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San Diego Economic Department Seeks Community Input

By Macy Meinhardt, Voice & Viewpoint Staff Writer Residents and non-profit organizations of the community gathered Saturday to discuss their vision on how they would like to see $135 million of federal Housing and Urban Development Funding (HUD) to be spent over the next five years. Every five-years, the City of San Diego compiles a […]
The post San Diego Economic Department Seeks Community Input first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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3 years ago

December 5, 2023

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By Macy Meinhardt, Voice & Viewpoint Staff Writer

Residents and non-profit organizations of the community gathered Saturday to discuss their vision on how they would like to see $135 million of federal Housing and Urban Development Funding (HUD) to be spent over the next five years.

Every five-years, the City of San Diego compiles a consolidated plan document to identify community needs and priorities. The consolidated plan is a combination of data and community outreach that determines top housing needs, community development concerns, and gaps in supportive services for low and moderate income populations.

For the 2025-2029 plan, San Diego’s economic development team and city consultants engaged with residents and local nonprofit organizations, including the Black American Political Association’s SD chapter, (BAPAC) in recent open forums.

Serving as the forums host, BAPAC’s efforts work to ensure the economic, social, and political force of the Black community in San Diego remain relevant. Leading the Oct. 21 forum was David P. Dollahan of DPD solutions who serves as the city’s five year plan consultant. In addition, Abena Bradford served as the moderator on behalf of BAPAC, whose nonprofit members were also in attendance to advocate for HUD funding to be prioritized for their community. Affordable housing, street-repair, homelessness, equity, job opportunities, and sustainability were some of the many topics brought up for funding allocation.

Bradford, who also serves as chair for the consolidated plan advisory board, spoke on the importance of non-profit collaborative efforts with government. “Nonprofits provide services to the community that the government sometimes can not reach. That’s how important non-profits are, and that’s why it is important we have an opportunity to make a contribution and let our voices be heard,” said Braford.

Dollahan broke down the four main funding sources within the $135 million of HUD funds for the audience members to consider. These areas include the Community Development Block Grant, which is designed to improve low to moderate income communities. The Home investment Partnership Program, which regards affordable housing creation, the Emergency Solutions Grant, which targets getting people removed from homelessness. And lastly, the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program, which connects people’s housing with medical social support services.

“These are the four preeminent housing programs that the community, I feel, gets to have a say in how the money is spent and where it goes,” said Dollahan.

Although known for our sunny beaches and thriving economy, for years San Diego has been in the midst of a dual crisis as we grapple with both a housing shortage and a rising homelessness problem. While city leaders such as Councilmember Stephen Whitburn promised in 2020 campaign elections that “At the end of my term, there will be very few people left unsheltered in San Diego,” the numbers tell a different story. In fact, between 2021 to 2022, homelessness rates rose by 22 percent.

Macy Meinhardt/Voice & Viewpoint

Multiple homelessness advocates came out to the forum to speak on where local and national funding priorities should be allocated to, but are not currently.

“I just want to put this into the atmosphere. We find $9 billion for war. I don’t want anybody to tell me there is never enough money for homeless people. There is always enough money to do what people want to do, but never enough money to do what we need to do,” said one attendee.

“There are plenty of mechanisms out there to identify funding sources that require a political will to be changed at the local levels,” said Dollahan, in response. With the District 4 special election coming up Nov. 7, the city consultant emphasized the significance of actively participating and staying informed in local government and nonprofit organizations—as these are the crucial areas where citizens can have the greatest impact on their community.

Meanwhile, other community members spoke on the premise of affordable housing. The city’s soaring housing costs, in combination with limited affordable options, have forced many residents out of their homes. In addition, waitlists for section-eight housing are incredibly long within the city. According to the San Diego Housing Commission, current waitlists are at approximately twelve years. Selecting funding prioritization into programs such as Home Investment Partnership Program can help streamline that process.

Furthermore, the forum also hosted a series of activities for attendees to participate in at the end to help the Economic Department solicit further input. In addition residents were also directed to fill out a survey that asked residents to rank service need priorities.

“Share it with your families, share it with your friends, share it with people who own businesses in San Diego, share it with your employees, share it with everyone,” Dollahan encouraged.

The survey link can be accessed by scanning your device over the QR code attached to this article. The link will take users to the city’s Consolidated Plan webpage. Survey can be found by scrolling down to the “Community Needs Survey” section. Input gathered from the surveys and series of forums will be implemented into the drafting process, which is expected to be published in March of 2024. In that time residents will be asked back again to give their feedback and critiques on the draft before the final document is submitted.

This article originally appeared in San Diego Voice and Viewpoint.

The post San Diego Economic Department Seeks Community Input 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

2 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

3 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

3 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.