Author: Carma Henry

     For more than a decade, the nonprofit CORE Services Group has been an effective partner to New York City’s Department of Homeless Services. It runs dozens of emergency or transitional housing centers, where clients receive skills training, substance abuse treatment, shelter and other critical services. Time and again, the city has turned to CORE to help fight the chronic problem of poverty and homelessness.

Frederick Isasi, the executive director of Families USA, called the Mississippi case – known as Dobbs v. Jackson – unconstitutional and an orchestrated attack on the ability of women to make their own decisions about their health and their reproductive freedom. “By asking the Supreme Court to gut or even overturn Roe v Wade, it will deny women abortion services and fundamentally jeopardize the lives and health of women in the state,” Isasi asserted.

     The partnership is part of HCA Healthcare’s broader commitment announced earlier this year to give $10 million over the next three years to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) in order to advance diversity in health care.  

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), the largest organization representing the Black College Community, has partnered with Truist to launch a new scholarship program to meet the needs of students at historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and those from marginalized and underserved communities. A $3 million grant from Truist Financial Corporation through its Truist Charitable Fund, a donor-advised fund at the Winston-Salem Foundation, will establish a Truist scholarship program, providing $1 million a year over the next three years to HBCU students in Truist markets and financial support to complete college. Over 300 students will receive scholarships through the Truist scholarship program.

     From ballet to hip-hop, to jazz, modern day R&B, calypso, African dance, and music from around the world, there was something that you heard, that you loved. On Saturday, November 27th, at 7 p.m., 150 dancers primarily children and youth lit up the stage with brilliance, hard work, dancing genius, discipline, and pure African American funk. Under the vision and leadership of the creator and Executive Producer Beverly Page, and Artistic Director Jere’ James, Dr Phillips Center for the Performing Arts came alive.

      Bailey Contemporary Arts Center (BaCA) is proud to present an exhibition by acclaimed artist Andrea Huffman. Listening to the Sky showcases the birds of Florida and the environmental impact on the local avian population through Huffman’s stunning prints and fiber art works. There will be an opening reception during Old Town Untapped on December 3, from 6pm -10 pm, and multiple community art events during the exhibition’s run through February 23, 2022. For more information, www.pompanobeacharts.org

      Cathy Hughes, Urban One’s renowned founder and chairperson, and Alfred Liggins III, CEO of Urban One and TV One, were inducted into the Cablefax Cable Center Hall of Fame earlier this week. 

     The American Black Film Festival  named actress-turned-director Halle Berry its official ABFF Ambassador in 2021. As the fest celebrated its 25th year, Berry proudly showcased her directorial debut Bruised. Normally the fest takes place in Miami, but this year ABFF’s Black films screened on their streaming service ABFFPLAY.com. Berry’s new film was one of the bright spots.

Otis Collier was a 1965 graduate of Mays High School, where he played football and ran track. He was a quarterback/halfback for the football team from 1961-1964. As a senior, he earned All-City honors in football. In track he was a state medalist as a member of the 1965 State Championship sprint medley relay team. He ran the second leg on the Rams’ winning sprint medley relay team that won in 2:00.01. The relay team also consisted of Frederick Pope, Willie Laster and Johnny Brown. He helped the Rams Track and Field team to State Finals Runner-up finishes in 1964 and 1965. The Rams competed in the all-Black Florida Interscholastic Athletic Association in the days before integration. He was named Mays High School’s Outstanding Athlete of the Year for the 1964-1965 school year.

     The appointment is historic as it marks the first time a Black woman has held a vice president role in the organization’s history. Although her career path wasn’t traditionally in the social impact space, Nix had developed opportunities that would allow her to work on projects designed to drive change. While serving in roles at Merrill Lynch and Bank of America, she would organize community events.