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AARP and NNPA Join Forces for Riveting Webinar on Saving Black Lives During COVID-19 Pandemic

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Jointly hosted by NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., and AARP Vice President of Multicultural Leadership, Shani Hosten, the live program also marked the first appearance by renowned infectious disease expert and Meharry Medical College President Dr. James Hildreth as a member of the NNPA Coronavirus Task Force and Resource Center.

Published

6 years ago

April 15, 2020

Oakland Post

“AARP community connections have mutual aid and support groups where they might help with grocery shopping, financial assistance, or emotional support,” said Reginald Nance, AARP’s New York associate state director of multicultural outreach. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

AARP, the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and over, and the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), the trade association of the Black Press of America, held a briefing to help provide critical information for those most at-risk and impacted by the novel coronavirus.

The 45-minute webinar addressed tools and resources to help the African American community navigate through the pandemic and included a panel of experts in the fields of health, caregiving, financial security, and entrepreneurship.

Lorraine Miller and Chris Brown of Burrell Communications in Chicago coordinated the webinar, which was titled, “AARP – NNPA COVID-19 Black Media Update.”

Jointly hosted by NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., and AARP Vice President of Multicultural Leadership, Shani Hosten, the live program also marked the first appearance by renowned infectious disease expert and Meharry Medical College President Dr. James Hildreth as a member of the NNPA Coronavirus Task Force and Resource Center.

“Data is critical, and we’ve got to have testing, testing, testing,” Dr. Hildreth stated.

“Testing is our best hope to save lives. I’ve been insisting this to the mayor of Nashville, the governor of Tennessee, and anyone who will listen. If we don’t do widespread testing, people are going to die, and that’s the bottom line,” he said.

As of the webinar, more than 609,000 Americans have contracted COVID-19, the deadly disease that’s caused by the coronavirus.

There have been at least 25,603 deaths, and based on incomplete data, African Americans are disproportionately affected and represent the majority who’ve died from the virus.

“This is a particularly critical time for the African American community,” Hosten stated, noting the various resources AARP has developed, including a Black resources tool kit on its website.

Chavis stated that it’s essential to get accurate information out as much as possible to the Black community.

“We want to make sure that during this pandemic, we get information out that will help save Black lives,” he said.

Rita Choula, AARP’s director of caregiving and caregiving information resources, said providing care to family members has its own share of problems. Still, the coronavirus has made that all the more challenging.

“People are stressed and worried, not only about caring for themselves but protecting and caring for someone in the home or someone long distance,” Choula stated.

“It’s very important that there is increased conversation with nursing facilities through virtual visitation and phone calls, which is what AARP is advocating.”

Cristina Firvida, AARP’s vice president of financial security and consumer affairs, noted that AARP has continued to advocate at the state and federal level for everyone struggling financially during the pandemic.

“Our friends, our families are hurting. We focused on how we can get more money in the hands of individuals as well as businesses,” Firvida said, adding that AARP lobbied that seniors also receive $1,200 stimulus payments.

She said the original bill allowed for seniors to receive just $600.

Reginald Nance, AARP’s New York associate state director of multicultural outreach, noted the importance of fraud protection and emphasized that AARP has organized various forms of assistance for seniors nationwide.

“AARP community connections have mutual aid and support groups where they might help with grocery shopping, financial assistance, or emotional support,” Nance stated.

Dr. Hildreth wrapped up the webinar by noting that the federal government fell asleep at the wheel and could have prevented much of the mayhem caused by the coronavirus.

He called the spread of COVID-19 “entirely predictable,” and noted that the lack of planning by the federal government obviously was bad news for African Americans.

Dr. Hildreth also stated his frustration with those who imply that African Americans are more susceptible to the virus.

“Absent a vaccine or a drug, the only way to protect our communities, which means to keep the virus out, is we have to have testing,” Dr. Hildreth stated.

“We need to do what South Korea did, which is to identify the positive tests, do contact tracing, and screen everybody. We should have a nationally coordinated response because viruses don’t respect orders,” he said.

Dr. Hildreth continued:

“You might have one state controlling the virus, but if the neighboring states don’t do that, we’ll find ourselves right back where we started. Data is critical. Many are saying that African Americans are more susceptible to the virus, and that’s absolutely not right.

“We may be more susceptible to severe diseases and death, but the evidence doesn’t support that Black people are more susceptible to the virus. The only way to prove that is to have an equal number of African Americans and white exposed to the virus at the same time and determine who got infected at a higher rate. Without data to support this, those statements drive me crazy. We have to have more tests.”

Updated information on the coronavirus came be found at www.aarp.org/coronavirus and at the NNPA’s www.BlackPressUSA.com COVID-19 tab.

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Jovita Moore Mural Still Has Not Been Repainted in Grant Park

ATLANTA VOICE — A mural depicting late journalist Jovita Moore, painted on the exterior wall of a building now occupied by Bellwood Coffee in Grant Park, was painted over in April. Moore passed away in 2021 after decades of working in Atlanta television news. Bellwood Coffee owners stated in May they were unaware of Moore’s identity or significance to the community before painting over the mural.
The post Jovita Moore Mural Still Has Not Been Repainted in Grant Park appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

July 8, 2026

Oakland Post

At the corner of Boulevard, SE. and Rosalia St., SE., directly across the street from an abandoned home and a Methodist Church, is Bellwood Coffee. One of hundreds of coffee shops in Atlanta, this place of business would not be worth a solitary discussion if not for the way its exterior walls are currently painted. There was once a mural depicting the late Jovita Moore, a beloved journalist who worked in Atlanta for decades. Moore, who passed away in 2021, mentored many of the people you see on television newscasts today. Though her legacy will never be forgotten, it was the mural of her image that was erased.

In April, members of the Grant Park community voiced their disgust at the mural, which graced a side wall of the building now occupied by Bellwood Coffee’s Grant Park location, before it was painted over. In its place are the words “Bellwood Coffee; Cocktails, Biscuits, Dry Goods, Air Conditioning. *Heat Too”. In May, the business owners responded to the community pushback on social media by acknowledging they did not know who Moore was before painting over her image. And later admitted that they did not attempt to find out what she meant to the community.

On May 21, the Bellwood Coffee Instagram account had a post about being “in close contact with Jovita’s family and are actively working on next steps in this process.” Two months later, the mural has not been replaced, repainted, or repositioned on the property. Nothing has been done. Black history is often erased, most recently by the current Presidential administration, but oftentimes on a smaller, quieter scale. The mural was originally painted by muralist Tommy Bronx, who had been in contact with the business owners about repainting it. As of July 6, Tommy Bronx had responded to a direct message via his Instagram account from The Atlanta Voice about any updates on his plans to repaint the mural.

“We’re currently working on it. You should see some movement in the weeks to come,” he wrote in a response.

On Monday, July 6, the business had several patrons inside and was running smoothly with three employees manning the counter. The Atlanta Voice dropped by Bellwood Coffee to get a look at the exterior wall where the mural once stood as a memorial to a journalist and mother who lost her life to brain cancer at the young age of 54. Moore’s image added some color to the block. The grey wall in its place does not.

A direct message was sent to the Bellwood Coffee Instagram account, and there hasn’t been a response as of 7 p.m. on Monday.

The post Jovita Moore Mural Still Has Not Been Repainted in Grant Park appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.

Based on reporting by Atlanta Voice.

The post Jovita Moore Mural Still Has Not Been Repainted in Grant Park appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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‘Proud to Hang Her from a Tree’: Man Arrested for Threatening Black Senator

ATLANTA DAILY WORLD — A New York man faces felony hate crime charges for allegedly posting a threat against New York State Senator Lea Webb. James A. Crosby, 49, of Binghamton, was arrested by New York State Police after investigators determined he posted a threatening comment on a social media news post about a Juneteenth celebration.
The post ‘Proud to Hang Her from a Tree’: Man Arrested for Threatening Black Senator appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

July 8, 2026

Oakland Post

A New York man is facing felony hate crime charges after allegedly posting that he’d be “proud to hang” New York State Senator Lea Webb from a tree in response to a news story about a Juneteenth celebration.

James A. Crosby, 49, of Binghamton, was arrested June 23 by New York State Police after investigators determined he posted a threatening comment on a WBNG 12 News Facebook post. “I’d be proud to hang her from a tree,” Crosby wrote, according to WBNG.

Crosby was charged with making a terroristic threat as a hate crime, a class C felony, per the New York State Police. He is currently being held at Broome County Jail.

During the subsequent investigation, state police found Crosby was in illegal possession of firearms despite being prohibited from owning them due to a prior felony conviction. Investigators recovered a rifle, a large-capacity ammunition feeding device, and a firearm suppressor — all prohibited under New York state law, per the NYSP.

Crosby was charged with four additional counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, all class D felonies.

Webb, who represents New York’s 52nd Senate District, had been a featured speaker at a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony at Binghamton City Hall, where the celebration included prayers and the singing of the Black national anthem.

Police said Crosby’s comment was posted in response to a WBNG news story covering the event.

The day before his arrest, Crosby posted a Facebook apology claiming the comment “was not intended to be racial in any way” and was made in reference to what he described as a “criminal,” citing criticism of Webb over her use of nonprofit legal aid in a foreclosure case — a matter state watchdogs said created an appearance of a conflict of interest, per the Ithaca Voice. He was arrested the following day.

Webb issued a public statement June 25 condemning the threat.

“It was extremely disappointing and hurtful to see the now-deleted threat and attacks on my life in response to a story about Juneteenth, a national holiday that recognizes the ending of slavery in America,” she said. “Feedback and thoughts on policy are one thing, but to make a public call for lethal violence is absolutely unacceptable and dangerous. We must recognize our shared humanity and reject violence in all forms.”

She thanked Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and law enforcement for their “swift response.”

Following Crosby’s comments, social media users called for a boycott of his contracting business, Crosby Home Improvements.

The Binghamton City Democratic Committee also called for an investigation into the incident before his arrest.

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The post ‘Proud to hang her from a tree’: Man arrested for threatening Black Senator appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

Based on reporting by Atlanta Daily World.

The post ‘Proud to Hang Her from a Tree’: Man Arrested for Threatening Black Senator appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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CARICOM: Strengthen Integration for Future Generations

NEW YORK CARIB NEWS — Outgoing CARICOM Chairman Terrance Drew called on regional leaders to build a stronger and more effective Caribbean Community that benefits future generations. Speaking at the 51st Regular Meeting, Drew urged modernization of governance structures and improved implementation of Community decisions to make CARICOM safer and more prosperous.
The post CARICOM: Strengthen Integration for Future Generations appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

July 8, 2026

Oakland Post

Speaking Sunday at the opening of the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in Saint Lucia, Dr. Terrance Drew said the region must modernize its governance structures, improve the implementation of Community decisions, and ensure CARICOM becomes safer, more prosperous, and more relevant to the lives of its citizens.

The meeting, being held under the theme “CARICOM: From Resilience to Renewal in a Changing World,” coincides with the Community’s 53rd anniversary. During the ceremony, Dr. Drew formally handed over the rotating CARICOM chairmanship to Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre.

Reflecting on his six-month tenure as chairman, Drew praised fellow regional leaders for maintaining their commitment to democracy, good governance, unity, and the rule of law despite mounting global economic and geopolitical challenges.

“Throughout these challenges, CARICOM chose engagement over isolation. Together, we reaffirmed our commitment to a fair and rules-based international trading system and ensured that the interests of small developing states continued to be heard.”
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He highlighted progress made in strengthening the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, including deeper trade cooperation, expanded labour mobility, and efforts to lay the foundation for long-term economic growth. Drew also noted the Community’s growing partnerships beyond the Caribbean, particularly with the African Union, while stressing that every international partnership should advance the interests of all parties involved.

The outgoing chairman also expressed appreciation to Dr. Carla Barnett and the CARICOM Secretariat for their professionalism and unwavering support during his tenure.

“Whenever I called, you answered. Whenever support was required, you and your team responded with diligence, competence, and excellence.”

Dr. Drew urged the Secretariat to continue preserving its impartiality while faithfully implementing decisions made by Heads of Government, saying that balance has helped strengthen the regional integration movement.

The conference continues in Saint Lucia with regional leaders expected to deliberate on key issues including regional security, climate resilience, trade, economic integration, food security, Haiti, reparations, and strengthening the CSME.

Based on reporting by New York Carib News.

The post CARICOM: Strengthen Integration for Future Generations appeared first on BlackPressUSA.