URL Weekly 12/8

Next-level reporting. Innovative Black & Brown publishers.

Friday, December 8, 2023

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Today is Friday, and we’re highlighting stories from across the URL Media network about microgrants for small business owners of color, a class action lawsuit against a Louisiana prison and the first Latina CEO of the documentary powerhouse Independent Television Service.

In tomorrow’s newsletter, we’re taking a look at the importance of community during times of crisis. — Alicia Ramirez

Uplift. 🙌🏼 Respect. 💯 Love. 💛

✊🏽 UAW is the largest US union to call for a cease fire in Gaza: The United Auto Workers (UAW) have endorsed a cease fire, making them the largest union to do so in the country. Prism has the story here.

More: Looking back at this year’s labor movements (🎧 Our Body Politic)

🇵🇸 The quiet violence of language: Inspired by the ongoing suffering in Palestine, this episode of Immigrantly explores the often subtle nuances of language’s power and potential harm. 🎧 Listen to the full episode here.

More: Why journalists must speak out about Gaza (Scalawag)

🏘 Revivalists envision a future for all-Black towns: Oklahoma once hosted 50 all-Black towns that were once the central focus of Black-owned businesses, newspapers, churches, schools, and cultural institutions. Now, Black Towns Municipal Management and Church Building and Loan Fund are working together to rebuild Black towns and find ways for them to thrive in the future. The Oklahoma Eagle has the story here.

🗳 Taking a closer look at the 2024 election: Lisa Deeley, chair of the Philadelphia City Commissioners, joined WURD Radio this week to talk about election integrity following comments made by former President Donald Trump, who is running for reelection. 🎧 Listen to the full interview here.More: How Native American members of congress voted on the historic expulsion of Rep. George Santos (Native News Online)

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.

🇭🇹 Ohio man sentenced to 20 years for hate crimes against Haitian community: A Springfield, Ohio, man was sentenced in U.S. District Court on Tuesday to 20 years in prison for committing federal hate crimes targeting Haitian nationals residing in the area. The Haitian Times has the story here.

⛓ Class action lawsuit targets mandatory agricultural prison labor: A class action lawsuit alleges men incarcerated at the Louisiana State Penitentiary had their rights violated by being forced to work in the fields for little to no payment with the threat of solitary confinement for those who refused to work. PushBlack has the story here.

🏢 Lawsuit alleges inspectors neglect north Minneapolis rental properties: A delivery man, a mom-turned-activist, and others allege that city inspectors are less active and responsive to their complaints in north Minneapolis, where many of the residents are people of color. Sahan Journal has the story here.

🍃 The state of the marijuana market in NYC: While there are hundreds — if not thousands — of storefronts selling weed in New York City, fewer than 10 are actually regulated recreational cannabis shops. Epicenter-NYC has the story here.

🗽 NYC Mayor says losing emergency powers will slow efforts to help asylum seekers: New York City Comptroller Brad Lander has revoked Mayor Eric Adams’ emergency powers to make deals with contractors for migrant services without prior approval, much to the mayor’s chagrin. Documented has the story here.

More: Republican politicians often talk about a “wave” of immigrants coming into the U.S., but what do the facts actually tell us about the reality on the ground? (La Noticia)

🚔 Detroit police still going after squatters: The Detroit Police Department has made some changes to the controversial Squatters Action Team following reporting by Outlier Media. But the department refuses to provide details or arrest numbers. Read more here.

🖼 How Marcela Guerrero is shaping the history and genealogy of the Whitney: Marcela Guerrero, the DeMartini Family Curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, shares how her career veered away from academia and into curation, the impact of exhibition choices on a museum’s collection, and the lessons she’s learned from Black curators who’ve come before her. 🎧 Latina to Latina has the full interview here.

❤️ Celebrating the holidays with found family: Family estrangement can be particularly difficult during the holiday season, but there’s more than one way to be in community with others. Black Girl Times has more here.

☝🏽 Carrie Lozano takes the reins at ITVS: Carrie Lozano recently became the first Latina CEO of the documentary powerhouse Independent Television Service. Juxtaposed against the wider media and entertainment industry landscape, Lozano’s ascent is a big deal. palabra. has her story here.

💸 Keep It Local Business Fund gives $200K to community entrepreneurs: On Giving Tuesday last week, the Nextdoor Kind Foundation awarded 20 U.S. small business owners of color microgrants from the Keep It Local Business Fund. Black Voice News has the details here.

🇩🇴 Phi Beta Sigma charters chapter in Dominican Republic: As part of its effort to strengthen its international presence, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. marked a historic milestone earlier last weekend with the chartering of the Tau Tau Sigma Chapter in the Dominican Republic. Watch The Yard has the story here.

🎙 Collaborative paths to sustainability for ethnic media

On the latest episode of Local News Matters, Sara Lomax and S. Mitra Kalita, co-founders of URL Media, delve into the network’s mission to support and empower independent media serving Black and Brown communities. 🎧 Listen to the full episode 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.

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