URL Weekly 6/23

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Friday, June 23, 2023

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Today is Friday, and we’re highlighting stories from across the URL Media network about the private equity ties to Atlanta’s Cop City development, Florida politicians' regret over their initial support of an anti-immigration law, and finding strength through Frida Kahlo’s art.

Last week, the Supreme Court upheld the Indian Child Welfare Act. Be sure to keep an eye out for tomorrow’s newsletter where we explore what that means for Native American tribes and their children.

— Alicia Ramirez

Uplift. 🙌🏼 Respect. 💯 Love. 💛

Private equity ties to Atlanta’s Cop City spark questions about the city’s state of democracy: At dawn on June 6, the Atlanta City Council voted 11-4 to approve funding for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, an 85-acre police and fire training facility. But a new report reveals private equity ties to Cop City through the Atlanta Police Foundation, and a separate land swap deal, would destroy another 40 acres of protected forest land. Prism has the story here.

A short history of anti-LGBTQ+ policing in Detroit: With Pride Month in full swing, conversations are happening within the LGBTQ+ community about police presence at Pride events across the nation. The community has had a strained relationship with police and policing for decades. Outlier Media has more on the history.

This bill aims to ease the many barriers to employment after prison: Recent pushes in the state of Ohio to ease post-prison life are inspiring states across the nation to do the same. Read more here from PushBlack.

Unaccompanied minors struggle to fight their cases in immigration court: At a time when immigration courts are struggling to manage the high volume of incoming migrants in New York City, another section of the system is facing a high volume of deportation cases: those of unaccompanied minors, or children who entered the U.S. when they were under the age of 18, without a parent. Documented has the full story here.

Politicians regret anti-immigrant law. What can we learn from Fla.?: On May 10, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed one of the toughest anti-immigrant laws in the country. Less than a month later (and a few weeks before the law goes into effect), various conservative politicians are taking back their support, as industries such as agriculture and tourism are already feeling the devastating effects of a labor shortage. La Noticia has the story here.

Dominican Republic and Canada spar over aid office for Haitian police: Tension is mounting between the Dominican Republic and Canada over a plan to establish a remote Canadian Office in the Dominican Republic to coordinate aid for the Haitian National Police, raising concerns and disagreements between the two governments. Read more here from The Haitian Times.

First author of Latino heritage named ambassador for youth’s storytelling: Earlier this year, Cuban American author Meg Medina became the eighth National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. She is the first author of Latino heritage to receive the honor. palabra. has her story here.

Unveiling the power of storytelling and identity for refugees: Yeldā Ali, a Brooklyn-based activist, artist and former refugee, spoke recently with Epicenter-NYC about her upbringing, advocacy and more for World Refugee Day. Read more here.

The art of healing and finding strength through Frida Khalo: Thania Beltancourt Alcazar, a member of the art group “The Phoenix Fridas” discovered a lifeline in the art of Frida Kahlo. Alcazar talks about how, through Kahlo’s work, she found the inner strength to confront her own tragedies and transform her pain into a cathartic artistic journey in the latest episode of the Pulso Podcast. 🎧 Listen here.

Laughs, characters, and artistic roots: Getting real with Lucie Pohl: Host Saadia Khan talks with Lucie Pohl, the voice actor behind the video game “Overwatch 2,” in the latest episode of Immigrantly. 🎧 Listen to the full conversation here.

On June 19, 1865, enslaved people were finally freed in Texas – a day of joy that would become known and celebrated in Black communities as Juneteenth. This week we’re highlighting coverage from our partners about the holiday.

North Minneapolis comes alive with arts and consciousness during state’s first official Juneteenth: Hundreds of people took to the streets of north Minneapolis on Monday in a joyous parade to celebrate Juneteenth. Earlier this year, Minnesota legislators voted to officially recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday. 

Sahan Journal has more about the celebration here

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Juneteenth celebration of Black memory and Black freedom: This special episode of Our Body Politic looks at the roots of the holiday, what has endured – and changed – and some of the ways Juneteenth is exploited by corporations. Listeners also get an opportunity to share their stories of celebration, liberation and community. 🎧 Listen to the full episode here.

Juneteenth: The hope, promise and continued resistance encompassed in this day: From parades to picnics, walks and art exhibits, to neighborhood gatherings and meaningful conversations, people living in the Inland Empire region of Southern California came together to honor their ancestors, celebrate themselves, and advocate for future generations. Black Voice News has more here.

More: Juneteenth is more than a day of public remembrance; it’s a way for Black communities to demonstrate their continued engagement both politically and within their communities. Read more here from Black Voice News.

Celebrating Juneteenth at the African American Museum in Philadelphia: WURD Radio spent the weekend celebrating Juneteenth and broadcasting live from two Philadelphia events with several special guests, including staff from the museum about the holiday’s importance. 🎧 Listen to the interviews here.

Summer solstice being celebrated with ceremonies and prayers: Summer officially began this week. For Native Americans, the summer solstice means more than just trips to the beach, tall glasses of cold lemonade, and fresh watermelon. For centuries, Indigenous people across North America have celebrated the summer solstice with ceremonies and prayer. Native News Online has more here.

Abolition Week: The bars we can’t see: Since Juneteenth, Scalawag has been devoting all of its platforms to first-hand stories from formerly and currently incarcerated writers as well as Palestinians living in the world’s largest open-air prison. Their stories explore abolition directly from unique perspectives situated in spaces of state abandonment and violence — both hidden and in plain sight. Read more here.

The Oklahoma Eagle Receives top awards from Oklahoma Press Association

The Oklahoma Eagle, the state’s oldest Black-owned newspaper that rose from the ashes of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, won a record number of top journalism honors in the Oklahoma Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest Awards. The outlet took home 11 first place awards across two dozen categories. Read 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.

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