Rebekah Barber

Durham, North Carolina

Staff Writer at Nonprofit Quarterly

Articles

Why Harvard’s Decision Not to Comply with the Federal Government Matters

1 week 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

1 week 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 week 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

3 weeks 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

4 weeks 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

1 month 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?
Following Trump Orders, Mass Furloughs Stifle Work of Resettlement Organizations

2 months ago | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

In North Carolina, Church World Service of Durham recently announced that it was furloughing two-thirds of its staff. Lutheran Services Carolinas, in nearby Salisbury, also announced that it was halting its aid to refugees who have recently arrived in the state. Meanwhile, in Texas, the Houston chapter of Catholic Charities recently laid off —nearly a quarter of its staff.
A Renewed Case for Funding the South

2 months ago | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

President Trump issued more than 70 executive orders within his first days in office. In addition to pardoning and commuting the sentences of the nearly 1,600 people who were charged in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capital, Trump also issued orders that seek to mandate that the United States only recognize two genders, end birthright citizenship, and dramatically roll back Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs on the federal level.
Preparing for Mass Deportation—What You Can Do - Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly

Jan 23, 2025 | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

In an interview with NPQ, Paromita Shah shared resources that people can utilize to prepare for potential mass deportations under the Trump administration. Shah is the cofounder and executive director of the Washington, DC-based Just Futures Law, an organization composed of movement lawyers who work directly with community-based organizations to provide resources and legal support to groups fighting for a future beyond deportation and criminalization.
How Poverty Violence Shows Whose Lives Are “Worth” More in America

Dec 19, 2024 | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

This article was updated on January 2, 2025. In June of 1968—just a couple months after her husband, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, was assassinated—Coretta Scott King took to the stage at a rally in Washington, DC, organized by the Poor People’s Campaign, the movement her husband was leading at the time of his death to address what he called the triple evils: racism, economic exploitation, and militarism.