BALTIMORE (RNS) — After an unusual election that gave voters the choice on the ballot of a name or a “no,” members of the National Baptist Convention, USA, lined up behind a new president, the Rev. Boise Kimber, senior pastor of First Calvary Baptist Church in New Haven, Connecticut. Kimber, who ran unopposed but needed the approval of the historically Black denomination’s delegates, received 1,774 “yes” votes, or 69% of the votes cast, on Thursday (Sept. 5), while 79 votes, or 31%, were cast as “no” votes. “Oh, how marvelous God is,” said Kimber, after outgoing NBCUSA President Jerry Young…
Author: Kermit Williams
As Chair of the NAACP’s National LGBTQIA Committee, I have the honor and responsibility of representing communities that are often marginalized in both public and private spheres. As a Black Gay Man, I have experienced firsthand the unique challenges that come with being at the intersection of race, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a society that has historically excluded both Black and LGBTQIA voices from critical conversations. That’s why this upcoming election isn’t just another cycle — it’s a defining moment for all of us. I’m reminded of the stories of elders — those who marched, organized, and fought…
NNPA NEWSWIRE — President Biden’s Justice40 initiative. This executive order ensures that 40% of federal investment benefits flow to disadvantaged communities, addressing deep-seated inequities. For generations, Black communities have been systematically denied the resources and opportunities provided to other American communities. Justice40 is more than a Biden-Harris initiative — it ensures a financial commitment to restore communities from historical inequities and bring lasting investment where needed most. It doesn’t matter if you don’t love Vice President Kamala Harris, are skeptical about her policies, or dislike her background as a prosecutor. If we want to see the progress and resources for…
A partnership between Nashville State and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is making it possible for students to receive a certification as a medical assistant in only 12 weeks. “It was a great program,” Scott said. “They’re making sure you know what you need to know.” Scott, a transplant from New Orleans, came to Nashville in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. In New Orleans, she worked as a certified medical assistant, but when she relocated, she decided to pursue other opportunities. Caring and helping patients was never far from her. Deciding to return to her roots in healthcare, she joined…
A partnership between Nashville State and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is making it possible for students to receive a certification as a medical assistant in only 12 weeks. “It was a great program,” Scott said. “They’re making sure you know what you need to know.” Scott, a transplant from New Orleans, came to Nashville in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. In New Orleans, she worked as a certified medical assistant, but when she relocated, she decided to pursue other opportunities. Caring and helping patients was never far from her. Deciding to return to her roots in healthcare, she joined…
WeGo Public Transit will be offering free rides on Election Day – Tuesday, Nov. 5. WeGo will not charge for any fares on any rides for the day, whether riders are on their way to vote, to work, to the grocery store or anywhere else within Davidson County. They will be able to just hop on and go. Riders can simply board the bus and go – all passengers can take advantage of this opportunity. The Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority (Nashville MTA) Board of Directors approved the action, and WeGo has had similar free fare days for elections in the…
Nashville, we’ve got a problem. Every day, many of us waste valuable time stuck in traffic or waiting for buses. That’s time we could spend with family and friends, or doing the things that we love. Thankfully, there’s a solution on the ballot: Nashville’s most equitable transit plan ever, and it’s something we all need to get behind! This comprehensive plan promises improvements across Davidson County, including upgraded traffic signals, enhanced sidewalks, safer bus stops, more frequent service, and new transit centers. Unlike previous initiatives, this plan directly invests in every single district and caters to all types of commuters.…
NNPA NEWSWIRE – Evoking images of marches and a vision of unity, she said, “I grew up as a child of the civil rights movement.” She said, “My parents took me to those marches, pushing me in a stroller through crowds of people of all races, faiths, and walks of life, all fighting for the ideals of freedom and opportunity. I’ve lived the promise of America.” With just one week until the pulse of the nation beats at the ballot box and over 51 million votes already cast, Kamala Harris stood before an audience Tuesday night that outgrew its bounds.…
As Nashville’s transportation referendum approaches, the conversation has been dominated by politicians, developers, and big corporations. But too often, these discussions happen without the voices of the very people most impacted by the city’s crumbling public transit system. The Equity Alliance Fund, the political arm of The Equity Alliance (TEA), has set out to change that by talking directly to the people who rely on public transportation the most—Black Nashvillians. After speaking with over 20,000 Black residents across Davidson County, the message is clear: Nashville’s Black community overwhelmingly wants better public transportation. Yet, while the city’s wealthy developers and corporations…
NASHVILLE – Ninety-one of Tennessee’s 95 counties reported unemployment rates below 5% in September even as most counties saw an uptick in their rates over the previous month, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). Unemployment rates in 77 counties increased from August to September. Rates decreased in five counties and remained the same in 13 counties. Sevier and Moore counties recorded the state’s lowest unemployment rates for the month at 2.7%. Sevier County’s rate was two-tenths of a percentage point higher than in August. Moore County’s rate was up one-tenth of a percentage point.…