HAMM ENDORSES ANALILIA MEJIA FOR CONGRESS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR NEW JERSEY’S 11TH DISTRICT

A prominent civil rights activist has publicly announced his personal endorsement of Analilia Mejia for Congress in the upcoming special Democratic primary election for the House seat formerly held by New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill.

“I am endorsing Analilia Mejia for Congress because I believe that in these challenging times she is the right choice among the candidates running in the special Democratic primary to represent the people of the 11th congressional district of New Jersey,” Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress stated. 

The primary election for that congressional seat is scheduled for Thursday, February 5, 2026. The special general election will take place on Thursday, April 16th. While the names of 13 candidates are on the ballot for the seat, 11 are actively campaigning. 

“I am supporting Analilia because it is imperative that Democrats break the stranglehold of the Trump controlled Republicans on Congress and win back Democratic majorities in the House and Senate this year,” Hamm, who has been a candidate for U.S. Senate, said.  

“This is critical in creating a bulwark in Congress to stop the juggernaut of Trump’s racist, fascist, and right wing policies. It is also critical in setting the stage to defeat Trump and his MAGA Republicans in the Presidential and congressional elections that will take place in 2028,” he said. 

“I am supporting Analilia because she knows this. She understands the assignment. She knows that we are at a critical juncture in this country. She knows that as a congressional representative she must do everything possible to stop our country from sliding into dictatorship under a Trump regime,” he said. 

Hamm said that he and Mejia have known each other for a number of years and that they worked together on Bernie Sanders’ campaigns for president. He believes that her experience working with labor and her background as a political activist will help her in Washington’s contentious political environment. 

“I am supporting Analilia because now more than ever we need representatives in Congress who are not going to Washington to do business as usual. We need people like Analilia who are going to fight for us, shake things up, shut things down and get things done,” he said. 

“I am supporting Analilia because I believe we can trust her. She is not the kind of person who is going to say one thing when she’s around us and then when she gets to Washington say and do something different,” he said. 

“I am urging people to vote for Analilia because she can she can take the pressure. She can stand the heat.  We don’t need to send anymore Democrats to Washington who break under pressure, sell out their constituents, and vote with Republicans for legislation that will hurt us,” he said. 

“I am primarily supporting Analilia because she is running on a progressive agenda that prioritizes the needs of the people over those of the billionaires, big corporations, and banks.  I believe that she will go to Washington to fight for working people, poor people, and the middle class who make up the vast majority people in this country,” Hamm said. 

“I am supporting Analilia because I believe she will support just, fair, balanced, peaceful, and sane foreign policies. I am confident that she will work with other members of Congress to prohibit U.S. involvement in unjust, forever wars for oil and other natural resources, regime change, genocide, and imperial aggression and expansion,” he said. 

“On Election Day, February 5th I urge people to vote for Analilia Mejia for Congress. I urge people to come to the polls in record numbers for the special primary and general elections to ensure her victory, and again in all the midterm congressional elections so we can sweep these Trump Republicans out of office and take back the Congress,” he said. 

For more information contact Lawrence Hamm at (973)801-0001. 

Vision Films Brings "Invisible Warriors: African American Women in World War II" Documentary to Audiences for Black History Month

Vision Films Inc. ("Vision") has set February 3, 2026 for the North American Transactional VOD release date for the Gregory S. Cooke's documentary feature film Invisible Warriors: African American Women in World War II. Directed, written and executive produced by Gregory S. Cooke, executive produced by Ethel "Becky" Cooke and Basil Spalding Jones, and associate produced by Joyce Licorish. Made available for Black History Month, audiences will find this educational and inspiring tribute to the 600,000 unsung Black women who served as "Rosie the Riveters," on major streaming and cable platforms across the US and Canada. Gregory S. Cooke has dedicated his career as an educator and historian to help relocate African Americans to the main pages of history; it is also the mission of his educational non-profit, The Basil and Becky Educational Foundation (BBEEF), a 501c (3) organization that has amongst other initiatives, created companion Social Studies and STEAM curricula for the film, targeting grades 8 thru 12.

The film was originally co-sponsored by the Dutch government, which wanted to honor African American women for playing a vital role in the WWII liberation of the Netherlands, as well as Drexel Alumni, Better Angels/Lavine Fellowship, Gift of Life Donor Program, Always Best Care Senior Services, Darryl & Leslye Fraser Foundation, and CARIE: Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly.

Watch the trailer

Told by the women who courageously fought both racism and sexism on America's home front, this is the untold story of 600,000 Black "Rosie the Riveters." These trailblazing women entered factories, government offices, and shipyards, shattering barriers and laying the groundwork for future generations of African American women. Their determination and patriotism redefined what it meant to serve one's country and opened doors to new opportunities for Black women in industry, civil service, and beyond. Featuring rare archival footage and powerful first-person accounts, audiences hear firsthand about resilience, sisterhood, and enduring fight. Invisible Warriors gives voice to the hidden heroines who helped reshape both a nation at war and the course of American heritage.

Lise Romanoff, Managing Director/CEO of Vision Films shares, "Invisible Warriors is an important documentary to pay respect to and keep alive the powerful and patriotic Black women who joined the war effort despite racial, gender and societal obstacles. It celebrates the heroines who paved the way for all working women, and those still fighting for racial and gender equality." 

Filmmaker Gregory S. Cooke says, "These women are arguably are the most significant group of Black women in the 20th Century. My mother, who was also a Rosie, helped create job opportunities for future generations of Black women. They did remarkable things under very difficult circumstances to improve their life, the lives of their families and the lives of future generations of African American people…we must not forget that."

"Invisible Warriors, the inspiring story of America's previously nameless Black 'Rosies,' is an important film in bringing long overdue honor and recognition to vital members of our nation's 'Greatest Generation.'"
--Holly Rotondi, Executive Director, Friends of the National World War II Memorial

Pre-order now available at iTunes/Apple TV (US, CA, UK): https://bit.ly/4pJ6fXN and Fandango at Home (US):  https://bit.ly/4qUj0zU

Lawrence Hamm will attend funeral of civil rights pioneer Claudette Colvin

Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress (POP) will attend funeral services for civil rights pioneer Claudette Colvin this weekend.

Ms Colvin was arrested on March 2, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, at the age of 15, for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus to a white woman. This occurred nine months before the arrest of Rosa Parks.

The arrest of Colvin would lead to her becoming a plaintiff in the lawsuit that ultimately came before the United States Supreme. The court ruled in that case that bus segregation was unconstitutional.

Colvin died from natural causes in Texas on January 13, 2026 at the age of 86. Her passing has drawn national attention to the important role she played and the impact of her case in the Civil Rights Movement.

“It was with great sadness that the news of Claudette Colvin’s death was received. She was a trail blazer in the Civil Rights Movement and the struggle for black liberation,” Hamm, who is also a former U.S. Senate candidate, stated.

“I am attending her funeral services not only due to my personal respect for Ms Colvin, but I have been asked to do so on behalf of the members of the People’s Organization For Progress because of our collective admiration for her courage and sacrifice” he said.

“Myself and members of the People’s Organization For Progress were particularly impacted by her death not just because she was a historical figure but also because we got to know her personally,” he said.

“More that a dozen years ago we learned about Ms Colvin’s contribution to our freedom struggle through discussions about her life on WBAI, a progressive radio station in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area,” Hamm said.

“We were able contact Ms Colvin and arrange for her to speak and tell her story at churches, radio stations, and other venues in our region. In this way we got to know her better and she go to know us,” he said.

“Everywhere she spoke she was well received. People were inspired by her story. Some were brought to tears. They were honored to have this civil rights heroine among them,” he said.

Hamm said he would never forget the first time he heard her response to the question of why she refused to give up her seat knowing she was breaking the segregationist law and would go to jail.

“She said I couldn’t get up because I had Harriet Tubman sitting on one shoulder and Sojourner Truth sitting on the other,” he said.

The viewing will be held on Friday, January 23rd, 1:00pm-7:00pm at the Bushelon Funeral Home, 800 14th St. SW, in Birmingham, Alabama. The Funeral Service is on Saturday, January 24th, 11:00 a.m. at Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, 2135 Jefferson Ave SW, also in Birmingham.

“Our freedom fighter Claudette Colvin has joined the ancestors. However, her contribution to the fight for racial equality and justice will not be forgotten. It will inspire generations to come,” Hamm said.

For more information contact the People’s Organization For Progress at (973)801-0001.

The Ebony Canal Scores NAACP Image Award Nomination for Outstanding Short Form Documentary

On January 13, 2026, nominations were announced for the 57th Annual NAACP Image Awards, recognizing excellence across film, television, music, literature, and cultural storytelling. Among this year’s honorees is The Ebony Canal, which earned a nomination for Outstanding Short Form Documentary (Film), a significant milestone for this work and for the broader movement to elevate Black maternal health outcomes globally.

The nomination arrives at a time when the urgency of this work remains undeniable. Black and Brown women in the United States are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, according to the CDC and Black infants are over two times more likely to die in their first year of life. That reality has been felt deeply within the maternal health advocacy community following the recent passing of Dr. Janelle Greene Smith, a respected midwife and tireless advocate whose work centered dignity, safety, and access for Black mothers and birthing people. Her legacy continues to shape the conversations and commitments reflected in this film.

Directed by Emmy award-winning Emmai Alaquiva and narrated by EGOT-winning actress Viola Davis, The Ebony Canal examines the systemic factors contributing to Black maternal mortality while centering the lived experiences of four women, their families and healthcare advocates. Since its release, the documentary has been screened in over 14 film festivals globally, produced over 20 private screenings and walked away with Best Short Documentary (Social Impact) at the 2025 Essence Film Festival and received the 2025 Cultural Visionary Award from Urbanworld Film Festival.

The 2026 NAACP Image Awards will reveal winners in select categories during a two-hour televised special airing live on Saturday, February 28, with additional non-televised category announcements taking place throughout the week of February 23–26.

This nomination places The Ebony Canal among a distinguished group of storytellers whose work continues to influence culture, policy, and public awareness affirming the role of documentary film as a powerful tool in shaping national dialogue around health equity and justice.

General Mills and UNCF Celebrate 36th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast

General Mills (NYSE: GIS) presents the 36th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast in support of UNCF Twin Cities. The event will be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Doors open at 6:45 a.m., with breakfast and pre-event programming beginning at 7:30 a.m. Tickets are available at MLKBreakfast.com.

The Minneapolis-based event is one of the nation’s largest annual breakfast celebrations honoring Dr. King. The breakfast supports UNCF’s mission of investing in young men and women in the Twin Cities to help them get to and through college.

This year’s theme “Make a Career of Humanity,” was inspired by Dr. King’s message, “Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.”

This year’s event will feature two keynote presentations, Soledad O’Brien and Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski, III.

Soledad O’Brien is an award-winning documentarian, author and founder of Soledad O’Brien Productions, a media production company dedicated to telling empowering and authentic stories. Soledad’s most recent projects include the award-winning HBO Original documentary, The Devil is Busy, and the Netflix documentary The Perfect Neighbor, which premiered at Sundance.

Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski, III is a consultant, lecturer and speaker on the topics of leadership, STEM education, workforce development and civic engagement. Hrabowski currently serves as President Emeritus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), championing minority achievement in graduate studies.

“On this day of remembrance and reflection, we gather to celebrate the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF. “His commitment to justice and equality inspires us to continue the work of uplifting our communities through the power of education. With the invaluable support of General Mills, a steadfast partner of UNCF, we are reminded that together we can create pathways to success for our youth and honor Dr. King’s dream.”

NAACP Urges Senate to Act After House Passes Bill to Restore ACA Premium Tax Credits

NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) urging the Senate to swiftly pass legislation already approved by the House that would restore enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits, which expired on December 31, 2025.
 

Without immediate congressional action, millions of Americans are facing sharply higher health insurance premiums in 2026 — premiums that have already more than doubled for many Marketplace enrollees — putting coverage out of reach for working families and risking widespread loss of insurance. Independent analyses project that as many as 8,800 preventable deaths could occur annually due to the resulting health and economic devastation.
  

Black communities and other communities already experiencing disproportionate health and economic inequities will bear an outsized share of this harm. 
 

"Failure to act is itself a decision — one that carries grave consequences for access to care, health equity, and financial stability for millions of Americans," wrote Johnson. "The Senate has an opportunity to revisit this issue with clarity and to repair the harm caused by inaction. We respectfully urge you to act without delay in bringing the House-passed legislation to the Senate floor for consideration and a vote."
 

The House of Representatives passed a three-year extension of the ACA premium tax credits on Thursday, Dec. 8. The Senate has several procedural options available, but further delay will only compound the harm families are already experiencing.
 

Key impacts of inaction include: 

• Coverage Loss: Millions of people projected to lose health insurance. 170,000+ Black adults would lose health care coverage across 10 major metro areas, according to the Economic Policy Institute.  

• Economic Harm: Nearly 340,000 jobs nationwide at risk, half in health care. Black families would also pay an additional $740 million in premiums each year. 

• Racial Inequity: Black Americans and other marginalized communities, already facing higher uninsured rates and chronic health disparities, will be disproportionately harmed. 

• Health Outcomes: Rising premiums create financial barriers to care, worsening chronic illnesses and long-standing health disparities. 

"This vote will be lifesaving," Johnson emphasized. "It will protect American families and the integrity of the health care system. Alternatively, the health and financial cliffs we face as a nation will remain untenable." 

The NAACP continues to advocate for policies that advance health equity, eliminate disparities, and ensure access to affordable, high-quality health care for all. 
 

Read the full letter to Senate Majority Leader Thune here. 

HBCU Executive Leadership Institute Welcomes 2026 Community of Fellows

The HBCU Executive Leadership Institute (HBCU ELI) at Clark Atlanta University today announced its 2026 Community of Fellows, a selective cohort of leaders preparing to serve as the next generation of presidents and senior executives across Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), MSIs, and PBIs. Now in its sixth year, more than 40 executive leaders from higher education, business, technology, and non-profit organizations will participate.

To view a full list of the 2026 HBCU ELI Community of Fellows, click HERE.

Fellows are chosen through a highly competitive, multi-step review designed to identify leaders with demonstrated institutional impact, executive readiness, and a clear commitment to the mission of HBCUs. HBCU ELI's competency-based model is designed to select Fellows annually through a rigorous process, with eligibility requirements that include a minimum of 10 years of experience in higher education or a related field, as well as at least three years in dean-level or equivalent leadership roles.

"In this moment, our institutions need leaders who can steward heritage and accelerate innovation at the same time," said Clark Atlanta University President George T. French, Jr., Ph.D. "The 2026 Community of Fellows is prepared to meet the charge of building the next generation of HBCU leaders—and strengthening communities that rely on HBCUs as engines of opportunity for all."

Executive leadership programs such as HBCU ELI are increasingly essential as new and aspiring presidents face a widening set of challenges—from financial and operational pressures to campus governance, faculty issues, free speech, and student mental health.

A competency-driven curriculum built for real-world HBCU executive leadership

The 2026 cohort will participate in a structured learning experience centered on HBCU ELI's 13 core competencies—six core leadership competencies and seven HBCU-specific executive competencies. These include:

Core leadership competencies:

• Cultivating Relationships & Networks
• Communicating with Influence
• Emotional Intelligence Skills
• Models for Excellence
• Making Sound Decisions
• Strategic Planning

HBCU-specific executive competencies:

• Navigating Board Governance
• Building High-Performing Teams and Pipeline
• Funding the Future
• Leads Finance and Operations Stability
• Delivering Academic Excellence
• Leading Through Uncertainty and Crisis
• Educating for Racial and Social Justice

"Our Fellows are immersed in a competency-driven experience that prioritizes executive judgment, strategic clarity, and mission-aligned leadership," said Dr. Phyllis Worthy-Dawkins, Executive Director of HBCU ELI and 18th President of Bennett College. "This cohort brings the talent and the discipline to lead through complexity—while keeping students, outcomes, and institutional sustainability at the center."

"We welcome the sixth cohort of executive leaders to the Community of Fellows Program with pride. The new cohort of Fellows includes several HBCU alumni and employees, which is also exciting," said Dr. Cheryl Davenport Dozier, Program Coordinator for the HBCU Community of Fellows and President Emeritus of Savannah State University. "This will be another year of intentionality and purpose as we continue to prepare future higher education executive leaders."

Program structure and 2026 launch milestones

The 2026 Community of Fellows launched with a virtual orientation on January 3,  2026, which will be followed by additional bi-monthly competency-based seminars through April 2026.  The in-person residency will be hosted on the campus of Clark Atlanta University from June 10 – 12, 2026, and will continue with applied leadership work. The culminating Virtual Celebration of Leadership will take place on November 20, 2026.

EBONY Media Debuts EBONY Voices with Short Film Standing in the Ashes, Marking One Year Since Altadena Fires

EBONY Media released Standing in the Ashes: One Year After the Altadena Fires, the first short film in its new multimedia series, EBONY Voices, which spotlights human-interest stories that connect and uplift communities.

Directed by Lyric Perez and produced by EBONY Media Owner and CEO Eden Bridgeman Sklenar and EVP of Editorial Content Cori Murray, Standing in the Ashes marks the one-year anniversary of the Eaton wildfire that devastated parts of Los Angeles County in January 2024. The film centers three long-time Altadena families as they navigate loss, rebuilding, and the decision to remain in a historically Black community disproportionately impacted by the disaster.

"Standing in the Ashes reflects what EBONY Voices was created to do—center humanity, honor legacy, and ensure our communities are not reduced to statistics in moments of crisis," said Eden Bridgeman Sklenar, Owner and CEO of EBONY Media. "These families remind us that rebuilding is not just about homes, but about protecting history, culture, and the right to remain rooted where generations before them built a future."

Standing in the Ashes features Staci and Thomas Andrews; Ronda Carson and her mother, Barbara Carson; and Antoinette "Toni" Bailey-Raines, a community leader recognized as a 2025 EBONY Power 100 Community Crusader for her work co-hosting Altadena Talks, a grassroots radio show and podcast launched in response to the fires.

The Eaton wildfire claimed 19 lives and destroyed or damaged 9,418 homes and buildings. At least 60 percent of the homes affected were Black households. A data study from UCLA's Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies found that 61 percent of Black households in Altadena were located within the fire perimeter, compared with 50 percent of non-Black households. Nearly half of Black households experienced destruction or major damage, and a majority of Black homeowners in the area are over age 65, increasing vulnerability during recovery.

Standing in the Ashes: One Year After the Altadena Fires is now available as part of EBONY Voices and also available for viewing on YouTube: https://www.ebony.com/ebony-voices-remembering-altadena/

USPS Honors Phillis Wheatley, First Published African American Poet, With 49th Black Heritage Stamp

The U.S. Postal Service is honoring Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784), the first author of African descent in the American Colonies to publish a book, with the 49th stamp in the Black Heritage series. The stamp will be available on January 29, 2026. You can check it out here: https://store.usps.com/store/product/phillis-wheatley-stamps-S_487804

Born in West Africa and brought to Boston on a slave ship, Phillis Wheatley was enslaved but educated in the Wheatley household. Wheatley published her first collection, “Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral,” in 1773. This collection showcased her impressive mastery of various poetic forms, including hymns, elegies, and narrative verse, securing her place in history. Freed from slavery that same year, she went on to correspond with figures such as George Washington, who praised her poetic talent.

Wheatley’s legacy continues to inspire generations, earning her the title “the mother of African American literature.” Before the Civil War, abolitionists used her accomplishments to affirm the intellectual capability of people of African descent and argue against slavery. Today schools, libraries, community centers and university buildings across the country have been named for Wheatley, and she has been the subject of numerous inspirational books for children. In 2003, a statue of the poet was included in a new Boston Women’s Memorial. The first full-length scholarly biography of Wheatley was published in 2011, with a second biographical study published in 2023, part of an ongoing effort to recognize her resilience in adversity.

Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp using an existing portrait by Kerry James Marshall.

The Phillis Wheatley stamp will be issued in panes of 20. As a Forever stamp, it will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

PEOPLE’S ORGANIZATION FOR PROGRESS CONDEMNS TRUMP INVASION OF VENEZUELA

Today, the People’s Organization For Progress condemned the Trump administration’s military invasion of Venezuela and the kidnapping of that country’s president.

“The military attack on Venezuela and the kidnapping of the country’s president Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores was an illegal act of war. We unequivocally condemn this action as a war crime,” Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress stated.

“It was an illegal military intervention because the Congress of the United States has not declared war on Venezuela. According to the Constitution it is Congress not the President that has the power to declare war,” Hamm said.

“President Trump attacked and invaded a country that did not attack the United States. This was an act of aggression. This was a war crime,” he declared.

“Kidnapping and holding hostage that country’s president on trumped up drug charges is also a war crime. Everyone knows that our attack on Venezuela has little to do with drugs and everything to do with oil, rare earths and valuable minerals,” he said.

“And if we occupy that country militarily as President Trump says he plans to do, that too shall be a war crime. When he ran for president he said he wouldn’t engage in regime change. That’s exactly what this is,” he stated.

“Trump said that we wouldn’t have any more never ending wars. So, how long will U.S. troops be in Venezuela? Will it be twenty years like Afghanistan? How much will it cost U.S. taxpayers?,” he asked.

“If we occupy that country for a prolonged period it will probably end up costing billions of dollars. Rather than spending all of that money on war we should spend it on health care, jobs, housing, and education,” he said.

“We just went through a round of federal budget cuts that slashed billions from social programs. It never fails. There is never enough money to fund people’s needs but there is always money for another war,” he said.

Hamm said the removal of Maduro is the latest in a long line of coups and military interventions aimed at removing leaders of other nations who stand in the way of U.S. interests and acquisition of their natural resources.

He said Mossadegh, Arbenz, Lumumba, Diem, Sukarno, Nkrumah, Sankara, Aristide, Hussein, Gaddafi, Maduro and others were overthrown by our government. The CIA also assisted in the capture of Nelson Mandela when he was fighting against the racist white minority apathied regime in South Africa.“The extraction of Maduro brings to mind that of another victim of U.S. regime change, Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega.  He was also accused of drug smuggling, was imprisoned and subsequently died,” he said.

“The U.S. should cease all hostilities immediately, withdraw our forces from that country, and return President Maduro and his wife to Venezuela. This attack is all wrong and it will have catastrophic consequences,” he said.

“Congress must do its job and rein in this out of control president before he destroys that country, brings dangerous unrest to the region, destabilizes the hemisphere, and sets the world on fire,” he said.

For more information contact the People’s Organization For Progress at (973)801-0001.

Acclaimed Artist & Philanthropist Kwanza Jones Expands Access to Education

Acclaimed artist, investor, philanthropist, and SUPERCHARGED® CEO, Kwanza Jones, advances access to education and elevates culture through landmark institutional commitments over the past year, reinforcing a long-term approach to impact across education, culture, and community. An upcoming Year In Review video will reflect on the work behind these efforts and the vision that shaped them.

Advancing access to education remained a central focus throughout the year. Among the most significant commitments was a $6 million investment in Cardozo School of Law by Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano, her partner in life and business, supporting clinical education and expanding access to real-world legal training. Designed to connect more students directly to community-centered practice, the commitment reflects a focus on building long-term pathways that prepare future leaders through experience, rather than theory alone.

That commitment to educational access and institutional resilience extended to Bennett College with a philanthropic investment of $1.5 million, supporting the college's mission to educate and empower women leaders while preserving the legacy of historically significant institutions.

For Jones, 2025 marked a significant expansion of cultural leadership through the launch of the Kwanza Jones & José E. Feliciano Initiative's Producing Partners Program, an initiative designed to deepen collaboration with select cultural institutions by pairing capital with creative partnership, strategic support, and long-term engagement. The Apollo was selected as the Producing Partner for 2025, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing culture as a force for access, influence, and belonging.

The partnership between Jones and The Apollo led to the announcement of Culture In Motion™ on December 2, a new National Roadshow launching in January 2026 that expands The Apollo's nearly 100-year legacy into communities across the United States. The initiative brings creativity, community, and cultural stewardship into a broader national conversation. More details at https://boostbus.com

Throughout 2025, strategic guidance, creative collaboration, and long-term partnership were woven into every commitment, reflecting an approach rooted in alignment and sustainability.

The upcoming Year In Review video will offer a closer look at how Jones approaches leadership and impact, capturing a year shaped by resilience, disciplined commitment, and the belief that enduring change is built through design, not urgency.

To get notified and watch the video on launch, subscribe to Jones' YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/kwanzajones.

PEOPLE’S ORGANIZATION FOR PROGRESS PRESS CONFERENCE TO DECLARE OPPOSITION TO TRUMP BOMBING AND WAR ON VENEZUELA

The People’s Organization For Progress will have a press conference to announce opposition to U.S. bombing and war with Venezuela tomorrow, Tuesday, December 30, 2025, 11:00amin front of the Rodino Federal Building, 970 Broad Street in Newark, New Jersey.

“We are having this press conference to publicly state our absolute opposition to war with Venezuela, and to demand that the Trump administration and the U.S. military stop their attacks and lift the blockade against Venezuela,” Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress stated.

“It is clear to us from both his actions and rhetoric that President Trump is at war with Venezuela. This is an illegal war and it must stop,” Hamm said.  

“The constitution clearly states that only Congress can declare war. There has not been a declaration of war by Congress against Venezuela,” he said. 

“We call upon Congress to take whatever steps are necessary to prevent the President from taking us down the road to war, regional conflagration and possible destabilization of the southern hemisphere,” he said.

“No justifiable reason has been given thus far to merit the United States

going to war with that country. The government of Venezuela has not attacked nor declared war on the United States,” he said.

“In fact, it is the U.S. that is bullying Venezuela. It is our country that is the aggressor,” he said. 

“It is the U.S. military under the direction of President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth that has closed off Venezuelan airspace, bombed boats in the Caribbean carrying Venezuelan civilians, seized a Venezuelan tanker with two million barrels of oil, and announced the possibility of a land invasion,” he said.

He went on to say the bombing of the boats and killing of civilians are violations of domestic and international law, and possibly a violation of the laws of war.

Trump and Hegseth have claimed the U.S. is at war with Venezuela to stop the flow of illegal drugs into this country.

“Drug interdiction is not a mission of the U.S. military. That is the work of U.S. law enforcement and the Coast Guard. In addition, no evidence has been produced to prove that the boats bombed by the military were carrying drugs,” he said. 

“In addition, our country has placed extensive sanctions on Venezuela’s oil, financial, and government sectors that are hurting the economy and people there,” he said.

“Our military attacks and economic blockade are wrong. It is imperialist aggression plain and simple,” Hamm, a former U.S. Senate candidate, stated.

“Trump’s efforts to provoke war with Venezuela must be stopped. Polls show that the majority of Americans do not want a U.S. war with Venezuela. They don’t want U.S. soldiers dying in Venezuela for oil or regime change,” he said.

For more information contact the People’s Organization For Progress at (973)801-0001.

100 Black Men of America, Inc. Joins National HOPE AI Initiative to Advance Inclusive Financial and AI Literacy Across Underserved Communities

100 Black Men of America, Inc., the nation's preeminent African American mentoring and leadership development organization, today announced its partnership with Operation HOPE's newly launched HOPE AI initiative, a national strategy designed to transform financial literacy and expand equitable access to artificial intelligence education and tools.

As a founding partner in this unprecedented collaboration, The 100 will help drive community-based engagement, outreach, and education that empowers youth, families, and adults with the knowledge and digital readiness required to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven economy. The partnership directly supports the organization's Economic Empowerment program pillar, which equips individuals from underserved and at-risk communities with the skills, tools, and resources needed to build financial stability and long-term economic mobility. It also connects with the work and strategy of the 100 Black Men of America's Technology Committee

"The rapid emergence of artificial intelligence represents both extraordinary opportunity and significant risk for our communities," said Milton H. Jones, Jr., Chairman of 100 Black Men of America, Inc. "For over 40 years, The 100 has worked to close opportunity gaps through leadership in mentoring, health and wellness ,education, and economic empowerment. Partnering with Operation HOPE to launch HOPE AI strengthens our commitment to ensuring that Black youth and families are not merely included in the future economy--but fully prepared to lead within it."

Launched by Operation HOPE and Chairman, Founder and CEO John Hope Bryant, the HOPE AI initiative brings together several of the nation's most influential nonprofit organizations to build a national blueprint that expands financial literacy, digital competency, and responsible AI readiness.

"This partnership with 100 Black Men of America represents the best of what is possible when mission-driven organizations come together to create lasting change," said John Hope Bryant. "The 100 has a decades-long legacy of uplifting communities and cultivating leaders. Their engagement in the HOPE AI initiative ensures that millions more Americans—especially those historically left behind—gain access to the knowledge, technology, and economic opportunity they deserve."

Through this partnership, 100 Black Men of America, Inc. will collaborate with Operation HOPE to implement educational content, experiential learning opportunities, and community outreach programs that help individuals:

• Understand the role of AI in the modern financial landscape
• Strengthen digital and economic decision-making skills
• Build pathways to entrepreneurship, workforce readiness, and wealth creation

This joint initiative is expected to mobilize mentors, educators, and volunteers across 100 Black Men of America, Inc.'s national network of chapters, amplifying impact at the local and national levels.

About 100 Black Men of America, Inc.

The 100 Black Men of America is the world's largest volunteer network of Black men focused on mentoring minority youth. The national organization began with nine chapters in 1986. The first chapter was founded in New York City in 1963. The 100 Black Men of America, Inc. is a national alliance of leading African American men in business, public affairs, and government. Their mission is to improve the quality of life for African Americans, with a specific focus on African American youth. Since its inception, the organization has grown to more than 5,000 members, with 102 chapters that impact more than 100,000 underserved and underrepresented minority youth every year. Visit www.100blackmen.org for more information on the programs and initiatives of 100 Black Men of America, Inc. and their global network of chapters.

About Operation HOPE, Inc.
Since 1992, Operation HOPE has been moving America from civil rights to "silver rights" with the mission of making free enterprise and capitalism work for the underserved—disrupting poverty for millions of low and moderate-income youth and adults across the nation. Through its community uplift model, HOPE Inside, which received the 2016 Innovator of the Year recognition by American Banker magazine, Operation HOPE has served more than 4 million individuals and directed more than $3.2 billion in economic activity into disenfranchised communities—turning check-cashing customers into banking customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into small business owners, minimum wage workers into living wage consumers, and uncertain disaster victims into financially empowered disaster survivors. For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.