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PRESS ROOM: SportsMom Foundation, Sidwell Friends School Hosts 3rd Annual Capital Invitational Girls Basketball Showcase

NNPA NEWSWIRE — This year’s invitational is sponsored by Events DC, FedEx, Sidwell Friends School, and more than 50 SportsMom Foundation individual donors. All funds raised from the showcase will go to support SMF and student-athletes.
The post PRESS ROOM: SportsMom Foundation, Sidwell Friends School Hosts 3rd Annual Capital Invitational Girls Basketball Showcase first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Washington, DC – The SportsMom Foundation (SMF), a nationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to helping girl student-athletes achieve their goals, announced today the 3rd Annual Capital Invitational Basketball Showcase. The invitation-only showcase will feature 16 teams from across the United States and Canada and will take place on December 7, 2023, at Sidwell Friends School, 3825 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20016—game times: 4:00 pm, 5:30 pm, 7:00 pm, and 8:30 pm.

“For decades, the DMV has been recognized as the mecca for some of the most talented and competitive girls high school basketball players in the country,” said SMF founder and board chair Stacey D. Stewart. “With the help of our corporate, government, and community sponsors, we are excited to elevate and feature premier players and teams in the DMV and others who have earned national acclaim and top ranking from ESPN and similar media outlets.”

This year’s invitational is sponsored by Events DC, FedEx, Sidwell Friends School, and more than 50 SportsMom Foundation individual donors. All funds raised from the showcase will go to support SMF and student-athletes. To learn more about the SportsMom Foundation and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.sportsmom.org.

A sample of the teams participating in the showcase include Bishop Ireton (VA), Bishop McNamara (MD), Elizabeth Seton (MD), Georgetown Visitation (DC), Maret (DC), Paul VI (VA), St. John’s College High School (DC), and The Potomac School (VA), Camas (WA), Duncanville (TX), Fort Irie International Academy (CAN), Grace Christian (NC), Long Island Lutheran (NY), South Shore (NY), Westtown School (PA), and Winston Salem Christian (NC).

Key Players to Watch:

Class of 2024

  • Sarah Strong (Grace Christian) – espnW #1 Rated Player
  • Kateryna Koval (Long Island Lutheran) – espnW # 5 Rated Player
  • Syla Swords (Long Island Lutheran) – espnW #11 Rated Player
  • Madisen McDaniel (Bishop McNamara) – espnW #12 Rated Player
  • Kayleigh Heckel (Long Island Lutheran) – espnW #28 Rated Player
  • Ka’Shya Hawkins (Long Island Lutheran) – espnW #72 Rated Player
  • Toby Nweke (Georgetown Visitation) – espnW #75 Rated Player
  • Zahra King (Westtown School) – espnW #76 Rated Player
  • Laura Williams (Paul VI) – espnW #89 Rated Player
  • Ariel Little (South Shore) – espnW #100 Rated Player

Class of 2025

  • Nyla Brooks (Bishop Ireton) – espnW #16 Rated Player
  • Zhen Craft (Bishop McNamara) – espnW #28

Class of 2026

  • Savvy Swords (Long Island Lutheran) – espnW #13 Rated Player

Class of 2027 Projected Watch List

  • Jessie Moses (Westtown School)
  • Jordyn Palmer (Westtown School)
  • Qandace Samuels (Bishop McNamara)

The post PRESS ROOM: SportsMom Foundation, Sidwell Friends School Hosts 3rd Annual Capital Invitational Girls Basketball Showcase first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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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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