URL Weekly 12/15

Next-level reporting. Innovative Black & Brown publishers.

Friday, December 15, 2023

Reading this from an email forward or elsewhere on the internet?

Subscribe.

Hey

Today is Friday, and we’re highlighting stories from across the URL Media network about U.S. citizens trapped in Gaza, the first 3D-printed house in Detroit, and the origins behind the Virgin of Guadalupe.

In tomorrow’s newsletter, we’re taking a look at how experiments conducted by University of Pennsylvania dermatologist Albert Kligman in the 1950s throughout the ‘70s harmed incarcerated women. — Alicia Ramirez

Uplift. 🙌🏼 Respect. 💯 Love. 💛

🇺🇸 How the U.S. State Department failed to protect U.S. citizens escaping Gaza: Palestinian Americans living in Gaza have faced very different experiences from Israeli Americans in accessing support from the U.S. State Department to reenter the country amid Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Prism has more here.

🗳 The power of ballot initiatives and engaging Black and Asian American voters: On this episode of Our Body Politic, Sayu Bhojwani, guest host and founder of Women’s Democracy Lab, talks about the power of ballot initiatives and the importance of mobilizing diverse voters. 🎧 Listen to the full episode here.

🥫 Post-pandemic food insecurity worsens for Black Americans: An end to government pandemic relief programs has worsened food insecurity for millions, disproportionately impacting Black Americans. The Oklahoma Eagle has the story here.

⛓ Calls for federal takeover or closure of Rikers keep growing louder: A new report details the lack of mental health support for people incarcerated on Rikers Island. The report’s release comes at a time of increasing scrutiny of New York City-run jails. Epicenter-NYC has the story here. (CW: This story discusses suicide.)

More: Earlier this fall, a federal monitor accused New York City of mismanaging the Rikers Island closure (PushBlack)

Join us in celebrating the launch of URL Media’s new hub for independent journalism by Black and Brown publishers! Discover the stories and perspectives that matter. Check it out here.

💔 Child found dead at New York City shelter for migrants: An 11-year-old boy was found unresponsive Monday afternoon at a New York City shelter for migrants. The child was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Documented has the story here.

🚨 Minn. Somali community leaders raise alarms over catastrophic flooding: Somalia’s former minister of foreign affairs joined community leaders and state legislators at a Minnesota State Capitol news conference Monday to call for resources to help Somalia deal with a humanitarian crisis caused by catastrophic flooding. Sahan Journal has more here.

🏡 Detroit’s first 3D-printed house is on the market: The first 3D-printed house in Michigan is on the market, and the modest 988-square-feet cottage home is priced far above the city’s estimated average sale price of $82,000. Outlier Media has the story here.

⚖️ N.J. councilwoman responds to lawsuit pushing to unseat her: Jasi Edwards, a councilwoman for the city of Trenton, New Jersey, broke her silence last week after an appellate court ruled against a legal challenge to her eligibility for office. Trenton Journal has her statement here.

📝 Leaked Amazon memo reveals plans to expand influence in Calif.’s Inland Empire: An internal memo detailing Amazon’s 2024 goals to expand the company’s influence and combat labor union efforts for equitable pay and improved working conditions was leaked last week. Black Voice News has more here.

🇭🇹 Haitian resilience on display at annual fair: Last weekend, about 180 artisans displayed creative works during the 16th annual ‘Artisanat en Fête’ festival in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, despite ongoing insecurity and economic challenges that have marred the once-thriving industry. The Haitian Times has more here.

👑 How the first Indigenous Miss Canada United World centers community in pageantry: Magan Kateri Basque (Mi’kmaq) made history in May when she was crowned winner of the 2023 Miss Canada United World Pageant, the first Indigenous woman to claim the title in the pageant’s 66-year history. She uses her platform to help Indigenous women living in poverty. Native News Online has the story here.

⛪️ Exploring the origins and significance of La Virgen de Guadalupe: The feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe is observed with pilgrimages, processions, church services and other festivities. But how did this day become such a significant cultural celebration in Mexico? Luz Media has more here.

❤️ Reducing holiday isolation for family members with disabilities: Relatives isolated by illness or physiology can easily get lost in the buzz of family gatherings, but there are some things family members can do so everybody feels included. Black Girl Times has more here.

💆🏾‍♀️ Tuning out a negative body image: On this episode of How to Talk to [High Achievers] about Anything, licensed psychotherapist and coach Stevon Lewis provides advice on how people can avoid internalizing negative feedback that has little to do with their talent or skill. 🎧 Listen to the full episode here.

🌭 From headlines to street food: Journalist and chef Pervaiz Shallwani has covered everything from the George Floyd protests to a Brooklyn subway shooting. Now he’s spicing things up on the food scene with Chaat Dog — a mashup of his Chicago background and Pakistani roots. 🎧 Listen to this week’s episode of Immigrantly to learn more.

Plus: Chaat Dog is nominated for a “Rising Star” award in this year’s 8it Pop-up Awards. Voting is now open until midnight on Dec. 25. Cast your vote here.

💡 Unapologetically Latina digital media brand Luz Media joins URL Media network

URL Media is thrilled to welcome Luz Media, a Latina-owned culture and lifestyle media company that serves English-speaking Latinas across the United States. With its original content, digital events and networking opportunities, Luz Media sets out to challenge inaccurate media narratives about Latinas. Learn more here.

🔮 Mitra Kalita’s 2024 Nieman Lab prediction: ‘Link in comments’ won’t save democracy

Around this time every year, Nieman Lab unveils forecasts from journalists and media professionals around the country as they anticipate the biggest news trends in the year ahead. In her prediction for 2024, Mitra Kalita, co-founder of URL Media, stresses that quality journalism can’t deviate from its ties to community — and that, in fact, quality journalism in 2024 will depend on its “community ties, the clarity of who we are serving and the all-important why.” Read more here.

✍🏾 The importance of succession planning for BIPOC and independent media success

Last month, URL Media partner WURD Radio celebrated its 20th anniversary. It’s a milestone that president and CEO Sara Lomax, who is also the co-founder of URL Media, says brought with it reflection on the past with an eye toward the future — a future not often guaranteed for Black and Brown media. Read more here.

💼 URL Media partner Epicenter-NYC is hiring an Editorial Director

URL Media partner Epicenter-NYC is seeking an Editorial Director to shape its news narrative and redefine how New Yorkers connect with information. The new editorial director will lead the team to deliver accessible content, spotlight diverse communities and embrace multiple storytelling formats. Learn more here.

Sara Lomax-Reese, CEO of WURD Radio, media entrepreneur for almost 30 years, served as Program Lead for the inaugural Facebook BIPOC Sustainability Accelerator and is a former John S. Knight Fellow.

S. Mitra Kalita, former SVP at CNN Digital, current CEO & Publisher at Kalita Mukul Creative Inc., which publishes Epicenter-NYC, The Unmuted and The Escape Home has worked at The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The LA Times, and has launched brands like Mint and Quartz.

Share