The Urban One Podcast Network Announces Significant Growth

The network, spearheaded by podcast executive Dre Smith, has experienced triple-digit percent growth in downloads and listenership and includes the signing of other top podcasts, such as Dear Future Wifey featuring Laterras R. Whitfield and The Fun House, featuring Hip Hop Legends Kid N' Play

Urban One, the largest Black-owned and Black-targeted diversified media company, announced today that the Urban One Podcast Network has achieved an impressive growth of 381% in downloads and 313% in unique listeners since its launch less than two years ago. Additionally, the network has formed an exclusive partnership with , a prominent self-improvement and education podcast. Since its inception in February of this year, Mick Unplugged has consistently ranked highly on the Apple Podcast charts, reaching as high as #1 in the Self-Improvement category, #3 in Education, and #54 overall across all podcasts on the Apple Podcast Charts.

As part of this collaboration, the Urban One Podcast Network will exclusively distribute multiple weekly episodes of Mick Unplugged and provide promotional content across Urban One's audio platforms, including Reach Media and Radio One. The network will also exclusively manage all sales and sponsorships, which encompass a diverse range of opportunities.

"Joining the Urban One Podcast Network is an honor that speaks to both the legacy of leadership and the power of voice. Urban One has set the gold standard in media for amplifying diverse stories, and I'm thrilled to be a part of a network that represents strength, authenticity, and cultural impact," lauded Mick Hunt, host of Mick Unplugged. "For me, this partnership is about more than just content – it's about carrying forward a tradition of excellence and purpose-driven conversation. Together, we're empowering the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and change-makers."

The Urban One Podcast Network is led by podcast executive Dre Smith, who has become a staple name in the podcast industry as founder and CEO of Relationship Restored. Smith has led teams to market and produced critically acclaimed podcasts that have earned notable recognitions, such as Spotify's best new podcast award in 2021 and have reached top 15 podcast status on Apple podcasts. 

"I couldn't be more excited to be leading the Urban One Podcast Network and expanding its portfolio with a variety of titles that directly engage, entertain and relate to Black America," said Dre Smith. "Our recent signings and new original podcasts mark a huge step forward for our growth and showcase our vibrant culture. It's also a privilege to partner with some of the most talented content creators in the game. We look forward to seeing all our shows thrive under the Urban One Podcast Network umbrella and to seeing the incredible opportunities our portfolio will bring."

Other recent signings to the Urban One Podcast Network include:

• Dear Future Wifey, hosted by Laterras R. Whitfield, is a 2x Telly Award winning podcast that has ranked as a Top 10 relationship podcast
• The Fun House with Hip-Hop legends Kid N' Play ranks in the Top 100 Music Charts
• She Said It First, hosted by comedian and actress Lynee' Monee and entertainer Jerrilyn Lake, also known as "IndesKribeaBULL," is in the Top 200 Comedy Charts
• Small Doses with Amanda Seales joined Urban One in 2023 and is a top 20 Self-Improvement Podcast
• Boyz N The Barn is a new sports podcast hosted by NFL Superbowl Champion Vernon Davis.

The Urban One Podcast Network consists of original and partnership podcasts across a variety of genres such as The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, The Morning Hustle, I Hate They Homies, The DL Hughley Show, Fatal Attraction, Listen to Black Women, SZN Opener and many others. To see the complete portfolio and to learn more about the Urban One Podcast Network, visit theurbanonepodcastnetwork.com.

About Urban One, Inc.
Urban One, Inc. (urban1.com), together with its subsidiaries, is the largest diversified media company that primarily targets Black Americans and urban consumers in the United States. The Company owns TV One, LLC (tvone.tv), a television network serving more than 46 million households, and CLEO TV, its sister network with an almost 41 million household reach. As of October 14, 2024, we owned and/or operated 72 independently formatted, revenue producing broadcast stations (including 57 FM or AM stations, 13 HD stations, and the 2 low power television stations we operate), located in 13 of the most populous African-American markets in the United States. Through its controlling interest in Reach Media, Inc. (blackamericaweb.com), the Company also operates syndicated programming, including the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, and the DL Hughley Show. In addition to its radio and television broadcast assets, Urban One owns iOne Digital (ionedigital.com), our wholly-owned digital platform serving the African American community through social content, news, information, and entertainment websites, including its Cassius, Bossip, HipHopWired, and MadameNoire digital platforms and brands.

Black and Latino Healthcare Technology Leaders Endorse Kamala Harris for President

In an open letter, more than two dozen Black and Latino healthcare technology leaders across the country endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for President.

In their endorsement, the leaders noted that "throughout her career, Kamala Harris has shown a deep understanding of the structural barriers that communities of color face in healthcare. She has championed policies that expand digital access, support minority entrepreneurs, and prioritize community-driven solutions. Her vision for health equity aligns closely with our own: a future where technology is harnessed to empower, not exclude."

Organized by healthcare technology entrepreneurs Abner Mason, Daniel Turner-Lloveras, MD, and Kevin Dedner, the group includes founders, investors, technologists, engineers, senior executives, and providers spanning digital health, artificial intelligence, healthcare delivery, and life sciences.

"We understand the needs of the communities we come from and serve, and we have no doubt Kamala Harris is the leader our country needs to help us build a better healthcare future," said Abner Mason, founder and CEO of SameSkyHealth (acquired by GroundGameHealth). "We invite healthcare leaders of all backgrounds to join us in rallying behind Kamala Harris, for the benefit of the people we all have dedicated our lives to serving."

In their endorsement, the leaders noted the need to increase diverse representation in healthcare technology leadership, bridge the digital divide in health, increase investment in diverse entrepreneurs and innovators, and prevent algorithmic bias in healthcare.

"Harris shares our vision: Health equity isn't just a goal, it's the foundation. True innovation demands diversity in both ideas and leadership. We must shift our perspective: Our communities aren't hard to reach, they're hardly reached. We're not just diagnosing problems; we're architecting solutions by empowering communities to engage in their own health research. By investing in innovation through diversity, dismantling digital divides, and safeguarding against algorithmic bias, we're building a healthcare system that doesn't just serve all Americans, it empowers them," said Daniel Turner-Lloveras, MD, Co-Founder and CEO of The Latino Health Innovation Alliance | SaludConTech.*

"Vice President Harris understands when we encourage and direct capital to diverse entrepreneurs and innovators, the entire healthcare system benefits," said Kevin Dedner, health-tech entrepreneur and author of The Joy of the Disinherited.

These healthcare technology leaders hope their public endorsement will encourage others in healthcare technology to "Do Something" to help elect Vice President Harris as the next President of the U.S.

Read the full endorsement here.

National Black Farmers Association Endorses Kamala Harris for President

Watch Full interview: Al Sharpton interviews Vice President Kamala Harris

Vice President Kamala Harris sits down with MSNBC's Rev. Al Sharpton for a one-on-one interview in the final days of the presidential campaign.

Above the Fold with Jemele Hill debuting Oct. 22 on truTV

TNT Sports and UNINTERRUPTED  announced a partnership to develop a new show that will be part of the TNT Sports on truTV programming lineup beginning later this week. The weekly show – featuring acclaimed journalist Jemele Hill – will delve into important stories and topics centered on the connection between sports and culture. 

The weekly sports magazine series, Above the Fold with Jemele Hill – debuting Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 5 p.m. ET on truTV will deliver a comprehensive and engaging exploration of diverse stories inside the sports world. The 60-minute show will feature Hill and a rotating lineup of correspondents who will discuss and debate the latest news surrounding some of the biggest and most relevant sports stories of the week.  

Hill has previously appeared as a guest correspondent on TNT Sports’ The Arena, the in-depth storytelling franchise that offered thoughtful discussion centered on events taking place on and off the court during the 2020-2021 NBA season. 

“I’m very excited to be working with TNT Sports and UNINTERRUPTED on a project that centers sports journalism and compelling storytelling, said Hill. “The sports media landscape is constantly evolving, but there is always room for nuance, depth and perspective.”

Following the debut of Above the Fold, the series will air each Thursday, beginning at 7 p.m. on truTV. 

‘Central Park Five’ members sue Trump for defamation

Members of the “Central Park Five” sued former President Donald Trump over “false and defamatory” statements they allege he made about their 1989 case during a presidential debate last month. Watch more on this story below:

Albany State University President statement on campus shooting

Albany State University’s (ASU) Interim President, Lawrence M. Drake II, released the following statement on a deadly shooting at the ASU East Campus in which six people were shot and one person is dead in a Saturday night shooting.

Dear Ramily,

The Albany State University family is deeply saddened to learn of an incident that took place on campus at approximately 8:50 p.m. on Saturday, October 19, 2024. As always, the safety and security of our ASU students, faculty and staff are the number one priority of this institution.

We have been informed that six individuals have sustained injuries. Sadly, one has been reported deceased. The GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigation) is leading the investigation and is being assisted by state and local agencies. Updates will be provided as information becomes available.

Albany State University remains committed to providing resources for the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of our campus community. Counseling and other resources are available to students during this time. We are encouraging our students to make use of these resources as needed.

Respectfully,

Lawrence M. Drake II, Ph.D Interim President

Joi Faith Jackson is missing!

OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – Oakland County police are seeking information about a 26-year-old woman who went missing in Pontiac.

Joi Faith Jackson was last seen by her family on Tuesday (Aug. 27). Her family told detectives that she is in good physical health but is paranoid schizophrenic and suffers from depression.

Jackson is described as 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighs 138 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's office at 248-858-4911.

WATCH : VP Kamla Harris and Usher hold campaign rally in Atlanta

Watch entire VP Kamala Harris & Usher at Early Vote Event in Atlanta, GA.

U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Alvin Holsey to become SOUTHCOM commander

U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Alvin Holsey is scheduled to assume duties as commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) from U.S. Army Gen. Laura J. Richardson during a change-of command ceremony 1 p.m. Nov. 7, 2024, at the command’s headquarters.

Holsey, who previously served as the Military Deputy commander at SOUTHCOM, will be promoted to the rank of admiral before the ceremony.

Richardson will retire after more than four decades of military service as a decorated Army officer and distinguished aviator that included leadership roles in various assignments from the Company to the Theater level, as well as deployments to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Richardson’s career also included assignments as Military Aide to the Vice President at the White House, Chief of Army Legislative Liaison to the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C., and as a U.S. Army campaign planner at the Pentagon.

Richardson assumed command of SOUTHCOM Oct. 29, 2021, during a history-making ceremony in which she became the first woman general to lead the U.S. combatant command. Under her leadership, SOUTHCOM conducted numerous operations directly supporting regional security, increased security cooperation with regional defense and security partners, and optimized its multinational exercise program to strengthen the region’s collective security capacity and bolster interoperability.

Richardson also led the command’s critical support to partner nation efforts aimed at disrupting the activities of transnational criminal organizations and malign state actors; including illicit trafficking; human smuggling; illegal, unregulated, and underreported fishing; and cyberattacks. SOUTHCOM is currently supporting the Multinational Security Support mission assisting Haitian-led efforts in and near Port-au-Prince to restore security in communities impacted by widespread gang violence.

Holsey will also make history when he assumes command duties November 7, becoming the first African American to lead SOUTHCOM since the organization assumed its mission more than six decades ago. The U.S. Senate confirmed Holsey’s presidential nomination September 24. 

A Georgia native, Holsey was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program at Morehouse College in 1988, where he received a degree in Computer Science.  In 1995, he earned a Master of Science in management from Troy State University, and in 2010, he attended the Joint Forces Staff college.

Holsey’s career includes numerous deployments aboard U.S. Navy frigates and cruisers, as well as missions flying the SH-2F Seasprite and SH-60B Seahawk helicopters. He commanded a helicopter anti-submarine squadron; the U.S. Navy’s first hybrid electric propulsion warship, USS Makin Island (LHD 8); and Carrier Strike Group One aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, (CVN 70).

Holsey previously made history as the inaugural commander of the International Maritime Security Construct / Coalition Task Force Sentinel, tasked with ensuring freedom of navigation, adherence to international law, free flow of commerce, and the stability of maritime commons in the Middle East. His career assignments include tours as deputy director for operations at the National Military Command Center for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and deputy chief of naval personnel at Navy Personnel Command.

SOUTHCOM is one of the nation’s six geographically focused unified commands.  The command is responsible for U.S. defense and security cooperation with partner nations in the Caribbean, Central America and South America, as well as U.S. military operations sin the region. 

Last Chance for High School Students to Apply for Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World Resort

Time is running out for high school students with big dreams to take the next step toward their future, as the Oct. 31 application deadline for the Disney Dreamers Academy is fast approaching. 

Disney Dreamers Academy, in its 18th year, is an educational mentorship program that is fostering the career dreams of high school students from culturally diverse communities nationwide.

Well-known celebrities, educators, business executives, community leaders and Disney cast members lead various in-depth workshops designed for the 100 students who are selected for the program.

These workshops introduce Disney Dreamers to diverse career paths in business, entertainment, STEM and more, including career opportunities at The Walt Disney Company. They also provide students with valuable life tools, leadership skills, effective communication techniques and networking strategies.

Applications are open to U.S. high school students, ages 13 to 19. A distinguished panel of leaders will evaluate the applications, and selected participants will be announced in early 2025. 

The 100 selected students will receive an all-expense-paid trip along with one parent or guardian to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida to experience a combination of inspiration, education and fun at The Most Magical Place On Earth. 

Anyone interested can apply or nominate a student at www.DisneyDreamersAcademy.com

Disney Dreamers Academy is one of the many examples of Walt Disney World's commitment to supporting diverse communities by inspiring young people to dream boldly, pursue their passions, and make a meaningful difference in the world.

For more information, visit DisneyDreamersAcademy.com, or follow on social media at Facebook.com/DisneyDreamersAcademy, X.com/DreamersAcademy and Instagram.com/disneydreamersacademy/. 

WATCH: Former President Obama Campaigns for VP Harris in Tucson, Arizona

Watch Former President Barack Obama speak on behalf of Vice President Harris’s 2024 presidential campaign at a rally in Tucson, Arizona. President Obama encouraged those in attendance to make a plan to vote and to encourage their family and friends to do the same.

Watch his speech below:

VP KAMALA HARRIS’ APPEARANCE ON FOX NEWS CHANNEL’S SPECIAL REPORT WITH BRET BAIER DELIVERS NEARLY 8 MILLION VIEWERS

FOX News Channel’s (FNC) Special Report with Bret Baier delivered 7.8 million viewers and 1,126,000 in the 25-54 demo during anchor Bret Baier’s exclusive interview with Vice President Kamala Harris from 6 – 6:30 PM/ET on October 16th, according to Nielsen Media Research. The interview marked the highest rated of the Harris-Trump political season, outrating Harris’s appearances on 60 Minutes, The View, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CNN and MSNBC. For the full 6 PM/ET hour, Special Report drew 6.7 million viewers and 901,000 in the 25-54 demo. Combined with the show’s midnight airing (6-6:30 PM/ET and 12-12:30 AM/ET), Special Report’s interview with Vice President Harris nabbed 9.2 million viewers and 1.4 million in the 25-54 demo, beating ABC’s interview with President Biden before he dropped out of the race (8.5 million viewers). FNC averaged more than 12 million viewers on Wednesday between all three airings of its interviews with Vice President Harris (6 PM/ET & 12 AM/ET) and its town hall with former President Trump (11AM-12 PM/ET).

The network’s first formal interview with the vice president topped her appearance on CBS News’ 60 Minutes (5.7 million viewers), ABC’s The View (3.1 million viewers) and CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2.9 million viewers) as well as CNN and MSNBC’s Harris appearances. Special Report saw 189% growth with viewers and 285% growth in the 25-54 demo compared to its 2024-to-date average and was the top program on cable news on Wednesday.

Chiney Ogwumike signs multi-year extension with ESPN

ESPN today announced that Chiney Ogwumike has signed a multi-year extension to remain with the company. Her deal is for four years.

Chiney Ogwumike, who made history by serving as a full-time analyst and a full-time professional athlete simultaneously, has expanded her role in recent years to include studio analysis for the NBA, WNBA and Women’s College Basketball. Ogwumike regularly appears on ESPN NBA Countdown, NBA Today, WNBA Countdown, NCAA Championship in The Studio as well as Get Up, First Take and SportsCenter. Ogwumike has also added hosting responsibilities on NBA Today during select days.

The Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation and Stanford University Libraries Receive Grant from Mellon Foundation to Digitize The Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation Inc. Collection

A selection of The Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation Inc. collection, the largest Black Panther Party archive and one of the most researched collections at Stanford University Libraries, will be digitized and made accessible to people around the globe. Thanks to a generous $150,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation to the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation, a selection of the collection will be digitized by Stanford University Libraries in this pilot project and made available online through SearchWorks, the Libraries's catalog, and in the community research room at the Black Panther Party Museum, recently established in downtown Oakland, CA. Stanford University Libraries has housed the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation Collection since Huey's widow Fredrika entrusted it to them in 1996.

As one of the most frequently consulted and critically important archival collections housed at Stanford University Libraries, the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation Inc. collection includes Dr. Newton's private papers, letters, writings, videos, and photos as well as the Party's political campaign ephemera, documents on how they ran their Survival Programs, and drafts of the Ten Point Program, among many others. The collection also includes a series of FBI surveillance documents obtained by the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation via the Freedom of Information Act.

"In the very early days of the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation, we identified multiple pathways toward our goal of making the accurate history and legacy of the Black Panther Party as widely available as possible," said Fredrika Newton, co-founder of the Foundation. "An essential part of this was taking the voluminous amount of archives Huey left and placing them where they can be accessed, studied and utilized by as many people as possible. We are grateful for the care and partnership that Stanford University has provided to us and to this significant collection."

The Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation and Stanford University Libraries's archivists are working together to identify and prioritize the works to be digitized during this initial pilot, with the hopes of possibly digitizing the entire collection, and ensuring the preservation of these critical historical documents for future generations. This digitization project aligns with Stanford University Libraries's ongoing commitment to making its archival resources more accessible and to supporting research that advances our understanding of social justice and civil rights.

Roberto Trujillo, Associate University Librarian for Special Collections at Stanford states, "It is critically important to broaden discoverability and access for a continued critical reception of the Black Panther Party history."

In an environment where the teaching and discussion of racial history is being discouraged if not forbidden in classrooms across America, Stanford University Libraries are seeing an even larger interest in The Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation Inc. collection. Students and scholars across the country continue to use it for research, making it one of the most heavily consulted collections at Stanford.

The Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation
The Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation is dedicated to preserving and promoting the true legacy and ideals of the Black Panther Party. Since 1995, the Foundation has commissioned public art and created education tools to inspire and inform real social, economic and political change. The Foundation is the number one source for historical preservation and archival collections for people seeking the truth about the Black Panther Party. The Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, was co-founded by Fredrika Newton and is based in Oakland, CA, the birthplace of the Black Panther Party. Follow on Instagram @hueypnewtonfoundation

Stanford University Libraries 
The Stanford University Libraries are a dynamic network of libraries, librarians, information technology specialists, and a vast collection of academic resources that are dedicated to supporting research, teaching, and learning at Stanford.  The Libraries hold over fifteen million items in various genres and formats, including e-resources, fifty subject specialists, twenty campus libraries, and a broad spectrum of services. The Libraries's archival collections include rare books as well as photographs and documents about the history of civil rights in the Mexican American,  African American and Asian American communities;  documentary photography of Bob Fitch and David Bacon; political papers of both local and state politicians from the recently acquired papers of the late Senator Dianne Feinstein to the Wilma Chan Papers; historical maps featured in the David Rumsey Map Collection; and the incredibly diverse history of Silicon Valley covered  in the  Silicon Valley Archives. These archival collections and more are available in the Libraries's Department of Special Collections and in the Stanford Digital Repository, which manages and makes available all scholarly resources to students, faculty and researchers.  Finding aids to the Libraries's archival collections are accessible in the Online Archive of California. The Libraries's physical and digital spaces are designed to promote freedom and discovery, making knowledge-seeking more meaningful, more personal, and more connected than ever.  The opportunities for contributing to and transforming scholarship are infinite at Stanford University Libraries.

About The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is the nation's largest supporter of the arts and humanities. Since 1969, the Foundation has been guided by its core belief that the humanities and arts are essential to human understanding. The Foundation believes that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity, and that everyone deserves the beauty, transcendence, and freedom that can be found there. Through our grants, we seek to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive. Learn more at mellon.org.

Listen to Charlamagne Tha God's interview with VP Kamala Harris

Democrat presidential nominee Kamala Harris sat down Tuesday with Charlamagne Tha God for an audio town hall in Detroit. Listen to their interview below:

Justice Department Secures $8M from Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation to Address Redlining in Black Communities in Birmingham, Alabama

The Justice Department and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced today that Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation (Fairway) has agreed to pay $8 million and a $1.9 million civil money penalty to resolve allegations that it engaged in a pattern or practice of lending discrimination by redlining predominantly Black neighborhoods in and around Birmingham, Alabama.

Redlining is an illegal practice by which lenders avoid providing credit services to individuals living in communities of color because of the race, color, or national origin of residents in those communities.

With this settlement, the Justice Department’s Combating Redlining Initiative surpassed $150 million in relief for communities of color nationwide that have experienced lending discrimination. This settlement marks the Justice Department’s 15th redlining settlement in three years. Under the Combating Redlining Initiative, the Department has secured a historic amount of relief that is expected to generate over $1 billion in investment in communities of color in places such as Houston; Memphis; Los Angeles; Philadelphia; and Birmingham.

“This settlement, and the over $150 million in relief the Justice Department has secured for communities across the country through our Combating Redlining Initiative, will help to ensure that future generations of Americans inherit a legacy of home ownership that they too often have been denied,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This case is a reminder that redlining is not a relic of the past, and the Justice Department will continue to work urgently to combat lending discrimination wherever it arises and to secure relief for the communities harmed by it.”

The Justice Department and CFPB allege that Fairway illegally redlined Black neighborhoods in Birmingham, including through its marketing and sales actions, and discouraged residents of those neighborhoods from applying for mortgage loans. The settlement announced today requires Fairway to provide $7 million for a loan subsidy program to offer affordable home purchase, refinance, and home improvement loans in Birmingham’s majority-Black neighborhoods, invest an additional $1 million in programs to support that loan subsidy fund, and pay a $1.9 million civil penalty to the CFPB’s victims relief fund.

This case is the third redlining enforcement action brought jointly by the Justice Department and the CFPB under the initiative, highlighting the strong partnership between the agencies to root out and address lending discrimination.

“Birmingham lies at the heart of our nation’s civil rights struggle but is also a community that bears the legacy of discriminatory redlining and other exclusionary policies,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This settlement will provide Birmingham’s Black neighborhoods with the access to credit they have long been denied and increase opportunities for homeownership and generational wealth. This settlement makes clear our intent to uproot modern-day redlining in every corner of the country, including in the deep South. With more than $150 million in total relief secured in three short years, our Combating Redlining Initiative is generating real economic opportunity for communities of color while sending a strong message to mortgage lenders, no matter their business model, that discriminatory lending will not be tolerated in America.”

“The settlement reached with Fairway Mortgage is a win for communities of color here in Birmingham that have historically been denied access to vital economic resources,” said U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona for the Northern District of Alabama. “Our office is committed to ensuring that these communities have equal access to housing and credit resources.”

“The CFPB and Justice Department are holding Fairway accountable for redlining Black neighborhoods,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “Fairway’s unlawful redlining discouraged families from seeking loans for homes in Birmingham’s Black neighborhoods.”

Fairway is a non-depository mortgage company headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. In 2022, Fairway was the nation’s fifth-largest lender by origination volume and ninth-largest by application volume. Fairway operates in the Birmingham area under the trade name MortgageBanc.

The complaint describes how Fairway redlined majority-Black neighborhoods in the Birmingham Metropolitan Statistical Area (Birmingham MSA). During the period covered by the complaint, the Birmingham MSA included six counties in north central Alabama with a combined population of about 1.1 million. While Fairway claimed to serve the entire metropolitan area, it concentrated all its retail loan offices in majority-white areas, directed less than 3% of its direct mail advertising to consumers in majority-Black areas, and for years discouraged homeownership in majority-Black areas by generating loan applications at a rate far below its peer institutions.

The Justice Department and CFPB allege that Fairway violated the Fair Housing Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and Consumer Financial Protection Act. Specifically, the government alleges problematic conduct by Fairway including:

• Failing to address known signs of discrimination: Fairway’s own data showed that, since at least 2017, it was failing to serve majority-Black neighborhoods in the Birmingham area, but before October 2022, it took no meaningful actions to address redlining risk. Between 2018 and 2022, only 3.7% of Fairway’s applications were for properties in majority-Black areas, compared to 12.2% for Fairway’s peer lenders. In other words, Fairway’s peer lenders generated applications for properties in majority-Black areas at over three times the rate of Fairway. This disparity was even higher in neighborhoods with 80% or more Black residents, where Fairway made loans at less than one-eighth of the rate of its peer lenders. Despite these figures, Fairway failed to adopt any written plan for marketing or growth to address the concern.
• Redlining Black neighborhoods: From 2015 through 2022, Fairway operated three retail loan offices and three loan production desks within real estate offices in the Birmingham MSA, all of which were in majority-white areas. Fairway also relied on referrals from real estate professionals and its loan officers’ personal contacts to generate applications, and the vast majority of Fairway’s referral sources and referred consumers were located in majority-white areas. Fairway predominantly directed its marketing to majority-white areas and failed to train or incentivize its existing loan officers to better serve majority-Black areas. By taking these actions, Fairway discriminated against, and unlawfully discouraged mortgage loan applications for properties in, majority-Black neighborhoods.

The proposed consent order, which awaits approval by the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, would require Fairway to:

• Provide $7 million for a loan subsidy program: The order would require Fairway to offer home purchase, refinance, and home improvement loans on a more affordable basis than otherwise available in majority-Black neighborhoods in the Birmingham MSA. The program may provide lower interest rates, down payment assistance, closing cost assistance, or payment of initial mortgage insurance premiums.
• Invest at least $1 million in redlined neighborhoods: Fairway would be required to open or acquire a new loan production office or full-service retail office in a majority-Black neighborhood in the Birmingham MSA. The company must also spend at least $500,000 on advertising and outreach, at least $250,000 on consumer financial education, and at least $250,000 on partnerships with one or more community-based or governmental organizations to serve the affected neighborhoods.
• Pay a $1.9 million penalty: The proposed order imposes a $1.9 million civil penalty against Fairway, which would be paid into the CFPB’s Civil Penalty Fund, also referred to as the victims’ relief fund.

Information about the Justice Department’s fair lending enforcement work can be found at www.justice.gov/fairhousing. Individuals may report lending discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s housing discrimination tip line at 1-833-591-0291 or submitting a report online.

Consumers can submit complaints about financial products and services by visiting the CFPB’s websiteor by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372).

Employees who believe their company has violated federal consumer financial protection laws are encouraged to send information about what they know to whistleblower@cfpb.gov. To learn more about reporting potential industry misconduct, visit the CFPB’s website

Justice Department to Monitor Compliance with Federal Voting Rights Laws in Portage County, Ohio

The Justice Department announced today that it will monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in Portage County, Ohio, during the early voting period and on Election Day.

The Justice Department enforces the federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all citizens to access the ballot. The department regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities all across the country. In addition, the department also deploys federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management, where authorized by federal court order.

Voters in Portage County have raised concerns about intimidation resulting from the surveillance and the collection of personal information regarding voters, as well as threats concerning the electoral process. Attempted or actual intimidation, threats or coercion directed toward any person for voting and related activities or urging or aiding others in voting is prohibited by Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 

The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section, working with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Civil Rights Acts and Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

Reports related to voter intimidation in Portage County and complaints about any other possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be submitted through the Civil Rights Division’s internet reporting portal at www.civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931. More information about voting and elections, including guidance documents and other resources, is available at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section.

Vice President Harris Opportunity Agenda for Black Men

Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday unveiled her Oppurtunity Agenda for Black men on Monday. Learn more about her agenda below:

Vice President Harris will build an Opportunity Economy where everyone has the opportunity to not just get by, but to get ahead. She knows that Black men have long felt that too often their voice in our political process has gone unheard and that there is so much untapped ambition and leadership within the Black male community. Black men and boys deserve a president who will provide the opportunity to unleash this talent and potential by removing historic barriers to wealth creation, education, employment, earnings, health, and improving the criminal justice system. Black men deserve a president who will deliver on promises and equip them with the tools and resources to make their aspirations a reality.

This year, Vice President Harris launched a first-of-its-kind, nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour to help entrepreneurs access the capital and resources they need to launch and grow their businesses, build wealth, and strengthen their communities—especially Black male entrepreneurs. While traveling across the country to cities like Atlanta, Detroit, and Charlotte, she heard powerful stories from Black men about the biggest hurdles that still make it too difficult for them to get their businesses off the ground and grow them to meet their full ambitions and discussed policies that can help break down remaining barriers to success.

Drawing on insights from her experience throughout her career and her Economic Opportunity Tour, today Vice President Harris is laying out an Opportunity Agenda for Black Men to provide them with the tools to achieve financial freedom, lower costs to better provide for themselves and their families, and protect their rights. This pathbreaking agenda includes:

1. Providing 1 million loans that are fully forgivable to Black entrepreneurs and others to start a business.
2. Championing education, training, and mentorship programs that help Black men get good-paying jobs in high-demand industries and lead their communities, including pathways to become teachers.
3. Supporting a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency and other digital assets so Black men who invest in and own these assets are protected.
4. Launching a National Health Equity Initiative focused on Black Men that addresses sickle cell disease, diabetes, mental health, prostate cancer, and other health challenges that disproportionately impact them.
5. Legalizing recreational marijuana and creating opportunities for Black Americans to succeed in this new industry.

Read more about VP Kamala Harris Oppurtunity Agenda for Black Men by clicking here: KAMALA HARRIS WILL DELIVER FOR BLACK MEN - Kamala Harris for President: Official Campaign Website

WATCH: Roland Martin interviews VP Kamala Harris on The Black Star Network!

Many of us have been asking VP Kamala Harris to sit down with Black owned media and have a interview focused around Black issues. We asked for the interview, Roland Martin got it, so let's support it!

Roland Martin owner of The Black Star Network will be airing his interview with VP Harris starting Monday, 10/14/2024 at 5 am EST. It will be a 30-minute one-on-one interview with Kamala Harris from Greenville, NC. Watch the video here or tune into the @blackstarnetwork app or watch at Youtube.com/RolandSMartin