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HBCU Students Aspiring To Become Lawyers

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2023-09-19

National HBCU Pre-Law Summit Celebrates 10 Years of Empowering HBCU Students to Become Lawyers

Attorney Evangeline M. Mitchell, founder of the event, is celebrating a decade of empowering HBCU students who aspire to be lawyers. Her 10th Annual National HBCU Pre-Law Summit & Law Expo is scheduled to take place this year on Friday, September 22th and Saturday, September 23rd at the University of the District of Columbia, a public land-grant historically Black university, located in the nation’s capital of Washington, DC. The University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law serves as the presenting sponsor and is one of only six HBCU law schools in the country.

According to Mitchell, who is a graduate of HBCU Prairie View A&M University (Prairie View, Texas), this pre-law event stands apart because “it is the only one that not only provides the critical law school admissions, preparation and career information that you would expect, but it also openly addresses the unique and additional challenges that HBCU graduates face – particularly when they choose to attend predominantly White law schools and enter the legal profession – one of the least diverse professions.”

She says that she wants to ensure every attendee leaves with more than knowledge – but with a circle of support. “We deliberately create opportunities for them to find peer accountability partners and law student and lawyer connections that they can reach out to and build relationships with after the event. The people they meet can become mentors to help them navigate the difficult journey ahead. We constantly reiterate the importance of relationships as an equally important key to success – just as important as working hard and doing well academically. They can’t do it alone – and don’t have to. We are that village for aspiring lawyers. They will be surrounded by people who genuinely want to see them succeed.”

Again this year, lawyers, law students, law professors, and law school administrators will converge in the District of Columbia to participate in the summit in various capacities with the singular focus and collective purpose of helping to motivate, empower, and support HBCU students and alumni in their quest to gain entry into law school and the legal profession.

For more information about this year’s milestone event, please visit the official website at HBCUPreLawSummit.org.

Big Give Website Now Open for Early Giving, Give Today!

Cover Story

Observer Staff

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2023-09-12

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Big Give Website Now Open for Early Giving, Give Today!

The Big Give, organized by The Non-Profit Council of San Antonio and spearheaded by Scott McAninch, boasts a huge membership of local non-profits. In a conversation with The Observer, Scott highlighted the pivotal role of the non-profit sector, not only as the third-largest employer but also as a staunch advocate for local communities.

The Big Give Pep Rally returned last today after a three-year hiatus to unite nonprofits across the city as they prepare to fundraise for much-needed funds. This event served to thank nonprofits for all they do for the community and announce the official opening of the Big Give donation portal – thebiggive.org. Donors are now able to give in advance of this year’s Big Give 24-hour online giving day on Sept. 20 – 21. Now in its 10th event anniversary, the Big Give enables nonprofits to raise unrestricted funds to meet needs that may not be reached through other funding avenues.

Scott McAninch (CEO Non-Profit Council),
Mercedes Alhaj (COO Non-Profit Council, Pepper the Big Give Mascot)

The Big Give Pep Rally featured Mayor Ron Nirenberg, music by DJ Mayhem, nonprofits and their mascots from across the area rallying in excitement.

Big Give is South Central Texas’ 24-hour online giving day open to any registered nonprofit. Since 2014, Big Give has helped more than 1,200 local nonprofits connect with more than 283,000 individual donors and collectively raised over $40 million to support the critical services nonprofits provide to our community.

This year, more than 400 nonprofits are trained and registered to participate. Since 2014, Big Give has helped more than 1,200 local nonprofits connect with more than 283,000 individual donors and collectively raised over $40 million to support the critical services nonprofits provide to our community. The Big Give will take place from 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 20, through 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 21.

Individuals and organizations are encouraged to donate to the nonprofit(s) of their choice. Contributions can be made via credit and debit card, ACH deposit and mobile wallet, and Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Donations will be processed and received by the nonprofits directly.

This year, more than $175,000 will be available during Match Minutes and in prize money throughout the day. Match Minutes are a fun and effective way to engage more donors and effectively double their donations.

The 2023 Match Minute sponsors are:

The Genevieve and Ward Orsinger Foundation

The Nonprofit Council

City of San Antonio Dept. of Human Services

City of San Antonio Dept. of Arts and Culture

The Najim Charitable Foundation, McKenna Foundation

Wave Healthcare

Argo Group

The Big Give empowers San Antonio’s non-profits to offer vital resources, including employment assistance, family services, meals, educational support, and more. Scott McAninch is optimistic that this year’s Big Give will enable these local organizations to sustain their essential services for residents, thanks to the generous donations they receive during this years Big Give- GIVE TODAY!

Red Shirt Followers Are Staring Jail In The Face

Mario Salas

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2023-09-12

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Red Shirt Followers Are Staring Jail In The Face

Who is the New Face of Fascism?

Progressive groups are seeing a huge spike in membership as they are joining efforts against former US President Donald Trump. The NAACP sued President Trump, his presidential campaign, and the Republican National Committee in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for systematically trying to disenfranchise Black voters in states across the country. The indictment of Trump produced this response from the NAACP, “Today’s actions remind Americans that no person is above the law. Today is the beginning of the law catching up to Donald Trump. We intend to continue pursuing justice in our case that will hold him accountable for his actions that led to January 6th as well.” Other groups saw the charges against Trump as nothing less than a white supremacist rebellion as it was organized by Trump himself, along with Rudy “Phony” Giuliani, Steve “baloney” Bannon, and their red shirt backers. The official crooked lawyers of the Trump campaign worked hard to steal an election and now some of them are staring jail in the face.

Trump’s attempt to sabotage the election was nothing less than a fascist attempt to make himself president for life and rule from the top down. His “Proud Boys” that led the attack on the capital are now in prison after a show of cowardice in the courtroom on the day they were sentenced. These fanatics cried, begged, and switched on each other. FACT: “Fascism is an ideology by one man or one party. Fascism uses propaganda to keep people believing falsehoods. Fascists push white nationalism, they dislike foreigners, are racist, and approve of violence if need be,” and Trump and his red shirt followers fit the definition. Slavery and the attitudes that go with it die hard. White supremacy is the hangover that fuels the fascism of Trump. The official drink of the Trump Campaign is poison “kook” aid laced with lies. Trump’s proposed new slogan should be, “Make Dictatorships Great Again – Heil Trump.”

A friend of mine said it clearly, “He has awakened the ugliest, most sinister, evil underbelly of this country. He has empowered them with his hate-filled words. He has bullied, threatened and destroyed those who stood up to him. Never has our country been in so much danger of being destroyed as a democracy. I pray that the good people of this country will stop him with our votes, by organizing and supporting those against his fascist threats.”

Most progressives in the United States oppose Trump and see him on the worst side of upcoming 2024 election. Many see Trump as the greater internal threat to Black and Brown rights, women’s rights, Native American rights, and progressive legislation. The majority of Black folk oppose Trump, except for the boot licking Sambos, like Kanye “Yippie” West, Enrique Tarrio, and Trevian “mug shot” Kutti; she was a real Sambo sell out for Trump and who harassed Black election workers and was paid off in one form or another. A short time back, on the morning after Philadelphia police fatally shot a Black man, 27-year-old Walter Wallace Jr., Trump praised officers as “the most incredible people on earth.” Many Americans, both Black, Brown and White, know the game plan of Trump which includes lies on top of lies to cover up other lies. Trump surrendered, so his claim to never surrender is bull. If he was really brave he would have not shown up and be arrested, and Trump rats are leaving his stinking ship as time in jail becomes a real possibility.

Baby Dies After Mom Places It In Trash Compactor

Crime

Observer Staff

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2023-09-12

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Baby Dies After Mom Places It In Trash Compactor

An 18-year-old Dothan mother has been charged with capital murder after police say she put her newborn baby in a dumpster with a trash compactor and lied about it.

On Thursday, August 24, Dothan Police began an investigation after being contacted by medical staff at Southeast Health about a woman and her family attempting to find a baby she claimed she had left at the hospital on August 13, 2023, with one of their employees in the hospital lobby.

According to Dothan Police, the 18-year-old mother, Jakayla Ashanti Williams, told employees she had given birth to a boy at her home in the 1100 Block of Tate Drive but dropped the baby off at the hospital because she did not want him and said that a baby costs too much money to care for. William’s family did not know she was pregnant or had given birth until Wednesday, August 23, police say.

Police say as the investigation continued, officers found out that Williams never took the newborn to Southeast Health, and when they presented this evidence to her during an interview, she admitted to investigators that she had taken the baby wrapped in a blanket, drove to the west side of the city, and placed him alive in a dumpster outside of an apartment complex. Police are unsure why Williams chose this specific spot as they say she had no connection with the apartment complex.

It is absolutely shocking. In twenty-seven years of law enforcement, I’ve never heard of anything so horrific as this. It shocks the mind. It shocks the soul. She knew obviously that she could take a child newborn to the hospital and drop it off and there is Alabama law where there are no questions asked
DOTHAN POLICE CHIEF WILLIAM BENNY

During a press conference held Thursday night, Chief William Benny revealed his officers went to the apartment complex and found the dumpster with a trash compactor attached to it, and after sifting through the contents at the Dothan City Landfill, found the remains of the newborn wrapped in a mattress protector inside a zipped-up duffel bag.

The newborn’s remains were sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Montgomery to confirm it was the missing baby.

Article by: Richard Everett

‘Skunked’ Giants embarrassed by 40-0 loss to Cowboys on opening night

Observer Staff

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2023-09-12

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‘Skunked’ Giants embarrassed by 40-0 loss to Cowboys on opening night

The New York Giants came up small Sunday night, getting shellacked 40-0 by the Dallas Cowboys in a streaking rain at MetLife Stadium.

There was no sugarcoating the loss for Big Blue head coach Brian Daboll.

“We just got skunked here, 40 to nothing,” he said after the game, via the official transcript. “When you play a game like that and coach a game like that, there’s nothing that’s good enough. Our job is to go back and look at it with a critical eye, just like we would do in any game, but 40 to nothing is not a good score, obviously. So, a lot to work on, and that’s what we’ll do.”

Bury the tape, burn the tape, jettison the tape into the nearest black hole. Whatever the Giants do moving forward, it literally cannot be worse than what they put on film Sunday night.

The offense committed three turnovers and generated 171 total yards (2.6 yards per play), got to the red zone a single time in 12 possessions, and put up a goose egg on the scoreboard. The defense got run over, allowing scores on four of the Cowboys’ first five possessions. The special teams had a field goal blocked for a score, and Graham Ganoyanked another 36-yarder.

“This wasn’t our best game, there is no doubt about it,” quarterback Daniel Jones said. “This wasn’t who we are capable of being. We’ve got to show that. We’ve got to put that on the field and play that way. We didn’t do that tonight, and we have a lot to work on going forward.”

Jones was harassed all night by the Cowboys’ pass rush, getting sacked seven times while playing longer into the blowout than he should have participated. With the right side of the Giants’ offensive line getting manhandled, Jones completed 15 of 28 attempts for a measly 104 yards (3.7 yards per attempt) with two interceptions. It’s the third-fewest passing yards in a start in his career for the $40 million quarterback.

“We are certainly frustrated and extremely disappointed with how we performed tonight, and I know I certainly am with myself, so a lot to work on and clean up,” he said. “We are going to be critical of ourselves and look to correct it and get back on the right page.”

Teammates were a little more blunt than the quarterback.

“We got our teeth kicked in,” receiver Sterling Shepard said.

“It’s embarrassing, but it’s over with now,” safety Xavier McKinney said. “We got a long way to go. It’s that simple. This was a wake-up call for us. It’s definitely humbling but we’ll figure it out. We’ll be a lot better next week. We won’t look like this next week.”

The last two times Daboll’s team has taken the field, it lost — 38-7 to Philadelphia in last year’s Divisional Round and then Sunday’s 40-0 debacle. Taking it on the chin 78-7 from two division rivals is no way to live. Sunday’s performance underscored that despite optimism in New York over Daboll’s swift turnaround last season, the Giants are still, at best, the third-best team in the division, which makes getting back to the playoffs that much harder.

On the positive side, 40-0 counts the same in the loss column as a one-point defeat, and Big Blue has 16 more games to right the ship.

“I’m focused on trying to improve and there’s a lot to improve on,” Daboll said. “So, you know, it’s one game. It wasn’t a good game, don’t sugarcoat it. It was a bad game and that’s on me and we’ll work to get the things we need to get fixed, which is certainly plenty of things.”

By: Tony Patra

TEA’S New Grading System Spurs 16 Lawsuits

Lena Lopez

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2023-09-12

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TEA’S New Grading System Spurs 16 Lawsuits

TEA’s Revised Grading System Spurs 16 School District Lawsuits in Response to the Alterations

Hello SAISD Parents and San Antonio Community,

This week, let’s review how TEA will grade our schools in 2023. The new grading system is called a refresh system because the new 2023 ratings will not be comparable to any other scoring system before this year. The STAAR’s tests will still be used, and they will look at how many students meet grade level or master the tests. They want to see if students raise their reading levels and close other learning gaps. The new grading system will also change how our high schools are rated. The state will check to see if all graduating will be ready for college, career, or military readiness. This was a system they came up with due to the pandemic after reports stated that 37% of our seniors who graduated were not ready for their next step in life. The new refresh system will make it harder for our schools to get an A or B. The other change is that the SBOE is in the process of rewriting the curriculum for different subjects.

16 school districts are suing TEA over the new rating system, which is coming out as TEA has resigned the STAAR’S tests. The new system that’s in place would give some of our schools from an A rating to a D because of the new accountability system. This could cause many of our schools to lose funding and teachers. It seems that TEA is causing our public schools more issues to close these schools down because they want vouchers. Let me ask all my readers this question: If we are going to the polls to vote on the homeowner’s tax breaks, then why can’t we bring the school vouchers to the ballot in November as well? This would help us figure out what our parents in Texas really want for their children.

Lastly, my parents receiving childcare services know that we could see many childcare programs closed at the end of September. This is due to the end of the CARES Act and ARPA; these programs were used to help our families. So, now we’re facing another battle as child care services will go down and could cause some to lose their jobs. All this is because the pandemic money is being cut off, so now we must find grants or other programs to help our parents needing child care.

If anyone has any questions or concerns please email at lena.lopez@saobserver.com.

Have a Blessed Week,

Lena Lopez

Ava DuVernay Told, ‘No One Cares, Don’t Apply’, She Did Anyways

Connor Wiley

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2023-09-12

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Ava DuVernay Told, ‘No One Cares, Don’t Apply’, She Did Anyways

Ava DuVernay Becomes The First African American Woman to Compete in Venice Film Festival

The Venice Film Festival is the world’s oldest major film festival, held annually in Venice, Italy. The festival began as a way for filmmakers from across the world to exhibit their work, and this year marks its 80th anniversary. Yet, throughout its history there has never been a Black woman among the filmmakers to compete in Venice. Not until this year.

The festival has included the works of Black filmmaker men in the past, including Spike Lee, Antoine Fuqua, and John Singleton. And in 2020 Regina King became the first African American woman to have a film featured in the festival, but she didn’t qualify for competition. However, this year Ava DuVernay’s film “Origin” was selected, naming her as the first Black American woman to compete in the festival’s eight decade history.

Ava DuVernay wrote, produced and directed her independent film “Origin,” which premiered in Venice on September 6, establishing herself as the first Black woman to be considered for the Golden Lion award, the festival’s top prize. As an acknowledgement of this achievement, and simply because of her brilliance as a filmmaker and artist, after the film was played she received a standing ovation that went on for almost nine minutes.

In a press conference in Venice following the film’s premiere, Ava discussed the barriers that have long existed surrounding the international recognition of Black stories and Black voices in the industry. She expressed that “for Black filmmakers, we’re told that people who love films in other parts of the world don’t care about our stories and don’t care about our films. This is something that we are often told: you cannot play international film festivals, no one will come…don’t apply.” Multiple of her industry colleagues told Ava directly that applying for the festival would be pointless because her chances of being accepted were so slim. In the press conference, Ava also noted that her accomplishment “acknowledges an absence for 80 years,” calling attention to the history of the exclusion of Black filmmakers in major international exhibitions.

With her feat in Venice, Ava DuVernay has helped to further solidify a space for Black filmmakers to tell their stories on an international stage. Though, her achievement also points to the historic absence of Black women in the festival’s competition, and highlights the clear underrepresentation of Black filmmaker women in international film festivals. Not only has Ava made history, but she has become an integral part of the ongoing efforts toward the inclusion and representation of Black voices in cinema.

Black filmmakers have just entered the Venice Film Festival World after 80 years. Drop a comment below and let me know if Black films matter to you.

“YouTube’s $14 Billion Gamble to Revive NFL Sunday Ticket”

Observer Staff

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2023-09-12

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“YouTube’s $14 Billion Gamble to Revive NFL Sunday Ticket”

Sunday Ticket has been available exclusively on DirecTV since 1994.

With YouTube at the helm, the focus for the league shifts to attracting and keeping enough users to make the service worth it.

With YouTube at the helm, the focus for the league shifts to attracting and keeping enough users to make the service worth it.

“Since its inception in 1994, NFL Sunday Ticket has been accessible solely through DirecTV, requiring subscribers to sign up with the satellite provider and install a dish on their rooftops. However, this season marks a significant change as millions of football enthusiasts will enjoy an enhanced experience when the NFL’s out-of-market broadcast package debuts on YouTube and YouTube TV. What’s even more exciting is that Sunday Ticket will now be accessible digitally to everyone, with pricing akin to traditional options, regardless of whether you’re a YouTube TV subscriber or not. This transformation is the result of a massive seven-year, $14 billion-plus agreement with Google.”

In any event, the NFL doesn’t seem to regret leaving DirecTV.

“It was a good way to move something from a platform that was declining to a platform that’s growing,” NFL vice president of business development and strategic investments Brent Lawton told Front Office Sports, pointing out that YouTube TV is the only paid-TV platform currently growing.

By the end of DirecTV’s contract, some within the company felt Sunday Ticket had been devalued as the NFL continued to take more games away from traditional Sunday afternoon broadcast windows, according to a source familiar with the DirecTV-NFL deal.

YouTube’s price tag represented a 33% increase from DirecTV’s $1.5 billion figure, but by comparison, CBS and NBC both recently doubled their NFL payments.

Now, with YouTube at the helm, the focus for the streamer and league shifts to attracting — and keeping — enough users to make the service worth it.

The Bottom Line

Subscribers are the gold standard for every media executive in 2023, including those in charge of Sunday Ticket.

At its height with DirecTV, Sunday Ticket was widely reported to have around 2 million subscribers. But DirecTV as a whole lost 400,000 subscribers in its most recent financial quarter and is down to about 12.3 million.

In the mid-2010s, DirecTV subscribers consistently topped 20 million — but even then, less than 10% of its customers also bought Sunday Ticket, said the source familiar with DirectTV’s NFL contract.

“You Have Allowed People to Hunt People Like Me”, DeSantis Erupts at Audience Member | Watch

Observer Staff

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2023-09-12

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“You Have Allowed People to Hunt People Like Me”, DeSantis Erupts at Audience Member | Watch

Ron DeSantis erupts at audience member who blamed him for the Jacksonville shooting

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis engaged in a heated argument Thursday with an audience member at a news conference who blamed him for the recent racist mass shooting that killed three Black people in Jacksonville.

The news conference, which was in Jacksonville, had been scheduled to highlight Florida’s protections against Covid-related mandates. But it took a pugilistic turn when DeSantis called on an attendee to ask a question.

Speaking calmly from the back of the room, the man told DeSantis that while he was a veteran and appreciated DeSantis’ military service, he felt DeSantis’ policies allowed` “immature people” to access weapons that ultimately “caused the deaths of the people who were murdered a couple weeks ago.”

The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida echoed the man’s comments in a statement responding to a video of the encounter online.

DeSantis interrupted: “I’m not going to let you accuse me of committing criminal activity. I am not going to take that.”

“You have allowed people to hunt people like me,” the man, who is Black, continued after some cross-talk between the two.

“Oh, that is nonsense. That is such nonsense,” DeSantis replied over disapproving murmurs from the rest of the audience.

The man was escorted out of the room shortly afterward. DeSantis continued with his response as the man walked out, telling the assembled crowd that Americans had flocked to Florida in part because of his administration’s commitment to public safety.

“Gov. DeSantis’ policies have made Florida less safe for Black people in Florida,” the group posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Ron DeSantis Goes Off on Audience — Ron DeSantis Goes Off On Audience Member

The racist fatal shooting on Aug. 26 brought to light much of the discontent many in Florida’s Black communities and beyond harbor for DeSantis administration policies, including wiping out diversity programs in schools and creating contentious standards around teaching race.

That anger showed as DeSantis was booed during remarks at a vigil for the shooting victims the day after the attack. The heckles were loud enough that a local leader had to interrupt DeSantis’ speech to settle the crowd.

As the Jacksonville news conference concluded, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo — a DeSantis appointee who spoke earlier at the event about Covid vaccines and who is Black — addressed the crowd once more to come to DeSantis’ defense.

“It’s terrible that people take advantage of the fact that he’s a different color from the poor victims of that tragedy to try and tie him into something,” Ladapo said of DeSantis, calling the audience member “crazy” and “insane.”

DeSantis, who is a candidate for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, paused campaigning on Aug. 27 to travel back to Florida to manage the aftermath of the Jacksonville shooting and preparations for Tropical Storm Idalia. He resumed his campaign schedule last weekend in Iowa, where he will take part in a bus tour with Never Back Down, the super PAC supporting his campaign.

If You are a Registered Voter You Can Vote On Property Tax Cuts- Get Registered!

Gordon Benjamin

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2023-09-12

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If You are a Registered Voter You Can Vote On Property Tax Cuts- Get Registered!

THE PROPERTY TAX VOTE

On November 7th, We, the People, will have an opportunity to vote on fourteen Constitutional Amendments to the Texas State Constitution.

Some of the amendments will address property tax cuts, which needs voters’ approval before taking effect. There are five components of the tax-cuts package, which will be addressed in continuation, prior to the election. Please stay advised and ensure are up to date each week, here, every Wednesday.

FIGHTING FOR ACCESS TO THE BALLOT

As multiple efforts are ongoingy, in an alarming number of states, to reduce voter access to the ballot, we must recognize the importance of getting more groups of potential voters to get registered, to become aware of what’s on the ballot, what the functions are, of the contested offices and to set specific agendas and to secure commitments from candidates.

Let us be reminded of the historical perspective of the late Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Thurgood Marshall:

“Without the ballot, you have no citizenship, no status, no power in this country. “

COMMUNITY VOTING ORGANIZATIONS

The roots of very successful political initiatives, particularly voter turnout, rests with Precinct Chairs, who are nominated and elected within party structures and who have the responsibility of keeping voters informed regarding issues that will impact their respective communities and neighborhoods.

Community based and faith based organizations are also very essential in carrying their messages to voters.

We have previously noted two organizations (The Power of One and BIVA) that will continue to be involved in the efforts to increase voter turnout and to secure commitments, from prospective candidates, who seek our votes, our financial support and our manpower in order to become an elected representative of our communities.

Become a Volunteer Deputy Registrar!

Our challenge and strategy now, is to enlist more citizens, to become Volunteer Deputy Registrars, to spread the message of how important it is to get registered and to Vote! In this fashion, we will not be “trying to catch up”, once 2024 arrives.

For more information please visit HERE.

National HBCU Pre-Law Summit Celebrates 10 Years of Empowering HBCU Students to Become Lawyers

Who is the New Face of Fascism?

TEA’s Revised Grading System Spurs 16 School District Lawsuits in Response to the Alterations

Ava DuVernay Becomes The First African American Woman to Compete in Venice Film Festival

Ron DeSantis erupts at audience member who blamed him for the Jacksonville shooting

The governor returned to Jacksonville for a news conference to highlight Florida’s protections against Covid-related vaccination mandates

THE PROPERTY TAX VOTE

FIGHTING FOR ACCESS TO THE BALLOT