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African American Museum & Cultural Center in the Works

NNPA NEWSWIRE — On June 12, the community is invited out to an AfroNoon celebration at White Park in downtown Riverside at Market and 9th Street. The artist village event features a mini-museum and Charles Bibbs along with local regional and national artists, among top-level sponsors IEHP and the City of Riverside. Rooths said that vendors, sponsors and volunteers are welcome to RSVP to the event, which runs from 12:00-7:00 p.m.
The post African American Museum & Cultural Center in the Works first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 years ago

April 26, 2022

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By Dianne Anderson, Precinct Reporter Group News

Not for lack of talent, the inland empire never had a gallery where Black artists could gather to exhibit their works, bask in their creativity, or otherwise have a place to call home – until now.

In the works, the Charles A. Bibbs African American Museum & Cultural Center will serve to house and preserve renowned and emerging artworks.

Janice Rooths said the center is currently in the planning stages, but there is no telling how big it could grow.

“We want the entire region to know that it’s coming,” said Rooths, president of the center’s board.

On June 12, the community is invited out to an AfroNoon celebration at White Park in downtown Riverside at Market and 9th Street. The artist village event features a mini-museum and Charles Bibbs along with local regional and national artists, among top-level sponsors IEHP and the City of Riverside. Rooths said that vendors, sponsors and volunteers are welcome to RSVP to the event, which runs from 12:00-7:00 p.m.

Last August, they received their nonprofit status, and pending approvals, are preparing to launch by late 2023. When completed, it will showcase regional creative outlets, but they also expect to attract African American influences across the spectrum, and around the world.

Aside from the museum’s permanent collections, the cultural center will spotlight various aspects of visual art, ancient modern, or futuristic, as well as traveling collections.

They are connecting with engineers and architects about potential technologies, such as ordering products from anywhere inside the museum. One creative concept includes the Nile River to the Tree of Life, possibly with water running under it with fish.

“[It’s to] have a sense of where we came from and how all of us are the branches off that, the creativity that our Black community can bring to the world, and that we at “the Bibbs” can help cultivate in the world,” said Rooths, who also serves many positions in the community, including Riverside Branch NAACP, and as a Human Relations Commissioner.

She said the area is long overdue for a world-class museum, an incubator for artists in residence program, as well as programs for junior artists K-12.

Architectural renderings are not yet available, but she said they are looking to locate downtown. Once the land is acquired, environmental impact reports will follow.

The idea came about two years ago when Mr. Bibbs received a city council award and met with the city manager. At first, the vision was to create a Black college in Riverside. They started calling the project “the Bibbs” to house both culture and art, along with an HBCU affiliation.

“We did the reverse of that [to] first incorporate the HBCU artists in residence program. Right now we’re in talks with RCC to provide credited coursework, from that maybe grow out into a college with more emerging artists in residence,” she said.

The past two years have been hard with most people stuck in the house, but it also has awakened a need to buy more art and brighten things up.

Charles Bibbs said his business has done well, which he feels reflects the power of art to inspire during the dark times. Other intense periods of history, like the Black Panthers and the Civil Rights movement also sparked much artistic expression.

“We as artists did well because we were telling the story with paintbrushes and pencils. We were one of those groups during the chaos that helped fix things. We get blessed for doing that, doing something to stem the tide to encourage people to not give up,” he said.

Bibbs, a Riverside-based internationally acclaimed artist, envisions the center will draw a boom of cultural activity to their 100 seat-arena featuring three or four art galleries and exhibitions. A library will exclusively feature Black History and African American works.

He said they are rallying fundraising and support, letting the community know the benefit of the center as a place to celebrate, and that the youth need a place to learn their history.

“That’s one of the things we’re going through now in our schools to finally get them to tell the truth on the beginnings of this country. Our cultural center will be a place where our students can come and learn the things that they are not taught in schools,” he said.

He hopes to see a partnership like The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture of the Riverside Art Museum with the city of Riverside. Named after the famous comedian and art collector, it is slated to open in June.

Bibbs said 65% of the local population is of Mexican heritage, which ensures good traffic for the future. He said Riverside has always wanted to be more than a drive-through city, and that Cheech partnership changed the dynamic.

“I can’t go to L.A. and talk to my Chicano friends without them talking about Riverside,” he said. “It is the place for Chicano art. What we’re trying to do is be a center in Riverside for African American art.”

Bibbs has dedicated decades toward getting artists prepared to showcase their works to the community through various venues, including digital, hard copies, and sales.

His end goal is to establish the center for the community to flourish, where artists can learn from each other and cultivate creativity for a long time to come.

“It’s about time that this region has something that celebrates Black people, we’re coming together to give homage to celebrate our history,” he said. “It has to be an institution that is going to last the test of time.”

To find out more about the museum, or vendor opportunities, email thebibbsmuseum@gmail.com

The post African American Museum & Cultural Center In the Works appeared first on Precinct Reporter Group News.

The post African American Museum & Cultural Center in the Works first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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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

5 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

6 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

6 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.