October 5, 2025

Welcome to our weekly Sunday newsletter. This week we will highlight how leadership, innovation and culture are driving impact across Black America.

Black Mayors Step Up Amid Federal Gridlock

With Washington tied in partisan gridlock, Black mayors are showing how local leadership can deliver real change. At the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference, mayors from across the country gathered for a powerful session in partnership with the Southern Poverty Law Center.

🔥 Fireside Chat with Mayor Muriel Bowser

Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser opened with reflections on the challenges facing Black residents in the nation’s capital. She emphasized how her administration uses community engagement and data-driven policy to balance urgent priorities—public safety, economic opportunity, and the ongoing fight for D.C. statehood, which she framed as a cornerstone of equity and representation.

🏛️ Panel of Mayors Driving Change

The conversation expanded with insights from:

• Andre Dickens (Atlanta, GA)

• Brandon Johnson (Chicago, IL)

• Van R. Johnson II (Savannah, GA)

• Barbara Lee (Oakland, CA)

• Brandon Scott (Baltimore, MD)

Together, these leaders shared how their cities are transforming through inclusive, evidence-based solutions. From strengthening public safety and closing economic gaps to building coalitions across government, business, and grassroots partners, they offered a blueprint for progress that reaches far beyond their own communities.

📌 Key Takeaways

• Local leadership matters. Cities can push forward even when federal progress stalls.

• Community engagement + data = impact. Trust and transparency are critical for long-term change.

• Coalitions drive results. Real progress happens when government, business, and grassroots partners work together.

🌟 Why It Matters

These mayors are proving that resilient, equitable leadership at the local level can spark the national momentum needed to strengthen democracy and expand opportunity for all.

campus chronicles // hbcu edition

This homecoming season, Black Girl Vitamins is launching its Homecoming of Health Tour, bringing wellness, education, and community spirit to 20 HBCU campuses nationwide from October 4–November 7. Building on last year’s success, the expanded tour will engage thousands of students through immersive on-campus experiences, nutrition education, and wellness activities. By honoring the legacy of Black excellence and unity, Black Girl Vitamins is empowering students and alumni with the tools to build lifelong health and resilience.

MacKenzie Scott’s $70 million gift to the UNCF is a transformative investment for 37 private HBCUs, offering financial stability and new opportunities, but it also highlights the stark divide for public HBCUs like Bluefield State, which receive no direct benefit. Despite achieving its highest enrollment in a decade and a 43% increase in first-time freshmen pursuing STEM and business programs, Bluefield State continues to operate with limited resources, relying heavily on state appropriations and modest donor support. For many of its students—often first-generation and balancing jobs and family responsibilities—even small financial setbacks can derail their education, underscoring the urgent need for direct philanthropic investment. True equity in higher education requires donors and policymakers to extend their support to public HBCUs, ensuring that institutions like Bluefield State can continue preparing the nurses, engineers, and business leaders who sustain Appalachia’s future.

More than 300 students from 43 HBCUs will compete in the 10th Annual Black Enterprise Smart HBCU Hackathon, hosted by American Airlines in Charlotte from November 5–8, 2025. Themed “Built Brilliant. Built Different: 10 Years of Elevating Excellence,” the event brings together 62 teams of computer science, engineering, and cybersecurity majors to solve real-world challenges while showcasing their skills to the largest sponsor pool in the Hackathon’s history. In addition to hands-on mentorship, students will pitch their innovations to judges and gain direct pathways to internships and full-time roles with top tech employers. Last year’s winners, Spelman College’s Team Protégé, will return to defend their title as the competition continues to grow into the premier showcase of HBCU tech talent.

black history in quotes 

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culture

The countdown is on with less than 30 days until the inaugural Las Vegas HBCU Classic, where Grambling State University and Jackson State University will face off. The event, led by Las Vegas Raiders President Sandra Douglass Morgan, highlights the Raiders’ long history of diversity and commitment to HBCUs. Douglass Morgan, the first Black and Asian woman to serve as an NFL team president, sees the Classic as a celebration of HBCU tradition, legacy, and excellence. Beyond the game, the weekend will feature a pep rally, alumni mixer, tailgate, and gospel brunch from October 24–26.     

Our editor, Lisa D. Tinsley, would like to thank you for spending part of your day with KISA News Radio.

See you next Sunday.

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