First African American Owned Cannabis Dispensary “Cheeba Spot” to Open in New Jersey

When “Cheeba Spot” opens in the summer of 2022, ( Essex County Area) it will be one of the 1st African-American owned cannabis dispensaries in the State of New Jersey; Cheeba Spot will be the first of its kind, providing a safe and appealing shopping experience in an urban pop culture environment that focuses on quality products, customer education, and quality service.

After New Jersey’s groundbreaking 2021 approval to allow legal recreational use and sales of marijuana, Cheeba Spot is eager to enter the space of retail recreational cannabis.

Cheeba Spot’s owner Mark Boulding is excited to bring the much-needed representation and inclusion of African Americans to the cannabis industry. “Growing up in New Jersey, I witnessed firsthand the negative effects the so-called “War on Drugs” had on my community and my peers,” he explained. “I have seen friends and family members sentenced to prison, for the same plant that companies are today making billions of dollars legally. I felt it was my obligation to become a part of the State of New Jerseys commitment to Social Equity entering the cannabis industry. Cheeba Spot is currently looking for a location for its physical space.

With an emphasis on customer education and service, Cheeba Spot will offer carefully curated products in three different categories: Edibles, commonly baked goods such as gummies, cookies or brownies that are infused with cannabis extracts; Flower, which refers to the smokable section of the cannabis plant, also known as nuggets, nugs, or bud; and Concentrates, a potent consolidation of cannabinoids that are made by dissolving marijuana in its plant form into a solvent. The dispensary will be staffed with team members who are paid above industry average and trained to help consumers determine the best product for their needs.

According to industry analytics firm Headset anticipates the U.S. cannabis industry will top $30.5 billion in sales in 2022, up from $23.6 billion in 2021. New Frontier Data, another industry data consultancy, estimates 1/3 of US cannabis sales will come from New York, New Jersey, and Virginia, three states that passed legislation in 2021 to make cannabis legal for recreational use.

Boulding explained how the Cheeba Spot team is committed to building a successful, consumer-friendly business that benefits the community on multiple levels including holding regular meetings that consist of people from the community, stake holders and policy makers. Cannabis has so many benefits,” said Boulding. “The cannabis industry is growing so fast; our communities need to be a part of the expansion and all the benefits from it.

Learn more about Cheeba Spot https://www.cheebaspot.com/

President Biden nominates Ventris C. Gordon for U.S. Mint director

Ventris C. Gibson, deputy U.S. Mint director and currently acting Mint director, was nominated Dec. 13, 2021, by President Biden to a full five-year term as the 40th director of the nation’s coin bureau.

If confirmed by the full Senate, Gibson, a U.S. Navy veteran, would be the first African American to lead the U.S. Mint, and the first woman since the 37th director, Henrietta Holsman Fore (August 2001 to August 2005). Gibson would be the seventh woman to hold the office.

Gibson joined the Mint from District of Columbia government, where she served as the director of human resources. In this role, Gibson provided executive oversight of human capital programs and services for nearly 37,000 employees.

Prior to that, Gibson served as an associate deputy assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Gibson’s career with the federal government includes significant leadership roles in the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"The Black Eagle' Joe Madison ends hunger strike

Sirius XM radio host Joe Madison , "The Black Eagle" announced the end of his hunger strike after 74 days of protest in order to bring awareness to voting rights legislation. Listen to the radio legend explain why he striked and why he decided to end the strike below:

Donna Edwards announces run for former congressional seat

Former Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) on Thursday launched a campaign for her old House seat in Maryland's 4th Congressional District.

Edwards represented Maryland's 4th District for five terms before waging an unsuccessful bid for Senate in 2016, losing in the Democratic primary race to then-Rep. Chris Van Hollen.

She is now looking to replace Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Md.) as he vacates his seat to run for Maryland attorney general.

In a video announcing her candidacy, Edwards said she is running to give her district a stronger perch in Washington, emphasizing her experience serving in national politics.

Rep. Jim Clyburn statement on failure of Senate to pass voting rights legislation

Rep. Jim Clyburn released the following statement after the Senate voted against a one-time change to the chamber's filibuster rules late Wednesday night essentially killing voting rights legislation.

Although the Senate’s inaction is disappointing, this is not the end.

Those of us who are committed to our nation’s pursuit of a more perfect Union will continue to heed John Lewis’ admonition to "stand up, speak out and get in the way" to get voter protections signed into law.

House Passes Rep. Ayanna Pressley’s Bill to Award Willie O’Ree Congressional Gold Medal

Today,the House of Representaives passed Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley's (MA-07) bill to honor hockey legend Willie O’Ree with the Congressional Gold Medal. The bill, which is co-led by Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Tom Emmer (MN-06) and John Katko (NY-24), passed the Senate in July and will now head to the President’s desk.

O’Ree was the first black player in the National Hockey League (NHL) and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.

“Black history is American history, and I am thrilled to see our bill to award Willie O’Ree with the Congressional Gold Medal pass the House of Representatives today,” said Rep. Pressley. “Willie has had a tremendous impact both on and off the ice and the Congressional Medal is a testament to his lifetime of service, his contributions to the game, and the example he has set for Black athletes everywhere. I am honored to play a small part in getting him the recognition he so rightfully deserves, and ensuring Willie takes his rightful place in American history. I am grateful to Congressman Quigley, our colleagues, and the grassroots organizers who helped to make this a reality.”

O’Ree is an extraordinary athlete and activist who overcame numerous challenges and broke historic barriers to ensure that future players of diverse racial backgrounds would have equal opportunities to play hockey. In 1958, O’Ree was called-up from the minors to play for the Boston Bruins, becoming the first black player in NHL history. As the sole black player in the NHL, O’Ree endured racism, bigotry, and prejudice from players and fans on and off the ice. Despite this, he spent more than twenty-four seasons as a professional player in both the NHL and minor leagues. Following his professional hockey career, he became the NHL’s Diversity Ambassador, where he established the Hockey Is For Everyone initiative to offer marginalized and disadvantaged children an opportunity to play hockey, create community, and develop important life skills.

Hon. Cynthia A. Baldwin elected chair of Fulbright Association Board of Directors

The Honorable Cynthia A. Baldwin, retired justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania, was elected and became the Chair of the Fulbright Association Board of Directors on January 1,2022.

A veteran jurist and Fulbright Scholar who taught Constitutional Law, Legal Philosophy and Trial Advocacy on the Law Faculty of the University of Zimbabwe, she is serving on the Fulbright Board for the second time.

Baldwin was the first African American woman elected to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas and only the third African American and the second African American woman to serve on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. She retired from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2008. After her retirement from the Court, she became a partner with Duane Morris and also served as the first General Counsel for Penn State University.

She has chaired the boards of the Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities (AGB) and Penn State University as well as serving on the board of Duquesne University. A Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania, she retired from the corporate board of Koppers, Inc. Among her many awards are the ATHENA Award, the Heinz History Center History Maker Award and the HistoryMakers Award.

During her tenure as Chair, the Fulbright Prize, which has been awarded to Nelson Mandela, Colin Powell, Doctors Without Borders and Angela Merkel among others, will be awarded in 2022 to Bono, lead singer of U2 for his work in AIDS advocacy, global healthcare and poverty.

The Fulbright Association, located in Washington, D.C., has 8,000 Fulbright members throughout 54 local chapters in the USA. The Association has a wide variety of programming including Advocacy and Fulbright in the Classroom. The Fulbright Program is considered the largest and most prestigious educational exchange program in the world. The mission of the Association is to continue and extend the Fulbright tradition of education, advocacy and service.

Stevie Wonder's blunt message to U.S. Senators about voting rights

Music legend, Stevie wonder posted a video message to his YouTube channel in which he rather blunty expressed his thoughts about the voting rights bill that Senate Democrats are expected to meet about on Tuesday.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson's letter to U.S. Senators asking them to pass voting rights reform

The president of the NAACP Derrick Johnson penned a letter to all U.S. senators on Tuesday stating that it is essential that they approve voting rights reform. Read the entire letter below.

Kamala Harris Calls On Senate To ‘Do Its Job’ & Pass Voting Rights During MLK Day Address

Watch Vice President Kamala Harris deliver remarks to the congregation at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church remotely from Washington commemorating Martin Luther King Day. She called on the Senate to “do its job” and pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act in order to secure the freedom to vote.

On MLK Holiday Martin Luther King III calls out U.S. Senate on failure to pass voting rights bills

On the national observance of Martin Luther King Junior's birthday, his eldest son called out the Senate for its failure so far to pass voting rights legislation.

Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick wins Florida's District 20 Congressional seat

Progressive Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has been elected to Congress in a landslide victory over Republican candidate Jason Mariner in a special South Florida election to replace the late Congressman Alcee Hastings, who passed away in April 2021.

Cherfilus-McCormick was projected Tuesday night to win Florida's 20th Congressional District with a commanding 78.7% of the vote compared to Mariner's nearly 20%, according to state election data.

"It's officially official!" Cherfilus-McCormick cheered on Facebook. "This is just the beginning. Thank you for standing with me. I'm ready to stand in the gap and prioritize the needs of my fellow residents, of our families and of the next generation. It's time for a district that works for every resident."

The win makes Cherfilus-McCormick the first Democratic House representative of Haitian descent, according to the National Haitian American Elected Officials Network, which celebrated her victory on social media.

Tuskegee Airman Charles McGee dies at 102

Retired Brigadier General Charles McGee, part of the pioneering all-Black Tuskegee Airmen during World War Two and one of its most decorated pilots, died on Sunday at the age of 102, his family said in a statement.

McGee, who flew 409 combat missions spanning World War Two, Korea and Vietnam, died in his sleep Sunday morning, a family spokesperson said. "He had his right hand over his heart and was smiling serenely," his youngest daughter Yvonne McGee said in a statement released by the spokesperson.

"Today, we lost an America hero," Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on Twitter. "While I am saddened by his loss, I'm also incredibly grateful for his sacrifice, his legacy and his character. Rest in Peace, General."

After flying as a Tuskegee Airman in World War Two, he built a legacy for the next three decades as an Air Force pilot during the North Korea and Vietnam wars. He retired about 50 years ago.

After his military career, McGee worked as a business executive and an airport manager in Kansas City, Missouri. He also served as president of the Tuskegee Airmen association.

McGee is survived by his three children, 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

SPEAKER PELOSI TO JOIN MARTIN LUTHER KING III & FAMILY FOR MLK DAY PRESS CONFERENCE ON VOTING RIGHTS

On Monday,  the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi will join Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King and Yolanda Renee King, as well as other elected officials and civil rights leaders at a press conference to discuss the critical need for action on voting rights legislation. The press conference comes as the Senate heads for a vote on the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act on Tuesday. Mr. King and others will call on the Senate to do away with the filibuster in order to pass this bill.

The list of speakers includes:

• Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi  
• Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus 
• Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL), United States Congress
• Martin Luther King III, Chairman of the Drum Major Institute
• Arndrea Waters King, President of the Drum Major Institute
• Yolanda Renee King, Director of Youth Programming for the Drum Major Institute and Granddaughter of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King
• Rev. Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network 
• DaMareo Cooper Co-Chair of the Center for Popular Democracy 
• Kelly Robinson, Executive Director of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Vice President of Advocacy and Organizing at Planned Parenthood Federation of America 
• Maria Teresa Kumar, President and CEO of Voto Latino  
• Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers 
• Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association 
• Melanie Campbell, President and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation 
• LaTosha Brown, Co-Founder of Black Voters Matter
• Rahna Epting, Executive Director of MoveOn
• Donald Cravins, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the National Urban League
• Rev. Lis Theoharis, Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign 
• Ramón Cruz, President of Sierra Club 
• Stephanie Young, Executive Director of When We All Vote 
• Taifa Smith Butler, President of Demos
• Virginia Kase Solomón, CEO of League of Women Voters 
• 
  

In the morning before the press conference, Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King, Yolanda Renee King and representatives from partner organizations will join the D.C. MLK Holiday Committee for their D.C. Peace Walk: Change Happens with Good Hope and a Dream. The King family will not be formally speaking at the Peace Walk; however, media is invited to capture footage and photos of the family crossing the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge.

Martin Luther King Jr still relevant quote on voting rights and the filibuster

59 years ago Martin Luther King Jr. made a statement about the minority of senators blocking voting rights and the filibuster that is still true today.

“I think the tragedy is that we have a Congress with a Senate that has a minority of misguided senators who will use the filibuster to keep the majority of people from even voting.“ - MLK

59 years later, we are facing the same tragedy. pic.twitter.com/xEgLTTgVTC

— Charles Booker (@Booker4KY) January 13, 2022

The People’s Organization for Progress To Hold March Voting Rights On MLK Birthday In Newark

A Newark group is planning to hold a march on Saturday, the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., in support of voting rights and several social justice issues.

The People’s Organization for Progress (POP) is spearheading a rally at noon. It will begin at the Lincoln Statue, 12 Springfield Avenue in Newark. Those who plan to attend the march are asked to wear masks and practice social distancing.

“The right to vote in the United States is under attack,” POP Chair Lawrence Hamm said. “We are calling this march to demand passage of legislation that will protect and strengthen voting rights.”

“Since the November 2020 presidential election nearly 400 bills have been introduced in 48 states to restrict voting rights, and 34 of these have become law in 19 states,” Hamm continued. “The POP is calling for passage of the Freedom To Vote Act (S 2747), For The People Act (H.R. 1), and The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4). These bills will protect and strengthen voting rights.”

Marilyn Mosby Says She's Innocent In Federal Fraud Case, Vows To Clear Her Name

Baltimore’s top prosecutor Marilyn Mosby made a short statement and vowed to beat the four felony charges the federal government brought against her following their lengthy investigation into her personal finances.

Watch her statement below:

Original MLK Speech from 1963 March on Washington Returning to African American Museum

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday by displaying the slain civil rights leader’s original speech from the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

The speech will be on display in the “Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom” gallery from Thursday to Feb. 27.

The case with the speech inside, initially on display at the museum in fall 2021, will be reinstalled in time for visitors to see the document before the holiday.

In addition, the museum will be open to the public for normal operating hours (10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.), with advanced and same-day free timed entry passes available online. No walk-ups will be allowed.

The speech was originally possessed by basketball coach George Raveling, who got it while volunteering at the 1963 march. Recently, Villanova University gained stewardship and has entered into a long-term loan agreement with the museum to display it.

Fundraiser launched to help Black students finish college on MLK Weekend

Please donate to the Close the Gap Fund here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/488350812907518/

Five years ago former Hillside NJ councilman and African American Reports owner, George L. Cook III was invited to a fundraiser given by the Union County College Foundation to support something called "Close the Gap”.

The Close the Gap campaign was intended to accelerate the pace of African American student success at Union County College by providing financial assistance to students approaching graduation as well as resources for other academic needs.

Cook was so impressed by the initiative and the passion of those who started it that he asked to join the Union County College Foundation to help out in any way that he could. After becoming a foundation trustee Cook struggled in that first year to see where he could fit in with the mission of both Close the Gap and the Union County Foundation.

At that time Facebook started allowing users to run fundraisers. Cook had over 5,000 friends so he started a fundraiser for the foundation. That initial fundraiser took in $920 and in the three years since over $6,000 more has been raised in an annual fundraiser Cook starts on Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend.

This year the councilman launched his fundraiser on January 15, 2021, the actual birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.

Cook says that he chose that date to honor Dr. Martin Luther King and that King understood the importance of education. He then quoted King.

"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education."

Mr. Cook also stated that giving to help these Black students finish school is also a way to help fulfill King's dream.

"Many of these students just need money for transportation, books, to eat while at school, or just to pay for that last class they need to graduate." said Cook.

In these times of Covid-19 that has become all that much more difficult as students must now struggle with other issues like helping their families pay rents or pay the bills. These students need our help now more than ever. As we all know that when a student drops out there is a good chance that they will not come back. Let us not let that happen."

"Thanks to the Close the Gap initiative, the graduation rate for male African-American students has more than quadrupled at Union County College in the five years since its launch. Let us keep that progress going. Please donate today through Facebook by clicking here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/488350812907518/

Please donate to the Close the Gap Fund here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/488350812907518/

Facebook pays all the processing fees for you, so 100% of your donation goes directly to the nonprofit. The UCCF will receive donations from Network for Good within 45-75 days after a donation.

Congressional Gold Medal to be awarded posthumously to Emmett Till and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley

The Senate has passed a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to Emmett Till, the Chicago teenager murdered by white supremacists in the 1950s, and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, who insisted on an open casket funeral to demonstrate the brutality of his killing.

Till was abducted, tortured and killed after witnesses said he whistled at a white woman in Mississippi, a scenario contradicted by others who were with Till at the time.

The killing galvanized the civil rights movement after Till’s mother insisted on an open casket and Jet magazine published photos of his brutalized body.

Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J. and Richard Burr, R-N.C., introduced the bill to honor Till and his mother with the highest civilian honor that Congress awards. They described the legislation as a long overdue recognition of what the Till family endured and what they accomplished in their fight against injustice.

“At the age of 14, Emmett Till was abducted and lynched at the hands of white supremacists. His gruesome murder still serves as a solemn reminder of the terror and violence experienced by Black Americans throughout our nation’s history,” said Sen. Booker. “The courage and activism demonstrated by Emmett’s mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, in displaying to the world the brutality endured by her son helped awaken the nation’s conscience, forcing America to reckon with its failure to address racism and the glaring injustices that stem from such hatred. More than six decades after his murder, I am proud to see the Senate pass long-overdue legislation that would award the Congressional Gold Medal to both Emmett and Mamie Till-Mobley in recognition of their profound contributions to our nation.”

The House version of the legislation is sponsored by Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill.