. Gloria Johnson led to them being dubbed the “Tennessee Three.” Johnson, a White woman, also faced an expulsion vote, but was not ousted.

Their expulsion in April turned into a flashpoint in debates over gun violence, race and what forms of protest are acceptable.

Jones and Pearson met with President Joe Biden weeks after their ousters.

“What the Republican legislature did was shocking. It was undemocratic,” Biden said in April.

Tennessee was home to three state legislative special elections on Thursday. State Rep. Timothy Hill, a Republican who represents the eastern District 3, will win the special election for the remainder of a two-year term, CNN projects, making permanent the former state lawmaker’s return to a seat he previously held for eight years.

He will defeat Democratic challenger Lori Love in the deeply conservative district. Read more

Quinton Lucas, one of few big-city Black mayors, pushes for gun control

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One of the few Black mayors of a major U.S. city is advocating for gun control measures in the hopes that they will lessen crime where he governs.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas unveiled two new ordinances on Tuesday, one of which would forbid minors from purchasing ammunition without parental permission. The other would outlaw “switches,” or gadgets that convert handguns into automatic weapons, The Kansas City Star reported. Read more at www.thegrio.com.

BBQ & Seafood Fest takes over The Trop on Saturday, with school backpack giveaway

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An extravaganza of shopping, eating, music and more is coming to the The Trop this Saturday, August 5. Hosted by Saturday Shoppes, the BBQ & Seafood Fest is filling up the parking lot at Tropicana Field, in shaded Lot 4, from 12-5 pm, complete with a giveaway of 2,000 backpacks stuffed with school supplies.

The event, hosted in partnership with the City of St. Pete, is free to attend, an afternoon of family-friendly fun and revelry. Some of the Bay’s best pitmasters and seafood chefs will be in attendance dishing out hot plates of fresh goodness, alongside tons of St. Pete’s favorite food trucks, plus bartenders slinging great local beers. Read more at www.ilovetheburg.com.

Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) Black Business Cultivator Program

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The Black Business Cultivator Program serves Black-owned Innovative Technology and STEM businesses that are domiciled in the state of Florida.

The program is intended to break down barriers to capacity, contracts and capital for Black-owned innovative technology and STEM businesses who are looking to scale.

If you are a Black-owned business in Innovative Technology or STEM, apply to become a Protégé.

If you are interested in providing business expertise and want to help a company to grow, apply to become a mentor.

Exclusive: Former President Obama Welcomes A New Class Of Leaders

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The Root; Published By Jessica Washington

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 17: Former U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at a Democracy Forum event held by the Obama Foundation at the Javits Center on November 17, 2022 in New York City.
Photo: Photo by Spencer Platt (Getty Images)

Former President Barack Obama has kept a significantly lower profile than his successor. But that doesn’t mean he’s been idle since his time in office. On Tuesday, Obama announced the first class of the Obama Foundation’s new Leaders USA Program.

“I’m inspired by this talented group of young leaders from across the United States.” said former President Obama in a statement to The Root. “From an oncology resident championing health equity for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders to passionate union organizers advocating for the labor rights of educators and first responders nationwide, to the first Black woman executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama—their ideas and leadership will help strengthen democracy now and in the future.”

According to the Obama Foundation, the program will train the 100-person cohort to “tackle some of the most pressing issues of our time.” And as luck would have it, The Root sat down for an exclusive chat with some of the new change-makers.

Director, Justice for Julius Campaign, Cece Jones-Davis is a faith leader, activist, and artist working at the intersection of spirituality and public life. Cece serves as the director of the Justice for Julius campaign, which helped stop the execution of Julius Jones in Oklahoma.
Photo: Obama Foundation

Cece Jones-Davis, director of the Justice for Julius campaign, which helped stop the execution of Julius Jones in Oklahoma, says the Obamas have inspired her. “The Obamas as leaders, as humans, have been such an example of dignity and compassion and public service and work ethic and brilliance,” she says. “And for me as a Black woman in the justice space and as a faith leader and otherwise, I have been so inspired by their work.”

She added that programs like this are essential in this political climate. “This is absolutely necessary. Now more than ever,” she says. Read more

Black Driver Who Authorities Said Fled Traffic Stop Shot, Killed By Trooper

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The Grio; Published By Associated Press

A white officer has sued the Kansas City Police Department, accusing some of regularly using racist language and forcing cops to use racist tactics. (Photo: AdobeStock)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota State Patrol trooper shot and killed a driver early Monday who tried to flee a traffic stop, and the resulting investigation kept a busy interstate closed for more than seven hours in Minneapolis throughout the morning rush hour.

Authorities did not identify the driver, but family members told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that the driver was 33-year-old Ricky Cobb II, of Spring Lake Park, who was Black.

The Minnesota State Patrol said in a statement that the driver was stopped shortly before 2 a.m. on Interstate 94 because the taillights on the Ford Fusion he was driving were out. After the driver stopped, troopers learned he was wanted in connection with a felony in Ramsey County. Read more

Viola Davis Speaks Out Against ‘G20’ Production Amid Writers, Actors Strike

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The Grio; Published By TheGrio Staff

Viola Davis attends the “Monster” red carpet during the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 17, 2023 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/WireImage)

Viola Davis is standing firm in her support of Hollywood screenwriters and actors striking amid contract negotiations.

The EGOT winner is halting production on her movie “G20,” announcing Saturday that she is not comfortable with moving forward with the upcoming action thriller despite SAG-AFTRA granting the film interim clearance to continue production during the strike, per Deadline

“I love this movie, but I do not feel that it would be appropriate for this production to move forward during the strike,” Davis told Deadline in a statement. “I appreciate that the producers on the project agree with this decision. JuVee Productions and I stand in solidarity with actors, SAG/AFTRA and the WGA.” Read more

Vitale Bros. Host Immersive “Graffiti Camp” Art Classes This Weekend

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I Love The Burg; Published By Bob Carskadon

Photo courtesy Overspray

You’re never too old for summer camp. This weekend, St. Pete’s celebrated Vitale Bros. are hosting a pair of graffiti camps, giving locals the chance to learn the art form from some of the best artists in the region.

Hosted at their new Overspray retail shop and event space, there are two versions of the immersive experience. Adult Night takes place on Saturday, August 5 from 8-10 pm, which will include graffiti and spray paint lessons, drinks and music. The all ages class takes place on Sunday, August 6, from 10 am – 12 pm at Overspray, including graffiti and spray paint lessons, drinks, snacks and music.

The cost for each class is $40, an opportunity to learn from some of the area’s most prolific and well-known artists. The Vitale Bros. are responsible for many of St. Pete’s most-loved murals all across town, and are masters of the art form. Read more

Community Mourns Reverend Tommie Jackson Killed By Police Car

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The Grio; Published By The Grio Staff

Credit: CBS News screenshot of Rev. Dr. Tommie Jackson, who was struck and killed by Stamford Police officer.

Connecticut State Police Lt. Katherine Cummings said during a news conference that Lockwood attempted CPR until medics arrived. Jackson was pronounced dead at Stamford Hospital, People reports. 

Cummings said Lockwood hit the reverend while responding to another motor vehicle incident in town. According to the accident report, Jackson was attempting to cross the street after getting mail from his mailbox.

State police said Lockwood “made an evasive steering maneuver” before hitting Jackson, People reports. 

At the time of the collision, Lockwood’s emergency lights “were activated,” Cummings said at the news conference, according to People. Read more

Ron DeSantis Continues Defiant Defense Of Florida Curriculum Claiming Slavery Benefited The Enslaved

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Florida Politics; Published By A.G. Gancarski

‘Republicans bend the knee and it’s just one thing after another.’

Ron DeSantis said Monday that he’s not backing down from his defense of Florida educational standards regarding slavery and Black history, and he expects more from Republicans than to “bend the knee” to critics on the left like Vice President Kamala Harris.

During an interview with Bret Baier on Fox News “Special Report,” the Florida Governor and 2024 presidential candidate responded to criticisms from Republicans, including U.S. Sen. Tim Scott and U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, of language in the state’s 216-page set of guidelines governing classroom instruction on Black history that claims slavery conferred benefits to the enslaved.

“Kamala Harris got on a jet at taxpayer expense and flew to Florida to lie about the African American history standards that were developed,” DeSantis said.

The Governor said the issue illustrated why Republicans “can’t bend the knee to the left’s lies” and  “when the left lies and creates these phony narratives, you’ve got to push back.”

“They’ve been doing this to Republicans for years and years. Republicans bend the knee and it’s just one thing after another,” DeSantis said. Read more

NYC Attorney Snatched A Black Women’s Wig In A Viral Video And Got Fired As A Result

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Synthetic wigs are prepared at the Adjame main market in Abidjan on April 13, 2023.. (Photo by Issouf SANOGO / AFP) (Photo by ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)

Black Enterprise; Published By Sharelle Burt

Synthetic wigs are prepared at the Adjame main market in Abidjan on April 13, 2023.. (Photo by Issouf SANOGO / AFP) (Photo by ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)

A New York City attorney is learning a hard lesson on “look but don’t touch” after a video of him assaulting a Black woman by snatching off her wig has gone viral.

Lizzy Ashliegh posted a TikTok video of herself accusing a white man, identified as Anthony Orlich, who snatched her wig off her head while walking unprovoked.

Viewers can hear Ashliegh repeatedly ask Orlich for the reason behind snatching her wig. and he never gives a response. Two men who were with him were doing their best to get him to apologize, but her cries went unanswered. Once she got home, Ashliegh posted another video describing how hard Olrich had to pull at her in order to snatch the wig off her head, as there were combs attached to it. Read more

Development Process Changing For Live Local Act

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By Mark Parker

The Live Local Act allows housing developments within a mile radius of downtown St. Petersburg to match the area’s 300-foot height allowance. Photo by Mark Parker.

While Senate Bill 102 – known as the Live Local Act – increases state affordable housing funding, it also strips regulatory powers from city and county governments.

At the July 27 Committee of the Whole meeting, St. Petersburg City Council members heard how the recently enacted legislation will impact affordable housing initiatives. It eliminates public hearings and places approval authority in the hands of administrators, who must strictly follow state standards.

After the update, council members brainstormed potential solutions to circumvent land use, height and density regulation preemptions. City attorney Michael Dema concluded the discussion by suggesting they “manage expectations.”

“I’m just wondering how do we turn this into a good thing that keeps St. Pete special,” said Councilmember Gina Driscoll. “But work to our advantage in increasing the housing supply, which we all know is very much needed.” Read more

Local Author Shares Stories From The Streets

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By Mark Parker

Local author Charles Davis lives in this trailer on a South St. Petersburg lot. Photos provided.

While the historically significant area around St. Petersburg’s 22nd Street South – the Deuces – is undergoing a renaissance, a local author highlights its recent, grittier past.

Charles Davis is now “99.8%” done with his second book revolving around the troubled life of its eponymous protagonist, Tyrone Jenkins. Davis self-published the series’ first entry, Tyrone I Din Do Nuffin, in 2019.

The book is semi-autobiographical fiction, based on a teen auto theft ring in St. Petersburg in the early 1990s. Davis, 32, lives in a trailer custom-wrapped to promote his book, while he saves money for a house

“I’m still blessed,” Davis said. “But at the same time, it’s a struggle. To be honest with you, I do get depressed sometimes about being in this situation.”

Davis started writing I Din Do Nuffin in 2018. Its setting is “Pineburg,” an amalgamation of Pinellas County and St. Petersburg.

As noted in the book’s Amazon description, Tyrone, 13, frequently finds himself on the wrong side of the law. In addition, teachers “hate him” and “his mama can’t stand ’em.”

Tyrone doesn’t fit in with his peers, and the neighborhood’s older drug dealers don’t like him. Even the local radio hosts have dubbed the character a societal menace.

Davis said he writes from experience and believes many young people “are out of control.”

“I put my blood, sweat and tears in this book,” he added. “I’ve been getting pretty good feedback from it, not everybody. If they ain’t into cursing and stuff like that, then my book is not for them.

“It’s a lot of cussing in that book, but I’m just talking about what’s going on in the city.” Read more

Zillionventure America Inc Presents: Conflict Certification Training in St. Petersburg, FL – August 25, 2023

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Conflicts are inevitable when people with different personalities and goals are put together to work in the same environment. Quite often, the clash that results leads to extreme anger and animosity, and this can have a very disruptive effect on the entire team. As a leader, you are often called upon to defuse the situation and resolve differences in a collaborative manner, before the situation spirals out of control.

Our one day workshop in Conflict Management and Communication Skills provides you with effective tools to manage stressful situations in the workplace and become a highly successful person and leader. Learn to build conflict resolution techniques that work, and manage complex team dynamics with sensitivity and firmness.

On successful completion of the course, you will receive a Course Completion Certificate from Zillionventure.

Regus Business Centre St. Petersburg, First Central Tower, 360 Central Ave Suite 800, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Masterclass: Skills for Inclusive Communication

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Join us for an online masterclass and learn how to create an inclusive communication strategy! Get ready to develop effective skills that prioritize inclusivity, foster understanding, and enhance collaboration. #InclusiveCommunication #DiversityandInclusion

ABOUT THE MASTERCLASS

This masterclass supports participants to cultivate the courage necessary for having challenging conversations. Participants will be empowered with practical skills to courageously communicate in conversations about overt and implicit equity conflicts. Participants will be invited to try on their new courageous communication skills by role playing scenarios that call for courage in intra-group accountability, leadership power dynamics, and collaborating across differences within a team context. Through learning and practicing courageous communication, participants will be better equipped to effectively intervene when they are called to take action in the face of bias or disparities. 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  • Learn practical skills for courageously communicating in challenging conversations
  • Practice courageous communication when navigating equity conflicts 
  • Deepen capacity to effectively intervene in the face of bias or disparities 

ABOUT THE FACILITATORS

Tenisha “Ava” Williams is an experienced diversity, equity, and Inclusion consultant, speaker, and facilitator with over a decade of experience with organizational assessment, strategic planning, and equity-centered change management. Ava has led project teams focusing on identifying and addressing inequities for various leaders and executives at over 100 organizations. She is known for introducing frameworks and tools beyond conventional DEIA discussions – urging audiences to imagine how their work can build an organizational culture that strives for belonging for all and deliver tangible and measurable outcomes for communities affected by structural inequities.

Recent projects include supporting the reopening planning and implementation team at Tulsa Public Schools as they navigated the competing demands of re-envisioning transformative and equitable educational structures amidst the pandemic and leading teams of consultants to uncover and address the root causes of systemic inequities through equity assessments and strategic plans for Teach for America’s national office, Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network, West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church, and County of Summit, Ohio.

Gabrielle Roffe works to understand the unique ways people connect to and protect their environments and, through transformative community practices, redefine environmental stewardship. She has spent the past 13 years leading in DEI work to amplify voices of underrepresented communities to advance equity, inclusion, and belonging in the access and design of cities, neighborhoods, and other public spaces and services.

Gabrielle has partnership and DEI capacity-building, community engagement, and creative placemaking expertise. She enjoys leading equity committees to develop innovative strategies and tactics to address internal and external organizational DEI needs. She takes a multidisciplinary and intersectional approach to authentically build holistic community-centered solutions when leading staff, community, executive leadership, and board members. Gabrielle is bilingual as a heritage Spanish speaker. Recent projects include leading DEI assessment and planning efforts with Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network, Baltimore Port Authority, Tech Goes Home, and the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Rachael Reichenbach is a consultant and facilitator dedicated to significant, systemic change. They use tools and practices from deep equity and systems thinking to support organizations through the process of moving toward their deepest aspirations. Over the past ten years, they have facilitated and collaborated on social change processes in various settings – from political education and organizing to antiracism culture shift to community food systems activation and network weaving.

In this time of simultaneous multi-system transformation, they bring the skills, experience, and wisdom to help you address the root causes of the increasingly severe and complex challenges we collectively seek to solve. Their facilitation work focuses on supporting organizations and networks through strategy development, visioning, action planning, group dynamics, culture shift, and stakeholder engagement. Their approach to facilitation is rooted in the Training for Change school of thought and deeply influenced by their teachers and mentors Joseph McIntyre, Miles Gordon, Yotam Marom, and Annabel Membrillo Jimenez.

Hyatt Corporation Awards Black-Owned Startups $30K In Business Grants

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Black Enterprise; Published By Ashlei Stevens

Mikáel Pyles says he and his business partners work 25/8 on their business QuikLiq. That’s 25 hours a day, eight days a week spent on their unique mobile app, allowing customers to purchase wine, beer, and liquor from Black-owned brands and independently operated stores.

And their hard work is paying off — literally — as the new company won first place and a $15,000 business grant at the BLACK ENTERPRISE 2023 Disruptor Summit pitch competition, sponsored by Hyatt.

“We are grateful to Hyatt for sponsoring the pitch competition because it promotes entrepreneurship, it fosters creativity, and it fosters hope,” said QuikLiq president and co-founder Pyles. Read more

Startup Academy set to launch first cohort

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Burgeoning entrepreneurs needing assistance with idea exploration and business basics now have a new local resource.

The St. Pete Greenhouse, in partnership with the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, will welcome its first Startup Academy cohort Aug. 7. The application deadline is Friday, July 28.

Lauren Frawley, business marketing and events coordinator for the Chamber, explained the new program is for those who need to learn business fundamentals before the more advanced Entrepreneurial Academy. It will fill the gap between those in the “idea phase” and founders looking to establish and grow a company. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com.

Vendors’ dreams come true at the St. Pete Store

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For five burgeoning minority and women small business owners affiliated with the Saturday Shoppes, seeing their wares on shelves in a brick-and-mortar store was the culmination of a lifelong dream.

That was a common refrain Wednesday evening at the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce’sdowntown headquarters. However, many founders said they never imagined that dozens of community and local government leaders would help them celebrate the moment.

The event also marked a milestone for its two hosts. Renee Edwards-Perry, founder of the Saturday Shoppes, has long sought to facilitate additional revenue streams and learning experiences for her vendors. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com.

Community Grants Available For Environmental Projects

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BAY MINI-GRANTS

Bay Mini-Grants are competitive awards that fund environmental restoration and education projects in the Tampa Bay watershed. This community-driven funding program stimulates environmental stewardship and science literacy among those who reside in and visit the region. Visit www.tbep.org to learn more.

White Louisiana Ex-Cop Hit With Second Criminal Case In Death Of Unarmed Black Man

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

This photo provided by Louisiana State Police shows police body cam video of Shreveport Police Officer Alexander Tyler after shooting Alonzo Bagley after a foot chase on Feb. 3, 2023 in Shreveport, La.
Photo: Louisiana State Police via AP (AP)

A former Shreveport officer pleaded not guilty to an additional charge in the fatal shooting of Alonzo Bagley back in February. Alexander Tyler, 23, was arraigned Monday on one count of malfeasance in office in connection with Bagley’s Feb. 3 death. Prosecutors earlier this year charged Tyler with one count of negligent homicide for Bagley’s death.

The charges each carry a maximum possible sentence of up to five years in prison.

Body camera footage of the incident showed Tyler and another officer responding to Bagley’s home on a domestic violence call. In the video, the two officers are seen chasing down Bagley after Bagley, 43, escaped the apartment through a bedroom window. Bagley hid in the doorway of another building but by the time Tyler approached him, he was immediately shot in the chest by the officer’s service weapon.

The two contacted EMS and the second officer performed CPR but to no avail. Tyler was arrested almost two weeks after the incident and resigned from the Shreveport Police Department after just two years of working there.

Dhu Thompson, Tyler’s defense lawyer called the charges, “extremely disappointing,” on Monday, according to the Associated Press. Read more

Obamas Mourn Tragic Death Of Personal Chef

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The Root; Published By Angela Johnson

Former White House sous chef Tafari Campbell was the victim of an apparent accident last weekend.

The Obama family is mourning the loss of a former White House chef and close family friend who died in a tragic accident near their Martha’s Vineyard summer retreat.

On Sunday evening, July 23, police received reports that Tafari Campbell was missing after going paddleboarding on a pond near the Obama’s home. According to police, another paddleboarder who was at the pond at the time saw Campbell go under water. They say he “appeared to briefly struggle to stay on the surface and then submerged and did not resurface.” Massachusetts State Police confirmed that the 45 year old’s body was recovered from a pond the following morning.

Martha’s Vineyard, an island just south of Cape Cod, is a popular vacation destination for rich and famous, including the Obamas, Oprah Winfrey and Spike Lee. The Obamas were not at their home at the time. Parts of the island are also a popular end-of-summer vacation retreat for Black entrepreneurs, creatives and professionals, especially from the Northeast. It’s not clear whether Campbell was vacationing or working on the island at the time. Read more

Bronny James Hospitalized After Cardiac Arrest At USC Practice

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The Root; Published By Keith Reed

HOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 28: Bronny James #6 of the West team dribbles the ball during the 2023 McDonald’s High School Boys All-American Game at Toyota Center on March 28, 2023 in Houston, Texas.
Photo: Alex Bierens de Haan (Getty Images)

The son of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is recovering after suffering cardiac arrest after a workout on Monday morning.

Bronny James, the oldest son of LeBron and Savanna James, was rushed to a local hospital after a 911 call from the University of Southern California’s Galen Center, the school’s arena and practice facility shortly after 9 a.m. on Monday, according to TMZ, which first reported the incident.

A family spokesperson confirmed to the celebrity news outlet that Bronny had been stabilized and moved from intensive care:“Yesterday while practicing Bronny James suffered a cardiac arrest. Medical staff was able to treat Bronny and take him to the hospital. He is now in stable condition and no longer in ICU. We ask for respect and privacy for the James family and we will update media when there is more information.” Read more

Ron DeSantis Defends New Florida Curriculum To Teach Slavery’s ‘Benefit,’ Says ‘Scholars’ Are Behind It

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People.com; Published By Virginia Chamlee

Ron DeSantis. PHOTO: WILFREDO LEE/AP/SHUTTERSTOCK

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Friday that new education standards around teaching slavery in Florida schools will show that enslaved people were able to “parlay” the skills they were forced to learn.

DeSantis, who was speaking to reporters during an event in Utah, defended a new set of academic standards in his state that will require middle schools to teach that enslaved people “developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit” — a line that has ignited significant controversy among teachers’ groups and parents in the state.

“They’re probably going to show that some of the folks that eventually parlayed, you know, being a blacksmith into doing things later in life,” DeSantis said, adding that “scholars” put together the standards, which he said were “rooted in whatever is factual.”

DeSantis also tried to distance himself from the standards, saying, “I didn’t do it. I wasn’t involved in it.”

But the standards — which were approved by Florida’s Board of Education last week despite pleas from a statewide teachers’ union — come in response to the state’s 2022 “Stop WOKE Act,” a piece of legislation championed by DeSantis himself that stated that race must be taught in “an objective manner” that does not “indoctrinate or persuade students to a particular point of view.”

The act pushed far-right lawmakers’ rhetoric that teaching Black history makes White people feel ashamed, instructing that no student should be made to feel “guilt” or “responsibility” for actions previously committed by members of the same race. Read more

Ron DeSantis’s Florida Board of Education: Hey, What About the “Personal Benefit” of Being a Slave?

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Ron DeSantis’s war on “wokeness” in schools ascended to dangerous new heights Wednesday, as Florida’s State Board of Education approved new African American studies curriculum standards that, among other things, would force public school students to learn about some of the supposed upsides of slavery — a whitewashing of history that the state’s largest teachers union decried as a “big step backward” for education.

“Gov. DeSantis is pursuing a political agenda guaranteed to set good people against one another, and in the process he’s cheating our kids,” Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association, said in a statement blasting the new African American studies standards. “They deserve the full truth of American history, the good and the bad.” Read more at www.vanityfair.com.

Kamala Harris accuses Florida officials of trying to ‘replace history with lies’ through new curriculum

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Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday rebuked the Florida Board of Education’s new standards for how Black history will be taught in schools, calling it an effort by extremist leaders to spread propaganda.

Speaking in Jacksonville, Harris said the recently approved curriculum, which suggests some slaves reaped benefits from the skills they acquired during forced labor, was based on a policy intent on misleading children. Read more at www.nbcnews.com.

7 Actions Black People Can Take To Help Cut Rent Costs As Rates Increase

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Black Enterprise; Published By Jeffrey McKinney

(Image: Pexels)

When it comes to housing, Providence, RI, offers the lowest-cost rent for Black Americans.

The finding is tied to this new report by Real Estate Witch. It is based on rent-to-income (RTI) ratios in the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas as of 2021. The ratio is the percentage of gross monthly income a tenant needs to pay rent. It is recommended that the RTI does not exceed 30% or less of gross monthly income.

The average Providence resident spends $1,066 a month on rent, which is 20.5% of their gross monthly income. Providence is followed, respectively, by San Antonio, Texas; Hartford, Connecticut; Indianapolis; and Atlanta as the five most affordable rent cities for Blacks (see chart below).

Jaime Seale, the report’s writer, shared Black Americans are spending more of their monthly income on rent primarily because they tend to earn lower annual salaries than the overall population  In Miami, for example, she says the median annual income for all Americans is $62,870 versus $50,897 for Blacks.

She explained the housing shortage over the past decade has caused demand for homes to exceed supply, boosting home prices rapidly. Read more

No “Wokeness” Allowed! Missouri Schools Cancel Anti-Racism Resolution

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The Root; Angela Johnson

Kimberly Thompson, center, listens as Francis Howell School Board members talk in favor of rescinding all previously passed resolutions, including an anti-racism resolution, during a meeting on Thursday, July 20, 2023 in O’Fallon, Mo.
Photo: David Carson (AP)

In the latest attempt by conservatives to turn back the hands of time, a Missouri school district just voted to roll back a 2020 anti-racism resolution.

After the May 2020 murder of George Floyd, residents in the Francis Howell School District took to the streets, calling on officials to take action against racial discrimination in their schools. And in August 2020, the suburban St. Louis district responded by passing a resolution which “pledges to our learning community that we will speak firmly against any racism, discrimination, and senseless violence against people regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, immigration status, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or ability.”

But in the years since, the board has become increasingly conservative, with five new members elected with the support of conservative PAC Francis Howell Families. Now, only two members of the 2020 board remain. And in a meeting last week, they voted to cancel several resolutions, including the one against racism, which the PAC has labeled “woke activism.”

The Francis Howell school district serves 17,000 students and is nearly 90 percent white.

Board members defended the decision, questioning the resolution’s ability to produce any real results. “What has it really done? How effective has it really been?” asked board member Jane Puszkar. Read more

Alabama GOP Rolled Up With A Racist Congressional Map, Despite Court Orders

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The Root; Published By Jessica Washington

WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 04: Lead counsel for the plaintiffs Deuel Ross (2nd L) speaks to members of the press as President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF) Janai Nelson (R), plaintiff Evan Milligan (2nd R) and U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL) (3rd R) listen after the oral argument of the Merrill v. Milligan case at the U.S. Supreme Court on October 4, 2022 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court heard oral argument of the case that challenge whether the new congressional map of Alabama violates the Voting Rights Act.
Photo: Alex Wong (Getty Images)

The Alabama Republican party is pushing forward with its latest congressional map, proving if it’s one thing they have in droves, it’s audacity. On Friday, Governor Kay Ivey signed a new map with just one majority-Black district. All of this could be viewed as typical gerrymandering shenanigans if it weren’t for the fact that multiple courts (including the Supreme Court) ruled that the state needed to form two majority-Black districts or “quite close to it.”

Alabama’s Republican Governor didn’t even try to pretend like she was following the court’s order in a statement she released after signing off on the map. “The Legislature knows our state, our people, and our districts better than the federal courts or activist groups, and I am pleased that they answered the call, remained focused, and produced new districts ahead of the court deadline,” said Ivey.

In June, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling in Allen v. Milligan, which found that the state’s original map violated the Voting Rights Act. The original map only had one Majority-Black district, despite Black Americans making up 27 percent of the state. The court ordered Alabama to draw an additional majority district.

Instead of following what sounded like a pretty straightforward ruling, the new map includes one voting district that is roughly 50 percent Black and one that is a little less than 40 percent Black.

“I am convinced that passing a non-compliant map was the plan all along,” said State Representative Chris England on Twitter. “We could have saved time and money by not doing anything and just letting the court draw it.” Read more

Youtuber JiDion Apparently Banned From All “NBA-Related Events” After Distasteful WNBA Stunt

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Black Enterprise; Published By Mary Spiller

(Image: Screenshot/YouTube)

YouTuber Jidon Adams, better known as JiDion, has allegedly been banned from all NBA-related events after disrupting WNBA games one too many times.

While attending a Los Angeles Sparks game this week, JiDion started pulling courtside shenanigans. In a video he shared on his YouTube channel on Thursday, July 20, 2023, Adams was dressed in cartoonish pajamas and a hat, lying across several seats with a pillow and blanket, pretending to sleep. 

His YouTube video showed him being issued a warning by security guards. JiDion quickly lied about having a medical condition that forced him to fall asleep. Several guards approached him and removed him from the premises a few minutes later. As JiDion filmed the security guards outside, one of them told him, “You are not allowed on the premises.” 

He asked to clarify if he meant only WNBA games, but the guard said he was banned from “all NBA-related events.” Read more

Video: Ohio Cop Orders a K-9 To Attack Black Man With His Hands Up

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

Circleville Ohio Police K9 bites man following chase

An Ohio police officer is under investigation after releasing a K-9 on a man during a traffic stop. According to ABC 9 News, newly released body camera footage shows the man surrendering with his hands up just moments before the officer orders the dog to attack him.

What could have been a routine traffic stop on July 4 turned into a 1960s, Bloody Sunday-style dog mauling. Ohio State Highway Patrol said 23-year-old Jadarius Rose was pulled over for speeding, per WOSU Public Media. However, in another report, they said he was stopped for a missing mudflap on his semi-truck. Regardless of the reason, the cops say Rose refused to pull over and commenced to a high speed chase. Once Rose stopped his vehicle, he got out of his car with his hands in the air.

Circleville police then arrived on the scene with a K-9 unit. Nowhere in the reports does it mention Rose being suspected of holding drugs or narcotics, so it’s unclear why they authorized to let the dogs out. In the body camera footage, conflicting orders are shouted as a Circleville officer tells Rose, “Get on the ground, or you’re going to get bit!” and a state trooper shouts back, “Do not release the dog with his hands up!”

Despite the command, they released the dog anyway, and the video shows Rose diving to the ground for cover and screaming for help as the dog chewed away at him. Read more

100 Black Men Of Metro Baton Rouge Donate $150K To School System Battling Illiteracy

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Black Enterprise; Published By Cedric ‘BIG CED’ Thornton

(Image: Getty Images)

The illiteracy rate in the Louisiana school system is so high that the 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge has donated $150,000 to the East Baton Rouge Parish School System to combat the issue.

With 41% of the students across Louisiana reading below grade level, the organization wants to improve that number drastically. “It’s going to be life-changing for the kids of this district,” said Michael Adams, past president of the 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge, told WAFB.

The funds donated to the district will help approximately 500 children between 8th and 10th grade at seven schools learn how to read. The money is from an initiative that the group has called the “My Brother Can Read” tutoring program. Read more

Congresswomen Cori Bush & Ayanna Pressley Advance Bill To End Police Violence Against Black People In Crisis

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WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 08: U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) speaks as Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) (L) and Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) (R) listen during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol December 8, 2021 in Washington, DC. House Democrats held the news conference to introduce a resolution to remove Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) from her committee assignments over Islamophobic attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN). (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Black Enterprise; Published By Iman Milner

WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 08: U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) speaks as Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) (L) and Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) (R) listen during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol December 8, 2021 in Washington, DC. House Democrats held the news conference to introduce a resolution to remove Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) from her committee assignments over Islamophobic attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN). (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Black women are getting it done…again. Congresswomen Cori Bush and Ayanna Pressley have joined forces to reintroduce the People’s Response Act; a bill that grants funding to community-based organizations that provide alternatives to policing in incidents involving Black and Brown people in mental health crises.

In an effort to crack down on violent and often fatal interactions between those in need of help and law enforcement, the two lawmakers are hoping the federal government will intervene and make lasting change. “We cannot achieve safety by criminalizing mental health or criminalizing substance use and homelessness,” said Bush. “We cannot achieve safety by destroying lives instead of saving them.” Bush, who once worked as a nurse, has seen the devastating outcome of having police respond to more delicate issues surrounding mental health, as well as the impoverished, and believes it is part of her duty as a state representative to help “fix” the issue.

According to theGrio, the People’s Response Act was originally introduced in the House in 2021. If passed, it would spearhead the creation of a Division of Community Safety under the Department of Health and Human Services to promote public safety and, subsequently, help eradicate police violence against Black and Brown communities. Read more

Vice President Harris Speaks Out Against Florida’s Controversial New Black History Curriculum

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The Root; Published By Angela Johnson

Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta (AP)

This week, the Florida Board of Education approved controversial new standards for teaching Black history in the state’s public schools. The move has already received criticism from the president of the NAACP and Florida’s teachers union. Now, Vice President Kamala Harris is the latest to denounce the decision.

During her keynote address at Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc’s national convention on Wednesday, the Vice President spoke out against the disturbing new set of standards which includes teaching “how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”

“Speaking of our children, extremists pass book bans to prevent them from learning our true history – book bans in this year of our Lord 2023. And while they do this, check it out, they push forward revisionist history,” she said in a speech shared with The Root. “They insult us in an attempt to gaslight us, and we will not stand for it.”

The Vice President also took time to highlight the Biden-Harris administration’s ongoing commitment to fight for American’s fundamental freedoms, including the right to vote and women’s bodily autonomy. And she called on her audience to join in the fight to protect future generations. Read more

He Became The First Black Mayor In A Rural Alabama Town— And Then White Leaders Revolted!

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The Root; Published By Jessica Washington

UNITED STATES – APRIL 19: Perry Lakes Canopy Tower designed by the Rural Studio, Newbern, Alabama
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge (Getty Images)

When Patrick Braxton became the Mayor of Newbern, Alabama, it should have been a moment of celebration. Although the town is 85 percent Black, Braxton was the first Black Mayor in the town’s history. But Braxton says his welcome to public office was far from warm.

For the last three years, Braxton says he has been fighting to assume the office he legally won. His story, which was chronicled by Capital B News, is one of the crazier and frankly disturbing political stories of the modern era.

According to Braxton, who is suing the former white Mayor and city council, former officials waged a campaign of harassment, which included surveilling him and locking him out of town hall. What’s even wilder, he alleges that the former white mayor and city council reappointed themselves in a hidden special election.

To explain a bit of how we got here, it’s worth talking about politics works in Newbern, Alabama. According to reporting from Capitol B, over the last 60 years, there hasn’t been an election in Newbern. Instead, residents told the outlet that a small number of white residents simply handed down the positions as they saw fit.

That was until Braxton came along. He won by simply being the only person to submit the proper paperwork and a statement of economic interests. It’s worth noting that only 275 people live in Newbern, according to the U.S. Census. Read more

Florida Board Of Education Approves New Black History Standards That Critics Call ‘A Big Step Backward’

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CNN; Published By Nicole Chavez

The Florida Board of Education approved a new set of standards for how Black history should be taught in the state’s public schools, sparking criticism from education and civil rights advocates who said students should be allowed to learn the “full truth” of American history.

The curriculum was approved at the board’s meeting Wednesday in Orlando.

It is the latest development in the state’s ongoing debate over African American history, including the education department’s rejection of a preliminary pilot version of an Advanced Placement African American Studies course for high school students, which it claimed lacked educational value.

The new standards come after the state passed new legislation under Gov. Ron DeSantis that bars instruction in schools that suggests anyone is privileged or oppressed based on their race or skin color. DeSantis has used his fight against “wokeness” to boost his national profile amid a national discussion of how racism and history should be taught in schools.

The new standards require instruction for middle school students to include “how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit,” a document listing the standards and posted in the Florida Department of Education website said. Read more

Anthony Hamilton In The Bay; Opens Up On His Favorite Artists, Business Plans & What’s Wrong With the Industry

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The Power Broker Media Group’s Latorra Bowles sits down with soulful artist Anthony Hamilton in Tampa Bay for a one-night-only concert as part of the Kappa Fest 2023 Conclave. Hamilton opened up about his famous role models, current and future business ventures, and why he likes things just a little “rachet.” Hamilton is performing live in Tampa tonight, July 20, 2023, at George Steinbrenner Field, 1 Steinbrenner Dr, Tampa, FL 33614. For more information and tickets, click here.

Black College DEI Director Sues School She Says Accused Her Of Being A White Supremacist

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The Root; Published By Angela Johnson

A recently fired Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) director at a California community college is now suing the institution, accusing them of hindering her right to free speech after she believes she was targeted for not being the “right kind of Black person.”

Dr. Tabitha Lee, who is Black, was hired as a full-time DEI Director at De Anza Community College in Cupertino, California, in August 2021. She was fired from her position back in March 2023 “because of De Anza and the District’s ideological opposition to Dr. Lee’s humanism in the classroom,” her complaint states.

According to Inside Higher Ed, Lee says she lost her job because she “questioned antiracist “orthodoxy,” objected to the college’s land acknowledgments for an Indigenous tribe, tried to bring a “Jewish inclusion” event to campus, declined to join a “socialist network,” refused to use the gender-neutral terms “Latinx” and “Filipinx,” inquired why the word “Black” was capitalized but not “white,” and allegedly disrespected a founder of the Black Lives Matter movement.” And while free speech gives her the right to question all of those things, it probably should have been the first clue that she wasn’t really on board with De Anza’s idea of DEI.

In an interview with Fox News’ Harris Faulkner, Lee said her approach is to bring people together and encourage critical thinking. But Lee said encouraging the students to think for themselves made her a target for not going along with the campus orthodoxy which she described as “excessively woke.”

Dr. Lee’s July 10 lawsuit filed against the college alleges she encountered a hostile work environment at De Anza, where she was accused of not being the “right kind of Black person.” She says she was accused of “whitesplaining” and being a white supremacist. Read more

After Supreme Court Shuts Down Affirmative Action, HBCUs Revamp Admissions Policies

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The Root; Published By Candace McDuffie

Photo: Jacquelyn Martin (AP)

Historically Black colleges and universities have decided to change some of their admissions policies in lieu of the Supreme Court’s decision to come down on affirmative action. They may become more selective as they prepare to have an increase in the number of applicants.

Last month, the high court decided to bar colleges from considering race when it comes to admissions. Though the decision was anticipated, it still has staggering repercussions as many universities used this as a tool for diversity. Numerous HBCU leaders believe there will be more applications from students in more welcoming environments that will allow open discussions about race during the college admissions process.

HBCUs represent 3 percent of colleges but educate around 20 percent of Black graduates and may be strapped for resources. In addition, Black colleges and universities have historically dealt with being underfunded, having housing shortages and navigating deteriorating infrastructure. Compared to white institutions, HBCUs also suffer from inferior cybersecurity measures and WiFi access.

The president of Morehouse College in Atlanta, David A. Thomas, stated: “If our applicant pool doubles, we could not double our student body without seriously compromising the quality of our education.” Morehouse is expecting student applications to double over the next three years.

Thomas also said that his school “will have to make sure we continue to admit an economically diverse group of students and continue to serve poor and working-class students” as they deal with larger application pools. Read more

A Piece Of Fruit Cost A Man His Life. Now, His Family Wants Answers

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: FOX5 New York

Outrage has spread across New Rochelle, NY, after the fatal shooting of a man accused of eating grapes and a banana he hadn’t paid for. According to REVOLT, the family demanded the unedited body cam footage to see the whole account of the incident.

Jarrell Garris, 37, was in a local grocery store on July 3 when an employee called the police, accusing him of eating a banana and a few grapes and then leaving the store without paying. The body camera footage shows two officers approaching Garris and asking him if he’d eaten items from the store. He doesn’t respond and walks away but runs into another officer who tells him the grocery store is pressing charges. While trying to place him under arrest, Garris appears to resist, leading to a struggle. Authorities claim that Garris reached for one of the officers’ guns, which led Detective Steven Conn to fire his weapon seconds later.

Garris suffered a gunshot wound to the neck, causing damage to his cervical spine and spinal cord. He died Monday, July 10, after being removed from life support. The Westchester County medical examiner ruled his death as a homicide, per FOX5 New York.

Only a portion of the body camera footage has been released. Now, the community is questioning why the department is holding the rest. Read more

12-Year-Old Criminally Charged In Awful Playground Acid Attack

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: NBC News

An argument on a playground in Detroit resulted in severe acid burns for an 11-year-old girl. According to ClickOnDetroit, the 12-year-old girl accused in the attack is facing criminal charges.

July 9, Deaira Summers was on a playground near Vernor Elementary School when her cousin and a 12-year-old girl got into an argument. Summers and her siblings left the park following the confrontation. However, when Summers returned to retrieve her purse, she was doused with acid by a 12-year-old girl. The family alleges the 12-year-old’s mother handed her a bottle filled with the unknown liquid. Summers suffered third-degree burns to her back, legs and arms.

She spent four days in the burn unit at Children’s Hospital. When she returned home, she gave her account of the story to local reporters while covered in gauze and bandages. On Saturday, the prosecutor’s office handed down charges on the girl who threw the liquid. Read more

Tampa Bay Works: Job Fair

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Happening July 20th –

Looking for a GREAT NEW JOB? Don’t miss JOB LINK 2023 – TAMPA BAY WORKS, the area’s best and most successful Job Fair!

If you’re a Jobseeker, get ready to GET HIRED! Employers and Candidates Connect Face to Face at this one day Career Fair!

If you’re an Employer, See http://FloridaJobLink.com to Register to Recruit!

Hiring will occur on the spot! Hundreds of Jobs are up for grabs at this Job Fair!

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The Job Fair happens from 10 until 1.

This is your opportunity to meet one-on-one with recruiters and hiring managers from Florida’s top hiring companies

Featured career fields include technical, labor, logistics, warehouse, production, installation, security, law enforcement, medical, sales, professional, service technician, customer service and MORE!

For a full list of Employers and more info, visit http://FloridaJobLink.com!

See you there!

Empath Health Is Hiring!

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Empath Health is one of the country’s largest not-for-profit, hospice and home health-based healthcare organizations providing services across north central, west central and southwest Florida. We need a variety of people in a variety of positions to deliver compassionate, expert Full Life Care to the communities we serve.

Our integrated network of care includes hospice, home health, personal care, palliative care, senior primary care services, all-inclusive elder care, HIV and sexual health support services, grief services and company-owned, full-service pharmacy and durable medical equipment (DME).

We offer great benefits, competitive salaries, training and development that includes a state-of-the-art nursing lab and the opportunity to grow your career.

Join our team of compassionate professionals and make a difference in the community we serve.

Foundation For A Healthy St. Petersburg: 2023 Grantmaking Application – August 8, 2023

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS FOR BIPOC + ECONOMIC EQUITY AND JUSTICE

Join us for a first look at our 2023 request for proposals – find out what we’re funding and how to apply in the areas of Mental Health and Wellness for BIPOC and Economic Equity and Justice.

The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg is partnering with Bayfront Health this year to jointly award $2.9 million across our two 2023 grantmaking priorities; $1.1 million will go toward Mental Health and Wellness for BIPOC, and $1.8 million will fund work in Economic Equity and Justice.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THIS EVENT

This event will give you a first look at our 2023 grantmaking request for proposals. We’ll share details on what we’re funding, award sizes, how to apply, important dates and deadlines, and what the awards process will look like. This is your chance to ask questions and learn more about the Foundation’s 2023 grantmaking process. 

ECONOMIC EQUITY AND JUSTICE:

  • The conditions under which individuals can live fulfilling and sustainable lives free from concerns of meeting their basic needs, as well as challenging and transforming the systems that keep unjust economic conditions in place

Note: This event offers on-site ASL translation services.

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS FOR BIPOC:

  • The ability for Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color to be emotionally, socially, and psychologically healthy with equitable access to resources that create and promote wellness

When Hope Becomes A Four-Letter Word: What’s Missing From Today’s TV Shows That Deal With Race

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CNN; Published By John Blake

Isabel Sanford as Louise Jefferson and Sherman Hemsley as her husband George Jefferson in the CBS sitcom “The Jeffersons,” which debuted in 1975.

Shag carpetingEight-track tapes. Missing an important phone call because you weren’t home to hear the phone ring.

There are few anachronisms from the 1970s that most Americans from that era will not miss. It was a time of long gas station lines, itchy polyester double-knit suits and TV options limited to three networks that signed off each night with a warbled recording of the Star-Spangled Banner.

But as a Black child of the 1970s who grew up on shows such as “The Jeffersons,” I miss one storytelling element from that era that seems to be missing from contemporary Black TV series: hope.  Not a naïve hope, but a muscular type of hope that maintained that though racism was persistent, America would eventually transcend its racial divisions.

Watching clips from popular 1970s shows like “Room 222” and “The White Shadow” is like stepping into an alternative universe. White and non-White characters tackled racial issues with a boldness and nuance that wouldn’t be allowed today. They strived together to create integrated neighborhoods and schools. They thought people could change, and so could America.

“There was this moment of hope in America where we actually believed that we could confront and deal with centuries-long problems of race, gender and class,” says Rodney Coates, a sociologist, poet and professor of critical race and ethnic studies at Miami University in Ohio.

“They weren’t stuck in fatalism,” Coates says of ’70s shows that addressed race or featured mostly Black casts. “They weren’t stuck in the notion of it’s always been this way, and we can’t change it.”

I bring up Black TV shows from the 1970s because I’ve been told my nostalgia is misplaced. In recent yearsmany cultural critics have claimed we are in a new “golden age of Black television.” They say there’s been a renaissance in Black TV, driven by a new wave of Black creators who are finding fresh ways to explore the Black experience.

Yet to me and some scholars, critics and TV producers, something is missingSome recent shows confuse hopelessness with being authentically Black. Others display what one scholar calls an “apolitical multiculturalism”— they feature Black and brown actors but rarely explore their characters’ race or ethnicity.

And few share the tone of their 1970s predecessors — there’s little of the “enduring optimism” reflected in “Movin’ On Up,” the “Jeffersons’” theme song, which became an aspirational anthem for Black America. Read more

Police Searching For Woman Who Vanished After Reporting Child On Side Of Alabama Interstate

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Published By; The Grio

Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole Russell (Hoover Police Department)

HOOVER, Ala (AP) — Police in Alabama searched Friday for a 25-year-old woman who vanished after telling a family member that she was stopping to check on a child she saw walking on the side of an interstate highway.

Hoover police say Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole Russell called 911 Thursday night and then a family member to say she saw a young child walking on the side of I-459. When officers arrived at the location, they found Russell’s car and her cell phone but were unable to find her or a child in the area.

Lt. Daniel Lowe said the family member on the phone with Russell lost contact with her even though the line remained open. He said a single witness reported possibly seeing a gray vehicle and a man standing outside of Carlee’s vehicle, but they have no additional information.

“No piece of information is too small in this investigation,” Lowe told reporters Friday.

Lowe said police are pursuing all possibilities in the disappearance.

”We’re certainly leaving nothing off the table,” he said when asked if investigators believe she was abducted. Read More

I Love My Country Because… Art Contest – April 24, 2023 – September 29, 2023 (K-12th Grades)

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In an effort to bolster civic education and educate communities on the role of county government, the National Association of Counties (NACo) is launching the 2023 “I Love My County Because…” art contest.

The program is sponsored by Americans for the Arts, one of the nation’s largest arts advocacy and research organizations.

NACo and county leaders are spreading the word about county roles and responsibilities, which are often unknown or misunderstood. By inviting children and young adults K-12 to create artwork for the 2024 “Counties Matter” calendar, NACo hopes to raise awareness about programs and services that impact people’s lives every day.

Growl Florida Applications Are Open!

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GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch, a prestigious, annual awards program, recognizes second-stage companies based in Florida that showcase outstanding innovation, community involvement, leadership, and remarkable growth. Developed by the renowned Edward Lowe Foundation, Companies to Watch is the ultimate stamp of recognition, showcasing the incredible achievements of second-stage businesses across the state.

GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Honorees aren’t your average companies; they are the true trailblazers, the visionaries, the bold innovators, and the trendsetters. They have game-changing strategies, an electrifying company culture, and notable business growth that are shaping Florida’s economy. Since 2011, GrowFL has recognized 600 companies as GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Honorees. Don’t miss the chance to join the ranks of Florida’s top second-stage growth companies!

To be eligible to apply for the award, a company must meet the following for the year ending 2022: 

  • Be a privately held commercial enterprise headquartered in Florida (not publicly traded, subsidiary or division of another company or nonprofit)
  • Employ 6 to 150 full-time equivalent W-2 employees, including the owner
  • Have between $750,000 to $100 million in annual revenue or working capital from investors or grants
  • Have not won this award in the past
  • Demonstrate intent and capacity to grow based on evidence such as employee or sales growth, exceptional leadership, sustainable competitive advantage, etc. 

Georgia State Lawmaker Switches From Democrat To Republican

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CNN; Published By Dianne Gallagher

Georgia state Rep. Mesha Mainor center, speaks in the House Chamber at the Georgia Capitol, March 6, 2023, in Atlanta. Mainor announced on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 that she was switching from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, saying Democrats had driven her out for refusing to follow party orthodoxy.

CNN — 

A Georgia lawmaker who represents part of Atlanta in the state House of Representatives switched her party affiliation to Republican this week after repeatedly breaking with her former party on several key votes this session.

State Rep. Mesha Mainor announced that she was leaving the Democratic Party for the Republican Party at a news conference on Tuesday.

District 56 is a Democratic stronghold that covers a swath of Fulton County stretching from parts of Atlanta’s westside up to midtown. Mainor won her last primary against two other Democrats with 65% of the vote and she ran unopposed in the 2020 and 2022 general elections. President Joe Biden won Fulton County with more than 70% of the vote in 2020.

Shortly after her news conference, she tweeted, “I represent a blue district in the city of Atlanta so this wasn’t a political decision for me. It was a a MORAL one. I will NEVER apologize for being a black woman with a mind of my own.”

Democrats called the flip a betrayal, pointing to the deep-blue district Mainor was elected to represent.

Republicans, including Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, sent tweets welcoming her to the GOP, with several posting interviews she did on Fox News shortly after the announcement. Mainor was also welcomed to the GOP on social media by Tricia Cotham, a North Carolina state representative from a blue district who switched from Democrat to Republican earlier this year.

A two-term member, Mainor had come under fire by members of the Democratic Party this session after voting with Republicans on a number of issues, including on police budgets and an oversight commission for prosecutors.

She was the lone Democrat to vote for a failed bill on private school vouchers, which prompted a then-fellow Atlanta Democrat – State Senator Josh McLaurin – to tweet, “All I need is a name,” with a photo of a blank check for $1,000 for a primary challenger in Mainor’s district.

“The harassment and intimidation is much bigger than three votes,” said Mainor, surrounded by a handful of supporters and the state GOP chairman, at her announcement. “It’s about fear, fear of an outsider coming to the capitol working for the people she came up here to serve.” Read more

Video Showing Ex-Detroit Officer Beat A Black Teen, Is Heartbreaking and Horrible

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: CBS News

The head of FBI Detroit and a US Attorney announced federal charges against a former Warren police officer who is accused of using excessive force on a teen suspect during booking, according to FOX 2 Detroit. The Macomb County Prosecutor says the cop will be dealt with like any other citizen.

US Attorney Dawn Ison handed federal charges to ex-Warren police officer Matthew Rodriguez. The report says the officer was booking 19-year-old Jaquwan Smith on a carjacking charge June 16. Surveillance footage shows Rodriguez talking to the teenager and suddenly punching him in the face, ramming him into the wall with his body and grabbing his dreads to slam his head into the floor repeatedly. Following the release of the video, the police department placed Rodriguez under internal investigation and ultimately gave him the boot.

The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office came on the heels of his termination with charges of misdemeanor assault and battery and willful neglect of duty. Now, he’s got to answer to the Feds on civil rights charges.

“It should send a clear message to those officers who defy their oath, and the constitution, contrary to the vast majority of law enforcement officers who carry out their duties,” Ison said via FOX2. Read more

Tommy Tuberville Is Full of Sh*t For Denouncing White Nationalists After Supporting Them

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The Root; Published By Candace McDuffie

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., l, listens during the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to examine the nomination of Army Lt. Gen. Randy George to be reappointment to the grade of general and to be Chief of Staff of the Army, Wednesday, July 12, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.

After vehemently defending white nationalists, Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville attempted to walk back his racist commentary. As he left the Senate floor Tuesday, he stated to reporters: “White nationalists are racists.” His remark comes just one day after he told CNN that if people deem white nationalists racist then that’s just simply their opinion.

“My opinion of a White nationalist, if someone wants to call them White nationalist, to me is an American,” Tuberville said during an interview on CNN’s “The Source with Kaitlan Collins.” He continued: “I’m totally against racism, and if the Democrats want to say white nationalists are racist then I’m against that too.”

When Collins said that the definition of a white nationalist is someone who wants to turn America into a white ethnostate—which is inherently racist—Tuberville retorted by saying “That’s your opinion.” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned Tuberville on Tuesday by saying he was just “wrong, wrong, wrong.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also stated that “White supremacy is simply unacceptable in the military and in the whole country.” Republican whip Sen. John Thune explained to reporters that Tuberville’s remarks were asinine and that Thune was “not sure exactly what he was trying to say there.” Read more

Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers elected as Florida Association of Counties second vice president

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On Friday, June 30, Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers was elected as second vice president of the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) at the association’s annual business meeting hosted during FAC’s Annual Conference & Educational Exposition in Orange County, Fla.

Commissioner Flowers has been an active member of FAC since 2020 by sitting on numerous policy committees such as Community and Urban Affairs, Finance, Tax and Administration, and Health, Safety and Justice. Additionally, she recently completed her Advanced County Commissioner II curriculum, receiving the highest level of commissioner education offered by the Institute for County Government. Read more at www.theweeklychalleger.com.

Oklahoma judge dismisses Tulsa race massacre reparations case filed by last known survivors

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CNN; Published By Omar Jimenez and Rebekah Riess

An Oklahoma judge dismissed the reparations lawsuit filed by the last three known survivors of the Tulsa race massacre on Friday, court records show.

The three had been locked in a yearslong court battle against the City of Tulsa and other groups and officials over the opportunities taken from them when the city’s Greenwood neighborhood was burned to the ground in 1921.

Contemporary reports of deaths began at 36, but historians now believe as many as 300 people may have died, according to the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum. Thousands were left homeless.

Lessie Benningfield Randle, 108, Viola Fletcher, 109, and her brother, Hughes Van Ellis, 102, were among the plaintiffs, CNN previously reported.

The plaintiffs had argued that the damage inflicted during the massacre was a “public nuisance” from the start and were seeking relief from that nuisance as well as to “recover for unjust enrichment” others have gained from the “exploitation of the massacre.

Cornell’s Legal Information Institute defines a public nuisance as when a person or entity “unreasonably interferes with a right that the general public shares in common.”

However, the City of Tulsa requested the lawsuit be dismissed with prejudice against refiling, arguing in part that “simply being connected to a historical event does not provide a person with unlimited rights to seek compensation from any project in any way related to that historical event.”

“If that were the case, every person connected to any historical event could make similar unjust enrichment claims against every museum or point of remembrance,” the city claimed. Read more

Nikki McCray-Penson, Basketball Star And Olympic Gold Medalist Dies At Age 51

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CNN; Published By Jill Martin, Zoe Sottile, and Kevin Dotson

Nikki McCray-Penson, a former basketball star and two-time Olympic gold medal winner, has died at age 51, according to a Rutgers University spokesperson.

The cause of death was not announced. McCray-Penson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013.

“Today is a deeply sad and emotional day for everyone who knew and loved Nikki,” Rutgers head coach Coquese Washington said in a news release. “Nikki had a big smile and an even bigger heart. She was full of life, energy, and was so much fun to be around. Nikki touched the lives of many because she made it her mission to uplift others and help them achieve whatever dreams and goals they expressed. She was so devoted to her husband and son, and still gave all of herself to everyone in the program. We will miss her dearly but will keep Nikki’s memory alive in our hearts.”

McCray-Penson was a standout player at the University of Tennessee under coach Pat Summitt. She won two Olympic gold medals as a member of Team USA in 1996 and 2000.

She played two seasons in the American Basketball League, earning MVP honors and winning the League championship with the Columbus Quest in 1997. She went on to play nine seasons in the WNBA, where she was a three-time All-Star.

McCray-Penson parlayed her success on the court into a 15-year career as a coach. She won a national title in 2017 as an assistant coach under Dawn Staley at the University of South Carolina, the first title for the women’s basketball program. She later served as the head coach at Old Dominion and then Mississippi State University. Read more

Legendary St. Pete Restaurant The Chattaway Launches New Breakfast Buffet

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I Love The Burg; Published By Andrew Harlan

The Chattaway is one of the most iconic restaurants in St. Pete. Located at 358 22nd Ave S, this institution was first established in 1951. It’s renowned for its burgers, hot dogs, cozy patio, and high tea experience. Now, the owners are adding a full weekend breakfast buffet, with the the first service launching on July 8.

“The Chattaway will be serving breakfast this weekend, Sat 7/8/23 and Sun 7/9/23 at 8am-12pm,” write the owners on Facebook.

The buffet breakfast menu includes scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, home fries, shrimp and grits, Pancakes OR French toast OR Waffles, biscuits and sausage gravy, muffins(blueberry or chocolate chip) and fresh fruit for $16.95.

Reservations are preferred and can be made by calling 727.823.1594.

The Chattaway is a family owned and operated restaurant started by Jillian Frers — originally from England, she shares her heritage in the inside dining room where “Afternoon tea” is served. Her children and grandchildren all share in the running of the restaurant and the staff is their extended family.

The Chattaway offers a traditional and elegant English afternoon tea by reservation only (48 hr notice) between the hours of 12:30pm and 3:30pm. They offer a variety of dainty sandwiches, (including the famous cucumber sandwich) scones, crumpets, clotted cream and preserves, desserts and unlimited English tea. They also provide spectacular weddings, graduation parties, wedding and baby showers, birthday parties and reunions. Read more

Black-Owned Banks, Born Out Of Post-Slavery Economic Barriers, Seek To Address Racial Wealth Gap

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ABC News; Published By Osej Serratos, Morgan Norwood, and Allie Weintraub

Beyu Caffe owner Dorian Bolden is shown at one of his coffee shop locations in Durham, N.C.
ABC News

When Dorian Bolden began expanding his coffee shop, Beyu Caffe, in Durham, North Carolina, he says the most difficult part was securing funding as a Black business owner.

“I recognize how we were not able to get funding the way I saw, you know, my white counterparts getting funding,” Bolden told ABC News.

Bolden is far from the only Black entrepreneur to face such a barrier. Black-owned businesses were about half as likely as white-owned businesses to receive all or most of the financing they requested, according to a 2022 Federal Reserve report.

The struggle to find capital isn’t new. After the end of slavery, Black Americans were largely shut out of American banks. Between 1865 and 1934, minority depositories, also known as Black-owned banks and credit unions, began to surface across the country as a result.

The Greenwood section of Tulsa, Oklahoma, would become home to what was known as Black Wall Street, but in 1921 it was burned to the ground by white supremacists in a violent race massacre. Read more

NAACP Launches ‘Diversity No Matter What’ Pledge For Colleges and Universities

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NAACP.Org; Published By Alicia Mercedes

WASHINGTON – The NAACP calls on more than 1,600 U.S. public and private colleges and universities with selective admissions processes to commit to the “Diversity No Matter What” pledge following the Supreme Court’s extreme decisions reversing decades of precedent on affirmative action. The Pledge is an effort to ensure that higher education institutions foster environments mirroring the nation’s diversity and increase the representation of historically underrepresented students.

“Let’s be clear – Black America is in a fight for our lives. The NAACP has been at the forefront of this battle for more than a century and we’re not backing down,” said NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson.“It is our hope that our nation’s institutions will stand with us in embracing diversity, no matter what. Regardless, the NAACP will continue to advocate, litigate, and mobilize to ensure that every Black American has access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.”

The NAACP has long advocated for policies and regulations at every level of government to guarantee a first-rate education for all Black students. The “Diversity No Matter What” pledge outlines various steps that schools can take to create and sustain a culture of inclusion, belonging, and respect for the benefit of all students — and therefore our society — such as: 

  • Eliminating racially biased entrance examinations and adopting a holistic approach that considers every aspect of an applicant’s background, achievements, and potential.
  • Supporting the matriculation and retention of low-income and first-generation students through outreach programs, scholarships, mentoring, and academic support services.
  • Recruiting diverse faculty and staff who can serve as role models and mentors for our students while contributing to our curriculum and research.
  • Creating a welcoming, and supportive campus climate that values diversity, stands for equity, and advances inclusion in all aspects of academic and social life.
  • Striving towards greater inclusivity by ending the utilization of legacy admissions which give an advantage to children and family members of institutional alumni or donors.
  • Partnering with and supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions, and other Minority Serving Institutions that have deeply rooted race-conscious missions.

“When a college or university commits to our ‘Diversity No Matter What’ pledge, that signifies a huge stride toward future insurance that every student, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or socioeconomic status, has an equal opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive at a higher education institution,” said Dr. Ivory Toldson, NAACP Director of Education Innovation and Research. “Protecting diversity within higher education and beyond cannot be about a political party or affiliation. This is about our ability to correct the nation’s original sin and level the playing field to maintain and expand our diverse learning environments to propel our society forward towards a brighter future.”

The NAACP also launched a “Diversity No Matter What” petition for their members and leaders across the country to sign. You can read and sign the petition here

College and university administrators can sign the “Diversity No Matter What” pledge hereRead more

Boy, 7, Shot And Killed During Florida Jet Ski Dispute; Grandfather Wounded While Shielding Child

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CBS News; Published By Aliza Chasan

A 7-year-old boy was killed and his grandfather was injured by a stray bullet when gunfire erupted during a Fourth of July dispute in Florida, officials said. 

The boy was killed by a gunshot wound to the head on Tuesday night, Tampa Police Deputy Chief Calvin Johnson said during a news conference. His grandfather was shot in the hand. 

The pair were at the Courtney Campbell Causeway west of Ben T. Davis Beach around 8:30 p.m. local time when two groups of people started arguing over jet skis being driven recklessly near where children were playing in the water, Johnson said. Members from each group opened fire. 

“The grandfather of the young man that was shot grabbed him and pulled him into the truck when they heard the gunfire going on,” Johnson said. “They were inside the vehicle. A round went through the vehicle, hit the grandfather in the finger and the young man in the head.”

“There was no reason, no excuse, for that argument to lead to gunfire, much less an argument over jet skis,” Johnson said.

Police are still speaking with witnesses and gathering evidence. They asked anyone with information to come forward. 

Investigators have not yet identified any suspects. Johnson pleaded with anyone involved in the shooting to turn themselves in. 

“Your actions and your anger led to a 7-year-old, just starting his life, to be killed,” he said. 

Just days before the shooting, a new law went into effect in Florida allowing people to carry guns without a concealed weapons permit. Read more

Elderly Couple Thrown To The Ground In Shocking Body Cam Video

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: ABC7

Two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies are in some trouble after their body camera footage from June 24 was reviewed by the department. According to ABC7 News, the video showed the officers violently detaining an elderly Black couple they accused of robbing a grocery store.

The officers responded to a report of a robbery in Lancaster, and matched the description of the suspects to a Black elderly couple, per the department, who also didn’t share what that description was. The video shows the deputy giving orders to the man who explains that he told the store to call the police in concern of a robbery and waited for them to arrive.

What robber has the police called on themself and waits around to see what happens? … Anyway, as soon as the deputies pulled the handcuffs out, things escalated into a disturbing chain of events. Read more

This College Student May Have Changed How We Play Sports Video Games?

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The Root; Published By Amira Castilla

Photo: Courtesy of Yemi Agesin

Kennesaw State University student, Yemi Agesin, 21, is one of the winners of Apple’s 2023 Swift Student Challenge. What did he do? He created the game Tabletop Baseball.

Yemi Agesin had just become comfortable with Apple’s Swift programming platform when he decided to use his passion for baseball to create a gaming app that allows users to play various positions on a field.

He Began Coding in Middle School

Yemi’s family moved around a lot growing up, but his love for tech always stayed consistent. While living in Germany, he was introduced to the website Codeacademy, where he learned Javascript, which is a programming language that allows you to create web pages.

Honing His Problem-Solving Skills

Yemi has always been fascinated with how technology works. One time, his Playstation broke and instead of giving up on it, he did troubleshooting to find the problem. He found out that his hard drive was broken, so he took a hard drive from his father’s laptop and transferred it to his PlayStation. As the honorary “computer guy” in his family, the one his parents and grandparents would run to when they needed help with their laptops, he knew that problem-solving was his path in life. When he arrived to at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, he chose to study computer science. Read more

Proud Boys Destroyed A Black Church’s BLM Banner And Now They Must Pay—Big Time

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The Root; Published By: Candace McDuffie

Two Black Lives Matter banners were pulled down from Metropolitan AME and another historically Black church and burned during clashes between pro-Donald Trump supporters and counterdemonstrators in December 2020.Supporters of President Donald Trump who are wearing attire associated with the Proud Boys attend a rally at Freedom Plaza, Dec. 12, 2020, in Washington.

On Friday, a judge awarded more than $1 million to Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Washington, D.C. The historic Black church sued the Proud Boys for tearing down and burning a Black Lives Matter banner during one of their racist protests in 2020.

In addition, Superior Court Associated Judge Neal A. Kravitz banned the hateful group and its leaders from being anywhere near the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church or making threats or defamatory remarks against the institution—or its pastor—for five years.

However, the ruling turned out to be a default judgment issued after the defendants refused to show up in court. In December 2020, two Black Lives Matter banners were ripped down from Metropolitan AME—as well as another historically Black church—and burned during battles between Trump supporters and the former president’s detractors.

Desecration left behind by the Proud Boys happened after weekend rallies by thousands of Trump supporters who believed his false claims that he won a second term. These events were the cause behind dozens of arrests, stabbings and police officers being injured.

It also led to Metropolitan AME suing the Proud Boys and their leaders, stating that they violated D.C. and federal law by trespassing and demolishing religious property in a bias-related conspiracy. The hate group’s leader, Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, publicly admitted to setting fire to one banner. Prosecutors said it was one that was stolen from Asbury United Methodist Church. Read more

Wimbledon 2023: Coco Gauff, Frances Tiafoe Look To Take Over London

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The Root; Published By: Stephanie Holland

Photo: Matthew Stockman, Mackenzie Sweetnam (Getty Images)

The Championships at Wimbledon are set to kick off on July 3 and there are several Black players looking to make a big run. After taking extended time away from the court, five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams is returning to the All England Lawn Tennis Club with a wild card entry. She opens her tournament against Ukrainian star Elina Svitolina, who recently returned from having a baby and has also received a wild card.

Coco Gauff and Frances Tiafoe, who are both among the top ten ranked players in the world, are two of the competitors everyone is talking about. While speaking to the press ahead of the event, tennis legends Chris Evert and John McEnroe discussed what it will take for Gauff and Tiafoe to be successful on Wimbledon’s tricky grass courts.

For No. 10 seed Frances, who begins the tournament against Yibing Wu, McEnroe says it comes down to his volleying and net play. He also thinks Tiafoe’s athleticism “would help him on the grass.” Evert is impressed with Frances’ mental game, praising his commitment to thinking big.

“What I love about Tiafoe is what he was saying at the US Open. Beating Nadal, having these big wins, there is a much bigger picture for him. That was to be a role model to kids, to the Black community. He sees a bigger picture for himself. The fact that he was so upset, when I watched that match, he was so upset when he lost to [Carlos] Alcaraz, he was in tears,” Evert told The Root. “A lot of players, beating Nadal, continuing to win, getting to the semis, would have been satisfied with that. But it really affected him. That showed me that he just wants to keep going further and further, and he has bigger dreams and bigger ideas. That motivation is going to help him to win. I have a lot of respect for him. I have high hopes that he will one day win a slam.” Read more

FDOT – Now Hiring & Training: Florida Road Construction Jobs

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Florida’s Statewide Workforce Development Program works with community partners to identify and connect qualified workers with contractors for gainful employment on roadway construction projects. The program is working throughout the state to provide opportunities – for both experienced and entry-level workers – to build successful careers to improve lives. Apply here

What Lawyers Say About Controversial Chicago Shooting And Lawsuit Will Surprise You

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: WTTW News, Twitter

A Chicago mother accused of instructing her son to shoot a man at a food stand, has filed a lawsuit on behalf of her and her son, according to ABC7 News. The two previously faced murder counts until the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office dropped the charges.

While the internet is still reeling about whether Carlishia Hood and her son were justified in the actions that took place June 18, the mother has decided to take justice into her own hands. Hood was seen being punched multiple times in the head by a man while waiting at a food stand. Authorities say Hood instructed her 14-year-old son to bring a firearm. Surveillance videos show the teen firing a shot toward the man and chasing him from the food stand, firing more shots.

Expert Disputes Self-Defense Claim

Illinois’ self-defense laws allow a person to use force to defend not only themselves but other people as well. However, former prosecutor and civil rights attorney Chance D. Lynch says the statute lost validity in this case when the boy continued after the man.

“At that moment, from prosecutorial standpoint, the son was no longer the victim. He became the defendant. The threat to the mother was done.” Lynch said. “I would think that would be enough to charge him – I don’t think first-degree murder but maybe manslaughter. And then to charge the mother with contributing to the delinquency [of a minor] or maybe even accessory because she told him to keep shooting.” Read more

Eric Adams Dragged A White Woman At A City Meeting, Compared Her To A Plantation Owner

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The Root; Published By Candace McDuffie

Photo: NDZ/STAR MAX/IPx (AP)

On Wednesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams participated in a “Talk with Eric” discussion at Gregorio Luperon High School for Science and Mathematics in Washington Heights. One person in the audience—an older white woman—took hold of the microphone that was being passed around and gave Adams a piece of her mind about rent prices.

Last week, Adams’ administration faced intense scrutiny when the Rent Guidelines Board voted to allow rent increases of up to 6 percent on the New York’s one million rent-stabilized apartments. During the town hall, the angry and elderly participant asked Adams why New Yorkers had experienced “horrible rent increases last year and this year.”

“You said before and after that you supported those rent increases!” the woman commented while constantly and aggressively pointing at him. Adams reaction to her behavior was swift and direct. “First if you’re going to ask a question don’t point at me and don’t be disrespectful to me. I’m the mayor of this city and treat me with the respect [which] I deserve to be treated. I’m speaking to you as an adult,” he stated.

Adams didn’t stop there. “Don’t stand in front like you treated someone that’s on the plantation that you own. Give me the respect I deserve and engage in a conversation…treat me with the same level of respect I treat you. So don’t be pointing at me, don’t be disrespectful to me, speak to me as an adult because I’m a grown man. I walked into this room as a grown man and I’m going to walk out of this room as a grown man.” Read more

Supreme Court Restricts Race-based Affirmative Action In Higher Education

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The Root; Published By Jessica Washington

WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 31: Students from Harvard College, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and other HBCUs join fellow proponents of affirmative action in higher education to rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on October 31, 2022 in Washington, DC.
Photo: Chip Somodevilla (Getty Images)

The Supreme Court voted to massively curtail affirmative action in higher education. The justices ruled that Harvard University and the University of North Carolina’s race-based admissions policy violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution.

The court split along ideological lines with a 6-3 decision in the UNC case and a 6-2 decision in the Harvard case, since Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson recused herself. The ruling is expected to curb admissions of students of color at top universities, most of which use race as a factor among many others when determining admissions. Colleges will now have to scramble to ensure that they can still foster diversity, without being able to take an applicant’s race into account during the admissions process.

The ruling didn’t come as a complete shock. Court watchers and legal experts have been predicting that the Supreme Court would end affirmative action in education for years now.

Last June, The Root spoke with legal experts about their predictions for the case. Lisa A. Crooms-Robinson, a constitutional law professor at Howard University School of Law, said she suspected this outcome. Read more

Inside Daniel Penny’s Indictment In The Subway Chokehold Case

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The Root; Published By Jessica Washington

NEW YOR, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES – 2023/05/12: US Marine veteran Daniel Penny, 24, is escorted in handcuffs by the NYPD (New York City Police Department)
Photo: Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket (Getty Images)

Daniel Penny pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan court in a case that has captured national attention. The former marine was caught on camera choking Jordan Neely, a Black unhoused man, to death on a Manhattan subway car. While many news stories have focused on Penny pleading not guilty, there was a separate development in the case.

On Wednesday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg officially announced Neely’s indictment, ending any speculation about the current charges. So what does the information inside of the grand jury indictment tell us about the case?

What Was Inside The Indictment?

Although the indictment is only two pages (which is standard), former San Francisco Prosecutor Paul Henderson says there are things we can learn from it about the case. Namely, Henderson points to the grand jury’s decision to charge Penny with manslaughter in the second degree and criminally negligent homicide, which carry sentences of up to 15 and 4 years, respectively.

“You typically get charges like that with an imperfect self-defense,” explains Henderson. “So in self-defense cases, you’re allowed to defend yourself, but you’re only allowed to defend yourself to meet the aggression or the action of the [other] party, and you cannot exceed it.” Read more

Driver Of Van Where Randy Cox Was Paralyzed Gets In Big Trouble

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

In this image taken from police body camera video provided by New Haven, Conn., Police, Richard “Randy” Cox, center, is pulled from the back of a police van and placed in a wheelchair after being detained by New Haven Police on June 19, 2022, in New Haven, Conn.

The Randy Cox case so far has gotten five officers kicked out of the New Haven police department. Now, two more officers have been fired from the department for their role in handling Cox when he’d been paralyzed in the back of a police van, according to The Associated Press.

Officer Oscar Diaz, the driver of the van and Sgt. Betsy Segui, the detention area supervisor, were fired from the police department following a 5-0 vote from the New Haven police commissioners. The two are accused of misconduct and lack of compassion in how they treated Cox after he’d been paralyzed in the back of a police van during transit. In the June 2022 incident, the driver hit the brakes to avoid hitting another vehicle but as a result, Cox flew headfirst into the metal wall inside the van and injured his neck.

The officers involved are seen on body camera footage ignoring Cox’s pleas for help and accusing him of faking when he said he couldn’t move. An internal affairs report found the driver of the van was Officer Diaz and the one mocking Cox for being drunk was Sgt. Segui. Read more

H&M Puts More Black Entrepreneurs On The Map With Latest ‘Buy From A Black Woman’ Partnership

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 18: Shemeka Wright, Founder of Be You Candles, attends H&M x Buy From a Black Woman Holiday Market 2022 at Westfield Century City on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Natasha Campos/Getty Images for H&M & Buy From a Black Woman)

Black Enterprise; Published By Stacy Jackson

Black women business owners and entrepreneurs will once again get a heavy dose of inspiration from a dynamic partnership.

H&M and Buy From a Black Woman will embark on a five-city “Inspire Tour” to put businesses owned by Black women on the map. According to a statement, the featured cities are Philadelphia, Charlotte, Houston, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. 

Donna Dozier, head of inclusion and diversity for H&M Region Americas, noted there is a link between successful businesses and thriving communities.

“H&M is committed to using its platform to promote economic inclusion and spark growth for Black women entrepreneurs because when their businesses flourish, entire communities thrives,” she said in a statement

This is the third year the major retailer has partnered with Buy From a Black Woman. Read more

Graphic Images: Vicious Racist Attack Of Portland Man Sparks Investigation

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: GoFundMe, Twitter

A Black food truck owner was attacked by a white man yelling racial slurs in Southeast Portland. The video of the attack has sparked outrage and the victim has sought legal assistance in tracking down his attacker, according to OregonLive.

Two days ago, civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump posted a video of a white man beating down a Black man on a sidewalk in Portland then walking away casually with his hands in his pocket. That Black man was Darell Preston, owner of LoRell’s Chicken Shack. The report says Preston was on the phone with his wife trying to deliver food when the man blindsided him with punches and stomped him into the ground while allegedly screaming the N-word. Drivers who witnessed the incident were heard in the video screaming for the man to stop, honking their horns.

Preston suffered a broken nose, fractures face and lacerations to his eyes and mouth, according to his GoFundMe organized by his brother-in-law. Preston was left so traumatized by the incident, he could barely talk to the police, his lawyer said. Also, his face was so swollen, he could hardly speak. Read more

Ralph Yarl Breaks His Silence Months After Being Shot For Knocking On The Wrong Door

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: ABC News

Ralph Yarl, the 16-year-old boy who was shot and injured after knocking on the wrong front door, has spoken out for the first time since the incident. In an interview with ABC’s “Good Morning America,” he gave chilling details of the events the night of April 13.

Yarl was going to pick up his 11-year-old twin brothers when he accidentally confused the address for that of 84-year-old Andrew Lester. Yarl told GMA he walked up the driveway, walked up the steps and rang the doorbell noticing three security cameras. Yarl said he wasn’t familiar with the friends his siblings were in the company of so he thought, “maybe this is their house.”

The teen recalled waiting a while on the porch and then suddenly hearing the door open and seeing Lester appear in the doorway. He assumed Lester was the friends’ grandfather, still thinking his brothers were inside the house. However, before he could clarify, things took a drastic turn.

“And then he pulls out his gun and I’m like, ‘Whoa,’ so I back up. He points it at me. So I kind of like brace [myself] and I turn my head. Before that, I’m thinking, ‘There’s no way he’s actually going to shoot right? The door isn’t even open. He’s going to shoot through his glass door, glass is going to get everywhere,’” he said. “Then, it happened.” Read more

Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc bringing $25 Million Economic Impact To Tampa Bay

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Daryl Johnson, Ace-Fall ’80, Kappa Beta, Furious Four

Over 20,000 Black college educated men will descend upon Tampa Bay bringing a $25 million dollar economic impact. My brothers and sisters, the 3rd week of July will go down in Tampa history as Kappa Bay!

On Sunday July 16th we, The men of Kappa Alpha Psi Inc., will start our session out by giving honor to God at the renowned Bible Based Fellowship Church on Ehrlich Rd. in Tampa. We are inviting the public to come fellowship with the Divine 9, local dignitaries, the men of Kappa Alpha Psi and our beautiful silhouettes.

On Monday, July 17th our Kappa dignitaries will tee off at the historical Rogers Park Golf Course for a private golf tournament. We will officially go into business mode Tuesday morning through Saturday with our daily business sessions. However, the public is invited to our meeting on Tuesday evening at 6:30pm at the Tampa Convention Center located in downtown Tampa at Harbor Island.

The Wednesday through Saturday meetings are for Kappas only but you will get to enjoy the evening festivities. So be prepared to represent in your Krimson (Red) and Creme (white). Read more

Gov. DeSantis signs law issuing marijuana licenses to Black farmers, allowing telehealth prescription renewals

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This resolves years of litigation around alleged discrimination by the state.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation to extend telehealth renewals on medical marijuana and ensure more Black farmers participate in the industry.

The bill (HB 387) had bipartisan support in the Florida Legislature, though the tying of two issues together at times put the legislation on uneasy footing. The bill’s original version focused on extending the ability to renew medical prescriptions for cannabis remotely.

But in the final days of the Session, lawmakers also addressed a long-pressing legal commitment to authorize medical marijuana licenses for a dozen Black farmers.

“Today is historic,” said state Rep. Spencer Roach, a North Fort Myers Republican.

“Gov. DeSantis continues to demonstrate his commitment to expanding patient access to medicine, in alignment with the overwhelming majority of Florida voters.” Read more at www.floridapolitics.com.

Deuces Live Main Street Is Hiring: Executive Director

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Work Objectives
The Executive Director is responsible for the development, conduct, execution and
documentation of the Deuces Live Main Street program. The Executive Director is the principal on-site staff person responsible for coordinating all project activities locally, as well as for representing Deuces Live Main Street regionally and nationally as appropriate. In addition, the Executive Director should help guide the organization as it grows and its objectives evolve.


Responsibilities
Promotes Deuces Live Main Street as the center of the Historic 22nd Street South community and hub of economic activity by supporting and/or planning events that highlight the District unique characteristics and create a positive image of the District.
Supports the Corridor’s design and beautification by enhancing the physical and visual assets that set the area apart. Focuses on capital, incentives and other economic and financial tools to assist new and existing businesses, catalyze property development and create a supportive environment for entrepreneurs and innovators.


Develop, in conjunction with the Deuces Live Main Street program's Board of Directors, economic development strategies that are based on historic preservation and utilize community resources. Serve as the point person to address issues facing the Corridor such as advocating for building redevelopment, business recruitment, facade and art grants and development projects. Assist the Main Street programs Board of Directors and Committees in developing an annual action plan for implementing a corridor revitalization program focused on the four-point approach: Organization, Promotion, Design and Economic Vitality. Plan and execute Corridor special events and small programming activations to continually enhance the guest experience in the Corridor (22nd Birthday
Celebrations, 2nd Saturday Sidewalk markets, etc).


The Executive Director is responsible for making sure events align with the Corridor’s mission and vision. Administers grants and actively works to recognize and capitalize on opportunities to create new revenue sources (fundraising and grant procurement). Strategically identifies and leads the effort to leverage additional revenue via events and large corporate donors. He/she is responsible for the development, conduct, execution and documentation of the Main Street program. The Executive Director is the principal on-site staff person responsible for coordinating all project activities locally, as well as for representing Deuces Live Main Street regionally and nationally as appropriate. In addition,
the Executive Director should help guide the organization as it grows and its objectives evolve.

Core Values of Deuces Live Main Street
Manages administrative aspects of Deuces Live Main Street, including purchasing, record keeping, budget development and accounting, preparing all reports required by National and State Main Streets, as well as City of St. Petersburg monthly reporting requirements. Assisting with preparation of reports to funding agencies and supervising any subordinates or consultants. Provides monthly Executive Director updates at Deuces Live Main Street board meetings. Oversees Deuces Live Main Street committees. Manage recruitment, recognition and retention of volunteers (including members of Deuces Live Main
Street committees) and work effectively with others in Deuces corridor related projects.


Must be a self-starter with a proven ability to multi-task and oversee multiple projects at a time. Must excel in research and implementation of new ideas, creating an understanding and buy-in among stakeholders and other impacted parties. Maintains and disseminates information pertaining to the Corridor as a whole, specific projects and events. Ensure management and maintenance of all social media accounts including the Deuces Facebook and Instagram directly or through engagement of volunteers, as well as the District's website content. Develop and conduct on-going public awareness and education programs designed to enhance appreciation of the Corridor’s other assets and to foster
an understanding of the Main Street program's goals and objectives directly or through collaboration with other corridor affiliated organizations. Utilize press releases, speaking engagements, media interviews and personal appearances to increase awareness of Deuces Live Main Street. Perform other related duties and responsibilities, as assigned from time-to-time, by the Board. Creates and maintains a cooperative working relationship with existing and new business owners/operators, residents and locals.
Fosters and maintains positive, collaborative working relationships with City of St. Petersburg and Southside CRA. Attends City Council meetings and Southside CRA meeting (as needed).


Interpersonal Objectives:
Provides excellent customer service and communication to all Corridor members and stakeholders. Must be able to work with all personality types and must excel at conflict resolution and problem solving. The Executive Director is responsible for maintaining annual accreditation with Florida Main Street. He/she supervises any necessary, temporary or permanent employees, as well as professional consultants. He/she participates in personnel and project evaluations. The Director maintains local Main Street program records and reports. Establishes technical resource files and libraries and prepares
regular reports for State and National Main Street programs. The Director monitors the annual project budget and maintains financial records. Apply here

Video May Trigger: Was The Mom Wrong For Telling Her Son To Shoot Attacker? The Law Has Decided

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: Twitter

The internet is in a hot debate about a recent shooting in Chicago where a mother allegedly asked her 14-year-old to gun down a man who punched her. According to Fox 59 News, the two faced murder charges however, some believe the family’s actions were in self-defense.

Carlishia Hood was at the Maxwell Street Express on South Halstead St. when she got in an argument with another customer. The man was seen on a bystander’s video threatening Hood that if she said one more thing he would “knock her out.” Hood looked off camera and said, “Get the gun,” then seconds later, the man wound up his fist and struck Hood several times. Surveillance camera footage shows Hood’s 14-year-old son appearing in the doorway, pulling a firearm from his hoodie and shooting at the man.

Trigger Warning: The video may disturb some viewers.

The boy then chased the man out the store shooting more rounds. The customer sustained three gunshot wounds to the back and was pronounced dead on the scene. Authorities say Hood texted her son instructing him to get the firearm from the car. Another surveillance video shows Hood trying to take the firearm back after the incident but the boy pushed her away. The two then got in the car and fled the scene.
Now, the internet is debating whether these two deserved the felony murder charges they were handed. Read more

Angela Bassett To Receive Honorary Oscar—Even Though She Deserves A Real One

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The Root; Published By Shanelle Genai

Angela Bassett attends 2023 TIME100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 26, 2023 in New York City.
Photo: Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan (Getty Images)

Congratulations are in order for the one and only Angela Bassett, as it’s just been announced on Monday that she’s set to receive an honorary Oscar from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The prestigious award is given to those “to honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy.” Of Bassett’s contributions specifically, the Academy’s Board of Governors said the following in a statement: “Across her decades-long career, Angela Bassett has continued to deliver transcendent performances that set new standards in acting.” Read more

NYC College Condemns Black Graduate Who Grabbed White Educator’s Mic During Ceremony

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The Root; Published By Candace McDuffie

Photo: TikTok

A spokesperson for LaGuardia Community College has condemned a clip of a Black graduate who grabbed the microphone from a white educator at a June 21 commencement ceremony. Online creator Kadia Iman, who attended Queen’s community college, fought to take the mic after insisting her full name wasn’t announced.

“I want the mic! Let go! You didn’t let me get my moment,” Iman said into the microphone before telling shocked attendees her full name. “I’m graduating today. I don’t like how you snatched the mic out of my hand, so today is going to be all about me!” Iman then drops the microphone and walks off. Read more

14-Year-Old Who Trekked 6 Miles To His Graduation Was Given An Award Of A Lifetime

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: CBS News

It took 14-year-old Xavier Jones two hours to get to his eighth-grade graduation. Not because he was stuck in a traffic jam or went the long way because of a detour. Jones intentionally made a six-mile journey by foot underneath the heat of the morning sun because he was determined to get that diploma in his hand, according to CBS News.

“If you really want to get something, then you have to work hard for it,” Jones told CBS. Read more

Netflix Documentary Centers On St. Pete Hospital

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By Mark Parker

Maya Kowalski, now 17, was sheltered at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital for three months in 2016 after officials suspected she was a victim of child abuse. Image: Netflix.

The second-most watched movie on the world’s most popular streaming platform is a complicated and tragic story involving mysterious conditions, child abuse procedures, legal drama and suicide.

At the center of it all – Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

Netflix released Take Care of Maya June 19. The documentary follows Maya Kowalski, who was 9 when she began experiencing a burning sensation in her extremities.

Following controversial treatments, improvement and a subsequent relapse, a 10-year-old Maya ended up at St. Petersburg’s All Children’s Hospital in October 2016. Child abuse allegations followed, and state officials assumed custody of the child.

They forced Maya to live at the hospital for three months. Her mother, Beata, an immigrant from Soviet-controlled Poland and a nurse, became increasingly despondent over the process and scrutiny.

After 87 days without seeing her child, Beata committed suicide. She was 43 years old.

“I think the note that Beata left for Judge (Lee) Hayworth makes it pretty clear that she wanted her child to be free from that hospital,” said family attorney Debra M. Salisbury toward the documentary’s conclusion. “She wanted to make sure that her child got out of there, and she didn’t see any other way out.”

Maya returned to her father’s custody five days after he found her mother hanging in a Venice garage.

As a registered nurse, Beata incessantly documented the family’s struggle to find a cause and treatment for their daughter. Take Care of Maya director Henry Roosevelt relied heavily on those audio and video recordings – along with those made by All Children’s – throughout the documentary.

The filmmakers also utilized court depositions to help narrate the story. They began following the saga four years ago, as the Kowalskis embarked on an expansive lawsuit against the hospital. Read more

Keshawn Fuller From St Petersburg, FL Died Because Of Suicide

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Jobsbot; Published By Naeem Sheikh

Keshawn Fuller, a basketball player from St. Petersburg, FL, tragically and unexpectedly passed away on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, reportedly due to suicide. This heartbreaking news has left loved ones in mourning.

Keshawn was known for his humility and respectfulness during his time at the Canterbury School of Florida, where he played basketball. He had previously attended Gibbs High School and studied at Florida State University.

In a touching tribute on Facebook, Tara Jones of Saint Petersburg, Florida, expressed her deep connection with Keshawn, emphasizing that he meant everything to her.

She mentioned how they would talk multiple times a week, and before ending the conversation, Keshawn would always be on their minds. Tara extended her heartfelt apologies and offered prayers for Keshawn and his family, assuring them of her unwavering support.

During difficult emotional moments or when experiencing suicidal thoughts, individuals can reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This nationwide network connects callers to over 200 crisis centers across the United States.

By simply dialing 988, individuals can access their toll-free customer service, which is available 24/7, free of charge. The lifeline provides a safe space for anonymous individuals seeking support, regardless of the time or day.

It is important to note that if there is an immediate threat to someone’s life, contacting the emergency number 911 is crucial. In cases where concerns arise from social media posts made by a friend, reaching out to the safety teams within the relevant social media platforms is recommended. Read more

The Catalyst Speakeasy Announces Grand Opening In St. Pete

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I Love The Burg; Published By Andrew Harlan

The Catalyst on The Deuces, a new speakeasy located at the former Chief’s Creole Cafe space, will host its grand opening on June 30. The grand opening will run from noon-8pm. The Catalyst represents a partnership between Jason Bryant and Jeffrey Copeland, and Chris, Sheldon and Andrew Steele, the team behind the former Sid’s Caribbean Grill in the Grand Central District.

It’s already hosted multiple live DJ events inside its well-decorated space on The Deuces. The grand opening festivities promise even more music, performances, cocktails, and signature dishes. The Catalyst on the Deuces represents the speakeasy portion of the space. Read more

The Vinoy Launches Downtown St. Pete’s Only High Tea Experience

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I Love The Burg; Published By Andrew Harlan

Photo credit Jeff Herron, courtesy of The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club

The Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, Autograph Collection has announced a new history tour and high tea experience in downtown St. Pete. The experience is available Thursdays to Sundays from 2pm to 4pm. The cost begins at $109 per person ($55 for children 12 and under). Reserve your tour by calling the concierge at 727.404.5252. The hotel is located at 501 5th Avenue NE.

Get ready to step back in time and indulge in a taste of luxury at The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection, as they unveil their captivating History Tours and High Tea experience. Immerse yourself in the resort’s rich history, as you embark on a guided tour through its legendary halls, exploring decades of intriguing stories and fascinating moments. Read more

Wait! Georgia Police Used Cutouts Of Black People As Target Practice?

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The Root; Published By Noah A. McGee

Screenshot: Villa Rica Police Department

I wish I could act surprised, but I can’t. Police in Georgia just can’t help themselves.

Earlier this week, images were released of white people taking target practice at a Georgia shooting range. Nothing out of the ordinary right? Except that the pictures were posted on Facebook by the Villa Rica Police Department and the images they were using as target practice were of Black men.

I guess they’re practicing what they preach.

The photos were taken during a citizens’ handgun class and the event was hosted by Villa Rica authorities, according to the VRPD.

While the chief of the department has since apologized about the post, it hasn’t stopped the department from landing in hot water. Read more

Why Reparations Owed To Black People Could Be Too Massive For Cash Payouts

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The Root; Published By: Wayne Washington

South Carolina, Charleston, Boone Hall Plantation, Basket Weaver. (Photo by Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

I’ll take my reparation payment in the form of Boone Hall Plantation, please.

Boone Hall is a sprawling plantation located in Charleston County, South Carolina. Today, it offers tours so the curious can get a glimpse of what it was like during antebellum days when Black people were enslaved and white people got richer than Midas from their free labor.

The place is so scenic Ryan Reynolds and Black Lively got married there. Not sure how they didn’t know about the beatings and rapes that likely took place there during slavery, but they’ve since said they’re very, very sorry for using a place of horror as a wedding venue. Read more

Black Gen-Zers, You’re Driving Your Boss Nuts

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The Root; Published By: Yanick Rice Lamb

Photo: Getty (Getty Images)

You’re driving your supervisors crazy. I checked in with several of them from coast to coast who shared their gripes and advice. (What I discovered correlated with a real survey of more than 1300 managers this year who said Gen Zs are the most difficult to work with and they often have to fire them). They include Boomers and the generation of Millennials and Xers just ahead of you. Their identities are being protected so that you don’t come for them in the morning.

But like any good manager, they started off with a little praise – disagreeing at times, but acknowledging that “all Gen Zers are not created equally.” Read more

2023 NBA Draft: Top Prospect Victor Wembanyama Isn’t Scared Of The Hype

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The Root; Published By: Stephanie Holland

Photo: Jamie Squire (Getty Images)

If you’ve been paying attention to the hype ahead of Thursday’s 2023 NBA Draft, then you know all the experts have already proclaimed 19-year-old French prospect, Victor Wembanyama, the future of basketball. He’s the presumptive No. 1 pick by the San Antonio Spurs. The 7-foot-5 center has the ball-handling and shooting skills of a guard and is universally considered the best prospect since LeBron James. Even the Los Angeles Lakers superstar called Wembanyama an “alien.” So is all this hype too much for the young star? Apparently not. During his pre-draft press conference on Wednesday, Wembanyama explained why he’s ready for all the pressure headed his way.

“I don’t let this, all this stuff, get into my head because I got such high expectations for myself that I’m immune to all this stuff. So I really don’t care,” he said. Read more

CDC of Tampa Presents: F.I.R.E. Academy

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F.I.R.E Academy is open to incoming and current high school students only. Fire Rescue Training & Careers Exploration Within The Fire & Rescue Department.

Time & Location

Jul 17, 9:00 AM – Jul 27, 3:00 PM

Hillsborough Community College – Ybor , 2112 N 15th St, Tampa, FL 33605, USA

About the Event

We will be hosting the Fire Academy this year Monday- Thursday from 9:00am to 3:00pm

15 -18 Students will be introduced to careers as first responders and learn about the various roles of a first responder.

Students will work towards earning certifications:

  • Basic Life Support CPR / First Aide
  • Teen Mental Health CPR
  • Workplace Ethics

Students will participate in social and career enrichment field trips and classes will be led by various First Responders from Tampa Fire and Rescue, Hillsborough County Fire and Rescue, Hillsborough County Sherriff Department and Direction For Living Program Director.

West St. Pete Zoning Change Will Allow 19 Townhomes

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By Mark Parker

The property at 118 66th St. N. (pictured) currently features a single-family home and a vacant lot. Photo: Google.

Following a zoning change, a .79-acre parcel in a predominantly residential area of west St. Petersburg could soon feature a mixed-use development with 19 townhomes. 

City council members voted 7-1 at the June 15 meeting to amend the future land use map and comprehensive plan for a property at 118 66th St. N. from Planned Residential/Office General to Planned Redevelopment Mixed Use. It currently consists of a vacant lot and a single-family home.

Britton Wilson, the comprehensive planning coordinator, told council members that city officials rezoned the property and three adjoining lots to its north in 2012 to accommodate an office building “that never came to fruition.” That change also allowed up to 12 multi-family housing units.

She said the latest zoning amendment increases that number by seven. Councilmember Copley Gerdes, whose District 1 encompasses the area, voted against the density increase.

Following the meeting, he told the Catalyst that he felt the current allowance – 15 units per acre – was “sufficient.”

“I just thought it was above and beyond what was needed,” Gerdes added. “It just seemed like a little bit of a stretch to me.” Read more

Here’s How Three Of Tampa Bay’s Black Leaders Spent Juneteenth

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Tampa Bay Times; Published By Maddy Franklin

Terri Lipsey Scott, executive director of the Woodson museum, along with city officials, including Mayor Ken Welch, at right, during the museum’s Juneteenth celebration. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]

Juneteenth might be contained to one day, but its celebrations certainly aren’t.

In Tampa Bay, events honoring the end of slavery nationwide started early this month and many took place over the weekend. Monday, the actual holiday, still saw its share of fanfare, and we spent time with a few community leaders to see how they were observing the day.

Yvette Lewis, president of the NAACP Hillsborough County branch, got an early start to her day Monday, something the self-proclaimed morning person always does. After getting to the office at 7 a.m., she cleaned a bit then set out for Cyrus Greene Park to do a walkthrough for Tuesday’s Make Good Trouble Bus Tour stop in Tampa.

It would be a work-heavy day for her, but also one rife with reflection. Typing away on her laptop, she said her duties would coincide with listening to the words of activists like Harriet Tubman, Ella Baker and Fannie Lou Hamer. Read more

Meet Ron DeSantis’ Most Fierce Rival Who Vows He’s Not Running For President

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Tampa Bay Times; Published By Associated Press

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, speaking in Sacramento, Calif., on June 24, 2022, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaking in Sioux Center, Iowa, May 13, 2023. [ UNCREDITED | AP ]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom says there’s no chance “on God’s green earth” he’s running for president in 2024, but he wants to make clear that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is running, is “weak” and “undisciplined” and “will be crushed by Donald Trump.”

DeSantis, meanwhile, likes to mock Newsom’s apparent “fixation” on Florida while insisting that the Democratic governor’s “leftist government” is destroying California.

Welcome to one of the fiercest rivalries in U.S. politics, featuring dueling term-limited governors who represent opposite ends of the ideological spectrum and lead two of the nation’s largest and most influential states. Newsom and DeSantis almost certainly won’t face each other on any ballot in 2024, but in many ways, they are defining the debate from their corners of America as the presidential primary season gets underway. Read more

Attorney’s Racist Posts Were A Black Man’s, Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free Card

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

Photo: sirtravelalot (Shutterstock)

In a shocking high court ruling Thursday, a Black Muslim man who pleaded guilty to sex trafficking charges had his conviction vacated. According to AP News, the man’s attorney had a nasty record of posting racist and anti-Muslim content on social media. So much for adequate counsel.

Anthony Dew was handed a 19-charge indictment in 2015. Of those counts were five of trafficking a person for sexual servitude and one count of rape, the report says. When he met the late attorney Richard Doyle, he knew he was being represented by a whole bigot. Dew was scolded for wearing a kufi (prayer cap) and from that day on, Doyle refused to interact with his client if he continued to wear it. Read more

Remains Of San Diego Juneteenth Advocate Go Missing?!

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The Root; Published By Noah A. McGee

Photo: Courtesy of the Cooper family

Even during Juneteenth weekend Black families can’t enjoy their holiday in peace.

Over the weekend, as Black people across the country were preparing for their Father’s Day and Juneteenth festivities, one San Diego family was busy searching for the remains of a family member they thought was buried more than 20 years ago.

Greenwood Memorial Park and Mortuary in San Diego told the family of Sidney Cooper that his casket and body were not in the correct spot, according to the Associated Press,

Get this, they only discovered that his body was missing while they were getting ready to bury the remains of Cooper’s wife, Thelma, who died three months ago.

To make matters even worse, Cooper was a staunch advocate of Juneteenth years before he died in 2001 at the age of 71 and decades before it became a federal holiday in the United States in June 2021. Read more

George Floyd Murder: Minneapolis Police Have Pattern Of Aggression And Discrimination, DoJ Inquiry Finds

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The Guardian; Published By Chris Stein in Washington

‘Years of unlawful discrimination against black Americans’ found at Minneapolis police dept –

The US attorney general, Merrick Garland, on Friday announced that the 2020 murder of George Floyd was part of a “pattern or practice” of excessive force used by the department and years of unlawful discrimination against Black Americans.

Garland held a press conference to reveal the findings of the two-year investigation by the Department of Justice (DoJ) into the conduct and training of the Minneapolis police department (MPD) both before and after George Floyd’s death at the hands of officers in the city in 2020.

“We found that MPD in the city of Minneapolis engages in a pattern or practice of using excessive force, unlawfully discriminating against Black and Native American people in enforcement activities, violating the rights of people engaged in protected speech and discriminating against people with behavioral disabilities…when responding to them in crisis,” Garland said at the event in Minneapolis on Friday morning. Read more

Biden & Harris Throw A Juneteenth Celebration To Remember On The White House South Lawn

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The Root; Published By Yanick Rice Lamb

Photo: Samuel Corum/Sipa USA (AP)

Black folks came out for a get-together at the Biden’s House Tuesday evening to celebrate Juneteenth with hugs, high fives, history, great music (of course), and a parade of summer fashion dos and don’ts.

Guests were greeted with a mini battle of the bands between Tennessee and Morgan State Universities.

“This is some Black stuff right here on the White House lawn,” Method Man announced as Tennessee State played “Outstanding” by the Gap Band.

“Juneteenth means to me that a lot of people on the other side still gotta lot of work to do,” The Power Book II: Ghost star told The Root. “And the fact that a lot of our people didn’t know they were free, speaks volumes.”

Guests also relished performers such as Ledisi and Jennifer Hudson as well as sightings on the lawn from Erika Alexander (Maxine on Living Single), an activist on issues such as missing women and fair wages who is behind documentaries Good Trouble on the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis and Reparations.

Vice President Kamala Harris opened the program noting that “Black history is American history,” decrying challenges to suppress it and introducing the “grandmother of Juneteenth,” Opal Lee, who fought for the federal holiday. After discussing the importance of Juneteenth, the 96-year-old retired teacher created a stir by warning everyone to do something about climate change, or “we’re going to hell in a handbasket.”

Other highlights on stage included Audra McDonald’s soaring rendition of “Summertime,” Ledisi’s tribute to Tina Turner with Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together,” Jennifer Hudson’s take on Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” finished off with a little of John Legend and Common’s “Glory,” the rapid-fire precision of Step Afrika! and some church from Broadway Inspirational Voices, whose “Precious Lord” drew “Amens” from members of the Fisk Jubilee Singers relaxing under a tree on the lawn after doing their thing on stage. Read more

Ethel Johnson, Owner Of ‘The Weekly Challenger’ Dies

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The Weekly Challenger; Published By Raven Joy Shonel

Ethel L. Johnson, owner of ‘The Weekly Challenger,’ fell asleep in death on May 26.

ST. PETERSBURG – Ethel L. Johnson — wife, mother, entrepreneur and woman of God — quietly took her leave on May 26. She was 92.

Born May 12, 1931, in Soperton, Ga., Mrs. Ethel was the oldest of 13 children. Her parents — Green T. Burnett, Jr. and Ollie Rea Wright — were tenant farmers, and she spent her childhood picking cotton, tending livestock and growing a variety of vegetables and tobacco.

She preferred working out in the fields with her father and brothers to caring for her siblings, cooking, and cleaning with her mother. Years later, she admitted she never learned to wring a chicken’s neck or milk a cow, claiming the cow would only let her mother milk her.  

“The cow we had, she wouldn’t let nobody but mama near her,” Mrs. Ethel said in a 2018 interview. “Other than that, she would kick your butt away from her.”

Catherine Cardwell, former dean of the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library, presented Ethel and Lyn Johnson with a plaque commemorating the start of ‘The Challenger’s’ digital archives at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg in 2016.

Ethel attended an elementary Rosenwald School ‎near the family’s farm. The Rosenwald School project was a partnership between philanthropist Julius Rosenwald and African-American leader and philanthropist Booker T. Washington to build schools all over the South since Black children were sent to woefully underfunded schools.

The project led to the construction of close to 5,000 schools throughout the South, with Black communities raising close to $5 million to help with construction costs. Unfortunately, the elementary school was burned down under suspicious circumstances.

“And I still have questions about how that thing burned down,” she said. “They’re talking about maybe rats struck some matches.”

Ethel Johnson presented the Tyrone Johnson Scholarship Award at Perkins Elementary in 2003. Tyrone Johnson, her stepson, was a prolific musician and local celebrity.

Burning Black schools and churches was the norm in the Jim Crow South. The school was rebuilt, and fortunately, there was little interruption to the children’s education. The high school she attended, farther away from the farm, was also a Rosenwald School.

After graduating high school and working for a while, she headed to Harbison Agricultural College in Irmo, S.C. Before graduating in 1953, she got a chance to meet Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at her school during a week-long church revival.

“He told me, ‘You’re young, so keep focused on your goals, and it will come together.’”

After junior college, she headed to Savannah State University but could only attend summer courses because the money had run out. Not wanting to work on the farm, she took any job until she had a chance to move to St. Petersburg with a cousin.

Former Senator Charlie Crist with Ethel Johnson

Mrs. Ethel was determined to leave Georgia and resolved only to visit once or twice a decade. She once said had she known a bomb could be built out of fertilizer, she would have blown up all the segregation and racism in her hometown.

Although she did not stay in St. Pete for too long, she did meet Evie Johnson, a dedicated servant of Jehovah God. Mrs. Ethel studied the Bible with Mrs. Johnson until she moved to Miami for work. There she ran into Mrs. Johnson’s son, Cleveland. They eventually got engaged and married in 1959. The couple moved to St. Petersburg from Miami in 1961 and started a family.

Ethel Johnson and Carolyn Hardwick at ‘The Weekly Challenger’s’ 50th-anniversary celebration in 2017.

While helping her husband with his fledging news outlet, The Weekly Challenger, she raised three children and worked various jobs in retail, banking, and the medical field. Ethel eventually retired as a medical assistant for Dr. Keith Brady, M.D., in 2000.

Before she could enjoy not punching a time clock, her husband died in 2001, and she took over the reins as The Challenger‘s publisher at age 70. Under her leadership, the paper was able to stave off the Great Recession when many other newspapers were closing their doors. During her tenure as publisher, she won numerous awards and recognitions and gracefully stepped out of the game in 2012 when her daughter, Lyn Johnson, became the publisher.

Ethel Johnson, her sister Hattie Burnett and Cleveland Johnson at a ‘Weekly Challenger’ function in the late 1970s.

She dedicated her life to Jehovah God in 1968. Mrs. Ethel would have celebrated 55 years as a baptized Jehovah’s Witness this July. She rubbed elbows with governors, senators, mayors and other high-ranking officials, but she was most proud of spending more than half of her life as a zealous and faithful servant of God. 

Mrs. Ethel felt as did the apostle Paul, who stayed the course many times in illness, in need, in favorable and unfavorable seasons. She found time to help others and to study the Bible with anyone who would listen.

Even in the hospital, she shared scriptures with the doctors and other staff. She had complete faith and understanding of the resurrection hope found in John 5:28, 29.

Ethel Johnson was the oldest of 13 children. Last November, the surviving siblings gathered for a family reunion. Standing: Freddie, Green and Wayne Burnett; seated: Hattie and Mary Burnett, Ethel Johnson and Rae Helen Jones.

Ethel Johnson is survived by her son Cyrille Johnson, daughters Wanda Johnson and Lyn Johnson (Matthew Freeman), and granddaughter Keirsten Johnson (Greg LaCompte), all of St. Petersburg. Sisters: Hattie Burnett, Mary Burnett, and Rae Helen Jones; brothers: Green Burnett, III, Freddie Burnett (Stella), and Wayne Burnett, all of Georgia.

She leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins and innumerable friends to cherish her memory.

A private service will be held later this month. Read more

Miguel, Nelly, Chlöe Bailey & Other Black Artists Set To Join CNN’s Juneteenth Concert

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CNN; Published By Nicole Chavez

Miguel, Nelly and Chloe Bailey are some of the artists set to perform during the Juneteenth concert.

CNN — 

An array of Black artists and musicians will take the stage at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles next week for CNN’s second annual “Juneteenth: A Global Celebration of Freedom” concert.

Produced by Live Nation Urban and Jesse Collins Entertainment, the event will commemorate the federal holiday that marks the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.

Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver special remarks during the event, which will be broadcast on CNN and OWN at 8 p.m. ET on June 19.

The night’s performers will include Charlie Wilson, Miguel, Kirk Franklin, Nelly, SWV, Davido, Coi Leray, Jodeci, and Mike Phillips, with Academy-award-winning director Questlove and Adam Blackstone serving as the musical directors.

The show will also feature a tribute to the late music legend Tina Turner by singer and “Grown-ish” star Chlöe Bailey.

Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, but many Black Americans have honored the date for years with parades, parties, and family gatherings. It marks June 19, 1865: the day that Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3, proclaiming that the enslaved African Americans there were free. The end of slavery came over two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Johnita P. Due, CNN’s executive vice president of integrity and inclusion, said the show has been “meticulously crafted as an expression of the excellence and resilience of the Black community and the ongoing pursuit of equality.” Read more

Voting Rights Advocates In The South Emboldened By Supreme Court Win

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CNN; Published By Tierney Sneed & Dianne Gallagher

With a sense of relief that the conservative Supreme Court did not use a major Alabama redistricting case to further gut the Voting Rights Act, civil rights advocates and election attorneys are preparing for a new flood of redistricting litigation lawsuits challenging political maps – especially in the South – they say discriminate against minorities.

In the 5-4 case decided Thursday, Alabama must now draw a second majority-Black US congressional district after Republicans were sued by African American voters over a redistricting plan for the 27% percent Black state that made White voters the majority in six of the seven districts.

The six White majority districts are represented by Republicans; the Black majority district is represented by a Democrat.

“I don’t think it’s going to stop Republicans from drawing racist maps,” Aunna Dennis, executive director of the voting rights group Common Cause, told CNN. “But I think that this empowers those of us pushing back and fighting that.”

The majority opinion – written by Chief Justice John Roberts, who was joined by the court’s three liberals and, in most parts, by Justice Brett Kavanaugh – effectively maintained the status quo around how courts should approach Voting Rights Act lawsuits that allege a legislative map discriminates by race.

By letting old precedent around the Voting Rights Act to stand in the case, called Allen v. Milligan, the Supreme Court has likely emboldened voting rights advocates to bring cases they previously thought would have been doomed.

Several election law attorneys and voting rights advocates have suggested to CNN they believe the decision could have a ripple effect across the South, in states like Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi and Texas where cases claiming Section 2 violations are already working through the courts. Read more

VP Harris Praises Cadets’ Sacrifice In West Point’s 1st Commencement Speech By A Woman

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Afro News; Published By Bobby Caina Calvan

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during the graduation ceremony of the U.S. Military Academy class of 2023 at Michie Stadium on Saturday, May 27, 2023, in West Point, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

NEW YORK (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman to deliver a commencement speech at West Point, lauded graduating cadets May 27 for their noble sacrifice in serving their country, but noted they were entering an “unsettled world” because of Russian aggression and the rising threats from China.

“The world has drastically changed,” Harris told the roughly 950 graduating cadets. She referred to the global pandemic that took millions of lives, as well as the fraught shifts in global politics in Europe and in Asia.

“It is clear you graduate into an increasingly unsettled world where longstanding principles are at risk,” she said.

As the U.S. ended two decades of war in Afghanistan, the longest in the country’s history, the vice president said, Russia soon launched the first major ground war in Europe since World War II when it invaded Ukraine.

“At the same time, autocrats have become bolder, the threat of terrorism persists, and an accelerating climate crisis continues to disrupt lives and livelihoods,” she added. Read more

Montclair State Launches Free Haitian Poetry Project Online

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Haitian Times; Published By Noah Augustin

Excerpt from The Street Performer / Le Chanteur des Rues by Oswald Durand, a 19th-century Haitian poet featured in Montclair State University’s Les Phares Haïtiens digital repository. Illustration by Rejy Joseph Roc/The Haitian Times

When Professor Elizabeth Emery first brought poetry to her class at Montclair University in New Jersey in early 2021, the students were iffy about it, not knowing what to expect or if the unit would be boring.

Emery asked if they had Spotify accounts, and everyone gave a resounding ‘yes.’ 

‘Well then,’ she recalls telling them, ‘You’re listening to poetry everyday.’

The class said ‘Ohhhhhhh, yeah,’ and got to reading more happily. 

Fast forward to this year. Emery and her class, a mélange of French Literature, Language and History, have started a project called Les Phares Haitiens, French for Haitian lighthouses. It’s a digital repository of 19th-century Haitian poetry that the students have translated from French to English and French to Creole, named in reference to the shining lights that Haitian poets were to their culture. 

Available online for anyone to access, the project also invites members of the public to contribute poems or help translate them.

“We want the poems to be translated into Creole too,” Emery said, stressing that everyone and anyone is welcome to participate in the project. “Some grandparents have offered to help make Creole audio recordings.”

Author and poet Danielle Legros Georges, who is not involved in the project, said upon hearing about Les Phares that the entire world of literature benefits from the translation of Haitian texts. Read more

A Must Read: Supreme Court Protects Black Voting Rights In Alabama

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The Root; Published By Jessica Washington

Evan Milligan, center, plaintiff in Merrill v. Milligan, an Alabama redistricting case, speaks with members of the press following oral arguments outside the Supreme Court on Capitol Hill in Washington, Oct. 4, 2022.
Photo: Patrick Semansky (Getty Images)

Faith in the Supreme Court is at a near-all-time low, especially when it comes to protecting the rights of marginalized groups. But in a surprise ruling, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Black voters in Alabama, arguing that the state had diluted their voting power.

The 5-to-4 decision held that the state violated the rights of Black voters by only creating one district where they were the majority, despite the fact that Black voters make up 27 percent of the state’s population. The court ordered Alabama to redraw its congressional map to allow for an additional majority Black district.

Part of the reason the ruling came as a surprise is that recently the court hasn’t exactly jumped at the chance to uphold voting rights. In 2013, the Supreme Court effectively decimated the Voting Rights Act, striking down key provisions of the federal law that required states with a history of racial discrimination to get approval before changing their voting laws. What followed was a wave of voting restrictions that disproportionately impacted minority and lower-income voters. And, last year, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked a ruling that would have forced Alabama to redraw an additional map, which makes the especially unexpected. Read more

NBA Legend Kevin Johnson To Open Tulsa Soul Food Restaurant On Race Massacre Anniversary

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SACRAMENTO, CA - NOVEMBER 8: Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson looks on during the game between the New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings on November 8, 2016 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Black Enterprise; Published By Sharelle Burt

Kevin Johnson in 2016 (Photo: Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Former NBA player Kevin Johnson is adding “restaurant owner” to his already impressive resume while doing something special for Tulsa, OK.

Johnson is opening Fixins Soul Kitchen in Tulsa on June 13, KTUL reports.

Located in the Greenwood District, Fixins will serve traditional food mixed with a modern vibe. The menu is fully inspired by soul food spots Johnson traveled to while playing in the NBA and from his grandmother’s recipes. Originally slated to open in Sacramento, where Johnson served as mayor, he decided to move the restaurant to Tulsa, his grandfather and grandmother’s hometown. Read more

Cornel West Will Face These Characters In The 2024 Presidential Race

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The Root; Published By Candace McDuffie

Photo: Andrew Harnik (AP)

On Monday (June 5), author and professor Cornel West announced that he’s running for President in the upcoming 2024 election. His bid for the White House puts him in competition with a slew of other candidates, most of whom are Republicans and have absolutely no business running in the first place. Here is a round up of folks who have a shot at becoming the next leader of the free world. Read more

Woman Says Ignored 911 Call Could’ve Save Her Husband’s Life

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

Photo: The Law Offices of Harry M. Daniels LLC

What do you do when you dial 911 for help, but the police don’t move fast enough? A Colorado woman faced the same question when she called the police after receiving a message from her husband, who had allegedly been taken hostage. However, according to The Associated Press, the response to her 911 call was delayed until after her husband was already shot and killed.

Talija Campbell received messages from her husband, Qualin, saying, “911.. Send Please!” along with a picture of a white man who had allegedly taken him hostage Friday afternoon. He also sent his location to Mrs. Campbell, which was just under a mile from the Colorado Springs Police Department. Mrs. Campbell said she called 911 to report a hostage situation and described the vehicle her husband was in, the messages, and the location he sent. She spoke to two dispatchers, the last one saying they’d send an officer. Though, Campbell said she didn’t feel like they were taking the situation seriously. Read more

Human Trafficking Data Has A Home In St. Pete

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By Mark Parker

While siloed data remains unclear, hotline reports indicated that Florida is the nation’s third-worst state for human trafficking. Photo: Valley Transportation Authority.

Florida lawmakers have tasked researchers at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg with collecting and disseminating mountains of human trafficking data to better understand and mitigate the crime.

Recently signed legislation made the USF Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Risk to Resilience Research Lab the statewide repository for information collected by myriad statewide sources. Facility officials will now oversee a unified database that they believe will transform how law enforcement and various stakeholders look at human trafficking.

Senate Bill 7064 also increases victim support and strengthens penalties for convicted traffickers, and the lab’s leadership will now evaluate the effectiveness of state-funded initiatives. Florida currently ranks third nationally for hotline reports.

However, Shelly Wagers, professor of criminology and TIP Lab researcher, explained that siloed data makes human trafficking rates unclear. That impedes efforts to implement meaningful policies, resources and prevention programming.

“We have some idea of data, but it’s kind of flawed and only one piece,” Wagers said. “All crime has a time and place; it has a pattern. So, if you start to get all those pieces of the puzzle … into one place that’s unified, and you can pull it together, now you can see those patterns.” Read more

Woman Arrested In Connection With The Shooting Death Of Black Florida Mother Who Was Killed After Knocking On Neighbor’s Door

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CNN; Published By Elizabeth Wolfe

Mom of 4 killed after being shot through a closed door by a neighbor. Hear her mother speak out

A woman has been arrested in connection with the death of Ajike “AJ” Owens, the Black mother who authorities say was fatally shot last week in central Florida after knocking on a neighbor’s door, a sheriff’s office spokesperson said.

Susan Louise Lorincz, 58, was arrested on charges of manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, battery, and two counts of assault, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said early Wednesday.

Lorincz, who is White, was taken into custody Tuesday night, the sheriff’s office said. It was not immediately clear whether she has an attorney.

Authorities say Owens was shot through the door of her neighbor’s home near Ocala, Florida, on Friday. Owens’ family and attorneys had demanded that her killer be arrested and charged. Her family has also accused Lorincz of yelling at Owens’ children and calling them racial slurs prior to the shooting.

When interviewed, Lorincz claimed that she acted in self-defense and that Owens had been trying to break down her door prior to her discharging her firearm, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office. Lorincz also said Owens had come after her in the past and had previously attacked her, the release said.

“Through their investigation – including obtaining the statements of eyewitnesses who only came forward as late as yesterday – detectives were able to establish that Lorincz’s actions were not justifiable under Florida law,” the sheriff’s office said.

Prosecutors had been working with investigators in Marion County to determine whether they will file charges in the case, Fifth Judicial Chief Assistant State Attorney Walter Forgie said Tuesday. Read more

My God, What More Must Haiti Endure?

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The Root; Published By Candace McDuffie

People transport an injured person after rescuing him from a house that collapse after an earthquake in Jeremie, Haiti, Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

An earthquake in southern Haiti with a preliminary magnitude of 4.9 happened early Tuesday. At least four people died and 36 more were injured, according to authorities. Per the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred before dawn near the city of Jeremie at a depth of six miles (10 kilometers).

Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency confirmed that two homes collapsed in the disaster, and a vital path connecting Jeremie and Les Cayes was blocked. Three of those who died were found under a collapsed house where rescuers attempted to look for more people the agency also stated. Several children were also injured.

Haiti’s Bureau of Mines and Energy geologist and engineer Claude Prepetit explained to Radio Caraibes that smaller earthquakes that happened earlier this year in southern Haiti contributed to the bigger one that occurred on Tuesday. It happened nearly two years after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake affected southern Haiti and left more than 2,200 people dead. Read more

‘Bleep Last Year’s Final’: Coco Gauff Is Ready For Her French Open Rematch

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The Root; Published By Stephanie Holland

Photo: Julian Finney (Getty Images)

Amidst a lot of talk about the future of tennis and who will take over as the new face of the sport, Coco Gauff has become a standout as the athlete everyone is watching. The 19-year-old star made it to the 2022 French Open final, before she lost to world No. 1 Iga Świątek. Now, she’s set to get a rematch in the 2023 French Open quarter-finals. Coco has looked really strong in this year’s tournament. Though she’s lost a couple sets along the way, she’s kept her cool and showed a spectacular maturity in her game. She attributes her positive mindset to being in Paris.

“I just like walking around here,” Gauff told ESPN. “I mind my business. I love walking around the city, I love people watching and the fashion is really cool here.”

Gauff has been open about how much losing last year hurt. But even though the media wants to talk about it non-stop, she’s trying to stay focused on this year’s competition. After her 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 first-round win over Rebeka Masarova, she was asked about coming back after losing the first set, to which she noted she was in a “bleep last year’s final, and bleep the first set” mental space. Read more

White Women Protesting Gun Violence Won’t Work Because America Values Weapons Over People

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The Root; Published By: Candace McDuffie

Photo: The Denver Post

On Monday morning, hundreds of white women went to the Colorado Capitol to use their privilege for good and stage a silent sit-in protesting gun violence. Their hope was to force Gov. Jared Polis to ban guns and start a gun buyback program. Unfortunately, this method just simply won’t work.

Their actions come two months after Polis signed into law four gun control bills, including one that would widen Colorado’s red flag law which allows police, family members or a household member to petition a judge to temporarily take a person’s firearms if they are deemed a risk.

Though the laws Polis approved would raise the age requirement for owning a gun and establish a minimum waiting period for gun deliveries, this isn’t enough. Here4TheKids was a movement created after a mass shooting in Nashville in March left six people dead, including three children. Read more

President Biden announces $115 million for Jackson, Mississippi, water crisis

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President Joe Biden is awarding $115 million to support needed investments to rebuild Jackson, Mississippi’s water infrastructure, theGrio is first to report. The federal dollars are part of $600 million in appropriations funding approved by Congress last year.

Jackson, a majority-Black city of nearly 150,000 residents, is in a state of rebuilding after its water system nearly collapsed last summer due to major flooding and years of infrastructure neglect. Read more at www.thegrio.com

Another Florida Horror Story: 2 Kids Trapped In A Flame-Engulfed Car

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: NBC News (Fair Use)

A Florida woman is facing felony charges in the country’s latest case where a child was left alone inside a vehicle. The car caught on fire while the children’s mother was inside a mall allegedly shoplifting, according to WESH.

Across the country, seven children have died while unattended in overheated parked cars this year, per Kids and Cars Safety. In some incidents, the parents were attending church or even working a hospital shift. However, an Orlando woman left her two children in the car to go inside the mall to shoplift, authorities say.

Alicia Moore, 24, parked her 2016 Lincoln at Oviedo Mall on May 26 around noon. While Moore and an unidentified male were inside playing “Oceans 8″ in Dillard’s for about an hour, the report says the vehicle suddenly caught fire in the lot. Read more

Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse Is Another Black Blockbuster Dominating The Summer

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The Root; Published By Stephanie Holland

Photo: Sony Pictures

So, it turns out we’re in the middle of the Blackest movie summer ever. It’s been one awesome hit after another in 2023, and our latest success comes from everyone’s favorite Spider-Man, Miles Morales. Based on the success and popularity of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, we knew its sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse would open big, but damn that box office was huge. The latest adventures of Miles Morales entered the scene with a monster $120.5 million, giving it the third highest opening for a Spider-Man movie, coming in behind No Way Home‘s $260.1 million and Spider-Man 3‘s $151.1 million. Across the Spider-Verse finished the weekend with $208.6 million globally.

You know what this means? We’re definitely going to get a live-action Miles sooner rather than later. I have to believe that Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige isn’t going to let this kind of box office go to waste. MCU star Tom Holland recently told Variety that he’s “been having meetings” about Spider-Man 4, but that they’re “on pause in solidarity with the writers.” While these discussions are in the “very, very early stages,” it’s very clear that the next chapter of Peter Parker’s story should include a team up with Miles Morales. The only real question is whether Shameik Moore will get to play the hero in real life, or whether the MCU version would be younger? Frankly, I wouldn’t be mad at Peter visiting the Spider-Verse and hanging out with all the Spider-People. Read more

Move Over Kim K! Why Halle Bailey Is The Real “It Girl!”

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The Root; Published By Amira Castilla

Photo: Don Arnold / Contributor (Getty Images)

Nothing against Kim K. She has always used what she had and made loads of money for herself and her family. We’re not mad at that. But being Black, we know we have to be ten times better to be considered equal. We can’t be average like other groups can.

With the box office success of The Little Mermaid and the new excitement over The Color Purple trailer, Halle Bailey is more popular than ever. It girls are sometimes seen as people who are only known for their looks or who they date, but Halle is busting through those stereotypes. Let’s break down how her “It girl” status happened. Read more

Conservatives, If You Want To Ban “Woke” Materials In Schools Shouldn’t You At Least Read Them First?

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The Root; Published By Candace McDuffie

American poet Amanda Gorman recites a poem during the Inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20, 2021, in Washington. The poem written for Biden’s inauguration has been placed on a restricted list for elementary-aged students at a school in South Florida after a complaint by one parent. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, Gorman vowed to fight back.

Daily Salinas, a mother in the Miami-area whose complaint about “The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman got it successfully restricted in an elementary school, confessed she did not read the piece she objected to in its entirety. According to Salinas, the poem “is not educational and have indirectly [sic] hate messages.” Gorman’s work, which was performed at President Biden’s Inauguration in 2021, wasn’t the only thing Salinas complained about.

According to the Florida Freedom to Read Project, Salinas—whose two children attend The Bob Graham Education Center in Miami Lakes—also came for “The ABCs of Black History,” “Cuban Kids,” “Countries in the News: Cuba,” and “Love to Langston” for including “references of critical race theory,” “indirect hate messages” and “gender ideology and indoctrination.”

In an interview, Salinas tried to justify her ignorance of the material. “I’m not an expert,” she said. “I’m not a reader. I’m not a book person. I’m a mom involved in my children’s education.” In addition to being admittedly dense, Salinas has also promoted antisemitism on social media and attended rallies featuring members of the Proud Boys. Read more

Central Avenue Oasis Under The Microscope

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By Mark Parker

Miniature rapids form along a small stretch of Booker Creek adjacent to Central Avenue, after heavy rains. Photos by Mark Parker.

Despite decades of progress and seemingly endless construction, there’s still a “secret garden” in St. Petersburg.

Residents and visitors could soon lose the only entryway to a tropical stretch of Booker Creek – in one of the few areas where it doesn’t resemble a drainage ditch. A group of property and business owners are asking city officials to give them control of what one Development Review Commissioner (DRC) called the “coolest alley” in St. Pete.

The city council conducted a first reading of an ordinance to vacate the 16-by-100-foot brick path during Thursday’s meeting. The motion to set a public hearing for June 15 passed unanimously without official or public comment.

However, the DRC discussed the proposal at length during its March 1 meeting. An attorney representing the applicant relayed Green Bench Brewing ownership’s intent to transform the land behind 1421 Central Ave. into a beer garden.

“This is one of those unusual alleys that has access to an unusual water feature,” said Commissioner Chuck Flynt. “And my concern is that giving up this alley access off of Central Avenue forever limits access to this water feature that is unique to this area. Read more

More Black Folks You Must Know From The Biden-Harris Administration

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The Roor; Published By Jessica Washington

US Vice President Kamala Harris meets with members of the Congressional Black Caucus in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023.

Updated 06/04/2023 at 10:00 a.m. ET  

We all know Kamala Harris made history when she became the first Black woman Vice President. But she’s far from the only Black person breaking barriers in the Biden-Harris Administration. Here’s a rundown of the Black folks past and present who’ve been holding down the oval office over the last few years. Read more

How Chick-Fil-A Became A Target For Going ‘Woke’

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CNN; Published By Jordan Valinsky

New YorkCNN — 

Chick-fil-A has become a surprise target of right-wing ire following the discovery that the company has an executive overseeing its diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

It joins a growing list of companies that right-wing media and conservatives on social platforms have chastised for so-called “woke” marketing. But Chick-fil-A is an unusual target for the right wing because of the company’s conservative bona fides.

What happened?

The fact that Chick-fil-A has been trending online and the subject of conservative media news segments shows the power that a few people with large social media followings can have.

In a series of tweets, including one that made a transphobic comment, right-wing political commentator Joey Mannarino earlier this week asked if people will the “boycott” the chain because of the company’s DEI efforts.

Shortly after, far-right personalities, including Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA and Ian Miles Cheong, joined in. Read more

Progressives Warn of Harm To Black Communities As A Result Of Debt Ceiling Deal

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The Root; Published By Jessica Washington

Photo: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg (Getty Images) – The White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, April 20, 2021.

Grassroots organizers and large groups like Greenpeace and the NAACP have expressed grave concern over the contents of the debt ceiling deal, arguing the impact on Black Americans and other marginalized groups could be disastrous. Their concerns raise the question, did President Joe Biden make the best of a bad situation, or did the GOP take him for a ride?

However, first things first, what’s actually inside this debt ceiling deal. As you might have guessed, there are a lot of giveaways to conservatives:

  • Caps on non-defense spending.
  • Roll-backs on environmental protections.
  • An end to the student loan payment freeze in August
  • New work requirements for food stamps and TANF recipients.
  • The debt limit will be raised to 2025

Aspects of the bill could be considered wins for Democrats. For example, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that despite the new work requirements, more people will be eligible for food assistance under this bill because of changes to how the program handles work requirements for veterans and unhoused people. But overall, progressives argue that the deal was mostly a gift to GOP interests. Read more

‘Our Children Are Dying’: Ending Gun Violence Now A Priority In Metro Atlanta

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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution; Published By Jillian Price & Alexis Stevens

During four days this week, shootings in four metro Atlanta counties killed three teenagers and injured two others. Then on the fifth day, a 1-month-old baby was injured when a gunshot was fired into his Atlanta apartment.

It’s a trend seen nationwide … Read more

University of South Florida Joins Exclusive Academic Association

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By Mark Parker

he University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus. The school system joined the top 3% of American research institutions Thursday. Photos by Mark Parker.

Leadership and stakeholders across the University of South Florida system rejoiced Thursday as the Tampa Bay institution achieved an ambitious goal – an invitation to join the Association of American Universities (AAU).

Academic leaders nationwide consider membership the pinnacle of recognition for research colleges. Before Thursday, just 65 institutions – including Harvard, Yale, Duke and Ohio State Universities – comprised the prestigious association, founded in 1900.

President Rhea Law noted in a Thursday afternoon press conference that only 3% of U.S. universities have received an invitation but conduct 63% of federal research. She said USF’s “monumental achievement” would attract more preeminent students, faculty and entrepreneurs to the region.

In a statement to the Catalyst, USFSP Regional Chancellor Christian Hardigree said she is “beyond thrilled” to join the exclusive group.

“We can’t overstate the tremendous opportunities it will create for our campus, our university and our entire region,” Hardigree said. “AAU status will supercharge our efforts to recruit and retain the best and brightest faculty and students, and gives civic leaders a powerful tool as they seek to attract new businesses to our community. Read more

Affordable Housing Developer Pursues 800-Block Site

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By Veronica Brezina

Lot 3 at the 800 1st Avenue South site. City of St. Petersburg documents.

Fort Lauderdale-based real estate firm Alexander Goshen is proposing to lease the parking lot at 800 1st Avenue South and transform it into an affordable housing complex. 

The group submitted a letter of intent in late May to the city after Tampa-based investment advisory firm Third Lake Partners made an unsolicited bid, offering $6 million to acquire a portion of the vacant parcel. TLP’s unsolicited bid triggered an open process for others to submit proposals. 

Alexander Goshen is also a partner in a joint development team with the Dantes Partners firm that’s pursuing to acquire and redevelop St. Petersburg’s historic Tomlinson Adult Education Center

“We offered the city a 99-year term [for Lot 3 of the 800 Block site], which is the same term we are proposing for the Tomlinson building. This lease creates more of a partnership where we hold each other accountable,” Alexander Goshen Principal Miles Alexander said to the St. Pete Catalyst. “The city will have control of the site, and if a developer does not complete what they intended to do, the city can take that property back.” 

By entering into a lease agreement, Alexander said the group would not have an upfront cost burden for the affordable housing project, as opposed to a traditional property purchase. 

The group also plans to build affordable housing at the Tomlinson site, although that housing would specifically target teachers. 

Per the letter Alexander shared with the Catalyst, the firm would pay the city $75,375 annually, or $376,875, for the first five years of the long-term lease as the lease terms may be adjusted. Read more

NJ Councilwoman’s Killer May Have Been A Fellow Churchgoer

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The Root; Published by Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, Sayreville GOP, (Left) Rashid Ali Bynum (Right) Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour

A man has recently been arrested for the shooting and killing of New Jersey councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour back in February. Though the motive for the killing is unknown, authorities discovered that the suspct may have known the councilwoman from church, according to ABC News.

Rashid Ali Bynum, 28, is accused of shooting Dwumfour multiple times while she was inside her car parked outside her home. Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said Bynum was a saved contact in the councilwoman’s phone under the name “FCF” which authorities believe stands for Fire Congress Fellowship. Dwumfour used to be affiliated with the church and it was also linked to the parish she attended at the time of her death.

Not much is known about the relationship or lack thereof between the victim and suspect. But authorities picked up some suspicious activity from Bynum leading up to the murder. Read more

Jacky Oh’s Partner DC Young Fly Speaks After Her Sudden Death

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The Root; Published By Candace McDuffie

Photo: Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images (Getty Images)

This story was updated 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 3, 2023

The sudden death of former Wild N’ Out star Jacky Oh still has everyone in shock. Now, we hear from her longtime partner DC Young Fly who was reportedly filming Wild N’ Out when he got the news of his partner’s death.

Jacky Oh had been with DC Young Fly since 2015, shortly after meeting on the set of Wild N’ Out. The pair shared three children, Nova, Nala and Prince.

DC Young Fly, whose real name is John Whitfield, shared his deep sorrow in a statement he shared on Instagram: “We thank everyone for their well wishes and ask for privacy during this difficult time.”

On Thursday (June 1), the news broke that Jacky Oh had suddenly passed away at 32. Jacky, who was born Jacklyn Smith, allegedly died in Miami. The star had traveled there to undergo a “mommy makeover” surgery, a since-deleted social media post revealed.

However, Jacky’s cause of death is not known, so we won’t speculate here. Jacky’s passing has been met with moving messages from a number of celebrities.

Here are a few of their reactions. Read more

St. Pete’s Pride Month Begins With City Hall Flag Raising

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St. Pete Catalyst; Bill DeYoung

Flanked by members of the city council and other dignitaries, Mayor Ken Welch proclaimed June 2023 LGBTQ Pride Month in St. Petersburg. Photos by Bill DeYoung.

Barely 90 seconds into his speech Thursday morning announcing the start of Pride Month in St. Petersburg, Mayor Ken Welch addressed the elephant in the room: Current and proposed state legislation restricting the rights of LGBTQ citizens of Florida.

“We are standing together for progress, and we are standing against ignorance and hatred,” Welch said before proclaiming June Pride Month in the city, and raising the rainbow Pride flag outside City Hall – the 10th consecutive annual ceremony.

“It has not been an easy road, this year especially,” Welch said. “But as Dr. King said, we are here and we are standing. And we are poised to host the largest, most diverse, most inclusive – and the best – Pride celebration in the United States. Our city will never give in, nor give up on our work to build inclusive progress for all.”

Nicole Berman, Executive Director of St. Pete Pride, raises the rainbow flag alongside the mayor.

Members of the St. Petersburg City Council, State Rep. Lindsay Cross, Treasure Island Mayor Tyler Payne and other dignitaries joined St. Pete Pride President Tiffany Freisberg and Executive Director Nicole Berman in standing behind Welch as he renewed the city’s commitment to equality and inclusion.

“If we are to achieve true equality in our nation for everyone, regardless of our race, our faith, our orientation, our identity, then we must have the courage to stand for the rights of everyone,” he said. “Regardless of who they are or who they love.” Read more

All Children’s Creates Region’s First Pediatric Network

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By Mark Parker

A helicopter lands at St. Petersburg’s Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Local experts are extending their impact through a recently launched pediatric clinically integrated network. Photos provided.

Kids throughout Tampa Bay will now receive enhanced coordinated care and increased access to specialists that will improve outcomes and ultimately save lives – thanks to an ambitious, data-driven initiative.

St. Petersburg’s Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital recently launched the first and only pediatric clinically integrated network (CIN) on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Community physicians from Hernando to Charlotte County now share best practices, patient records, clinical data and other resources to benefit patients and providers.

Dr. Tony Napolitano, chair of the All Children’s Care Network (ACCN), said the extensive collaboration would reduce avoidable and costly hospital stays and trips to emergency rooms. It also increases the likelihood that kids and their physicians – especially those in rural areas – receive the highest quality care.

“I think it improves the health of children,” Napolitano said. “I think that’s what your goal is – to really improve the lives of the children you’re caring for.

The ACCN is a physician-led and governed organization focused exclusively on pediatric patients. Napolitano said team members could speak directly to families, explain processes and ensure kids receive the proper medications and treatments.

Those aspects combine to optimize long-term health outcomes, he added. Gerrit VanBruggen, senior director of strategy, said CIN officials would collectively work to identify and share best practices throughout the region as part of network resources that many stakeholders “don’t have available today.”

As with many new initiatives, data and analytics are at the forefront of what the St. Pete institution hopes to accomplish through the ACCN. He noted All Children’s has a team that “surrounds those resources.” Read more

St. Pete Yacht Club To Be Demolished

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By Mark Parker

The St. Petersburg Yacht Club was founded in 1909, and its original facility opened at 11 Central Avenue in 1917. Photo: LinkedIn.

First opened in 1917, the St. Petersburg Yacht Club’s downtown facility has served as a waterfront landmark for over a century; however, father time and mother nature have caught up to the historic building.

Brian K. Smith, club president, notified members of the impending demolition and redevelopment project in a letter Tuesday. The decision stems from a “well-qualified” architectural firm’s study and over 20 focus group sessions.

Participants listed their desired improvements for the building at 11 Central Avenue, which officials determined were cost-prohibitive. In addition, the letter states the need for an elevator, roof, tiki and pool deck replacement, electrical repairs and an updated kitchen.

“It became evident that remodeling of the clubhouse to accommodate all of the changes desired by the membership would simply not be practical,” Smith wrote. “But most importantly, we would end up with a remodeled building which would not comply with current FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) standards.”

Smith explained that the building’s floor elevation is six feet below current FEMA regulations, and the waterfront mainstay is no stranger to storms. Club archives state that the “Great Hurricane of October 1921” caused extensive flooding four years after the building opened. Read more

Black Woman Who Had Wig Snatched Off Head By White Lawyer Allegedly Has Filed A Police Report

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The Root; Published By Candace McDuffie

Screenshot: YouTube

New York attorney Anthony Orlich learned actions that demean Black women do indeed have consequences. Lizzy Ashliegh posted a video on TikTok which showed her accusing Orlich of snatching the wig off her head as she walked around New York City. His ridiculously harmful behavior wound up not only costing Orlich his job, but Ashliegh filed a police against him as well.

In the video, Ashliegh asked him why he snatched her hair, but he never gives a response. “Sir, for what f**king reason? For what reason? For what reason did you take my wig off?,” she repeatedly yelled at Orlich. “Because what made you think that that was the good thing to do? For what? For what? Why did you do that?” she continued.

In the footage, Orlich’s friends try to get him to apologize for his actions but to no avail. The clip racked up over half a million views, with commenters telling Ashliegh to press charges against the lawyer. TMZ has reported that Ashliegh did indeed file a police report with the NYPD.

Per the outlet: “We’re told the crime alleged is misdemeanor assault … and that Ashliegh is claiming to have suffered a minor injury to her neck. Our sources tell us Ashliegh declined medical attention when she filed the report — although, she claimed on social media she’s seen a doctor — and that her report triggered an investigation.” Read more

Juneteenth 2023: Films To Help You Celebrate Black Liberation

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The Root; Published By Stephanie Holland

Graphic: Vicky Leta

Juneteenth is a celebration of Black liberation and freedom. It’s also a time for us to showcase and highlight Black culture. Obviously, most of us do these things year-round, but just in case you want to spend time reliving some of the greatest, most emotional moments in Black life, these are the movies you need to watch as you celebrate Juneteenth. Read more

Black Girl Gamers Founder Shares How She Intersected Entertainment, Fashion And Beauty With Gaming

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Meet Jay-Ann Lopez, the award-winning Founder and CEO of Black Girl Gamers, Co-Founder of Curlture, and proud BAFTA member and judge.

Jay-Ann founded Black Girl Gamers with the mission of advocating for diversity and inclusion while amplifying Black women’s voices in the gaming industry. With Black Girl Gamers, Jay-Ann has built brand partnerships aimed at increasing Black women’s equity in the industry in the form of talent brokering, consulting, innovative marketing solutions, events, and content. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com

Annual Juneteenth celebration brings big bash to St. Pete this Saturday

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One of the Burg’s most meaningful celebrations is back this weekend. Join the City of St. Petersburg Parks & Recreation Department for their annual Juneteenth Celebration this Saturday, June 3, from 10 am – 1 pm at the Enoch D. Davis Center, 1111 18th Avenue South.

The annual event honors the federal holiday Juneteenth, commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in 1865. The festivities are free and family-friendly, open to all ages and the general public. Read more at www.ilovetheburg.com

FL Parent Who Had Amanda Gorman’s Poem Removed From School… Doesn’t Read

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The Root; Published By Angela Johnson

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Amanda Gorman reads a poem on stage at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at the University of Southern California on April 23, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
Photo: David Livingston (Getty Images)

Last week, we told you about a Miami-area parent whose complaints about Amanda Gorman’s poem, “The Hill We Climb,” caused its removal from a local elementary school. Now, that parent is admitting to what the rest of us already knew to be true – she didn’t read the damn thing.

According to the Miami Heraldthe pissed-off parent, Daily Salinas, is the mother of two students at Bob Graham Education Center, a K – 8 school located in Miami Lakes. Salinas expressed her complaints about the poem Gorman read at President Joe Biden’s inauguration, along with other children’s titles, “The ABCs of Black History,” “Cuban Kids,” “Countries in the News: Cuba,” and “Love to Langston” for including “references of critical race theory,” “indirect hate messages” and “gender ideology and indoctrination,” according to the Florida Freedom to Read Project.

In a May 24 interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Salinas was asked about her book challenges as well as antisemitic content found on her Facebook page, including a disturbing post with a list of steps for how “Jewish Zionists” would achieve world domination, including “Replace royal rule with socialist rule, then communism, then despotism,” and “Sacrifice people (including Jews sometimes) when necessary.”

In the interview, Salinas, who says she has a deep opposition to communism, due to her Cuban heritage, admitted she hadn’t read her questionable post beyond the word “communism.” She also noted that English is not her first language.

“I see the word ‘communism,’ and I think it’s something about communism,” she said. “I didn’t read the words.” Read more

Tina Turner’s Hometown To Build A Statue In Her Honor

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The Root; Published By Angela Johnson

Photo: Tony Korody/Sygma (Getty Images)

Fans all over the world mourned the loss of one of the music industry’s brightest stars when Tina Turner passed away in her home in Switzerland last week at the age of 83. And now the singer’s hometown of Brownsville, Tennessee, plans to honor her legacy in a very special way.

On May 27, Mayor Bill Rawls Jr., told TMZ that the city will erect a statue of the late rock diva in ​​Brownsville’s Heritage Park near Carver High School. The late rock diva, born Anna Mae Bullock, attended Carver while living there.

“When Tina stepped on stage, she owned it. We want this statue to represent that passion. Tina was an inspiration to the entire world… She showed the people of Brownsville. No matter where you start, you own your story about where you end up,” said Rawls Jr. who was elected the town’s first African American mayor in 2014.

As of this writing, there is no official word on the timing of the statue’s completion. But if you’re planning to make a visit to Brownsville, you have to check out the Tina Turner Museum. Located inside the Flagg Grove School Turner once attended as a child, the school was transformed to house a collection of her memorabilia. Visitors to the former one-room schoolhouse, built by the singer’s great uncle in 1889, can get a closer look at some of Turner’s tour costumes, gold records and even her high school yearbook. Read more

Not A Lick of Prison Time For Racist Gunman Who Targeted Black Teens

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

This Jan. 21, 2019, photo provided by the Miami Dade Department of Corrections shows Mark Allen Bartlett. Bartlett was sentenced to probation in South Florida, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, for pulling a gun and yelling racial slurs in a traffic confrontation with a group of Black teenagers protesting housing inequality on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2019.

Photo: Miami Dade Department of Corrections via AP (AP)

What’s the proper sentence for a man who walked up on a group of Black teens mind their business with a gun in hand and mouth full of racial slurs? According to NBC 6 South Florida, the man guilty of this very thing escaped prison time.

Mark Bartlett, 55, was accused of confronting a group of Black teens riding their bicycles in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day protest against housing inequality in 2019. Videos caught him charging toward the boys holding a handgun and yelling the n-word while they stopped traffic for the demonstration. Bartlett initially tried the good ol’ self-defense argument, insisting he was being “held hostage” in his own vehicle but Miami-Dade County Judge Alberto Milian wasn’t having it.

Honestly, what is reasonable about climbing out of your SUV to taunt a couple of Black kids? Bartlett pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal to get of serving years in prison.

“I apologize for my conduct that day. I was wrong to use those words and correct the pain that my words have caused anyone. I sincerely apologize,” was all he had to say for himself during the hearing… and also because an apology was part of the deal. Read more

DaniLeigh Arrested With DUI, Hit & Run In Miami Beach, Allegedly Dragging Victim For A Block

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The Root; Published By Candace McDuffie

Photo: Paul Archuleta (Getty Images)

Singer DaniLeigh, whose real name is Danielle Curiel, was arrested and charged with a DUI after an alleged hit and run on Tuesday morning in Miami Beach. She was taken into police custody around 2 a.m. According to a police report, the star is accused of hitting someone on a moped while driving drunk.

TMZ was the first outlet to report the musician’s arrest. Law enforcement officials were called after witnesses saw a gray Mercedes-Benz speeding before it hit someone on a moped and kept going. The “Easy” singer allegedly dragged the victim for a block without stopping. One witness reportedly told cops that “multiple people attempted to get the driver’s attention and advised her that she was dragging the moped, however, the driver never stop.”

According to the arrest affidavit, when DaniLeigh was pulled over an officer “could smell a strong odor of alcohol emanating from the vehicle.” The officer said the singer had “sluggish” motor skills and that she said she didn’t hit anyone with her vehicle. DaniLeigh “failed to perform to the standard” after she was given a field sobriety test and was then placed under arrest. Read more

TC Cheer’s First-Ever Middle School Camp

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Stunt, Jump, Cheer & Dance with the TC Cheerleaders

Includes Lunch, Snacks, Drinks, A Shirt & a Link to a Picture from Both Days

Email [email protected] for Registration Link!!

Under The Sea With TC Cheer

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SPONSORED BY THE TAMPA CATHOLIC CHEERLEADERS!!

LEARN TO STUNT, JUMP, CHEER AND DANCE!!!

2023 YOUTH CHEER CAMP

Ages 5-11
Includes Lunch, Snacks, Drinks, a Shirt, and a Link to Pictures from Both Days!!!!!

Email:[email protected]

Pasco County Schools Community Job Fair – June 22, 2023

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Are you interested in finding a new job? Pasco County Schools will be hosting the annual Pasco Community Job Fair at Bayonet Point Middle School on Thursday, June 22nd. Come meet hiring managers from local schools, District Departments, Pasco Sheriff’s Office, Tax Collector, Clerk of Court, and more!

Open job opportunities for Pasco County Schools are as follows: Bus Drivers, Mechanics, K-12 Teachers, Food Service Assistants, Child Care Assistants, Information Services/Help Desk, Custodians, Skilled Trades, Finance Services, Customer Services, Mechanics and more!

Black Woman Calls Out Racist Plane Passenger And 15 Million TikTokers Watched

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: taila.thecreator (TikTok)

Look, racism can be sniffed out anywhere but one of the select places where it causes the most ruckus happens to be in the most claustrophobic, suffocating environment: an airplane. In this case, a Black woman claimed the passenger sitting next to her was sending racist texts about her, per Insider.

Most coach class seating permits you barely an inch of personal space between you and the next person. Therefore, if you have your brightness up all the way on your phone and happen to be sending a message, the chances of the next passenger seeing your breakup paragraph or “take the chicken out” reminder are very high.

A woman named Taila Rouse recorded her experience, catching a white man sitting next to her allegedly sending some absurd, racist messages about her. In the video, Rouse confronts the man about the messages claiming he called her her a “huge Black woman” and complained about being stuck next to Black or gay people on a flight. Additionally, the texts were claimed to suggest airline prices go up to “weed out” those demographics of people. Read more

Will Louisianans Convicted Under Jim Crow Juries Finally Get Justice?

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The Root; Published By Jessica Washington

Supreme Court of Lousiana, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America, North America
Photo: Isabella Pino (Getty Images)

As Evangelisto Ramos walked out of the courthouse a free man, he was keenly aware that his acquittal was about far more than just him. In 2020, Ramos, a Black Honduran immigrant, saw his case go all of the way to the Supreme Court. And sorry if this is a spoiler alert: he won.

In 2014, Ramos was convicted of second-degree murder in a 10-2 jury conviction, which, had he been in almost any other state (except Oregon), would have meant that he walked. But because Louisiana law allowed for non-unanimous jury convictions, he was sentenced to life. Ramos appealed all the way up to the Supreme Court, which in the landmark Ramos v. Louisiana, declared that non-unanimous jury convictions like Ramos for serious crimes were unconstitutional.

The court called their allowance a racist holdover from the Jim Crow era, arguing that states adopted non-unanimous jury decisions as a way to get around laws banning jury discrimination. Ramos won the right to a new trial at the Supreme Court and was unanimously acquitted of all charges by a new jury in March. But like we said, this is about a lot more than just one man.

The question now is whether the hundreds of other people locked up by non-unanimous juries will be granted a new trial. Read more

Meet The Black Folks Holding Down The Biden-Harris White House

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The Root; Published By Jessica Washington

Shalanda Young, director of the Office Of Management and Budget (OMB), center, speaks during a news conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, March 10, 2023.
Photo: Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg (Getty Images)

We all know Kamala Harris made history when she became the first Black woman Vice President. But she’s far from the only Black person breaking barriers in the Biden-Harris Administration. Here’s a rundown of the Black folks past and present who’ve been holding down the oval office over the last few years. Read more

Entrepreneurial Diversity Grows In The St. Pete Greenhouse

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By: Mark Parker

Mayor Ken Welch announces a new microfund program in front of the St. Pete Greenhouse earlier this month. Organization officials will announce the first recipients June 5 or 6. Photo: City of St. Petersburg.

New partnerships, funding and an expanding workforce are helping the St. Pete Greenhouse foster an increasingly diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem; team members are also helping mitigate the city’s construction challenges.

City council members heard a comprehensive update on the organization’s revamped efforts at Thursday’s Economic and Workforce Development Committee meeting. Tracey Smith, co-manager and small business liaison, and Ronnel Montgomery, co-manager and vice president of economic inclusion & business growth, led the presentation.

As a unique public-private partnership, the Greenhouse comprises City and St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce employees. The organization expects to graduate 100 burgeoning business leaders from its programs this year.

“We frequently have people come to us from other areas of the country and say, ‘I have never ever seen anything like this before – how do you all make this happen?’” Smith relayed. “And so, we are very proud that we have been successful.” Read more

Jabil, Buccaneers Team Up For Kids

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By: Mark Parker

Artz 4 Life Academy students express their shock at the facility’s transformation. Photos provided.

While it doesn’t affect company earnings or the team’s outlook, St. Petersburg-based Jabil and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers recently made a significant impact on the lives of local children.

The regional corporate giants recently teamed up to transform Clearwater’s Artz 4 Life Academy. Over 100 Jabil employees and 75 Buccaneers staffers participated in the four-day event, culminating in a community reveal May 18.

Gary Schick, vice president of human resources for Jabil, said company officials chose the Artz 4 Life Academy because it shares the tech manufacturing behemoth’s dedication to providing science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) education opportunities.

“Jabil itself has seen how Artz 4 Life Academy can nurture young talent and set them up on a path to success,” Schick explained. “Two of our employees – Chaunte Peterson and Chavauna Ikhianosen, who attended Artz 4 Life Academy in their youth – helped transform the place that inspired them to work hard and follow their dreams.” Read more

St. Petersburg Public Safety Career Fair June 3

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The public is Invited to Explore Jobs and Volunteer Opportunities at St. Petersburg Public Safety Career Fair on June 3

May 17, 2023 – The St. Petersburg Police Department and St. Petersburg Fire Rescue will host a Public Safety Career Fair on Saturday, June 3, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Community members interested in volunteering are also encouraged to attend.

Saturday, June 3, 2023 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
St. Petersburg Police Department
1301 1st Ave. N.

Available job and volunteer opportunities include:

  • Police Cadet – No Experience Necessary, Full Academy Sponsorship
  • Police Officer – Florida Certified and/or Out of State Certified
  • Public Safety Telecommunicator – 911 Call Taker/Dispatcher
  • School Crossing Guards
  • Road Patrol – Volunteer
  • Public Safety Cadet – Ages 14-19
  • Firefighter/EMT – Certified
  • Firefighter/Paramedic – Certified
  • Paramedic – Non-Firefighter

For more information, call 727-892-5107 or email [email protected]. For more information about employment with the City of St. Petersburg, visit www.stpete.org/jobs.

Foundation For A Healthy St. Pete Presents: Get Hired, St. Pete Career Fair

Join us on June 15, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Pinellas Technical College – St. Petersburg

901 34th Street South, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33711

Florida Housing Coalition Is Hiring!

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Technical Advisor, Housing and Community Development
(Florida Housing Coalition)

Housing Program Coordinator
(Martin County)

Housing and Community Development Program Administrator
(City of West Palm Beach)

Loan Servicing Specialist/Accounting Assistant
(Neighborhood Lending Partners)

Housing and Community Development Specialist 9
(City of Bradenton)

Community Grants Program Specialist II
(Osceola County)

US Tennis Star Sloane Stephens Says Racist Abuse On Social Media Has ‘Only Gotten Worse’

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CNN; Published by Jill Martin

Sloane Stephens says racist abuse on social media has “gotten worse.”
Robert Prange/Getty Images

Sloane Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion and 2018 French Open finalist, says racist abuse targeted toward her on social media has been a problem throughout her entire tennis career.

“It has never stopped. If anything, it’s only gotten worse,” Stephens, who is Black, told reporters after winning 6-0 6-4 in the first round of the French Open against No. 16 seed Karolina Pliskova on Monday.

Roland Garros announced last week that players will have their social media content moderated by an anti-online harassment and hate speech tool.

“I did hear about the software. I have not used it,” the 30-year-old American said.

“I have a lot of obvious keywords banned on Instagram and all of these things, but that doesn’t stop someone from just typing in an asterisk or typing it in a different way, which obviously software most of the time doesn’t catch.” Read more

SPC: 2023 Promise Scholarship

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As a 2023 graduate of the schools listed below, you qualify for a Promise Scholarship that pays the full tuition and fees for associate degrees and financial aid-eligible certificates at SPC! This is a great chance to earn a degree without any debt from your first two years of college.


To qualify, you’ll need to:

  • Complete the SPC Promise Scholarship Interest Form
  • Earn a standard high school diploma from an eligible school:
    о Clearwater High School
    о Lakewood High School
    о Northeast High School
    о Pinellas Park High School
    о Tarpon Springs High School
  • Apply to SPC
  • Complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • Enroll in at least six credits in Fall 2023
  • Complete the SPC Promise Form

SPC Presents: First Time In College

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JULY 24 -28, 2023

Midtown Jamerson Center – Room 146

SPC is offering support to First Time in College (FTIC) students this summer! Join us for an

orientation as you learn about our Academic and Student Services resources. Free lunch

and supplies. 

Choose your day and register at:

https://web.spcollege.edu/survey/35098

Receive Information on:

• Financial Aid

• Faculty Sessions

• Academic Advising

• Accessibility Services

• Student Life and Leadership

• Learning Support

AT&T’S Dream In Black Rising Future Makers Program Gives HBCU Student-Athletes A Chance To Grow On & Off The Court

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Black Enterprise; Published By Lauren Nutall

Rising Future Makers AT&T

While HBCUs produce some of the most accomplished athletes of our time, they often have limited access to resources and lack visibility, Forbes revealed HBCU student-athletes face unique challenges in their pursuit of success.

Many HBCU student-athletes encounter obstacles that inhibit their professional and personal progress including limited media coverage and recruiting difficulties. However, the pressure to maintain their athletic and academic prowess is one of the biggest.

In response to these problems, AT&T has launched an initiative in hopes of alleviating these difficulties. AT&T’s Rising Future Makers has established a student-athlete industry shadow trip program. Introduced in 2022, this program invites a select group of student-athletes from HBCUs with an interest in the sports and entertainment industries to special events. The program’s partners are NC A&T, FAMU, and Howard University and events include NCAA Men’s Final Four, Tribeca Festival, and College Football Playoffs.  Read more

Hayti, The Black-Owned News App Becomes Largest Source Of Black Podcasts

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Black Enterprise; Published By Iman Milner

Hayti, the leading Black-owned news aggregation app, has officially become the largest source of podcasts led by Black hosts, according to a press release.

Hayti had already cornered the market as a resource for print and on-air news by Black publishers, but with its expansion into podcasts, it further cemented its legacy. The app’s users will now have access to over 2,000 Black podcasters. “Launching the podcast section of the Hayti app was so important to me because I wanted everyone, no matter their preference of news, to find a home at Hayti,” said Cary Wheelous, CEO of Hayti.

Wheelous believes this move keeps the app aligned with its mission to provide culturally relevant and meaningful content.

“A majority of our community already surfs social media apps to keep up with the Black news cycle. Creating a news aggregation app from credible Black publishers and outlets allows our community to connect with culturally relevant, fact-checked information and stop the spread of misinformation on social media,” he said. When the app launched in 2021, the objective was to “influence and disrupt” cultural narratives and put the spotlight solely on Black content creators; who often drive trends and conversations but are not properly celebrated. According to a press release, Hayti was the first mobile app to feature over 200 Black publishers available to both Android and iOS users.

Black podcast listeners are often drawn to the media model to engage with people with similar backgrounds and experiences. Hayti’s approach to putting them all in one place could improve visibility for podcasts still looking to expand their reach. Something podcast host Camille Kauer said cannot be understated. “As a Black woman who has worked in media and entertainment for decades, I cannot express enough how Hayti’s existence as a one-stop platform is a game changer for creators and our community,” she said. Read more

What! A Child Who Called The Police for Help Was Shot Instead

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: Murry Family (CNN)

“What did I do wrong?” asked an 11-year-old boy, minutes after he was shot in the chest by a police officer responding to his home. According to CNN, the boy called 911 to report a domestic disturbance. Now, his family demands the officer be charged.

According to Nakala Murry, her son, Aderrien, called 911 Saturday after the “irate” father of another one of her children came home in the wee hours that morning. Murry was afraid for her safety and asked the 11-year-old to call the police. When the Indianola Police officer arrived to the door, the report says he already had his gun drawn. When Murry opened the door, she didn’t say the officer walked in, asked any questions or looked for the father who was the reason for the 911 call.

Instead, the officer ordered everyone in the house – Murry, her daughter and 2-year-old nephew – to put their hands up, per NBC. Though, when Aderrien came from his bedroom to the living room with his hands raised, the officer shot him almost immediately. Read more

Biden Will Announce C.Q. Brown As Nominee for Joint Chiefs Chair

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On Thursday, President Joe Biden is scheduled to announce that he has selected Gen. C.Q. Brown, the first Black person to lead a branch of the military and the Air Force’s premier officer, as his next Joint Chiefs chair. The news comes directly from a senior administration official. 

“During the selection process, President Biden prioritized finding a successor who can carry on that work and provide strong, steady leadership and wise counsel,” the official explained. “In General Brown, the president knows he will likewise benefit from a wealth of military experience, shaped in both peacetime and war.” Read more at www.theroot.com

What Happened To St. Pete’s Main Library?

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By Mark Parker

The President Barack Obama Library has remained closed for over two years. Photo by Bill DeYoung.

Decorum calls for absolute quiet inside a public library. For St. Petersburg’s longtime main library, however, the silence has been deafening.

When the President Barack Obama Main Library closed for renovations in April 2021, shortly after its renaming ceremony, city officials expected construction to complete by late 2022 or early 2023.

However, an increasing scope, asbestos removal and a significant funding gap delayed the project. In April 2022, administrators told the St. Petersburg City Council that they were addressing those concerns and would bring a new, full proposal back for review by the end of the year.

More than two years have passed since the facility shuttered, and save for caution barriers blocking the entrance, the outside appears untouched. The issues exist behind closed doors.

Mike Jefferis, leisure services administrator, and City Architect Raul Quintana oversee the “complicated project.” They sought to explain the delay and reassure the public that a reimagined hub for the city’s seven-library system is still moving forward in an interview with the Catalyst.

“We like to say this is really a generational project,” Jefferis said. “Meaning we only have one chance to get it right.” Read more

Will Oprah Replace Dianne Feinstein In The Senate?

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The Root; Published By Candace McDuffie

Oprah Winfrey attends the photocall ahead of the Louis Vuitton Cruise Show 2024 at Isola Bella on May 24, 2023 in Stresa, Italy.

Oprah Winfrey is apparently being considered as Dianne Feinstein’s replacement. Feinstein, the 89-year-old California senator and the oldest member of Congress, may choose to retire soon. Last week, Feinstein’s office shared that she is suffering health complications following a case of shingles.

Feinstein is currently the longest-serving Democrat in the Senate. Her spokesperson confirmed to CNN that she experienced Ramsay Hunt syndrome and encephalitis as part of the shingles diagnosis.

“While the encephalitis resolved itself shortly after she was released from the hospital in March, she continues to have complications from Ramsay Hunt syndrome,” they said. Feinstein went back to the Senate earlier this month on May 10 after her illness to cast her vote.

There have been calls for her to resign due to health issues as well as her questionable cognitive abilities, which could lead Feinstein to retire before her term ends in 2025. Governor Gavin Newsom has the power to name a successor in case that happens.

During his 2021 anti-recall campaign, Newsom promised to appoint a Black woman in case a vacancy comes up. According to those in “California circles,” Oprah is being considered for the role of caretaker. Winfrey has stated publicly she has considered running for president but didn’t seize the opportunity in 2020. Read more

Juvenile Welfare Board Is Hiring!!

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Open Positions:

Sr Program Consultant

Software Applications Support Analyst

Sr Contract Manager Purchasing Agent

Autopsy Results For The Black Man “Eaten Alive By Bed Bugs” In Jail Are Awful

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The Root; Published By Candace McDuffie

Attorney Michael Harper holds a photo of Lashawn Thompson’s cell in the Fulton County Jail at a press conference addressing the results of an independent autopsy determining the cause of death of Thompson on Monday, May 22, 2023, at the State Capital in Atlanta.

The family of LaShawn Thompson, the man who who died in Fulton County Jail after he was allegedly “eaten alive by insects and bed bugs,” had an independent autopsy conducted to find out the cause of death. According to the results, Thompson died of “complications due to severe neglect” and his manner of death is listed as “homicide.”

The report also states that “dehydration, malnutrition, severe body insect infestation” and “untreated decompensated schizophrenia” were conditions that led to his death on September 13, 2022 in the Atlanta jail. During Monday’s press conference outside the Georgia State Capitol alongside attorneys Ben Crump and Michael Harper, Thompson’s family expressed their anger and grief.

“It’s enough that the bed bugs and lice sat there and ate my brother to death, but it’s the neglect that hurts me the most,” Brad McCray, the victim’s brother, stated. “These images all over the internet, all over the media. It’s disturbing. It’s horrific. And it’s a big impact on my family,” he continued.

Crump added: “There is no question this was criminal negligence.” Harper disclosed that Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp nonprofit organization paid for the independent autopsy. Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers player who has become known for his social justice work, made the offer after the previous autopsy released by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office listed Thompson’s cause of death as “undetermined.” Read more

Legendary Queen Of Rock & Roll Tina Turner Passes Away At 83

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Black Enterprise; Published By Jeroslyn JoVonn

YouTube

Tina Turner, a performer Rolling Stone once hailed as “one of the greatest singers of all time,” has passed away at the age of 83.

News of Turner’s passing was confirmed on her official Facebook page.

“With her music and her boundless passion for life, she enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow. Today we say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us all her greatest work: her music. All our heartfelt compassion goes out to her family. Tina, we will miss you dearly.”

Fans of the legendary singer, credited as the Queen of Rock N’ Roll, flooded the comments section expressing their sadness over the news while celebrating Turner’s presence in the music industry for over five decades.

“I will always love you,” one fan wrote. Read more

St. Pete Libraries Offer Free Summer Reading Programs For Kids

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I Love The Burg; Published By Andrew Harlan

St. Pete is a city of readers. Our beautiful literary city has a wonderful library system, and it’s working hard to make sure all kids have access to great books all summer long. The free educational summer programming will be offered May 27 through July 30 with a focus on community-building and things that bring people together.

The nine-week offering encourages readers of all ages to keep reading and learning over the summer while school is out. This year’s theme, All Together Now, celebrates community. Summer programming will kick off at the James Weldon Johnson Community Library where participants can pick up a Summer Programming Guide and take-home activities. Participants can also download the Summer Programming Guide at splibraries.org. Read more

Dr. Bernice King Claps Back At Sen. Ted Cruz After He Tweets: Dr. King Would Be “Ashamed” Of The NAACP

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The Root; Published By Amira Castilla

Photo: Paras Griffin / Stringer (Getty Images), Tom Williams / Contributor (Getty Images)

Texas Senator Ted Cruz has decided to give his opinion that nobody asked for. On May 21, 2023, Cruz tweeted that the NAACP’s travel advisory for Black people and other minority groups in Florida is “bizarre” and that if Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were alive he would be “ashamed of how profoundly they’ve (the NAACP) lost their way.”

Only hours later, Dr. King’s youngest child, Dr. Bernice King, clapped back tweeting, “What my father would be deeply concerned about is the harmful, discriminatory legislation in Florida.” She continued by sharing a speech from her father with the caption, “Many are getting #MLK wrong. He was a dreamer, but his dream was global, inclusive, and deeply rooted in love and commitment to eradicating what he called the Triple Evils.” The triple evils are militarism (war), extreme militarism (poverty), and racism. Read more

The Color Purple Trailer Showcases The Character Depth, Layered Story Of The Musical

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The Root; Published By Stephanie Holland

Image: Warner Bros. Pictures

In Black families, there are some movies that are considered essential viewing. Like, “Don’t come to my house if you haven’t seen it” essential. One of those movies is The Color Purple.

Everyone may not have read Alice Walker’s novel, but most Black people can definitely recite the film’s dialogue line by line. Its cultural impact made the prospect of a musical version very risky. However, the stage musical turned out to be a big hit, winning Tonys for several of its stars. When we heard there would be a film adaptation of the show, we knew it would all come down to casting and the producers did not disappoint.

Like the movie, the story rests on Celie. Fantasia Barrino, who previously played the role on Broadway and in the touring production, reprises Celie for the new movie. Based on what we get in the first trailer, she once again gives a jaw-dropping performance. I’ve been lucky enough to see the musical twice—both times starring Fantasia—and she’s remarkable. Seriously, if you’ve never heard her sing “I’m Here” live, it’s life-changing.

The Color Purple | Official Trailer

Read more

Pinellas County Schools Listen & Learn Sessions – May 24, 2023

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Providing opportunities for the stakeholders of Pinellas County Schools to engage with the School Board, Superintendent and district leadership is imperative to continuous improvement for our students, families, staff and community.  Following the success of the Superintendent Listen and Learn series, expanding this type of commitment to be visible in the community will continue to strengthen partnership both as a district and within school communities.

PCS Community Listen and Learn Sessions will be a series of five (5) annual community meetings, in alignment with the areas for schools.  These sessions will take place at a school within the given area/zone. By hosting the sessions by area/zone, it allows the School Board, Superintendent and district staff who serve those schools to be present and hear directly from stakeholders. PCS Community Listen and Learn Sessions will be open to all stakeholders (students, families, staff, partners and community members). 

Format: PCS Community Meetings will be in-person events with virtual option for stakeholders. Each meeting will last approximately 90 minutes and include:

Opening (5 minutes): Welcome by Board Member(s) and Superintendent 

Presentation (15 minutes): Short presentation consisting of highlights and happenings of the district and the area of the meeting led by the Superintendent.

Question/Answer (30 minutes): Panel of Board Members (anticipate 1-3 Board Members per session), Superintendent and district staff (by topic) answer questions from the audience.

Feedback Opportunities (40 minutes): Stakeholders are welcome to stay the entire time; however, they can also leave once they have provided input. Stakeholders provide district leadership and provide direct feedback as outlined below:

  • Direct conversations with the Superintendent, Board Member(s) and district leadership present
  • Targeted questions about an issue the district seeks feedback that stakeholders can provide written feedback (in-person or via survey link)
  • General feedback questions where stakeholders can provide feedback regarding the district

St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch Launches Summer Programs For Kids & Families

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I Love The Burg; Published By Andrew Harlan

Photo courtesy City of St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg is stepping up its game to ensure a safer and brighter future for its youth, and Mayor Kenneth T. Welch is leading the charge with an impressive multi-pronged initiative. This plan is all about tackling neighborhood safety concerns head-on and creating opportunities that will empower the city’s young residents and their families.

So, what’s the game plan? Mayor Welch’s commitment comes in four powerful parts: awareness, opportunity, listening, and leadership. First on the list is the launch of the “Not My Child” campaign, which aims to raise awareness about violence prevention and foster a stronger sense of community. To kick things off, they’re organizing a neighborhood community walk on May 26. Read more

The Nurse Power Network Helps Women Make Power Moves Beyond The Bedside

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Black Enterprise; Published by Atiya Jordan

Co-founders of Nurses Power Network Dr. Nicole Thomas, Meisha Amia / Photo Credit: Jordanne Guerin of Jordanne Guerin Photography

With National Nurses Month underway, the Nurse Power Network is in full effect, teaching, brunchin’, and making power moves beyond the bedside.

Women of color nurses comprise less than 20% of nurses in the healthcare industry. Many reports have highlighted factors, like racism, burnout, COVID-19-induced work conditions, and lack of work-life balance, that drive these women to set aside their personal and professional development.

Meisha Amia, R.N., and Dr. Nicole Thomas, R.N., licensed nursing leaders, community builders, co-founders, and co-CEOs of The Nurse Power Network, want to help these women take time for themselves. Whether you want to learn how to build and scale your brand or the fundamentals of public relations, this dynamite pair of nurse entrepreneurs are tapped in with empowering brunches, resources, and an intentional community.

They are launching the 5th annual Nurse Power Brunch: Essence Festival Edition this summer.

In celebration, BLACK ENTERPRISE spoke with Amia and Thomas for a conversation about their humble beginnings and passionate efforts. Read more

Jim Brown, Legendary NFL Running Back Who Left The Game To Become An Activist & Actor, Has Died At Age 87

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CNN, Published By: Steve Almasy and Matt Foster

Jim Brown poses backstage at the NFL Honors award show in 2016. Ben Liebenberg/AP

Jim Brown, the transcendent athlete-actor-activist who ran roughshod over the NFL and its record books in the 1950s and 1960s and won multiple MVP awards before retiring abruptly at age 30 to focus on the civil rights movement and a career in Hollywood, has died, his former team and his widow said Friday. He was 87.

“It is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of my husband, Jim Brown,” Monique Brown wrote on Instagram. “He passed peacefully last night at our LA home. To the world he was an activist, actor, and football star. To our family, he was a loving and wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. Our hearts are broken…”

The sole team Brown played for, the Cleveland Browns, tweeted, “Jim Brown Forever.

“Legend. Leader. Activist. Visionary.

“It’s impossible to describe the profound love and gratitude we feel for having the opportunity to be a small piece of Jim’s incredible life and legacy. We mourn his passing, but celebrate the indelible light he brought to the world.

“Our hearts are with Jim’s family, loved ones, and all those he impacted along the way.”

Brown was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.

“Yardage isn’t the big thing. Having your team win the championship is … That’s what I work for, winning the championship, and this requires a certain standard of performance,” Brown said, according to the Hall of Fame webpage honoring his career.

Before leaving the game, Brown made his film debut in 1964 in the Western, “Rio Conchos.”

He surprised sports fans two years later when – at the height of his career and following threats of fines by his team’s owner of fines for missing days of training camp – Brown, the reigning NFL MVP, announced his retirement from football from the set of the World War II film, “The Dirty Dozen.”

He appeared in more than 50 film and television projects in the years that followed, most recently “Draft Day” in 2014. Read more

Lakewood High Graduation: The Icing On The Cake Of Administrative Incompetence

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The Weekly Challenger, Published By Goliath J. Davis, III

‘I encourage you to go online and view Lakewood’s graduation ceremony. Hopefully, the district will not edit or take the ceremony down in an attempt to limit viewers’ abilities to get a real sense of what occurred today and how the culture has deteriorated.’

ST. PETERSBURG — I have written extensively about the saga at Hollywood High for the last three years, and it appears the district administration has continually ignored the warnings. For three consecutive years, approximately one-half of the scholars eligible for graduation each year were not on track to walk across the stage. Additionally, far too many received concordance diplomas.

Approximately 240 scholars were eligible for graduation this school year, but nearly one-half were not on track in April for the May 16 graduation. Additionally, all the academic programs lacked sufficient administrative support.

This includes the traditional program, Journeys in Journalism and the coveted CAT program. Reportedly, approximately 180 scholars graduated; 45 did not qualify for graduation, and 16 are awaiting testing results to see if they will receive some type of diploma — probably concordance.

This year’s graduation ceremony took place on May 17. During the ceremony, the highest academic scholars confirmed during their speeches that the Lakewood culture had spiraled down and the administration was incompetent.

The scholars’ perceptions are credible, although they could have been delivered differently. I am sure the ceremony was embarrassing for the superintendent, teachers, staff and other administrators. But then again, some may feel a sense of relief that students are expressing sentiments posted by educators and others in school climate surveys.

Hopefully, given that their clients have spoken, district administrators will take affirmative steps to address Lakewood’s academic, cultural and leadership issues. The principal and the area superintendent share some accountability for all that plagues Hollywood High.

Relieving two assistant principals of their positions is viewed by some as a scapegoat move. And as previously stated in other columns, scholars and parents must also become more engaged in all aspects of their education if we are to increase the number of standard diplomas awarded and reduce the number of substandard concordance diplomas.

Graduations are usually streamed for viewing across the state and nation for those who could not attend. I encourage you to go online and view Lakewood’s graduation ceremony. Hopefully, the district will not edit or take the ceremony down in an attempt to limit viewers’ abilities to get a real sense of what occurred today and how the culture has deteriorated.

I sincerely hope my future columns on Lakewood High can focus on the improvements to the school’s primary mission, the education of all of our scholars, support for the educators charged with educating them and support for other staff committed to the process. Read more

Ron DeSantis’ New Law Is Racist — Black College Athletes, NCAA Need To Boycott Florida

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MSN, Published By Carron J. Phillips

Never go anywhere you aren’t invited. This week, Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis did his best to uninvite anyone that isn’t white to the state’s colleges and universities. It’s time educators of color, Black athletes, and the NCAA boycott baby Trump.

“If you look at the way this has actually been implemented across the country, DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) is better viewed as standing for discrimination, exclusion, and indoctrination,” DeSantis said at a news conference earlier in the week. “And that has no place in our public institutions. This bill says the whole experiment with DEI is coming to an end in the state of Florida.”

The state will no longer spend money on DEI initiatives at its public institutes of higher learning. In case you didn’t know, DEI programs help predominantly white institutions (PWIs) increase diversity amongst their faculty and student body. Race, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status all fall under the DEI umbrella. Florida is joining 19 other racist states where politicians have aimed at similar programs. The only saving grace is that the new law doesn’t affect schools spending money on DEI programs if they’re federally mandated. Read more

South St. Pete Has A New ‘Catalyst’

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St. Pete Catalyst, Published By Mark Parker

Elihu Brayboy, owner of Chief’s Creole Cafe, has selected someone to reimagine the property in South St. Pete. Photo by Mark Parker.

Elihu Brayboy previously said he wanted young entrepreneurs – preferably with a culinary background – to reimagine the Chief’s Creole Café site and “take it to another level.”

He got his wish.

Brayboy, 74, abruptly closed the popular establishment April 7 as the daily grind of running a restaurant for 10 years took its toll. Chief’s Creole Cafe played a significant role in revitalizing the Deuces, and Brayboy wanted to ensure the new operators were also committed to helping the 22nd Street South corridor achieve some of its former glory.

Jason Bryant and his business partner, Jeffrey Copeland, are eager to carry the torch. They enlisted the help of Chris, Sheldon and Andrew Steele, owners of Sid’s Caribbean Grill.

“Jeff (Copeland) is a native as well, and we really want to bring back the Deuces like it was before,” Bryant said. “It’s not just about bringing people to our establishment, but all the surrounding area.

“The Deuces are back.”

The Steeles once operated a brick-and-mortar location on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg’s Grand Central District, and Chief’s Creole Café will transform into Sid’s at the Catalyst. The historic building, built in 1939, will also feature a speakeasy lounge – The Catalyst on the Deuces.

Bryant is a business consultant and founder of New Era Thinking. He is also a member of the Urban Collective, which opened a food hall and event space at the Manhattan Casino in 2021.

Last November, city officials chose not to renew the consortium’s lease, for several reasons. Bryant called the venture an emotional investment and said he planned to take some time away from the hospitality industry.

However, he has a “soft spot” for South St. Pete, and Copeland approached him with the idea after speaking with Brayboy. While Bryant initially declined Copeland’s pitch, Brayboy’s desire to relinquish the facility to “someone local who cares” resonated.

Jason Bryant plans to “enhance” the patio area at the former Chief’s Creole Cafe. Photo: Facebook.

Bryant believes that reimagining a successful restaurant is “a better deal” than trying to restore and attract people to the Manhattan Casino. Bryant also noted the intersection of 22nd Street South and 9th Avenue, known as the Deuces Corner, features more traffic.

He called the new venture a blessing and a continuation of his initial vision for the Manhattan Casino. Bryant said he is proud to participate in the Deuces renaissance after growing up hearing about its glory days.

“We’re really giving people on the southside somewhere to go,” Bryant added. “The Brayboys, obviously, vetted us to make sure we’re good. They’ve been extremely supportive of everything we’re trying to do.”

He has already contacted surrounding business owners and Terri Lipsey Scott, executive director of the adjacent Woodson African American Museum of Florida. Bryant envisions Sid’s and The Catalyst as an alternative to downtown St. Petersburg establishments, and the corridor again becoming a regional destination.

Bryant said his group is planning for the future and how to integrate and evolve alongside a myriad of projects coming to the Deuces.

“It feels good just to be a part of that because I used to always hear stories about what went on in the Deuces,” he added. “Ironically, the place where we are right now used to be a place called George Washington’s – I believe – and it was basically a speakeasy bar. So, we’re going to try to almost revive that, with a modern taste to it.”

Brayboy previously said there was “zero” chance of him selling the property unless someone “waves a check so big I get choked up.” Bryant said they have yet to discuss ownership, and that he would lease the building for the foreseeable future.

The two concepts will utilize the site’s vacant spaces, and Bryant noted the group is enhancing the patio. They are also improving interior aspects, and Bryant said he is applying lessons learned from the Manhattan Casino’s food hall.

Sid’s at the Catalyst will feature live music, poetry nights and art. Bryant said several local musicians have offered their services, and he is calling on connections made through previous ventures.

“Everything St. Pete is what you’ll see in there,” Bryant said. “We really want to make it a destination.”

National Minority Community Reinvestment Co-Operative Presents: 2023 National Black & Latino Economic$ Summit

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The National Minority Community Reinvestment Co-operative is committed to leveling the playing field for Black and Latinos by addressing the socioeconomic needs of all people of color. This 3-Day Summit is your opportunity to build Black & Latino community development intellectual bandwidth through access to capital, affordable housing training, and small business development.

For over 15 years, this summit has allowed high-level corporate bank representatives and business professionals to foster relationships that have yielded millions in viable deals for grassroots organizations. Over 400 participants are expected to be in attendance!

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

The Registration Fee is $125 per person to participate in the Summit.

By completing the 2023 Summit Registration Application, you are automatically eligible to receive a scholarship covering 100% of your hotel accommodation and/or flight! Register by June 1, 2023 @ 9:00 PM EST to be considered for a scholarship.

Your registration fee covers access to every session and workshop, materials, Welcome Reception, Bank Meet & Greets, and meals for the duration of the summit.

Preserve The ‘Burg’, County Band Together To Educate Public

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St. Pete Catalyst, Published By Veronica Brezina

Downtown St. Petersburg. Photo: Jimmy Fashner.

Preserve the ‘Burg is teaming up with Pinellas County for the first time to present a combined expo and summit to educate residents about the latest preservation efforts and changes in the community. 

“The idea is to marry speakers and presenters with vendors and non-profit groups to create a space for conversation around these issues. The topics relate to our history, preservation, walkability, affordability, resiliency and small business creation,” the advocacy group’s Executive Director Manny Leto said. “St. Pete’s historic neighborhoods are at the heart of those issues.” 

Friday’s Perseveration Summit and Expo will be at the St. Petersburg Museum of History from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

This will be Preserve the ‘Burg’s second expo. The county’s urban planning and preservation team presents annual preservation summits, but Leto said the two groups agreed to combine forces this year rather than host two separate events. For over six months, the duo formed the speaker lineup and panels for the day-long event featuring local preservationists. Read more

Should St. Pete Allow Turf Yards?

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St. Pete Catalyst, Published By: Mark Parker

City officials denied this homeowner’s variance request to keep the artificial turf. Councilmember Copley Gerdes represents the neighborhood and said the residents could no longer mow their yard. Screengrab.

Whether they have difficulty maintaining yards, or concerns regarding harmful nutrients found in fertilizers, homeowners increasingly want to eschew grass and implement synthetic turf, shells, or rock.

However, St. Petersburg administrators consider those materials impervious, and harmful to stormwater systems and only permit yards to feature a small percentage of nonpermeable landscaped green space. City council members, business leaders, and zoning, engineering, and stormwater officials discussed expanding grass-alternative allowances at a recent committee meeting.

Councilmember Copley Gerdes requested the business item due to confusion and concerns over what is permissible.

“This couple can no longer mow their yard,” said Gerdes, referring to a home in west St. Pete’s District 1, at the May 11 meeting. “And they would like to have a green yard. I just don’t think that’s unreasonable.”

City regulations state that “yards shall be maintained as permeable landscaped vegetative green space with the exception of driveways, walks, patios, and similar paved areas … which areas combined shall not exceed 25% of the required yard area for corner lots and 45% of the required for inside lots.” Read more

The American Black Film Festival Drops The Full Lineup Of Movies To Be Showcased

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Black Enterprise, Published By Lauren Nutall

MIAMI, FL – JUNE 16: ABFF Talks: A Conversation with Ryan Coogler as part of The 2018 American Black Film Festival at The New World Center Miami Beach on Saturday, June 16, 2018, in Miami, FL, USA. (Photo by: Aaron J. / ABFF)

On June 14, join thousands of film lovers at this year’s American Black Film Festival, showcasing diverse talent from all over the country. Taking place in Miami Beach through June 18, this festival offers attendees a first look at the most anticipated movies and television shows of the year. But the fun doesn’t stop there. On June 19–25, ABFF PLAY is hosting a virtual session featuring exclusive programs from networks like NBC and streaming services, including Netflix, BET+, and Prime Video. This year’s Festival Ambassador is Emmy Award-winning writer, producer, and actor Lena Waithe. 

“There’s a variety of projects from our network and streaming partners this year. We’re excited for our attendees to experience all of the great content both live and virtually. From conspiracy theories to romance and comedy horror to learning about the first Black supermodel named Donyale Luna to grace the cover of British Vogue. There really is something for everyone to see at the festival,” festival producer and ABFF Ventures President/COO Nicole Friday said in a statement. Read more

Rep. Cori Bush Pushes For $14 Trillion In Reparations

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The Root, Published By Jessica Washington

WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 11: U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) speaks during a March for Our Lives rally against gun violence on the National Mall June 11, 2022 in Washington, DC.

The fight for reparations has been heating up in statehouses and city halls nationwide. And now, Representative Cori Bush (D-Mo.) wants to bring that fight to Congress. The Missouri Congresswoman is introducing the Reparations Now Resolution, urging Congress to provide at least $14 trillion in reparations to descendants of enslaved Africans.

“We need to push this right now,” Rep. Bush told The Root. “It’s 2023, and the U.S. federal government still has not acknowledged the atrocities that came at the hands of this government.”

Bush’s resolution estimates that this nation owes roughly $14 trillion in debt to African Americans. “Our bill breaks down the value of cotton produced by enslaved Africans…the economic advancement of the United States through cotton,” Bush said. “And how there has never been any repayment for the harm done to those enslaved.”

However, according to Bush, this isn’t just about slavery. It’s also about the government-sanctioned harms that ensued, such as mass incarceration and lynchings. “What we’re talking about is freedom and equity and calling on this country to acknowledge the harm that it has inflicted,” she said. Read more

Barack Obama Reveals The Surprising Thing That Helped Save His Marriage To Michelle

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The Root, Published By Shanelle Genai

Former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle close the Obama Foundation Summit on October 29, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois.

Former President Barack Obama is opening up about how he was able to get back into his wife Michelle’s good graces at one point in their marriage.

Speaking to CBS Mornings Nate Burleson on Tuesday, President Obama revealed the one thing that he feels has helped tremendously when it comes to reconnecting with his wife: leaving the White House.

“Let me—let me just say this: it sure helps to be out of the White House. And to have a little bit more time with her,” Obama explained. “You know, what also helps though…about children. And I don’t know about your spouse—Michelle, when our girls were growin’ up—that was priority number one, two, three, and four.” Read more

Lawyer For Family Of Shanquella Robinson Says The Case Remains Open 

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The Root, Published By Candace McDuffie

Photo: Rolling Stone

In an exclusive interview with The U.S. Sun, Sue-Ann Robinson—attorney for the family of Shanquella Robinson—discussed their frustration surrounding how her case has been handled. Shanquella died while on vacation in Cabo San Lucas with friends in October.

During the trip, the 25-year-old sustained a head injury and—according to her autopsy conducted by Mexican authorities—died of a broken neck. A video allegedly from the trip circulated shortly after which showed a violent altercation between Robinson and another woman.

Sue Ann-Robinson (who is not related to the family she’s representing) gave The U.S. Sun updates after it was revealed last month that no one would be charged in Shanquella’s death. “The FBI says we cannot release the documents [case files] to you because the case is still open, because we are waiting for documents to be translated to English that we received from the Mexican authorities,” she stated. Read more

Movers & Shakers Help Define St. Pete’s Future

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By Veronica Brezina

Ryan Griffin (left), a business litigation attorney at Johnson Pope and restaurant investor, and Mark Ferguson (right), owner of Ferg’s Sports Bar and Grill, talk about their entrepreneurship journey in the city and those who helped along the way. All photos by Veronica Brezina unless otherwise credited.

Part 2 in a two-part series detailing the panels and discussions held May 12 during the Inside St. Pete event. 

The Leadership St. Pete Alumni Association and St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce’s Inside St. Pete event kicked off last week at the University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg campus, educating newcomers to business executives and civic leaders who are shaping the city’s future. 

In a guided city tour aboard a trolley, the chamber members introduced the 20-plus attendees to the local movers and shakers while providing an overview of the city’s most anticipated projects. 

This is a highlighted summary of the day-long event: 

Ferg in the ‘Burg 

A stop at Ferg’s Sports Bar and Grill, a longtime staple, and a meet-and-greet with founder and St. Pete native Mark Ferguson was a “must-do” on the itinerary. 

The restaurant and bar, converted from a Sunoco gas station in the former Gas Plant District, calls itself the “headquarters of Tampa Bay Rays fans” as it’s near Tropicana Field, attracting thousands of people during Rays games. 

“You take care of your business, and it will grow,” Ferguson shared with the attendees chowing down on Ferg’s wings. 

Downtown St. Petersburg Table Ban Advances

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By Mark Parker

People feeding the homeless along Mirror Lake (pictured) and Williams Park will have to clear the right of way under a new ordinance. Photo by Mark Parker.

As St. Petersburg’s Pier, Edge and Grand Central Districts continue to gain popularity, so does the proliferation of unpermitted vendor tables that attract crowds and block sidewalks.

City leaders advanced an initiative that expands a 2019 ordinance prohibiting tables and stands in heavily trafficked areas. Councilmember Gina Driscoll, whose district encompasses downtown, proposed the original regulation before the St. Pete Pier opened.

The $90 million public amenity and the city’s growth led to more unpermitted tables and “table-like objects,” which clog the right of way and create safety issues. However, some council members expressed concern that an additional ordinance would impede efforts to help homeless residents.

“I just want to emphasize that my reasoning for bringing this forward and establishing it (the prohibition zone) in the first place was not about what activities are happening with tables, but just the safety issues presented by the tables,” Driscoll said during the May 11 Public Services and Infrastructure (PSI) Committee meeting. “This allows the activity to take place in areas where it’s appropriate and safe to do so while keeping our pedestrian areas clear and safe.

“I just want to make sure there is no question about the intent.” Read more

N-Word Rant Gets Both A Student & A Teacher In Trouble

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The Root; Published By Kalyn Womack

Photo: maroke (Shutterstock)

A 15-year-old student was suspended for recording a video of her teacher using racial slurs circulated social media, according to The Washington Post. The student’s mother criticized the district for punishing her daughter for exposing the teacher’s alleged misconduct.

Mary Walton, a Glendale High School sophomore, recorded her Geometry teacher while he was in debate with his students about the n-word last Thursday. Why was a math teacher doing a side lesson on the n-word? Your guess is as good as mine. “When a Black person is using it towards another Black person, how is it not still a derogatory word?” he asked in the video.

A student then clapped back at him, warning if he wanted to keep his job he should stop saying it. The teacher then responded, “I am not calling anyone a n—-er. I can say the word.” His eyes then pivot to Miss Walton whom he orders to stop recording. When she refused, he sent her to the principal’s office where she received a three-day suspension. Read more

‘We Split Everything 50/50’: Gabrielle Union Opens Up About How Money Affects Her Marriage to Dwyane Wade

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The Root; Published By Stephanie Holland

Photo: Amy Sussman (Getty Images)

From parenting, to sex, to arguments, Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade have been very open about different aspects of their marriage. However, there’s one topic most couples don’t like to discuss publicly: money. Now, Union is breaking that barrier in a discussion on Bloomberg’s Idea Generation. She explained how, despite her success, she still feels financial anxiety and pressure, as well as how the couple “split everything 50/50.”

When she was asked at what point in her career she felt comfortable about the money she was making, The Inspection star revealed that she’s still trying to figure that out.

“I struggle with that still because I think I just have more responsibilities for my money, so I get nervous, like, ‘Oh, god that that movie didn’t open, what does that mean?,” she said. “‘Am I gonna have enough to hold everybody up?’ And everyone’s like, ‘It’s coming, calm down.’ I’m trying to find peace in the journey. Not using my anxiety and scarcity mindset to be my engine. Which is hard.” Read more

Dwayne Johnson Opens Up About His Battles With Depression

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The Root; Published By Shanelle Genai

Dwayne Johnson attends the 95th Annual Academy Awards on March 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California.
Photo: Arturo Holmes (Getty Images)

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is getting real about mental health, detailing his struggles with depression over the years in a new interview.

The Red Notice actor recently appeared on The Pivot podcast where he shared that his first time experiencing what he described as a “tailspin” was back in college when an unfortunate shoulder injury halted his football dreams at the University of Miami.

“My first battle with depression was down there in Miami. I didn’t want to go to school, I was ready to leave. I left school. I didn’t take any midterms and I just left,” he said, according to People. “But the interesting thing at that time is, I just didn’t know what it was. I didn’t know what mental health was, I didn’t know what depression was. I just knew I didn’t wanna be there. I wasn’t going to any of the team meetings, wasn’t participating in anything, wasn’t working out. And you know for us, as athletes, just any kind of sweat and getting it in will get that shit out of you. I couldn’t do it because of my shoulder.”

Yale Study Reveals Terrifying Excess Deaths For African Americans

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The Root, Published By Candace McDuffie

Photo: Rawpixel.com (Shutterstock)

On Tuesday, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published a shocking new Yale study that sheds a light on racial disparities in the U.S. regarding life expectancy for Black folks. Studies have shown for years the Black people suffer from illness at higher rates and die younger than white people.

However, the study JAMA shared revealed that the higher mortality rate for Black Americans translates to 1.63 million excess deaths compared to white people. This is over the course of more than 20 years. The higher mortality rate for Black folks from 1999 to 2020 led to the loss of more than 80 million years of life in comparison to white folks.

America managed to make progress in attempting to close the gap between Black and white mortality rates from 1999 to 2011. According to the document, heart disease was the number one contributor towards age-adjusted excess mortality for men and women, followed by cancer for men. From 2011 to 2019, however, that progress hindered. In 2020, Covid-19 expunged two decades of advancement as the disease hit Black Americans the hardest. Read more

The Foundation Presents: Virtual Vendor Fair: St. Petersburg Anchor Institutions Initiative

Attention local business owners! Interested in becoming a vendor for the city or a local hospital? Sign up for our Virtual Vendor Fair. Local vendors who attend this virtual event will find out how to do business with the four current members of the St. Petersburg Anchor Institutions Initiative — Bayfront Health, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, St. Anthony’s Hospital, and the City of St. Petersburg.

Anchor Initiative members will discuss vendor diversity programs, the bid and RFP process, becoming certified, group purchasing organizations, and more. Each institution will also hold virtual ‘office hours’ where vendors can ask more specific questions about opportunities, next steps, and more. Areas of opportunity include construction and engineering, facilities maintenance, food and nutrition, advertising, social media, environmental technology, information services, and much more!

ZenTech Consulting – 2023 Job Fair

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Bring your updated resume. Interviews will be conducted on the same date.

“Available Jobs”

Healthcare: RNs, Medical Technicians, LPNs, X-Ray Technicians, Cath Lab Techs, and much more…
Education: Daycare Director, Teachers, Assist Teacher, and more…
Accountant: Sr. Accountant, Financial Analyst, CPA, and more….
Sales Management
Warehouse / Logistics
Hospitality: Housekeeping, Cooks/ Chiefs, and much more….
Superintendent / Construction
Engineers
Maintenance Technicians

Job News USA – May 18th Orlando Job Fair

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Orlando Hiring Event

Thursday, May 18th at 10 am!

** 25+ Companies will be hiring for OVER 1,000 JOBS in a variety of industries.

Job News USA will be hosting a Job Fair from 10 am to 2 pm on Thursday, May 18th at the Embassy Suites located at 8978 International Drive in Orlando Florida 32819.

** Companies have immediate hiring needs and many will be Interviewing “AND” Hiring On The Spot **

This is a unique opportunity for job seekers to meet in person and make personal connections with recruiters and hiring managers from some of Central Florida’s best companies and organizations.

VP Kamala Harris To Meet With Young Male Entrepreneurs Of Color

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The Root, Published By Candace McDuffie

US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a National Small Business Week event with US President Joe Biden, left, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, May 1, 2023.

On Tuesday (May 16), Vice President Kamala Harris will convene with over 35 young men of color—comprised of entrepreneurs and small business owners—to offer resources and discuss strategies for economic empowerment. This engagement is the latest in a series for Harris, who has completed several of these events both at the White House and on the road over the last few months.

According to a White House official, the summit will center the distinctive needs of this particularly vulnerable population. “It’s building upon [Harris’] work in small business,” the source tells The Root. “Since her time in the Senate—even before that—Harris has been really focused on making sure small businesses have the resources they need to kind of grow and to contribute to our economy.

“The purpose of this engagement is to not only hear from young men of color but to make sure they’re aware of the resources that our administration has provided and will continue to provide. The plan is to bring them to the table…to [have them] be a centerpiece in our policy and economic vision going forward.” Read more

Louisiana House Approves Bill To Open Juvenile Records In Majority-Black Areas

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The Grio

A view of the Louisiana State Capitol, where its House of Representatives recently approved House Bill 321, which would open up court records for minors as young as 13 in Caddo, Orleans and East Baton Rouge parishes. (Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Three of the state’s predominantly Black parishes would be affected by the Louisiana House of Representatives’ recent approval of a bill to make some juvenile criminal records public.

House Bill 321, which would open up court records for minors as young as 13 in Caddo, Orleans, and East Baton Rouge parishes, passed the chamber on a 63-36 vote on Thursday, according to The Advocate.

State Rep. Debbie Villio, a Republican from Kenner who sponsored the legislation, said it was about “public safety,” contending that it aimed to reduce crime in Louisiana parishes with the highest rates by promoting greater transparency.

While supporters of the measure hope it will pave the way for a statewide system, some lawmakers have branded it an overtly racist initiative that would subject Black children to scrutiny usually reserved for the adult criminal justice system.

“Let’s be real. We know what this is about,” said state Rep. Edmond Jordan, a Democrat from Baton Rouge, The Advocate reported. “The optics are obvious. Let’s stop playing around with this,” he said.

“If you’re from Baton Rouge, if you’re from Shreveport, if you’re from New Orleans,” he continued, “you should be offended by this.” Read more

Kehinde Wiley Is Taking His Art Everywhere, All At Once

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The Grio

Kehinde Wiley poses for a portrait at Sean Kelly Gallery, Thursday, April 27, 2023, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Kehinde Wiley was already well into his influential art career when his portrait of Barack Obama — arms crossed, perched on a chair amid brilliant foliage — was unveiled in 2018. But there’s no doubt it changed the artist’s life.

Here’s one way he describes the shift: Now, should he ever show up at the bank and realize he’s forgotten his ID — which hasn’t happened yet, but still — he could say: “You know that portrait of Obama? I’m that guy, and I didn’t bring my ID, so if you could just Google that…”

But Wiley, proud as he is of the groundbreaking work — an official portrait of a Black president by a Black artist — does wonder how long he’ll be referred to in that context.

“I wonder if I will ever be able to do anything that lives up to the gravity of that moment,” he says. “Everybody wants to be seen in a number of different contexts … but I mean, what a great project to be involved in. So, come on, here’s the world’s smallest violin, playing just for me.” Read more

Courageous 12: A legacy Of Equity

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The Weekly Challenger, Published By Frank Drouzas

More than 220 attendees gathered at the Center for Health Equity for a historic discussion with Courageous 12 member Leon Jackson, former St. Petersburg Police Chief Goliath Davis and current Police Chief Anthony Holloway.

ST. PETERSBURG — The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg held a reflective discussion with Courageous 12 member Leon Jackson, St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway, and former St. Petersburg Police Chief Goliath Davis, III, with Rev. Kenny Irby as moderator on April 27.

Jackson is the last living member of the Courageous 12, a group of African-American officers that sued the city in the 1960s to gain the rights of their white counterparts. They ultimately won, leading to sweeping changes within the police department.

Mayor Ken Welch presented an official proclamation naming April. 27, 2023, as The Courageous 12 Day. Pictured with Leon Jackson, the sole surviving member of the group.

In recognition of Jackson’s and his fellow officers’ legacy, Mayor Ken Welch presented an official proclamation naming April. 27, 2023, as The Courageous 12 Day.

“Despite what some may say, history does matter,” Welch said. “And history tells us that the Courageous 12 fought a battle that was instrumental not just locally but nationally in the fight for equal rights.”

Leon Jackson with Louis Williams, a former St. Petersburg police officer; Williams was the first Black person to arrest a white man.

The Courageous 12 and their fight for equality led to systemic change and opportunity in St. Pete, the mayor said, as African Americans began breaking color barriers not only within the police department but government offices in the city.  

The other policemen who joined Jackson in the groundbreaking lawsuit — which they won on an appeal with help from the NAACP in 1968 — included Adam BakerFreddie Crawford, Raymond DeLoach, Charles Holland, Robert Keys, Primus Killen, James King, Johnnie Lewis, Horace Nero, Jerry Styles, and Nathaniel Wooten. Read more

In Honor Of Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour, Here Are Her Best Performances

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The Root, Published By Candace McDuffie

Beyoncé performs onstage during the opening night of the “RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR” at Friends Arena on May 10, 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Beyoncé kicked off the Renaissance World Tour earlier this week in Stockholm, Sweden. Not only did the mother of three look phenomenal in custom bodysuits and captivating costumes, but she also performed her latest album Renaissance in its entirety. Throughout her storied career, Bey is often referred to as the greatest performer alive. To support that claim, here are her best performances. Read more

Jamie Foxx’s Daughter Calls Out Crazy Rumors, Gives Update On His Condition

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The Root, Published By Stephanie Holland

Photo: Frazer Harrison (Getty Images)

Updated 5/12/2023 at 3:18 p.m. ET:

After media and internet speculation reached a fever pitch on Thursday, Corinne Foxx shared an update about her father Jamie’s health. In an Instagram Story on Friday, she wrote, “Update from family: Sad to see how the media runs wild. My Dad has been out of the hospital for weeks, recuperating. In fact, he was playing pickleball yesterday! Thanks for everyone’s prayers and support! We have an exciting work announcement coming next week too!”

The post was accompanied by a photo of the award-winning actor and a quote referencing the reports that his family was “preparing for the worst.” Maybe everyone can calm down now and let the man recover in peace. Read more

TikTok’s Fave (Crying-Laughing Boy) Meme Has The Most Adorable Backstory

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The Root, Published By Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: Africa Facts Zone (Twitter)

With all the horrible things going on in the world, we deserve a good laugh to get through the day. Luckily, a young boy from Ghana was able to make us laugh by having a hardy laugh himself. The backstory to this viral video is so simple for such a tremendous reaction.

The face of Albert Ofosu Nketia, a 7-year-old boy from a Twi-speaking family living in Ghana, was spread all over the globe through a 10-second video of his tears turning into laughterAccording to Kenya news magazine Tuko, the boy was crying because his mom had prepared him plantain instead of yam, his preferred dish to eat. We all remember a time when our mom didn’t pull through on our favorite meal. We ate what she cooked regardless but, not being able to satisfy a craving can truly be that devastating to a picky toddler.

In order to lift his spirits, his grandmother began singing a silly song. Nketia couldn’t help himself but erupt into a cackling that was contagious through the screen. Read more

Deputy Sacrifices Her Life For Her Child In Pit-Bull Mauling

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The Root, Published By Kalyn Womack

Photo: Marion County Sheriff’s Office via AP (AP)

A seasoned sheriff’s deputy in Indiana was killed in a dog mauling attack while trying to protect her 6-year-old son, according to The Associated Press. The dog wasn’t identified as a K-9 but officials said it looked like a pit bull.

Tamieka White, 46, died Tuesday night after Indianapolis officers responded to a dog attack at her home on the east side. Responding officers fatally shot the dog but the animal had already brutally attacked White as she protected her young son, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries. She was pronounced dead after succumbing to her injuries shortly after the officers arrived.

“She died last night protecting the most important person in her life,” Brittany Seligman, White’s commander at the Sheriff’s Office via IndyStar.

White was a deputy with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Indianapolis since 2007, overseeing the transportation of inmates between the court and county jail, the report says. Aside from her work, she was described as being tiny in stature with a big heart and a “bright light” to everyone who knew her, per Sheriff Kerry Forestal.

Little details are known about the attack besides the outcome but authorities are investigating the tragedy. Read more

Fla. Leaders: How Dare You Try to Erase George Floyd From Our History?

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The Root, Published By Kalyn Womack

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signs several bills related to public education and teacher pay at a press conference in Miami, Tuesday, May 9, 2023.

The Florida Department of Education announced Tuesday that it rejected 35 percent of social studies textbooks. Why? They include content discussing the murder of George Floyd and the spark of Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Florida leaders are speaking up about how detrimental this can be to students in Florida and possibly, students nationwide.

A social studies book titled “New Calls for Social Justice” pitched for grades 6-8 was rejected for “unsolicited topics.” In the textbook’s description, the course addresses the way technology caused police violence to be spread more frequently in the media. It also addresses the creation of the Black Lives Matter movement which of course, includes the 2020 “racial reckoning” when George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and many other Black people were slain by police. The report says the publisher removed this portion from the book in order for it to be approved.

What does this say to the students? Or other states who are evaluating textbook materials? Read more

Florida’s First Dog Waterpark And Full Liquor Bar Opens In St. Pete On May 26, 2023

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I Love The Burg, Published By Bob Carskadon

Photo courtesy Mutts & Martinis

Get your dog wet and your martini dry. Mutts and Martinis is a new dog waterpark and bar opening Friday, May 26 at 2900 Central Avenue, offering playtime for dogs and dog parents alike.

The massive space in Grand Central has been under construction for some time, and the highly anticipated grand opening was officially announced this week. Ownership is calling Mutts and Martinis “Florida’s first dog waterpark and full liquor bar.”

While we wait for more details on what to expect, sneak peeks show a huge space (the building is the former Kings Transmissions), with two large rooms offering plenty of room for activities. Renderings also show an outdoor pool area with obstacles and toys, as well as covered seating areas.

Photo courtesy Mutts & Martinis

Opening weekend festivities will include a DJ, a light food menu, and of course, the dog pool and a full bar. Mutts & Martinis says membership and day pass details will be shared soon, but announced the following requirements for dog entry:

  • A copy of up-to-date vaccines for rabies, distemper, parvovirus, and Bordetella
  • Male dogs over 18 months must be neutered
  • All dogs may be temperament tested

Oasis Pavers and Pools led the design and construction of the dog pool, as the celebrated local company turned its talents to canine structures. Their pool design will give dogs an easy spot to cool off and play in the water. Read more

The City Of St. Petersburg Is Hiring: Chief Equity Officer

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This is highly responsible administrative and professional work developing, coordinating, and administering a variety of social and community equity policies and practices for the City. Work involves the oversight and direction of the City’s efforts to advance racial equity and inclusion within City government in collaboration with community stakeholders. The objective of this position is to institutionalize equity and inclusion into City government policies, procedures, and practices need to promote a climate of equity and inclusion in St. Petersburg.  Work also includes leading committees and working groups ensuring staff and resident voices are integrated into equity and inclusion strategy and practices; managing and monitoring data relevant to organizational racial and social equity gaps, impact analysis, and developing metrics to measure the effectiveness of equity and inclusion goals; and contributing to public awareness strategies and outreach activities for equity and inclusion programs and services.  This position requires the employee to exercise considerable initiative and judgment to formulate recommendations for policies, procedures, and programs; to apply considerable knowledge of governmental organizations to formulate solutions to institutionalize equity and inclusion in City government; and to oversee the coordination of related City objectives, policies and programs with the City, community, and partner organizations. This work requires the exercise of considerable judgment, discretion, and tact to effectively communicate and coordinate with outside organizations, elected officials, lawmakers, City Administration, City Council, and the community. Apply Here

Caught Up In The Mess: What Really Went Down At The BabyFace, Anita Baker Concert In New Jersey?

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The Root, Published By Shanelle Genai

Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, left; Anita Baker. Photo: Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage; Valerie MACON/AFP (Getty Images)

On Wednesday night, Newark, N.J., fans convened at the Prudential Center to see legendary singers Babyface and Anita Baker perform.

According to NYC’s radio station WBLS, the “Whip Appeal” singer was the opening act for Baker but due to “technical difficulties” and a subsequent showtime delay, he ended not performing at all—leaving fans had to unfortunately wonder when they would see him again (sorry, I had to).

“I am truly sorry to my fans who have been waiting for us to hit the stage the evening at the Prudential Center,” Babyface wrote in a post to Instagram. “I was asked not to perform in order to give Ms. Baker her space and time to perform her show in its entirety. My band and I are extremely saddened we didn’t get to perform for y’all tonight.” Read more

Finally, Some Good News In The Racist Rancher Feud

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The Root, Published By Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: KOAA

Ugh! Finally, something positive has come in this never-ending feud. The Mallerys, a Black ranch couple who claim they’ve been racially harassed by their neighbors, have had their charges dropped, per Colorado Public Radio. They ended up getting charged with stalking after trying to get their neighbors charged for the same damn thing.

Yoder residents Courtney and Nicole Mallery were charged with felony stalking after accusing their neighbors in of trespassing, killing their livestock and making racist threatsAccording to body camera footage, they called the police over 100 times to report these incidents and also had cameras set up around their home to monitor activity outside. However, one of their neighbors (who had a restraining order on them by the Mallerys) alleged they were using the cameras to spy on them. After that one 911 call, the ranch couple were arrested, the report says. Read more

‘She’s Brilliant’: OG Ariel Jodi Benson Is ‘Proud’ of Halle Bailey

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The Root, Published By Stephanie Holland

(L-R) Halle Bailey and Jodi Benson attend the World Premiere of Disney’s live-action feature “The Little Mermaid” at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on May 08, 2023.

As we all prepare for Halle Bailey’s Ariel to take over our lives, the OG Little Mermaid is including herself among the actress’ fans. On Monday, at the world premiere of the live-action remake The Little Mermaid, Jodi Benson, who voiced Ariel in the 1989 animated original, met up with Bailey on the red carpet and had nothing but praise for the newest Disney Princess.

“She doesn’t need any advice from me; she’s brilliant. I did get the chance to meet her a few times and chat with her to tell her how proud I was of her,” Benson told Entertainment Tonight. “But I love that she has a purity of heart and a pure spirit. You can see that vulnerability, bravery, and that courage coming through, and it’s beautiful. I’m so thrilled for her and I’m so proud of her.” Read more

These Young Black People Are Real Geniuses

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The Root, Published By Amira Castilla

Alena Analeigh Wicker

All parents believe that their babies are geniuses, but these kids really are! From toddlers to college students, these young Black people have cracked thousands of years old math equations, been accepted to prestigious schools, and have high IQs than the most respected people in our societies. Here are their stories! Read more

Mother Of 6-Year-Old Shooter Breaks Silence Months After The Incident

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The Root, Published By Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: ABC News (Fair Use)

Deja Taylor, the mother of the 6-year-old who shot and injured his first-grade teacher, finally spoke out in an interview with ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Taylor was previously charged with felony child neglect as a result of her son obtaining her firearm, per The Associated Press.

Authorities say Taylor’s firearm was legally purchased and according to her attorney, was secured on the highest shelf of her closet with a trigger lock. There are still no details as to how he got a hold of the gun. But alas, he brought the firearm to school and into Abigail Zwerner’s class where he shot a bullet through her hand and into her chest.

Taylor told GMA her son has a more severe case of ADHD, describing her son as “off the wall” and unable to sit still. Because of his behavior, the child was enrolled in a plan at school requiring a family member to accompany him to class every day, though the week of the shooting was the first time he didn’t have an escort. She explained he was showing improvements after starting medication is the reason why he didn’t have an escort. Read more

The Veteran Job & Resource Fair

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Time & Location

May 31, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Enoch Davis Center, 1111 18th Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33705, USA

About the event

Are you a military veteran looking for a job?⁣⁣ Come visit the #VeteransJobResourceFair, your one-stop access to resources for jobs, health, networking, and more!⁣⁣

Make an impact in your community with the knowledge and skills you’ve acquired while serving your country. Now is the time to take charge and seize the opportunity presented by this event.

There will be dozens of employers ready to talk with veterans. Tap into your full potential today! #PCUL #VeteransJobResourceFair

Employers and Vendors Register Here

Did Eric Adams And Other New York Leaders Fail Jordan Neely?

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The Root, Published By Jessica Washington

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 5: People attend a rally to protest the death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man who was choked to death on the subway, May 5, 2023

Updated as of 5/10/2023 at 12:00 p.m. ET 

It’s been a week since Jordan Neely was killed by a white ex-Marine Daniel Penny inside a New York Subway car. The 30-year-old Black Michael Jackson impersonator was held down by several passengers and choked to death while an on-looker filmed. Jackson, who was unhoused, was screaming that he was “hungry” and “thirsty” shortly before he died.

Amid widespread grief over this senseless tragedy, some New Yorkers have felt that city leaders, including Mayor Eric Adams, failed to properly condemn Neely’s killer. Adams’ initial statements focused almost entirely on Neely’s mental health and not on the fact that an unarmed Black man, who witnesses said had not harmed anyone, was killed in broad daylight. Read more

Founder And Host Of Black Real Estate Podcast Is Teaching Entrepreneurs How To Own Property

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Sam Dolciné, the founder and host of the Black Real Estate Dialogue [BRED] podcast, is on a mission to help African Americans access equity and generational wealth through property investment. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Sam now lives in Los Angeles and has a background in Human Resources and Talent Acquisition.

In October 2019, recognizing his 401K would not offer him enough equity to retire comfortably, Sam began looking to acquire property. Upon researching the subject matter, he did not encounter resources offered by Black investors and found that discouraging. Read more at www.blackenteprise.com

Topgolf St. Pete To Open This June, Hiring 500+ Associates In Advance Of Launch

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I Love The Burg, Published By Bob Clarkson

Photo courtesy Topgolf

In exciting news that has been years in the making, St. Pete’s first Topgolf is opening this summer, and they’re hiring half a thousand locals to prepare for the highly anticipated debut. The sprawling complex is located at 220 Carillon Parkway North in the Carillon Business Park.

The celebrated golf and entertainment venue is aiming for a grand opening in late June, as exterior construction and interior buildout are nearly completed. With the finish line so close, the biggest thing left is to hire a team for the gigantic facility sure to be packed out from day one. Interested candidates are encouraged to visit topgolf.com/careers, as jobs are available across the board from guest services and facilities management to bartenders, servers, cooks, barracks, and more.

Most people are familiar with the concept, but for those new to Topgolf, it’s a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience. The building houses 102 climate-controlled hitting bays where guests can select from a long list of group or solo golf games and challenges based on the holes placed near, far, and wide from the hitting zone. The games are designed to be enjoyed by both long-time golfers and first-timers alike, ranging from driving competitions to short-chipping challenges.

Of course, golf is only part of the fun at Topgolf. From each bay, guests can order from the full and extensive menu of tasty food and drinks, and trust us when we say this isn’t your average bar food. The heaping dishes of fresh-made snacks, sandwiches, and meals are stars in their own right. Read more

Lealman affordable housing project moves forward

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When Pinellas County Commissioners dedicated $12.5 million to four affordable developments Tuesday, one stood out due to its scope and anticipated impact on an oft-overlooked area.

Over 20,000 people call Lealman home, and many lack transportation, grocery and safe affordable housing options. County officials have designated the underserved community just north of St. Petersburg as a community redevelopment area (CRA) and have recently increased efforts to promote its growth and sustainability. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

Nonprofit Addresses Minority Mental Health Challenges

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May is National Mental Health Awareness Month – and the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg (FHSP) and its community partners are increasing awareness and resources for underserved populations facing unique challenges.

The American Psychiatric Association notes that most racial and ethnic minority groups have similar – or in some cases, decreased – rates of mental disorders as whites. However, the organization adds that inaccessibility to quality care, cultural stigma, discrimination and a lack of understanding often contribute to poorer outcomes.

90-page report released Tuesday compared national, state and local data to better understand mental health trends among Pinellas County and St. Petersburg BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) communities. FHSP funded the study authored by Dr. Keesha Benson, owner of Providence Group International, and Dr. Stephanie Reed, CEO of Reed Community Consulting. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

Full Circle: Dr. Kanika Tomalin Named CEO of the Foundation She Helped Build

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Dr. Kanika Tomalin overlooking the St. Petersburg’s downtown waterfront PHOTO: Nola Laleye for Tampa Bay Business Journal

“We want someone who understands THIS landscape and can hit the ground running!”

That was one of the key themes repeated during the months-long outreach series by the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg in its search for a new chief executive. By the end of the process, 175 diverse community leaders weighed in on the essential qualities needed by the next leader of one of the largest race equity funders in Florida’s Tampa Bay region.

They got their wish when the Foundation board announced on Monday its selection of Dr. Kanika Jelks-Tomalin as President & CEO, following a four-month national search.

In more ways than one. Not only is Dr. Tomalin intimate with the broad network of local innovators and doers in the “race and health equity” spaces (the bread and butter of the Foundation’s investment strategies in years past).

She also happens to be one of the original architects of the Foundation, back in 2014, when the entity was created as a vehicle for a $150 million endowment born from the sale of Bayfront Hospital. She was then Vice President of Strategic Planning & Public Affairs for Bayfront Health Systems.

Wasting no time, Dr. Tomalin will assume her post in mid-June. Explaining the lens she brings to the work, she says “I look forward to leading the Foundation’s continued good work to create systems change that delivers a more equitable community for all our people. Health equity is a critical component to quality of life. It is defined and determined by racial equity. Our community is poised to implement great changes for both.”

Leaders she’s worked with previously applaud the news.

“Dr. Tomalin’s appointment is not only a win for St. Pete; it’s a win for the entire county,” said Dr. Cynthia Johnson, Director of Economic Development for Pinellas County. “Her unwavering commitment to equity, engagement, and economic development is a testament to her character and inclusive leadership.”

Former St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman said, “Having had the honor and pleasure of working with Dr. Tomalin for eight years, I have seen the passion and commitment she has for this community and know she will bring that same drive to this new position.  Her leadership is needed more than ever as we find ourselves in a time where equity, diversity, and tolerance are more threatened than ever.”

Nikki Gaskin-Capehart worked with Dr. Tomalin during her tenure as Mayor Kriseman’s Urban Affairs Director. She says, “I was ecstatic to learn of the Foundation’s selection of Dr. Tomalin. I’m certain, after having worked so closely with her, that she is the perfect CEO to lead the Foundation at this important time, and exactly who our community needs in this critical role!”

Mayor Ken Welch also touched on the serendipity when asked for comment earlier today. “Dr. Kanika Tomalin is the right leader at the right time for the Foundation!,” he wrote. “Congratulations, Dr. Tomalin, on circling back to your Bayfront roots and sowing new seeds as the Foundation’s President and CEO. The City looks forward to continuing its work with your team with you at the helm!”

The Foundation’s Board Vice Chair, Rev. Kenny Irby, echoed his peers, saying “Dr. Kanika Tomalin is just the kind of transformative leader needed to take the Foundation to a new level of service in this county. I feel like she was created for this moment.”

In a press release by the Foundation, Board Chair Dr. Donna Petersen, was quoted as saying, “We are thrilled that Dr. Tomalin will lend her tremendous experience and expertise to lead this organization into its next chapter. Our community faces tremendous challenges but is also poised to seize opportunities. Dr. Tomalin’s deep commitment, long-standing relationships, and record of trajectory-shifting outcomes made her our clear choice.”

Dr. Tomalin currently serves as Eckerd College’s Chief Operating Officer and Vice President for Strategy, a role she’s held for the past year and a half. She previously served for eight years as Deputy Mayor of the City of St. Petersburg, including four years as City Administrator, during which she led and helped engineer back-to-back innovations in equity and economic development.

About Her Community Connections

Dr. Tomalin is the fifth-generation of her family to live in St. Petersburg. She graduated from Boca Ciega High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in broadcast journalism from Florida A&M University, an MBA from the University of Miami, and a Doctorate in law and policy from Northeastern University.

She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; Academy Prep’s Board of Directors; St. Thomas Episcopal Church; the Dali Museum Board of Directors; Celma Mastry Ovarian Cancer Foundation Board; and the American Heart Association’s Women’s Leadership Society: Circle of Red. She is a member of the Woodson Museum of Florida First Ladies Society and its capital campaign committee. Dr. Tomalin was raised in St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church and maintains close ties to that congregation.

Her service has been honored by national organizations such as the ACLU and National Diversity Council. She has been named one of Florida’s Most Powerful & Influential Women; St. Petersburg’s Woman to Watch; and St. Petersburg Business Woman of the Year. 

Pras Michél Says He’s Not An FBI Informant: ‘This Is Not A Tekashi 6ix9ine Situation’

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The Root: Published By Noah A. McGee

Photo: Tasos Katopodis (Getty Images)

Despite being convicted of criminal conspiracy and facing more than 20 years in prison, there’s one claim that Fugees rapper Pras Michél refuses to give any credence to. In a video from TMZ, the Grammy-nominated rapper and producer denied any claims and allegations that he is or was an informant for the FBI or CIA. During the video, he says, “I can’t really talk about the verdict, I got a lot more work to get done.”

When asked about the claims of him being an FBI informant, Pras shot down the allegations quickly, saying, “Look, I was never in the past, present, or future an FBI or a CIA informant. Never ever. If people want to check it out, look at the testimonies—they could see that all within the records, and all the DC courts. This is not a Tekashi 6ix9ine situation, respectfully. Because he admitted he was an informant, basically. So I was never. I never said I was. I am not now and never will be an FBI or a CIA informant.”

Pras said this despite reports from Rolling Stone that while Michél was on the witness stand, he admitted that met with FBI agents multiple times to discuss China’s plans to extradite a dissident, someone who is in strong opposition to official policy, and Americans who were being held hostage in the Asian country. He reportedly said, “I took it upon myself to report because I thought the FBI should know.” Read more

Biden’s Approval Is Slipping Among Black Americans, What Is Going On?

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The Root: Published By Jessica Washington

PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 05: President Joe Biden (L) and former U.S. President Barack Obama (R)
Photo: Mark Makela (Getty Images)

Things are not looking great for President Joe Biden as he heads into the Presidential election. His approval ratings just hit a new low, and even his more ardent supporters, Black Americans, aren’t nearly as enthusiastic as last election cycle.

The most recent Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that Biden’s approval rating among Black adults had dropped to 58 percent. And roughly 55 percent of Black adults said they are likely to support Biden in the general election. For some added context, when the same pollsters spoke to Black adults after Biden’s first month, his approval rating was roughly 90 percent. The Root sat down with experts to try to explain why Biden appears to be slipping among Black Americans.

Did Inflation Hurt Biden Among Black Voters?

A few things are at play with Biden’s drop in support, says Nina Smith, a political strategist and former senior advisor to Stacey Abrams. And inflation is way up there, she says.

“I think inflation or at least the perception of inflation is really impacting people,” Smith, adding that some of that is beyond politicians’ control. Read more

California Reparations Panel Recommends Apology, Payments To Black Californians

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A panel in California created to consider reparations for Black residents voted to approve recommendations for the payments of reparations to Black Californians for injustices and discrimination stemming from slavery. CNN’s John Avlon reports. Read more

The Foundation For A Healthy St. Petersburg Names Dr. Kanika Tomalin As President And Chief Executive Officer

Extensive community input helped shape the selection of a local, seasoned leader. 

Today the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg (FHSP) announced the appointment of Dr. Kanika Tomalin as its next President and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Tomalin, whose local leadership has crossed public and private sectors, was instrumental in the creation of the conversion foundation during her time as Bayfront Health System’s Vice President of Strategic Planning & Public Affairs, following the sale of the health system.  

Over the last decade, the Foundation has awarded millions of dollars to local organizations, created the Center for Health Equity, and formed strategic partnerships with organizations across the community that share its goals. It works in the communities it serves to address health disparities, advance population health and achieve health equity through the advancement of racial equity.  

Dr. Tomalin will begin at the Foundation in mid-June. 

“We are thrilled that Dr. Tomalin will lend her tremendous experience and expertise to lead this organization into its next chapter,” said Dr. Donna Petersen, Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “Our community faces tremendous challenges but is also poised to seize opportunities. Dr. Tomalin’s deep commitment, long-standing relationships, and record of trajectory-shifting outcomes made her our clear choice. Her leadership will reinforce our commitment to achieve racial and health equity.”  

Dr. Tomalin’s appointment follows a nationwide search that included extensive community outreach to a broad cross-section of the St. Petersburg community. Feedback was received from community leaders, ranging from business and health experts to clergy and local activists. More than 175 people shared their ideas and priorities for the ideal qualifications and background of a new leader. In addition to the required executive experience, the importance of integrity, relationship building, and community engagement emerged as most important. These factors shaped the nationwide search, conducted by Winner Partners, the executive search firm tasked with leading the process.  

“I am deeply committed to the mission, purpose, and possibilities for the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg and I am excited to lead this talented team,” said Dr. Tomalin. “It is a continuation of my life’s work to create a healthier, more equitable community.”  

Dr. Tomalin currently serves as Eckerd College’s Chief Operating Officer and Vice President for Strategy. She previously served eight years as Deputy Mayor for the City of St. Petersburg, including four as City Administrator. Accomplishments during this time include founding the Innovation District; creating of the Healthy St. Pete initiative; helping reduce African American poverty to a record low; and guiding St. Petersburg through its pandemic response. The fifth generation of her family to call St. Pete home, Dr. Tomalin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in broadcast journalism from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, an MBA from the University of Miami, and a Doctorate in law and policy from Northeastern University. More than two decades ago, Dr. Tomalin joined Bayfront Health System as a fundraiser and advanced through the ranks to the C-suite. As the regional vice president of external affairs, she led the creation of the joint-venture partnership that resulted in the creation of the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg.  

“The Foundation for Healthy St. Petersburg plays a vital role advocating for equity in this community,” said Gwendolyn Reese, President of, the Florida African American Heritage Association. “Dr. Tomalin understands this vision, and we are thrilled that she will be leading this organization.” Read more

Daniel Penny ‘Never Intended To Harm’ Jordan Neely, According To Attorneys

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The Root; Published By: Candace McDuffie

Scores of protesters gathered in Washington Square Park, on Friday, May 5, 2023 to protest the Jordan Neely homicide.

Daniel J. Penny, the man who allegedly choked Jordan Neely to death last week on a northbound F train in New York City, never intended to hurt anyone according to his legal team. Penny, who is a 24-year-old U.S. Marine veteran, placed Neely, 30, in a deadly chokehold in order to protect himself and others his lawyers claimed.

“We would first like to express, on behalf of Daniel Penny, our condolences to those close to Mr. Neely,” the law firm of Raiser and Kenniff, P.C. explained in a statement Friday. “When Mr. Neely began aggressively threatening Daniel Penny and the other passengers, Daniel, with the help of others, acted to protect themselves, until help arrived.

“Daniel never intended to harm Mr. Neely and could not have foreseen his untimely death. We hope that out of this awful tragedy will come a new commitment by our elected officials to address the mental health crisis on our streets and subways.” Read more

Mother’s Day 2023! Let’s Celebrate TV’s Best Black Moms

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The Root; Published By: Stephanie Holland

Photo: Jack Zeman /FOX

TV history is full of amazing moms. With Mother’s Day around the corner, it’s time to once again celebrate some of our favorites. These are the moms who have their kids’ backs no matter what. These women don’t just take care of their family, they usually extend their compassion and love to friends and family. And obviously, you do not want to hurt one of their kids, because nothing good will come from it. So let’s give some well-deserved flowers to the best Black TV moms. Read more

Blue Ivy’s Natural Hair Journey

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The Root; Published By: Amira Castilla

Photo: Jeff Kravitz/MTV1415 / Contributor (Getty Images), Thearon W. Henderson / Stringer (Getty Images)

Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s oldest daughter, Blue Ivy Carter has faced scrutiny for her hair since she was a toddler. Internet trolls and even celebrities (yes, celebrities) made her the butt of jokes for not having her hair combed. Well, her natural hair has only continued to flourish despite the public’s wildly inappropriate comments. Here’s a look into the blossoming superstar’s hair throughout her life! Read more

Inaugural Tampa Bay Chalk Festival Brings Colorful Art To The Deuces

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I Love The Burg; Published By: Bob Clarkson

Photo courtesy Tampa Bay Chalk Festival

A new arts festival is adding some extra color to the streets of The Deuces this May. The Inaugural Tampa Bay Chalk Festival is being hosted on Saturday, May 13, when locals and visitors alike are invited to turn the historic neighborhood into a tapestry of chalk art.

The sidewalks on 22nd Street between 7th Ave South and 9th Ave South on the Historic Deuces will be “transformed into a kaleidoscope of colorful squares as professionals, beginners, and everyone in between are invited to take part as artists or viewers.”

Festivities kick off at 9 am and chalk painting will go on throughout the day until a 4:30 pm presentation caps off the event. As part of the festival, attendees are encouraged to sate their hunger and thirst at so many of the great restaurants in the area, such as Lorene’s Fish & Crab House, Heavy’s Restaurant, Rastaman Natural Juices, Night FLOW Restaurant, and Urban Drinkery.

“This is an opportunity to bring together the community of artists, recreation centers, youth providers, and businesses, in addition to showcasing professional artists’ chalk work from near and far. And most importantly to give our children a day of art expression using chalk and art while having fun,” said festival organizer Debbie Yati Garrett. Read more

City Bolsters Commitment To South St. Pete Businesses

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By: Veronica Brezina

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch announces the new South St. Pete CRA Microfund in front of the St. Pete Greenhouse. Photos by Veronica Brezina.

Entrepreneurs in South St. Pete struggling to keep the lights on, or progress to the next step in expanding their business, now have a new funding source. 

On the steps of St. Pete Greenhouse Tuesday morning, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch announced the rollout of the South St. Petersburg CRA (Community Redevelopment Area) Microfund program – a new accessible funding pot for business owners. 

“Our business owners can use it to make targeted improvements without providing any upfront capital or matching,” Welch said. The CRA Microfund program will distribute a total investment that exceeds $1.35 million. The city will disburse the funds in increments over a four-application period. 

In addition to the funding, St. Pete Greenhouse will be the “boots on the ground,” serving in a cohort capacity by pairing participating individuals with navigators to receive guidance in finance, marketing, sales and management. 

City officials previously launched a commercial matching grant program for existing businesses in 2016. However, it had shortcomings and excluded a lot of other businesses vital to the CRA that were not able to take advantage of it because of a lack of capital access. Read more

Howard U. Picks African Diaspora Scholar As Next President

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An electronic signboard welcomes people to the Howard University campus in Washington, on July 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Howard University is turning to an experienced scholar of the African diaspora to serve as its new university president.

Ben Vinson III, currently the provost at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, will officially take over as president from the retiring Wayne Frederick on Sept. 1. Vinson is a historian specializing in studies of the African diaspora, particularly in Latin America.

His appointment comes at a crucial time for the historically Black university; the venerable institution is riding a wave of national prominence, with illustrious alumni, major funding boosts and high-profile staff additions. Read more

Elected Officials Come Together For Housing Solutions

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By: Mark Parker

From left: Largo Mayor Woody Brown; Clearwater Mayor Brian Aungst Sr.; St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch; County Commision Chair Janet Long; and Whit Blanton, executive director of Forward Pinellas, at the April 28 Homes for Pinellas Summit. Photos provided.

Local leaders are collectively addressing a problem showing no signs of abating, as one in three families struggle to afford housing in Pinellas County.

Elected officials, business owners and community stakeholders came together April 28 to publicly launch the new countywide Housing Action Plan. The Homes for Pinellas Summit featured a full day of presentations, with St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch participating on a panel with Clearwater Mayor Brian Aungst Sr., Largo Mayor Woody Brown and County Commission Chair Janet Long.

Whit Blanton, executive director of Forward Pinellas, moderated the discussion at the Central Park Performing Arts Center in Largo. Much of the conversation centered on increasing transportation options and density in a well-developed county with significant swaths of urban sprawl.

“No matter who you are, this is a humanity issue,” Long said. “If you found yourself deserted on a deserted island, what is the very first thing you would be looking for? Before you looked for food, you would look for shelter.”

Welch noted that he recently made business trips to London and Austin. A lack of workforce housing was a pervasive topic throughout both, and he said Austin’s leadership expressed their regret for not taking a more aggressive approach to the problem 10 years ago. Read more

Women’s Tech, Entrepreneurship Group Expands To St. Pete

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By: Mark Parker

Raechel Canipe (far right), founder of Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship, at a recent workshop hosted in partnership with the Tampa Bay Wave’s Women of Wave program. Photos provided.

Raechel Canipe (far right), founder of Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship, at a recent workshop hosted in partnership with the Tampa Bay Wave’s Women of Wave program. Photos provided.

A dues-free organization focused on supporting women in technology careers and those looking to start or accelerate businesses is opening a St. Petersburg chapter, just over four months after its launch.

According to a February report by Harvard Business Review, companies founded solely by women receive less than 3% of venture capital investments – while less than 15% write those checks. Raechel Canipe decided to help make a difference and founded Women in Tech and Entrepreneurship (WTE) in late December 2022.

While based in Tampa, crossing the bridge to St. Pete was an immediate goal for Canipe. The bootstrapped, decentralized “labor of love” will officially launch in the Sunshine City May 11.

“I feel humbled and overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and, frankly, the women who have rolled up their sleeves to help make this possible,” Canipe said. “We’re all volunteers at this point. While this has been in the roadmap, it wouldn’t be possible without those women.”

According to its mission statement, WTE is a community of high-performing and non-conforming women working in tech, startups, venture capital, entrepreneurship, economic development and business support organizations. The goal is to provide mentorship, educational opportunities and a support network to help offset gender discrepancies.

The movement is growing. Read more

12 Mother’s Day Gift Ideas By Black-Owned Brands

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The Grio; Published By: Kay Wicker

Celebrate mom! (Photo credit: Getty/ Flashpop)

Toni Morrison once said of Black motherhood, “To be a mother was the unbelievable freedom.” We hope these suggestions help you capture and honor the essence of that joy. From the master gardener mom to the glamorous mom to the home cook and even the mom who seemingly has everything, we have found something for everyone. Not only will these gifts thrill her, but you may just score extra points with mom for supporting a Black-owned business in the process. Read more

Creative Pinellas Introduces Its 2023 Emerging Artists

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By: Bill De Young

Lance Felton performs “61 Unused Pages.” Screengrab provided.

Creative Pinellas will introduce its 2023 Emerging Artist grantees with a reception Thursday at the organization’s Walsingham Road gallery.

It’s the seventh annual cohort, featuring works by a group of 10 area artists in all media. “We’re looking for artists that aren’t in school – this isn’t the first thing that they’ve done, ever,” curator Elizabeth Gelman said in a recent Arts Alive! podcast. “But they’ve been able to show their work to a slowly-growing audience.”

Patrick Arthur Jackson is not a visual artist, but a theater-maker (actor, writer, director). “Traditionally, many of the people that receive the grant are non-performance artists,” he said. “I really wanted to support the movement of bringing more awareness to the performing arts in the area.”

Last week Jackson directed a single, staged-reading performance of 61 Unused Pages by Vincent Terrell Durham, with actor Lance Felton playing eight different characters, at thestudio@620. The poignant drama concerns a young Black man dealing with hurtful memories of his absentee father. Read more

South St. Petersburg CRA Microfund Program – Open Tuesday, May 9, 2023, Through Wednesday, May 31, 2023

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The South St. Petersburg CRA Microfund Program offers personalized capacity building through increased education, mentoring, and networking in exchange for funding so business owners can make targeted and planful improvements without having to provide upfront capital. Through this funding package, the City’s goal is to ensure businesses within the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) can take advantage of the capital access initiative.

$5,000 PNC Homeowner Grant Opportunity

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You may qualify for up to $5,000 toward closing costs. And make buying a home of your own more affordable.

Contact:

Vonda Harris
Mortgage Loan Officer
NMLS# 220244
904-728-0603
[email protected]
www.pncmortgage.com/vondaharris

Young CEO Delane Parnell Leaves $400 Million Gaming Company To Build New Business

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OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 09: Delane Parnell, CEO PlayVS attends AfroTech 2019 at Oakland Marriott City Center on November 09, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for AfroTech)

Black Enterprise; Published By: Cedric ‘Big Ced’ Thornton

(Photo: Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for AfroTech)

Delane Parnell is leaving the amateur esports platform PlayVS, which he founded, to build a new business.

“I’m extremely proud of what we’ve achieved at PlayVS in only a few years,” Parnell said in a written statement. “Leading such a talented team has been an honor, and developing an innovative product that has created so many opportunities for an underserved audience has been a dream come true. It has been humbling to serve as a role model for Black tech founders in gaming, and I hope that my example inspires others to break down barriers in the industry. I’m excited to see PlayVS continue to grow and make a positive impact on the world of gaming and education.”

Parnell started internal discussions with the board last year, informing members of his desire to step back and focus on a new project. The parties agreed earlier this year to start a CEO search. Read more

Queen Charlotte Is Bridgerton At Its Blackest & Best

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The Root; Published By: Stephanie Holland

Photo: Netflix

First things first: Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is absolutely a one-sitting binge. It is the Lay’s Potato Chips of TV shows: You cannot have just one. Seriously, prepare yourself because once you start that first episode, that’s gonna be the rest of your day. The good news is it’s only six episodes, so you’ll still have part of the day left when you’re done. And just to be clear, it’s totally worth it. Like its predecessor, Queen Charlotte brilliantly uses its Regency-era setting to make very modern commentary. Specifically when it comes to the individuality, agency and respect of women.

On Bridgerton, we know Golda Rosheuvel’s sharp-tongued queen as someone who is very sure of her place in the world and the importance of her responsibilities. This is the story of how she discovered that strength. In case you’re wondering, you don’t need to know Bridgerton to enjoy Queen Charlotte, but it certainly helps. This isn’t a universe with a complex mythology to follow, so you can just jump in and have fun. The prequel to the Netflix hit chronicles the love story between young Charlotte and George, while scenes from the palace feature Rosheuvel’s queen desperately trying to whip her children into royal shape. Charlotte is a force of nature, so we were expecting an equally vibrant portrayal in her younger version. India Amarteifio absolutely shines as a young woman who is thrust into a strange world and expected to immediately adapt. Of course, no one has ever asked if this is the life she wants for herself. Her life is planned out by men who do not care about her wants or needs. Amarteifio expertly blends glimpses of the spitfire we know with a woman trapped in a gilded cage from which there is no escape. Read more

Are The Wades The Most Stylish Couple In Hollywood?

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The Root; Published By: Amira Castilla

Photo: FREDERIC J. BROWN / Contributor (Getty Images)

The Wades have been killing the fashion game! Actress Gabrielle Union and retired NBA star Dwyane Wade have hit red carpets together since 2010, and their style has only gotten better and bolder! With the help of stylists Jason Bolden and Thomas Christos Kikis, the couple has turned heads and received praise from the fashion world! Here’s an evolution of the style of the Wades! Read more

Death By Vigilante: A Black Man Killed By A White Passenger On NYC Subway. Justice?

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The Root; Published By: Candace Mcduffie

Photo: Paul Martinka

A 30-year-old Black man was killed Monday by a white passenger who grabbed him and put him in a chokehold. The violent encounter was recorded by a bystander who pulled out his phone instead of trying to help the victim. Juan Alberto Vazquez, who works as a freelance journalist, posted the horrifying footage to his Facebook page, “Luces de Nueva York.”

The video shows the deceased, whose name has not been released, flailing his arms and legs as he tried to free himself. Onlookers said the victim was acting in a “hostile and erratic manner” toward others who were on the train. However, he did not physically assault anyone. In an interview, Vazquez shared that the man was screaming before a 24-year-old white passenger approached him. Read more

Five Fabulous Females Of St. Pete Set To Be Honored For Their Stellar Achievements

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I Love The Burg; Published By: Bob Carskadon

L to R: Dr. LaDonna Butler, Liz Sembler, Ya La’ford, Helen Pruitt Wallace, Anysia McDowall

In a celebration of five of St. Pete’s most influential and incredible women, Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg is hosting its 15th annual Fabulous Females Luncheon this Friday, May 5, at the Tradewinds Island Resort. Proceeds from this event support the Student Scholarship Program at Academy Prep, a privately-funded middle school dedicated to improving the lives of underserved students living in St. Petersburg.

With lunch and the full program beginning at 12 pm, Fabulous Females gathers prominent St. Petersburg corporations and residents to celebrate the contributions of five remarkable leaders from the Tampa Bay business and philanthropic communities. Each honoree is introduced by a current Academy Prep scholar who has drawn inspiration from their accomplishments. You can still register here.

This year’s honorees include business leaders, educators, and community stalwarts in St. Pete:

  • Dr. LaDonna Butler – Founder & Executive Director of The Well, a Healing Space
  • Ya La’ford – Internationally Acclaimed Artist
  • Anysia McDowall – Connector for Good, Sustainable Fashion Entrepreneur, Owner at Verdant
  • Liz Sembler – Community Advocate & Educator
  • Helen Pruitt Wallace – St. Petersburg Poet Laureate

Read more

Jamie Foxx Finally Breaks Silence In The Midst Of 3-Week-Long Hospitalization

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The Root; Published By: Shanelle Genai

Jamie Foxx attends the “Creed III” European Premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square on February 15, 2023, in London, England.

Beloved actor and singer Jamie Foxx has finally broken his silence in the midst of his nearly month-long hospitalization.

In a post to his official Instagram page on Wednesday afternoon, the Project Power star wrote: “Appreciate all the love. Feeling blessed.” This marks the first time Foxx has said anything since he was rushed to an Atlanta hospital following an unspecified “medical complication” three weeks ago. He still remains there and is still on the road to recovery. In the wake of this shocking news, many celebs and fans have taken to social media with the simple message, “Pray for Jamie,” in the hopes that the uber-talented multi-hyphenate will be back on the good foot. Read more

Pinellas Technical College Automotive Technology Summer Camp Program – June 5-15, 2023

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Students will learn and practice several diagnostic and automotive maintenance and repair skills including:
Personal Safety (PPE)
Hand, Power, and Specialty Tools
Tire Inspection, Repair, and Replacement
Battery Maintenance and Charging including the use of Digital Volt Ohm Meters and understanding Basic Code Reading
Oil and Filter Change
Bulb Replacement
Insurance: Proof of Insurance is required for all participants
Eligible: High Schools Students in Grades 9-12
Contact Person: Phil Thomas < [email protected] >

Pinellas Technical College Culinary Summer Camp Program – June 5-29, 2023

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From Savory to sweet, students attending this Culinary Summer Camp will learn how to bake, stir fry, and grill culinary delights of all kinds.

Participants will be introduced to kitchen safety and sanitation techniques.

On a culinary trip around the world, students will learn to make common breakfast dishes to international cuisine.

Using their attention to detail and skills with measuring, students will also make sushi and pizza dough from scratch.

This highly engaging summer camp will conclude with a challenge in creativity. Students will be presented with a mystery basket, full of culinary ingredients and be tasked with making a dish using the skills they’ve acquired.

All skill levels are welcome to join this culinary camp that both develops and refines the skills of your teen chef.

Insurance: Proof of Insurance is required for all Participants
Eligible: High Schools Students in Grades 9-12
Contact Person: Felix Sestayo < [email protected] >

Pinellas Technical College Electricity Summer Camp Program – June 5-15, 2023

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Students with an interest in Electricity Technology and the methods to effectively wire a home will find this course utterly enlightening. 

This summer camp will begin with an introduction to understanding the following critical concepts:

  • Basic Safety
  • Electricity Sources
  • Generating Electricity
  • Differences in AC and DC current
  • Basic Circuitry
  • Identifying basic symbols and drawings

After learning the theory of electricity, camp participants will engage in a host of hands-on activities including:

  • Wiring a light
  • Wiring a light with a single pole switch
  • Wiring a light with 3-way and 4-way switches

As a final group project, students will think critically, and problem-solve their way to successfully wire a room according to electrical drawings.

Insurance: Proof of Insurance is required for all Participants

Eligible: High School Students in Grades 9-12

Contact: Yata Fields < [email protected] >

Pinellas Technical College Electronic Systems Integration & Automation Summer Camp Program – June 5-15, 2023

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The innovative summer camp experience is where participants will explore the world of wearable technology by creating their own LED sunglasses.

All participants will become familiar with electrical safety to ensure a fun and safe learning environment.

Our experienced instructor will teach basic electrical theory including Ohms Laws, AC/DC, and circuit design-all which are critical concepts for manipulating electricity.

Participants will learn to identify and use microcontrollers, sensors, LED strips, and basic electrical components including batteries, resistors, LEDs, wire selection, and breadboard.

As part of the program, students will participate in various fun activities that promote team building, problem-solving, and creativity as they brainstorm ideas and design prototypes for LED sunglasses.

Showcase your final project to your peers and family during a program at the end of camp.

Insurance: Proof of Insurance is required for all participants
Eligible: High School Students in Grades 9-12
Contact: Gerard Beaulieu < [email protected] >

Pinellas Technical College Machine Summer Camp Program – June 5-15, 2023

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After learning protocols for working in the high-tech machine shop, participants will learn blueprint reading and quality control concepts.

Students with an interest in manufacturing, fabrication, and production will enjoy the hands-on learning experience of assisting with the CNC manufacturing process using industry-standard equipment.

As an immersive summer camp experience, students will learn to use multiple technologies including:
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Modeling
Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) Modeling
Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Milling
Insurance: Proof of Insurance is required for all participants
Eligible: High School Students in Grades 9-12
Contact: Stephen Koch < [email protected] >
*Please note, cancellations must be made within 5 business days from the day an order is placed to qualify for a refund. All refunds will be issued less than a $10.50 service fee. All refunds will be issued in the form of a check, and not electronically returned to any credit/debit/gift card. Please allow one month for refund requests to be processed.

Pinellas Technical College Nursing Summer Camp Program – June 5-15, 2023

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Students will learn allied health skills during interactive labs including Vital Signs, Inserting Foley Catheters, Measuring Intake and Output, Using Assistive Devices, Bed Making, Care of the Infant, Wound Care, Sterile Technique, and Medical Administration.

3D anatomy and dissection activities will be conducted using high-tech Anatomage simulation equipment.

During the Body Systems Science Fair, students will create models of chosen body systems and demonstrate how they function.

Students will be required to follow the Pinellas County School dress code and always wear closed-toe shoes when on campus. 

Crocs styles footwear is welcome. 

CPR, First Aid, and Stop the Bleed certification upon completion of sessions.

Insurance: Proof of Insurance is required for all participants

Eligible:  High School Students in Grades 9-12

Contact: Gerry Connors < [email protected] > OR 

               Maggie Greenwood < [email protected] >

A Texas Family Fought For Weeks To Regain Custody Of Their Newborn

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CNN; Published By: Nicquel Terry Ellis

Rodney and Temecia Jackson, speaking at a press conference.

CNN — 

A Black Texas couple has been reunited with their newborn daughter after authorities removed the baby and placed her in foster care last month citing a doctor’s concerns about how they were treating a jaundice diagnosis.

Rodney and Temecia Jackson of DeSoto, Texas, regained custody of their daughter, Mila, on April 20 following a nearly month-long battle with the state’s Child Protective Services, according to The Afiya Center, a reproductive justice advocacy group.

A spokesperson for the Texas Department of Family Protective Services, which includes CPS, confirmed to CNN that the office had recommended the dismissal of the case to an assistant district attorney. Mila’s release was granted on Thursday, according to a court filing. Read more

Harry Belafonte, Civil Rights Legend And Entertainer, Dies At 96

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The Root; Published By: Shanelle Genai

Harry Belafonte in his film debut as Mr. Williams, School Principal, in ‘Bright Road’.

The Root is sad to report that actor, EGOT winner, and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte has died at age 96. On Tuesday, a rep for Belafonte confirmed that the legendary singer passed away due to congestive heart failure at his New York home.

Born in 1927’s Harlem, and raised in Jamaica for a portion of his life, Belafonte would evolve into an influential figure within both the arts and civil rights space in America. He broke barriers as one of the first Black leading men in Hollywood in the 1950s-1960s, often going up for roles alongside his acting contemporary and fellow barrier-breaker Sidney Poitier. Belafonte went on to star in films such as The Award StoryIsland in the SunOdds Against Tomorrow, and perhaps most notably, Carmen Jones (co-starring Dorothy Dandridge), which received critical acclaim. Read more

Center Team Recognized As Torch Bearers

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The vision of Legacy-56 is to Remember, Reclaim, and Realize the community’s greatest potential while collectively striving for equity and excellence in those systems that have had historical and current adverse impact on Black and Brown people. The spirit of Sankofa embodies the essence of the mission of Legacy-56: to remember history, to reclaim heritage, and to restore hope to African American communities.

Legacy-56 is committed to remembering those who came before, on whose shoulders the community now stands. They seek to develop new generations of emerging leaders with the insight and courage to recognize oppressive systems and biases and to speak out against such inequities. Legacy-56 embarks upon the multigenerational transfer of knowledge, passion, and commitment to build an enduring culture of strength, power and purpose. They serve as a catalyst for the passing of the torch from one generation to another, sharing the torch with like-minded leaders, and furthering their mission to build a more equitable world. In this spirit, they graciously honor leaders and emerging leaders committed to the fight for justice and peace.

In recognition of their current and future work in and on behalf of their communities, the Legacy-56 Board selected both Center Innovation Officer Kyandra Darling and Executive Director Marcus Brooks as recipients of their 2023 Legacy-56 Torch Bearers Award. Read more

After Black Pushback, AP Black Studies Course Is Getting Another Makeover

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The Root; Published By: Jessica Washington

Photo: Solskin (Getty Images)

Not to promote bullying or anything, but it turns out that dogging something for months can be effective. After facing a ton of backlash from notable Black scholars, the College Board said they’d be revising their AP Black studies course again.

In a statement on Monday, the College Board announced that they’d be making the changes over the next few months. “We are committed to providing an unflinching encounter with the facts and evidence of African American history and culture,” they wrote.

Here’s a little refresher course for anyone who forgot about all the backlash. The new African American AP course pilot was initially met with a ton of fanfare from Black scholars, who praised the range of topics and experiences captured in the class. But after facing backlash from the right, the College Board amended the course, removing the works of renowned Black scholars like Kimberlé Crenshaw, who pioneered the legal theory of Critical Race Theory. The new course also relegated the Black Lives Matter Movement and reparations to optional subject areas.

The Root interviewed Black scholars about these changes back in February, and they did not hold back. Read more

More Answers In The Grisly Death Of Toddler Found In Alligator

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The Root; Published By: Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: St. Petersburg Police Department

Updated as of 4/25/2023 at 9:30 a.m. ET

Florida police say the toddler who went missing and was found dead in the mouth of an alligator last month was drowned by his father, according to NBC News. The 2-year-old was killed just days after his father fatally stabbed his mother.

St. Petersburg police and the Pinellas County medical examiner confirmed Monday that Taylen Mosley’s cause of death was drowning. Though the full autopsy has not been released, police are investigating his death as a homicide. Mosley’s father, Thomas, was charged with first-degree murder in connection to his death and that of his mother, who was found dead with over 100 stab wounds the day the toddler was reported missing. Read more

Climate Change Gets Its Own Section In 2023 State of Black America Report

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Word In Black; Published By: Kayla Benjamin

Training workers to install solar panels at health clinics in Rwanda provides clean energy, creates jobs, and improves health service delivery. Photograph courtesy of Walt Ratterman, Sunepi/USAID.

The National Urban League’s 2023 report on the State of Black America focuses on connecting the dots between threats to U.S. democracy and threats to Black American lives and livelihoods. That includes climate change, which this year received attention in a special section that featured four additional essays. 

“You can draw a straight line from hate, extremism, conspiracy theories, [and] deniers to the attacks on policies with respect to confronting global warming and climate change,” National Urban League President Marc Morial said. “If you deny climate change, then you deny the existence of environmental racism.”

Created in partnership with the American Council on Renewable Energy, the report’s climate section focused, in part, on the disproportionate harms Black Americans face from climate change and other environmental issues. Dr. Robert Bullard, a pioneering scholar often described as “the father of environmental justice,” penned an essay in the section titled “The Quest for Environmental, Climate and Energy Justice in the United States.” Read more

Street Racing ‘Takeover’ Results In 69 Arrests

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By: Mark Parker

From left: Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Steve Gaskins, St. Petersburg Police Department Assistant Chief Antonio Gilliam and Sgt. Mike Shade. Photos courtesy of SPPD, Facebook.

The St. Petersburg Police Department (SPPD) vowed to crack down on street racing after a 13-year-old boy died trying to cross the street during an event in January.

Assistant Chief Antonio Gilliam said an operation Saturday night – known as a “takeover” – was a chance “to make a statement” that the city has a zero-tolerance approach to street racing and would continue working to prevent another senseless death.

The SPPD, with help from the Pinellas Park Police Department and Florida Highway Patrol, made 69 arrests and impounded 23 vehicles during the operation. Investigative Information led officers to believe that Saturday night’s event was a prelude to a “takeover” of major intersections throughout Pinellas County.

Gilliam began this morning’s press conference by highlighting the “horrific” dangers of illegal street racing. A motorcyclist hit and killed Ethan Martin, 13, as he walked across 28th Street North near 110th Avenue Jan. 29.

“One would hope that such a tragic incident would serve to deter future illegal street racing,” Gilliam said. “Turns out that is not the case.” Read more

Silicon Valley Bank Collapse Renews Calls To Address Disparities Impacting Entrepreneurs Of Color

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CNN; Published By: Jalen Brown and Scarlette Whyte

Entrepreneurs like Arlan Hamilton, left, Joynicole Martinez, center, and Asya Bradley, right, worry the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank could decrease funding opportunities for people of color.

CNN — 

When customers at Silicon Valley Bank rushed to withdraw billions of dollars last month, venture capitalist Arlan Hamilton stepped in to help some of the founders of color who panicked about losing access to payroll funds.

As a Black woman with nearly 10 years of business experience, Hamilton knew the options for those startup founders were limited.

SVB had a reputation for servicing people from underrepresented communities like hers. Its failure has reignited concerns from industry experts about lending discrimination in the banking industry and the resulting disparities in capital for people of color.

Hamilton, the 43-year-old founder and managing partner of Backstage Capital, said that when it comes to entrepreneurs of color, “we’re already in the smaller house. We already have the rickety door and the thinner walls. And so, when a tornado comes by, we’re going to get hit harder.”

Established in 1983, the midsize California tech lender was America’s 16th largest bank at the end of 2022 before it collapsed on March 10. SVB provided banking services to nearly half of all venture-backed technology and life-sciences companies in the United States.

Hamilton, industry experts and other investors told CNN the bank was committed to fostering a community of minority entrepreneurs and provided them with both social and financial capital.

A bank run took down Silicon Valley Bank on March 10, as depositors withdrew $42 billion in a single day.

SVB regularly sponsored conferences and networking events for minority entrepreneurs, said Hamilton, and it was well known for funding the annual State of Black Venture Report spearheaded by BLK VC, a nonprofit organization that connects and empowers Black investors.

“When other banks were saying no, SVB would say yes,” said Joynicole Martinez, a 25-year entrepreneur and chief advancement and innovation officer for Rising Tide Capital, a nonprofit organization founded in 2004 to connect entrepreneurs with investors and mentors. Read more

Thank God! Texas Couple Got Baby Mila Back!

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The Root; Published By: Angela Johnson

Rodney and Temecia Jackson

Last week, we told you the heartbreaking story of an infant girl in Texas, removed from her family home when they ignored their pediatrician’s recommendation to admit her to the hospital for jaundice. Now, after spending three weeks in foster care, baby Mila is going home.

In an April 20 news release, the Afiya Center, a Dallas-based birth and reproductive justice organization, announced that the Dallas County’s District Attorney decided to reunite Mila with her parents and two older brothers.

Temecia and Rodney Jackson’s daughter Mila was born at home with the assistance of a midwife on March 21. But at a newborn checkup, the family pediatrician, Dr. Anand Bhatt, discovered the baby had developed jaundice. And while the condition is fairly common among infants, Dr. Bhatt believed Mila’s case was serious enough to require medical intervention. Read more

Antonio Brown Kicked Off The Football Field He Owns

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The Root; Published By: Noah A. McGee

Photo: Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire (Getty Images)

For once in the past year, it seems that Antonio Brown is a victim, and not the person who continues to find himself in trouble.

If you were unaware, the former All-pro wide receiver has returned to the football world, but not the NFL and not as a player, but as an owner.

In March, the former Pittsburgh Steeler bought a controlling stake in the Albany Empire, a franchise in the National Arena League. As a part of the investment, Antonio’s father, Eddie Brown, was named the vice president of football operations, which is fitting considering his father starred for the team as a wide receiver in the 1990s.

Over the weekend, Brown attended his first game as a co-owner of the Albany Empire and watched his team beat the Orlando Predators 70-33.

In a video posted on Brown’s Twitter account days after the game, Brown is greeting fans until a security guard tries to kick him off the field. Read more

NAACP Sues Mississippi Over ‘Separate And Unequal Policing’

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AP News; Published By: Emily Wagster Pettus

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The NAACP warns that “separate and unequal policing” will return to Mississippi’s majority-Black capital under a state-run police department, and the civil rights organization is suing the governor and other officials over it.

Republican Gov. Tate Reeves says violent crime in Jackson has made it necessary to expand where the Capitol Police can patrol and to authorize some appointed rather than elected judges.

But the NAACP said in its lawsuit filed late Friday that these are serious violations of the principle of self-government because they take control of the police and some courts out of the hands of residents.

“In certain areas of Jackson, a citizen can be arrested by a police department led by a State-appointed official, be charged by a State-appointed prosecutor, be tried before a State-appointed judge, and be sentenced to imprisonment in a State penitentiary regardless of the severity of the act,” the lawsuit says.

Derrick Johnson, the national president of the NAACP, is himself a resident of Jackson. At a community meeting earlier this month, he said the policing law would treat Black people as “second-class citizens.”

The legislation was passed by a majority-white and Republican-controlled state House and Senate. Jackson is governed by Democrats and about 83% of residents are Black, the largest percentage of any major U.S. city. Read more

The Deputy And The Disappeared

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CNN; Published By: Thomas Lake

Naples Memorial Gardens, where Calkins pulled over Terrance Williams. (Sydney Walsh for CNN)

Naples, Florida — One morning 19 years ago, Marcia Williams woke up praying for her son. Terrance worked two jobs and liked reading about Socrates, and had a scar on his right hand, near the thumb, from one time when he played with matches as a little boy. He was Marcia’s only child. She prayed and prayed, fighting against this inexplicable feeling that something terrible was about to happen.

A few hours later, Terrance crossed paths with a deputy sheriff. He got in the deputy’s patrol car. Then he disappeared.

The deputy said he’d given Terrance a ride to a Circle K convenience store. But there was no proof that Terrance arrived at Circle K. And his mother never saw him again.

Eventually, Marcia learned something astonishing about this deputy sheriff.

Three months earlier, another man had also taken a ride in his patrol car.

Just like Terrance Williams, Felipe Santos had been driving illegally.

Just like Williams, he encountered Cpl. Steven Calkins of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.

And just like Williams, he disappeared right after that.

The deputy said he’d dropped Santos off at a Circle K convenience store. But there was no proof that Santos arrived at Circle K. And his family never saw him again.

Calkins is White. Santos was Latino. Williams was Black. Read more

SunRunner Expands Near Pier, Adds Buses

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By: Mark Parker

From left: Mayor Ken Welch; Chris Steinocher, CEO of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce; Brad Miller, CEO of PSTA; Councilmember Gina Driscoll; Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders; and Vince Cocks, PSTA board member. Photos by Mark Parker.

Residents and visitors looking to split their time between the St. Petersburg Pier, the city’s downtown core, and the beach without driving across the city will soon have a more efficient solution.

Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) and city officials announced the region’s first bus rapid transit service would add a much-anticipated station abutting the Sundial parking garage, just a five-minute walk from the Pier. Two new SunRunner buses are also on the way.

The latest station is also a half-mile from where the Cross Bay Ferry docks in the Vinoy Yacht Basin, which would increase connectivity between downtown Tampa, St. Petersburg, and St. Pete Beach. During Friday’s press conference, PSTA CEO Brad Miller said the decade-long project coming in $5 million under budget enabled expansion.

“The bottom line is, SunRunner’s colorful, efficient bus stations are already part of the fabric of our community,” Miller said. “Thank you for embracing the vision of how quality mass transit can literally transform our community and improve our quality of life. The best is yet to come.”

He called the first six months of operation an “amazing success” and noted ridership has steadily increased. Over 115,000 people utilized the service in March. Read more

More Suspects Identified In The Sweet 16 Alabama Shooting

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The Root; Published By: Kalyn Womack

Candles with the names of the four young people killed in a shooting and teddy bears dressed in graduation caps sit outside the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, in Dadeville, Ala. Two teenagers have been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the shooting at a Sweet Sixteen birthday party, Alabama investigators announced Wednesday.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency announced the arrest of sixth person charged in connection to the Sweet 16 birthday party shooting in Dadeville, Alabama, according to The Associated Press. The last we heard about suspects in the case was just two teenage boys.

Investigators have charged two adults and four teens with four counts of reckless murder. The report says the police believe five of the six suspects were present at the birthday party and discharged firearms into the crowd, killing four people and injuring dozens. The first two suspects, 17-year-old Tyreese McCullough and 16-year-old Travis McCullough, were arrested Tuesday. Following them was 20-year-old Wilson LaMar Hill Jr., 20-year-old Johnny Letron Brown, 19-year-old Willie George Brown. The latest was a 15-year-old who has not been named due to their age. Read more

After Ralph Yarl, A Pregnant Black Woman Was Shot By Mistake

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The Root; Published By: Kalyn Womack

A pregnant woman was fatally shot after being mistaken for someone else, according to ABC News. The incident is the latest shooting immediately following two other shooting incidents that have America debating about gun control.

On April 15, Ralph Yarl, 16, was shot and injured as a result of approaching the wrong residence and being mistaken for a threat. The next day, Kerisha Johnson, 36, was shot after being mistaken for a shooter. Johnson was going to pick up a few people from an Easter event in Baton Rouge when several people began firing at her vehicle, per ABC. Authorities say the shooters believed her vehicle was that of someone who drove by the party earlier, firing shots into the air. Johnson tried to flee but was caught in the hail of bullets. Read more

Radio Host Larry Elder Announces 2024 GOP Bid For President

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NBC News; Published By: The Associated Press

Larry Elder in Costa Mesa, Calif., in 2021.

Conservative talk radio host Larry Elder, who sought to replace the California governor in a failed 2021 recall effort, announced Thursday he is running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.

Elder, 70, made the announcement on Fox News’s “Tucker Carlson Tonight” and followed up with a tweet.

“America is in decline, but this decline is not inevitable. We can enter a new American Golden Age, but we must choose a leader who can bring us there. That’s why I’m running for President,” he wrote.

The long-shot candidate joins a Republican field that includes former President Donald Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, has said he plans to seek reelection.

Elder made his first bid for public office in 2021 when he received the most votes out of 46 people who were hoping to replace California Gov. Gavin Newsom in a recall effort. But a majority of voters ended up voting against removing Newsom, making the vote count in the replacement contest irrelevant. Read more

Florida Teens Plan School Protest Of DeSantis Education Agenda

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Tampa Bay Times; Published By: Jeffrey S. Solochek

University of South Florida students chant during a protest Gov. Ron DeSantis’ education agenda at the Tampa campus on April 17. Students at high schools and universities across the state plan similar rallies for Friday. [ IVY CEBALLO | Times ]

The big story: Last year, Sarasota’s Zander Moricz defied his school by speaking out about gay rights during his graduation speech.

His talk about what it’s like to be discriminated against because of — curly hair — gained him national attention in the fight against the bill he and others deemed Don’t Say Gay. A year later, he’s trying to rekindle teen activism with a call for a student walkout Friday.

“Black, queer, trans, and female-identifying people and their histories are the targets of government censorship. Our governor has forgotten that students have rights,” his group Walkout 2 Learn said in its announcement. “We’re here to remind him.” Read more from WWSB.

Venita Wilson Presents: Travel Entrepreneur Business Opportunity

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USF School Of Aging Studies Presents: Enhancing Care and Communication at the End-of-Life: Best Practices – April 21, 2023

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The conference will include sessions on the importance of values and preferences in planning for end-of-life care, capacity evaluations and pitfalls of advance care planning in different healthcare settings, small group discussions, and more. In addition, this event is a combined healthcare jobs fair and conference.

5.5 CEs provided by Empath Health, CE Broker Provider #50-1994

Florida Board of Nursing

Florida Board of Marriage and Family Therapists, Mental Health Counselors, and Social Workers

Florida Board of Nursing Home Administrators

Yes, Florida Has One Of The Country’s Lowest Tax Burdens

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Tampa Bay Times; Published By: Maria Ramirez Uribe

The Internal Revenue Service 1040 tax form for 2022. Florida has a low tax burden compared with other U.S. states. [ JON ELSWICK | AP ]

As he considers a potential 2024 presidential run, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has positioned his state as the blueprint for the country.

“The state of Florida has set a standard for this country,” DeSantis said on April 13 at a Lincoln Day event in Akron, Ohio, sponsored by the Butler County Republican Party.

DeSantis touted Florida’s education and economic freedoms, and its low taxes.

“Our tax burden and we have no state income tax, you all should try that sometime. It works pretty good,” DeSantis said. “We have the second lowest tax burden per capita in the United States.”

We rated a similar claim from Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, Mostly True in 2017. But we wanted to look into what the data shows in 2023. Read more

2 Men Who Served Nearly 17 Years In Prison After Being Wrongfully Convicted In California Declared Innocent

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NBC News; Published By: The Associated Press

From left: Dupree Glass and Juan Rayford after their convictions were overturned in Los Angeles on Thursday. 

LOS ANGELES — Two men who served nearly 17 years in prison after being wrongly convicted of attempted murder after a 2004 shooting were declared innocent Thursday by a California judge. Under a new law, the state is required to pay them each $140 for every day they spent behind bars, or about $900,000.

The verdicts for Dupree Glass and Juan Rayford concluded a new trial that began in October after a state appeals court panel vacated their convictions and they were freed in 2020. The proceedings included a dramatic confession by the actual shooter, Chad Brandon McZeal, a gang member who’s serving a life sentence for murder in an unrelated case, the defense team said.

After the judge ruled, Glass and Rayford embraced each other and their attorneys. Outside the courthouse, the men were cheered by family members and supporters. Rayford, clutching his baby daughter, called it an “amazing” feeling to have their records finally wiped clean and their reputations restored.

“I thought about this day for so long. I thought about it when I was locked up for 17 years. I thought about it for my last two years being free. I waited for this day because, you know, I knew I was innocent of every crime they said I committed,” he said. Read more

Trump Sparks Backlash From Major Anti-Abortion Group Over Campaign Comments

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NBC News; Published By: Zoe Richards

President Donald Trump on the South Lawn of the White House on Sept. 22, 2020.

A leading anti-abortion group blasted former President Donald Trump on Thursday after his campaign said he believes states should decide abortion laws.

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America issued a scathing response to a statement the Trump campaign made to The Washington Post when it was asked whether Trump supported the six-week abortion ban a likely 2024 opponent, Gov. Ron DeSantis, signed into law in Florida.

“President Donald J. Trump believes that the Supreme Court, led by the three justices which he supported, got it right when they ruled this is an issue that should be decided at the state level,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung told the Post.

SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser blasted Trump by name in a statement Thursday after the story was published. Read more

Innovative Drone Program Helps Youth Soar

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By: Mark Parker

SOFWOLF youth participated in a search and rescue exercise with the U.S. Coast Guard last year. Photos provided.

A St. Petersburg nonprofit once focused on helping children who lost a parent in combat is now offering its drone and career-skill program to underserved students throughout the area.

SOFWOLF is a combined acronym for Special Operations Forces and Warrior Outdoor Leadership for the Future. Army veteran Michael Vaughn, chairman, and Sara Moola, executive director, launched the organization in Utah in 2012.

The husband-and-wife duo moved the organization to St. Pete in 2019, and SOFWOLF is now the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub’s nonprofit anchor. Establishing a new base in St. Petersburg’s Innovation District was fitting since Moola rewrote the curriculum during the pandemic to better align with in-demand STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skill sets.

What started as a way to give back to the nation’s Gold Star community – those with a family member killed in action – is now leveraging gaming, robotics and drones to advance equitable education. The Pinellas Community Foundation recently aided that mission with a $50,000 grant to purchase a mobile command post. Read more

Ruth Eckerd Hall Adopts Sustainability Plan For The Sound

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By: Veronica Brezina

Imagine Clearwater rendering. All images: Stantec.

Performers at the soon-to-open amphitheater in Coachman Park will have to hold back on shooting confetti into the air, as it will be among several environmentally damaging activities banned at the Clearwater venue. 

During a Clearwater City Council work session, Ruth Eckerd Hall Director of Operations Brianna Hartigan presented administrators’ sustainability plan for the amphitheater – recently named The Sound – that’s part of the City’s $84 million waterfront project Imagine Clearwater. 

Once completed, the venue, which Ruth Eckerd Hall will fully operate, will have a 22,649-square-foot bandshell with 4,000 covered seats and lawn space for another 5,000 people. REH is programming at least 35 events a year and will also provide staffing and manage the food and beverage services.

Hartigan said REH will ban plastics including balloons and single-use plastic cups and straws. 

Additional sustainable practices REH will be adopting for The Sound: Read more

Andrew Lester Pleads Not Guilty In Shooting Of Ralph Yarl, Who Went To The Wrong House

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NBC News; Published By: Deon J. Hampton and Erik Ortiz

Andrew Lester, 84, appeared briefly Wednesday before a judge in Clay County, Mo.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A white homeowner pleaded not guilty Wednesday in the shooting of a Black teenager, Ralph Yarl after Yarl mistakenly rang his doorbell in an attack that has put renewed focus on “stand your ground” laws around the country.

Andrew Lester, 84, appeared briefly before a circuit court judge in Clay County, Missouri, after surrendering to authorities on Tuesday on felony charges of assault in the first degree and armed criminal action. He was released on $200,000 bail later that day.

Lester, wearing a blue and tan jacket and matching pants, was in the courtroom for less than 10 minutes and was surrounded by four guards. He used a cane and limped slowly to the front of the courtroom when his case was called and mumbled his responses to the judge.

The judge ordered him to surrender his passport and said he can’t own a firearm and must have no contact with Yarl. Read more

DeSantis’ Tour Hits South Carolina: Here’s What GOP Voters Thought

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Tampa Bay Times; Published By: Jay Cridlin

Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to a crowd at First Baptist North Spartanburg on Wednesday in Spartanburg, S.C. It was part of DeSantis’s first public trip to the early-voting state of South Carolina as he mulls a potential 2024 Republican presidential bid. [ MEG KINNARD | AP ]

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — As she queued up for a Gov. Ron DeSantis speech at a Baptist church in this town of 40,000, Alice Convertino sized up a few Republican contenders for the presidency.

Nikki Haley, South Carolina’s former governor, who’s already running?

“I just don’t think she has the support,” said Convertino, 71. “She’s got the international experience that some don’t, and she might make a great vice president the first go-around.”

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott?

“I really like Tim Scott, but quite frankly, I think he’s too nice to make it in politics and to survive.”

Former President Donald Trump, the current frontrunner? Read more

A St. Pete GoFundMe Plans To Take 200 Local Black Girls To See The Little Mermaid

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I Love The Burh; Published By: Bob Carskadon

Photo courtesy Disney

A St. Pete-based production company is hosting a screening of the upcoming release of The Little Mermaid, and it’s inviting 200 local Black girls to join them for free. Black On The Scene is planning to rent out a theater for girls in the community so they can watch the first live-action Black Disney princess and “see themselves amplified and magical.”

Dubbed Black On The Sea, the event is being organized by Black On The Scene founder Tamia Iman Kennedy, who has started a GoFundMe to source funds for renting out a theater when the movie is released. So far, the account has raised more than $2,000 of its $15,000 goal.

In addition to the movie, Black On The Scene has partnered with Cultured Books Literacy Foundation and Courageous Leap to offer participating children a full cultural experience. Cultured Books will provide each girl with a free copy of the newly released The Little Mermaid book, while Courageous Leap will offer free swimming lessons and opportunities to help dismantle children’s fear of the water.

Black On The Scene, is a St. Pete-based multi-media production company whose mission is to “ensure Black representation in film, TV and the digital realm by generating opportunities for creators, celebrating Black cinema and television, and depicting positive stories about Black people.” Read more

Forbes Names St. Pete One Of America’s Best Places To Travel In 2023

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I Love The Burg; Published By: Bob Carskadon

Photo courtesy City of St. Pete

Stop us if you’ve heard this before, but the Sunshine City is yet again receiving accolades and attention from major publications. Forbes this week unveiled its annual list of the best places to travel in America, and St. Pete was one of 20 destinations to make the cut.

The distinction puts our city on the same prestigious list as locales such as Puerto Rico, Portland (both Maine AND Oregon, it turns out), Niagara Falls, Savannah and Vail, Colorado. St. Pete was one of two Florida destinations to make the cut, with the panhandles Destin-Fort Walton Beach area also making the cut.

Editors gave St. Pete praise for its arts scene, LGBTQ+ friendly environment, and nightlife, while recognizing the rarity of a walkable (and waterfront) city also located right next to the beach. Terry Ward wrote the city’s review, giving the city glowing praise from the Florida-based travel writer whose work appears in CNN, National Geographic, Lonely Planet and the Washington Post, among many other outlets.

“St. Pete presents one of Florida’s best mixes of a cool and lively urban downtown with beautiful beaches right nearby,” says Terry Ward. “The town is known for its art scene—from the murals everywhere to Salvador Dali and Renaissance masterworks in museums—but it remains delightfully casual and approachable at every level, too. Read more

Taraji P. Henson Provides Mental Health Sessions To HBCUs

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The Root; Shanelle Genai

Taraji P Henson arrives at ABC Studios on April 06, 2023, in New York City.

Golden Globe-winning actress Taraji P. Henson has always been a woman for the people and a woman who’s intentional about mental health. If it wasn’t evident through her popular Facebook Watch series, Peace of Mind with Taraji, then allow her latest partnership with Kate Spade New York to do some further convincing.

Speaking in a new interview with Instyle, the Empire star dished on her new initiative with the popular fashion brand and her mental health-centric Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, which seeks to create more access to culturally competent mental health resources for women and girls by jointly launching the first-of-its-kind program on HBCU campuses across the country.

The initial launch kicked off at Alabama State University, where they unveiled “She Care Wellness Pods,” which will provide:

· Free mental health virtual and in-person therapy sessions for women students experiencing an exacerbation of stress, anxiety, and depression.

· Hangout spaces will provide psychoeducation sessions that allow students to connect with peers and mental wellness professionals to address students’ specific challenges.

Here’s How ‘Stand Your Ground’ May Come Into Play In Ralph Yarl Shooting

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The Root; Published By: Candace McDuffie

Dried egg is seen on the front of a house, Monday, April 17, 2023, where 16-year-old Ralph Yarl was shot Thursday after he went to the wrong address to pick up his younger brothers in Kansas City, Mo.

The white Kansas City man charged with allegedly shooting a Black teenager who accidentally rang his doorbell is bringing newfound attention to Missouri’s self-defense laws. Andrew Lester, 84, said he shot Ralph Yarl, 16, because he was in fear for his life. Lester has been charged with two felonies: first-degree assault and armed criminal action.

Lester claims he was “scared to death” when Yarl appeared at his front door. “Stand your ground” and “castle doctrine” laws, which are used in cases to claim self-defense, are embedded in the frameworks of numerous states. The first “stand your ground” law was founded in 2005 in Florida.

The law says that when someone believes another person is a threat in a place where they have a right to be, they can legally respond with physical—and even deadly—force. In Missouri, the self-defense law states that a person can use such force against another if they “reasonably believe that such deadly force is necessary” to safeguard “against death, serious physical injury, or any forcible felony.”

Lester, the owner of the property, said that he shot Yarl because he believed he “was protecting himself from a physical confrontation.” However, Yarl’s statement explains that he rang the doorbell and waited quietly before Lester opened the door and shot him. Attorneys told The Washington Post that ringing a doorbell doesn’t justify the use of deadly force. Read more

Damar Hamlin Cleared To Resume Football Activities

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The Root; Published by: Noah A. McGee

Photo: Bryan Bennett (Getty Images)

A miracle is defined as an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs, according to Merriam-Webster. That’s exactly how I would describe Damar Hamlin’s journey in the past four months.

Nearly all of the country saw the Buffalo Bills’ safety collapse in a Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in January, and many wondered if he would even live to tell the story, let alone play another down in the NFL.

But more than three months after that fateful night, when he went into cardiac arrest, it was announced that the 25-year-old safety has been cleared to play the sport he grew up loving. In a press conference, the second-year NFL player said, “Over these last few months I’ve been on a journey and I’ve seen some of the top professionals in this country.”

He later continued, “Their answers to me were all the same. This event was life-changing, but it’s not the end of my story. I’m here to announce that I plan on making a comeback to the NFL.” Read more

With Draymond Green’s Suspension, Has He Stomped Out Golden State’s Playoff Chances?

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The Root; Published By: Stephanie Holland

Photo: Steph Chambers (Getty Images)

After being ejected in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s game, Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green has been suspended for one game. The NBA announced the punishment on Tuesday, saying in a statement, “The suspension was based in part on Green’s history of unsportsmanlike acts.”

The suspension is in response to an incident between Green and the Sacramento Kings’ Domantas Sabonis, which ended with the Warriors star stepping on the Kings forward’s chest.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Kings announced that Sabonis is questionable for Game 3, as he has a bruised sternum.

Draymond will serve his suspension on Thursday when the Warriors play the Kings in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. Sacramento currently leads the series 2-0, making Game 3 critical for the Warriors. Now they will be without one of their most important players. Read more

Oklahoma County Officials Discuss Lynching Black People & Murdering Journalists

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The Root; Published By: Jessica Washington

Oklahoma State Capitol building. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Disturbing leaked audio of county officials in Oklahoma has caught the entire state’s attention. A local print newspaper, the McCurtain Gazette-Newspublished audio from inside a public meeting of the McCurtain County Commissioners on March 6, where local officials discussed lynching Black people and murdering reporters.

Oklahoma Republican Governor Kevin Stitt, who is calling for the officials to resign, did not mince words in his statement about the tape. “I am both appalled and disheartened to hear of the horrid comments made by officials in McCurtain County,” said Stitt, according to the Wall Street Journal. “I will not stand idly by while this takes place.”

Among those being called to resign are Sheriff Kevin Clardy, his investigator Alicia Manning, commissioners Mark Jennings and Robert Beck, commissioners’ secretary Heather Carter, and jail administrator Larry Hendrix.

Before we even get into the racism, the audio starts off deeply unsettling. The group begins by joking about starting a barbecue with the remains of a recently deceased woman, Danette Stowe, who died in a fire after attempting to rescue her two dogs. Read more

Men Shoot One Another In Pinellas Park, Leaving 1 Dead, 1 Injured, Cops Say

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Tampa Bay Times; Published By: Michaela Mulligan

A 20-year-old man was killed and another was injured early Tuesday in a shooting at the Boardwalk Apartments in Pinellas Park, police said.

A 20-year-old man was killed and another man was injured after they shot one another at a Pinellas Park apartment complex early Tuesday, police said.

The shooting happened at about 1:50 a.m. at the Boardwalk Apartments, 6401 102 Ave. N, according to Pinellas Park police. Axel Geraldo Gilbert, 20, was “engaged in a verbal altercation” with another man when the fight escalated to gunfire, police said. Both men fired shots, hitting each other.

Gilbert was pronounced dead at the scene. The other man, who police have not identified, was taken to a local hospital where he is in stable condition. The man was interviewed by investigators.

Pinellas Park Police is continuing to investigate the incident, the agency said. Read more

Central Plaza Plans Signify Transformation Of District

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By: Veronica Brezina

Central Plaza. GoogleMaps.

The once-thriving Central Plaza, the first regional shopping center in the city that now boasts a barren parking lot and “for lease” signs on empty retail spaces, will serve a completely new purpose in the evolving Grand Union District. 

St. Pete developers Jon Daou, largely credited with the development of the Edge District, and Blake Whitney Thompson of Blake Investment Partners have teamed up with Washington, D.C.-based firm Kettler to breathe new life into the Central Plaza property by bringing new retail and hundreds of apartments to the site. 

The partners purchased the property at 32355 Central Ave. from Miami-based Saglo Development Corp. in a $13 million deal. 

Central Plaza has played a key role in the development of the area for decades. Built-in the early 1950s, it was the first major commercial threat to downtown St. Petersburg businesses.

Today, the plaza sits on three acres and currently houses retail businesses Hibbett Sports, Family Dollar, CitiTrends, and Octapharma Plasma, a plasma donor center. Read more

What’s The Latest On the Rays’ Ballpark Negotiations? Well, We Asked.

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Tampa Bay Times; Published By: Colleen Wright & Jack Evans

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, left, speaks with Hines senior managing director Michael Harrison and Tampa Bay Rays President Brian Auld after Mayor Welch gave his 2023 State of the City address on the steps of City Hall on Jan. 30. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]

Mayor Ken Welch’s announced pick to redevelop Tropicana Field came with fanfare, including a high school marching band blasting Cheryl Lynn’s “Got to be Real.”

Three months later: not one note. Just quiet, private meetings between city officials, the Tampa Bay Rays, and the team’s development partner, Hines. All with the hope of breaking through the 15-year stalemate in negotiations on building a new ballpark, and rebuilding on the 86 acres it sits upon.

That’s by design. All parties are talking and meeting regularly, according to interviews and public calendars. But negotiators and the consultants and lawyers they’re working with have avoided putting anything in writing or sharing visuals such as charts, graphs, and renderings to avoid making them public records.

“Is a legal document, not attorney-client privileged?” wrote Inner Circle Sports consultant David Abrams to St. Petersburg City Administrator Rob Gerdes on Feb. 6. “One method of keeping this out of the public domain until we are done is having external counsel work on it and making it privileged.”

That email, along with typed texts and screenshots of texts that coordinate phone calls and Zoom meetings, are all that come up in public records requests for correspondence between city officials, their consultant, and the Rays’ front office dating back to February. Read more

I Moved To The US From Kenya. I Never Fully Realized I Was Black Until I Had A Son

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CNN; Published By: Faith Karimi

I was cradling my newborn son one night in November 2016 when I suddenly began to sob. Something had dawned on me that filled me with fear.

I was the mother of a Black son in America.

I was born in Kenya and moved to the US after high school to attend college. I have long felt a conflict between my race and my nationality.

In some ways, I didn’t know I was Black until I came to the US.

That night, as I held my son, Liam, and listened to TV pundits debate what the presidential election results meant for people of color, I felt frightened for his future.

I knew that no matter how he chose to define himself as the son of two Kenyan immigrants, he would be seen first and foremost as a Black man. And I was well aware of the prejudices that come with that label.

Despite living in the US for years and covering incidents of racism as a journalist, I wasn’t sure I was equipped to help him navigate life in a country where race is such a hot-button issue.

With my son’s birth, the dynamic of my life in America changed. I could no longer observe issues of race as a bystander from another country who wasn’t sure where she fit in the conversation. I was the mother of a Kenyan American son and a Black son.

To keep him safe, I knew I had to evolve. Little did I know my son would show me a new perspective on my adopted country. Read more

Louisiana Republican Officials Want To Ban America’s Racist Ass History From Being Taught in Universities

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The Root; Published By: Candace McDuffie

Louisiana Republican Chairman Louis Gurvich.

As the right continues its attack on education, Louisiana Republican Party officials want lawmakers to stop colleges from teaching racism in their curriculum. According to NOLA.com, the GOP is asserting that the “inglorious aspects” of American history are too divisive to teach.

In addition, Republican leaders also want to get rid of diversity, equity, and inclusion departments “within any institution of higher learning within the state.” The US Census Bureau has reported that a third of Louisiana residents are Black, according to the US Census Bureau.

In a resolution passed Saturday, the GOP asserted—without any proof—that these programs often have generous budgets and caused incendiary political tensions on campuses. It also criticized Louisiana State University and the University of Louisiana System programs, run by Claire Norris, for giving resources to DEI initiatives.

The University of Louisiana System President Jim Henderson told Insider in a statement that the GOP resolution was “so foreign to the reality at our institutions it defies comment. In addition, he stated: “We make no statement on the inner workings and platform development of political parties. That is their business. Read more

Another Mental Health Call Ends In A Fatality, But Also Manslaughter Charges

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The Root; Published By: Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: WRTV

Two Indianapolis Metro police officers are facing criminal charges in the death of a Black man after responding to a mental health call by his parents last year, according to The New York Times. The autopsy ruled his death a homicide caused by law enforcement restraint.

Nearly, a year ago, on April 25, the parents of Herman Whitfield III called the police to report a mental health crisis. According to the body camera footage of the incident, five officers and one trainee responded to the home. Things started off calmly as the officers tried to talk to Whitfield, who was naked, and asked him to put on clothes because an ambulance was coming. He did not respond to his mother nor the officers for about 22 minutes and suddenly became frantic, looking for water. He ran around the dining room table and one officer deployed his Taser.

The officers then handcuffed him while he was face down on the ground and tried to restrain him. “I’m dying, I’m dying…Can’t breathe” he cried out as he tried to free himself from their grip. Moments later, he went silent and when the paramedics arrived, they began CPR. He died at the hospital hours later.

Two of the responding officers are facing serious criminal charges in connection to this mental crisis intervention gone wrong. Read more

Here’s The Gifted Hairstylist Who Created The “Doobie” Wrap

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The Root; Published By: Jennifer Gil-Velazquez

Photo: Jason Merritt (Getty Images)

If you’ve ever wondered how hair “wrapping” or the “Doobie” became part of Black hair culture, one brilliant trailblazer to thank is Charlene Carroll.

A master hairstylist, Charlene has been known as Black Royalty in Boston for decades. Her business savvy and hairstyling skills were praised in an article in Black Enterprise, which proclaimed, “Cinderella is alive and well and living in Boston. Her name is Charlene Carroll and her game is making people beautiful.”

Making Black people beautiful was just part of it, Charlene had a natural, almost magical talent for Black hair. “When it comes to hair, I have a gift,’’ she recently told me. “I can look at your hair and know if you smoke, if you’re on medication, or if you need more vitamins in your diet.’’

Starting in the seventies, her compassion for Black women and Black hair changed the way we protect, prep and wear our hair, which is how the wrap came about. But first, what is a wrap? Read more

Jury Orders Tesla To Pay $3 Million In Race-Related Work Case

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Published By: The Grio

In an aerial view from last October, new cars sit in a parking lot at the Tesla factory in Fremont, California. A judge has ordered the company to pay $3 million in punitive damages to Owen Diaz, who was a Black contractor at the location in 2015 and 2016. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Tesla is on the line for $3 million to a Black former contractor in a race-related work case that has been ongoing for years.

According to NBC News, a San Francisco federal jury ordered the automaker to pay $3 million in punitive damages and $175,000 in economic damages to Owen Diaz, an elevator operator at its Fremont, California, location in 2015 and 2016.

In 2021, Diaz was awarded $137 million, an amount that included punitive damages, after a jury found that Tesla violated his civil rights and did not take all necessary measures to stop and prevent racist harassment directed at him.

Judge William H. Orrick reduced the sum to $15 million, prompting Diaz and Tesla to request a new trial to determine damages.

Last week, the former contractor testified in court again about how his coworkers at Tesla used racist slurs to disparage him and other Black employees, made him feel physically unsafe, urged him to “go back to Africa” and left racist graffiti and a racist drawing around. Read more

Jamie Foxx Hospitalized In Atlanta With ‘Medical Complication’

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The Root; Published By: Stephanie Holland

Photo: Joe Maher (Getty Images)

Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx’s family has confirmed that the actor has been hospitalized in Atlanta after suffering a “medical complication.” His daughter, Corinne Foxx, made the announcement on Instagram on Wednesday, writing, “We wanted to share that my father Jamie Foxx experienced a medical complication yesterday. Luckily due to quick action and great care he is already on his way to recovery. We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers. The family asks for privacy during this time.”

Read more

Americans Who Survived Mexican Kidnapping Share Horrifying Details Of Ordeal

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The Root; Published By: Candace McDuffie

Photo: WCIV

Nearly a month after four Americans were kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel, two of the survivors sat down with CNN’s Anderson Cooper to discuss the trauma they are still dealing with as well as the deaths of their friends.

On March 3, LaTavia Washington McGee, Eric Williams, Zindell Brown, and Shaeed Woodard were kidnapped as they were driving to a medical procedure located in Matamoros, Mexico. The attack happened in broad daylight, with investigators believing that the American group was mistaken for Haitian drug smugglers.

Woodard and Brown were both killed. “They didn’t deserve that. None of us deserved it. But we’re alive – we have a lot of recovering to do,” Washington McGee told Cooper in an interview Tuesday. They were driving when they heard a car blow a horn behind them. Brown warned the group not to stop the car.

“Zindell and Shaeed, they jumped up to run and they were gunned down,” Williams recalled. Williams jumped out of the driver’s side of the vehicle when someone began beating on the car window with a gun. “That’s when I was shot in both legs,” Williams said. Read more

Heartbreaking Developments In The Shanquella Robinson Case

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The Root; Published By: Candace McDuffie

Photo: WXII 12

In a statement issued Wednesday, officials with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in two districts in North Carolina shared that prosecutors will not pursue charges pertaining to the death of Shanquella Robinson. Robinson, who is from Charlotte, died while vacationing with friends in Mexico last October.

The statement explained that the “investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Ms. Robinson has been a priority for federal prosecutors and the FBI.” It also said that the “FBI has worked diligently to conduct a detailed and thorough investigation of the evidence available in this case.” Their efforts were in conjunction with Robinson’s family. However, the office explained that the evidence in the case does not warrant charges: Read more

Here’s Why Hulu’s Upcoming Freaknik Documentary Is Making Some Black Folks Nervous

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The Root; Published By: Shanelle Genai

William Stimms stands on Peachtree St. downtown with a sticker on his hat watching the crowds go by on foot at Freaknik, Atlanta, Georgia, April 23, 1994.

Last week, we told you about Hulu’s plan to release its forthcoming documentary centered around the highly popular (and widely criticized, but more on that later) the 80s-90s festival, Freaknik.

While an official trailer for Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told has yet to be released, the streamer says that the upcoming project “recounts the rise and fall of a small Atlanta HBCU picnic that exploded into an influential street party and spotlighted ATL as a major cultural stage. Can the magic of Freaknik be brought back 40 years later?” Sounds straightforward and unintimidating enough, right?

Well, it’s unfortunately now proving to be intimidating for some who experienced Freaknik during its heyday—namely Black women—because they’re worried that their arguably reckless actions from back in the day will be broadcasted for the entire world to see. And if that is the case, they’re also worried about what the implications and consequences will look like as a result of it (because misogyny is an unfair judge). In fact, in addition to numerous tweets and even TikTok videos of some Black women speaking out about their nervousness for the upcoming doc, a handful of prominent Black women professionals are even considering taking legal action against Hulu.

According to NewsOne, three C-suite executives and one judge are reportedly planning to file a lawsuit in Atlanta’s federal court on the grounds that the doc is “unlawful” because they didn’t sign any media releases. Though no official court documents have been seen, the fact that these women are willing to go so far out of fear that the footage could potentially be so detrimental to the life they’ve built now all these years later is telling. Read more

Georgia Football Trainer Goes On Racist Tirade While Driving Through ATL

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The Root; Published By: Noah A. McGee

Mark Taylor, a White football trainer in Georgia, referred to Atlanta as a “ni**er town.”

I always love when White people do the work for us and just show us how hateful, discriminatory, and racist they are. Don’t hide it. Just tell us you’re racist and we can respond accordingly.

That’s the case with White Georgia football trainer Mark Taylor, who was seen on video making racist remarks towards and about Black people as he was driving through the streets of downtown Atlanta.

Taylor is the creator of Speed Edge Sports in Macon, GA, a sports training program. In most of his posts on social media, he can be seen sharing photos and videos of himself training young Black student-athletes, many of whom have gone to play Division 1 football and beyond.

I wonder if any more Black student-athletes will work with him after they hear what he says in the below videos.

On Monday, the videos of Taylor were shared on Facebook by Lauren Angelica Law, a woman who claims to be a civil rights activist. Read more

Human Resource Management 1 Day Training In Tampa, FL

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Course Overview:

Recently tasks that were initially thought to fall under the responsibility of the human resources department have become a part of many managers” job descriptions. The sharing and diffusion of these tasks throughout the organization have had an impact, particularly on those not equipped with the skills or knowledge to deal with these issues.

The Human Resource Management workshop will give managers the essential tools to handle numerous human resources situations such as interviewing, orientation, safety, harassment, discrimination, violence, discipline, and termination. This workshop will provide your participants with those skills and assist them with certain Human Resource situations.

Tennessee Three Seen As A ‘Watershed Moment’ For Racial Justice & Democracy

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All eyes are on Tennessee after two Black lawmakers were expelled from its state House of Representatives, igniting a movement at the intersection of gun violence, racial justice and democracy.

Days after being expelled by the supermajority Republican legislators, state Rep. Justin Jones was unanimously reinstated by the Nashville Metro Council on Monday. On Wednesday, Rep. Justin J. Pearson was also reinstated by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.

Both Jones and Pearson were ousted by Republicans on April 6 after they, alongside state Rep. Gloria Johnson — who avoided being expelled with her colleagues by just one vote — joined thousands of demonstrators inside the well of the House chamber on March 30 to protest gun violence following the recent deadly mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville.

Jones, Pearson and Johnson — now known as the Tennessee Three — were brought up for expulsion on charges of breaking House rules and bringing “disorder” and “dishonor” to the legislative body. Read more

Black Woman-Owned Micro-Wedding Company Shares 5 Tips For A Budget-Friendly Wedding

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Every woman deserves to be a bride. But not every bride desires a lavish and expensive wedding! As post-pandemic wedding season rolls into full gear, a growing number of couples are opting out of traditional weddings for smaller, more budget-friendly ceremonies.

That’s where Jennifer Allen’s micro-wedding company, Just Elope, comes in. The founder and CEO went from being a full-time executive assistant to running the company behind over 350 weddings.

She launched Just Elope in 2017 after having an underwhelming experience marrying her husband at City Hall in Dallas. Her only options at the time were Las Vegas or the courthouse, due to her husband leaving for deployment the same day they were getting married.

That left the happy couple only five days to put together Allen’s dream wedding, which was far from a dream, as it felt rushed.

“Definitely not a fairytale day,” Allen admitted. “Now, fast forward to 2017, after seven years of marriage and two children, I was no closer to having a ‘wedding/vow renewal’ than I was the day we got married.” Read more

The TN Expulsions Underscored Where Black Political Representation Is Most Troubling!

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The Root; Published By: Wayne Washington

Photo: Seth Herald (Getty Images)

The outcry over the expulsions of a pair of Black Tennessee state lawmakers underscores a problem that often gets little notice – the already massive under-representation of Black Americans in the halls of state government.

The majority of Black Americans – some 56 percent, according to figures from the Pew Research Center – live in the South. Most Black Americans have ancestral ties to the region, and despite its blood-soaked history of racism and racial violence, it’s where many Black folks have chosen to remain.

But it’s also where Black Americans have far less political clout than they should given their numbers in the region’s population.

Black people are not represented in states we live In: 

Black Americans are under-represented in every one of the 13 states that made up the Confederacy. And in many states with the highest percentages of Black residents, the gap between those percentages and the percentage of Blacks in the state Legislature is the largest. Read more

Inside Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ War On Black Voters

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The Root; Published By: Jessica Washington

Women wearing face masks fill out vote-by-mail ballots at the Orange County Supervisor of Elections office on October 15, 2020 in Orlando, Florida.

It’s no secret that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has a contentious relationship with Black Americans. And the Republican Governor certainly didn’t help his case when he went on a tirade against African American studies. But some of his more public moves aside, it’s what he’s done to voting rights in the state that has got Black Floridians on edge.

Since entering office, DeSantis has waged an unprecedented attack on Black voters and Black political power in Florida.The accusations against DeSantis include allegations that he gerrymandered Black voting power into oblivion and pushed through voting restrictions in an attempt to scare and confuse Black voters into staying home.

Let’s start with his gerrymandering strategy. We now have ample reporting from ProPublica and The Guardian that DeSantis was deeply involved in redrawing the new congressional district maps last year. According to reporting from The Guardian, DeSantis’s new map not only heavily favored Republicans, but it also cut the number of districts where Black voters had a chance to elect a candidate in half.

In a lawsuit, the Florida GOP was accused of using a two-pronged disenfranchisement strategy known as “cracking” and “packing” in predominantly Black districts. To simplify it a little, “cracking” refers to splitting a minority group amongst new districts to dilute their political power. So, for example, the new map split Black voters in Jacksonville into two different maps, diminishing their ability to pick a candidate“Packing” is the opposite strategy. Essentially, you “pack” as many minority voters into one or two districts so you can limit the number of seats the group can get in Congress. The litigation is still ongoing, so we’ll see how that shakes out. Read more

Congressional Black Caucus Pressures Buttigieg To Reform Racist Traffic Stops That Harm Black People

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The Root; Published By: Candace McDuffie

Photo: Anne Kitzman (Shutterstock)

Nearly 30 members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) are encouraging the Department of Transportation to denounce the “unjust and discriminatory status quo” of traffic enforcement. They are also requesting reform to reduce traffic stops that are driven by racial bias.

In a letter directly addressing Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, 27 members of the CBC, including Democratic Reps. Cori Bush (Mo.), Ayanna Pressley (Mass.), Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.) and Ilhan Omar (Minn.), said they have a “grave concern for the wellbeing of Black drivers.”

Every year, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that more than 20 million people are pulled over for traffic violations. Even though Black folks are less likely to have access to a vehicle, they are more likely to be stopped than their white peers. The lawmakers say this is because officers frequently choose to enforce traffic laws against Black drivers over white ones. Read more

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg Comes For Republican Congressman For Meddling In Trump Case

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The Root; Published By: Jessica Washington

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 04: Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks during a press conference following the arraignment of former U.S. President Donald Trump on April 4, 2023, in New York City.

There’s never a dull day in Donald Trump’s worldManhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg just filed a lawsuit against staunch Trump ally and U.S. House Judiciary Committee Chair Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH) for allegedly interfering with his prosecution of the former President.

Bragg did not hold back against the Congressman. “Chairman Jordan and the Committee have, in essence, appointed Congress as a super grand jury that can flex its subpoena power to second guess the judgment of New York citizens and interfere with the state criminal justice process,” the lawsuit says.

Let’s back up a second thought. Unless you’ve been staying offline (good for you), you likely already know that a Manhattan grand jury indicted Trump on 34 felony charges and that the former President plead not guilty. You probably also know Jordan and his Republican buddies on the House Judiciary Committee weren’t happy about it, calling the decision to indict Trump, “politically motivated.”

Jordan took the rather unprecedented step of issuing a subpoena for a former prosecutor Mark Pomerantz who worked on the Trump case so he could testify in front of Congress about the case. Read more

Fla. GOP Lawmaker Apologizes For Calling Transgender People “Demons” &”Mutants” and More Disgusting Things

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The Root; Published By: Candace McDuffie

Photo: Tampa Bay Times

State Rep. Webster Barnaby, a Republican state legislator from Florida, apologized Monday after he referred to transgender people as “demons” and “mutants” during a legislative hearing.

The remarks came earlier that day at a Commerce Committee hearing on the “Safety in Private Spaces Act”, a bill that would make it a second-degree misdemeanor for someone to use a bathroom that does not match the sex they were assigned at birth.

The “Safety in Private Spaces Act” will tentatively be implemented in various public spaces. Barnaby said: “I’m looking at society today and it’s like I’m watching an X-Men movie…We have people that live among us today on planet Earth that are happy to display themselves as if they were mutants from another planet. This is the planet Earth with God-created men, male, and women, female,” he said.

Barnaby, who identifies as a conservative Christian and has been a part of the Florida House of Representatives since 2020, said he was “not on the fence” about what the bill would do. “The Lord, rebuke you Satan, and all of your demons and all of your imps that come and parade before us. That’s right, I called you demons and imps, who come and parade before and pretend that you are part of this world.”

The lawmaker later issued an apology shortly afterward. “I referred to trans people as demons,” Barnaby said. “I would like to apologize to the trans community for referring to you as demons.” Just last month, Florida joined more than a half-dozen other states in restricting transition-related medical care for minors. Read more

The Play-In Game Between The Lakers, and Timberwolves Made Me Question My Love For Basketball

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The Root; Published By: Noah A. McGee

Photo: Harry How (Getty Images)

I love basketball. I truly do. It was my first love growing up. For the longest, outside of my family, it was the only thing that I truly cared about. But Tuesday night’s game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves had me questioning if I even enjoy the sport I grew up loving.

The game that determined who was going to receive the seventh seed in the Western Conference NBA Playoffs and play the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round was filled with low IQ decision-making, terrible shot-making, dumb fouls, stupid turnovers, and an insane ending.

As one user on Twitter put it: “THIS IS CTE BASKETBALL.” But even though the play on the court was erratic and unpleasant to watch, I could not take my eyes off it. Whenever the Lakers did something unintelligent to try and lose the game, the Wolves one-upped them and said, “We can be even dumber”—and vice-versa. Read more

2023 WNBA Draft: Aliyah Boston Leads Dynamic Lineup Of New Stars

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The Root; Published By: Stephanie Holland

Photo: Sarah Stier (Getty Images)

After record-breaking viewership for the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament and an active off-season full of surprises, the WNBA is ready to kick off its 27th season. Things got underway on Monday with the 2023 WNBA Draft.

To the surprise of literally no one, the Indiana Fever started the proceedings off by choosing South Carolina star Aliyah Boston at No. 1. I’m not going to claim this makes the Fever instant contenders, but it definitely makes them more of a threat. Indiana won five games during the 2022 season, so there’s only one way for its young team to go. It was a big night for South Carolina, as it had three players go in the first round and five players overall. Center Laeticia Amihere was the No. 8 pick to the Atlanta Dream, Zia Cooke went to the Los Angeles Sparks at No. 10, Brea Beal went to the Minnesota Lynx at No. 24 and Victaria Saxton went to the Fever at No. 25. Dawn Staley is going to have a lot of work to do next season with South Carolina’s basketball team. Read more

EXCLUSIVE: Michelle Obama, Gayle King Discuss Doubts Black Women Face

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The Root; Published By: Stephanie Holland

Photo: Bennett Raglin (Getty Images)

When it comes to Forever First Lady Michelle Obama, we know you want all the scoop on everything she’s working on. Well, today is your lucky day because we’ve got an exclusive sneak peek of the latest episode of her podcast, The Light.

In “Excellence Is My Practice,” premiering April 11, Obama and her guest, journalist Gayle King, discuss how Black women have a feeling of doubt and fear of not being enough because the world is constantly telling us our accomplishments aren’t valid. The title comes from Obama explaining how she overcame those fears. The duo also talks about the importance of professional habits like punctuality. The CBS Mornings host hilariously describes how Obama practices what she preaches, revealing that the Becoming author was on time down to the minute. The two successful women explain how crucial it was for them to teach their own children these traits from a young age. It may seem like a small thing, but since lateness is a long-held stereotype against us, it’s important that we start every interaction with the best impression possible.

As we all know, Black people are always at a disadvantage in professional environments. We have to prove ourselves in every way at every stage. We don’t get the benefit of the doubt. When we make mistakes, we don’t get the same second and third chances that are white colleagues get. Hearing role models like Gayle King and Michelle Obama talk about the impact of instilling these habits in their own children is a big deal. It’s a truly fascinating conversation. Read more

Black Mathematician First To Have Research Displayed In Library Of Congress

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Black Enterprise; Published By: Stacy Jackson

(Screenshot: Good Morning America)

A little Black girl magic added to a passion for math equaled major success for Gloria Ford Gilmer, the first Black woman to have research in the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress.

The Division displays around 12,000 total collections. Josh Levy, a historian at the Library of Congress, inquired about acquiring Gilmer’s research last year. The mathematician’s daughter, Jill Gilmer, didn’t hesitate.

She said to GMA3, “When the Library of Congress reached out to me, I was blown away…it was interesting to see that all the work that she had done was being recognized. It was really an honor.”

Gilmer made her mark in her hometown of Milwaukee, where she was the first Black math instructor for the Milwaukee Public Schools system and the first Black math instructor at Milwaukee Area Technical College, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She was also the first Black person to serve on the board of governors for the Mathematical Association of America. Read more

17 Cali Cops Under Investigation For Racist Texts & Much Worse

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The Root; Published By: Kalyn Womack

A county judge has released the names of 17 Antioch, Ca. police officers accused of some dirty business including but not exclusive to sharing messages riddled with racial slurs. According to the East Bay Times, their alleged misconduct is under investigation by the FBI.

For over two years, this group of police officers have allegedly shared racist memes and jokes in their messages between one another. Contra Costa County Judge Clare Maier identified all of them, eight of whom were put on leave because of the texts, five who are already under FBI investigation and one of them being the president of the Antioch Police Association. The messages themselves were not disclosed but were described by the judge as “inciting future hate or racial animus.”

Because of the “deeply disturbing” content targeting the Black and Hispanic community, Maier decided the officers were not entitled to anonymity under the state evidence code.

The messages, dating back to 2019, were discovered by the FBI weeks ago as a part of an investigation into conduct even more concerning than the racial memes. Read more

The Juvenile Welfare Board Of Pinellas County Is Hiring!

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  • Department Coordinator
  • Senior Program Finance Analyst
  • Community Collaborations Coordinator

The Vote Is Unanimous: The ‘Ruby Bridges’ Film Ban Is Lifted

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The Weekly Challenger

The North Shore Elementary School-Based Instructional and Media Review Committee declared Disney’s ‘Ruby Bridges film is appropriate for K-5 students.

BY GOLIATH J. DAVIS, III, Ph.D.

ST. PETERSBURG — On April 3, the North Shore Elementary School-Based Instructional and Media Review Committee met to review and rule on a complaint filed by parent Emily Conklin, who protested the showing of Disney’s 1998 “Ruby Bridges” film to second-grade scholars, even though she was allowed to opt her child out of the showing. All of the second-grade parents, except two, returned consent approval forms.

The seven-member committee was comprised of teachers, parents, community representatives, and union members. Two of the members were African American. Time was allotted for Mrs. Conklin to address her objection, but she did not appear at the microphone when called. The second-grade team responsible for the lesson and the district’s content specialist were also allotted time.

The seven-member committee was comprised of teachers, parents, community representatives and one union member.

The presentation by the second-grade team was quite informative and provided a compelling rationale for why the film was selected. The team members worked independently to research their single topic utilizing multiple sources. “Ruby Bridges” was chosen because she was six years old and relatable to second graders. The movie had several teachable points, including perseverance, contributing to a strong community, and utilizing your voice for change.

The district’s content specialist addressed issues related to state standards and curriculum. Her research revealed the lesson and the film aligned with state standards regarding teaching African-American history in three areas: prejudice, vital African-American contributions, and how individual freedoms have been infringed upon by segregation. Ruby’s bravery was also a central teaching point.

Committee members discussed their overall impressions and a host of other issues, including the movie and lesson’s educational value, age appropriateness, and whether or not the film and lesson adversely impacted students within the broader context of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and diversity. Their responses were thoughtful, heartfelt, researched, and personal.

One member consulted American Psychological Association literature and reported that given some preschoolers may have already developed racial beliefs in other settings, the movie and lesson are age appropriate. More importantly, the member stated her review of the movie revealed it did not teach hate. Instead, the film displayed ugliness and intolerance, and what better place to address it than inside a classroom? Read more

St. Petersburg College: Promise Scholarship

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WANT TO EARN AN SPC DEGREE FOR FREE?

As a 2023 graduate of the schools listed below, you qualify for the SPC Promise Scholarship that pays the full tuition and fees for associate degrees and financial aid-eligible certificates at SPC!

This is a great chance to earn a degree that can lead to a strong career with good pay or transfer to a bachelor’s degree program without any debt from your first two years of college. The SPC Promise Scholarship covers your tuition and fees after another possible financial aid has been applied, making this an exceptional opportunity. The eligible schools are:

  • Clearwater High School
  • Lakewood High School
  • Northeast High School
  • Pinellas Park High School
  • Tarpon Springs High School

Why A South St. Pete Staple Said Goodbye

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By: Mark Parker

Chief’s Creole Cafe unexpectedly closed Friday. Its owners will retain ownership of the building, built in 1939. Photos by Mark Parker.

Elihu Brayboy decided to make good on a promise made to himself and, with little fanfare, closed Chief’s Creole Café.

Brayboy recently celebrated his 74th birthday, and the daily grind of running a restaurant for 10 years takes a toll. Also, he and his wife, Carolyn, are eager to devote more time to the next chapter in their ongoing quest to help revitalize the culturally significant Deuces Corridor in South St. Petersburg.

The abrupt closure Friday of an establishment that helped catalyze the Deuces renaissance – one bowl of renowned gumbo at a time – caught many off guard. However, Mr. B., as he is affectionately known, and refers to himself, knew it was time to pass the torch.

“I couldn’t put on the brakes,” Brayboy explained. “I couldn’t slow it down to 50% or 75%. You got to be 100% in the business or not.”

The Brayboys arduously cleared junked vehicles and trash from what is now the Cafe’s courtyard.

The decision came exactly one month after his March 7 birthday. Brayboy told himself, and Carolyn, that he would stop hauling supplies, making payroll and ensuring the café lived up to its reputation by the time he turned 75.

In addition, he noted they worked relentlessly for the past decade to accomplish their goal of changing some of the negative perceptions surrounding 22nd Street South. Following a “hard stop” as restaurateurs, the longtime residents remain committed to helping the area achieve some of its former glory.

“What we want to do from here is look at some young entrepreneurs – preferably food entrepreneurs – that would take this site and take it to another level,” Brayboy said. “It’s going to be a good future.”

Mr. B said he would retain ownership of the historic facility, built in 1939. There is “zero” consideration of selling the property – unless someone “waves a check so big I get choked up.”

He added that is unlikely to happen, and said the decision would ultimately reside with his granddaughters.

Brayboy is also open to letting someone carry on the Chief’s Creole Cafe moniker. While people are already “aggressively” inquiring about a lease, the Brayboys want to ensure the right fit.

The next chapter in their rich history is providing housing for people they consider essential workers. With a touch of sarcasm, Brayboy said others might remember them as those who had to go to work during the pandemic.

Those employees cannot work remotely and must travel to jobs, even if soaring costs and gentrification prevent them from living nearby. Brayboy noted they often make less than $20 an hour and are housing-insecure.

“What we want to do is bring some security back,” he said. “By providing some affordable units for their price points on the 22nd Street corridor. We need more people living on the corridor like it used to be.”

From left: Veatrice Farrell, the former executive director of Deuces Live, and Elihu and Carolyn Brayboy at a Preserve the ‘Burg event in February.

The Brayboys have bought and restored several other properties in the Deuces and recently announced plans for a uniquely affordable housing project for those earning around $35,000 annually. The development would sit on a vacant lot between Lorene’s Fish House and the historic Royal Theater, now home to a Boys and Girls Club.

While zoning restrictions prohibit buildings over three stories in the area, Brayboy now has more time to lobby local politicians for changes.

An affinity for the Deuces is ingrained in the couple, as the two fell in love while growing up in South St. Petersburg during segregation. Much of the once-thriving corridor was vacant and boarded up when they bought the property at the intersection of 22nd Street South and 9th Avenue  in 2013.

Before that, the Deuces Corner was a vibrant hub of Black businesses, entertainment and homes during the Jim Crow Era. The nearby Manhattan Casino, now undergoing much-needed repairs, was once a preferred venue for musical icons like Louis Armstrong, Etta James and B.B. King.

A prominent mural featuring Armstrong adorns the side of Chief’s Creole Café, a welcoming landmark to visitors traveling south on the Deuces.

Elihu Brayboy said he is open to a young entrepreneur keeping the Cafe’s name.

However, False perceptions of the area permeated the city. Many believed the area was unsafe and that a restaurant would fail. They were wrong.

Although the Brayboys were repeatedly denied business loans and told the restaurant would never attract patrons from across the city – particularly white residents – they proved the naysayers wrong through hard work and determination.

Mr. B., ever the storyteller, often relays how Carolyn would run into the street to pick up trash. To his dismay, the habit persisted.

Brayboy said they took a risk that paid off due to loyal patrons who helped prove the doubters wrong. He expressed his sincere gratitude and noted the area’s “phenomenal turnaround” was partly due to residents and visitors of all races coming together over authentic Creole meals.

“What reduced the racism and bigotry was good food,” Brayboy said. “You can solve a lot of problems if you eat together.”

What? Texas Gov. Abbott Is Eager To Pardon A Man Who Killed A BLM Protester

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The Root; Published By: Kalyn Womack

(Left) Gov. Greg Abbott (Right) Sgt. Daniel Perry

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wants to undo the guilty verdict of a white army sergeant who fatally shot a Black Lives Matter protester back in 2020, according to USA TODAY. Though the jury found the man guilty as charged, Abbott said he plans to pardon him based on the state’s “Stand Your Ground” law.

Apparently, there was more than one Kyle Rittenhouse threatening the lives of demonstrators in 2020. Daniel Perry, now 35, was indicted in 2021 for fatally shooting BLM protester Garrett Foster in Austin three years ago. The report says Perry was an active-duty sergeant but doing Uber rides downtown the night of the protest. He was accused of driving his car through a red light directly into the march prompting Foster, who was carrying an AK-47 rifle, to approach the vehicle with a group of protesters.

Perry alleges he was threatened by Foster, shot at him five times with his firearm through the window of his car and drove away. Despite the impression that Perry instigated this interaction, his defense team argued he acted in self-defense. The jury wasn’t convinced and Perry was convicted on aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and deadly conduct charges. Read more

MLK Coalition Says Pinellas County School Board Locked Them Out Of Community Center In Clearwater

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WTSP; Published By: BriShon Mitchell

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition in Clearwater says they have been locked out of the MLK community center by the Pinellas County School Board without a reason why.

The volunteer-ran coalition held a protest on Thursday against the school board for evicting them and called for the board to give them reasons behind their removal.  

The group says they restored the space after it was initially condemned by the school board to serve the local community —  providing a space to have weddings, family repass, reunions, food pantry, adult services that assist with rent payments, utility bills, senior homeowners renovations and a cold weather shelter for the homeless, the coalition detailed in a news release.

The center was a “vital hub” for the community to come together for important events and services they would otherwise not be able to afford, the group said. 

“We are deeply disappointed by the Pinellas County School Board’s decision to lock us out of the Martin Luther King Jr Center,” Carmen Lundy, MLK Coalition board president, said in a statement. “We will not stand by and let the school board take away this vital resource from our community. We call on the school board to give back access to the center so that these services can continue to be accessible to the community.” Read more

Tampa Bay Hires Presents: Summer 2023, Young Adults – Ages 16-24 Years Old

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Take the next step on your career path.

Looking to start training for your dream career, gain work experience or boost your skills? Tampa Bay Hires can help!

Hillsborough County’s Community Action Board Scholarship – Deadline: April 24, 2023

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2023 Eligibility Criteria

  • Applicants must be between 16 and 24 years old, and have a high school diploma or GED equivalent (16-year-olds may apply if they are a graduating seniors)
  • The candidate must have a minimum GPA of 2.0
  • Applicants must reside in Hillsborough County
  • The applicant’s household income must fall within 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)
  • Students seeking a master’s degree, or a second bachelor’s degree do not qualify

The City Of Tampa Black History Committee, Inc. Is Awarding Scholarships – Deadline April 14, 2023

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From our annual Black History celebration to scholarship awards, partner with us in honoring the dedication, collaboration, and achievement of our community. 2023 Scholarship Applications are now available for download. Submissions must be received by April 14, 2023.

B.E.A.U.T.E. Blueprint Foundation, Inc. Presents: East Tampa Summer Brain Booster Camp

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June 5th – July 27, Monday through Friday: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

B.E.A.U.T.E (pronounced beauty) Blueprint Foundation Inc. will be hosting an 8-week summer camp for school-aged students in East Tampa. The camp will take place Monday through Thursday 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. We will be serving students that reside in zip codes 33604, 33610, and 33619.  If you are interested in enrolling your child, please complete the form below. 25 students will be selected.  Your child must be able to attend all camp days. Once accepted an email will be sent out with more details. Your child will be provided a safe space to play, develop their reading skills, and social-emotional development and receive mentorship.  There will be exciting opportunities for your child to explore and participate in experiential field trips to the Florida Aquarium, Lowry Park Zoo, United Skates, and more. By the end of this program, your child will have maintained or increased their reading comprehension and fluency skills and developed their social-emotional skills. 

The Links Incorporated St. Petersburg Chapter Presents: LIFE PROGRAM International Careers – April 15, 2023

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Learn About Careers in:
International Business, Foreign Affairs, Study Abroad, and More!

Meet The Tiktoker Who Went From Sleeping In His Truck To Starting A 7-Figure Tax Business

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Published By: Black Enterprise

Courtesy of Duke Tax

Today, 28-year-old Duke Alexander Moore is living many a millennial entrepreneur‘s dream: He’s successfully zeroed in on his niche and is using social media to turn a major profit.

The founder of seven-figure business Duke Tax, a membership-based tax service for creators, influencers and entrepreneurs, Moore parlays his extensive tax knowledge into content for his TikTok account @dukelovestaxes, which presents critical tax tips with an entertaining flair to its 3.4 million followers.

But the path to becoming a multi-million-dollar business owner wasn’t a straightforward one.

Despite having an entrepreneurial spirit for as long as he can remember (he sold CDs, complete with graphics and labels, in elementary school), Moore found himself at a difficult crossroads after college. “I got in trouble because I was selling things I was not supposed to be selling,” he tells Entrepreneur.

Having a record made finding employment difficult. In 2014, at 24, Moore had secured a job at a warehouse as a forklift driver, but he was deeply unhappy. Read more

Nine-Year-Old Child Genius Stuns NASA Scientists While Visiting The Space Telescope Science Institute

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Black Enterprise; Published By: Sharelle Burt

YouTube screenshot/FOX 11 Los Angeles

Child protégée, David Balogun, continues to shock the world with his incredible genius.

The nine-year-old is one of the youngest high school graduates, receiving his diploma from  Reach Cyber Charter School in Harrisburg, PA. After graduation, Balogun was invited by NASA and the Maryland-based Space Telescope Science Institute to visit the James Webb Space Telescope Mission Operations Center in Baltimore. His story made headlines and Hannah Braun, the institute’s spokesperson, said the team just had to meet him.

“I had actually seen David’s story all over social media and thought, ‘Wow, I’d bet he’d find a trip to Webb’s Mission Operations Center exciting!’” Braun said to Atlanta Black Star.

What they didn’t know was that he was going to teach them a thing or two, all without being on this earth for even 10 years yet. “We don’t have children visit the center really, besides families of employees on occasion, so the crew didn’t quite know what to expect with David.”

In his orange NASA space suit, the scientists, who provided the tour, were instantly impressed with the child’s knowledge of the science. In the Flight Control Room, Balogun watched them do a “mock-up for the soundcheck,” a process done with astronauts before they take off. Described as “inquisitive,” the young genius started talking about something they had never heard of before – Super Saturn. “What’s that?” Braun recalled asking. “So then we got to Googling.” Read more

Clarence Thomas Defends Undisclosed “Family Trips” With GOP Megadonor. Here Are the Facts.

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ProPublica; Published By: Joshua KaplanJustin Elliott, and Alex Mierjeski

Collage by ProPublica. Source Images: Excerpt from a statement by Justice Clarence Thomas, J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo and Chris Goodney/Bloomberg/Getty Images

In a rare public statement, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas responded Friday to a ProPublica report that revealed that Thomas has, for decades, accepted luxury travel from billionaire Republican megadonor Harlan Crow and failed to disclose it.

Thomas’ brief statement acknowledges joining Crow and his wife, who he described as among his “dearest friends,” on “a number of family trips” over the years. He also defended his failure to disclose them.

“Early in my tenure at the Court, I sought guidance from my colleagues and others in the judiciary, and was advised that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable,” Thomas said in the statement. “I have endeavored to follow that counsel throughout my tenure, and have always sought to comply with the disclosure guidelines.”

But seven legal ethics experts consulted by ProPublica, including former ethics lawyers for Congress and the White House, said the law clearly requires that gifts of transportation, including private jet flights, be disclosed. If Thomas is arguing otherwise, the experts said, he is incorrect. Read more

Republicans Will Use Tennessee As A Playbook To Disenfranchise Black People, Expert Says

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The Root; Published By: Jessica Washington

US Vice President Kamala Harris departs Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport in Chattanooga, Tennessee, US, on Thursday, April 6, 2023.

Updated 4/08/2023 at 6 a.m. 

Vice President Kamala Harris rushed to Nashville, Tenn., for an emergency meeting with Representatives Justin J. Pearson and Justin Jones. The urgency is warranted: in an unprecedented move, Tennessee lawmakers voted to expel the two Black lawmakers from the state house, effectively disenfranchising tens of thousands of Tennessee voters. However, the reason for the meeting goes a lot deeper than just one statehouse.

The Root spoke with Ohio State University Professor Hasan Kwame Jeffries, who warned that Republicans are likely to use Tennessee as a playbook to disenfranchise Black Americans across the country.

What Does This Mean for Black People in Tennessee?

Jeffries says that as disturbing as the decision to remove these democratically-elected lawmakers from the statehouse is, this isn’t coming entirely out of left field.

“I was shocked but not surprised,” Jeffries told The Root, who teaches race and history. “Because of the trajectory of GOP politics over the last decade and knowing the history in places like Tennessee dating back to the Reconstruction Era.”

During the Reconstruction Era, white supremacist Democrats would use similar tactics to expel Black lawmakers who’d briefly gained political power after the Civil War, Jeffries explained. Today, GOP lawmakers have typically used more subtle ways—like gerrymandering—to disenfranchise Black Americans and other marginalized groups, he says. It’s worth noting that Pearson’s district is 31 percent Black and Jones’ district is 61 percent Black, which means that the decision disproportionately disenfranchised Black voters. Read more

Odell Beckham Jr. Stuns NFL Fans, Signs With Baltimore Ravens

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The Root; Published By: Stephanie Holland

Photo: Cindy Ord (Getty Images)

You know when you break up with someone and they do everything they can to try and get you back? That’s where the Baltimore Ravens are at with superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson. They made a huge “Baby don’t leave me!” move by signing Super Bowl winning wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the deal is worth up to $18 million, with $15 million guaranteed.

If you’re not a football fan, let me break down why this is such a big move by the Ravens. One of the biggest criticisms NFL analysts and fans have had for Baltimore is the lack of offensive help for Jackson. While other star QBs like Tua Tagovailoa, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen saw their teams sign top tier receivers, Lamar hasn’t had big name, Pro Bowl hands to throw to. It’s great that Baltimore understands that the 2019 MVP is a generational talent who they want to build around. But he also can’t do everything all the time. There has to be other options for him, and the team has failed to provide those. Alongside the disagreements about money, this has to be another sticking point between Lamar and the Ravens. Signing OBJ is a signal from the team to their dynamic QB that they’re ready to change and do better.

After the news of Beckham’s signing broke, Jackson took to Instagram to post a screenshot of himself on a video call with the star receiver. Meanwhile, OBJ celebrated the news on Instagram by posting a photo of his adorable son Zydn wearing a Lamar Jackson No. 8 jersey. Read more

The History Of Xscape’s Drama

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The Root; Published By: Amira Castilla

Photo: Prince Williams / Contributor (Getty Images)

The famed 90s girl group, Xscape has had all but a peaceful dynamic between its members, and the new Bravo show, SWV & Xscape: The Queens of R&B, is showing just how deep the drama runs. Here’s a history of the many breakups and makeups of Xscape. Read more

How Does A Man Freed From Prison Get Ordered Back For Life?

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The Root; Published By: Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: CBS News, ClickOrlando

Crosley Green, now 65, spent 32 years in prison claiming he was wrongfully convicted in the murder of a man back in 1989. After winning an appeal and spending two years home, he’s now facing prison time again, according to Florida Today.

Green, a Titusville native, was named as a suspect in the killing of Charles Flynn Jr. The victim’s girlfriend told the police a “Black guy” drove by his pickup truck where they sat and shot at him. Brevard County sheriff’s deputies then got a tip that Green matched the police sketch and a police dog led investigators to his sister’s house. An all-white jury convicted Green to the death penalty but he was resentenced to life in prison in 2009.

So… how did we end up here?

Green appealed his case on the basis of no physical evidence tying him to the crime, four witness recantations and hidden evidence from the prosecutor suggesting the girlfriend was the real suspect, per the report. His sentence was successfully vacated in 2018 by a federal court when it was found his constitutional rights were violated. However, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody appealed, keeping Green behind bars for another three years.

In 2021, U.S. District Judge Roy Dalton released him due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pending his appeal for a new trial from the 11th Circuit and Supreme Court. When their decisions came back is when things got sticky. Read more

Triggering Video: Black Teen Speeds Off from DC Police But with One Officer Still in His Car

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The Root; Published By: Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: US Park Police via NBC News

Last month, a Black teenage boy was shot and killed by a U.S. Park Police officer after being woken out of his sleep to a group of cops surrounding his vehicle, according to NBC News. The body camera footage of the incident was released publicly Wednesday and caught the interest of the FBI to investigate the incident further.

On March 18, 17-year-old Dalaneo Martin was found sleeping in the driver seat of a vehicle with the engine running. U.S. Park Police approached the car after Metropolitan police officers dialed them for assistance in locating a “suspicious vehicle” near River Terrace Park. The body camera footage shows the officers cautiously approaching the vehicle, discussing on the sidewalk to let Martin go if he tries to take off. Though, one Park Police officer opens the back door and climbs in behind the passenger seat. An MPD officer is heard warning him, “Please don’t get caught inside. Don’t get inside that car.”

On the other side of the car, one officer opens the door behind the driver’s seat and another cop opens the driver’s door. Suddenly, chaos ensues.

All three officers begin grabbing at Martin to put him in handcuffs. Martin then accelerates the car. The officers on the driver’s side managed to get out, at the cost of one nearly being dragged and tumbling onto the pavement. Though, the other officer in the backseat remained in the moving car, holding his firearm to Martin demanding he stop the car or get shot.

Seconds later, Martin was shot multiple times in the back and the vehicle plowed into a home. Read more

Central Park 5 Member Yusef Salaam Drags Trump In New York Times Ad

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The Root; Published By: Candace McDuffie

Yusef Salaam, one of the falsely imprisoned teenagers in the 1989 Central Park jogger case, speaks during a news interview while getting petition signatures for his campaign for New York City Council’s 9th District, Wednesday, March 1, 2023, in New York.

Exonerated Central Park 5 member Yusef Salaam, who called Donald Trump’s legal woes “karma,” took out a full-page ad in The New York Times addressing the former president. The move comes after President Trump was arraigned Tuesday on 34 felony counts stemming from hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

In 1989, Salaam was one of five Black and Latino teens wrongly convicted of sexually assaulting a white woman jogger in Central Park. As a response, Trump bought a full-page ad in The New York Times demanding the group be executed. “I want to hate these murderers and I always will,” Trump wrote in the ad. “I am not looking to psychoanalyze or understand them, I am looking to punish them.”

Salaam, who is currently a candidate for New York City Council, tweeted: “Over 30 years ago, Donald Trump took out full page ads calling for my execution. On the day he was arrested and arraigned, here is my ad in response.” In the letter, he detailed the harrowing experience, how damaged the legal system is and the ways in which the conviction changed his life. Salaam also called Trump out on his dangerous tenure in the White House: Read more

St. Pete Comes Together For Love & Compassion

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By: Mark Parker

Hundreds of people representing all faiths came together Tuesday nigh for the 2023 Iftar Diner at The St. Petersburg Coliseum. Photos by Mark Parker.

Hundreds of residents representing all faiths came together Tuesday to “embrace their fellow human beings.”

The Tampa Bay Area Muslim Association held its 5th annual Iftar Dinner at the St. Petersburg Coliseum. The event celebrates the traditional after-sunset dinner amongst loved ones following a day of fasting in recognition of Ramadan.

In a letter to guests, the Iftar Dinner Committee noted that the event’s theme and mission is “breaking bread together with love and compassion – two necessary pillars of every well-functioning society.” There was no assigned seating as organizers encouraged attendees to share a table with people of varying beliefs.

“Your presence here tonight is emblematic of all that is great about America; the United States of America,” read the welcoming letter. “Compassion pushes us to contemplate matters from others’ perspectives so that we may muster the courage to open our minds and hearts … And once we do, it becomes impossible for us not to love the beauty of not only our similarities, but our differences.”

While speakers did not address the antisemitic fliers distributed by an unknown group just a few days before the event, the incident underscored the need for the themes of love, peace and compassion espoused during the presentations. Residents in the Old Northeast neighborhood of St. Petersburg reported finding the fliers in local book exchange boxes Sunday. Read more

Young Entrepreneurs Pitch To Raymond James Execs

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By: Mark Parker

From center left: Dunedin High School juniors Arlen Martinez, Cyniah Green and Cameron Walsh react to Take Care Cosmetics winning the inaugural Innovators Showcase pitch competition. Photos by Mark Parker.

High school students from Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties highlighted their ambitious business ideas to local educational and corporate leaders Wednesday at the inaugural Innovators Showcase.

Junior Achievement Tampa Bay, a nonprofit that prepares students for economic success, organized the event. The recently created Innovators Showcase, held at Raymond James’ Carillon campus, featured 3DE students from Dunedin, Chamberlain, Hillsborough and St. Petersburg High Schools.

Patrick O’Connor, senior vice president for Raymond James, announced the Take Care team from Dunedin High was the first Innovation Showcase champion. Co-founder Arlen Martinez shrieked with joy before becoming overwhelmed with emotion.

“The fact that this is a school project connected to that kind of outburst and emotion is just like – this is what it’s all about,” said O’Connor after the event. “It’s creating this connection that these kids want to succeed; they want to compete.” Read more

From left: finalists from Chamberlain, Dunedin, St. Petersburg and Hillsborough High Schools await Patrick O’Connor (back center), senior vice president at Raymond James, to announce a winner.

Toddler’s Body Found In Jaws Of An Alligator, Police Say It Wasn’t An Accident

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The Root; Published By: Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: Fox 35 Orlando (Fair Use)

A toddler who went missing was found dead by Florida police in the mouth of an alligator last week. According to CNN, his father is not only the prime suspect in his death but also in the brutal murder of the boy’s mom.

What began as a simple birthday celebration ended in a heinous crime against humanity.

Pashun Jeffrey, 20, invited family over to celebrate Thomas Mosley’s 21st birthday, reports say. The following day, Jeffrey’s family tried to call her but received no response. Meanwhile, that night, Mosley admitted himself to the hospital for a variety of lacerations to his hands and arms. Police say they were consistent with knife injuries.

The very next day, Jeffrey’s family went to the apartment and her two-year-old son, Taylen, who was last seen with her, was also nowhere to be found. Police issued an Amber Alert following the discovery of her death asking for help locating him.

Police say Mosley was arrested in Jeffrey’s killing after finding his bloody fingerprints and shoe prints inside the house. Authorities then used dive teams and drones to search the area around the apartment and the nearby lake for the boy. Finally, they found him, but under disturbing and unexpected circumstances. Read more

Black Americans Gathered At Trump Arraignment To Witness History

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The Root; Published By: Jessica Washington

Photo: Selcuk Acar/Anadolu Agency (Getty Images)

An equal mix of cheers and jeers erupted from the crowd waiting outside of the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse on Tuesday. For the first time in our nation’s history, a former President of the United States was arraigned on criminal charges. Inside the courthouse, Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 charges of falsifying business records related to hush money payments he allegedly directed during the 2016 election.

But for the Black Americans who gathered outside, this wasn’t just about Trump going down; it was also about witnessing history in the making.

“This is the first time any ex-President or President has ever been indicted,” says Dennis, 71, who told The Root he and his wife, Sharon, had biked over to the arraignment to “witness history.”

This moment was also about fairness, he said. “No one is above the law. Justice is blind, so if you’re innocent, prove yourself. If you’re guilty… you have to suffer the consequences,” says Dennis. “We should all be held to the same yardstick. Not a different yardstick because you’re wealthy or because you’re a different ethnicity or because you held a particular office.” Read more

Dennis, 71, (left), Sharon, 67, (right)

Tyler Perry Wants To’Take As Much As He Can’ In BET Sale

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The Root; Published By: Stephanie Holland

Photo: Unique Nicole (Getty Images)

As the sale of BET Media Group turns into the latest season of Succession, one of the interested parties is very publicly staking his claim. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, filmmaker Tyler Perry made it abundantly clear that he plans to acquire the company that includes BET and VH-1.

“Rumor? No, it’s not a rumor,” Perry said. “I’ve been there for four years now and have tremendous success. I wasn’t expecting this to happen, so, yes—if that is possible—I’m very, very interested in taking as much of it as I can.”

In addition to Perry, media moguls Byron Allen and Sean “Diddy” Combs have also revealed their interest in purchasing BET. Though he sounds incredibly confident in his chances, the Madea actor is also excited to see Black entrepreneurs at the negotiating table. Read more

Supplier Diversity Program Takes Small Steps Forward

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By: Mark Parker

Mayor Ken Welch (center) speaks with attendees at the March 4 Grand Prix Fast Track minority and small business owner event. Photo: City of St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg’s leadership continues working to increase opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses in the city by maximizing a long-awaited program’s impact.

During Thursday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, council members heard a fourth update on a key recommendation from the city’s disparity study. Latisha Binder, the first manager of the recently created the Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD), also shared the progress her department has made over the last few months.

The goal is to establish a draft ordinance’s framework for the Women and Minority Business Enterprise Program (WMBE) that helps the owners who need it the most – while avoiding potential legal pitfalls. Although the office is open and working to increase outreach, the initiative cannot officially launch until the city council approves the regulatory framework.

“We do feel a sense of urgency to get this wrapped up and completed,” said Tom Greene, assistant city administrator.

Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders wants program officials to “step outside the box” to maximize its impact. She also believes the OSD’s name is unnecessarily vague and does not capture its intent. Read more

See Heated Gun Control Discussion Between Lawmakers In The Halls Of Congress

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Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) had a tense exchange over gun control legislation following the deadly school shooting in Nashville.

Bridgepoint Church Presents: Job Fair – April 20, 2023

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The Pinellas County Urban League, in partnership with Bridgepoint Church and St. Pete Works, would like to invite you to join us for the Nationwide Day of Second Chances, coming up on April 20th, 2023. On this day you can both meet a major need of your business and take part in a national humanitarian movement we’re bringing right to your doorstep.

The Nationwide Day of Second Chances is a coordinated effort, taking place in cities across the country, when churches and community organizations are working together to offer job fairs which will connect companies like yours with eager talent looking for the right opportunity.

The job fair will be open to everyone, though there is a special emphasis on welcoming neighbors who have been incarcerated and connecting them with employment opportunities to establish a strong fresh start. In a time when the labor market is only getting tighter, returning citizens are a talent pool that major corporations are bringing onboard with great results.

Join the growing list of companies making second chance hires – or celebrate your existing openness to hiring neighbors with a background – and take part in our local job fair.

About Our Fair:

            Date: April 20th, 2023

            Time: 10am-1pm

            Address: BridgePoint Church Downtown 737 3rd Ave N St. Petersburg, FL 33701

            Sign up here: https://bettertogetherus.org/events/stpete-jf/

UConn Wins March Madness With 76-59 Smothering Of San Diego State

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The Time; Published By: Eddie Pells / AP

HOUSTON — After six games and 240 minutes of pure dominance that ran through March, then part of April, it finally became clear there was only one thing that could stop the UConn Huskies.

The final buzzer.

The team from Storrs, Connecticut, topped off one of the most impressive March Madness runs in history Monday night, clamping down early, then breaking things open late to bring home its fifth national title with a 76-59 victory over San Diego State.

“We knew we were the best team in the tournament going in, and we just had to play to our level,” said Dan Hurley, who joined Jim Calhoun and Kevin Ollie as the third coach to lead UConn to a title. Read more

Joblink USA Career Events Presents: Tampa Job Fair – Tampa Bay Job Link – April 13, 2023

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Looking for a GREAT NEW JOB? Don’t miss TAMPA BAY WORKS 2023, the area’s best and most successful Job Fair!

If you’re a Jobseeker, get ready to GET HIRED! Employers and Candidates Connect Face to Face at this one-day Career Fair!

If you’re an Employer, See http://FloridaJobLink.com to Register to Recruit!

Hiring will occur on the spot! Hundreds of Jobs are up for grabs at this Job Fair!

The Job Fair happens from 11 until 2.

This is your opportunity to meet one-on-one with recruiters and hiring managers from Florida’s top hiring companies

Featured career fields include technical, labor, logistics, warehouse, production, installation, security, law enforcement, medical, sales, professional, service technician, customer service and MORE!

For more info, visit http://FloridaJobLink.com!

See you there!

University of South Florida Muma College of Business Presents: Networking With The Tampa Bay Buccaneers – April 11, 2023

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Join the Muma College of Business Tuesday, April 11 for the opportunity to network with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Speak with professionals from the following departments:

-Marketing

-Events and Entertainment

-Guest Membership

-Graphic Design

CareerSource Pinellas Presents: Information Technology Career Fair – April 26, 2023

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This event is open to the public and will feature employers from across Pinellas County seeking top talent! Be sure to follow CareerSource Pinellas and St. Petersburg College on social media to stay up to date with upcoming events and employer announcements.

Tampa Bay Times Presents: Tampa Bay Job & Career Fair – April 10, 2023

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Come on out to the employment event of the season, the Tampa Bay Job and Career Fair. Several local companies will be on-hand with available positions.

FREE Resume Reviews on site.

Several of the area’s top schools and Vocational/Technical Institutes will also be on hand.

Prepare for success: • Wear proper business attire. First impressions count! • Bring at least 20 copies of your resume. • Arrive with a positive attitude.

Free parking, Free admission.

New Site Tracks Affordable Housing In The City

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By: Veronica Brezina

From left: Mike Sutton, President and CEO of Habitat; Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders; Mayor Ken Welch; Council Chair Gina Driscoll; Bob Mayer, president of Exact; Alfredo Anthony, board chair of Habitat Immediate Past; and Ernie Dubose, CEO of DuCon Construction. City leaders hope to expand affordable homeownership initiatives, like the Shell Dash Townhomes (pictured). Photo by Mark Parker.

Residents can now track resources and affordable housing options through a new site designed to visually capture the city’s progress in combatting the housing crisis. 

The St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership has launched a website that tracks affordable and workforce housing developments and initiatives in the city, which has been an ongoing need as the city’s population is increasing and residents are facing skyrocketing rents. 

“The challenge is compounded by high construction costs, limited land, loss of traditional low-income housing and demographic trends. This website is designed to help policymakers, developers, advocates and investors make smart decisions,” the website page reads. “There is no silver bullet, but there are hundreds of actions that can all help attack the problem from different angles and perspectives.” 

The site states the city’s goal is to impact approximately 7,000 households by the end of the year. 

A pie graph shows to date, it’s completed 1,466 and 1,7711 are “in progress.”

St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership’s data. Screenshot from website.

The site has a search option where users can compare the affordable housing needs based on the AMI (average median income) for each ZIP code within the city. It also features a page with an interactive map showing the projects under construction versus those that are planned. 

For example, the map shows Habitat for Humanity’s affordable townhomes throughout the city, Jordan Park, a 266-unit complex under construction in South St. Pete, and the planned redevelopment of the Edward White Hospital on 9th Avenue N. that will create 70 affordable housing units. Read more

Irvo Otieno’s Official Cause Of Death Is Exactly What We Thought!

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The Root; Published By: Kalyn Womack

(Right) Irvo Otieno pictured with his family.

Updated as of 4/3/2023 at 3:00 p.m. ET

The Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has ruled the death of a Black mental health detainee as a homicide, per CBS Richmond.

Irvo Otieno was determined to die by positional and mechanical asphyxia with restraint, according to his official autopsy. Reports say Otieno was being transferred to a county jail to the hospital for a mental evaluation when six to seven deputies pinned him down on the ground in the lobby.

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump said he expected this outcome given the graphic display of the incident through surveillance footage.

“The official cause and manner of death is not surprising to us as it corroborates what the world witnessed in the video. In a chilling parallel to George Floyd’s killing, Irvo was held down and excessively restrained to death, when he should have been provided medical help and compassion. It is tragic that yet another life has been lost to this malicious and deadly restraint technique,” he said in a statement. Read more

Everything To Know About Our First Black Astronaut To Fly Around The Moon

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The Root; Published By: Kalyn Womack

Photo: Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty (Getty Images)

The last mission sent a crew of astronauts to fly around the moon was in 1972. Monday, NASA announced their latest lunar mission which will make history by assigning the first woman and African American astronaut to the moon crew, according to The Associated Press.

The lunar mission is simply to fly around the moon and come back to Earth. The report says their launch is planned for no later than 2024. The complete crew in NASA’s Orion capsule will be Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch (who is the record holder for the longest spaceflight by a woman), Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency, and the man of the hour, Victor Glover.

According to NASA’s website, Glover was serving as a Legislative Fellow for John McCain in the Senate when he was called to join the Astronaut Group 21 team in 2013. Read more

Ghanian President Nana Akufo-Addo Backtracks On Cruel LBGBT Bill After Kamala Harris Spoke Out

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The Root; Published By: Candace McDuffie

This week, Vice President Kamala Harris embarked on an African tour that included a highly anticipated stop in Ghana. The country is currently under a tremendous amount of scrutiny in light of the “Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Value” bill, which would jail those who identify as LGBTQ.

In addition, the bill would also legally punish people who advocate for LGBTQ rights. On Monday, which was Harris’ first full day in Accra, she shared that her and Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo discussed human rights. Now, it seems that Akufo-Addo is trying to backpedal. During a joint press conference, Harris said:

“I feel very strongly about the importance of supporting the freedom and supporting the fighting for equality among all people, and that all people be treated equally. I will also say that this is an issue that we consider, and I consider to be a human rights issue, and that will not change.” In response, Akufo-Addo stated that “substantial elements” of the anti-LGBTQ bill being considered by its parliament “have been modified.” Read more

Guess What Damar Hamlin, Who Nearly Died During A Monday Night Football Game, Is Doing Now?

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The Root; Published By: Noah A. McGee

When Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game, the whole country watched in shock as everyone, including players on the field, wondered if the Buffalo Bills’ safety would ever wake up again.

Thankfully he did, and now he’s using his influence to help others who may go through the same experience.

On Wednesday, Hamlin attended an event on Capitol Hill to speak to lawmakers about the importance of having automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in schools to assist with young student-athletes who may have undetected heart conditions.

While on Capitol Hill, Hamlin said, “Sudden cardiac arrest happens to more than 7,000 kids under the age of 18 every year in our country – 7,000 kids every year. The majority of the kids impacted are student-athletes, and research shows that 1 in every 300 youth has an undetected heart condition that puts them at risk. For schools that have AEDs, the survival rate for the children from sudden cardiac arrest is seven times higher.”

According to CNN, the 25-year-old safety was joined by Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., and Bill Posey, R-Fla to discuss the Access to AEDs Act, a bill that would provide schools with the money to buy AEDs, improve CPR training and establish response plans in case of a cardiac emergency. Read more

Civil Rights Attorney Lee Merritt Arrested In Texas Protest

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WOLFE CITY, TX - OCTOBER 05: Attorney Lee Merritt speaks during a candle light vigil in honor of Jonathan Price on October 5, 2020 in Wolfe City, Texas. Wolfe City police officer Shaun Lucas has been charged in relation to the fatal shooting of Price on October 3, 2020 after Price was allegedly trying to stop a domestic dispute. (Photo by Montinique Monroe/Getty Images)

The Grio; Published By: Associated Press

DALLAS (AP) — A prominent civil rights attorney was among a group of people arrested in a Dallas suburb during a demonstration in memory of a Black man who died in a struggle with guards at an area jail.

McKinney police arrested lawyer Lee Merritt and two others on charges of obstructing a roadway during the Sunday protest over Marvin Scott III’s 2021 death in the Collin County jail. Merritt, 40, was also charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon, police said.

Merritt, who’s forged a national profile representing the families of people killed by law enforcement officers, told The Associated Press that he was “unlawfully arrested” while he attended the protests as the Scott family’s lawyer. The attorney said he had been legally carrying a firearm at the time of his arrest, which led to the weapons charge. Read more

Girl Bye! Angel Reese Responds To Jill Biden’s Suggestion That Iowa & LSU Visit The White House

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The Root; Published By: Noah A. McGee

Instead of celebrating the LSU women’s basketball team for all of their accomplishments on the floor, people not even involved in the game are doing all they can to make it about everything but, even the First Lady.

A day after LSU’s 102-85 victory over Iowa to claim the women’s college basketball national championship, Jill Biden thought it would be good for both teams to make a trip to the White House.

During her visit to the Colorado State Capitol, Biden, who attended the game said “I know we’ll have the champions come to the White House; we always do. So, we hope LSU will come. But, you know, I’m going to tell Joe I think Iowa should come too because they played such a good game.”

Jill, how about you keep that to yourself?

Since when did college athletics give out participation trophies? When was the last time the White House invited both the winner and loser of a championship game for a visit? When do runner-ups enjoy the spoils of a champion? Read more

The Evolution Of Quinta Brunson

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The Root; Published By: Amira Castilla

She killed SNL! The triple-threat actor, writer, and producer, Quinta Brunson, has been sweeping the awards shows this season, so it’s about time to look back at how she became the talent she is today! Here is the evolution of meme star, Quinta Brunson. Read more

When Donald Trump Turns Himself In, Here’s 5 Things To Know

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The Root; Published By: Jessica Washington

Former President Donald Trump made history last week (not in a good way) when he became the first United States President to be charged with a crime. As I write this, Trump is on his way to New York, where he’ll spend a night at his hotel before turning himself over to authorities for his arraignment.

But this obviously leaves some burning questions. For example, what comes next after Trump turns himself in, and why didn’t police drag Trump to jail? Here are the five things you need to know:

Will Donald Trump Have To Sit In Jail?

One thing you shouldn’t be waiting for is a sullen picture of Trump on his way to jail tomorrow. The Presidential candidate is expected to make bail and return to his home on Tuesday evening. Read more

Arts & Culture Grants 2023-2024; Deadline: June 9, 2023

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The arts are integral to the fabric of St. Pete. The City created the Arts and Culture Grant program to provide operating funds to eligible organizations that contribute to the vibrant cultural opportunities that serve the diverse citizens of the St. Pete community. In alignment with Mayor’s Pillars for Progress that focus on arts and culture, as well as education and youth opportunities, the Grant supports established organizations and foster new or emerging artistic expressions and intentional inclusivity throughout St. Pete.

The online application period opened on April 3, 2023, and closes June 9, 2023 at 5 pm. See links below for instructions, schedule, and a scoring rubric. These grants fund eligible arts and culture organization activities completed between October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024.

Please note: Applications are online only. 

3 Action Items For Black Entrepreneurs This Year

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Entrepreneur; Published By: Carolyn Rodz

How can we all ensure that Black small business owners thrive and grow year-round?

That’s the question at the heart of Hello Alice’s latest survey of more than 3,000 Black small business owners on our platform. Published in partnership with Mastercard and the NAACP, the results help identify the unique obstacles challenging Black owners’ growth and specific solutions that can help them reach their full potential.

1. Streamline operations through easy wins

Decision paralysis, or the inability to decide out of fear of making the wrong choice, is too real for entrepreneurs whose dreams and livelihoods feel at stake with every decision. Whenever I face a big, complex challenge, I ask myself a simple question: What can I do to make progress right now? As a small business with limited resources, that typically means creating a scrappy experiment that requires as little new money, time and human resources as possible. Tackling the low-hanging fruit helps clear the noise, arms my team with learnings, and re-focuses our attention on more important goals down the road. Read more

Commissioners Approve $40.5 Million In Housing Bonds

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By: Mark Parker

Two long-awaited affordable housing projects totaling 305 units received an influx of new funding Thursday through Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds.

Pinellas County Commissioners unanimously approved up to $12.5 million for St. Petersburg’s Bear Creek Commons and up to $28 million for five midrise buildings that will comprise the Oakhurst Trace apartments in Pinellas Park. The county’s Housing Finance Authority (HFA) will issue the tax-exempt bonds, and both developments received funding from other sources.

Bear Creek Commons will feature 85 affordable units for seniors along 64th Street South in St. Petersburg. Blue Sky Communities is developing the project at the former site of the Grace Connection Church.

Company president Shawn Wilson addressed the commission and noted the total cost is around $27 million. However, he explained how multiple partners are helping see the project to fruition.

“I’m very happy to say that there were no Pinellas County funds that were required to develop this community,” Wilson said. “In this case, we enjoy an allocation from the City of St. Petersburg, so I want to express my gratitude towards them.”

City officials did utilize their portion of Penny for Pinellas money to acquire the land. In addition, they committed $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to Bear Creek last year. Read more

Angel Reese Beat Caitlyin Clark At Her Own Game, And White Folks Are Crying

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The Root: Published By: Keith Reed

Don Imus died four years ago, and we found out over the weekend his spirit still roams the Earth looking for other white people to possess anytime a Black woman athlete makes for a too-tempting target.

Last night that target was Angel Reese, the LSU forward who, along with her teammates, was the buzzsaw that shredded Caitlyn Clark and her Iowa Hawkeyes in the NCAA Women’s Championship. Until then, it was Clark, playing with the destructive force of a power tool, unleashing lethal shots from long range that subdued every opponent she faced, including a Dawn Staley-led South Carolina team that hadn’t lost a game in almost two years. If it was just about Clark’s basketball prowess, this would be less of a story. But Clark wasn’t content to become the star of this year’s March Madness just for her jumper; she became the newest Queen of Shit Talk. She told a Louisville player to shut up because her squad was down by 15 points. She disrespectfully waved off South Carolina guard Raven Johnson as if she wasn’t even worth defending while Johnson had an open jumper beyond the arc. Read more

Pinellas County Urban League Presents: The Homebuying Process From Heart To Start – April 12-13, 2023

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Join Pinellas County Urban League & Right Turn Realty for a two-day workshop where we offer solutions for owning your own home. By attending, you’ll receive a comprehensive home-buying action plan, learn about credit-repair strategies, gain insights into debt-to-income ratios, and connect with lenders that specialize in down payment assistance and other funding opportunities.

Equal Ground Day At The Capitol With Clergy, Community Partners & Floridians From Across The State

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On Wednesday, March 29th, Equal Ground Action Fund, Democracy for All, St. Pete NAACP and the North West Panhandle Coalition for Civic Engagement held an advocacy day at the Florida Capitol. We had buses travel to Tallahassee from Miami, Orlando, and St. Petersburg Florida. 

While at the capitol, participants had an opportunity to meet with legislators and staff, attend committee meetings, and share their position on issues that matter to them and their communities. 

This was Equal Ground’s third year organizing the event and without a doubt it was the most successful with just shy of 150 people in attendance. 

White at the Capitol we were able to reserve space on the Capitol lawn to have lunch and have a press conference where attendees were joined by statewide partners, elected officials, and other key stakeholders to express their thoughts on the legislative process to date. Read more

18th-Annual Sunscreen Film Fest Brings Red Carpet Parties, 190 New Films To St. Pete

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I Love The Burg; Published By: Bob Clarkson

The annual Sunscreen Film Festival is making its return to St. Pete April 27-30, bringing an incredible lineup of films, panels and workshops. Now in its 18th year, the Sunscreen Film Festival draws more than 5,000 attendees every year, a full weekend of movie magic taking place at The Sundial AMC 12 Theatres in downtown St. Pete. Check out the full list of events and find more details here.

This year’s festival will showcase more than 190 feature films, documentaries, shorts and foreign films, alongside a robust lineup of workshops from industry professionals. The festival is an opportunity for attendees to mix and mingle with filmmakers, actors, writers, producers and celebrities in an open and relaxed atmosphere. Tickets ranging from single movie screenings to day passes and all weekend VIP tickets are available here.

Made possible thanks to headline sponsor St. Petersburg Clearwater Film Commission, festivities kick off on Thursday, April 27 when the Sunscreen Film Festival hosts the opening night film and red carpet at The Sundial, and the opening night party at NOVA 535. At 7:30 pm on Thursday, the festival showcases the premiere of the feature film A Taste of Love, with filmmakers and actors in attendance. Read more

How To Get Rays Tickets For $10 Or Less At Every Home Game This Year

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I Love The Burg; Published By: Bob Clarkson

The boys are (almost) back, with Opening Day for the Tampa Bay Rays this Thursday, March 31. As the baseball begins, St. Pete’s hometown team is making it easier than ever to get into games, with two incredible ticket deals debuting for the 2023 home campaign.

First, the most straightforward deal is simple: a limited number of $10 tickets are on sale for every single home game, available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you just want to check out one game in particular, or you have season tickets already but want to bring an extra friend, this is a great way to secure a seat inside The Trop. However, as mentioned, there are a finite number of these tickets available, so if there’s a big game you have circled on your calendar, snag that ticket soon.

Now, we’ve seen $10 tickets before. But this season, the Rays have unveiled a new offer that changes the game – the Ballpark Pass. Every month of the regular season, fans can buy a $49 standing room only ticket that gets them into the stadium for every single game that month. Or, get the whole season for $249. There are no blackout games – the Ballpark Pass gets holders into every single game.

In April, for example, there are 15 home games at The Trop, meaning Ballpark Pass holders are getting in for as little as $3.26 per cents per game, if they hit all 15. We haven’t even done the math on the whole season for $249, but on a per game basis, it may be the only “cheaper than a cup of coffee” deal that actually is cheaper than a cup of coffee. Read more

VP Kamala Harris Seeks To Mend Relations Between U.S., and Africa During Weeklong Trip

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The Root; Published By: Candace McDuffie

On Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris visited Cape Coast Castle in Ghana, a site where millions of enslaved Africans were held against their will before they were loaded onto ships that were being sent to the Americas. Prior to her voyage, she expressed optimism about mending relations between Africa and the U.S.

“We are looking forward to this trip as a further statement of the long and enduring very important relationship and friendship between the people of the United States and those who live on this continent,” Harris stated. Before visiting the slave fortress, she gave a speech while standing in front of the Black Stone Gate monument, which commemorates Ghana’s independence.

Despite the turbulent history between Africa and the United States, Harris remained adamant about acknowledging the past pain to build a more equitable future. “Because of this history, this continent of course has a special significance for me personally, as the first Black vice president of the United States,” she said to the large crowd. “And this is a history, like many of us, that I learned as a young child.” Harris also assured a new chapter in America’s partnership with Africa and bolstered “a future propelled by African innovation.”

“We must invest in the African ingenuity and creativity, which will unlock incredible economic growth and opportunities,” Harris continued. She also shared that the United States needs to focus on not “what we can do for our African partners, but what we can do with our African partners.”

The VP also talked about the importance of women’s empowerment. “Women around the world must be able to fully participate in economic, political, and social life, and they must be able to participate equally including in leadership roles. The empowerment of women is rooted in the concept of freedom, not just freedom from violence or want, but freedom to create one’s own future.” Read more

Central Park Five Member Calls Trump’s Indictment: “Karma”

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The Root; Published By: Jessica Washington

There’s not much one can say when the man who called for your death as a teenager is indicted. But upon hearing the news of former President Donald Trump’s indictmentDr. Yusef Salaam had this to say; “Karma.”

For those who don’t know, Salaam is one of the Central Park Five (now the Exonerated 5), a group of Black and Latino teenage boys who were wrongfully convicted of rape in Central Park in 1989. The boys were later exonerated after the actual rapist, Matias Reyes came forward and DNA evidence proving he was guilty. The case was dramatized in Ava Duvernay’s film, When They See Us, which depicted the various ways law enforcement coerced false statements from the boys and pushed the case forward with little to no concrete evidence.

Perhaps what is most disturbing about the events surrounding the Central Park Five is the adults, like Trump, who called for the teenagers to face the death penalty. Before any conviction, Trump took out full-page advertisements in four New York City newspapers calling for the five teens to be executed. Read more

City Increases Low-Income Options For Edward White Project

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By: Veronica Brezina

The site of the former Edward White Hospital. GoogleMaps.

The city has updated its plan of flipping the shuttered Edward White Hospital into a 70-unit affordable housing development.

The future complex will now serve more residents nearing the brink of homelessness.

During a March 23 city council meeting, members approved a request from the St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) to change the unit income mix for the future housing complex, at 2323 9th Ave. North, to include units dedicated to residents earning 80% and 30% of the average median income (AMI).

The site of the former Edward White Hospital. Image: City of St. Petersburg.

It was initially planned to solely serve the population earning at or below the 60% AMI level; however, SPHA recently discovered a funding source that could help them close the gap in construction financing if the AMI mix included units for residents earning 80% and 30% at or below the AMI.

“It’s rare for us to see very low-income units in our city,” said Amy Foster, Homeless Leadership Alliance of Pinellas CEO and former city council member.

Last year, the council approved a resolution awarding funding to build affordable multifamily units using American Rescue Plan Act funding. SPHA was awarded nearly $9 million through both Penny for Pinellas and the ARPA funds for the $23.5 million project to redevelop the hospital and produce 70 units for households.

Foster said the newly approved changes for the residential units will allow SPHA to be competitive for another funding opportunity, for which SPHA needs to apply before the end of the month.

This approval also adds 10 points to their application and will result in SPHA securing a new $1 million-plus investment from a separate entity, Foster said. Read more

Pence Must Testify In Jan. 6 Attack Probe, Judge Rules – Reports

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Reuters; Published By: Jonathan Ernst

U.S. former Vice President Mike Pence delivers remarks, in part addressing his opposition to a grand jury subpoena for testimony about efforts to overturn then-President Donald Trump’s 2020 reelection loss, to the Coolidge Presidential Foundation conference at the Library of Congress in Washington, U.S. February 16, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

WASHINGTON, March 28 (Reuters) – A federal judge has ruled that former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence must testify to a grand jury about conversations he had with former President Donald Trump leading up to January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to media reports.

In a ruling that remains under seal, the judge also said that Pence can still decline to answer questions related to Jan. 6, CNN reported, citing unnamed sources, adding that Pence can still appeal the ruling.

NBC separately reported the judge’s split decision citing sources familiar with the ruling, saying it compels Trump former vice president to appear before the federal grand jury but shields him from testifying about Jan. 6, 2021. The New York Times also said the ruling compels Pence’s to appear.

Representatives for Special Prosecutor Jack Smith, who is leading the U.S. Department of Justice’s investigation into Trump and his allies’ alleged efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss, could not be immediately reached for comment. Read more

New York To Pay $5.5M To Man exonerated In Sebold Rape Case

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The Grio

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — A man who spent 16 years in prison after he was wrongfully convicted of raping writer Alice Sebold when she was a Syracuse University student has settled a lawsuit against New York state for $5.5 million, his lawyers said Monday.

The settlement comes after Anthony Broadwater’s conviction for raping Sebold in 1981 was overturned in 2021. It was signed last week by lawyers for Broadwater and New York Attorney General Letitia James, David Hammond, one of Broadwater’s attorneys, said.

Broadwater, 62, said in a statement relayed by Hammond, “I appreciate what Attorney General James has done, and I hope and pray that others in my situation can achieve the same measure of justice. We all suffer from destroyed lives.”

“Obviously no amount of money can erase the injustices Mr. Broadwater suffered, but the settlement now officially acknowledges them,” Sebold said in a statement released through a spokesperson. Read more

2023 Essence Of Ebony Pearls Debutante Cotillion

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The Weekly Challenger

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Zeta Upsilon Omega Chapter, hosted its 12th Biennial Essence of Ebony Pearls Debutante Cotillion on Saturday, March 18, at the historic Coliseum in downtown St. Pete. Pictured Miss Debutante 2023, Mykenzi Davis-Cowart and her escort, Michael Moten.

ST. PETERSBURG — Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Zeta Upsilon Omega Chapter, in partnership with the Youth Development Foundation of Pinellas County, Inc., hosted their 12th Biennial Essence of Ebony Pearls Debutante Cotillion on Saturday, March 18, at the historic Coliseum in downtown St. Pete.

The ballroom was filled with family and friends when 11 stunning young ladies gracefully entered the floor dressed in all-white to be presented to society.

Initially, debutantes were young women of marrying age being displayed for eligible bachelors and their families to view with marriage in mind. Today’s debutantes aren’t looking for a husband to secure their futures. No, these gorgeous pearls will make names for themselves in fields such as education, engineering, medicine, real estate, marine biology and the film industry.

The cotillion aims to promote young ladies’ achievements, inspire educational and cultural growth, encourage personal development and promote community service. The cotillion was the culminating activity for the 2022-23 Essence of Ebony Pearls Scholarship Program.

Over the past five months, these 11 beautiful young ladies have participated in various workshops, which focused on self-care and empowerment, fashion for all occasions, as well as professional networking and dining etiquette. The belles of the ball also attended a debutante tea complete with their fascinators and gloves, celebrating the mother-daughter bonds and how to cherish quality time together.

During the debutante cotillion process, the young ladies were required to perform community service hours. This year they partnered with My Daughter’s Keeper of Tampa Bay. Thanks to Donna Welch, the young ladies packed 89 food kits that were distributed to families in temporary housing here in our city. Read more

City Officials Increase Housing Options Through Zoning Changes

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By: Mark Parker

Despite residents’ concerns, the St. Petersburg City Council approved a zoning change that allows homeowners to build or create up to four units in areas traditionally reserved for single-family homes. Photo: YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) St. Pete, Twitter.

After several years of planning, discussions and meetings, the St. Petersburg City Council has enacted zoning changes that allow density increases on nearly 3,000 properties.

While administrators and council members realize the changes may not directly address the ongoing affordable housing crisis, they believe a measured approach to boost density will provide much-needed options for a growing city. The initiative passed 7-1 during the March 23 meeting, and homeowners in the city’s urban core can now build or create up to four units in areas traditionally reserved for single-family homes.

The new zoning rules are effective immediately and apply to 2,895 lots. Like the ordinance’s first reading, the final public hearing went well into the night, with the preponderance of residents again speaking against the proposal.

However, most city officials agreed that recent compromises helped address those concerns and that their worst fears were unfounded. The council also mandated that affected properties feature a five-foot setback.

“There’s so much fear-mongering around this topic,” said Council Chair Brandi Gabbard. “I want us to really focus on what the goal is, and the goal is creating more opportunity where all of our community can grow. Grow together, and grow together as neighbors who welcome each other.”

The new Neighborhood Traditional Mixed Residential (NTM-1) zoning rules apply to properties within 175 feet of “future major streets” and currently high-trafficked roads. They must also abut an alley. Read more

Nashville School Shooter Bought 7 Guns Before Attack, According To Police

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The Root; Published By: Candace McDuffie

A family departs the reunification center at the Woodmont Baptist church after a school shooting, Monday, March 27, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn.

Authorities said a 28-year-old woman shot three students and three adults to death at a private Christian school in Nashville before she was killed by police. The assailant, whose identity has not been revealed, went into the Covenant School through a side door.

She was reportedly armed with at least two assault-style rifles as well as a handgun, Metro Nashville Police spokesperson Don Aaron stated. The shooter fired multiple shots on the first and second floors of the school before police killed her on the second floor, Aaron continued.

Authorities received the first call about the shooting came in at 10:13 a.m. The shooter was killed 14 minutes later at 10:27 a.m., he said. In addition, Aaron explained that law enforcement are working to analyze video from the school showing that could show what happened.

At first, police said that the shooter appeared to be a teenager but later verified that she was a 28-year-old white woman who resided in Nashville. Police Chief John Drake stated that initially, his findings showed that the assailant was a student at the school at some point. Read more

Shameful: ‘Ruby Bridges’ Film Banned From School Because White Parents Feeling Some Kind Of Way

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The Root; Published By: Candace McDuffie

U.S. Deputy Marshals escort 6-year-old Ruby Bridges from William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, in this November 1960, file photo.

Even though the Disney film “Ruby Bridges” has been shown during Black History Month in Florida’s Pinellas County for years, it was recently pulled because a parent was worried that it would teach white children about the racism that Black children faced.

Emily Conklin, whose child attends North Shore Elementary parent, refused to let the student see “Ruby Bridges” when it was shown earlier this month. Conklin believed that the movie was inappropriate for second graders.

She made a formal complaint on March 6, stating that the use of racial epithets and images of white folks who harassed Ruby as she walked into a school will allow white children to see the racist history of segregation.

School officials for Pinellas decided to ban the movie at the St. Petersburg school until a review committee can evaluate it. This is ultimately a result of Florida parents having more say in deciding what children can see and read in schools.

In an open letter, Ric Davis—who is president of Concerned Organization for Quality Education for Black Students—wrote: “Many from historically marginalized communities are asking whether this so-called integrated education system in Pinellas County can even serve the diverse community fairly and equitably.” Read more

Racists Bust The Windows Of A Black Girl’s Business & Then It Got Uglier

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The Root; Published By: Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: Angel Pittman via TikTok

A 21-year-old hairstylist poured her savings into buying land in North Carolina to place three school buses she would use to provide mobile hair services. However, according to The Guardian, her dream came to a hard stop after being racially harassed and having her property vandalized with obscenities.

Angel Pittman didn’t just fund her dream but every Black woman’s dream: a hair salon that will travel to you. In September 2022, she spent the bulk of her savings on three school buses and unrestricted land near a trailer park in Rowan County which is home to sundown towns. Unfortunately, sundown towns, home to white racists who are violently unwelcoming to Black visitors, still exist well beyond the Jim Crow Era.

Once,l Pittman caught the vibe one white neighbor asked her, “Why are you guys here? Are y’all looking for shade?” the report says. That sounds a lot like, “You lost, boy?” to me.

Pittman told reporters the man suddenly erected a Confederate flag in his yard and painted swastikas on his trailer. Things escalated from inquiring about her presence to being ordered to “get them f*cking buses off his lawn” while he sat outside with a gun. Then, she posted a TikTok that went viral showing her buses with the windows busted and covered in vulgar graffiti including “bitch,” “f*ck you” and the N-word. Read more

Ja Morant And The Burden Of Respectability Politics

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The Root; Published By: Anthony Conwright

The clamor about Ja Morant brandishing what appeared to be a gun during an Instagram live video while at a Denver nightclub has been frustrating in that it continues the tradition of pathologizing Black people. Certainly, the sports punditry has cataloged the potential consequences of Morant’s actions, which include the loss of potentially amassing a wealth of one billion dollars (one can only dream of such lofty consequences) during Morant’s NBA career.

Morant’s descent from grace has been narrated by asking “why would Morant, a Black man raised in a two-parent household, who attended a private school in the suburbs, act as if he came from a single-parent home in the hood?”

Of course, this inquiry pretends to search for symptoms of regressive behavior in a Black man in one breath while issuing an age-old anti-Black prognosis in another: Ja Morant is afflicted with the pervasiveness of Black culture. This view holds that Morant’s actions are not aligned with American or European notions of manhood; rather, Morant’s poor choices result from Morant’s approximation of “thuggish” Black culture as an attempt to qualify and avow his “Black manhood.” Read more

Hiring Hour With Marriott – March 30, 2023

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Time & Location

Mar 30, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Career Prep Center, 2605 N 43rd St, Tampa, FL 33605, USA

About the Event

OPEN POSITIONS:

Food Runner

Banquet Set – Up

Starbucks Barista

Housekeeper

Event Specialist

Loss Prevention Officer

Guest Experience Expert

Club Lounge Attendant

Cook 1

Cook 2

Night Auditor

Senior Baker

Loss Prevention Officer

Host

Server

Group Housing Coordinator

OPEN MANAGEMENT POSITIONS:

Assistant Banquet Manager

Event Set Up Manager

Assistant Sous Chef

Senior Sous Chef

Assistant Restaurant Manager

Loss Prevention Manager

To search all jobs or learn more about Marriott careers: Marriott.com/careers

For more info contact Lafe Eastman by email [email protected] or phone 813-587-9513.

‘Everything Is Gone’: Loss & Destruction In A Small Mississippi Town

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Mary Shelby salvages what she can of her belongings inside her home on Hoyt Street in Rolling Fork, Miss., on Sunday. The powerful tornado that tore through the area on Friday night, carving a path measuring nearly 60 miles, killed 25 people in Mississippi and devastated the town of about 2,000 people in the state's Delta region. MUST CREDIT: Washington Post photo by Jahi Chikwendiu

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution; Published By: Anumita Kaur and Emmanuel Felton, The Washington Post

ROLLING FORK, Miss. – Damien Harris dug through the rubble on the lot where his family’s mobile home once stood Sunday morning, desperate to find anything from his old life that he could hold onto.

Two days earlier, his mother had called and told him not to come home. The weather was bad and seemed to only be getting worse. He did what she told him but grew worried when he didn’t hear from her hours later.

He raced back to Rolling Fork around 11 p.m. in the pouring rain, but it was too late. His family’s mobile home was gone and his mother was dead, the victim of a powerful tornado that tore through Mississippi, killing 25 people.

“It was a mobile home to a lot of people,” he said, picking up an old baseball mitt of his that he found lying in a puddle. “But it was home.”

On Sidney Alexander Street, where Harris lived, and the neighboring blocks that line Mulberry Street, destruction came quickly. The tornado was exceptionally large, carving a path measuring nearly 60 miles, according to the National Weather Service. Less than 1 percent of tornadoes in the United States travel more than 50 miles. Read more

Black Actresses Over 40 Who Prove Black Never Cracks

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The Root; Published By: Shanelle Genai

Regina King attends the 11th Hamilton Behind The Camera Awards at Avalon Hollywood & Bardot on November 13, 2021, in Los Angeles, California.

Getting older never looked so good—and if you needed further proof of that, check out the handful of our favorite Black actresses over 40 who are the living personifications of “Black don’t crack.”

Let’s kick things off with the only King we acknowledge Regina King. From her flawless skin to her breathtaking brown eyes, the One Night in Miami director will always stay shining. Read more

How White Politicians Drag Black People To Win Elections

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The Root; Published By: Wayne Washington

It must be election season.

That’s the time when Black Americans – often joined by some other unfortunate group (Hispanics, immigrants, gay people, trans people) – are made into the boogeyman, threatening white Americans with unimaginable horrors like diversity, inclusion, equity, or, worse, AP African American studies.

Beating up on Black people to rile up white voters is a tried and true practice in American politics because it…works.

White voters make up the lion’s share of voters in this country, and that’s especially so in the Republican Party. The foundational elements of the modern Republican Party are opposition to desegregation and civil rights.

How Republican Party went from opposing Slavery to supporting Segregation

Yes, the Republican Party started as one that grudgingly and then robustly advanced slavery’s abolition. But, by the 1940s, its power had shriveled. Read more

Sheryl Lee Ralph Details Alleged Sexual Assault By ‘A Famous TV Judge’

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Sheryl Lee Ralph attends the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards on March 04, 2023 in Santa Monica, California.

Emmy-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph is opening up about a disturbing sexual assault that happened years ago in a professional, public setting.

In a new interview on The Way Up with Angela Yee, the Abbott Elementary star alleged that ‘a famous TV judge’ who was working at the same network at the time forcefully kissed her in front of executives. While she didn’t name his name, Ralph specified that the man was not Judge Greg Mathis.

“I’m at a very public place. I was suited. I had my suit on. I was handling my business for the television show I was on at that time. He and I were on the same network,” Ralph explained. “This man walked in, grabbed me by the back of my neck, turned me around, and rammed his nasty ass tongue down my throat. And everybody at the network saw it.”

She went on to say that afterward, she got in contact with the New Orleans Mayor at the time, who was ready to help her take action against the alleged perp. But that action was discouraged by the network.

“Somebody on the network tapped me on the shoulder saying, ‘Please don’t.’ They did not want any bad press around their show and did not care what had just happened to me. They saw what happened,” Ralph said. Read more

Habitat Hands Over The Key To Its 800th Home

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Source: St. Pete Catalyst, Published By: Bill DeYoung

Brianna Clayton (center) with members of her family at Friday’s dedication ceremony. Photos by Bill DeYoung.

Since August 2021, Brianna Clayton and daughter Paisley, now 5, have been living in a guest bedroom – sharing a bed – at Brianna’s dad’s house.

The awkward arrangement officially changed today as Habitat For Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties officially dedicated its 800th home, in St. Petersburg’s Lealman district – and handed the key to Brianna Clayton.

“Two bedrooms, two bathrooms,” Clayton marveled just before the public ceremony began. “We’re going to officially move in today. Moving trucks are waiting, and we’re ready.”

As part of the Habitat contract Clayton, who tends the bar at Buffalo Wild Wings and is taking college classes, put in around 400 sweat equity hours on the home at 2790 53rd Ave. North, as well as on other local builds. She also took 32 home buyer education classes.

“This is a huge accomplishment, and a good example to set for my daughter,” she said. “So she knows that you can do anything, no matter what life throws at you.”

She receives a zero-percent interest home loan.

“Six years ago today, we were dedicating the 400th home – that puts in perspective how much growth we’ve had. But there’s such a need for affordable housing,” said area Habitat President & CEO Mike Sutton. Read more

Blue Sky Plans To Bring More Affordable Housing

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St. Pete Catalyst; Published By: Veronica Brezina

The Skyway Lofts I complex. Rendering provided.

St. Petersburg-based Blue Sky Communities, which built Skyway Lofts, the Skyway Marina District’s first affordable housing complex, will be expanding the number of units with a new building. 

“The Phase 1 complex has an extensive year-long waiting list. By delivering Phase 2, it is going to provide an immediate source of affordable housing for some people who are already in an unstable housing situation or are overpaying,” Blue Sky Communities President Shawn Wilson said. 

The project, dubbed Skyway Lofts II, will be bounded by 34th Street South to the west and 38th Avenue South to the north, and will be directly across from the existing 65-unit Skyway Lofts building at 3900 34th St. N. 

The proposed development entails constructing a four-story building with 66 units and 65 on-site surface parking spaces, including 34 parking spaces on the ground floor, and a stormwater management system. Read more.

Operation Hope Presents: Accelerating Financial Opportunity For All

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Our mission is to advance economic opportunity by providing the tools they need to reach their goals. We help individuals of all ages by offering financial education, one-on-one coaching, courses on credit score improvement, as well as pathways toward homeownership and starting a business.

The cycle of struggling to get by each month has dominated kitchen tables and the desks of small business owners for generations. It is more than just “pulling yourself up by the bootstraps”—it is about knowing how to navigate a financial system that requires knowledge, experience, and expertise in order to generate economic security for families and businesses, and to pass that on to our children.

JobNewsUSA.com Tampa Job Fair -Multi-Industry Hiring Event – March 29, 2023

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Meet with top employers from various industries and explore a range of job openings. Connect with hiring managers and take the first step toward your dream job. Register today and make your next career move a reality. Don’t miss out on this opportunity. See you there!

Employers: Allied Universal, Amerilife, Center for Technology Training, Chapters Health Systems, Colonial Life, Computer Coach, Diagnostic Clinic Medical Group, Florida Blue, Grow Financial, GuideWell, Gulf Coast JFCS, HH Staffing Services, Jiffy Lube, Massey Services, MicrochipUSA, New Horizons Tampa Bay, New York Life, Pepin Distributing Company, RaceTrac, Sunrise Community, Inc., Vivint, West Coast Medical Resources, and more…

Tips for Job Fair Success:

• Research the employers attending the fair and identify which ones align with your career goals.

• Dress professionally and bring multiple copies of your updated resume.

• Prepare a 30-second elevator pitch to introduce yourself and highlight your relevant skills.

• Ask informed questions during your interactions with employers to show your interest and knowledge.

• Follow up with employers after the fair to reiterate your interest and make a lasting impression.

• Take notes during the fair and remember to gather business cards from employers you meet.

• Utilize the fair to network with professionals in your field and make connections for future opportunities.

• Be proactive, friendly, and confident when speaking to employers.

• Be open-minded and consider all opportunities, even if they may not be your first choice.

• Stay positive and have fun at the fair – a great attitude can make a difference in making a lasting impression.

Interested in Recruiting? Looking for qualified candidates to fill your positions? Job News Job Fairs are the perfect place to meet hundreds of potential candidates, network with employers, and increase your company’s exposure. For more information, call (813) 875-8555.

Foundation For A Healthy St. Petersburg Is Hiring: Research & Evaluation Associate

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The R&E Associate will be responsible for handling multiple evaluation and research projects at a time and be responsive to both internal and external evaluation needs. The ideal candidate for this position is a determined and creative problem solver with a passion for social justice and a commitment to using research and evaluation in the service of race equity. In addition, the candidate is detail-oriented and knows how to manage competing deadlines. Apply here!

Jayla “Let Me Tell You This, Linda” Cummings, The Adorable & Viral Toddler— Resurfaces!

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The Root: Published By, Candace McDuffie

Screenshot: YouTube

Back in 2018, precocious toddler Jayla Cummings went viral for giving her daycare teacher in Savannah, Georgia a piece of her mind. Though the video was originally filmed in 2015, it resurfaced three years later. The clip has now been discovered on TikTok, leaving many wondering where Jayla has been.

In it, she gives her teacher some attitude after she was told she was going to be put in time out. Donning a yellow shirt and a brightly colored bow, Jayla responded to being disciplined by saying: “Well, let me tell you this Linda.” She was interrupted by her teacher who famously replied: “My name ain’t Linda, so you sit there in timeout, you bad little girl [sic].”

Even though she was removed from the group of other children by her teacher, that didn’t stop Jayla from going on a rant. “No, let me tell you something. If I was in here, I would surely take a day off from you and you need a day off from these kids. I’ll run the classroom. I’m just done with you.”

She didn’t even stop there. Well, when I get up out of time out. I’m going to be glad to go home and enjoy the rest of my life, and I could quit school because of all of you.” Even though Cummings was an instant sensation, garnering millions of views across social media platforms and the video even showed up on Steve Harvey, she faded from the spotlight shortly after and never made appearances on television like other children who go viral. Read more

Florida NAACP Moves Towards Initiating A Travel Advisory For Florida

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ABC Action News; Posted By: Jada Williams

TAMPA, Fla. (WFTS) — It’s what keeps Florida going; tourism. Visit Florida said 137.6 million people visited here in 2022, the most ever. In 2021, tourism brought $101.9 billion dollars into the state’s economy.

“Florida is a nice place to be. You got your beaches, you got your tourists, you see people all over the world,” said Gregory Franklin as he strolled the Tampa Riverwalk.

But the Florida State Chapter of the NAACP has its sights set on hitting the state where it hurts most.

naacp.png

“We are letting our voices be heard, and we are just letting people know that we’re not gonna take it. We’re not just gonna sit still. We’re gonna stand up and we’re gonna fight. And when we fight, we win,” said Hillsborough County Chapter President Yvette Lewis.

Over the weekend, the Florida State NAACP unanimously voted to ask the NAACP National Board to issue a travel advisory. The advisory would ask people to forego visiting and moving to the sunshine state.

“Saying you don’t want AP African American Studies here because they have certain topics in it, certain categories, certain words in it. You don’t want companies to have the word diversity, equity, and inclusion because it has institutional racism in their policy. You know, it takes us back. And we’ve been fighting so hard,” Lewis said. Read more

Viola Davis Is Just As Shocked As The Rest Of Us That Michael Jordan Picked Her To Play His Mom In Air

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Viola Davis attends the premiere of “Air” during the 2023 SXSW conference and festival at the Paramount Theatre on March 18, 2023 in Austin, Texas.

In case you missed the memo, Michael Jordan is kind of a big deal.

Case in point, Isaiah Thomas’ archnemesis is a six-time NBA champ, six-time Finals MVP, five-time league MVP, 157-time NBA All-Star, a serial tongue waggerdisrespectful shrugger, and nine out of 10 barbershops will tell you he’s the greatest basketball player who ever lived. (The sole defector cast its vote for Smush Parker.)

That is kind of a big deal. Read more

Clearwater Mayor Abruptly Resigns

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From Left: Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, and St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch at the Suncoast Tiger Bay’s State of the Bay event in January. Photo by Mark Parker.

Mayor Frank Hibbard unexpectedly announced his immediate resignation during a Clearwater City Council budget discussion Monday morning.

Hibbard told his colleagues he needed a five-minute recess less than an hour into the work session. When he returned, he said it was time to make one of the toughest decisions of his life – but one that he felt was right.

Following a brief explanation, Hibbard packed his things and left his fellow council members visibly shocked.

“I’m not a quitter, but I’m not the right leader for this council anymore,” Hibbard said. “In good conscience for my family, my health, and other things, I can’t remain the mayor.”

City officials discussed their budget priorities before he abruptly resigned. Among those was $90 million for a new City Hall and municipal services complex.

The project has a $60 million funding deficit, and Hibbard was the only person on the dais to push back against the expenditure. He later expressed his concern with the city’s direction under the council.

“This is simple math,” Hibbard said. “And we’re not doing very well on the test.

“I know this is shocking, but I’m the wrong guy right now.” Read more

Women Leaders Discuss Challenges, Florida Politics

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From left: Congresswoman Kathy Castor; Pam McAloon, Republican Party of Florida state committeewoman; Caprice Edmonds, school board member; Christina Diamond, executive director of Ruth’s List Florida; and Pinellas County Commissioner Kathleen Peters. Photos by Mark Parker unless otherwise noted.

The University of South Florida St. Petersburg welcomed five prominent female political leaders with local ties to campus Tuesday to discuss “Women and Politics in Florida.”

Despite the school becoming embroiled in proposed state legislation that many believe harm diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, the panel didn’t broach the subject until the end of the meeting. Instead, the discussion focused on challenges faced when running for office and once elected.

The USF St. Petersburg Center for Civic Engagement, USF Florida Studies Program and the campus student government hosted the intimate event. The panel featured Congresswoman Kathy Castor; Pinellas County Commissioner Kathleen Peters; Caprice Edmond, school board member; Christina Diamond, executive director of Ruth’s List Florida; and Pam McAloon, Republican Party of Florida state committeewoman.

Dr. Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan, Duckwall Professor of Florida Studies, moderated the discussion. McAloon noted many women find politics intimidating and channeled former President Franklin D. Roosevelt by relaying, “if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”

“Well, ladies, we’ve spent a lot of time in the kitchen,” McAllon added. “I think we can tolerate the heat. So, let’s go for it.” Read more

Political Power: Black Women Reshaping The National Agenda

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Over 100 years ago, women gained the right to vote through the 19th Amendment. But it has been a long road for women—specifically, Black women—to be granted a seat at America’s cultural and political table.

Shirley Chisholm famously said, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” 

A vanguard for women’s political leadership, Chisholm was the first Black woman elected to Congress in 1968 and the first woman and African American to seek the nomination for president of the United States from one of the two major political parties in 1972. The Brooklyn, New York, native was well-respected during her seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives for her diplomatic efforts for inclusion throughout the political process. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com

Final ‘afroQuantum Experiences: ArtMaker Talk’ features women cultural creatives and entrepreneurs

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As the region takes on the moniker of “Arts Coast,” Creative Pinellas, the county’s arts agency, is playing a crucial role in helping to shape the local arts environment. Last March, writer, producer and journalist Jake-ann Jones received the Creative Pinellas Artist Laureate Grant along with the Professional Artist Grant.

Creative Pinellas recognize the Artist Laureate as a model partner and collaborator, sharing their skills and expertise and supporting the organization’s mission throughout the grant period.

“I definitely saw this as an ambassador position; as I saw it, my job was to introduce more Black and Brown folks to Creative Pinellas, and vice versa,” noted Jones, a Harlem native who, after almost two decades in Tampa Bay, considers the area her adopted home. Read more at www.theweeklychallenger.com

St. Petersburg’s structural racism study authors are eager to see action

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The city funded one of the study’s recommendations: a diversity, equity and inclusion office. But it’s not staffed yet.

Mayor Ken Welch promised in his inaugural address that he would oversee a city where people from all backgrounds benefit from a booming economy that is leaving many behind.

The city’s first Black mayor was armed with a study completed a month earlier under his predecessor that described how people of his color, Read more at www.tampabay.com

Pinellas Community Foundation Presents: ARPA Nonprofit Capital Project Fund Now Accepting Small Capital Purchases Applications. The deadline is March 31, 2023

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The deadline to submit a Small Capital Purchases application is March 31. Pinellas Community Foundation, in collaboration with Pinellas County government, is leading the County’s nonprofit grantmaking efforts to fund capital purchases. These grants are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and are intended to support nonprofits that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This email contains important information about the qualifying criteria and how to apply.
Small Capital PurchasesSmall Capital Purchases cover the acquisition and installation of a capital asset with a useful life of at least five years and do not involve modifications to real property. Examples are trucks, forklifts, vans, IT equipment, computer hardware, fixtures such as industrial refrigeration units, and solar panels. In Round of 2 of Small Purchases, the maximum award amount has changed to reflect the remaining available funding:If your annual operating budget is less than $500,000, the maximum grant amount is $100,000.If your annual operating budget is greater than $500,000, the maximum grant amount is $150,000.There will be a second round of funding for Large Capital Projects launching after this Small Purchases round closes. More details will be announced shortly. Returning Applicants If you have previously applied for a Small Purchase and would like your previous request copied over to update and submit for consideration in Round Two, please contact Rose Cervantes. Due to the current inflationary environment, you will need to obtain new bids/estimates for your proposed purchases regardless of a prior submission. The requested amount must also fit within the new maximum request amounts.
ARPA Nonprofit Capital Project Overview Priority Areas Based on feedback from the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners, Round 2 of the ARPA Nonprofit Capital Project Fund will prioritize purchases that benefit programming in the following areas: Individuals with DisabilitiesFood SecuritySpecialized HealthcareMental HealthDental CareSubstance Use DisordersHousingIf your organization demonstrates a history of providing programming within these priority areas, it will receive additional points when scored. You are still eligible to apply if you do not offer programming in these areas.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American History Museum Presents: Woodson Warriors Scholarship 2023 Applications. Deadline: April 1, 2023

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African American college-bound scholars who are residents of St. Petersburg, Florida are invited to apply for a 2023 Woodson Warriors scholarship. In keeping with the Woodson Museum’s mission to preserve, present, interpret, and celebrate African Americans, in partnership with the Bunker Scholarship Committee we seek interested applicants.

Scholarship Questions
Email: [email protected]

More Information
Visit woodsonscholarships.com or (Facebook) Woodson Warriors Scholarships Fund. To learn more about the Bunker Scholarships Auction, visit BunkerScholarshipAuction.com.

REQUIRED APPLICANT QUALIFICATIONS

  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Graduating seniors
  • African American students
  • Resident of St. Petersburg, FL

Scholarship finalists will be required to participate in an interview.

APPLY ONLINE

Woodson Warrior Scholarship Application

Meet Two Black Men Changing The Flavor Of The Whiskey Game

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The Root, Published By: Angela Johnson

Amani Macaulay (l) and Chima Burey (r), founders of Duke & Dame

If you’d offered Amani Macaulay and Chima Burey a flavored whiskey six years ago, they probably would have given you some serious stink eye. But these days, the Miami-based friends have made flavored whiskey their business, and it’s paying off.

The pair are the founders of Duke & Dame, a salted caramel whiskey brand with only 1 gram of sugar per serving. Now, a hard-core whiskey snob might be hesitant to try the brand. But for me, the idea of a whiskey that tastes like a Werther’s Original candy sounds like something that could only exist in my dreams. So I jumped at the chance to sit down with Amani and Chima – and taste the whiskey, of course – to learn more about the story behind their brand and how they are winning the fight for shelf space in a market full of big-name brands.

Macaulay and Burey don’t come from a spirits-making background. But the pair, who previously worked in corporate finance, consider themselves “whiskey guys” who know what they like – and what they don’t. “A lot of the [flavored whiskey] offerings were not something you would sit at home by the fireplace and sip,” Macaulay said. “They tend to be overly sweet, syrupy, and have an artificial element to the taste.”

In a market that already included flavored offerings from well-known brands like Fireball, Jack Daniels’ Tennessee Honey, and Crown Royal Apple, the pair saw the competition as a sign that their idea had potential. And they set out to make their dream a reality. Read more

Unsettling Details Emerge In Brutal Death Of Mental Health Patient

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The Root, Published By: Kalyn Womack

Caroline Ouko, the mother of Irvo Otieno, holds a portrait of her son at the Dinwiddie Courthouse in Dinwiddie, Va., on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Speaking at a news conference shortly after watching the video, the family and attorneys condemned the brutal treatment they said Otieno, 28, was subjected to, first at a local jail and then at the state hospital where he died March 6.

The family of Irvo Otieno, a mental health patient who died in police custody, gave the gruesome details of what they saw in the moments ahead of his death. Attorney Benjamin Crump the video was an example of the inhumane ways the police treat mentally ill citizens like criminals instead of people in need of help, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Outside the Dinwiddie County prosecutor’s office, Crump joined the family of Irvin Otieno, 28, as they spoke about the contents of the surveillance footage related to the incident. Otieno’s mother, Caroline Ouka, called a psychiatrist for help bringing him to a mental hospital. When the police arrived, they mistook Otieno for a burglary suspect and detained him. In the county jail, Crump and co-counsel Mary Krudys said Otieno was naked in his cell when the deputies beat him and pepper sprayed him. They also said the deputies bound him by his ankles and wrists and pinned him down with all their weight for what was estimated to be 12 minutes.

“Those three days at the jail were horrific. I’ve seen it in the video. Mental illness should not be your ticket to death. There was a chance to rescue him… and I don’t understand how all systems failed him. My son was treated like a dog. Worse than a dog… He was treated inhumanely and it was traumatic,” said Ouka.

These heinous descriptions were just from Otieno’s time in jail. The description of the footage from the hospital was even more disturbing. Read more

Black Teen Spotted With His White Grandmother Suspected Of Robbery

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The Root, Published By: Kalyn Womack

A couple of years ago, an 18-year-old Black teen was arrested while riding in a car with his white grandmother. Now, he’s suing the cops involved because they never said what the arrest was for besides being given a suspicious tipper ABC 7 News. Well, what made him seem so suspicious?

This is one of those stories where the incident may not be labeled as racist but… it doesn’t sit well because of the parties involved.

In 2018, Akil Carter was riding in the back of a blue Lexus near the Mayfair Collection outlet mall in Wauwatosa, Wis. In the front seats were his grandmother, Paulette Bar, and her friend, Sandra Adams, both white women. Initial reports say they were coming home from church. Their journey went completely left after Officer Patrick Kaine pursued their vehicle. In court Monday, Kaine said he was given an urgent notice from a “tipster” that a Black man was robbing two white women inside a blue Lexus.

Without further questions, Kaine pulled the family over. Read more

How One Louisiana Chemical Plant Poisoned An Entire Black Neighborhood

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The Root, Published By: Kalyn Womack

The Fifth Ward Elementary School and residential neighborhoods sit near the Denka Performance Elastomer Plant, back, in Reserve, La., Sept. 23, 2022. Federal officials are suing Louisiana chemical maker Denka Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, alleging that it presented an unacceptable cancer risk to the nearby majority-Black community and demanding cuts in toxic emissions.

This month, the US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against two petrochemical companies that may be the reason why St. John the Baptist Parish of Louisiana or “Cancer Alley” has the highest cancer risk in the entire nation, per The Guardian. Residents say the suit is too late, after being subject to poison pumped into their air and water for over 5 decades.

Dangerous Levels of Chemical Emissions

DuPont Products USA LLC constructed the Pontchartrain Works facility right beside the Black Louisiana neighborhood in the 1960s, the report says. They controlled its operations until 2015 when they sold the plant to a Japanese chemical company, Denka. A month later, the parish’s cancer risk skyrocketed.

Denka produces synthetic rubber for things like wetsuits or laptop sleeves. However, the production of this material emitted chloroprene into the air – a “likely” human carcinogen being emitted at 14 times the recommended level for the surrounding neighborhood, according to the Department of Justice.

If that sounds brutal, consider the fact the plant has been releasing these toxins just 450 feet from the Fifth Ward Elementary school and a mile away from East St. John High School, per the DOJ. The suit says the emissions are so high in the area, that children under 18 breathing air anywhere near the facility’s fence would “exceed their lifetime excess cancer risk by two years.” Read more

Feeding Tampa Bay Presents: Barista Training Program – Application Deadline: April 12, 2023, @ 5 PM.

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Do you want to work in the hospitality industry?


Learn Barista Basics
Coee history and origins, roasts, espressos, teas. Gain practical barista and customer service experience!


Gain Employability Skills
Resume development, interview skills, professionalism in the workplace, and cultural diversity.

PAID Training Program with a stipend upon successful completion


Monday, April 24th – Friday, April 28th, 2023 – 8:30am – 2:30pm


APPLICATION DEADLINE: APRIL 12, 5 pm


Feeding Pinellas Empowerment Center
6330 54th Avenue N. St. Petersburg, FL 33709


Must be at least 18 years old and have a dynamic personality! Fill out an online application by visiting www.feedingtampabay.org/freshforce


For information contact:
Mike Perkins
(813) 596-5943
Lemuel Scott
(813) 596-5940

St. Petersburg’s Structural Racism Study Authors Are Eager To See Action

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Tampa Bay Times, Published By: Colleen Wright

Gwendolyn Reese, African American Heritage Association of St. Petersburg president, says she’s eager to see Mayor Ken Welch move forward with efforts to ensure equal treatment for the city’s Black residents. [ JEFFEREE WOO | Times ]

ST. PETERSBURG — Mayor Ken Welch promised in his inaugural address that he would oversee a city where people from all backgrounds benefit from a booming economy that is leaving many behind.

The city’s first Black mayor was armed with a study completed a month earlier under his predecessor that described how people of his color and their communities have long faced discrimination and neglect. It outlined five steps the city could take immediately to begin righting historic wrongs.

But more than a year after the address, only one of those recommendations has taken shape. Welch said he wants to ensure that whatever is put in place actually benefits Black residents and isn’t just for show, including creating an office to oversee the effort. He also is looking at other communities that have undertaken similar efforts.

“We want it to be successful, we want it to be impactful, and so that’s why we’re doing the work first to be informed about what the office should look like,” he said.

But authors of the study say that was exactly its purpose, to give the city direction. They did not expect quick changes after centuries of racism, but there is concern their recommendations aren’t moving forward while possibly being watered down.

“How much clarity do you need?” said one of the study’s authors, historian Gwendolyn Reese. “Why can’t we be the model?” Read more

State Director Discusses CareerSource Merger Concerns

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St. Pete Catalyst, Published By: Mark Parker

While Hillsborough and Pasco County Commissioners will vote on the consolidation of their workforce development agencies, the decision now rests with the governor. File photo.

The local CareerSource affiliate held its first board meeting since state leadership voted to consolidate Pinellas and Hillsborough County’s workforce development agencies in February.

Adrienne Johnston, president and CEO of CareerSource Florida, participated in Wednesday’s discussion virtually. Several board members offered a laundry list of concerns over the merger.

No one spoke in the initiative’s favor, which now needs the governor’s approval. Despite Johnston’s best attempts to alleviate some of the trepidation, the CareerSource Pinellas Board of Directors unanimously voted to issue a formal letter opposing the consolidation.

“We recognize that change can be difficult,” Johnston told attendees. “And changes of this magnitude will result in challenges, as well as opportunities. We are committed at the state to ensuring that local workforce development boards have the information, technical assistance, tools, and resources to transition and transform.”

The once-conjoined agencies split in September 2018, a few months after CareerSource Hillsborough’s board fired Ed Peachey, the former joint CEO. Reports that he inflated job placement numbers to receive significant bonuses emerged that summer.

The regional CareerSource previously featured two separate boards and one administration governing a singular entity. Johnston explained a newly merged agency would feature a combined board of directors.

“One of those key goals that we are really pushing here is that there is equal representation among all partners, all counties,” Johnston added. “I know a fear among many is that this will be a takeover over one board over the other, and that is not the intention.” Read more

Axios Fires Tampa Journalist Over DeSantis Comment

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St. Pete Catalyst, Published By: Bill Young

Author and journalist Ben Montgomery. File photo.

Ben Montgomery, a reporter and editor for the Tampa Bay edition of the national Axios online newsletter, was fired Monday after he replied to a Florida Department of Education press release, calling it “propaganda.”

The FDE email concerned a recent DEI ( Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) roundtable hosted by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“In Florida, we are not going to back down to the woke mob, and we will expose the scams they are trying to push onto students across the country,” DeSantis was quoted in the release.

Montgomery replied to the email within three minutes of receiving it. Shortly afterward, the Education Department’s communication officer shared Montgomery’s reply on Twitter, which set off a firestorm of comments both pro and con.

Wednesday morning, Montgomery told the Catalyst he was still in a state of shock. “I believed in the mission, I thought,” he said. “I still believe that, besides a few people, Axios knows what it’s doing. But I’m confused by this move, and sad for all of us.

“It hurts me for a little bit, being involved in the dust-up, but I think it hurts democracy. They (Axios) have lost a lot of credibility with people who have read me for a long time. And they have harmed their credibility nationally, I think. It’s sad because there are a lot of really good journalists there doing good work. It shouldn’t have happened.”

Montgomery said he was fired Monday evening by Jamie Stockwell, executive editor of Axios Local, who claimed the reporter’s “reputation in the Tampa Bay area” had been “irreparably tarnished.” Read more

Vicious Attack On Black Autistic Teen Has Us Questioning Humanity

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The Root, Published By: Kalyn Womack

Screenshot: Daily Mail (Fair Use)

“N—er alert!” shouted a group of Latino teenagers as they repeatedly punched a Black autistic teen in the NYC subway, according to a video circulating social media. Authorities say only one of the suspects has been arrested in connection to this shameful attack.

A 15-year-old autistic boy was getting off the A train at West 181 Street and Fort Washington Ave when a group of teens decided to pick on him for no reason. In the video, a girl is seen pulling the teen by his jacket along the platform and onto the train. She then yells at him to get off the train while still gripping his collar and begins punching him. When the girl pulls him off the train, a crowd of teenagers is seen on the left side of the frame – all of them with their phones out trying to catch a World Star moment.

At some point, the boy tries to defend himself against the girl causing two teenage boys to join in ruthlessly throwing punches at him on the platform bench. During the attack, they continuously shouted racial slurs at him. At some point, he managed to escape their attack and run back down the platform.

Reports say the victim called the police after getting back on the train. The teen’s mother told ABC7 she refused to watch the video but shared that the teen suffered injuries requiring stitches and his glasses were broken.

Watch the video at your own discretion:

Read more

Academic Freedom, & Diversity Dominate USF Discourse

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The Root, Published By: Stephanie Holland

Photo: JC Olivera (Getty Images)

Nearly three years after his tragic death in a helicopter crash, the city of Los Angeles bestowed one of its biggest honors on Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. On Wednesday, his hand and footprints were unveiled at the world-famous TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, Calif. His wife Vanessa Bryant and their daughters Natalia, Bianka, and Capri all attended the ceremony. The couple’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna was killed in the crash alongside her father.

At the ceremony revealing Kobe’s hand and footprints, his oldest daughter, Natalia Bryant, honored her father with a moving speech about how committed he was to his family.

Natalia Bryant Honors Dad KOBE at Handprint & Footprint Ceremony – Watch!

Read more

St. Pete Congresswoman Is A Clean Energy Champion

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St. Pete Catalyst Published By Mark Parker

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor addresses attendees at the American Council on Renewable Energy’s Annual Awards Gala. Photos provided.

A national nonprofit recently awarded U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor for her “critical efforts to redefine the nation’s climate agenda,” something she pledged to continue as St. Petersburg’s voice in Washington, D.C.

The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) named Castor it’s 2023 Renewable Energy Champion Wednesday. She received the award during the organization’s annual gala at Washington Union Station.

Following the ceremony, Castor called the recognition “particularly meaningful” as it coincided with “the most environmentally important Congress” in the nation’s history. She noted federal legislators passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and CHIPS and Science Act last year.

“So, there were a lot of people working to get a lot of climate legislation across the finish line,” Castor said. “I really accepted the award on behalf of my entire team, who worked with me at the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.”

Castor – who now represents Tampa, downtown St. Petersburg and other parts of Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties – was selected to chair the committee in 2018. Members authored the Solving the Climate Crisis report, which features a comprehensive list of policy recommendations.

Over 300 of the report’s proposals became law through the three pieces of legislation. She said the Select Committee’s focus was developing clean energy and environmental resilience policies that create high-paying jobs and support communities.

Castor relayed that people can now save up to $7,500 on a new or $4,000 on a used electric vehicle through the IRA. She also pledged that public transportation, school buses, and postal trucks would switch to electric motors in the coming years.

In addition, she said expanding solar projects would provide cheaper energy.

“That means cleaner air and a cleaner Tampa Bay,” Castor added. “Awards are nice, but really seeing the benefits and cost savings on the ground – that’s what is particularly gratifying.” Read more

Vegan Chef’s Cookbook Flips The Script On Classic Soul Food Dishes

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Emani Corcran shares delicious vegan recipes with over 130,000 followers on her Instagram feed. And her new cookbook, “Blk+Vegan: Full Flavored, Protein-Packed Recipes From My Kitchen to Yours” drops on March 14. But the vegan diet is something new for Corcran. In fact, growing up, she says that meat was a part of practically every meal. “I would have bacon and a biscuit and sausage for breakfast, a deli sandwich for lunch, and rib tips or pork chops for dinner,” she said. “Meat with every meal was so normalized that I don’t think we had a regular vegetarian dish.”

But that all changed in 2019 when she and her now-fiancé watched “What the Health,” a documentary that explores food’s relationship to cancer and disease. “[Cancer] is something that runs in my family. It’s something that I always thought was genetic and bound to happen to me,” she said. “But when I found out there was a correlation to food, it really struck a nerve in me.” Read more.

Why Rihanna Is America’s Youngest Self-Made Billionaire, & Kylie Jenner Is Not

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The Root Published By Amira Castilla

Photo: (Kylie Jenner) Evan Agostini/Invision/AP (Rihanna) Kevin Mazur / (Getty Images)

This year has been great for the star: babies, super bowls and now tonight she can win an Oscar. But don’t sleep on this smart lady. She’s a business woman too: Rihanna was officially named America’s youngest self-made billionaire less than a year ago, being 34 and worth $1.4 billion. This comes a year after the announcement from Forbes that Kylie, who was previously called the youngest self-made billionaire, had her title taken away. Read more.

St. Petersburg College Presents: Food Truck Boot Camp

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Do you have an interest in learning the business of operating a Food Truck?

This boot camp, offered from May 30 – June 23, will teach how to apply the processes of developing a food truck business plan by creating a brand, name, menu, and project financials, identifying funding sources, and more. The program also provides a platform to pitch your concept and sell food samples at an event at the conclusion of the camp. The $462 registration fee includes preparation for the certification exam required for legal food truck operations. Students who register for Summer or Fall term courses in the SPC Business or Hospitality programs could receive a scholarship. 

Please submit your name if you are interested.  Email [email protected] for more information.

St. Petersburg College Presents: Green Innovations Summer Program

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This program, which runs from July 10-20 at SPC’s Downtown Center, offers current high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to study Corporate Social Responsibility and work with businesses to create solutions for the planet and its people. Students will use cutting-edge technology like VR/AR and 3D printing to create real and innovative solutions to social and environmental problems. The cost of this camp is $150, and college credit may be earned if the attendee enrolls at SPC. Sign up here or email [email protected] for more information.

St. Petersburg College Presents: The Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs Camp

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The camp, held June 5-9, introduces middle and high school students to exciting career choices in manufacturing. Campers will receive a one-year student license for SolidWorks™ CAD software. Registration is $175. For more information, email [email protected].

St. Petersburg College Presents: Summer of Success

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A slice of college life

Through this six-week program, students have the opportunity to:

  • Attend SPC on a Summer scholarship
  • Earn college credits
  • Become familiar with their SPC campus and the resources available
  • Meet new friends
  • Enroll in Fall classes and receive assistance with Financial Aid paperwork

Financial Assistance
Scholarships for Summer of Success cover the college application fee, tuition for credit hours, lab fees and textbooks.

Earn college credit
Complete the following components for the Summer of Success program:

  1. Intro to Speech
  2. Computer Literacy
  3. Smart Start

Meet these Qualifications
Students applying for the program must be high school seniors eligible for a high school standard diploma, a Florida resident, a U.S. citizen (or permanent resident), and meet one of the following criteria:

  • First in the family to attend college
  • Disabled and/or low-income (SPC disability verification required)
  • Plan to enroll at SPC for the fall term

St. Petersburg College Presents: Summer Musical Theater Program

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Area high school and college students can join this annual summer theater experience. This summer’s show will be The Drowsy Chaperone. Auditions will be held May 22-23 and tech interviews on May 18. Rehearsals begin May 22, with performances June 23-25. For more information, contact Scott Cooper at [email protected].

St. Petersburg College Presents: College for Kids

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The College for Kids summer experience runs for seven weeks and is open to students from kindergarten through 8th grade. Classes are from June 5-July 21 from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Free early drop off as early as 7:30 am and extended care are also available from 3-4:30 p.m. Additional care is available 4:30-5:30 at $55 per week per child.

Location:
SPC Downtown Center
222 Second Avenue North
St. Petersburg

Cost:

$25 each CFK Application fee (includes field trips and a T-shirt)
$120 per week
Free extended care 3-4:30
Additional care 4:30-5:30 – $55 per week

Each week of College for Kids will have a specific focus. All weeks include STEAM exploration:

  • June 5-9 | Visual Arts
  • June 12-16 | Robotics – Tech & Coding
  • June 19-23 | (no camp 6/19) | Entrepreneurship
  • June 26-30 | Career Week
  • July 3-7 (no camp 7/4) | Music/acting/dance
  • July 10-14 | Health & Wellness
  • July 17-21 | Robotics 2.0 – Tech & Coding

For more information contact: Jody Charleston | at 727-341-3089 | [email protected]

Michelle Obama: ‘No accident’ Obama White House was ‘scandal-free’

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In an episode of her show, “The Light Podcast,” former first lady Michelle Obama reflects on her family’s conduct during her husband’s presidency, saying they were mindful of how their actions while in the White House would reflect upon Black Americans. Watch Video

Vice President Harris to spend week in Africa as outreach efforts continue

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 Vice President Kamala Harris will spend a week in Africa at the end of March as the United States deepens its outreach to the continent amid global competition, notably with China.

“The trip will strengthen the United States’ partnerships throughout Africa and advance our shared efforts on security and economic prosperity,” said a statement from the vice president’s spokesperson, Kirsten Allen. Read more at www.thegrio.com

What Do Race & Ethnicity Mean? The US Government Is Asking

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AP News – Published By: Mike Schneider

Nyhiem Way is weary of people conflating African American and Black. Shalini Parekh wants a way for South Asian people to identify themselves differently from East Asians with roots in places like China or Japan. And Byron Haskins wants the U.S. to toss racial and ethnic labels altogether.

“When you set up categories that are used to place people in boxes, sometimes you miss the truth of them,” said Haskins, who describes himself as African American.

Way, Parekh, and Haskins’ voices are among more than 4,600 comments pending before the Biden administration as it contemplates updating the nation’s racial and ethnic categories for the first time since 1997.

There’s a lot to consider.

Some Black Americans want their ancestors’ enslavement recognized in how they are identified. Some Jewish people believe their identity should be seen as its own ethnic category and not only a religion. The idea of revising categories for ethnic and racial identities, both in the census and in gathering demographic information between head counts, has fueled editorials and think-tank essays as well as thousands of written comments by individuals in what is almost a Rorschach test for how Americans identify themselves. Read more

Black Exec In NYC Tells Of His Kids Enduring Racist Bullying In The School

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A “New York City Board of Education” placard placed on the front of P.S. 234 Independence School in lower Manhattan in New York, NY, September 4, 2020.

This story was edited to correct the attribution of the featured quotes.

At Peck Slip School, students and staff are expected to follow four basic rules: be safe, be kind, be helpful, and be your best – all of which they’ve failed to demonstrate toward two Black children.

Founder and CEO of FinTech startup Bckers, Inc., Amos Winbush, moved to Manhattan with the idea his children would be guaranteed a positive education experience. Instead, his 10-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son have come home with stories of racist threats and acts of violence toward them. Now the school and the NY Department of Education are facing a lawsuit.

Mr. Winbush tells The Root each of his children has been experiencing racial bullying since 2019. His daughter, he says, often came home complaining of her peers making comments about her looking “dirty” or comparing her to “poop” because of her skin color. Once, Winbush says she was forced to apologize for taking a toy back that was initially stolen from her by another student. Read more

Louisville Cops Violated Rights, Discriminated Against Black People, Feds Say In Scathing Report

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A ground mural depicting a portrait of Breonna Taylor is seen at Chambers Park in Annapolis, Md., July 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

The report said the Louisville police department “discriminates against Black people in its enforcement activities,” uses excessive force, and conducts searches based on invalid warrants. It also said the department violates the rights of people engaged in protected speech, like the street protests in the city in the summer of 2020 after Taylor’s death. Garland said some officers have assaulted people with disabilities and called Black people disparaging names.

“This conduct is unacceptable, it is heartbreaking,” Garland said. “It erodes the community trust necessary for effective policing and it is an affront to the vast majority of officers who put their lives on the line every day to serve Louisville with honor.”

The sweeping probe announced in April 2021 is known as a “pattern or practice” investigation — examining whether there is a pattern of unconstitutional or unlawful policing inside the department. The city will sign a negotiated agreement with the Justice Department and a federal officer will monitor the progress. Read more

Afro Roots Fest coming To Miami Beach Bandshell

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Amadou & Maria, “The Blind Couple From Mali”

Afro Roots Fest will celebrate its 25th anniversary on March 14 at 6 p.m., when it takes the stage at the Miami Beach Bandshell to honor African music’s influence throughout the Americas.

The festival headlines Grammy-nominated duo Amadou and Mariam, known as “The Blind Couple From Mali.” Cuban folk group Cortadito, with Afro-Cuban guest artist Aymée Nuviola, will open the show.

Afro Roots Fest began in 1999 and has evolved into the area’s longest-running music festival, according to its organizers.

“From the beginning, we have always wanted to mix our music with great, talented musicians,” said Amadou. “We wanted to break barriers and open our ears to a new sound, to bring Malian music to many people worldwide in a form they would understand and enjoy.”

The evolution of Cortadito since its origins ten years ago has led the group to become one of the torchbearers of a pop culture phenomenon two centuries strong. The traditional folk and acoustic band focuses on performing one of the earliest styles of Cuban country music known as “son.” Read more

More Than A Dozen Memphis Fire, Police Personnel Charged In Tyre Nichols’ Beating

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The screen at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans honors Tyre Nichols before the Jan. 28 NBA basketball game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Washington Wizards. More than a dozen Memphis fire and police department staffers have been charged for their roles in Nichols’ deadly beating. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton, File)

The City of Memphis has wrapped its investigation into Tyre Nichols’ death, charging more than a dozen staffers from the fire and police departments for their roles in the deadly beating.

According to NBC News, Jennifer Sink, the city’s chief legal officer, said at a Tuesday presentation before the City Council’s Public Safety Committee that the agencies conducted administrative investigations to see if employees violated departmental policies.

As a result, the Memphis Fire Department parted ways with emergency medical technicians Robert Long, JaMichael Sandridge, and Lt. Michelle Whitaker. Department leadership suspended a fourth, unidentified employee. The charges they face remain unclear.

In a statement, the fire service said the three fired EMTs broke several departmental rules and procedures in dealing with Nichols.

Sink said the city’s investigation resulted in charges against 13 police officers, two of whom had their charges dropped. Officials fired seven officers, placed three on administrative leave, and one resigned before a hearing. Read more

Pinellas County’s Office of Small Business & Supplier Diversity Presents: Coffee & Contractors – March 24, 2023

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Calling all contractors and consultants, please join the discussion as we share opportunities for doing business with Pinellas County Government, HORUS Construction, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), and Whiting-Turner.

Scopes of work include concrete, carpentry, framing, steel, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, masonry, and more. Seeking solicitations for a “Turn-Key” design-build project for electric bus infrastructure and all phases from pre-construction to post-installation support.

Questions? Email: [email protected]

The Tampa Bay Regional Resiliency Leadership Summit 2023 – May 4-5, 2023

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Mayors of coastal communities throughout the state will discuss their strategic resilience initiatives and visions for the future. The panelists will also share perspectives on increased risks and programs and investments to be Resilient and Ready.
This panel will take place on the first day of the Resiliency Leadership Summit at 4 pm.
 
Don’t miss this panel! Register today if you haven’t already done so

Black CEOs Are Running Some Of The Largest Fortune 500 Companies

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Black Enterprise Published By: Sharelle Burt

According to Forbes, there will be a record number of Black CEOs running Fortune 500 companies. Chris Womack has been named the next CEO of utility giant Southern Company, the first Black person to sit in that seat. Days prior to the announcement, Calvin Butler got the job as CEO of Exelon Corporation, the largest electric parent company in the United States.

“The day it happened I sent Chris a text and said, ‘I’m proud for you, and I’m happy for us,’” said Butler, a longtime friend of Womack. “Chris is one of those people who’s been around the industry a lot longer than me, and he represents an opportunity that should have existed a long time ago.”

Butler and Womack aren’t the only ones with a seat at the table: Lloyd Yates became CEO of utility NiSource last year; Rosalind “Roz” Brewer at Walgreens Boots Alliance; Marvin Ellison at Lowe’s; Rene Jones of M&T Bank; Craig Arnold at Eaton; and Frank Clyburn of Flavors & Fragrances.

According to a study at Guilford College in North Carolina, 16 Black CEOs were hired between 2000 and 2020. One interesting fact is that three of the C-suite level executives are in the utility industry, where Black men are more known for wearing hard hats. Read more

Homeownership & The Affordable Housing Puzzle

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St. Pete Catalysts Published By: Karen Chassin

The Gonzalez family became homeowners in the Lealman community in January. Photo: Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties.

Welcome to the Catalyst’s Community Voices platform. We’ve curated community leaders and thinkers from all parts of our great city to speak on issues that affect us all. Visit our Community Voices page for more details.

Housing affordability has been a hot topic in Tampa Bay for some time. Affordable housing was a prominent feature in the debate about the various Tropicana Field redevelopment proposals. As luxury towers spring up and rents and home values spiral upward, many people who live and work in St. Petersburg and the broader region can’t secure housing that fits their budget and is priced out of the area. Some fall into homelessness.

But the public conversation about housing can be confusing, lacking in specificity, and short on solutions. What, exactly, does “affordable housing” mean? What’s the scope of the affordability problem? What strategies are helping to increase the availability of homes for lower-wage and middle-class buyers and renters in the hot Tampa Bay real estate markets?

For guidance on the affordable housing puzzle, we turned to Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties CEO Mike Sutton and his team. This region is fortunate to be home to the nation’s most prolific Habitat affiliate, which will soon turn over the keys to its 800th home to a family in Lealman. Read more

City, PSTA Vow To Improve Transit Access In South St. Pete

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St. Pete Catalyst Published By: Veronica Brezina

The intersection of 9th Ave. S. and 22nd St. N. in South St. Pete. GoogleMaps.

The struggling South St. Pete community, where the majority of residents living in poverty heavily rely on limited public transit options, will have more connections to other parts of the city and potential employers – if all goes according to plan. 

During the St. Petersburg City Council’s Thursday meeting, the council unanimously approved committing funds for a participation agreement between the City of St. Petersburg and PSTA (Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority) to initiate a South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area Mobility Study. The study will evaluate options to enhance the multimodal transportation system.

“If an area has a frequent transit service only on a few roads and lacks efficient safe walking and biking routes, it’s a tough place to live with no access to a personally owned car,” said Evan Mory, the city’s director of transportation and parking management. 

In 2021, the city and PSTA applied to the Federal Transit Administration’s AOPP (Areas of Persistent Poverty Program), which was created to improve public transportation in areas experiencing long-term economic hardships. The two groups received a $360,000 grant the following year to fund the $400,000 study. However, the federal grant requires a 10% local match at a value of $40,000. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is providing $20,000 – leaving the city and PSTA splitting the remainder, each contributing $10,000. Read more

State Wants To Do Away With Agreement That Led To Black Justice On Once All-White Supreme Court

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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A 1992 federal court agreement that led to a Black justice being elected to Louisiana’s once all-white Supreme Court is no longer needed and should be dissolved, an assistant to the state’s attorney general told a federal appeals court Monday.

The case pits Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry, who is running for governor, against voting rights advocates and the U.S. Justice Department. Former state Chief Justice Bernette Johnson has also filed briefs opposing Landry’s position, as has term-limited Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, who leaves office next year.

Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth Murrill told the appellate judges the agreement, which effectively maintains federal court oversight over a state Supreme Court election process, is no longer needed.

“There is nothing that remains to be done,” Murrill said, noting the agreement has resulted in a seat on the high court being held by a Black judge for the past three decades. They include current Justice Piper Griffin, who began a 10-year term. Read more

Starbucks Arrest Leaves Cali Sheriff’s Office Owing Millionsto Black Mom & Daughter

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The Root Published By: Kalyn Womack

A mother and her two daughters were unlawfully arrested outside a Starbucks in 2019 for being Black and minding their business. Now, the county sheriff’s office owes them $8.25 million in settlement money for violating their civil rights, per Fox 2 KTVU.

A few years ago, Alameda County sheriff’s deputies approached Aasylei Loggervale and her two teenage daughters while they sat parked outside a Starbucks. The report says the family had been driving from Nevada to take the eldest daughter to a statistics exam at Berkeley College. The deputies approached their vehicle, unprovoked, and told the women they were on patrol for car burglaries committed by Black men. Suddenly, the conversation turned into an interrogation as the deputies began badgering Ms. Loggervale with questions. Read more

Orlando Health Presents: Navigating and Connecting Community to Resources – March 23, 2023

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Join us for an interactive and informative full-day workshop to help direct service providers better understand how to navigate and connect community members to resources and services. 

This event is part of the Human Services Navigation Hub, a community initiative that seeks to strengthen the current system for accessing human/social services in Pinellas County. This initiative is supported by the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, in partnership with Orlando Health. 

This event invites direct service providers, particularly case managers, navigators, and social workers to attend, and welcomes other interested members of the community.

Join us on March 23, 2023, from 9:00 am-4:00 pm at the Center for Health Equity

This Is Why Ja Morant Was Indefinitely Benched From Playing For Grizzlies

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By Candace McDuffie of The Root.com

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant talks with teammates on the bench in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Friday, March 3, 2023, in Denver.

According to Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins, Ja Morant is indefinitely benched from the team. He confirmed the news Sunday before the team’s defeat at the hands of the LA Clippers. At first, the Grizzlies said that Morant would sit out at least two games and would seek help after posting a disturbing video to Instagram Live on Saturday morning.

In it, Morant apparently poses with a gun at a nightclub. In response, the NBA is conducting an investigation. Jenkins commented: “We have said that it’s going to be at least these two games. I mean, this is going be an ongoing healing process. … It’s really not a timetable situation.”

However, this isn’t the first time Morant has had an incident involving a weapon. A story by The Washington Post story was published Wednesday and outlined two occasions involving Morant this summer that led to police reports but no arrests. Read more

Is DeSantis Using Racism To Win The Presidency?

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By Bakari Sellers of The Root.com

Photo: Paras Griffin / Contributor (Getty Images), SOPA Images / Contributor (Getty Images)

People often ask me if Ron DeSantis is a modern-day white supremacist. There’s a line from Andrew Gillum that speaks to that. “I’m not calling Mr. DeSantis a racist. I’m simply saying the racists believe he’s a racist”.

What I can say for sure is that the Republican governor of Florida is using racism as political currency, something very similar to Donald Trump and very dangerous. DeSantis learned that leaning into his close ties with Trump was a winning strategy during the 2018 race for governor against Andrew Gillum.

And now what we’re seeing, due to his actions, are these culture wars. Whether it’s pulling back on African American studies, recreating our history (and destroying it through the process), attacking who we are, where we come from, and what we’ve been through, all of it plays to the base.

But DeSantis’ problem is that he won’t be able to pivot back if he wins a general election. I firmly believe he is Icarus, flying too close to the sun. I don’t think he debates well, and I don’t think he can take a punch from Donald Trump. But what he is going to do is make it very, very difficult for people of color to support him or the Republican Party because of the fact that he’s using racism to build his base. Read more

V.P. Kamala Harris Unveils Move To Reduce Black-White Homeownership Gap

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By Deborah Bailey AFRO Contributing Editor of Afro.com

Vice President Kamala Harris addresses students and community at Bowie State University Wednesday. (Photo Courtesy: Bowie State University

Bowie State University student Kiara Ebron was exuberant upon learning Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Wes Moore would be visiting her campus to encourage home ownership– specifically in the Black community. 

The 22-year-old MBA student also decided attending the Harris appearance would be a wonderful way to celebrate her first anniversary as a homeowner in suburban Maryland.   

The vice president came to Bowie State to unveil a Department of Housing and Urban Development initiative to reduce the annual mortgage insurance premium for most new borrowers, making Federal Housing Administration-backed (FHA) loans less expensive for first-time, moderate-income buyers.

“I am proud to announce that on March 20 we are reducing mortgage insurance payments for all new FHA homeowners by nearly 40 percent,” Harris said, to cheers from the audience on Feb. 22.

“We know that when we increase homeownership it strengthens communities and it strengthens our economy,” Harris told a crowd of Bowie State students,   community members, and housing advocates.

FHA-insured mortgages account for 7.5 percent of all home sales and are targeted at homebuyers who otherwise may not be able to achieve homeownership. Through FHA home purchases are more affordable for lower, middle-income, and first-time homeowners, like Ebron, who bought her three-story townhome in suburban Maryland with an FHA loan. Through the FHA program, her down payment was less than $3,000. 

Kiara Ebron, Bowie State University MBA student, stands in front of the home she purchased in 2022 at 21 years old with an FHA loan.

The mortgage insurance payment reduction announced by Harris will apply to almost all single-family purchases insured by FHA under the agency’s Title II forward mortgage program. 

The reduction will cover all eligible property types, including single-family homes, condominiums, and manufactured homes, all eligible loan-to-value ratios and all eligible base loan amounts, according to HUD.

Moore, who addressed the gathering shortly before Harris, said that Maryland is ready to partner with the federal government to help   Maryland residents achieve home ownership.  

“We’ve got to have the right partners,” said Moore, underscoring his administration’s homeownership strategy. “It’s great to have our vice president talking about issues of importance to us: work, wages, and wealth,” Moore said.  

“The wealth gap is hurting not just one group.  It is hurting all of us.  For our state to win we must become an ownership society,” Moore continued, mentioning the Maryland Mortgage Program, a statewide effort supporting first-time as well as repeat home purchases.

 Maryland ranks as one of the most expensive states in the U.S. for home buyers, according to the World Population Review. The Maryland Realtors Association estimated the average home cost is more than $433,000 at the end of 2022.  

Bladensburg Mayor Takisha James said she is encouraged by the announcement and looked forward to support and technical assistance from state and federal partners for smaller communities, especially those nearby large urban centers.   

“There is a critical need here for affordable housing options. Not being priced out of the market is so important to communities of color,” James said. 

More than 40 percent of Bladensburg’s nearly 10,000 residents are renters.   Current home sale averages for this Maryland community bordering Washington, D.C. range from  $380,000 to more than $600,000. 

James said her residents love the convenience of Bladensburg, and she wants to develop more options for affordable housing stock that will transform her renters into homeowners.  

Elizabeth Scott Glenn, chair of the U.S. Africa Collaborative, Inc. and a veteran affordable housing advocate, said the announcement was another step needed to advance Black home ownership.  

“We have got to find every means possible to close this housing gap in America and in cities across the world so black and brown people can build wealth,” she said. 

According to U.S. census data, there is close to a 30 percent gap between Blacks and Whites in home ownership. In 2022, 74.6 percent of White households owned their homes, compared with 45.3 percent of Black households.  

The gap between White and Black homeownership rates is wider now than in 1960, when housing discrimination was rampant and legal, according to Pew Charitable Trusts.

This Mother-Daughter Duo Created An Unbraiding Tool That Just Changed The Hair Game Forever

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In an industry where Black people dominate as consumers, we are still finding that there’s still a small number of Black CEOs. But have no fear; the everyday idea is hatched and a business that makes room for representation in the hair care industry is born. In 2021, we reported on college graduate Amber Byrd, creator of the “BraidAid,” a precision tool for hair stylists. This innovative tool was a total game changer, but what about when you’re ready to take your braids out?

Meet Natasha Anderson, the mother of five who decided to create The Original Unbraider in 2004. It looks similar to a small comb but can take out six to eight braids at one time while combing your hair out in the process!

Anderson worked closely with a plastic manufacturer in Taiwan and even got the opportunity to bring her family along to watch her idea come to life. Once the product was created, she began pushing them at hair shows, beauty salons, and mall kiosks. 

Unfortunately, after Anderson’s mom passed away, she had to press pause. But in 2021, The Original Unbraider returned with new management: Khadija Imara, Anderson’s daughter. Imara’s strategy was to make a video on TikTok about the product, which gained millions of views until they were sold out! Read more

This Man Now Owns The First Black-Owned Business In Brooklyn Heights After Serving 11 Years In Prison

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He was looking for a hand-up, not a handout!

Derrick Faulcon was determined to become the “Culinary Nat Turner” and start his own entrepreneurial empire after being released from prison. He studied the ins and outs of the restaurant business and even helped 200 other inmates get their GEDs. He was released in 2012 and two years later, he opened his first restaurant, Home Maid, which is a popular brunch spot in Towson, MD. He has three food trucks but acquired his favorite Baltimore donut shop, Donut Alliance, in 2019, renovating and re-opening it in 2020 as the Cloudy Donut Co.

Cloudy Donut Co. is now the #1 vegan donut shop in the nation, offering 44 flavors of delicious animal-free donuts. With flavors like mango chile lime and grapefruit mimosa, the donuts are made from products like applesauce, coconut milk, and shortening. Faulcon has a location in Washington, D.C., and recently opened one in NYC, making history as the first Black-owned business in Brooklyn Heights! He’s also continuing to help his former incarcerated people by providing them jobs and opportunities to use their skills, such as hosting a pop-up series where chefs of color can create vegan desserts to be featured in the shop. Read more

Meet The Couple Behind The First Black-Owned Virtual Bridal Company

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This couple jumped the broom, founded a virtual bridal company then secured a $250,000 deal on Shark Tank.

Ashley and Charles Young created the bridal tech company Bridal Babes after running into issues with finding flattering bridesmaids’ dresses. Ashley told AfroTech, “What I found when I was searching was just there’s nothing out there. So, once my girls put their dresses on, once we finally found the one, it was really difficult. But, our wedding went viral because people had never seen bridesmaids in curve-hugging dresses that actually enhanced their body type.”

Bridal Babes offers their clients a unique and personal shopping experience with virtual consultations and interactive Q&As. The brand is the first black-owned virtual bridal company and it’s inclusive to all ages, sizes, and wallets. Read more

Hillsborough County Florida Presents: Apply For A College Scholarship – Deadline March 24, 2023

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Overview

Hillsborough County’s Community Action Board Scholarship program offers scholarships, worth up to $5,000 each, to eligible students wishing to continue their post-secondary education. The scholarships can be used at trade schools, community colleges, or four-year universities. The scholarships are awarded to students to help alleviate some of the financial burden college tuition creates for many students, so they can focus on furthering their education, not bills.

2023 Eligibility

All applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for a 2023 Community Action Board Scholarship:

2023 Eligibility Criteria

  • Applicants must be between 16 and 24 years old, and have a high school diploma or GED equivalent (16-year-olds may apply if they are a graduating senior)
  • The candidate must have a minimum GPA of 2.0
  • Applicants must reside in Hillsborough County
  • The applicant’s household income must fall within 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)
  • Students seeking a master’s degree, or a second bachelor’s degree do not qualify

Pinellas County Economic Development Presents: Starting A Business Workshop – March 7, 2023

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The best way to get started! Receive information on the necessary licenses, permits, legal documents, and requirements for business in the State of Florida. Learn to refine your ideas into a plan for success. This class is available online on the following dates and times: 

3/7/2023 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

4/4/2023 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

5/2/2023 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

6/6/2023 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

7/11/2023 from 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM

8/15/2023 from 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM

9/12/2023 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

10/3/2023 from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM 

11/7/2023 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM 

12/5/2023 from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM 

Women’s History Month: Honoring The Contributions Of Black Women In The Fight For Social Justice

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Black women have been standing at the front of the social justice movement for decades, from the civil rights movement to the ongoing fight for women’s equality. Black women have fearlessly raised their voices and put their lives on the line to build a bright future for the next generation of changemakers and leaders. Despite facing multiple forms of oppression and marginalization, Black women have led and participated in some of the most historic movements for liberation and justice.

Look no further than Angela Davis, a scholar, activist, and author, who has been an influential figure in the social justice movement for over five decades.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1944, Davis grew up in a family of civil rights activists and experienced racism and segregation firsthand. She became involved in political activism while attending college in the 1960s and was a member of the Black Panther Party and the Communist Party.

Davis was also involved in the Civil Rights Movement, and the Black Power Movement and was a leader in the fight against racism, sexism, and economic injustice. She is perhaps best known for her advocacy work against mass incarceration and her calls for prison abolition.

The social justice titan has written several books on race, gender, and activism, including Women, Race, and Class and Are Prisons Obsolete?

Davis has also been the subject of controversy throughout her career. In 1970, she was charged with conspiracy in connection to a shootout that occurred in a California courtroom, according to History. She was accused of supplying weapons to Jonathan Jackson, who ran into the courtroom and freed a number of inmates during the incident. Read more

Can Barbara Lee Win A Tough Senate Race? Here’s Why She Thinks It’s Possible

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Representative Barbara Lee, a Democrat from California, speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022

It may surprise you that there are currently no Black women in the United States Senate. But Representative Barbara Lee is running to change that.

Lee officially announced she was running for California Senator Diane Feinstein’s senate seat last month. If she wins, Lee would be the third Black woman Senator and the only sitting Black woman in the Senate.

Lee sat down with The Root to discuss her run and why she thinks the Senate needs her voice.

“The Senate needs my perspective,” says Lee. “Someone who has been a champion of progressive values…and in fact been able to turn a lot of my lived experiences as a woman as an African American woman, a woman of color, into public policy.”

Only two Black women have ever served in the SenateVice President Kamala Harris and Senator Carol Moseley. Lee says that Black women’s experiences intersect deeply with the core issues in our country, but for far too long, we’ve been excluded from the halls of power. Read more

Tracy McCarter Walked Free From Murder Charges. A Public Campaign Helped Get Her Out

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Tracy McCarter and her daughter, Ariel Robbins (left).

In November, by the time District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced his decision to end his prosecution, outrage over Tracy’s case had reached a fever pitch.

Tens of thousands of New Yorkers—including prominent doctors, nurses, domestic violence survivors, respected domestic violence organizations, and celebrities—had thrown their support behind the #StandWithTracy movement.

Initially, there was no in-depth coverage of Tracy’s case outside of vague references to a stabbing on the Upper West Side in the New York Post back in March 2020According to Siobhan Dingwall, a communications specialist and volunteer with the advocacy group Survived and Punished (which pushed for Bragg to drop Tracy’s charges), that’s typical of a case like Tracy’s—especially when they involve Black women.

“Sharing Tracy’s story in a way that centered her and her family, and made connections to the stories of other criminalized survivors, was critical early on,” says Dingwall. Read more

You Are Cordially Invited: 90 Years Of Bay Pines VA Healthcare System And Bay Pines National Cemetery Serving Veterans – March 16, 2023

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The commemoration will take place on March 16 at 11 a.m. between bldgs. 1 and 100 on our C.W.Y campus, which is located at 10000 Bay Pines Blvd.

As you may know, Bay Pines VA Healthcare System proudly serves more than 110,000 Veterans annually across the Southwest region of Florida. What you may not know is that in 1933, with the opening of our first domiciliary, Bay Pines VA became the cornerstone for Veteran health care in this region. Since then, we have continually worked to foster an experience that is built on respect and transparency and always places the Veteran at the forefront of everything we do. This March, we will proudly celebrate nine decades of serving the Veterans, and their loved ones, who have so selflessly served us.

Join us as we reflect on our history, and look toward the future of bolstering the noblest mission in health care.

Top NFL Draft Prospect Jalen Carter Turned Himself Into Police

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Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter poses for a portrait at the NFL football Combine on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, in Indianapolis.

Jalen Carter, a college football star who was primed as the number one NFL draft pick, turned himself into police in relation to a fatal car crash that left two people dead, including one of his teammates. On Wednesday night (March 1), he was booked for reckless driving and racing on highways/streets.

Both charges are considered misdemeanors. Carter was booked at 11:33 p.m. ET and released at 11:49 p.m. after posting a $4,000 bond, online records revealed. An arraignment hearing was set for April 18.

Officials believe that Carter, who is a defensive tackle for the Georgia Bulldogs, was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk in a high-speed race with the teams’ recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy, 24, that ended in the deaths of LeCroy and Carter’s teammate Devin Willock, 20.

LeCroy was allegedly driving a Ford Expedition at more than 100 miles per hour. Toxicology reports revealed that she had a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit. In addition, two other members of the Georgia football team were injured in the accident. Read more

Study: Black Taxpayers Almost 3 Times More Likely To Be Audited

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A Stanford University collaboration with the U.S. Department of Treasury reveals that Black taxpayers are targeted for audit more than others.

According to  Stanford RegLab,  Black taxpayers receive IRS audit notices at least 2.9 times more frequently than non-Black taxpayers and possibly as much as 4.7 times more often.

The new study included research by Daniel E. Ho, the William Benjamin Scott and Luna M. Scott Professor of Law at Stanford Law School, faculty director of the Stanford RegLab and a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, and economists in the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Tax Analysis.

The researchers concluded that the disparity “is unlikely to be intentional on the part of IRS staff.”

The team’s research showed that a set of internal IRS algorithms causes racial differences in audit selection. Goldin compared them to the recipe for Coca-Cola: “It’s completely secret.”

To better understand this audit selection bias, the research team focused on the racial impact that various audit selection policies might have. The result showed how the IRS could change its secret algorithm to make it less unfair to people of different races. Read more

FAMU Receives $1.35 Million From Energy Company For Scholarships

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Dr. Larry Robinson (center), president of FAMU, and VP for University Advancement Shawnta Friday-Stroud (third from left) welcomed bp employees during their January visit to the FAMU Tallahassee campus.

TALLAHASSEE – Florida A&M University is one of three Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that each received $1.35 million from bp to provide students with scholarship funding, exposure to the energy industry, and career development experience.   

As part of the global energy company’s new HBCU Fellowship Program, FAMU, North Carolina A&T University, and Prairie View A&M University will each receive $1.35 million, covering five full scholarships per year at each school for three years – a total of 45 full scholarships during that period. Students who successfully complete the program will be provided with opportunities for additional development, including internships. 

“I want to commend bp for crafting a program that complements our goal to prepare the next generation of scientists, engineers, and business executives for this key industry,” said FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. “This partnership will provide Florida A&M University students with internships, scholarships, and, ultimately career opportunities allowing them to prosper while addressing important challenges that we face as a society.”  

The donation builds on bp’s aim for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion for its workforce and customers. The energy company has taken steps in recent years to develop a global framework for action to guide its efforts in the areas of talent, accountability, and transparency. As a result, it has launched gender and minority ambitions and designed programs supporting the development of ethnic minority talent. Read more

National Association Of Black Journalists Leaders Meet & Greet In Tampa

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Board members of the National Association of Black Journalists and members of the Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists connect at 7th + Grove in Tampa .

The National Association of Black Journalists’ board of directors held a meeting in Tampa on Saturday, Feb. 19, which included a discussion about the organization’s national convention scheduled for Aug. 2-6 in Birmingham, Alabama.

After Saturday’s meeting, board members and some members of the Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists hung out at 7th +Grove, a Black-owned Tampa restaurant to dine and fellowship.

In attendance were NABJ President Dorothy Tucker, Vice President of Broadcast Ken Lemon, Secretary Madison Carter, Treasurer Walter Randolph, Parliamentarian Sia Nyorkor, Executive Director Drew Berry, and Region 4 Director Tre’vell Anderson. Read more

Actress And Comedian Serves As Honorary Starter For Popular Racing Event

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Members of the media crowd around Tiffany Haddish at the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 19 in Daytona Beach.

Actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish added another feat to her long list of accomplishments on Feb. 19. She was the honorary starter at the 65th Daytona 500.

The “Girls Trip’’ star was at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach to wave the green flag for the start of what’s called the “Great American Race.”

“Tiffany stands among the best in the business at entertaining a crowd, and now she is joining us on NASCAR’s biggest stage for the 65th running of the Daytona 500,” Daytona International Speedway President Frank Kelleher said prior to the race. “The fans are going to get a great show as the stars will be shining bright both on and off the track on Sunday.”  

Haddish added, “I can’t wait to feel the power I’ll have with the green flag in hand as I get to tell those drivers when they can start the Daytona 500.

“Waving the green flag is much like the curtain rising before I perform, and I can’t wait to see these drivers put on a show in The Great American Race!” Read more

Malcolm X’s Family To File $100 Million Lawsuit Against NYPD

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Malcolm X reads stories about himself in a pile of newspapers, circa 1963. THREE LIONS/HULTON ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES/TNS

NEW YORK — Exactly 58 years to the date that Malcolm X was assassinated in a hail of gunfire on a Manhattan stage, his family announced plans to file a lawsuit against the New York City Police Department (NYPD) accusing cops and various government agencies of intentionally concealing evidence of his murder.

Flanked by two of the slain Muslim activist’s daughters, civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump said on Feb. 21 that Malcolm X’s family intends to file a wrongful-death lawsuit for $100 million against a long list of agencies including the city of New York, the state of New York, the NYPD, the district attorney’s office, the FBI and the CIA.

The announcement comes two years after a state judge exonerated two of the three men convicted and jailed in connection with Malcolm X’s 1965 murder.

Last year the city paid $26 million and the state paid $10 million to Muhammad Aziz, and the family of Khalil Islam to settle lawsuits related to their wrongful convictions.

“The rhetorical question is this: If the government compensated the two gentlemen that were wrongfully convicted for the assassination of Malcolm X with tens of millions of dollars, then what is to be the compensation for the daughters who suffered the most from the assassination of Malcolm X?” Crump asked.

“We intend to have vigorous litigation of this matter, to have discovered, to be able to take depositions of the individuals who are still alive, 58 years later, to make sure that some measure of justice can be given to Malcolm X’s daughters. The truth of what happened and who was involved has always been critical.”

‘Black History Is American History’

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U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries speaks Monday at The Ben hotel in West Palm Beach. DAPHNE TAYLOR/FLORIDA COURIER

U.S. House Rep. Hakeem Jeffries has made history. Black history and otherwise. In November, he became the first African American to lead a major political party in Congress.  

Jeffries was in West Palm Beach on Feb. 20 as the guest of honor for his colleague, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus McCormick, who won Florida’s 20th congressional seat in 2022. 

At The Ben hotel in West Palm Beach, McCormick held her Forward Together awards celebration where she honored Black elected officials in her district for Black History Month. Jeffries was her keynote speaker. 

Jeffries spoke for 20 minutes to a crowd of about 200 guests, the room capacity. Security was extremely tight since a high-ranking Washington D.C. official was present.  

The history maker entered the room to a thunderous standing ovation, and he touched on hotbed issues such as Governor Ron DeSantis’ stance on the Advanced Placement Black history course. 

“Look at what’s happening right here in Florida. We will not let our history be erased!”

Jeffries told the enthusiastic audience, which was about 75 percent Black. “I don’t understand why anyone would want to turn us around. Black history is American history!” he quipped. Read more

ChaChing! NYC To Pay George Floyd Protesters Millions For Subjected Violence

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A protester is arrested on New York’s Fifth Avenue by NYPD officers during a march on June 4, 2020, following the death of George Floyd.

New York City, in conjunction with the New York Police Department, will pay millions of dollars to George Floyd protesters who were detained, arrested or subjected to violence. The demonstration took place in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx in June 2020, according to court documents.

The lawyers for the protestors said that: “The NYPD in an operation planned by the highest levels of police officials, kettled protesters on East 136th Street between Brook Avenue and Brown Place and unleashed a brutal assault on more than 300 people, who were injured, arrested, and detained for hours.”

The proposed settlement, which was filed in federal court, said that the city would pay nearly 320 people who participated in the protest. The filing states that New York City has agreed to pay eligible class-action members $21,500 each, as well as an additional $2,500 to each person who received a desk appearance ticket.

However, the two plaintiffs that were named in the case would receive another $21,500 “service award,” the proposed settlement states, which has to be reviewed and approved by the court before going into effect. A spokesperson for the NYPD released a statement explaining the difficulties of the 2020 protests. Read more

Pinellas County Urban League Presents: Spring Break Career Connection Workshop – March 13-17, 2023

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The Pinellas County Urban has partnered with Publix Super Markets and Start With Me Inc for our second annual Spring Break Career Connection Workshop. We are inviting youth ages 15-24 to join us March 13 – 17, 9 am-12 pm, at the Campbell Park Resource Center for a one-week program providing youth with training and employment opportunities with Publix Super Markets. This program will provide high-quality, structured workforce development training for youth. Participants will gain knowledge and an understanding of employment opportunities, career exploration, and personal and professional development. Topics we will cover:

  • Introduction to Publix
  • Customer Service
  • How to Have a Great Interview
  • Phone and Social Media Etiquette
  • Dressing for Success
  • Learning and Developing Job Skills
  • Mock Interviews
  • Job Tours
  • And More

Lunch will be provided. Parents and participants can register online.

3 Reasons Why Lori Lightfoot Lost Her Bid For Re-election

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Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot pauses during her concession speech during an election night party for the mayoral election Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, in Chicago.

On Tuesday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot of Chicago lost her bid for a second term. It was an epic loss. She made history four years ago as the first Black woman and openly gay person to be elected mayor of the nation’s third-largest city. Over the years, she has received intense criticism for her leadership—or lack thereof—which was under heavy scrutiny during the pandemic back in 2020.

Two candidates, Paul Vallas (a former public schools executive) and Brandon Johnson (a county board commissioner) have advanced to the April 4th runoff. Lightfoot is now the first sitting mayor in Chicago since 1989 to lose re-election. During her concession speech on Tuesday, Lightfoot stated that she “will be rooting and praying for our next mayor to deliver for the people of this city for years to come.” Read more

Tampa Bay’s Biggest Celebration Of Natural Hair, Health & Beauty Is Coming To St. Pete

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Photo courtesy Mac Shot Photography, The Natural Experience

St. Pete’s marquee event for natural hair, health, and beauty is back for 2023. The Natural Experience Expo is preparing its biggest event yet as the celebrated experience marks its 10th anniversary on Sunday, March 19 at the St. Petersburg Coliseum. Doors open at noon, and advance tickets are on sale now at $10 for students and $15 for general admission, while children 6 and under are free. Tickets will be $25 at the door.

Bigger and better than ever, this expo is an event that celebrates black hair and incorporates resources that promote ways to improve an individual’s overall health and wellness. The event is a combination of a gigantic market, an interactive fair, pop-up classes, panels, and a runway. The Natural Experience Expo also creates access to things ranging from health screenings to financial literacy as it opens the door for community engagement between business owners and members of the community.

As part of the area’s largest showcase of natural hair, health, and beauty, the expo will welcome salons and spas, healthcare professionals, plant-based skincare companies, all-natural haircare products, accessories, and much, much more. Festivities also include a hair and fashion show, a mental health panel discussion, and free presentations on the main stage on topics such as fitness, finance, homeownership/credit, and plant-based eating. Read more

Firestone Grand Prix Weekend Kicks Off With Free Party In The Park Celebration On Thursday

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Every year, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding is one of the biggest events in the Sunshine City, bringing a four-day festival of fast cars, hot food, cold drinks, and some of the world’s best IndyCar drivers to downtown. And while the races themselves are the main attraction (single-day tickets are still available, by the way), the experience goes far beyond the races for those of us living in the Burg – see the full breakdown at the bottom of this page.

While festivities have technically been taking place for over a month, Grand Prix weekend officially kicks off on Thursday night with Party in the Park (more on that below), as North Straub Park is turned into a huge – and – free celebration from 5:30-8:30 pm. Read more

Arts Alliance Celebrates With MUSE Bash Friday

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Synia Carroll with her “Nina on My Mind” band: John O’Leary, left, Brandon Robertson, Mark DeRose, James Suggs, and Paul Gavin. Photo provided.

The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance’s 2023 MUSE event happens Friday (March 3) at the Morean Center for Clay, in the Warehouse Arts District. It’s the annual celebrate-the-city bash for the umbrella arts organization, with live entertainment from area musicians and dancers, live art demonstrations, and more.

The centerpiece of the event is the presentation of the MUSE Awards. For 2023 – the ninth consecutive year – they’re going to Florida CraftArt CEO Katie Deits, Tampa Bay Times writer Maggie Duffy, patron and sponsor Belinda Dumont, choreographer Alexander Jones and his Project Alchemy company, glass/metals artist Catherine Woods and Mikhail Mansion, the Fairgrounds artist, technologist, and installation specialist.

Participating visual artists are Jason Hackenwerth, Judy Vienneau, DemiGod, and Janna Kennedy.

The jazz trio La Lucha, singer/songwriter Colleen Cherry, and Sarasota-based jazz vocalist Synia Carroll will perform.

Backed by a top-flight band that includes La Lucha’s pianist John O’Leary and trumpeter James Suggs, Carroll will perform Thursday night in the Palladium Theater’s Hough Hall, in a tribute to jazz, R&B, blues, and folk singer (and activist) Nina Simone. Read more

Is St. Pete’s Police Intervention Program Equitable?

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Social workers with the Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) Community Assistance and Life Liaison (CALL) program take notes in the field. Photos provided.

Several community leaders came together Tuesday to discuss findings from an extensive analysis of St. Petersburg’s innovative Community Action and Life Liaison (CALL) program.

CALL is a collaboration between the city’s police department and Gulf Coast Jewish Family Community Services (GCJFCS). The initiative is unique, as it diverts nonviolent and noncriminal 911 calls and referrals to social workers – called community navigators – with no law enforcement presence.

Program and local leaders have touted CALL’s success since its pilot launched in 2021. The National Football League selected GCJFCS as one of only five recipients to receive funding and national recognition through its Inspire Change initiative.

Following two years of implementation, the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg funded a study by the University of South Florida Center for Justice Research & Policy to determine if program results are equitable. While the concept’s viability is undeniable after 757 days, those findings were mixed.

“We’ve had no injuries, no incidents of violence,” said Melissa McGee, special projects manager for the St. Petersburg Police Department (SPPD). “We took this research extremely seriously and are making changes and improvements because every program needs to improve in ways.”

FHSP held the discussion at its Center for Health Equity. The goal was to highlight CALL’s successes, challenges, and opportunities for improvement – particularly in its response to youth. Read more

Could A Redesign Of Williams Park Be In Play?

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Williams Park, in downtown St. Pete. Photo by Bill DeYoung.

Members of St. Petersburg’s homeless population tend to congregate in downtown Williams Park. The park is underutilized by families and visitors, but it could be flipped into one of the city’s most desirable destinations, according to the businessman behind Manhattan’s redeveloped Bryant Park.

“A lot of people have been asking, what do you think of Williams Park? I think it could be great and not be very expensive [to redesign],” renowned urban consultant Dan Biederman said Tuesday during the Downtown St. Petersburg Chamber’s Development Summit, inside the Palladium Theater’s Hough Hall.  

Biederman, the keynote speaker at the event, started his career in the 1980s and is known for turning Bryant Park into a popular and vibrant gathering spot. Read more

She Pushed Back Her Student’s Hijab. Was It A Mistake Or An Act of Hate?

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(Jeenah Moon for The Post)

The online debate over that question has led to several lawsuits and divided this suburban community along racial and religious lines. Read more

Experts Sound Off On The Intersection Of Transportation, Work & Quality Of Life In Tampa Bay

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Miami-based consultant André Dua advises state and local governments as well as public and private universities
HENRY QUEEN

The annual State of the Region luncheon was held at the University of South Florida, where speakers called for cooperation across county lines. Read more

Vegas Man Arrested After Plotting Another Black Mass Shooting

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Screenshot: 8 News Now (Fair Use)

This story has been updated to note Hunter Holman bonded out of jail on state charges but remains in federal detainment. He is not a current threat to public safety.

Las Vegas Metro police arrested a white man accused of speeding toward a Black family while yelling racial slurs at them outside a hotel, per 8 News Now. He was arrested following the incident, however, he’s facing several charges for previous instances of making racially motivated threats.

Hunter Holman, 27, has a track record of being hateful toward Black people. Only recently his mess came to light after his charges started racking up for every incident where he threatened a Black life. Since last summer he’s been wreaking havoc.

In June, the report says Holman made threats to kill his former employer, using a racial slur while doing so. In July, authorities say Holman accelerated his car toward a Black family, got out of his vehicle to continue pursuing them, and ended up being stabbed in the face by one of them. After his plan backfired, he still ain’t give up.

This month, detectives say Holman called up two hotels threatening to kill someone with a rifle, boasting about his collection of knives and claiming he was the king of the KKK, the report says. No, that wasn’t the end of it. Read more

Reggae Rise Up Returns With A Star-Studded Lineup This March

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Photo courtesy Reggae Rise Up

Reggae Rise Up, St. Pete’s biggest annual music festival, is right around the corner, and this year’s rendition showcases an absolutely star-studded lineup. The four-day celebration will take place March 16-19 in Vinoy Park, and tickets are on sale now.

Headliners include big-name acts such as 311, Wiz Khalifa, Damian Marley, Koffee, Rebelution, and Sublime. Add in more favorites like Dispatch and Dirty Heads, and this year’s Reggae Rise Up is jam-packed with star power.

All told, more than three dozen acts will take to the Rise Up stages over the four days of feasting, complete with tons of local food, drink, and entertainment. Tickets range from $40-$250, and already, some of the VIP packages have sold out. Single-day GA tickets range from $40-$60.

If you’re trying to decide which days to clear your calendar, Saturday may be the best bang for your buck, with two headliners and performances from 10 additional supporting acts. The opening night on Thursday features 311 and Dispatch; Rebelution and Sublime with Rome headline Friday night; Damian Marley and Koffee take the main stage on Saturday; and Sunday showcases headliners Wiz Khalifa and Dirty Heads. The full lineup can be found here.

Not only is Reggae Rise Up one of St. Pete’s biggest festivals, it’s also one of the most meaningful weekends for the local economy. Last year’s festival created an estimated $22 million in economic impact for the city, which you can read about here, and that number is only expected to grow. Read more

Business Networking Breakfast – March 3, 2023

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Are referrals and word-of-mouth marketing a part of your growth strategy? Come out and meet other business owners that are looking to grow their businesses through referrals.

T.D. Jake’s Success Hack: Change Your Thinking

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Bishop T.D. Jakes speaks onstage during the grand finale Woman Thou Art Loosed! Homecoming at Georgia World Congress Center on September 22, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia.

My theme for the year 2023 is “disruptive thinking.” In my upcoming guidebook, “Disruptive Thinking: A Daring Strategy to Change How We Live, Lead, and Love,” I explain how to challenge the traditional ways of thinking that keep us stagnant. Until we, as a Black community, disrupt the old constructs we were taught and exposed to, we will deprive ourselves of exploring the vastness of our innovation or creativity.

The Harm of Traditional Thinking and Doing

The traditional thinking of problem-solving or the well-worn rules of the generations before us no longer serve us today. That’s not to say we were intentionally misguided. Our parents did the best they could with what they had to inform us about how to make money or take care of our families. Though, the reality is the world is changing rapidly. Within the last five years, technology alone has surged significantly with the development of artificial intelligence.

Everything in society seems to be moving so fast while we seem to be getting further behind by the limits of this traditional mindset. Read more

“Formerly Retired” Wendy Williams Is Ready To Get Back On TV

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Photo: Lars Niki (Getty Images)

Wendy Williams had a tumultuous 2022, but it looks like she’s ready to get back in the swing of things in 2023. After making headlines for problems with her health and finances, the former talk show host is delivering some good news. According to People, the talk show host is preparing for a big trip overseas. She detailed her plans for paparazzi while picking up supplies at a Petco in New York.

“I’m shopping for kitty litter because I have a wax museum in Paris and one in California,” she said. “I’m going for a week in Paris and then three weeks in California and then immediately fly back.”

She also added that when she gets back from her travels, she wants to return to television. “And then I want to be on TV, stuff like Seth Meyers, Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, The View, stuff like that,” Williams said. “I am formerly retired.”

Wendy may be ready to get back on TV, but don’t expect her to take the reins of another talk show anytime soon. Per Deadline, in November, while speaking at the Circle of Sisters event in New York City, she revealed that her show had become difficult, saying she was “ready to do something new with my life. It was really becoming a burden after 14 years.” The TV/radio personality also discussed her desire to travel the world, stating, “I’m going to take a year of my life to fly and do and see things I’ve never done before … while I’m young enough.” Read more

Vanessa Bryant Settles Lawsuit With L.A. County For Nearly $29 Million Over Kobe Bryant Crash Photos

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Photo: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times (Getty Images)

It’s been more than three years since the shocking death of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna. Even though their deaths are something most people will never get over, especially his wife Vanessa Bryant, hopefully, the process of healing and grieving can finally begin for Kobe’s widow and family.

On Tuesday, Vanessa finally reached an agreement with Los Angeles county to settle a lawsuit over gruesome photos that were taken and shared at the crash site, where her husband and daughter died. As a result, she will take home $28.85 million, according to CNN.

This settlement comes nearly six months after a federal jury awarded Vanessa $16 million for her family’s suffering over the distribution of photos from the helicopter crash in a civil trial, although the payment was later reduced to $15 million, according to the New York Times.

The jury found the Los Angeles County Fire and Sheriff’s department liable for infringing on Vanessa’s constitutional rights. Ironically, that verdict came down on Aug. 8, better known as #KobeDay. All of the money she was awarded she gave to charity. Read more

Michael B. Jordan To Receive Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame

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Michael B. Jordan attends the Los Angeles Premiere Of “CREED III” at TCL Chinese Theatre on February 27, 2023, in Hollywood, California.

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but it’s looking like Michael B. Jordan’s season. Not only will the prominent actor be making his directorial debut this Friday with the release of Creed III, but it’s recently been revealed that he’ll be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday.

According to the official site, Jordan’s star will be cemented in front of Funko Hollywood on Hollywood Blvd beginning at 11:30 am PT. He’ll be joined by frequent and recent collaborators such as director and producer Ryan Coogler and his Creed III costar Jonathan Majors. The ceremony will be emceed by Lupita Sanchez Cornejo, Chair of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

“Michael B. Jordan has become a household name thanks to his many roles on the big screen,” Producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame Ana Martinez said. “To think that this star didn’t grow up with dreams of being an actor! Luckily for us, he changed his mind and now he will be honored with an iconic star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.” Read more

CITI Minority Small Business Pitch Competition – Deadline: March 6, 2023

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Now Accepting Applications

Are you a minority small business owner looking for an opportunity to grow or scale your operation? The Urban League of Broward County Entrepreneurship Center and Citi Bank have collaborated on the 2023 Citi Minority Small Business Pitch Competition, offering potential winners prize money totaling $10,000 to grow or scale their operations. Apply now for your chance at winning!

Cash Prizes:

  • First Place: $5,000
  • Second Place: $3,000
  • Third Place: $2,000

Competition Eligibility

  • Minority-Owned Business
  • In existence for at least 12 months
  • Located in Palm Beach, Broward County or Miami

Apply now for the Citi Minority Small Business Pitch Competition

**PRE-SELECTION REQUIRED.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: MARCH 6, 2023

Live Pitch Event Date:

March 23, 2023 | 6PM

Urban League of Broward County

560 NW 27th Avenue,Ft. Lauderdale, FL

A Proposed ‘Takeover’ Has Sparked A Battle For Power In One Of America’s Blackest Big Cities

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Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba watches as lawmakers debate House Bill 1020 on Tuesday, February 7, at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson.

In the parking lot of New Jerusalem Church in Jackson, Mississippi, volunteers handed out free cases of bottled water to a line of arriving cars last week – a new normal in a state capital that has struggled with the fallout of a failing water system.

But inside the church, a parade of pastors and organizers addressing the crowd railed against another threat they described as dire to the city’s future: their state legislature.

Republican state lawmakers are pushing “a takeover of the city of Jackson and disenfranchising local voters,” declared Danyelle Holmes, a local activist. “They’re banking on us to be quiet. They’re banking on us to back down.”

The T-shirt she wore underscored the political mood of the event – and the siege mentality that city leaders say they’re feeling: JACKSON VS. EVERYBODY.

A proposal in the Mississippi legislature to reshape Jackson’s criminal justice system has erupted into a high-stakes battle between the Republican-dominated state government and the Blackest big city in the US over some of the most incendiary flashpoints of American politics: voting rights, public safety, and race. Read more

How St. Pete Is Meeting Housing, Office Demands

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The downtown St. Petersburg skyline is seen from Tropicana Field. Photo by Veronica Brezina.

St. Petersburg is experiencing unprecedented residential construction and low office vacancy rates as it continues to be among the top corporate relocation destinations; however, the city is facing headwinds in keeping up with the demand. 

The hard data in the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership’s 2023 Development Guide, which will be distributed during the Partnership’s Development Summit, taking place today (Tuesday, Feb. 28). The 48-page report presents informative insights weighing the pros and cons in the current market conditions in downtown. 

The contributors in the report include St. Petersburg Innovation District Director Alison Barlow, Pinellas County Economic Development David Chawk, outgoing St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corp. CEO J.P. DuBuque, Mack Feldman of Feldman Equities, Wendy Giffin of Cushman and Wakefield and others familiar with the city’s education offerings, its robust art scene, business climate, and transit offerings. Read more

Supreme Court Skeptical Of Biden’s Student Loan Cancellation Plan

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The Supreme Court has wrapped up more than three hours of debate over the Biden administration’s power to wipe out nearly a half a trillion dollars in student loan debt without direct authorization from Congress.

The court’s conservative justices, who hold a 6-3 majority on the court, expressed skepticism about Biden’s authority, with several questioning the fairness of a program that helps some borrowers, but not others.

Liberal justices, meanwhile, defended the Education Department’s right to forgive loan debt as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. And they voiced doubts about whether the six Republican-led states and two individuals who brought the legal challenges are specifically harmed by the debt-relief program, which they must be in order to have legal grounds to stop it.

Michelle Obama’s “The Light We Carry” Is Inspiring New Black Art

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It’s almost time to close out Black History Month. I know, I’m sad too. But the folks at Crown Publishing are ending things on a high note and leaving us with something that is sure to put a smile on your face. They invited three talented Black artists to create pieces for their Instagram feeds inspired by former First Lady Michelle Obama’s latest book, “The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times.”

In the book, our Forever First Lady shares practical wisdom for staying hopeful in an uncertain world. Drawing on her own experience as a wife, mother and the first Black First Lady of the United States, Mrs. Obama gives us the keys to keep it all together when things around us seem to be falling apart. “When we are able to recognize our own light, we become empowered to use it,” she writes. Read more

Black Stars Who Shut Down The 2023 SAG Awards Red Carpet

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Black stars showed up and showed out at the 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards in vibrant yellows, excellent updos, and perfectly tailored suits. Here are all of the looks we loved from the glamorous evening! Read more

2023 Business Woman of the Year – March 10, 2023

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In its 18th year, BusinessWoman of the Year remains one of TBBJ’s most anticipated and coveted honors, as it continues to boast some of the most dynamic and influential business women in Tampa Bay.

oin us at the annual black-tie gala and awards celebration where each year we celebrate the extraordinary Tampa Bay Business Journal, BusinessWomen of the Year Honorees along with our Angie Joseph Excellence in Mentorship and Lifetime Achievement award recipients. 

This will be an evening you won’t soon forget, and definitely don’t want to miss! 

Enjoy event favors featuring goodies from your local favorites compliments of Hyde Park Village.

Meet the 2023 BusinessWoman of the Year Honorees!


Event Agenda:

6:00pm – Cocktail reception with open bar 
7:15pm – Ballroom seating and Opening remarks
7:30pm – Plated Dinner service begins
7:45pm – Awards presentation begins
9:30pm – Event concludes (no later than 10pm)

Attire:  Formal


Check out highlights from our 2019 BusinessWoman of the Year celebration!

Friday, March 10, 2023

6:00pm –10:00pm

The Vinoy® Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club

IN-PERSON

501 5th Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL 3370

This Founder Now Has The Largest Black-Owned Beauty Company At Target Being Told To Quit On Shark Tank

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The Black girl magic doesn’t stop!

Melissa Butler was told to quit 11 years ago on Shark Tank. Now she’s making history as the largest Black-owned makeup company in Target, Essence reports. 

“Oh me? I’m just relaxing. That’s what I do on Saturday afternoons when I have not one but two beauty brands inside of target stores across the country. Be blessed,” Butler celebrated in a recent TikTok. 

The HBCU grad and CEO of beauty brands The Lip Bar and Thread Beauty just announced that her makeup companies are taking up six feet of shelf space, making history as the biggest Black-owned makeup company in Target. Read more

Mom Of 3 Launches Black-Owned Disposable Training Pants To Center Representation

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Today is the day! Our founder, Eunique Jones Gibson, just launched products for babies and toddlers that puts representation at the forefront. 

During the toddler stage, we know most parents get a dose of the potty training trials and tribulations, such as the need for more patience, the constant asking “Do you need to potty?” and, more importantly, training pants. Three years ago, Jones Gibson was potty training her little girl and came to a realization that there was little representation in the baby care industry, birthing the idea for The Happy Hues Co.  

The first product to release from the new line are the Big-Ups, the shea butter-infused training pants that are designed to keep your toddler comfortable, motivated, and on the move. The disposable training pants are not only designed to protect your child but to also bring positive reinforcement into your child’s potty training phase. There are currently two designs available for purchase, the “Super Me” design that has young superheroes printed on them and “I Am,” which has affirmations printed all over. On each package, you can find a QR code that will lead you to a special animated series featuring the four diverse members of the Happy Hues crew! Read more

ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA Sorority Just Launched The First Black-Owned Woman-Led Credit Union

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Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the first Black sorority founded at Howard University in 1908, is on a journey to generational wealth with its recent roll-out of a members-only credit union. 

With over 355,000 members in undergraduate and graduate chapters that can be found in 12 countries, this sorority is focused on building wealth for its members. AKA was recently granted a federal charter and Share Insurance Fund coverage by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) for the start of the For Members Only Federal Credit Union, which has launched in Chicago. Read more

Desantis Has Learned The Wrong Lessons From History. He Wants To Make Sure No One Else Learns The Right Ones

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Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League


“Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right.”  ― George Orwell, 1984

The Jacksonville ballfield where Henry “Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron played as a 19-year-old minor leaguer in 1953 now bears his name.

It’s where he and two of his teammates, Felix Mantilla, and Horace Garner, endured hostile taunts from fans. Off the field, they received death threats.  When the team traveled, they couldn’t stay at the same hotels where other teammates stayed or eat with them at the same restaurants.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis doesn’t want the high school students who play on that field – at least the white ones – to know why.  Other governors and elected officials, looking to capitalize on the racial resentment and white grievance DeSantis hopes will propel him into the White House, are following his lead. This insidious campaign is an effort not merely to warp Americans’ view of our past, but to thwart the dismantling of systemic and institutional racism. Read more

Civil Rights In The Sunshine State Exhibit Debuts At St. Pete Museum Of History

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Often overlooked by the events in Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, Florida played a major role in the nation’s Civil Rights movement. Sit-ins, wade-ins, Freedom Rides, and marches, as well as lawsuits that changed how the St. Petersburg police department was run, Floridians experienced it all. Those stories are told in Civil Rights in the Sunshine State – a collection of over 100 photographs, storyboards and artifacts – opens Saturday, Feb. 25 at 10am in the St. Petersburg Museum of History.

New Civil Rights exhibit opens at Museum of History

Entering the exhibit through the St. Petersburg African American Heritage Trail, visitors will first experience the events that took place in St. Petersburg. The bravery of the Courageous 12, actions of key figures such as Dr. Ralph and C. Bette Wimbish, Rev. Enoch Davis, and Joseph Savage, as well as the protests on Spa Beach, Spa Pool, and at lunch counters on Central Avenue.

The St. Petersburg Museum of History – celebrating 101 years of sharing stories of the Sunshine City – is located at 335 2nd Avenue NE on the St. Pete Pier. Hours are 10am-5pm Monday-Saturday and Noon-5pm on Sundays. Read more

Black Students Receive Racist Drawings At California Elementary School

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Black students at an elementary school in California received Black History Month cards with racist messages from their classmates. CNN’s Kyung Lah has the details. Read more

St. Pete EDC Welcomes New Companies To The City

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Downtown St. Petersburg. All photos: Veronica Brezina.

Entrepreneurs, collaborators and officials, including St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch and former mayor Rick Kriseman, were among hundreds of attendees recognizing the homeruns the St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corp. has achieved in helping attract more than 2,000 new jobs to the city. 

Inside The Vinoy, J.P. DuBuque, the outgoing founding president and current CEO of the St. Pete EDC, hosted the organization’s annual event Wednesday, shedding light on the new businesses calling St. Pete home. 

Since the EDC’s founding in 2016, it has supported more than 351 job creation projects for companies considering relocating/expanding in St. Pete, and has assisted 58 companies with their openings.

Relic Tickets, which has built a smart ticket system on the blockchain for event venues, was one of the businesses spotlighted as it is moving its headquarters to St. Petersburg. 

During the event, CEO Hunter Abramson said he was initially “completely sold” on either growing the company in Lakeland’s Catapult co-working space or moving the HQ to Miami or Austin, Texas – two well-known startup hubs. Read more

Tyler Perry Confirms House Of Payne Star Cassi Davis Is Alive and Well

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We know celebrity death hoaxes tend to regularly run amuck on the internet, with no rhyme nor reason as to who the next “victim” will be. But over the President’s Day weekend, A Jazzman’s Blues director Tyler Perry had to unfortunately clear the air and dispel death rumors for one of his own frequent collaborators, House of Payne actress Cassi Davis.

In a post made to Instagram on Monday, Perry posted a screenshot video of the article saying Davis had died of lung cancer with the phrase “this is a lie” written all over it. In a voiceover, Perry recounted a conversation he had with the Meet the Browns star where he told her of this latest article after having received so many “I’m sorry” calls. He then went on to share how Davis told him this wasn’t the first time she had passed away according to the internet but that she was very much alive—and even found some humor in the entire ordeal. Read more

Nonprofit Leadership Center We’re Hiring: Chief Executive Officer Position

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The next CEO must be a nonprofit sector ambassador and champion with a passion for lifelong learning and a proven track record of success. The right candidate will be a community thought leader with exceptional relationship-building and fundraising skills who will set the strategic vision for the organization. Candidates must be skilled in forging multi-sector partnerships, demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit and embody fiscal discipline over the organization’s operations, leading a highly skilled staff toward goal achievement. The CEO reports to the board of directors. Apply here

Black Couples Pay A Higher Tax Penalty For Marriage Than White Couples. Here’s Why

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When filling out your federal income tax return, there is no requirement to identify your race. Moreover, the US tax code does not contain specific racial group provisions. Yet just because the tax code is considered race blind does not mean it’s race neutral.

A recent study by the Tax Policy Center, for example, found that Black couples on average face higher tax costs associated with marriage than White couples. It is part of a growing body of research that shows the tax code can create or reinforce economic disparities between Black households and White households.

The research is providing empirical evidence for the seminal work done by legal scholars Dorothy BrownBeverly Moran and William Whitford, which raised the likelihood of racial inequities in the tax code. Read more

St. Petersburg College Presents: Information Technology Job Fair – April 26, 2023

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April 26, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.  – SPC EpiCenter, 13805 58th St. N., Clearwater  

RSVP: stpe.co/techjobfair42623  

St. Petersburg College Presents: Business, Finance and Hospitality Job Fair – March 29, 2023

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March 29 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.  – SPC EpiCenter, 13805 58th St. N. Clearwater  

RSVP: stpe.co/bizfinjobfair32923  

St. Petersburg College Presents: Engineering, Manufacturing and Building Arts Job Fair – March 2, 2023

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March 2 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.  – SPC Clearwater Campus, Room ES 104, 2465 Drew St.   

RSVP: stpe.co/embajobfair3223  

CDC Of Tampa Presents: Stepping Stones (Focus, Perseverance & Success) February & March 2023

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February 21st & 22st; March 6th, 7th, 8th, 20th, 21st & 22nd

CDC of Tampa Career/Training Center

2605 N. 43rd St.

Tampa, FL 33605

Tel 813.231.4362

Fax 813.231.4680

Hillsborough County Presents: America’s SBDC Florida

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Learn how to become your own boss by joining the no-cost Self-employment Workshop Program. This program is designed to provide entrepreneur and small business training to lower-income individuals who want to become self-employed.

The program is limited to the first 20 accepted applications. The deadline to apply is Feb. 10, 2023.

EXCLUSIVE: Idris and Sabrina Elba Join EPA On Africa Trip To Combat Climate Issues

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Actor and humanitarian Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina Elba will accompany Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan on Saturday to sub-Saharan Africa, theGrio exclusively reports. The NAACP and Golden Globe award-winning star, Mrs. Elba and Regan will travel to Ghana and Sierra Leone to focus on the issue of climate change and ways to combat its devastating ripple effects around the globe.

The EPA trip comes weeks before Vice President Kamala Harris’s anticipated Africa trip in late March. Several stops are expected; however, no specific destinations on the continent for the vice president have been confirmed as of yet.  

Idris Elba applauds Harris’s upcoming trip to Africa, telling theGrio, “She’s a very powerful woman [and] respected across the continent by other very powerful women on the continent. So I think it will be a great trip for her.” Read more

GZL Educational Foundation Presents: 2023 Alpha Open Scholarship Golf Classic – April 29, 2023

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Please join the GZL Educational Foundation, Inc. for an exciting spring day of golf and camaraderie in support of the Foundation’s youth scholarship program. This year our annual Golf Classic with take place Saturday, April 29th, 2023. All proceeds from your Sponsorship and participation in this event go directly into our youth scholarship fund to benefit our leaders of tomorrow. Register here

Rihanna Claps Back At Trolls Bothered By Her Calling Her 9-Month-Old Son ‘Fine’

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Rihanna thinks her baby boy is “fine” and doesn’t care who’s bothered by how she refers to her and A$AP Rocky’s 9-month-old son.

The “Diamonds” singer faced criticism on Thursday when she shared a photo from her British Vogue cover shoot she took with her infant son.

But Rih Rih had to clap back after a few of her followers expressed their distaste for the pop star calling her son “fine.”

“Who calls their son fine?” one critic asked. Read more

Salute: Theresa Jones, Quiet Giant & Pioneer Retires From City Government (For Good This Time)

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Theresa Jones, then and now (left to right), officiating as President of the Florida Association of MBE Officials; speaking at a National Minority Supplier Development Council Conference, as President of the West Coast Chapter; and in 2017, enjoying her first retirement from City government

“This time I’m leaving and I’m not coming back,” Theresa Jones wrote playfully in the invitation to her “final” retirement celebration. After 38 years with the City of St. Petersburg, Jones makes her third and final exit from the City this Thursday.

Her departure leaves shoes that can never be filled. Though she is best known as a count-on supporter of all things community, Theresa played a pivotal role in many of the City’s earliest economic inclusion initiatives.

Under her watch, in a half dozen management roles for St. Petersburg, Theresa has helped countless individuals and organizations connect to opportunities, resources, and help.

She first joined the City as a Relocation Officer in 1977, in a temporary role funded through the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD).

The job landed her in the center of some of the firsts redevelopment projects undertaken by the City. It was her charge to help families find new affordable homes for those displaced by the City’s urban renewal efforts in areas such as the Gas Plant and Campbell Park.

Theresa went on to serve in various management posts prior to becoming the
City’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Coordinator from 1986 to 1993. Following a three-year hiatus when she worked as MBE Coordinator for Tampa General Healthcare, Theresa returned to City government in June 1996, again as MBE Coordinator until 2001.

It was during this timeframe when she shepherded the first and second MBE inclusion programs for the construction, and later, for the renovation of the site now known as the historic Gas Plant district (a.k.a. Tropicana Field).

Neither role was easy, but Theresa proved more than fit for the task. She served as point person in holding the prime contractor accountable to the City’s MBE goals for the original construction of the Trop. In late 1987 and early 1988, Theresa issued warnings to the firm for falling short of the goals.

She dispatched a scathing letter in February 1988, urging the prime to step up plans for inclusion. “We are extremely concerned,” she wrote. “In light of the fact that one year of construction is complete, it is imperative that additional measures be taken.”

Her vigilant tracking of impact helped push the MBE ratio from 2.6% in early 1988 to 7.6% by the project’s end.

In 2001, Theresa was promoted to Manager of Business Assistance, with responsibility for overseeing operations of the City’s Business Development Center (now known as the Greenhouse). There she administered the City’s newly minted Small and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (SDBE) Procurement Program. 

In late 2002, Theresa was appointed as the Community Affairs Director for the City under the tenure of Mayor Rick Baker. Her department took the lead in enforcing local, county, state, and federal anti-discrimination laws, and provided oversight for the Committee to Advocate for Persons with Impairments (CAPI), the Civilian Police Review Committee, and the City’s Summer Youth Intern Program and Workforce Training Program.

Theresa first retired in 2012 but was recruited back to city hall in 2018 by then Mayor Rick Kriseman to serve as his Veterans, Homeless and Social Services Manager.

In addition to her work in government, Theresa has volunteered with, donated to, and advised dozens of community-based and non-profit organizations.

Her many roles include service as founding member and Secretary of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators – Tampa Bay Chapter; Co-Chairperson of the Community Alliance; Graduate of Leadership St. Petersburg; President of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) – West Coast Chapter in 1991 and again 1994; President of the Florida Association of MBE Officials in 1996; and board member of two decades with R’Club Child Care, after joining as a parent rep on the board when her son was in elementary school.

Theresa has also served as a constant communicator and connector. For many years, those in her professional and community networks have received faithful updates from Theresa with her trademark tagline “FYI – Share as you deem appropriate.”

Today brings a close to nearly four decades of service under the administrations of nine mayors.

Theresa’s contributions are incalculable. From the small businesses she’s coached and connected to opportunity, to the families and individuals Theresa helped secure safe, affordable housing, to the hundreds of equal opportunity cases she presided over, through it all, she brought her A-game to the field.

With characteristic modesty, Theresa says of her career, “I’m merely fulfilling my earthly assignment in anything that I do.” She adds, “I pray that God will be pleased.”

The officials she has worked with did not hold back in showering praise.

Mayor Ken Welch said, “For 38 years, Theresa Jones has served the people of St. Petersburg as an exemplary leader on the City of St. Pete team. Her decades of work and advocacy for St. Petersburg families and neighbors had a powerful impact on housing, veterans and community affairs, economic opportunity, and exemplify her lifetime commitment to public service.

“Theresa humbly describes her work in the service of others as “fulfilling her earthly assignment.” We are thankful that Theresa embraced the assignment and set the standard for others to follow. Thank you for your leadership, love and loyalty to our community!”

Theresa Jones with St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch in 2022

City Councilman John Muhammad quipped that he first met Theresa during her first retirement, and “She was doing so much for the community, I actually thought it was her job!”

Muhammad credits her as a guiding influence, saying, “Her passion for service, commitment to quality and insistence on excellence has helped me to grow tremendously over the years. Our bond has transcended friendship and she has become a second mother to me. I’m truly happy for her and excited to see what kind of “good trouble” we get into as a result of her newfound freedom.”

“A champion in her own category,” is how City Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders describes Theresa. “Her volunteerism, commitment to community and care is incomparable. I’m always in awe when I witness the time she spends encouraging others and providing services for our veterans and un-housed.”

Commenting on Theresa’s selflessness, Figgs-Sanders said, “The golden egg is that she does mind sharing what she knows with others. Her heart speaks through her actions and her work with the City will truly be missed.”

The official who worked with Theresa over perhaps the longest stretch of time was Mayor Rick Kriseman. He fondly recalls, “I first got to know Theresa Jones while serving on the City Council. But it was during my time as Mayor that I really got to know Theresa and see her heart, her passion for the community, and her commitment to the City. Serving as my Community Affairs Director, Theresa had the challenging task of guiding our City’s efforts at serving our homeless population, creating a Veteran’s Day celebration, and overseeing the rest of the community affairs team, and she took on all of these tasks with grace, kindness, and compassion.  I hate to see her leave City government but wish her the best as she opens this new chapter in her life.”

Theresa’s advice to younger leaders: “I would encourage people regardless of what they do to always remain focused, committed, determined and genuine in any endeavor. And, if you’re a public servant, remember it’s always about the people we serve.”

The 69-year-old mother and grandmother plans to spend more time with family, friends, and the flowers she tends so beautifully. But don’t look for her to fade into the background. Servant leadership is in her DNA.

Tennessee State Representative Responds To Backlash Over Wearing African Dashiki To Swearing-In Ceremony

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First term Tennessee state representative Justin Pearson says he was trying to honor his ancestors for helping him rise to elected office when he wore his dashiki on the floor of the House chamber during his swearing-in ceremony Feb. 9.

The freshman lawmaker says he was surprised to hear another member, Rep. David Hawk, criticize him for his attire. Pearson says his colleague scolded him for not adhering to tradition where male lawmakers wear suits and ties on the House floor.

In his floor speech, according to the House speaker’s office, Hawk referred to the late Rep. Lois DeBerry, who as speaker pro tempore established a precedent of men wearing a coat and tie in the chamber.

CNN has reached out to Hawk for comment.

“There’s nothing in the rules about attire at all,” Pearson told CNN, adding that he typically wears his dashiki for special occasions.

After the swearing-in, Pearson took to Twitter to denounce his colleague’s criticism, saying, “…a white supremacist has attacked my wearing of my Dashiki.” Pearson added he understands not conforming to the “status quo ought to make some people uncomfortable.”

In response to Pearson, the Tennessee House GOP tweeted that if Pearson doesn’t like decorum rules that were approved in a bipartisan manner, he should “explore a different career opportunity.” The tweet adds that reminding members to follow the approved decorum rules is “far from a racist attack.” Read more

Here’s Why Rihanna Finally Said Yes To 2023 Super Bowl After Previously Saying Hell To The Nah

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While there’s no doubt many fans of Rihanna were elated to see her make her grand return to music during the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show, some are wondering why she accepted the opportunity after previously opting not to in support of Colin Kaepernick.

To refresh your memory, back in 2019, the “Pour It Up” singer confirmed to US Vogue that she said no to an offer to perform at the Super Bowl in solidarity with the former 49ers quarterback, who was essentially blackballed for silently sideline protesting by taking a knee to raise awareness of police brutality and injustice by the NFL.

“I couldn’t dare do that. For what? Who gains from that? Not my people,” Rih told the magazine at the time. “I just couldn’t be a sellout. I couldn’t be an enabler. There’s things within that organization that I do not agree with at all, and I was not about to go and be of service to them in any way.” Read more

Angela Bassett Explains How Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s Emotional Funeral Scene Was Filmed

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We all knew Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was going to be emotional. As excited as we were to return to Wakanda, watching the characters we’d come to think of as family mourn both King T’Challa—as well as Chadwick Boseman—would be difficult.

Our expectations were proven to be true during the film’s beautifully moving opening scene. As Shuri frantically works to cure her brother’s illness, Ramonda appears to tell her that T’Challa “is with the ancestors.” During T’Challa’s funeral, it quickly becomes apparent the cast and crew were saying goodbye to the character and the actor. At the 2023 Oscars Nominee Luncheon, Angela Bassett told SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Show how the unforgettable scene came together.

“We were out in the woods in the elements of tall trees. The rain that was threatening, so we’re trying to move it along,” Bassett told Cagle. “Everyone was splendid and beautiful in the white, in the different attire. Dora Milaje, all the different tribes. Seeing the casket with the engraving of the sculpture, the engraving of the Black Panther on top of the casket. We did get it done. I thought maybe we were gonna have to return to shoot more of it, but I suppose we got everything that we needed in that moment. Then we moved on to the processional. That was the intimate, private memorial for my son, for the king, and then to the city for the masses, for the people who loved him.” Read more

Pharrell Williams Named As Creative Director Of Louis Vuitton Menswear

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The American musician and fashion entrepreneur Pharrell Williams has been named the creative director of Louis Vuitton menswear.

The role was previously held by Virgil Abloh who died in November 2021.

It marks only the second time a Black American designer has held a head position at the French luxury house. Abloh made history as the first when he was appointed in March 2018.

A longtime supporter, and friend of Abloh, Williams’ appointment puts an end to months of speculation about who next would take on the highly coveted role.

Emerging talent such as the Jamaican-British designers Martine Rose and Grace Wales Bonner were previously said to be under discussion, so for many insiders the announcement of Williams was somewhat unexpected. Read more

French Defense Ministry Condemns ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Over Depiction Of French troops

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France’s Defense Minister has slammed Marvel’s movie “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” for what it calls a “false and misleading representation” of French troops.

“I strongly condemn this false and misleading representation of our Armed Forces,” French defense minister Sébastien Lecornu tweeted on Sunday.

In the franchise’s second installment, which was released in France in November 2022, the people of Wakanda – a fictional African country – are trying to protect the nation’s resources from foreign powers. During the movie, a group of mercenaries is caught stealing resources belonging to Wakanda.

The defense minister’s reaction comes after a French journalist on Saturday pointed out the similarities between the camouflage uniforms of those mercenaries in the movie and those of the French troops who operated in Mali for almost ten years. Read more

Pinellas County Urban League: We Are Hiring – Youth and Family Coordinator

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A Youth and Family Coordinator is responsible for working with families and youth in various settings, such as schools, community centers, and non-profit organizations. A Youth and Family Coordinator typically has a wide range of responsibilities. Apply Here

Vendors R.O.C. Training Brunch

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Hands-On Training Led by Key Industry Partners, Speakers, & Trainers Discussing Licensing, Presentation, Marketing Materials, Display Setups, and Much More. You Don’t Want To Miss This Training That Will Give You The Tools, Resources, & Techniques To R.O.C. Your Next Event As A Vendor!

FDOT: OnBoard Tampa Bay Job Fair & Business Expo – February 21, 2023

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OnBoard Tampa Bay Job Fair and Business Expo Schedule-At-A-Glance

  • Job Fair 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
  • Business Expo 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

The OnBoard Tampa Bay Job Fair and Business Expo are on February 21, 2023, at the Julian B. Lane Park. This event will feature FDOT’s contractors and construction projects from Tampa Bay and surrounding areas (District 7). Welcoming job seekers ready to work and build a career with FDOT’s road and bridge construction projects and more. Meet with community partners and benefit from community-based programs and services such as transportation, training, certification, and more. Doors open from 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM.

The event also features a Business Expo from 2:00 PM until 5:00 PM for contractors to learn about new opportunities, meet community partners, access financial and bonding support, and gain best practices within the construction industry.

Genuine Healthcare Institute (GHI): Calling Nurses! Beginning February 2023

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GHI is looking for RN and LPN instructors to teach Nursing Assistant students at GHI’s affiliated institution.

Ignite Youth Incorporated Presents: A Taste Of Harlem Nights – February 18, 2023

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You be the judge and choose a caterer for our Harlem Nights, Black Tie Gala, and Fashion Show.

ESPN, NFL Network Pull Michael Irvin From 2023 Super Bowl Coverage

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In the midst of its nonstop Super Bowl LVII coverage, the NFL Network is now without one of its most high-profile analysts. According to the Dallas Morning News, on Wednesday, the network announced that Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin will no longer be a part of its Super Bowl LVII programming. The decision comes after a woman filed a complaint about his behavior during an interaction in a hotel lobby on Sunday in Glendale, Ariz. A planned appearance on Friday’s episode of ESPN’s First Take has also been canceled. Neither NFL Network or ESPN has revealed details about the complaint.

“Michael Irvin will not be part of the NFL Network’s Super Bowl 2023 week coverage,” NFL Network spokesman Alex Reithmiller said in a statement. Read more

D.C. Entrepreneur Buys Strip Mall For Black-Owned Businesses

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Angel Gregorio’s specialty seasoning business, The Spice Suite, has always been about helping other Black-owned businesses. She’s hosted over 450 pop-ups for Black businesses in her Washington D.C. store.

Gregorio knows first-hand how expensive it is to own commercial property in the Chocolate City. Now she’s doing her part to provide other local Black-owned businesses with an opportunity to have a brick-and-mortar space of their own.

With a $1 million investment, Gregorio turned a 7,500 square foot lot in the Langdon section of Washington D.C. into a strip mall for local Black-owned businesses. And she’s calling the space Black And Forth. Read more

Technology Scholarships Are Available at St. Petersburg College – Deadline March 3, 2023

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Priority Application Deadline March 3

Whether you’re just starting out or currently working in information technology, you could be eligible for a scholarship to train in one of the fastest growing fields today: cloud computing.

• Short-term training in Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Comp TIA Data+ that can be completed in under three months.

• Cloud Computing Certificate that takes less than year to complete and gives you credit towards an associate or bachelor’s degree at SPC.

 Limited scholarships are available and awarded on a first come, first served basis. Priority will be given to those who apply by March 3.

FDOT: OnBoard OnBoard Tampa Bay Job Fair & Business Expo – February 21, 2023

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OnBoard Tampa Bay Job Fair and Business Expo Schedule-At-A-Glance

  • Job Fair 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
  • Business Expo 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

The OnBoard Tampa Bay Job Fair and Business Expo are on February 21, 2023, at the Julian B. Lane Park. This event will feature FDOT’s contractors and construction projects from Tampa Bay and surrounding areas (District 7). Welcoming job seekers ready to work and build a career with FDOT’s road and bridge construction projects and more. Meet with community partners and benefit from community-based programs and services such as transportation, training, certification, and more. Doors open from 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM.

The event also features a Business Expo from 2:00 PM until 5:00 PM for contractors to learn about new opportunities, meet community partners, access financial and bonding support, and gain best practices within the construction industry. Read more

St. Pete Native to Play in Super Bowl; Marquez Scantling’s Journey from Lakewood High to the Ultimate Game

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The Chiefs’ Marquez Valdes-Scantling (left) and QB Patrick Mahomes (right) celebrate after winning the AFC Championship game against the Bengals. Jay Biggerstaff, USA TODAY Sports

Kansas City Chiefs fans all over the globe erupted when Marquez Reshard Valdes-Scantling made a touchdown catch that helped clinch a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in last Sunday’s AFC Championship.

But it was in his parents’ home in St. Petersburg, Florida, where the range of emotions was most fierce. Marcellus and Tahisia Scantling say “Pride, joy, praise and worship” were part of the wave of emotions they felt that evening.

Marquez is one of a proud lineage of pro football players from St. Petersburg who have competed in the game’s ultimate match up.

He was born and raised in St. Pete and is among nearly a dozen pro athletes groomed under the Lakewood Spartans head football coach, Cory Moore.

In fact, Marquez and three other young men in the same high school graduating class made their way to the NFL after training together in football and track. The others were Rodney Adams and twins Shaquem and Shaquill Griffin.

As seniors at Lakewood, the four-pack set a record in the 4 x 100 relay race. Earlier that year, Marquez recorded 50 receptions for 800 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns.

Stardom didn’t come easy for Marquez, though. His mother Tahisia recalls, “He was always the underdog, so to speak, even in little league. Marquez was never in the star spotlight on any of his teams, but he was always willing to work hard, and excelling in football was always his dream.”

Marcellus remembers one coach telling him that Marquez would never be more than a lineman. Marquez nearly threw in the towel then, but dad said otherwise. He advised his son, “Take that hurt and make it fire that fuels you.”

“Marquez practiced extremely hard,” said mom. “When everybody else stopped, he would keep going and going. And with every chance he got, Marquez gave his best shot.”

Marquez used that “fire” to get through college at North Carolina State and University of South Florida, where he earned a degree in communications in 2017. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in round five of the 2018 NFL Draft.

After an up-and-down four years with the Packers, Marquez signed-on with the Chiefs in 2022 for a three-year deal worth $30 million.

His third quarter 19-yard touchdown reception last Sunday gave Marquez what one sportswriter described as “the game of his life,” and helped seal a victory for the Chiefs that takes them to Super Bowl 57 next week. 

“It made it all worth it,“ said Marquez, who credits his parents and broader St. Pete community for supporting him through all the obstacles.

When asked what advice he would give to dreamers here at home, Marquez’s message was simple: “Never give up. Stay committed to what you believe you can achieve. Put in that extra effort that makes the difference.”

Off the field, Marquez is cultivating a career in business. He and three other Lakewood High alumni created the Sik Selection line of elite sportswear. Marquez parlayed the experience to purchase a screen-printing company called Craft-Tee where he sells customized apparel. He is in the process of opening his headquarters on U.S. 19 north in St. Petersburg.

The 27-year old wide receiver is collaborating with his mom and dad on real estate ventures that include multi-family rental development and property management.

Tahisia is a former business lender and long-time realtor who today owns Right Turn Realty, a commercial brokerage firm. She currently serves on the board of the Pinellas Realtors Association and on the Advisory Council for Sankofa on the Deuces (a commercial development on the historic 22nd Street South). In 2022, she served on the City of St. Pete redistricting commission.

Marcellus is an engineer with over 20 years in the industry. He’s coached football at Lakewood High for 10 years and is active in civic and community life. He enjoys mentoring youth on and off the football field.  Tahisia calls him a God-fearing man and an “amazing father.”

Marquez, a fifth-generation St. Pete native, stays connected here at home. His annual Day of Love project has distributed care packages to over 250 homeless individuals, providing blankets, clothing items, backpacks, toiletries and other.

Mom and dad will attend the big game in Glendale, Arizona, on February 12th. In St. Pete, watch party central will be at Glory Days Grill (9900 4th Street, Florida), long-time gathering spot for die-hard Chiefs fans in the area.

Coach Moore says he will definitely be watching. “Marquez is an amazing young man who is super respectful, passionate and has a desire to be the best version of himself,” said Moore. “We are absolutely proud of him and will continue to lift him up in our prayers.”

More About Marquez

Family: In addition to mom and dad, Marquez has 2 brothers (Antuan Butler and Marcellus Scantling, Jr.), and adores his two dogs, Ace and Spade. Ace is a Pomsky (a Husky and Pomeranian mix) and Spade is a Husky.

Favorite Pastimes: Videogaming and hanging out with his nephew Aiyden, noting that he will never stop loving his other nephew Kaidon, who is with them in spirit (Aiyden and Kaidon are the sons of Marquez’s brother, Marcellus).

Favorite Food: Marquez has a major sweet tooth; his favorite dessert is his grandmother’s pistachio cake.

Community Life: Marquez is a former Sunday school teacher (teaching 3- and 4-year-olds) at Radiant Church in Tampa. Over the years, he and his family have volunteered Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas & Pasco and many other organizations. For Marquez’s upcoming Day of Love project to support the homeless, he is partnering with his brother Antuan’s 9 Colors Initiative. To learn more or support, please call 800-867-5503.

Marquez (top right) with mother Tahisia, dad Marcellus, and brother Marcellus, Jr. riding in MLK Day Parade 2019 when Marquez served as Grand Marshal

Tennessee State University Marching Band Makes History Winning First Grammy Award

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HBCUs made their mark during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in a major way.

Vibe reports Tennessee State University made history as the first marching band to take home the Grammy for Best Roots Gospel Album for their performance of “The Urban Hymnal” and being featured on J. Ivy’s “The Poet Who Sat By The Door,” which won Best Spoken Word Poetry Album.

Sir the Baptist, a songwriter and producer, and Assistant Band Director, Larry Jenkins, accepted the award on the band’s behalf. Jenkins said the win is needed for the culture. “You see the Grammy’s; You see the NAACP Image Award nominations, all of these amazing things that are expanding the culture, expanding the brand,” Jenkins said, according to Vibe. “This means a lot as well because it’s rooted in the culture. You have the highest award in music and in this culture that we’ve been able to tap into.” Read more

Mount Holyoke College Appoints Black Woman As 20th President, A First In School’s 186-Year History

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Danielle Ren Holley, a noted legal educator and social justice scholar, will become the 20th president of Mount Holyoke College on July 1, 2023. The Board unanimously elected Holley following a thorough and inclusive search process.

President-elect Holley is the first Black woman in the 186-year history of Mount Holyoke College to serve as permanent president, and the fourth Black woman in history to lead one of the original Seven Sisters Colleges.

Since 2014, President-elect Holley has served as dean and professor of law at the Howard University School of Law. She is widely viewed as having renewed Howard’s historically important law school and raising its stature and visibility as the leading educator of social and racial justice lawyers. Read more

Families Impacted by Police Violence Invited To State Of The Union By Congressional Black Caucus

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More than a dozen families of Black victims killed or brutalized by police have been invited by Congressional Black Caucus members as guests to President Joe Biden’s Tuesday night State of the Union address, theGrio has learned.

House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic House Assistant Leader Jim Clyburn, and other Democratic lawmakers, will be hosting the parents and siblings of George Floyd, Eric Garner, Walter Scott, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Ronald Greene, and several others, to join the parents of Tyre Nichols on Capitol Hill as President Biden delivers his second annual SOTU address, where he is expected to strongly focus on police reform and public safety.

To shine a blaring light on the reignited calls to pass police reform, RowVaughn and Rodney Wells, the mother and stepfather of Nichols – the 29-year-old recently beat to death by Memphis police – will sit in First Lady Dr. Jill Biden’s box to watch the president’s remarks after being initially invited by the chair of Congressional Black Caucus, U.S. Steven Horsford of Nevada. Read more

Creative Pinellas Is Hiring: Assistant Arts Project Manager

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Do you want to be an integral part of bringing Public Art Projects to life in Pinellas County?  Join the Creative Pinellas team as part of the Arts Projects department and bring your skills and talents to help coordinate Public Art Projects with local artists and municipalities throughout the year.

What we do:

Creative Pinellas has a growing public arts program that works with local governments, municipalities, and organizations to create public art opportunities throughout Pinellas County.  The focus of the program is to elevate and celebrate Pinellas County as the Arts Coast – creating and building on its reputation as an arts and cultural destination, while supporting the local public art community who live and create here!

Creative Pinellas is looking for a contract assistant project manager to join our team on an ongoing basis and to help coordinate projects from beginning to end and help develop new projects with the Arts Project Manager.

This position requires the ability to work independently and collaboratively, to understand and contribute to projects from inception and/or proposal to final delivery. It is very hands-on with day-to-day oversite and attention to detail, with an opportunity to grow and take on projects as a lead in the future. Apply here.

Miami Black College Expo – February 11, 2023

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The Black College Expo Tour stops in Miami on Saturday February 11th from 10am to 5pm, with over 50 colleges, community colleges, trade schools, and more. Students can get accepted on the spot! This includes college transfer students looking to transfer to a 4 year college. Students young and older looking for opportunities to ELEVATE your Game, you must attend. Plus, there’s workshops, seminars, financial aid information, scholarship information, even the Scholarship Plug will be in the house. Meet our celebrity guests who will be hosting the After Show, featuring live entertainment and a dance off competition where anyone in in the audience can win CASH and PRIZES. There’s also information on internships and other opportunities.

Black Woman-Owned Woodhouse Spa Franchise Provides Luxury Wellness Treatments to Atlantans

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Former CEO and executive director of Every Woman Works nonprofit Stacey Howell has transitioned her focus into owning a Woodhouse Spa franchise to offer guests a luxury wellness experience through different treatments.

After becoming a loyal customer at one of the spa’s locations in New Jersey, Howell’s experiences inspired her to dig deeper into the health and wellness industry and become an owner.

Howell shared her journey with BLACK ENTERPRISE and discussed how she strives to be a role model in her community as a franchisee of one of the few spas in the Buckhead owned by a Black woman. Read more

9-Year-Old Graduates High School: ‘I Want To Be An Astrophysicist’

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9-year-old David Balogun is one step closer to achieving his dream of becoming an astrophysicist after obtaining his high school diploma. CNN affiliate WGAL has more. Read more

Savvy Book Influencer Uses Instagram To Share Her Love Of Black Literature

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The power of social media has allowed everyday people from every corner of the world to influence our taste in just about everything, including music, fashion, beauty and food. Now, one avid reader is turning her love of literature into a vibrant online community that’s all about Black books.

Milwaukee-based book influencer Cree Myles is the curator of All Ways Black, an Instagram account backed by publishing giant Penguin Random House. And for a book nerd like myself, I’m here to tell you that AWB is everything. With smart book reviews, interviews and just all-around cool content, All Ways Black celebrates everything there is to love about Black writers and readers.

Because I had no idea that being a book influencer was even a thing, I just had to talk to Cree about how she got into the game and where she hopes All Ways Black will go. Read more

Viola Davis Achieves EGOT With Grammy Win For Her Audiobook

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After winning a Grammy Award, Viola Davis has officially completed the holy grail of entertainment awards.

Davis’ Sunday win for the audiobook of her memoir “Finding Me” completes her EGOT collection. She previously won an Emmy for her role in “How to Get Away with Murder,” an Oscar for “Fences,” and two Tony awards for “King Hedley III” and “Fences.”

Davis, 57, won the award for “Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording,” according to a tweet from the Recording Academy, which hosts the Grammys.

In her acceptance speech, the multi-hyphenate performer paid tribute to her younger self.

“I wrote this book to honor the 6-year-old Viola,” she said. “To honor her life, her joy, her trauma, everything. And, it has just been such a journey – I just EGOT!”

Davis’ career has been studded with awards and firsts. In 2015, she became the first Black woman to win an Emmy for best actress in a drama and in 2017, she became the first Black woman to score three Academy Award nominations. Read more

The Florida Redevelopment Association Presents: Building Starts On Large Housing Development In Historic Overtown

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Construction started Monday on a critical housing development to help rejuvenate Overtown that will cater largely to local workers. Also, the project by design sits close to public transit to encourage future tenants to rely on Metrorail, Metromover, and Brightline trains rather than cars to get around the city.

Miami-Dade County and Atlantic Pacific Companies are teaming on Atlantic Station, the largest project so far in the county in a designated transit zone. Expected to open for tenants in mid-2025, Atlantic Station will have 616 apartments, 360 of them at discounted rents for local workers. In addition, there will be a dog park, two pools, a fitness center, and 25,000 square feet of retail stores and restaurants at street level.

Read the whole article here.

The Florida Redevelopment Association Presents: Residential Painting Services RFQ: Lake Worth Beach CRA – Deadline: February 16, 2023

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The purpose of this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is to solicit qualifications to hire an experienced residential or commercial painting contractor to be part of the CRA’s new residential paint grant program. The Lake Worth Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has developed a home paint grant program
in which residents can apply for free exterior paint services. This program proposes giving homeowners the opportunity to have the exteriors of their homes pressure sprayed, prepped and completely repainted. The CRA will allocate up to $5,000 per home which will be paid directly to a pre-approved CRA paint contractor upon completion. Interested residential grantees will submit a grant application for the CRA to review. Those applicants must also be able to demonstrate the need for their home to be repainted and Staff will determine final eligibility.

Download: RFQ LWCRA 01-2023 Residential Painting Services

All responses to this RFQ must be delivered, mailed or emailed to:

Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency

1121 Lucerne Avenue
Lake Worth Beach, FL 33460
Attn: Chris Dabros // 561 493-2550
[email protected]

ENVELOPE MUST BE IDENTIFIED AS RFQ #01-2023 AND RECEIVED AT THE CRA OFFICE NO LATER
THAN 3:00pm February 16, 2023

The Florida Redevelopment Association Presents: 2023 Redevelopment Academy

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2023 Academy Course Schedule

Core Courses

Elective Courses

  • Creating & Using Redevelopment Incentives – (February 17, 2023) | Register here
  • Housing as a Redevelopment Tool – (April 21, 2023) | Register here
  • Planning Strategically for Redevelopment – (June 9, 2023) | Register here
  • Capital Project Management – (July 14, 2023) | Register here
  • Infrastructure I – Above Ground – (July 28, 2023) | Register here

The Florida Redevelopment Association Presents: 2023 Annual Conference – October 24-27, 202

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SAVE THE DATE!

Get ready for the 2023 Florida Redevelopment Association Annual Conference,
October 24-27, 2023 at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa.

The exhibit hall will be open October 25-26, 2023.

Have questions regarding the FRA Annual Conference, including exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities? Reach out to Heidi Hogarth at [email protected].

Beyonce ‘Renaissance’ World Tour Includes Stops In Tampa, South Florida

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Beyonce is coming back to Florida.

The “Queen Bey” announced dates for the 2023 “Renaissance” world tourWednesday, which include two stops in the Sunshine State.

Beyonce will perform Aug. 16 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa and Aug. 18 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Read more

St Pete Works: Community Career & Resource Fair – February 22, 2023

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The St. Pete Works collaborative, led by St. Petersburg College, in partnership with the City of St. Petersburg, Pinellas County Urban League is looking to get our community back to work!!!

James B Sanderlin Family Center: 2335 22nd Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712

FREE and open to the public

For more information, contact Calvin Brown: [email protected] or visit stpeteworks.org

The Super Bowl Just Got Blacker: Autumn Lockwood Becomes First Black Woman To Coach In Playoff Game

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As Super Bowl LVII quickly approaches, the playoff game continues to become more and more historic. Today on Instagram, the official NFL page posted that Autumn Lockwood will become the first Black woman to coach in a Super Bowl.

In addition, Nicole Lynn—agent to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts—also makes history by becoming the first Black woman to represent an NFL quarterback in the Super Bowl.

This news comes after the monumental announcement that after 35 years Hurts—Patrick Mahomes—will become the first Black quarterbacks to face off in a Super Bowl. The NFL was heavily criticized for the their lack of diversity and the way San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was treated in 2016 after he remained seated during the national anthem to protest racial inequality. Soon after, the league claimed that they would make changes. Read more

NY School Promotes Dirty Snowman As “Of Color” and Parents Are Pissed

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Every year we enter Black History Month slightly apprehensive because there is always one person who does entirely too much. For upstate New York parents, it was a dirty snowman. The school district shared an image of the students’ work with a caption comparing it their students of color, per WRRV.

“Today’s [Coxsackie Elementary] Fourth Grade Playground Fun! This snowman is just as diverse as our students!” read the caption.

The image was posted by Coxsackie-Athens Central School District in Green County. They could have just left it as Olaf instead of trying to milk their 19.5 percent minority enrollment. Black people have been compared to dirt or feces for too long to play this game. There are other ways to recognize diversity. I promise.

Parents left comments under the post denouncing the picture’s caption as offensive. Read more

DeSantis Proposes Banning Diversity And Inclusion Initiatives At Florida Universities

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that he intends to ban state universities from spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in hopes that they will “wither on the vine” without funding.

“It really serves as an ideological filter, a political filter,” the Republican said while speaking in Bradenton, Florida.

The proposal is a top priority for DeSantis’ higher education agenda this year, which also includes giving politically appointed presidents and university boards of trustees more power over hiring and firing at universities and urging schools to focus their missions on Florida’s future workforce needs. DeSantis, who is said to be weighing a potential 2024 presidential bid, has seen his standing among conservatives soar nationwide following his public stances on hot-button cultural and education issues.

In a press release about the announced legislation, the governor’s office called diversity, equity and inclusion programs “discriminatory” and vowed to prohibit universities from funding them, even if the source of the money isn’t coming from the state.

Diversity, equity and inclusion programs are intended to promote multiculturalism and encourage students of all races and backgrounds to feel comfortable in a campus setting, especially those from traditionally underrepresented communities. The state’s flagship school, the University of Florida, has a “Chief Diversity Officer,” a “Center for Inclusion and Multicultural Engagement” and an “Office for Accessibility and Gender Equity.” Read more

MLK Invoked As Tyre Nichols’ Life Is celebrated In Song And Ttributes In Memphis

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Mourners, from Vice President Kamala Harris to the activist the Rev. Al Sharpton, on Wednesday celebrated the life of Tyre Nichols, whose death at the hands of police in Memphis led to second-degree murder charges against five officers.

“Mothers around the world, when their babies are born, pray to God when they hold that child, that that body and that life will be safe for the rest of his life,” Harris said to applause during Nichols’ funeral service in a packed Memphis sanctuary.

“And when we look at this situation, this is a family that lost their son and their brother through an act of violence at the hands and the feet of people who had been charged with keeping them safe.”

Nichols, 29, who was Black, was subdued yet continuously beaten after a traffic stop by Memphis police on January 7. He died three days later.

“The people of our country mourn with you,” Harris told Nichols’ family. Read more

Beyoncé Announces Renaissance World Tour

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BeyHive, rejoice! Beyoncé has officially announced her Renaissance World Tour, set to hit the stage this summer.

While rumblings of a summer 2023 world tour have been circulating the internet since the pop star released her acclaimed seventh studio album, “Renaissance,” last year, Beyoncé officially confirmed the tour on her Instagram account Wednesday morning. Along with a photo of her riding the now-iconic holographic horse from the album art, she linked to the official list of dates in her bio.

The Renaissance World Tour is her first solo tour in seven years, and her first tour in general since “On the Run II” in 2018, which she conceived and performed with Jay-Z. Fans recently got a glimpse of Beyoncé performing her first solo concert in four years at the grand reveal of Atlantis the Royal hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. No footage was allowed during the performance, but that didn’t stop the BeyHive from filming and uploading certain clips from the performance. While there’s a long setlist, material from “Renaissance” was left out. Read more

Missy Elliott Becomes 1st Female Hip-Hop Artist To Be Nominated To Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

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Missy Elliott’s impact on music and the culture at large is one that can never be overstated and now, thanks to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, both she and her legacy have made history as she’s the first ever female hip-hop artist to be nominated.

Per a press release provided to The Root, this honor falls right in line with Missy’s previous honors, as she was also the first female rapper to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the first to receive the VMAs Vanguard Award, and the first to be honored with Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Music Pioneer Award at the United Nations—all in 2019 alone. Of additional note, she’s also currently the best-selling female rapper in Nielsen Music history. Read more

The Life And Homegoing Of Tyre Nichols (Updated)

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Tyre Nichols was only 29 when he was fatally beaten by a group of Memphis police officers. Though his name was been chanted in the streets in the demand for police reform and accountability, it is easy for him to be remembered as just another police brutality victim.

There was more to Tyre than the heinous body camera video of his last moments. Let us take you through what we learned about Tyre leading up to his death and the celebration of his life as he rests in peace. Read more

St. Pete Ranked Best City In Florida For Work-Life Balance And Mental Health

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If you thought living in St. Pete was great, a new study shows that you are absolutely right. In a ranking of the nation’s 100 largest cities, St. Petersburg was determined to be the No. 1 city in the state of Florida for work-life balance and mental health, checking in at No. 18 overall in the entire country.

We say often that we live in paradise – and given the tourism accolades the city receives every year, it’s certainly true – but there’s plenty more that goes into creating a happy life. The ranking system put together by Coworking Café used wide range of factors to calculate the standings, including amount of green space and recreational amenities; air quality; work hours; income; affordability; remote working prevalence; commute times; and how many residents had health insurance. Read more

Rays, City Officials Work Towards Marriage after ‘Engagement’

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Following Mayor Ken Welch’s selection of the Tampa Bay Rays to lead the redevelopment of Tropicana Field and the historic Gas Plant District, he compared the partnership to an engagement.

Welch told reporters at his press conference Monday that the city and the team are now moving towards a wedding. As such, he believes Rays officials should commit to St. Petersburg, particularly when one local entity – the Pinellas County Commission – is “helping pay for the wedding.”

About an hour later, Brian Auld and the Rays/Hines development team held a press conference at Tropicana Field. He told attendees they are “fully engaged” with city officials and will work aggressively to meet all timeline expectations and clear any potential hurdles.

“What we’ve done today is taken a big step forward in our hometown to finding a way to keep the team here for the very long term,” Auld said. “And that’s something we’re really proud of, and we intend to pursue it with gusto.”

He called it “a no-brainer” for team officials to participate in the 96-acre redevelopment and said they wanted to make the decision easy for the mayor. Their proposal helps cement the future of baseball in St. Petersburg, Auld said, while also meeting Welch’s requirement for an inclusive and equitable process. Read more

Space Under I-375 To Become Parking Lot, Mural Destination

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The city council has recently approved funding for a new 45-space parking lot to be built outside the Historic Uptown neighborhood, under Interstate 375.

The new paved lot is part of a broader plan to connect neighborhoods in St. Petersburg by converting underutilized land.

Barkett Realty, headed by owner John Barkett, is leading the project of the new parking lot that will be downlit in the evenings and is a component of the entire I-375 park.

“Future projects will include continuing to wrap the actual park to the south and create an attractive entrance along 4th Avenue North while taking down the remaining construction fencing, some of which has been there for decades,” Barkett announced in its February newsletter.

The park includes a dog-friendly green space area.

Visitors and residents can park at the site while attending art fairs, indie markets, food truck rallies, community block parties and other events, as it provides a shaded lot. Read more

Yale Honors Black Girl, Nine, Wrongly Reported To Police Over Insect Project

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A nine-year-old girl who had a neighbor call the police on her as she worked to eradicate invasive insects from her home town has earned honors from one of the US’s most prestigious universities.

The Yale School of Public Health earlier this month held a ceremony citing Bobbi Wilson’s efforts to rid Caldwell, New Jersey, of the spotted lanternfly, according to university officials.

The 20 January gathering also recognized Bobbi for bestowing her personal collection of lanternflies to Yale’s Peabody Museum, which entered the collection into its database and listed the child as the donating scientist.

An assistant professor at the public health school, Ijeoma Opara, told those at the ceremony that she organized the event to bring attention to Bobbi’s “bravery and how inspiring she is”.

Yale doesn’t normally do anything like this,” Opara said, according to the university. “This is something unique to Bobbi.” Read more

Whiting-Turner & EJ Smith Moffitt Ruskin Ambulatory Care Center Vendor Outreach EventMoffitt Cancer Center: Vendor Outreach Event

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Please join The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company and EJ Smith Construction for our vendor outreach event. The event will highlight our upcoming project with H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center for the Ruskin Ambulatory Care Center. Come meet our team, get details on the project, and hear how to prequalify with Whiting-Turner. The event starts at 8:30am with breakfast provided. A presentation and question and answer session will follow after.


For questions, please contact: Desiree Hanson ([email protected]), Justin Menendez ([email protected]), or Victoria Martin ([email protected]).

Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at 8:30am – Holiday Inn Express & Suites Riskin (226 TECO Rd, Ruskin, FL 33570)

Starr Andrews Becomes First Black Woman To Medal At U.S. Figure Skating Championships In 35 Years

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Starr Andrews headlined the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in San Jose, California on Friday, becoming the first Black woman to win a medal in over three decades.

Andrews, who finished fourth overall, was delighted to stand on the podium alongside Isabeau Levito, who won the gold medal, Bradie Tennell, who took second, and Amber Glenn, who won the bronze. According to The Washington Post, she received a total score of 188.24 for the two days of the competition, including a free skate score of 119.27.

“To be able to be the next African American woman to stand on a podium is amazing,” Andrews told The Post.

Before Andrews’ win, the last Black woman in America to win a national figure skating competition medal was Debi Thomas in 1988, 35 years ago. Having grown up in Los Angeles competing in a sport where women of color rarely make it to the medal stand, Andrews understood the significance of the moment. Read more

‘Pray For Our Family’: Brandon Smiley, Son Of Comedian Rickey Smiley, Dies At 32

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The Root is sad to share that Brandon Smiley, son of comedian and radio host Rickey Smiley, has died at 32.

The news of his passing was shared by his father during an Instagram live on Sunday as he was on his way to Alabama to be with family. No cause of death has been shared at this time, according to Page Six.

“I just have bad news this morning. I’m on my way to the airport to get to Birmingham. I just want everybody to pray for me, pray for our family,” Smiley began before sharing the heartbreaking news. “My son Brandon Smiley has passed away this morning. I’m about to go get on a flight and try to get to Birmingham. I want all our cousins and different family members to pray, be strong. I’m OK. Pray for my son’s mother and my son’s siblings, pray for my son and my daughter. Everybody that was raised with Brandon. Pray for my son’s mother Brenda and his dad Taurus and his sister Taylor and everybody. I hate to announce this, I just wanted to give it to you before you hear it in the streets.” Read more

Tia Mowry Drops Natural Haircare Brand 4U By Tia

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Looking for a more cost-effective, environmentally conscious haircare brand? Tia Mowry has something for you.

The actress, entrepreneur, new WeightWatchers ambassador and IG dance video sensation has partnered with synthetic biotechnology and renewable chemical company Amyris, Inc. to release 4U by Tia, an affordable vegan, cruelty-free haircare brand geared toward curly hair types. According to a release furnished to theGrio, 4U by Tia is a “science-based” and “nature-made” collection formulated for hair types 2A – 4C.

Available to shop now online and in-store at Walmart, the brand includes eight different products, all formulated free of silicone, sulfates and parabens. Each product was also made using Hemisqualane 15 (Hemi15), a molecule that provides weightless nourishment, leaving hair healthy, bouncy and manageable. Read more

6th Memphis Officer Relieved Of Duty In Tyre Nichols Arrest

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A sixth Memphis Police Department officer has been disciplined for his involvement in the brutal beating and arrest of Tyre Nichols, a department spokeswoman said Monday.

Officer Preston Hemphill was relieved of duty shortly after the Jan. 7 arrest of Nichols, who died three days later at a hospital, Memphis police spokeswoman Karen Rudolph said. She did not disclose Hemphill’s role in the arrest.

Rudolph said information on disciplinary action taken against Hemphill was not immediately released because Hemphill was not fired and the department typically releases information about officers who are relieved of duty after an investigation ends.

Nichols’ family and others closely watching developments surrounding his brutal arrest and killing in Memphis were awaiting word of additional disciplinary action against officers who were at the scene but have not been fired or charged. Read more

Rays To Lead Redevelopment Of Tropicana Field/Gas Plant Site

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St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch has selected the Tampa Bay Rays and Hines team to redevelop the 86-acre Tropicana Field/Gas Plant site – which will be the most impactful catalytic project to occur in the city.

Welch made the announcement Monday in front of City Hall to a sea of media members and residents anticipating the long-awaited decision on who will control the fate of the massive site.

The decision comes after the city received the evaluation report from HR&A, the third-party consultant hired by the city, that weighed the strengths and weaknesses of each of the four development teams, putting the Tampa Bay Rays and Hines joint proposal and the Sugar Hill Community Partners proposal at the top of the list. The two teams checked the boxes for many of the city’s requirements and needs as the other two contenders – Restoration Associates and 50 Plus 1 Sports – lacked certain information in their proposals. Read more

Metropolitan Ministries Moves Into St. Petersburg

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Officials with Metropolitan Ministries are establishing a presence in South St. Pete to help transform communities in two zip codes with high childhood poverty rates by addressing the root causes.

For over 50 years, the nonprofit has provided a myriad of services for at-risk and homeless families from its expansive Tampa facility, and through 65 regional partners. However, Metropolitan Ministries’ leadership realized they could better serve “high-need” areas with a physical location and boots on the ground.

A new Metropolitan Ministries outpost opened Jan. 3 in St. Petersburg’s James B. Sanderlin Family Center on 22nd Avenue South. Jalem Robinson, director of community collaboration, said officials sought to make a difference in neighborhoods where over 35% of children live in poverty.

“Once we looked at those zip codes, we noticed we weren’t reaching the families that seemingly needed the most,” said Robinson. “So, we started looking at some of the landscapes of those communities to try and figure out where best our impact could start and influence the most change.”

The initiative is part of Metropolitan Ministries’ NeighborHOPE project. The organization identified eight impoverished zip codes in Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough Counties and is now investing in resources, services, collaboration and capacity building in those areas. Read more

Local Foster Children Receive Long-Term Mentors

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Kids growing up in the foster care system often lack a consistent adult presence through their formidable years – so a regional nonprofit provides them mentors from kindergarten through graduation.

With a $1.1 million grant from billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott and a desire to make a lasting impact in the lives of some of the area’s most vulnerable kids, Friends of the Children – Tampa Bay (FCTB) is bringing its long-term mentoring model to Lealman Elementary School.

The nearly nine-year-old nonprofit’s leadership announced the innovative partnership, the first of its kind in Pinellas County, Jan. 23. Lealman is an underserved, unincorporated community just north of St. Petersburg.

Rick McClintock, executive director of Tampa-based FCTB, said the organization wanted to establish a physical presence in the St. Petersburg area to increase its impact and better embody the “Tampa Bay” moniker. Lori Matway, associate superintendent for Pinellas County Schools (PCS), recommended Lealman Elementary because it has a great need that is oft-overlooked, he said.

“Lots of kids living in hotels and foster care,” explained McClintock. “Lots of single-parent homes. Lots of kids with a lot of challenges in their lives, but a school that doesn’t have a lot of attention layered on it like some other schools in Pinellas County.” Read more

Super Bowl 2023: The Game The Black Community Wanted

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For the first time in NFL history, two Black quarterbacks will face off at Super Bowl LVII for the right to hold up the Lombardi trophy. In the 103 years the NFL has existed, only 3 Black gunslingers have won Super Bowls as the starter for their team: Doug Williams, Russell Wilson, and Patrick Mahomes. That’s it.

History like this hasn’t been made since 2007 when two Black head coaches (Tony Dungy and Lovie) played each other in Super Bowl XLI.

About four months ago, I wrote about how this NFL season was “The Year of the Black Quarterback.” The regular season began with 11 Black quarterbacks starting for their teams, marking an NFL record. Now, nearing the end of the season, two of them are in the biggest game of the year. Read more

Second Chance Tiny Homes – February 6, 2023

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Second Chance Tiny Homes is a program designed to give citizens a second chance at starting a career in the construction field. The program is designed to teach all about carpentry level 1. While you are in your paid training you will also get hands-on experience in general construction. No experience is necessary for the class. Contact: Kelly Sims – 727.564.6893 or [email protected]

When: Interviews | 9am to 3pm
• January 27, 30, 31
• February 1,2,3

Where: PERC
1601 16th St S
St. Petersburg 33705
20 hours paid ON JOB TRAINING PER WEEK

Spectrum Reach: Pay It Forward

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Spectrum Reach is proud to offer multicultural-owned businesses this unique opportunity to receive a complimentary TV advertising campaign and commercial.

Offer begins on January 16, 2023, at 12:01 a.m. ET and ends on March 31, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Open only to legal U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older and the age of majority in the jurisdiction in which they reside, are the direct and intended recipients. Apply Here

TikTok-Famous ‘Chef Way’ Resigns From DA’s Office Over Racist Tweets About Black Women

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Chef Way of TikTok fame has left the Harris County District Attorney’s Office following criticism and mounting pressure over resurfaced offensive tweets about Black women with dark skin.

The Houston-based chef and prosecutor — born Waymond Wesley II — posted a lengthy statement to his Instagram account Tuesday, The Houston Chronicle reported, in which he announced his resignation, shared details of his rehabilitation and expressed regret to Black women.

Wesley acknowledged that it’s been a “painful” time for many people but said he has wanted to express his regret and provide context since the offensive remarks first went viral. Read More

Disney Shuts Down Splash Mountain For Its Racist Tropes; Fans Selling Ride Water On eBay

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Splash Mountain, a popular ride operated at Walt Disney World in Florida for over 30 years, has been removed from the park, and fans are now selling its water on eBay.

According to NBC News, while some guests were sad to experience the Magic Kingdom attraction for the last time on Sunday, other enthusiasts — reportedly referred to as “Disney adults” — sought to profit. More than 70 Mason jars, bottles and plastic bags allegedly containing “Splash Mountain water” hit eBay, with some potential purchasers willing to pay more than $50 for mementos of the ride, which opened in 1992.

“I will miss you forever,” read the caption of a TikTok video with more than 1,300 likes Tuesday afternoon. “Goodbye, Splash Mountain.” Read more

Barbie Celebrates Pioneering Pilot Bessie Coleman With New Doll

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In celebration of pioneering aviator Bessie Coleman’s January 26 birthday and as an early start to Black History Month, Barbie has just announced the Bessie Coleman doll as part of its “Inspiring Women” series.

n celebration of pioneering aviator Bessie Coleman’s January 26 birthday and as an early start to Black History Month, Barbie has just announced the Bessie Coleman doll as part of its “Inspiring Women” series.

In the early 1900s, when her race and gender barred her from being admitted into flight schools in the United States, Coleman found followed her dreams to France, earning her license in 1921 from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. She became known for mesmerizing American audiences with aerial stunts until a plane crash tragically ended her life in 1926, just five years after earning her license. Read more

Alabama Schools Randomly Cancel Black History Month Event With Award-Winning Author

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It is only expected that students will see a serious pushback on Black History Month activities. Two Alabama school districts have canceled events featuring New York Times-bestselling children’s author Derrick Barnes, per CBS42 News. The reason wasn’t necessarily spelled out as anti-critical race theory however, it’s certainly a safe assumption.

Barnes was scheduled to visit schools in the Alabaster City and Hoover City school districts next month. Barnes is known for his children’s books “Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut” and “The King of Kindergarten,” one of which he planned to read at the elementary schools he planned to visit. However, suddenly, his appearance was canceled due to “contract issues,” the report says. Read more

The City Of St. Pete Is Hiring: Housing & Community Development Assistant Director

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This is responsible professional and administrative planning and development work assisting in directing the activities of the Housing and Community Development Department. Work includes assisting management with planning, formulating policy, organizing, and implementing housing development programs and public and private financing programs to facilitate and promote controlled housing growth in the area; administering critical state and federal grant programs; coordinating the annual application process for grants; assisting with the selection, placement, promotion, training, safety,
appraisal and discipline of assigned employees. A person in this position may serve as the City liaison in developing cooperative relationships among representatives of local groups, associations, and other public and private organizations to promote housing programs and policies in the City. Apply here

Black Leaders Ready To ‘Fight Like Hell’ Over African American Course Rejection

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TALLAHASSEE — Saying that an African American studies course “lacks educational value,” Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is defending its rejection of the curriculum, while Black religious leaders and elected officials are pledging to “fight like hell” against the decision.

Black lawmakers, religious leaders, and local elected officials are organizing events to speak out after the state Department of Education’s Office of Articulation on Jan. 12 sent a letter advising a senior director at The College Board that the Advanced Placement African American Studies course won’t be offered in Florida public schools. The College Board develops Advanced Placement courses.

House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, said Monday the DeSantis administration’s decision is the “first of what I believe will be many attempts to whitewash history in order to suit emotionally fragile people.”

But during a news conference in Jacksonville, DeSantis defended the rejection, which has drawn national media coverage in recent days and criticism from the Biden administration.

“We believe in teaching kids facts and how to think, but we don’t believe they should have an agenda imposed on them. When you try to use Black history to shoehorn in queer theory, you are clearly trying to use that for political purposes,” DeSantis said.

Advanced Placement, or AP, courses are college-level classes offered to high-school students. Read more

Demand To Work For Tyler Perry Grows After He Reveals $154M Payroll Budget

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Tyler Perry is out here signing them checks to ensure he keeps a happy staff of well-paid workers behind his cinema projects. After revealing how much he pays his employees, the number of interested applicants increased.

The billionaire screenwriter took to Instagram over the weekend to share a video from the massive Juneteenth celebration he threw for his staff at Tyler Perry Studios. Perry hired Usher to entertain the crowd including performances of some of the singer’s biggest hits.

Perry expressed his gratitude for his employees through his heartfelt Instagram caption. Read more

School district launches student leadership summits

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Pinellas County Schools (PCS) Superintendent Kevin Hendrick realizes there is much to learn from listening to students; he also understands they are the next generation of local leaders.

PCS launched its first-ever Student Leadership Summit at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg this week. Over 300 4th and 5th graders from 78 elementary schools participated in the two-day event, along with parent chaperones and teachers.

The summit’s goal is twofold: Hendrick and other district leaders listened to and learned from a diverse group of students, and the children participated in activities that teach them team building and leadership skills.

Hendrick told the Catalyst that PCS has offered “tremendous experiences” for decades. However, only a few students from each school could participate. He said that makes for a good photo opportunity or news story but does not create lasting change.

“So, we wanted to create something impactful beyond today,” said Hendrick. “We want these student leaders to go back to their schools and recreate the sessions.”

Hendrick became superintendent last May and held a series of community “Listen and Learn” sessions from July through September. About a thousand adults participated, but a student in the PCS journalism program asked, “what about kids?” Read more

At The Table: Homelessness In St. Pete

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Where are we going, and how will we get there? As a community, we’re constantly seeking the optimal balance between the needs we have and the needs we serve. And through discussion, we arrive at solutions. The At the Table series is for sharing our intentions, ideas, and experiences to help us align and work better – together.

For Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders, homelessness in St. Petersburg is not just a critical issue – it’s a state of emergency.

The concept is not unique. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a state of emergency over the homeless crisis in December. Her first official act as the city’s leader gives her the authority to expedite shelter openings and other initiatives.

Figgs-Sanders is intimately familiar with the problem through lived experiences and community work. She relayed that those unaffected by the issue don’t possess the same sense of urgency as the families sleeping in cars or at run-down motels.

“Those of us with the authority and the resources to make a decision – why do we have to keep kicking the can down the road?” asked Figgs-Sanders. “Make a decision; prioritize it. We find the money for everything else.”

In addition to her role in City Hall, Figg-Sanders now serves as vice-chair for the Pinellas Continuum of Care (CoC) Program. The group works closely with the Homeless Leadership Alliance, and she said community organizations are making the most out of available resources. Read more

Benefiting From MLK’s Fight For Fair Housing, Families Achieve Dream

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CLEARWATER, FL — Among the equal rights that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for were fair housing laws.

Through his legacy of activism and advocacy, King improved housing conditions for countless families and led the way to families achieving the American dream of homeownership.

Motivated by his actions, housing advocates picked up the mantle, working to protect people against discriminatory practices based on sex or marital status, age, religion, and disabilities. Read more

St. Pete Legend Kissin’ Cuzzins Will Stay As Is After Pending Sale To Manager

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Kissin’ Cuzzins is one of the most legendary breakfast joints in the city of St. Petersburg. The restaurant originally opened in 1961 and during its tenure has become a revered family-friendly dining spot in the ever-bustling Sunshine City. I still have dreams about their massive sweet potato pancakes. This spot also does not skimp on its fruit bowls, and that is super appreciated. Back in 2022, the restaurant was put on the market, and much to this blogger’s delight it looks like the restaurant is staying as is.

The news was first brought to our attention when a local resident tweeted: “Delicious breakfast. I remember my first visit, in 1975, with both sides of my family to celebrate my First Holy Communion. Hadn’t been in years, but got the intel that while the business did sell, the manager bought it and it’s staying put. Glad to see this.” Looks like longtime manager Rick Campbell is ready to take up the breakfast mantel. The good news was confirmed following a recent Sunday visit to the beloved diner. Read more

Breonna Taylor Shooting Footage Played At Restaurant, Interrupting Diners With Sounds Of Gunshots

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The Republican Women’s Club of South Central Kentucky held an event at a restaurant with not-so-special guest John Mattingly, per NBC News. The former cop was invited to talk about “his side” of the Breonna Taylor shooting. As a result, restaurant patrons unaffiliated with the event were disturbed by the playing of the body camera footage.

Mattingly, who seemingly did a Kyle Rittenhouse-Esque rebranding, is now an author and conservative speaker. The GOP group invited him to the Bowling Green Country Club in Kentucky to discuss his book, “12 Seconds In The Dark: A Police Officer’s Firsthand Account Of The Breonna Taylor Raid.” The group told Spectrum News Louisville they believed even though the Breonna Taylor raid was “controversial,” Mattingly had the right to share his experience… as if we hadn’t heard about it enough through all the court hearings. Read more

Body Cam Video: Attorney Says Tyre Nichols Was A “Piñata” For The Ex-Memphis Officers

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In a press conference Monday, the family of Tyre Nichols shared their reactions to the body camera footage of the traffic stop that left him with life-threatening injuries. Their response gave a frightening preview of what we can expect to see in the videos.

After two weeks of being left in the dark, Nichols’ family was finally able to see what led their loved one to fight for his life in the hospital. Attorney Benjamin Crump and co-counsel attorney Antonio Romanucci called the footage “appalling” and “heinous” to watch. Crump said Nichols was tased and pepper-sprayed in addition to the beating and being restrained, per the video. The attorneys also speculated that the officers may have been from the organized crime unit because some arrived in unmarked patrol cars. Read more

The Evolution Of Angela Bassett

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Angela Bassett is now nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her tear-jerking performance as Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). The acting powerhouse has conquered every stage in a dynamic career. Here is the evolution of Angela Bassett. Read more

Jay-Z-Funded Lawsuits End As Mississippi Improves Prison

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The lawsuits were dismissed on Jan. 13 after the inmates’ attorneys and the state Department of Corrections said improvements have been made during the past three years, including installing air conditioning in most of the prison, renovating some bathrooms, and updating the electrical, water, and sewer systems.

In April, the U.S. Justice Department issued a report that said Parchman had violated inmates’ constitutional rights. The department said the prison failed to protect inmates from violence, meet their mental health needs, or take adequate steps for suicide prevention, and that the prison had relied too much on prolonged solitary confinement.

The Justice Department spent two years investigating Parchman. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said in April that Mississippi Department of Corrections officials cooperated with the investigation and pledged to resolve problems. Read more

Nonprofit Leader Announces $500K In Funding For Black Women Entrepreneurs – Deadline: February 25, 2023

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Dr. Cameka Smith, founder and CEO of The BOSS Network, an online community of professional and entrepreneurial women who support each other through digital content, programs and event-based networking, announces the return of her organization’s 2nd annual BOSS Impact Fund. The Fund focuses on investing in Black women led businesses and preparing these entrepreneurs to build scalable, growth aggressive companies. Its goal is to raise investment funding for 500+ Black women entrepreneurs over the next three years.

Following up on the success of the Fund’s inaugural launch in 2022, the BOSS Network will continue its partnership with Sage (via the Sage Foundation) — the global market leader for technology that provides small and medium businesses with the visibility, flexibility and efficiency to manage finances, operations and people — for its three-year $1.5 million commitment to support the Fund with the “Invest in Progress” grant. To register or for more information, visit BOSSImpactFund.com. The deadline for submissions is February 25.

Black Americans Can Win A $5,000 Scholarship To Help Pay College Costs

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Waist up portrait of black young man with backpack standing in library and looking at camera, copy space

Based on new data from the Education Data Initiative, Black and African American college graduates owe an average of $25,000 extra in student loan debt than white college graduates. It reportedly takes Blacks more time to repay the loans, potentially straining their overall financial more.

The good news is that Black undergraduate and graduate students can win a $5,000 scholarship to help conquer barriers to attending college. They can pursue it through Earnest, a fintech lender offering $50,000 in scholarships to 10 recipients. The lender says the funding is available to any U.S. college student, including permanent residents like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students and Black Americans. Read more

Why Black Folks Should Normalize Having An Estate Plan

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It’s not easy to think about life after death, but it’s essential. The high-profile estate cases of public figures like Chadwick Boseman and John Singleton show that success doesn’t prevent a legal struggle over dividing assets.

A recent survey by Caring.com revealed that more than 70 percent of Black Americans in 2021 didn’t have an estate plan. According to CNBC’s survey analysis, more Black people had a will in 2021 than they did in 2020, which could indicate a growing awareness that wills are necessary. Read more

BLACK AMERICANS CAN WIN A $5,000 SCHOLARSHIP TO HELP PAY COLLEGE COSTS

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Student debt for Black Americans is often more exhausting for those borrowers than others.

Based on new data from the Education Data Initiative, Black and African American college graduates owe an average of $25,000 extra in student loan debt than white college graduates. It reportedly takes Blacks more time to repay the loans, potentially straining their overall financial more.

The good news is that Black undergraduate and graduate students can win a $5,000 scholarship to help conquer barriers to attending college. They can pursue it through Earnest, a fintech lender offering $50,000 in scholarships to 10 recipients. The lender says the funding is available to any U.S. college student, including permanent residents like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students and Black Americans. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com

A New Day Dawns For Equity In St. Pete

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The reopening event for a reimagined Center for Health Equity was a passionate affair, meant to stoke community pride and togetherness while highlighting the need to increase health equity through a racial equity.

Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg’s (FHSP) leadership held three discussions Friday to honor the long-awaited occasion, themed “Create: The Center Experience.” A quote from the late South African Bishop Desmond Tutu encapsulated the theme: “My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.”

The Center Experience began with a literal boom as the Lakewood High School Drumline emerged from behind curtains, dancing and playing their percussion instruments. Dr. Donna Petersen, FHSP board chair, then likened the reopening to someone awakening from a deep slumber to see the dawn of a new day. Read more

Meet The Creators Of The New ‘Imagine Blackness’ Exhibit

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The faces that gaze from the otherwise stark walls of The Gallery of Creative Pinellas watch the visitor with a kind of regal indifference; handsome, haunting, beautiful, strong, and self-assured, they are above divisiveness, above judgment, and inhabit a world where anything and everything is possible.

The exhibition is titled Imagine Blackness: Alternate Realities and Collective Dreaming; the portraits were created with artificial intelligence (AI) software, collaboratively by digital artist McArthur Freeman and his wife, Dr. Elizabeth Hordge-Freeman.

They both teach at the University of South Florida. He is an Associate Professor of Video, Animation, and Digital Arts; she is an Associate Professor of Sociology, and Interim Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Recruitment, Retention, and Engagement. Read more

Beyoncé Performed For The 1st Time Since 2019 At An Invite-Only Dubai Concert

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Over the weekend, Beyoncé—yes, thee Beyoncé—made her grand return to the stage after four years, performing at an exclusive, invite-only concert in Dubai.

Per Today, Queen Bey was there to usher in the opening of the newest luxury hotel, Atlantis The Royal, where she performed a medley of her hits such as: “Crazy In Love,” “Freedom,” “Spirit,” “Be Alive,” “Beautiful Liar,” and “Naughty Girl.” She also performed “Brown Skin Girl,” with a little help from her manager’s eldest daughter Blue Ivy which some concert-goers were able to catch on camera (though reportedly no phones or recordings were allowed.) Read more

As Haitian Gangs Expand Control, Cop’s Family Is Left Shaken

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Every day when Marie Carmel Daniel’s husband put on his flak vest and walked out the door for another day of fighting Haiti’s gangs, she wondered if he would come home that night.

Friday was the day her smiling spouse of 18 years, Ricken Staniclasse didn’t. One of the country’s nearly 200 gangs ambushed his police unit that morning, sending gunfire echoing through the streets in an unexpected area — a mansion-lined stretch of the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince. Read more

Bills’ Hamlin Attends 1st Game Since Collapse, Waves To Fans

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Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin made his first public appearance since going into cardiac arrest after making a tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals three weeks ago, waving to fans from a stadium suite on Sunday as the teams met again for an AFC divisional playoff game the Bills went on to lose 27-10.

The crowd at Highmark Stadium erupted when an image of the recovering Hamlin filled the massive screens at the end zones near the end of the first half. Fans turned toward the glass-enclosed suite and cheered. Read more

37 Million T-Mobile Customers Had Their Personal Info Stolen, Company Reports

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 The U.S. wireless carrier T-Mobile said Thursday that an unidentified malicious intruder breached its network in late November and stole data on 37 million customers, including addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth.

T-Mobile said in a filing with the Security and Exchange Commission that the breach was discovered on Jan. 5. It said the data exposed to theft — based on its investigation to date — did not include passwords or PINs, bank account or credit card information, Social Security numbers or other government IDs. Read more

The Foundation For A Healthy St. Petersburg Presents: 2023 Grantmaking Strategy

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The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg invites you to attend an informational session to learn about our 2023 Grantmaking Strategy.

This session will:

  • Introduce you to Foundation team members you may engage with throughout the 2023 grantmaking cycle
  • Explain the Foundation’s 2023 grantmaking structure and process
  • Review the Foundation’s areas of grantmaking priority, timelines, funding amounts, and evaluation model in 2023
  • Share opportunities to engage with the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg and the Center for Health Equity throughout the 2023 grantmaking cycle

Attorneys For Keenan Anderson’s estate File $50 Million Claim Of Damages Against City Of Los Angeles

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Attorneys representing the estate of Keenan Anderson, who died from cardiac arrest after he was repeatedly tased by Los Angeles Police Department officers, filed a $50 million claim of damages against the city of Los Angeles for his death, they announced in a news conference Friday. 

The claim is the first step needed to file a lawsuit against the city, attorney Carl Douglas said. The claim requests $35 million due to damages against Anderson’s son and $15 million for Anderson’s estate, saying the city “failed to properly train the involved officers” who ultimately used “unreasonable deadly force.” 

Anderson, who is the cousin of Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors, was tased repeatedly as officers struggled to arrest him at the scene of a traffic collision on January 3, edited body-worn camera footage released by police shows. Read more

The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics Will Feature Breakdancing

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The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics will feature 39 sports and 329 events, including breakdancing, according to NBC News

Buenos Aires, Argentina, hosted the Youth Olympic Games in 2018 where breaking made its Olympic debut. In 2020, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognized the athletic style of urban dance.

As theGrio previously reported, breakdancing is a street dance rooted in the Black community and hip-hop artists pioneered it in the ’70s and ’80s. Many of them were Black people and Latino people from the South Bronx. Read more

What’s Driving St. Pete-Clearwater Airport’s Traffic

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The St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is outpacing its previous passenger traffic records as it readies to embark on a major expansion. 

During a Wednesday Pinellas County Tourist Development Council meeting, Jeff Clauss, who works as a director of air service development and marketing, updated the council on how PIE has set an all-time passenger record in 2022. The airport saw over 2.44 million passengers, representing a 20% increase over 2021 and a 7% increase in 2019.

“The destination saw an incredible growth rebound on the heels of Covid,” Clauss said, stating PIE broke the passenger traffic records for eight months in 2022. The new record comes as the airport is preparing to work on the design of the new $106 million terminal expansionRead more

Consultant: Sugar Hill, Rays/Hines Proposals Are Top Contenders

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The inventory of office space and affordable housing to the tax benefits for the city were all factors considered by consultant HR&A Advisors in its evaluation of the Tropicana Field/the Gas Plant District redevelopment proposals. 

This week, the city received the evaluation report from HR&A, the third-party consultant hired by the city, that weighed the strengths and weaknesses of each of the four development teams, putting the Tampa Bay Rays and Hines joint proposal and the Sugar Hill Community Partners proposal at the top of the list. The two teams checked the boxes for many of the city’s requirements and needs as the other two contenders – Restoration Associates and 50 Plus 1 Sports – lacked certain information in their proposals. 

According to the 78-page report, HR&A reviewed the teams’ mix of members and previous experience for both the master developers and the consultant teams. Read more

Prosecutor Busted For Badgering Witnesses About Black Defendant’s “Nationality”

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In addition to hidden evidence, falsified statements and more nonsense, prosecutors seem to have found another way of jeopardizing a case: provoking a jury’s racial bias. According to the Seattle Times, Whitman County, Wa. prosecutors were found guilty of just that by repeatedly asking witnesses to identify a Black defendant’s “nationality.”

The Washington Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the prosecutors acted improperly while handling the case of Tyler Terell Bagby. The report says Bagby was charged with burglary, assault, harassment and malicious mischief after punching someone at a frat party in 2018. His attorneys argued the swing was in self-defense. Read more

Olympic Legend Allyson Felix To Have USC Track Field Named After Her

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When you’re one of the greatest U.S. Olympic athletes of all time, the honors are endless. When you’re Allyson Felix, you accept these honors with a class and grace that few elite-level athletes possess. The seven-time Olympic gold medalist’s latest award comes from her alma mater, the University of Southern California. Per ESPN, she will have the field at the institution’s track stadium named after her. Later this spring, the Katherine B. Loker Track Stadium will become Allyson Felix Field.

“I am just completely humbled,” Felix said in a statement. “It’s such a huge honor to be a part of history in the campus, and it’s such a special place for me.” Read more

Regina King Returns To Instagram With Tribute To Ian Alexander Jr., Her Late Son

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Actress Regina King has broken her silence and made her return back to social media to pay tribute to her son Ian in honor of his birthday.

As previously reported by The Root, on January 21, 2022 the world was shocked and saddened to find out that King’s only son, Ian, passed away at the age of 26 by an apparent suicide. In a video posted to Instagram early Friday morning, which showed footage of a glowing orange lantern flying in the sky, the One Night in Miami director captioned:

“January 19th is Ian’s Worthday. As we still process his physical absence, we celebrate his presence. We are all in different places on the planet…so is Ian. His spirit is the thread that connects us. Of course, orange is your favorite color…It’s the fire and the calm. I see you in everything I breathe. My absolute favorite thing about myself is being ….Regina the mother of Ian the GodKing. Continue to shine bright, my guiding light. 🧡🧡🧡” Read more

Phyllis Wheatley Rise to Read Campaign (PWRTRC) Contest!

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Literacy Week – January 23-27, 2023

Applications For FHLBank Atlanta’s 2023 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) General Fund Will Be Available Beginning March 1, 2023, With An Application Deadline of March 31, 2023

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Women at home during pandemic isolation have conference call

We encourage you to apply for up to $750,000 per project to help finance the development of rental or owner-occupied housing that is affordable to families earning up to 80 percent of the area’s median income.

LEARN MORE
Join us for a webinar to learn how to submit a successful AHP General Fund application in 2023. Our webinar will cover all aspects of the AHP application, including project requirements, scoring, and the online submission process.

How to Be a Successful Affordable Housing Program Applicant
Date: February 16, 2023
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Click Here to Register

How to Be a Successful Affordable Housing Program Applicant
Date: March 13, 2023
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Click Here to Register

Additionally, we will be presenting a webinar on February 9 about the Bank’s 2023-2024 Targeted Community Lending Plan and AHP Implementation Plan, which covers more information about the Affordable Housing Program as a whole. Don’t miss this opportunity and register today

Only in Massachusetts Would Police Stop A Single Black Driver More Than 70 Times

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A Black Massachusetts man is suing the Worcester Police Department for racial profiling after allegedly pulling him over more than 70 times in just the past eight years, per GBH News. He’s still fighting charges from one of his previous police interactions.

T.J. Juty says he has been suspected of stealing cars and selling drugs before even being apprehended with a warrant. The report says he was pulled over in 2021 for not updating his new car color on his registration. By law, he wasn’t required to, but instead Juty was charged with disorderly conduct and interfering with a police officer after an intense exchange. Worcester hasn’t implemented a strict body camera policy. Luckily, Juty recorded the stop to present as evidence. Read more

DeSantis Administration Rejects Proposed AP African American Studies Class In Florida High Schools

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The administration of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida is blocking a new Advanced Placement course for high school students on African American studies.

In a January 12 letter to the College Board, the nonprofit organization that oversees AP coursework, the Florida Department of Education’s Office of Articulation said the course is “inexplicably contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value.”

“In the future, should College Board be willing to come back to the table with lawful, historically accurate content, FDOE will always be willing to reopen the discussion,” the letter stated. Read more

Baltimore officer faces no charges for killing Donnell Rochester, 18

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In one of his first high-profile decisions after taking office earlier this month, Baltimore’s new top prosecutor declined to bring criminal charges against a local police officer who fatally shot a fleeing teenage driver last year.

The decision came despite an investigation review that found the driver “no longer posed a threat” when Baltimore police officer Connor Murray fired the fatal shot. Murray and other officers were pursuing Donnell Rochester, 18, for outstanding bench warrants resulting from his failure to appear on a pending carjacking charge. Read more

Rep. Castor Reestablishes Her Presence In St. Pete

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Many St. Petersburg residents have a familiar face representing their interests in Washington, D.C., and Congresswoman Kathy Castor is making a concerted effort to reintroduce herself to the community.

Castor and her team invited local stakeholders to ThriveDTSP Wednesday for a swearing-in ceremony and open-house event celebrating her new district office at 136 4th St. N, Suite 201, in downtown St. Petersburg. A dedicated staff is now onsite to assist with immigration and IRS issues, social services, veterans’ benefits and general concerns.

Florida’s 14th Congressional District shifted boundaries last year, to the dismay of many citizens and area officials. Castor now represents all of Tampa, downtown St. Pete and portions of Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties.

“It is so fantastic to be back in the Sunshine City,” said Castor. “One of the reasons that my team and I thought it was important to have a ceremonial swearing-in (here) … is because I wanted you all to bear witness to the fact that I am wholly committed to lifting up the people of St. Petersburg and representing them with my whole heart.” Read more

Pioneering Alpha Kappa Alpha Women Who Inspire Generations

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Some 115 years later, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., historically known as America’s first Greek-letter organization, is soaring into 2023.

Founded on Jan. 15, 1908, the sorors of Alpha Kappa Alpha will be celebrating their 115th International Founders’ Day. They are continuing the legacy of the nine Howard University founders who were among the fewer than 1,000 Black students enrolled in higher education institutions in 1908.

The pretty AKA’s are represented by a dynamic group of notable and honorary members that includes the likes of Sheila Jackson Lee, Loretta DevineVanessa Bell CallowayJada Pinkett-Smith, Maya Angelou, Ntozake Shange, Alice Walker, Iyanla Vanzant, Julie Dash, Ella Fitzgerald, Alicia Keys, Gladys Knight, Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, C. Delores Tucker, Suzanne de Passe, Catherine Hughes, Mae Jemison, Dr. Wangari Muta Maathai, Eleanor Roosevelt, Zina Garrison and C. Vivian Stringer. Read more

Promising Updates in Tyre Nichols Case [Update]

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Tyre Nichols, 29, died at the hospital from life-threatening injuries following a traffic stop by Memphis police, per The Associated Press. After his family took to the streets demanding justice, the officers involved were in BIG trouble.

Previously, the Memphis Police Department said the officers who pulled Nichols over were facing discipline following an internal investigation. That punishment was being relieved of duty, pending the investigation from the state bureau, per NBC News. Read more

Meet Princess Jenkins, Owner Of Harlem’s The Brownstone

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Princess Jenkins, proud owner of Harlem-based boutique The Brownstone, was recently awarded a $5,000 grant after being named one of the winners of the first Carver Federal Savings Bank and The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce 2022 Minority Women-Owned Business Pitch Competition. The goal of the competition? To get minority women-owned businesses to pitch a plan that will help make their businesses more environmentally friendly.

Jenkins, whose store specializes in selling, styling, and tailoring women’s clothing from sizes 12-20, won the competition by pitching a virtual catalog for her boutique, as opposed to the 200,000-page print catalogs that would traditionally go to her 5,000 customers. In her pitch, Jenkins included a shocking fact to help put into perspective how important her plan is for the environment. “We are going to save the lives of 200 trees,” she said. “And if you were to line them up they would go across 125th street from beginning to end, and you’d still have trees left.” In addition to a virtual catalog, the entrepreneur will also use part of the grant money to install environmentally friendly lighting inside the boutique. Read more

Meet Diane Da Costa, CEO & Founder of SimpleeBEAUTIFUL

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Diane Da Costa, a celebrity stylist, and the CEO and founder of SimpleeBEAUTIFUL, an eco-friendly, all-natural salon, and brand based in Harlem, New York, was awarded $5,000 last month after being named one of the winners of the first Carver Federal Savings Bank and The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce 2022 Minority Women-Owned Business Pitch Competition.

Da Costa, who is the author of the book, Textured Tresses: The Ultimate Guide to Maintaining and Styling Natural Hair, won the competition by pitching biodegradable packaging for her new line of SimpleeBEAUTIFUL CBD wellness products, a new energy-efficient HVAC system, new LED lighting, and a new low-flow toilet system. Her new CBD line, BTW, is not just another business idea: it’s personal. After being in the beauty industry for more than 35 years, she’s developed long-standing injuries. Implementing CBD into her products is a way for her and many of her clients to relieve the pain. Read more

Coco Gauff Grabs Milestone 100th WTA Tour Win With Victory Over Emma Raducanu In Australian Open 2nd Round

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The entire tennis world has descended on Melbourne, Australia as the first Grand Slam of the year gets into full swing. While the world’s No. 1 ranked Iga Świątek is still the favorite, young American phenom Coco Gauff has everyone talking about the roll she’s on right now.

She followed up her big win at a warm-up tournament in Auckland, New Zealand with an impressive 6-1, 6-4 first-round win over Kateřina Siniaková. She got her 100th WTA tour win with a headline-making 6-3, 7-6 victory over 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu. Coco’s power game was too much for Raducanu, who is coming off of an ankle injury in Auckland. Emma may be the one with a Grand Slam title, but Coco is clearly a better player. She’s hitting her peak, while the British 20-year-old is still finding her footing and getting comfortable on the top level of the WTA tour. Despite the difference in their experience level, there was a lot of pressure surrounding this highly-anticipated match between two of the sport’s rising stars. Coco explained how she approached the second-round match-up in her on-court interview. Read more

Bank of America Customers Woke Up To Zero Balances, Mysterious Transactions In A Bad Week For Banks

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It’s one thing when you don’t have money in your account because you hit the mall or the club a little too hard. But it’s an entirely different feeling when you don’t have money, and it’s the bank’s fault. On Wednesday, January 18, Bank of America customers woke up shaken when they found strange Zelle transactions and unexplainable negative balances associated with their accounts. Read more

‘Spice Girl’, Popular Owner Of D.C.’s Spice Suite Buys The Block-Owns $1M Strip Mall For Black-Owned Businesses

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Washington, D.C.’s Langdon neighborhood is getting its own mini strip mall full of Black-owned women-run businesses.

Angel Gregorio has purchased a $1 million property as the new location for her spice shop that she has dubbed The Spice Suite.

According to Dcist, the 7,500 square foot lot will be the home to four other Black-owned salon businesses within the upcoming weeks, including hair, nails, waxing, and braiding services.

The strip mall that Gregorio called “Black and Forth,” had its soft launch to cut the ribbon to the location.

“It was just this catchy, cool name that I created for how I describe my process of going back and forth with Black business owners,” Gregorio said. “And now it is the name of a shopping center—a strip mall —that I own in D.C. So I feel good about that and I’m grateful to be in the space.” Read more

Brian Lamb, Managing Director & Northeast Segment Head For JPMorgan Chase, To Receive 2023 Horatio Alger Award

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Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., a nonprofit educational organization honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals and encouraging youth to pursue their dreams through higher education, today announced that Brian Lamb,managing director and Northeast segment head for Middle Market Banking & Specialized Industries at JPMorgan Chase,has been selected for membership in this prestigious organization.

Mr. Lamb joins 12 other exceptional business, civic and cultural leaders from across North America in receiving 2023 honors. For 76 years, the Horatio Alger Award has been annually bestowed upon esteemed individuals who have succeeded despite facing adversities, and who have remained committed to education and charitable efforts in their communities. Read more

Wes Moore Set To Be Inaugurated As Maryland’s First Black Governor

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Maryland’s 63rd governor will make history before February arrives. Wes Moore is set to be sworn in today as Maryland’s first Black governor.

Moore intends to keep the historic context going during the inauguration. The Associated Press reports that before his speech, Moore will have a wreath-laying ceremony at the Annapolis City Dock, one of the region’s slave ports. The docks hold a memorial for Kunta Kinte, the slave who arrived in 1767 and was the subject of Alex Haley‘s classic book (and later miniseries) Roots.

Moore will take his oath on the Bible owned by another Maryland history-maker, Frederick Douglass. His speech will have him face the mall in front of the Capitol where a statue of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall is held. Read more

High School Secretary Is Out Of A Job After Calling MLK Day “N-Word Day”

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I thought most snarky comments about Black holidays were about Juneteenth but apparently Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a topic of conversation too. A secretary at a Louisiana high school made a wack joke referring to the holiday as N****r Day in a text that got exposed and ended up costing her her job, according to a Daily Mail report.

Ouachita Parish Junior High School secretary Nelwyn Fontana (or should I say former secretary) allegedly sent a series of text messages to someone she referred to as “coach” discussing the day off. Read more

Tyler Perry Eyeing Opportunity To Buy FDA Lab To Prevent Air Pollution In Black Community

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Tyler Perry at the world premiere of Marvel Studios Black Panther: Wakanda Forever held at the Dolby Theatre on October 26, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

Tyler Perry‘s plan of creating a cleaner and safer community in an all-Black neighborhood in Atlanta became a topic of discussion after the mogul expressed interest in purchasing the Forces Command building. 

According to SaportaReport, before the compound — which is next to Tyler Perry Studios — was approved to be sold by McPherson Implementing Local Redevelopment Authority (MILRA) in August 2019 for $17 million, it was a military training building. Immediately following the approval, Easterly Government Properties bought the complex with the intention of renting the space to the Food and Drug Administration for future laboratories. 

At the time, it was reported that the compound would be ready for use by 2021, but because of the global pandemic and the FDA’s decision to cut back on its expansion, that has yet to happen.  Read more

Uncle Nearest Launches Initiative To Raise $1M For Underfunded Historically Black Colleges & Universities

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Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, the top-selling Black-owned spirits brand in the world, announced the launch of its HBCU Old Fashioned Challenge, a nationwide initiative to raise $1 million dollars for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Kicked off on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and extending through Black History Month and Women’s History Month in February and March, respectively, the program will raise money to be distributed amongst the country’s top 58 ranked HBCUs to use as they see fit, according to a press release.

Through the HBCU Old Fashioned Challenge, Uncle Nearest not only aims to raise money for these institutions but to shine a light on their contributions to workforce diversity and the role they play in economic mobility. HBCUs make up less than 3% of college institutions, but they enroll 10% of all African American students and produce almost 20% of all African American graduates. These graduates have gone on to hold high-income jobs, making up 40% of Black judges, 50% of Black doctors and lawyers, and 40% of Black engineers. Underfunding of HBCUs leads to lower graduation rates due to student debt and lack of resources, as well as causes understaffing and underrepresentation of Black faculty members. Read more

Founder Of Largest Group Of Black Female Investors In California Celebrates 25 Years Of Trading & Investing

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Meet Sonya Weaver-Johnson, a private investment arena groundbreaker and the founder of Sage Investment Club, California’s largest all-female African American investment group.

Sonya is also a Tech Industry Executive at Microsoft where she’s been working for almost ten years and is proof that Black women are making their presence known in many spaces across America, from the boardroom to the hallowed halls of the highest court.

While working as a proprietary day trader, Sonya says that she was surprised to learn that women were less likely to invest in the stock market than their male peers. This startling fact inspired her to form a community of women she would personally equip with the knowledge to become skilled investors. From the outset, she began educating women about capital markets, offering a proven investment strategy and a simple platform for trading. Read more

St. Petersburg Stakeholders Celebrate USF President

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Local leaders joined University of South Florida St. Petersburg officials and students to commemorate and honor Rhea Law as the institution’s eighth president Tuesday.

The Presidential Inaugural Reception offered local stakeholders a chance to recognize her presidency formally. The event precedes her Investiture Ceremony at the Yuengling Center on the Tampa campus on Jan. 19.

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, Mayor Ken Welch, and City Councilmembers Gina Driscoll and Ed Montanari were among the attendees. Melissa Seixas, president of St. Petersburg-based Duke Energy Florida, noted the diversity in the USFSP ballroom, with students and current and former elected officials mingling alongside each other. Read more

Local Prenatal Coparenting Study Shows Lasting Benefits

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Leadership from several St. Petersburg community organizations and the University of South Florida came together to study the enduring positive impacts of coparenting interventions in unmarried African American families.

After a decade of planning, recruitment, and volunteer work, the preeminent Infant Mental Health Journal published the results in its December 2022 issue. The report details how a meticulously curated program called “Figuring it Out for the Child (FIOC)” led to more emotionally and physically healthy babies and improved relationship dynamics in unwed parents.

USF St. Petersburg’s Family Study Center (FSC) led the initiative – but it was only made possible through ongoing partnerships with several local organizations, such as the Next STEPP Pregnancy Center.

“There are many families in our city now with infants and small children who have benefitted from our having successfully completed the work,” said James McHale, director of the FSC. Read more

St. Pete Works Is Hiring!

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St. Pete Works is funded by the City of St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area (car) and implemented by St. Petersburg College.
We are a Workforce collaboration of community organizations working to increase employment opportunities for youths and adults living in the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA). Apply here

How Russia Became Africa’s Favorite Superpower

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When war erupted between Russia and Ukraine, a line formed at the Russian Embassy in Addis Ababa with a few dozen Ethiopians ready to fight for Russia.

Why this response?

To understand some Africans’ views of Russia as their favorite superpower, you have to understand how the West has failed Africans repeatedly, not to mention the legacy of Western colonialism that Africans still suffer from to this day. Read more

LeBron Tops 38,000 points, Inches Closer To Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Record

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LeBron James has become the second NBA player in history to pass 38,000 career points. 

The Los Angeles Lakers star, 38, is now only 363 points away from tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time record of 38,387 points in his nearly 20-year career. CNN is reporting that James needed 11 points to reach the milestone of 38,000 points, which he achieved in the first quarter of Sunday’s game between the Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers. James ended the game with 35 points 10 assists and eight rebounds but the Lakers ultimately lost 113-112. Read more.

Urban League of Hillsborough County,  Cyber Security Training Courses

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The Urban League of Hillsborough County is sourcing candidates for two upcoming Cyber Security training courses:

  • 24 week part-time program
  • 12-week full time program 

Please take some time to research the Cyber Security career field and share your interest with us at [email protected]. These training programs have a selection process due to the demands and intensity of the program as well as the available support mechanisms to assist the selected participants.

City of Clearwater, FL Hiring: Senior Systems Programmer

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THE CITY OF CLEARWATER IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER TARGET ENTRY SALARY: $71,188 – $78,306 DOQ POSITION IS OPEN UNTIL FILLED. Apply here

Sugar Hill Challenges St. Pete Chamber’s endorsement For Tropicana Field Redevelopment

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One of the teams that want to redevelop Tropicana Field is crying foul over the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce’s endorsement of a competitive proposal.

The St. Pete chamber endorsed a proposal from the Tampa Bay Rays and global developer Hines in a Jan. 12 op-ed in the Tampa Bay Times. On Tuesday, Sugar Hill Community Partners sent a letter to the chamber leadership, expressing disappointment and surprise at the endorsement.

Sugar Hill finished second to Miami-based Midtown Development under former Mayor Rick Kriseman’s request for proposals to redevelop the 86-acre property. Mayor Ken Welch threw out responses to the Kriseman RFP in the summer of 2022 and restarted the process; Sugar Hill was one of four teams to respond to Welch’s RFP. Read more.

A New Monument Dedicated To MLK & Coretta Scott King Prompts Mockery & Criticism

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Backlash ensued soon after a monument meant to honor Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife Coretta Scott King’s legacy in Boston was unveiled.

The 20-foot tall, 40-foot wide “The Embrace” statue was unveiled Friday on Boston Common, where King gave a speech on April 23, 1965, to a crowd of 22,000. The statue was inspired by a photograph of King and Scott King which captured them hugging after he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Read more.

United Way Suncoast Hiring: Director, Grant Development

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Qualifications & Skills for Success: (Apply Here)

  • Eight years of relevant experience is preferred; an equivalent combination of education and progressive experience may be accepted.
  • Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field
  • Ability to work some evening and weekend hours
  • Bilingual or multilingual (English/Spanish/Creole) is a plus.

Williams Park Bandshell Revitalization Moves Forward

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St. Petersburg city officials are allocating funding for much-needed repairs and upgrades at downtown Williams Park’s “iconic” bandshell.

The estimated $1.95 million project would allow for more performances and events at Williams Park, bring its bandshell into Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and prepare the facility for a historic designation. Bryan Eichler, parks and field operations superintendent, provided city council members with an update on the process during the Jan. 12 Budget, Finance, and Taxation Committee meeting.

Eichler said the bandshell is one of a few “iconic structures” in St. Petersburg’s many greenspaces and noted Williams Park is the city’s oldest. Named after John Constantine Williams, one of the city’s co-founders, it officially opened at 3rd Street and 1st Avenue North in 1888. Read more.

Driver Seemingly Exposes Cop’s Record For Ticketing Black People During Stops

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A TikToker has done the Lord’s work, exposing a cop for prejudice and reading him for absolute filth. In a video of a traffic stop, Charlotte Carter called out a Chesterfield, Va. officer for ticketing mostly Black people while on duty, a trend reported across all of the state’s police departments, per the Daily Mail.

Carter, 36, recorded herself during a traffic stop informing an officer she’s hip to how often he pulls over Black people. Specifically, she claims out of all the drivers he’d stopped in the last few months, the majority of them were Black. Read more.

St. Petersburg Housing Authority Opening Wait List Monday, January 9th

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Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) will be accepting applications for its Public Housing waiting list, beginning at 12:00 a.m. EST on Monday, January 9, until 5:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, January 12, 2023. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, SPHA is accepting applications online at https://www.waitlistcheck.com/FL2738-4078

Olympic Champion Usain Bolt’s Financial Accounts Missing Millions

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Usain Bolt (JAM). (Photo by Eddy LEMAISTRE/Corbis via Getty Images)

An investigation is underway after it was discovered Bolt’s investment portfolio held by Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL) was missing millions of dollars, and now Jamaica’s Financial Investigations Division and Financial Services Commission has taken up the case to uncover what occurred, The Guardian reports.

On Wednesday, Bolt who is easily one of the highest-paid athletes in the world and made $33 million in endorsement deals in 2016 alone, discovered that his accounts had major discrepancies. Read more.

Senior Housing Grants Now Available From Senior Citizens Services (SCS) at Pinellas Community Foundation (PCF) – Deadline: January 18, 2023

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Senior Citizens Services (SCS) at Pinellas Community Foundation (PCF) is now accepting preliminary applications from non-profit organizations for the Housing grant cycle.

These grants use a two-step application process. If you plan to apply, please carefully read the information below to ensure your organization submits it in a thorough and timely manner.

Black People And The Rest Of The Nation Differ On What Kind Of Racism Harms Black America More

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While Black people say that structural racism is worse for them, other groups are more focused on the attention-grabbing, viral Karen moments, according to a recent study.

The survey, done by the Pew Research Center, revealed that more than half of Black U.S. citizens find structural racism (or discrimination in U.S. laws) as a bigger issue more detrimental than the incessant, one-off racist incidents that happen between people.

Around 65% of adults in America find that individual racist actions against Black people are a bigger problem than any extensive discriminatory laws and institutions. White, Asian, and Hispanic adults mostly believe that individual racism is a more important issue. Read more.

St. Pete Chamber To Host 124th Annual Meeting & Networking Event

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The St. Pete Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting is one of the biggest and most important business events every year, and its 124th iteration is right around the corner. Presented by the Tampa Bay Rays and Rowdies, this year’s meeting takes place Wednesday, January 25 from 7:30-10 am at Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, located at 2333 34th St S.

A collection of some of St. Pete’s most impactful and influential figures, the annual meeting brings together business members, community leaders, and emerging newcomers for a morning of connections, conversations, and meaningful work over coffee, mimosas, and lite bites. Tickets are limited, available here at $25 for Chamber members and $50 for non-members. Read more.

Pinellas County Urban League – Get Covered Florida

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Signing up for an Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace health insurance plan is an important step in keeping you and your family healthy. And, you may get help paying for your plan.

(727) 498-4000

ACA Marketplace plans can help a wide range of individuals

Is This You?

  • Self-employed or independent contractor
  • Unemployed or working fewer hours than normal
  • Not working because you’re caring for children or elderly parents
  • Never had insurance and am not sure how it works
  • Think you can’t afford coverage or don’t need it because you’re healthy
  • Putting your own care last so your family can get care
  • Plan to pay for health care as you go
  • Waiting until you qualify for Medicare

A Monument To Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. & Coretta Scott King Love

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This past summer, workers at the Walla Walla Foundry, in the state of Washington, fashioned giant fingers, arms, hands, and a bracelet, to capture a shining moment in history. All the pieces are now assembled, and this Friday, one of the largest memorials dedicated to racial equality will be unveiled in America’s oldest public park, Boston Common.

It’s called “The Embrace,” and to design it, Hank Willis Thomas pored over hundreds of images of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his wife, Coretta Scott King. “There was an intimacy that I saw that wasn’t really highlighted often,” Thomas said. “Often when you do look closely at pictures, they’re holding each other’s hands.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. hugs his wife, Coretta, during a news conference following the announcement that he had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Read more.

The Youngest Judge In Texas

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Knowledge, accountability, and trust will be the cornerstones of Judge Katherine “Kat” Thomas’s tenure at the 184th Criminal District Court. Thomas is committed to public service and restoring trust in our system. After earning a degree from Spelman College and an internship with President Barack Obama, she graduated from Howard Law and came back home to Houston. Thomas has made her career fighting to help others, and she’s working to make our communities safe.

With a dare from a mentor, Thomas was given 24 hours to decide to run for judge.  She was told, “Why Not You?” You have the credentials, drive, passion, desire, and knowledge to be a Judge.  Why allow your age to be a barrier to achieving this goal?”  So, without allowing doubt to consume her, Thomas told her mentor, “I am going for it.” Read more.

Black Excellence Summit 3rd Annual Business Workshops/Job & Vendor Fair

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February 4, 2023, at 9 AM. Pinellas Technical College – St. Pete (901 34th St. S, St. Pete)

VP Kamala Harris Gets Real About Environmental Racism

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No one likes thinking about climate change. There’s a reason every supernatural villain these days is a thinly-veiled allegory to a rapidly warming earth (looking at you, White Walkers). But unfortunately, it’s not the kind of thing any of us can choose to ignore.

Vice President Kamala Harris seems to have gotten that message loud and clear. On Thursday, the VP hit the road along with Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to discuss the climate crisis at the University of Michigan. Read more.

Copy of Monthly USGov Virtual JobExpo/Career Fair – Tampa

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USGovClub: Virtual Campus JobFair are conducted First Friday of every month..

Event Link:https://USGov.club/wertual/jobfair

To participate:

1. Create an account on https://USGov.club [link: https://USGov.club/login/]

2. Visit https://USGov.club/wertual/jobfair and register your interest

3. Participants then go to USGovClub Virtual JobExpo settings page to complete the profile

4. 2-3 days before the event, JobSeekers participants with the completed profile will be contacted about the possible matches on their profile.

5. On the day of the event, JobSeekers and Recruiters will visit their JobExpo page to participate in USGovClub Virtual JobExpo. Read more.

USF College of Business: Spring 2023 Accounting Career Fair – January 27, 2023

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The Accounting Career Fair is a great way for students to network and make connections with business professionals.

Fri, January 27, 2023, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST

Marshall Student Center Ballroom 4103 USF Cedar Circle Tampa, FL 33620

The Soul Of St. Pete Is On The Line, And Only One Tropicana Field Developer’s Proposal Is Most Worth Considering

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Which is worse: the flagrant injustice committed in a prior century’s ignorance or continued inequity today, softened by the healing language of acknowledgment and repair? How does a city manage to honor its history while repeating its worst past? These questions run through my head as I slog through the four Tropicana Field proposals, under public response and decision by St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch this January.

We know the story. Jim Crow segregation kept the city’s Black population to close quarters after the 1930s. African-Americans resented the official and unofficial redlining, fought back, and forged community within segregated spaces. Pernicious urban planning leveled those spaces. Interstate 175 mowed down Sugar Hill, the homes of leading Black families along what used to be Fifth Avenue South, in the 1970s. Read more.

Damar Hamlin Released From The Hospital

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Bills safety Damar Hamlin was released from a Buffalo hospital on Wednesday, more than a week after he went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated during a game at Cincinnati, after his doctors said they completed a series of tests.

A news release from the Bills quoted Dr. Jamie Nadler as saying: “We have completed a series of tests and evaluation and in consultation with the team physicians, we are confident that Damar can be safely discharged.” Nadler said Hamlin will continue his rehabilitation with the Bills. Read more.

Students Take Stand: File Civil Rights Lawsuit Against Georgia School District After BLM Gear Ban

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Washington D.C., USA - December 13, 2014: A young woman holds a sign at the protest march in Washington DC to bring attention to the recent shooting deaths of several unarmed black men by police.

Students at a high school in Georgia are taking a stand to wear what they want.

Two students from Effingham County High School and one from Effingham College and Career Academy filed a civil rights lawsuit after the district banned students from wearing clothes with Black Lives Matter messaging.

The 12-page lawsuit, obtained by WBTW, claims the ban places a “deliberate indifference to acts of racial animosity” toward Black students attending the schools. It also outlines how certain administrators went the extra mile in “an egregious pattern of deliberately ignoring complaints.” Read More.

Kevin Hart, and Meek Mill Donate $7 Million To Philly Area Students

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Rapper Meek Mill and actor/comedian Kevin Hart are joining forces with former Sixers owner Michael Rubin to help students in the Philadelphia area. Mill and Hart, who are also Philly natives, announced this week that they are committing $7 million to provide scholarships and educational materials to help local students in need in the 2023-2024 school year.

The funds will be used to provide scholarships for low-income students at 60 “private and parochial schools in need,” as well as laptops, tablets, WiFi connections, and other educational materials. Eligible families must provide proof of income along with demographic information in order to receive the funds through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program. Read more.

Sixth Annual Black Male Kwanzaa Summit

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The My Brothers and Sisters Keeper program held its sixth annual Black Male Kwanzaa Summit on Dec. 30 at the Enoch Davis Center. Held on the fifth day of Kwanzaa, the summit tackled the principle of purpose (Nia).

“I believe we all have a God-given purpose in life — something we were born to do, and you might not even know what you’re born to do. I thought I was going to be a rock star, but it didn’t turn out that way,” said Mayor Ken Welch. “But the things I’ve learned and the mentors I had in my life — folks like Vyrle Davis, Watson Haynes, my dad, and my uncles — instilled in me what I had to.”

Master of ceremony Corey Givens, Jr. encouraged the audience to pause for a moment and honor our ancestors who survived the horrid trip from Africa as human cargo to toil in enslavement and those who fought for our rights as human beings in a country that viewed them as less than. Read more.

The Torch Has Passed, Same Vibe!

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William Walker said that while he may be a graduate of Lakewood High School, another high school in St. Pete means just as much to him.

His parents attended Gibbs High School, the only school in the city for Black students until 1969. For decades, the Gibbs Class of 1968, the last graduating class before integration, held a fundraiser every year in honor of those times and as a way to continue promoting the importance of education, providing scholarships for African-American youth throughout the city.

The yearly fundraiser was yet another casualty of the pandemic until Walker and his organization, Classes Unite, LLC., decided they wanted to keep the tradition alive.

Last month, the organization brought back the annual holiday extravaganza with more than 1,000 people descending on the historic Coliseum for a night of dancing, catching up with old friends and making new ones, and of course, raising funds for scholarships. Read more.

Angela Bassett Makes Marvel History With Golden Globe Win For ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

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Angela Bassett made history on Tuesday night in Los Angeles, when she won the Golden Globe for best supporting actress in a film for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” becoming the first performer to win a Globe in an acting category for their role in a Marvel film.

Bassett accepted the trophy for her role as Queen Ramonda in the “Black Panther” sequel, which was marked by the absence of the late titular star Chadwick Boseman. Read more.

2023 MLK Celebration Career & Resource Fair

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The St. Pete Works collaborative, led by the St. Petersburg College, in partnership with the City of St. Petersburg and the Pinellas County Urban League is looking to get our community back to work!! Please join us on Wednesday, January 18th, 2023 at Enoch Davis Center from 11 am -3 pm for the MLK Celebration Career and Resource Fair. Social services agencies will be there, along with helpful resources, including:

  • On-the-Spot Interviews
  • Educational Assistance
  • Mobile Medical Services
  • Information and Referral
  • Resume Help
  • Department of Motor Vehicles
  • Clothes Closet
  • Identification Assistance
  • Employment Assistance
  • Expungement Information
  • Voter Registration Education
  • And much more… Register here.

Advocates And Leaders Concerned Biden’s New Border Policies Will Burden Black Migrants

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As the Biden-Harris administration seeks to strengthen security and reduce surges at the U.S.-Mexico border, advocates for Black migrants say some of the president’s new policies will add to what they argue are long-existing racial biases in the United States immigration system. 

President Joe Biden made his first trip to the southern border in Texas on Sunday to assess border security in the region, then traveled to Mexico for a host of meetings this week. Biden’s trips to Texas and Mexico come days after announcing new sweeping border and immigration policy measures. One of those announced rules will expand the administration’s enforcement of Title 42, a Trump-era public health law enforced during the COVID-19 pandemic that has been long loathed by immigration advocates. Read more.

Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival Returns This February In The Historic Deuces Corridor

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One of St. Pete’s tastiest cultural events is back for 2023. The Publix Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival takes place on Saturday, February 18 from 10 am – 5 pm at the Dr. Carter G Woodson African American Museum (2240 9th Avenue South).

The Publix Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival, Inc (TBCGF, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) charity invested in the overall health and well-being of Tampa Bay. The huge block party fills the streets around the Woodson Museum with activities including a collard green cook-off, live music, a local market, games, and more. Read more.

The Aftermath: Week 18 – Tampa Bay/Atlanta

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17, Atlanta Falcons 3o (Jan. 8)

So here the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sit at 8-9, a losing record. What if I told you they have a losing record but they’re in the playoffs, and they clinched their division in week 17 against the North Carolina Panthers? Well I am telling you – because it happened. That’s right, ladies and gents, our boys won the bad division lottery.  

They capped off the regular season by losing (an albeit inconsequential game) this week to the division-rival Atlanta Falcons. It doesn’t bother me that they lost the game, but that they lost it 30-17. And it could have been a lot worse. Yes, the Bucs pulled most of their starters during the second quarter. I understand the Bucs not playing their starters and risking them getting hurt. I understand that’s the bigger picture. Read more.

Canopy Oaks, A New Community Of Homes On MLK, Begins Construction

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A new community of homes is coming to the MLK corridor, as construction has officially begun on nine new residences in the Euclid St. Paul neighborhood. St. Petersburg-based Backstreets Capital and Canopy Builders announced last month that construction is now underway on Canopy Oaks, a new residential community in Euclid St. Paul.

The collection of homes will feature six luxury townhomes, two villas, and a single-family residence. Canopy Oaks is located at 1920 Dr. MLK Jr. St. North, along the growing and bustling MLK corridor. Developers say the new builds will be designed to maintain the charm and aesthetics of the neighborhood, while also meeting the needs of local homeowners. The project is expected to be completed by late 2023. Read more.

St. Pete Shuffle’s 11th Annual Tweed Ride Arrives This January

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Get ready to bike the Burg in style. On Saturday, January 21, hundreds of people in vintage attire will take to the streets on old-school bikes for a four-mile loop through downtown as part of the St. Pete Shuffleboard Club’s 11th annual Tweed Ride. Tickets are on sale now here.

The annual favorite is a St. Pete staple, as the party kicks off with tea and scones at the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club before the group rides through downtown, complete with a police escort. More than 400 riders are expected this year, dressed in their best tweed or other vintage clothing.

After the ride, participants will return to the SPSC to enjoy a concert by Junco Royals, swing dancing, and a meal by Heavy’s, as well as beer from presenting sponsor (and downtown favorite) Cycle Brewing. Read more.

Tampa Bay Schools Receive Nearly $14M From State Funds To Boost Nursing Programs

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Tampa Bay schools and universities have received $13.9 million as part of a nearly $80 million initiative to boost nursing education throughout the state.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office announced it was deploying the funds to high-performance nursing programs across Florida. The funds will go toward 10 local institutions’ scholarship funds, equipment, faculty recruitment, and other needed support. Read more.

Welch May Name Trop Redevelopment Team on Jan. 30

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St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch is expected to announce which team he has selected to redevelop the Historic Gas Plant District by the end of the month.

Welch is giving his State of the City address on Jan. 30 at 11 a.m. The city said in a release that Welch would be making a “major announcement about the future of the Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment project at the State of the City.” Read more.

Hiring: USF Health-Data Analyst

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The USF College of Nursing is one of 14 colleges that comprise the University of South Florida, the fastest-rising university in America, according to U.S. News and World Report 2022. Serving over 2,200 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students each year, the College of Nursing is recognized as a leader in nursing education, research, and community engagement. Our program is distinguished for having the highest rank among public nursing master’s programs in Florida by U.S. News and World Report. Apply here.

Hiring: City of St. Petersburg – Computer Systems Coordinator

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This is specialized supervisory, professional, and technical work in planning and coordinating the procurement, implementation, operation, and maintenance of the St. Petersburg Police Department’s information systems and related equipment. Work involves the coordination of Information with City staff, external vendors, technicians, and other government agencies in the research, development, analysis, procurement, installation, modification, updating, operation, and maintenance of new or existing data and information systems, including related equipment and peripherals. Apply here.

Atwater’s To Be Revitalized By Grandson Of The Original Owners, Local Artist Two

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Atwaters has served south St. Pete for decades. Local artist Two, who has earned acclaim in the southeast for his music, is now setting his sights and talents on revitalizing the dormant culinary gem. Many will remember that Eric Atwater spent the majority of his time during the pandemic providing free breakfast/lunch for children in his surrounding community.

Two took to Instagram to announce his intentions with the space: “In this lifetime I’ve watched a lot of things fade away. Most of them were out of my control. But while I’m still here with air in my lungs and more life to live I refuse to let my grandparents’ dream die. They worked so hard to keep this place open and thriving and now it’s just an empty shell,” wrote Two on January 6. Read more.

Foundation For A Healthy St. Pete Selects New Leaders

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As stewards of $170 million in assets meant to promote health equity throughout Pinellas County, dynamic leadership is critical for the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg’s (FHSP) success.

So its governing board decided to appoint both Carol Martin Brown and Carl Lavender as interim co-CEOs as they look to replace the organization’s embattled former leader.

The two will maintain their current roles with the nonprofit. Martin Brown serves as the chief financial and administrative officer, and Lavender guides community investments, partnerships, and programming as the chief equity officer.

While Lavender stressed he spoke from personal opinion, he believes the board decided to appoint two interim CEOs due to the complex dynamics of FHSP’s mission. Read more.

NFL Players Called Out For Mocking CPR On Field After Damar Hamlin’s Cardiac Arrest

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Players on the Pittsburgh Steelers are being called out by NFL fans for their behavior during Sunday’s match against the Cleveland Browns. Alex Highsmith made a successful tackle against his opponent. Highsmith then laid on the field when his teammate decided to go over to him and start performing mock CPR.

This stunt comes days after Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after making a tackle on Monday Night Football during a match against Cincinnati Bengals. Read more.

Judge Upholds Lawsuit Against VA Cops Who Pepper Sprayed Black Army Lt.

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A judge moved Lt. Caron Nazario’s million-dollar lawsuit forward against the two Virginia police officers who pepper-sprayed him during a traffic stop, per ABC News. Nazario says what the officers claimed to be a routine traffic stop resulted in an illegal car search and false imprisonment.

According to the video footage of the incident, Windsor officers Daniel Crocker and Joe Gutierrez approached Nazario at a gas station with their guns drawn. The officers demanded he steps out of the vehicle but Nazario refused, asking why he was being stopped. “I’m honestly afraid to get out,” he said. “You should be,” Gutierrez responded then proceeded to pepper spray him through the open window. Read more.

Hotly-debated Coquina Key Housing Development Receives City Approval

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An expansive and hotly-debated redevelopment project in Coquina Key has taken a significant step to move forward with plans to revitalize Coquina Key Plaza. After receiving approval on an amendment to the zoning map, the 14.2-acre project led by St. Pete-based real estate investment firm Stoneweg plans to bring a significant amount of housing and at least 20,000 square feet of retail space to the property located at 4350 6th Street South and 575 45th Avenue South.

Stoneweg later shared a revised developer’s agreement, specifically with regards to the retail space of the project, at which point the City Council could give the development a formal greenlight. Of course, while it appears the project is likely to move forward, further discussion and community input could potentially de-rail plans. Read More.

Red Apple Secures $252M In Financing For 400 Central

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The New York-based Red Apple Real Estate has secured $252 million in financing for the construction of its in-progress 46-story luxury residential tower in downtown St. Petersburg.

The financing for The Residences at 400 Center project is provided by Bank OZK, according to Red Apple’s Friday announcement. Bank OZK, (Nasdaq: OZK) through its Real Estate Specialties Group (RESG), is one of the most active construction lenders, participating in significant projects, including the mixed-use Water Street Tampa development. Read more.

FDOT Provides Update On $13 million St. Pete Project

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State and city officials hope an expansive roadway project will reduce the frequency and severity of traffic crashes and improve the quality of life along 5th Avenue North in St. Petersburg.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) held a virtual public meeting in December to discuss repaving and “urban corridor improvements” along a five-mile stretch of Alternate U.S. 19 (5th Ave.). The project will close medians to vehicular traffic at four intersections and add new pedestrian crosswalks.

An FDOT crash analysis found 1,184 crashes with 38 incapacitating injuries and six fatalities on the 5th Avenue corridor between Dr. Martin Luther King St. and Tyrone Boulevard between 2014 and 2018. The city has also undergone exponential growth in recent years. Read more.

USF Football Facility Receives Name After $5.1 Million Gift

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The University of South Florida’s much anticipated Indoor Performance Facility (IPF) officially has a name following a special Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday.

The board unanimously agreed to name the recently completed project the Porter Family Indoor Practice Facility. Jay Stroman, CEO of the USF Foundation, said the naming opportunity arose last year when J.D. Porter donated $5.1 million to the university.

However, Stroman said Porter asked to remain anonymous until the facility opened. Stroman noted that USF officials “took possession” of the IPF on Dec. 23 and planned a small function for donors at the site Wednesday night. The grand opening is next week, and Stroman said the timing felt right to end the speculation. Read more.

Competing Gas Plant/Trop Developers Face The Public

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Over 500 St. Pete residents and developers gathered in person at The Coliseum Wednesday evening to physically meet the development teams vying to redevelop the 86-acre Tropicana Field site – which will be the city’s largest transformative project. 

The proposers who responded to the city’s request for proposals are 50 Plus One Sports, Hines and Tampa Bay Rays (a joint proposal), Restoration Associates, and Sugar Hill Community Partners. The teams set up displays along a wall where clusters of curious people moved from one section to another, eyeing the various renderings that paint a picture of mixed-use destinations connected to a reimagined ballpark. Read more.

Bethune-Cookman University Hires NFL Hall OF Famer Ed Reed As Football Coach

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Bethune-Cookman University has hired NFL Hall of Famer Ed Reed to be its next football coach.

The announcement was made via the school’s athletic ebsite www.bcuathletics.com on Dec. 27.

Reed will become the 16th head coach in the school’s history. He replaces Terry Sims who was fired after seven seasons.

The Wildcats went 2-9 overall and 2-6 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in both 2021 and 2022.

Over the past two seasons and since their move to the SWAC, they have gone 4-18 overall and 4-12 in conference play.

Reed, 44, spent 12 seasons in the NFL, including 11 with the Baltimore Ravens where he won a Super Bowl, made nine Pro Bowls, and was selected All-Pro five times. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019. Read more.

Florida NCNW Coalition President Elected As A National Vice Chair

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Tempress “Tee” Solomon, president of the Florida Coalition of the National Council of Negro Women Inc., (NCNW) was elected as one of three vice chairs for the national organization during its 60th convention last month in Washington, D.C.

The Tampa resident is one of several Floridians elected to serve at the national level. Others include Thelma Bruce, of St. Petersburg, who was elected to the nominating committee while Sandra Gipson of Miami was elected as a member at large. Read more.

Remembering Rosewood 100 years After assacre

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The Descendants of Rosewood Foundation, Inc. will present the Remembering Rosewood Centennial commemoration from Jan. 8-14 at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

The centennial anniversary will honor the legacy of bravery, determination, and perseverance of the eight families impacted by the Rosewood Massacre of 1923, according to information provided about the weeklong commemoration.

It will honor the lives of those lost 100 years ago and explore what the next 100 years look like for Black America.

The  University of Florida is the host sponsor of the centennial commemoration, the title sponsor is  Holland & Knight Law Firm, and the presenting sponsor is the  Southern Poverty Law Center. Read more.

HBCUConnect 2023 Adfellows Fellowship Program Application Deadline: Friday, January 6, 2023!

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HBCUConnect.com has teamed up with several companies to provide this opportunity for college graduates, alumni, and those looking to start or change to a career in the marketing and advertising industry!

If you are a marketing/advertising/creative graphics alumni OR a recent graduate holding a marketing, advertising, public relations, or creative graphics degree OR if you do not hold any of those degrees but would like to break into the industry and have a strong interest and applied experience, then this exclusive marketing/advertising/public relations opportunity is for you! Learn more.

Cori Bush Says Republicans Are Using Black Speaker Candidate As A ‘Prop.’ In Other News, Water Is Wet

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Representative Cori Bush (D-Mo.) held nothing back when accused Republicans of using another Black lawmaker, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), as a “prop.” Conservatives who failed to support Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) clamored around Donalds on Wednesday. He received 20 votes for the speakership in the fourth and fifth rounds of voting.

In an attempt to justify this decision, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) quoted Martin Luther King Jr. and insisted that Republicans “do not seek to judge people by the color of their skin but rather the content of their character.” Donalds’ nomination means that for the first time in the history of Congress, both parties nominated a Black candidate to run the House. Read more.

Shocking Video Shows NYPD Ruthlessly Beating Black Girl

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A video is circulating on social media of an NYPD cop beating on a 14-year-old girl, according to the New York Daily News. The officer was reported to have struck the girl nine times and also hit the other teens who were trying to pull him off of her and shield her from the punches. The officer was suspended as a result.

On Tuesday, at the bus stop near Edwin Markham Middle School, Kyonna Robinson saw her 12-year-old sister get into a physical altercation with another girl. The report says Robinson jumped into the fight to defend her sister when the police arrived. The cop, identified as Nicholas Scalzo, went to arrest Robinson’s sister when Kyonna interjected, leading to another physical altercation. Read more.

Congressional Black Caucus Swears In Largest Caucus In History, Celebrates The Rise of Jeffries

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The CBC welcomed 58 members in the 118th Congress as the drama unfolds on Capitol Hill to elect the next speaker of the House.

A new and expanded Congressional Black Caucus was sworn in during a Tuesday ceremony for the 118th Congress. The swearing-in ceremony saw the installment of a historic 58 members of the caucus who serve 18 million Black Americans.

From the Anthem Theater at The Wharf in Washington, D.C., the group of Black lawmakers, comprising the largest ever CBC, focused on the progress of the last Congress and the leadership of the new Congress, particularly one of its own members, New York Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, who was elected as the new minority leader for the Democratic Party in the U.S. House of Representatives. Read more.

Inside Pinellas’ 2022 Economic Report

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The rise of a tech incubator and the creation of a new economic incentive program are key initiatives boosting the local economy, according to Pinellas County Economic Development’s 2022 annual report

This year, the county’s robust manufacturing base and tech sector thrived while the metro area reached new record-breaking low unemployment rates. 

In total, the county’s economic development department saw over $52 million in capital investment and 1,530 jobs created or retained. The county department also reported it logged 52 visits to businesses in attempting to recruit them and had 538 promising business engagements. Read more.

Bay Area Mayors Offer Latest Thoughts On The Region

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The Suncoast Tiger Bay Club kicked off its 45th year in grand fashion Tuesday, bringing the area’s most prominent leaders together to discuss the “State of the Bay.”

The University of South Florida St. Petersburg hosted the annual event, which featured Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. Local government officials and community stakeholders from across Tampa Bay filled the USFSP ballroom to hear the mayors’ thoughts.

Catalyst publisher Joe Hamilton moderated the discussion on topics dominating regional discourse. Welch reiterated his focus on intentional, inclusive progress in 2022, and Hamilton asked the first-year mayor if he thought residents needed some time to adjust to a “foundational change.” Read more.

How The Damar Hamlin Injury Unmasked The Unlikely Outcome We Fear Most

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The harrowing sight of Damar Hamlin — the 24-year-old safety for the Buffalo Bills — collapsing after being involved in a tackle on Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, on what appeared to be a routine play, will be the lasting image of the 2022-23 NFL season.

Football is a violent sport, one that comes with an inherent risk of injury, but most people don’t imagine seeing a life-altering tragedy in real time, in part because it seldom happens to young men in the physical prime of their lives. Despite the game’s danger, Frederick “Chuck” Hughes, a former wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, is believed to be the only NFL player to die on the football field. Hughes was 28 when he passed away during week six of the 1971 NFL season. Read more.

Black Atlanta City Councilwomen Call Out White Council President For Removing Them From Leadership

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President Doug Shipman of the Atlanta City Council has caused a political uproar after removing two Black women from leadership positions.

The two members, Andrea Boone and Marci Collier Overstreet, spoke to FOX 5 about Shipman’s decision to put “Black women in a backseat.”

Shipman, who is white, told the outlet that the move was not done out of spite as he intends to rotate the chairman seats “to give members different experiences,” he said. Read more.

The Aftermath: Week 17 – Tampa Bay/Carolina

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30, Carolina Panthers 24 (Jan. 1)

Playoffs?! Yes, we’re finally talking playoffs!

Congrats to the Bucs, who escaped a setback at home that would have surely made it extremely difficult to get in. It was a great team effort. I know a thing or two about the playoffs. I actually only know one thing, but that’s all it takes! The year we made it to the playoffs we rolled into them on a six-game losing streak. Fortunately for us, we did enough, in the beginning, to make sure we could win the division, and make it into the playoffs. We started 9-3, and it was looking good. A Monday night with the Carolina Panthers where they managed to do anything they wanted to us that night. It was a long night, but we kept grinding to secure a spot and the playoffs.

Now the Bucs could make the playoffs and win the NFC division south while having a losing-winning record. So to have this team battle and not give up and still stay relevant in week 17 is huge. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had nothing really going their way, except that Tom Brady was playing. Read more.

Tampa Vocational Institute Resource Center – NOW OPEN!

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No cost, Monday – Thursday from 9am-2pm

2605 North 43rd Street, Tampa, FL 33605

Phone: 813-513-736

CDC Of Tampa Job, Community & Resource Fair!

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Meet with local employers who are hiring and community organizations to explore job opportunities & community resources!

January 12, 2023 (9:00 am – 2:00 pm)

Ragan Park

1200 E Lake Ave, Tampa, FL 33605

NFL Player Damar Hamlin In Critical Condition After Frightening Monday Night Football Incident

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On Monday night the NFL made the unprecedented decision to suspend a prime-time football game after a frightening incident involving a player.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, 24, collapsed seconds after making a tackle early in the first quarter of the Bills’ Monday Night Football road game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Hamlin’s injury, which we now know was cardiac arrest, happened at 8:55 p.m., according to ESPN, which was broadcasting the game live. As Hamlin lay motionless, paramedics came to the field and administered CPR for almost 10 minutes to restart his heart, after which an ambulance was driven onto the field to transport Hamlin to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center at 9:25 p.m. He was reported to be in critical condition. Read more.

Great-Granddaughter Of Lynching Victim Becomes First Black Woman Justice On MI Supreme Court

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Kyra Harris Bolden made history when she was sworn in on the Michigan Supreme Court as the first Black female justice in the court’s 185-year history. She sat down for an interview with CNN anchor Poppy Harlow. Read more.

New Year, New You: Here Are The Best Moves To Begin Building Wealth In 2023

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Family saving money to piggy bank

Millions of people begin each year with a new year’s resolution but by February most people have already given up on their resolution.

But what if I told you your next resolution can make you rich if you stick with it? Would you follow through then?

Well, BLACK ENTERPRISE is helping you get a jump start on building wealth in the new year with some tips to get you started. However, before we start, you’ll have to come to grips with the fact that building wealth is not a fast or easy process.

Make a plan and budget

Building wealth takes planning and patience, identifying your goals and developing a plan to achieve them is the first step to any financial plan.

Sitting down and going through your finances can help you find out how much money is coming in, how much is going out, and if you need to make any adjustments to those. If you can afford it, hire a financial advisor or Certified Financial Planner (CFP) to help you begin your wealth-building plan. Read more.

Tampa Bay Named The Best Place To Live In Florida By Forbes

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Florida has become a hot spot for people looking to relocate over the past few years and the latest rankings by Forbes show that no place was hotter than Tampa Bay in 2022.

Forbes analyzes cities by pulling recent data on the area’s median home price, personal income per capita, and the unemployment and crime rate to form the rankings.

The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area took the top spot because of its appeal to both young adults and families that are looking for a long-term place to call home. 

“There are several beaches on the Gulf of Mexico, and the area is also home to several major sports teams, history museums, platforms promoting the arts, and impressive public transportation options,” Forbes wrote. Read more.

Deion Is Gone. Ed Reed is SWAC Now

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Neon Deion is no longer SWAC but it didn’t take long for another Pro Football Hall of Famer to take his place in the ranks of HBCU head coaches.

Ed Reed, who spent the majority of his career with the Baltimore Ravens before retiring in 2015, was announced yesterday as the next head coach at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach. The move has boosters of the school, which plays in the same Southwestern Athletic Conference that Deion Sanders just departed, hoping for a similar turnaround from its most recent 2-9 record in 2022. Read more.

If You’re Mad About Condoleeza Rice’s Role In Hiring The Denver Broncos Next Coach, Cry More

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Raise your hand if you have a job. Keep it up if the person who hired you was part of a broader interview committee that included people who weren’t necessarily experts at the specific thing you were being hired to do. Good, now that everyone in the room has their hand up, let’s have a conversation about Condolezza Rice, corporate America, and exactly who gets to be in which room when the jobs and paychecks are being handed out.

Fans and commentators tend to look at the NFL—and pro sports broadly—as unique entities in which the moves made by athletes on the field are only rivaled by the power moves being made by the billionaires in the owner’s suites. It’s not an entirely misguided perspective: The NFL is literally a playground for the elite, with entry into the club as a player or owner only available to the members of a titular class with either singular athletic gifts or plutocratic wealth. If you focus on that long enough, it’s easy to miss the ways in which the NFL parallels life on earth for those of us among the mortal ranks of fans. Read more.

Government Response to The Attack On The Capitol Would Have Looked Much Different If Rioters Had Been Black

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It’s what we’ve all been saying for nearly two years now. The response to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol would have looked drastically different if rioters had been Black. William Joseph Walker, the House Sergeant-at-Arms, who was the head of the D.C. National Guard at the time, echoes that same sentiment.

“I’m African American. Child of the sixties. I think it would have been a vastly different response if those were African Americans trying to breach the Capitol,” Walker told congressional investigators, in the interview transcript was released on Tuesday. “As a career law enforcement officer, part-time soldier, last five years full but, but a law enforcement officer my entire career, the law enforcement response would have been different.” Read more.

The Family Of A ‘Sweet, Giving’ Teen Girl Pleads For Answers Following Her Death

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The body of a teenage girl was found in an apartment complex dumpster the day after Christmas after being reported missing just a few short days beforehand. The case is now being investigated by Colorado authorities as a suspected homicide as the family continues to seek its own answers.

According to People, the victim was identified by family and friends on the morning of Dec. 26 as 16-year-old Tayanna Manuel. The body was located in the neighborhood of Gateway-Green Valley Ranch and, apparently, a shooting had taken place near the area three days earlier. Read more.

Catalyze 2023: Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders

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We’re asking thought leaders, business people, and creatives to talk about 2023 and give us catalyzing ideas for making St. Pete a better place to live. What should our city look like? What are their hopes, their plans, their problem-solving ideas? This is Catalyze 2023.

As a female African American business owner and community advocate, Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders brings a unique perspective to both the dais and her plans for the new year.

Her three priorities in 2023 intersect; Figgs-Sanders believes increasing educational opportunities and equity for underserved populations will also help reduce gun violence. While she is proud of what city officials – particularly Mayor Ken Welch – accomplished in those areas throughout the past year, Figgs-Sanders also realizes much work remains.

She called following St. Petersburg’s Structural Racism and Disparity Study recommendations a good start, as was creating an Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD). While Figgs-Sanders would like its name to reflect all areas of economic development, she said when those opportunities come, minority-owned businesses “need to be ready to answer.” Read more.

Catalyze 2023 City Of St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch

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We’re asking thought leaders, business people, and creatives to talk about 2023 and give us catalyzing ideas for making St. Pete a better place to live. What should our city look like? What are their hopes, their plans, and their problem-solving ideas? This is Catalyze 2023.

2023 will be a year in which we continue the growth and advancement of St. Petersburg, guided by our North Star of Inclusive and Principled Progress for all. Utilizing our Guiding Principles – the “Six I’s” – as a framework, the City’s progress will be advanced and shaped by the focused application of these principles, which reflect our community priorities. 

Intentional Equity – We will move forward with the most impactful project in our City in a century, the redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District. At my direction, the RFP was reissued in June with an emphasis on equitable redevelopment, including housing, job creation, and impactful and sustainable economic development opportunities, including minority business inclusion. The partnership with the City Council and Pinellas County Commission has been strong and the responses to the RFP are promising. I look forward to the development team presentations, community feedback, staff analysis, and the announcement of my selection of the most responsive proposal at the end of the month. Read more.

“The Year Of The Slap” & Best Of Black Culture 2022

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  1. ‘Woman King’ Box Office: The Secret Behind Its Success (And Why You Shouldn’t Rule Out A Sequel)

The competition between Hollywood studios is fierce and sharp as a spear. On the opening weekend of most films, rival executives are quick to judge (and snipe). That wasn’t so in the case of The Woman King, a Black female-led epic action-adventure that opened to a better-than-expected $19.1 million over the Sept. 16-18 weekend at the domestic box office.

“Usually, everyone is rooting against you,” says Sony Motion Picture Group co-chairman Josh Greenstein. “That’s so true, but everyone is coming together for this one. It’s a win for Hollywood,” TriStar president Nicole Brown, who guided the movie, told The Hollywood Reporter in a Sept. 20 joint interview with Greenstein. Read more.

2. Trevor Thanks The Fans & Black Women Who Shaped His Life | ‘The Daily Show’

Watch video.

3. Coca-Cola Florida, A Black-Owned Business, Named Best Managed Company In U.S. for 2022

Coca-Cola Florida, one of the largest Black-owned businesses in the U.S. and the largest in Florida, has been selected as a 2022 U.S. Best Managed Company.

Founded in 2015, Coca-Cola Florida is the third-largest privately held and sixth-largest minority-owned business in the state. The company, headquartered in Tampa, covers 47 counties in the state as well as Miami, Jacksonville, and Orlando.

The Ledger reports the award, sponsored by The Wall Street Journal and Deloitte Private, recognizes the outstanding achievements of private U.S. companies and their management.

“This recognition is a significant achievement for us, and we see it as a validation of the diligence, consistent effort, and resilience of the 4,600 plus associates of Coke Florida,” said Troy Taylor, founder, chairman, and CEO of Coke Florida. Read more.

4. Sheryl Lee Ralph Brings Crowd To Its Feet After Her Emmy Victory

“Abbott Elementary” continues its winning streak! Sheryl Lee Ralph took home an Emmy for Supporting Actress in a Comedy series at the “74th Emmy Awards” on Monday night, the first win for the series during the broadcast.

As theGrio previously reported, “Abbott Elementary,” from writer, producer and star Quinta Brunson, has been a smash hit for ABC, earning critical acclaim and breaking ratings records. With seven nominations, the series has been a favorite to win in many of the categories. The first one went to alum of television and stage, Sheryl Lee Ralph, for her performance as veteran teacher Barbara Howard at the fictional school. Read more.

5. Sen. Raphael Warnock Holds Off Challenge From Herschel Walker In Georgia Senate Runoff Election

Sen. Raphael Warnock defeated challenger Herschel Walker Tuesday night (Dec. 6) to win a six-year term in the U.S. Senate in a close battle that resulted in a runoff, CBS News reported. With a 51-49 member majority, The victory gives Democrats clear control of the body over Republicans, who took control of the House of Representatives in the November election.

“In a sense, I am Georgia. I am an example, and an iteration of its history of its pain and its promise and the brutality and the possibility,” Warnock said at a victory celebration shortly after the race was called in his favor. “But because this is America and because we always have a path to make our country greater against unspeakable odds, here we stand together.” Read more.

6. In 1984, David Steward Borrowed $2K From His Dad To Venture Into Entrepreneurship — Now He’s The Majority Owner Of A $14.5B Company

Stories like these often provide hope, invigorate motivation, and inspire change, and Steward’s is no different.

Born in Chicago, IL, Steward came from humble beginnings with seven other siblings. Although he was born in the Windy City, his family moved to his mother’s hometown of Clinton, MO, where he was raised. There, they lived in a small home that did not include indoor plumbing or heating.

The family had a small farm with cows, vegetables, and crops. Tending to the land was a part of the Steward family’s daily responsibilities.

“My jobs included emptying the chamber pots, shaking down the ash in the potbelly stove and then spreading it on the driveway for traction, cleaning the barn, feeding the cows and pigs, milking the cow, and skimming the cream for the butter churn,” as documented by Horatio Alger Association.

“Our chores seemed endless,” Steward added. “But it was just the way we grew up, and it was all just a part of our lives.” Read more.

Clearwater Favors Ruth Eckerd Hall To Manage Its Waterfront Amphitheater

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A council majority goes against city staff, who pushed to hire a group that included Vinik Sports.

CLEARWATER — When considering who should manage the waterfront amphitheater being built to change the future of downtown, the City Council on Thursday stuck with its history. Read more.

St. Petersburg Virtual Job Fair – St. Petersburg Career Fair

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St. Petersburg Job Fair – St. Petersburg Career Fair – More information.

How Will The Economy Impact Black Americans In 2023?

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Concern for the state of the Black economy lingers as African Americans have historically suffered during economic downturns.

As the new year nears, the health of the United States economy will continue to be top of mind in 2023, particularly for Black Americans.

Just before November’s midterm elections, a national survey of Black voters conducted by theGrio/KFF found that Black voters named the state of the economy, and its impact on their pocketbooks, as their number one concern.

Historically, Black people have always had a less share of America’s wealth, including homeownership, and a disproportionate share of unemployment and consumer debt. Those stark statistics are likely to remain in the foreseeable future. More broadly, inflation issues and concerns of a possible recession still linger over an economy recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.

Charlene Mitchell, First Black Woman To Run For President, Dies At 92

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Charlene Mitchell, the first Black woman to run for the White House, has passed away at age 92. 

Mitchell died on Dec. 14 in a Manhattan nursing home, her son Steven Mitchell confirmed, The New York Times reports. Mitchell joined the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) in 1946 at age 16 and served as a young revolutionary activist at home and abroad. The Ohio native also spent over 60 years in Harlem, leading campaigns for freedom and equal justice, according to Post News Group. Read more.

Biden Arrives In US Virgin Islands To Relax Between Holidays

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President Joe Biden on Tuesday traveled to a place very familiar to him — the U.S. Virgin Islands — to enjoy some downtime and warmer weather and to ring in a new year with family.

The president and his wife, first lady Jill Biden, flew from Washington on Tuesday to St. Croix, one of three islands that make up the U.S. territory in the Caribbean. St. John and St. Thomas are the other two islands. The Bidens were joined by their daughter Ashley and her husband, Howard Krein, as well as grandchildren Natalie and Hunter, whose father was the president’s late son, Beau. Read more.

Southwest Cancels More Flights, Draws Federal Investigation

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Southwest Airlines scrubbed thousands of flights again Tuesday in the aftermath of the massive winter storm that wrecked Christmas travel plans across the U.S., and the federal government said it would investigate why the company lagged so far behind other carriers.

A day after most U.S. airlines had recovered from the storm, Southwest called off about 2,600 more flights on the East Coast by late afternoon. Those flights accounted for more than 80% of the 3,000 trips that got canceled nationwide Tuesday, according to tracking service FlightAware.

And the chaos seemed certain to continue. The airline also scrubbed 2,500 flights for Wednesday and nearly 1,400 for Thursday as it tried to restore order to its mangled schedule. Read more.

Apartments Planned For Vacant Downtown Site

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A seven-story apartment building is in the planning stages at 630 4th Ave. S., which was previously eyed for a luxury townhome project. 

Onyx St. Pete LLC, a New York-based entity connected to Yaron Levi, has filed plans to build the new apartment building with 33 units and a 16-space garage at the 0.2-acre site, near Tropicana Field. 

The St. Petersburg City Council, meeting as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), will review the $6 million project on Jan. 5 to determine if it’s consistent with the Intown Redevelopment Plan (IRP).

A different developer was previously planning to build a four-unit townhome community called SOMA at the site. However, those plans were withdrawn. The Onyx St. Pete entity purchased the site earlier this year for over $1.5 million. 

The contemporary-styled building will have a residential lobby on the ground floor as well as parking. Open green space will be found on the east and west sides of the building. Read more.

Picturesque La Cabana Will Be St. Pete’s Newest Waterfront Bar

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St. Pete’s newest waterfront bar won’t be opening its doors any time soon, but that’s just because it doesn’t have any. La Cabana is set to debut its open-air bar and lounge any day now on Gandy Boulevard, bringing decadent cocktails, cigars, desserts, and more to the Tampa Bay waterfront.

La Cabana is the nighttime concept of Patrona Coastal Cafe, the beautiful café open during the day, both located at 13090 Gandy Boulevard North. The picturesque setting is home to tasty coffee every morning, but La Cabana says in its tagline, “evenings should be interesting.” Read more.

Lost & Found, A Vintage Cocktail Lounge, Makes Its Debut In Grand Central

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Hunger Thirst Group, one of St. Pete’s biggest hospitality enterprises, has opened its newest concept, and perhaps its most unique one, as well. Lost & Found St. Pete, a vintage cocktail bar & lounge, is now open at 2420 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District.

The retro neighborhood bar is unlike any other in St. Pete, combining grandma’s basement with a vintage cocktail bar, with splashes of disco and cheap beer added to the mix. Owner Stephen Schrutt has been planning this concept since early 2020 and has sourced an incredible amount of vintage furniture, decorations, and signage that take guests back to the ’70s and ’80s. Read more.

Woman Dies In Buffalo Blizzard After Calling Family While Trapped In Car For 18 Hours

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The horrendous blizzard in Buffalo has completely devastated the city and left 28 people dead. One of them, Anndel Taylor, 22, was traveling home from work when her car became stuck in the snow over the holiday weekend. Her family, who are based in Charlotte, NC talked to ABC affiliate station WSOC-TV about the tragic ordeal.

“I feel like everybody that tried to get to her got stuck,” Taylor’s sister, Tomeshia Brown, said. “Fire department, police, everybody got stuck. Why didn’t they have chains on their tires? This is a state that is known for snow.”

WSOC-TV also reported that Taylor told her family in a group chat that the snow was falling fast and sent a video of snow covering her car windows. “She was telling my sister that she was scared,” Brown recalled. Read more.

What Took So Long? Statue Of Henrietta Lacks Will Replace Robert E. Lee Monument

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The city of Roanoke, Virginia, is honoring a Black woman who made tremendous contributions to modern medical research without her knowledge or consent.

In a video of a December 19 press conference posted on the city’s Facebook page, it was announced that a statue honoring Henrietta Lacks will be unveiled in the fall of 2023 in the very place that once held a monument dedicated to Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The new statue’s permanent home, which was once named Lee Plaza, was renamed Lacks Plaza in Henrietta’s honor.

Civil Rights attorney Ben Crump, who was on hand for the press conference, said the new Lacks statue is a step toward healing some of the racial divisions of the past. “In the past, we commemorated a lot of men with statues that divided us,” he said. “Here in Roanoke, Virginia, we will have a statue of a Black woman who brings us all together.” Read more.

Whoopi Goldberg Apologizes For Accidentally Bringing Back Up Previous Comments About the Holocaust

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Whoopi Goldberg is apologizing once again for unintentionally rehashing her previous comments about the Holocaust and its origins.

If you’ll remember, back in February, the longtime The View co-host was suspended for two weeks by the network for saying that the Holocaust “wasn’t about race.” She swiftly issued an apology less than 24 hours later and by all accounts, that kerfuffle was thought to have been settled.

However, thanks to a new interview with the Sunday Times in London, in which she was attempting to recount what happened months ago, her statements were somehow misconstrued in a way that appeared as if she was doubling down on her initial feelings. Because of this, she again came under fire from the Anti-Defamation League. Read more.

Black Opera Singer, 12, Delights Social Media With Voice, But Was Once Heckled At The Royal Opera House

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A great Christmas song and a beautiful voice can change our entire mood. When we hear Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” we can’t help but feel festive. When I think of “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” it embodies how it feels to be a child excited about the holiday season. Those same feelings of happiness and festivity can bring chills when hearing a live performance from a talented singer.

That is what 12-year-old opera singer Malakai M. Bayoh did with his live rendition of “O’Holy Night.” In the days leading up to Christmas, the United Kingdom’s Classic FM invited Bayoh to perform a duet of the classic Christmas song with Aled Jones, a Classic FM presenter. While both singers were impressive, the young Black boy stole the show. Read more.

January 2023 Books By Black Authors We Can’t-Wait to Read

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As we get ready to ring in the new year, there’s no better time to pick out a great new book. And readers will have plenty to choose from because January is coming in hot with great titles from romance to YA to memoir.

While the weather outside is pretty frightful in almost every corner of the country, curling up with a good book is a much cozier option than being out in these streets. Here are some of the books by Black authors we have on our reading list this month. Read more.

Two Moms Search For and Find Kidnapped Twin Baby

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They say mother knows best. And in the case of a missing Ohio infant, it was a mother’s hunch and some serious Law & Order-worthy detective work that helped police find the baby just in time for the holidays.

According to the IndyStar, Kason Thomas and his twin brother Kyair went missing on December 19 in Columbus, Ohio, when a woman drove off in their mother’s car while the babies were in the back seat. Although Kyair was found early in the morning of December 20 in the Dayton International Airport parking lot, his brother had yet to be found when two Indianapolis mothers stepped in and made things right. Read more.

Food Network Showcases Kwanzaa With New Series Premiering Dec. 26

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The Kwanzaa Menu is hosted by Tonya Hopkins and features recipes celebrating the principles of the holiday.

As someone who spends a lot of time watching Food Network—particularly during the holidays when I’m looking for new recipes—I can tell you that it’s not the most diverse channel when it comes to Black cuisine. Yes, there are entertaining personalities like Kardea Brown, Eddie Jackson, Eric Adjepong, and Carla Hall, but there’s always more room for expansion. However, it looks like Food Network has heard my complaints because it has announced the premiere of the new holiday series The Kwanzaa Menu.

Per a press release provided to The Root, beginning Monday, Dec. 26 on FoodNetwork.com, culinary history consultant Tonya Hopkins will host the new show where she and special guests “commemorate each day of Kwanzaa by cooking meaningful dishes and discussing the Nguzu Saba, the seven principles, and history of the holiday.” Read more.

Barack Obama Shares His Favorite Movies, Books, And Music Of 2022

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Former President Barack Obama stuck to an annual tradition Friday, releasing a list of his favorites for the year 2022, including movies and books.

“I always look forward to sharing my lists of favorite books, movies, and music with all of you,” Obama tweeted. “First up, here are some of the books I read and enjoyed this year. Let me know which books I should check out in 2023.”

Among his favorite written works, Obama listed “The School for Good Mothers” by Jessamine Chan and “The Light We Carry” by former first lady Michelle Obama, noting, “I’m a bit biased on this one.”

On his list of favorite movies, the former president included “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Descendant,” which he also noted he was “biased” about since the Netflix documentary was produced by the Obama-founded company Higher Ground Productions.

“I saw some great movies this year – here are some of my favorites. What did I miss?” Obama wrote in another tweet. Read more.

Meet The Woman Behind Google’s Multi-Million Dollar Partnerships With Black Founders Around The Globe

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Rachael Palmer is behind Google’s partnership strategy with venture capitalists and startups throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Her track record includes the launch of a $2 million fund for Black founders in Europe and a $3 million scheme in Africa, Business Insider reported.

“My role focuses on driving partnerships with the region’s top VCs and startups but also working on initiatives to transform the ecosystem for the better,” Palmer told Insider.

Before she joined Google, she worked at Microsoft and American Express. She spent plenty of time working with small businesses at the latter. As an internal consultant at Google, she “quickly found my back to working within the startup ecosystem”

Every day is different and far from typical, she told Insider.

“I spend some days working closely with founders to understand their business and how we can help them, or with internal product teams discussing opportunities to engage the VC and startup ecosystem,” she said. “Another day might be spent with a VC learning more about their portfolio companies, how we can partner, and also what they look for in investments.” Read more.

4 Black Technologists Who Have Built Their Careers At Bloomberg

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At Bloomberg, innovation comes to life as a result of our 6,500 engineers’ various perspectives, lived experiences, nationalities, genders, as well as ethnic and racial backgrounds. Our inclusive culture places a high value on diverse ideas and teams, which leads to the creation of more unlikely ideas, better decisions being made, and fast, collaborative action among our people.

These four Black technologists work in our Engineering and Global Data departments in New York City. Two of them graduated from Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs). Each of them has worked at Bloomberg for more than five years, and all of them have held different roles across the company as they’ve grown and advanced in their careers here.

Through our conversations, we explore their journey to Bloomberg and what they do here, how their careers have progressed as they’ve grown professionally, their interests and impact in the technology sector, why they believe an inclusive workplace is important, as well as their own efforts to bring more diverse talent to tech. Following an incredibly challenging year in the wake of the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Aubrey, we also asked them what has, hasn’t, and still needs to change in the workplace with regard to racial justice. Interviews were edited for length and clarity. Read more.

Mom, and Daughter Open Newest Black-Owned Gourmet Coffee Shop In Kentucky

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Meet Ticy Cox and her 24-year-old daughter, Ayanna, the founders and owners of Kawaha Java, the first Black-owned gourmet coffee shop in the Owensburg, Kentucky area.

The mother-and-daughter duo has always been passionate about coffee and the atmosphere that local coffee shops provide for conversations. That is what inspired them to open Kahawa Java with the motto: “The pattern of coffee and conversation.”

While they were looking for the perfect location for the coffee shop, they found out that they are also offering something new to the area. The coffee shop is situated within a residential area where people can stop by to get their cup of coffee. Read more.

Meet the 36-Year-Old Black Mom Of Two Making $144K A Year as A Truck Driver

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Clarissa Rankin, a 36-year-old African American mother from Charlotte, North Carolina, has broken stereotypes working as a professional truck driver. She loves the job so much that she decided to start her own trucking business JC Rankins Transport, which earned over $144,000 last year alone.

Rankin never planned to become a truck driver before. She studied criminal justice and worked as a substitute teacher. She was earning $1,900 per month at that time and it was not enough to support her family.

Her husband, who had worked in the trucking industry, was the one who encourage her to try driving a truck. She immediately fell in love with the job compared to an office job. She even got her truck driving license on her first try, proving everyone wrong. Read more.

Meek Mill Pays The Bail Of 20 Philadelphia Women Just In Time For The Holidays

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The rapper also gave away gift cards to the women to help with holiday expenses and groceries.

If you’re spending today surrounded by your friends and family, take a moment to extend your gratitude to the highest, as everyone is not as fortunate. For Meek Mill who knows all too well what it feels like to be away from home on the holidays, the time he spent locked up served as the impetus to help a few families avoid that same experience. This year, the rapper decided to post bail for 20 Philadelphia women, five of whom were released from Riverside Correctional Facility on Friday. Others will be released throughout next week.

“It was devastating for me to be away from my son during the holidays when I was incarcerated,” Mill, whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, said. “So I understand what these women and their families are going through.” Read more.

South Africa Marks Holidays Despite Nationwide Power Cuts

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Businesses and families are coping with rolling outages of electricity totaling seven to 10 hours per day

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Christmas lights twinkle, holiday music plays, and Johannesburg’s popular Rosebank mall bustles with shoppers.

Then the lights go out. The shops are pitch dark. “Hold on to your wallets,” calls out a customer to rueful chuckles. A long minute later the distant hum of a generator can be heard. The lights and music flicker back on and clerks resume ringing up purchases. Read more.

How These Black Families Celebrate Kwanzaa In Different Ways

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“If we don’t know about the culture, Kwanzaa educates us. If we forget our culture, Kwanzaa reminds us,” said Rev. Mark Thompson, who celebrates the cultural holiday.

Every year, from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1, millions of Black people across the United States and parts of the African diaspora observe Kwanzaa — a celebration of family, community, and culture. Born in the midst of the Black Power movement of the 1960s, Kwanzaa is a weeklong holiday of a cultural rather than religious nature. And while the holiday has core principles, values and symbols, families have formed their own traditions and rituals around Kwanzaa.

Maulana Karenga, an Africana Studies professor, founded Kwanzaa in 1966 in the wake of the Watts uprising. The word “Kwanzaa” comes from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, or “first fruits of the harvest.” The celebration reflects the harvest festivals of people on the African continent. Read more.

Judge Won’t Drop Charges For Former Gubernatorial Candidate

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Gillum and a colleague were indicted earlier this year on federal charges including conspiracy, wire fraud, and making false statements to FBI agents

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge in Florida has refused to throw out criminal charges against Andrew Gillum, disagreeing with the former Democratic gubernatorial nominee’s assertions that he was the victim of selective prosecution because he was a Black candidate for governor.

Gillum and a colleague were indicted earlier this year on federal charges including conspiracy, wire fraud, and making false statements to FBI agents. Prosecutors said Gillum funneled donations through third parties back to himself for personal use. Read more.

18-Year-Old Makes History As The Youngest Black Mayor Ever

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Meet Jaylen Smith, an 18-year-old college freshman, who became the youngest Black mayor in U.S. history after being elected mayor of the town of Earle, Arkansas.

Smith has been elected mayor of Earle, a small town in Arkansas with a population of 1,831. He reportedly received 235 votes while his opponent, Nemi Matthews, got 185 votes, according to CNN. He will be officially sworn in as mayor during the first week of January.

Smith, who just recently graduated from Earle High School, said he decided to run for mayor at the start of his senior year in high school. Having held various leadership positions in the school including being president of the student government association, he has always been passionate about serving his community.

“I didn’t run to make a name for myself,” Smith said. “I ran because I wanted to help my community and move my community in the direction that it needed to be moved in.” Read more.

The Name CynthiaMarie Was Created In 2012

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NAME: CYNTHIA EDWARDS (CYNTHIAMARIE BOUTIQUE)

On her website, Cynthia Marie introduces her pop-up boutique this way: “The name CynthiaMarie was created in 2012. Initially, it once represented a line of handmade aprons, tea towels, and other kitchenware made by my daughter (she started in 2017) and me. Those items were sold at local markets, craft fairs, and with friends and family from all over.” The CynthiaMarie line – see the website – has been substantially expanded to include clothing for women and men, fashion jewelry, shoes, accessories, and much more. Read more.

https://www.cynthiamarieboutique.com/

[email protected]

BUC’s Struggles In Short-Yardage Continue In Win Over Cardinals

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Tampa Bay has trouble converting on third and fourth down, especially in the first half.

GLENDALE, Arizona ― Wins and points are hard to come by for the Bucs these days. So are yards. In fact, the smaller the distance, the bigger the problem.

Take the first half of Sunday’s 19-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

The Bucs had good field position midway through the first quarter at the Arizona 48-yard line, where they faced second and 1.

Running back Leonard Fournette, who had just ripped 14 yards off right tackle, was stopped for no gain by Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt.

On third and 1, the Bucs gave the ball to back Fournette. Again, he ran into the arms of Watt for no gain.

Bucs coach Todd Bowles, who has shown more of a tendency to take chances of late, gambled a bit. Read more.

Meet Brian Butler, The New Leader Of The Tampa Bay Chamber

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From struggling to find work after retiring from the military to becoming a prominent business leader, Brian Butler’s secret sauce is in community connection.

LUTZ — It’s 12:30 p.m. on a Friday in December, and the conference room at Vistra Communications smells like barbecue.

Hungry colleagues gather in the back of the office — a converted bank building that still has the drive-thru vacuum tube systems hooked up, just for fun. Read more.

Tampa Bay’s Cold Snap Is Easing. Here’s What To Expect This Week

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The weather will start to return to normal around Tampa Bay this week as the blast of arctic weather that brought below-freezing temperatures to the area passes.

Monday will see highs in the mid-50s before plunging back down to 39 degrees at night, according to the National Weather Service. Read more.

More Migrants Dropped Off Outside Vice President’s Home In Freezing Weather On Christmas Eve

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Several busloads of migrants were dropped off in front of Vice President Kamala Harris’ residence in Washington, DC, on Christmas Eve in 18-degree weather late Saturday.

An initial two busloads were taken to local shelters, according to an administration official. More buses arrived outside the vice president’s residence later Saturday evening. A CNN team saw migrants being dropped off, with some migrants wearing only T-shirts in the freezing weather. They were given blankets and put on another bus that went to a local church.

Amy Fischer, a volunteer with the Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network, which has been receiving migrants sent to DC since the spring, said the organization had been prepared for Saturday night’s arrivals, having been informed about it earlier by an NGO working at the border in Texas. Read more.

Patriots Fan Berated By Aggressive Raiders Fan In Viral Video Invited To Home Game By Robert Kraft

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A Patriots fan who kept calm despite an overly-aggressive Raiders fan flailing her arms and screaming in his face after a Las Vegas game was invited to a home game by Robert Kraft on Wednesday.  

Jerry Edmond deserves every award available after keeping his composure during a football game in Las Vegas on Dec. 18. Edmond had traveled to Sin City to watch the New England Patriots play against the Las Vegas Raiders and was verbally abused by an aggressive Raiders fan during the game.  

The Patriots lost Sunday’s game with a final score of 30-24, and a Raiders fan who was seated close to Edmond celebrated by getting in his face and screaming at him, seemingly to gloat. The fan flailed her hands and yelled at Edmond while she was inches away from his face as her companion repeatedly tried to restrain her. Cell phone footage was taken by another fan seated nearby and shared on Twitter on Dec. 20. The fan also noted that the Raiders fan had been “chirping” at Edmond the entire game. Read More.

Dr. Eli Joseph Redefines Academic Comeback From Rejected Ph.D. Applicant To Impactful Professor

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On Sunday, Dec. 11, the New York University School of Professional Studies conducted a University Commencement ceremony for the Summer and Fall Class of 2022 graduates at the NYU Skirball Center.

Dr. Eli Joseph, an instructor in the Business and Systems Department, attended the commencement ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of the students, faculty, and staff members throughout the uncertain year. This is a bittersweet moment for Joseph, who was able to turn his rejection into succession. Back in 2016, Joseph was rejected by the New York University Tandon School of Engineering. Fast forward to today, Dr. Joseph is currently teaching graduate students at the same institution that initially rejected him. Read more.

Basketball Hall Of Fame Inductee, Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Lynette Woodard, Returns To Harlem Globetrotters As Special Advisor

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Keith Dawkins, President of the Harlem Globetrotters and Herschend Entertainment Studios, announced today at the organization’s annual Training Camp, that Lynette Woodard, the first woman to ever join the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters, returns to the team this winter as a Special Advisor to the President.

Ms. Woodard, is also a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, a former WNBA great, and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and the first female player for the Harlem Globetrotters. She will support efforts to increase the representation of women athletes within the organization, help deepen the organization’s connection to former Globetrotters, and partner to bolster its global Goodwill Ambassador Initiative which focuses on doing work with partners in the areas of Education, Health & Wellness, Community Empowerment while continuing to grow the game of basketball across the world.

“This is a critical time for the Harlem Globetrotters as we look ahead to our upcoming 2023 World Tour, our 100-year anniversary in 2026, and the overall growth of our business,” said Dawkins. “To have an American sports icon like Lynette Woodard return as a Special Advisor at a time when we just increased the number of women athletes on our roster to the largest in the organization’s 96-year history, is seismic!” Read more.

Black Owner Of A Liquor Brand Launched To Great Acclaim Then Lost It All – Here’s How He Made A Multi-Million-Dollar Comeback

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Jackie Summers, the founder of Jack From Brooklyn, Inc. and its widely acclaimed Sorel Liqueur, knows what it takes to make a comeback.

Summers says he was the only licensed Black distiller in the U.S. post-Prohibition in 2012, and when he launched his hibiscus-based liqueur that year, he had to navigate an industry that wasn’t set up for him to succeed.

“I started working the market, and when I went to accounts, no one believed I was the brand owner,” Summers tells Entrepreneur. “To this day, most places I go (and I’ve been to thousands) have never met a Black liquor brand owner before.”

In spite of the odds, the brand gained immediate recognition among cocktail enthusiasts. Read more.

Rapper Saweetie Announces 6-Week Youth Financial Literacy Course

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Saweetie is aiming to inspire and educate the next generation of “Icy Babies” through a new six-week financial literacy course.

As part of Saweetie’s “Icy Baby Foundation” the rap superstar launched an official initiative to empower kids and teenagers with the skills they need to follow their dreams, she said in a statement.

Youth between 7-17 years old are eligible to participate in the six-week program where they’ll receive a funded debit card, educational resources, and information about saving, budgeting, and financial planning. Read more.

CEO Closes $2 Million Government Contract – ‘It’s The Way To Go’ For Black Entrepreneurs

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Lack of funding prevents most businesses from staying open long enough to be profitable. Government contracting offers opportunities for entrepreneurs to secure mid to long-term contracts that will guarantee cash inflow.

In 2014, cybersecurity expert, Lonye Ford, co-founded Arlo Solutions, a professional services company that provides cybersecurity and management consulting services to the U.S. government, with her business partner, Arlene Wube.

In 2021, the company, led by Ford (CEO) and Wube (president and COO) generated $8.7 million in revenue. Arlo Solutions partners with companies like Booze Allen, Deloitte, and Accenture to deliver services to government agencies, and this year, it secured a $28 million government contract.

Ford, who grew up on the south side of Chicago, joined the U.S. Air Force at 19 years old. In addition to serving her country, joining the military guaranteed her shelter, food, and the opportunity to learn new skills. At the time, she needed to find a path out of the financial hardships she experienced growing up. Read more.

Lakewood’s High School Football Player Isaiah Nixon flips from Florida, signs with UCF

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.– Adding to some of the drama that’s taking place on the early National Signing Day events, a coveted defensive lineman made a decision change. 

Lakewood defensive end Isaiah Nixon announced via his Twitter account that he would be signing with the University of Central Florida over the University of Florida. Read more.

Lakewood’s High School Quarterback Anthony Colandrea Sets Pinellas County Career Passing Record

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Colandrea finished with 7,312 yards to surpass the former mark of 6,554 previously set by former Spartan standout Ryan Davis, who went on to play at Auburn. 

Most of Colandrea’s total came in the last two seasons. After transferring from Clearwater Central Catholic, Colandrea led a dynamic passing attack at Lakewood, finishing with 3,252 yards as a junior and 3,137 this year. Read more.

General Hospital’s Sonya Eddy Dead at 55

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General Hospital fans are mourning the loss of one of the show’s most beloved actors. Sonya Eddy, who played the tough, yet caring nurse Epiphany Johnson, has passed away at the age of 55. According to TMZ, the actress passed away on Monday after suffering from an “uncontainable” infection post-surgery.

Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer shared the news about her close friend on Instagram, writing, “My friend Sonya Eddy passed away last night. The world lost another creative angel. Her legions of General Hospital fans will miss her.” Read more.

The Black Billionaires Who Could Save Twitter

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Currently the most infamous man on the internet right now, Elon Musk is ruining the social media platform that many have grown to love, Twitter. He’s done everything from banning journalists and making the verification process easier to belittling Black Twitter and his Black employees.

With that in mind, The Root came up with the names of Black billionaires (and millionaires) who could use their own talents and ties to rich friends to save Twitter from the villain Elon Musk. While they might not be able to do it alone, they have the connections to make something happen. Read more.

St. Pete Artist Nick Davis Dies At 31

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Digital artist Nicholas Nathaniel Holland “Nick” Davis died Dec. 16 at age 31. Gifted at drawing and painting, in 2016 the St. Petersburg native was diagnosed with epilepsy, which impaired his ability to work. He then took up computer generated artwork, and dedicated himself to making impressionistic portraits of African Americans – from the everyday to the well-known – as part of a collection he called Black is Beautiful. On his website, ndartlife.com, Davis wrote “My mission is to show black people living comfortably.”

He told WEDU: “With the eyes, I want them to be always looking at you. To always be showing a message. To show a story.” There is joy, depth, pathos, stoicism and raw emotion on the faces of his figures.

Not long after he began the series, Davis was recognized by BET as Artist of the Week on Instagram.

Several of his portraits peer from the windows of the Mermaid Motel, the centerpiece of St. Pete’s immersive art experience Fairgrounds. On his artist profile for the site, he wrote: “Using his art as a method of coping with anxiety and depression, Davis wants to let his community know that despite the current state of the world, your Black remains immeasurably beautiful.”

Read more.

City Leaders Work To Increase Business Diversity

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Despite the potential for legal challenges, St. Petersburg city officials are moving forward with an ordinance to increase supplier diversity and support for minority and women-owned businesses.

During Thursday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, council members heard the third update on implementing recommendations of the city’s Disparity Study. The discussion’s purpose was to highlight progress toward ensuring equitable business opportunities and a framework for an ordinance.

David Malone, director of procurement, began the presentation by relaying steps city leadership has made to increase inclusivity among St. Petersburg’s contractors. The Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD) is now open, and Latisha Binder will serve as its first manager. Recruitment efforts to fill additional key roles are underway.

Administrators have also established an Equity in Contracting advisory group comprised of community leaders with a vested interest in business diversity. Members include representatives from Deuces Live Main Street, Foundation for a Health St. Pete, Pinellas County government, Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corp., and The Network of Gifted Consultants (NGC Team).

Read more.

Venus Williams Receives Wild Card Into 2023 Australian Open

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The US Open just wrapped up in September, but in the tennis world, there’s really no such thing as an offseason. To that end, the first Grand Slam of the season, the Australian Open, kicks off Monday, Jan. 16, and one of our favorites will be competing down under.

According to ESPNVenus WIlliams has received a wild card into the major tournament. This will be the seven-time Grand Slam champion’s 22nd Australian Open appearance. She’s been to the finals twice, losing to her sister, Serena Williams, both times. The last time they met was in 2017, when Serena won while two months pregnant with her daughter.

Read more.

Black-Owned Greenwood Golf Balls Now Available Through Walmart.com

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Greenwood GOLF becomes the first Black-owned golf company to work with the global retailer

CHARLOTTE, NC – DECEMBER 16, 2022 – Christmas came early for Greenwood GOLF. It becomes the first Black-owned golf company to work with the global retailer, WalMart. Golfers and their loved ones can now purchase, Greenwood GOLF balls and gloves from WalMart.com just in time for the Christmas holiday.

This achievement marks a major milestone for Black-owned golf businesses. Most Black-owned companies have been relegated to direct-to-consumer websites, making it hard for their brands to gain traction. Greenwood GOLF is blazing the trail to get their Black-owned golf equipment and apparel on retail shelves everywhere.

When asked about its significance, the CEO, Chris Word states, “This is another example of why representation matters. Throughout the history of the game, golf appeared to be exclusive and off-limits for minorities. Having Black-owned golf equipment and apparel available for consumers is a significant step to achieving diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

Read more.

Rev. William Barber To Lead Yale’s New Center for Theology and Public Policy

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It’s been thirty-five years since Reverend William Barber began preaching at the historic Greenleaf Church in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Now, the pastor and anti-poverty leader is leaving his position at the historic church, but his life’s work is far from over.

Reverend Barber will head up the Yale Divinity School’s new Center for Theology and Public Policy, which aims to bring moral teachings into public policy and movement work. Read more.

If the Phoenix Suns Sale Goes Through Without Including Any Non-White Partners, The NBA’s Gotten It All Wrong

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The NBA’s Phoenix Suns are about to be sold…to some guy you’ve never even heard of. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday afternoon that a sale is being finalized that would transfer the team from current embattled owner Robert Sarver to Mat Ishbia, the billionaire head of Pontiac, Mich.-based United Wholesale Mortgage. Ishbia played on the 2000 NCAA champion Michigan State University team.

The deal is reportedly worth somewhere in the $4 billion range, which would put it in the vicinity of the most recent sale of an American sports team. The Denver Broncos were sold in August to a group that includes finance executive Mellody Hobson, former Secretary of State Condolezza Rice, and Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton for $4.65 billion, a record sale for a North American team. Read more.

The Best Man: The Final Chapters’ Taye Diggs, Morris Chestnut, and Terence Howard Share The Best Friendship Advice They’ve Ever Received

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In Peacock’s upcoming limited series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters, Taye Diggs, Morris Chestnut, and Terence Howard join forces once again to usher in the newest iteration of the popular Best Man franchise.

Starring as Harper, Lance, and Quincy, respectively—three of the four men that make up the illustrious friend group alongside Harold Perrineau’s Murch—the veteran actors catch us up and walk us through their lives and all the ups and downs that come with it. Whether it be relationship perils, career woes, or familial strain, we watch as our familiar friends drift apart and come back together again over the course of eight satisfying episodes. Read more.

A New Interview With NYC’s Most Controversial Bishop That You (May) Never See

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Bishop Lamor Whitehead strolled into The Root’s offices as he strolls everywhere: confidently, decked out in a tailored suit stitched together in a designer pattern. On this particular day—last Thursday—the pattern was Gucci, and his frame, about six feet or so, was consumed by it, from jacket and slacks (aquamarine) to belt (oversized double-g buckle) to eyewear (salmon frames).

Without too much preamble—we only had a half hour to interview him before Common showed up to plug his new Broadway effort—we sat down and started the process. There were ground rules, which any interviewer is leery of, but in this instance, they worked: in exchange for a verbal commitment to just be fair to the man, Whitehead would answer any question we asked. Nothing—not his previous jail time, not the lawsuits in which he’s either the plaintiff or the defendant, not that infamous robbery in his own church (“I’m outside, they didn’t have to do that in the church,”) not even where he finds the money to support his flashy wardrobe (he owns real estate in Hartford, New York and elsewhere, he says)—was off limits. Read more.

42-Story Luxury Residential Tower, Art House, Coming Soon To Downtown St. Pete

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Another addition to the St. Pete skyline is coming soon as construction continues for Art House St. Petersburg. The 42-story condominium tower will be located on the 200 block of Central Avenue, bringing more luxury residence options to downtown St. Pete. Since being announced last year, the development has broken ground, and foundation work has commenced. Smith & Associates Real Estate leads sales efforts for Art House with two and three-bedroom residences priced from $1M and the sales gallery located at 330 Beach Drive NE is open daily. 

Kolter Urban, the developers of Art House, officially announced the new project in December and unveiled renderings for the sleek tower as it will appear on Central Avenue. In addition to a pool, rooftop viewing area, and balconies for residents, the renderings also showcase retail space on the ground level facing Central Avenue. Read more.

Rays To Play 2023 Spring Training Games At Tropicana Field

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While the distant future still leaves many questions to be answered, the Tampa Bay Rays have shared some news on their plans for the immediate future. The baseball club announced today that it will play a majority of its 2023 spring training games at Tropicana Field.

The Rays are having to move as a result of damage from Hurricane Ian to their Port Charlotte facilities, and this is expected to only be a one-year switch. As part of the arrangement, the Rays will actually begin their preseason workouts at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex in February, and it’s possible the club could even play a game or two at the massive facility in Orlando. Read more.

Historic Snell Building Basement To Get New Life After $1.8 Million Sale

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A secret – and sprawling – space underneath one of St. Pete’s most historic buildings may soon get new life. Smith & Associates Real Estate announced the sale this week of a Snell Arcade commercial condominium housed underneath the beautiful Snell Building on the corner of 4th St and Central Ave.

The 8,582 square-foot basement had been in use for years as the office of Volunteers of America, but in past lives has also served as a restaurant and even retail space. Volunteers of America of Florida sold the space to the Miami-based Tricera Capital, opening the door for something new to fill the historic space inside a building that’s on the National Register of Historic Spaces. Read more.

President and Chief Executive Officer

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About the Role

The Pinellas County Urban League is seeking a seasoned senior executive to serve as the chief administrator responsible to the Board of Directors/Trustees; demonstrates the ability to develop, articulate, and communicate the vision of the Affiliate; provides leadership to the organization, administering its functions and operations; assists in the development of short- and long-range objectives; acts as principal spokesperson, and in conjunction with the Board Chair, generate new ideas and leads through completion; initiates and maintains relationships with staff, board, political, corporate and community leaders; keeps abreast of issues facing the African-American and minority community; establishes agenda items and outlines each into action items for completion; forms a disciplined approach to achieving goals and objectives; and engages in dialogue across race, gender, sexual orientation, economic, and other differences.

Read more.

Munch’s Restaurant Sells; New Year to Bring Changes

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After 70 years in the same location in southeast St. Petersburg, Munch’s Restaurant and Sundries is about to serve its last breakfast, at least under that name.

Munch’s will close on Dec. 30.

The one-acre property at 3920 6th Street South is under contract, commercial agent Lisa Ulrich of Barkett Realty has confirmed. Barkett represents owner Larry Munch, whose family opened the restaurant in 1952.

Last summer, the 68-year-old Munch announced his intention to retire, and he put the family business on the market for $2.7 million.

The lot includes a strip center with multiple rental tenants (Southside Coffee Brew Bar, Phillips Air Conditioning & Heating, and Coquina Meat Market) alongside Munch’s itself, as well as two single-family homes. Read more.

WUSF 89.7 – We Are Hiring!!

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Position: Broadcast Account Executive – Apply Here

Position Summary:

Responsible for cultivating and soliciting corporate and non-profit support (underwriting) for all WUSF Public Media platforms and events including analog and digital broadcast, online and digital; and achieving annual revenue goals.

We would prefer a candidate with connections in Pinellas County and the surrounding areas as this will be the focus of this position.

Responsibilities:

Cultivates and solicits media sales from commercial enterprises, businesses, and non-profit organizations (underwriting), and achieves annual revenue goals. Manages the sales and sales relationship process by developing and maintaining corporate sales by prospecting, generating qualified leads, cultivating the client’s relationship with WUSF Public Media, and presenting sales proposals that result in a signed agreement. Media sales products include, but are not limited to WUSF 89.7 NPR, Classical WSMR 89.1 and 103.9, HD broadcast channels, event sponsorship, and various digital products including websites, newsletters, streaming pre-roll, and podcasts.

Let St. Pete Works Put You to Work

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ST. PETERSBURG — Natalie Washington said the chance to work at a place like St. Pete Works is about more than just having a job to go to each day.

As the organization’s career and academic advisor, Washington works with clients and talks to potential students about what St. Pete Works has to offer.

Funded by the City of St. Petersburg through a contract with St. Petersburg College, St. Pete Works is a workforce collaboration of community organizations that work together to increase employment opportunities for youth and adults living in the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA).

Some of the programs offered:

  • Specialized Manufacturing
  • Data Analytics
  • Creative Arts & Design
  • Certified Clinical Medical Technician
  • Phlebotomy
  • Public Works
  • Commercial Vehicle Driving
  • Pharmacy Technician

Read more.

Welch Reflects on His First Year In Office

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Ken Welch: There hasn’t been anything unexpected in facing some of the same challenges we’ve had in the past few years. I can recall when I was sworn in office, I had Covid. We had to be flexible and adapt to the pandemic while also addressing the rising costs of housing as the No. 1 issue. It’s been a top issue even during my campaign that affects everyone from CEOs to college students. We also had near misses with Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole, which are events that can always happen. However, I am really excited about the community engagement we’ve seen for the redevelopment of the Tropicana Field/Gas Plant District. Over 1,000 folks weighed in during the community conversations events for the vision. It’s more than I expected. 

Also, as an accountant, I’m looking forward to sitting with every city department to review their budgets. It’s a great way to give direct feedback. Read more.

House Approves Referendum to ‘Decolonize’ Puerto Rico

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. House passed a bill Thursday that would allow Puerto Rico to hold the first-ever binding referendum on whether to become a state or gain some sort of independence, in a last-ditch effort that stands little chance of passing the Senate.

The bill, which passed 233-191 with some Republican support, would offer voters in the U.S. territory three options: statehood, independence, or independence with free association.

“It is crucial to me that any proposal in Congress to decolonize Puerto Rico be informed and led by Puerto Ricans,” said Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, which oversees affairs in U.S. territories. Read more.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to Visit Sub-Saharan Africa

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will travel in January to South Africa, Zambia, and Senegal, her office announced Friday, in what will be the first of a string of Biden administration official visits to sub-Saharan Africa next year.

The world’s second-largest continent is crucial to the global economy due to its rapidly growing population and significant natural resources. China’s deepening economic entrenchment in African nations, surpassing the U.S. in trade with Africa to become one of the world’s largest creditors, is also a motivator for the U.S. to deepen ties with African nations. Read more.

Jan. 6 Committee Refers Trump For Possible Prosecution

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The House Jan. 6 committee is wrapping up its investigation of the violent 2021 U.S. Capitol insurrection, with lawmakers on Monday declaring that they have assembled a “roadmap to justice” to bring criminal charges against former President Donald Trump and his allies.

As they cap one of the most exhaustive and aggressive congressional probes in memory, the panel’s seven Democrats and two Republicans are recommending criminal charges against Trump and associates who helped him launch a multifaceted pressure campaign to try to overturn his 2020 election loss.

The committee alleged violations of four criminal statutes by Trump, in both the run-up to the riot and during the insurrection itself, as it recommended the former president for the prosecution to the Justice Department. The charges recommended by the committee are conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress, conspiracy to make a false statement, and insurrection. Read more.

Lawsuit Filed Against State Farm Says Insurance Company Neglected Black Customers

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State Farm is the subject of a class-action lawsuit filed last week in Illinois federal court following accusations the insurance provider neglected and discriminated against its Black customers.

According to The New York Times, more than 800 people participated in a survey from Deborah Archer, director of the Center on Race, Inequality and the Law at the NYU School of Law, and the Fairmark Partners law firm. The study spanned nine months in 2021 and was supported by YouGov, a polling and data analytics company. Based on an extensive analysis of how the insurer manages certain claims, the lawsuit — representing named and unnamed clients in six states in the Midwest — is the first to use company-specific data to reveal racial bias. Read more.

Founder of Largest Black Business Discovery App Honored By PayPal, Featured in Mastercard Commercial

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Nationwide — Mandy Bowman, founder and CEO of Official Black Wall Street, the largest discovery app for Black-owned businesses, has been making waves in the media. Not only has she been honored with PayPal’s Maggie Lena Walker Emerging Leader Award, she has also been featured in a commercial campaign with Mastercard!

n 2015, CEO Mandy Bowman launched the Official Black Wall Street platform, and the app in 2017, to encourage Black ownership and provide consumers with a comprehensive, user-friendly platform to discover review, and shop Black-owned businesses around the world. Over the last eight years, Bowman has grown the OBWS app to feature thousands of quality Black-owned businesses from restaurants to e-commerce boutiques. The platform also connects Black entrepreneurs to free legal services, an ongoing directory of grant opportunities, monthly masterclasses, and more. Read more.

New Committee Will Prioritize Workforce, Economic Growth

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A new committee focused on workforce and economic development may meet on an as-needed basis on a monthly schedule. 

During a Thursday city council meeting, council members approved forming a new committee, proposed by Chair Gina Driscoll, that would address “policies, plans, and programs related to the vitality of the local economy, including but not limited to the creation and retention of jobs, attraction of new businesses and private investments, support of small businesses, incentive policies and growth of targeted industries.” 

The committee would replace one of the PS and I (public services and infrastructure) meetings, which takes place twice a month. Read more.

Innovative St. Pete High School Wins $500,000

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Sail Future Academy, a local nonprofit private school that teaches disadvantaged teens life skills, has won a prestigious national prize for its unique education model.

Officials with the tuition-free, career preparatory high school recently announced that the Yass Foundation for Education named Sail Future one of the nation’s most innovative and effective education providers. The foundation is part of the Center for Education Reform in Washington, D.C., and the St. Petersburg academy won the “Sustainable” category for its student-led enterprise model.

Over 2,700 organizations from 48 states entered the competition. The foundation awarded eight winners with $500,000, two from four categories: Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding, and Permissionless Education (STOP). Read more.

University Of Virginia Shooting Survivor Mike Hollins Speaks Out

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University of Virginia student Mike Hollins is speaking out following the deadly shooting that took the lives of three of his classmates on Nov. 13. Hollins was also shot multiple times in the back and underwent several surgeries to repair the damage.

Hollins’ three teammates and friends, Devin ChandlerLavel Davis Jr., and D’Sean Perry, all died after they were allegedly shot by another student, 22-year-old Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. The shooting occurred as the charter bus the students were riding in returned from a Washington D.C. field trip. Hollins sat down with Michael Strahan for an interview to discuss the tragedy. The segment aired on Good Morning America on Dec. 15. Read more.

Black-Owned Small Businesses On Amazon Offer An Array Of Options To Make Your Holiday Shopping Easier

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With Christmas quickly approaching, completing your holiday shopping list may have gotten off track. If you are still pondering what to buy for your family and friends, there is some good news for last-minute shoppers who want less hassle and headaches—and to support Black-owned small businesses at the same time.

BLACK ENTERPRISE has identified a handful of Black-owned brands featured this year in its Amazon Small Business Superheroes who sell products to scores of customers in Amazon’s online store. These small businesses selling in Amazon’s stores offer everything from rain hats to keep hair dry to workout gear to help you get fit in the New Year. Read more.

Al B. Sure Gives Interview After Waking From Two-Month Long Coma

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Al B. Sure is awake after spending two months in a coma. The ‘Nite and Day” singer sat down with FOX5 New York and recalled his harrowing story.

The Grammy Award-nominated artist, whose legal name is Albert Joseph Brown III, collapsed at the recording studio back in July and was rushed to the hospital. The 54-year-old said that one moment, he was in a wheelchair and being put in a hospital bed. The next, two months had passed. Read more.

CEO of the Largest Black Woman-Owned Financial Firm Inducted Into Bond Buyers’ Hall of FameAuto Draft

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She experienced the Black Monday crash in 1987, a few months after she started on Wall Street, but presently runs one of the most successful firms in the country.

Suzanne Shank, president, and CEO of Siebert Williams Shank & Co. (SWS), the nation’s largest woman- and minority-owned, non-bank financial firm, has been inducted into The Bond Buyer Hall of Fame.

According to SWS, The Bond Buyer Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have left an innovative legacy on the business of municipal finance and the people and places it represents. Read more.

New Initiative Promotes Diversity Across Sectors in Italy

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MILAN (AP) — The founder of the Afro Fashion Association in Italy on Thursday said she is launching awards recognizing the achievements of minorities in Italian society, to promote greater diversity and inclusion.

The first edition of the Black Carpet Awards will premiere during Milan Fashion Week in February, sponsored by Instagram and Conde Nast.

Michelle Francine Ngonmo said she was inspired by a note she received from Virgil Abloh, the late fashion designer and founder of the Off-White label, recognizing her work promoting people of color in Italian fashion. It said simply: “I see you.” Read more.

Mandatory Military Instruction Affects Black and Latino High School Students Most Frequently, Report Says

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When high school student Trevor Reed was automatically enrolled in a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) class in 2020, both he and his mother objected.

“We don’t have to look far outside of our family to see the effect that the military has, especially when you have to go off to war. And so that’s something my son never really wanted to do,” Tineeka Reed told CNN.

So, the Chicago mother sent multiple emails to the instructor of the Department of Defense-sponsored youth military program and the principal at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. College Preparatory High School, offering an alternative. She suggested her son Trevor, 17, could enroll in an online class that would meet the required health credit. But the message Reed told CNN she heard from school administration was, “it’s either our way or the highway, or he doesn’t graduate.”

With his sights set on college, Reed said Trevor stayed in the class against his will. Read more.

Harvard Appoints Its First Black President

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The country’s oldest and most revered university just named its first Black leader.

Harvard University, an institution whose history dates back to 1636, is tapping Claudine Gay as its next president, the Boston Globe reported. Gay, who is currently dean of Harvard’s faculty of arts and scientists, will take over from Larry Bacow in 2023.

Harvard naming a Black woman as president is sure to have an impact far beyond academia, because of the school’s reputation, high profile, and enormous financial means and because that institution’s history is deeply linked with slavery and other systemic manifestations of racism. Harvard has graduated eight presidents of the United States, including Barack Obama, George H.W. Bush, and John F. Kennedy. The school has the largest reported endowment in the world, at $51.9 billion, giving it the ability to support research and other activities on a global scale. Harvard’s president doesn’t unilaterally allocate or manage those funds but the institution’s leader does have some sway. Read more.

The Boston City Council Is Looking into Reparations for Black Bostonians

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We’ve been running around the issue of reparations for well over a hundred years at this point. (Where’s our 40 acres and a mule folks?) But in Boston, they just got one tiny step closer to making reparations a reality.

On Wednesday, the Boston City Council unanimously voted to form a task force to study how to provide reparations to the Black Bostonians as a way to atone for the city’s legacy of slavery, according to the AP.

Let’s be real, cold hard cash would definitely be better than a study over a century after the civil war, but at least it’s a start.

The city has started the difficult process of making amends for its less-than-stellar reputation and history regarding race, including segregation and its participation in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Read more.

Black-Owned Whiskey Company Uncle Nearest Just Hit $100M in Sales and Is Set to Double It In 2023

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Black-owned whiskey brand Uncle Nearest just hit $100 million in sales this past October, and experts say that as one of the fastest-growing companies on the market, it is the brand to look out for in the next year.

The 323-acre distillery is located in Shelbyville, Tennessee, and is family owned and operated. Founded in 2017 by the company’s current CEO Fawn Weaver, Uncle Nearest was later bolstered by Chief Business Officer Katharine Jerkens, and Nearest Green’s great-great-granddaughter (and the brand’s master blender) Victoria Eady Butler. In 2021, the family celebrated becoming the best-selling Black owned spirits brand in the United States.

“To reach this and every other milestone on our horizon, we continue to push nonstop, ” Weaver shared in the release. “Every cent we make in the future will continue to do the same. We have an entire generation of women and people of color, who represent 70 percent of our country but still feel marginalized and underrepresented, counting on us. This group continues to look to Uncle Nearest as proof that anything is possible. We will not let them down.” Read more.

Say What? A Telfar Bag is a Better Investment Than Hermès

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Beyonce and Oprah told you the bags were fly, now Telfar’s resale value outperforms the likes of Gucci and Louis Vuitton.

It turns out that Telfar Bag on your arm is more than just a fashion statement. It’s an investment, according to Rebag’s Clair Report on The Biggest Brands of 2022. The report, which looks at market value and trend shifts for luxury accessories each year, confirmed that Telfar’s resale value outperforms well-established luxury brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Chanel.

“For the first time, [Telfar’s] average value retention on the secondary market exceeds all legacy brands, including Hermès,” according to the October 18 report. Read more.

The Guilty Grape is Preparing for Total Wine Domination

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It’s no secret that when it comes to the wine game, most of the players are white men. But twin sisters Nichelle and Nicole Nichols are on a mission to change that and bring a lot more Black folks with them. If the name sounds familiar, actress Nichelle Nichols, who played Nyota Uhura on Star Trek is their aunt.

The Nichols sisters launched their brand, The Guilty Grape in 2020 with a mission of bringing “inclusivity, culture, and luxury back into every bottle.”

“We don’t just want to sell a bottle of wine. We want people to have the best experience possible,” said Nichelle and Nicole Nichols. Read more.

The Fifteen Percent Pledge Achievement Award provides Black-owned businesses opportunity for $200,000 grant

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The Fifteen Percent Pledge recently announced the launch of its first-ever Achievement Award – a $200,000 grant that will be presented to a rising Black entrepreneur at its second annual Gala in February 2023. Black business owners can apply for a grant now through December 31st. The Pledge will also present two finalists with respective grants of $35,000 and $15,000.

The application consists of joining the Pledge’s Business Equity Community and submitting 4 short video responses. You can find the application, as well as the full list of guidelines, at https://15percentpledge.org/award. Read more at www.mbnusa.com

These 2 Black Entrepreneurs Make History as the Owners of 32 Bojangles Franchises

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Mel Carter and Kevin “Coach K” Lee, who are top music executives and entrepreneurs, are also venturing into the food industry as they become owners of 32 different Bojangles restaurants. The two are part owners of Melanbo, a franchise development company that has signed a deal with the popular restaurant, making them the largest Black-controlled franchisee in Bojangles’ history.

Carter and Coach K along with their ownership group Melanbo will partner with Bojangles, the popular restaurant known for its chicken, biscuits, and tea. The agreement involves developing 14 new franchises in Atlanta in addition to their 18 existing franchises in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Read more at www.blackbusiness.com

John Lewis is the Latest Black Pioneer To Be Featured on a Postage Stamp

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The U.S. Postal Service has announced that a postage stamp honoring late congressman John Lewis will be issued in 2023.

The Lewis stamp features a photo of the Georgia Democrat that Marco Grob took for a 2013 issue of Time magazine, CNN reports. 

As one of the original Freedom Riders in 1961 and as a follower and colleague of Martin Luther King Jr., Lewis helped organize the March on Washington in 1963. He dedicated his life to the civil rights movement until his death at age 80 in 2020 from advanced-stage pancreatic cancer.

Read more.

Texas Officer Convicted of Manslaughter in Shooting Death of Atatiana Jefferson

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FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A former Texas police officer was convicted of manslaughter Thursday for fatally shooting a Black woman through a rear window of her home in 2019, a rare conviction of an officer for killing someone also armed with a gun.

Jurors were also considering a murder charge against Aaron Dean but instead convicted him of manslaughter in the death of Atatiana Jefferson. The conviction comes more than three years after the white Fort Worth officer shot the 28-year-old woman while responding to a call about an open front door.

Read more.

Stephen ‘Twitch’ Boss, DJ for ‘Ellen DeGeneres Show,’ Dead at 40

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Stephen “tWitch” Boss, former DJ and co-executive producer on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” has died. He was 40.

Boss’ place of death was a Los Angeles hotel room, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner officially cited, according to The Hollywood Reporter. No cause of death was listed in the case details.

Allison Holker Boss, his wife, confirmed the news of Boss’ passing with a statement to People on Wednesday. Read more

Black Women Had a Sister’s Back: Advocates Say They Played A Critical Role in Bringing Brittney Griner Home

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FILE PHOTO: Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Basketball - Women - Quarterfinal - Australia v United States - August 4, 2021. Brittney Griner of the United States reacts REUTERS/Brian Snyder//File Photo

Black women were heavy advocates for two-time Olympic gold medalist and Phoenix Mercury basketball star Brittney Griner in the fight to free her from Russian custody.

According to NBC News, Black women-led groups, including Win With Black Women, the Southern Black Girls, and Women’s Consortium, and the Black Women’s Leadership Collective coordinated rallies, circulated petitions, and wrote to the Biden administration in a cohesive effort to push for the U.S. to bring Griner home. Read more.

Ice and Snow Will Hammer East Coast States after Same Deadly Storm System Proved ‘More Devastating’ Than Expected in the South

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The massive storm system that pulverized homes killed three people in Louisiana, and brought blizzard conditions to northern states will inflict a new wave of brutal weather starting Thursday.

Significant ice and heavy snow will smother parts of the Mid-Atlantic and New England, forecasters said.

Ice storm warnings are in effect for the central Appalachians of western Virginia, eastern West Virginia, the Maryland Panhandle, and parts of central and western Pennsylvania – where up to a quarter inch to a half inch of ice could stack up by Thursday evening. Read more.

Senate Confirms 90th Biden Judge—and Nearly Half Are Women of Color

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The Democrat-controlled Senate has confirmed 90 federal judicial nominees to the bench as of this week. This is incredible news for people who care about the courts and have actually qualified jurists making highly consequential legal decisions.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) summed up why federal judgeships are so important during a floor speech on Monday. “These appointments are critical: Even though a conservative majority presides on the Supreme Court, the bulk of all federal cases are still resolved by circuit court judges,” he said. Read more.

Senate Confirms First Black Woman to Conservative 5th Circuit Court

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U.S. Magistrate Judge Dana Douglas of Louisiana is making history as the first Black woman to serve on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. 

President Joe Biden nominated Douglas in June to fill an opening left by 86-year-old Judge James Dennis who took “senior status” last year, Reuters reports. Biden selected Douglas as one of his judicial federal nominees to fill vacancies in states with two Republican senators.

The New Orleans-based court hears appellate cases from lower federal courts in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi, according to Reuters. Twelve of the 16 active court judges are the appointees of Republican presidents, while four are appointees of Democratic presidents, including Douglas. There is currently a 17th vacant spot on the court, according to multiple news reports. Read more.

Viola Davis, Janelle Monáe, Danielle Deadwyler, and More Earn Critics Choice Nominations: Full list

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Awards season continues to heat up as the Critics Choice Awards nominations were unveiled on Wednesday morning. Some of the biggest and most critically acclaimed performances of the year were recognized on the list, including Viola Davis’ turn in “The Woman King,” Janelle Monáe’s layered performance in “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” and more.

Leading the nominations this year is “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” A24’s critically acclaimed multiverse film starring Michelle Yeoh. The picture earned 14 nominations including Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. Other Best Picture nominations include “Avatar: The Way of Water,” which of course sees the return of Zoe Saldaña as Neytiri, and “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” starring Monáe, Leslie Odom Jr. and others. Read more.

Biden Administration Seeks to Strengthen Ties with US-Africa Summit

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The White House quantifies the importance of sub-Saharan Africa as one of the world’s fastest-growing populations, largest free trade areas, and most diverse ecosystems.

House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Rep. Greg Meeks, D-N.Y., told theGrio exclusively, “There has never been a better time to work with our African partners to help our partnerships evolve beyond the aid narrative, deepen commercial ties, and reaffirm our commitment to equity and African agency.”

“As the first Black chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee who has been elevating U.S.-Africa relations, I am pleased to see the second Africa Leaders Summit taking place against the backdrop of a new U.S. Africa Strategy.”  Read more.

Black Man Renting Airbnb Allegedly Shot By White Neighbor

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Project Lighthouse was developed in partnership with Color Of Change, the nation’s largest online racial justice organization, and with input from other national civil rights and privacy organizations.

A white California man is being accused of shooting a Black man who was renting an Airbnb near him. The victim was walking to a grocery store when the alleged incident happened, causing severe injuries to his leg. Prosecutors have labeled the attack “unprovoked.”

The Santa Clara County district attorney’s office shared Friday that Mark Waters, 66, has been charged with felony assault with a semi-automatic firearm. The shooting happened on October 2—over two months ago—in San Jose. The victim, who remains unnamed, is only 21 years of age. Read more.

Welch talks next steps for the Manhattan Casino

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City officials, particularly Mayor Ken Welch, are taking a fresh look at St. Petersburg’s Manhattan Casino after the lease expired on yet another failed venture at the historic venue.

The Callaloo Group, in partnership with the Urban Collective, was the latest to assume control of the embattled yet culturally significant facility on 22nd Street South in an area affectionately known as The Deuces. The consortium reopened a food hall inside the 12,000-square-foot building in September 2021 and received a notice of default three months later. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

Check out Pinellas Technical College New Barbering Program

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ST. PETERSBURG — Trying to remain a cut above in education, Pinellas Technical College is now offering its Barbering program at the St. Petersburg campus.

Longtime master barber and new instructor William Anderson began his involvement with PTC as an advisor to the Barbering program for the Clearwater campus. He spent a few years there before Boe Norwood, director of the St. Pete campus and client of Anderson’s, asked him if he’d be interested in teaching his profession to students at PTC St. Pete.

The St. Pete native has an extensive background in the art of haircutting, graduating from barber college in 1978 and has been a barber for almost 45 years. He has also always possessed a knack for teaching.

“I’ve trained a lot of guys, giving a lot of people in the community an opportunity, both here in St. Pete and a lot of places,” Anderson said. “I’ve had several shops started and helped train a lot of barbers, and so it was just natural for me to want to continue in this field of training young men and young women to be master barbers.” Read more.

Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend settles lawsuits over shooting

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The boyfriend of Breonna Taylor who fired a shot at police as they burst through Taylor’s door the night she was killed has settled two lawsuits against the city of Louisville, his attorneys said Monday.

The city agreed to pay $2 million to settle lawsuits filed by Kenneth Walker in federal and state court, one of his attorneys, Steve Romines, said in a statement. He added that Taylor’s death “will haunt Kenny for the rest of his life.” Read more at www.thegrio.com

The 2023 Publix Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival – February 18, 2023

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The Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival Inc. is a welcoming and inclusive FREE community event emphasizing education in food consumption, agricultural science, and improved lifestyle choices, including physical fitness.

Further, we adhere to a “health is wealth” initiative, focusing on healthcare disparities within the Black, Brown, and African American populations.

Location: Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum: 2240 9th Ave S,
St. Petersburg,
FL 33712

Enjoy delicious collard smoothies & sample the winning recipient of the 2022 High School Collard Green Recipe Contest Winner, proudly presented by ACF, the American Culinary Federation of Tampa Bay! Reserve a spot!

Vendors of all kinds are welcome including Merchandise, Farmer’s Market, Wellness and Informational Spaces, Food & Food Trucks, Beer & Wine, etc.

Click here to find out more.

‘I would whiten my skin no matter the cost’

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Skin whitening — the use of cosmetic products or services to reducethe amount of melanin in the skin to make it appear lighter — is amulti-billion dollar global industry.

The practice is fueled by colorism, the discriminatory narrative that“lighter is better” and being darker-skinned makes you“automatically ugly,” “inferior” and “less influential.”

These are the words used by CNN readers who responded to arequest to help us paint a picture of the pressure people feel tolighten their skin around the world. Read more at www.cnn.com

Karen Bass sworn in as Los Angeles mayor, the first woman to hold the office

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After 241 years, the nation’s second-largest city has its first female mayor. 

The mood was jubilant Sunday afternoon, as thousands of Angelenos danced to a surprise Stevie Wonder performance and cheered while Karen Bass was sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris as Los Angeles’ 43rd mayor. Read more at www.latimes.com

Dorothy Pitman Hughes, co-founder of Ms. Magazine, passed at 84

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Dorothy Pitman Hughes, the co-founder of one of the most prominent feminist magazines, has died, according to a funeral home in Georgia and her longtime colleague and friend Gloria Steinem.

Hughes, co-founder of Ms. Magazine, died at the age of 84 on December 1 in Tampa, Florida, according to Sconiers Funeral Home. Hughes, “passed away peacefully … at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Delethia and Jonas Malmsten,” the obituary said. Read more at www.cnn.com

Deion Sanders Has Decided to Stop Coaching at a Historically Black College.

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College football fans and HBCU alumni are still coming to terms with Deion Sanders announcing his departure from Jackson State University for his new head coaching gig at the University of Colorado.

The move struck a chord, especially among alumni of the Mississippi college, with some calling Sanders a “sellout” for leaving the historically Black JSU for the predominantly white CU.

Others are angry about him selling the dream of changing the athletic culture at historically Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, across the US and leaving after only three years.

While some were hopeful about everything Sanders said he could accomplish for JSU and other HBCUs, they “failed to realize this history of segregation, the history of integration and the history of the way TV contracts work really put these schools behind the 8-ball, so to speak,” said Louis Moore, a history professor at Grand Valley State University in Michigan.

It’s complicated, but the anger, confusion, and disappointment about Sanders’ move stem from a culture of loyalty and reverence for history that’s unique to HBCUs, experts told CNN. But Coach Prime’s exit also highlights a decades-long discussion about equity in collegiate athletics. Read more here.

Hiring!! Supplier Diversity Certification Specialist

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This is professional and public contact work planning, developing, and implementing certification and outreach engagement events and activities related to supplier diversity programs.  The primary function of this position is assisting M/WBE certification applicants with the application process both virtually and in person.  Work requires planning and executing targeted outreach events and meetings aimed at promoting participation and educating the diverse business community on the supplier diversity program; developing and maintaining a comprehensive outreach strategy; planning and executing Minority, Women, and Small Business Enterprise (M/WBE and SBE) outreach engagement events, trainings, and workshop; assisting in the administration of these programs through data entry, analysis, and reporting of program performance including auditing program certification and program re-certification applications; educating small, local, and diverse businesses about certification processes and requirements as well as opportunities to participate in projects that have supplier diversity and/or M/WBE goals; and developing cooperative professional relationships with local business groups, civic associations, trade associations, and industrial representatives to promote M/WBE programs.  Work also includes composing and preparing final reports related to outreach, engagement, and certification initiatives, including organizing the supporting documents. Apply here.

Salary:  $59,405 – $95,763

Close Date:  12-20-2022 (11:59 PM)

CDC of Tampa is Helping to Empower Black Businesses

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CDC of Tampa is helping to Empower Black Businesses through a partnership with Fifth Third Bank, focusing on businesses in 33610, 33605, and (selected areas in) 33603 zip codes.

Entrepreneurs can receive exclusive, personalized support to help strengthen their businesses and prepare them for capital, as well as, receive a $5,300 grant. Apply today, the deadline is 12/16!  Eligibility Requirements: 1) Be a legal, for-profit entity, 2) Be the business owner, and 3) Be interested and/or seeking capital for their business. Apply here.

4th Annual Black Excellence Summit – February 4th and 5th, 2023

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February 4th and 5th 2023 – Save The Date

Tampa Bay Job Fair Presented by Tampa Bay Times – January 23, 2023

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Mon, January 23, 2023, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST. The Coliseum 535 4th Avenue North St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

Let Us Help You Find Your New Career! Reserve your spot.

Four Developers Make Pitch for Tropicana Field Site, Including Tampa Bay Rays

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The Mayor expects to announce a decision at the end of January.

The city of St. Petersburg received four bids to redevelop the Tropicana Field site, more recently known as the Historic Gas Plant District. 

As expected, Sugar Hill Community Partners is one of them. The firm was a finalist under former Mayor Rick Kriseman’s administration but lost out on the opportunity when Kriseman selected Midtown Development. The firm got a second chance in June when current Mayor Ken Welch announced he was scrapping the previous bidding process and starting anew. 

Friday was the deadline for submissions. 

Other proposers include 50 Plus 1 Sports, Hines & Tampa Bay Rays, and Restoration Associates.

The Tampa Bay Rays, long expected to bid for the redevelopment opportunity, submitted a proposal with global real estate development firm Hines, which served as the Rays’ development partner when it was considering Al Lang Stadium for a potential new site in 2008. That process was scuttled when voters rejected it at the ballot box, a required vote because Al Lang is on waterfront property.

In a press release, Hines said its joint proposal with the Rays includes 5,700 multifamily units, 1.4 million square feet of office, 300,000 square feet of retail, 700 hotel rooms, 600 senior living residences, a 2,500-person entertainment venue, and various civic uses.

“Hines and the Rays have embraced and incorporated the City of St. Petersburg’s goals of honoring the Historic Gas Plant District legacy and creating St. Petersburg’s next great place to live, work, and play. The site would include over 20 new urban blocks and provide public benefit on over half of the land area, in addition to nine sustainability strategies that will advance the city’s priorities and position St. Petersburg as a leading city for large-scale resilience,” the release said.

“We commend 50 Plus 1 Sports, Hines & Tampa Bay Rays, Restoration Associates, and Sugar Hill Community Partners for their diligent efforts to submit proposals that will fuel inclusive progress and equitable development for future generations who will live, visit and do business in our city,” Welch said in a statement.

“We will review the proposers’ plans with a keen eye on their interpretation of affordable and workforce housing; office and meeting space; arts and culture; research, innovation, and education; recreation; open space, healthy and sustainable development; and intentional equity. We look forward to engaging the community as we determine the future of this historically and economically vital part of St. Petersburg, and the Tampa Bay Region.”

The city issued a request for proposals (RFP) on Aug. 26 calling for plans that provided an additional emphasis on equitable redevelopment and affordable housing, as well as details responding to current economic and societal conditions and community input. The RFP also called for a 17.3-acre carve out, from the overall 86-acre site, for a baseball stadium, an inclusion Welch said at the time was to provide certainty on the question of whether baseball would remain in St. Pete. 

The city said it plans to publicly post the proposals on its website “after an expedition review by city staff to ensure that each proposal is ADA compliant.”

The city will hold a community presentation on Jan. 4 at the Coliseum where members of the public will have the opportunity to hear overviews on plans from each proposer. 

A press release from the city said Welch will announce a developer decision at his first State of the City address at the end of January. 

The Tropicana Field site sits on land where a Black residential and business community thrived 40 years ago, in order to make way for an eventual stadium. Welch has long lamented that promises made to those displaced have not been fulfilled and seeks to make good on those promises with the new RFP process. 

His priorities include attainable housing, equitable business opportunities, office space, meeting space, open space, and “overall equitable and impactful economic development that benefits all.” Read more here.

North Greenwood African American Memorial Cemetery Historic Marker Unveiled

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The Clearwater African American Memorial Committee and Pinellas County Historic Preservation Board dedicated a Florida Historical Marker in North Greenwood on Dec. 3.

It’s the latest effort to maintain the historically Black neighborhood’s identity and recognize its history. 

The dedication featured a recitation of North Greenwood’s history by Lois Bell, Brenda Dixon Buie, Bilal Habeebullah, and Patriva Mack, descendants of people buried at the North Greenwood African American Memorial Cemetery. Pinellas County Historic Preservation Board Vice Chair John Barie and Barbara J. Sorey-Love, chair of the Clearwater African American Memorial Committee, also spoke at the event. 

“The historical marker dedicated at the North Greenwood African American Memorial Cemetery today is an excellent example of why the Pinellas County Historic Preservation Board partners with our municipalities and community organizations to recognize important historic sites and places in the county,” said Tom Scofield, principal planner, and historic preservation specialist. “The placement of this marker helps to reestablish the cemetery as a place of reverence and historical importance for this neighborhood, the City of Clearwater, and Pinellas County. It was a moving experience to hear the meaningful and heartfelt words and songs from the descendants of those buried in this sacred place.”

North Greenwood is a Clearwater neighborhood located north of downtown. Since early in the city’s history, North Greenwood has been a primarily Black neighborhood. In 1940, the Clearwater City Commission adopted a resolution establishing a new cemetery on 1.5 acres in the North Greenwood neighborhood. In 1954, the city relocated the estimated 375 graves in the cemetery to the Parklawn Cemetery. In February 2021, archaeological excavations verified the presence of numerous intact burials along with a variety of personal objects associated with African American burials. The 1.5-acre city cemetery continues to be a sacred ground for African Americans in Clearwater.

The historic marker reads as follows:

“North Greenwood African American Memorial Cemetery — Acknowledging the needs of Clearwater’s growing Black community, the city commission created North Greenwood Cemetery, also known as the ‘Clearwater Colored Cemetery.” On January 2, 1940, the city adopted a resolution that established a 1.5-acre segregated cemetery on city land. It stated that ‘…no burials of Negroes shall be permitted in Clearwater other than on the described property.’ That action ended the use of the private cemetery at St. Matthew Baptist Church, established in 1909 in the Clearwater Heights neighborhood to the south of this location, as the primary African American burial ground. In 1947, the Pinellas County Superintendent of Schools reported that segregated school buildings in Clearwater were obsolete and a fire hazard, and undertook a search for a new school site. The city also sought a location for a ‘permanent Negro recreation area’ that would include a pool, gymnasium, and ball field. By 1954, the city and school board joined efforts to construct Pinellas High School and a recreation area on a 30-acre tract of city land. The arrangement included a land swap whereby the North Greenwood cemetery plot would be given to the school board in exchange for land to construct the pool. As part of the deal with the school board, the city commission agreed to relocate the graves. They approved a work order to move ‘no more than 375 bodies’ from the city cemetery to a new location east of Dunedin, today known as Parklawn Memorial Cemetery. In 1962-62, Palmetto Elementary School was built on the North Greenwood Cemetery site. In 2019, it was discovered that only the marked graves were relocated, leaving several unmarked and displaced graves behind. This was revealed after extensive media coverage, input from the community, and help from the Clearwater/Upper Pinellas County Branch of the NAACP, Clearwater Historical Society, Florida Public Archaeology Network, the Cultural Resource Division of Cardno, Pinellas County Schools, and the City of Clearwater. This site remains a cemetery and reflects the history of the African American community with burial customs that can be traced back to the time of enslavement. Over the years, loved ones left items on graves like coins, glass flower vases, and conch shells as acts of remembrance. Though no longer visible, these artifacts and the many graves where they were placed remain here in areas on both sides of Holt Avenue.” Read more here.

Griner for Bout: WNBA star freed in US-Russia prisoner swap

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Russia freed WNBA star Brittney Griner on Thursday in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange, with the U.S. releasing notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, American officials said. The swap, at a time of heightened tensions over Ukraine, achieved a top goal for President Joe Biden, but carried a heavy price — and left behind an American jailed for nearly four years in Russia.

The deal, the second such exchange in eight months with Russia, procured the release of the most prominent American detained abroad. Griner is a two-time Olympic gold medalist whose monthslong imprisonment on drug charges brought unprecedented attention to the population of wrongful detainees. Read more at www.thegrio.com

‘Wakanda Forever’ is No. 1 for 4th straight weekend

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“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” kept the box-office crown for the fourth straight weekend, and the comic holiday thriller “Violent Night” debuted with $13.3 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. But the biggest talking point on the weekend was a movie conspicuously absent from theaters. 

Had Netflix kept Rian Johnson’s whodunit sequel “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” in theaters, it would have been one of the weekend’s top draws. Last weekend, the streamer — in its first such pact with North America’s top chains — released “Glass Onion” in about 600 theaters. While significantly less than the 4,000-plus theaters most big movies open in, the Netflix film reportedly grossed about $15 million — an enviable total for a medium scaled release. Read more at www.apnews.com

After Months of Advocacy From Black Women, Brittney Griner is Released From Russia

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After 10 months of uncertainty, WNBA champion Brittney Griner has been released from a Russian prison in a 1-for-1 prisoner swap. According to CBS News, a deal to exchange the basketball star for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout was made on Dec. 1. The swap took place on Thursday in the United Arab Emirates. Once she was back in US custody, Griner spoke to her wife Cherelle and President Biden on the phone.

Back in July, Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that the U.S. made a “substantial offer” to Russia, but didn’t give details on what exactly was discussed. Rumors swirled that the deal was to swap Brittney and former Marine Paul Whelan for Bout. Since this has been the assumption that everyone has been working under, there are questions and criticisms about why Whelan was not included in the swap. During a press conference at the White House, President Biden explained that for unknown reasons Russia is treating his case differently. Read more at www.theroot.com

Will Raphael Warnock’s Victory Draw Black Voters to the Polls In 2024 Presidential Election?

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Raphael Warnock’s victory Tuesday over Republican Herschel Walker in Georgia’s runoff is exactly what the Democrats needed.

The win will encourage African Americans to turn out in a red state dominated by Republicans, according to Axios. But the win could motivate African Americans across the nation. The Dems now have an important 51st Senate seat. Currently, Vice President Kamala Harris had to break ties. Read more at www.theroot.com

STARS Employment Training & Job Placement Program at Campbell Park Resource Center in St. Pete December 12

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PERC is hosting an Orientation December 12, 2022
@ 9:00 am. Pinellas County Urban League The STARS program includes:


• Disadvantaged Bus Pass
Assistance
• Assistance With Free Phones
• Computer Training and Much
More!

Campbell Park Resource Center
701 16th Street S, Building 7
St. Petersburg, FL 33705

For more information contact
North County (727) 313-0190
South County (727) 418-3362
[email protected]

Pinellas Education Foundation College Scholarship Opportunity 6-9 Grade Students

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Help change the lives of deserving students in Pinellas County. Through the statewide Take Stock in Children (TSIC) program, we offer Pinellas County students hope for a better life through college scholarships and caring volunteer mentors. These comprehensive services start in middle school, continue through high school and include their transition to college. Click here to learn more.

Kamala Harris to swear in Karen Bass as first female mayor of Los Angeles

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Vice President Kamala Harris will swear in Karen Bass as the 43rd mayor of Los Angeles in an inauguration ceremony on Sunday in a meeting of two Democratic women who have broken barriers in politics. 

Bass will make history as the first female mayor of Los Angeles, also making her the first woman of color to hold the job. Harris, just the second-ever Black female US senator, made history when she became the first female, first Black and first South Asian person to serve as vice president. Read more at www.cnn.com

Florida police chief on leave after flashing badge in golf cart traffic stop

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The police chief of Tampa, Florida, was placed on administrative leave after flashing her badge in an attempt to get out of a traffic stop, the city’s mayor said.

On 12 November, Mary O’Connor and her husband were stopped by a Pinellas county sheriff’s deputy for driving a golf cart without a license plate. Body camera footage showed the officer explaining to the pair why he stopped them. Read more at www.theguardian.com

LeBron James calls out media double standard between Jones, Irving

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LeBron James is “disappointed” at the double standard from the media when discussing Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys owner, versus his former teammate Kyrie Irving.

According to the Guardian, in an interview on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Lakers star seemed to accuse the media of applying different standards to different situations. He pointed out that while he was repeatedly asked for his opinion on the antisemitic claims surrounding Irving, they had yet to question him about Jones. Read more at www.thegrio.com

Shanquella Robinson’s Death Has Black Twitter Talking About Toxic Friendships

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Prosecutors in Mexico have filed charges against a suspect—whose name they have not publicly revealed—on charges related to the death of Shanquella Robinson. Robinson, who was just 25 years old, died on Oct. 29 while vacationing with six of her friends in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Everyone on the trip was American. Read more at www.theroot.com

Morehouse launches Black history metaverse course for spring semester

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Morehouse College in Atlanta will offer a Black history course taught solely in the metaverse starting in spring 2023.

According to NBC News, this first-of-its-kind course is led by Professor Ovell Hamilton and will see students interact with one another in a virtual 3D space using avatars. The course is titled “History of the African Diaspora Since 1800,” and is part of the school’s Virtual Reality Project. Read more at www.thegrio.com

Tyler Perry signs four-picture Amazon Studios film deal

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Amazon is getting the Tyler Perry treatment! That’s right: The multi-talented Hollywood mogul has officially signed a four-picture film deal with Amazon Studios.

Fresh off “A Jazzman’s Blues,” Perry’s successful feature on Netflix, the creative king is showing no signs of stopping any time soon. Per a press release obtained by theGrio, he is set to write, direct and produce four films under his new deal with Amazon Studios, which has a global audience of more than 240 countries and territories. Read more at www.thegrio.com

Habitat looks to create affordable townhome community

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Clearwater housing officials selected a partnership between the local Habitat for Humanity and Neighborhood Housing Services affiliates as the recommended recipient of property to develop 24 townhomes.

City council members unanimously approved the Clearwater Economic Development and Housing Department to continue contract negotiations with the two entities during Monday’s work session. The property consists of 1.35 acres at 1454 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

Black Family Closes 7-Figure Real Estate Deal to Recreate Modern-Day Black Wall Street in Mississippi

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After nearly a year of negotiations and renegotiations, entrepreneur Tony A. Reimonenq Jr, his wife, and his three sons have purchased a 20-unit strip mall in the Oak Grove community of Hattiesburg, Mississippi that they will transform into a local version of Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Historic Greenwood District also known as the original Black Wall Street. Read more at www.blackbusiness.com

THIS BLACK-OWNED COMPANY OWNS 38 GROCERY STORES AND JUST RECEIVED $13.5M TO BUY SIX MORE

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Chicago’s City Council’s Finance Committee granted Black-owned company Yellow Banana a $13.5 million subsidy to buy and transform six Save A Lot grocery stores. 

Yellow Banana was founded in 2021 by four entrepreneurs who have dedicated their lives to service. The retail grocery platform currently owns and operates 38 Save A Lot stores across the Cleveland, Chicago, Milwaukee, Jacksonville and Dallas metropolitan areas. This organization is working tirelessly to combat food insecurity across the nation. The mission is to “deliver essential nutrition to working families at affordable prices.” Read more at www.becauseofthemwecan.com

Judge partially blocks DeSantis’ anti-’woke’ law

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A federal judge in Florida on Thursday ruled that a law pushed by Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis restricting conversations around race in schools and the workplace is unconstitutional. 

In a 44-page ruling blocking enforcement of parts of the law, US District Judge Mark Walker said that Florida’s Individual Freedom Act (IFA), better known as the “Stop WOKE Act,” “discriminates on the basis of viewpoint in violation of the First Amendment and is impermissibly vague in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.” 

The law, which took effect on July 1, is a key component of DeSantis’ war on “woke ideology,” and was intended to prevent teachings or mandatory workplace activities that suggest a person is privileged or oppressed based necessarily on their race, color, sex or national origin. Read more at www.cnn.com

Auto DraftWaveney Ann Moore: Saving the Manhattan Casino

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The Manhattan Casino, an embodiment of nostalgia in the city’s African-American community,  has also become a symbol of disappointment. 

The offshoot of a Harlem soul food restaurant failed on the historic site. So did a concept fusing Caribbean and soul. Now another idea to revive the once vibrant space also appears to be on its way out. 

As I thought about the uncertain fate of the historic Manhattan Casino, it seemed necessary to look back at how it all began. Well, not all the way back. Not to the beginning, in 1925, when it was built by successful African-American businessman Elder Jordan.  Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

Commissioners delay leadership vote following electionAuto Draft

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The Pinellas Board of County Commissioners delayed the scheduled selection of a new chair and vice chair at Tuesday’s meeting to accommodate the imminent arrival of new members.

Commissioner Rene Flowers also used the occasion to withdraw her candidacy for vice chair out of consideration for her colleague Kathleen Peters’ seniority.

Peters, a Republican, motioned to delay the vote until the next meeting. She said the seven-member board should include the two new members, also Republicans. Commissioners initially split as to whether they should postpone selections, as it affects the committee appointment process and January meetings. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

Democrat Karen Bass makes history as first female mayor of Los Angeles, CNN projects

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Rep. Karen Bass has made history as Los Angeles’ first female mayor, CNN projects, overcoming more than $104 million in spending by her rival Rick Caruso to win the race.

The six-term congresswoman, who represents south and west Los Angeles, was able to put together a strong coalition of Black voters in South Los Angeles and White progressives on the city’s west side to prevail over the shopping mall magnate.

“This is my home, and with my whole heart, I’m ready to serve, and my pledge to you is that we will hit the ground running on Day One,” Bass said in a statement Wednesday night, noting that she had “received a gracious call” from Caruso and hoped that he “continues his civic participation in the city that we both love.” Read more at cnn.com

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY SUPPORTS THE BLACK MEN TALK TECH’S PITCH COMPETITIONAuto Draft

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Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) served as one of the lead sponsors of the Black Men Talk Tech’s Pitch Competition, part of the 4th Annual Unicorn Ambition Conference. The conference was held in Miami in October.

Purvis Bell, a principal in the investment group for NextEra Energy (NEE), FPL’s parent company, served as one of the four judges for the pitch competition, which was the kick-off event for the two-day conference. Other judges included:  Boris Moyston, Co-Founder, Black Men Talk Tech and Relentless Venture Partners; Victoria Kennedy, Founder and General Partner, Seed to Harvest, and Kenyon Williams, Associate Managing Director, Accenture Strategy. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com

A New Ad Campaign Pushes Benefits of $369 Billion Climate Law To Black Communities

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A coalition of anti-climate change and progressive political groups is launching a new wave of ads targeting Black and Hispanic communities, part of a $10 million campaign aimed at informing diverse groups about investments in climate mitigation under the Inflation Reduction Act.

That law, signed by President Joe Biden in August, authorized $300 billion in government spending in an attempt to blunt the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the overall economy. But it also included the largest single federal investment in climate action in U.S. history, authorizing another $369 billion in investments in various climate efforts over the next decade. Read more at www.theroot.com

University Of Virginia Shooting Leaves 3 Football Players Dead, Suspect Arrested

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A press conference was held Tuesdayby UVA Athletics to address the tragic shooting. University of Virginia football coach Tony Elliott stood alongside athletic director Carla Williams and spoke to reporters. Elliott remarked that the tragic death of three players “feels like a nightmare.” He added: “My heart is hurting right now. I’m waiting for someone to pinch me and wake me up.” Elliott also revealed that the team is finding ways to celebrate the lives of victims D’Sean Perry, Devin Chandler and Lavel Davis Jr. Mike Hollins, who was injured in the shooting, had a second surgery on Tuesday. The other person who was hurt has not been identified to the public. UVA is set to play Coastal Carolina this weekend. However, a decision about whether to play or not has not been decided. Williams stated: “That will be a discussion between coach and the team. We’ll make a decision soon.” Read more at www.theroot.com

Company may create 500 jobs, invest $46M in Pinellas

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An unidentified company is seeking tax exemptions to expand its operations in Pinellas County, which would create nearly 500 jobs. 

The Pinellas County Commission will review a request from a California manufacturer to become a qualified applicant for an economic ad valorem tax for a proposed expansion project in Pinellas Park. 

The company is a medical device manufacturer currently headquartered in California. The unnamed company would invest $46,325,000 in tangible property for the new facility. The economic impact of this capital investment is $9.3 million. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

MSNBC takes heat over shock firing of Tiffany Cross as Rachel Maddow called out for silence

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MSNBC is under fire for firing Tiffany Cross as the network’s biggest stars have taken heat from former colleague Keith Olbermann for not defending the now-former “Cross Connection” host. 

MSNBC dumped the contentious weekend host on Friday, declining to renew her contract after two controversial years that resulted in Cross causing a variety of headaches for MSNBC executives. A source close to the situation told Fox News Digital that Cross showed “repeated bad behavior on and off-air,” including over-the-top rhetoric. Conservatives and Republicans were the target of the majority of Cross’ disparaging comments, but many of her biggest fans don’t seem to care about the “bad judgment” that resulted in MSNBC showing her the door. Read more at www.foxnews.com

Tropical Storm Nicole strengthens as it approaches Florida

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This story will be updated as the storm progresses. Please check back for the latest details and information. News as of 9:30 a.m. Wednesday: 

Meteorologists forecast Tropical Storm Nicole has strengthened and is expected to be a hurricane when it makes landfall on the east coast Thursday. 

If the storm reaches hurricane status, it would be the first hurricane to hit the United States in November in nearly 40 years, according to reports. 

Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order Monday declaring a state of emergency for 34 counties, including counties in the Tampa Bay area, that are in the potential path of Tropical Storm Nicole. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

Voters pass St. Pete initiatives; red wave reaches Pinellas

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St. Petersburg voters overwhelmingly approved two city charter amendments and ballot referendums Tuesday, while Republicans secured several local seats in the first election since state redistricting.

According to the Pinellas Supervisor of Elections Office’s unofficial tallies, 424,302 eligible county voters, or 60.98%, exercised their civic duty. While ballots vary according to a person’s address, St. Petersburg residents faced a lengthy selection process this election year, with the VOTE411 informational guide listing 33 selections. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

DATA SHOW HISTORIC NUMBER OF BLACK WOMEN CANDIDATES IN MIDTERM RACES

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Black women are setting records as candidates for the U.S. House, U.S. Senate, and governorships in the upcoming 2022 midterm elections.

According to Click Orlando, the data comes from the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers University, which tracks women’s political participation in the United States; the count only includes major-party candidates.

In recent years, the House has witnessed more diversity, with the 116th Congress having the most diverse class of members in its history. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com

Ketanji Brown Jackson issues her first written opinion as a Supreme Court justice – a dissent

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Ketanji Brown Jackson, in her first written opinion as a Supreme Court justice, said she would have sided with an inmate who argued that Ohio suppressed evidence that might have helped him at trial. 

The full court declined to take up appeal brought by Davel Chinn, who shot and killed a man named Brian Jones as a part of an attempted robbery. 

Chinn was sentenced to death after another man, an accomplice named Marvin Washington, identified him for police. Read more at www.cnn.com.

Female leaders discuss global STEM barriers

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While some Americans face challenges entering careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), many women in other countries must overcome decidedly different obstacles.

World Partnerships, a St. Petersburg-based nonprofit, hosted seven female leaders from Armenia, the Dominican Republic, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mexico, the Philippines, Tunisia and Zambia for the past week. The visit included trips to local high schools and the Dali Museum, and culminated with a Tuesday night discussion at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.

USFSP Student Government hosted the event, while Tonya Elmore, President and CEO of the Tampa Bay Innovation Center, moderated the discussion titled “Hidden No More.” The panelists shared stories about their work and the global challenges for women in STEM fields. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

St. Pete Reads! Lit Fest is Saturday. Here’s what to know

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Authors, literacy experts and community members will come together to celebrate reading Saturday at the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum.

The first St. Pete Reads! Lit Festival will kick off from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The festival, held by Cultured Books Literacy Foundation in partnership with Barbershop Book Club and St. Petersburg College, will provide free food, books and literacy workshops to those who attend.

The event was born from community conversations around reading and literacy in the historic “Deuces” neighborhood in St. Petersburg, said Cultured Books founder Lorielle Hollaway. Read more at www.tampabay.com

BLACK WOMAN-OWNED PLANT-BASED HAIR EXTENSIONS BRAND SET TO LAUNCH WITH $2.5M IN SEED FUNDING

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A Black woman entrepreneur created a plant-based alternative to synthetic hair extensions.

Osahon Ojeaga prepares to launch her new plant-based hair extensions brand, Nourie, with the help of $2.5 million in seed funding that she strategically raised during a season that she described as an interesting time to fundraise.

According to Beauty Independent, the Nourie founder and CEO participated in an incubator within SOSV, a venture capital firm that included investment firms Impact America Fund, Better Ventures, and IndieBio. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com

SOULS TO THE POLLS EVENT ENCOURAGES CHURCH MEMBERS IN GEORGIA TO VOTE AHEAD OF 2022 MIDTERMS

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Black religious leaders in Georgia held their annual Souls to the Polls rallies Sunday afternoon to get their congregants to vote in the midterm elections.

State lawmakers almost eliminated the event under an elections restrictions bill signed into law last year by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. However, lawmakers backed off the elimination of Sunday voting.

The Souls to the Polls event included a caravan organized by local church leaders and civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, taking congregants from the Rainbow Park Baptist Church to an Atlanta-area mall where early voting is available. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com

Issa Rae And Ziwe Discuss The “Angry Black Woman” Trope On Meghan Markle’s Archetypes Podcast

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On the latest episode of Meghan Markle’s Archetypes podcastguests Issa Rae and Ziwe opened up about the harmful nature of the “angry Black woman” stereotype that has affected their careers. Markle explained that as a biracial Black woman, she was always expected to deliver attitude in order to land Hollywood roles. 

“I remember when I was auditioning, and even the idea of Black roles — I remember those casting sheets where the description of the character, she always had to have an edge or an attitude,” Markle said. She also referenced the book “Algorithms of Oppression” and how search engine results often lead to harmful tropes about Black women. Read more at www.theroot.com

The World Series Will Be Missing One Big Thing: African-American Players [Update]

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When the first pitch is thrown in the 2022 World Series tomorrow, baseball’s championship will be missing some of its biggest draws. The New York Yankees, the team with Major League Baseball’s biggest fanbase in its largest media market, got embarrassingly swept out of the postseason last week. The Los Angeles Dodgers, which plays in baseball’s second largest market and had the sport’s highest payroll this season, didn’t do much better. 

But what might be even more noticeable, even if it’s less talked about, is that when the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros play to crown baseball’s championship, there won’t be a single American-born Black players on either team’s 26-person roster. Unless a change is made before tomorrow night’s game, it will be the first time that’s happened since 1950, just three years after Jackie Robinson first appeared in the lineup for the then-Brooklyn Dodgers, integrating baseball, Read more at www.theroot.com

Advanced manufacturing institute opens in St. Pete

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The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute, the nation’s leading robotics and artificial intelligence manufacturing innovation institute, has opened a satellite office in St. Petersburg. 

“St. Petersburg is a perfect fit for us, with the state’s focus on the manufacturing industry and the city’s emphasis on specialized manufacturing, much of which incorporates robotics and AI. We were drawn by St. Pete’s culture of innovation,” ARM’s Chief Innovation Officer Arnie Kravitz said in a joint announcement with the St. Petersburg Area Development Corp. regarding the institute’s new office in the Tampa Bay Innovation Center. 

The Pittsburg-based ARM Institute, a Manufacturing Innovation Institute (MII) funded by the Department of Defense, aims to broaden the knowledge and skill base for robotics. The Institute has brought roughly $13 million in both technology and workforce projects to the region, with funding from the DOD, the Department of Commerce and the Department of Labor.  Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

Local program helps elevate students

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Like many students at Gibbs High School, Ja’Tanaisha Thompson dreamt of attending college; unlike most of her classmates, she enrolled at the University of Florida at 16 years old.

In addition to Thompson’s hard work and dedication, a program unique to Pinellas County – Elevating Excellence – helped to serve as a launchpad for her accomplishment. The Pinellas Education Foundation, in partnership with the Helios Education Foundation, implemented the program to help area students needing support achieve their post-high school dreams.

Elevating Excellence launched in June 2018 through a $1.3 million Helios grant. The Pinellas County Schools (PCS) initiative provides high-achieving, low-income and underserved students and their families with a personalized pathway to college success. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

Down Bad: Adidas Drops Kanye West, Which Could Drop Him From Billionaire Status

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Kanye West lost his biggest deal yet in the fallout over his recent anti-semitic comments, as adidas announced this morning it was ending its partnership with the rapper and fashion designer known as Ye.

“adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech. Ye’s recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the company’s values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness,” the Herzogenaurach, Germany-based company said in a statement released early Tuesday. Read more at www.theroot.com

A former Planned Parenthood executive is suing the nonprofit, saying she faced racism and hostility

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A former Planned Parenthood executive is suing the nonprofit under claims that the organization wrongfully fired her and retaliated against her when she made complaints about alleged unfair treatment of Black women. 

Nicole Moore, who is Black, filed the lawsuit on Wednesday in federal court. Moore served as Planned Parenthood’s director of multicultural brand engagement at its Manhattan headquarters from January 2020 to November 2021.

In a statement to CNN, Moore accuses Planned Parenthood of carrying out a broad pattern of anti-Black racism in which she says her managers diminished her complaints and then punished her. Read more at www.cnn.com

Florida Inmate Starves to Death, Unable to Reach His Food after Officers Paralyzed Him

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“My neck is broke. I’m paralyzed,” said Craig Ridley from a wheelchair. “You’re bullsh*tting. You’re just trying to get a lawsuit,” responded a corrections officer.

Ridley laid on the floor of his cell for the next five days pleading for help as officers dropped trays of food he couldn’t reach. Just hours before, officers tackled him to the ground, dislocating his neck. A report by the Miami Herald, including details from a 383-page investigation by The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, has shined a light on the hidden story of Ridley’s death. Read more at www.theroot.com

iHeartMedia-Atlanta president ‘no longer with the company’ after video shows him use racial slurs

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An iHeartMedia radio executive is out of a job after a video of him repeatedly using racial slurs surfaced, according to a spokesperson for the company.

iHeartMedia-Atlanta’s president Drew Lauter is “no longer with the company,” Meg Stevens, a senior vice president of programming at the company, told CNN in an email.

CNN obtained the videos from attorney Jason Castle, who represents a Black iHeart executive who was riding in the car and recorded the videos. They were taken in August 2021 while the group was leaving a local charity golf tournament, he says.

The videos show Lauter using multiple variations of the n-word and other expletives as he rides in the backseat of a vehicle.

He is also shown reaching into the front seat, grabbing the driver – a male member of iHeartMedia’s regional senior sales team – and mimicking fondling while using aggressive, offensive and sexist language. Lauter appears to be inebriated throughout the clips. Read more at www.cnn.com

2 Black comedians file lawsuit over police jet bridge stops at Atlanta airport

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Police officers stopped Eric André as he boarded a flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles in April 2021 and, a few months earlier, the same thing happened to another Black comedian in the same place, a lawsuit alleges.

André and fellow comedian Clayton English filed the lawsuit claiming the stops were the result of racial profiling

“Police officers came out of nowhere in like, almost like an ambush style and started, singled me out. I was the only person of color on the jet bridge at the time,” André said in a news conference Tuesday.

“They singled me out. They asked me if I was selling drugs, transporting drugs, what kind of drugs I have on me,” he said. 

A lawsuit filed Tuesday by André and English alleges that this stop was part of an anti-drug trafficking program carried out by the Clayton County Police Department in Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport that unfairly targets Black fliers.

“It was clearly racial profiling. The experience was humiliating and dehumanizing, degrading, I had all the other passengers squeezing by me on this claustrophobic jet bridge gawking at me like I was a perpetrator,” André said.

Police stopped English on a flight, also to Los Angeles, in October 2020. Read more at www.cnn.com

How the filmmakers behind ‘Till’ depicted Black trauma without showing violence

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Chinonye Chukwu didn’t want to make a movie about Black trauma.

The director of the newly released film “Till,” which centers on Mamie Till-Mobley as she fights for justice after the killing of her son, said she wasn’t interested in depicting the moment that Emmett Till was brutally beaten to death in 1955 Mississippi.

“The story is about Mamie and her journey, and so it wasn’t narratively necessary to show the physical violence inflicted upon Emmett,” Chukwu told CNN. “As a Black person, I didn’t want to see it. I didn’t want to recreate it.”

In bringing the story of Till-Mobley to the big screen, Chukwu was intentional about what she chose to show and what she chose to omit. The film doesn’t dramatize the vicious and violent manner in which Emmett was killed, but it does depict his horrifically mangled body – an image that Till-Mobley famously shared with the world and that catalyzed the civil rights movement.

Still, “Till” couldn’t avoid getting swept up into a debate about “Black trauma porn.” Soon after the release of the trailer, some corners of Black Twitter questioned why a movie about Emmett Till was even needed, swiftly characterizing it as the latest Hollywood project to capitalize on Black pain and tragedy. More than a few declared that they wouldn’t be watching. Read more at www.cnn.com

Searching for justice for Emmett Till

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Over the course of about a week in 1955, “Emmett Till” went from being the name of an ordinary child to an anti-lynching cri de coeur.

Roy Bryant and his half-brother, J.W. Milam, early on August 28, snatched Till from his great-uncle Mose Wright’s home near Money, Mississippi, set off by the spurious accusation that the Black 14-year-old had assaulted a White woman, Bryant’s then-wife, Carolyn Bryant (later Bryant Donham). The men beat Till, put a bullet in his head, tied a 75-pound cotton gin to his neck and threw him into the Tallahatchie River.

The first week of September, Till’s mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, held a funeral at the Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ, in Chicago. Propelled by grief and outrage, she insisted on an open-casket funeral so that visitors could see the body, mangled beyond recognition. She wanted to bring greater visibility to the horrors of White supremacy, to move people to battle against it. And she succeeded: Her son’s killing energized the Black freedom struggle. Till-Mobley spent the rest of her life refusing to allow the world to ignore what had happened to her boy.

Till’s presence still resonates throughout society. Chinonye Chukwu’s new film, “Till,” which paints a picture of the racial equality activism Till-Mobley embraced after her son’s death, debuts on Friday. In June, members of Till’s family found new evidence in the case—an unserved arrest warrant for Bryant, Milam and Donham. And, in March, President Joe Biden signed into law the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, making lynching a federal hate crime. Together, these events give us an opportunity to revisit an important question: What might justice for the slain teenager look like today, nearly 70 years after an all-White jury acquitted Bryant and Milam?

We can answer that question in a variety of ways, scholars and advocates say, because justice can take many different forms.

As Keisha N. Blain, a professor of history and Africana studies at Brown University, told CNN, “I always think about redress, this notion of justice—whether that’s legal justice and steps to help Till’s surviving relatives, or justice to Till’s memory and responses to urge people to consider how to stop present-day racial violence.”

Biden administration defends record amid class action lawsuit from Black farmers

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The White House on Wednesday touted its efforts to provide relief for Black American farmers on the same day that the federal government was hit with a class action lawsuit by said farmers, who say the government broke its promise to keep their farms afloat throughout and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more at www.thegrio.com

How Jake Tapper started investigating the conviction of one of his father’s patients in South Philadelphia

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In September 2011, Dr. Theodore Tapper treated 17-year-old CJ Rice for lingering and debilitating injuries after he was shot in the abdomen. Six days later, Rice was arrested and ultimately convicted on charges of attempted murder in a shooting of four people in South Philadelphia. 

Nearly a decade after Rice’s trial, CNN anchor Jake Tapper has closely examined the conviction of his father’s patient, reporting a story that raises significant doubts about the case against Rice – and the effectiveness of the legal counsel he was provided at his trial. 

Tapper’s cover story in The Atlantic, “‘Good luck, Mr. Rice’: A Philadelphia teenager and the empty promise of the Sixth Amendment,” takes a deep dive into the circumstances behind the September 2011 shooting that led to Rice’s conviction 18 months later and a prison sentence of 30 to 60 years. The Sixth Amendment guarantees defendants the right to counsel. Visit www.cnn.com

Listen to Ketanji Brown Jackson school the Court on US history

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In a case involving voter rights, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson referenced the 14th amendment and said recognizing race is an important part of constitutional law during a contentious debate with the solicitor general of Alabama. Read more at www.cnn.com

INCREASE YOUR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES: BECOME A CERTIFIED DIVERSE BUSINESS

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Most business professionals have heard time and time again to invest, invest, invest. The takeaway is nothing ventured, nothing gained. Diverse business enterprises are constantly looking for opportunities to connect with major corporations and government agencies but getting certified is an initial investment that must be made. The certification process takes some time and will have associated costs, but the benefits are worth this initial investment. This certification will establish the credibility that larger corporations and government agencies require when developing new contracts. While starting this process may seem daunting, there are several agencies and organizations that certify businesses. Knowing your business will aid in selecting the best support for your desired growth.

Minority-owned Businesses

  • The National Minority Supplier Development Council helps advance business opportunities for certified minority business enterprises and connects them to corporate members. More than 1,500 corporate members erly on the NMSDC certification to see diverse suppliers from among the more than 15,000 minority-owned businesses that are NMSDC members. 
  • The Small Business Association 8(a) Business Development Program is primarily known as the agency that gives loans to small businesses. They help certify companies to be eligible to work on federal contracts. Those who participate in the 8(a) Business Development Program experience limited competition by the government to help provide a level playing field for small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged people or entities. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com

‘MAKING BLACK AMERICA: THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE’ DOCUSERIES SALUTES THE RESILIENCE OF BLACK AMERICA

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Black people have found ways to progress despite the many doors that have been shut.

Filmmaker and scholar, Henry Louis Gates Jr., celebrates history with his new docuseries, “Making Black America: Through the Grapevine,” a four-episode project that examines the African American experience in the United States. The series spotlights the resilience of Black people and how the social, cultural, and religious investments have contributed to a successfully evolving Black culture, despite the odds. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com

NBA HALL OF FAMER, ATLANTA HAWKS CO-OWNER GRANT HILL TO BE HONORED AT BLACK ENTERPRISE’S BLACK MEN XCEL SUMMI

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NBA Hall of Famer and Atlanta Hawks Co-owner Grant Hill will be a guest speaker and award honoree at BLACK ENTERPRISE‘s Black Men Xcel (BMX) Summit.

The BMX Summit is the nation’s No. 1 conference focused on celebrating and refining Black men with the tools to advance their professional development, from entry-level management to C-suite executive. The Summit will take place October 12-14 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.

Hill, the son of former Dallas Cowboys running back Calvin Hill and Janet Hill, is a two-time national champion at Duke University, the 1994 ACC Player of the Year, and a two-time NCAA All-American. Hill was drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the No. 3 pick in the 1994 NBA Draft and was named Co-Rookie of The Year with Jason Kidd.  Read more www.blackenterprise.com

Russian Court Schedules Brittney Griner’s Appeal for Oct. 25

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As her family and friends pressure the U.S. government to do more to get her released, Brittney Griner’s case continues to make its way through the Russian legal system.

According to ESPN, a Russian court has set the WNBA star’s appeal hearing for Tuesday, Oct. 25. In August, Griner was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison for drug possession and smuggling.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist has been wrongfully detained in Russia since Feb. 17, when police said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that the amounts were 0.252 grams and 0.45 grams. While it’s true that Russia has very strict rules on drug smuggling, an amount this small does not justify a nine-yearsentence. Read more at www.theroot.com

Supreme Court to hear Alabama voting rights case that could impact Black voters everywhere

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The U.S. Supreme Court today will hear a case that could upend voting rights and dilute the power of the Black vote in Alabama but potentially across the country.

In Merrill v. Milligan, the court will determine whether Alabama’s redistricting plan violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Plaintiffs argue that Alabama’s congressional map for its seven districts unfairly weakens the votes and influence of Black people, who make up nearly 27% of the state population. Read more at www.thegrio.com

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson marks historic first day on Supreme Court: ‘A beacon to generations’

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Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson marks her first official day on Monday as the newest member of the United States Supreme Court where she will sit on the high bench for a lifetime appointment.

As Jackson ascends as the first Black woman installed to the high court, there is a sobering reality: she is in the minority of judicial ideology among the 6-3 conservative majority Supreme Court.

“She is not going to be the savior of the court. However, she is going to write some very powerful dissents that will set the frame for the court going forward,” political strategist Chris Metzler told theGrio.

Kurt Schmoke, president of the University of Baltimore and the city’s former mayor, said “based on the current makeup of the court,” Justice Jackson is “likely to be writing more dissenting opinions than majority opinions, but in time her opinions will have a great impact on law and policy in America.” Read more at www.thegrio.om

Thursday live updates: Tampa Bay wakes up after Hurricane Ian’s landfall

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Hurricane Ian battered Florida with catastrophic storm surge, wind and rain throughout Wednesday night and into Thursday morning as it slowly made its way northeast across the state, before being downgraded to a tropical storm before daybreak.

Cameras livestreaming conditions in Tampa Bay showed whipping winds and choppy water in Tampa Bay. Hundreds of thousands of Tampa Bay residents lost power Wednesday and overnight. And officials urged people to continue to shelter in place and not to emerge too early as the hurricane continued its relentless path, leaving downed trees and power lines in its wake. Read more at www.tampabay.com

Monday live updates: Hurricane Ian headed toward Tampa Bay, evacuations ordered

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Floridians woke up Monday to Hurricane Ian, a storm that is expected to quickly strengthen to a major hurricane as it bears down on the state.

The National Hurricane Center on Monday morning placed Tampa Bay under a hurricane watch and a storm surge watch. Tampa Bay remained firmly in the storm’s forecast cone, though forecasters said there was still a great deal of uncertainty about Ian’s path.

Regardless of the track and intensity, there is a risk the Tampa Bay area and other parts of the Gulf Coast could see life-threatening storm surge, hurricane force winds and heavy rainfall. Effects could begin as early as Tuesday and officials urged the region to take advantage of the last full day to prepare and heed evacuation orders. Evacuation orders were announced Monday for some in Hillsborough County and were expected in Pinellas by Tuesday. Read more at www.tampabay.com

Black in Business – Investments & Insurance for Small Business Owners

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TBBHF BUSINESS SEMINAR

Black in Business Financial Seminar – presented by Michael Spears, MBA

Friday, September 23rd, 2022 @ 9 AM – 10:30 AM.

Click here to learn more.

‘The Woman King’ takes North American box office throne

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The Viola Davis-led action epic “The Woman King” easily conquered the North American box office in its first weekend in theaters, against a crowded market of new releases. The film, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, surpassed expectations and earned $19 million in ticket sales, according to estimates from Sony on Sunday.

“The Woman King” was released by Sony and TriStar in 3,765 locations and carries a reported production budget of $50 million, which was co-financed by eOne. The film, about the Agojie, the all-female army of the Kingdom of Dahomey in West Africa in the 1800s, got glowing reviews after its debut at the Toronto Film Festival. Read more at www.thegrio.com

Your weekend arts forecast: Sellouts, and near-sellouts

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The Florida Orchestra is back with a one-off pre-season concert Saturday at the Mahaffey Theater. As the 1984 film Amadeus screens in high definition, TFO will perform the entire Mozart score, as it happens, along with the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay Chamber Singers.

Amadeus Live has been touring the world since 2016. In much the same way a lot of us were introduced to classical music through Warner Bros’ “Looney Tunes” cartoons, the Amadeus film – winner of eight Academy Awards – brought the majesty of Mozart to the masses.

Saturday’s concert, conducted by Julian Pellicano, is listed as sold out. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

City meets with contractors about Tropicana Field

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Engineering firms and master developers posed questions to city officials regarding the needed utilities to the assessed value of the Tropicana Field site during the first pre-proposal meeting. 

The pre-proposal meeting, held Wednesday at the University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg campus, is part of the due diligence process in selecting a master developer to reimagine the 86-acre site, once home to the Historic Gas Plant District. 

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch released a new 33-page RFP in late August to solicit proposals for the redevelopment of the site. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

‘Democracy Is About What Voting Can Deliver’: Stacey Abrams Drops Gems at The Root Institute

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Day One of The Root Institute kicked off in a major way with Stacey Abrams discussing her road to governor during an intimate conversation with The Root’s contributing editor Keith Reed. Keith held nothing back as he asked Abrams about her status in the current Georgia race and how we can addressvoter suppression that’s happening in Republican-controlled houses throughoutthe country.

“It begins with being exercised about it,” Abrams said. “We saw that in the 2018 election there was an outrage that was palpable and led to conversations going into 2020 [about voting rights]. This narrative has developed that voter suppression existed but we dealt with it in 2020. In Brian Kemp’s first 4 years as governor, he passed laws that tried to satisfy some of the complaints we raised. Read more at www.theroot.com

Startup bringing data centers to the Moon grows St. Pete HQ

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Lonestar Data Holdings Inc., which is preparing for a mission to place data centers on the Moon, is growing its presence in St. Petersburg. 

The data analytics company is occupying additional space inside the newly established Maritime and Defense Technology Hub, which houses multiple companies working with the U.S. government that require secured spaces. 

“We are placing our mission control and global HQ at the Hub and are building our team,” said Lonestar founder Chris Stott, who lived in Houston over the past 20 years. “St. Pete anchors what people in our industry call the Interstate I-4 space corridor. One on end, you have Cape Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center, an Air Force base and companies such as Blue Origin, SpaceX, L3 Harris, and more. In St. Pete we are building an aerospace cluster.”  Read more at www.st.petecatalyst.com

FINANCE INFLUENCER THE ‘BUDGETNISTA’ AIMS TO TEACH VIEWERS FINANCIAL LITERACY IN NEW NETFLIX DOC

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Tiffany Aliche, personal finance social media influencer also known as “the Bugdetnista,” has landed a Netflix documentary deal to teach viewers more about their money.

Get Smart With Money released last Tuesday on Netflix, described as a throught-provoking “Queer Eye for economics.” While the money savvy personality has amassed over half a million followers on Instagram, she will now get to help others on a much larger scale after this new release.

Whether one is struggling with bills on an everyday basis or questions about retirement, Get Smart With Money promises viewers of all financial backgrounds to know they’re all covered. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com

Michelle Obama: White House portraits tell ‘fuller story’ of America

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Former first lady Michelle Obama said Wednesday the White House portraits of her and former President Barack Obama reflect a “fuller story” of America.

“It’s not about blood or pedigree or wealth, it’s a place where everyone should have a fair shot,” she said at an event to unveil the portraits on Wednesday. “This day is not about me or Barack or these portraits. It’s about telling that fuller story, a story that includes every single American in every corner of the country.” 

The portrait unveiling traditionally would’ve happened years ago, but Barack Obama’s successor, Donald Trump , refused to do it. 

Barack Obama’s portrait was painted by artist Robert McCurdy. Sharon Sprung painted Michelle Obama’s. 

At the unveiling, Barack Obama joked with President Joe Biden , his former vice president, but also offered earnest praise. Read more at www.newsbreak.com

St. Pete awarded for affordable housing efforts

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The Florida Housing Coalition (FHC) recently recognized the City of St. Petersburg for its pioneering efforts to address the ongoing housing crisis affecting much of the state.

City leaders walked up to the stage twice during the three-day FHC Statewide Affordable Housing Conference to collect awards. The first was for dedicating an overwhelming majority of federal funding to housing initiatives. The second was becoming the first – and likely still only – municipality to utilize legislation that allows the transformation of industrially zoned properties into affordable developments.

The conference, held at the Rosen Centre in Orlando Aug. 29 -31, attracts over 900 affordable housing professionals, advocates, lenders, developers and policymakers, according to its website. James Corbett, city development administrator, called receiving the recognition a “great feeling” and said it signifies the dedication of Mayor Ken Welch and the St. Petersburg City Council.

“To put their focus where it’s needed right now,” said Corbett. “It really shows our commitment to making a dent in providing more affordable housing. Read more at www.Stpetecatalyst.com

Hurricane Danielle on ‘slow decline,’ Tropical Storm Earl a ‘bit disheveled,’ forecasters say

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Tropical weather remained active in the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday as forecasters were watching three systems — a hurricane, a tropical storm and a patch of rough weather that appears likely to strengthen during the week.

None of the systems poses an immediate threat to Florida.

Hurricane Danielle is “on a slow decline,” the National Hurricane Center said in a Tuesday morning briefing. The season’s first hurricane was 835 miles west-northwest of the Azores early Tuesday morning and packed maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, forecasters said. Danielle was moving northeast at 8 mph and poses no imminent threat to land. Read more at www.tampabay.com

First-ever African American studies advanced placement course starts in select high schools

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For the first time since 2014, the College Board is offering an Advanced Placement course. This one  — AP African American Studies — is also a first-of-its-kind, giving students at 60 schools around the country the opportunity to study the history of civil rights and examine the significant contributions and experiences of African Americans.

According to several media accounts, the interdisciplinary course will also cover topics such as African American music, literature, the arts and humanities, geography, political science — and, according to TIME —  the significance of Marvel’s “Black Panther” film. Read more at www.thegrio.com

Steph Curry graduates from college in N.C. in a one-man ceremony

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Stephen Curry returned to his alma mater, Davidson College, this week where the 34-year-old was honored with a one-man graduation ceremony after completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology in May. 

At the time, the NBA MVP celebrated the milestone in a post on social media. 

“Dream Come True!! Class of 2010 …. aka 2022, but we got it done!” the father of three wrote on Twitter. “Thanks to my whole village that helped me get across the finish line. Made the promise when I left and had to see it through.” Read more at www.thegrio.com

Deadline September 6th $5,000 GRANTS AVAILABLE TO BLACK SMALL BUSINESSES TO HELP BOOST GROWTH AND LONGEVITY

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Black-owned small businesses could gain $5,000 grants to help them grow and conquer obstacles like lack of capital and inflation.

Marking its third year, the Coalition to Back Black Businesses (CBBB) offers just over $1.3 million in grants to 272 Black businesses to help with long-term growth.

According to a news release, the CBBB is a multi-year effort created to support the resilience of Black-owned small businesses. The program is supposedly the first-ever collaboration with four top Black business organizations, including the National Black Chamber of Commerce, the National Business League, the U.S. Black Chambers Inc., and Walker’s Legacy. Apply at www.blackenterprise.com

Jabaar Edmond uses activism, entrepreneurship, and art to help accelerate change in St. Pete, Part 2

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Native son Jabaar Edmond comes from the neighborhoods he now works to uplift and create opportunities within. He is acutely aware of the pitfalls surrounding communities where systemic racism, hopelessness, and negative mindsets can create a devouring hole.

His activism takes a variety of forms, including being one of the entrepreneurs who formed Urban Collective to take on reshaping 22 South Food Hall last year. He is also a filmmaker, using his insight in the case of the film Art In The City, which he co-wrote and directed with his DreamMakerz Productions partner Cranstan Cumberbatch. The film brings attention to the plight of homeless war veterans and post-traumatic stress disorder. Read more at www.theweeklychallenger.com

BYU moved slowly in responding to racial slurs, Black Duke volleyball player says

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The Duke volleyball player who was subjected to racial slurs during a match at BYU said Sunday that officials onsite didn’t react quickly enough when they were made aware of the behavior during play.

Nor did they adequately address the situation immediately after the match, Rachel Richardson said in a statement posted to her Twitter account.

“No athlete, regardless of their race should ever be subject to such hostile conditions,” said Richardson, the only Black starter on the Blue Devils team.

BYU banned a fan from all athletic venues on campus Saturday, a day after the match. The fan was not a student but was sitting in the student section. Read more at www.thegrio.com

Developing Radical Goals for Black Homeownership: An NCRC Panel Discussion

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Miriam Axel-LuteShelterforce’s CEO and editor-in-chief, moderated a panel at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition’s Just Economy Conference in June. The panel, titled “Developing radical goals for Black homeownership and access to affordable housing,” addressed the question of what can be done to significantly advance Black homeownership and access to affordable housing. Read more at www.shelterforce.org

Local minority business owner wins prestigious award

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Dr. Shirley Davis has many monikers – global workforce expert, bestselling author and successful business owner, to name a few – and can now add Golden Gavel Award recipient to the list.

During an Aug. 20 ceremony in Nashville, Toastmasters International presented the Tampa resident with its most prestigious honor. The organization awards the Golden Gavel to just one person annually, and Davis joins an illustrious group of past honorees such as Dr. Joyce Brothers, Walter Cronkite and Zig Ziglar.

Founded in 1924, Toastmasters is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. It boasts over 300,000 members in 149 countries and has presented the Golden Gavel to distinguished communicators and trailblazers since 1959. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

Entrepreneur plans to open St. Pete tech academy

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Entrepreneur Chris Morancie is determined to break the cycle of poverty and lack of tech education by equipping today’s youth with computer skills. He wants to accomplish this through a tech academy he plans to introduce in St. Petersburg and beyond. 

Morancie recently opened a 5,000-square-foot learning lab in the University Mall in Tampa, also known as Rithm at Uptown. The LT3 Academy is a tech training accelerator that aims to create a pathway for students interested in learning about the business of coding, programming and engineering.

“We want to run our labs in underserved communities surrounded by schools where we can recruit students from,” said Morancie, the CEO and co-founder. “This is an alternative way for people to be trained without having debt. This is free for them, and they can earn money while learning.” Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

Bessie Coleman Honored by All-Black Woman Flight Crew

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American Airlines is celebrating the 100-year legacy of Bessie Coleman, the first Black woman to earn a pilot’s license, by operating a Black-women led flight, according to The Dallas Morning News. This month, a crew of 36 Black women flew from Dallas-Forth Worth International Airport to Phoenix.

Let me remind you who “Queen Bess” is. She grew up in Atlanta, Texas, with little access to education. When she hit her 20s, she began dreaming about becoming a pilot, according to her biography. At the time, the only women who flew were from France. Back here, they didn’t dare allow women let alone Black women learn how to fly a plane. That’s when Coleman decided to go to France and earn her pilot’s license which she received in 1921. She returned to the States greeted with praise for becoming the first Black woman pilot and became an air show performer. Read more at www.theroot.com

Walmart ordered to pay $4.4 million in ‘shopping while Black’ discrimination lawsuit

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Walmart has been ordered to pay an Oregon man $4.4 million in punitive damages after a former theft-prevention employee racially profiled him as he was “shopping while Black.”

Michael Mangum, 61, is also set to receive $400,000 in non-economic damages, making the verdict the largest monetary award by a jury in a racial discrimination case in Oregon history, The Oregonian/OregonLive reports. 

According to the lawsuit, the employee, Joe Williams, 32, is accused of racially profiling Mangum at the Wood Village Walmart on March 26, 2020. Mangum was shopping for a refrigerator lightbulb when Williams “spied” on him before demanding that he leave. When Mangum refused to exit the store, Williams called the police and falsely claimed that Mangum had smashed him in the face. 

“When he said he’s going to call the police, I couldn’t believe it, because I hadn’t done anything,” Mangum told The Oregonian/OregonLive. “The only thing that was going through my mind was, ‘You have the right to be here.’” Read more at www.thegrio.com

Community leader Rev. Watson Haynes II dies

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The Rev. Watson Haynes II was a leader. In faith, he helped lead New Pleasant Grove Baptist Church as an ordained minister. In politics, he helped shape generations of political leaders. In service to his community, he worked tirelessly to address issues in education, generational poverty, affordable housing, adult education, health and so much more.

He transitioned peacefully on Aug. 20 after a valiant fight against cancer.

“With the death of Rev. Watson Haynes, I have personally lost a dear friend and a comrade that I will miss sorely,” said longtime friend Gwendolyn Reese.

Watson and Reese fought on the frontlines together for many causes that span decades, both dedicated to the Black community.

“Our community has lost a person who has been committed — for all of his life, from his youth to the day that he transitioned — to this community, to us as African Americans striving for justice, striving for equality, always with the good of all in mind. I knew him not as a selfish person. I knew him not as an egotistical person. I knew him as a gentle spirit with a big heart and an immeasurable love for this community,” Reese said. Read more at www.theweeklychallenger.com

Non-profit spotlight: Complete Tampa Bay helps locals finish college degrees

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One of the Tampa Bay area’s greatest educational resources isn’t meant for current students. Instead, it’s designed specifically for those who began working on their degree and never finished it.

Complete Tampa Bay, a part of the Leap Tampa Bay college access network, is a program helping former students get back in school and finish their education. The service provides locals with extensive guidance no matter where they are in their journey, offering one-on-one coaching, consistent support, and access to necessary tools.

And the best part: it’s completely free for students with prior college or technical training experience. Complete Tampa Bay’s completion coach, Matt Smith, works with students as he teaches them how to find available education and training options, discover what financial support may be available, access tutoring, and get connected to local college partners that can support their credential completion.

“There is so much to think about when you are going back to school after a significant amount of time,” Smith said. “As a Completion Coach, I assist students with reviewing transcripts, past work experience and future goals. I also help locate resources and act as an advocate as students transition back to college to complete their degree or work certification. My goal is to help adult students return to college and ultimately be successful!” Read more at ilovetheburg.com

Black entertainment mogul calls for more inclusion in news and media

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Byron Allen began his career as a standup comic and is now a media tycoon who owns dozens of outlets including the Weather Channel. He has recently added another network to his portfolio — the Black News Channel.

Allen is acquiring the assets of the Black News Channel after a bankruptcy court approved his $11 million purchase. Within 10 minutes of wiring the money, Allen said he changed the name of the station to theGrio — a West African term for a storyteller.

Allen, who owns 36 TV stations and 12 cable networks, wanted the channel to be a lot more inclusive, including its name. Read more at www.cnn.com

Coquina Key Plaza redevelopment project moves forward

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The redevelopment of the battered Coquina Key Shopping Plaza is one step closer to reality. 

In a four-to-one vote Tuesday evening, with commission member Valarie Nussbaum-Harris casting the sole “no” vote, the City Community Planning and Preservation Commission approved recommending that the city council should approve the development agreement with Stoneweg US, which plans to revitalize the shopping strip at 4350 6th St. S. into a mixed-use destination with housing and a potential grocer. 

Stoneweg, a St. Petersburg real estate investment company that purchased the 110,500-square-foot shopping center for over $7 million, is proposing to build 458 residential units with workforce housing, 21,000 square feet of retail space and new amenities. 

The site is situated between Lake Maggiore and the bay, providing scenic views, on the edge of the St. Petersburg city limits. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

FAMU Joins Grow with Google’s HBCU Career Readiness Program to Train 100,000 Black College Students In Digital Skills by 2025

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“Florida A&M University is honored to be selected as a Google HBCU Career Readiness partner.

Florida A&M University (FAMU) announced its participation in the Grow with Google HBCU Career Readiness Program. The initiative helps Black college students at over 30 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) prepare for the workforce through digital skills training and career workshops. Through a $3 million investment in the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the program will train 100,000 Black college students by 2025. Career and Professional Development is a staple at FAMU and this opportunity for our students to become even more competitive via certifications, is a value add to the University. As students prepare for the workforce, certifications are becoming a hot topic in higher education and we are proud to partner with Google to make this a reality,” said Bill H. Means, Ed.D., director of the FAMU Career and Professional Development Center, who thanked Google for “this wonderful opportunity.” Read more at www.famunews.com

Two men sentenced to life in prison for death of Ahmaud Arbery; third gets 35 years in prison

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The white father and son who chased and killed Ahmaud Arbery in a Georgia neighborhood each received a second life prison sentence Monday — for committing federal hate crimes, months after getting their first for murder — at a hearing that brought a close to more than two years of criminal proceedings.

U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood handed down the sentences against Travis McMichael, 36, and his father, Greg McMichael, 66, reiterating the gravity of the February 2020 killing that shattered their Brunswick community. William “Roddie” Bryan, 52, who recorded cellphone video of the slaying, was sentenced to 35 years in prison. Read more at www.thegrio.com

$10,000 GRANTS AT HAND TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES GROW THROUGH VENMO

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Small and emerging businesses could gain $10,000 grants through Venmo. Funding for the Venmo Small Business Grant will supply new financial grants and mentorship services to 20 new and existing Venmo customers.

Chosen firms will get $10,000 to pay costs like rent or help digitize and promote their businesses. The news was announced by PayPal, the giant fintech owner of Venmo.

Awardees will get access to technical expertise and mentorship on topics like legal services, financial analysis, and digital marketing. The company stated that resources will be offered in partnership with PayPal community partners, Start Small, Think Big and Taproot Foundation. PayPal and Venmo employees will offer coaching and pro bono services. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com

BLACK WOMEN ARE HELPING DRIVE THE GROWTH OF BLACK ENTREPRENEURS ACROSS AMERICA

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When the COVID-19 pandemic hit U.S. shores, Black women took it as an opportunity to reset their lives and careers to go into business for themselves and take control of their finances.

According to the University of California, Santa Cruz, the number of Black-owned businesses has increased by 30% since the pandemic began and Black women are largely responsible for that growth.

St. Louis NPR reports when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Rhonda Walker, a nursing director at a nursing home in St. Louis, watched her patients die daily and her co-workers fall ill while working numerous hours took its toll. When Walker suffered a stroke in the summer of 2020, she took it as a sign and spent the majority of her recovery planning her next move. Read more at www.blackenterpise.com

Descendants of Tulsa Race Massacre victims can’t sue, judge rules

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An Oklahoma judge said six descendants of victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre cannot sue for reparations, while allowing three known survivors of the attack in which a white mob descended on a predominantly Black neighborhood to move forward with the lawsuit.

The order, signed Tuesday by Tulsa County District Judge Caroline Wall, allows Lessie Benningfield “Mother” Randle, 106, Viola “Mother” Fletcher, 107, and Hughes Van Ellis, Sr., 101, to continue seeking reparations under state nuisance laws.

Wall in May allowed the case to go forward while partially granting a motion to dismiss it without saying at the time what was being dismissed.

In addition to the six descendants, Wall dismissed as plaintiffs the Historic Vernon AME Church Inc., which did not exist in 1921, and The Tulsa African Ancestral Society, which represents other descendants. And she dismissed as defendants the Tulsa Development Authority and the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission because they did not exist in 1921.

Wall also dismissed an “ongoing public nuisance” claim by the plaintiffs. Read more at www.thegrio.com

Brittney Griner sentenced to 9 years in prison; Biden says the punishment is ‘unacceptable’

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U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner was convicted Thursday in Russia of drug possession and sentenced to nine years in prison following a politically charged trial that came amid soaring tensions between Moscow and Washington over Ukraine and could lead to a high-stakes prisoner exchange between the two world powers.

The 31-year-old Griner, a two-time U.S. Olympic champion and a eight-time all-star with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury listened with a blank expression as an interpreter translated the verdict by Judge Anna Sotnikova. The judge also fined her 1 million rubles (about $16,700) fine. Read more at www.thegrio.com

Senate confirms Michael E. Langley, making him the Marines’ first Black four-star general 

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For the first time in its 246-year history, the United States Marine Corps has confirmed a Black four-star general. 

Lt. Gen. Michael E. Langley was confirmed by the U.S. Senate this week, according to a statement from the Corps. 

“At his promoted rank, Langley will serve as the commander of U.S. Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany, and will command all U.S. military forces in Africa,” the statement notes. 

In his role, Langley will assist African countries in combating climate change, population growth and political instability, according to The Washington Post. He will also help the countries build up their forces and monitor Russian and Chinese activities. Click here for more information.

ABBOTT ELEMENTARY’SQUINTA BRUNSON IS NOW THE FACE OF OLAY

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It’s her first beauty brand partnership!

Comedian Quinta Brunson is now the face of Olay, People reports. 

Brunson has already had a pretty successful year, launching ABC’s hit comedy “Abbott Elementary,” being named one of Time’s 100 most influential people, and making Emmy history with seven nominations for the show, three of which belong solely to her, the most nominations any Black woman has ever received in the comedy category. Read more at www.becauseofthemwecan.com

Black News Channel is now theGrio 

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It’s official: Black News Channel is now theGrio. After the acquisition last month of Black News Channel by Allen Media Group, which owns theGrio, Byron Allen’s company hopes to mark a bold new era for Black-owned media. 

The programming transition from Black News Channel to theGrio occurred early Monday. 

A trusted source of news for the Black community for nearly a decade, the online brand will officially pivot to television. According to Comscore, in two of the last three months, theGrio was ranked the number one Black/African American targeted news site.

In June, the site was among the Top 50 general news sites in the nation. With over 7.4 million average visitors per month, theGrio’s reporting and commentary are delivered by top award-winning journalists, including April Ryan, Michael Harriot, Marc Lamont Hill, Touré and Natasha Alford.  Read more at www.thegrio.com

NBA legend and civil rights activist Bill Russell dies at 88

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NBA legend Bill Russell, an 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and the first Black head coach in the league, passed away “peacefully” Sunday, according to a family statement from his verified Twitter account. He was 88.

“It is with a very heavy heart we would like to pass along to all of Bill’s friends, fans, & followers,” the statement reads. 

“Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in American sports history, passed away peacefully today at age 88, with his wife, Jeannine, by his side. Arrangements for his memorial service will be announced soon.”

In addition to his sporting achievements, Russell was one of sport’s leading civil rights activists and marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr. when he gave his “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963. He also supported iconic boxer Muhammad Ali in his opposition to being drafted into military service. Read more at www.cnn.com

This 13-year-old is headed to medical school a year after graduating high school

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A 13-year-old girl has been accepted to a medical school program only a year after graduating high school. 

Alena Analeigh Wicker shared the news on Instagram with her more than 20,000 followers recently.

“I’ve worked so hard to reach my goals and live my dreams. Mama I made it,” the teenager posted below a picture of her program acceptance letter. 

She was accepted into the Burroughs Wellcome Scholars Early Assurance Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Heersink School of Medicine, the school confirmed in a statement to CNN. Click here to read more.

Michelle Obama Announces New Book ‘The Light We Carry’

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Michelle Obama announces a new book entitled “The Light We Carry.” 

Four years ago, the Forever First Lady released her memoir, “Becoming,” which has since sold more than 17 million copies across the globe, the Associated Press reports. Its sales have surpassed those of any former first lady or president, including her husband Barack Obama. Since the book’s release, she has gone on a tour, released an edition for young readers, and launched a podcast and documentary about the tour.  Read more at www.becauseofthemwecan.com

Healing While Black celebrates Black joy during BIPOC Mental Health Awareness three-day summit

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The Well and the University of South Florida Office of Multicultural Affairs and Family Study Center present Healing While Black “Liberated & Living Well,” three-day summit for community members, wellness providers, organizers, educators, artists, public officials, and other leaders.

Participants are invited to meet with inspiring presenters, hear leading-edge research and practice, and engage in wellness activities and celebrations throughout the weekend.

“This year, we’re celebrating Black joy, which includes the way that we name, seek, secure safety and live healthy and joyous lives,” shared Dr. LaDonna Butler, founder of The Well.

At the end of the weekend, she noted, “we will have affirmed [the] conviction that our stories matter, our strategies — with collective support — work and that we are worthy of investment. We are liberated and living well; we share a common commitment to the safety and wellbeing of our collective community.” Click here to read more.

Last historic Gas Plant District redevelopment in-put session, virtually this Thursday

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This Thursday, July 28, is your last chance to give your input on the historic Gas Plant District redevelopment site. In-person attendance for the upcoming community conversation is full; however, they are providing a virtual option at the same time. Above is Mayor Ken Welch speaking at the first input session on Tuesday, July 12.

ST. PETERSBURG — Mayor Ken Welch and the City of St. Petersburg are hosting the last in a series of community outreach events to solicit public input on development priorities and concerns virtually this Thursday, July 28, at 5:30 p.m.

More than 100 people attended the second event last week, which led to important feedback on priority areas for the site. The second community conversations session was co-hosted by the Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA). Read more at www.theweeklychallenger.com

Bucs reach agreement with Julio Jones, Chris Godwin cleared to begin training camp

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Tom Brady is getting another big target to make another run at the Super Bowl.

The Bucs are signing former Falcons and Titans receiver Julio Jones to a one-year contract, the Tampa Bay Times confirmed Tuesday afternoon.

Jones, 33, was traded from the Falcons to the Titans last season but was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring strain before producing his only receiving touchdown in Week 18 against the Texans. Injuries have forced Jones to miss seven games in each of the past two years.

But the seven-time Pro Bowl player is considered one of the best pass catchers in NFL history with 13,330 receiving yards and 61 career touchdowns. Read more at www.tampabay.com

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Trailer Racks Up 172 Million Views in 24 Hours

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We’ve all been not-so-patiently waiting for the first footage from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, so when it dropped at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, it’s no surprise the world went crazy.

According to Variety, the video was an instant hit, grabbing 172 million views in 24 hours, making it one of Marvel’s most successful trailer debuts ever. The film also took over social media with #WakandaForever reigning as the top hashtag for five consecutive hours, while other topics like “Chadwick Boseman,” “Namor,” “Shuri,” “T’Challa,” “Ryan Coogler” and “Angela Bassett” were trending throughout the night.

Among Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, Wakanda Forever comes in behind recent blockbusters Spider-Man: No Way Home, which has the biggest ever trailer debut with 355.5 million views, and Thor: Love and Thunder’s teaser at 209 million. Black Panther 2 also trails the Avengers: Endgame teaser at 289 million, the Avengers: Endgame final trailer with 268 million, the Avengers: Infinity War teaser with 230 million and the Avengers: Infinity War final trailer with 179 million. Read more at www.theroot.com

Alabama Girl Becomes Youngest Black Med Student in US History

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I don’t know about you, but at 13-years-old, all I could think about was jumping Double Dutch and the latest New Edition song. But Alena Analeigh Wicker is a 13-year-old who is getting ready to do big things.

According to The Washington Post, Wicker was accepted to University of Alabama’s Heersink School of Medicine. Her accomplishment makes her the youngest Black student to be accepted to medical school in the United States. She is currently taking undergrad courses at ​​Arizona State University and Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama. Wicker is planning to start her medical school coursework in 2024. Read more at www.theroot.com

Supreme Court splits race in college admission case, allowing Justice Jackson to participate

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The Supreme Court on Friday took a step that will allow new Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman on the court, to take part in a case that could lead to the end of the use of race in college admissions.

Jackson, who joined the court June 30 following the retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer, had pledged during her confirmation hearing to sit out the case involving Harvard’s admissions policy because she was a member of the school’s board.

The Harvard dispute had been joined to a similar lawsuit involving the University of North Carolina. The court split the case in two, allowing Jackson to hear arguments and vote in the North Carolina case. Harvard is a private institution, while North Carolina is a public university. Read more at www.thegrio.com

$650,000 IN GRANTS AVAILABLE TO BLACK ARTISTS, DESIGNERS, AND SMALL BUSINESSES

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Instagram is teaming up with the Brooklyn Museum to debut the 2022 #BlackVisionaries Program to provide $650,000 in grants to Black artists, designers, and small businesses.

This year’s round calls for 10 creators to obtain essential funding. That includes five Visionary Small Business Grants of $100,000 for Black designers. Five Emerging Visionary Grants of $30,000—with the backing of Meta Open Arts—will be for people centered on arts and design based in the United States.

According to a news release, “it’s an effort to empower, center and invest in aspiring Black voices within art and design.” Yet, those seeking the funding need to act soon. Grant applications have already opened and are due online before July 29. To be eligible, you must be between 18 and 35. Small businesses or arts organizations must be younger than 10 years old. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com

Therapy for Black men: Conversations about mental health moving beyond the barbershop

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Dr. S. Kent Butler, a professor of counselor education at the University of Central Florida, has become a key figure among experts speaking on Black mental health around the country. He’s often led conversations with other Black men about the obstacles they face, including at the Healing While Black conference held this year in St. Petersburg from July 28-31.

Butler, who just completed his term as president of the American Counseling Association, said when entering the counseling field, he didn’t realize that he would be called to help Black males. He recently spoke with WUSF’s Octavio Jones, where he said he discovered a need to help educate counselors in the profession about supporting Black males.

WUSF: What made you become a counselor?

Butler: I started working in a middle school as a school counselor. And that’s when the drive really, really set in to help Black males to kind of come to grips with who they were, as individuals raise their self-esteem, and do things that were really supportive and help them in their development, their growth. Read more at theweeklychallenger.com

Black in bourbon: About Brough Brothers, Kentucky’s first Black-owned distillery

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In 1783, Evan Williams opened the first commercial bourbon distillery in Kentucky. 

It would take 237 years more for the first Black-owned distillery to enter the market in the state famous for its own bourbon trail.

Brough Brothers, in Louisville, has been on a breakneck pace of distillation and expansion since the Kentucky Alcoholic Beverage Control Board approved the distillery in 2020. Brough Brothers released its first bourbon earlier this year from sourced bourbon and hope to release its own distillate in 2023.

“We’ve got quite a bit of momentum, quite a bit of support from the community, from the retailers and the district distributors,” Victor Yarbrough, the CEO of Brough Brothers, told theGrio. Read more at www.thegrio.com

From bail bonds to beauty salon, St. Pete woman lifts up community

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It’s late afternoon on a Friday and Kenyatta Rucker is sitting on a bench on 21st Street S, talking to a man who’s calling from jail.

She’s three blocks from the house where she grew up. Behind her is a single-story building. It’s painted black, with four lime green doors.

The door to her right leads to a salon that offers nail and facial services. To her left is the entrance to a bail bonds office — the place people call for help on their worst day.

Both businesses belong to her. In her mind, this makes a certain kind of sense. Both are a product of a larger mission to care for her community — one she knows, first-hand, is in need. Read more at www.tampabay.com

US Senate expected to confirm Marines’ first Black four-star general

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After more than 35 years in the US Marine Corps., Lt. Gen. Michael Langley is set to be the first Black general to achieve one of the branch’s highest rankings. 

The Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday held a confirmation hearing for Langley, who’s nominated to be the Commander of US Africa Command, which oversees the nation’s military presence in Africa. If the Senate confirms him, he will be the Marines’ first Black four-star general. In the Marines’ 246-year history, 73 White men have reached the four-star ranking.

“It is a great honor to be the President’s nominee to lead US AFRICOM,” Langley said at Thursday’s confirmation hearing. “I’m grateful to the trust and confidence extended by him.” Read more at www.cnn.com

THE DEAL IS CLOSED! BYRON ALLEN’S MEDIA GROUP ACQUIRES BLACK NEWS CHANNEL FOR $11 MILLION

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Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group (AMG) is proud to announce that the Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee Division of the United States Bankruptcy Court, (Case No. 4:22-bk-40087-KKS) issued an order approving the sale of “substantially all of” Black News Channel (BNC) “assets free and clear of all liens, claims, encumbrances and interests” to AMG’s networks division.

AMG is acquiring BNC out of bankruptcy for $11 million from billionaire Shahid Khan, owner of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars franchise. Khan invested over $100 million into BNC.

AMG’s acquisition of BNC will add 300 million linear and digital subscribers to the AMG portfolio of assets — which includes 12 television networks such as The Weather Channel, digital platforms Local Now, HBCU GO, Sports.TV, theGrio Streaming App and The Weather Channel Streaming App. AMG has also invested over $1 billion in the last 3 years to acquire 27 ABC-NBC-CBS-FOX network affiliate broadcast television stations nationwide. Read more ate www.blackenterprise.com

Mom believes Sesame Place character was intentionally racist toward two 6-year-old Black girls

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The mother who posted a video showing a costumed character appearing to ignore two Black children during a parade at Sesame Place in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, says the theme park’s explanation of the incident as a “misunderstanding” is not enough.

Jodi Brown and her attorney told CNN on Tuesday that the Sesame Place character, Rosita, was intentionally racist toward her niece and daughter.

In the nine-second video shared by Brown, on Instagram, her daughter and niece are seen reaching out for a hug from the character, Rosita. In the video, Rosita is seen high-fiving others before seemingly wags her finger at an unidentified person and then shakes her head no at Brown’s daughter and niece before walking away from them. Read more at www.cnn.com

Zendaya, Quinta Brunson among Black actors making history with Emmy nominations

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From Quinta Brunson’s work on her hit series “Abbott Elementary” to Zendaya once again nabbing a nomination for her performance as Rue in “Euphoria,” the Emmy Award nominations have seen some of the biggest Black names in Hollywood break major records.

The Emmy nominations were officially announced this week, highlighting the best television had to offer in 2022. Shows like “Abbott Elementary,” “Euphoria,” “Succession” and “Stranger Things” nabbed multiple nominations, but all eyes are on the Black talent and actors of color who broke records this year, including returning Emmy nominees like Zendaya and freshman entries like Brunson.

Zendaya should be used to making Emmy history at this point. She won an Emmy for outstanding actress in a drama in 2020, becoming the youngest actor to ever win in that category. Now with her nominations this year, for starring in “Euphoria” and producing the series, she becomes the youngest two-time acting nominee in Emmy history, per the Hollywood Reporter.

TheGrio sat down with Zendaya earlier this year as she broke down her playing of Rue on “Euphoria” and the story she was able to tell in the show’s acclaimed second season. “I really care about her massively,” she told us at the time. “There are so many people that have shared their stories that feel so deeply connected to Rue … that to me is the most beautiful thing. People being able to feel seen by her or maybe just feel a little bit less alone in what they are feeling or have gone through. That’s really, really important to me.”

Read more at www.thegrio.com

MAJORITY BLACK-LED VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM RAISES $203 MILLION, POSITIONING IT FOR STRONG FUTURE GROWTH

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Collecting almost double than its first seed-stage fund, the second fund for MaC Venture Capital raised $203 million that will greatly help boost its capacity to grow.

The  MaC VC Fund II just closed after $110 million was attained in Fund I in March 2021. The event is trailblazing for the firm that calls Los Angeles and Silicon Valley its headquarters on several fronts.

Managing general partner Adrian Fenty says it is extremely important that a majority Black-led venture capital firm raised more than $200 million for one fund because it helps achieve diversity and brings more people into the venture capital world.

Read more at www.blackenterprise.com

MEET THE CORPORATE LEADERS WITH THE BOLD PLAN TO HIRE 1 MILLION BLACK PEOPLE

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More than 18 months after its inception, OneTen–the initiative designed by Kenneth Frazier, retired CEO and current executive chairman of pharmaceutical giant Merck, former American Express Chairman and CEO Ken Chenault, and former Infor CEO and Chairman Charles Phillips–has been gaining momentum fulfilling pledges made by leaders of the nation’s largest companies to create 1 million family-sustaining, career-advancing jobs for Black non-degree holders over the next decade.

Maurice Jones, who has served in an array of high-impact positions, including as Deputy Secretary for HUD during the Obama administration, and head of Local Initiatives Support Corporation, was recruited last February to serve as the honcho for this mammoth effort–an act Frazier asserts “was the most important thing to happen in the first year.”

The move has proven fruitful: Thus far, OneTen has helped find employment for 41,000 people. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com

Vice President Kamala Harris is coming to Tampa. Here are the details

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Vice President Kamala Harris will meet with military leadership at Tampa’s MacDill Air Force Base on Thursday, after first stopping in Orlando to advocate for abortion rights.

Harris will meet with service members and receive a briefing from the leadership of U.S. Central Command and Special Operations Command, which are both headquartered in Tampa. The briefings will focus on how the two units are executing the Biden administration’s priorities, including support for Ukraine against the Russian invasion, a spokesperson told the Tampa Bay Times.

Harris’ visit coincides with President Joe Biden’s visit to the Middle East. The vice president’s briefing will include discussions about the United States’ partnerships in the region.

Before Tampa, Harris is scheduled to visit Orlando for an event hosted by her Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, after which she will hold a roundtablewith state lawmakers to advocate for abortion rights in Florida. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra will join Harris at that panel. Read more at www.tampabay.com

Community gives input on Tropicana Field redevelopment in first community conversation

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Skyrocketing rent prices and years of unfulfilled promises by city officials have caused mixed opinions from St. Pete residents about economic security and what will come of the historic Gas Plant site that Tropicana Field, surrounded by a giant parking lot, sits atop.

About 200 residents plus city officials, including Mayor Ken Welch and Deputy Mayor Stephanie Owens, gathered for the first of three historic Gas Plant District redevelopment community conversations at the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg Tuesday evening.

The 86 acres were once home to the Gas Plant district founded in 1890 as “Cooper’s Quarters.” As the second oldest Black neighborhood in St. Pete, the name was eventually changed to match the two large gas cylinders at the location.

Mayor Ken Welch announced on June 29 that he was issuing a new Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Gas Plant District redevelopment site because the environment has changed since the initial RFP was issued in July of 2020. Although he was impressed by the efforts of the two finalists in the old RFP process — Sugar Hill Community Partners and Midtown Development — he believed it needed some updating.

The mayor cited the need for more affordable and workforce housing and less office space along with the need for intentional equity and equitable development highlighted by the city’s Disparity Study and the Structural Racism report, which were completed after the issuance of the initial RFP.

Read more at www.theweeklychallenger.com

How ‘woke’ went from a social justice term to a pejorative favored by some conservatives

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A version of this story appeared in CNN’s Race Deconstructed newsletter. To get it in your inbox every week, sign up for free here.

Once upon a time, many decades ago, “woke” was a term used mostly in Black spaces to underscore the importance of keeping a close eye on patterns of racism and oppression.

Language evolves, though, and sometimes in sinister ways.

Over the years, “woke” has lived other lives: as a rallying cry against police brutality, as an ironic meme and now as an imprecise term used to decry progressive action.

Consider that, just this month, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Stop WOKE Act went into effect. Among other things, the legislation is designed to quash instruction about race in schools and in the workplace. Click here to read more.

Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment community conversations scheduled

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Mayor Ken Welch will hold a series of community engagement opportunities over the coming weeks to gather public input on priorities for Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment.

Since announcing he was launching a new RFP process to identify prospective developers for the 86-acre, Welch has scheduled the first community conversation for Tuesday, July 12, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Foundation for a Healthy St. Pete located in the Lakeview Shopping Center at 2333 34th St. S.

Members of the public are invited to participate in subject matter expert-led conversations addressing common themes about redevelopment priorities, including but not limited to equitable economic opportunities, affordable and workforce housing, economic impact, jobs, sustainability, equity, and community impact.

Each session will begin with opening remarks from Mayor Welch.

Read more at www.theweeklychallenger.com

CLOSING THE GAP Chloe Coney and her son Ernest have been working to elevate East Tampa for 30 years – and they’re not done yet

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For 30 years, the CDC of Tampa has laid the groundwork for investment in East Tampa.

The first thing you should know about Chloe Coney and her son Ernest is that they didn’t have to do this, and they didn’t have to do it here.

Instead of leading the Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, they could have stayed in corporate America, leveraging their experience and their bachelor’s and master’s degrees to almost assuredly reach the C-suite.

Chloe started as a probation officer in 1972 — the first Black female to be hired for the role in Hillsborough County,

Read more at www.bizjournals.com

Black women must advocate for better health care and awareness

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Chances are you’ve heard of lupus before. But beyond knowing that a friend of a friend or a distant relative has it, you know little else. With so many diseases and infections in the world, no one can blame you for not being up-to-date on every single one.

However, with lupus, statistics show it is a significant cause for concern for the Black community, in general, and women of color, specifically. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1.5 million Americans have lupus. Of those diagnosed with this autoimmune disease, about nine out of 10 are women between the ages of 15 to 44 (childbearing age).

Sadly, women of color comprise the largest group of people living with this disease in America. Lupus is two to three times more prevalent among African-American women than white women. Not only that, but the severity of the disease is also higher among them.

A study titled “LUMINA” (Lupus in Minority Populations: Nature vs. Nurture) reported that African Americans with lupus are more likely to have organ system involvement and more active disease than white lupus patients. African American and Hispanic women also tend to develop lupus at a younger age and experience more severe complications, leading to a higher mortality rate. Read more at www.theweeklychallenger.com

Coquina Key Plaza project may bring housing, new grocer

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The dilapidated Coquina Key Plaza, a St. Petersburg strip mall located near the corner of 6th Street S. and 45th Avenue, will be redeveloped into housing and potentially could introduce a new grocer to the neighborhood food desert. 

Stoneweg US, a St. Petersburg real estate investment company that purchased the 110,500-square-foot shopping center in a $7.23 million deal, previously said it has plans to convert the property into a mixed-use development with retail and workforce housing. 

The development group is now asking the City Community Planning and Preservation Commission (CPPC) to change the zoning for the Property from Corridor Commercial Suburban (CCS-1) to Corridor Commercial Traditional (CCT-1). This zoning change would allow a developer to build up to 150 feet high or 15 stories at that site. However, buildings in that area are limited to a maximum of 45 feet, thus in a proposed development agreement with the city, Stoneweg has agreed to restrict the buildings on the site to 75 feet.

Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

Surprise News: Mayor Sets All New Direction for Trop, Black Leaders React

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Mayor Ken Welch at June 29th press conference, announcing a wholly new direction for the Trop project (Photo by All Photos Considered)

Mayor Ken Welch made a surprise announcement this morning, regarding the Tropicana Field redevelopment project. At a press conference – staged on the western periphery of the Trop site at 10 a.m. – Welch outlined a new direction for the $3+ billion endeavor.

Rather than choose between the two finalist developers left from his predecessor’s selection process, the City is opting to cancel the former review cycle and start from scratch.

The Mayor cited vastly changed conditions as the basis of his decision. Chief among them were the skyrocketing cost of housing, the pandemic’s epic impact on the office market, and the need for intentionality in achieving equitable development.

The Welch administration plans to issue a new Request for Proposals (RFP) from developers this August. The two finalists who’d hoped to be chosen by Welch – JMA/Sugar Hill and Midtown Development – are encouraged to submit proposals once the new RFP is released, according to a press release by City Hall.

The Mayor’s decision may disappoint those firmly wedded to one of the development teams. But some see it as a wise choice on Welch’s part.

Based on my own deep-dive into the proposals, the developers were not as concrete as we need them to be, when it comes to their economic equity and inclusion programs.

Their proposal documents contained conflicting information on important community benefits, such as their goals for inclusion of small and minority-owned firms, as well as the amount of contracting that would happen with local companies.

The path chosen by Mayor Welch also avoids the possibility of a lawsuit by one of the developers, while giving due time to the Tampa Bay Rays to finalize their plans.

Most importantly, Mayor Welch wants to see a fresh new conversation with community stakeholders about the project, especially in light of all that we’ve learned since Mayor Rick Kriseman initiated the selection process in early 2020.

NAACP President Esther Eugene agrees with Mayor Welch’s choice. “I think this is a very good thing,” she said after attending the presser. “It allows a new Mayor – with a viewpoint of someone with roots in the Gas Plant area – to ask these developers to articulate their visions, not just for what will be built on the site, but for the strategies that will lead to economic upliftment of the entire area.”

Pastor Manuel Sykes of Bethel Community Baptist Church is backing the JMA/Sugar Hill team but says the mayor made a sound decision.

“I would like to express my gratitude to Mayor Welch for his thoroughness in choosing a developer for the most historical opportunity ever undertaken by this city,” said Rev. Sykes. “The selection will bridge the decades of unkept promises, forced migration, and economic destruction of the Gas Plant community, including the voices of those whose graves lie under the streets and highways of promised development.”

Though hoping for JMA/Sugar Hill to be selected, Rev. Sykes said he recognizes this as a singular opportunity. “This is the one and only shot we have to ‘get it right.’ I am persuaded that this delay is not a denial, and the additional time will yield an even greater outcome in addressing St. Petersburg’s present and future, while redressing those injured by its past.” 

Gwendolyn Reese, President of the African American Heritage Association, voiced disappointment in the decision to delay the process. She was the only non-governmental staffer to sit on the selection committee assembled by former Mayor Kriseman in 2021.

“I fully respect Mayor Welch’s choice to re-start this process but wish he would have done so immediately after taking office,” said Reese. “We are delaying a process that has been so long in the making. I think that it does not speak well for us as a city. It begs the question of whether developers will want to engage with us, given the reputation we now have.”  

Rev. J. C. Pritchett weighed in on Welch’s decision with a Facebook post that read in part, “Today Mayor Welch made clear to our community and city a willingness to keep baseball in Saint Petersburg and to develop the former Gas Plant area into a space and place that would make our ancestors proud.”

Activist Carla Bristol was more strident in tone. Her take: “This demonstrated true leadership by the Mayor. I think it’s a right decision for him to push pause. It’s only for six months more on a project that’s been years in the making.”

Bristol called the decision “well worth it, given the major issues Mayor Welch raised.” She continued, “This is consistent with his commitment to intentionality in decision-making, which – in this case – involves being intentional about achieving generational wealth and righting past wrongs.”

When asked for her thoughts, Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders commented, “There were two things that came to mind upon hearing the new direction. The first was how much in taxpayer dollars has already been spent on this effort, and two, the Rays should have been involved with the process all along. That says a lot about respect and relationships. I am glad to have them on board.”

Terri Lipsey Scott, Executive Director of the Woodson African American Museum of Florida, was succinct in her reaction. She said of the decision, “I think that the Mayor’s comments were bold, brave and inclusive. The reality is we have not been engaged in this dialogue at the depth warranted by this historic project. Nor have the Rays.”

Brother John Muhammad, Co-Founder of the New Deal, gave a thumbs up. “I support Mayor Welch’s decision. This is one of the largest developments in the nation and a once in a generation opportunity,” said Muhammad. “We are hopeful the new RFP process will include an intentional focus on equity, create space for those who were directly impacted by the original plan to offer input and be open to bold ideas that include reparative justice measures that can right the wrongs of the past, while also addressing present and future needs of the city.”

Councilmember Lisa Wheeler-Bowman was enthusiastic about the move. “This is an exciting opportunity,” said the two-term policy maker. “I’m looking forward to city council working with Mayor Welch, city staff and the Rays to create a place that will benefit all of our residents.”

Jabaar Edmond was cautiously optimistic. “I agree with all that the Mayor said this morning. I want to know more about what it means to ‘re-look’ at this,” he said. “But I’m in agreement with this direction. It’s my hope that the runway to the ultimate decision is not a long one.” Edmond served on the city-commissioned structural racism study team that completed its work late last year.

Jalessa Blackshear, an activist who also served on the structural racism team, wasn’t surprised by the decision. She was fairly neutral on Welch’s choice and cautions, “If there is not a Gas Plant restitution fund that supports the descendants of that neighborhood, then whatever is built there will not succeed.”

“Real redress is the only way to right the wrongs of the past,” said Blackshear. Her family roots are in the historic Methodist Town community.

Attorney Tamara Felton-Howard expressed confidence in the choice, while encouraging speed. “I trust Mayor Welch to make an astute, well-reasoned and informed decision. With that being said, I hope that this process can be completed quickly so that the community can begin to reap the benefits of a redeveloped Trop site.”  Felton-Howard was Co-Chair of the CBA Policy Council that advocated for the Community Benefits Agreement policy adopted by City Council last year.

Attorney Shannon Ligon, a St. Pete native, also approves. She commented on Facebook, “I am glad to hear that new leadership will get an opportunity to help make decisions regarding this important matter in our historic neighborhoods and communities!” Ligon is Senior Partner at Pretty Smart Law, headquartered in central Florida.

Florida Senator Darryl Rouson gave “applause for the pause” (his words), saying “Mayor Welch is the right leader at this once in a lifetime, transformational moment. He is not only a product of St. Petersburg but a son of the Gas Plant area. It is significantly important that we get this right. Mayor Welch is burdened and blessed by legacy and an opportunity to bring inspiration to future generations. His decision to terminate and reissue the RFP is a pause, not a denial.”

Rouson added, “It is important that the Rays be shown the respect they deserve at every phase of the development process. The shared goal is about economic development, badly needed housing and jobs.”

“This is a generational project that has to be done right, and we can’t focus solely on getting it done as quickly as possible at this point, after many years of debate,” Mayor Welch commented Wednesday evening.

“The Gas Plant promises are more than three decades old, and the community has been waiting a long time for the promised benefits with respect to the sacrifice of the Gas Plant community,” said Welch. “A few more months is a relatively short time to make sure that we are choosing the right path.”

At least one of the developers in question responded with positive remarks. Moments after Mayor Welch wrapped his press conference, the JMA/Sugar Hill team sent the following to local media:

“We appreciate Mayor Welch’s thoughtful approach to the Tropicana Field redevelopment and respect his decision to continue the evaluation process.
 
“We have worked tirelessly since fall 2020 to develop, expand, and refine our community-driven vision for the Tropicana site: an inclusive, sustainable neighborhood that is a catalyst for job creation and economic growth. 
 
“We continue to be inspired by the hundreds of residents, including community, business, and faith leaders, that we have been privileged to engage and work with throughout this process…We look forward to continuing that effort as we move to the next phase of the selection process.”

Midtown Development has not yet returned an email requesting comment.

Click here to read the Mayor’s press release and FAQ on the topic.

NAACP: SUPREME COURT’S ROE V. WADE REVERSAL WILL DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT BLACK WOMEN

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Members of Florida Planned Parenthood PAC Abortion rights activists hold placards as they protest the 6-3 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization which overturns the landmark abortion Roe v. Wade case, in Miami, Florida, on June 24, 2022. - The US Supreme Court on Friday ended the right to abortion in a seismic ruling that shreds half a century of constitutional protections on one of the most divisive and bitterly fought issues in American political life. The conservative-dominated court overturned the landmark 1973 "Roe v Wade" decision that enshrined a woman's right to an abortion and said individual states can permit or restrict the procedure themselves. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)

The NAACP attacked the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and 50 years of precedent allowing women the right to an abortion, which it says will disproportionately affect Black women.

The vote to overturn Roe Friday was a 5-4 decision. Supreme Court Justices Clarence ThomasNeil GorsuchBrett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett joined Justice Samuel Alito’s opinion.

Chief Justice John Roberts did not join the opinion, agreeing with the majority that the Mississippi abortion restriction at issue in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization should be upheld, but in a separate opinion, he argued that the court should not have overturned Roe. Read more at www.blackenterprise.com

Ground breaks on luxury condo tower Art House in downtown St. Pete

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Another addition to the St. Pete skyline is coming soon as the groundbreaking ceremony for Art House St. Petersburg officially took place today. The 42-story condominium tower will be located on the 200 block of Central Avenue, bringing more luxury residence options to downtown St. Pete. Sales of the two and three-bedroom residences, priced from $1,000,000, have already begun, and Smith & Associates Real Estate has opened a sales gallery at 330 Beach Drive NE.

In fact, it’s due to the incredible success of initial sales that construction began so soon, only three months after sales officially launched.

Kolter Urban, the developers of Art House, officially announced the new project in December and unveiled renderings for the sleek tower as it will appear on Central Avenue. In addition to a pool, rooftop viewing area and balconies for residents, the renderings also showcase retail space on the ground level facing Central Avenue.

“Presently, we are experiencing a soaring demand for upscale, new-construction real estate in St. Petersburg,” said Bob Vail, President of Kolter Urban. “We look forward to delivering what will be our fifth architecturally stunning, amenity-rich new development in he Tampa/St. Petersburg area in late 2024. Art House will shape luxury real estate development in St. Petersburg for years to come.”

Kolter Urban, also the developers of ONE, Saltaire St. Petersburg, and The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sarasota, offered a quick description in their announcement, introducing Art House as “the latest innovation in downtown St. Petersburg living.”

“Art House is a sleek, 42-story condominium tower, located in the heart of the city on Central Avenue,” the description said, “with sweeping bay and city views allowing this luxury residential tower to deliver an uncompromising, contemporary lifestyle at the epicenter of this vibrant downtown address. The storied corridor of Central Ave hums with activity from restaurants, shopping, nightlife, culture, music, and more.”

Art House’s intelligently designed floorplans will range from two to three bedrooms, several with a den, spanning 1,380 to 2,637 square feet and will feature flow-through layouts, with open great room designs, floor-to-ceiling glass and spacious terraces showcasing stunning views of the city skyline, Tampa Bay and beyond. The penthouse collection of 12 luxurious penthouses situated on the top three floors of the project offers modern, floorplans with up to 11’ ceilings and ranging from 3,967 square feet to 4,847 square feet of interior and exterior living space. 

Visit www.ilovetheburg.com to read more.

Inside baseball: Talking Trop with Sugar Hill

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When then-St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman selected Midtown Development rather than Sugar Hill Community Partners to redevelop the 86-acre Tropicana Field site, Sugar Hill never dropped out of the race. 

Sugar Hill Community Partners, a development team headed by San Francisco-based developer JMA Ventures and the Machete Group, kept its plans in motion with the hope that the newly elected mayor, Ken Welch, may ultimately select them as the master developer to turn the massive site into a vibrant neighborhood. Welch is expected to make his decision by June 30 for the site.

“We certainly knew that this was not over,” Dave Carlock, founder and President of the Machete Group, told the St. Pete Catalyst during an in-person interview this week, alongside his fellow team members. 

“We kept working through it, and would still get together every week to talk about our response,” he said. 

The team, similar to Midtown, is proposing to bring a wave of new office developments, residential complexes, restaurants and retail; however, it has put a large emphasis on the creation of a Community Equity Endowment (CEE), which would collect $30 million over the first 20 years and would be used to fund the construction of affordable single-family homes outside of the Trop site and provide grants. 

“We wanted to create every opportunity possible for the community to feel truly connected and have a sense of ownership, and how equity should be equal across the board,” Carlock said. 

The group was then introduced to Dan Emglini, Managing Director at Emerson Collective Investments LLC. Emerson Collective is a private philanthropic firm dedicated to removing barriers to opportunities, which was founded by Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow and heir of Apple Computer executive Steve Jobs.

Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

David Malone Kicks-Off Creation of New MWBE Policy for City of St. Petersburg

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David Malone has 30+ years of experience in procurement management with municipal and Fortune 500 organizations

After only three months on the job, David Malone has already made major moves toward his mandate to remake the City of St. Petersburg’s approach to procurement.

In mid-March, Mayor Ken Welch announced Malone as his choice for Director of Procurement and Supply Management, a department that oversees City purchases of over $300 million annually (FY2022 budget).

In addition to directing the City’s procurement operations across 36 City departments, Malone is tasked with designing a new Minority & Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) program.

The latter stems from the findings of a “Disparity Study,” commissioned by the City in 2018 and released in 2021. The study was designed to detect whether a statistical disparity exists between the availability of minority- and women-owned businesses, and the rate at which the City purchases from those businesses.

The analysis confirmed a disparity in both prime contracts and subcontracts awarded by the City during the study period (2014 to 2018).

The 260-page report also found that African Americans were the most underutilized by the City’s Small Business Enterprise (SBE) program.

Across all prime contracts in construction, professional services and other goods and services, 88% of City contracts went to white men versus only 1.6% to black-owned firms.

The difference was even more stark among the City’s most highly used vendors. White males won over 99% of the 826 contracts that went to the 57 most used firms. Not a single African American firm was in this group.

The study concluded that “After nearly 31 years in operation, the SBE Program has been ineffective in achieving equitable participation for M/WBE prime contractors based on their availability in the City’s market area.”

Mason Tillman Associates, the California-based firm that conducted the analysis, recommended that the City create a race- and gender-conscious program to remedy the disparity.

St. Petersburg has not had such a program in place since 1999 when its Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) program was disbanded after 17 years in operation.

Malone presented his plans for the new M/WBE program to the St. Petersburg City Council in late May, including a critical path of process steps that will have the program in place by January 2023.

In early June, he appointed a committee to help steer the strategy and process.

“Our goal will be to deliver a program that benefits “ALL” of St Petersburg,” while creating “foundational elements” for more inclusive procurement by the City, Malone shared with the group, which meets for the first time this Thursday.

Foundation blocks will include an ordinance to serve as the legislative underpinning for the program, along with mentor protégé concepts, access to capital, and supplier trainings that build capacity among M/WBE firms.

“We are excited Mr. Malone has joined us and for his leadership advancing our principals for accountable and responsive government,” said Mayor Welch. “[His] experience improving supply chain efficiencies as well as increasing minority and women-owned business enterprises utilization will be key to improving our processes.  His experience aligns perfectly with our administration’s commitment to data driven decision-making and innovation.”

About David E. Malone

David Malone has over 30 years of management experience within municipal and Fortune 500 organizations, specializing in procurement, supply chain management and process improvement. His specialties include organizational design, talent acquisition, procurement system implementation, strategic sourcing, purchasing operations, supplier diversity, logistics management and travel management.

Prior to joining the City of St. Petersburg as Director of Procurement & Supply Management in March 2022, David’s most recent role was as Chief Procurement Officer for King County, Washington, with responsibility for approximately $2 billion in annual purchases, including construction, technology, goods and services.

Previously, David served as Chief Procurement Officer for Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission in Laurel, Maryland, where he was the Commission’s lead contracting officer with responsibility for approximately $1.2 billion in annual purchases.

He has also served as the senior most procurement executive for Avery Dennison and US Cellular Corporations and as the Chief Procurement Officer for the City of Chicago, from 2000 to 2004.

David’s other leadership roles include Director of Worldwide Procurement for R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company and Senior Vice President at Mesirow Financials’ real estate division. He has global business experience, having conducted business in multiple countries, and maintains active relationships within the procurement and supply chain community.

Professional Affiliations:

  • Member Institute of Supply Management, Corporate Member & Instructor
  • Member, Conference Board, Purchasing & Supply Chain Council
  • Member, National Institute of Government Purchasing, Inc
  • Member, National Forum for Black Public Administrators Budget & Finance Committee

Career Accomplishments (Summary):  

  • Recently led the effort to establish a Supply Chain management degree at Jackson State University, the first for an HBCU in the state of Mississippi.
  • Negotiated Chicago Street Furniture contract yielding more than 3,000 free bus shelters, including perpetual maintenance and a fixed revenue share of $30 million annually of advertising revenues. 
  • With Washington Sanitary Sewer Commission, built organization structure and hired all senior staff members for Procurement organization, which supports $1.4 billion capital improvement plan and 47 Departments. Served as Chairman of the Supply Chain Management Steering Committee. Implemented strategic sourcing, procurement forecasting, and supplier scorecards.  
  • In King County, Washington, developed requirements and led implementation of enterprise-wide Procure-to-Pay system, including serving as Chair of the P2P Executive Steering Committee.  
  • With Washington Sanitary Sewer Commission, implemented Strategic Sourcing across enterprise with successful completion of three sourcing waves generating more than $70 million in savings 
  • Named 2010 Outstanding Procurement Professional of the Year, Minority Enterprise Development Council & Minority Business Development Agency 

Family, Hometown & Education:  

  • Hometown: Pickens, Mississippi
  • Family: Father of 3 (Michael, Devin & John) and one of 9 siblings
  • Undergraduate Degree: BS, Finance, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi
  • Graduate Degree: MBA, Case Western Reserve University, Weatherhead School Of Management in Cleveland, Ohio

Jay-Z’s bitcoin school met with skepticism in his former housing project: ‘I don’t have money to be losing’

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Marcy Houses, the 28-acre public housing development in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, is best-known as a pillar of rapper-turned-mogul Jay-Z’s New York persona. Built in 1949 as part of a push by the New York City Housing Authority to house the city’s low-income residents, Marcy had fallen into a state of dangerous disrepair by the 1970s when Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, was growing up there.

“Where I’m from, Marcy son, ain’t nothing nice,” he raps in Where I’m From. “Marcy me, just the way I am always gonna be,” he declares in 2017’s Marcy Me.

But while hip-hop’s first confirmed billionaire remains intent on not abandoning his roots, residents of the Marcy Houses expressed annoyance and skepticism at Carter’s latest venture, the Bitcoin Academy – a series of free “financial literacy” courses being offered exclusively to Marcy tenants this summer.

On Wednesday afternoon, as bitcoin markets scraped two-year lows, few residents were aware of the cryptocurrency classes set to begin next week as a project sponsored by Carter and his friend and fellow crypto promoter Jack Dorsey, the founder of Twitter. (At least some of the flyers advertising the course appear to have been simply dumped on the floor of buildings.)

“It’s kind of late to be doing that when people are trying to hold on to their dollars and everything is so expensive,” said 58-year-old retiree Myra Raspberry. “People don’t want to be investing money knowing that they might have a chance of losing it.

Raspberry said she had seen news reports about bitcoin’s crash, and had no interest in participating in the course.

“Every dime I get got to go to rent, phone, TV and internet. I don’t have money like that to be losing. If I did, I would try to invest in something that’s more reliable, like the basketball game last night. You know I’m going to win something from that.”

She hasn’t heard anybody talking about bitcoin in her community, she said. “People looking to make money, not lose it.” The average household income for public housing residents in New York City is $24,454, according to the New York City Housing Authority.

Visit www.theguardian.com to read more.

The KKK once gathered at this Texas site. Decades later, it’s becoming a racial justice center named after a Black man who was lynched

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A version of this story appeared in CNN’s Race Deconstructed newsletter. To get it in your inbox every week, sign up for free here.

Is it possible to create an impactful center for healing from a former site of White supremacy?

For a non-profit based in Fort Worth, Texas, the answer is yes.

Founded in 2019, Transform 1012 N. Main Street is attempting to perform a bit of alchemy: Instead of razing a former Ku Klux Klan hall, the organization is converting it into a cultural hub and arts center. The new structure will direct resources toward groups previously targeted by the Klan, including Black, Hispanic, Jewish, Catholic and LGBTQ communities.

Almost a century ago, the site was an edifice dedicated to hate. In the next couple years, it’ll provide services for underserved young adults and exhibit spaces centered on civil rights, among other things.

Or think of it like this: The reimagined area will offer a necessary and joyous haven for those US society has long kept on the fringes, and will be named after Fred Rouse, a Black man who in 1921 was lynched nearby following a union dispute.

“I don’t think that there could be another project that would be more meaningful,” 95-year-old Dr. Opal Lee, a founding member of the Transform 1012 board, told CNN.

Lee’s work with the non-profit harmonizes with her lifelong commitment to racial justice. The activist spent decades campaigning for Juneteenth to become a federally recognized holiday. Her efforts paid off in 2021, when President Joe Biden signed legislation establishing June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day.

“The climate is right,” Lee added. “People are willing to be a part of doing something about our past — learning from it instead of letting it overwhelm them, and making sure that it doesn’t happen again.”

Visit www.cnn.com to read more

Remembering St. Pete’s First Celebrations of Black Freedom & What They Reveal About Black Life

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Richard Twine Collection, Emancipation Day Parade c. 1922

“Proclamation Day” on January 1, 1916, appears to be the first commemoration of freedom from enslavement by black residents of St. Pete. Two events marked the occasion. They give us a poignant glimpse of interracial relationship patterns that still play out in the present. They also show us the amazing strength of a black community laboring under oppression on every hand.

Parade & Program by First Baptist Institutional

One event was hosted by First Baptist Institutional Church, the second-oldest black congregation in St. Petersburg, still in existence today.

It included an 18-block parade that spirited former slaves in a horse-drawn hack and children in wagons waving U.S. flags. The “St. Petersburg colored band” performed.

This was followed by a program of solo and choir music, a speech by Dr. J.H. Thompson, urging a “deeper love for race, the county, and humanity,” and a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation.

St. Petersburg Times, January 7, 1916

Event organizers were grateful to City officials for allowing a freedom celebration “for the first time in the history of the Sunshine City,” all the more because it took place partly outside of the boundaries of black life.

The parade was permitted to skirt downtown and travel six blocks on Central Avenue, north of the Gas Plant and Peppertown neighborhoods (from 3rd and 9th Streets).

Afterwards, the organizers wrote, “The pastor and officers feel greatly indebted to Mayor Bradshaw, Chief Easters and other city officials who gave them permission to parade in any part of the city.”

The exchange reveals a recurring pattern in race relations in St. Pete and elsewhere: white leaders offering African Americans symbolic gestures and small-scale advances while denying them participation in power and opportunity.

The officials who allowed the ceremony were at the forefront of blatantly racist City policies that kept black residents at the bottom of the economic hierarchy.

Bradshaw was one of the leading citizens who stoked support for “whites only” primary elections in St. Petersburg. During his 1913 campaign, Bradshaw declared that he “wanted to go into public office as the choice of the white voters…and would rather not have the office than to rely on the negroes to win.”

He and Police Chief A.J. Easters helped to enshrine a City-run convict labor program that targeted African Americans for arrest to serve as a labor pool.

During his time as chief (1906 to 1921), Easters presided over the arrest and forced labor of countless African Americans from the Gas Plant area.

The two men also took part in a successful campaign to squash the black vote in the contentious election of 1916.

On the other hand, the festivities showcase the artistry, organizing power and budding wealth of African Americans during the era. Several black businessmen contributed teams of horses and wagons to form the parade; an artist – Louise Weatherford – hand-painted a portrait of President Abraham Lincoln; Captain Henry Richardson directed the band to produce “excellent pieces.”

As one indicator of the financial capacity of the community at the time, of the roughly 470 black households in the city, nearly 150 homes were owner-occupied. The men whose horses powered the parade were among the most well-endowed land and property owners in the city – black or white.

Banquet for Former Slaves at Black School

The other event was a banquet for former slaves, held in the basement of a black school in the Gas Plant neighborhood. An announcement of the dinner noted that “Many white persons were assisting in the affair with contributions.”  White donors funded the annual slave dinner for at least three years. 

St. Petersburg Times, December 30, 1915

At the time, the school was a focal point of black protests over the gap in education available to black versus white students. The policy of the school district limited blacks to “industrial” training to prepare them for menial labor jobs.

Black leaders and parents were pushing for a college-track curriculum for black children.

School principal, John Ovletrea, wrote of the controversy:

“This community is cursed by the presence of a few misdirected, but possibly well meaning negroes who see their salvation through the hazy labrynth (sic) of artificial life, through an educational system aiming at the skies and forgetting the ground on which they live…

“The negro public schools of St. Petersburg are teaching its pupils the dignity of labor…

“These schools are teaching the girls to see the independence and dignity that comes from knowing how to do the domestic arts better than any other woman in the community.

“We are teaching our boys to see that there is as much dignity in tilling a farm as in preaching a sermon.”

Oveltrea (a black man) typified the “house negro” archetype (an African American whose proximity to whites in power earns them comparatively better treatment than other African Americans, and thus inclines them to the ideology of whites in power).

This is an inevitably incomplete and possibly unfair picture of Oveltrea. He was no doubt an accomplished man. Yet his posture (open disdain for fellow black leaders) reveals a repeated pattern in black-white relations in St. Petersburg and elsewhere:

Whites in power supporting (and siding with, when needed) African Americans most willing to accommodate rather than challenge discrimination; and in this latter group, blacks often choosing to undermine or discount black voices that dissent from the status quo, in order to maintain peripheral access to opportunity.

In response to the protest, white philanthropists doubled down on giving to the school. The Times published a glowing report on Ovletrea and his work (which is believed to be the first feature article of positive bent, ever done on the work of an African American by the newspaper).

The debate also shines a light on the rich tradition of advocacy by African Americans in St. Petersburg.

Some believe that our fight for equal rights began during the Civil Rights Era. But advocacy for better education for black children has enjoyed the uninterrupted support of St. Petersburg’s black community since before the turn of the 20th century.

SOURCES:

Library Press@UF, Arsenault, Ray, “St. Petersburg and the Florida Dream, 1888-1950,” Reissued 2017

St. Petersburg Times, “Former Slaves To Be Banqueted; Industrial School For Negroes Will Serve Big Meal Emancipation Day,” December 30, 1915

St. Petersburg Times, “Proclamation Day Celebration; Article Contributed by Participants in Colored Exercises,” January 7, 1916

St. Petersburg Times, Editorial, “Booker T. Washington,” by J.W. Ovletrea, Prin. Negro Public Schools, November 15, 1916

St. Petersburg Police Department, Former Police Chiefs, available here.

Regina King makes first red carpet appearance since her son’s death in January

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Regina King made her return to the red carpet for the first time since the death of her son earlier this year from suicide. 

As reported by People, the actress-director was presented with the Women Power Award during a ceremony Friday at the Filming Italy festival in Santa Margherita di Pula, Italy. King, 51, was joined by fellow actors Naomie Harris and Edgar Ramirez, who also received awards, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Before this weekend, the last celebrity event King attended was reportedly in November. Two months later, her world would be rocked by the loss of her only child, Ian Alexander Jr., who died by suicide in January, days after his 26th birthday.

King and her son attended the 2019 Golden Globes together. Speaking to E! News on the red carpet, she said Alexander was someone who “makes me happier than anything in the whole world.” He described her as a “super mom.”

“She doesn’t really let bad work days or anything come back and ruin the time that we have,” he said, “so it’s really awesome to have a mother that … I can enjoy spending time with.”

Like his father, record producer Ian Alexander Sr., he was also following a career in music as a deejay.

Read more at www.thegrio.com

ACTOR TERRENCE HOWARD ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO PURSUE CAREERS IN STEM AT MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

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Terrence Howard has thrilled film and television audiences throughout his thirty-plus acclaimed career with roles on the hit Fox show Empire and giving riveting performances in Red Tails and the blockbuster Iron Man. 

However, the thespian quietly developed another impressive skill as an inventor. He has applied for over 90 patents, including his design of a Lynchpin Drone, the Baltimore Times reports.  

Although Howard doesn’t have an engineering degree, his love for science and discovery led him to discuss various topics at the Morgan State University Institute of Urban Research event for the “Day of Conversation w/Terrence Dashon Howard” on Saturday. 

In addition to having the award-winning actor as a guest speaker, the event offered Youth Steam Workshops where science-aligned students could converse with Howard about the geometry of subatomic particles while building replicated models. 

Also, students listened during Steam Career Words of Encouragement from Terrence Howard, watched a Lynchpin Drone Stimulator demonstration, and participated in a Lynchpin Design and Construction Lab and a Shape Design and Construction Lab, according to Morgan State University. 

Read more at www.blackenterprise.com

The Strength Of A Woman

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VIOLA DAVIS is more than the iconic characters—a mother, maid, wife, First Lady, and warrior queen—we have seen on screen. In a world that often deems Black women invisible, the explosive and pressure-filled eruptions, also known as her life, brought a diamond to the surface. No challenge has broken or ever will break her. 

Story by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms

Photography by Keith Major

Written instructions accompanying the invitation to the grand opening of Tyler Perry Studios were clear: “No photographs.” The unspoken rules—such as, “Act like you’ve been somewhere before”—not so much. When I bump into Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham during the cocktail reception, I breathe deeply and make small talk. When I see Beyoncé and Jay-Z at dinner, I smile pleasantly and resist the urge to ask for a selfie. When chatting with Anthony Anderson, I laugh, but not too loud. When I spot Halle Berry, Maxwell and Michael Ealy across the venue, I know not to stare. But with Viola Davis, I couldn’t resist; the rules were dismissed.

It was my first introduction to the incomparable actor, who has an Emmy, two Tonys, an Oscar, and six SAG Awards to her name. In a room of stars among stars, Viola and her husband, Julius Tennon, were the ones who made me giddy. I pounced on them, eager and hard.

Visit www.Ebony.com to read more.

Report: Comparing Community Benefit Commitments of the Two Finalist Developers for Tropicana Field

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The 86-acre Tropicana Field redevelopment project marks the first time in the history of St. Petersburg that race equity was a required focal point of a major development. It is also one of the first projects that will be subject to the new Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) policy adopted by City Council in July 2021.

The Power Broker Media Group created a summary report to help local leaders, activists, and residents better understand the bevy of community-centered commitments offered by the two finalist developers for the Tropicana Field project – JMA Ventures/Sugar Hill and Midtown Development.

The developers offer different approaches to community investments. The two proposals differ not only in the types and scale of benefits offered, but in the groups who will benefit, and the process by which benefits, and beneficiaries will be decided.

Click here to download the summary report.

Please note: If this report is expanded or edited, all past and current versions will be posted here for reference.

With questions or feedback on this report, please email [email protected].

Book banning in the US: These are the authors of color who censors are trying to silence

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Young adult authors of color are fed up with being targeted.

They’re sick of seeing their books bogusly labeled “critical race theory” or “anti-police.” They’re incredulous at claims their words make kids uncomfortable. They’re done seeing their books challenged or banned over what they see as insincere claims about vulgarity, violence or sex. They’re exasperated with feeling singled out. 

Groups that monitor censorship, including the ACLUPEN AmericaAmerican Library Association and the National Coalition Against Censorship, say it’s more than a feeling. Since the killing of George Floyd, a Black father, by a White police officer, experts see Black and brown authors increasingly becoming the quarry of would-be censors, they say.

“The frank and difficult stories of being Black in America” are coming under fire, said NCAC spokesperson Nora Pelizzari.

“It’s pure censorship of ideas and viewpoints, which I would argue should not survive constitutional scrutiny, but we’re living in odd times these days,” added Deborah Caldwell-Stone, a former lawyer who now directs the ALA’s office of intellectual freedom.

While the ALA says half of the 10 most challenged books of 2021 were targeted for LGBTQ content — another worrying phenomenon that intellectual freedom fighters say isn’t to be downplayed — the organization also saw a record number of challenges, many of them aimed at authors of color exploring history, racism or their own experiences in America.

In April, civil rights activist Ruby Bridges — whose children’s book about integrating a New Orleans school has been targeted — told a US House subcommittee investigating book bans, “Our babies — all of them — need to see themselves in our books, particularly in school. Representation doesn’t just matter; it’s vital, especially in the pages of the books that we teach from.”

“Out of Darkness” was one of 2021’s most-challenged books, according to the ALA. Its author, Ashley Hope Pérez — a White mother of two Mexican American children who has deep ties to Latino communities — issued a pointed YouTube retort after a Texas mom tried to convince a school board her book was about anal sex. Pérez, 38, suspects the real issue was the interracial love story she weaved through her historical fiction novel about a school explosion in 1930s Texas, she said. 

“Somehow when it’s in a book that centers Black or brown or nondominant experiences, it’s problematic, but it’s fine in the Bible or it’s fine in Shakespeare. It’s super incoherent,” she said. “It’s really about targeting groups that have only recently been able to get their stories told, rolling back that progress.”

Authors of color say they’re writing books they wish they’d had growing up. Watching online clips of parents yelling about their work at school board meetings, they often don’t recognize the literature being described. This is what their stories are really about:

Visit www.cnn.com to learn more.

Obama congratulates boy who touched his head in iconic photo on graduating high school

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President Barack Obama bends over so the son of a White House staff member can pat his head during a visit to the Oval Office May 8, 2009. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza. This official White House photograph is being made available for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way or used in materials, advertisements, products, or promotions that in any way suggest approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.

Former President Barack Obama took to Instagram on Friday to congratulate Jacob Philadelphia, the boy who famously touched Obama’s head in an iconic 2009 White House photo, on his high school graduation. 

Philadelphia, the son of then-National Security Council staffer Carlton Philadelphia, was 5 years old when he visited the Oval Office and asked Obama, “Is your hair like mine?” Obama then bent down and told him to touch his head. “Yeah, that’s pretty much what I’ve got,” Obama recalled Philadelphia saying.

The moment was captured by White House photographer Pete Souza, and the photo, which Souza later named “Hair Like Mine,” was celebrated for highlighting the importance of representation.

Obama reconnected with Philadelphia on Zoom before the now-teenager’s graduation from the International School of Uganda.

Philadelphia, whose father later joined the State Department, told the former President he plans to attend University of Memphis and will study political science.

“I think the White House visit clearly inspired you, I hope,” Obama said in the video. 

“Yes. It really has,” Philadelphia replied. 

In the Instagram video, Obama also reflected on the iconic 2009 image, which hung in the West Wing for years during his presidency, the video noted.

“I think this picture embodied one of the hopes that I’d had when I first started running for office,” Obama said.

Read more at www.cnn.com

The NFL says it holds players to account for their personal conduct. Is Deshaun Watson’s case shattering that illusion?

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It’s been months since the Houston Texans agreed to trade embattled quarterback Deshaun Watson to the Cleveland Browns, but the furor over the deal – described by one NFL observer as a case of “talent trumps trouble” – just won’t go away.

In March, a grand jury in Harris County, Texas, declined to charge Watson over allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct after determining there was not enough evidence to charge him with a crime. The incidents were described as “stemming from massage therapy sessions,” according to a statement on the NFL website. 

Meanwhile, a second grand jury in Brazoria County, Texas, in March declined to indict Watson after considering evidence in a criminal complaint alleging sexual misconduct, also during a massage therapy session.

However, Watson still faces 22 civil complaints from his accusers, many of them alleging sexual assault and misconduct during massage sessions. Two of Watson’s accusers appeared on HBO’s Real Sports on Tuesday, providing graphic details of what they say happened in the sessions – and speaking of their shock and revulsion at the news of his signing. 

“It’s just like a big screw you,” Ashley Solis said on HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.”That’s what it feels like. That we don’t care. He can run and throw, and that’s what we care about.”

Watson has repeatedly denied the accusations of sexual assault and misconduct made against him, and Watson’s attorney Rusty Hardin said in a statement “I believe that any allegation that Deshaun forced a woman to commit a sexual act is completely false.”

NFL officials were scheduled to meet with Watson last week, as the fallout from his trade continues, according to NFL.com, per NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. A decision on his potential suspension is looming, but timelines for this remain unclear.

Hardin told CNN that Watson met with the NFL for three days. The league has also requested one more day, though the date and location have not yet been determined, added Hardin.

“I can’t give you a timeline,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters in a press conference Tuesday. “I think we’re nearing the end of the investigative period and then at some point this will be handled by our disciplinary officer. And that will happen shortly. And then we’ll see where that comes out.”

Read more www.cnn.com for more information.

They were just kids

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In Uvalde, the 19 dead children were found in piles in one classroom, the latest victims of a generation of mass school shootings. More than 100 children have died in such shootings at K-12 schools since the Columbine High massacre in Colorado in 1999. They were just kids, every one of them with a life yet to be lived. Some of the Columbine students would be parents themselves now, probably worried about how they would keep their own kids safe. These are not statistics. These were kids. Here are just 20 of them from seven previous shootings. Let’s not forget. Who will stop this?

Read more at www.tampabay.com

MICHAEL VICK EMERGES FROM RETIREMENT TO SUIT UP IN FAN CONTROLLED FOOTBALL LEAGUE

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Jan 28, 2020; Miami, Florida, USA; Fox Sports broadcaster Michael Vick speaks with the media during Fox Sports media day at the Miami Beach convention center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Former NFL quarterback Michael Vick hasn’t touched a pigskin in over six years. Still, he will once again don a football jersey reportedly with an undecided team in the Fan Controlled Football League on May 28, the beginning of the final week of its regular season, according to Bleacher Report.

Once seen as the NFL’s most promising quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, as the first pick in the 2001 NFL Draft, Vick’s career took a hit when he pleaded guilty in 2007 to operating an illegal dogfighting ring. He spent almost two years in prison, Larry Brown Sports reports

Vick owned up to his transgressions and partnered with the Humane Society to help enforce stricter penalties for dogfighting, according to Bleacher Report.

“THE BEST THING TO DO WAS MAKE AMENDS FOR WHAT I DID. I CAN’T TAKE IT BACK,” HE SAID IN 2015. “THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS INFLUENCE THE MASSES OF KIDS FROM GOING DOWN THE SAME ROAD I WENT DOWN. THAT’S WHY I WORK WITH THE HUMANE SOCIETY, AND AFFECTING A LOT OF KIDS’ LIVES AND SAVING A LOT OF ANIMALS.”

He returned to his NFL career by playing with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009, the New York Jets, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2010, the league awarded him the Comeback Player of the Year. He played his last NFL season in 2015. 

Now at 41, the four-time Pro Bowl may not have the same speed as in his youth. However, last year, he demonstrated that he still possesses the athletic agility to complete a 40-yard dash in 4.72, which was four-tenths of a second more than the 4.33 he ran over two decades ago, according to Larry Brown Sports.

Read more at www.blackenterprise.com

Allegations that Minneapolis police spied on Black organizations can’t be substantiated, prosecutor says

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Explosive allegations that Minneapolis police used covert social media accounts to spy on Black organizations and elected officials can’t be substantiated by prosecutors, the deputy city attorney said in a letter Friday. 

Erik Nilsson wrote to Mayor Jacob Frey and other city leaders that a review of thousands of social media documents failed to uncover “any material proving that MPD systematically targeted covert social media to target Black leaders, Black organizations, and elected officials without a public safety objective.”

The Minnesota Department of Human Rights made the allegation last month as part of a larger report commissioned after the Memorial Day 2020 murder of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer. The human rights agency at the time accused the MPD of engaging in a “pattern or practice of race discrimination.”

“The City has asked MDHR repeatedly for the specific documents it is relying upon – a reasonable request for one party’s attorneys to make of another’s to support its conclusions relating to covert social media,” Nilsson wrote. “The MDHR has repeatedly refused to share this vital information.”

The MDHR on Saturday defended its findings. 

“The Minnesota Department of Human Rights conducted a thorough, comprehensive investigation based on multiple data sources and found a pattern or practice of race discrimination,” the agency said in a statement that did not address the claim that it refused to share additional information with prosecutors. “MPD’s improper use of covert social media is one of multiple significant findings.”

In its report, the MDHR said one police officer used a “covert” social media account posing as a Black resident to send a message to the local NAACP branch. Officers also used similar accounts to pose as residents attacking police critics and local officials, according to the report. 

But the deputy city attorney said his office has reviewed approximately 15,000 social media documents without uncovering any evidence of spying. Nilsson said the documents are being reviewed again and his office has canceled a meeting with the MDHR next week. 

“Our planned meetings with MDHR cannot go forward until we have reviewed the information supporting the report’s finding or MDHR agrees to share that information with the City,” Nilsson said.

MDHR said a dispute with the one finding should not halt discussions.

Read more at www.cnn.com

Construction costs escalate for 22nd Street townhomes, incubator

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The multi-pronged Sankofa project, which will include affordable townhomes and a digital and technology business incubator, now has a hefty price tag that the developers will need to offset. 

On Thursday, the St. Petersburg City Council unanimously approved the second amendment to the design-build at risk agreement (DBAR), with a Guaranteed Maximum Price (“GMP”) between the city and general contractor, Horus Construction Services, a Black-owned St. Petersburg firm. The approved amendment is for additional preconstruction phase and construction management phase services for roughly $1.1 million for the new Deuces Rising townhomes and commercial development at Commerce Park. The total GMP is expected to be determined this late summer. 

The project, which is across from the Manhattan Casino, entails building 24 two-story affordable townhomes. On the commercial aspect, there would be 40,000 square feet of commercial space that would be able to house retail, office and restaurant/café with outdoor seating, and an incubator and micro office spaces. 

The entire project was estimated to cost $16 million; however, that number has spiked closer to the $25 million range, said City Administrator Rob Gerdes, who spoke on behalf of Sankofa (representatives for the development group were not in attendance). 

Multiple factors, Gerdes said, caused the cost increase, such as the funding for Fairfield Avenue, buildout infrastructure costs and construction materials. 

“We are working diligently to try to offset the cost increases we are seeing,” Gerdes said. “We also had a positive meeting lately with the county related to Penny for Pinellas dollars. We do have a current application in for the county on the townhome portion on the development. They’ve had discussions with me to wait till we get a GMP before they make a decision on funding.” 

He added that the county has made changes to its economic development funding program for Penny dollars, which could allow Sanfoka to submit an application to receive funds for the incubator concept. 

The group is using American Rescue Plan funds and city funds for the project. Gerdes said they will need to borrow money for the construction, which could be funneled through a contribution from the Community Redevelopment Agency Tax Increment Financing. 

Sanfoka hopes to start construction this December and be sustainably complete by 2023 with tenants moving in after. 

James Jackson Jr. with engineering presented the latest sketches of the site plans to the board. 

The design process started in May with Sankofa. The residential sketches show the clustering of townhomes in groups of four along Fairfield Avenue. Between each cluster are sidewalks and a shared parking lot. 

Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

St. Pete Pitch Night highlights local startups

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St. Petersburg’s entrepreneurial spirit was on full display Tuesday night, as a standing-room-only crowd packed into 3 Daughters Brewing to hear five local founders showcase their startups.

The Greenhouse presented its first St. Pete Pitch Night of 2022 in front of an enthusiastic audience of local officials, business leaders and residents eager to cheer on five innovative concepts. The Greenhouse chose the finalists from a pool of 26 applicants who launched their startup within the last four years, previously presented at a 1 Million Cups St. Pete event or are currently attending an entrepreneurship program at an area college or university.

Jessica Eilerman, business development manager for the city and co-manager of the Greenhouse, served as the master of ceremonies for the friendly pitch competition that awards a $5,000 grand prize, $500 for the audience choice award, and offers exposure to the local seeding community. The founders had six minutes to present their best pitch, followed by a question and an answer session with four area business leaders.

“One of the mayor’s five pillars of progress for our work here in St. Pete is really focusing on equitable development and business development,” said Deputy Mayor Stephanie Owens during her opening remarks. “Especially our ability to help local businesses thrive here in the City of St. Petersburg.”

The winner

While St. Pete Pitch Night is a friendly competition, it is still a competition, and the judges award Sheffie Robinson, founder and CEO of Shmrck, with the night’s top prize.

Robinson described Shmrck as “Fiverr meets Handshake – but for high schoolers.” Fiverr is a popular online platform that matches freelance services and businesses, while Handshake is a leading job board for college students.

Robinson launched Shmrck after realizing high school was not doing enough to prepare her son for college and an in-demand career. She told the audience that the education gap is so vast that 70% of students graduate unprepared to enter the workforce, even at the collegiate level. She added that 78% of hiring managers struggle to fill jobs, while many companies lack an intentional pipeline to reach diversity, equity and inclusion goals.

Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

Buffalo suspect’s posts about attack plans could be seen online 30 minutes before mass shooting

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Thirty minutes before an 18-year-old White man allegedly carried out a racist mass shooting Saturday at a supermarket in a mostly Black enclave of Buffalo, New York, he revealed his monthslong plot to some on social media.Payton S. Gendron — suspected of killing 10 people and wounding three — had created a private chat room on the communications app Discord and invited people to view his chat logs before his attack at the Tops Friendly Markets store, a Discord spokesperson told CNN.

“What we know at this time is that a private, invite-only server was created by the suspect to serve as a personal diary chat log,” a spokesperson for Discord said Tuesday in a statement to CNN. “Approximately 30 minutes prior to the attack, however, a small group of people were invited to and joined the server. Before that, our records indicate no other people saw the diary chat log in this private server.” 

In the posts — which CNN has analyzed and later were posted more widely on the hate-filled 4chan online forum — the alleged gunman wrote he visited the supermarket three times March 8 to survey its layout. He also wrote he used Google’s graph feature for a location’s “popular times” to determine the busiest times at the store. 

Gendron posted he chose the ZIP code in Buffalo because it was the one with the greatest percentage of Black people that’s relatively near his home in Conklin, New York. The cities are about 230 miles apart.

Read more at www.CNN.com

US Senate candidates Beasley and Booker make history with primary election wins

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U.S. Senate candidates Cheri Beasley and Charles Booker came out victorious on Tuesday in their Democratic primary contests in North Carolina and Kentucky. The two historic candidates will go on to the general election in November.

Cheri Beasley beat out a crowded Democratic primary in North Carolina to become the party’s nominee for U.S. Senate. If successful in November’s general election, the former chief justice for the North Carolina Supreme Court would become the first Black senator from the Tar Heel State. 

Beasley’s election would also fill a current void after Vice President Kamala Harris’ departure left the Senate without a Black woman represented in its body. 

In a previous interview with theGrio, Beasley said she believed her candidacy offers “the best opportunity to expand the majority in the Senate.” 

“I hope that people – not just in North Carolina, but across this country – really appreciate the magnitude of this election,” said Beasley. 

Read more at www.thegrio.com

Michele Rayner is the latest to drop out of the District 13 race

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TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 2/10/22-Rep. Michele K. Rayner, D-St. Petersburg, speaks during session, Thursday at the Capitol in Tallahassee. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO

The Democrat joined Ben Diamond, who pulled out of the race last week and cited the state’s new congressional map.

Another Democrat has dropped out of the race for Pinellas County’s Congressional District 13 and is blaming the state’s newly drawn district maps for her move.

State Rep. Michele Rayner, D-St. Petersburg, says she will instead run again for a seat in the Florida House. 

In a video posted on Twitter, Rayner called the congressional map inspired by one from Republican Governor Ron DeSantis partisan and potentially illegal.

“We’re going to take our fight back to Tallahassee,” Rayner said in the video. “Many of you know I’ve recently been called Ron DeSantis’ worst nightmare, and I’m his worst nightmare because I speak truth to power, I hold him accountable. and I fight for the people. And that’s what I am going to continue to do in the state house.”

Last week, fellow Democratic state representative Ben Diamond dropped his bid for Congress.

Legislators approved a map that combines the St. Petersburg district with Tampa neighborhoods currently represented by longtime Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Castor.

Visit https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu to lean more.

‘Sugar Shack,’ an iconic painting featured on a Marvin Gaye album cover, sells for $15.3 million

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A painting that served as the cover for one of legendary soul singer Marvin Gaye’s albums has sold at auction for almost $15.3 million.Ernie Barnes’ joyous depiction of a frenetic scene in a dance hall, titled “The Sugar Shack,” sold to Bill Perkins, a hedge fund manager and entrepreneur, after 10 minutes of bidding by more than 22 bidders, confirmed Christie’s auction house.According to Christie’s, the final sale price for “The Sugar Shack” was 27 times higher than the most expensive Barnes work to sell before it. It also blew past its estimated sale price of $150,000 to $200,000.

Barnes, who died in 2009, was born in North Carolina in 1938 and often drew upon his own experiences growing up in the American South during the Jim Crow era in his depictions of social moments and images of quotidian Black life. In a 2002 interview, in which the Oakland Tribune described Barnes as the “Picasso of the Black art world,” the artist said he got the idea for “The Sugar Shack” from reflecting on his childhood and “not being able to go to a dance I wanted to go to when I was 11.””The Sugar Shack” has become a widely recognized image — thanks in part to its appearance on Gaye’s 1976 “I Want You” album and to its use across four seasons of the sitcom “Good Times,” which centered around the lives of a poor family in the Chicago housing projects.

Barnes was a professional American football player before becoming a painter and many of his artworks depicted sporting scenes, such as basketball and football games. Barnes told the Oakland Tribune in 2002: “I paint when ideas come and I see a vision of what I want from our common humanity.”Barne’s work appeared on other album covers over the years including a 1984 cover for the The Crusaders and B.B. King’s 2000 album “Making Love is good for you.”

Visit www.cnn.com to read more…..

Commissioners allocate $6 million for affordable housing projects

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The Pinellas County Board of Commissioners approved nearly $6 million in funding for two housing projects Tuesday, which will provide 270 more affordable homes for county residents – including those with special needs.

The bulk of the funding – $5.6 million – is allocated to the Fairfield Avenue Apartments at 3300 Fairfield Ave. S. in St. Petersburg. The development will transform an old lumber yard into 264 affordable units.

The county approval during Tuesday’s board meeting follows St. Petersburg’s a month earlier. When it approved the development, the city became the first municipality in Florida to take advantage of a 2020 House Bill that provides a process to create affordable housing in otherwise prohibited zoning districts. In April, the St. Pete City Council unanimously agreed to turn the industrial-zoned, seven-acre location currently occupied by Tibbetts Lumber into the Fairfield Avenue housing complex.

“I just want to really shine a light on this project because it’s something that shows a wonderful partnership between the county and cities,” said Commissioner Renee Flowers.

Flowers, who said she lives near the lumber yard, noted the “huge” tract is close to Gibbs High School, the interstate and provides easy access to Central Avenue for shopping. The Pinellas Trail also borders the site to its south, with Fairfield Avenue to its north.

“This project just really sits in the middle of everything that we’ve been talking about when we talk about walkable communities and providing a substantial number of units within the community,” said Flowers. “I just wanted to highlight that this is one of those, one of several, but one of those really, really good projects that we are looking for.”

Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com

Ludacris Receives Honorary Bachelor’s Degree from Georgia State University

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Chris “Ludacris” Bridges might be busy with movies, music, TV and restaurants, but he still has time to go back to school. 

According to Complex, on Wednesday, the rapper/actor received an honorary Bachelor of Science in Music Management from his alma mater, Georgia State University. It’s the same program he originally enrolled in in the ‘90s, when he attended GSU for two years prior to signing to Def Jam Records and eventually becoming an international superstar. The ceremony took place as part of the university’s commencement week, with the Fast and Furious star speaking to more than 800 Master’s recipients.

“My time on campus sharpened my skills,” Bridges told graduates. “It gave me confidence that my path was preordained. That I was exactly where I was supposed to be. Doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing. Though I left school I was never gone because this institution had become a part of me. It was a part of my fabric and DNA. My heart never strayed far from its steps and my commitment to someday return, and finish, was ever-present.”

Per Georgia State University, the “What’s Your Fantasy” rapper has stayed involved with the institution. In 2019, he became an artist-in-residence at the Creative Media Industries Institute, offering advice and sharing his experience in the entertainment industry.

Listening to his speech, it’s clear that this really meant a lot to him. Everyone has that one last piece of unfinished business we’re still thinking about, so it’s nice to see him get this moment and finally receive his degree. 

“My pledge is to continue my support of the university and to live up to its standards,” he said. “Hopefully, I will continue to make you proud and be an example of Georgia State’s determination and resilience.”

Read more www.theroot.com

Predominantly Black college to shut down after Covid-19 and cyberattack burdens

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After more than 150 years, Lincoln College in central Illinois is closing its doors after significant challenges from Covid-19 and complications stemming from a recent cyberattack.The college is a predominantly Black institution, as designated by the U.S. Department of Education, and according to the Lincoln Heritage Museum, was the only college named for Abraham Lincoln while he was still living. It opened in 1865.”Lincoln College has survived many difficult and challenging times — the economic crisis of 1887, a major campus fire in 1912, the Spanish flu of 1918, the Great Depression, World War II, the 2008 global financial crisis, and more, but this is different,” part of a statement posted to Lincoln College’s website read.

“The economic burdens initiated by the pandemic required large investments in technology and campus safety measures, as well as a significant drop in enrollment with students choosing to postpone college or take a leave of absence, which impacted the institution’s financial position,” the statement continued.

But it also singled out a cyberattack in December 2021 that “thwarted admissions activities and hindered access to all institutional data, creating an unclear picture of Fall 2022 enrollment projections. All systems required for recruitment, retention, and fundraising efforts were inoperable.”

As of summer 2021, Lincoln College had roughly 1,200 students.

Additionally, according to the statement, when the systems were restored in March 2022, there were “significant enrollment shortfalls, requiring a transformational donation or partnership to sustain Lincoln College beyond the current semester,” and, “Unfortunately, these efforts did not create long-term viability for Lincoln College in the face of the pandemic.”Cybercriminals have shown little restraint in locking up the computer systems of schools and universities across the US amid a shift to remote learning during the coronavirus pandemic. Ransomware affected 62 school districts and the campuses of 26 colleges and universities in 2021, according to cybersecurity firm Emsisoft. All told, ransomware incidents disrupted learning at more than 1,000 schools in the US in 2021, the firm said.

“Ransomware is a multi-million-dollar problem for the education sector, but its impact is more than financial,” Brett Callow, a threat analyst at Emsisoft, told CNN. “Attacks also disrupt kids’ educations and cause personal information relating to both students and teachers to leak online.”Lincoln College held its final graduation ceremony Saturday and will officially close its doors on Friday.

NeNe Leakes dishes details about what led to her discrimination lawsuit against Bravo 

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The Real Housewives of Atlanta alumna NeNe Leakes was stopped at the airport in Los Angeles by TMZ, and she shared some details about her lawsuit against Bravo. 

Leakes told the outlet she has been blacklisted since filing the lawsuit, which she said aims to end discrimination at the network.

“If you haven’t worked in more than three years when all of a sudden you’re working and sought-after, then suddenly you’re not working, it’s being blacklisted,” Leakes contended. “I haven’t caused any problems on any sets. Everybody I’ve ever worked with, I’ve had a good work relationship with except for this group of people.” 

Leakes said she’d previously been silenced by the network. “I felt it was the right time a couple years ago, a few years ago,” she told TMZ of her decision to file the lawsuit last month. “But I was constantly being retaliated against, being blacklisted, not able to work, being silenced. It was difficult to do.”

“The goals are to stop discrimination against Black women,” Leakes maintained. “That’s just the goal. Nobody wants to go to work everyday as a Black woman with blonde hair and the head of the corporation call you a white woman. So, stop discrimination.”

“A white man shouldn’t say to a Black woman, ‘You’re a white woman because you’re wearing your hair blonde,’ as if it belongs to a certain ethnic group of people,” she added. “It’s more than that.”

She also discounted claims that she’s angling for a new show.

“We’re talking about discrimination, we’re not talking about a show,” she said. “It has nothing to do with having a temper tantrum and wanting a show. I never wanted my own show. I mean, I had many opportunities to have one — I did — that’s not it. It’s discrimination, that’s what it is.”

According to People, her lawsuit names the Bravo network, RHOA executive producer Andy Cohen, NBCUniversal and RHOA production companies True Entertainment and Truly Original as defendants, specifying that “NBC, Bravo and True foster a corporate and workplace culture in which racially-insensitive and inappropriate behavior is tolerated — if not, encouraged.” 

COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT – 800 1ST AVE. S.

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ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Earlier this year, the City of St. Petersburg announced the launch of the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) program, a process that considers the social and community impact of major development plans receiving significant public funding.

The first project of the CBA program is located on a 4.59-acre site at 800 1st Ave. South in downtown St. Pete, which is proposed to be developed by the TPA Group in conjunction with Moffitt Cancer Center along with UPC Insurance.

The proposal called for the development of a mixed-use project that would include a state-of-the-art outpatient cancer care facility, a mixed-use modern multi-family residential tower with a workforce housing component, activated ground floor retail, a public-access parking garage, a future hotel, and future office development for the expansion of the UPC Insurance headquarters.

Interested residents are invited to attend an in-person public meeting where the TPA Group will present a project overview on Friday, May 13 at 5 p.m. at The Sunshine Center (330 5th St. N.). The purpose of this meeting is to engage in a conversation between the community and the developer to shape benefits from the project that meet community needs.

For more information about the Community Benefits Agreement program, visit stpete.org/CBA.

Dr. Kanika Tomalin named one of our four finalists for USF St. Pete Regional Chancellor

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Left to right, Kanika Tomalin, Wolf Yeigh, Christian Hardigree and Melissa Gruys, the final four candidates for regional chancellor

At a meeting of decision makers this Thursday, Dr. Kanika Tomalin was named as one of four finalists for the Regional Chancellor post at the University of South Florida – St. Petersburg (USFSP). She is the lone local candidate still in the running after a search committee narrowed the field from an original 56 applicants to a short-list of nine. 

As reported by the Tampa Bay Times yesterday, “Panel members initially selected the city’s former Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin and Wolf Yeigh, former chancellor of the University of Washington’s Bothell campus. They later picked two additional finalists: Christian Hardigree, founding dean of the school of hospitality at Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Melissa Gruys, dean of the school of business at Purdue University Fort Wayne.” 

Dr. Tomalin is also the only candidate who hails from an interdisciplinary background. The 47-year old St. Petersburg native has held diverse roles. In addition to her recent eight years as Deputy Mayor and four years as both City Administrator and Deputy Mayor, Dr. Tomalin served in private sector roles including C-suite leadership with Bayfront Health System and Eckerd College. At Eckerd College she currently leads all operations and strategic initiatives as the Chief Operating Officer and VP of Strategy.  

The other three candidates are tenured academicians. 

“The names came into focus after a robust, hourlong meeting that questioned the regional chancellor’s role and whether the job calls for a person with academic credentials,” according to a Times article on Thursday’s meeting of the selection committee. 

The Regional Chancellor role has been uniquely crafted and redefined following a consolidation of the system’s three campuses that began in July 2020. The Regional Chancellor holds primary responsibility for USFSP’s strategic and operations functions. The academic program is now centralized across the university and falls under the purview of the USF provost, with faculty and faculty leadership reporting through the Deans and Vice-Provost at each campus. 

USF will host town halls and campus visits for each candidate, beginning next week. The visits will include meetings with university and community leadership. 

The public are invited to take part in the selection process, by attending one or more of the town halls set for Monday and Tuesday, in the University Student Center (USC) ballroom, located at 200 6th Ave. S, in St. Pete. 

Dates & Times for the Town Halls   

Monday, May 2

Dr. Kanika Tomalin, Candidate 1: 1-2 p.m.

TBA, Candidate 2: 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 3

TBA, Candidate 3: 1-2 p.m.

TBA, Candidate 4: 2:30-3:30 p.m.

If unable to attend, townhalls will also be livestreamed via Microsoft Teams and can be accessed through the Regional Chancellor search site. Members of the USF and broader communities are encouraged to submit questions and provide feedback via an online portal. This feedback will be reviewed by President Law herself, according to the latest USF news about the selection process.

ACT celebrates 10 years of enriching lives

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The Arts Conservatory for Teens (ACT) team could not have chosen a more picturesque location for its 10th-anniversary celebration.

The breakfast event, held April 21, was staged against a backdrop of the wind-swept waters of Tampa Bay at the St. Pete Pier’s Spa Beach Park. Music and mingling welcomed the audience of 250 sponsors and well-wishers, who were later regaled with live performances by a talented troupe of ACT’s current student artists.

The organization was founded in 2012 by visionary Dr. Alex Harris and co-founders Herbert Murphy, Derek Berset, and Shelia Reilly with a mission to educate, empower, and enrich the lives of youth and teens to foster healthy, productive, and responsible citizens.

From its humble beginnings as an after-school performing arts training program for 30 at-promise teens, ACT has blossomed into a world-class incubator for the creative workforce in a city now recognized as a beacon of the arts.

More than 13,000 young people have participated in ACT’s intensive development programs, such as its Summer Intensive, taught by Broadway performances, chart-topping recording artists, industry dance professionals, and the Young Artist Alliance, an advanced program for students exploring careers in the performing and visual arts.

Thousands more have taken part in ACT events and opportunities, including clinics, master classes, advocacy campaigns, live performances, and travel experiences.

ACT also manages school-based programs in partnership with Pinellas County Schools at four locations year-round. The early morning Character Essentials initiative focuses on building character and personal skill-building. It operates in the county’s Title 1 middle schools, including John Hopkins, Tyrone, Oak Grove, and Largo Middle.

The organization has never left its home base of operations in south St. Petersburg, where 75 percent of the city’s African-American community resides. ACT programs are available at several City of St. Petersburg community centers, including Enoch Davis Center, the Thomas “Jet” Jackson Center, Childs Park, and Lake Vista Recreation Centers. ACT’s Arts Magnet Program operates after school at the Factory St. Pete.

Yet, ACT’s impact is felt and seen across the globe as more and more of its alumni make their mark in diverse fields.

Commerce Park group bids on site for affordable housing development

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The group behind the St. Petersburg Commerce Park LLC, which promised to deliver a manufacturing center and affordable homes in South St. Pete, is pursuing to acquire a city-owned lot to complete the vision for its long-intended development. 

Tom Callahan, CEO of St. Petersburg Commerce Park, has offered to buy 2586 8th Ave. S. (Lot 16) from the city for $40,000 after the city received interest from another party to obtain the site.  

St. Petersburg Commerce Park, or SPCP, owns 5.5 acres in Commerce Park, including Lots 18,19, 20 and 21, surrounding the available lot, which does not have any existing structures.   

Years ago, the organization planned to construct a mixed-use development consisting of retail, industrial and workforce housing on the site, but those plans never came to fruition. The vacant lots currently have leases associated with them; however, those leases could be terminated. 

The Obamas to end deal with Spotify

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Former President Barack and Michelle Obama are leaving Spotify. The couple’s production company, Higher Ground, is ending its deal with the streaming service, according to Variety

Higher Ground’s exclusive deal with Spotify expires in October. The Obamas have decided not to renew their contract with the streamer, reportedly due to issues with the terms of their exclusive deal. One such issue is their desire to expand distribution for their programming. 

The Obamas signed their exclusive deal with Spotify back in 2019 and since then, Higher Ground has produced several podcasts and audio programs. Its first project, 2020’s The Michelle Obama Podcast eventually became Spotify’s most-listened-to Spotify Original to date, according to Variety.

In 2021, Higher Ground produced Renegades: Born in the USA, conversations between Barack Obama and Grammy and Academy Award-winning singer/songwriter Bruce Springsteen. This year, the company released two more podcasts; The Big Hit Show about pivotal pop culture moments, and Tell Them, I Am, a collection of Muslims telling universal stories.

Now that the Obama’s are leaving Spotify, the pair will look at taking Higher Ground to other companies in search of a non-exclusive deal. Some of the companies they are reportedly fielding offers from are Audible and iHeartMedia. 

Higher Ground will keep the distribution rights of the podcasts it produced during its tenure with Spotify after the deal expires.

Prosecutor drops all charges against Pamela Moses, jailed over voting error

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A Memphis prosecutor has dropped all criminal charges against Pamela Moses, the Memphis woman who was sentenced to six years in prison for trying to register to vote.

Moses was convicted last year and sentenced in January. She was granted a new trial in February after the Guardian published a document showing that had not been given to her defense ahead of the trial.

Moses was set to appear in court on Monday to find out whether prosecutors would pursue a retrial.

The central issue in her case was whether she had known she was ineligible to vote when a probation officer filled out and signed a form indicating she was done with probation for a 2015 felony conviction and eligible to cast a ballot. Even though the probation officer admitted he had made a mistake, and Moses said she had no idea she was ineligible to vote, prosecutors said she knew she was ineligible and had deceived him. Moses stood in the lobby of the probation office while the officer went to his office to research her case for about an hour, he said at trial.

The case stirred national outrage because it underscored disparities in the way Black people are punished for voting errors. Several white defendants elsewhere have been sentenced to probation for impersonating family members and voting on their behalf.

Reached by telephone, Moses declined to comment on Friday, saying she was still processing the news. She said she planned to hold a press conference on Monday in Memphis.

Amy Weirich, the Shelby county district attorney, who prosecuted the case, noted Moses had spent 82 days in jail before she was granted a new trial, “which is sufficient”.

“In the interest of judicial economy, we are dismissing her illegal registration case and her violation of probation,” she said in a statement.

Read more

Roam, a new restaurant from Red’s BBQ team, opens in St. Petersburg

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Roam, a new restaurant from the duo behind Red’s BBQ, is opening this week in St. Petersburg.

The restaurant, which chef and owner Joshua Jackson describes as a “steak-forward” spot with dishes that utilize classic techniques and global influences, opens Thursday at 3405 34th St. N.

Jackson, 30, is launching the restaurant with his brother, Christian Jackson, 37. Though this is their first brick-and-mortar, the duo are well-known around town for their popular barbecue catering business and food truck, which for the last few years was parked near the intersection of Fifth Avenue N and 34th Street.

Having worked in restaurant kitchens since the age of 14, and later as a corporate executive chef in New York, Joshua Jackson said opening a restaurant of his own has been a dream long in the making. The idea for Roam was to create the type of place he and his brother like to dine at and hang out with friends and family — a steakhouse with a higher-end beverage program that still felt welcoming and casual, but never stuffy.

“Those are the places that I like to go,” Jackson said. “That’s the type of food that I like to eat — I just want to do the same thing for other people.”

At Red’s BBQ, the emphasis was heavy on smoked meats and comfort staples inspired by their father’s Cajun and Creole cooking — smoked turkey legs, pulled pork and St. Louis-style ribs, collard greens, and mac and cheese. Now, at their new restaurant, Jackson said he plans on going more upscale (though not necessarily more restrained) with an evolving, seasonal menu and a strong emphasis on classic steakhouse fare.

On any given evening that could include a rotating selection of cuts — ranging from filets to New York strips, rib-eyes and tomahawks — as well as pork and lamb chops, along with classic steakhouse add-ons like lobster tail with drawn butter, garlic shrimp and caramelized onions.

Prospective Tropicana Field developers refine plans for the 86-acre site

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The two prospective Tropicana Field master developers have tweaked their plans on how they vision the redevelopment of the prime 86-acre downtown property. 

This month, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch submitted 15 additional questions to the Miami-based Midtown Development team and Sugar Hill Community Partners group. The new questions focus on hot topics ranging from affordable housing, equity and the future of the Tampa Bay Rays to the potential impact on the interstate system. 

“The Trop site represents our most valuable and storied development opportunity in generations,” Welch said on the steps of City Hall earlier this week. “As you know, I was a child of the Gas Plant community, and this is not only a vital decision for the future of our city but is also a unique opportunity to finally fulfill the promises of equitable development made to the Gas Plant community.” 

Welch explained he also wanted to re-evaluate the proposals as the Covid-19 pandemic and supply chain issues could have altered plans.  

In records obtained by the St. Pete Catalyst, both groups submitted 50-plus page responses to the questions. The prospective developers retained the basis of their original plans, but have reworked some factors and reiterated high points. 

Economic Sustainability … Does everyone truly have the ability to live the American Dream?

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The St Petersburg N.A.A.C.P. podcast, When We Fight We Win, is hosted by Esther Matthews.

With guests:

Pastor Elizabeth Siplin (Economic Development Chair)

Jaihde Williams (Elizabeth’s daughter)

Visit www.stpetecatayst.com to listen Now

Ken Welch reflects on ‘enlightening’ first 100 days as St. Pete Mayor

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‘We have been innovative in addressing challenges, and our decisions are informed by facts, data and science.’

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch Monday held a news conference acknowledging what he called an “enlightening” first 100 days in office.

“This is an important time for our city. It is an important opportunity to reflect on who we are as a city,” Welch said. “To understand our history and culture, develop a clear-eyed consensus on the opportunities and challenges facing us, and to develop impactful plans or opportunity agendas, to build a path to progress for every St. Petersburg resident, worker, visitor and stakeholder.”

Welch started by acknowledging that his historic election as the city’s first Black Mayor got off to an unconventional start. Welch was diagnosed with COVID-19 days before his inauguration, sending the ceremony — along with his first week or so in office — virtual.

But Welch tried not to be slowed by the diagnosis, appointing Rob Gerdes to a new housing-focused administrative role on day one. Gerdes was confirmed to another new role as the City Administrator last week following a national search.

Welch said his administration promised inclusive progress and equity throughout city operations and argued that he has so far delivered.

“We govern based on our principles. We have endeavored to be in touch and inclusive. We have been innovative in addressing challenges, and our decisions are informed by facts, data and science, with the overarching goal of meaningful community impact. And we have been intentional in the application of equity as a core principle,” Welch said. “Our administration will remain focused on those principles, with the goal of inclusive progress.”

Welch cited progress in the city’s affordable housing crisis; climate resilience; innovation; and equitable development among areas of accomplishment. Those initiatives carry through City Hall as well, he said. Welch helped negotiate retroactive raises for city employees and got the minimum wage raised to $15 an hour for all city workers. He also hired David Malone as the city’s new director of procurement to increase equity among the city’s contracting efforts.

Affordable housing has become one of the most prominent challenges of the day. Rents in St. Pete have gone so high that residents have threatened to establish a tent city outside City Hall in protest.

But Welch argued St. Pete is leading the state, even if rent control is still a bridge too far.

VIOLA DAVIS SITS DOWN WITH OPRAH IN A NETFLIX SPECIAL EVENT ON APRIL 22

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In one of this year’s most anticipated interviews, Oscar-winner Viola Davis will speak with Oprah Winfreyfor a new Netflix program, Oprah + Viola: A Netflix Special Event, on April 22, according to Black Film.  

As one of the most esteemed actresses of her generation, the special invites viewers to pull up a chair as Davis discusses her personal life in a conversation with the media mogul. She will open up about her new memoir Finding Me, her childhood, and her unique experiences. 

Viewers can anticipate that the discussion between these two titans will likely tug at the heartstrings, enhanced with wisdom, raw honesty, and motivation.

“FOR THE FIRST TIME, VIOLA SHARES MEMORIES OF HER CHILDHOOD MARKED WITH UNIMAGINABLE POVERTY, DISTURBING ABUSE AND ‘ALL THE THINGS THAT CAUSE YOU PAIN.’ VIOLA REVEALS HOW ‘GIVING UP HOPE THAT THE PAST COULD BE DIFFERENT’ HAS BROUGHT HER PEACE, FORGIVENESS AND A SENSE OF SELF,” READ NETFLIX’S PRESS RELEASE. “VIOLA ALSO EXPLAINS HOW SHE MANIFESTED THE LOVES IN HER LIFE AND WHAT IT TOOK TO BECOME ONE OF THE MOST CELEBRATED AND TALENTED ACTRESSES OF OUR TIME,” SAID THE SPECIAL’S OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION, ACCORDING TO POPSUGAR. 

Davis, a resident of St. Matthews, South Carolina, launched the pursuit of her acting career in Central Falls, Rhode Island, making her rounds in small theater productions. In 1993, she graduated from Julliard and garnered the Obie Award in 1999 for her role as Ruby McCollum in Everybody’s Ruby. She earned the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress playing Tonya in August Wilson’s King Hedley II Broadway play in 2001. Davis landed her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the 2008 drama Doubt, Black Film reports.

In 2015, she brought home a Primetime Emmy Award for Lead Actress for the ABC drama hit How To Get Away With Murder. Two years later, she would walk away with the Oscar® for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Rose Maxson in the film Fences, based on the play by August Wilson. 

In 2020, The New York Times listed Davis as one of the greatest actors of the 21st century.

In addition to creating a formidable acting career, she has also ventured into executive producing. She stars in Showtime’s new series The First Lady, playing our Forever FLOTUS Michelle Obama, created through her company JuVee Productions; the show airs April 17, Popsugar reports.

Viola Davis opens up about ‘terrifying’ task of portraying Michelle Obama in new series

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As Viola Davis prepares to deliver audiences a look behind the curtain of Michelle Obama’s daily life as first lady, the Oscar-winning actress shared her own inner musings about portraying the larger-than-life figure.

In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Tonight this week, Davis, 56, opened up about the “absolutely terrifying” prospect of starring as Obama for Showtime’s highly anticipated anthology series The First Lady. The show is a 10-episode series depicting the personal and political lives of Obama, Eleanor Roosevelt and Betty Ford.

Days before the April 17 premiere, Davis told ET on Wednesday that portraying a well-known and established public figure who “everyone has ownership over” presents unique challenges and limits the creative liberties actors are otherwise afforded when playing a fictional character.

“You’re terrified whenever you start a job because you are afraid you are going to be found out — that’s big imposter syndrome. But with Michelle Obama, it’s like everyone has ownership over Michelle Obama,” she told the outlet. “I mean, her book came out and it was [on every] bestseller list, everyone knows what she looks like, what she sounds like, what her hair [is like], you know?”

Academy Officially Bans Will Smith From Attending Any Academy Events for 10 Years Due to 2022 Oscars Slap Incident

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While it’s been nearly two weeks since the infamous Will Smith/Chris Rock slap incident occurred at the 2022 Oscars, the Academy has finally handed down its reprimands for the King Richard star.

After a nearly three-hour long Board of Governors meeting on Friday, per an official “Open Letter to Our Academy Family” from Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson sent to The Root, the Academy has decided to officially ban Smith from attending “any Academy events or programs, in person or virtually, including but not limited to the Academy Awards” in addition to accepting his resignation from the prestigious membership.

“The 94th Oscars were meant to be a celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year; however, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behavior we saw Mr. Smith exhibit on stage,” the letter began. “During our telecast, we did not adequately address the situation in the room. For this, we are sorry. This was an opportunity for us to set an example for our guests, viewers and our Academy family around the world, and we fell short—unprepared for the unprecedented.”

Denzel Washington speaks publicly about Will Smith Oscar slap

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Denzel Washington spoke publicly about his interaction with Will Smith on Oscar night and what happened after Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage.

Washington was a guest and speaker at Bishop T.D. Jakes’ leadership summit on Saturday. During the two-hour discussion about faith and his award-winning acting career, Washington was asked about the infamous slap and what happened afterward.

“Well, there’s a saying when the devil ignores you, then you know you’re doing something wrong,” Washington said in video of the exchange posted on Jakes’ verified Twitter account.

“You know, the devil goes, ‘Oh, no, leave him alone, he’s my favorite. Don’t bother him.’ Conversely, when the devil comes at you, maybe it’s because you’re trying to do something right. And for whatever reason, the devil got a hold of that circumstance that night.”

At the Academy Awards, Smith walked to the stage and slapped Chris Rock, who was presenting at the time, after he made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head.

Shortly after the incident, Smith won his first Academy Award and offered his apologies to the Academy and others for the earlier incident.

During his acceptance speech, Smith said that prior to his win, fellow nominee Washington shared some wisdom with him: “At your highest moment be careful, that’s when the devil comes for you.”

Washington said during Saturday’s discussion that he, along with actor and producer Tyler Perry, prayed with Smith after the incident.

Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination brings renewed attention to lack of Black judges on the federal bench

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WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 23: U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson testifies during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill March 23, 2022 in Washington, DC. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Joe Biden's pick to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer on the U.S. Supreme Court, would become the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court if confirmed. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

As the nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court has ignited a discussion about the historic lack of diversity on the nation’s highest court, her ascendance has also renewed focus on the absence of Black judges on the federal judiciary’s lower courts.Of the 3,852 people who have been confirmed as federal judges, a CNN analysis of data from the Federal Judicial Center shows that 240 of them — 6% — have been Black. Seventy-one of them have been Black women. More than three-quarters of all the judges have been White men.

And while strides have been made in recent years to improve the demographic makeup of the federal bench, the judiciary still skews dramatically toward White, male judges, especially when compared to the rest of the country. Almost 80% of all Article III judges — the federal judges who are nominated by a US president and confirmed by the US Senate — are White, and 71% are men, with large gaps persisting in Latino, Black and women’s representation in the federal courts, the data shows, despite Black Americans accounting for 12.4% of the US population.

In St. Petersburg, teacher shares cultural expression through dance

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During her first year teaching at Melrose Elementary, in 2019, fifth-grade teacher Natalie El Amrani decided to start a group to offer dance experience steeped in cultural appreciation for young girls.

El Amrani recalls her childhood — centered on a passion for performing on a competition dance team. Recitals were the highlight, but she knew her mother struggled to cover the costs and ensure her continued participation. She started “Cultural Expressions” to provide her students the experience without the financial strain.

“I began Cultural Expressions 100 percent free of charge to families,” El Amrani said. “I write grants and pay out of my own pocket for all costumes and experiences for the girls.

El Amrani, who has a Moroccan background, volunteers in Jamaican schools several times a year and enjoys sharing her experiences with her students, teaching them about the multicultural spectrum within the Black race. Many of El Amrani’s students have backgrounds in Jamaica, Haiti and throughout the Caribbean. “Many of them are second generation, so they don’t truly know their identity because many aren’t being taught at home,” El Amrani said. “In my dance group, we explore different black cultures.” The dancing reflects the musical genres of Jamaican dancehall, Haitian kompa, salsa and merengue, Afro-beats, hip-hop and more.

Collins to Back Jackson for Supreme Court, Giving Her a G.O.P. Vote

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Senator Susan Collins of Maine plans to vote to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, ensuring that President Biden’s nominee and the first Black woman to be put forward for the post will receive at least one Republican backer.

But whether Ms. Collins’s support is singular or opens the door to Judge Jackson attracting the votes of other Republicans remained to be seen. The universe of potential backers from across the aisle shrunk on Wednesday with an announcement by Senator Thom Tillis, Republican of North Carolina, that he would oppose the nominee. Mr. Tillis, a member of the Judiciary Committee, had once been seen as a potential vote for confirmation.

Even as he praised Judge Jackson’s “knowledge, her composure and her character,” Mr. Tillis said he could not vote to put her on the court. “I still hold my initial concerns that she may legislate from the bench instead of consistently following the Constitution as written,” he said in a statement that also noted her refusal to condemn adding seats to the court — an issue multiple Republicans have cited as problematic.

Inside the Skyway Marina District’s first affordable housing complex

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Whether a St. Petersburg resident earns $8 or closer to $20 an hour at their job, local officials want to ensure the diverse workforce can call St. Pete their home, and it’s getting one step closer to that goal. 

On Tuesday, Blue Sky Communities, alongside elected city and county officials, celebrated the opening of SkyWay Lofts, a 65-unit affordable development at 3900 34th St. N and 3313 29th Ave. S. in the Skyway Marina District. 

“This is an area that’s transforming from a hidden gem to one of the most important districts in our city,” Scott Macdonald, executive vice president and CFO of Blue Sky, said to the crowd during the event. 

SkyWay Lofts has two buildings with one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments for working families and persons on fixed incomes. All of the apartments are designated for tenants whose household income is far less than the area’s median income.

However, what’s unique about the project is how the affordable housing units are tiered. Rents range from $315 a month for a one-bedroom, one-bath unit for a tenant whose income is 30% of the AMI to $1,160 a month for a two-bedroom, two-bath unit for a tenant making 80% of the AMI. Although, the majority of the units are priced at $762 per month for a one-bedroom apartment and $901 per month for a two-bedroom apartment.

Will Smith issues apology to Chris Rock over slapping incident at Oscars

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Will Smith has issued an apology for striking presenter Chris Rock at Sunday’s Academy Awards.In a post on Instagram on Monday afternoon, Smith called his behavior “unacceptable and inexcusable.” “Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally,” he wrote. “I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”

Smith added in his post that, “Violence in all forms is poisonous and destructive.” 

He also included in his note an apology to “the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world,” as well as the family of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams and those involved with the film for which he won his best actor award on Sunday.

“I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us,” he wrote. “I am a work in progress.” 

Will Smith slapped Chris Rock during the Oscars ceremony after the comedian told a joke about Smith’s wife.Smith on Sunday caused a stir that changed the tone of an otherwise uplifting Oscars ceremony when he stormed the stage and struck comedian Rock in the face.

Will Smith and Chris Rock have a history that predates the Oscars slap

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Sunday night wasn’t the first time Chris Rock had joked about Jada Pinkett Smith, but it may have been his last. 

Her husband, Will Smith, stormed on stage at the 94th Academy Awards after Rock joked “Jada I love you, ‘G.I. Jane 2,’ can’t wait to see it” and hit Rock in the face.

Actress Demi Moore famously shaved her head for her role in the film “G.I. Jane” and Pinkett Smith has a close haircut because she suffers from alopecia, an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss. 

In 2016, Rock hosted the Oscars and joked about Pinkett Smith and her husband boycotting over #OscarsSoWhite, the online movement which began as a way to address the lack of diversity at the Academy Awards.

Rock declared that the Smiths, as well as Black director Spike Lee “went mad” over the issue as there were no Black acting nominees that year. 

“Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties,” Rock said during his opening monologue. “I wasn’t invited.”

Rock went on to joke that he understood Pinkett Smith’s anger.

“Jada’s mad her man Will was not nominated for ‘Concussion.'” Rock said in reference to the 2015 football film Will Smith starred in. “I get it. It’s not fair that Will was this good and didn’t get nominated. It’s also not fair that Will was paid $20 million for [the 1999 film] ‘Wild Wild West.'”

Pinkett Smith commented on the jokes days later when asked about them by paparazzi.”Hey look, it comes with the territory, we gotta keep it moving,” she said. “We got a lot of stuff we gotta handle, a lot of stuff going on in our world right now. We gotta keep it moving.”

E! reported that Smith, who was filming “Collateral Beauty” in New York City at the time, simply smiled and flashed a peace sign when asked.

Jackson pledges to decide cases ‘without fear or favor’

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Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson pledged Monday to decide cases “without fear or favor” if the Senate confirms her historic nomination as the first Black woman on the high court.

Jackson, 51, thanked God and professed love for “our country and the Constitution” in a 12-minute statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee at the end of her first day of confirmation hearings, nearly four hours almost entirely consumed by remarks from the panel’s 22 members.

Republicans promised pointed questions over the coming two days, with a special focus on her record on criminal matters. Democrats were full of praise for President Joe Biden’s Supreme Court nominee.

With her family sitting behind her, her husband in socks bearing George Washington’s likeness, Jackson stressed that she has been independent, deciding cases “from a neutral posture” in her nine years as a judge, and that she is ever mindful of the importance of that role.

“I have dedicated my career to ensuring that the words engraved on the front of the Supreme Court building — equal justice under law — are a reality and not just an ideal,” she declared.

Barring a significant misstep, Democrats who control the Senate by the slimmest of margins intend to wrap up her confirmation before Easter. She would be the third Black justice, after Thurgood Marshall and Clarence Thomas, as well as the first Black woman on the high court.

Community remembers Pastor Shawn Thomas as dedicated preacher with passion for youth

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Sunday service wasn’t the same at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church.

“It was tough for us,” Chairman of Deacons Robert Williams said.

Pastor Shawn Thomas wasn’t there to preach. 

He died Friday after drowning in an effort to recover his capsized boat in Lake Seminole, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

Those who knew him said he inspired many, including members from his church and throughout the St. Petersburg community.

“God put a man here who was so far ahead of his time that he was able to take people with no hope and bring hope,” Williams said.

Mayor Ken Welch wrote on Facebook stating: 

“The passing of Pastor Dr. Shawn Thomas is a painful loss that exceeds our understanding. His work in the ministry, education, and our community has touched countless lives, including my family’s.”

Williams, who has known Thomas as a child, said he had a gift when it came to preaching. He did it with purpose and knew how to make people understand the importance of his words.

“He was able to get a message across to them where they can clearly understand that God is love and he was just spreading his love,” Williams said.

After rescue, St. Petersburg pastor returns to lake and drowns

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Joe Wright, 74, had known Shawn Thomas since he was a 7-year-old Bible school student at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in St. Petersburg, picking up and dropping off the boy and his peers as the church bus driver.

Last fall, the little boy who climbed onto his bus every weekday during summer vacation became Wright’s pastor at the same church.

On Friday, when Thomas asked for help, Wright didn’t hesitate.

Hours before, Seminole Fire Rescue responded to a disabled vessel taking on water with occupants onboard on Friday around 2:17 p.m. Deputies found Thomas, 39, and his friend Alexandra Dumervil, 37, in Lake Seminole at 10015 Park Boulevard and brought them both safely to shore, Pinellas sheriff’s deputies said in a media release.

Former President Barack Obama has COVID-19. Here are his symptoms

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Former President Barack Obama said over the weekend that he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Driving the news: “I just tested positive for COVID. I’ve had a scratchy throat for a couple days, but am feeling fine otherwise. Michelle and I are grateful to be vaccinated and boosted, and she has tested negative,” Obama tweeted Sunday.

Symptoms: Obama described himself as having a “scratchy throat” — a prominent COVID-19 symptom associated with the omicron variant of the novel coronavirus, as I previously reported for the Deseret News.

The bigger picture: There have been more than 79 million COVID-19 cases in the United States since the COVID-19 pandemic began more than two years ago, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

  • More than 964,000 people have died from COVID-19 during that time as well, according to the CDC.

Waveney Ann Moore: Black families, a testimony to resilience

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As we bear witness to the anguish of Ukrainians, their families torn apart by evil incarnate, I wonder whether in decades to come some will deny this atrocity ever happened. Just as some of our contemporaries have denied the Holocaust and the Armenian genocide. 

And also insist that the history of those of the African diaspora, ripped from their homelands and families, shackled, enslaved and brutalized and used to build the very foundation of this great nation – from its fields to the house of its presidents – must be silenced. 

But like others who have endured injustice, African-American families persist in their striving, many drawing strength from annual gatherings of elders and younger generations. Today’s tradition of the African-American family reunion dates back to emancipation, when families torn apart by slavery desperately tried to reconnect with loved ones they’d lost. 

As documented by Last Seen: Finding Family After Slavery, a project of Villanova University and Mother Bethel AME Church in Philadelphia, African Americans placed thousands of ads in newspapers in their quest to reunite with beloved children, parents, siblings and spouses. 

Black family reunions are now a cherished tradition. On hiatus during the pandemic, they’re making a cautious return this year.  

Michelle Obama and Chris Paul Launch The Vote Loud HBCU Squad Challenge

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The push to get more college students to register to vote has started!

Former first lady Michelle Obama and Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul released a video announcingthe VOTE LOUD HBCU Squad Challenge launch. The two dignitaries are co-chairs of the Obama-led When We All Vote initiative.

The Squad Challenge is When We All Vote’s first campaign for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). It is geared to empower HBCU students to take a leading role in voter registration, education, and mobilization efforts on their campuses and the communities surrounding them ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. BET, Baller Alert, Watch The Yard, HBCU Buzz, and Xceleader’s Vote HBCU program are among the founding partners on the Squad Challenge.

“As a proud HBCU graduate, I know that our Historically Black Colleges and Universities are the heartbeat of Black culture, and it’s critical that we make sure voting is a part of that culture. For decades, HBCUs have led the way in social change, and I’m excited to work with students, alumni, educators, and our partners on HBCU campuses to reach our communities in real and engaging ways that allow our voices to be heard in the midterm elections and beyond. And I’m also thrilled to start this work early to end the cycle of engaging these campuses only in the fall before major elections,” said Stephanie L. Young, Executive Director of When We All Vote, in a written statement.

Habitat pursues another affordable housing project in South St. Pete

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A vacant property in the South St. Pete CRA could become the site of new affordable housing – giving financially struggling families a chance of homeownership. 

Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties has submitted a proposal to acquire the city-owned land at 1805 18th Ave. South to build an affordable townhome development. 

This is the second offer Habitat has made to the city for obtaining a South St. Pete site. The group recently submitted a proposal to acquire 2100 18th Ave. South, across from the vacant Tangerine Plaza.

Habitat made the proposal to the city for the other site after the St. Pete-based development group Namasté Homes LLC submitted an unsolicited proposal to the city several weeks ago to acquire it. 

Due to Namasté’s unsolicited proposal, the city invited any alternative proposals from private developers interested in undertaking the lease, purchase or development of the site.

The deadline for proposals was today (March 9) at 10 a.m. Habitat for Humanity was the only additional proposer, according to the city’s records. 

Pinellas broadens eligibility for rental assistance, shares funding with St. Pete

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As part of the ongoing fight to mitigate the negative impacts of skyrocketing rents and displacement of residents, Pinellas County is expanding its rental assistance program and sharing funding with the City of St. Petersburg.

During Tuesday’s board meeting, county commissioners unanimously approved a resolution to offer emergency rental assistance (ERA) for those forced into area motels and hotels. The resolution also allows the county to share funding with its largest city after St. Petersburg exhausted its federal ERA money.

The county received nearly $46 million in ERA funds through the Consolidated Appropriation and American Rescue Plan Acts of 2021, of which $18.2 million remains. St. Pete received just over $14 million through the pandemic-era emergency measures, and is urgently trying to secure more money for housing programs. Throngs of residents have repeatedly descended on City Hall to protest the lack of housing options and affordable rent in recent months.

Two Cousins Launch Black-Owned Academy and Entrepreneurship Bootcamps to Help 10,000 Minorities Start a Business

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Meet Dovév Weaver and his cousin, Elliot Martin, the co-founders of Closer To Our Dreams LLC, a business development and marketing consulting company based in St. Petersburg, Florida, that is on a mission to help 10,000 aspiring Black entrepreneurs successfully launch a business this year. Their company will be mentoring and coaching success-oriented individuals for 12 weeks through their Dreams to Reality Academy, and also taking their entrepreneurship bootcamps to ten states across the country.

Dovév, popularly known as Coach D, has reiterated his commitment to inspiring the masses to start going after their goals and dreams daily. He and his team at Closer To Our Dreams LLC (C.T.O.D.) have grown in popularity in recent times, helping people from all walks of life to reach their full potentials by personifying the experience. In fact, they have mastered the art of helping different categories of clients – including organizations, schools, students, and adults to go after their dreams with passion.

Even more, everyone who he mentors is given access to the same law firm, accounting firm, and government contracting company of C.T.O.D., as well as tickets to upcoming events.

His cousin, Elliot, who is co-founder of the company, says, “When we launched our business, our goal was always to be a Global company. Our focus is on helping as many people as we can live life on their terms.”

Biden introduces Ketanji Brown Jackson as his Supreme Court nominee

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President Joe Biden on Friday nominated federal appeals court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court, making her the first Black woman selected to serve on a court that once declared her race unworthy of citizenship and endorsed segregation.

Introducing Jackson, Biden called her a “proven consensus builder” who has “a pragmatic understanding that the law must work for the American people.”

“She strives to be fair, to get it right, to do justice,” the president added.

In Jackson, Biden delivers on a campaign promise to make the historic appointment and to further diversify a court that was made up entirely of white men for almost two centuries. He chose an attorney who would be the high court’s first former public defender, though she also possesses the elite legal background of other justices.

Jackson would be the current court’s second Black justice — Justice Clarence Thomas, a conservative, is the other — and just the third in history. She would replace liberal Justice Stephen Breyer, 83, who is retiring at the end of the term this summer, so she won’t change the court’s 6-3 conservative majority.

Jackson would join the court as it weighs cutbacks to abortion rights and will be considering ending affirmative action in college admissions and restricting voting rights efforts to increase minority representation.

Serena Williams calls out The New York Times over photo of sister Venus in story about Serena’s venture capital firm

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Tennis legend Serena Williams called out the New York Times on Wednesday for appearing to confuse her with her older sister, Venus Williams, in a recent print news article.

The story in question was about Serena’s early-stage venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, which recently unveiled an inaugural fund of $111 million.

Williams used her Twitter account on Wednesday to share a picture of the print version of a NYT story about the firm, where she also serves as a managing partner.

The story image included a headshot of Venus labeled as her sister.

“No matter how far we come, we get reminded that it’s not enough,” Serena tweeted Wednesday morning. “This is why I raised $111M for @serenaventures. To support the founders who are overlooked by engrained systems woefully unaware of their biases. Because even I am overlooked. You can do better, @nytimes.”

The business section of the Times acknowledged the mixup later in a reply tweet to Williams.

Book Release: Beyond The Pipe and The Pulpit

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Now Available on Kindle and Amazon!

Visit https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Pipe-Pulpit-Basha-Jordan-ebook/dp/B09R39G5Z8 to get your copy today.

There are untold numbers of of Americans, especially those in religious institutions, who are suffering in silence from the disease of addiction, primarily drugs and alcohol. Professionals, including pastors, who have money, power and prestige, can get caught up in any addiction and think it will not happen to them because of their position. Their families go through living hell because someone in the house has a drug or alcohol problem and they don’t know what to do.

The Pipe and the Pulpit tells the true story of an addicted, inner-city, highly educated, pastor who got caught up in alcohol and cocaine abuse but found hope and deliverance through a tried and proven way. This book is for the addicted and their families, especially in the church, and want help. Fasten your traditional, religious, seatbelt for the non-traditional, Spiritual ride of your life for deliverance. There is hope for you!

Purchase Your Copy Today

St. Petersburg students welcome special guest for Black History Month: Ken Welch

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Ken Welch sat front and center, holding up his cell phone, recording Melrose Elementary School’s Black History Month celebration.

He took in every performance: 60 students singing, stepping, acting, rapping, dancing, telling the story of African-Americans from pre-colonial times to slavery, through the Civil Rights movement to the present day.

Welch represented the present. St. Petersburg’s first Black mayor returned to the same cafeteria he once sat in as a Kindergartner and member of Melrose’s last segregated class. Next to him sat an icon of the past: Leon Jackson, last surviving member of the Courageous 12, the group of Black police officers who sued to end racial discrimination in the St. Petersburg Police Department in 1965.

Tampa Bay execs to participate in Habitat’s CEO Build event

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Over 50 community and businesses leaders in Tampa Bay are coming together to build a home for a local family in Pinellas this week. 

Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties kicked off the inaugural CEO Build event Wednesday evening at the Cordova Inn in downtown St. Petersburg. 

The future home recipient, Jasmine Middlebrooks, is a nurse at Tampa General Hospital and has undergone multiple obstacles burdening her both financially and emotionally. 

“This is a dream come true,” Middlebrooks said. “Without you guys, we wouldn’t be able to afford this and be in our forever home. I can’t thank you enough. I lost my mother, got a divorce, and have become a full-time mother while trying to work –  it has been stressful. Affordable housing is so hard to come by.”

After a year of living with her mother and saving up money to support her family, Middlebrooks was in a car crash and had to purchase a new car. Two weeks later, her mother unexpectedly passed away and they had to move out of her home.

Trulieve and Florida Justice Center partner to bring free legal services to underserved communities

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Two in five drug arrests are for personal possession of marijuana. The “War on Drugs” has decimated communities, particularly low-income neighborhoods of color, that are disproportionately targeted by the criminal justice system. Over half of those arrested for possession charges are Black in some Florida counties.

Florida Justice Center and Trulieve are working to fight these disparities and build better lives for those affected by the criminalization of cannabis through a series of free community legal clinics throughout the state that provides sealing and expungement, voting rights restoration and registration, driver license reinstatement, clemency, probation, and other services.

Along with numerous community partners, Florida Justice Center (FLJC) and Trulieve are setting up one-day legal clinics and resource fairs in eight different cities, each with some of the highest cannabis arrest racial disparity rates. At each event, Florida’s first medical cannabis company, Trulieve, will be paying sealing and expungement fees for all qualified people.

The first in the series will be on Feb. 26, at the Historic Manhattan Casino Event Hall at 642 22nd St. S, St. Petersburg, from 10-4 p.m. and will have free ice cream courtesy of Ben & Jerry’s Team Primo.

Event attendees will be able to meet with an attorney and receive advice and assistance with:

  • Arrest record sealing and expungement
  • Reinstating suspended driver licenses
  • Voting rights restoration
  • Clemency application
  • Probation issues
  • Outstanding warrants
  • Free or reduced-fee medical cannabis evaluation and card
  • Civil legal issues such as housing and evictions, child custody, government benefits, and more

Learn more at www.FLJC.org.

Pinellas African American Heritage Celebration Feb. 26

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After a 10-year furlough, Largo will once again host a celebration of African-American Heritage at the campus at Florida Botanical Gardens and Heritage Village.

The Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation (FBGF) and the Pinellas Alliance of Black School Educators (PABSE) are partnering on the event.

Vernon R. Bryant, executive director of FBGF recalled the glory days of the former celebration before funds and resources dried up.

“We thought it was a great event and a great activity. So, this year we put our heads together and restarted it. We renamed it Pinellas African American Heritage Celebration, keeping it in line with what we had done as a celebration of culture,” Bryant shared.

He credited Shauné Ferguson, PABSE’s president-elect, with helping to make this year’s celebration come to fruition. “She just said to me, ‘Let’s do this.’” And she has really been a driving force behind it,” Bryant noted.

Ferguson quickly agreed when Vernon said they should bring back the African American Heritage celebration to the Botanical Gardens.

Ferguson went back to PABSE to see if they would get on board with the event. “For PABSE, it was almost a no-brainer; this is what we do. We support students; we support the community around Pinellas County. I think they were just ready and excited to do something positive that brings the whole community in. As soon as I brought the idea, everyone was 100 percent on board.”

She noted that the Largo community has been very interested in bringing this event back to the Florida Botanical Garden, adding the support they’ve received has been just tremendous. Bryant also stated that the event has several new sponsors.

The director of the Gardens shared that there will be several locations on the campus that will be involved, including two outdoor stages where School Board member Caprice Edmond and Maranda Douglas, a candidate for the Clearwater City Council Seat 4, will give keynote speeches that day.

Affordable apartments coming to Skyway Marina District in St. Pete

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A 65-unit apartment complex going up in the Skyway Marina District of St. Petersburg will be the first affordable housing complex built amid a mix of commercial establishments and older suburban homes in that neighborhood.

Workers from nearby Walmart, Wawa, and Dunkin’ Donuts would potentially be some of the first tenants because their pay scales match requirements for the new apartments and the jobs are all within walking distance, says Shawn Wilson, President of Blue Sky Communities, which uses a mix of federal and state cash incentives to build affordable housing complexes.

Rent for a two-bedroom apartment at Skyway Lofts will run $800-850 per month, Wilson says. The apartments are expected to be completed within 12 to 14 months.

Wilson’s company is among the largest affordable housing developers in the nation and has constructed more than 1,300 units in Florida.

“We have been trying to do something in the Skyway Marina District for several years, actually, and now was the right time,” Wilson says. “We knew it was an up-and-coming area and we know the state is trying to target their funding in areas that are not traditional low-income neighborhoods.”

St. Pete’s Kahwa Coffee and Baseball Hall of Famer David Ortiz team up for children

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Kahwa Coffee continues to hit home runs for charity, this time through a serendipitous Hall of Fame partnership that provides emergency cardiac care for kids.

Launched in 2006 by husband and wife duo Raphael and Sarah Perrier, Kahwa has become an all-star in the world of coffee. The St. Pete-based company is now the largest independent coffee roaster in Florida, with 15 retail locations (and counting). In addition to a large online presence, area hotels, restaurants and 80 Publix grocers now offer Kahwa products.

Following a new partnership with retired Boston Red Sox slugger David “Big Papi” Ortiz, Kahwa is likely to increase its fan base throughout New England while raising money for children who cannot afford critical cardiac care.

“It’s always been the number one priority of the company,” said Raphael Perrier. “Since we started the company, it’s always been a focus on everything we could do to give back.”

‘Rebirth the Hood!’

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Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin posing with future twin NFL superstars at their ‘Rebirth the Hood!’ event last month. that featured Nike gear, games, music, autographs, and a  car give-a-way. The community event had food, Nike gear, games, music, autographs, a car give-a-way, and a message of hope.

Imagine growing up in the hood that had a sense of family, unity and exposure to caring elders that had relationships with each other. That neighborhood was a protected training ground that taught respect and character. The elderly were revered, and the youth cherished. The environment developed professionals and community leaders who learned their craft through senior leadership that taught the younger ones, while storytelling provided history lessons.

Well, Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin, who are products of that not-so imaginary hood, were in town last month to give back to the neighborhood that helped mold them. The Griffins view their hood as an environment with people of courageous dreams.

One phone call from Shaquem Griffin to his mother Tangie Griffin set into motion the Griffin twins’ passion for their community and appreciation for what it had contributed.

Tangie Griffin’s baby boy called her up, saying, “Mom, Shaquill, and I want to gather kids together from the community, and we want to do an event to put a smile on their faces, have lots of fun, and give them prizes,” said Shaquem Griffin, the younger of the NFL superstar twins.

She openly obliged with a smile on her face, sensing that her sons, who made it from the hood to the National Football League, have giving hearts. Thinking that they were speaking of an event a few weeks away, to her surprise, the reference was for the weekend, a few days later. Mom sprung into action along with her support team to make “Rebirth the Hood” happen.

Kriseman talks cities’ role in climate change at Conference of World Affairs

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In 2019, Michael Bloomberg personally awarded St. Peterburg $2.5 million for its role in combating climate change; when former Mayor Rick Kriseman took office in 2014, city administration fought just to institute universal curbside recycling.

For eight years, Kriseman pushed for green initiatives he thought would increase St. Petersburg’s sustainability and decrease its carbon footprint – and with good reason. According to climatecentral.org, St. Pete ranks as the sixth-most vulnerable American city for coastal flooding, with sea-level rise putting 91,000 residents directly at risk.

Bomb threats shut down B-CU, Edward Waters and other HBCUs

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On Monday morning, Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) was on lockdown due to a bomb threat. It was one of a number of Black colleges and universities around the country that received the threats.

On Tuesday morning, there were more bomb threats, including at Edward Waters University, a historically Black university in Jacksonville.  

Law enforcement swept through the B-CU campus in Daytona Beach and, fortunately, found nothing.

A neo-Nazi group called “Atomwaffen’’ has been linked to the call to B-CU, according to the Daytona Beach Police Department.

A call into the Volusia County emergency dispatch also indicated that there was an active shooter threat on the campus as well as an explosive device threat. The shooting threat, according to the call, was expected to happen around lunchtime Monday.

Muralist Zulu Painter among honorees for St. Pete Arts Alliance’s Muse Awards

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The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance does a lot of good work, but the nonprofit shines a light on others in March when it honors six local artists at its annual Muse awards (stylized “MUSE”) happening on March 4. 

The 2022 St. Petersburg Arts Alliance Muse Award winners are Zulu Painter, Matthew McGee, Gloria Muñoz, David and Becky Ramsey, Chad Mize and Matthew Walker. 

Paul Wilborn and Eugenie Bondurant play host for one of the Tampa Bay art scene’s must-attend events, happening this year at Morean Center for Clay in the Warehouse Arts District. 

Tickets for the party and fundraiser start at $150 and are available via stpeteartsalliance.org.

Marva Smalls Becomes First Black Woman To Serve On A Heisman Trophy Trust’s Board

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Last week, history was made when a Black woman was appointed to the Heisman Trophy Trust as a board member.

The Heisman Trophy Trust announced that it elected two new members to its board of trustees.

The new trustees are Dan Reed, vice president of Global Media at Meta, and Marva Smalls, executive vice president, Global Head of Inclusion and executive vice president, Public Affairs, Kids & Family Entertainment Brand, ViacomCBS. With the appointment, Smalls becomes the first Black woman to serve on the board of trustees.

“I look forward to working with Mike Comerford and the Heisman Trophy Trust board of trustees to help amplify the values of the Trophy and deliver on the ideals that Heisman represents,” Smalls said in a written statement. “Creating initiatives to address the disparities that exist in under-resourced communities and that prevent many youth from access to and full participation in sports is a game-changer. I am excited to be a part of driving that change.”

Development Leaders Break Bread, Discuss Partnership for End-to-End Revitalization of the Deuces

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The Deuces Live association has declared 2022 the “Year of the Deuces!” A dinner meeting this Wednesday was a rousing kick-off for the theme. With eyes fixed on the future, three dozen development leaders met and broke bread to discuss the possibility of a comprehensive partnership for the end-to-end revitalization of the historic 22nd Street South (aka, “the Deuces”).

The timing could not have been more perfect. On the eve of the corridor’s centennial (2023-24), the Deuces is experiencing unprecedented growth. 

Not since the mid-1920s have there been so many projects unfolding on the corridor simultaneously.

Approximately seven mid-sized commercial facilities were built along 22nd Street South in the 1920s. Today, there are ten development projects underway, which – if successful – will bring a total of 180,000 SF of commercial space and over 450 new or revitalized housing units to a 13-block stretch of the Deuces.

For perspective, that’s two times more commercial (non-institutional) and housing development in the next five years than the sum total of the prior 20 years of redevelopment efforts combined.

From 2000 to 2020, the corridor saw over 300,000 square feet of new construction, renovation, and historic preservation. But a majority of it was institutional and educational, such as the 166,000 square foot Pinellas County Job Corps campus and two facilities by St. Petersburg College including a 45,000 square foot campus.

The current landscape is much different. Whereas prior projects drew mostly students and clients of local non-profit service agencies, today’s pipeline of projects is decidedly more commercial.

Several of the projects on the drawing board are poised to attract more of a diverse consumer and household mix. The vision for a new world-class Woodson African American Museum of Florida is expected to be a center of gravity in drawing tourists and locals to the corridor. Sankofa on the Deuces is slated to attract several dozen entrepreneurs to the Deuces. The Tangerine Plaza re-boot will house as many as six retail tenants.

This is added to the magnetism of existing anchors – Gloria Campbell’s Advantage Insurance Solutions, Elihu and Carolyn Brayboy’s Chief’s Creole Restaurant, the Manhattan Casino, and the newest addition, Heavy’s Soul Food restaurant, which opened this January.

The term is “critical mass,” says Veatrice Farrell, Executive Director of the Deuces Live Main Street (the organization tasked with leading redevelopment and historic preservation on 22nd Street South).“The momentum we see now has been years in the making.” Indeed – redevelopment planning dates back to the tenure of Mayor David Fischer in the 1990s.  

Also present at Wednesday’s dinner were representatives of Sankofa on the Deuces, Deuces Rising townhomes, the Woodson African American Museum, the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (spearheading development of The Legacy Center), Binger Financial (which is in talks with the City about redevelopment of Tangerine Plaza), the Brayboys (who own multiple parcels on and adjacent to the corridor), VISION Investors (an emerging housing development group), and Pathway2Success (a local organization with a project building 27 housing units, one block east of the Deuces).  

Several existing owners and operators attended as well, including the Urban Collective (operating the Manhattan Casino), and Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corporation (the BBIC), which owns two properties on 22nd Street South.

Three of the region’s economic development leaders took part – Dr. Cynthia Johnson, head of Pinellas County Economic Development; Bemetra Simmons, CEO of the Tampa Bay partnership; and Tony Brown, Community Development Director for the Tampa Bay Economic Development Corporation. 

The feedback of attendees was upbeat throughout the evening. “The potential and combined power of the people in the room was incredible,” said Nikki Gaskin-Capehart who served as Moderator for the occasion. “We’re talking about the possibility of 93 organizations operating on the corridor by the year 2025.” That’s triple the current total of roughly 30.

Yet the dinner’s organizers struck a cautious tone at several points during the dialogue. “This will not be easy, and it will require some of us to step up with equity investments,” said Albert Lee, CEO of the BBIC.  Lee pointed to the Brayboys as among a small handful of African American investors bringing their own capital to the table.

“We will need to be ‘intentional’ about creating high-income earning possibilities along the corridor as well,” said Dr. Johnson. “The professional services and tech firms evaluating the Sankofa site can serve as a foundation for growth.”

Attorney Tamara Felton-Howard encouraged the audience to identify next steps that harness the energy of the room, such as committing to the Woodson Museum capital campaign, set to launch on February 1.

Deputy Mayor Stephanie Owens was positive in her remarks to the gathering. “One of Mayor Ken Welch’s core principles is creating intentional equity,” said Owens. “The progress in the Deuces is uplifting, and the future looks bright. The city is committed to ensuring progress continues and, perhaps more importantly, that it’s the right progress for this community.”

The strategies of the Welch administration will be a decisive factor in the success of several projects on the drawing board. At least two housing developments will require zoning variances. Several of the projects may seek or already have sought investments from the City-run South St. Petersburg CRA.

One of the next steps discussed at the dinner was the capitalization of a development fund created late last year by the City and the Sankofa Group as part of their co-development agreement for a 2.8 parcel in the 600 block of the Deuces. Net revenues from Sankofa on the Deuces (a two-building, two-story business facility) will serve as a starter source for the fund.

The Sankofa Group is seeking to leverage the City partnership to replicate the funding models of the Los Angeles Development Fund and the Detroit Strategic Neighborhood Fund.

The dinner meeting was the first time the corridor’s project sponsors were invited to the same table. Several stakeholders met one another for the first time.

“I’ve been waiting 50 years to see this kind of meeting take place,” said Rev. Watson Haynes, CEO of the Pinellas County Urban League. “Now is the time for collaboration on a scale not possible in the past.” The Urban League is an anchor partner to Sankofa on the Deuces and recently completed construction of the agency’s first single family home.

After decades of disinvestment and decline in commercial tenants, the Deuces has begun to turn a corner. Occupancy has doubled over the past decade.

The energy of Wednesday’s meet-up left many with the sense that the Deuces’ may soon regain its former glory.

Deuces Live and The Equity Institute of St. Petersburg will convene a larger group of stakeholders in April of this year to continue developing a shared vision.

Click here to view photos of the dinner meeting. To receive updates on this effort: [email protected].

SPC, Bank of America announce $1 million workforce development grant

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Bank of America awarded St. Petersburg College (SPC) $1 million to help students from underserved backgrounds receive job placement services and achieve their career goals while strengthening the region’s workforce pipeline.

SPC announced the $1 million grant to provide job placement services for students in high-wage, in-demand careers at an event at the college’s EpiCenter Tuesday. Targeted sectors include information technology, business, finance and professional services. SPC projects the program to serve a minimum of 500 students, focusing on students of color and those with financial hardships.

The grant is part of Bank of America’s (BOA) $1.25 billion, five-year commitment to advancing racial equality and economic opportunity. Dr. Tonjua Williams, president of SPC, said the college is specifically looking for students who are not typically aware of job opportunities in the financial services and professional development industries to enlist in the program.

“I think it’s going to be a major game-changer,” said Williams. “We’ve been focusing on creating an ecosystem for education and workforce, and there’s been a gap of communication and knowledge between what the workforce needs are and how education can prepare the workers for their needs.”

Podcast: Building and Protecting Our Legacy

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We are honored to be interviewing Denotra Showers and Kashmir Parker. These dynamic women will be discussing: Building and Protecting our Legacy through financial planning, home ownership, estate planning, and Real Estate. 

You certainly don’t want to miss this powerful interview promoting generation wealth and legacy building. You will also learn more about how the Urban League is taking it to the next level with its new brand promise: To increase economic value ONE person, family, business, and community at a time.

There are two ways to tune in: 
1) 99.1 FM or 
2) online @ https://www.99jamstheburg.com/

Remembering the historic presidential run of Shirley Chisholm 50 years later

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After insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, destroying anything they could get their hands on, including desecrating a memorial placard of civil rights icon U.S. Congressman John R. Lewis, there was one historic structure that was left unscathed – a portrait of former U.S. Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, the nation’s first woman — and Black woman — from the Democratic Party to run for U.S. president in 1972.

The painting by Kadir Nelson of the late U.S. representative, who was also the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress, portrays a bold and unapologetic Chisholm with her arms folded as she towers over the Capitol building. That illustrious artwork of the former Congresswoman stared down the mostly white insurrectionists as they tried unsuccessfully to overturn the certification of the 2020 presidential election. 

Rev. J.C. Pritchett II becomes first Black president of Tiger Bay

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The Suncoast Tiger Bay Club greets visitors to its website with the words: “Welcome to the Tigers’ Den… [serving] …as a civic commons where thought leaders and citizens of all political stripes come together to discuss the pressing issues of our time.”

Up until very recently, however, those issues failed to include the racially fraught history of St. Petersburg. That changed when, in 2019, some of the realities of living in St. Pete as a Black person versus a Caucasian person were discussed during the Tiger Bay lunch meeting “Race & The Legacy of Racism in the ‘Burg.”

It was a historical conversation, the first time in the group’s history that it focused solely on race in the city. Then-president Elise Minkoff promised it would not be the last, noting that the lunch crowd’s attendance for that event was the largest they had that year.

In 2021, history was made again at the club, when for the first time in its 43 years of existence, it elected a Black person to the office of president. Rev J.C. Pritchett II, pastor of St. Pete’s Faith Church, took the helm after being selected last December and sees his election as yet another sign of St Pete’s changing conversations on equity in the city.

Black Billionaire Robert Smith Emerging As Possible Bidder For Denver Broncos NFL Franchise

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The Denver Broncos NFL franchise is expected to be sold this off-season, and Black billionaire Robert Smithis emerging as a candidate to buy the team.

According to Front Office SportsSmith has emerged as a possible bidder to purchase the Broncos and could become the first Black owner of an NFL franchise. Smith, a 59-year-old entrepreneur who grew up in Denver, is the richest Black person in the US with an estimated net worth of $6.7 billion.

The Broncos were valued at $3.75 billion last year, and their sale is expected to net more than $4 billion, which would make it the most expensive team sale in US sports history.

Smith founded Vista Equity Partners in 2000 and is still its chairman and CEO. Vista currently has $86 billion in assets under wealth management.

According to Denver Gazette Columnist Woody Paigeother potential buyers of the Broncos include Amazon Founder and Chairman Jeff Bezos, former Broncos quarterback and current General Manager John Elway, and former Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, are also in groups trying to buy the team.

Tune In: Teach For The Culture Live Podcast

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Morning Tea Agenda:Outrageous Bills Pushing ForwardPublic School Crisis & School Board Tea!

Teaching for the Culture is a movement to spark positive change within our education system. We amplify the voices of our students, parents, educators, and support staff.

To Tune In Visit https://www.facebook.com/teachingftc/

You can also tune in on Youtube.

St. Pete Ranked 3rd in the U.S. for Cost of Rent Rise in 2021; Flowers Convenes Leaders to Forge Housing Solutions

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According to the Zumper National Rent Report late last year, out of the 100 most populous cities nationwide with the largest rent spikes, St. Petersburg had the third highest jump in rent costs in 2021. 

The city also saw a 27% climb in home sale prices in the year after the onset of the pandemic. The surge caused Forbes magazine to rank St. Petersburg as one of the top five hottest housing markets in the nation. 

That grim reality was a large part of what motivated Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers to convene The Restoring the American Dream Housing Conference, happening February 10-12th.

The event will host local, state, and federal officials along with for-profit and non-profit developers, and community leaders to discuss solutions to the mounting shortage of affordable housing in St. Petersburg and Pinellas County. 

Focused on both the rental and for-sale housing markets, the conference will explore “innovative and alternative” strategies to removing financial barriers, providing creative building solutions, and addressing legislation geared towards solving the housing crisis long term. 

Flowers was pointed about inviting federal officials into the dialogue. The Honorable Alan Williams, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Relations at the U.S Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) will serve as the conference’s keynote speaker. 

Williams is a graduate of Florida A&M University and a former Florida State Representative (2008 to 2016). He chaired the Florida Legislative Black Caucus and worked as House Democratic Whip from 2012 to 2016. 

Williams was appointed to the HUD post by the Biden administration in 2021. He previously served as Coordinated Coalition Strategy Advisor in Florida to Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign. 

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch has also prioritized the pursuit of federal resources to accelerate construction and rehabilitation of more affordable housing stock. He was one of a handful of newly-elected mayors to be invited to the White House last December to discuss housing, among other topics. 

Welch repeatedly cited his priority to secure federal resources to accelerate affordable housing development and preservation at last week’s Economic Equity Policy Dialogue

“As I look around me and drive down 34th Street South, for example, I see hundreds of units of luxury housing going in and only a handful of truly affordable [units] and that imbalance has to be adjusted,” said Mayor Welch. “It’s ‘time out’ for the silos and the old debts and beefs,” Welch said. “We have a city that literally can become unaffordable.” 

Flowers has elevated the need for affordable housing in County Commission meetings and in talks with state officials as well. 

“Since becoming an elected official in 1999, housing has been a critical issue and not just in Pinellas County,” says Flowers. “Housing is one of the areas with a dedicated funding source to aid in providing housing that is affordable and in line with employees’ earnings. However, the state legislature frequently raided the Sadowski Trust Fund and last year, passed legislation that split the Trust in half.” 

Flowers is rallying local leaders to work collectively to forge localized innovations. “We cannot continue to look to Tallahassee for answers. As a community, we must refine the tools we have in our toolkit currently, not be afraid to implement ideas albeit unpopular, and collaborate in a way that bridges any barriers of mistrust. We know what the problems are, this conference is designed to find solutions.” 

The upcoming conference will kick-off with a Meet and Greet for local and national attendees, on the evening of February 10th at the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum (2240 9th Ave South., St. Petersburg). 

Conference breakout sessions and panel discussions will be held on February 11th and 12th at the St. Petersburg College EpiCenter (13805 58th Street North, Clearwater). 

Subject matter experts will moderate the sessions, homing in on topics such as financing affordable and workforce projects, qualifying for home loans, innovative housing programs and projects underway, veterans housing initiatives, and updates on legislative bills affecting housing opportunities. 

Planning program members for the conference are Hillsborough County Commissioner Gwen Myers, St. Petersburg Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders, Gershom Faulkner (representing U.S. Congressman Charlie Crist), Gypsy Gallardo (CEO One Community Plan and Managing Member, the Sankofa Group), Dr. Tonjua Williams (SPC President), Dr. Cynthia Johnson (Director of Pinellas County Economic Development), Ernest Coney (CDC of Tampa Bay), Sean King (Habitat for Humanity Pinellas/Pasco), Joshua Johnson (St. Petersburg Housing Department), Tom DeYampert (Veteran Housing Landlord), Michael Jalazo (People Empowering and Restoring Communities), Cheryl Schroeder (AFL-CIO), and Mark Hunt (Director of Career Technical and Adult Education for Pinellas County Schools). 

Conference sponsors are Duke Energy, St. Petersburg College, Pinellas County Economic Development, Pinellas County Urban League, Habitat for Humanity Pinellas/Pasco, Pinellas Technical College, the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (IMA), and the AFL-CIO. 

Attendees can register to purchase tickets for $75 via Eventbrite. For sponsorship opportunities or additional information, please email [email protected]. Spaces are limited and COVID-19 protocols will be followed. 

Cheryl A. Hickmon, beloved president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., passes away

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Cheryl A. Hickmon, president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, died Thursday morning after battling a recent illness, according to an email obtained by theGrio.

The organization confirmed her death in a tweet.

“It is with great sorrow that Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. shares the passing of our beloved National President and Chair of the National Board of Directors, Cheryl A. Hickmon. President Hickmon transitioned peacefully on January 20, 2022 after a recent illness,” the post read.

Marcia L. Fudge, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and National Past President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. spoke exclusively to theGrio’s White House correspondent and D.C. bureau chief April Ryan about Hickmon’s death.

Is Pinellas County School System Ready for a Black or Hispanic Superintendent?

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-By Dr. Ricardo Davis, DBA (written January 20, 2022)

The query above is not intended to be simply provocative. It is posed to inspire our collective self-reflection. “Are we ready for a Black or Hispanic Superintendent?” The Pinellas County School System should be examining this question.

We should not hire a Black or Hispanic Superintendent because they would represent either group. But because we have hopefully arrived at an inflection point in our history where the right candidate is not just someone with the traditional educational or leadership background, but also happens to be Black or Hispanic.

The search process must intentionally produce candidates and finalists from diverse backgrounds for this to be possible.

In the recent election of a Black Mayor in the City of St. Petersburg, citizens made a historical and transformative decision that we were ready for the change. School Board members will make the Superintendent’s decision, and to these members, I ask, are we ready?

No one believes that employment selection processes are entirely void of elements of subjectivity. After all, we are all human beings with our own biases. However, the decision-makers will be expected to provide the community with a transparent process that reflects integrity and equity.

We still have an achievement gap challenge in Pinellas County Schools. That is not to say we have not made progress; we have. It is also not to suggest that selecting a Black or Hispanic Superintendent will miraculously solve all our challenges. But we know from extensive research that a powerful statement can be made when children from historically underserved communities begin to see themselves reflected in the leadership of our institutions.

The new leader must take us beyond the progress we have demonstrated thus far. This new leader must be a visionary who can see and articulate new horizons for all students, especially Black and Hispanic students. The new Superintendent must be an inspirational leader that others are prepared to follow. The person must be ready to lead a district of approximately 100,000 students, of which about 19% are Black, and another 18% are Hispanic; manage a budget of $1.6B, and approximately 17,000 employees; demonstrate through incremental but continuous progress, improvement in student’s outcome metrics, especially in the Bridging the Gap Plan.

Dr. Grego’s decision to retire provided the district this unique opportunity to select a new Superintendent at this time in the district’s history. The district has never had a Black or Hispanic Superintendent since its inception in 1912. The challenges that persist despite incremental progress will not be resolved quickly. The most qualified applicant does not have to be Black or Hispanic, but he or she most certainly could be, and we as a community should be ready if they are.

About the Writer: Dr. Ricardo Davis is an experienced business executive and entrepreneur with extensive background and expertise in early education program management, business strategy and management in operations, human resources, risk management, finance, facilities, and real estate.  He leads the Concerned Organization for Quality Education of Black and Brown Students (COQEBS) and advocates for foster care children as a Guardian-Ad-Litem in the 6th Judicial Circuit. Learn more about COQEBS at https://digital/usfsp.edu/coqebs.

Everton Blair launches historic campaign for Georgia school superintendent, joining Stacey Abrams on ballot

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Fighting the pandemic inside schools has become all the more complicated as politically-motivated social wars have taken over the nation’s classrooms. What’s more, developing a well-rounded curriculum inclusive of diverse perspectives, has become increasingly rife with accusations of exposing youth to critical race theory with mal-intent. 

These herculean challenges that have become a sign of the times nationwide, including in Georgia where the state’s Board of Education passed a resolution taking aim at critical race theory and some districts have clashed over mask mandates.

Everton Blair, who announced his campaign for Georgia State School Superintendent on Thursday, is hoping to to bring solutions to the Peach State’s largest school system.

In an exclusive interview with theGrio, the chairman of the Gwinnett County School Board said he is up to the task. If elected, Everton would be the first Black, youngest-ever and first openly gay school superintendent in Georgia. 

Black Hollywood pays tribute to Vogue creative director André Leon Talley

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Black Hollywood and the fashion industry at large are taking to social media to mourn the loss of Vogue‘s former creative director and icon himself, André Leon Talley.

Talley’s impact in the fashion industry is truly unparalleled, as he managed to break boundaries in a glaringly white arena. Talley was creative director of Vogue magazine from 1987 to 1995, working alongside Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour. He would go on to help dress First Lady Michelle Obama, mentor Naomi Campbell, and more.

When speaking of Talley while confirming his passing, Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation, said, “André Leon Talley was a singular force in an industry that he had to fight to be recognized in,” per The New York Times. Talley passed away at 73 years old “after a series of health struggles.”

Whoopi Goldberg, who was a good friend of Talley’s, took to Twitter with a tribute for the late fashion icon. She wrote, “…Just in time for the front line at fashion week in Heaven, Mrs Vreeland,Coco Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld ..and now Andre Leon Talley. R.I.P. Unforgettable in every way…”

Commissioner Rene Flowers hosts affordable housing conference

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Join Commissioner Rene Flowers, local, state, and federal officials Feb. 10-12 as they seek input from the community while presenting proposed solutions to the issues surrounding homeownership, rentals, leasing, and stock availability.

PINELLAS COUNTY – Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers, along with several other community leaders, will host a three-day conference focused on sharing information and forming solutions relative to the housing crisis in Pinellas County Feb. 10-12.

The Honorable Alan Williams, assistant deputy secretary to the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Developmentwill serve as the keynote speaker. A meet and greet is scheduled for Feb. 10 at the Dr. Carter G Woodson African American Museum, 2240 9th Ave. S, St. Petersburg, followed by two days of information sharing at the SPCEpi Center, 13805 58th St. N, Clearwater.

Breakout sessions and panel discussions will focus on financing affordable and workforce projects, qualifying for home loans, innovative housing programs and projects, veterans housing initiatives, and an update on legislative bills affecting housing opportunities.

Planning program members:

  • Commissioner Gwen Myers
  • Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders
  • Gershom Faulkner, representing Congressman Crist
  • Gypsy Gallardo, CEO One Community Plan & managing member, Sankofa
  • Group
  • Tonjua Williams, SPC President
  • Cynthia Johnson, director, Pinellas County Economic Development Department
  • Ernest Coney, CDC of Tampa Bay
  • Sean King, Habitat for Humanity Pinellas/Pasco)
  • Joshua Johnson, St. Petersburg Housing Department
  • Tom DeYampert, Veteran Housing Landlord
  • Mike Jalazzo, PERC
  • Cheryl Schroeder, AFL-CIO
  • Mark Hunt, director, Career Technical and Adult Education

Click here to register and purchase individual tickets for $75.

Spaces are limited, and COVID-19 Protocols will be followed. For sponsorship opportunities, please email [email protected].

Brief: 8 Takeaways from Last Week’s Economic Equity Policy Dialogue with Newly-Elected Mayor Ken Welch

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As we conclude our annual MLK Day festivities, it’s a fitting time to recall the title and theme of Dr. Martin Luther King’s penultimate book before his assassination in 1968. The book was titled “Where do we go from here: Chaos or Community?”

In it, Dr. King emphasized many of the same themes as St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch did last week, during a 1.5-hour Economic Equity Policy Dialogue with 125 diverse equity practitioners (held January 11, 2022).

Welch is the first mayor of St. Pete to stake a “day one” priority on equity in development and business opportunity. He spoke at length about what that means during the Zoom gathering of 140 diverse practitioners and entrepreneurs.

“Straight, no chaser,” was the tone of the mayor’s remarks. In characteristically measured voice, Mayor Welch set a standard for historic commitment to “equity in all.”page1image224220256

Barack Obama pens first op-ed since leaving White House on voting rights

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Barack Obama is openly supporting his former vice-president, President Joe Biden, when it comes to voting rights. He recently released an op-ed, his first since leaving the White House in 2017, that offered his take on the recent controversy on the continued attempts to disenfranchise Black and brown voters. 

Biden said in a speech recently that he’s open to changing Senate filibuster rules to advance voting rights legislation that has stalled, per a CNN report. Both the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Actand the Freedom to Vote Act have yet to be passed, despite support from congresspeople and voting rights activists.

Democrats don’t have the votes to pass either bill unless current filibuster rules are changed to allow for less than 60 votes to end debate on legislation.

Welch to revisit plans to redevelop Tropicana Field with focus on affordable housing

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Newly-elected St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch is viewing the city’s future through an equity lens, and wants to make affordable housing a key priority for the 86-acre redevelopment of Tropicana Field. 

“I’ve been engaged in this whole process to the selection of the master developer … I really think the Kriseman administration did a great job in developing the RFP, it focused on those 21 points and equity was quo to that,” Welch said during a virtual discussion on equity Tuesday. 

He noted how equity was a vital component in the RFP as it included necessary principles from hiring minorities to work on the development, to how the development will pay tribute to the historical Gas Plant neighborhood that once stood on the site.

Previous mayor Rick Kriseman ultimately narrowed down the list of potential developers to two, Midtown and Sugar Hill. In December, Kriseman announced he had selected the Midtown Development team as the master developer. 

“I want to push harder on the master developer that I select to make sure they make a significant investment in the community,” Welch said. “You’re talking about billions of dollars over the decades that will come through there. I’m not looking for a symbolic notion toward checking a box for equity. I want something to be built in, substantial and generational as well.” 

Localtopia will return to St. Petersburg with more than 300 vendors

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Organizers of the small-business shopping festival known as Localtopia said they are “definitely proceeding” with this year’s celebration in Williams Park in St. Petersburg. They have lined up a record number of vendors.

In addition to more than 300 local makers, food trucks, artists, crafts, clothing vendors, beauty suppliers and breweries on display, four city blocks will be closed to cars for more tables and a second stage for live music. It will take place Feb. 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“In many ways, this past year was harder for our local businesses than the first year of the pandemic,” said Olga Bof, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Keep Saint Petersburg Local business alliance. “They’ve struggled with labor shortages, supply chain issues, inflation, rent increases … not to mention fatigue from having experienced nearly two years of life under COVID.”

St. Petersburg dad using personal tragedy to stem gun violence

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A St. Petersburg father is on a mission to persuade teens to turn away from gun violence after his son was shot and killed. 

“Every time a tragedy happens in St. Petersburg, in particularly south St. Petersburg, I hear about it,” MYcroSchool Pinellas Principal Steven Humphries said.

Principal Humphries told ABC Action News gun violence has hit way too close to home. Two former students were shot and killed. He said that bad news takes a toll on the students, like Anthony Newton.

“It just hurts you emotionally and physically,” Newton said.

On Friday, Maress Scott showed up to show them they’re not alone.

“Every time I tell my son’s story, I’m filled with the emotion and the trauma of that experience,” Scott said.

On September 17, 2019, Marquis Scott was gunned down. It happened shortly after he had dinner with his dad. Now, Scott leads a non-profit named for his son called, “Quis For Life.”

“Training a whole new group of kids with a culture of a sense to stand against gun violence and adopt a non-violent lifestyle is the completion of this whole movement,” Scott said.

Local activists protest police shooting of St. Petersburg teen

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Standing in front of the St. Petersburg Police Department Friday, Christopher Tonsel’s mother teared up as she told reporters about her son’s condition.

Once weighing 170 pounds, the 17-year-old is now at about 130 pounds. Catherine Jones said her son is not able to keep food down and has panic attacks. He has suffered lung, pancreas and liver damage, she said, and he is being held in a jail cell for 23 hours a day.

On Oct. 20, St. Petersburg K9 Officer Leighton Williams shot Tonsel in the abdomen and left ribcage during a police pursuit after authorities say the teenager fled the scene of a domestic dispute.

“He was terrified,” Jones said.

“When did you fear for your life?” she said of the officer. “And why do you feel that it was all right to shoot my son?”

Tonsel is being charged as an adult with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, carrying a concealed firearm and being a minor in possession of a firearm. He also was arrested on juvenile charges of burglary and grand theft motor vehicle, according to a report issued Wednesday from a task force that investigated the shooting and cleared the officer.

Tonsel’s family, along with members of local social justice organizations the Party for Socialism and Liberation and St. Pete Cop Watch, gathered Friday outside the police department to protest the shooting, drawing a crowd of about 40 people. Activists called for Williams to be fired and arrested, and for authorities to drop Tonsel’s charges.

One Community Presents: Learn How To Do Business With BayCare

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Please join One Community & Inclusive St. Pete for this opportunity to build relationship and learn how to do business with buyers at Baycare Health Systems (owner of 15 hospitals including St. Anthony’s and Morton Plant Mease). BayCare is currently working to build its supply chain of vendors for several specialized services (listed on this flyer). This January 13th convening is ideal for minority-owned firms in offer the goods and services listed, and for other diverse firms interested in future opportunities with BayCare. Click here to register for this Zoom meeting. 

FMI: April Harley, Co-Chair, One Community’s Inclusive St. Pete Initiative, 727-642-8259 or Latifa Jackson, One Community Business Programs Director, (727) 826-7924.

St. Pete’s First Black Mayor, Ken Welch, Sworn In Virtually

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Ken Welch became the city of St. Petersburg’s 54th mayor and first Black mayor after being sworn-in virtually Thursday. 

Following his swearing-in, he listed his top priorities to focus on during his four-year 
term:

  • Housing Affordability-“The issue of housing demands a higher level of focus,” Welch said. “For example, St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay area experienced a 24 percent increase in apartment rental costs last year–the highest rate of increase in the nation. And we also have one of the highest ratio of corporate purchases of housing stock in the nation.” His goal is to preserve and create housing that is affordable. 
  • City environmental policy mitigates the impacts of sea level rise and climate change. 
  • Help small businesses stay afloat.
  • Encourage minority businesses.
  • Create leadership positions for minorities.
  • Commitment to the arts–”level of funding to the arts that lives up to the name, ‘City of Arts’.”
  • COVID-19 safety. 

Welch had positive COVID-19 results Monday, so the ceremony switched to virtual instead of a public ceremony held on the steps of city hall as past mayoral inauguration days. His daughter, Kenya Welch, held the bible for her dad as he was sworn in since she, too, has tested positive for COVID-19. 

He said he is feeling better, and he plans to work from city hall Monday.

Read: Full Text, Inaugural Address of Mayor Ken Welch, 54th Mayor of the City of St. Petersburg, Florida

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Above: Kenneth T. Welch (right) takes his oath of office as the 54th Mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida; he is sworn in by Judge Michael Andrews (left), with a Bible held by Welch’s youngest daughter, Kenya. Courtesy of City of St. Petersburg

The Full Text of Mayor Welch’s Inaugural Address, January 6, 2022

Greetings – to the citizens of St Petersburg, Elected officials, friends and family, to the community partners, and the dedicated employees of our city – it is my distinct honor to address you today – although under unique circumstances –  as the 54th Mayor of the city of St Petersburg. I want to thank everyone who has reached out with words of support – I am recovering, and my symptoms remain mild. 

This is a significant moment for many reasons. 

It represents  the breaking of another barrier. As a child of the civil rights era, I grew up in the areas of our city where my family lived not by choice, but by sanctioned discriminatory practices that defined where African Americans could live in our city. As a kindergarten and 1st grade student, I attended the last segregated classes at Melrose Elementary. But during the Great American Teach in November, I returned to Melrose and spoke to students in the classrooms of two great teachers Delia Michelle Doss and Natalie El Amrani. I spoke to those wonderful and engaging students (who reminded me of me) as Mayor Elect of our city! I know that some of the Melrose students are watching today – so I’d like to give a shout out to the Manatees. Yall keep up the good work – we’re proud of you. 

So yes, this election is historic. But our goal is not to simply make history – rather we must work together to make a difference, to make an impact for this generation, and for generations to come. Our collective vision will define what progress looks like for our entire city.

Today we embrace the people’s desire for a community where every person is valued, every idea is considered based on its merits, and where a common vision is forged, based upon progress that is inclusive, innovative, informed, intentional and in touch with all.

The opportunities, and the challenges before us are substantial and require immediate focus. Resolving these issues will require straightforward dialogue, collaboration, and a sense of urgency – and I intend to lead us intentionally through this process, drawing from the City’s amazing network of entrepreneurs, visionaries, educators & business & cultural leaders.  Coupled with the abundance of state-of-the art technology and innovation available in our burgeoning Innovation District, we will not only meet these challenges, but will be positioned to maximize these opportunities for the benefit of our entire city, for generations to come.

Toward that end, I will be announcing a number of key appointments to help position our administration for an aggressive posture on these emerging issues. 

The first of these is the appointment of  Stephanie Owens as Deputy Mayor and Chief of Policy, and Tom Greene as the interim City Administrator. They bring significant  experience in strategic policy development, finance, operations and service delivery, and will drive my Opportunity Agenda model for St. Petersburg. 

In the coming days I will announce additional appointments and organizational changes to address continuity of operations, emerging issues, and to maximize our effectiveness, efficiency and customer focus. 

The issue of housing demands a higher level of focus, urgency and innovation. St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay area  experienced a 24% increase in apartment rental costs last year – the highest rate of increase in the nation, and we also have among the highest ratio of corporate purchases of housing stock in the nation. Based on the importance of this issue and the rapidly emerging challenge of housing affordability – I am creating a high-level position – the  Assistant Administrator for Strategic Initiatives, whose first area of focus will be the preservation and development of affordable and workforce housing. I am appointing former Neighborhood Affairs Administrator Rob Gerdes to this role – his record of collaboration, cross-functional project management, policy development and community engagement will serve us well in this important work. 

More initiatives and organizational changes will follow, including Business Process Improvement, and the implementation of an effective Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program. We will move intentionally on minority contracting and supplier diversity, in response to the results of the disparity study and the findings of the structural racism report. We will also incorporate the feedback from our Community Conversations, held last month, with nearly 500 residents and stakeholders participating over 3 days. 

A key part of improving our City Services is listening to the people who do the work.  To the more than 3200 employees of the City of St. Petersburg, I want you to know that you are valued. It is my goal to provide you with the tools you need to set the standard for public service among city governments. And we will also listen to your recommendations for improving our operations, efficiency and customer satisfaction. 

Let me be clear in stating that we have a great city, but we can be greater. And one of the reasons that we are well positioned is because of the visionary work of our 53rd Mayor, my friend, Mayor Rick Kriseman  

Thank you Mayor Kriseman, for your leadership, for your focus on equity, inclusion, community and economic development, and for your strong leadership during the unprecedented challenge of the COVID pandemic. 

Our City has become an incubator for new business and technology start-ups; a pioneer in innovative problem solving; a leader in creativity and cultural growth; a hub for medical and marine science research and discovery, and a thriving example of the live, work, play and retire lifestyle.

You have positioned our city for even greater progress – I want to thank you and first-lady Kerry for your leadership of our city.

I also want to thank our council members, who are key partners in the leadership of our city. To Chair Gina Driscoll, and all the members of council, thank you for your leadership, and for the spirit of collaboration that has fueled our individual discussions. Our city’s success depends on us working together in a spirit of respect and collaboration – and I’m confident that we’ll do just that. 

I’m excited to work again with our friends on the County Commission, including St. Pete’s own – Commissioner Rene Flowers, and incoming Chair Charlie Justice. The City’s relationship with our County Commission is vitally important, and greatly valued.

Pinellas County provided funding for the Pier and the new Police HQ, tourist tax dollars to support our cultural institutions, partner in the SSCRA, and continue to work closely with the city in our science-based response to the Covid pandemic. 

As a step toward building a stronger working relationship, I have asked County Commission Chair Justice and City Council Chair Driscoll for a joint meeting of the County Commission, the City Council and the Mayors office to discuss items of mutual interest, including our partnership with the Tampa Bay Rays. They have accepted, and I’m looking forward to this meeting with our partners. 

I’d also like to thank our congressional and state legislative leaders for your support and partnership, from the federal American Rescue Plan and Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, to state partnership on the Gateway Express, the Sunrunner Bus Rapid Transit – the first BRT in Tampa Bay, and the impactful decision to bring the new courthouse for the 2nd District Court of Appeal to St. Petersburg. When we can work together for these kinds of impactful initiatives – the positive impact on  jobs, and quality of life for our community is substantial. 

Finally, I’d like to recognize our business community, including the Arts community, for your investment in St. Pete. Your voice matters, and I look forward to working with you to support a culture and environment where business and the arts thrive. 

We were blessed during my campaign and this inauguration to feature the work of many of our local artists, including IBOMS (Jabari Reed), Chad Mizen, and Leo Gomez. The Arts is a vital part of our culture and economy, and I remain committed to supporting the Arts – moving with purpose to support the planned expansion of the Woodson African American History museum, and to advocate for an adequate and consistent level of funding support for the Arts  – a level of support that lives up to the the moniker of “City of Arts”. 

Finally, I’d like to speak to Who We Are in St. Pete. 

Last week we celebrated Kwanzaa. Umoja, The First principle of Kwanza is reflected in the African proverb, “I AM because WE ARE.”

  • I FOR EXAMPLE am a child of the Gas Plant, where Tropicana Field now stands
  • I am a product of the last segregated schools in Pinellas County,  and the first truly integrated schools;
  • I am the son of Dr. David T. Welch, who served 12 years  as a council member, and my mother Alletha, our queen, a pillar of wisdom, love and quiet strength (Love ya Ma)
  • I am husband to Donna, father to Keonna and Kenya, and our new and rowdy family member, Sunni the rescue pup :D. And I have a huge and loving human family, including my sister Katrina (thanks for the wonderful song sis) my nieces Keina and Andresa, my nephew Tre and nephew, and many family members who are watching virtually today,
  • I am a lover of Harleys, Prince, football, and music – and I play guitar every Sunday that I can at Friendship MBC. 
  • That is just some of MY story. And everyone viewing this address today, and throughout St. Pete, has your own story that is just as important and personal. Your own perspective and lived experiences. It is important that we look at our diversity not as something that divides us, but rather – it can be our greatest strength. 

When we listen to each other, and work to truly understand our viewpoints, we grow stronger collectively by building on our individual knowledge and strengths. When we do that, we will move past silos, prejudices and petty politics, and we will be able to build an inclusive path forward. The conversations may not be comfortable, or easy. But as we demonstrated at our community conversations last month – it can be done, in fact, it must be done because WE ARE in this together.

  • We Are the young person searching for an apartment that doesn’t consume half their salary. 
  • We Are the Senior looking for security in their retirement, as the cost of living continues to increase. 
  • We are the small business owner struggling to keep the family business open in the 2nd year of a global pandemic…..
  • We are the young people who attended our youth summit in June, and spoke to the mental trauma of living with the epidemic of senseless gun violence which plagues  some of our neighborhoods. 
  • We are the LGBTQ student looking for acceptance instead of hostility and prejudice. 
  • We are the sons and daughters of the Deuces and the Gas Plant still waiting for the promises of equitable economic development made more than 3 decades ago. 
  • We are those hard working citizens who want their neighborhoods to be safe and healthy places to raise their families – not race tracks or firing ranges or dumping grounds for litter
  • We are a community that must make responsible decisions on infrastructure, environmental policy and resiliency – to mitigate impacts and adapt to the reality of sea level rise and climate change. 

We Are all of those things and more. The power of our partnership is in our collective capacity for progress. And working together, we will move our city forward, every day. 

We Are St. Pete, and as my father would say – it’s time to get to work…

May God Bless You and May God Bless the City of St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg mayor-elect Ken Welch has COVID-19. His inauguration will be virtual

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Three days before his historic inauguration, Mayor-elect Ken Welch has tested positive for COVID-19.

A grand ceremony was planned for St. Petersburg’s first Black mayor on the steps of City Hall on Thursday. Instead, Welch, who will be the city’s 54th mayor, will be sworn in from his Lakewood Estates home and will give a short speech in a virtual ceremony. A reception was postponed.

Welch tested positive Monday morning using a home kit. A second PCR test later in the day confirmed the result. He was fully vaccinated and received a booster shot in November.

On Thursday, Welch told a Tampa Bay Times reporter and photographer to keep their distance during an in-person interview because he was “coming down with something.” A spokesman said Welch took a COVID-19 test on Friday and the result was negative.

This is the second time Welch has contracted the virus. He tested positive with mild symptoms in September. Preston Rudie, his spokesperson, said Welch’s symptoms are “not serious” and he will still take virtual meetings.

In a statement, Welch said he wanted his diagnosis to serve as a reminder to get vaccinated and follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

Louisiana judge resigns and apologizes following video with racial slurs

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A Lafayette, Louisiana, city court judge resigned Friday over a video that surfaced earlier this month showing people using racist language at her home.

Michelle Odinet apologized and took a leave of absence after the video became public. It showed surveillance footage being played on a television at her house of an outdoor altercation with a burglary suspect. 

As the unseen spectators watch the video, they comment on the footage while repeatedly using a racial slur, CNN has reported. 

“I take full responsibility for the hurtful words I used to describe the individual who burglarized the vehicles at my home,” Odinet wrote in her resignation letter to Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John Weimer.

“After much reflection and prayer, and in order to facilitate healing within the community, I hereby resign as judge of the Lafayette City Court effective immediately,” she wrote. 

Her departure comes after New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams said last week he ordered his civil rights division to review all cases prosecuted by Odinet, who once served as an assistant district attorney in Louisiana’s most populous city.

Michigan Entrepreneur Set To Open First Black-Owned Television & Movie Studio In The State

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A Michigan entrepreneur is set to open the first Black-owned television and movie studio in the state,MLIVE.com reports.

Amaru is a standup comedian and director who credits his inspiration for entrepreneurship to the COVID-19 pandemic and the murder of George Floyd.

He recalled the moment he got the idea, saying he was thinking, “How can I bring back my job and [bring] others some jobs? Hope was the number one thing that came up and doing away with the despair that’s happening around, especially with our youth.”

That’s when he came up with the idea for the Greenwood District Studios, a new complex housed in the old Lansing Mall Cinema, which closed in 2014. Amaru says the 27,000 sq. ft. lot is perfect for the film and audio production process, giving space to cover everything from pre to post-production.

“We lucked up and got one building to do everything we want to do,” he said.

Now, construction is underway, Amaru and his small team revitalizing the abandoned building, cleaning up debris, and replacing the old tattered and cut cinema screens. Michael Nathan, a producer, and director whose part of the team, said that while the work is challenging, it’s worth it.

“Good things take time, and if you’re willing to sacrifice and work for it, it’ll happen no matter what,” said Nathan.

Howard University delays spring semester start date due to spike in COVID-19 cases

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Administrators at Howard University have postponed the start of the school’s spring semester due to a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases on campus and in the surrounding community.

The Washington D.C.-based HBCU announced Monday that in-person classes for undergraduate and graduate students will begin on Jan. 18 instead of Jan. 3.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Washington D.C. has skyrocketed 987% over the last two weeks, according to NBC Washington.

“We are continuing to monitor the surge in COVID-19 cases locally and throughout the region,” Howard’s Provost & Chief Academic Officer Anthony K. Wutoh said in a statement on Monday.

Tampa Bay residents line up at public sites for free COVID tests without appointments

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Looking for a free, same-day COVID-19 test in Tampa Bay this week? Get in line.

At Hillsborough County’s sole government-run testing site, the queue has often circled the building in the days after Christmas, with some people reporting waiting more than an hour to get through. That site at the West Tampa Community Resource Center tested 2,394 people on Dec. 26. That is up from 1,059 tests on Dec. 20, and is more than five times what was about 400 tests daily in November.

In Pinellas County, the testing site at the Center for Health Equity in St. Petersburg had a wait of around 90 minutes on Monday afternoon, as a dozen masked people waited outside and about 100 more stood inside. One man brought his own folding chair. Results from rapid tests there arrived within an hour, as promised. More accurate PCR test results came within two days.

Waveney Ann Moore: Kwanzaa in St. Pete, the community celebrates Black culture

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Carla Bristol didn’t grow up with Kwanzaa, the annual celebration of Black culture and values that got its start in the era of the Civil Rights movement and surge in Black pride and identity.

But for the past eight years, Bristol has made it her mission to host first-day events focusing on unity to mark the festival that begins Dec. 26 and ends New Year’s Day.

For the Guyanese-born artist and owner of Gallerie 909, which showcases art from the African diaspora, her commitment to the annual observation that’s rooted in the first fruit celebrations of Africa was a natural pursuit. She’s also the passionate leader of the St. Pete Youth Farm, a program for high schoolers in a predominantly African-American area where residents subsist without a supermarket.

This year, Bristol’s Gallerie 909 and the St. Pete Youth Farm will help kick off a series of programs that celebrate Black culture, families and community. Kwanzaa at the Farm is one of several St. Petersburg events planned at sites that include churches, a mosque and Tropicana Field. For the first time, Bristol is responsible for coordinating the calendar of local Kwanzaa events, accessible on Facebook at Kwanzaastpete.

Waveney Ann Moore: The gift of being unbothered

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It’s almost that time of year when we’ll be inundated with commercials urging us to sign up for diet programs and gym memberships – or better yet, invest in an expensive exercise machine that likely will become a clothes horse in months to come.

It’s all about tapping into our yearning for new beginnings.

I thought of fresh starts recently when I read two new motivational books by St. Petersburg resident Karen Davis-Pritchett. She was in the second grade when she wrote her first book and stapled the pages together.

In adulthood, the healthcare executive and former English teacher has focused her muse on a pair of books that honor “the remarkable strength and beauty of women.”

They couldn’t have appeared at a more appropriate time.

As holidays approach – and it’s not limited to just then — many of us rush around taking on more than can conceivably be accomplished. Davis-Pritchett’s books offer fuel for the tasks at hand, along with reassurance and lessons to tame our futile and often ridiculous quest for perfection.

It occurred to me as I read her books, Strong and Beautiful, and CrossRoads, that they’re just the sort of inspiration needed to start the new year. Strong and Beautiful is fortified with affirmations and includes space for readers to record reflections. In it, Davis-Pritchett shares her grief after the loss of her baby daughter, Lauren, who lived for only a few hours. She writes frankly about how she initially attempted to cope.

Her collection of short stories in CrossRoads serves up tales of choices and lessons learned amid challenges such as breast cancer and destitution. I asked her about these short stories – a format purposely chosen to respect busy lives – and she said they are meant to draw readers into identifying with an aspect of a character’s life and choices, even without having had similar experiences themselves.

Leadership St. Pete Class of 2022 introduced

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The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the 39 members of its 2022 Leadership St. Pete class. Created to identify, recruit and develop leaders who represent the diversity of the community, and who will assume future leadership roles in the chamber and other community organizations, Leadership St. Pete is an immersive program providing an in-depth introduction to social, economic, business and political issues in the St. Petersburg area.

The city’s 53-year-old program is one of the oldest in the country. The future leaders are chosen by a 35-member, volunteer Planning Committee.

“This group of 39 business and community leaders is committed to the continued success of our city,” Class Chair Lindsay Petty said of the new recruits. “They will spend the next seven months learning about St. Pete’s history and the challenges and opportunities we face. Through LSP, class members will deepen their commitment to and relationships within our community – keeping St. Pete a great place to live, work, play and visit for years to come.”

The class’ Opening Retreat takes place Jan. 7 and 8 at Innisbrook Golf Resort, followed by 11 educational seminars and three additional leadership retreats. The class will also engage in a civic-engagement, physical facility improvement project through the duration of their LSP experience.

For the Class of 2021, the “Legacy Project” was the renovation of WestCare’s nonprofit Mustard Seed Inn.

Keechant Sewell will make history as first woman to serve as NYPD commissioner

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Keechant Sewell will become the next New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner, Mayor-elect Eric Adams announced on Tuesday — and she’ll be making history in the process.

Sewell, currently the Nassau County Chief of Detectives, will be the city’s first woman (and first Black woman) to lead the nation’s largest police force with more than 52,000 members.

Adams, who will be sworn in as NYC mayor on Jan. 1, told the New York Post that selecting Sewell, 49, to be the city’s top cop was his “gut choice.” The former NYPD captain has reportedly favored Sewell as his pick for NYPD commissioner for months when the search began.

Jai Hinson’s decades of staying power: ‘The Family Blessing’ plays Dec. 19

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Jai Hinson’s nonprofit, Artz for Life, Inc., has brought arts training, live performance, and high-energy afterschool programming for more than 30 years.

Hinson’s dancers and drummers have also brought dance classes and performances to programs in St. Pete, recreation centers, and of course, the annual performance of “The Family Blessing.” Once again, audiences are about to be thrilled on Dec. 19 at the Mahaffey Theater.

While Hinson acknowledges that the arts are often at the bottom of people’s lists when they consider where to share their charity dollars, she can testify to the difference Artz for Life has made in the lives of her students over the decades.

Many of her students have gone on to travel and perform internationally and make it to Broadway. This includes Sir Brock Warren, who spent weeks prepping students for the Artz for Life’s end of summer presentation before beginning rehearsals for “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg: The Life and Times of the Temptations,” which he’s now performing in on Broadway.

Warren started studying with Hinson at the age of 8 and soon began traveling with her West African Dance troupe, the Dundu Dole Urban African Ballet.

Rev. Watson Haynes II honored with key to the city

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Mayor Rick Kriseman presented longtime city leader Rev. Watson Haynes II with a key to the city last Thursday during the Dec. 2 city council meeting. This honor has been a long time coming, given his many contributions to the political, business, and social arenas for more than 50 years.

“Now, whether through the Urban League or simply on his own, I’m hard-pressed to think of an area of our city where the voice and the work of Watson Haynes has not been heard and felt,” said Mayor Kriseman.

Haynes grew up in the Gas Plant neighborhood and went on to become the first African American elected as senior class president at St. Pete High. He earned degrees in managerial leadership, public administration, and theology. He is an alumnus of both Eckerd College and St. Petersburg College.

Mayor-elect Ken Welch names transition director and transition co-chairs

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Mayor-elect Ken Welch announced on Tuesday his transition director and key leaders of his transition team. These qualified individuals will closely advise on efforts to ensure his incoming administration is filled with top talent and well-prepared to lead the city when he takes office in January.

Stephanie Owens, who served as Welch’s campaign manager, was announced as the director of the transition team.

“We are working tirelessly to ensure the seamless continuity of operations, building a strong network of advisors, and collecting critical information that enables the mayor-elect to make key strategic policy and budgetary decisions,” said Owens. “It is my primary goal to make sure the mayor-elect and his senior advisors have the information they need to handle any opportunity or crisis on day one.”

Owens has more than 20 years of public service. She served as an appointee of both President Barack Obama and President Bill Clinton, holding senior positions in the White House, Departments of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Owens is a St. Petersburg Housing Authority commissioner and principle of Dolphin Strategies, LLC in St. Petersburg.

The transition co-chairs include:

  • Trevor Burgess, President & CEO of Neptune Flood Insurance
  • Ric Davis, business executive, leader of Concerned Organization for Quality Education of Black Students (COQEBS)
  • Leon Jackson, Member of Courageous 12
  • Will Packer, Founder and CEO of Will Packer Media
  • Melissa Seixas, President Duke Energy Florida
  • Lorna Taylor, President and CEO of Premier Eye Care
  • Troy Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Beverages Florida
  • Tonjua Williams, St. Petersburg College President

Cynthia Johnson, director of Pinellas County Economic Development, will serve the transition team as an Economic Development Advisor.

“These are accomplished leaders who have been successful in the private sector, in the public sector, and in their civic endeavors, and they have significantly contributed to our community,” Welch said. “I deeply appreciate their willingness to help me assemble a great team and ensure we are ready to hit the ground running when I take office.”

Lorna Taylor leads Premier Eye Care, one of the 75 largest privately-owned companies in Florida. She is involved in a variety of community and nonprofit causes, and has board positions with The Dali Museum, Tampa Bay Business for Culture & the Arts, Preserve Vision Florida, and The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg.

“Ken ran a forward-looking campaign, and he will be a great mayor,” Lorna Taylor said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to help him lay the groundwork for a fast start and to help build a diverse, thoughtful team to bring with him to City Hall.”

Troy Taylor leads the third-largest privately held and sixth-largest independent bottler of Coca-Cola products in the nation. It’s also one of America’s largest Black-owned businesses. Troy is a former board member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta/Jacksonville Branch and was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in Florida for the consumer products category in 2018.

Record numbers of Americans quit jobs. Here’s how Tampa Bay locals did it.

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A record 4.4 million people quit U.S.-based jobs in September, breaking the previous record set just a month earlier when 4.3 million quit in what has been dubbed The Great Resignation.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is set to release numbers for October on Wednesday.

That record-breaking September saw 279,000 Floridians quit, at a rate slightly higher than the U.S. average. Some had another job lined up. Some did not. Some said they were pushed by working conditions created by the pandemic and were buoyed by federal stimulus money and other relief.

The Times spoke with six Tampa Bay residents to learn how they quit.

Justice for Arbery: White privilege in Deep South wasn’t enough to save McMichaels and Bryan

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It sure felt like a lynching. There was no noose but those three White men chased Ahmaud Arbery, a jogger who had done nothing, and they cornered him — I feel anxiety just writing that phrase — and even though he was unarmed, they shot and killed him. They lynched him and I want to cry when I think about how terrified and traumatized Arbery must have been in his last moments, his jog turning into running for his life.

Before we can say that in this case the justice system did its job we must note that the justice system tried to avoid doing its job. When this case first came to the prosecutor’s attention they did nothing. They aided in the coverup. It’s only after video of Arbery’s murder was leaked that the justice system was forced to act. And was forced to confront a set of facts so damning that even White privilege in the Deep South wasn’t enough to save these three. Imagine that.

Waveney Ann Moore: Virtual tours of St. Pete’s African American Heritage Trail

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In a couple of weeks, former residents of St. Petersburg’s Laurel Park and Gas Plant communities will gather to reminisce about their lives in the now vanished African-American neighborhoods.

While their homes, churches and businesses were demolished and the land on which they stood forfeited for the city’s now disparaged baseball stadium, memories live on in the stories former residents will share in a Tropicana Field parking lot Dec. 12.

The African American Heritage Association of St. Petersburg has made it its mission to capture and memorialize the rich history of the city’s Black residents, with or without the structures in which they once lived, did business, worshipped or were entertained.

Just a few short years ago, in 2014, the association launched the African American Heritage Trail, which traces the history of St. Petersburg’s Black citizens over a 100-year period, beginning with the city’s first Black resident through the end of segregation.

Check Out Monique Muhammad’s Story

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Monique Muhammad. Them and their team share their story with us below:

Hi Monique, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

“I always thought I was unique..as far as anything food was concerned.. I had strong attention to detail when it came to cooking and plating dishes” says Chef Monique L Muhammad, chef/ entrepreneur of Duality Vegan Cafe and Former Chef de Cuisine Ivy Kitchen and Cocktails Detroit, Michigan.

Chef Monique at the age five, found a love for cooking, through her Creole heritage by way of her maternal grandparents(Robert and Mary Comeaux) lovingly called Paw Paw (Deceased 08/2020 )and Maw Maw.(Deceased 09/2017)

The pandemic strained mental health for Black Americans. It’s also amplifying calls for change

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Vickye, 52, has Lupus, so like many people at risk for severe COVID-19, the St. Petersburg resident spent most of last year at home. She avoided getting sick, but quarantining took a toll in ways she said she couldn’t have imagined.

“You were trapped with yourself, you couldn’t go anywhere, so you had to face yourself and face your demons and whoever you were trapped with their demons too,” she said.

Vickye was trapped with an abusive wife, which is why we’re not using her last name. Verbal assaults turned physical, until this past February, when Vickye said her now ex-wife shot her six times for threatening to leave.

Vickye has recovered physically for the most part and the case is working its way through the Pinellas County court system. But her emotional wounds are taking longer to heal.

Entrepreneur finds success at St. Pete Pier, expands into local malls

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Keisha Long-Watson took a gamble of exiting the corporate world to pursue her passion for designing clothes, and was one of the first tenants to join the St. Pete Pier Marketplace. 

“I initially moved into the Marketplace in July 2019. It was when we were in the middle of the pandemic – but that was when I hit my peak time,” said Long-Watson, owner of InSparkle Me Bling Apparel. 

Long-Watson provides custom rhinestone apparel for women, clothing she describes as having “inspirational and empowering” meaning.  

She started her business in 2016 after leaving her full-time corporate job. While she expected to primarily sell her T-shirts at the St. Pete Pier Marketplace, Covid-era buying behavior shifted – and became a blessing in disguise. 

“In the middle of the pandemic, business started to be slow, and then boom it was crazy because I started selling masks that I would bling. I never had any intention of selling masks, but it kept my business afloat at that time,” Long-Watson said. “I had an entire wall of masks. I had moved from my tent to my own stall and it allowed me to carry my product.” 

An activist radio host has put his life on the line for voting rights. Biden, it’s your move

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Legendary Black radio host Joe Madison is two weeks into a hunger strike that could become a risk to his health. Madison, 72, is doing it for one reason: To pressure President Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress to pass voting rights legislation as the GOP actively works to restrict ballot access.

As Madison told CNN’s Don Lemon on Friday, “Just as food is essential for the existence of life, voting is essential for the existence of democracy.”

Madison, a civil rights activist turned SiriusXM radio host who was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2019, is so committed to the cause he is willing to put his life on the line. When I spoke to Madison on my own radio show a few days into his hunger strike, he shared that his wife asked him, “Are you telling me that you are willing to die for this cause?” He said he looked at her and responded with one word: “Yes.” Madison then added passionately, “This is the new civil rights movement.”

Two men convicted of killing Malcolm X to be exonerated

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Two men convicted of the 1965 assassination of Malcolm X are to be exonerated after more than half a century, according to their lawyers.

A 22-month investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance’s Office and lawyers for the men — Muhammad A. Aziz and the late Khalil Islam — found that evidence of their innocence, including FBI documents, was withheld at trial. 

The men were known at the time of the killing of the civil rights activist as Norman 3X Butler (Aziz) and Thomas 15X Johnson (Islam).

In an interview with The New York Times, which first reported the news, Vance apologized for the failure of law enforcement and said, “This points to the truth that law enforcement over history has often failed to live up to its responsibilities.”

Cultured Books takes $15,000 grand prize at SVP Fast Pitch competition

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Lorielle Hollaway founded Cultured Books to cultivate curiosity and inspire impact among area youth – especially among children of color – by promoting a literacy lifestyle.

Cultured Books began as a pop-up bookstore in 2017 to increase literacy rates and provide children in St. Petersburg with better access to culturally relevant literature. Hollaway also hopes to impact children’s lives by ensuring that literacy extends far beyond school and is an integral aspect of their everyday lives.

“I think that’s something that’s really important to the way we market the programs that we have,” Hollaway explained. “It’s not just something that is like one-and-done – it’s a lifestyle.”

Cultured Books was established as a nonprofit organization in 2018, and the surrounding community is taking notice of its impact. Holloway took home the $15,000 grand prize at Social Ventures Partners Tampa Bay’s Fast Pitch competition Nov. 12.

Reach St. Pete received $10,000 in funding for finishing second, and 360 Eats won $7,500 for third. Florida 1.27 won $5,000 for receiving the most votes in the Audience Choice Award.

Hollaway relayed she was often told the mission of her Cultured Books Literacy Foundation (CBLF) was amazing, and needed, but that it did not meet the metrics required to secure funding.

St. Pete teen launches spice company following a health scare

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Jayden Morrison is not your average 14-year-old; he loves his mom’s cooking, he loves spending time with her in the kitchen, and he has turned his love of both into his own business.

The St. Pete teen also started his business while fighting for his life.

Jayden was just 10 years old when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. His mother, Lorisha Biddings, was understandably devastated when she received the news.

“I kind of lost it,” she said.

While his mother was overwhelmingly worried, Jayden remained stoic. Biddings said her son may not have fully grasped the severity of the situation at such a young age, but even in the following years filled with surgery, chemotherapy and treatments, Jayden stood strong and positive.

“He never really let it bother him,” said Biddings. “He never felt sorry for himself in any way.”

Hillsborough, Pinellas health clinics will vaccinate kids 5 to 11

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Hillsborough and Pinellas children ages 5 to 11 can get their COVID-19 vaccination shots at their county health departments.

Pfizer’s pediatric vaccine doses are now available on weekdays at Progress Village Park at 8701 Progress Blvd. in Tampa, according to the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County. The facility is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Appointments can be booked in advance, but walk-ins are welcome. To book an appointment, visit patientportalfl.com or call 844-770-8548. The second-dose appointment will be booked during that first visit. But children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who can verbally confirm the child’s age.

The facility also offers the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine and booster shots to all those eligible, and conducts COVID testing.

No vaccinations are available at the county’s north Hillsborough testing site at the Code Enforcement Complex at 1101 E 139th Ave, off N Nebraska Avenue. Testing is available there seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Starting Friday, Pinellas children ages 5 to 11 can get vaccinated at state clinics in Clearwater, Largo, Pinellas Park and St. Petersburg on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Officials ask that appointments be booked in advance by calling 727-824-6931, but walk-in patients can also get vaccinated. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Statue Of Dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune Will Be The First Statue Of A Black Woman In The Us Capitol

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There will be a new statue unveiled at the U.S. Capitol in 2022, and it will be a history-making moment.

Last month, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) assisted in unveiling a new statue in Florida that will later move to the U.S. Capitol. The Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune statue arrived in the United States by way of Florida since arriving from Italy.

The McLeod Bethune statue will be representing the State of Florida in the United States Capitol’s National Statuary Hall Collection. The statue of Dr. Bethune will be the first to represent an African American person from any state in the collection. The statue of Dr. Bethune is taking the place of an obscure Confederate general who has represented Florida in the state collection since 1922.

University Of Alabama-Birmingham & Tuskegee University Receive $13.7 Million Grant To Create Change

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The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and Tuskegee University have received a $13.7 million grant to create systemic and sustainable culture change.

The grant comes from a partnership with the Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation, or FIRST, to further support health disparity research at both HBCUs. The grant money will be used to hire and train 12 new research faculty members across both institutions to help with the effort.

“We are proud to continue our partnership with Tuskegee University in this endeavor to build a community of scientists committed to inclusive excellence by recruiting early-career faculty committed to promoting diversity and inclusion while addressing health disparities,” UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of MedicineDean and Senior Vice President for Medicine Selwyn Vickers, M.D. said in a release.

Volunteer Opportunity: Mobile Food Pantry

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Name: MOBILE FOOD PANTRY

Date: FRIDAY, NOV 12, 2021

Available Times: 11 AM – 1:30 PM

Location: Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church 955 20th Street S. St. Petersburg FL

Volunteers are asked to arrive at 11:00 AM to help setup.

Masks, & gloves are provided for your safety. Volunteers under age 13 must be accompanied by an adult. 

More Than 10,000 Shoppers Turn Out For Opening of New Black Wall Street Market in Atlanta

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After months of delays, the New Black Wall Street Market in Stonecrest, Georgia, welcomed 10,675 people on its opening day. “I came from Memphis, Tennessee, just for this,” said Keith Leavy who waited two years to come to the market’s grand opening.

The Black Wall Street Market building occupies a former 125,000 square foot Super Target building across from Stonecrest Mall, about 16 miles east of Atlanta’s downtown. The Market stands as a 21-century homage to the original Black Wall Street that was destroyed by white mobs in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a 100 years ago.

Opening day saw lines throughout the building, especially in the food court. Vendors sold an abundance of items, from books by Black authors, to African-inspired clothing full of bright colors and patterns as well as apparel representing Black sororities and fraternities. Tons of art was available on opening day, much of it depicting Black icons from Malcom X to Martin Luther King, African kings and queens, to African villages full of families.

Vendors like Baba Adams of Universal Love Jewelry was thrilled to be on hand. “I’m jumping for joy to do something to support us as a people,” Adams said. Trinity Ross is the owner of Trinity’s Organics, a company she founded in 2018 selling organic soap products. She was nervous about opening day, considering the market will be her first in-person store; she had previously operated online.

123 years later, a North Carolina Black man killed in a massacre receives a funeral

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oshua Halsey was murdered in the November 1898 massacre of Black people in Wilmington, North Carolina, by White supremacists. On Saturday, 123 years later, Halsey was honored with a funeral. 

Halsey’s unmarked grave is the first identified of the victims — thought to be more than 100 by the Third Person Project, a historical research group. There could be as many as 250 victims, John Jeremiah Sullivan, who worked with the project, told CNN.

 It was the tireless efforts by the project to locate the unmarked graves and no small amount of sleuthing — not just combing through a Black cemetery’s records — that led to the discovery.

That’s after a state report in 1998 — the 100th anniversary of the massacre — identified two of the victims of the massacre: Halsey and Samuel McFarland.

Construction begins on $17M affordable housing project

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City and Pinellas County officials turned dirt at 850 5th Ave. S. in St. Petersburg Friday morning, marking the start of construction for 50 new apartment homes. 

The nearly $17 million project is being developed by Volunteers of America of Florida, a faith-based, human services organization with a local office in St. Petersburg.

The housing community dubbed Innovare Apartments will provide apartment homes with rents restricted to those who earn less than 60% of the area’s median income (AMI). A dozen units will be set aside for those with very low incomes, according to a news release. 

Typically, projects of this size may take a year or so to complete. 

Innovare represents one of the first to break ground in a new round of developments funded by the Penny sales tax, which is a 1%  sales tax paid by everyone who spends money within the county. The taxes are used for capital infrastructure projects.

Welch wins, becomes St. Pete’s first Black mayor

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St. Petersburg chose Ken Welch to become its 54th mayor Tuesday night, making the self-described kid from the Gas Plant the first African American elected to lead the city in 129 years.

Welch, 57, is also St. Pete’s first new mayor in eight years, taking over for Rick Kriseman. Kriseman strongly endorsed Welch throughout the campaign. He ran against Councilmember Robert Blackmon, 32.

At 7:45 p.m. and with all precincts reporting, the Supervisor of Elections office showed Welch leading Blackmon with 59.67% or 38,037 votes to Blackmon’s 40.33% or 25,712 votes.

Welch is a native of St. Pete, growing up on the city’s south side. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and an MBA from Florida A&M. Welch would move back to St. Pete, where he worked as an accountant for Florida Power Corporation. In 2000, Welch became just the second African American elected to serve as a Pinellas County Commissioner.

Welch ran on a platform of “inclusive progress” and often touted his role in creating the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area (CRA). He has stated that climate resiliency and sustainability will influence every decision he makes on the city’s infrastructure and growth. He has also promised to tackle the affordable housing issue, creating not just workforce housing but housing that people making well below the area median income can afford.

Siobhan Monique brings sound, change to St. Petersburg

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When St. Petersburg-born artist Siobhan Monique Roland sings, injecting her classically trained voice into multiple genres including R&B, jazz, neo-soul, funk and gospel, people always ask her what type of artist she is.

So she came up with the term Ancestral Funk, which refers to the voices of her ancestors. It’s blossomed from a description to a record label and a movement. Under her stage name Siobhan Monique, Roland, 31, uses her performances to create change by bringing people together.

“(Ancestral Funk) is a representation of the sound, the community and the movement,” she said. “That change is love, unity and enlightenment.”

Amid explosive growth, Saturday Morning Shoppe to bring Magic Johnson to St. Pete

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Renee Edwards’ Saturday Morning Shoppe has undergone a whirlwind of growth this year; in the first two months of operation, the market went from a small church parking lot to Tropicana Field.

A location in Tampa soon followed, and Edwards recently announced she was taking the market to the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds outside of Atlanta in December.

Edwards has shared even bigger news with the Catalyst – basketball legend, entrepreneur and business mogul Magic Johnson will be in St. Petersburg passing out Thanksgiving turkeys at the Nov. 1 Saturday Morning Shoppe.

Johnson’s career accolades are extensive. He is a five-time NBA champion, three-time NBA Most Valuable Player, and was an NBA All-Star for 12 out of 13 seasons – all with the Los Angeles Lakers. The achievements continued off the court as well. Johnson won five more NBA championships as co-owner of the Lakers, and in 2020 he also won a World Series Championship as co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Most important to the Saturday Morning Shoppe and the hundreds of vendors it showcases, Johnson is also a successful business mogul whose Magic Johnson Enterprises empire boasts a net worth of over a billion dollars.

Sen. Darryl Rouson sets the election bar high with support in Hillsborough

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State Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, started off the Hillsborough County portion of his 2022 re-election campaign setting a high bar for any Tampa-based challenger — a fundraiser with a host committee including almost every elected Democrat in the county.

Rouson represents a minority access district covering parts of southern Pinellas and Hillsborough counties and east Tampa.

In the past, he’s faced challenges from Tampa residents, some of whom would like to see a Tampa senator in the seat — about three-quarters of the district’s voters are in Hillsborough.

So far this year, he faces a primary challenge from Janelle Khargie of Tampa, a political newbie who does part-time contract work in public relations, including for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and is on Hillsborough’s Diversity Advisory Council.

Ralph Wimbish Jr. wants to memorialize his dad, a St. Petersburg civil rights pioneer

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Ralph Wimbish Jr. has known many heroic people — 44 to be exact — according to his new book, Heroes: Stories of Sports, Courage and Class.

Each of the book’s 44 chapters details a personal interaction with someone who impacted the life of the retired sportswriter and editor.

There are stories about Jackie Robinson, George Steinbrenner, Tiger Woods, Dan Marino and Diego Maradona.

But, among all those heroes, Wimbish Jr. has two favorites: his mother and father, C. Bette Wimbish and Ralph Wimbish Sr. Both were civil rights pioneers who helped integrate St. Petersburg.

Interstate 375 is named for his mother, but there’s no public honor for his father. Wimbish Jr. hopes his book changes that.

Read more

The NBA’s vaccine problem is bigger than a few high-profile holdouts

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In October 2020, more than a month before the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines would receive emergency-use authorization from the FDA, the Women’s National Basketball Players Association got to work.

The WNBPA understood that misinformation in regards to the virus and vaccine had been ramping up, and it seemed to be getting harder and harder to seek reliable guidance. They also likely considered that professional athletes represented a relatively easy target for misinformation and conspiracy theories as highly impressionable young people with a lot of free time on their hands – time often spent on their phones scrolling social media – and relatively little contact with the outside world. So they came together with league commissioner Cathy Engelbert and set out a plan to educate WNBA players about the Covid-19 vaccine so that they could make educated choices when the time came.

Why Rouson Endorsed Ken Welch, Despite Relationship with Robert Blackmon

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Darryl Rouson (at the mic) and Ken Welch to his right at a press conference thanking then Mayor Rick Baker for his decision to discharge the police chief in the wake of racial controversy. Also visible are Gwen Reese, Dr. Cynthia Johnson and Pastor Frank Peterman. Ernest Fillayu (far left), and Pastor Louis Murphy (far right)

ABOVE: Darryl Rouson (at the mic) and Ken Welch to his right at a press conference thanking then Mayor Rick Baker for his decision to discharge the police chief in the wake of racial controversy. Also visible are Gwen Reese, Dr. Cynthia Johnson, Pastor Frank Peterman, Ernest Fillayu, and Pastor Louis Murphy (photo courtesy of Darryl Rouson)

Just two years ago, Florida Senator Darryl Rouson (District 19) was one of a large handful of high-profile Democrats who endorsed then City Council candidate Robert Blackmon, a Republican, for the District 1 seat. 

Though the move drew criticism from several well-positioned Democrats, Blackmon won the seat over Democrat John Hornbeck, and he and Rouson remained close – both personally and professionally. 

Today, however, Rouson is squarely backing Blackmon’s opponent – Ken Welch – in the St. Petersburg mayoral race that will come to a close on November 2nd

We asked Senator Rouson to expound on his choice. 

“Why did I choose to endorse Welch, regardless of my friendship or relationship with Blackmon?” Rouson asked pensively. 

“Because after study and reflection, my relationship with Ken is deeper and longer lasting – from family to community to issues that impact St. Petersburg. It’s not about why I didn’t endorse Blackmon, it’s about my relationship with Ken Welch.”

Rouson recently helped Blackmon win state funding for the renovation and reopening of the Science Center as a hub for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education for children and teens. 

But he and Welch have worked together for 20 years on tough issues, and “that counts for something,” said the second-term senator.  

“One of our earliest successes was when I was NAACP President, and Ken helped strategically position minority business contracting as a component of the Park Shore Towers development in downtown St. Pete.” 

Following that success and at Rouson’s urging, Welch attempted to push the County Commission to allow the first-ever contract for a Black-owned law firm to work on a local government bond deal, according to Rouson. “Welch introduced it to his colleagues on the County Commission. Though it died for lack of a second supporters, he fought hard for the opportunity. 

“Welch’s leadership in overhauling the Pinellas County small business purchasing program wasn’t a new thing for him. He has always fought for equity and inclusion,” said Rouson.  

He also credits the Welch family’s ingrained legacy of service as part of his decision. Rouson recalls fondly the support he received from David Welch, Ken Welch’s father and the city’s second African American City Councilmember. 

“It was January 2008 and I decided to run for the state house seat vacated by Frank Peterman when he was appointed to state office. My opponents had been in the running for a year. I had only 90 days to campaign, with no campaign headquarters and no money for one. David Welch allowed me to run my campaign out of his office.” 

The 13-year legislator says he respects Blackmon, but that none of the candidates in the race had Welch’s depth of experience and track record of getting things done. 

The two men’s fraternal tie was likely another factor in the senator’s choice. Welch and Rouson are members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, a group whose members are strongly backing Welch. 

Rouson’s endorsement last week made him one of over a dozen local elected officials supporting the Welch campaign. 

Statement on Senator Rouson’s Endorsement from the Welch Campaign 

“Ken is a third generation St. Pete native who I’ve known and worked with for decades. I know there is no one better prepared and committed to inclusive progress than Ken Welch and I’m proud to endorse him to be the next Mayor of St. Petersburg.” said State Senator Darryl Rouson. 

“We are at a critical junction in the story of St. Pete – Ken’s historic administration, he will be the first black Mayor, first from South St. Pete, and the most prepared Mayor from day 1 in a generation given his experience as County Commissioner for 20 years. Ken will serve our entire community at this important crossroads. It’s time for our city to come together – and I’m excited to support Ken in pursuit of a more equitable future for all residents in St. Petersburg.”

“Senator Rouson is a legend in St. Petersburg. His story, his commitment to the community, and his tireless efforts to fight for what is right, have changed the course of our city forever. His support at this moment is crucial as we move towards November 2nd and I’m proud to have him by my side as we work for a new partnership for progress in the city that we all love so deeply.” said Ken Welch

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Blackness and Latinidad are not mutually exclusive. Here’s what it means to be Afro-Latino in America

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Joel Alvarado was 6 years old when his mother pulled him aside and asked him to be discreet as he was getting ready to meet his grandmother in Puerto Rico.

 “She made me aware that my grandmother was much darker than my other relatives, especially from her side of the family, and she didn’t want me to say anything out of turn or something about her skin color,” said Alvarado, 50, the executive vice president of the Atlanta-based government relations firm Ohio River South.

 “These are my blood relatives, what does that make me?” he recalls thinking.At that moment, Alvarado learned that his grandmother and himself were Black Latinos or Afro-Latinos, a group that historically has faced prejudice within Latino communities in the United States and abroad.

Waveney Ann Moore: Ministerial group signs on to the budding Deuces renaissance

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It’s easy to get swept up in the Rev. J.C. Pritchett II’s zeal for boosting the legacy of his African-American forebears.

He’s determined not to squander their sacrifices for fairness and equality, nor their struggles to build a foundation of security for their families and community.

Pritchett is a pastor, so one would expect that he’s a praying man, open to the unexpected. Providence, he calls it. That’s how he explains the whirlwind purchase of a piece of property on 22nd Street S, the historic African-American business and entertainment district known as the Deuces and the focus of increased revitalization efforts.

As president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, Pritchett says he just happened to be walking out of the organization’s new rental office when he saw a for sale sign going up nearby. He hurriedly called the IMA board and within an hour, they had made an offer on the property at 800 22nd St. S.

Chicago Public Schools in talks with Uber, Lyft after bus drivers quit over vaccine mandate

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A mass resignation of Chicago Public Schools bus drivers refusing to abide by a coronavirus vaccination mandate led to a citywide scramble to find transportation for thousands of students on Monday as school started. 

According to The Chicago Sun-Times, about 2,100 students — including 990 kids in special education — were given barely two days’ notice that their bus route would not be available for the first day of school. Their parents, needless to say, were not pleased. 

EXCLUSIVE: After Missing Opportunities to Engage Black America, Golf is Capitalizing on New Moments

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Determined not to miss any further opportunities to connect with the African American community, The PGA Tour has, among many other commitments, entered a memorandum of understanding with the Black Press of America. The agreement promises to raise awareness and keep African Americans informed about all the game has to offer.

At the turn of the 21st Century, Tiger Woods dominated the game of golf.

Over a near-unprecedented five-year period, Woods staked a claim as the top-ranked golfer globally, eventually capturing 15 major championships – just three shy of Jack Nicklaus’s record.

But even as Woods – an individual of color – took the game by storm, many believed golf missed a golden opportunity to capitalize on his appeal to African Americans and other minorities.

NAACP, Black Leaders Demand Congress Act on Voting Rights

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NNPA NEWSWIRE — Nearly six decades after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and civil rights activists led the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, that helped establish voting rights for millions of Black Americans, African American leaders will again descend on the nation’s capital to demand Congress protect the rights.

With voter suppression laws taking shape in Texas, Georgia, Arizona, and just about every GOP-led state in the nation, NAACP President Derrick Johnson is pleading for Democrats and the White House to show a sense of urgency.

In a scathing op-ed, Johnson said, “we cannot out-organize voter suppression.”

“We organized in November to put people in office to address the issue of voter suppression. We did not organize in November to let elected officials off the hook to organize again and overcome a new hurdle. Voters did their job as citizens, and now they’re simply asking elected officials to do their job to protect our right to vote,” Johnson remarked.

Nearly six decades after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and civil rights activists led the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, that helped establish voting rights for millions of Black Americans, African American leaders will again descend on the nation’s capital to demand Congress protect the rights.

Martin Luther King III, Yolanda King, Andrea Waters King, and others plan to march with more than 140 organizations and thousands of Americans on Saturday, August 28, to advocate for eliminating the Jim Crow filibuster and passing three critical voting rights bills – the For the People ActJohn Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and the Washington D.C. Admission Act.

The mobilization comes just months after Black voters overcame significant barriers to the vote and organized their communities to change the course of the country — “and now ask that the White House and Congress do their part to protect our democracy and stand on the right side of history,” the leaders said in a news release.

How race permeates the politics of gun control

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When Americans talk about guns, what’s arguably most interesting isn’t what we say about the devices themselves. It’s what we betray about whose voices — and lives — matter when it comes to our country’s virulent gun culture.

Recall the killing of Philando Castile, a 32-year-old Black man. In July 2016, two police officers pulled him over in a Saint Paul, Minnesota, suburb. When Castile, buckled into his seat, reached for his ID, he informed one of the officers, Jeronimo Yanez, that he had a gun — one that he was legally permitted to carry. Presumably familiar with the horrors that the police tend to visit on Black Americans, Castile just wanted to ward off any trouble. But Yanez lost control, hitting Castile with five of the seven shots he fired. Castile died later that night.

Ken Welch Just Made History & Not Just as the 1st Black Candidate in a Mayoral Run-Off in St. Pete

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ST. PETERSBURGKen Welch’s first place win in St. Petersburg’s primary election this week made him the first African American ever to make it to a mayoral runoff in Florida’s fifth largest city.

Though others have run – including Wengay Newton (who placed fourth in Tuesday’s election, with 7% of the citywide vote) – Welch is the first to make it as a final contender in a general election.

He did so with a resounding vote share: the 57-year old St. Pete native won 39% of voters citywide, compared to 28% for his next closest rival, 32-year old Robert Blackmon, who was also born and raised in St. Pete.

Welch’s vote share was even larger in the city’s majority Black precincts, which yielded their biggest vote total ever in a primary election (over 10,200 votes), no doubt driven by both Welch and Newton supporters.

Welch’s vote share in the 19 precincts was 56% compared to 8% for Blackmon, and his win was even bigger in precincts with the highest ratio of Black voters. Precincts where 80% or more of voters are African Americans gave Welch 58% of their vote, versus only 3% for Blackmon.

Welch made history in one other way that deserves a spotlight – especially since it will be key to his victory in November. He won more of the white vote – by far – than any African American candidate before him.

No doubt, African American voters were a key to Welch’s win. Voters in majority Black precincts accounted for 26% of Welch’s backing; their votes made up 92% of his margin of victory over Blackmon.

But note that 74% of Welch’s votes came from St. Pete’s majority-white precincts – a higher share by a yard, compared to other competitive African American candidates for mayor (see graph below).

Welch showed signs of being a true cross-over candidate in pre-primary polling as well. He ranked first or second place with 12 of the 14 race, gender and party groups captured in an August 5th poll release by FloridaPolitics.com. His showing this Tuesday appears to confirm the trend.

Fifty three white men have served as mayor of St. Petersburg since 1892. Ken Welch’s ability to win the support of diverse voters may make him the first African American to become the city’s chief executive.

Reminder: October 4, 2021 is the deadline to register to vote in the November 2 general election. To learn more about the two men competing to be the next mayor of St. Pete, see their profiles on TheBurgVotes.com (Ken Welch and Robert Blackmon).

St. Petersburg mayor’s race: It’s now between Ken Welch and Robert Blackmon

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Ken Welch, the former Pinellas county commissioner and the son of the first Black man elected to St. Petersburg City Council, will face City Council member Robert Blackmon in the Nov. 2 general election to decide the city’s next mayor.

Welch declared victory 11 minutes after polls closed. If elected, he would become the city’s first Black mayor.

“I’m not sure what I’m feeling yet,” Welch said on his way to a private victory party at Painting with a Twist on Central Avenue. “It’s still sinking in.”

Welch said he would continue his message of inclusive progress. “I think our voters are really focused on the issues and not the petty politics that became part of this election,” he said.

The Coronavirus Is Here Forever. This Is How We Live With It.

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In the 1980s, doctors at an English hospital deliberately tried to infect 15 volunteers with a coronavirus. COVID-19 did not yet exist—what interested those doctors was a coronavirus in the same family called 229E, which causes the common cold. 229E is both ubiquitous and obscure. Most of us have had it, probably first as children, but the resulting colds were so mild as to be unremarkable. And indeed, of the 15 adult volunteers who got 229E misted up their nose, only 10 became infected, and of those, only eight actually developed cold symptoms.

The following year, the doctors repeated their experiment. They tracked down all but one of the original volunteers and sprayed 229E up their nose again. Six of the previously infected became reinfected, but the second time, none developed symptoms. From this, the doctors surmised that immunity against coronavirus infection wanes quickly and reinfections are common. But subsequent infections are milder—even asymptomatic. Not only have most of us likely been infected with 229E before, but we’ve probably been infected more than once.

‘Racist and flat out wrong’: Texas Republican blames Black Americans for Covid surge

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Dan Patrick, the Republican lieutenant governor of Texas, has refused to apologise for blaming rising Covid-19 hospitalisations and deaths on unvaccinated African Americans, comments one Black Houston official called “racist and flat out wrong”.

Doubling down on his remarks to Fox News, Patrick blamed “Democrat social media trolls” and said “Democrats continue to play politics with people’s lives”.

Sylvester Turner, the Democratic mayor of Houston, who is African American, said Patrick’s comments were “offensive and should not be ignored”.

Amid widespread concern over the spread of the Delta variant, Texas is experiencing its highest hospitalisation rates since January. It emerged this week that the state had asked federal authorities for more mortuary trucks.

Bella8 Boutique brings accessible affordable fashion to Historic Uptown

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Bella8 Boutique opened on Saturday in Historic Uptown featuring size inclusive options for the career woman in search of trendy clothing at an affordable price.

Bella8’s mission is to make professional, stylish clothing that caters to both straight (XS to L) and plus size women. This means the 700 square foot storefront at 501 Dr. MLK Jr. Street North is filled with a wide selection of clothing ranging from size S to 3X. EJ Barkett of Barkett Realty represented the landlord in the lease signing.

Owner and St. Pete native, Shawntavia Turner, wanted to create a space that dresses career women of all shapes and sizes with clothing that is fashionable and contemporary. “We are going to have clothing selections that cover the full gamut, from night attire, event wear, and business casual clothing to swimwear and outerwear.”

Blood Brothers: Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X Debuts at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Festival

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Blood Brothers: Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X, a documentary that explores the relationship between Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali, premiered at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival on Monday.

Produced by Kenya Barris and his Khalabo Ink Society and directed by Marcus A. Clarke, the film is based on Randy Roberts and Johnny Smith’s book Blood Brothers: The Fatal Friendship Between Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X.

Screened at the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center in Oak Bluffs, MA, the attendees included Barris, Clarke, IIyasah Shabazz (daughter of Malcolm X), Maryum Ali (daughter of Muhammad Ali), and consulting producer Sam Pollard (MLK/FBI, Mr.Soul!).

The film features never-before-seen archival footage that highlights the story behind the friendship and ultimate fallout between the civil rights leader and the boxing legend.

Clarke expressed his excitement about the documentary and looks forward to audiences seeing the iconic figures in new ways.

Why won’t you protect our children?

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Florida and Texas currently lead the nation in COVID-19 cases. One of the most troublesome statistics associated with Florida’s newly found distinction is the fact COVID rates are impacting the younger population in alarming numbers.

School is starting across the state, and county school boards are faced with a hue and cry from some parents demanding mask mandates and others, including the governor of the state, insisting mask mandates are a violation of their rights.

Governor DeSantis issued a directive prohibiting school districts from requiring returning students to wear masks and announced districts who defy his order will suffer financial consequences. News accounts report superintendents and school board members may have their salaries docked if they defy the governor and issue mask mandates. He is currently being sued by parents who contest his order.

During the week of July 30-Aug. 5, COVID-19 cases for children less than 12 years of age were extremely high (187,935).  For those in the age group 12-19 years of age, 256,380, were infected with COVID.  In Pinellas County, Johns Hopkins All Children Hospital reported 181 positive COVID cases in July.  Florida currently has the highest number of school aged children in the nation hospitalized with COVID.

Some courageous school district leaders have chosen to follow CDC guidelines, science and the American Academy of Pediatrics’ medical advice, insisting it is their responsibility as public servants to protect the children and scholars in their schools.  They issued mask mandates.  These districts include Leon, Broward, Alachua, Palm Beach, Duval, Orange, and Seminole Counties.

I am pleased to report School Board member Caprice Edmond is valiantly pushing the Pinellas Board to take affirmative steps to mandate masks and protect the scholars in our district.  She made a cogent argument for the mandate at a workshop on Aug. 9 and was supported by board members Laura Hines and Dr. Nicole Carr.

Kudos to board member Edmond for her leadership and to members Carr and Hines for their support. Although they haven’t prevailed, they are on the right side of a health and safety issue others are trying to politicize.

Republicans are vociferous about their commitment to local control but for some reason, Republican leaders in Florida and Texas are not committed to allowing leaders at local levels to administer their districts according to their individual unique characteristics.

Hopefully, Gov. DeSantis will relent and allow the local school boards to reflect the will of their constituents and more importantly, protect the most vulnerable among us.  COVID has no regard for red states or blue states. Rather, the only opponents are good science, vaccinations, masks, and progressive health care practices.

If our school board won’t protect our children, we must. Petition Pinellas County School Board and insist on your child wearing a mask to school, out in public, and in enclosed spaces such as stores, restaurants and other establishments.

Mhariel Summers: Looking for answers and finding them in politics

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Mhariel Summers wasn’t looking to enter politics when she decided to go back to college in 2016 — she was looking for answers.

Summers, 30, was disheartened at the wave of highly publicized police shootings that began to dominate the national conversation in 2015. That piqued her interest as to how things like that could happen in our country – on camera – and yet people were not being charged with a crime.

A lifetime resident of St. Pete and graduate of Lakewood High, Summers was 25 when it dawned on her that going back to school to study political science could enlighten her on how our criminal justice system was continuously failing people.

After starting at St. Petersburg College, Summers transferred to the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and graduated last year with a degree in political science and a minor in entrepreneurship. However, her education continued far from the classroom.

“While I was working on my degree, I had the mindset that I was not going to wait to get meaningful experience until I graduate,” said Summers.

Muhammad Ali’s grandson marks professional boxing debut with a victory

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The continuation of a legacy was how Nico Ali Walsh — the grandson of Muhammad Ali –– described making his professional boxing debut in the sport on Saturday.

Wearing a pair of his grandfather’s white trunks, the 21-year-old Walsh won his his middleweight bout against Jordan Weeks with a first-round stoppage at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Catoosa, Oklahoma.

“I’m blessed and honored to say that I continued history,” Walsh wrote on Instagram.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone that supported me! I brought my grandfather in the ring with me by wearing his shorts for the first and final time as a professional fighter. I’m more than proud to say: The Legacy Continues.”

‘The most segregated hour’: one woman’s quest to promote dialogue between Black and white Christians

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Latasha Morrison was attending a predominantly white evangelical church in Atlanta in 2012 when protests erupted over the murder of Trayvon Martin.

The Black teen’s killing by a neighbourhood watch volunteer rattled Atlanta’s Black communities. But when Morrison tried to pray about Martin at a small group meeting, she received no words of comfort or solidarity from her fellow churchgoers. It was as if they were living in “another world”, Morrison told the Guardian.

“You have something like this, that’s impacting you, that’s making you afraid for your children, for your friends’ children, for your relatives, and it’s not even a thought to people who say they care, that we’re connected, that we’re the body of Christ?” Morrison said.

Major companies are recruiting more HBCU grads than ever before, administrators say

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Administrators and career service leaders at some of the nation’s top historically Black colleges and universities, also known as HBCUs, say recruitment of their students and graduates by major corporations has dramatically increased since the police murder of George Floyd more than a year ago.

Public outrage spread globally after the widely viewed video of Floyd’s death at the hands of former officers in Minneapolis circulated in May 2020. That motivated many Fortune 500 companies to do more to improve racial equity in the United States, including bolstering the ranks of Black Americans working in Corporate America.

Mom files complaint accusing school of race segregation

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Kila Posey is filing a federal complaint against Atlanta’s Mary Lin Elementary School saying the school’s principal is making classrooms selections based on race. CNN’s John Berman spoke with Mrs. Posey and her attorney Sharese Shields.

NEW: St. Pete MBE Study Finds Racial & Gender Disparities in City Purchasing; Recommends Race-Conscious Program

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ST PETERSBURG – At noon today, the City of St. Petersburg released the results of a long-awaited Disparity Study to confirm whether a statistical disparity exists between the availability of minority-owned and women-owned businesses, on the one hand, and the rate at which the City of St. Petersburg purchases from those businesses, on the other.

The study confirms what many African American business owners and activists have said for years:

“After nearly 31 years in operation, the SBE Program has been ineffective in achieving equitable participation for M/WBE prime contractors based on their availability in the City’s market area.”

The results did not come as a surprise to the Kriseman team, which initiated the study process partly in response to the urging of in-house staff and The 2020 Plan (now known as One Community).

“The findings within the draft report appear to confirm what many, including us, have suspected: there are both racial and gender disparities with respect to contracting and subcontracting in our community,” said Deputy Mayor Dr. Kanika Tomalin.

Analysis found a disparity in both the prime contracts and subcontracts awarded by the City during the study period (October 1, 2014 to September 30, 2018).

The 260-page report also found that African Americans were the most underutilized by the City’s SBE program.

Across all prime contracts by the city in construction, professional services and other goods and services, 88% of contracts went to white men versus only 1.6% to Black-owned firms.

The difference was even more stark among the city’s most “highly used” vendors. White males won over 99% of the 826 contracts that went to the 57 most used firms. Not a single African American firm was in this group.

Mason Tillman Associates, the California-based firm that conducted the study, recommends that the City create a race- and gender-conscious program to remedy the disparity. St. Petersburg has not had such a program in place since 1999 when the city’s minority business enterprise (MBE) program was disbanded.

Dr. Tomalin stressed the importance of seizing the moment. “It is important to recognize that these findings are a new starting point that allows for the action steps required to realize increased access and equity for all firms wishing to do business with the City of St. Petersburg.” 

The report will need to go to City Council before the city can take action against the recommendations.

The Mayor’s Small Business Liaison Jessica Eilerman will work with the Disparity Study Committee formed in 2018 to support community engagement around the findings, and next steps in ramping up minority business registration with the City’s current program.

The 2018 Disparity Study Committee members included:  

  • Theresa Jones, City of St. Petersburg
  • Veatrice Farrell, Deuces Live
  • Tahisia Scantling, Crossroad Consulting
  • Jenee Skipper, Pinellas County Office of Small Business & Supplier Diversity
  • Gypsy C. Gallardo, One Community Plan
  • Rev. Kenny Irby, St. Petersburg Police Department
  • Leah McRae, City of St. Petersburg
  • Nikki Capehart, City of St. Petersburg
  • Lendel Bright, City of St. Petersburg
  • Anthony Jones, Retired

Other business development practitioners will be involved as well, including groups such as Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corporation and Pinellas County Urban League.

“We honor Pastor Claude Williams for this milestone,” said Rev. Louis Murphy, a board member with The 2020 Plan and Pastor of Mt. Zion Progressive. “He urged us to push for the disparity study shortly before his passing in 2017, and I pray he is smiling down.”

Williams was employed with the City for 30 years, most recently as Economic Development Coordinator with the City Business Assistance Program. He was also founding Pastor of Victory Christian Church.

Click here for an executive summary of the study.

The Power Broker will update this report in the days ahead.

New study reveals deep divide in how Americans view the nation’s progress toward racial equality

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The United States is deeply divided in how Americans view the nation’s progress toward racial equality and much of the division is reflected in the differing beliefs of people of color and White people, according to a new study released Thursday by the Pew Research Center. 

The study surveyed more than 10,000 adults in July on several questions related to the public’s attention to slavery and racism, whether more needs to be done to achieve equal rights in the country and if White people benefit from privilege over Black people. 

Blackmon’s Post re “Spanish Bartender” Offers 3 Lessons on Racial & Ethnic Identity

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The Tampa Bay Times reported Saturday on a cache of old Facebook posts by mayoral candidate and City Councilmember Robert Blackmon that some consider racist and sexist.

Per the Times, “The posts include several references to women as a “bitch” and three generations of women, including a 3-year-old, as “sluts.” They also included comments about Asian people and made light of removing tenants from a building.”

I want to home in one Facebook post in particular (below). This single four-line post is rich with at least a half dozen potential lessons on racial identity and politics that were left unaddressed in the Times coverage. A screenshot of it was depicted in the August 7th article, but without commentary on the multiple offenses it contains.

Funds For The Future Of St. Pete

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The City of St. Petersburg is expected to receive approximately $45 million from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act. Mayor Rick Kriseman and his administration, with the support of City Council, developed a series of workshops for community feedback to help prioritize which areas of impact receive funds. Feedback collected during these workshops will be aggregated and directly influence the ranking of priorities for receiving funds.

Africa’s most populous city is battling floods and rising seas. It may soon be unlivable, experts warn

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Cars and houses submerged in water, commuters wading through buses knee-high in floods, and homeowners counting the cost of destroyed properties. 

Welcome to Lagos during rainy season. 

Residents of Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, are used to the yearly floods that engulf the coastal city during the months of March to November. In mid-July, however, the major business district of Lagos Island experienced one of its worst floods in recent years.

“It was very bad, and unusual,” Eselebor Oseluonamhen, 32 told CNN.

How St. Pete became the first city in Florida to adopt a CBA Policy

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It was a turnaround success when the St. Petersburg City Council voted unanimously last Thursday to adopt a long-hoped-for Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) Policy.

Just five months ago, the policy appeared “dead in the water,” in the words of one elected official after witnessing city council’s first public discussion on the topic at a Feb. 25 committee meeting that proved a rude awakening for CBA advocates.

Not only did they not have a majority of the council behind them (as they’d come to believe after a dozen meetings with councilmembers), but most members present did not even see the logic of what was proposed.

The advocates thought solid support turned out to be a mere three councilmembers in their corner – Deborah Figgs-Sanders, lead sponsor, Lisa Wheeler-Bowman, the policy’s original sponsor, and Amy Foster, steadfast champion of equity causes over the years.

Throughout the 50-minute meeting, council members cast doubt on every facet of the policy and on the work of advocates leading the charge. Several said they could readily support creating a CBA for the Tropicana Field Project but did not see the need for a citywide CBA ordinance.

In the months that followed, city staff went into high gear to re-sculpt the policy to address council’s concerns, while community advocates worked to coalesce what they knew was widespread support for the historic endeavor.

In the end, just after 6 p.m. last Thursday, July 22, the city council turned in a unanimous vote to adopt a citywide CBA Policy, making St. Petersburg the first city in Florida to do so. 

Below is part of the story of how it happened.

United Offensive

One of the ingredients to success was that advocates stood their ground after the Feb. 25 shellacking. We were stunned but quickly regrouped with renewed determination.

We’d put in the work and would not be defeated by what we universally perceived as an attack from the rear by enemies of the policy who’d done the rounds to equip councilmembers with oppositional talking points.

Anyone listening to the Feb. 25 meeting might have justifiably come away with the impression that we were a disorganized group of activists attempting to rush a policy that had “wobbly legs” (in the words of one council member) and with insufficient engagement of the broader community.

During our debrief of the fiasco, we resolved that there would be no finger-pointing among the core team. “Not one inch of daylight between us!” one advocate declared.

Instead, we set in motion a strategy to reset the playing field. Our most ambassadorial members doubled back to meet one-to-one with councilmembers; our co-chairs did speaking engagements to shore up community awareness. We jointly initiated a media and advocacy program to rally visible support.

Video shows Texas family pleading with officer on top of Black teen

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Video shows a Kaufman County, Texas, sheriff’s deputy on top of an 18-year-old woman saying “I can’t breathe.” The incident is under investigation.

A sheriff’s deputy in Kaufman, Texas is under investigation after video captured him sitting on a teenage Black girl during an arrest.

CBS 11 reports the incident happened in Forney’s Deerfield Heights neighborhood on Tuesday (July 27). The sheriff, who’s only been identified as “Deputy Marlin,” has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation after the disturbing video surfaced on social media.

The incident began after police recieved 911 calls about the young woman. 

“There’s a lady – young lady – African American lady – that is walking in the middle of the street,” one caller said. Another added, ““She’s thrown herself out on the road — looks like a possible suicide.”

In the body camera footage, the deputy is seen approaching 18-year-old Nekia Trigg as she walks down the street. He asks if she’s ok, why she’s crying, and where she lives. Trigg tells the deputy she wants to go home and repeatedly tells him she doesn’t want him to hurt her. The deputy then grabs her arm and tells her she can’t walk off from him. Watch Full Video

From there, Deputy Marlin pins Trigg to the ground, mounting the teen by putting his full body on top of her. “You’re hurting me already,” Trigg can be heard saying in the video. “Sit down okay,” Deputy Marlin responds, as he continues pinning Trigg’s wrist to the ground.

In Washington DC, Black-owned art galleries redefine spaces of belonging in a changing city

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Over the course of the last century, Washington, DC has positioned itself as a leader in the arts and culture. The nation’s capital is home to a network of several dozen museums and galleries, including more than 20 devoted primarily to exhibiting visual art. Only a handful of galleries are black.

Tampa Bay Times endorses Ken Welch in St. Petersburg Mayor’s race

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The Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board released its endorsement for the upcoming St. Petersburg mayoral election Thursday. Its choice: former Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch.

Welch, who has raked in a slew of endorsements in the past few days, from the city’s LGBTQ community to local faith leaders, was selected by the Times Editorial Board among the race’s eight candidates.

According to the endorsement, the board chose Welch because he can “maintain the city’s momentum.”

“Whoever takes charge after Mayor Rick Kriseman must also be up to other challenges: Negotiate with the Tampa Bay Rays. Champion the best plan for the Tropicana Field site. Create more affordable housing. Prepare the city for sea-level rise. And keep crime in check,” the board wrote. “The mayor must build bridges, not pick pointless fights. Be tough when it’s called for, but understand the power of humility. Listen to neighborhood residents. Have a vision for how much greater the city can be in 10 years.”

Read more

6 Black Owned Bed & Breakfasts In the South

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Looking for somewhere to end the summer with a relaxing weekend trip or start off fall with romantic getaway? A Bed & Breakfast is your answer. We have curated a few of our favorites in the South and hope you add them to your travel list. TheseA�6 Black Owned Bed & Breakfasts In the South are everything you dream of from southern hospitality.

1) Morehead Manor:A�Originally built for the CEO of Liggett and Meyers, this splendidly redecorated, 8,000 square-foot, Colonial Revival Style home is located within walking distance to the Downtown area, the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) and historic Brightleaf Square. Morehead Manor is just moments away from Duke University, North Carolina Central University, Research Triangle Park, Raleigh, NC, RDU International Airport, and is easily accessible to both Interstates 85 and 40.

2) Clevedale Historic Inn:A�A�This 1913 Colonial home, accented with stately columns, spacious porches, and opulent fireplaces, offers an atmosphere of casual elegance to the common gathering areas as well as the guest rooms.A� The sun-kissed porches invite guests to unwind with a good book and a pot of tea or a refreshing pitcher of lemonade. With its crackling fire, the Foyer and Parlor are ideal places to chat with friends over a glass of vintage port. Find more locations

Bob Moses, civil rights legend, passed away at age 86

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Civil rights legend Bob Moses died at age 86, according to a statement from NAACP President Derrick Johnson.

A cause of death was not immediately known.

Moses was born in New York City in January 1935 and grew up in Harlem, according to his biography on Stanford University’s King Encyclopedia of civil rights figures. He earned a master’s degree in philosophy from Harvard University in 1957.

In the late 1950’s he began working on the civil rights movement, joining the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and traveling with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.

Moses was the architect of the 1964 voter registration campaign, the Mississippi Freedom Summer Project, among several other civil rights projects.

Ken Welch in Support of CBA Policy for St.Pete

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Ken Welch Statement on Passage of the Community Benefits Agreement 

“It’s great to see St. Pete City Council support this reinvestment back into our community,” said Ken Welch.

“The community benefits agreement  is an important step towards equitable economic development and smart growth for our entire community. Intentional equity requires us to demand that our partners who receive taxpayer dollars be held to a higher standard in the development and redevelopment of our great city”. “Affordable housing, improvements to our schools, and more resilient infrastructure all depend on this type of partnership”.

“I’m proud that Councilmembers Lisa Wheeler-Bowman, Amy Foster and Deborah Figgs-Sanders have championed this agreement. I look forward to continuing the momentum and working with the entire Council next year as the next Mayor of St. Petersburg!”

When council stalled the approval of the CBA agreement in March of this year, Ken Welch stated his strong support for a citywide CBA process, and urged council approval, stating  –  “I share the community’s enthusiasm for adopting a citywide Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) model.The historic economic and social inequities ingrained in our city’s history were not limited to the Gas Plant area – neither should a CBA model that aims to support equitable progress for our community.”

500 Strong Stand for St. Pete’s CBA Policy

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-By Gypsy C. Gallardo for One Community & CBA Policy Advocates

With only hours to go before St. Petersburg’s City Council takes its final vote on the creation of a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) Policy for St. Petersburg, advocates anticipate a strong showing at the Public Hearing happening at City Hall this evening, at 5 pm.

Over 500 activists and leaders have so far signed on to support the CBA Policy Petition.

Groups leading the CBA campaign include the New Deal, Raise the Bar, Sierra Club, the St. Petersburg NAACP and The 2020/One Community Plan, backed by dozens of partner organizations.

“This is the right time, and St. Pete is the right place to take a stand that will reverberate for generations,” says Esther Eugene, NAACP President and one of the CBA campaign leaders who will speak at tonight’s Public Hearing.

There is still time to sign the CBA Policy Petition (your name will be added to the list below). To learn more, here is a quick summary of what the policy will do and who will benefit from its passage.

Elected Supporters & Official Sponsors (On Record)

  • State Senator Darryl Rouson
  • State Representative Michele Rayner-Goolsby
  • Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers
  • St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman
  • Deputy Mayor Dr. Kanika Tomalin
  • City Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders (lead champion)
  • City Councilmember Lisa Wheeler-Bowman (original sponsor)
  • City Councilmember Amy Foster
  • City Councilmember Darden Rice

Activist, Leader, Citizen Supporters

(In alpha order by first name or honorific)

  • Aaron Dietrich – St. Petersburg
  • Abdul Karim Ali – St. Petersburg
  • Ada McFarley – St. Petersburg
  • Adam Flanery – St. Petersburg
  • Adrienne Reddick – St. Petersburg
  • Aidan Starr – St. Petersburg
  • Aisha Knight – St. Petersburg
  • Al Chestelson – St. Petersburg
  • Alan Perry – St. Petersburg
  • Alan Turnquist III – St. Petersburg
  • Alansen Turnquist-Mondesir – St. Petersburg Orlando
  • Albert Lee – St. Petersburg
  • Alberta McKinney – St. Petersburg
  • Alec Wilcosky – St. Petersburg
  • Alexandra Pauls – St. Petersburg
  • Alise Martinez – Pinellas County
  • Alison Barlow – St. Petersburg
  • Allene Gammage-Ahmed – St. Petersburg
  • Alliyah Edwards – St. Petersburg
  • Amanda Keyes – St. Petersburg
  • Amber Martin – Pinellas County
  • Amber Robinson – St. Petersburg
  • Ameer Hankins – St. Petersburg
  • Ameta Bowers – St. Petersburg
  • Anastasia Wynn – St. Petersburg
  • Andrea Peaten – St. Petersburg
  • Andrew Williams – St. Petersburg
  • Angel Jimenez – Tampa
  • Angela Harris – St. Petersburg
  • Angela Rouson – St. Petersburg
  • Angela Schindler – St. Petersburg
  • Angie Harris – St. Petersburg
  • Anita Booher – St. Petersburg
  • Anita Lewis – St. Petersburg
  • Annette Bell
  • Annie Hodges-Robinson – St. Petersburg
  • Annie Tyrell – St. Petersburg
  • Anthony Williams – St. Petersburg
  • Antonette Rhine – St. Petersburg
  • Antonio Brown – St. Petersburg
  • April Birdsong – St. Petersburg
  • April Harley – St. Petersburg
  • Ariel Fernandez – St. Petersburg
  • Ashley Green – St. Petersburg
  • Atty Jacqueline Hubbard – St. Petersburg
  • Atty Karmika Rubin – St. Petersburg
  • Atty Tamara Felton-Howard – St. Petersburg
  • Audre Holden – St. Petersburg
  • Audrey McGhee – St. Petersburg
  • Audrey McGhee – St. Petersburg
  • Barry Collins
  • Beatrice Louissaint – St. Petersburg
  • Belinda Riffenburg – Tampa
  • Bessie Camble – St. Petersburg
  • Beth Murphy – St. Petersburg
  • Bianca Tyson – St. Petersburg
  • Bilan Joseph – Pinellas County
  • Bill Dahl – St. Petersburg
  • Blake Kimball – Pinellas County
  • Bonnie Agan – St. Petersburg
  • Bonnie Conley – St. Petersburg
  • Brandie Williams-Macon – St. Petersburg
  • Brandon Dudley – St. Petersburg
  • Brandon Pegues – St. Petersburg
  • BreAunna Flood – Pinellas County
  • Brenda Chambliss – St. Petersburg
  • Brenna Toussaint – St. Petersburg
  • Brenton Everett – St. Petersburg
  • Brian Navarro – St. Petersburg
  • Briana Hankins – St. Petersburg
  • Brianna Bell – St. Petersburg
  • Brianna Miller – Pinellas County
  • Brianna Rose – St. Petersburg
  • Bridgette Heller – St. Petersburg
  • Bruce Moore Jr – St. Petersburg
  • Bryan Turnquist – St. Petersburg
  • Bryce Springfield – St. Petersburg
  • Cal Howard – Pinellas County
  • Calvin Brown – St. Petersburg
  • Canaan McCaslin – St. Petersburg
  • Candace Arnold – St. Petersburg
  • Carla Bristol – St. Petersburg
  • Carlisa Mills – Pinellas County
  • Carlton McAdory – St. Petersburg
  • Carol Kline – St. Petersburg
  • Carol McNamee – Pinellas County
  • Carole Alexander – St. Petersburg
  • Caroline Hepburn – Pinellas County
  • Caroline Miller – St. Petersburg
  • Carolyn Cloud – St. Petersburg
  • Carolyn King – Hillsborough County
  • Carolyn Lane – St. Petersburg
  • Catherine Hamman – St. Petersburg
  • Catherine Harrelson – St. Petersburg
  • Celeste Noren – St. Petersburg
  • Charles Rodriguez – St. Petersburg
  • Charles Smith – St. Petersburg
  • Charlie Fanning – St. Petersburg
  • Charlie Guy – St. Petersburg
  • Charlotte Anderson – Pinellas County
  • Chenavia Smith – State
  • Cheyenne Bure – St. Petersburg
  • Chris  Steinocher – St. Petersburg
  • Christina Regalado
  • Claire Stiles – St. Petersburg
  • Clarence Scott III – St. Petersburg
  • Claudia McIvor – Pinellas County
  • Clifford Hobbs III – St. Petersburg
  • Constance Waters – St. Petersburg
  • Cora Bartolo – St. Petersburg
  • Cory Adler – St. Petersburg
  • Courtney Miller – Pinellas County
  • Craig Jones – St. Petersburg
  • Cynthia Cooke – Pinellas County
  • Cynthia Tomlin – St. Petersburg
  • Dan Huber – St. Petersburg
  • Dana Webb – St. Petersburg
  • Dane Kuplicki – St. Petersburg
  • Daniel Collette – St. Petersburg
  • Daniel Kurczi – St. Petersburg
  • Daniel E. Sanders – St. Petersburg
  • Daniel L.  Sanders – St. Petersburg
  • Dario Morell South Florida
  • Darlene Cuccinello – St. Petersburg
  • State Senator Darryl Rouson – St. Petersburg
  • Dashon Mims – St. Petersburg
  • David Figgs Jr. – St. Petersburg
  • David Himmelfarb – St. Petersburg
  • David Lubin – Pinellas County
  • Deb DelSole – St. Petersburg
  • Debby Horan
  • Debra Hoven – St. Petersburg
  • Delquanda Turner Smith – St. Petersburg
  • Dena Lebowitz – St. Petersburg
  • Denise Deja – St. Petersburg
  • Denise Ford – St. Petersburg
  • Derek Cooper – St. Petersburg
  • Devan Terrell – Pinellas County
  • Diana X – Pinellas County
  • Diane Ingram – Pinellas County
  • Diane Lohr – Pinellas County
  • Diane Rennie – St. Petersburg
  • Dominique Dudley – St. Petersburg
  • Donald Ellis – Pinellas County
  • Donna McRae – St. Petersburg
  • Dora Williams – St. Petersburg
  • Doretha Watson – St. Petersburg
  • Dr. Bruce Nissen – St. Petersburg
  • Dr. Christy Foust – St. Petersburg
  • Dr. James McHale – Pinellas County
  • Dr. Jay Sokolovsky – St. Petersburg
  • Dr. Katurah Jenkins-Hall – St. Petersburg
  • Dr. Linsey Grove – St. Petersburg
  • Dr. Linda Lucas – St. Petersburg
  • Dr. Ruth Whitney – St. Petersburg
  • Dr. Sandra Braham – Pinellas County
  • Dr. Yvonne  Scruggs-Leftwich – Maryland
  • Dwaine Burton – St. Petersburg
  • Dylan Baggett – St. Petersburg
  • Eileen Coogan – Pinellas County
  • Elenora Sabin – St. Petersburg
  • Elizabeth Meyer – Pinellas County
  • Elizabeth Siplin – St. Petersburg
  • Elizabeth Winter – St. Petersburg
  • Ellen Syvertsen – St. Petersburg
  • Elsie Gilmore – St. Petersburg
  • Eric Wallens – St. Petersburg
  • Erica Hall – St. Petersburg
  • Erik Carlton Smith – St. Petersburg
  • Erin McFarley – St. Petersburg
  • Ernest Mahaffey – St. Petersburg
  • Ester Venouziou – St. Petersburg
  • Esther Eugene- St. Petersburg
  • Ethel Peeples – Robinson – St. Petersburg
  • Faith Armstrong – St. Petersburg
  • Faye Watson – St. Petersburg
  • Faye Tippy – St. Petersburg
  • Fernando Maynor – St. Petersburg
  • Filomena Murphy – Pinellas County
  • Foster Lovett – St. Petersburg
  • Frances Cato – St. Petersburg
  • Frances McCarthy – St. Petersburg
  • Frank Bird – St. Petersburg
  • Gabrielle Reeder – Pinellas County
  • George Lawrence – St. Petersburg
  • Gina Gallo – St. Petersburg
  • Glenn Urbanas – Pinellas County
  • Gloria Campbell – St. Petersburg
  • Grady Terrell – St. Petersburg
  • Gregory Miller – St. Petersburg
  • Gregory Rosasco
  • Gretchen Twietmeyer – St. Petersburg
  • Gwendolyn Fields – St. Petersburg
  • Gwendolyn Reese – St. Petersburg
  • Gypsy C.  Gallardo – St. Petersburg
  • Heather R. DeLancett – St. Petersburg
  • Hector Miranda Plaza – Pinellas County
  • Heather Nix – St. Petersburg
  • Helene Calbi – St. Petersburg
  • Hillary Van Dyke – St. Petersburg
  • Hope Smith – St. Petersburg
  • Imam Askia Muhammad Aquil – St. Petersburg
  • Inessa Miller – St. Petersburg
  • Irene Johnson-Pridgen – St. Petersburg
  • Izabelle James – St. Petersburg
  • Jabaar Edmond – St. Petersburg
  • Jada Williamson – St. Petersburg
  • Ja’Kevia McCall – St. Petersburg
  • Jalessa Blackshear – St. Petersburg
  • James Myles – St. Petersburg
  • James Scott
  • James Shock – Deland
  • Jamsion Carnegie – St. Petersburg
  • Jan Hawkins – St. Petersburg
  • Jan Neuberger – St. Petersburg
  • Janet Wilson – Pinellas County
  • Jasmin Latta – Pinellas County
  • Jasmina Forcan – Pinellas County
  • Jason Mathis – St. Petersburg
  • Jauhar El-Amin – St. Petersburg
  • Jeanette Battista – St. Petersburg
  • Jennifer Griffith – Pinellas County
  • Jennifer Shea – St. Petersburg
  • Jessica Lewis – St. Petersburg
  • Jim Junecko – Hillsborough County
  • Jim Loveland – St. Petersburg
  • Jo Davis – St. Petersburg
  • Jo Jones – Pinellas County
  • Joan Thurmond – Pinellas County
  • Jocelyn Howard – St. Petersburg
  • Joe Baldwin – St. Petersburg
  • Johnnia Mitchell – St. Petersburg
  • Jon Dehmel – State
  • Jon Stevens – St. Petersburg
  • Jon Wilson – St. Petersburg
  • Jonathan Turnquist – St. Petersburg
  • Joseph Dames – St. Petersburg
  • Joshua Bean – Pinellas County
  • Juan DaCosta – St. Petersburg
  • Juanita Wilson – St. Petersburg
  • Julian Dudley – St. Petersburg
  • Julius Anderson – St. Petersburg
  • Kamara Cooper – St. Petersburg
  • Kanithra Mercer – St. Petersburg
  • Karen Berman – St. Petersburg
  • Karen Davis Pritchett – St. Petersburg
  • Karen Garcia – St. Petersburg
  • Karen Lieberman
  • Karen Monroe – St. Petersburg
  • Karen Nissen – St. Petersburg
  • Karen Sherman – St. Petersburg
  • Karin Braunsberger – St. Petersburg
  • Kate Bauer-Jones – St. Petersburg
  • Kate Pravera – St. Petersburg
  • Katherine Ciembronowicz – St. Petersburg
  • Katherine Hiley – Pinellas County
  • Kathryn Dorn – Arizona Life-Long Tampa Resident
  • Kathy Mills-Herring – St. Petersburg
  • Keisha Long-Watson – St. Petersburg
  • Kelly Kirschner – St. Petersburg
  • Kenneth T. Welch (Former – Pinellas County Commissioner) – St. Petersburg
  • Kent Akselsen – Hillsborough County
  • Kerfoot Lewis – St. Petersburg
  • Kevin Jackson – St. Petersburg
  • Kevin Rose – St. Petersburg
  • Kevin Silvey – Pinellas County
  • Kim Hickman – St. Petersburg
  • Kimberley Webb – St. Petersburg
  • Kinsey Rodriguez – St. Petersburg
  • Kory Outlaw – St. Petersburg
  • Kurt Donley San Diego California
  • Kyandra Darling – St. Petersburg
  • Kyle Milwee – St. Petersburg
  • Kymbriell Finch – St. Petersburg
  • Ladelle Hammond – St. Petersburg
  • LaShante Keys – St. Petersburg
  • LaShawn Wilson – St. Petersburg
  • Latifa Jackson – St. Petersburg
  • LaWanda Miller – St. Petersburg
  • Leah Dudley – St. Petersburg
  • Leandre Cowart – Pinellas County
  • Leslie Bouwman – St. Petersburg
  • Leslie Ciccone – St. Petersburg
  • Leslie Johnson – St. Petersburg
  • Lessie Stotts – St. Petersburg
  • Linda Ali – St. Petersburg
  • Linda Dawson – St. Petersburg
  • Linda Manivog – St. Petersburg
  • Linda Perrigoue – Pinellas County
  • Lisa Hinton – Pinellas County
  • Lisa Kirkland – St. Petersburg
  • Lisa Thompson – Pinellas County
  • Lisa Yacso – St. Petersburg
  • Lisset Greene
  • Lolita Dash Pitts – St. Petersburg
  • Loretta Calvin – St. Petersburg
  • Lori DeSandro – Pinellas County
  • Lorielle Hollaway – St. Petersburg
  • Lottie Cuthbertson – St. Petersburg
  • Louis Murphy Jr. – St. Petersburg
  • Louise Peterson – St. Petersburg
  • Lucinda Johnston – St. Petersburg
  • Lydia Blatter – St. Petersburg
  • Lyn Johnson – St. Petersburg
  • Lynette Davis – St. Petersburg
  • Lynn Harrell-Johnson – St. Petersburg
  • M.E. Ram – Pinellas County
  • Majella De Jesus – Pinellas County
  • Marcellus Scantling – Pinellas County
  • Marcus Davis – St. Petersburg
  • Marcus A. Brooks – St. Petersburg
  • Maress Scott – St. Petersburg
  • Margo Cresswell – Pinellas County
  • Maria Saraceno – St. Petersburg
  • Marilyn Turman – Pinellas County
  • Mark Mostrom – St. Petersburg
  • Mark Rios – St. Petersburg
  • Marla Wade – St. Petersburg
  • Marsha Brown – St. Petersburg
  • Marshae Brown – St. Petersburg
  • Martin Fouts – St. Petersburg
  • Martina Sykes – St. Petersburg
  • Mary Gerken – St. Petersburg
  • Maryellen Gordon – St. Petersburg
  • Matthew  O’Liney – Pinellas County
  • Maureen Eppley – St. Petersburg
  • Maya Tyson – St. Petersburg
  • Megan Flocken – Pinellas County
  • Mel Fowler – St. Petersburg
  • Melanie de Souza – Pinellas County
  • Melissa Buhler – St. Petersburg
  • Melissa Buhler – St. Petersburg
  • Melissa Fultz – St. Petersburg
  • Meriem Ziad – St. Petersburg
  • Mhariel Summers – St. Petersburg
  • Michael Bates – St. Petersburg
  • Michael Boykins – St. Petersburg
  • Michael Gorup – St. Petersburg
  • Michael Jalazo – St. Petersburg
  • Michael Kingsford – St. Petersburg
  • Michael Moore – St. Petersburg
  • Michael Sedita – St. Petersburg
  • Michael Moore – Pinellas County
  • Michelle Anderson – St. Petersburg
  • Mike Fox – St. Petersburg
  • Mildred Headdy Florida
  • Miranda Floyd – St. Petersburg
  • Mirela Setkic – St. Petersburg
  • Monica McIntosh – St. Petersburg
  • Oretha Pope – St. Petersburg
  • Myrtle Coley – St. Petersburg
  • Nancy Tessmar – St. Petersburg
  • Natasha Yakovleva – Pinellas County
  • Nesha Anderson – St. Petersburg
  • Nicholas Arent – St. Petersburg
  • Nick Kouris – St. Petersburg
  • Nick Wright – St. Petersburg
  • Nicole Greenway Hillsborough
  • Nicole Ross – St. Petersburg
  • Norris Brothers – St. Petersburg
  • Olessia Jones
  • Olivia London – St. Petersburg
  • Oweta Terry – St. Petersburg
  • Pakita Leone – Pinellas County
  • Pamela Andriotakis – Pinellas County
  • Pamela Paul – Pinellas County
  • Patricia Cowdery – St. Petersburg
  • Patricia Cowdery – St. Petersburg
  • Patrick Collins – St. Petersburg
  • Pattye Sawyer – St. Petersburg
  • Paula Rosasco – Pasco County
  • Penny  Birch-Williams – Pinellas County
  • Philip Garnett – Dade City
  • Pierce Brunson – St. Petersburg
  • Praxedis Eke – St. Petersburg
  • Rachael Trombley – St. Petersburg
  • Rachel Miller – St. Petersburg
  • Rachel Page – Pinellas County
  • Raymond Tampa – Pinellas County
  • Rebecca Johns – St. Petersburg
  • Rebecca Jones – St. Petersburg
  • Rebecca Wilson – St. Petersburg
  • ReNae Nowicki
  • Renee Edwards – St. Petersburg
  • Retia McAdory – St. Petersburg
  • Rev. Andy Oliver – St. Petersburg
  • Rev. Carlea Jordan – Pinellas County
  • Rev. Edward Nesbitt, Jr.
  • Rev. J.C. Pritchett – St. Petersburg
  • Rev. Jo Ann S. Nesbitt – St. Petersburg
  • Rev. Lee Hall-Perkins – St. Petersburg
  • Rev. Louis Murphy – St. Petersburg
  • Rev. Manuel Sykes – St. Petersburg
  • Rev. Meiko Seymour – St. Petersburg
  • Rev. Watson Haynes – Pinellas County
  • Richard McDaniel – Pinellas County
  • Richard Pierce – St. Petersburg
  • Richmond Floyd – St. Petersburg
  • Rick Coleman – St. Petersburg
  • Ricky Bell – Tampa
  • Robert Barnett – Pinellas County
  • Robert Chapman – Hillsborough County
  • Robert Gallardo – St. Petersburg
  • Robert Loveitt – Tampa
  • Robin Davidov – St. Petersburg
  • Robin Warren – St. Petersburg
  • Ron Morgan – Pinellas County
  • Ronnell Montgomery – St. Petersburg
  • Ronnie Anderson – Tampa
  • Rose Mack – St. Petersburg
  • Rose Smith-Hayes – St. Petersburg
  • Roshne Ramjattan – Pinellas County
  • Roxey Nelson – St. Petersburg
  • Roy Binger – St. Petersburg
  • Roy D’Andrea – St. Petersburg
  • Roy James – St. Petersburg
  • Ruth Barrens – St. Petersburg
  • Sallie N. Kosefeski – St. Petersburg
  • Samantha Richardson-Hardy – St. Petersburg
  • Sandy Mabery – St. Petersburg
  • Sarah Ficquette – St. Petersburg
  • Sarah Gold – St. Petersburg
  • Sarah Nappier – Pinellas County
  • Sarina Phrathep – St. Petersburg
  • Sean Armil – Pinellas County
  • Shai’Robia Davis – Pinellas County
  • Shakia Dixon – St. Petersburg
  • Sharon Bond – St. Petersburg
  • Sharon Janis – Pinellas County
  • Sharon Joy Kleitsch – St. Petersburg
  • Shaunè Ferguson – Pinellas County
  • Shawn McDonnell – St. Petersburg
  • Shawntavia Turner – St. Petersburg
  • Shelley Driskell
  • Sherry Howard – St. Petersburg
  • Shirley Thornton – St. Petersburg
  • Shyla Sams – St. Petersburg
  • Sofia Forte – St. Petersburg
  • Sonja Franeta – St. Petersburg
  • Souridara Manivong – St. Petersburg
  • Stacey Lodge-Hawkins – St. Petersburg
  • Stephanie Owens – St. Petersburg
  • Stephanie Tyrrell – St. Petersburg
  • Stephanie L Harris – St. Petersburg
  • Steve Gordon – St. Petersburg
  • Susan Conley – Pinellas County
  • Susan DeWitt – Pinellas County
  • Susana Darwin – St. Petersburg
  • Susie Paterson – St. Petersburg
  • Susy Bogdan – Pinellas County
  • Sylvia Cherry – Gulfport
  • Tahisia Scantling – St. Petersburg
  • Tameka Rodney – St. Petersburg
  • Tamika Hughes-Leeks – St. Petersburg
  • Tamika Mitchem – St. Petersburg
  • Tammi Driver – St. Petersburg
  • Tania Welch – St. Petersburg
  • Tara Hottenstein – St. Petersburg
  • Tashawn Malone – St. Petersburg
  • Tawnee Walling – St. Petersburg
  • Taylor Aguilera – Pinellas County
  • Teresa Tim – Pinellas County
  • Terri Lipsey-Scott – St. Petersburg
  • Terrie Weeks – St. Petersburg
  • Thelma Bruce – St. Petersburg
  • Theresa Jones – St. Petersburg
  • Theresa McEachern – St. Petersburg
  • Thomas Heckman – St. Petersburg
  • Tia Walker – St. Petersburg
  • Tiffany Moore – St. Petersburg
  • Tim Dutton – St. Petersburg
  • Tim Howard – St. Petersburg
  • Tim Howard – St. Petersburg
  • Timothy Dutton – St. Petersburg
  • Tom Phillips – St. Petersburg
  • Toni Marangello – St. Petersburg
  • Travis Phelps
  • Travis Spaller – St. Petersburg
  • Trenia Cox – St. Petersburg
  • Trevor Mallory – St. Petersburg
  • Tuwanda Turner – St. Petersburg
  • Valerie Bethune – St. Petersburg
  • Valerie Ellis – St. Petersburg
  • Valorie Machin – St. Petersburg
  • Van Nguyen – Pinellas County
  • Veatrice Farrell – St. Petersburg
  • Vernice Morgan – St. Petersburg
  • Vincent Cocks – St. Petersburg
  • Vonda Ford – St. Petersburg
  • Vonda Ford – St. Petersburg
  • Wendi Myers
  • Wendy Hayward – Pinellas County
  • Wendy Wesley – St. Petersburg
  • Will Michaels – St. Petersburg
  • William Coale – St. Petersburg
  • William Shedden – St. Petersburg
  • William Kilgore – St. Petersburg
  • Witold (Wit) Ostrenko – St. Petersburg
  • Zakiyyah Malone – St. Petersburg
  • Zanetta Starks – St. Petersburg
  • Zoe Griego – St. Petersburg

Kriseman endorses Ken Welch for St. Petersburg mayor

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By Romy EllenbogenPublished Jul. 19Updated Jul. 19

Outgoing St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman on Monday endorsed former Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch as his pick to lead the city.

“Ken has been at this for a long time, always on the side of right, always fighting for what’s right,” Kriseman said in a statement.

Kriseman touted Welch’s bipartisan support, saying Welch is consistent on his positions and is a man of integrity.

Standing in front of City Hall on Monday, Kriseman praised Welch’s track record on poverty, housing development and the environment. He said as cities face bigger and bigger challenges, he wanted a steady hand to lead St. Petersburg onward.

The New CBA Policy: What it Will Do, Who Will Benefit & What Could Go Wrong, If We’re Not Careful

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– By Gypsy C. Gallardo, for One Community & CBA Policy Advocates

This Thursday, July 22nd, the St. Petersburg City Council is set to take its final vote on the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) Policy that sparked small ripples of disagreement when the eight Councilmembers first discussed the topic in February. Since then, Councilmembers have met with CBA advocates and City staff a dozen or more times to hash through the specifics. 

If it makes it through this Thursday’s Public Hearing, St. Petersburg will be the first city in Florida to have a standing, citywide CBA Policy. Other cities have similar programs (such as Miami’s Public Benefit Program), but – critically – they do not empower the community as a partner in negotiating benefits with developers, and they don’t link sustainability and equity as twin forces in our future. 

Groups leading the CBA campaign are asking advocates to come out to the Public Hearing to support the cause (July 22nd, 5 PM at City Hall), and for those who can’t attend, to sign the online CBA Policy Petition.

Here is a quick rundown of the who, what, when, and why of this groundbreaking new policy.  

Why the Push for a CBA Policy for St. Pete 

Economically disadvantaged groups have reaped little benefit from the booming pace of real estate development in St. Petersburg, in downtown and other areas. Even development projects in South St. Petersburg (where 80% of the city’s Black residents live) have lacked the substantial involvement of community businesses and workers, and have yielded little by way of affordable, accessible spaces to live or work, or employment and business opportunities. 

This is despite the fact that many of these multi-million-dollar projects receive significant City (taxpayer) support in the form of financial subsidies, incentives, tax exemptions, reduced land costs, etc. 

The result is that diverse workers and entrepreneurs are often left on the economic sidelines (particularly African Americans), and much of the city is alienated from the development process. 

CBA policies are used by local governments and advocates across the nation as a way for residents, entrepreneurs, and community organizations to “have a seat at the table” when decisions are made about large-scale “public-private” developments, and to reap and retain more of the economic benefits generated by development in their communities. 

What the CBA Policy Will Do

If it passes, the new CBA Policy will ensure that diverse residents and entrepreneurs share more equitably in the economic benefits that result from development projects in St. Pete.  

The policy will apply to all projects with a construction value of $2 million or more, that receive City support of at least 20% of cost. For projects covered by the policy, developers will be asked to invest in 3 to 4 priority areas, depending on the project’s size. The larger the project, the more substantial the requirements for sharing benefits. 

Who Stands to Benefit

The city as a whole will benefit from a greater focus on equity and sustainability, and a stronger network of small and diverse construction firms, as well as a bigger and better trained construction workforce (especially important, given the current shortage of qualified construction workers). 

The city will also benefit from more development-related spending staying within the city economy, since the CBA Policy incentivizes local spending and hiring. 

In terms of financial impact, the biggest beneficiaries (if things go as planned) will be: 

  1. Small & minority contractors in construction and related fields such as architecture and engineering. The CBA Policy creates a new pipeline of opportunity for these groups. It sets a minimum 10% requirement for SBE/MBE (Small/Minority Business Enterprises) participation for construction on covered projects. The new policy applies to the $3 billion Tropicana Field redevelopment, which means it could result in several hundred million in new local and minority business contracting over the next decade. 
  2. The local construction workforce, with emphasis on underserved groups. The Policy raises the bar in requiring higher training standards for construction workers, which translates to higher wages for workers (and added help by City programs such as St. Pete Works! to build and financially support industry training pathways).  
  3. Community non-profits. The Policy creates a new CBA Fund that will decide and allocate funding to non-profit and mission-driven organizations with programs or projects serving “Qualified Census Tracts” in education, the arts, health, technology, and other fields.  

Who Decides the Benefits Developers Implement 

Five groups play a role in influencing and deciding the benefits a developer will implement: 1) the Mayor and City Economic Development staff, 2) neighbors, residents and activists, 3) a nine-member CBA Advisory Council, and 4) City Councilmembers, plus 5) the developers themselves. 

The process gives the community more opportunity for input than typical public-private development projects offer, and more ways to influence the ultimate outcomes. The process is spelled out on page 8 of the draft policy package.

Who is on the Advisory Council

The CBA Advisory Council will consist of 1 City Councilmember and 8 community members for each covered project. The 8 community members are appointed by the Mayor and City Council, half and half, following a public application process. Four community members will be “at large” and appointed to 3-year terms, and 4 members will be selected from the project area (in a 1-mile radius). 

This may equate to 12 to 20 citizens serving on the Advisory Council at a time, depending on how many active projects there are. Example: if the City has two projects underway, the Advisory Council would have 12 members (the 4 at-large members, and 4 each for the two projects). 

Important Clarification: The organizations that spearheaded the CBA campaign (see below) were intentional about not requesting a seat on the Advisory Council for two reasons: 1) to grow the network of activist leaders engaged in equitable development in St. Pete, and 2) to avoid the perception that the policy will create opportunities for only a handful of people or organizations. 

Who Led the CBA Push 

The 2020 Plan team originated the request for CBA Policy in 2015 and joined forces with the New Deal team in 2017 when its members voted to prioritize the policy. A labor group called Raise the Bar joined in, in 2018. More recently, the St. Petersburg NAACP and Sierra Club became invaluable team players, working to influence Councilmembers whose support was (or is) uncertain. Atty Tamara Felton and Dr. Bruce Nissen serve as CBA Policy Co-Chairs. 

Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders became a driving force and the policy’s chief sponsor after her swearing in, in January 2020. CM Lisa Wheeler-Bowman served as the policy’s original sponsor in 2019. CM Amy Foster has been a strong third champion on City Council. 

On the Kriseman team, Deputy Mayor Dr. Kanika Tomalin has overseen the process while the City’s Development Administrator, Alan Delisle, and his team carried out the day-to-day work. 

In the community, several hundred citizens have so far signed the recent CBA Petition, and over 240 people, representing 100+ organizations attended meetings over three years to lend input to the CBA Policy.  In 2019, the CBA Policy was ranked as the 3rd Most Loved Idea among the 19 “Big Ideas” nominated to be part of the One Community Plan.

More recently, 40 diverse leaders committed their time and expertise to the community-led CBA Policy Council, which hosted three meetings this spring to advise to the draft policy.

What Could Go Wrong & Where We Go From Here 

First, we should understand that the CBA Policy is not a “be all end all” for equity in St. Pete. It applies to only a fraction of the $700 million in construction spending here each year. And what fruit the CBA Policy does bear, will require continued vigilance on our part. 

In the scheme of things, if the CBA Policy passes, the City of St. Pete is doing its part to build new bridges to opportunity, but that only gets us so far to true inclusion in the broader economy.

Second, know in advance that there are a dozen ways this CBA Policy could underperform relative to its goals. An unfriendly Mayor or Council could gut the policy by nominating enemies of equity to the Advisory Council, or by spearheading changes that work against its intent. We could also see half-hearted work by City staff, who play a large role in the CBA process. 

And worst, we could see a repeat of the imbalance between SBE and MBE spending that exists in our current City SBE Program, which has long favored (in outcomes) White-owned small firms, and other non-Black vendors. 

For all these reasons, it will be imperative that we focus on three things: 

  1. Building the program infrastructure for MBE development & contract matchmaking, the same that operates in many other major cities but that has long been absent in St. Pete. As examples, the Florida Department of Transportation Specialized DBE Program and the Minority Business Development Agency’s Orlando and Miami Business Centers have facilitated billions in construction contracts. 
  2. Expanding the already in-place construction skills training pathways at St. Petersburg College, Pinellas Technical College & elsewhere, and digging deeper to support them financially, while engaging more disadvantaged workers such as the hundreds of ex-offenders and discouraged workers who struggle to find stable, well-paying jobs in St. Pete. 
  3. Accountability to results! We as a community do not yet have the infrastructure in place to hold City leaders and developers accountable to results over the long-haul, to push for future policy enhancements, or cry foul if CBA implementation goes awry. We’ve seen the South St. Petersburg CRA underperform in grant-making to African Americans (relative to their 78% population share in the CRA). Within the next year, it will be vital to have this “watch” infrastructure in place, hopefully in the form of an Economic Equity Council whose members represent groups such as the NAACP, Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, National Council of Negro Women, New Deal, and others who’ve supported this major advancement. 

3 Ways to Support the Final CBA Policy Vote, this Thursday 

If you can support this cause, please consider taking one or more of these three concrete actions: 

  1. If able, join us (physically) to support passage of the CBA Policy at the July 22nd Public Hearing at 5 PM at City Hall (175 5th Street N.). We are asking for both speakers and silent supporters whose presence demonstrates far reaching support for the policy. Please note: virtual comments are not allowed for this hearing
  2. Sign-on to our CBA Policy Petition and your name will be added to a list of supporters that we will publish on the day of the hearing. 
  3. Send a letter or comments to City Council at [email protected], which will be forwarded to all 8 members. 

For more details, please reach CBA Policy Co-Chairs Atty Tamara Felton-Howard, [email protected] and or Dr. Bruce Nissen, [email protected]

FAMU President Robinson Hosts Return To Campus Virtual Town Hall

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Vaccinations encouraged but not mandatory for returning employees.

Nearly 700 Florida A&M University faculty, students and staff  tuned into a Return to Campus virtual town hall meeting hosted by President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., and the Senior Leadership Team Wednesday.

The one-hour event was held to discuss plans for when employees return to work on campus full-time on July 1. Many employees have been working remotely since spring 2020. 

President Robinson lauded the efforts of members of the community as the University coped with an unprecedented health crisis. 

DEMOCRATIC BLACK CAUCUS OF FLORIDA ELECTS NEW EXECUTIVE OFFICERS WITH PROMISES TO REBUILD, REBRAND THE POLITICAL ORGANIZATION

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Trevor Mallory is the new president of the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida (DBCF), a political organization representing almost 2 million African Americans in the sunshine state. Mallory, 49, a former president of Pinellas County Democratic Black Caucus, won 60 percent of the vote at its Zoom election held Saturday, June 5th,2021.

“We must change our approach to rebuild, rebrand, and reestablish the culture of this organization to make sure we garner the respect we deserve,” stated President Elect Mallory, who seemed very aware of what the immediate objectives of the political organization should be.

President Mallory understands the power that the DBCF can wield when it’s organized and the executive committee is partnering and consistently communicating

with other organizations to create one powerful force. “By improving the relationship with our leadership in the legislative and Congressional Black Caucus we can strengthen our

ability to impact policy change,” emphasized President Mallory, a community activist of Pinellas County,

“We will also listen to and strengthen engagement with the state and local Black caucus chapters to be sure all members are informed, celebrated and supported,” concluded President Mallory, depicting a keen sense of understanding the signi cance of having local community input. This WILL NOT be a dictatorship, this is “OUR-SHIP” stated Mallory. He will pull in and brainstorm with the local chapters to make DBCF a viable, powerful and very respected Black Democratic entity in the

sunshine state.
Many DBCF members seemed

very excited about the new executive team, which included Jordan Pride, 1st Vice President; Easton Harrison, 2nd Vice President; Annie Gumren Sweeting, Secretary; and Jill Lewis Daggs, Treasurer

The newly elected executive team has two members under 30 years old, who are active in the DBCF and other organizations. Their work with young people could help increase the organization’s young adults membership and may provide the opportunity for DBCF to better understand the issues and needs of that demographic.

Annie Gumren Sweeting, DBCF

new secretary, brings a wealth of clerical experience after serving in administrative capacities with the U.S. Armed Forces. She iscompassionate, energetic and “ redup and ready to go”

President Mallory and Jill L Daggs bring experience from being past presidents of their respective Democratic Black Caucus Chapters and being members of the DBCF Executive Committee for the past four years. They are very active with their local Democratic Executive Committees (DEC), the NAACP, and various other organizations working to change and publicize the racist policies that are constantly working to suppress the vote, and

pass laws that are not in the best interest of Black people or the Florida electorate.

The Florida Democratic Party cannot overstate the reality that it’s imperative that the 2022 midterm election be a major part of DBCF’s focus for change in the state. The Executive Committee’s plans to increase chapters in more counties, elect more Democrats in the state, defeat Governor Ron DeSantis and Marco Rubio, and knock back voter suppression laws and policies that help promote Governor DeSantis, a possible Republican candidate for the presidency in 2024. Will strike a major blow to a partisan legislative body in Florida.

More than 250 DBCF members, representing 25 counties, voted in the first time Zoom election. Despitesome minor glitches prolongingthe Zoom election, it was done e ectively and transparently, and all quali ed members were able tovote.

I believe President Mallory has the vision, the compassion, the energy and the team to make DBCFan in uential and powerful politicaldynamic for all people in Florida, stated a former DBCF Executive Committee chair. “I encourage all DBCF members to get on board and be about the business of taking Florida back by winning the seats for U.S. Senate, Governor, Congress in 2022.”

Jill Daggs said, “Let’s take the past and with a new vision make a phenomenal future.”

Black Enterprise Launches Economic Equity & Racial JusticeTown Hall Series June 10 With “One Year After George Floyd”

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BLACK ENTERPRISE, the No. 1 Black digital media company with more than 8 million unique visitors per month, will launch the BLACK ENTERPRISE Economic Equity & Racial Justice Town Hall Series with “One Year After George Floyd: Has Corporate America Made Good On Its Economic Equity Pledges?” on Thursday, June 10, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. EST.

Panelists for the inaugural Town Hall session in the series include CNN Political Commentator Bakari Sellers, Manulife Vice President of Talent Management Tara John, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, Black Executive CMO Alliance Founder Jerri DeVard, and Infor Chairman and Black Economic Alliance Co-Chairman Charles Phillips. Remarks will also be delivered by Manulife President & CEO Roy Gori, Executive Leadership Council President & CEO Michael Hyter, and BLACK ENTERPRISE CEO Earl “Butch” Graves Jr.

“Corporate pledges of commitment to diversity and inclusion are not new to Black people in corporate America,” says Graves. “However, if we are to achieve economic equity, we must hold corporate America accountable for making sure that the billions of dollars pledged during the past year in the name of ending systemic racism results in systemic change—including actual wealth creation—for Black people both inside and outside of their companies.”

Top achieving high schooler received associates degree before graduation due to dual enrollment program

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Jeffery Jackson II, an eleventh grader at Solid Foundation Christian Academy (SFCA)., is set to graduate with an Associate Degree in General Studies from Georgia Military College’s Stone Mountain Campus, on June 12, before receiving his high school diploma.

This amazing accomplishment is thanks to SFCA’s dual enrollment program, a partnership with Georgia Military College’s Downtown Stone Mountain Campus that allows qualifying high school students to take college courses freely.

“I’m on a mission to support other families in seizing the program’s potential because it not only gives students a professional jump-start to their life paths but also saves significant amounts of money by finishing college faster,” said Dr. Leslie Pledger, SFCA founder. “We’ve helped numerous students successfully complete the dual enrollment program and graduate with a high school diploma and associate’s degree.”

A school that presents itself as a Christian alternative to public school, SFCA’s mission is to educate, expose, and create a well-balanced child from Kindergarten through 12th grade. SFCA’s foundational values comprehend.

Bill to Ban Police Use of Restraints that Cut Off Oxygen Passes Assembly Floor

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With a 49-5 vote, AB 490 passed the Assembly Floor today.Authored by Chair of SelectCommittee on Police Reform, Mike A. Gipson (D-Carson), AB 490 seeks to ban law enforcement from using restraints that cause positional asphyxia.

“Last year, we witnessed the death of my API brother, Angelo Quinto, a Navy veteran, who was tragically killed by police when an officer knelt on his neck for nearly five minutes,” said Gipson. “We need to make sure all methods of restraining someone do not turn unnecessarily deadly!”

Positional asphyxia is a deadly condition that can occur when a person being restrained cannot get enough oxygen. This also includes the “knee to neck” restraint, a technique that led to the death of George Floyd.

“My bill still allows officers to protect themselves in life-threatening situations, but it does not allow them to cut off anyone’s airway,” stated Gipson. “The circumstances of Angelo Quinto’s death are a stark parallel to George Floyd’s, which both exposed loopholes in use-of-force policies.”

For Black entrepreneurs, a fresh start at Tropicana Field as pandemic recedes

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By Kavitha Surana

As the sun rose high over Tropicana Field Saturday morning, the parking lot below filled with tents heralding a new kind of weekend market, one that highlights Black-owned small businesses.

Tables filled with fashion accessories and homemade skin care lines. Food vendors heated up grills, raring to sell hushpuppies, lobster bites and dishes loaded with secret recipe “Smackin’ Garlic Butter.”

There were bucket hats and snow cones, waist trainers that promised a Coke-bottle figure, and soy candles decorated with glitter. Sea moss, the health food of the moment, found its way into smoothies, elixirs, and soaps.

Simone Biles wins record seventh national women’s all-around title

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Simone Biles celebrates after competing in the vault during the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Sunday, June 6, 2021, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

USA Gymnastics star and world champion Simone Biles took home her record seventh national women’s all-around title at the US Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, on Sunday.

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Biles, who is expected to be the linchpin of the USA Women’s Gymnastics team for this summer’s Tokyo Olympics, won with a score of 119.650 which was 4.7 points ahead of runner-up Sunisa Lee. 

Biles’ teammate Jordan Chiles finished third with a score of 114.450.

“I feel like I did try to enjoy it because it could be one of my last championships that I’ll attend,” Biles said. “But it’s also the road to Tokyo, and after this we have trials, so we just have to really embrace the moment.

“Biles’ seven titles are the most by any American woman.

Black Cryptocurrency Millionaire Shares His Journey

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by Jeroslyn Johnson

In 2019, Terrence J. Leonard invested $2,000 into the cryptocurrency market. Now, two years later, the young investor is sharing his journey to becoming a millionaire.
After he started to see profits through his early investments, the software engineer cashed out his 401(k) and reinvested it into cryptocurrency, Newsweek reports.
“There were penalties I paid in order to do that, but I’ve since made back that money many times over,” he said.

Over the course of the pandemic, Leonard watched as his investments started to skyrocket. By April 2021, his crypto investments finally hit the $1 million mark.

The state of Ohio vs. a sex trafficked teenager

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The paperwork was signed, her belongings were stuffed into a plastic bag, and then, finally, it was time. She was guided down a long hallway. She stepped through a metal detector. A heavy door was pushed open, and Alexis Martin walked out of prison.

“Where am I going?” she asked her lawyers, hesitating on the sidewalk. It was April of 2020, the pandemic’s early days, when Ohio’s governor was going on television every afternoon to talk about shutdowns and masks and case counts — until the news conference when he had something else to announce. He was granting the release of a 22-year-old incarcerated woman.

“She was 15 years of age when she committed the crime,” Mike DeWine explained. “She is a child sex trafficking survivor.”

Howard University will name its College of Fine Arts after Chadwick Boseman

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Two decades ago, Chadwick Boseman graduated from Howard University with a degree from the College of Fine Arts. Now, that school will bear his name.

Howard University announced Wednesday that its newly reestablished College of Fine Arts will be named for the actor, one of its most famous alumni, as the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts.

 When Boseman attended Howard, the school decided to integrate the College of Fine Arts into the College of Arts & Sciences, to the chagrin of Boseman and other students, the university said. In 2018, the university announced its plans to reestablish the school.

Samuel E. Wright, Effervescent Voice of The Little Mermaid’s Sebastian, Dead at 74

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Samuel E. Wright, the beloved actor, primarily known for his unforgettable voice work portraying the stern crab in Disney’s The Little Mermaid (1989) has died at the age of 74, Variety reports. The official page of Wright’s hometown, Montgomery, N.Y., confirmed the news on Tuesday. According to Deadline, Wright died of prostate cancer in his home in Walden, N.Y.

“Today, the Town of Montgomery mourns the loss of Sam Wright,” the Facebook post read. “Sam was an inspiration to us all and along with his family established the Hudson Valley Conservatory. Sam and his family have impacted countless Hudson Valley youth always inspiring them to reach higher and dig deeper to become the best version of themselves. On top of his passion for the arts and his love for his family, Sam was most known for walking into a room and simply providing PURE JOY to those he interacted with. He loved to entertain, he loved to make people smile and laugh and he loved to love.”

Born November 20, 1946, Wright’s acting career spanned across film, TV and theatre.

Taking on abusive and deadly policing with new DOJ leadership

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FLORIDA COURIER – In his first month on the job, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland reversed a Trump-era policy that made it harder for the Justice Department to investigate police departments and hold them accountable for violating people’s civil rights.

By Ben Jealous

President Biden has spoken personally about the importance of ending police violence and reimagining public safety.

Thanks to the voters who elected President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, we now have a Department of Justice that actually cares about justice.

And I am not just talking about justice as an idea. I am talking about a Department of Justice that is willing to take on abusive policing and law enforcement agencies that are corrupted by racism.

In his first month on the job, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland reversed a Trump-era policy that made it harder for the Justice Department to investigate police departments and hold them accountable for violating people’s civil rights.

And he was just getting started. In the past few weeks, the Justice Department has announced that it is starting an investigation of the police departments in Minneapolis—where George Floyd was murdered by former officer Derek Chauvin while other officers watched.

The Minnesota AFL-CIO has called the city’s police union a white supremacist-led organization.

Two brothers were wrongfully convicted of rape and murder. Nearly 40 years later, they are getting $75 million in compensation

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By Nicole Chavez and Christina Carrega, CNN

A federal jury has awarded $75 million to two brothers in North Carolina, decades after they were convicted of rape and murder they did not commit.

Leon Brown and Henry McCollum were arrested in 1983 and spent nearly 31 years in prison before the half-brothers were exonerated in 2014.

The award is significant because not all exonerees in the United States are guaranteed compensation. The federal government, Washington, DC, and only 35 states have some form of restitution laws, according to the Innocence Project, but advocates say many of them fall short in compensating people.

Like many exonerees around the country, Brown and McCollum opted to file a federal civil rights lawsuit against the government agencies involved in their wrongful convictions – a process that advocates say often takes years and it’s challenging to win.

Spectrum Pay it Forward Opportunity

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Let us help you connect with your customers.

Minority-owned businesses can apply here for a chance to receive three months of TV advertising, a free commercial, and more.

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FBI and DHS report finds deaths at hands of racially motivated violent extremists on the rise in US

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By Whitney Wild and Geneva Sands, CNN

A newly released government report on domestic violent extremism warns lone wolf attackers with easily accessible weapons present the greatest terrorism threat to the US and the number of people dying at the hands of racially motivated extremists every year is on the rise since 2017. The joint report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security shows 2019 was “the most lethal year” for domestic violent extremist attacks since 1995 — with 32 people killed, 24 of them by White supremacists. The report focuses on data from 2017-2019.

First enhanced child tax credit payments to go out July 15

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By Tami Luhby, CNN

The families of more than 65 million children will start receiving enhanced child tax credit monthly payments of up to $300 on July 15, the Biden administration announced Monday.The temporary benefit, which will be sent to 39 million households and covers 88% of children in the US, stems from the Democrats’ $1.9 trillion coronavirus rescue package. The vast majority of families will receive the funds via direct deposit, while the rest will get checks or debit cards in the mail.

Rebuilding our own ‘Black Wall Street’ in St. Petersburg

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 “Rebuilding our own ‘Black Wall Street’ in St. Petersburg.” That was the vision cast for the Sankofa project by Albert Lee, CEO of the Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corporation (also known as the BBIC), at last week’s Design Team Kick-Off for the Sankofa Project on the Deuces.

The BBIC is one of five non-profit organizations that comprise the Sankofa Vision Group, a co-development partner to the City of St. Petersburg in building the Sankofa project, which will bring new housing and about 30,000 square feet of commercial space to 2.8 acres front-facing the Deuces.

Lee was also one of 27 local leaders who traveled to Durham, N.C., in 2018 to tour its famous Black Wall Street and other equity initiatives, including the American Underground start-up incubator and co-working space. That was the facility that inspired the commercial part of the Sankofa project in St. Petersburg.

“That vision is well underway,” said Veatrice Farrell, executive director for The Deuces Live, who attended the kick-off session. “We have so many Deuces neighbors welcoming and supporting this alongside their own projects,” said Farrell. “The Woodson museum is a prime example, and is our hope that the design vision will be symbiotic with other projects nearby.”

The May 6 meeting was convened by the City of St. Petersburg’s project management team, led by Rob Gerdes, the Neighborhood Affairs director, and James Jackson, the city’s project manager for the Sankofa project.

Sell Your Products Gloablly: New Business Opportunity

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Trend Steady Marketplace is looking for small businesses who would like to host their products on our online marketplace. 

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Attorneys for Andrew Brown’s family will continue to petition for release of all videos of fatal shooting

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By Madeline Holcombe, CNN

Following the family’s viewing of body and dash camera footage of Andrew Brown Jr.’s death, attorneys for the family recommitted to pursuing the full release of all videos of the shooting.
“We will move fairly quickly on that matter to go before the court to make our arguments to get the videos released,” attorney Harry Daniels said.

Brown was fatally shot April 21 when Pasquotank County deputies in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, were trying to execute a warrant. The community and family have called for the release of the footage since, especially as their attorneys and prosecutors differed over whether Brown was driving toward officers or away when they opened fire.

She broke her NDA to speak out against Pinterest. Now she’s helping others come forward

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Ifeoma Ozoma has co-sponsored a bill to protect workers who speak out on discrimination or harassment. ‘Coming forward should not carry as much risk,’ she said
For months, Ifeoma Ozoma couldn’t tell anyone – not even her closest friends and family – why she had left her high-profile job at Pinterest. Even as she gave speeches about her work at the tech company, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) she signed forbade her to share the reason for quitting her role as a public policy manager,

Benjamin Crump Justice & Equality

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In less than a decade, the Florida-based attorney has become the voice for the families of Trayvon Martin, Micheal Brown, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd – Black people whose deaths at the hands of police and vigilantes sparked a movement.
He has won multimillion-dollar settlements in police brutality cases. He’s pushed cities to ban no-knock warrants. He has told a congressional committee that reform is needed because “it’s become painfully obvious we have two systems of justice; one for white Americans and one for Black Americans,”

A timeline of new and old efforts to limit the political power of Black Americans and other voters of color

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America's long history of Black voter suppression

Analysis by Brandon Tensley, CNN

“We are witnessing right now a massive and unabashed assault on voting rights, unlike anything we’ve ever seen since the Jim Crow era. This is Jim Crow in new clothes.”

That was newly elected Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, giving his maiden floor speech in March. His focus on the past — on how racial hierarchies persist — makes good sense.

As of March 24, lawmakers in 47 states have introduced more than 360 bills this year with provisions that restrict voting access, according to New York University School of Law’s Brennan Center for Justice.

(For a rough comparison: The Brennan Center’s tally in early February 2020 identified 35 restrictive bills in 15 states.)

Much of this legislative blitz, which follows Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump in the November presidential election, disproportionately targets voters of color — in particular Black voters, who played a critical role in winning both the White House and the US Senate for Democrats.

The current assault on participatory democracy is consistent with a long US history of political machinations intended to ensure power for White men and keep it at a distance for everyone else, most especially Black Americans.

The timeline below lays out some important dates in this history, as well as dates that mark significant advancements in voting rights.

San Francisco to reinvest $3.75m from police budget into black businesses

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The city of San Francisco has announced a plan to redirect $3.75 million from its police budget to Black-owned businesses. 

Mayor London Breed made the announcement in a statement Wednesday, May 5 saying, “Across this country, and in our city, we’ve seen how the Black community’s economic growth and prosperity has historically been disrupted and marginalized.”

“This funding is part our efforts to undo the harm of generations of disinvestment and economic inequities. As we work to recover and make San Francisco a better place to live, work, and do business, we have to invest our resources in a way that lifts up and supports African American small business owners, entrepreneurs, and the entire community,” said breed.

Recording a cop in Florida? Court rules you could get arrested.

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Taking smartphone videos of cops in public could shine a light on police misconduct — but it also could land you behind bars.

A divided Florida appeals court ruling on Wednesday upheld the arrest of a woman who filmed officers outside a movie theater.

The decision in a Boynton Beach case comes amid the nation’s racial justice awakening, after deadly police encounters with Black citizens were caught on camera. And it leaves open the question of whether a person recording George Floyd’s murder could have been arrested in Florida.

Officers had the authority to arrest a young mother named Tasha Ford who recorded them detaining her teenage son in 2009, based on a 2-1 opinion by judges at the 4th District Court of Appeal.

‘Floyd was my man. But George Floyd is a movement.’

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Courteney Ross turned off her car engine and took a deep breath. She stepped out of her old minivan on this blustery night in late March, pulling out a box of 46 red glasses and 46 candles that she wanted to set down at the corner where her boyfriend, George Floyd, had begged a police officer to stop suffocating him.

It was the night after opening arguments in the murder trial against Derek Chauvin, the officer who had dug his knee into Floyd’s neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds. Ross’s therapist had instructed her to avoid watching the proceedings, to try to carry on as normally as possible. But what was normal in this city on edge? Every move she made felt like it threatened her inner peace — or even the justice system.

“I’ve never felt more isolated,” said Ross, 45. “Everyone’s got their own thing going because of Floyd, everyone’s on this journey, and I still don’t know what to do or what to feel.”

She began to tremble as she approached the now-infamous corner of 38th and Chicago, the location of the Cup Foods neighborhood market. The last time she had tried participating in activities there, Ross said, someone had suggested she take her opinions back to her own community. This movement wasn’t about her: a White woman who had grown up on the other side of town.

As the world tried to make sense of Floyd’s death, Ross was trying to make sense of her place in it. They had been together for three years, but she was neither bound to Floyd by law or by blood. To make it through, Ross had begun to treat Floyd’s death as a private pain that did not intersect with the struggle it represented. She worried that her mourning could seem shortsighted, selfish, even out of place.

Chef says 22 South Food Hall is a return to family roots

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It seemed like William and Bryan Graveley, owners of Betterway Barbeque, knew most of the people in the dining room Monday night, as 22 South Food Hall in the Historic Manhattan Casino opened its doors for a friends and family preview.

The brothers stopped at many of the tables, catching up with friends and asking how guests were enjoying their food — and getting big smiles, thumbs up and enthusiastic head nods in return.

They also were getting an affirmation for being a part of an initiative to bring new businesses to The Deuces, the 22nd Street South corridor that traditionally has been a hub for Black-owned businesses and families, including the Graveley family.

“It’s kind of like coming back to our roots and helping to revitalize what was taken away,” William Graveley told the St. Pete Catalyst.

Betterway Barbeque is among the initial seven food concepts at 22 South. (See a gallery of photos below).

The food hall, scheduled to open to the public April 30, is one of the key elements in the revamped Historic Manhattan Casino at 642 22nd St. S. The city-owned building, leased by the Callaloo Group, also will feature an incubator for fledgling restaurateurs, a culinary training program run by Metropolitan Ministries, and co-work space run by Rising Tide Innovation Center.

St. Petersburg NAACP-backed panel picks its choice for Trop redevelopment plan

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A panel sponsored and assembled by the local chapter of the NAACP ranked Sugar Hill Community Partners, led by San Francisco developer JMA Ventures, the highest scoring of the four shortlisted Tropicana Field redevelopment plans.

Tampa investment firm Third Lake Partners, which partnered on a proposal with Atlanta’s Portman Holdings and Portman Residential, came in second, with Miami’s Midtown Development coming in at a close third. Orlando-based Unicorp National Development was fourth.

“Needless to say, we’re incredibly honored to get the endorsement,” said David Carlock, Sugar Hill’s development manager. “The NAACP has a long and rich history of fighting for the right things, and fighting for justice, and we respect that very much.”

Sugar Hill scored the highest following two virtual forums this month in which the development teams each answered seven questions created by members of the NAACP’s economic development committee, focusing primarily in community benefits.

Six judges — Elizabeth Siplin, chair of the NAACP’s economic development committee; Dick Pierce of Eckerd College; Treva Davis, a descendant of a Gas Plant District resident; Trevor Mallory, chair of the NAACP’s housing committee; Bridget Narvaez of Empath Health; Cassandra Jackson, a member of the NAACP’s executive committee — then scored each answer 1 through 5.

St. Petersburg NAACP President Esther Eugene said she recused herself from the judging after she appeared in a promotional video Sugar Hill submitted to the city. In it, she was identified as the chapter’s president. After the video came out, she said didn’t offer her comments in that capacity. Sugar Hill apologized and changed the video, calling it an error.

On Thursday, Eugene, a member of Leadership St. Petersburg’s 2021 class, went into more detail. She said she thought she was offering comments on video to Sarah-Jane Vatelot about Vatelot’s book, Where Have All the Mangoes Gone?, which covers the history of the Tropicana Field site and includes an early version of the Sugar Hill redevelopment plan. Vatelot, an architect with St. Petersburg firm Behar + Peteranecz and a Leadership St. Petersburg classmate of Eugene’s, is also part of the Sugar Hill Community Partners team.

Black People Don’t Need Reminders That Chauvin’s Guilty Verdict Doesn’t Mean the Fight Is Over. It’s OK to Celebrate Small Victories

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I never want to be so woke that I’m unwilling to celebrate small victories.

A weird thing happens on social media whenever Black people publicly celebrate anything justice-related: Other Black people come around to remind us that America still ain’t shit and we shouldn’t get too happy. I understand it, of course. I get the impulse to be cynical for the sake of being cynical; I just think it’s weird that anyone thinks Black people need to be told not to get complacent—because when have we ever?

Last summer, Black people led the largest wave of protests against systemic racism America has seen in recent years, and we did it after the killers of Walter ScottBotham Jean and Markeis McGlockton were convicted of crimes and sent to prison. After each of those cases ended in convictions, Black people expressed joy, but literally, none of us decided that we could kick back with a can of tea and a bag of Skittles and just enjoy post-racial America.

DMX’s Public Memorial to Be Held at Barclays Center

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The public memorial for Earl “DMX” Simmons will be held in Barclays Center in Brooklyn. 

According to Variety, DMX’s manager confirmed the public memorial will be take place on April 24, with limited attendance expected due to current COVID-19 protocols. The current restrictions require attendance be capped at 10 percent capacity, which would be about 1,900 at Barclays.

On April 9, DMX’s family confirmed the rapper-actor’s death died at the age of 50, after a heart attack. He was placed on life support and subsequent brain function test results showed no improvement.

DENNIS RODMAN’S DAUGHTER MAKES HISTORY MINUTES AFTER MAKING HER NATIONAL WOMEN’S SOCCER LEAGUE DEBUT

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Former NBA player Dennis Rodman made many headlines on and off the basketball court during his heyday while playing for the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, and Dallas Mavericks. The antics he displayed were definitely fuel for the media to feed off of. Now, his name is appearing again, not for his behavior but in recognition of his daughter.

FAMU Alumna Kimberly Godwin Named ABC News President

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NEWS - Kim Godwin (ABC/Heidi Gutman) KIM GODWIN

Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumna Kimberly Godwin has been named president of ABC News, the Disney company announced Wednesday.

Godwin, who has been executive vice president of news at CBS News since 2019, will oversee editorial and business operations forbroadcast, digital, streaming and audio news across the network, which includes trusted and iconic franchises “Good Morning America,” “World News Tonight,” “20/20,” “Nightline,” “The View,”  “This Week,” and FiveThirtyEight.

“Congratulations to FAMU Alumna Kim Godwin. The FAMU community is immensely proud of her accomplishment.  Her hard work and excellence have carried her to the pinnacle of her profession as president of ABC News. This reinforces what we always tell our students: You can get anywhere from FAMU.  ABC News will be in good hands,” said FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D.

Florida’s health agencies are led by Black women. Can they create equity?

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Her grandfather had suffered a stroke, and needed a doctor immediately. Roberson, then just under 10 years old in a north Florida town of about 800, could do nothing but watch time tick away while paramedics made their way from a nearby city.

“I understand what it means when we read in textbooks that there’s limited access (to medical care) in rural areas,” said Roberson, 35, a Greenville native who’s now a top official at the Florida Department of Health.

President Obama urges Black Americans to ‘fight back’ against voter suppression

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Former President Barack Obama knows a thing or two about organizing and building coalitions for change. As a community organizer in Chicago, Mr. Obama developed the art of bringing people together around issues that impacted poor and marginalized communities, ultimately harnessing those same skills as a politician to energize voters — particularly Black and young voters — and making political history.

In his memoir A Promised Land, Obama chronicles his life and historic presidency with rich prose and deep reflection. America’s first Black president inspired a nation marred by its racist past and gave new hope for a future of true equality and full democratic participation.

Congressman Alcee Hastings, after career of triumph, calamity and comeback, dies at 84

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Congressman Alcee Hastings, whose life was marked by perseverance, calamity and a comeback, has died. He was 84.

Hastings crusaded against racial injustice as a civil rights lawyer, became a federal judge who was impeached and removed from office, and went on to win 15 congressional elections, becoming Florida’s senior member of Congress.

He died Tuesday morning, a longtime friend said. His death was confirmed in a statement from his family.

In late 2018, Hastings was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. For much of the ensuing two years, he continued public appearances between medical treatments, but more recently he hadn’t been in public. In recent days, he had been in hospice care. “Alcee was a fighter, and he fought this terrible disease longer than most. He faced it fearlessly, and at times even made fun of it,” said Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness.

HORUS Wins Largest-Ever City Contract with Black-Owned Firm in St. Pete, a Full Circle Moment for the Graham Family

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The Graham brothers presenting their capabilities in managing large public-private projects

ABOVE: The Graham brothers present their firm’s ability to successfully execute public-private projects; HORUS is one of the largest black-own construction firms in the Southeast U.S.

– Gypsy C. Gallardo, for One Community and Power Broker magazine 

The Graham family has built one of the largest black-owned construction firms in the Southeastern United States but had never – until now – had the opportunity to serve as a prime contractor in St. Petersburg, the city their parents made home in 1968. 

Last December, their firm – HORUS Construction – was selected through a competitive bid process to handle the design/build contract with the City of St. Petersburg for the Sankofa Vision, one of four components of the City’s Deuces Rising plan to accelerate revitalization along the 22nd Street South corridor (affectionately known as “the Deuces”).   

And next Thursday, April 8th, St. Pete’s City Council will vote on whether to approve phase 1 of what is believed to be the largest construction contract ever awarded to a black-led firm in the City’s 133-year history.  

The Sankofa Vision entails new construction of 26 townhomes and 28,000 to 35,000 square feet of commercial space that will cost roughly $17 million, according to preliminary estimates.  

Though there will likely be larger contracts for minority-owned firms on the 86-acre Tropicana Field Redevelopment Project, this is a full circle moment for the Grahams, and an historic marker for the City, which shuttered its minority business procurement program in 1999.  

Prior to now, the largest City-awarded contract to a black-owned firm might have been on the original Tropicana Stadium development project, according to several elders contacted for this article. The project lasted three years (1987 to 1990) and its largest contract to a black-owned firm might’ve ranged from $750,000 to $1.5 million in antique dollars ($1.7 to $3.3 million in today’s dollars). I will continue to research the question.

But if City Council approves the contract with HORUS on Thursday, not only is it likely the largest such contract to date. It may also be the first time St. Petersburg has awarded a contract to an all-MBE team.  

HORUS, the prime, is 100% African American-owned firm, and will partner with Howard & Associates as architect and Volt-Air for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering (both also black-owned), along with Master Consulting Engineers (a Hispanic-owned firm).  

Jonathan and James Graham founded HORUS Construction in 2001 (Jonathan, the youngest of the family’s three boys, as President, and James, the eldest, as Director of Operations). Since then, HORUS has completed over 200 commercial projects in 8 states, including 15 international airports, theaters and auditoriums, schools, bank branches, retail plazas and mixed-use projects.

Challenges Winning Contracts Make This a Proud Moment

Despite the firm’s award-winning track record, HORUS had never won the opportunity to lead a project in St. Petersburg. Not for lack of trying.  

“We’ve done over 50 projects for Hillsborough County Schools, right across the bridge, but could never break through to win a project in St. Petersburg. We’ve been a sub-contractor on several projects in the city, but never the lead,” 

When asked for his opinion as to why, James says he and other minority contractors see St. Petersburg and Pinellas County as closed markets for MBEs. “We’ve bid on projects that HORUS would’ve been perfect for, given our track record. But we weren’t chosen.”  

That’s beginning to change, he says. HORUS is also working with the Pinellas County Office of Small Business & Supplier Diversity (OSBSD) to explore opportunities through its SBE Program.  

The brothers say they couldn’t be prouder to be selected for the Sankofa project. “This is personal for us,” says James. “The Graham family has lived in this area for 50+ years, with fond memories of going to Geech’s for barbecue and Green’s Bakery for sandwiches and baked goods. We’ve seen the Deuces past and present, and we are honored for the chance to be a big part of its future.”  

Both men graduated from St. Petersburg High School. James was the first black junior classman ever inducted into the National Honor Society at the school.  

HORUS represents three generations of contractors. Their father – James Graham Sr. – was a contractor and three of James’ children also work for the family firm. His two daughters – Lena and Candice – manage business development and SBE/MBE contracting programs for HORUS, while James, III, is a Superintendent, currently overseeing the Moffitt Cancer Center expansion.  

“HORUS and the Graham family represent all that we hope to achieve through the Sankofa Vision,” says Pastor Louis Murphy, of Mt. Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, one of five non-profit partners of the Sankofa Vision Group and a member of the 2020 Plan/One Community Plan board that spearheaded the Sankofa Vision. “Not only is HORUS a shining example of success in multi-generational wealth building. They proactively reach back to help smaller firms build their businesses too.” 

The company sponsors the HORUS Academy, which mentors and cultivates sub-contracts for smaller firms. So far Academy participants have grown from an average $250,000 in revenues before starting the program to $1.7 million by the end of two years and $8.6 million by the end of six years with the Academy.  HORUS is partnering with Pinellas County’s OSBSD to launch Construction Management Academy in Q4 of 2021, to prepare more minority construction firms to compete on larger jobs.

Intentional About Reaching Out to MBEs

The selection of HORUS for the Sankofa project is a prime example of the outreach and advocacy sometimes needed to give minority-owned contractors an opportunity. The Sankofa Group and City staff were intentional about getting the RFP into the hands of the largest black-owned firms in the region.  

“This is a defining project, not just for the Deuces, but for our whole city,” said St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman. “I want to thank the HORUS team for coming on board to execute the Sankofa vision for the Deuces, and look forward to putting a shovel in the ground to get this project started.”

Deputy Mayor Dr. Kanika Tomalin added, “This is a critical project in St. Petersburg, and we have high expectations, not just for what the site will be once we cut the last ribbon, but for how it will catalyze opportunity for our community. We have full confidence in the Graham family and express our gratitude to the HORUS team for taking on this important endeavor.”

About HORUS: 

  • Founded: 2001  
  • Offices: 6 offices (St. Petersburg, Tampa, Orlando, Gainesville, Deerfield Beach, North Carolina)  
  • Workforce: 40 Salaried Employees 
  • Certifications & Memberships: Certified MBE with State of Florida, State of Louisiana, Hillsborough County and Broward County; U.S. Green Building Council Member; and National Association of Minority Contractors Member
  • Larger Projects: Gaillard Performing Arts Center (Charleston, South Carolina, the largest contract ever awarded to an African American-owned company in the city’s history); University Hospital (New Orleans); The Renaissance Center (Sarasota); Encore-Tempo (Tampa) and Marriott on the Water (Tampa) 
  • Company Motto: “We Listen. We Build. We Deliver. – Excellence is our Standard”  
  • Rankings: 18th largest MBE in Tampa Bay (Tampa Bay Business Journal); and 8th largest Black-Owned Business in Tampa Bay (Power Broker Magazine)  
  • Online: Horus Construction Services, Inc. (horus-cs.com)

National Launch of a New Campaign for Long-Term Affordable Housing Solutions

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Join tomorrow’s (March 23) national call from 3-4:30 pm ET for the launch of NLIHC’s new campaign for long-term affordable housing solutions: “HoUSed: Universal. Stable. Affordable.” The HoUSed campaign will advance anti-racist policies and the large-scale, sustained investments and reforms necessary to ensure renters with the lowest incomes have an affordable place to call home. We will be joined on the call by House Financial Services Committee Chair Maxine Waters (D-CA), Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY), other national leaders, and state partners.

The most surprising thing about the border is that US presidents keep being surprised by it

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(CNN)New photos released by a US congressman Monday revealed conditions in Border Patrol custody: Migrants packed on mats in crowded cage-like spaces, wrapped in Mylar blankets.If these images of children and families detained in a government-run tent facility in Donna, Texas, look familiar to you, they should.We’ve seen this before. Again and again.Remember this photo from 2019, when families were held in crowded conditions in temporary tent facilities?

Nikki Gaskin-Capehart named one of Florida’s most influential Black Women

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ONYX Magazine kicked off Women’s History Month by recognizing 18 of the most powerful Black women in Florida. The honorees have made significant strides as professionals, impacted positive change as community leaders and served as mentors to others who aspired to follow in their path. This annual event shows merely a snapshot of the true power Black women have.

St. Pete’s own Nikki Gaskin-Capehart, director of Urban Affairs for the City of St. Petersburg, was honored as one of ONYX Magazine’s2021 Women on the Move.  The March 5 event was a virtual celebration of Florida’s most influential and impactful Black women.

Gaskin-Capehart is a daughter of the Sunshine City, where she lives with her family. Mayor Rick Kriseman appointed her to serve as the director of Urban Affairs for the City of St. Petersburg. She is a change agent leading the city’s plans on behalf of the mayor in the urban core.

When They Go Royal, We Go High? Michelle Obama Weighs In on Meghan and Harry, Says She’s Praying for ‘Forgiveness’

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It probably goes without saying that Michelle Obama, while one of the realest to ever assume the role of first lady, is perhaps also the most gracious. Granted, though she’s our big sister in our heads, we don’t know Obama personally, but in the face of any number of challenges, undeserved insults, and indignities, she has proven time and time again to be a better person than us, consistently taking the high road, no matter what depths others might sink to. It’s likely why she has outranked Queen Elizabeth II and everyone else as “Most Admired Woman in the World” for several consecutive years now.

DeSantis rejects pardon request for voting-rights leader

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Desmond Meade has won international acclaim for his voting-rights advocacy and helped thousands of convicted felons like him be able to cast ballots in Florida.

But the 53-year-old husband and father hasn’t redeemed himself enough for Gov. Ron DeSantis to grant a pardon.

The Republican governor on Wednesday rejected Meade’s request for a pardon, marking the second time in six months that Meade’s appeal for clemency was denied.

CBA Policy Workgroup Meeting

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FINALLY, St. Pete may be on the verge of having a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) policy to ensure community inclusion in development projects citywide. CBA policy is used by many local governments to move the needle of equity. We asked for one to be created here. City leaders responded in the affirmative. On yesterday, after 14 draft rounds of negotiation and deliberation, Council member Deborah Figgs-Sanders introduced the policy to her peers and called for formal review by the Council’s PS&I Committee, chaired by CM Darden J. Rice. So far, 6 Council- members have voiced strong support.

We are convening leaders and representatives of diverse community-based organizations to provide an important update on the new CBA policy in the City of St. Petersburg.

Please join us March 9th @6 pm for an update on what the policy entails and where we stand in its passage. RSVP:https://us02web.zoom.us/…/tZwvd…

Are you Eligible? Need Help Applying for the Forgivable PPP Loan?

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Mar 5, 2021 02:30 PM

The U.S. Small Business Administration has opened the application window again for its Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Round 1 or Round 2 PPP applications are now being accepted. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2021. 

Vernon Jordan, civil rights leader and close ally of Bill Clinton, dies

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Vernon Jordan, a civil rights leader and close adviser to former President Bill Clinton, died Monday evening. He was 85.

A cause of death was not immediately released.

Jordan died peacefully at his home surrounded by his wife and family, Jordan’s niece Ann Walker confirmed to CNN.

According to Walker, Jordan had his favorite dinner and dessert — chocolate chip ice cream — before he went to bed.

Women In Business – Women’s History Month

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Program Success News

History of a St. Petersburg lynching was hidden. Not anymore.

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Warning: The descriptions in this story and a photograph of a public lynching are graphic and disturbing.

Six years ago, a crew replacing light poles on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street found an engraved metal plate. It was a few feet off the ground, blackened with graffiti and hidden behind a planter bursting with bird of paradise, almost invisible.

Announcement that no officers will be charged in Daniel Prude’s death

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Dozens of protesters marched in Rochester on Tuesday night, just hours after New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a grand jury voted not to indict any police officers on charges relating to Daniel Prude’s death. 

Prude, a 41-year-old Black man, was having a mental health episode on March 23 when officers handcuffed him, covered his head with a “spit sock” and held him on the ground in a prone position. Prude was taken to a hospital, declared brain dead and died a week later.

Co-Working Space Focus Group

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We’re looking for a diverse group of entrepreneurs who already lease space and maybe in the market for different options in St. Petersburg, Florida or who have considered or explored retail, office, incubator, or co-work space leasing. We want to understand what features, amenities, and space options are attractive to this group to help inform considerations for a future business space that will be located on the Deuces corridor (22nd Street South) in St. Petersburg.

Black women executives making history in the c-suite offer career advice to those following in their footsteps

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Kamala Harris isn’t the only Black woman making history in 2021.

The January 20 swearing-in of the nation’s first woman, Black and southeast Asian vice president came at a pivotal moment for Black women in the business world, which up until recently has failed miserably to increase the number of Black executives — male and female — in its ranks.

In 2018, only 3.3% of all US corporate executive and senior leadership positions were filled by Black people. Not much has changed since then, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Black women’s roles in the civil rights movement have been understated — but that’s changing

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Claudette Colvin did a revolutionary act nearly 10 months before Rosa Parks.

In March 1955, the 15-year-old was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a White person on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. 

The teenager and others challenged the law in court. But civil rights leaders, pointing to circumstances in Colvin’s personal life, thought that Parks would be the better representative of the movement.

“People said I was crazy,” Colvin recently told CNN’s Abby Phillip. “Because I was 15 years old and defiant and shouting, ‘It’s my constitutional right!’ “

Black entrepreneurs find success at St. Petersburg’s 1Pier

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 Along the St. Petersburg Pier, you’ll find several kiosks where entrepreneurs sell their products. But then there’s 1Pier, a kiosk of nine entrepreneurs, all African-American women with different businesses, banding together.

“1Pier is the initiative of One Community that the city of St. Petersburg was able to partner with through our Urban Affairs Department. We really wanted to focus on making the Pier a welcoming place that really reflected the demographic of the city and what better way to do that than through a women’s collective like this that shows the true diversity of our community,” said Nikki Gaskin-Capehart, the urban affairs director for the city of St. Petersburg.

Safrone Presley of Glow Up Body Oils says the city’s support makes a big difference.

“Being able to work with the city of St. Petersburg, we get a lot of support from them, they’ve helped us make sure that we try to have our businesses together so that we can succeed and we also work with each other to succeed,” Presley explained.

The Chicago plant that sparked a hunger strike amid environmental racism claims

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A metal recycling plant is due to open on the polluted Southeast Side months after the same firm shut a metal scrapyard in a white, affluent part of town

Trinity Colón grew up believing everyone had asthma.

Raised among heavy industry on the Southeast Side of Chicago, Colón had no reason to believe otherwise: her entire family and neighbors shared the same respiratory issues. The rituals that came with them – like keeping windows shut to ward off billowing clouds of petroleum coke – seemed ordinary.

Someone tried to poison a Florida city by hacking into the water treatment system, sheriff says

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Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri speaks at a press conference on Monday, February 8, about the attempted hacking of the city of Oldsmar’s water treatment system.

A hacker gained access into the water treatment system of Oldsmar, Florida, on Friday and tried to increase the levels of sodium hydroxide — commonly referred to as lye — in the city’s water, officials said, putting thousands at risk of being poisoned. 

The incident took place Friday when an operator noticed the intrusion and watched the hacker access the system remotely. The hacker adjusted the level of sodium hydroxide to more than 100 times its normal levels, according to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.

 The operator immediately reduced the level back. At no time was there a significant adverse effect to the city’s water supply, and the public was never in danger, Gualtieri said. It is unknown if the breach happened from someone locally, nationally or even outside of the United States.

Tony Dungy’s open letter to NFL Owners on minority hiring

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Dear NFL Owners,

I’m writing to you today because I have a great love for the National Football League, just as you do, and want to see it be the best it can be. And I believe our league has a problem that only you can fix. We are not putting the best product possible out on the field. We have an exciting game and great competition. We will have a fantastic Super Bowl that will cap off a season where we overcame great adversity due to this pandemic. The NFL has a lot of things to be proud of, but we are not giving our fans, or our players, the best possible game. We are cheating our fans and we are cheating ourselves. And you are the only people who can change this.

The problem is we are not utilizing all of our resources because we aren’t truly embracing minority hiring in every aspect of our game. Now I know there are many people who disagree with this statement. They would say, “Every owner is trying to win and therefore you will always hire the best people.”  But if you take a look at the hiring landscape of the last four years you will certainly come to the conclusion that is not true.  And please understand this is not about one individual (Eric Bieniemy). It’s not about whether we have two Black general managers or four. It is about the mindset of finding quality leadership and utilizing ALL the talent available to the NFL. This is not a new problem and it’s one that you have fixed before. It has just taken a little work on your parts.

George Floyd’s Death Answered w/ Major Shift in Policing in St. Pete; Chief Unveils CALL Program in Community Conversation Feb 9th

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St. Pete Police Chief Anthony Holloway and Dr. Sandra Braham, CEO of Gulf Coast JFCS host a Community Conversation about CALL next Tuesday, Feb 9th. The public is welcome.

Last month’s unanimous City Council vote to approve the new CALL Program cemented an innovation in policing strategy for the City of St. Petersburg. It also represented the first major win for Black Lives Matter activists, after months of protests last year.

CALL stands for Community Assistance Life Liaison, an $850,000 Pilot Program approved by City Council in a 7-0 vote on January 7th, making St. Pete the only city in Pinellas County (and one of the few in the nation) to move to a 100% clinical response to 911 calls for help for mental and behavioral health incidents.

Over the next 8 months, the CALL Program will send social workers to handle the roughly 12,000 non-violent, non-criminal calls received by the St. Petersburg Police Department each year, to cope with mental and behavioral health crises.

Initially, social workers will be accompanied by police officers to those calls, but by the 6-month mark, pairs of social workers will be handling roughly 80% of them on their own.

Though the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department has implemented a similar program, a key difference is that – unlike St. Pete – the sheriff will continue to dispatch sworn officers along with social workers to all such calls. At least for now.

St. Petersburg’s CALL program will be administered by Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services (Gulf Coast JFCS), which will use the funds from the City to hire 16 social workers to become “first responders” to calls to the police for issues such as truancy, mental health crises, homelessness, and suicide threats.

Police Chief Anthony Holloway and Gulf Coast JFCS CEO Dr. Sandra Braham will host a Community Conversation next Tuesday, February 9th, to introduce the pilot program, which will run through September, with plans to continue services if results are positive.

The funding is a direct result of the agitation of Black Lives Matters protestors that took to the streets of downtown St. Pete in June of 2020, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd (a black man) at the hands of police in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Hundreds of local advocates held nightly protests in St. Petersburg over the summer months, calling for an end to police brutality and a fundamental shift in police budgeting and strategies. Among their demands was for the City to cease funding to new police officers, and instead allocate resources to trained mental health professionals.

The CALL Program answers that demand. The $850,000 contract is a drop in the bucket relative to the City’s annual expenditure for policing (less than 1% of the City’s $116.3 Million approved budget to the police department for FY2021).

But City officials expect a dramatic reduction in the criminalization tied to policing mental illness, and a significant time savings by the City’s sworn force of 575 police officers – a savings that City leaders say will be reinvested into quality community-centered policing activities.

Gulf Coast JFCS’s executive team will spend the next month hiring and training the team of social workers who will be stationed for rapid response in multiple office locations. The agency will also prioritize community engagement of as many partners as possible, says Gulf Coast’s CEO Dr. Sandra Braham.

She and Chief Holloway held a January 22nd virtual webinar to introduce CALL to non-profit leaders and policy makers.

The upcoming February 9th event will welcome a larger audience of city residents, community leaders, clergy, non-profit leaders and business owners.

Leaders of the protest movement in St. Petersburg are cautiously optimistic about the pilot.

Ashley Green, an organizer for Dream Defenders and Black Lives Matter, says “It’s a promising first step in a larger conversation on how we prioritize ‘care over criminality’ in our community. But it’s going to take a lot of vigilance and determination to make it work and to hopefully see it expanded beyond the pilot.”

Jabaar Edmond agrees. He spent weeks galvanizing protests with the Movement St. Pete group. “We are in a ‘wait and see’ mode to gauge the outcomes of the pilot,” said Edmond. “I hope it doesn’t stop here. Whether the pilot is successful or not, we have deeply rooted problems in the police department that need to be addressed. The CALL Program has to be one of many action steps to permanently shift the paradigm.”  

The local police union also voiced support for the move when first announced by city officials in July of 2020. A Tampa Bay Times article quotes Sun Coast Police Benevolent Association president Jonathan Vazquez as saying “Reducing the police response to non-criminal incidents has been a long standing issue…We believe this will lead to decreased strain on our police resources, reduce risks to our member officers, and better outcomes to the most vulnerable citizens that we serve.”

Chief Holloway has attended several community meetings to introduce CALL. In answer to the Power Broker’s request for comment, Holloway says “I am confident that this partnership will benefit both the police department and the community by ensuring we respond with the most appropriate resources for our residents when they are in crisis.”

Click here to register for the February 9th Virtual Community Conversation About CALL (5:30 to 7:30 pm).

This conversation is co-hosted by One Community, Pinellas County Urban League, Mt. Zion Progressive, Community Development & Training Center (CDAT), People Empowering & Restoring Communities (PERC), WAS Collaborative, Pinellas Opportunity Council, the Enough is Enough Initiative, the St. Petersburg Branch NAACP, and the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg.


East Tampa Entrepreneurs – New 5508 Accelerator Program at THAP, funded by City of Tampa

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Jason Reekmans, owner of Spotter Tax Resolution, is one of the first businesses to join the 5508 Accelerator. His firm currently has two employees who specialize in tax planning and preparation and insurance. Jason’s passion is helping families build generational wealth.

Jason Reekmans (with his family above) is owner of Spotter Tax Resolution. He is one of the first entrepreneurs to join the 5508 Accelerator. His firm currently has two employees who specialize in tax planning and preparation and insurance. Jason’s passion is helping families build generational wealth.

A One Community Opportunity Alert

The City of Tampa and the Tampa-Hillsborough Action Plan, Inc. (THAPgroup) just announced a new partnership to help microbusinesses rebound and accelerate growth in the wake of massive economic losses of 2020.

The project – called the 5508 Business Accelerator – will work with both aspiring and in-business entrepreneurs who live or operate businesses in the 7.5-square mile East Tampa community, which is one of the most racially and socioeconomically diverse areas of the City of Tampa.

The goal of the project is to help businesses measurably grow their revenue by providing their owners training, small amounts of seed capital to invest in business technology, and personal coaching.

The development-centered program is complimentary and allows entrepreneurs to attend virtual and in-person sessions covering growth topics with expert facilitators and guest speakers.

Entrepreneurs interested in the 5508 Accelerator submit applications online. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2021 and applications are reviewed and answered weekly until then.

Training sessions continue through September 30, 2021 and will cover topics such as “How to Do Business with Corporate & Government Procurement Programs,” “Determining & Sourcing Your Business Capital Needs,” “Growth & Operations Planning,” and “Virtual Work Solutions.”

“The business environment is shifting and transforming,” says THAPgroup CEO Derrick Blue. “We want to help our small businesses be able to effectively respond to these changes.” Small business programs at 5508 are dedicated to revitalizing and sustaining business growth in East Tampa.

As a point-of-synergy, participants in the Accelerator may also have the opportunity to lease space at the 5508 Incubator, which currently houses 35 resident entrepreneurs and social enterprise leaders with offices at the 3+ acre campus. The 5508 Incubator accepts an average two to four new entrepreneurs each year for 12-month affordable leases with on-site business development programming year-round.  

Entrepreneurs interested in the 5508 Business Accelerator can apply online by visiting www.thapgroup.org/5508accelerator. They may also call the THAPgrop office at 813.626.4926 or visit 5508 North 50th Street, Suite #7, in Tampa, weekdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society Inducts 60 FAMU Scholars

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Sixty Florida A&M University (FAMU) scholars joined the fellowship of Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society.

During the pandemic we have all had to make changes. As we adjust, adapt, and overcome. On January 27 Chapter Adviser and National President Veronica Yon, Ph.D., presided over the virtual program with the assistance of the following student officers: Jorge Del’Angel, president; Timia Williams, vice president; Hashanna Jallow, secretary; Jada Hoyle-Gardner, public relations liaison; and Maya Hughes, assistant public relations liaison.  

More than 300 family, friends, faculty, and staff logged joined in celebrating the chapter’s newest members, who include 15 graduate students, 23 seniors, and 22 juniors of varying majors.

 “It was the most prestigious honor society on Florida A&M’s campus when I was at FAMU, and it continues to be,” said Boyd, treasurer/director of Finance, Uniguest Inc. of Tennessee. He offered appreciation and encouragement. “Thank you so much for your service.  Thank you so much for your scholarship. Bigger and even better things await you once you go past the doors of Florida A&M, and it only gets better from here.”

Theophilus Boyd IV

During his remarks, Theophilus Boyd IV, a former president of the society’s Kappa Iota (FAMU) chapter and 1993 business administration alumnus, referred to Alpha Kappa Mu as a “real beacon.” 

 offered appreciation and encouragement. “Thank you so much for your service.  Thank you so much for your scholarship. Bigger and even better things await you once you go past the doors of Florida A&M, and it only gets better from here.”

Today! Vaccine Appointments at Publix

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A PSA of the Foundation for a Healthy St. Pete and Center for Health Equity

Pinellas County Government and the Florida Department of Health have shared that some Publix pharmacies in Pinellas County will begin offering vaccine appointments starting Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 6 a.m. 

Appointments can only be made at www.publix.com/covidvaccine and all patients will be required to show proof of Florida residency. Appointment times will not be visible before the scheduled launch time of 6 a.m., Feb. 3. 

At this time, Publix has announced the following appointment windows: 

·    Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 6 a.m. appointments will open up for vaccinations Thursday to Sunday (Feb. 4-7). 

·    Friday, Feb. 5, at 7 a.m. appointments will open up for Monday to Thursday (Feb. 8-11).

Rochester police officers handcuff and pepper-spray a 9-year-old girl after call of ‘family trouble’

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Police officers in Rochester, New York, handcuffed and pepper-sprayed a 9-year-old girl while responding to what a police official called a report of “family trouble” in an incident sharply criticized by city officials.

Two body camera videos of Friday’s incident released by the police department on Sunday show officers restraining the child, putting her in handcuffs and attempting to get her inside the back of a police vehicle as she repeatedly cries and calls for her father.

After the girl fails to follow commands to put her feet inside the car, the officers are seen pepper-spraying her.

BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT NOMINATED FOR NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

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A Norwegian Parliament member has nominated the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize.

According to The Guardian, Petter Eide wanted to recognize the American movement for its efforts “tremendous achievement” in leading the battle against racial and social injustice globally.

“Black Lives Matter has become a very important worldwide movement to fight racial injustice,” Eide said. “They have had a tremendous achievement in raising global awareness and consciousness about racial injustice.”

He also expounded on BLM’s ability to take its message beyond Black Americans and oppressed people and why the organization was so deserving of the coveted award. 

“Awarding the peace prize to Black Lives Matter, as the strongest global force against racial injustice, will send a powerful message that peace is founded on equality, solidarity and human rights and that all countries must respect those basic principles,” the publication reported. 

Pinellas Data Shows Racial Disparities in COVID Vaccinations; Community Rallying for Fair Distribution

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As of Saturday, white residents of Pinellas County were three times more likely than Black residents to have received a COVID-19 vaccination (and almost four times more likely than Hispanics).

Community leaders say that without intervention by advocates and grassroots organizing partners, the disparity may persist in the crucial months ahead.

A report by the Florida Department of Health over the weekend, showed that by January 30th, about 75,272 Pinellas County residents had been vaccinated, and that eight out of 10 of them were white (among those who reported their race).

Black and Latino residents were underrepresented in the count. African Americans are 12% of Pinellas County’s population but only 4% of people so far vaccinated. Hispanics are 10% of the population but less than 3% of those vaccinated.

The extreme shortage of vaccine doses is one part of the challenge, but that doesn’t explain the gap across race groups.

So far, 7.3% of Pinellas County’s white population has been vaccinated, compared to only 2.5% of African Americans and 2.0% of Hispanics in the county.

Community groups are tag-teaming to help improve the numbers for people of color.  On Thursday, February 4th, One Community and the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg will convene experts to answer top-of-mind questions such as:

  • Why Pinellas is experiencing racial disparities in vaccination
  • When vaccines will be available locally under President Biden’s 100-day/100 million doses campaign
  • What community partners can do to improve results, especially for people of color
  • Who to call for help to get elders and other family members vaccinated

The February 4th panel happens at 6 pm and will be moderated by Carl Lavender, Chief Equity Officer at the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg. Panelists include two practitioners on the frontline of vaccine distributions: Dr. Ulyee Choe, Director of the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County; and Dr. Nichelle Threadgill, Chief Medical Officer for Community Health Centers in Pinellas.

Watson Haynes of the Pinellas County Urban League and Dr. Shameka Jones of Florida Blue will lend perspective on advocacy and awareness raising as key to revving up vaccinations.

“The challenges will require that our healthcare system create alliances within black and brown communities,” says Lavender. “Trust and cultural competency will be key to overcoming vaccine hesitancy among groups most at risk.”

A national survey released in December 2020 showed that more African Americans distrust the vaccines and the distribution process. The survey, done by Kaiser Family Foundation, found that…

Over half of African Americans said they plan to “wait and see” how the vaccine goes with other people before getting it themselves (compared to 36% of whites who said the same thing).

In addition, 35% of African Americans say they either probably won’t or definitely won’t get the vaccine (compared to 26% of whites and Latino’s).

Click here to register for the February 4th panel Facts, Fears & Fair Distribution in Pinellas County.

Cicely Tyson, Pioneering Hollywood Icon, Dies at 96

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Emmy- and Tony-winning actress Cicely Tyson, who distinguished herself in theater, film and television, died on Thursday afternoon. She was 96.

“I have managed Miss Tyson’s career for over 40 years, and each year was a privilege and blessing,” her manager, Larry Thompson, said in a statement. “Cicely thought of her new memoir as a Christmas tree decorated with all the ornaments of her personal and professional life. Today she placed the last ornament, a Star, on top of the tree.”

Her memoir “Just As I Am” was published on Tuesday.

Tyson broke into movies with the 1959 Harry Belafonte film “Odds Against Tomorrow,” followed by “The Comedians,” “The Last Angry Man,” “A Man Called Adam” and “The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter.” Refusing to participate in the blaxploitation movies that became popular in the late ’60s, she waited until 1972 to return to the screen in the drama “Sounder,” which captured several Oscar nominations including one for Tyson as best actress.

US Army announces a new grooming policy in a push for inclusion

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A female soldier poses for an example photo with locs to illustrate an upcoming change to Army grooming and appearance standards. Soldiers will be authorized to wear multiple hairstyles if they can maintain a neat and professional appearance, and if the hairstyle doesn’t impede the use of headgear or other equipment.

The US Army announced a series of new grooming policies on Tuesday that will allow soldiers to wear ponytails, locs, lipstick and even earrings. 

According to the new policy, women can wear nail polish as long as the colors are deemed “acceptable” and male soldiers are authorized to wear clear nail polish. Soldiers can also highlight their hair as long as they choose a natural color. Certain colors like purple, pink, blue, green, orange, bright red and fluorescent or neon colors are not allowed.

The current policy will also lift restrictions on soldiers braiding, twisting, locking, or cornrowing their hair, although it does set out some specifications for doing so. The new guidelines will go into place in late February.

Emmett Till’s childhood home is now a landmark in Chicago

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The former home of Emmett Till is on St. Lawrence Avenue in Chicago.

The home of Emmett Till, the African American teen whose murder became an important catalyst in the civil rights movement, has been granted landmark status by the Chicago City Council.

In 1955, Emmett traveled to Mississippi to visit his great uncle. It was during this visit that Till was accused of whistling at Carolyn Bryant, a White woman.

Four days later, Bryant’s husband, Roy, and his half-brother, J.W. Milam, killed Emmett, 14, and dumped his body in the Tallahatchie River.

 Less than a month after his body was recovered, an all-White jury deliberated for under an hour before acquitting the two.

Louisville police department gets harsh rebuke in new report commissioned after Breonna Taylor’s killing

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LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - SEPTEMBER 24: Demonstrators raise their fists as they gather on the steps of the Louisville Metro Hall on September 24, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. A Kentucky grand jury indicted one police officer involved in the shooting of Breonna Taylor with three counts of wanton endangerment. No officers were indicted on charges in connection to Taylor's death. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Demonstrators gathered on the steps of the Louisville Metro Hall on September 24, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky after a grand jury indicted one police officer involved in the shooting of Breonna Taylor with three counts of wanton endangerment.

The Louisville Metro Police Department received a harsh rebuke in a new study commissioned by the city in the wake of the police killing of Breonna Taylor last year. 

The department is ridden with low morale and is not trusted by the Kentucky city’s communities of color, according to the 150-page report released by city officials. 

The LMPD has been in the national spotlight since Taylor’s death. The 26-year-old emergency room technician was shot and killed by Louisville police officers in her apartment during a flawed forced-entry raid in the early hours of March 13, 2020.

The report made several recommendations, including more community engagement and a better department structure. It noted in particular that that many people of color don’t trust police officers “due to generations of problematic relations.”

Biden lays out plans to combat racism, says America is ‘ready to change’

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President Joe Biden on Tuesday issued a firm call to heal America’s racial divide, taking several steps and promising more to confront racism and inequality that he said has plagued the United States for far too long.

Racial tensions simmered during the turbulent four-year presidency of Donald Trump and Biden noted that the Jan. 6 siege of the Capitol by Trump supporters was carried out by “thugs, insurrectionists, political extremists and white supremacists.” But Biden said he believes the vast majority of Americans believe in equality.

“We’ve never fully lived up to the founding principles of this nation – to state the obvious – that all people are created equal and have a right to be treated equally throughout their lives,” Biden said in remarks at the White House. “And it’s time to act now, not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because if we do we’ll all be better off for it.”

St. Pete Won Half a Billion in PPP Loans Last Year; Community Leaders Push for More African Americans to Win PPP in Round 2

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Tiffany Moore (above) was one of many local business owners who were approved for a PPP loan last year. Her firm – Moore Eventful Event Hall – was shuttered for months and is still operating at half its pre-COVID capacity.

The U.S. Small Business Administration opened a new round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding this January, and St. Petersburg’s One Community team is gearing up to help more African Americans secure this unique forgivable loan over the next two months.

Official data suggest that African Americans won a sizable share of the half a billion dollars in federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans that went to St. Petersburg-based organizations in Round 1 of the program, which closed its application window in August 2020.

But the data also show black-owned firms and black-led non-profits receiving less than their representative share.

Across all race and ethnic groups, applicants in St. Petersburg won 6,400 PPP Loans in Round 1 (5,735 in the smaller category (less than $150,000) and 679 of the larger loans available (ranging up to $10 million).

PPP Loans in St. Petersburg in 2020

 Loan Size# Loans$LoanedAvg Loan
Less than $150,0005,735 $166,340,581 $29,004
$150,000 to $10 million679 $378,475,000* $557,401
TOTALS:6,414 $544,815,581
*Estimated

It’s impossible to know precisely how much went to black-owned firms, since the SBA doesn’t require applicants to report their race or ethnicity.

But several data points suggest that African Americans in St. Pete held their own in the bum-rush for PPP dollars in the spring and summer of 2020 as businesses struggled through the COVID shutdown.

For one, the SBA database of loans approved through the end of 2020 shows 957 approved PPP loans totaling $62.1 million in South St. Petersburg zip codes, where 80% of the city’s African American population resides (33712, 33711 and 33705).

It’s a certainty that many of those loans went to white-owned firms, but anecdotal evidence suggests that African Americans were amply represented in the total.

Over two dozen One Community affiliated businesses (all black-owned) have reported being approved for PPP Loans. Plus, One Community Business Navigators helped nearly 60 African American entrepreneurs apply for and secure loans in Round 1 of the program.

Several other local development organizations also provided hands-on help to black-owned firms pursuing PPP funds, including Pinellas County Urban League and Grow Smarter.

Lolita Dash-Pitts was one of six One Community Business Navigators working with entrepreneurs to secure COVID relief dollars. She was able to secure a PPP loan for her own company – ATILOL Consulting Solutions – and helped 30 businesses to prepare PPP application documents. Of those, several were denied and a dozen decided not to complete their submissions. At least 8 of the businesses she advised were approved for a PPP loan.

Some business owners handled the process on their own, such as Tiffany Moore of Moore Eventful Event Hall. “I had all my paperwork in order, which made it easy for me to file the PPP application myself.” She was approved for Round 1 and is evaluating the new round of PPP funding.

Loans were smaller, on average, for applicants in South St. Pete zip codes; the area accounted for 22% of PPP loans of less than $1,000 and for 20% of loans ranging from $1,000 to $1,999 (versus only 10% of loans over $150,000).

But Development Leaders Say More Black-Owned Firms Should Apply  

In all, the One Community team helped 270 black-owned businesses to secure COVID relief business loans and grants, but PPP was the smallest category of awards won.

Dash-Pitts says, “We have a lot of work to do to convince and support more community businesses to complete the PPP Round 2 process.”

According to her, the top three reasons businesses failed to complete the PPP application were 1) distrust that the loans would be forgiven, 2) lack of financial documentation , and 3) misperceptions about PPP requirements.

Many local entrepreneurs were unaware that sole proprietorships and independent contractors were also eligible for PPP loans, as were non-profit organizations, including churches.

The Good News; More Businesses Will be Eligible This Time

Round 2 of the PPP program opened on January 11, 2021, and One Community is helping community businesses to overcome their hurdles in time to submit Round 2 PPP applications by the March 31st deadline.

“Lack of financial documentation was a chief hurdle for too many community businesses last time, but much less so in this go round,” says Gypsy Gallardo, CEO of the One Community Plan and incoming Chair of Grow Smarter, the city’s economic equity strategy.

“One Community partners helped several hundred businesses to get their financial documents in place over the past year. That means that many more African American entrepreneurs and non-profits will be ready to take advantage of the PPP Round 2 program.”

The One Community team is once again teaming up with the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, the Florida SBDC, City Urban Affairs division, and others to steer entrepreneurs through the process.

Community partners will host several information sessions on how to secure PPP Round 1 and Round 2 loans.

A first webinar will be on Sunday, January 31st, specifically for childcare providers, beauty salons and barbershops that were grantees under the One Community Microgrant Program last year. Dash-Pitts is teaming up with Faye Watson, President of Up Empowerment Consulting and Training, along with Flora Jackson, Vice President of Business Solutions for Grow Financial Federal Credit Union, to host the “How To” session.

A second One Community webinar takes places on Tuesday, February 9th at 12 noon, formatted as a Lunch & Learn Zoom Session for black-owned firms in diverse sectors. Panelists for the session include Brad Owens, Capital Access Specialist for the Florida Small Business Development Center; Owen LaFave, Market President for Bank of Tampa; Flora Jackson, VP of Business Solutions at Grow Financial Federal Credit Union; and Latifa Jackson, One Community Business Navigator and CEO of Hurst Consulting. (Click here to register for the February 9th session).

In addition, One Community has raised more funding to continue its Business Navigator team to work one-on-one with as many businesses as possible. The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg and the City of St. Petersburg are the largest funders of COVID relief services by One Community. Other supporters include Florida Blue Foundation and the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay.

To Get Help Applying for PPP

To get help applying for PPP funding, click here and fill in this brief survey. A One Community Business Navigator will follow up with you within 2 business days.

Be Fearless In Honor Of Womens History Month

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March is International Women’s History Month
Get ready to be empowered and enriched!

“Hidden Gems “ in Celebration of Women’s History Month

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Join us for “Hidden Gems,” a celebration of Women’s History Month, where we’ll uncover and honor the incredible stories of remarkable women.