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‘Atlanta Shows Up for Atlanta’: City Declares Feb. 12 Kenan Thompson Day

THE ATLANTA VOICE — “It feels monumental, man,” Thompson said when asked what it meant to be honored by the city. “It’s so funny to me that a lot of people don’t know that I’m from here. I haven’t done anything but represent Atlanta. I just haven’t lived here since high school.”

Published

2 weeks ago

February 16, 2026

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By Donnell Suggs | The Atlanta Voice

When Kenan Thompson tells you he hasn’t lived in Atlanta since high school, the SNL veteran isn’t downplaying his roots, he’s explaining why Thursday’s homecoming felt so monumental. At Retreat by The Gathering Spot on Howell Mill Road, the longest-tenured cast member in “Saturday Night Live” history received an official proclamation from the City of Atlanta, a reminder to everyone that the city’s “proud son” has been representing all along, even if he’s been doing it from 30 Rock.

The ceremony brought together entertainment executive Shanti Das, Fulton County Commissioner Marvin S. Arrington Jr., City Council Post 3 At-Large member Eshe’ Collins, and other city leaders, including director of the Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment Phillana Williams

“It feels monumental, man,” Thompson said when asked what it meant to be honored by the city. “It’s so funny to me that a lot of people don’t know that I’m from here. I haven’t done anything but represent Atlanta. I just haven’t lived here since high school.”

He added that the proclamation served as a reminder that Atlanta has “a proud son out there and a son that they can be proud of as well,” calling the moment “a beautiful occasion.”

Das, who organized the event, said the idea began months ago as Thompson prepared to release his second book, a children’s title called “The Unfunny Bunny.”

“I feel like a lot of people don’t know that he’s actually from here,” Das said. “With him being at the height of his career and a new book coming out, I wanted Atlanta to celebrate him.”

She said she first floated the idea to Thompson about four or five months ago, then coordinated with his team to add Atlanta to his book tour schedule. She also reached out to Ryan Wilson of The Gathering Spot to co-host the event, along with city officials to begin the proclamation process.

Wilson said the decision to participate was immediate.

“Shanti is doing amazing work,” Wilson said. “When Shanti calls, I’m going to do it.” He added that celebrating hometown figures in a way that brings community together aligns with The Gathering Spot’s mission.

Thompson received two proclamations during the ceremony. Arrington Jr. presented one from Fulton County, while Collins delivered a proclamation from the Atlanta City Council officially declaring February 12, 2026, as “Kenan Thompson Day” in the city.

Reading from the proclamation, Collins highlighted Thompson’s Atlanta roots, noting he was raised in College Park in the Cascade community, where his creative talents were nurtured through Atlanta institutions including the Alliance Theater School, the Atlanta Boy Choir, the Freddie Hendricks Youth Ensemble of Atlanta, church productions, and Tri-Cities High School.

“Atlanta is a special place, and one thing we want to continue to foster is our children knowing that they can be who they see in front of them,” Collins said, thanking Thompson for sharing his talents with Atlanta’s children. “So thank you so much for your book.”

Thomposon (above) was born in Columbus, Ohio, but was raised in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

The proclamation recognized Thompson as an Emmy Award-winning actor, comedian, producer, author and cultural icon whose career has brought joy, laughter and representation to audiences for more than three decades. It noted his professional debut in 1994’s “D2: The Mighty Ducks” and his role as an original cast member of Nickelodeon’s “All That,” before co-starring in “Kenan & Kel” and joining “Saturday Night Live” in 2003, where he became both the first cast member born after the show’s debut and the longest-tenured cast member in its history.

Beyond the ceremony, Thompson used the visit to promote “Unfunny Bunny,” his second book following a memoir. The children’s story centers on a bunny learning how to be funny and is aimed at young readers and families.

“It’s a children’s book called ‘Unfunny Bunny,’” Thompson said. “It’s for little kids. It’s my second book.” He explained that as a parent of two daughters, ages 7 and 11, he understands both the joy and daily effort required in raising children.

Thompson said he has visited multiple schools during his trip, reading to students across the city.

“I’ve visited like four schools in the last two mornings and read to a bunch of beautiful little Black faces,” he said, noting that what matters most is not celebrity recognition but time spent. “What matters is that somebody came to spend time with them.”

The book, he said, is part of a broader desire to inspire young people to dream beyond what they see in front of them.

“I didn’t think when I was growing up that I would write books or be a movie person,” Thompson said, encouraging families to support the next generation.

During a brief discussion about his longevity on “Saturday Night Live,” Thompson credited his support system. The show’s schedule runs roughly eight to nine months each year, from October to May, he said, making it a significant time commitment.

“My family is very supportive of my career,” he said, adding that their encouragement allows him to pursue his work without feeling disconnected from home.

Even as he has become a household name, Thompson said he still values moving through the world with humility and accessibility, preferring genuine connection over celebrity insulation.

“Atlanta shows up for Atlanta,” she said. “That’s what makes this such a special place.”

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Poll Shows Support for Policies That Help Families Afford Child Care

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — New national polling shows persistent voter concern about the affordability and availability of child care for working parents, alongside broad support across key demographic groups for federal child care policies that help families afford care.

Published

21 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Oakland Post

By First Five Years Fund

New national polling shows persistent voter concern about the affordability and availability of child care for working parents, alongside broad support across key demographic groups for federal child care policies that help families afford care.

The national survey was conducted by UpOne Insight on behalf of the First Five Years Fund from January 13–18, 2026.

Key findings include:

• Parents need help: 80% of voters say the ability of working parents to find and afford child care is either in a state of crisis or a major problem.

• This is an affordability issue: 82% believe federal child care funding will help lower costs for working families — including 69% of Republicans, 84% of Independents, and 94% of Democrats.

• And there continues to be strong support (62%) for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), a federal program that makes it possible for hundreds of thousands of families to afford safe, quality care for their children while parents work or go to school, including a majority of Republicans, 63% of Independents and 72% of Democrats.

• Support for funding child care programs remains strong: 75% believe child care funding should be increased or kept at current levels — including 75% of Republicans, 85% of Independents, and 97% of Democrats.

• 74% say funding for child care is an important and good use of tax dollars, including a majority of Republicans, three-quarters of Independents, and nine in ten Democrats.

FFYF Executive Director Sarah Rittling said, “Voters across the country are sending a clear message: federal child care and early learning programs work. These investments help parents stay in the workforce, strengthen families, and support healthy child development. They have also long had strong bipartisan support in Congress. At a time when affordability is top of mind for families, continued federal funding is essential to ensure child care remains accessible and within reach.”

First Five Years Fund works to protect, prioritize, and build bipartisan support for quality child care and early learning programs at the federal level. Reliable, affordable, and high-quality early learning and child care can be transformative, not only enhancing a child’s prospects for a brighter future but also bolstering working parents and fostering economic stability nationwide.

We work with Congress and the Administration to identify federal solutions that work for families with young children, as well as states and communities. We work with policymakers to identify ways to increase access to affordable, high-quality child care and early learning programs for children. And we collaborate with advocacy groups to help align best practices with the best possible policies. http://www.ffyf.org

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Trump’s MAGA Allies are Creating Executive Order Plan to Steal the 2026 Midterms

NNPA NEWSWIRE — The document that could lead to an executive order proposes using the claim that China interfered with the 2020 elections as grounds to “declare a national emergency.” The move would be an unprecedented step that would grant Trump new authority over the voting systems in the U.S.

Published

4 days ago

February 27, 2026

Oakland Post

By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Correspondent

A group of MAGA pro-Trump activists, who say they are working in coordination with the White House, are circulating a 17-page draft executive order that would claim without evidence that China interfered with the 2020 presidential election. Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential to President Joe Biden by over 7 million votes. Since Trump lost to Biden in 2020, he has repeatedly claimed that the election was “stolen” without evidence. The report of a group of “Trump allies” preparing an executive order to give Trump power over elections was first reported by The Washington Post.

The lies around the right-wing campaign that pushed falsehoods that the 2020 election was stolen was trafficked through right-wing media, particularly Fox News. Fox News was then sued for defamation for the claims by Dominion Voting Systems. Fox lost the case and had to settle for the largest defamation amount on record of $787.5 million in April 2023.

The document that could lead to an executive order proposes using the claim that China interfered with the 2020 elections as grounds to “declare a national emergency.” The move would be an unprecedented step that would grant Trump new authority over the voting systems in the U.S.

The story in The Washington Post arrives as Trump increasingly signals that he may take actions that would alter the result of the 2026 midterms. The Republicans are widely expected to lose as their approval ratings plummet as a result of a failing economy under Trump. Over 50 members of Congress have announced they will retire this year and not return in 2027.

The Trump Department of Justice, which now has a large image of Trump on the side of it, “sued five new states Thursday [Feb. 26, 2026] demanding access to their unredacted voter rolls — escalating a campaign that has been rejected by multiple federal courts and faces resistance from Republican-led states as well,” according to Democracy Docket, a group that works to protect voting rights.

Trump claimed back in late 2020, the last year of his first term, that he had the authority to issue an executive order related to mail-in voting for the 2020 elections — which he would then lose. But the Constitution states that control of elections lies with the states. As the GOP works to place hurdles in front of voting, Democrats worked to make voting easier.

In March 2021, President Biden signed an executive order calling on federal agencies to expand voting access as part of the Biden Administration’s effort “to promote and defend the right to vote for all Americans who are legally entitled to participate in elections.”

Trump’s focus is clearly on altering the November 2026 midterm elections. Trump’s polling numbers and the elections and special elections that have taken place around the U.S. over the last year clearly indicate that Republicans are about to be hit by a blue wave of Democratic victories.

Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent investigative journalist and the founder of Black Virginia News. She is a political analyst who appears on #RolandMartinUnfiltered and hosts the show LAUREN LIVE on YouTube @LaurenVictoriaBurke. She can be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke

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PRESS ROOM: NBA Hall of Fame Nominee Terry Cummings Joins 100 Black Men of DeKalb County to Launch Victory & Values Initiative

NNPA NEWSWIRE — NBA Hall of Fame nominee and Basketball Legend Terry Cummings was administered the official member’s oath and ceremonially pinned during a special induction ceremony held on Friday, February 20th.

Published

4 days ago

February 27, 2026

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Cummings becomes an honorary member, joining other role model sports stars

NBA Hall of Fame nominee and Basketball Legend Terry Cummings has officially become an honorary member of the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County, marking a powerful new chapter for the 100 Black Men and youth development across the region.

Cummings was administered the official member’s oath and ceremonially pinned during a special induction ceremony held on Friday, February 20th. The moment signified more than membership — it marked the launch of the organization’s transformative new platform, the Victory & Values Initiative.

The Victory & Values Initiative is a groundbreaking youth development program designed to empower elementary and middle school students through a dynamic blend of sports, mentorship, and STEM exposure. The initiative focuses on building health, discipline, character, leadership, and access to opportunity — creating pathways for long-term academic and personal success.

“This is about more than sports,” said Cummings during the ceremony. “It’s about using the platform of athletics to teach life lessons, create access, and build the next generation of leaders.”

The induction ceremony also featured notable guests including NASCAR’s newest Star Driver, Lavar Scott and NASCAR Director of Athletic Performance, Phil Horton, who joined Cummings for a powerful Victory & Values Town Hall discussion. The Town Hall was moderated by renowned Sports Emcee John Hollins and focused on leadership, resilience, discipline, and the importance of mentorship in shaping young lives.

A “Day at NASCAR” for 75+ Youth

Cummings wasted no time getting to work. On his first full day as an honorary member, he joined his new brothers of the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County to host a “Day at NASCAR,” escorting more than 75 youth to a once-in-a-lifetime experience at EchoPark Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway).

The youth participants received behind-the-scenes access including: an exclusive tour of Pit Row, access to the Garage Area and exploration of the interactive Fan Zone.

The experience culminated with a surprise meet-and-greet and Q&A session with NASCAR Superstar Bubba Wallace, who shared insights on perseverance, preparation, and breaking barriers in professional sports.

The day served as a living example of the ‘Victory & Values’ Initiative in action — exposing youth to new industries, expanding their vision for the future, and connecting them directly with high- level mentors and role models.

Building Leaders Through Access and Mentorship

The 100 Black Men of DeKalb County – a chapter of the largest, national mentoring organization in the county – continues to expand its footprint with programs focused on academic excellence, economic empowerment, leadership development, and health & wellness.

The launch of ‘Victory & Values’ represents a strategic expansion of the organization’s impact

intentionally integrating athletics and STEM to engage youth at an early age while reinforcing core principles such as integrity, accountability, teamwork, and perseverance.

“Our mission has always been to mentor the next generation,” said Vaughn Irons, President-Elect of the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County. “With Terry Cummings joining the brotherhood, along with partners in NASCAR and professional sports, we are creating unprecedented access and exposure for our youth. Victory & Values is about turning inspiration into structured opportunity.”

By connecting elementary and middle school students to professional athletes, executives, STEM professionals, and community leaders, the initiative aims to:

Increase youth exposure to careers in sports business, engineering, and performance science
Strengthen mentorship pipelines
Promote physical wellness and mental resilience
Build character-driven leadership at an early age

Open Invitation to Youth and Families

All youth are invited to participate in the Victory & Values Initiative, along with the other countless, impactful programs offered by the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County.

Parents and guardians seeking mentorship, leadership development, academic enrichment, and transformative exposure opportunities for their children are encouraged to connect with the organization.

As NBA Legend Terry Cummings’ induction demonstrates, Victory & Values is more than a program — it is a movement designed to build champions in life, not just in sports.

For more information about the Victory & Values Initiative or to enroll a student, contact: 100 Black Men of DeKalb County at Phone at 404.241.1338, info@100bmod.org or Tee Foxx at 404.791.6525,