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BLDG Memphis issues housing and transit survey to Memphis mayoral, city council candidates

NEW TRI-STATE DEFENDER — As many Memphis residents lament a lack of mayoral debates, BLDG Memphis is taking a different approach to capturing candidates’ policy plans for the public record.

Published

7 years ago

September 14, 2019

Oakland Post

Photo by: Element5 Digital | pexels.com

By Cole Bradley

As many Memphis residents lament a lack of mayoral debates, BLDG Memphis is taking a different approach to capturing candidates’ policy plans for the public record.

“We hope to get a commitment from anyone who’s potentially going to be in office for the next four years that we will be growing resources for community development work in neighborhoods across Memphis,” said BLDG Memphis’ executive director, John Paul Shaffer.

On Saturday, September 7, Shaffer and his team sent links to the BLDG Memphis 2019 Memphis City Candidate Questionnaire to all 64 Memphis mayoral and city council candidates. The survey will remain open for responses until the end of early voting.

Early voting runs September 13-28. Final voting and election day are October 3.

BLDG Memphis plans to make candidates’ responses available to the public as they are submitted.

Candidates were contacted by email or Facebook where available. Candidates were also sent notice by mail to their home addresses. Candidates who did not received an electronic link and would like one can contact engage@bldgmemphis.org.

The 2019 Memphis City Candidate Questionnaire consists of three questions.

The first asks candidates if they support the newly established Memphis Affordable Housing Trust Fund and support increasing the fund from a recurring source for long-term sustainability.

The newly created trust fund will spend $1 million in its first year to address owner-occupied home repair and single-family home renovation for re-sale and rent to families earning less than 80% of the area median income. There’s flexibility to address other housing needs like affordable multifamily units in the future.

The second and third BLDG Memphis candidate questions address transportation and safety.

The first states that Memphis is the most dangerous city in Tennessee for pedestrians and asks how candidates will address safe streets across all modes of transportation.

The final question notes that Memphis 3.0’s new Transit Vision calls for a $30 million annual increase in public transit funding for an expanded network of higher-frequency routes. It then asks candidates if they will support efforts to find the necessary funding to implement the Transit Vision and serve Memphis neighborhoods more effectively.

Shaffer said polling not just mayoral candidates but city council candidates too was especially important because even without formal debates, mayoral candidates receive more focus and a bigger platform to express their positions. City council candidates, on the other hand, get less attention and aren’t asked to articulate positions or policies as frequently.

As a result, the council competition often comes down to name recognition.

“We’re putting these questions out there for candidates running for local office to just get a sense of where they stand on these two issues that are very important to our membership and our network,” said Shaffer.

BLDG Memphis is comprised of a coalition of local organizations, including 28 nonprofit community development corporations working in neighborhoods across Memphis and 20 supporting agencies in the economic development and financial sectors.

BLDG Memphis does not endorse or provide financial resources to candidates for public office, but it has been working to expand its policy work to reflect its members’ biggest ongoing concerns in their communities’ development.

Housing and transportation are consistently among those concerns.

The organization felt a non-partisan questionnaire could provide unbiased information to their members and the public.

“BLDG Memphis members are mostly made up of community development corporation leaders, neighborhood leaders, individuals in the community. They’re representing different neighborhoods and community groups from Raleigh down to Whitehaven,” said Amy Schaftlein, executive director of United Housing, a BLDG Memphis coalition member.

United Housing developed the candidate question regarding the affordable housing trust fund. United Housing’s work centers on improving access to quality affordable housing in Memphis and they believe the trust fund is a critical step towards investing in the city.

“It’s time for the city to say, ‘We do know that poor housing has caused many other areas of our city’s [living], health and public safety costs to increase,’” said Schaftlein.

Shaftlein said that the current $1 million allotment for the trust fund can only fund renovation and building for around 18-20 houses, which is why the question posed to candidates asked if they would support expanding the trust fund.

“While we’re super excited about the creation of a housing trust fund and having it funded this year, there’s still a lot more that needs to be done that that’s not going to cover,” she said.

Shaffer and Shaftlein both said they hope all candidates will respond to the questionnaire so their positions are on record and BLDG Memphis’ city-wide membership and all of the voters they represent can hold future leaders accountable to the promises they make today.

“[BLDG Memphis’ membership] is a very diverse group, but we all have one thing in common and that is we love our neighborhoods, we love our city,” said Shaftlein.

“We want to make sure that the things we think can move us forward are being discussed and brought to the forefront of discussion and the election. It’s important work and we want to hold everyone who is elected accountable to what they say they’re going to support.”

Visit the Memphis Public Library’s Informed Voter pages here to learn about the races and candidates in Memphis’ upcoming election and encourage their participation in the BLDG Memphis housing and transit survey.

This article originally appeared in the New Tri-State Defender

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Study: Waiting Lists for Child Care Assistance Nearly Doubled

BLACKPRESS USA NEWSWIRE — “Since the expiration of tens of billions of dollars in federal child care funding in 2023 and 2024, an already fragile child care system has been pushed even closer to the brink.”
The post Study: Waiting Lists for Child Care Assistance Nearly Doubled appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 days ago

June 8, 2026

Oakland Post

By National Women’s Law Center

The National Women’s Law Center released its annual State Child Care Assistance Policies report, finding that the number of children placed on waiting lists for federally funded child care assistance nearly doubled between 2024 and 2025 — and that number has only continued to grow.

The report serves as a key resource for state lawmakers, advocates, and policymakers by tracking state child care assistance policies and identifying where states are strengthening support for families and early educators — or falling behind.

“This deeply troubling increase in the number of children on child care waiting lists is the result of a failure to invest in this crucial sector,” said Karen Schulman, senior director of state child care policy and author of the report. “Since the expiration of tens of billions of dollars in federal child care funding in 2023 and 2024, an already fragile child care system has been pushed even closer to the brink.”

Key findings in the report related to waiting lists for child care assistance include:

• 17 states had waiting lists or a freeze on intake for child care assistance in February 2025, up from 13 states in February 2024.

• Approximately 106,700 children nationwide were added to waiting lists between February 2024 and February 2025, bringing the total to 225,500 children in February 2025 — a 90 percent increase compared to February 2024.

• The numbers climbed even further between February 2025 and summer/fall 2025, with more than 175,000 additional children added to state waiting lists in just a few months — a 78 percent increase.

• At least seven states newly began placing families on waiting lists or freezing intake, while at least 10 additional states saw their waiting lists grow, after February 2025.

The report also includes state-by-state data on key child care assistance policies, including income eligibility limits, parent copayments, provider payment rates, and eligibility policies for parents searching for work.

Click the link to learn more: Warning Signs: State Child Care Assistance Policies 2025.

The post Study: Waiting Lists for Child Care Assistance Nearly Doubled appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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Venus Williams Calls a Sabalenka Exit a Tragedy

ROLLING OUT — Crucially, Williams did not read the comment as a real farewell. She said she did not believe Sabalenka truly wanted to leave, calling such an outcome a loss for both the player and the sport.
The post Venus Williams Calls a Sabalenka Exit a Tragedy appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

5 days ago

June 7, 2026

Oakland Post

The seven-time major champion read frustration, not a real goodbye, in the world No. 1’s words

By David Kesiena | Rolling Out

When the world’s top-ranked player said she wanted to walk away from the sport, Venus Williams chose empathy over alarm.

Aryna Sabalenka’s blunt remark after her French Open quarterfinal collapse rattled plenty of fans, but Williams heard something different in it. The seven-time Grand Slam champion treated the comment as the raw reaction of a hurting athlete rather than a serious signal about her future.

The collapse that triggered the comment

Sabalenka looked headed for a routine win over Diana Shnaider. She took the opening set 6-3 and built a commanding lead in the second, climbing to 4-1 and later serving for the match at 5-4 while sitting just two points from victory.

Then everything unraveled. Shnaider stormed back to steal the second set 7-5 and bageled the world No. 1 in the third, with Sabalenka dropping 12 of the final 13 games in gusty conditions that reached around 26 mph. The 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 result sent Shnaider into her first Grand Slam semifinal and extended Sabalenka’s long wait for a maiden Roland Garros title.

In the aftermath, Sabalenka did not soften her feelings. She told reporters she had no thoughts and no emotions left and felt like quitting on the spot. She described being stuck in a deep, dark mental hole during the match, unable to find her way back.

What Venus Williams said about Sabalenka

Williams reacted with understanding. She admitted the moment made her sad and said she had been swept up in Sabalenka’s emotions, feeling a surge of empathy for her. She praised the Belarusian for laying everything bare on court, where every feeling shows.

Crucially, Williams did not read the comment as a real farewell. She said she did not believe Sabalenka truly wanted to leave, calling such an outcome a loss for both the player and the sport. Rather than scold her, Williams offered a gentle observation about the rhythm of professional tennis. She suggested players might benefit from a little more time to gather themselves before stepping in front of the cameras, a quiet acknowledgment that athletes are routinely asked to dissect painful defeats before the sting has faded.

Sabalenka walks it back

The story did not end on that bleak note. Within days, Sabalenka signaled she was not actually quitting, framing the press-conference outburst as heat-of-the-moment honesty rather than a plan. At the time of the loss she had also left the door open, saying she would see how she felt in a few days and hoped to get back on track mentally. The walk-back lined up with how Williams had read the situation from the start.

It is not the first time a Paris quarterfinal has pushed Sabalenka to her limit. In 2024 she exited at the same stage and skipped her press conference entirely because of illness, with the tour later releasing her quotes on her behalf. The pattern underscores how heavily this particular tournament has weighed on her despite deep runs in recent years.

For now, attention shifts to the grass. Wimbledon offers Sabalenka a quick chance to reset, and a strong showing there would turn this French Open meltdown into a footnote rather than a turning point.

Originally published by Rolling Out — https://rollingout.com.

The post Venus Williams Calls a Sabalenka Exit a Tragedy appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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COMMENTARY: Using Art, Healing, And Community to Transform Mental Health Dialogue

THE CAROLINIAN — Operating at the intersection of the arts and mental health, Darkness RISING uses music, storytelling, wellness programming, and community engagement to inspire healing while addressing barriers that have historically prevented many Black Americans from accessing mental health support.
The post COMMENTARY: Using Art, Healing, And Community to Transform Mental Health Dialogue appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

5 days ago

June 7, 2026

Oakland Post

By Judaea Ingram | Special to The Carolinian

RALEIGH, N.C. – Music filled the air as families danced through the crowd, children gathered around activity stations, and community members explored wellness resources from local organizations. Black-owned businesses lined the streets while people stopped for chair massages, conversations, and moments of connection inside the wellness suite.

At the center of the event stood a simple but powerful reminder:

“You Matter.”

For Darkness RISING, those words represent far more than a slogan. They reflect the organization’s mission to break the stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community while creating spaces centered on healing, honesty, and hope.

Operating at the intersection of the arts and mental health, Darkness RISING uses music, storytelling, wellness programming, and community engagement to inspire healing while addressing barriers that have historically prevented many Black Americans from accessing mental health support.

The organization hosts a variety of programs and events throughout the year, including block parties, wellness workshops, mixers, kickoff events, community classes, and Darkness RISING: Live — a free annual arts and wellness festival now celebrating its ninth year.

The festival combines entertainment with healing-centered resources, featuring live music, dancing, singing, food trucks, Black vendors, children’s activities, mental health resources, wellness spaces, and opportunities for open conversations about mental health.

While the events may feel celebratory on the surface, organizers say the deeper purpose is creating safe spaces where people can feel comfortable discussing mental health without fear of judgment.

Darkness RISING also provides free nationwide resources, including a Black Mental Health Resource Packet, a Black Mental Health Provider Database, and its “Find Me a Therapist” initiative, which helps connect individuals with culturally competent care.

The organization’s work is rooted in addressing longstanding inequities that continue impacting mental health access within Black communities.

Historically, segregation, redlining, racial discrimination, incarceration, poverty, and unequal healthcare access have contributed to higher rates of behavioral health challenges while simultaneously limiting access to proper treatment and support. Darkness RISING approaches those issues through what organizers describe as a transformative justice lens, focusing on healing rather than punishment and creating equitable wellness opportunities for marginalized communities.

Its REBUILD program specifically supports justice-involved and formerly incarcerated people of color through free therapy and wellness support, while the REBUILD Youth program focuses on young people impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences, also known as ACEs.

For Rudolph, therapy became life-changing after decades of incarceration and years of rejection after returning home.

“Came home in 2015, started my own computer company, investing in real estate, did the normal thing and got some jobs here and there and was met with rejection after rejection and people telling me I am not a good person,” Rudolph shared. “Even had a rejection in church.”

He said one of the hardest battles became overcoming the mental barriers created during incarceration.

“I got in touch with a couple of friends, and they explained to me how I had to get over the mental hurdles and get rid of the way my prison mindset was in order to survive and become successful,” he said.

Rudolph later moved to North Carolina hoping for a fresh start, but the struggle continued.

“Things were looking bad,” he said. “Could not get a job. The struggle was real.”

Eventually, therapy and support through organizations like Darkness RISING helped begin his healing process. He said working alongside other justice-involved men through therapy gave him the ability to rebuild mentally while finding community with people who understood his experiences.

Stories like Rudolph’s reflect the foundation behind Darkness RISING’s mission: ensuring people feel seen, supported, and worthy of healing regardless of their background or circumstances.

Community members who attend the organization’s events often describe them as emotionally transformative.

Some participants say Darkness RISING encouraged them to seek therapy for the first time, while others say the organization gave them a safe space to openly discuss struggles they previously kept hidden.

“I have been encouraged by the beautiful, generous, brave and open individuals who come together and use their talents to create art, share personal experiences and provide hope to those who may be struggling with mental health,” one participant shared.

By combining art, wellness, education, and community outreach, Darkness RISING continues changing how mental health conversations happen within the Black community.

Not through silence.

But through healing, honesty, connection, and joy.

Originally published by The Carolinian — https://caro.news.

The post COMMENTARY: Using Art, Healing, And Community to Transform Mental Health Dialogue appeared first on BlackPressUSA.