Rebekah Barber

Durham, North Carolina

Staff Writer at Nonprofit Quarterly

Articles

New Field Study Highlights the Need for Resources for Black Literary Organizations

2 weeks ago | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

Last year, NPQ spoke with Lisa Willis, the executive director of Cave Canem—an organization founded nearly 30 years ago by Toi Derricotte and writer Cornelius Eady to remedy the underrepresentation and isolation of Black poets in the literary landscape.
Building Rural Black Political Power: A Conversation with Kristin Powell

2 weeks ago | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

Black Futures Lab is an organization that seeks to build Black political power by intentionally engaging those that political campaigns often ignore. Through deep canvassing and working in the community year-round—not just during election season—the organization has a deeper understanding of the needs and concerns of rural Black people. To learn more about this work, NPQ recently spoke with Kristin Powell, the principal of Black Futures Lab (BFL).
Without DOJ Funding, Community Violence Intervention Programs Face Uncertainty

2 weeks ago | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

On April 23, The Washington Post reported that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had canceled hundreds of grants to community organizations. As the article noted, many of the canceled grants were for gun violence prevention, addiction prevention, and victim advocacy. An exclusive Reuters report found that the total value of the DOJ cuts was $811 million. These funding cuts included federal funds that had been allocated toward community violence intervention (CVI) programs, which use a .
Nonprofit Organizations Continue to Fight Against Trans Erasure

3 weeks ago | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

“We really believe that we would have no pride without the T, and there would actually probably be no Stonewall without the T,” said Stacy Lentz in an interview with NPQ. Lentz is an LGBTQ+ activist and CEO of the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, a global nonprofit committed to advancing LGBTQ+ rights and creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people.
Why Harvard’s Decision Not to Comply with the Federal Government Matters

4 weeks ago | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

“No government—regardless of which party is in power—should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue,” Alan Garber, the president of Harvard University, wrote in a public statement directed to the members of the Harvard community.
Why Harvard’s Decision Not to Comply with the Federal Government Matters

4 weeks ago | flipboard.com | Rebekah Barber

2 days ago"Let's hope others follow suit," the former president wrote on social media. Former President Barack Obama on Monday praised Harvard University for its decision to defy the demands made by the Trump administration for the institution to maintain federal funding, calling the government’s effort an …
In Unit 29, Men Incarcerated in Mississippi Tell Their Stories

1 month ago | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

The Mississippi State Penitentiary, better known as Parchman Farm, is . Constructed in 1901, it is modeled in many ways after a slave plantation. In the early years of the prison, under the convict leasing system, prisoners were forced to perform grueling tasks like picking cotton and building tunnels with dynamite. In the 1960s, over 300 Freedom Riders were arrested and sent to Parchman as they attempted to challenge segregation laws across the country.
Kemba Smith Pradia Remains Committed to Criminal Justice Reform

1 month ago | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

In one of his last official acts as President, Joe Biden issued a full pardon to Kemba Smith Pradia, a criminal justice reform advocate. She is also the founder of the Kemba Smith Foundation, a nonprofit organization that uses its platform to raise awareness about issues related to criminal justice reform, violence, and drug abuse. Smith Pradia spent six years in prison for drug-related charges before being granted clemency by President Bill Clinton.
Disaster Recovery Requires Community Care—But Also Government Support - Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly

1 month ago | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

Over five months ago, Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina. Seemingly overnight, the region went from being viewed as to experiencing the “deadliest mainland hurricane since Katrina.” In North Carolina alone, , many from drowning or the result of complications from environmental exposure. In the aftermath, the region was left with significantly fewer tress, making it more vulnerable to future natural disasters.
We Can Create Something Better: A Conversation with Aida Mariam Davis

2 months ago | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

In this conversation with NPQ’s Rebekah Barber, Aida Mariam Davis discusses her book Kindred Creation; decolonization; self-reclamation; and critiques of meritocracy, systemic inequality, and performative reforms. Rebekah Barber: Throughout your book, you incorporate lessons from your experience as a community organizer. How did these experiences inspire your decision to write Kindred Creation?