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Community Organizations Bring Turkeys and Blessings to Harlem

NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS — “We started with the same initiative of curing food insecurity, and having the heart to serve our neighbors,” said Izaiha Rosado, program director of Dream Center NYC. “This organization was planted here to be an organization about the people and to serve them,” he said. This yearly turkey giveaway is an outreach effort in all five boroughs assisting low-income families, the homebound, and elderly members in each community. 

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By Sherica Daley | New York Amsterdam News

Harlemites received something extra to be thankful for this holiday season. Dream Center NYC and Apostles Church Uptown teamed up in West Harlem at the King Towers housing complex for their annual turkey giveaway.

Now entering its 15th year, volunteers came out in frigid temperatures to deliver free turkeys, canned goods, and sides in “Boxes of Love” to the tenants throughout the housing complex. This year’s giveaway provided 87 turkeys and Boxes of Love. This giveaway theme was 15 for Fifteen, celebrating raising over $15,000 through non-profit funds and donations to purchase the turkeys and the other food that made the giveaway possible.

All the volunteers met in the basketball court for their closing group huddle. The group huddle is where the volunteers form a circle and come together to celebrate the wins in this year’s giveaway. Credit: Sherica Daley photo.

All the volunteers met in the basketball court for their closing group huddle. The group huddle is where the volunteers form a circle and come together to celebrate the wins in this year’s giveaway. Credit: Sherica Daley photo.

“We started with the same initiative of curing food insecurity, and having the heart to serve our neighbors,” said Izaiha Rosado, program director of Dream Center NYC. “This organization was planted here to be an organization about the people and to serve them,” he said. This yearly turkey giveaway is an outreach effort in all five boroughs assisting low-income families, the homebound, and elderly members in each community.

Members of Apostles Church Uptown didn’t just deliver food, they also went inside each home and said a prayer, blessing tenants and their homes for the holiday season. “This is an opportunity to serve people’s practical needs and open up to their spiritual needs,” said Sharie Bryant, a volunteer and worship leader at the Apostles Church Uptown.

“I love the fact we can build a relationship with people in the community,” said Bryant. “In today’s world, some people don’t expect people to be kind for kind’s sake,” she said.

Stopping on the fifth floor, the tenants greeted the volunteers with open arms, cheerfully saying “Thank You!” and “Happy Thanksgiving!” The church members entered each home and assisted in bringing in the food. Next, the members briefly recited a prayer for the tenant, chanting, “Please bless this home for this person, and their family, throughout the holiday season.”

On the third floor, the volunteers delivered to a homebound elderly woman. She opened the door with joy greeting the volunteers. The woman joined in with the volunteers in a prayer for better health and her home in the New Year. One of the volunteers who joined in prayer is Cheyenne Williams, social media and creatives coordinator for the Dream Center NYC. “It’s not just about dropping off food like a delivery service, being present with people,” said Williams.

“Moments like these remind me why I’m here. Getting to step into someone’s home, share a conversation, and pray together is such a powerful reminder of the purpose behind what we do in this yearly giveaway,” she said.

Lastly, reaching the first floor at 6:30 PM, all the volunteers met back up in front of the housing complex for the closing part of the event. The group of 20 volunteers met on the basketball court for the group huddle. The volunteers took a moment to speak and share the satisfaction of reaching their goal. They ended in a closing prayer ending the last day of another successful and peaceful giveaway.

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Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.

Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”

The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”

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Hoover’s Commutation Divides Chicago as State Sentence Remains

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial.

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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal sentence for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has been commuted, but he remains incarcerated under a 200-year state sentence in Illinois. The decision by Donald Trump to reduce Hoover’s federal time has reignited longstanding debates over his legacy and whether rehabilitation or continued punishment is warranted. The commutation drew immediate public attention after music executive Jay Prince and artist Chance the Rapper publicly praised Trump’s decision. “I’m glad that Larry Hoover is home,” said Chance the Rapper. “He was a political prisoner set up by the federal government. He created Chicago Votes, mobilized our people, and was targeted for that.”

But Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, is not home—not yet. Now in federal custody at the Florence Supermax in Colorado, Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial. “There is a divide in the Black community here,” said Chicago journalist Jason Palmer during an appearance on the Let It Be Known morning program. “Some view Hoover as someone who brought structure and leadership. Others remember the violence that came with his organization.” Palmer explained that while Hoover’s gang originally formed for protection, it grew into a criminal network responsible for extensive harm in Chicago. He also noted that Hoover continued to run his organization from state prison using coded messages passed through visitors, prompting his transfer to federal custody.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has not issued a statement. Palmer suggested that silence is strategic. “Releasing Hoover would create enormous political consequences,” Palmer said. “The governor’s in a difficult spot—he either resists pressure from supporters or risks national backlash if he acts.” According to Palmer, Hoover’s federal commutation does not make him a free man. “The federal sentence may be commuted, but he still has a 200-year state sentence,” he said. “And Illinois officials have already made it clear they don’t want to house him in state facilities again. They prefer he remains in federal custody, just somewhere outside of Colorado.”

Palmer also raised concerns about what Hoover’s case could signal for others. “When R. Kelly was convicted federally, state prosecutors in Illinois and Minnesota dropped their charges. If a president can commute federal sentences based on public pressure or celebrity support, others like R. Kelly or Sean Combs could be next,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of incarcerated people without fame or access to public platforms who will never get that consideration.” “There are people who are not here today because of the violence connected to these organizations,” Palmer said. “That has to be part of this conversation.”

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WATCH: Five Years After George Floyd: Full Panel Discussion | Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real | Live Podcast Event

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=OsNLWTz6jU0&feature=oembed

May 25, 2020. The world stopped and watched as a life was taken.

But what has happened since?

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

She shares reflections, insights, and the story of a community forever changed. What has a year truly meant, and where do we go from here?

This is more than just a date; it’s a moment in history. See what one leader in the Black press has to say about it.

Recorded live at UROC in Minneapolis, this powerful discussion features:

Panelists:

  • Medaria Arradondo – Former Minneapolis Police Chief
  • Nekima Levy Armstrong – Civil Rights Activist & Attorney
  • Dr. Yohuru Williams – Racial Justice Initiative,
  • UST Mary Moriarty – Hennepin County Attorney
  • Fireside Chat with Andre Locke – Father of Amir Locke

Special Guests:

  • Kennedy Pounds – Spoken Word Artist
  • Known MPLS – Youth Choir bringing purpose through song

This podcast episode looks at the past five years through the lens of grief, truth, and hope—and challenges us all to do more.

🔔 Subscribe to Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real wherever you get your podcasts or follow ‪@mnspokesmanrecorder‬ for more.

🔗 Visit https://spokesman-recorder.com for more coverage and stories from Minnesota’s trusted Black news source.

#GeorgeFloyd #BlackPress #SpokesmanRecorder #Minneapolis #BlackHistory

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