By Katelynn White Karine Jean Pierre recently made history as the first African American woman in 30 years to host the daily White House press briefings. She fills the Principal Deputy Press Secretary position for the Biden-Harris Administration office. On Sept. 10, Pierre gave students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities an opportunity to virtually attend the White House briefing. She invited HBCU student journalists to a private news briefing to conclude National HBCU week. A total of 20 students represented their colleges and universities. Pierre took as many questions as she could during the 30 minutes timeframe. As she…
Author: Katelynn White
By Katelynn White NASHVILLE, TN — Metro Nashville Public School Board on August 4 voted to reinstate the mask mandate during a morning conference. The school board voted 8-1 to reinstate the mask mandate. The mandate went into effect on Friday, August 6. Fran Bush, MNPS’s board member was the only member to vote against the mask mandate. Bush disapproved of the outcome and believed the decision for students to wear masks should be placed on the parents. Bush said, “Having some sense of normalcy. That was the goal to have these kids have some normalcy to go back into…
By Katelynn White NASHVILLE, TN — The Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention has revised mask mandate for not only unvaccinated but also for vaccinated. “To reduce the risk of being infected with the Delta variant and possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission,” according to a statement released by the Center. According to the CDC website, the new mask mandate guidelines took effect were July 27. The public health agency believes choosing to wear a mask regardless of transmission levels is helpful for fully vaccinated…
By Katelynn White NASHVILLE, TN — The pandemic did not stop anything for licensed hairstylist and instructor, Jeremy Brooks, who has worked in the hair industry for 21 years. Although he has been doing hair for over two decades, he did not open his hair salon until early last year. “I signed my lease on February 5. I had my contractor come in on March 1 of 2020, but then they shut us down on March 17. I had finally mustered the courage to be like okay it’s time for me to step out on my own, but then comes…
By Katelynn White NASHVILLE, TN — The Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center will host a COVID-19 vaccination event for returning college students on August 13. The event is free for all college students aged 17 and up. When referencing the importance of the event Shanika Kidd, a public health professional said, “Our Sleeves Up event is particularly important because we are witnessing an increase of COVID cases in the Nashville/Davidson area and want to continue to be on the frontline of vaccine distribution.” The vaccination event will take place at Music City Indoor Karting on 400 Davidson Street. MWCHC will…
By Katelynn White NASHVILLE, TN — The COVID-19 pandemic is still amongst us and the number of cases are increasing again, but the large Nashville vaccination and testing sites have been phased out. The Music City’s vaccination site closed on May 28 after it was opened for four months. The Nissan Stadium COVID-19 testing site closed July 16 after 16 months. Dr. Alex Jahangir, chief of Metro’s COVID-19 task force and director of Orthopedic Trauma took to his Twitter and posted a photo of Nissan Stadium’s testing site with a caption that said, “On the final day for our Nissan…
By Katelynn White NASHVILLE, TN — Some parents are not convinced their children will be in a safe environment while in the hands of Metro Nashville Public Schools while other parents have mixed emotions about the upcoming school year. “I do not feel like the school board will take the virus seriously. They should do virtual schooling until deaths are gone down completely,” said Nicki McCullum, the grandmother of an elementary student. “One child going to school sick can affect a bunch of kids. They are telling kids to wear a mask, but what about kids that have breathing problems,…
By Katelynn White NASHVILLE, TN — Rep. John Robert Lewis, a civil rights activist, and pioneer devoted his life to protecting human rights. “I have been in some kind of fight — for freedom, equality, basic human rights — for nearly my entire life,” the civil rights pioneer once said. The event was a formal celebration took place at the Ryman Auditorium on July 17. It included a video of Lewis speaking at Emory University. “Use your education, use your professors, use your research, use what you have to make our world a better place,” said the late civil rights…
By Katelynn White NASHVILLE, TN — Brandon Wright, a former basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets, volunteered at a children’s health event to promote good oral health on July 14. He was “A Dentist for a Day” at the Neighborhood Health Clinic on Charles E Davis Blvd. The clinic is one of 10 Neighborhood Health clinics in Middle Tennessee that provides affordable health and dental services. “It’s always been a passion of mine,” Wright said. So many people, so many individuals, so many groups, organizations poured into me when I was a young child, and having the…
By Katelynn White NASHVILLE, TN — At the age of 23, Belmont graduate student DeAnn Whitlow has become an advocate for overcoming depression and anxiety. As part of a generation in which discussing mental illness is considered taboo, she has decided to use her journey to encourage her peers. “Fighting with your own mind can feel like there is no escape. Luckily, that is not true. When you fight through, you will learn that you have the strength. Keep faith in yourself, even when you do not have faith in anything else. When it comes to fighting back, the best…