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PRESS ROOM: Do good with the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team: 1,000 volunteers being recruited to help communities
NNPA NEWSWIRE — “It is astounding and inspiring to see how these young men on the 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team have chosen to step up,” said Robert Griffin III, 2011 Heisman Trophy winner, founder of The RG3 Foundation and Allstate AFCA Good Works Team alum. “This team has a long history of inspiring others to act, and now DoSomething.org is making it even easier to get involved — making our hometowns and communities better places to live. When it comes to making a difference, we’re all on the same team.”
The post PRESS ROOM: Do good with the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team: 1,000 volunteers being recruited to help communities first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Robert Griffin III: “When it comes to making a difference, we’re all on the same team”
NORTHBROOK, Ill., Nov. 30, 2022 – The 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® is recruiting! But this time they’re looking for 1,000 new youth and young adult volunteers to give back to their communities. It’s all inspired by college football’s top philanthropic honor and hosted on DoSomething.org, the national hub for youth-centered activism.
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, which has been in place for 31 years, recognizes 22 college football players and one honorary head coach who show exemplary community impact.
“The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is a positive example of selflessness, generosity and strong character in college football,” said Troy Hawkes, executive vice president and general manager of sales at Allstate. “The Good Works Team and DoSomething.org want to inspire 1,000 new volunteers to make an even bigger impact in their communities.”
More than 5 million young people from over 130 countries and every U.S. area code have acted through DoSomething. The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team initiative builds on their long-standing Strength Through Service program where young people have volunteered over 75,000 hours of service in their communities since 2020.
“Athletes have always been at the vanguard of pushing boundaries and using their voice to make an impact. The commitment of this year’s Allstate AFCA Good Works Team members to making service a team sport and giving back in the face of unprecedented challenges over the last two years is truly inspiring,” said DeNora Getachew, CEO of DoSomething.org. “We are honored to partner with the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team to activate thousands of young people nationwide to engage in meaningful service opportunities to improve their communities.”

USC quarterback Caleb Williams’ Caleb Cares Foundation “inspires more superheroes to fight bullying so we can all realize that what makes us different is our superpower.”
This year’s Allstate AFCA Good Works Team has founded nonprofits, donated their name, image and likeness (NIL) earnings from endorsement deals to those in need, advocated for mental health, fought bullying, built houses in areas hit by natural disasters, mentored kids, and collected food for the hungry.
“It is astounding and inspiring to see how these young men on the 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team have chosen to step up,” said Robert Griffin III, 2011 Heisman Trophy winner, founder of The RG3 Foundation and Allstate AFCA Good Works Team alum. “This team has a long history of inspiring others to act, and now DoSomething.org is making it even easier to get involved — making our hometowns and communities better places to live. When it comes to making a difference, we’re all on the same team.”
Volunteer opportunity highlights
Inspired by the causes most important to the 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, DoSomething.org is highlighting many nationwide volunteer opportunities:
In the spirit of the great work done around mental health advocacy by Northwestern quarterback Ryan Hilinski and USC quarterback Caleb Williams, fans can join the It’s (NOT) All in Your Head campaign, which lets volunteers take the lead in sharing mental health resource posters with their communities.
Georgia wide receiver Kearis Jackson has championed food security, and now fans can, too. Tackle Hunger calls on people to collect and donate food items to their local food banks, while Soup Something fills the need for soup kitchen volunteers around the holidays.
Other opportunities tied to Good Works Team causes include: Comeback Clothes, an effort to donate or recycle unwanted clothes and textiles to protect the planet; and Stacks On Stacks, which empowers individuals to run competitive drives to collect books for low-income areas.
Click here for the full 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team roster of players and their stories
The post PRESS ROOM: Do good with the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team: 1,000 volunteers being recruited to help communities first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
#NNPA BlackPress
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.

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.”
#NNPA BlackPress
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.

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.”
#NNPA BlackPress
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.

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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