Helping kids bridge the digital divide during COVID-19
As students prepare to head back to school, some families are concerned they will not have the technology needed to help their children succeed in virtual or distance learning. Specifically, in the African American community, many students have not engaged as much in the virtual learning landscape, as we have relied on brick-and-mortar institutions.
Education vs. Health
For generations, the fight when it comes to our children and schools have been about integration, better resources, bridging the educational gaps between whites and minority students and, over the last few years, conquering the digital divide when it comes to students in underserved communities.
The impact of COVID-19 on educational development
Life is about priority setting. Priorities are values, and values are about importance ordering. Educational development for children should be top priority, because of 21st century technological advances, technical skill employment requirements and the developmental consequences.
NAACP Sues U.S. Education Secretary Over COVID-19 School Money
NNPA NEWSWIRE — The NAACP formally filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., accusing DeVos of illegally changing the rules for allocating $13.2 billion in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) money to benefit wealthy private k-12 schools.
Wear the damn mask!
The biggest problem that we have with COVID -19 is that it can be transmitted asymptomatically by people. You don’t know who has it. You don’t know if you have it or not. When you’re out and about and around people, you need to wear a mask, so you don’t unwittingly spread it to somebody else.
PRESS ROOM: Princell Hair Named President & CEO Of the Black News Channel
NNPA NEWSWIRE — Hair brings a unique background in diverse platforms including general management, experience leading a national news network, a regional sports business and several local television news departments. He has reimagined programming lineups in his career discovering new, engaging talent, enhancing linear audience reach and vastly growing digital user engagement.
One North Carolina City Council Approves Reparations – Sort Of
NNPA NEWSWIRE — “Hundreds of years of Black blood spilled that fills the cup we drink from today,” said Councilman Keith Young, one of two African American members of the City Council that voted 7-0 in favor of reparations. It is simply not enough to remove statutes. Black people in this country are dealing with systemic issues.”
HeroZona Foundation Establishes Nation’s Largest COVID-19 Testing Site
NNPA NEWSWIRE — A.P.” Powell, the founder and CEO of HeroZona, calls the recently established free drive-thru testing site “COVID City.” Funding for the site came via the CARES Act established earlier this year. “We saw high demand, so we acted,” said Powell. “While the [South Mountain Community College] site was established because of the increase in local cases, others from outside the area are also welcome.”
The Impact of COVID-19 in Our Community: Let’s Not Put Our Health at Risk
NNPA NEWSWIRE — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cite several possible reasons that Black Americans are more affected. One is that many of us live in more highly populated areas where it’s more difficult to practice physical distancing from one another. Many of us also live in multi-generational households where it’s easier for younger family members to spread the virus to more vulnerable elderly members. This is especially true for lower-income households with smaller living spaces.
Star-Studded Lineup Planned for First Black Press Virtual Convention
NNPA NEWSWIRE — “The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on African Americans and other people of color throughout the United States. Yet, coupled with that viral pandemic is the continuing epidemic of racism in America that is unabated with the fatal realities of racially motivated police killings of African Americans,” Chavis pronounced. Registration is FREE at www.vitualnnpa2020.com.
