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NNPA President Moderates Inspirational CBCF Avoice Heritage Celebration
NNPA NEWSWIRE — In moderating the panel of awardees, Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. began with the ultra-popular Congresswoman Maxine Waters, the first black woman to chair the House Committee on Financial Services. He asked Waters what could be expected from her committee in terms of improving the quality of life in black communities.
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia
A program to commemorate the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 10th annual Avoice Heritage Celebration concluded in much the same way it began: lively and inspiring.
Held on Tuesday, Feb. 26 at the Eaton Hotel in Washington, D.C., the program, entitled “Roots, Return, Remembrance: The Congressional Black Caucus and the Black Agenda,” reflected on the many diverse stories of migration by African Americans and how they’ve shaped the mission of the CBC.
It kicked off with the Washington Performing Arts Men & Women of the Gospel Choir performing the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” under conductor Stanley Thurston.
After a welcome address and statements, Neema Bickersteth, Jessie Montgomery and Jannina Norpoth – the cast of Scott Joplin’s Opera, “Treemonisha” – performed “We Will Trust You As Our Leader.”
CBC Chair, California Rep. Karen Bass received the Distinguished Champion for Global Black Empowerment Award while Reps. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.); Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas); Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.); Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.); and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.); each received the Distinguished Leader of Black Legislative Empowerment awards.
The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) – the trade organization that represents the 215 African American-owned newspapers and media companies around the country – live-streamed the event to viewers on various social media platforms.
“There are millions of young people in particular who are searching and thirsting for knowledge and information, so we thought this would be a great program for them to see,” said NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., who moderated an energetic panel discussion featuring the awardees.
Because of special hearings planned with President Donald Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen, Representative Cummings could not attend the event.
However, Cummings was featured in a video of the honorees that spoke about the importance of the Avoice Virtual Library, the CBCF’s award-winning digital archive that counts as a valuable tool for researchers, educators, students and anyone interested in African American legislative history.
Avoice was developed in 2005 following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina that revealed the fragility of preserving physical, historical artifacts.
As part of the virtual library project, the CBCF collects, preserves and disseminates historical information cataloging the rich history of African Americans in Congress and the library offers a section for educators with lesson units and detailed classroom activities to help teachers incorporate African American legislative history into their curricula.
Chavis noted that members of the Black Press, which marks 192 years in business, continue to publish daily in print and on digital platforms.
In moderating the panel of awardees, Chavis began with the ultra-popular Waters, the first black woman to chair the House Committee on Financial Services. He asked Waters what could be expected from her committee in terms of improving the quality of life in black communities.
“What I’ve said to [businesses] is to not come to my committee to try to carry on your de-regulation. No more of that,” Waters said. “We want you to go figure out how you will fix all the wrongs you created that did not allow black people to credibly own their own homes and businesses.”
Waters vowed to “change the direction of America and the way we’ve been discriminated against.” She said, “I’m ready.”
Johnson, the chair of the House Committee on Science, Technology and Space, said her committee isn’t sexy or exciting for a lot of people, but it’s terribly important.
“We will continue to stress that we need our young people to see opportunities in STEM fields,” Johnson said, adding that she ensures that historically black colleges and universities are included in all grant and other funding that passes through her committee.
Before turning to Scott, Chavis drew laughter and applause when he remarked, “Lord have mercy on Virginia” – a reference to the blackface and other scandals engulfing top officials there.
Scott agreed, but cautioned against distraction. “We can spend all the time talking about that and not talk about equity and education,” said Scott, who chairs the House Committee on Education and Labor. “We have a lot of work to do. With all the distractions going on, nobody notices what we’re doing,” he said.
“A couple of days ago, we gave a presentation to a higher education group and left there for a hearing on minimum wage and the reporters who staked me out didn’t want to talk about all the great things we’re doing for higher education or labor, they wanted to talk about ‘what’s up with the governor…’
“What I did today, $100 billion legislation in school construction and we passed the Fair Pay Act, and [The Black Press] is the only place you will hear that it happened because of all the news on distractions. Meanwhile, we have to do what we need to do,” Scott said.
Thompson, the chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said his committee does everything from airport security to maritime security. “You name it. In America, we provide security. However, I don’t want in the name of security, to have people targeted because of their color or religion,” Thompson said.
“My job is not only to secure America, but to make America uphold its values as a country for people who live here,” he said.
Waters capped the night encouraging her colleagues to embrace millennials and not “shield them” from the realities of racism and other problems.
“They don’t want to be shielded. They want to be told the truth,” she said.
“I am honored and so pleased that I’ve been adopted by the millennials… I am everybody’s Auntie.”
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Carolyn’s Kids Foundation Honors Graduates
NNPA NEWSWIRE — Each 8th-grade student received a $100 gift card to go towards their high school fees. Additionally, two high school seniors received the CKF HBCU-Jackson State Bound Scholarship. Jamari White and Kevin Barber Jr. both received $1000 each. Two $500 scholarships were awarded to mothers who are continuing their postsecondary education.
The post Carolyn’s Kids Foundation Honors Graduates first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

On Sunday, June 5, 2022, the Carolyn’s Kids Foundation honored 140, 8th-grade students across Chicagoland areas. Hosted at Visions Events Chicago at 11901 S. Loomis, parents, students, and schoolteachers participated in the 6th Annual CKF Scholarship Luncheon.

HBCU Bound Scholars-Jackson State University
Carolyn Griffin Palmer, CKF-CEO, Kevin Barber Jr., Jamari White, and Brendolyn Hart-Glover, President of the Jackson State University Chicago Alumni Chapter
HBCU Bound Scholars-Jackson State University
Carolyn Griffin Palmer, CKF-CEO, Kevin Barber Jr., Jamari White, and Brendolyn Hart-Glover, President of the Jackson State University Chicago Alumni Chapter
Each 8th-grade student received a $100 gift card to go towards their high school fees. Additionally, two high school seniors received the CKF HBCU-Jackson State Bound Scholarship. Jamari White and Kevin Barber Jr. both received $1000 each. Two $500 scholarships were awarded to mothers who are continuing their postsecondary education.
Carolyn’s Kids Foundation has awarded over $50,000 in the past 5 years, and this year $17,000 was distributed to the Class of 2022. To support the Carolyn’s Kids Foundation and learn more, please visit their website: www.ckfchicago.org and follow them on FB @ckfchicago.
The post Carolyn’s Kids Foundation Honors Graduates appeared first on Chicago Defender.
The post Carolyn’s Kids Foundation Honors Graduates first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
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Justice Department Announces Investigation of the Louisiana State Police
NNPA NEWSWIRE — “Every American, regardless of race, has the right to constitutional policing,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Based on an extensive review of publicly available information and information provided to us, we find significant justification to investigate whether Louisiana State Police engages in excessive force and engages in racially discriminatory policing against Black residents and other people of color.”
The post Justice Department Announces Investigation of the Louisiana State Police first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a pattern or practice investigation into the Louisiana State Police (LSP) to assess whether the law enforcement agency uses excessive force and whether it engages in racially discriminatory policing.
According to a news release, the investigation will include a comprehensive review of LSP policies, training, supervision, and force investigations, as well as LSP’s systems of accountability, including misconduct complaint intake, investigation, review, disposition, and discipline.
“Protecting the civil rights of all Americans and building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve are among the Justice Department’s most important responsibilities,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in the release.
“This investigation, like all of our pattern or practice investigations, will seek to promote the transparency, accountability, and public trust that is essential to public safety.”
The DOJ said it’s conducting the investigation pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which prohibits state and local governments from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprives individuals of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law.
The statute allows the DOJ to remedy such misconduct through civil litigation, and law enforcement practices under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, as well as under the Safe Streets Act of 1968 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Officials called the investigation separate from any federal criminal investigation of LSP troopers.
Before the announcement, DOJ officials informed Governor John Bel Edwards, Colonel Lamar Davis, and Deputy General Counsel Gail Holland of the investigation.
According to the news release, each pledged to cooperate with the investigation.
As part of the investigation, DOJ officials will reach out to community groups and members of the public to learn about their experiences with LSP.
The Special Litigation Section of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana are conducting the investigation jointly.
“Every American, regardless of race, has the right to constitutional policing,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
“Based on an extensive review of publicly available information and information provided to us, we find significant justification to investigate whether Louisiana State Police engages in excessive force and engages in racially discriminatory policing against Black residents and other people of color.”
Clarke continued:
“The Justice Department stands ready to use every tool in our arsenal to confront allegations of misconduct and to ensure legitimacy during encounters with law enforcement.”
The DOJ ask that anyone with relevant information to contact them via email at Community.Louisiana@usdoj.gov or by phone at (202) 353-0684.
Individuals can also report civil rights violations regarding this or other matters using the Civil Rights Division’s reporting portal, available at civilrights.justice.gov.
The post Justice Department Announces Investigation of the Louisiana State Police first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
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PRESS ROOM: 81 Grassroots Organizations Awarded a Total of $750,000 in Grants through Industry’s ‘Make Golf Your Thing’ Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative
NNPA NEWSWIRE — The grant program is part of the industry’s broader commitment to making the sport more inclusive for all. Last month, a new Make Golf Your Thing search directory was launched for consumers, consisting of more than 8,400 registered golf programs and organizations across the U.S.
The post PRESS ROOM: 81 Grassroots Organizations Awarded a Total of $750,000 in Grants through Industry’s ‘Make Golf Your Thing’ Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – 81 grassroots golf organizations will receive a total of $750,000 in funding to further their efforts to engage underrepresented populations of the sport. These groups (*full list below) are being awarded with a grant through Make Golf Your Thing, the industry’s commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in making the sport more welcome for all.
Initially introduced in 2021 (by the Make Golf Your Thing youth & adult player development work group), the grant program to date has provided 155 grants to 111 unique grassroots organizations, totaling more than $1 million overall (May 2021: 43 grants totaling $150,000; Jan. 2022: 31 grants totaling $150,000).
The program was established to support organizations dedicated to increasing participation among golf’s underrepresented populations (i.e., Black, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous communities, as well as women, LGBTQI+ individuals, veterans, and individuals with disabilities).
“When the game comes together and pools every resource to grow and broaden the reach of the game, only great things can happen,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA and executive sponsor of the youth & adult player development work group for Make Golf Your Thing.
“This unifying movement is helping to make a difference in communities across America and advance the game in ways none of us can do alone.”
“Access to golf in a business context is a pathway to opportunity,” said Anna Alvarez Boyd, co-founder of FairWays to Leadership (one of the 81 grant recipients).
“Our group’s mission is to increase diversity in business and in golf by teaching college students from diverse backgrounds the skills they need to become effective leaders. The financial commitment of the grant program to organizations like ours will only further golf’s collective efforts to bring new and diverse audiences into our sport.”
The grant program is part of the industry’s broader commitment to making the sport more inclusive for all. Last month, a new Make Golf Your Thing search directory was launched for consumers, consisting of more than 8,400 registered golf programs and organizations across the U.S.
The directory allows individuals to search for programs and events using filters such as location, age, ability, gender, etc., giving new and diverse audiences an opportunity to become more engaged in the sport through programs in their own community.
Formally launched in May 2021, Make Golf Your Thing is the industry’s movement to make golf accessible to individuals from all backgrounds.
Led by six cross-industry work groups, the initiative is specifically focused on: education & skill development, talent acquisition, procurement, human resources, youth & adult player development, and marketing/communications.
Funding for the grant program is being administered by the American Golf Industry Coalition, a partnership among golf’s leading organizations to promote and advocate for the collective interests of the sport.
Financial support for the program is led by a contingent of industry supporters committed to making the sport more welcoming and inclusive for all.
About Make Golf Your Thing
A multi-faceted, multi-year movement, Make Golf Your Thing is a collaborative effort across the industry to invite more people to golf from all backgrounds.
Six cross-industry work groups are committed to making the sport more diverse, equitable and inclusive, with a specific focus on: education & skill development, talent acquisition, procurement, human resources, youth & adult player development, and marketing/communications. For more, www.makegolfyourthing.org.
About the American Golf Industry Coalition
The American Golf Industry Coalition advocates on behalf of golf’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts; environmental and sustainability initiatives; contributions to the economy (local and national); health and wellness benefits, as well as charitable giving.
The organization unites the golf industry in pursuit of goals designed to enhance the vitality and diversity of both the business and recreational levels of the sport. The American Golf Industry Coalition is a division of the World Golf Foundation.
To learn more, visit www.golfcoalition.org.
Grassroots Organization | City/Town | State |
A Perfect Swing Foundation Inc. | Charlotte | NC |
Adaptive Golfers | North Myrtle Beach | SC |
Annika Foundation | Orlando | FL |
Be Counted On Foundation | Gahanna | OH |
Black College Golf Coaches Association | Vestavia | AL |
Button Hole | Providence | RI |
Cameron Champ Foundation | Citrus Heights | CA |
CitySwing Foundation | Washington | D.C. |
County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation | Alhambra | CA |
DC on the Green | McKinney | AL |
Edu-Sports Academy | Willingboro | NJ |
El Dorado High School Golf Team | El Paso | TX |
Excel Youth Academy | Lawrenceville | GA |
FabNewport, Inc | Newport | RI |
FairWays to Leadership, Inc. | Orlando | FL |
First Tee – Central Florida | Orlando | FL |
First Tee – Central Mississippi | Flowood | MS |
First Tee – Greater Charleston | Mt. Pleasant | SC |
First Tee – Greater Richmond | Richmond | VA |
First Tee – Greater Sacramento (Sacramento Area Youth Golf Association) | Sacramento | CA |
First Tee – Greater Trenton | Trenton | NJ |
First Tee – Greater Tyler | Bullard | TX |
First Tee – Greater Washington, DC | Washington | D.C. |
First Tee – Greater Wichita | Wichita | KS |
First Tee – Indiana | Indianapolis | IN |
First Tee – Jersey Shore | Point Pleasant | NJ |
First Tee – North Florida (Rising Leaders of North Florida, Inc.) | St. Augustine | FL |
First Tee – Omaha (Hogan’s Junior Golf Heroes) | Omaha | NE |
First Tee – Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | PA |
First Tee – Southeastern New Mexico | Roswell | NM |
First Tee – Tennessee | Knoxville | TN |
First Tee – Triangle | Raleigh | NC |
First Tee – Tulsa (Youth Development of Tulsa) | Tulsa | OK |
First Tee – West Michigan (Lake Michigan Junior Golf Association) | Kentwood | MI |
Fore Life Inc. | Lauderhill | FL |
Fore the Ladies | Sylvania | OH |
Future Successors | Atlanta | GA |
Gator Junior Golf Association | Gainesville | FL |
Girls Golf of America, Inc. | Greensboro | NC |
Golf. My Future. My Game. | Washington | D.C. |
Greater Cleveland Junior Golf Scholarship Fund | Bedford | OH |
Harris Park Midtown Sports & Activity Center | Kansas City | MO |
Hi-Tee Junior Little League Golf Program | Renton | WA |
Hit It Straight Golf Academy | Homewood | IL |
I AM a Golfer Foundation | Dallas | TX |
iGolf4VETS, Inc. | Riverview | FL |
Inland Golf Academy | Riverside | CA |
Inner City Youth Golfers’ Inc. | Palm Beach Gardens | FL |
Inspiring Greatness In You | Covington | GA |
Jackson Park Golf Association | Chicago | IL |
Ladies of Futurity, Inc | West Palm Beach | FL |
Latina Golfers Association Foundation | Los Angeles | CA |
Little Linksters | Sorrento | FL |
Matrix Human Services | Detroit | MI |
Michigan Women’s Golf Association | Detroit | MI |
Midnight Golf Program | Bingham Farms | MI |
Milwaukee Area Youth Golf Academy, Inc. | Glendale | WI |
Moore-Myers Children’s Fund | Jacksonville | FL |
My Vision Golf | Fayetteville | GA |
New Jersey Golf Foundation Inc. | Bedminster | NJ |
Next 18 | Fox Point | WI |
Northern Texas PGA Foundation – Fairway to Success | Dallas | TX |
One Hundred Black Men, Inc. | New York | NY |
Par Excellence Youth Development | Huntsville | AL |
Range Fore Hope Foundation | Blythewood | SC |
Rose Hill Schools | Rose Hill | KS |
Southern California Golf Association – Junior Golf Foundation | Studio City | CA |
Southern Area Youth Program, Inc. | Los Angeles | CA |
Special Olympics Connecticut | Hamden | CT |
SwingPals, Inc. | Durham | NC |
Ted Rhodes Foundation, Inc. | Chicago | IL |
The Caddie & Leadership Academy | Kenosha | WI |
The Darby Foundation | Lafayette | LA |
The Glove Foundation | Mobile | AL |
The Honors Junior Golf Program | Corona | CA |
The Pinkney Foundation | Pittsburg | CA |
Upstate-Carolina Adaptive Golf | Greenville | SC |
Western States Junior Golf Association | Las Vegas | NV |
Women Golfers Give Back | Plymouth Meeting | PA |
Women in Golf Foundation, Inc. | Ellenwood | GA |
The post PRESS ROOM: 81 Grassroots Organizations Awarded a Total of $750,000 in Grants through Industry’s ‘Make Golf Your Thing’ Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
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