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Phoenix Suns Owner Robert Sarver’s Pivotal Gift to Historic Thurgood Marshall Center Trust in Washington, DC

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “We’d like to thank The Penny and Robert Sarver Charitable Foundation for their generous donation to assist in upgrading the HVAC system at the Thurgood Marshall Center,” said Thomasina Yearwood, the president of the Thurgood Marshall Center Trust, Inc.
The post Phoenix Suns Owner Robert Sarver’s Pivotal Gift to Historic Thurgood Marshall Center Trust in Washington, DC first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 years ago

April 28, 2022

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

A national landmark is getting new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit thanks to a generous gift from the owner of one of the best teams in the National Basketball Association.

The Thurgood Marshall Center Trust for Service and Heritage received a $100,000.00 donation from The Penny and Robert Sarver Charitable Foundation that will go a long way toward the new HVAC system before summer activities begin at the historic landmark located in Washington, D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood.

“We’d like to thank The Penny and Robert Sarver Charitable Foundation for their generous donation to assist in upgrading the HVAC system at the Thurgood Marshall Center,” said Thomasina Yearwood, the president of the Thurgood Marshall Center Trust, Inc.

Yearwood’s national nonprofit organization is dedicated to educating, encouraging, and empowering children, youth, and families to pursue equality and social and economic justice through provocative dialogue and collective action.

“With the Thurgood Marshall Center being a historic building located in the Shaw community, it is committed to preserving the legacy of Justice Thurgood Marshall and civil rights,” Yearwood stated.

“Additionally, with Justice Marshall being the first Black U.S. Supreme Court judge, it’s important that we continue this legacy, and this generous donation has made that happen.”

Saundra Lamb, the vice-chair of the Thurgood Marshall Trust, said Sarver’s contribution helps affirm the national connection and support for the center’s mission.

“It helps us with something that we found ourselves in vital need of with our HVAC system,” said Lamb, an attorney.

“We appreciate the Sarvers because they took time to hear, listen, and act. I think it’s a reiteration of how this is a national treasure and how we need all hands-on deck and encourage others to follow through.”

Lamb continued:

“I thank the Sarver family greatly because I know they have a lot going on right now, and the fact that they followed up and acted is a real tribute to them with all of the great things they are already doing.”

Located in Phoenix, Arizona, where Robert Sarver’s Phoenix Suns are vying for an NBA title, The Penny and Robert Sarver Charitable Foundation has earned a global reputation for its generosity.

Robert Sarver helped to build the Sarver Heart Center at the University of Arizona in memory of his late father, who was among the first to undergo heart bypass surgery.

With more than 150 doctors and scientists, the heart center helps prevent and cure cardiovascular disease through research, education, and patient care.

Physicians have spearheaded the development of the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart.

This award-winning project became the world’s first and only total artificial heart to win FDA approval as a bridge to human heart transplant in patients near death from heart failure.

The center also focuses on stroke research, heart disease in women, sudden cardiac death, minority-specific cardiovascular problems, and electrophysiology.

The Sarver Foundation also helped build the 70,000-square-foot Children’s Museum of Phoenix with a $1 million donation.

The Thurgood Marshall Center for Service & Heritage

“When I reached out to corporate leaders across the nation to help the Thurgood Marshall Center Trust Building, located in the heart of the Shaw Community in Washington, DC, to renovate and to upgrade its HVAC system, Robert Sarver was the first to immediately respond to help sustain this vitally historic nonprofit that represents the best of Thurgood Marshall’s legacy of civil rights advocacy and public educational programs,” said National Newspaper Publishers Association President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

“We hope that other American corporate leaders will follow the philanthropic example set by The Penny and Robert Sarver Charitable Foundation. Our nation is blessed with the ongoing generosity of the owner of the Phoenix Suns NBA Team,” Dr. Chavis stated.

Dr. Chavis also sits on the board of the Thurgood Marshall Center Trust. Chavis in addition confirmed, “The National STEM Honors Society, based in Boston, MA, has just announced plans to work with the Thurgood Marshall Center Trust to enhance K-12 education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics throughout the U.S. Again, the Sarver donation is so timely and on point for the center’s programmatic future.”

First constructed in 1853 as the 12th Street YMCA and built to house the nation’s first Black Young Men’s Christian Association, a renovated and restored Thurgood Marshall Center opened 22 years ago.

The 35,000-square-foot building quickly became a focal point in the community, where tens of thousands visit regularly.

Tenants of the historic building include the NNPA, the National Bar Association, Concerned Black Men, Inc., Washington Literacy Center, and 21st Century School Fund.

Since its inception, the center has served as a co-location for several nonprofits that serve children, youth, and families.

“It’s so important when you think about this historic building and the fact that we serve about 40,000 people who come through our doors each year,” Yearwood remarked.

“Making sure our HVAC system is operable and functioning helps us, and it helps meet the community needs as we serve them because we get so many calls from people who want to have events at the center.”

The post Phoenix Suns Owner Robert Sarver’s Pivotal Gift to Historic Thurgood Marshall Center Trust in Washington, DC first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Stacy M. Brown

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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.

Published

4 hours ago

May 30, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

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.

Published

1 day ago

May 29, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

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.”

Stacy M. Brown

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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.

Published

2 days ago

May 28, 2025

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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: