By Ben Jealous Sometimes friends have to hold friends accountable. That’s why I got arrested outside the White House on Oct. 5. I was there with other civil rights and religious leaders to call on President Joe Biden to do more to protect voting rights that are under attack. We know that President Biden supports voting rights. He has called anti-voting laws being passed by Republican state legislators the biggest threat to our democracy since the Civil War. We need him to act like he truly believes those words. We need a federal voting rights law passed this year. More…
Author: Article submitted
Nashville, TN (TN Tribune)–Meharry Medical College has announced that it has joined the leadership core for a new two-year $100 million award funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to lead the Coordinating Center for the Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) Consortium to Advance Health Equity and Researcher Diversity (AIM-AHEAD) program. Through coordinated partnerships to enhance the participation and representation of researchers and communities currently underrepresented in the development of AI/ML models, several Meharrians will help execute the program including Dr. Anil Shanker, senior vice president for research and innovation; Dr. Paul Juarez, professor and director, Health Disparities Research Center…
(WASHINGTON D.C., 10/14/2021) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a racist vandalism targeting an Asian-American family in Memphis, Tennessee and called on law enforcement to conduct a hate crime investigation. The perpetrators spray painted the words “Ch**k Go Home” on the family’s garage door and threw a brick through the window of the house. The father said he and his family had bricks thrown through their windows several times, but that this was the first time they’d had a racial slur spray painted on their house. SEE: Home vandalized,…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TN Tribune) – MAPCO, the convenience store chain with nearly 340 stores throughout the Southeastern region of the U.S., opened its new flagship location at 4671 Trousdale Drive, serving the Nashville community. The new 5,600 square-foot store — designed to offer a better break for guests with its efficient layout and modern design — is accessible from I-65 North, which takes residents right into the heart of Music City. MAPCO executives and community leaders honored the grand opening with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, October 14. As part of MAPCO’s ongoing commitment to the communities it serves, the company…
By Colin Barrett President and CEO, Tennessee Bankers Association A proposal in Washington to require banks to report customer account transactions to the Internal Revenue Service has become a major advocacy priority for banks, and it should be top priority for all Tennesseans to oppose as well. In May, a proposal surfaced that would impose new IRS reporting mandates on customer bank accounts. If passed, all banks and other financial institutions would be required to report virtually every account deposit and withdrawal to the IRS, regardless of customers’ consent. This requirement would apply to every personal and business bank account…
A new book on minority women as groundbreaking oral health professionals lists Meharry School of Dentistry faculty and alumni among those who have set the standard for their discipline. Undaunted Trailblazers: Minority Women Leaders for Oral Health by Shelia S. Price, Jeanne C. Sinkford and Marilyn P. Woolfolk is a compelling read featuring the stories of 31 contemporary minority women including three current Meharry SOD leaders and three Meharry alumni. Spotlighted from the Meharry School of Dentistry are Cherae Farmer, D.D.S. ’90, MSPH ’94 dean; Machelle Thompson, associate dean, compliance; and Sandra G. Harris, D.D.S. ’84, chair, Department of Orthodontics.…
NASHVILLE, TN (TSU News Service) — Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover recently testified at a virtual congressional hearing about the importance of historically black colleges and universities and urged lawmakers to continue supporting them. The hearing on Oct. 6 before the House Committee on Education and Labor examined the essential contributions that HBCUs have made, the history that sets these institutions apart, and the enduring challenges and financial needs that they and their students face. “HBCUs have stood the test of time and managed to succeed in spite of the difficulties,” said President Glover, who was invited to…
By Glenda Glover, Ph.D., JD, CPA HBCUs have changed the college landscape, and provided a significant return on investment. Our country cannot reach its goals without strong, viable, sustainable HBCUs – goals necessary to close the education gap, health, wealth and economic gaps. HBCUs were founded to educate the newly freed slaves, and have fulfilled this mission with limited resources, discrimination in funding, and inadequate facilities. At HBCUs we see Black excellence at its best. HBCUs have made enormous contributions, and in spite of finding a way to survive, the lack of funding has prevented many HBCUs from excelling at…
MEMPHIS, TN — On Tuesday October 12, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) endorsed JB Smiley, Jr. and his campaign for Governor of Tennessee. “Councilman Smiley is smart, energetic, and in touch with the needs of working people,” said Congressman Cohen. “Having a Governor who understands the needs and importance of the cities as well as the towns is of importance for benefits to be extended equitably.” JB launched his campaign for Governor just over a month ago and has already garnered support from leaders throughout the state. His message of bringing urban, suburban, and rural Tennesseans together to create more job…
KNOXVILLE, TN — The Knoxville Area Urban League has been awarded a grant in support of housing stability programs by Bank of America. The $10,000 grant will support the Knoxville Area Urban League’s housing programs that educate families on the processes of purchasing a home and provides counseling to help clients keep their homes. “Bank of America continues to be a valued partner, supporting much-needed housing programs offered by our organization,” said Phyllis Y. Nichols, president and CEO of the Knoxville Area Urban League. “We sincerely appreciate this generous grant that will support housing stability programs to help Knoxville residents…