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Auburn Avenue Research Library and Fulton County Library System Awarded $2 Million Mellon Foundation Grant

Grant will fund the digitization of a large portion of the Auburn Avenue Library’s collection. The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a four-year, $2,000,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation. This grant will support the library’s collection processing, digitization, and community outreach […]
The post Auburn Avenue Research Library and Fulton County Library System Awarded $2 Million Mellon Foundation Grant first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 years ago

June 20, 2023

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Grant will fund the digitization of a large portion of the Auburn Avenue Library’s collection.

The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a four-year, $2,000,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation. This grant will support the library’s collection processing, digitization, and community outreach engagement activities.

The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History is among five national recipients of this prestigious grant, including the Chicago Public Library, New York Public Library, Howard University, and the College of Charleston.

With this grant, Auburn Avenue Research Library Administrator, Victor E. Simmons, Jr., along with Head Archivist, Derek Mosley, and his team, will enhance the library’s digitization lab, allowing for more efficient processing of over 20 collections. The Andrew J. Young Papers, the Komozi Woodard Amiri Baraka Collection, and the Hollywood Studios for Coloreds Photographic Negative Collection are among the collections that will be digitized with the funds.

The Andrew J. Young Papers span more than 50 years and document the career and family life of the esteemed civil rights leader and diplomat, Andrew J. Young. The collection contains a diverse range of materials, including correspondence, speeches, press releases, calendars, books, minutes, reports, publications, articles, photographs, scrapbooks, artifacts, textiles, trophies and awards, artwork, posters, programs, campaign memorabilia, manuscripts, travel documents, notes, sermons, ephemera, and audio-visual material.

The Komozi Woodard Amiri Baraka Collection is a rare collection of organizational records, print publications, articles, poems, plays, and speeches by Amiri Baraka. Dr. Komozi Woodard generously made the collection available to the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History.

The Hollywood Studios for Coloreds Photographic Negative Collection contains approximately 120,000 photo-negatives documenting African American life in Macon, Georgia, and surrounding areas. The collection includes family and group photographs from 1940-1970, providing an intimate glimpse into the daily lives of African Americans during this time.

“The Fulton County Library System is honored to collaborate with an organization as prestigious as the Mellon Foundation. We look forward to expanding the reach of these incredibly important collections beyond the four walls of the library,” said Gayle Holloman, Executive Director of the Fulton County Library System in Atlanta.

“We are extremely grateful to the Mellon Foundation for their generous support,” said Victor E. Simmons, Jr., Auburn Avenue Research Library Administrator. “This grant will enable us to greatly expand the reach and impact of our collections, and we are excited to share these resources with the community.”

This grant will not only preserve and make these collections accessible to researchers, students, and residents, but it will also ensure their longevity for future generations. The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History and the Fulton County Library System are thrilled to receive this grant and are committed to continuing to promote scholarship and education on African American culture and history.

The project began in March 2023 and will be completed in March 2027.

About the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and HistoryAnchoring the west end of the Sweet Auburn historic district, the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History (AARL) opened in May 1994 in Atlanta. A special library of the Fulton County Library System, it is the first public library in the Southeast to offer specialized reference and archival collections dedicated to the study and research of African American culture and history and of other peoples of African descent. The mission of The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History is to promote specialized library service, archival resources, and culturally/educationally related activities essential for study and use by the general public, students, and scholars of the culture and history of peoples of African descent. Learn more at http://www.fulcolibrary.org/auburn-avenue-research-library.

The post Auburn Avenue Research Library and Fulton County Library System Awarded $2 Million Mellon Foundation Grant appeared first on Atlanta Tribune.

This article originally appeared in The Atlanta Tribune.

The post Auburn Avenue Research Library and Fulton County Library System Awarded $2 Million Mellon Foundation Grant first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”
The post The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.” appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 weeks ago

August 29, 2026

Oakland Post

By Jana Lang Propel Youth Reporter

Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA) and Youth Alive! came together on Aug. 21 to share with their community all that Black August means to them.

Held on EOBA’s patio at 816 98th Ave. in Deep East Oakland, the two organizations hosted their second annual Black August Experience, featuring a food tasting, financial literacy and mindfulness workshops, and voter registration with the League of Women Voters Oakland (LWV).

Black August is known as a time to uphold the legacy of prisoners who protested their conditions by fasting, fighting, and educating themselves on the economic and political circumstances that contributed to their incarceration.

According to its website, “EOBA is a multi-service youth and community development hub that goes far beyond the ring. While rooted in the discipline of boxing, for nearly 40 years EOBA has also integrated robust programs in workforce development, food justice, afterschool enrichment, financial literacy, mentorship, and wellness.”.

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Through Coro California, another leadership organization serving young people across the state for 80 years, they gained a broader understanding of Black August.

EOBA Executive Director Dawna Williams spoke about how much she learned about Black August from the youth who created it. “I let them educate me,” she said. Instead of talking about prison reform and mass incarceration, Williams and youth interns found that Black August meant so much more. “We would have done a disservice if we had just focused on who the people were and what their situation was…We tried to take their message from back in the day and make it relevant to the young people today. What do they need to know?”

Youth interns created and placed posters around the patio to help participants understand how traditional Black foodways, civic engagement, financial literacy, and the power of education are relevant to Black resistance today.

An EOBA member described Black August with Youth ALIVE! as “a whole vibe. “This year we added the Fun Zone for the kids, because you really cannot go wrong with a Fun Zone. I also loved seeing everyone chillin’ in the outdoor lounge, catching some Vitamin D and just enjoying a Friday evening together.”

The food tasting, a popular event from last year, featured traditional Black foods such as black-eyed peas, johnny cakes, and fried chicken. Led by Williams, the tasting included a talk about how these traditional foods were made and why they are forms of Black resilience.

The “‘Plate of History’ was a favorite of the online writers. “Fun, educational, and did I mention delicious? Our Taste of History cook, Angela Southall, served up some good eats while connecting food to history and culture.”

The writer also commended the “League of Women Voters Oakland for their civic leadership and for getting our young people informed, ready, and registered to vote.”

Overall, it was a “good Friday event in East Oakland,” the writer said.

Upcoming Black August events: Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), will host “Black August: The Arc of Liberation” at Oakland City Hall on Sat. Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The websites for East Oakland Boxing Association, Youth Alive! and CORO are sources for this report.

Jana Lang is an Oakland resident, teacher, gardener and poet participating in the Propel News Initiative.

The post The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.” appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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EV Home Charging Warning: What Dealerships Won’t Tell You! #shorts

Is your home EV charging setup ready? Dealerships may not warn you about critical outlet and circuit needs. Find out before you plug in!
The post EV Home Charging Warning: What Dealerships Won’t Tell You! #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 weeks ago

August 29, 2026

Oakland Post

Dealerships won’t tell you: charging this big battery at home isn’t always simple. Verify your outlet capacity, circuit, and setup before assuming level one or basic outdoor outlets will suffice.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/A9Cd2SspoaQ

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Car Buying Secrets: Dealership Traps & How to Avoid Them #shorts

Don’t get tricked at the dealership! Learn essential car buying secrets to secure the best deal and avoid hidden traps.
The post Car Buying Secrets: Dealership Traps & How to Avoid Them #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 weeks ago

August 29, 2026

Oakland Post

Before stepping into a dealership, secure bank pre-approval for your financing rate. Then, get the out-the-door price in writing. Never discuss monthly payments until that number is fixed. Test road noise and rear visibility yourself. Decline add-ons with a simple ‘Not today’. Check backseat space with your tallest household member.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/maAOBjO1puY

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The post Car Buying Secrets: Dealership Traps & How to Avoid Them #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.