BlackPressUSA

President Biden’s Full Howard University Commencement Address

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “You’re the scientists, the doctors, the advocates who will bring — do big things like ending cancer as we know it and even curing some cancers, which we’re on our way of doing. You’re the diplomats and global citizens making democracy work for people around the world. Lawyers defending our rights. Artists shaping our culture. Fearless journalists. This is real, though. You’re – this is what you’re doing. Fearless journalists and intellectuals pursuing the truth and challenging convention.

Published

3 years ago

May 16, 2023

BlackPressUSA

“President Joe Biden delivers the commencement address for the 2023 Howard University graduating class.

NNPA Newswire

You are here with your heart and through the heartache, through blood, sweat, and tears of everything that’s came before, for everything yet to come. You are here at a new moment of hope and possibilities.

But, graduates, before we begin, as mentioned many times, tomorrow is Mother’s Day. Stand for your mothers and grandmothers. Stand and thank them.

Where I come from, moms rule.

To my friend – and he is my friend – Congressman Jim Clyburn, the thing that I admire most about you, Jim, is your absolute integrity in everything you do – in everything you do. This is a man of honor.

I attended South Carolina State University’s commencement as Jim received his degree, he earned 60 years ago but never got a chance to receive it in person.

Jim, it’s an honor to join you here today and receive an honorary degree from this great university.

And it’s truly special – special to join fellow honorees. Prime Minister Rowley, I didn’t know you were so talented. I just thought you were foreign policies – you know, Latin American guy. I – you know, I – we got to talk.

All kidding aside, thank you for being a strong partner in the Caribbean and for addressing climate change and supporting democracies across the Western Hemisphere.

I’m also honored that – there’s a person here today, Dr. Tony Allen. He is President of my home state [H]BCU, Delaware State University, where I got politically started.

I was fortunate to have Tony as a Senate staffer for a long time. Then he got his PhD, had a distinguished career in business, and became president of an HBCU.

Now Tony chairs my White House Board of Advisors on HBCUs, which is designed to support and advance HBCU excellence with a lot more money.

I’m also proud to say that we’re the first White House to formally convene where the real power is: The Divine Nine. Oh, you all – you all think I’m kidding? Not a joke.

The Divine Nine not only has a seat at the table, we definitely hear you at the table. And there, first time ever, at the White House permanently.

So, folks, in 2023, I’m truly honored to be here at Howard.

Chartered 156 years ago by an act of Congress just after Emancipation and the Civil War. Founded – founded on a hilltop in Washington, D.C. The Mecca. The Mecca.

Always promoting, excellence, leadership, and truth and service. It really has. And a proving ground for future leaders of science, medicine, education, business, faith, arts, entertainment, and public service.

Trailblazing intellectuals, lawyers, doctors. The first Black – I might say – Vice President of the United States of America. You can say that again.

Kamala sends her love. And she sent a clear message that today I have the privilege, as she points out, of speaking at the real H-U.

Now you realize that’s going to cost me at home.

This – there’s enormous pride in this university founded in the verses of the Howard anthem. And I quote, “Reared against the eastern sky, proudly there on hilltop high… There she stands for truth and right, sending forth her rays of light.” It matters. It matters. It matters.

We’re living through one of the most consequential moments in our history with fundamental questions at stake for our nation.

Who are we? What do we stand for? What do we believe? Who will we be? You’re going to help answer those questions.

Let me take you back to January of 2009. I stood in Wilmington, Delaware, on the train station of Amtrak, carrying my folder waiting to be picked up by a guy named Barack Obama.

The first Black man elected President of the United States.

I was there to join him as Vice President on the way to the historic inauguration in Washington. A moment of extraordinary hope, but also, as I stood there – and this is the God’s truth – I couldn’t help think about another day I stood there.

I wasn’t much more than your age. I’d just got out of law school.

I was a public – I had gone to work for a big firm, but my state – because when Dr. King was assassinated, parts of it were – my city – parts were burned to the ground. We had a very conservative governor.

He stationed the National Guard on every corner with drawn bayonets for 10 months. I quit and became a public defender.

And I used to have to introduce my clients – no, that’s not so noble – I had to interview my clients down at the Wilmington train station when they were arrested.

On the east side – that’s where they’d be taken in the aftermath of the riots that burned Wilmington following his assassination.

In 2009, while waiting for Barack, I was both living history at the same time I was reliving it. A vivid demonstration: When it comes to race in America, hope doesn’t travel alone.

It’s shadowed by fear, by violence, and by hate.

But after the election and the re-election of the first Black American President, I had hoped that the fear of violence and hate was significantly losing ground.

After being – no longer being Vice President, I became a professor at the University of Pennsylvania for four years.

But in 2017, in Charlottesville, Virginia, crazed neo-Nazis with angry faces came out of the fields with – literally with torches, carrying Nazi banners from the woods and the fields chanting the same antisemitic bile heard across Europe in the ‘30s.

Something that I never thought I would ever see in America.

Accompanied by Klansmen and white supremacists, emerging from dark rooms and remote fields and the anonymity of the Internet, confronting decent Americans of all backgrounds standing in their way, into the bright light of day.

And a young woman objecting to their presence was killed.

And what did you hear? That famous quote. When asked about what happened, that famous quote. “There are very fine people on both sides.”

That’s when I knew – and I’m not joking – that’s when I knew I had to stay engaged and get back into public life. No, I – I don’t say it for that reason. I say it for the journey.

I don’t have to tell you that fearless progress towards justice often meets ferocious pushback from the oldest and most sinister of forces. That’s because hate never goes away.

I thought, when I graduated, we could defeat hate. But it never goes away. It only hides under the rocks. And when it’s given oxygen, it comes out from under that rock.

And that’s why we know this truth as well: Silence is complicity.

It cannot remain silent. We are living through this battle for the soul of the nation. And it is still a battle for the soul of the nation.

What is the soul of a nation? Well, I believe the soul is the breath, the life, the essence of who we are. The soul makes us, “us.”

The soul of America is what makes us unique among all nations. We’re the only country founded on an idea – not geography, not religion, not ethnicity, but an idea.

The sacred proposition rooted in Scripture and enshrined in the Declaration of Independence that we’re all created equal in the image of God and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives.

While we’ve never fully lived up to that promise, we never before fully walked away from it.

We know that American history has not always been a fairytale.

From the start, it’s been a constant push and pull for more than 240 years between the best of us, the American ideal that we’re all create equal – and the worst of us, the harsh reality that racism has long torn us apart.

It’s a battle that’s never really over.

But on the best days, enough of us have the guts and the hearts to st- – to stand up for the best in us.

To choose love over hate, unity over disunion, progress over retreat. To stand up against the poison of white supremacy, as I did in my Inaugural Address – to single it out as the most dangerous terrorist threat to our homeland is white supremacy.

And I’m not saying this because I’m at a Black HBCU. I say it wherever I go.

To stand up for truth over lies – lies told for power and profit.

To confront the ongoing assault to subvert our elections and suppress our right to vote. That assault came just as you cast your first ballots in ‘20 and ‘22.

Record turnouts. You delivered historic progress.

I made it clear that America – Americans of all backgrounds have an obligation to call out political violence that has been unleashed and emboldened.

As was mentioned already, bomb threats to this very university and HBCUs across the country.

To put democracy on the ballot.

To reject political extremism and reject political violence.

Protect fundamental rights and freedoms for women to choose and for transgender children to be free.

For affordable healthcare and housing.

For the right to raise your family and retire with dignity.

To stand with leaders of your generation who give voice to the people, demanding action on gun violence only to be expelled from state legislative bodies.

To stand against books being banned and Black history being erased.

I’m serious. Think about it.

To stand up for the best in us.

And today, I come here to Howard to continue the work to redeem the soul of this nation, because it’s here where I see the future.

And I’m not – that’s not hyperbole.

We can finally resolve those ongoing questions about who we are as a nation. That puts strength of our diversity at the center of American life.

A future that celebrates and learns from history.

A future for all Americans. A future I see you leading. And I’m not, again, exaggerating. You are going to be leading it.

Again, let’s be clear: There are those who don’t see you and don’t want this future.

There are those who demonize and pit people against one another. And there are those who do anything and everything, no matter how desperate or immoral, to hold onto power. And that’s never going to be an easy battle.

But I know this: The oldest, most sinister forces may believe they’ll determine America’s future, but they are wrong.

We will determine America’s future. You will determine America’s future. And that’s not hyperbole.

No graduating class gets to choose the world into which they graduate. Every class enters the history of a nation up to the point it has been written by others.

But few classes, once in every several generations, enter at a point in our history where it actually has a chance to change the trajectory of the country.

You face that inflection point today, and I know you will meet the moment. I – just think about the many ways you already have.

With your voices and votes, I was able to fill my commitment to put the first Black woman on the Supreme Court of the United States of America.

And, by the way, she’s brighter than the rest.

She is one bright woman.

Because of you, more Black women have been appointed to the federal appellate courts under – than under every other President in American history combined.

And, by the way, I mean it. I mean it. Because of you. Because of you.

You turned out. You spoke up. You knew. You showed up, and the votes counted. And you made people say, “Whoa, wait a minute.

What price will I pay if I don’t do the following?”

You feel the promise and the peril of climate change. Because of you, we’re making the biggest investment ever in the history of the world in climate change.

Don’t ever think your voice doesn’t matter.

I’m keeping my promise that no one should be in jail merely because of using or possessing marijuana. Their records should be expunged – just expunged.

My student debt relief plan would help – tens of millions of people, especially those on Pell Grants.

Seventy percent of Black college students receive Pell Grants. Many of you, the savings would be significant and even wiping out student debt completely for some.

But – this new Republican Party is dead set against it, suing my administration to stop you from getting student debt relief.

The same opposition who received relief loans, I might add, to keep their businesses afloat during the pandemic – members of the Congress – worth thousands, even millions of dollars – most of which didn’t have to be paid back. Yet, they say it’s okay for them but not for you. I find it outrageous.

To reduce your debt service payments when you graduate, we’re also ensuring that no one – no one with an undergraduate loan today or in the future will have to pay more than 5 percent of their discretionary income to repay their loans, down from 10. And in 20 years, it’s gone.

Republican officials are fighting that as well. But I will always keep fighting for you. And many others will – and many in the Republican Party as well will fight for you.

But we also know there is more to do. Because of your power, we took the most significant law on gun violence – we passed it – the most significant law in 30 years.

But we will not give up. I got the Assault Weapons Ban passed 30 years ago, and we’re going to pass it again.

We must pass it.

And there’s more to do on police reform and public safety.

During the State of the Union, I asked the rest of the country to imagine having to talk to their children and their families like your families had to talk to you.

It’s about your security. It’s about your dignity.

It’s demeaning and degrading and deadly when you just have to stand there and say, “When you’re stopped, turn the interior light on, put both hands on the wheel, don’t reach for your license.” What in the hell is going on in America?

No, think about it.

I ask all the parents of non-minority children to ask what they would say, what they would do.

I know you’re frustrated that there are so many elected officials who refuse to pass a law that will do something.

Kamala and I stood next to the family of George Floyd and civil rights leaders and law enforcement officials to sign the executive order I came up with requiring the key elements of the George Floyd bill be applied to federal law enforcement: banning chokeholds, restricting no-knock warrants, establishing a database for police misconduct, advancing effective and accountable community policing that builds public trust.

And we’ll keep fighting to pass the reforms nationwide.

Equal justice is a covenant we have with each other. It must not just be an ideal; it has to be a reality.

You’re leading the way on this and so much more.

That’s why Kamala and I are so committed to investing in you and HBCUs. HBCUs help produce 40 percent of Black engineers; 50 percent of Black lawyers; 70 percent of Black doctors and dentists; 80 percent of Black judges.

Look, we see HBCU excellence in every day, with staff at every level of the White House and the administration, because I decided when I was elected, I promised I was going to have my administration would look like America.

But we all know that HBCUs don’t have the same endowments and funding as other major colleges and universities.

For example, denying the opportunity to build and fund research labs that will lead to new technologies and good-paying jobs.

That’s why I asked, and we’ve invested $6 billion and counting in HBCUs, including to create new research and development labs that prepare students for jobs of the future in high-income fields, from cybersecurity, engineering, biochemistry, healthcare.

Standing here, I think the last time I came to Howard with President Frederick and others was in my final year as Vice President to host the Cancer Moonshot on campus, because you are leading the way.

You’re the scientists, the doctors, the advocates who will bring — do big things like ending cancer as we know it and even curing some cancers, which we’re on our way of doing.

You’re the diplomats and global citizens making democracy work for people around the world. Lawyers defending our rights. Artists shaping our culture.

Fearless journalists. This is real, though. You’re – this is what you’re doing. Fearless journalists and intellectuals pursuing the truth and challenging convention.

You’re the leaders of tomorrow, but it’s coming on you really quickly.

Because of you, I see a future we can finally move away from the narrowed and cramped view that the promise of America is a zero-sum game: “If you succeed, I fail.” “If you get ahead, I fall behind.”

And maybe worst of all, “If I can’t hold you down, I can’t lift myself up.”

Instead of what it should be, “If you do well, we all do well.”

That’s what I see in you. That’s what I see in America. And more Americans are – a future of possibilities for all Americans.

Look, no matter – that future – what it holds, my sincere hope is that each of you find a sweet spot between happiness, success, and ambition.

That – a good life. A life of purpose.

Because here’s the thing: You don’t know where or what fate will bring you or when. You just have to keep going.

You have to just keep the faith. You have to just get up.

And you can find the balance between ambition and happiness and success – that good life of purpose, of family, and, as you know here at Howard, of excellence, leadership, and truth and service.

There is no quit in you. There is no quit in America.

So, let me close with this. In our lives and in the life of the nation, we know that fear can shadow hope. But it’s also true that hope can defeat fear.

In January of 2021, I stood at the U.S. Capitol to be inaugurated as President of the United States. Just days before, on that very spot, a violent insurrection took place.

A dagger at the throat of democracy. For the first time in our history, an attempt to stop the peaceful transfer of power in this country.

And they failed. Our democracy held. Again, hope prevailed.

And this time, I was standing with a Black woman about to take a two-mile procession down Pennsylvania Avenue as President and Vice President of the United States of America.

And who was marching alongside her? The Howard University Marching Band in lockstep and solidarity. You were.

I give you my word as a Biden: Class of 2023, you’re the reason I’m so optimistic about the future.

And I give you my word, I really mean it. You’re part of the most gifted, tolerant, talented, best-educated generation in American history.

That’s a fact.

And it’s your generation, more than anyone else’s, who will answer the questions for America: Who are we? What do we stand for? What do you believe? What do we believe? What do we want to be?

I’m not saying you have to share this burden all on your own.

The task at hand ahead is the work of all of us.

But what I am saying is: You represent the best of us. And that’s the God’s truth. You represent the best of us.

Your generation will not be ignored, will not be shunned, will not be silenced.

So, on the hilltop high, keep standing for truth and right, and send your rays of light.

Congratulations to you all. We need you.

God bless you. And may God protect our troops.

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Do You Want to Transform a Standard Venue into a Luxury Experience?

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Creating a luxury event involves far more than simply providing high-quality food and a formal dress code. To truly transform a standard venue into an unforgettable experience, event planners must ensure that every detail, from the atmosphere to the entertainment, is meticulously curated to match a specific theme.

Published

2 days ago

November 11, 2026

BlackPressUSA Newswire

Do You Want to Transform a Standard Venue into a Luxury Experience?

Unsplash.com royalty-free image #aEnH4hJ_Mrs, '' uploaded by CHUTTERSNAP (https://unsplash.com/@chuttersnap), retrieved from https://unsplash.com/photos/white-ceramic-dinnerware-set-aEnH4hJ_Mrs on June 16th, 2024. License details available at https://unsplash.com/license - image is licensed under the Unsplash License

A luxury experience involves elevated food, atmosphere, and entertainment for attendees. The venue matters just as much. Focus on comfortable seating, premium lighting, and other elements to provide guests with a beautiful event that they will not forget.

Have you ever stepped into an event space that took your breath away? A well-curated luxury event space with matching party backdrop setups can transport you to another time or place, providing a needed break from the stresses of everyday life. Event planners understand that the venue needs to contribute to the luxury experience as much as any other factor.

What Is a Luxury Experience?

A luxury experience simply means that the event provides attendees with a beautiful setting and premium food. Additionally, every part of the event should be curated to match its theme and purpose.

How Can Venue Transformation Turn a Regular Space Into a Luxury Experience?

How can you upgrade your venue from a regular party to a luxury experience? Here are some steps to take that will elevate the quality of your venue and setting.

Divide the Room Into Zones

If possible, divide the room into several zones, so attendees can mix and mingle. For instance, an event with a cocktail hour and a sit-down dinner can have a cocktail area with standing tables and a dining area with traditional sit-down setups. A silent auction functions better when the auction area is separated from where guests tend to congregate and socialize.

Consider Beverly Hills event equipment rentals to make each zone unique. Provide features that attract guests so they make their way around the space, rather than staying in one area.

Find a Sophisticated Color Palette

Garish, tacky colors can instantly downgrade your event. Guests will notice before anything else, and the glaring shades may be unpleasant to look at.

Some events have a predesignated color scheme based on their purpose or the hosting organization. In these cases, try to incorporate neutral shades wherever possible to soften the space and avoid clashing with the existing color palette.

If you can choose the colors, consider the theme of the event. A fundraiser for breast cancer awareness, for example, may call for shades of pink. A casino night will work better with a darker theme.

Use Comfortable Seating

Guests should find respite when sitting, not immediately feel uncomfortable. Invest in chair rentals that have cushions and are wide enough to accommodate your guests. Create spaces designed for comfort with couches and plushy chairs.

Set Up Premium Lighting

Cheap lighting can put an unpleasant glare on the entire space. Use soft, warm lights that emit luxury, rather than whiter lights. With warmer undertones, even brighter lights will not hurt the eyes as much.

Add table lamps and lower lighting for a cozier glow. Allow guests to adjust the lighting to their preferences as well.

Ensure the Acoustics Are Balanced

Sound is essential for creating a premium experience. Live music is a wonderful option, but the acoustics need to be balanced to prevent your guests from feeling overwhelmed. Perform sound checks with live musicians before the event begins so you can assess the sound quality all over the event venue, not just in front of the stage.

If you choose prerecorded music or a DJ, speaker placement is crucial. Avoid putting speakers too close to seating areas or places where guests congregate. Rather, place the speakers in areas that allow them to fill the room instead of directly next to people’s ears.

Highlight Nature

An outdoor event should emphasize nature to elevate the event space. Consider incorporating and highlighting the natural beauty of the venue. Indoor events can be instantly upgraded by bringing plant life, such as trees and flowers, into the room to cultivate an inviting oasis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Luxury Event Worth the Higher Price Tag?

Often, yes, especially when fundraising is involved. Luxury events that are curated to a higher net-worth audience may translate to more money raised overall.

VIP guests expect a premium experience. When guests pay hundreds of dollars per plate or thousands per table, it is important to deliver every element of luxury to show them that they did not waste their money.

For weddings or other events that do not include raising money, a luxury event may still be the best option to suit your needs. If you have always dreamed of an exquisite wedding with finer touches, then adding luxury will be worth it to have the day that you deserve.

What Is the Dress Code for a Luxury Event?

It depends on the style of the event, as well as the time of day, setting, and many other elements. Luxury events that take place in the evening typically lean toward black- or white-tie, but a mid-morning brunch may feature more casual wear.

If you are hosting a luxury event, it is best practice to outline the dress code on the invitation. There will not be any guesswork involved for guests, and you do not have to worry about attendees showing up with the wrong attire.

Consider including advice, even if it doesn’t strictly relate to the dress code. Heels, for example, may not work well in events that take place on a golf course or another grassy area.

How Far in Advance Do You Have to Start Planning a Luxury Event?

Ultimately, it is up to you when you need to start planning the event. When contacting vendors such as caterers and entertainment, see how far out you can book and lock in those elements as soon as possible.

The earlier you plan, the less stressed you will be. As your event approaches, you can focus on finishing touches rather than nailing down huge problems.

Consider Luxury Party Aesthetics

A luxury experience is about more than just a fancy plate of food and a black-tie or white-tie dress code. Curating the event space to match the event’s mood will help bring the entire concept together.

Would you like to learn more about event hosting? Explore our site for ideas and inspiration to suit your next event.

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Black History

Don’t Pass the Torch. Expand the Circle.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is redefining mentorship by empowering undergraduate women to take active roles in high-level organizational governance. Instead of asking young leaders to wait their turn, the sorority is integrating students like Noah M.P. Harris into international boards and planning committees alongside seasoned veterans like Dr. Tonja L. Ringgold. This intergenerational model aims to combat professional burnout and systemic barriers by offering meaningful responsibility and guidance today, rather than in the distant future, to learn how this approach is transforming leadership. read more.

Published

3 days ago

November 10, 2026

BlackPressUSA Newswire

(From left to right:) Dr. Tonja L. Ringgold and Noah Harris.

By Dr. Tonja L. Ringgold and Noah M.P. Harris

On Nov. 14, hundreds of undergraduate women gathering at Morgan State University in Baltimore for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Undergraduate Leadership Institute will do more than listen to presentations. They will run the program. Graduate advisers will take seats in the back of the room.

This is intentional. Too many institutions invite young people to observe leadership without trusting them to exercise it. We believe the future of leadership depends not on one generation stepping aside for another, but on generations sharing responsibility now.

We have seen the difference from two vantage points.

For Dr. Ringgold, Morgan State is where that journey began. Initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Alpha Delta Chapter in 1982, she recently reunited with two sorority sisters who guided her as an undergraduate, including a former chapter president whose example still informs her leadership today. Forty-four years later, she returns as director of the sorority’s North Atlantic Region, keenly aware of what it means when someone invests in a young woman’s potential. The homecoming carries added significance: Alpha Delta, chartered in 1926, is celebrating its centennial; and the chapter that shaped her is still helping shape new leaders.

For Ms. Harris, leadership is not a distant destination. She is a Bowie State University senior and president of its Eta Chapter who, this summer, was elected Alpha Kappa Alpha’s International Second Vice President. As an undergraduate member of the sorority’s international governing board, she carries student perspectives into decisions affecting the organization. A 2025 Leadership Fellows experience encouraged her to seek that larger platform. To her, leadership is measured by the people she can serve, not simply the position she holds.

Our experiences challenge a familiar assumption: Young people must wait their turn. Founded in 1908 by Black college women, Alpha Kappa Alpha now counts more than 390,000 initiated members across more than 1,122 chapters. That reach brings a responsibility to open doors, not merely preserve tradition.

Deloitte’s 2026 global survey found that 76% of Gen Z respondents were interested in pursuing senior leadership roles eventually, although only 6% of surveyed Gen Z and millennials named leadership their primary career goal. Many cited burnout, excessive responsibility and work-life balance as concerns. Young people are not necessarily avoiding leadership. They are questioning the conditions under which it is exercised.

At a time when companies are pulling back on women’s advancement, Black women face persistent barriers. McKinsey and LeanIn.Org’s 2025 report found that among companies studied, only 60 Black women were promoted to manager for every 100 men. Telling young women to wait their turn cannot fix an unequal pathway to leadership.

Experience matters. Seasoned leaders carry institutional memory, hard-won judgment and relationships that take years to build. But experience cannot develop in a waiting room. Young leaders need meaningful assignments, honest guidance and room to make mistakes. Experienced leaders must also be prepared to reconsider familiar ways of doing things.

We see that exchange in our own relationship. Ms. Harris draws on Dr. Ringgold’s decades of sorority service and higher education experience. Dr. Ringgold listens when Ms. Harris speaks, recognizing that younger perspectives can challenge assumptions and reveal better approaches. Neither of us has all the answers. Both of us have something to contribute.

Our upcoming Undergraduate Leadership Institute will put that principle into practice. Undergraduate members will lead, with graduate members offering guidance and expertise. We’re taking the same approach in planning our 96th North Atlantic Regional Conference, scheduled for March 2027, where undergraduate counterparts will work alongside graduate vice chairs in operations, programming, social activities and logistics. They’ll help plan an event serving the entire region, not just their undergraduate peers.

That is the distinction between inclusion and influence. A seat at the table means little if the people invited cannot help determine what happens there.

Businesses, colleges, nonprofits and civic organizations can do the same. Pair mentorship with meaningful assignments. Involve emerging leaders in decisions before those decisions are final. Give them resources and room to grow. When they challenge a familiar practice, ask whether it still serves its purpose.

We should not ask experienced leaders to disappear or young leaders to wait. The goal isn’t to pass the torch and walk away. It’s to expand the circle of people empowered to lead and build stronger institutions together.

Dr. Tonja L. Ringgold is the North Atlantic Regional Director of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Noah M.P. Harris, a senior at Bowie State University, is the sorority’s International Second Vice President and president of its Eta Chapter.

Black Press

Kids on Campus: Success in Learning Together

The Association of Community College Trustees and the National Head Start Association have released the second annual report for Kids on Campus, an initiative placing Head Start classrooms directly on college campuses. With nearly 20 percent of U.S. undergraduates raising children, the program addresses childcare barriers that often prevent degree completion. The project aims to establish 50 partnerships by 2030 to support two-generation economic mobility. The new report highlights the initiative’s expansion across 19 states and identifies key growth opportunities to help student parents succeed. Read more.

Published

3 days ago

November 10, 2026

BlackPressUSA Newswire

By NNPA Staff Report

The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and the National Head Start Association (NHSA) released the Year Two Annual Report of the Kids on Campus initiative, which advances the success of parenting students and supports the school readiness of young children from low-income backgrounds by expanding Head Start classrooms onto community college campuses. The five-year initiative aims to establish at least 50 such partnerships by 2030.

Nearly one in five undergraduates in the United States — approximately 3.14 million students — are parenting while pursuing their college education. For many, access to high-quality, affordable, and convenient child care remains one of the biggest barriers to completing their degree.

The initiative’s core philosophy is rooted in two of the most effective strategies for reducing poverty: providing high-quality early childhood education and increasing adult economic mobility through education, training, and workforce pathways. Together, these approaches support two generations simultaneously, strengthening children’s development while helping parents pursue long-term economic success.

“When we support parents, we uplift students,” says Francisco Solis, president of San Antonio College (TX), which has a long-standing partnership with Head Start. “When families thrive, our community thrives. This is the power of a two-generation approach.”

The annual report outlines the rationale behind ACCT and NHSA’s work, progress to date, next steps, and opportunities for community colleges and Head Start programs to engage with Kids on Campus.

As of March 2026, at the end of year two of the initiative:

110 community colleges and 130 Head Start programs have taken initial steps to connect and engage with Kids on Campus.
Partners have identified 43 potential matches between community colleges and Head Start programs interested in exploring partnerships across 19 states.

Five new Kids on Campus partnerships have launched in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Texas, with two additional partnerships in advanced stages of development in Texas.

“Before I found the Head Start on my college campus, it was extremely difficult,” says Cristina Medina, a student parent at Palo Alto College, one of the newest Kids on Campus launched sites. “I was on the edge of mentally and emotionally giving up because being a full-time mom while going to school and work was hard with no support.”

The initiative continues to grow nationwide through expanded partnerships, technical assistance, and collaborative efforts to strengthen on-campus child care and early childhood education opportunities for student parents and families.
The report profiles active partnerships and explores the benefits and barriers they face, financial considerations, model sustainability, advice from the field, and what is next for Kids on Campus.

To access the full report, go to kidsoncampus.org/annual-report.

ACCT and NHSA invite community colleges, Head Start programs, and philanthropic supporters interested in transforming outcomes for children and families to contact [email protected].

Kids on Campus is supported by ECMC Foundation, Imaginable Futures, Lumina Foundation, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Trellis Foundation, Crimsonbridge Foundation, and Seldin Haring-Smith Foundation.

Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) is a non-profit educational organization of governing boards, representing more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees who govern over 1,000 community, technical, and junior colleges in the United States and beyond. ACCT fosters the principles and practices of exemplary governance while promoting high-quality and affordable higher education, cutting-edge workforce and development training, student success, and the opportunity for all individuals to achieve economic self-sufficiency and security. Visit www.acct.org for more information.

The National Head Start Association (NHSA) believes that every child, regardless of circumstances at birth, has the ability to succeed in school and in life. The opportunities offered by Head Start lead to healthier and empowered children and families and stronger, more vibrant communities. NHSA is the voice for more than 750,000 children, 250,000 staff, and more than 1,600 Head Start grant recipients in the United States. Visit nhsa.org or follow @NatlHeadStart to learn more.

Black History

Nixon Unbought, Unbossed and Undeterred Following U.S. Senate Defeat – Free Press of Jacksonville

Angie Nixon, who garnered over 3 million votes in her bid for the U.S. Senate, expressed disappointment after losing to Ashley Moody with a narrow margin of 50-48. Despite the defeat, she remains dedicated to holding elected officials accountable on healthcare and community issues and plans to challenge Moody again in 2028. Nixon highlighted the essential role of Black women in her campaign, noting their significant support and efforts to mobilize voters. Despite a lower voter turnout in Duval County compared to previous elections, grassroots efforts by local activists, particularly Black women, were notable. Nixon aims to inspire future generations of leaders and voters, emphasizing the importance of civic engagement.

Published

3 days ago

November 10, 2026

BlackPressUSA Newswire

Angie Nixon on election night as she shares her reflections

By Will Brown

A Black woman from the heart of Moncrief earned the support of more than 3 million Floridians this election season.

Angie Nixon did not become the first Jacksonville resident to serve in the U.S. Senate since 1936.

At least not yet.

The 42-year-old organizer, small business owner, politician and mother says she will challenge Senator-elect Ashley Moody in 2028.

“I’m disappointed in the outcome, but I’m ready to get back to work – everyone is – because we’re going to make sure that Ashley Moody is held accountable for making sure that people have access to quality healthcare, a roof over their head, food on the table, and trying to lower these costs,” Nixon said on Tuesday night. “So, I’m OK. I’m not happy with the outcome, but I’m ready to get to work.”

That fact that Nixon came so close can only be attributed to the scores of Black women who supported her campaign.

Some were on staff, others volunteered, tens of thousands more voted for the former state representative who has used her bullhorn to bulldoze through staid situations in Tallahassee.

A Black woman has never won statewide office in Florida. Nixon’s 50-48 loss to Moody means it still hasn’t happened.

Not many politicians would walk onto a stage after losing a statewide race playing Bonecrusher’s “Never Scared”.

Nixon faced racist attacks from an advisor to President Donald Trump. Nazi rhetoric was used on Fox News to describe Nixon’s supporters. Yet, they traversed the state – from Marathon to Marianna; from Sarasota to South Florida – connecting with voters.

The forlorn, yet hopeful faces of so many Black women in the audience said more than their words could muster. Some were pastors, others were elected officials. One, Sandra Thompson, attended the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963.

Thompson spent Election Day providing information to voters outside the Legends Center in Sherwood.

“It’s a very important election,” Thompson said. “We are electing our new leaders: the governor, a senator, and the House of Representatives. We need to get it right.”

If Thompson’s presence at Nixon’s campaign party was any indicator, people did not get it right.

Despite the chance to send a Jacksonville native to the U.S. Senate, hundreds of thousands of Duval County voters did not cast a ballot this year.

Preliminary data from the Duval County Supervisor of Elections shows only 55 percent of eligible voters participated this year.

Felicia Demps was not going to miss this election season. She brought five of her grandchildren with her inside the polling booth.

“They came home, and their teacher said, ‘We need to vote.’ I said, ‘Well, let’s go!”

Demps says she is a reliable Democrat who supported lowering property taxes, supported the 1-mil tax extension for Duval County Public Schools, and cares about community.

“Everyone needs to get together. Everyone wants the streets fixed until it’s time to vote,” Demps said. “The most important thing is: we want these things; but we won’t get out and vote.”

This year’s turnout is better than 2022, when Gov. Ron DeSantis won re-election for fun. But it’s lower than the 63 percent of Duval voters who turned out – many of whom hoped Andrew Gillum would become Florida’s first Black governor.

Black women were at the heart of the local effort to inform and motivate voters.

Cortina Floyd spent three hours waving signs along Moncrief Road ahead of the Northwest Classic football game between Raines and Ribault. Floyd and her Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. sisters were among the nearly 50 people who sported Black Greek-letter organizations and informed voters last week.

“As a Black educator, I feel it’s important for me to do my civic duty,” Floyd said.

Exit polling indicates Black women in Jacksonville, in Florida and beyond, did their civic duty.

Afterward, girls of all ages danced on stage after the Associated Press called Florida’s Senate race in Moody’s favor. As they danced, they were unencumbered by the burdens and expectations that are placed on the bodies, minds, and souls of Black girls.

The organizer who lives on the Northside, in a household with multiple union members, says it was not her dream to run for the U.S. Senate. But the woman who openly invoked Shirley Chisholm and Fannie Lou Hamer on the campaign trail committed to doing what she could to help the next generation of girls.

“It’s not necessarily a dream personally. I just want to help people,” Nixon said on Tuesday night. “I wanted to make sure that we’re improving their lives. But the young people that came up to me tonight, they’re excited. They’re ready to continue to do the work and ready to, actually, build a better vision for their future. I’m all hands on deck with them, helping them grow as leaders and helping register more voters so that we can actually win.”

Advertising

PRESS ROOM: AutoNetwork.com Launches a Free Auto Section for Newspapers, Credit Unions, Banks, Churches, Schools and Nonprofits

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Right now, someone who reads your paper, banks with you, sits in your pews, or attends your school is signing a car deal. Too often, they leave with a high-cost loan, old trade-in debt rolled into a new one, add-ons they never asked for, or a repair bill they didn’t understand. Most of those losses happen because no one gave them the facts first.

Published

3 days ago

November 10, 2026

BlackPressUSA Newswire

Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA.

One line of code puts free, sourced car-buying and car-repair lessons in front of the people you serve. No cost. No contract. No staff needed.

AutoNetwork.com, which has served car buyers since 1986, today launched the Auto Section: a free, ready-made car-money education section that any organization can add to its website by pasting one line of code. Its message is simple: Know Before You Go To A Dealer.

The people you serve are paying for what no one told them

Right now, someone who reads your paper, banks with you, sits in your pews, or attends your school is signing a car deal. Too often, they leave with a high-cost loan, old trade-in debt rolled into a new one, add-ons they never asked for, or a repair bill they didn’t understand. Most of those losses happen because no one gave them the facts first.

Every organization on this list exists to look out for its people. The facts are now free and take minutes to add. Not sharing them means letting the next family learn the hard way, at the dealer’s desk or the repair counter.

One Auto Section, five ways to serve

Newspapers: a reader-service section you don’t have to staff, write or pay for. You keep 100% of the ad space around it and 100% of any sponsor line you sell, such as “Auto Section sponsored by…” on your own page.
Credit unions and banks: member education that reaches people before they sit down in the dealer’s finance office, where the loan terms get decided.
Churches: a stewardship and money ministry for families. A car is one of the biggest purchases most households make.
HBCUs and schools: first-car, first-loan and first-repair lessons for students and their families.
Nonprofits: a ready-made addition to financial-empowerment programs, with no added cost or staff.
What your people learn
Financing: leasing vs. buying, who should lease, mileage limits, wear charges and GAP coverage.
Trade-in debt: how owing more than a car is worth happens, and how to get out.
Depreciation: how fast a car can lose value, with a free calculator.
Add-ons and fees: what to get in writing before signing.
Warranties: what the factory covers, and when extended coverage may not pay off.
Credit: rights and steps for buyers with low or no credit, plus a first-time buyer guide.
Service costs: how to choose a repair shop, ask for a written estimate, know your rights and spot a padded bill, plus factory maintenance schedules and estimated ownership costs so routine service is never a surprise.
Plus: Ask AI Roosevelt for answers to car questions, and new-model walkaround videos.

Every guide links to its sources. The Auto Section teaches what to ask and what is normal; it never quotes local shop prices or sells repairs.

Built to be safe, simple, and yours

Easy: copy one line from the free setup page, paste it where you want the section, and you’re done. New guides and videos appear by themselves.
Safe: it runs in a sealed frame that cannot read or change your site, your logins or your ad accounts. It collects no reader names or emails.
Clean: only AutoNetwork.com education appears inside the section. No outside ads. Guides and videos open inside it, so readers stay on your page.
No strings: no cost and no contract. Delete the line, and it’s gone.

A word from the founder

“For forty years I’ve watched good people pay too much for cars and repairs simply because nobody told them what to ask,” said Roosevelt Gist, founder of AutoNetwork.com. “The organizations people already trust are the best messengers. We built the Auto Section so they can share the facts without spending a dime or hiring anyone.”

The next car deal or repair bill in your community is happening now. Add the free Auto Section today and make sure your people walk in knowing the facts:

https://autonetwork.com/autosection?src=press-release

If you can paste a link into your website, you can install it. Questions? Email [email protected].

About AutoNetwork.com

AutoNetwork.com has served car buyers since 1986 with free, sourced consumer education, vehicle reviews, and the free AutoNetwork.com app. The Auto Section is general education, not legal or financial advice. Learn more at autonetwork.com.

Black History

MHU Commemorates ASCORE and Anniversary of Desegregation

THE URBAN NEWS — UNC Asheville and Mars Hill University are collaborating to host a series of commemorative events marking the 65th anniversary of their desegregation. The programming honors Etta Mae Whitner Patterson and Oralene Anderson Graves Simmons, two former members of the Asheville Student Committee on Racial Equality (ASCORE) who became the first Black students at their respective institutions in 1961.

Published

4 days ago

November 9, 2026

BlackPressUSA Newswire

Oralene Simmons (left) and Etta Whitner Patterson, two women who helped change the course of higher education in Western North Carolina.

A week of events at UNC Asheville, Mars Hill University, and downtown Asheville.

In 1961, two young women broke the color barrier to become the first African American students at two Western North Carolina colleges: Etta Mae Whitner Patterson at UNC Asheville and Oralene Anderson Graves Simmons at Mars Hill University (then Mars Hill College).

Both women were students at Asheville’s Stephens-Lee High School, where they were members of the Asheville Student Committee on Racial Equality (ASCORE). Through nonviolent protest, ASCORE led efforts to desegregate many Asheville stores and businesses.

Patterson and Simmons, who later founded the Martin Luther King Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County, have since received honorary doctorates from their alma maters in recognition of their achievements and lifelong service to their communities.

To commemorate ASCORE, honor the leadership of Etta Patterson and Oralene Simmons, and mark the 65th anniversary of the desegregation of UNC Asheville and Mars Hill University, UNC Asheville’s Department of History and Mars Hill University’s Liston B. Ramsey Center for Appalachian Studies invite the public to attend “Stories of ASCORE: Lessons in Courage, Desegregation, and Community Activism.”

The program will feature two panel discussions with Drs. Patterson and Simmons, along with other former members of ASCORE. Panelists will discuss how their experiences integrating Asheville’s businesses and institutions prepared them for their college careers, professional lives, and continued community activism.

The first panel discussion will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, in the Blue Ridge Room of Highsmith Union at UNC Asheville. The event will feature a presentation by Dr. Patterson and a panel discussion with Dr. Simmons, Marvin Chambers, Jesse Ray, and Al Whitesides. The panel will be moderated by Deborah Miles, retired director of the former UNC Asheville Center for Diversity Education.

This event is sponsored by UNC Asheville’s Department of History and Africana Studies Program, with generous support from King and Pam Prather. A free visitor parking permit is required for the UNC Asheville event. Please visit the university’s parking website for instructions on obtaining a permit for the evening’s program.

The second panel discussion will take place at 5 p.m. on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in the Tony and Terry Floyd Conference Center in the Mars Hill University Campus Center. The event will feature Dr. Simmons, Annette Coleman, and Elizabeth Colton. The panel will be moderated by Jonathan McCoy, professor of history at Mars Hill University.

This event is sponsored by the Liston B. Ramsey Center for Appalachian Studies, with generous support from the university’s Provost’s Office.

In addition, at 12 noon on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, in Pack Square in downtown Asheville, Mayor Esther Manheimer and the Buncombe County Commission Chair will proclaim ASCORE Day and present honors to Etta Patterson and Oralene Simmons. Holly Jones of the North Carolina Governor’s Office will also participate in the ceremony.

For more information, contact Leila Weinstein at Mars Hill University ([email protected]) or Ellen Holmes Pearson at UNC Asheville ([email protected]).

Based on reporting by The Urban News.