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COMMENTARY: Stand Up and Be Counted – Make Black Count – Be Powerful

NNPA NEWSWIRE — With the 2020 census already beginning to reach homes in the United States, National Urban League (NUL) President and CEO Marc Morial joined Central Florida Urban League President and CEO Glenton Gilzean Jr. to host a series of events meant to help remove any and all obstacles that threaten an accurate count in the Black community.

Published

6 years ago

March 17, 2020

Oakland Post

By Roger Caldwell, NNPA Newswire Contributor

Last week, National Urban League (NUL) President and CEO Marc Morial spent the day in Central Florida to discuss and emphasize the importance of the 2020 census.

Morial, who has led the National Urban League since 2003, is at the helm of the country’s oldest civil rights and urban advocacy organization, which through 90 affiliates serving 300 communities empowers more than two million people annually.

With the 2020 census already beginning to reach homes in the United States, Morial joined Central Florida Urban League President and CEO Glenton Gilzean Jr. to host a series of events meant to help remove any and all obstacles that threaten an accurate count in the Black community.

Census challenges include closing the digital divide for rural and poor Black communities and ensuring an accurate count of young Black/Brown children, Black/Brown men, foster children, newborns (0-4), all immigrants and all extended family members.

Morial noted that individuals can be counted online, via the phone, through mail or if none of those options are available to them, through a visit to their home by a census taker.

Local outreach efforts began with a roundtable with elected officials. Organized by the Central Florida Urban League and hosted by Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, more than two dozen local leaders came together to discuss ways to improve messaging and ensure an accurate count.

“Don’t underestimate the power of the local news. Keeping this message in front of the people, with radio and the newspapers, works. The challenge for mayors and legislatures is to keep this going until the end of July,” emphasized Morial.

Adding to the discussion was Mayor Demings, who spoke about exceeding the 70 percent goal that the census has established as a measure for success. The mayor has also scheduled meetings with ministers and different community organizations to emphasize their participation.

“The census is a once-in-a-decade national civic engagement activity, and it requires that everyone is counted, said Glenton Gilzean Jr. “Our founders embedded the census into the Constitution for a reason.”

While reaching local elected officials was important, that evening, the CFUL and Spectrum jointly held a townhall with Morial, enabling this message to reach homes across Central Florida. The public event, which will be aired on My News 13 and Bay News 9 in the coming weeks, emphasized how a census undercount would hurt Black communities.

In 2010, the State of Florida was ranked third in the country in unresponsiveness. This led to an estimated 71,000 children who were not counted and an underfunding of $67 million annually. Locally, nearly 7,000 children are on the waiting list for early childhood education due to the 2010 undercount and lack of subsequent resources.

“Open your voice at work. Open your voice in community organizations. Open your voice with the social media. Accurate counting determines money and power, and the leadership must ensure we get an accurate count,” added Morial. “Our leaders must take charge of the conversation in our community and shape our future. The town hall meeting was excellent, and it created awareness and education for everyone who attended.”

“I encourage everyone to watch this town hall when it airs locally to ensure they are not dissuaded by misinformation, and to realize how critical the upcoming count is. Remember: everybody counts,” said Glenton Gilzean Jr.

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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

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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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The post EV Home Charging Warning: What Dealerships Won’t Tell You! #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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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.

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2 weeks ago

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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.