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Liberty Captures The Open Title
ARIZONA INFORMANT — From the beginning Liberty looked to show they were the more dominant of the two. On their first possession the Lions marched right down the field on a drive that resulted in a Navi Bruzon 20-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Jezioro with 7:20 left in the opening quarter. After the missed PAT the score was 6-0 in favor of Liberty. On the next drive Centennial was able to move the ball but the drive ended with a missed 42-yard field goal.
The post Liberty Captures The Open Title first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
Arizona Informant
On December 2nd the top two teams collided once again for the second time in less than a month. This time it was for the Open Division championship of the AIA. Two nationally ranked teams, #16 Peoria Liberty and 19 Peoria Centennial, had both shown they were the premier teams in the state throughout the year.
From the beginning Liberty looked to show they were the more dominant of the two. On their first possession the Lions marched right down the field on a drive that resulted in a Navi Bruzon 20-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Jezioro with 7:20 left in the opening quarter. After the missed PAT the score was 6-0 in favor of Liberty. On the next drive Centennial was able to move the ball but the drive ended with a missed 42-yard field goal.
Centennial got the ball back again and this time they were able to capitalize. On a drive that consisted of all runs, Owen Reynosa punched it in from 1 yard out with 1:06 left in the first quarter. Centennial had grabbed the lead 7-6. Centennial had seemed to be gaining some momentum. On their next possession they hit a home run with the deep ball. This was in the form of a 44-yard pass from Kainan Manna to Kenny Worthy III that gave Centennial a 14-6 lead with 7:55 left in the 2nd quarter. Centennial continued to play solid defense on the Lions by stopping them on a 4 th down try with 6:34 remaining in the first half.
After Liberty got the ball back, they hit a home run of their own. This time it was Bruzon connecting again with Jezioro this time for a 50-yard touchdown at the 4:43 mark. After an unsuccessful 2-point conversion try the score was now 14-12 still in favor of Centennial. Liberty looking to swing the momentum in their favor blocked a Centennial punt with 3:26 left in the first half. This block gave them great field position at the Centennial 29-yard line. A Bruzon 4-yard touchdown run with 2:00 minutes left gave Liberty the lead 19-14 heading into halftime.
In the 2nd half Liberty looked to continue to build off the momentum from the end of the first half. They got the opening kickoff of the 3 rd quarter and marched down the field.
The drive was dominated by Bruzon runs and ended with a Jon Wilson 5-yard touchdown run with 7:21 left in the 3 rd quarter. The Liberty lead had now grown to 26-14. The rest of the quarter was back and forth with neither team really moving the ball much. The Centennial Defense led by defensive end Noah Carter did all they could to keep the high powered Liberty offense in check.
With the help of a pass interference call Liberty was able to sustain a drive that
goes deep into Centennial territory. Jon Wilson runs it in from 4 yards out with 7:34 left in the game to give Liberty more breathing room. The lead was now up to 33-14. A Centennial touchdown with 4:00 left in the game brought the score to 33-21. The final score was 33-21 with Liberty winning the Open Championship finishing 12-1 and Centennial being the runner-up with a record of 11-2.
The post Liberty Captures The Open Title appeared first on Arizona Informant.
This article originally appeared in The Arizona Informant.
The post Liberty Captures The Open Title first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
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OP-ED: The Illusion of Allyship. White Women, Your Yard Signs Mean Nothing to Me
NNPA NEWSWIRE – “The blue bracelets are something White women are wearing so others can see that they didn’t vote for Trump,” says Liberal Lisa from Oklahoma on X. Chile, bye. These bracelets are hollow symbols, empty gestures that mean nothing to me. An accessory to claim distance from Trump’s legacy is superficial comfort, while the choice to not stand with us in the voting booth is far more profound.
Political yard signs can symbolize intentions and allegiance. But this year, they’ve also symbolized betrayal. During this general election, Black women were led to believe that more White women would stand with us. Exit polls, however, told a different story. Despite overwhelming displays of support, more White women still chose to vote for the convicted felon, reality TV star, and rapist. White women answered the call but left us hanging at the polls.
A Familiar Disappointment
I live in DeKalb County, Georgia, and the abundance of Harris-Walz yard signs could’ve fooled me. But I’ve seen this before, back when Stacey Abrams ran for governor. White women showed up, put up signs, attended rallies, knocked on doors, and phone-banked. Yet, when it came time to vote, they let us down—not once but twice. I’ve been here for over 15 years, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that political signs are symbols without weight.
In every election, I’ve talked with White women. Most aren’t the primary earners in their families and vote along party lines, aligning with the preferences of their fathers and husbands. These conversations reveal a reluctance to break from tradition, even when their votes affect women and certainly when their votes impact the lives of people who look like me.
The Illusion of Solidarity—Symbols Are Not Enough
On social media, I’m seeing White women posting pictures of blue bracelets to “prove” they didn’t vote for Trump. “The blue bracelets are something White women are wearing so others can see that they didn’t vote for Trump,” says Liberal Lisa from Oklahoma on X. Chile, bye. These bracelets are hollow symbols, empty gestures that mean nothing to me. An accessory to claim distance from Trump’s legacy is superficial comfort, while the choice to not stand with us in the voting booth is far more profound.
I’ve seen Black Lives Matter signs and black squares posted on Instagram to “prove” support for Black people, but we now know that was a lie, too. Will those same people who claimed Black lives mattered now take down their Harris-Walz signs and show their true selves?
Navigating these truths is a daily struggle for me—professionally and socially. White women often misuse their privilege, supporting us only when it’s convenient. Seeing overqualified Black women sabotaged or abandoned by White women at critical moments is a constant emotional challenge. It’s exhausting to live with this reality, especially when solidarity seems like something they pick up and discard at will.
One clever campaign ad from Harris-Walz that spoke directly to White women. “Your Vote, Your Choice” emphasized that their vote was private—independent of their household situation. Another was from Olivia Howell Dreizen, the “Vote Without Fear” campaign, which empowered women to consider the greater impact of their choices. But it seems many still couldn’t choose the roadmap to freedom—even when it was handed to them.
A Call for Action Beyond Words
White women, I want to believe you care, but actions speak louder than yard signs, bracelets, or Instagram posts. Show up in our communities, advocate in your workplaces, and stand up to dismantle the structures that uphold white supremacy. Only through real action will we know where you stand.
If you choose not to act, we see you—and we know exactly where you stand. Good luck these next four years.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of BlackPressUSA.com or the National Newspaper Publishers Association.
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Supernova Parenting Conference Empowers Over 100 Parents with Resources for Neurodivergence and Mental Health
The inaugural Supernova Parenting Conference was co-hosted by Natasha Nelson, known as Supernova Momma, and Yolanda Walker, founder of Parenting Decolonized. It brought together over 100 parents, caregivers, and educators dedicated to fostering understanding and support for neurodivergent children and mental health challenges. The conference provided invaluable resources, expert insights, and a collaborative space for […]
The inaugural Supernova Parenting Conference was co-hosted by Natasha Nelson, known as Supernova Momma, and Yolanda Walker, founder of Parenting Decolonized. It brought together over 100 parents, caregivers, and educators dedicated to fostering understanding and support for neurodivergent children and mental health challenges. The conference provided invaluable resources, expert insights, and a collaborative space for connection, marking a significant step toward creating a more inclusive parenting community.
The event featured a variety of workshops, panel discussions, and keynote speeches from leading experts in neurodiversity and mental health. Attendees left with practical tools and strategies to enhance their parenting journeys, emphasizing the importance of understanding and supporting the unique needs of neurodivergent children.
“While the conference was a tremendous success, we believe that our work doesn’t end here,” said Natasha Nelson. “It’s crucial to continue providing ongoing support and resources for parents as they navigate this important journey. We want to ensure families can access the tools they need long after the conference.”
To extend the momentum generated at the conference, Natasha and Yolanda are excited to announce the launch of the Supernova Parenting Community. This membership-based initiative aims to offer a safe and supportive environment for parents and caregivers to continue their growth as conscious parents.
Membership is available for as little as $5 a month via Patreon, making it accessible for all families seeking support.
“We know that parenting can be a challenging journey, especially when navigating neurodivergence and mental health issues,” Yolanda Walker added. “Our goal is to build a community where parents feel seen, heard, and supported. We hope you’ll join us in this vital work.”
For more information about the Supernova Parenting Community and to sign up for membership, please visit supernovaparenting.org
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Election Night on The Yard at Howard University
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