NYC Board of Health Passes Resolution Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis

The resolution recognizes the impact of racism on health during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond

The resolution requests several actions from the Health Department including making recommendations to the NYC Racial Justice Commission, establishing a Data for Equity working group, performing an anti-racism review of the NYC Health Code, and issuing a semi-annual report on progress associated with this resolution

October 18, 2021 — The New York City Board of Health today passed a landmark resolution on racism as a public health crisis (PDF), requesting that the Health Department expand its anti-racism work. The resolution institutionalizes the vision behind the Health Department’s June 2020 declaration and requires that the Department develop and implement priorities for a racially just recovery from COVID-19, as well as other actions to address this public health crisis in the short and long term.

“To build a healthier New York City, we must confront racism as a public health crisis,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi. “The COVID-19 pandemic magnified inequities, leading to suffering disproportionately borne by communities of color in our City and across our nation. But these inequities are not inevitable. Today is an historic day for the country’s oldest Board of Health to officially recognize this crisis and demand action.”

“We’ve seen for years the negative impact racism has in our public health data and today, we’re recommitting ourselves to building a more equitable City,” said First Deputy Commissioner and Chief Equity Officer Dr. Torian Easterling. “I thank the Board of Health for sharing our commitment to dismantling systemic racism.

The resolution recognizes the impact of racism on the health of New Yorkers and requests the Health Department perform a series of actions, including:

1. That the NYC Health Department research, clarify, and acknowledge examples of its historic role in divesting and underinvesting in critical community-led health programs, and participate in a truth and reconciliation process with communities harmed by these actions when possible;


2. That the NYC Health Department establish a Data for Equity internal working group to ensure the agency apply an intersectional, anti-racism equity lens to public health data and provide annual guidance to other NYC Mayoral agencies on best practices to collect and make available to the Health Department relevant data to track and improve health equity;


3. That the NYC Health Department make recommendations on anti-racism, health-related NYC Charter revisions to the newly established Mayoral Racial Justice Commission to strengthen the NYC’s effort to combat racism;


4. That the NYC Health Department continue collaborations with sister agencies to report on fatalities, injuries, health conditions, by race, gender, and other demographics, to improve data quality and care;


5. That the NYC Health Department in consultation with relevant community organizations perform an anti-racism review of the NYC Health Code to identify any existing provisions that support systemic and structural racism and bias and recommend new provisions to dismantle systemic and structural racism and bias;


6. That the NYC Health Department partner with city agencies and relevant organizations, consistent with Local Law 174 (dated October 13, 2019) and Executive Order 45 (dated May 8, 2019), to advise on assessments of structural racism within policies, plans and budgets related to all determinants of health (transportation, education, housing, economic opportunities, civic participation and healthcare delivery contexts) and make recommendations to mitigate harm within a public health context; and


7. That the NYC Health Department report twice each year to the BOH to promote the work associated with this resolution and to ensure Health Department accountability on progress.

"I applaud today's bold and necessary action by the NYC Board of Health declaring racism a public health crisis and directing the Health Department to take concrete steps to promote an anti-racist public health agenda,” said New York State Senator Brand Hoylman. “The combined effect of institutional racism and the COVID-19 pandemic on Black and Brown New Yorkers represent an urgent call to action which we can no longer ignore as a government or society.”

“COVID-19 has ravaged our communities in every imaginable way, and our borough continues to suffer from racial inequities in the healthcare system,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “For years, my office has worked towards health equity including our #Not62 campaign for a healthier Bronx, our Black Maternal Mortality Task Force and our efforts to combat the ongoing pandemic. As we continue to fight this infectious disease that has forever changed how we go about our daily lives, we must fight for transformative change to a system that has historically and disproportionately failed communities of color. This resolution by the New York City Board of Health declaring racism a public health crisis is historic and will be a tremendous step forward in our fight for health equity."

“From mental health to maternal care, Black and Brown New Yorkers have experienced the systemic inequities that exist in patient care within our hospitals and clinics for generations. Before and most notably during the COVID-19 pandemic, we witnessed the life-threatening and sometimes fatal consequences of prejudice and bias within our society. DOHMH’s declaration that racism is a public health crisis is a vital step forward in removing the longstanding barriers to quality healthcare for all while rebuilding public trust. We need to dedicate more resources to uprooting racism from all public spaces, particularly within health institutions where people of all backgrounds deserve to be seen, heard, treated fairly and with dignity. By cultivating community partnerships and engaging in public dialogue, DOHMH can champion equity to improve the patient experience and quality of life for New Yorkers,” said Council Member Farah N. Louis, Chair of the Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities, and Addictions.

“The COVID-19 pandemic amplified long-standing health and socioeconomic disparities caused by racism. With this resolution, the Board of Health is tackling racism with the urgency it deserves," said Sideya Sherman, Executive Director of the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity and EVP for Community Engagement and Partnerships, NYCHA. "We applaud the Health Department for expanding its anti-racist work to address structural inequalities in collaboration with communities and sister agencies to build a healthier city for all New Yorkers."

“I commend the New York City Board of Health for joining some 200 jurisdictions and institutions across the country to declare racism a public health crisis,” said Dr. Mary T. Bassett, FXB Center for Health and Human Rights director and incoming New York State Health Commissioner. “Crucially, this call places centrality on complete and timely data and community collaboration. To assess the extent of the harm of racism to health and longevity is key to long overdue redress. I urge others to follow the Board’s example.”

"For too long structural racism has predetermined the health outcomes of too many of our communities,” said Dr. Oxiris Barbot, Senior Fellow for Public Health and Social Justice at the JPB Foundation. “Operationalizing a health equity agenda for communities to have the greatest opportunity to realize their fullest health potential requires institutions to undo historical practices that have caused harm. This Board of Health action paves the way for concrete actions our city needs to undo the pernicious legacy of racism as a public health crisis."

“As the nation's premiere health department and largest local jurisdiction promoting and protecting the health of people, this is incredible news and movement,” said Chief Health Equity Officer and Senior Vice President of the American Medical Association and Former and Founding Deputy Commissioner of the Center for Health Equity within the Health Department, Dr. Aletha Maybank. “Thanks to the Board of Health for solidifying and structuring this commitment to racial justice for sustainability in NYC. Special thanks to the many leaders and voices across our city that have elevated the existence and harms of racism for generations and advocated for change. And final thanks to the many justice warriors that I had the privilege to work alongside in the Health Department and the Mayor's Office who began to lay the foundation for this governmental declaration and commitment over six years ago. This continued urgency and leadership to confront racism as well as dismantle, imagine, and redesign systems that do not exclude, or harm are paramount to moving closer to the vision and realization of a city that affirms the human rights of people and their collective desires for dignity, justice, liberation, and joy.”

“NBEC is in solidarity with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene,” said Director of Technical Assistance at the National Birth Equity Collaborative, Lilliann Paine, MPH. “By declaring racism a public health crisis, this puts the discussion of race and racism in the foreground of national debate. This resolution is the first step of accountability for the past harms and future solutions the NYC DOHMH will amend and conditions the department will create to ensure optimal health for the citizens of NYC.”

“I’m inspired to learn that New York City is taking this historic step in addressing racism’s role in policies and practices,” said Dr. Jeanette Kowalik, former City of Milwaukee Commissioner of Health and current Director of Policy Development at the Trust for America’s Health. “Declaring racism is a public health crisis now is necessary especially for one of the greatest cities in the United States. As diverse as NYC is, we know that it was and still is impacted by harmful policies and practices that oppressed Black, Brown, and Indigenous people for decades. Acknowledging that there’s a problem is the first step to bold and collective action which should be centered in community and well- funded over many years. Thank you!”

“I applaud the New York City Board of Health for today’s action to identify racism as a public health crisis,” said APHA Executive Director Georges C. Benjamin, MD. “The step they are taking today to make a public declaration will start an important conversation that will lead to concrete steps that address health inequities.”

“Congratulations to the NYC Board of Health on this Resolution that confronts racism denial and moves to action!” said Past President of the American Public Health Association, Camara Jones, MD, MPH, PhD. “Yes, racism exists. Yes, racism is a system. Yes, racism saps the strength of the whole society through the waste of human resources. And YES, we CAN ACT to dismantle racism! Going forward, make your institutional walls more porous by partnering with and investing in communities. Build bridges with other sectors because health is not created within the health sector. And always be guided by these three principles for achieving health equity: value all individuals and populations equally; recognize and rectify historical injustices; and provide resources according to need. Thank you for being a model for the nation!

“Today’s historic move by the NYC Board of Health to declare racism a public health crisis is vitally important – and long overdue” said Executive Director for the Drug Policy Alliance Kassandra Frederique. “Over decades of Drug Policy Alliance’s work in New York we have seen firsthand how racism has driven extreme harm: skyrocketing overdose deaths of Black and Latinx New Yorkers; racist drug enforcement destroying communities and providing a pretext for police violence; and draconian drug war criminalization leading to discrimination in housing, employment, child welfare, and many more systems that impact the daily lives of New Yorkers. The public health effects of racism have been catastrophic, and the extreme disparities have been clear for decades. Confronting racism head on and intentionally crafting policy to address the myriad harms for individual New Yorkers and communities of color is not the ultimate outcome we seek – it is the starting point. This declaration is momentous and must be concretely borne out every single day from here forward across all city policy.”

The resolution goes into effect immediately.

The Health Department grounds this resolution in the long-standing efforts led by the Race to Justice and Take Care New York. Both teams aim to promote justice and build capacity within the agency and with community partners to improve health outcomes for all New Yorkers.

There have been more than 200 declarations of racism as a public health crisis across the United States including from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New York City’s resolution is one of the first to tie specific actions to its declaration.

NAACP releases statement on the passing of Colin Powell

The NAACP released the following statement on the passing of Colin Powell:

The NAACP mourns the passing of General Colin Powell, the first Black U.S. Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, whose influence was felt globally.

"Gen. Colin Powell lived a life of honor and integrity. A four-star general, the first Black US Secretary of State, and an NAACP Spingarn Medal recipient. He was a good man who inspired many," said Derrick Johnson, president, and CEO, NAACP. "He will be remembered as an outstanding public servant and a proponent of civil rights. He will be remembered for serving with wisdom and strength. We honor his life and mourn his passing."

His timeless leadership and unyielding commitment to the progression of American diplomacy during his tenure are exemplary. In addition, his time as a U.S. Army soldier; his appointment as a national security adviser to President George HW Bush, to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and U.S. Secretary of State is marked by many notable military awards, including the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.

In 1991, he received the NAACP's highest honor, the Spingarn Medal. Among other awards, he also was honored with the President's Citizens Medal, the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Medal, the Secretary of Energy Distinguished Service Medal, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his life of service.

A longtime member and supporter of the NAACP, General Colin Powell's resilience as a prominent leader and trailblazer will be sorely missed.

The NAACP extends our sincerest condolences to the family of General Powell and sends prayers of comfort and strength now and always.

Family of Elijah McClain settles lawsuit with city of Aurora

The family of Elijah McClain, the Black man who died in 2019 after an encounter with police officers in Aurora, Colo., has settled a lawsuit with the city.

Ryan Luby, a spokesman for the city of Aurora, confirmed the unspecified settlement on Tuesday in an email to The Hill.

"City leaders are prepared to sign the agreement as soon as the family members complete a separate but related allocation process to which the city is not a party," Luby's statement said. "Until those issues are resolved and the agreement is in its final form, the parties cannot disclose the settlement terms."

Luby added that no monetary amount was discussed at a recent telephonic court hearing regarding the case.

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

1 dead, 1 critical in second shooting at Grambling State University

A person was killed in a shooting early Sunday at Grambling State University in Louisiana just days after a person was killed in a similar incident on campus.

A shooting occurred at about 1:15 a.m. in the quad area at Grambling State University in Grambling, between Monroe and Shreveport, the school said in a statement. A person who was not an enrolled student died, and seven other people were injured, authorities said.

One person was in critical condition, and the other people suffered non-life-threatening injuries, Louisiana State Police said.

"At the time of the incident, a homecoming event was underway in McCall Dining Center," the statement said. "All persons present sheltered in place and were released once the all-clear was given by University Police."

State Police confirmed that detectives are investigating.

The school canceled its homecoming events Sunday and classes on Monday, offering counseling services to students and staff members.

[SOURCE: NBC NEWS]

Stacey Abrams campaigns in Virginia for Democrat Terry McAuliffe

Voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams on Sunday urged Black churchgoers to turn out for Democrat Terry McAuliffe in next month’s Virginia governor’s election, saying that what happens in the most watched race this year will “show the world who we are” in future contests with even higher stakes.

Abrams has become a leading national voice in the party since narrowly losing the 2018 race for governor in Georgia. With her appearances at three churches in Norfolk, Abrams is joining other political heavyweights in trying to ensure that a state trending increasingly Democratic in recent years does not flip back to the Republican column on Nov. 2.

McAuliffe, governor from 2014 to 2018 and a former Democratic National Committee chairman, visited separate churches and later led a rally with Abrams outside an early voting station. “We gotta get everybody out to vote,” he said.

[SOURCE:AP NEWS]

Maj. Gen. Linda Singh Honored In Maryland

The Maryland National Guard Freedom Readiness Center will get a new name, under a proposal to be introduced by Governor Larry Hogan to the Board of Public Works.

Hogan said over the weekend that he will seek to name the Sykesville facility in recognition of Major General Linda Singh, the first African-American and the first woman to lead the Maryland National Guard.

General Singh’s 38 years of service included assignments in Kosovo and a combat tour in Afghanistan. She retired in September 2019. General Singh is also on the Maryland Coronavirus Response Team and continues to advise state officials on emergency response and preparedness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“General Singh’s incredible life story and her amazing career have served as an inspiration, not only for the next generation of National Guard soldiers and airmen, but for young women everywhere,” Hogan said as a portrait of General Singh was unveiled. “She is a shining example that there is no amount of adversity that cannot be overcome through sheer hard work, relentless determination, and strength of character.”

https://www.africanamericanreports.com/2021/10/maj-gen-linda-singh-honored-in-maryland.html

First all-Black team set to make history with Mount Everest climb

Full Circle Everest expedition is a group of mountain climbers hoping to become the first all-Black and Brown crew to successfully climb one of the world's tallest mountains Mount Everest.

South Carolina's Dawn Staley gets raise, contract extension

The University of South Carolina Board of Trustees approved a new contract for women's basketball head coach Dawn Staley on Friday. It will make her the highest paid African-American head coach in her sport and one of the highest paid women's basketball coaches in the country.

DeMaurice Smith responds to Gruden's emails about him & how the NFL turns the corner

After being the subject of a racial trope by disgraced head coach Jon Gruden, NFL Players Association Director DeMaurice Smith wonders if the leaked email signals a larger issue within the league.

Smith joined ESPN’s The Right Time podcast hosted by Bomani Jones and discussed the bombshell scandal to hit the NFL, after leaked emails showed racist, sexist, and homophobic comments from Gruden.

WHO Director-General Bestows Posthumous Award on the Late Henrietta Lacks

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus honored the late Henrietta Lacks with a WHO Director-General’s award, recognizing the world-changing legacy of this Black American woman who died of cervical cancer, 70 years ago, on 4 October, 1951. 

While she sought treatment, researchers took biopsies from Mrs Lacks’ body without her knowledge or consent.  Her cells became the first “immortal” cell line, and have allowed for incalculable scientific breakthroughs such as the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, the polio vaccine, drugs for HIV and cancers, and most recently, critical COVID-19 research.  

Shockingly, the global scientific community once hid Henrietta Lacks’ race and her real story, a historic wrong that today’s recognition seeks to heal.

“In honouring Henrietta Lacks, WHO acknowledges the importance of reckoning with past scientific injustices, and advancing racial equity in health and science,” said Dr Tedros. “It’s also an opportunity to recognize women - particularly women of colour - who have made incredible but often unseen contributions to medical science.”

The award was received at the WHO office in Geneva by Lawrence Lacks, Mrs. Lacks’ 87-year-old son.  He is one of the last living relatives who personally knew her.  Mr. Lacks was accompanied by several of Henrietta Lacks’ grandchildren, great-grand children, and other family members.

“We are moved to receive this historic recognition of my mother, Henrietta Lacks – honouring who she was as a remarkable woman and the lasting impact of her HeLa cells. My mother’s contributions, once hidden, are now being rightfully honored for their global impact,” said Lawrence Lacks, Sr., Henrietta Lacks’ eldest son. “My mother was a pioneer in life, giving back to her community, helping others live a better life and caring for others. In death she continues to help the world. Her legacy lives on in us and we thank you for saying her name – Henrietta Lacks.”

An Iconic Story of Inequity, Injustice and Disparities in Health with Contemporary Relevance

Today, women of colour continue to be disproportionately affected by cervical cancer, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the many faultlines where health inequities persist among marginalized communities around the world. Studies in various countries consistently document that Black women are dying of cervical cancer at several times the rate of white women, while 19 of the 20 countries with the highest cervical cancer burdens are in Africa.  

The family’s discussions with WHO especially focused on the Organization’s ambitious campaign to eliminate cervical cancer. The past year, which marked the 100^th anniversary of Henrietta Lacks’ birth, coincides with the inaugural year of WHO’s Global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer.  This historic campaign marks the first time ever that all WHO Member States have collectively resolved to eliminate a cancer.

The family also joins WHO in advocating for equity in access to the HPV vaccine, which protects against a range of cancers, including cervical cancer.  Despite having been prequalified by WHO over 12 years ago, supply constraints and high prices still prevent adequate doses from reaching girls in low-and-middle income countries.

As of 2020, less than 25% of low-income countries and less than 30% of lower-middle-income countries had access to the HPV vaccine through their national immunization programmes, compared with more than 85% of high-income countries.

“It is unacceptable that access to the lifesaving HPV vaccine can be shaped by your race, ethnicity or where you happen to be born,” said Dr Princess Nothemba (Nono) Simelela, Assistant Director-General for Strategic Priorities and Special Advisor to the Director General. “The HPV vaccine was developed using Henrietta Lacks’ cells.  Although the cells were taken without her consent and without her knowledge, she has left behind a legacy that could potentially save millions of lives. We owe it to her and her family to achieve equitable access to this groundbreaking vaccine.”

Henrietta Lacks’ Remarkable Contribution to Medicine

As a young mother, Henrietta Lacks and her husband were raising five children near Baltimore when she fell ill.  She went to Johns Hopkins after experiencing extensive vaginal bleeding and was diagnosed with cervical cancer.  Despite treatment, it cut her life short on October 4, 1951.  She was only 31 years old.

During treatment, researchers took samples of her tumour.  That “HeLa” cell line became a scientific breakthrough: the first immortal line of human cells to divide indefinitely in a laboratory.  The cells were mass produced, for profit, without recognition to her family. Over 50,000,000 metric tonnes of HeLa cells have been distributed around the world, the subjects of over 75,000 studies.

In addition to the HPV vaccine, HeLa cells allowed for development of the polio vaccine; drugs for HIV/AIDS, haemophilia, leukaemia, and Parkinson’s disease; breakthroughs in reproductive health, including in vitro fertilization; research on chromosomal conditions, cancer, gene mapping, and precision medicine; and are used in studies responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the presentation of the award, the family and WHO will proceed to the shores of Lake Geneva, to watch the city’s iconic Jet d’Eau illuminate in the colour teal – the colour for cervical cancer awareness – in honour of Henrietta Lacks’ legacy and in appreciation of the family’s support for the global campaign to eliminate the disease.  It is the first of several world monuments that will illuminate in teal between now and November 17th, marking the first anniversary of the launch of the global elimination campaign.

Quotes from other participants

“Through HELA100: The Henrietta Lacks Initiative, my family stands in solidarity with WHO and our sisters around the world to ensure that no other wife, mother or sister dies needlessly from cervical cancer,” said Victoria Baptiste, Henrietta Lacks’ great granddaughter. “As a registered nurse, I am proud to also be here today to honour my great grandmother’s legacy by advocating to ensure equitable access to the breakthroughs that her HeLa cells advanced such as the HPV vaccine. It is only fitting that as we commemorate the 70th anniversary of Henrietta Lacks’ HeLa cells and her untimely passing, we build upon her legacy by ensuring equitable access to advances in cancer prevention and treatment for all people.” 

“Though her life was cut short, Henrietta Lacks’ contributions to medicine have led to remarkable scientific breakthroughs, saving countless lives and bringing us closer to eliminating cervical cancer,” said Dr Senait Fisseha, Co-Chair of the Director-General’s expert advisory group on cervical cancer elimination. “Her story is also a clear example of how Black women have long been overlooked in healthcare and still are today. I applaud the WHO for recognizing her, a vital step in acknowledging the incredible impact she’s had on science and honouring her legacy in advancing health justice for people around the world.”

“The fight to eliminate cervical cancer is part of the larger fight for human rights,” said Dr Groesbeck Parham, who participated in the civil rights movement as a teenager in Birmingham, Alabama, and is now Clinical Expert for WHO’s cervical cancer elimination initiative and Co-Chair of the Director-General’s expert advisory group. “Through her immortal cells, Mrs. Henrietta Lacks speaks to us, also calling our attention to the millions of young women and mothers in low-income countries who still continue to die from cervical cancer because they cannot access and afford to purchase the life-saving medicines, technologies and medical procedures that are readily available in high-income countries. The questions being raised by the spirit and legacy of Mrs. Henrietta Lacks are: ‘why does this situation exist’, ‘what are the solutions’, and ‘when are you going to implement them.’”

 

Jennifer Sewell has been found alive

Officials from Fort Hood released the following information Oct. 10 regarding the ongoing efforts to locate Pfc. Jennifer Sewell. Sewell is a Fort Hood soldier who failed to report for duty on Oct. 7.

Leadership from Sewell’s chain of command spoke to Sewell’s family earlier this evening, Oct. 10 at approximately 7 p.m.

Sewell’s family confirmed she is safe and with extended family.

Fort Hood officials continue to communicate with Sewell’s family and friends, to ensure she has access to resources she may need and to return her safely to Fort Hood.

“Pfc. Sewell is a valued member of our team, and our number one priority is ensuring her safe return. We are in regular contact with her family and will provide any assistance she and her family may need to return to Fort Hood,” said Ltc. Octavia Davis, commander of Regimental Support Squadron, 3d Cavalry Regiment.

Fort Hood officials are respecting the family’s privacy and will not provide any additional information until the appropriate time.

Atlanta Dream name Tanisha Wright as Head Coach

The Atlanta Dream today announced industry veteran Tanisha Wright will join the team as head coach. As the fifth head coach in franchise history, Wright brings over 14 years of experience in the league as a player and coach to this role, most recently serving as an assistant coach for the Las Vegas Aces.

“It’s an honor to be chosen as head coach for the Atlanta Dream, and I’m excited to play a role in building a successful organization centered around the player experience,” said Wright. “I have been part of championship teams and understand what it takes to win in this league. I look forward to bringing my talents to this franchise and helping the Dream achieve success.”

As head coach, Wright will be responsible for fostering the growth of the Dream’s players and establishing a culture of integrity and accountability. She comes to the Dream during a pivotal year in which the organization welcomed the new ownership group including WNBA All Star Renee Montgomery, the first former player to become both an owner and executive in the WNBA. Wright’s announcement is yet another positive milestone in building the Dream organization, as former NFL executive Morgan Shaw Parker was recently named President and COO. Earlier this year, the Dream was also named the 2020 ESPN Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year for the players’ remarkable work last year championing social justice efforts that influenced the Georgia Senate election.

“Known for her defensive mindset, emotional intelligence, and grit, we are beyond thrilled that Tanisha Wright is joining the Atlanta Dream,” said Larry Gottesdiener, Owner and Chairman of the Atlanta Dream. “Tanisha demonstrates a rare depth of character that is inspiring, and we can’t wait to see the positive impact she will have on this team.”

“Words cannot express how excited I am for a rising talent like Tanisha to join the Dream,” said Renee Montgomery, Owner and Vice President of the Atlanta Dream. “Tanisha is widely respected across the league, and as with all great leaders, she will set a strong example for our team.”

Wright spent ten seasons as a guard with the Seattle Storm, where she helped lead the team to nine straight playoff appearances, and a WNBA Championship in 2010. During her basketball career, she joined the Charlotte 49ers as an assistant coach, before retiring as a player in 2019. In 2020, the Las Vegas Aces signed her as an assistant coach, where she worked closely with industry leader Bill Laimbeer.

Prior to joining the WNBA, Wright was a three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Penn State and was named a First-Team USBWA All-American.

Patrice Andrews named new Durham North Carolina police chief

City Manager Wanda Page has named Patrice V. Andrews as the next police chief of the Durham Police Department (DPD).

Andrews has served as the police chief for the Town of Morrisville Police Department since 2016, and will join the City of Durham on November 1.

According to Page, during the intensive interview process with four finalists, Andrews demonstrated that she is prepared and possesses the right combination of leadership skills, training, and knowledge to lead the Durham Police Department into the future. 

“I am confident that Chief Andrews is the right leader for Durham, where she spent most of her law enforcement career,” said Page. “I am happy to welcome her back to Durham, where she also has deep family roots and developed lasting relationships in the community while working and living here.” 

Page added that throughout the interview process, Chief Andrews consistently demonstrated by her responses that she would be a progressive and innovative 21st century policing leader, while making a strong impression on the members of the diverse interview panel, most whom were Durham community, business, faith-based, and law enforcement leaders.

"I am honored to have been chosen as the next Chief of Police for the Durham Police Department,” Andrews said. “This is a full-circle moment for me during a pivotal time for our city and police department. I am committed to working collaboratively with the City of Durham management team, members of the Durham Police Department, and the entire Durham community to build upon established successes and identify innovative strategies to reduce violent crime while addressing recruiting, retention, and morale. Durham is a vibrant, inclusive community with a rich civil rights history where all are welcome to live, work, and play. I look forward to the future that we will create together." 

Andrews has more than 25 years of experience, most of which were gained at the Durham Police Department as she rose through the ranks, starting as a patrol officer in 1997, walking the beat, advancing to district commander, to captain, where she most notably supervised units within the Criminal Investigation Division, including the Special Victims, Homicide, Domestic Violence, and Fraud units. Additional responsibilities included responding to all major incidents including homicides, and any other incident as assigned by the Executive Command Staff. She also helped put strategies in place to assist the Forensics and Intelligence/Crime Analysis Unit to investigate crimes.

Her experience also includes serving as a sergeant in the DPD’s High Enforcement Abatement Team, which was a street-level gang and narcotics enforcement unit, a detective corporal, investigative corporal, and police corporal as well as an investigator in the DPD’s Special Operations Division.

In 2016, Andrews was selected as the Morrisville Police Chief, where she was responsible for all operations of the department, including the Administration, Patrol Operations and Support Services divisions. There, she led the creation of a multi-phase career development and succession policy while also addressing compression and compensation. She also implemented a body-worn camera program, and worked with surrounding agencies to develop and implement a response to the death of George Floyd, which resulted in Morrisville’s adoption of the Project 8 Can’t Wait recommendations.

Andrews is a 2016 graduate of the Executive Law Enforcement Management from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Academy as well as a 2012 graduate of the Executive Leadership Program from the West Point Leadership Program at Methodist University. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from North Carolina Central University, and currently serves as General Instructor for the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.

Andrews is a member of the National FBI Academy Associates Session 263, International Association Chiefs of Police (IACP), National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), North Carolina Police Executives Association North Carolina Chapter – FBI National Academy, North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police, North Carolina Law Enforcement Women's Association, Governor's Crime Commission, Chair of the Governor's Crime Commission Crime Victims Service Committee, and the Governor's Crime Commission School Safety Task Force.

Open forums in English and Spanish were held virtually earlier this year, and an online survey was posted on the City’s website, to obtain feedback on the characteristics the Durham community hoped to see in next police chief. There were also 608 responses collected in an online survey, which was also available in Spanish. 

Jennifer Sewell is missing!

UPDATE: JENNIFER SEWELL HAS BEEN FOUND ALIVE

FORT HOOD, Texas –The Fort Hood Directorate of Emergency Services, commonly known as DES, is seeking the public’s help in locating Fort Hood soldier, Pfc. Jennifer Sewell.

On Oct. 7, Sewell’s unit reported that she failed to report to work. Attempts to contact Sewell by law enforcement, her chain-of-command and her Family have been unsuccessful.

Sewell is an African American female, 5 feet 5 inches tall, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Sewell was last seen leaving her on-post barracks at approximately 4 p.m. on Oct. 7.

Anyone with information related to the location of Sewell or details related to the conditions she went missing should contact the Fort Hood Military Police at (254) 288-1170.

Andrea Shaw Wins 2021 Ms. Olympia

Andrea Shaw wins the 2021 Ms. Olympia title giving her back to back Olympia titles. She took home $50k in prize money foe her victory.

2021 Ms. Olympia Results

Andrea Shaw, $50,000

Helle Trevino, $20,000

Margie Martin, $10,000

Mona Poursaleh, $5,000

Irene Andersen, $4,000

An interview with the 2021 Ms. Olympia Chamion

Cydney Gillon Is The 2021 IFBB Figure Olympia Winner

Cydney Gillon is now a 5X Figure Olympia champion. Not only that, but she has won the title 5 times in a row from 2017-2021.

Cydney posted this on Instagram following her historic victory on Instagram:

So honored to be the FIRST woman to hold 5 FIGURE OLYMPIA titles!

I work 365 to earn every title and when that work pays off, there are no words to express the feeling of accomplishment.

We did it y’all! Now back to work!!!!

The The 2021 IFBB Figure Olympia Top 5

1. Cydney Gillon – $50,000

2. Natalia Soltero – $20,000

3. Stephanie Gibson – $10,000

4. Jessica Reyes Padilla – $5,000

5. Nicole Zenobia Graham – $4,000

An interview with 2021 IFBB Figure Olympia Winner Cydney Gillon

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson calls gay and transgender people 'filth' Lt. Gov. Robinson

Some North Carolina lawmakers and LGBTQ rights advocates are calling for Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson to “resign immediately,” after a video showing him referring to the LGBTQ community as “filth” was posted on social media earlier this week.

HBCU Funding Cut in Latest Biden Spending Plan

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) that were looking forward to $45 billion in funding may be faced with just $2 billion under the Biden administration's multitrillion-dollar spending plan, a result of Democratic infighting, the Associated Press reported.

The $3.5 trillion bill was set to include $45 billion for HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions, but the newest iteration of the bill allots only $2 billion for educational programs and infrastructure of HBCUs. That amount could even be reduced to competitive grant funding, instead of direct funding to the schools.

AP reported that the bill was changed because of Democratic bickering over the size of the funding package, and where the funding would go.

[SOURCE: NEWSWEEK]

Remnant of one of the oldest Black churches in US Uncovered in Virginia

Archaeologists believe they have discovered the foundation of the original building of the First Baptist Church in Williamsburg, Virginia, one of the nation’s oldest Black churches.

The announcement, shared first with descendants of First Baptist Church members, was officially made on Thursday (Oct. 7) by Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, which runs the well-known outdoor living museum and historic district in Williamsburg.

The discovery of the first permanent structure of the church — which is set to celebrate its 245th anniversary on the weekend of Oct. 9-10 — comes after a year of excavation at the site.

Archaeologists located a 16 X 20-foot brick foundation atop a layer of soil that has been dated to the early 1800s. It sits beside brick paving under which was found an 1817 coin.

Tax records have indicated that the congregation was worshipping on the site by 1818 in a building called the Baptist Meeting House, which was likely the congregation’s first permanent home.

Read more: Remnant of one of the oldest Black churches in US is unveiled in Virginia

Detroit post office renamed after Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin has been posthumously honored by her hometown of Detroit, which recently named a post office after her.

Formerly known as the Fox Creek post office, the Aretha Franklin Post Office Building was celebrated with a ceremony on October 4th. It is located five miles east of downtown Detroit, close to a concert amphitheatre on the Detroit River also named after the singer.

The legislation to change the post office’s name was introduced by Michigan Democratic representative Brenda Lawrence in January and signed by President Donald Trump after passing through Congress.

“Her legacy lives on in her music, in her family. But we have added to that list of her legacy: A post office with her name on it,” Lawrence said at the ceremony.

[SOURCE: NME]