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Articles by Sarafina Wright
University of Maryland Names Building in Honor of Thurgood Marshall
Skip to content The University of Maryland (UMD) announced its newly opened School of Public Policy building will bear the name of civil rights lawyer and former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Throughout his career, Marshall played a key role in breaking down barriers for Black and African American students, including the desegregation of the University of Maryland, said the university.
CDC: Diabetes a Growing Risk to Americans Under 20
The number of young people under age 20 with diabetes in the U.S. is likely to increase more rapidly in future decades, according to a new study published in Diabetes Care by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This upward trend may lead to as many as 220,000 young people having type 2 diabetes in 2060 — a nearly 700% increase, and the number of young people with type 1 diabetes could increase by as much as 65% in the next 40 years.
Biden Administration Announces Plan to Reduce Homelessness by 25%
Skip to content The Biden-Harris administration has set forth a federal plan to end homelessness in America with the ambitious goal of reducing it by 25% by 2025. The “All In: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness,”announced last month, will “build on the success of previous plans” and will do more to combat the systemic racism that has created racial and ethnic disparities in homelessness.
WHO Report Shows Oral Neglect Affecting Half of World's Population
A new Global Oral Health Status Report shows that almost half of the world’s population (45% or 3.5 billion people) suffers from oral diseases, with three out of every four affected people living in low- and middle-income countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) report, published in November, provides the first-ever comprehensive picture of oral disease burden with data profiles for 194 nations.
Bob Marley Experience Coming to the U.S.
Skip to content The Bob Marley One Love Experience will make its U.S. debut in Los Angeles beginning in January 2023 after touring London and Toronto. The interactive exhibit will be on display at The Ovation, Hollywood, for 12 weeks showcasing never-before-seen Marley photographs and memorabilia while immersing guests in a journey through his life, passions, influences, and enduring legacy.
Millions of Children At Risk of Growing Measles Threat
Measles vaccination coverage has steadily declined since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a joint publication by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2021, a record high of nearly 40 million children missed a measles vaccine dose: 25 million children missed their first dose, and an additional 14.7 million children missed their second dose.
DC Central Kitchen's App Makes Finding Fresh Produce Easier
D.C. shoppers looking for fresh, affordable produce close to home now have a new tool at their fingertips. The nonprofit DC Central Kitchen (DCCK) announced on Sept. 1 that its reimagined Healthy Corners App is now available for iOS and Android users via the Apple App Store and Google Play. The app was made possible by DC Health and the Nutrition Incentive Hub funding.
Kaiser Permanente Launches Center for Gun Violence
Skip to content Kaiser Permanente, one of the nation’s largest health care providers, has launched a new Center for Gun Violence Research and Education. With an initial $1.3 million in grants, the Center’s goal will be to reduce the incidence and impact of gun violence, including intimate partner violence and suicide.
HBCU Streetwear Clothing Brand Lands in Major Retailers
Skip to content When Ashley Jones, a graduate of Norfolk State University (NSU), first launched Tones of Melanin in 2017, she had the goal of filling a gap in the fashion industry and on HBCU (historically Black colleges and universities) campuses. When she went to the bookstore at NSU, she didn’t feel like any of the paraphernalia represented her style.
Oracle and NIH Networks Launch Registry to Help End HIV/AIDS
Skip to content The HIV Vaccine Trials Network has launched a new HIV awareness campaign — the Red Ribbon Registry — to help end HIV. Built by Oracle, the unique cloud-based registry makes it easy for anyone to volunteer to be considered for an HIV clinical study — increasing the chances of finding a cure, said the partners. The registry expands on Oracle’s work with the National Institute of Health (NIH) and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor Bowser Declares May 7-14 as D.C. Veg Restaurant Week
D.C.’s first-ever Veg Restaurant Week will take place May 7 – 14, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced, and will feature some of the District’s most highly-rated vegan and plant-based restaurants ranging from fast-casual to fine dining establishments. D.C. Shadow Representative Oye Owolewa and Celebrity Chef Spike Mendelsohn will co-chair the city-wide event.
Cultural Influencers Tapped to Reach Blacks About Colon Cancer
From left: Brandon "Jinx" Jenkins, Vashtie and Mel D. Cole (Courtesy of Colorectal Cancer Alliance) According to the American Cancer Society statistics, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men and women combined and Black Americans are about 20% more likely to be diagnosed with colon cancer and 35% more likely to die from it.
Historic First: Black Architect Takes Industry's Top Prize
The Hyatt Foundation announced Diébédo Francis Kéré, architect, educator and social activist, as the 2022 Laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize. He is the 51st recipient of the Prize and the first Black. Born in Gando, Burkina Faso, and based in Berlin, Germany, the architect known as Francis Kéré is noted for empowering and transforming communities through architecture. “I am hoping to change the paradigm, push people to dream and undergo risk,” Kéré said.
(Courtesy photo/Pexels) WI Contributing Writer Drug overdose mortality rates have increased sharply in the U.S. since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. In addition, for the first time in over 20 years, the overdose mortality rate among Black individuals was higher than that among white individuals, according to the medical journal JAMA Psychiatry. The study published on March 2 said that since 2015, overdose deaths had risen most rapidly among Black and Latino communities.
Suicide Rate in U.S. Decreases But Some Groups See Bumps
Alone sad abandoned lady crying in the dark. The suicide rate in the U.S. decreased by three percent for the second consecutive year, according to the most recent data (2020) from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]. In 2020, there were 45,979 suicide deaths; in 2019, there were 47,511 suicide deaths, a decrease of 1,532 deaths.
New Book: ‘Under Pressure: A Guide To Controlling High Blood Pressure’
Dr. Frita McRae Fisher, M.D. releases new book Under Pressure: A Guide To Controlling High Blood Pressure In an era of increasing rates of hypertension, one doctor remains on a mission to educate the masses about controlling high blood pressure. In her new book, “Under Pressure: A Guide To Controlling High Blood Pressure,” Frita McRae Fisher, MD., aka Dr. Frita, lays out a plan for managing one’s blood pressure and prevention.
Acclaimed Food Writer Michael Twitty Joins MasterClass
Michael Twitty for MasterClass Michael Twitty, two-time James Beard Award-winning writer and author of “The Cooking Gene,” will teach a digital class tracing your roots through food. Through the platform MasterClass, Twitty will guide members on how cuisine can help them discover their unique cultural and familial history, the streaming platform announced last week.
Veteran attorney tapped to lead Mayor's Racial Equity Initiative
The initiative was launched in November with a goal to address systemic inequities in Charlotte. Kim Henderson. Photo: Mayor's Racial Equity Initiative The Mayor’s Racial Equity Initiative has an official leader.
Movement Launches to Encourage Black Breast Cancer Trial Participation
**FILE PHOTO** The Black Breast Cancer Alliance and Breastcancer.org said they will launch a new movement dedicated to empowering and educating Black women on the importance of clinical trial participation. The When We Tri(al) movement aims to change the devastating breast cancer mortality rates for Black women who now stand at 41% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. “Black Breast Cancer isn’t about a month, it’s about a movement.
U.S. Postal Service Salutes Legendary Sculptor Edmonia Lewis
The U.S. Postal Service has honored the legendary sculptor Edmonia Lewis with its latest stamp in the Black Heritage Series. Lewis, the first African-American and Native American sculptor to earn international recognition, took her place as the 45th honoree in the series with stamp art featuring a portrait of Lewis based on a photograph by Augustus Marshall made in Boston between 1854 and 1871.
Ruby Bridges to Pen Children's Books About Civil Rights
Civil rights legend Ruby Bridges will release a children’s picture book later this year titled “I Am Ruby Bridges.” For the first time, Bridges will share her story from the perspective of her six-year-old self, providing an intimate look through a child’s lens at her experiences and the role she played in the civil rights movement. At the tender age of 6, Bridges became the first Black student to desegregate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana.
American Red Cross: National Blood Crisis May Put Patients At Risk
Photo by Charlie-Helen Robinson on Pexels.com The American Red Cross says it’s facing a national blood crisis – its worst blood shortage in more than a decade. In recent weeks, the Red Cross had less than a one-day supply of critical blood types and limited blood product distributions to hospitals, the organization said on Jan. 11. At times, as much as one-quarter of hospital blood needs have not been met.
11 West End homes listed above $500,000
Last year saw housing prices soar throughout the Charlotte region, with an average sale topping $386,849, up 11.9% from the year before, according to data from Canopy MLS. In Historic West End, the trend was no different. In neighborhoods once known for depressed housing values, new construction has arrived with some eye-popping prices. For example: Historic West End No one covers West Charlotte like QCity Metro. Get our free newsletter.
How 2 West End salons were transformed with business innovation grants
For two years, Charlotte Center City Partners and Honeywell have given more than $4.6 million in grants to local small businesses to help alleviate the financial strain brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. The program, called the Center City Small Business Innovation Fund, launched in 2020 to help restaurants, breweries, bakeries, coffee shops, salons, retailers, food trucks and others pivot and compete in a changing marketplace as the pandemic continues.
Black Faith Leaders Launch Hunger Strike for Equal Voting Rights Original
Hunger Strike for Voting Rights Ahead of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Jan. 17, dozens of faith leaders from across the nation have launched a hunger strike to urge Congress to “protect democracy” by passing voting rights legislation. Faith of Black Lives, a coalition of 25, began the strike on the first anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection on the U.S. Capitol.
Aujiena Hicks, a law-enforcement veteran, will run for Mecklenburg County Sheriff
Hicks, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., worked 18 years in the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's office. Mecklenburg County sheriff candidate Aujiena Hicks announces her run for office on Friday, Jan. 7. (Photo: Gina Hicks 4 Meck Sheriff campaign) Aujiena Hicks, a veteran law-enforcement officer, announced Monday that she will run for the office of Mecklenburg County Sheriff — the first Black woman to seek that post.
Black-owned pizzeria opens in Optimist Park
The husband-wife team who launched Bird Pizzeria had their first date over a pizza. A new pizza spot has come to town, and it’s Black-owned. In Optimist Park at 510 E. 15th St., Bird Pizzeria opened last Wednesday, serving artisanal East Coast-inspired pizza. The husband-wife duo of Kerrel and Nkem Thompson had their first date over pizza and got inspired to open the shop as they reflected during the Covid-19 pandemic. Name: Bird Pizzeria was named after Kerrel’s love of birds.
Judge Rickye McKoy-Mitchell announces her retirement
In a video posted to YouTube, McKoy-Mitchell did not say what led to her decision. Mecklenburg County District Court Judge Rickye McKoy-Mitchell. After more than 24 years on the judicial bench, Mecklenburg County District Court Judge Rickye McKoy-Mitchell says she will retire effective Sept. 1, 2022. McKoy-Mitchell, a juvenile court judge, made the announcement on Dec.
Dozens of local nonprofits receive grants from local philanthropic couple
The Parham Family Charitable Fund committed $100,000 in the spirit of the holidays. Claudette and Roger Parham. (Photo: The Parham Family Charitable Fund.) More than 25 nonprofits, most serving Charlotte’s west side, got a financial boost this holiday season. The Parham Family Charitable Fund announced this month that it had committed $100,000 to help local organizations working to address affordable housing, food insecurity, literacy and access to higher education.
GEST Carts: a new rideshare option rolls into Uptown Charlotte
A new rideshare company wants to get you and your friends around Charlotte’s entertainment hubs for free. GEST Carts, which stands for Green Easy Safe Transportation, launched on Dec. 17 in Charlotte, offering free rides throughout uptown and South End. The small, battery-powered vehicles can be hailed using a dedicated app, much like Uber or Lyft. But unlike a traditional rideshare, they won’t be taking you home after a night of bar hopping.
Capital City Mambo Sauce Comes to KFC Restaurants in Select Cities
D.C.'s famous Sweet Hot Capital City mambo sauce will be available at select KFC restaurants in the Washington D.C. area, Dallas and Atlanta for a limited time only. (Courtesy of KFC) D.C.’s famous Sweet Hot Capital City mambo sauce comes to select KFC restaurants in the greater Washington area, Dallas and Atlanta for a limited time.
One in 10 Americans Say COVID-19 Vaccinations Conflict with Religious Beliefs: Survey
Courtesy of Shutterstock As the omicron variant of COVID-19 spreads across the U.S., heightening tensions around vaccine mandates and religious exemption claims, the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) released their Wave 3 of their Religion and the Vaccine Survey on Dec. 6. The new survey reveals that only one in 10 Americans believe the teachings of their religion prohibit COVID-19 vaccinations; nearly nine-in-10 disagree.
Police make arrest in West Charlotte High shooting incident
No one at the school was struck by gunfire, the authorities said a person was treated for minor injuries. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police arrested a juvenile on Monday in connection with a shooting incident at West Charlotte High School — the latest in a growing list of gun-related incidents on the campuses of Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools. According to CMPD, the incident happened shortly after 2:15 p.m. when two students got into a dispute over a book bag.
The Park Church breaks ground on affordable housing for seniors
More than four years after The Park Church first committed to building affordable housing for seniors, church and city leaders gathered Saturday under a gray and drizzly sky to hold an official groundbreaking. When completed in 2023, the development at 1519 Beatties Ford Road will include 80 apartments ranging from 660 square feet to 900 square feet. Monthly rents for the one- and two-bedroom units will range $400 to $1,200.
MasterClass Launches Black History, Freedom and Love Program
MasterClass instructors (Courtesy of MasterClass) MasterClass, the streaming platform where anyone can learn from the world’s best across a wide range of subjects, recently announced the launch of what it calls its most ambitious project to date: Black History, Black Freedom and Black Love. The course will be taught by notable Black intellectuals including Jelani Cobb, Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, Angela Davis, Sherrilyn Ifill, Nikole Hannah-Jones, John McWhorter and Cornel West.
HIV Racial Disparities Continue for LGBTQ Men of Color
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), despite overall progress in reducing new infections among gay and bisexual men, HIV inequities persist. For example, from 2010–2019, the number of new HIV infections remained relatively stable among Black (from 9,000 to 8,900) and Hispanic/Latino (from 6,800 to 7,900) gay and bisexual men. However, it declined among white gay and bisexual men (from 7,500 to 5,100).
Josephine Baker Receives Highest Honor in France
Josephine Baker (Courtesy of History of Yesterday) Legendary trailblazing performer Josephine Baker received one of the highest honors in France with her induction into the French Panthéon, the nation’s mausoleum of heroes, which includes Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Èmile Zola and Marie Curie. Baker becomes the first Black woman inducted and the first performing artist.
Urban League will launch new program for women impacted economically by Covid-19
With fewer women in the workforce because of Covid-19, the Urban League of Central Carolina will launch a new initiative next year aimed at helping local women recover from the pandemic’s economic impact. Fahnie Shaw, the Urban League’s chief operating officer, said the Working Women, Thriving Families and Better Communities (WTB) initiative is a strategic response to the economic impact that Covid-19 has had on working women in Mecklenburg County.
CMS will implement new measures to combat on-campus guns and violence
So far this year, the district has confiscated 18 guns. Now the district has ordered clear backpacks for all high school students. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Earnest Winston meets with reporters on Sept. 8, 2021, to discuss on-campus violence.
What's happening, Charlotte - Q City Metro
Happy December! It’s that time of the year when people begin to reflect on their wins and losses and what’s most important to them. It’s also time for outings and events centered around the holidays. So if you love the festive season, you’re in luck. There’s no shortage of events to celebrate this weekend in the Queen City — from the ever-popular “The Nutcracker” to live holiday soul music. There’s even an event for kids.
Owners of Cloud, a new restaurant and lounge, seek to fill a void in Charlotte's nightlife scene
Ramond Boyd said he and his wife Kyphi had long wanted to bring to Charlotte a unique nightlife experience — a place where partygoers could enjoy elevated cuisine late at night, specialty cocktails and live music in an upscale atmosphere with extravagant entertainment. They had seen such places in cities like Miami, Los Angeles and New York and had discussed, why not in Charlotte, their hometown?
How West End residents transformed a neglected space into an outdoor gallery
Just months ago, a neglected lot near the intersection of Beatties Ford Road and Lasalle Street was considered an eyesore. It housed a dilapidated trailer, and illegal drug activity was said to be common. Now the property has been transformed into a tranquil space that features freshly painted picnic tables, a concrete stage and, perhaps most impressive, an outdoor photo gallery that displays artistic images of Black women.
Meet the 18 people who will shape much of Charlotte’s arts and culture landscape
The newly appointed Arts and Culture Advisory Board will decide how millions of dollars are spent each year in support of Charlotte's arts sector. Performance during Jazz at Victoria Yards on June 23, 2021. Photo courtesy of JazzArts Charlotte The City of Charlotte and Foundation For The Carolinas announced the names of 18 people who will serve on the city’s newly created Arts and Culture Advisory Board.
'We’re rebuilding': Stan Law, the new CEO of YMCA of Greater Charlotte, returns home
After conducting a national search, the YMCA of Greater Charlotte announced last week that Stanley Law will become its next president and CEO, effective in early January, 2022. Law is the current president and CEO of the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina, which is based in Winston-Salem. He will succeed Todd Tibbits, who departed in July to lead the YMCA of San Diego County. A Charlotte native, Law’s family roots in Charlotte goes back more than 100 years.
Wells Fargo will donates $20 million to help ethnically diverse small businesses in Charlotte
Wells Fargo today will announce a $20 million commitment aimed at helping to start and grow ethnically diverse small businesses in Charlotte. The funding, administered as grants through Foundation for the Carolinas, is expected to reach 1,000 businesses over the next three years, starting in 2022. A Wells Fargo official told QCity Metro the money will be given to small businesses to acquire assets such as storefronts, equipment and technology.
A political force: Stacey Abrams stops in Charlotte, reflecting on business, politics and social justice
Stacey Abrams is, without a doubt, a political star. So it was no surprise that when her 12-city tour stopped in Charlotte at Ovens Auditorium on Wednesday, hundreds turned out for “A Conversation with Stacey Abrams.” Abrams, who rose to national prominence in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial race, becoming the first Black woman to win the gubernatorial nomination of a major party, has become a political force.
Leading on Opportunity leader says she's rebuilding from the ground up
Many programs, initiatives and nonprofits exist in Charlotte to address the plight of the city’s poor. None was launched amid more fanfare and heightened expectations than Leading on Opportunity.
Hidden Valley leaders bring little libraries to community to help turn around falling literacy rates
To stop the bleeding from the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on literacy rates, some communities have rolled out “little libraries,” a trend seen around the country that provides free books to kids with no hassle. The latest community to do this is Hidden Valley, led by Charles Robinson, vice president of the community’s neighborhood association and founder of nonprofit One Time, Inc. Beginning on Saturday, Nov.
Charlotte’s corporate and philanthropic leaders launch $250 million initiative to promote racial equity
By Sarafina Wright, QCity Metro The initiative, the brainchild of Mayor Vi Lyles, seeks to boost economic opportunities for the city’s Black and Brown residents — two groups historically marginalized. Some of Charlotte’s biggest corporations and philanthropic groups have launched a $250 million initiative to address some of the social and economic disparities caused by centuries of American racism.
City Council votes yes to rental subsidy program for low-income families
The NOAH Rental Subsidy Program provides a bridge between what low-income households can afford and Charlotte's market rental rates. The Lake Mist Apartments off Old Pineville Road in south Charlotte were used by the city of Charlotte to test a pilot program that will provide rental subsidies to landlords who make their units available to some of the city's poorest residents.
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