Rights Groups Sue Over Florida Map. MAGA Influencer Arrested. SCOTUS & Voting Rights #TheBreakdown

Added: 2026-05-12

[00:00:51]Heat. Heat.

[00:01:46]Well, it's Tuesday, May 5th. I'm Noble and here's what's coming up today on the [music] breakdown. A growing fight over voting rights in Florida. Multiple lawsuits now challenge a different map signed by Santis. What this means for black and brown communities and how this could reshape political power ahead of the next election. and the court struck down a second majority black district in Louisiana, raising new concerns about the future of voting rights and the act of 1965. Capital B reporter Brandon Tensley will join us to break it all down. Also, Dana Bradford Majors is helping our stories get told and owned.

[00:02:26]How she's helping black authors take control of their own narratives by turning ideas into books. The breakdown begins now.

[00:02:35]>> [music] [music] [music] >> We start with a breakdown of the headlines and stories that you need to know about from across black America.

[00:02:58]Voters in Indiana and Ohio headed to the polls today for their state primaries.

[00:03:03]The races garnering the most national attention include Indiana's state senate race and Ohio's governor race. Although the Republican and Democratic gubanatorial contests are not believed to be competitive primaries, Indiana's nine house seats are up for election in addition to 25 of 50 seats in the state senate and all 100 seats in the state house. All 15 of Ohio's House seats will be on the ballot, too. These 2026 races come amid a mid decade redistricting war and the Supreme Court's recent decision to eliminate a pillar of the Voting Rights Act that protects against racial discrimination in voting and representation.

[00:03:43]In Florida, voting rights groups are taking legal action against the state's new congressional map, one of the most extreme gerrymanders in American history. The Southern Poverty Law Center, Southern Coalition for Social Justice and Democracy Defenders Fund have filed a lawsuit in Lyon County challenging the map signed into law by Governor Ronda Santis earlier this year.

[00:04:04]Under the new congressional map, Republicans who currently control 20 of Florida's 28 districts could gain as many as four additional congressional seats. The 71page complaint argues the map violates the state's fair district amendments passed by voters in 2010 to ban partisan gerrymandering and ask the court to block the map before it can take effect. Plaintiffs say the map was rushed through a special session with little public input and could weaken representation in areas like Tampa, Orlando, and parts of South Florida, including districts that have historically represented black and Latino communities.

[00:04:40]Well, black MAGA influencer named Craig Long, who recently posed with President Donald Trump at a UFC event, has been arrested in Florida as part of a multi-day human trafficking sting. Long, 41, is the owner of Craig Long Fitness in Tampa and is a self-described MAGA and social media influencer. Police have accused him of seeking the services of a prostitute. The multi- agency operation targeted both those seeking to exploit minors and individuals soliciting prostitutes. Long was among 266 people arrested, including January 6 rider Ryan Yates and two men who allegedly brought children along to their illegal meetups in Pulk County, Florida. Pulk County Sheriff Grady Judge spoke about the massive bus last Friday morning and he did not hold back on some of the people caught in the state.

[00:05:32]>> Then there's Craig Long we arrested.

[00:05:35]He's 41. Some of you may recognize him.

[00:05:38]He's an influencer. He also owns Craig Long Fitness in Tampa.

[00:05:44]He was seeking the services of a prostitute.

[00:05:49]Did I tell you that he's married?

[00:05:52]That he's got 125 followers on Instagram, 568 followers on Tik Tok. Well, I'm going to give him some content for his social media today.

[00:06:05]He was a previous felon who straightened up really what we want to see in life.

[00:06:12]Now he's an influencer.

[00:06:14]You know, he moves in big circles even with the president. This is a photograph with the president and his son not long ago.

[00:06:27]Now, we like to see people who make mistakes early in life, and he had a long history straighten up.

[00:06:34]We like the fact that he likes the cops.

[00:06:37]Heck, he liked him so much he got caught up in a sting and got to be up and up and real close with the cops.

[00:06:46]We asked what his attitude was. They said, "Oh, he had a great attitude.

[00:06:52]He appreciates law enforcement."

[00:06:54]Well, there you go. Got arrested in the human trafficking scheme.

[00:06:59]Influence that for a while.

[00:07:04]Well, two mass shootings over the weekend left a total of more than 30 people injured and two teenagers dead.

[00:07:11]The first shooting came Saturday at a party being thrown at an apartment complex in Amarillo, Texas. Police say that the party full of teens and young adults turned deadly when a group that had previously been asked to leave showed back up. When they were unable to regain entry, police say the group began shooting. Two boys, ages 17 and 16, were killed and another 10 people were injured. And while police say they've identified suspects, no arrests have been made. And this weekend's second mass shooting came on Sunday night at a campground 13 miles north of Oklahoma City, leaving 23 people hurt with 13 people hospitalized. The chaos unfolded around 9:00 p.m. during a party being held at a campground near Acadia Lake.

[00:07:57]That's about 13 miles north of Oklahoma City. One of the 18-year-old witnesses told the local media that about 250 people were present at that party, which had been widely promoted across social media and that the trouble began when a group of girls got into an argument about their boyfriends. Policea said that the shooting was later committed by two men wearing ski mask and that they are no suspects right now in custody.

[00:08:23]Well, in the coming weeks, lawmakers in Mississippi will be meeting inside the historic old Capitol building in Jackson, where the state's leaders once voted to secede from the union before the Civil War in order to reconsider drawing the state supreme court districts. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves has called a special session for May 20th in order for state lawmakers to consider the district lines because the House chamber in the current capital is undergoing renovations. So all House leaders chose to move to the old capital museum for the special session. Well, some I should say. The redistricting session comes after a recent decision by the US Supreme Court weakened protections under the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Lawmakers are now under pressure to redraw those districts, raising concerns they could further dilute black voting power.

[00:09:15]In Florida, Demetria Coley is making history. She's now the youngest graduate in Florida State University's College of Nursing, earning her degree at just 18 years old. She was homeschooled by her father, a science teacher, and by 15, she had already earned her associate degree from Tallahassee State College, becoming the youngest graduate in that school's history. Now, her path was accelerated from the start. She graduated high school and college at the same time, then completed prerequisites at Florida&M University before enrolling at FSU. She is following in the footsteps of her mother, Alicia Kohley, a nurse who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2020 when Demetria was just 13 years old. So now she's turning that loss into purpose. During her time at FSU, she trained at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare and now she plans to work as a neonatal intensive care unit nurse.

[00:10:09]Well, coming up today on the breakdown, right after the break, a major decision from the US Supreme Court. We'll discuss what it means for section two of the voting rights act with Capitol B reporter Brandon Tinsley right after the break. So stay with us and remember for more news headlines and in-depth coverage 24 hours a day, please visit the Blackar Network. We're your source for stories that matter to our community. We'll be right back. [music] [music] With medicine and science under attack, I want to keep you and your family informed and healthy. [music] I'm Dr. Ebony Hilton, and I knew at the age of eight that I wanted to be a doctor. So, I studied hard and became the first African-American [music] female anesthesiologist hired at the Medical University of South Carolina since his opening in 1824. [music] And I always say I was made into a doctor, but I was born to be a mom. And as a new mom, wife, sister, daughter, and friend, I understand how frightening a medical crisis can be. I care for individuals on some of the worst days of their lives. It is my mission to provide you with a safe space to gain [music] clarity on issues affecting your mind, body, and soul. I recognize that there are health disparities, [music] particularly as it pertains to race, and I want to help bridge the gap between you and your healthcare providers. Join me every Thursday for a second opinion on the Blackar Network, where each week I'll invite experts from various [music] medical fields to share the latest health news. We'll discuss topics such as the vaccine debate, mental and sexual health, medical bias, infertility, [music] menopause, andropause, nutrition, and aging. Together with my medical colleagues, we aim to provide you with [music] a second opinion. Don't miss it.

[00:11:59]Thursdays only on the Blackar Network.

[00:12:07]If in this country right now you have people get up in the morning and the only thing they can think about is how many people they can hurt and they [music] got the power. That's a time for mourning.

[00:12:18]>> For better or worse, what makes America special? It's that legal system that's supposed to protect minorities from the tyranny of the majority.

[00:12:28]>> We are at a point of a moral [music] emergency.

[00:12:32]We must raise a voice of outrage.

[00:12:35]>> We must raise a voice of compassion.

[00:12:39]>> And we must raise a voice of unity.

[00:12:43]>> We are not in a crisis of party versus party. [music] We are in a crisis of civilization, a human's rights crisis, and a crisis of democracy itself.

[00:12:52][music] And guess what? You've been chosen to [music] make sure that those that would destroy, those that would hate don't have the final say and they don't ultimately win.

[00:13:06]>> I'm Risa Colbert and you're watching the Blackar [music] Network.

[00:13:19][music] >> [music] [music] >> Well, here on the breakdown, we've been following a major decision out of Louisiana, one that civil rights leaders say could have ripple effects far beyond that one state. In a 63 ruling, the US Supreme Court struck down a newly drawn congressional map that included a second majority black district. The court's conservative majority said the map relied too heavily on race. Now, this decision directly impacts a district represented by Cleo Fields. But another concern is what it means for section two of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the last major tools used to challenge racial discrimination in voting.

[00:14:18]Louisiana is about one-third black and for years had just one district where black voters could elect a candidate of their choice. That second district was seen as a hard-fought win. Now, many say that that is being taken away. Let's bring in Brandon Tensley. He's a reporter for Capitol B who has been closely following this story. Brandon, thank you for your time here on the breakdown.

[00:14:40]>> Thank you for having me.

[00:14:42]>> Absolutely. So break down this for us like exactly what did the court decide here and why this ruling is so significant.

[00:14:50]>> Yeah. So essentially what the court was saying the conservative majority was saying that um uh the uh Louisiana had used uh too thought about race too much when they were creating this district.

[00:15:01]Um and uh you know uh justice Samuel Leto um said that this was unconstitutional. Um and so what the court effectively did was strike down that map that had just been signed into law in 2024 um uh saying that it was um unconstitutional. And so um uh what this means um is it has you know implications beyond uh Louisiana I think uh because uh section two of the voting rights act is supposed to protect against what they call vote dilution. Um so basically um drawing maps in a way that makes it difficult for uh ethnic and racial minorities to elect the candidate of their choice. And so because section 2 is really like the one of the last sort of uh tools uh that a lot of uh voting rights and civil rights activists saw as being able to protect against vote dilution. Um there are a lot of concerns about um how different states, especially states in the south where most black people live, uh might draw maps in a way that uh dilutes black voters political power um by saying that we're doing this to help um one party. U you know, they're saying like we're not doing this to disenfranchise or to harm black voters, but we're doing this instead uh to help our party. Um and that's just a really really difficult argument to make. um especially in the south in this country because of how um parties the uh are sorted um between you know different racial and ethnic groups with a lot of black voters voting democratic. Um, and so it just creates this like really thorny, messy situation where uh people are wondering, you know, are we going to sort of like move to a place where uh the courts say that it's okay to uh dilute black voters uh political power as long as you say that you're doing it for political reasons and not for racial reasons.

[00:16:48]>> Explain to us how this argument conflicts conflicts with the purpose of the Voting Rights Act.

[00:16:55]Yeah, the Voting Rights Act, you know, uh signed into law in 1965 uh with the express purpose of uh creating a country that actually sort of lives up to its uh multi-racial democratic ideals. Uh you know, this was uh sort of in the thick of the Jim Crow era, coming out of the Jim Crow era, um when even though black people were technically allowed to vote, there were tons of different tactics um that different states used to prevent black people from voting. You know, you often hear people talk about the pole tax um or literacy tests. Um and so the voting rights act was this really muscular law uh that was supposed to make it such that black people have uh not only the right to vote uh but also the right for their votes to count, for their votes to matter. Um and you know the voting rights act was born directly out of uh what was happening after reconstruction with the 15th amendment uh which guaranteed the right to vote.

[00:17:50]Um, and so, uh, you know, there it's impossible to really look at this situation, uh, without also thinking about the history tied into it. Um, and you know, I've heard a lot of people, a lot of, uh, voting rights experts tell me that the Voting Rights Act really was, um, you know, it's the most significant civil rights law, federal civil rights, federal civil rights law that this country has ever had. Um, and now, especially since 2013, uh, we've just seen the different ways that this law has been, uh, weakened, uh, defanged, eroded. Um, and, you know, there are potentially massive implications about what this means for black people to be able to participate, um, in in the elections, and the voting process and the democracy of this country.

[00:18:32]>> Can you also talk about specifically what it means for the people that are in Cleo Fields area?

[00:18:39]>> Yeah. Uh uh so Cleo Fields has only been in office uh since the beginning of uh 2025. Uh you know, he won that election in 2024 after Louis Louisiana's new map was signed into law. Um and so for uh voters I've talked to who are involved with the case, uh who live in Cleo Fields district, um for them this didn't only have sort of symbolic representation.

[00:19:04]um you know Louisiana having um a voting map that actually reflected its racial composition. Uh but for them it also had very real sort of material gains. Uh so thinking about having someone in Congress who will say like actually the roads um in parts of this town depending on where you live um are not suitable for driving. You know uh one woman described it to me as like driving across a laundry board. um schools not having enough funding, public schools not having enough funding or hospitals uh being far away or uh emergency rooms shutting down. Um and so, you know, I think often when people are talking about um voting rights, we're we're thinking about it in maybe a sort of abstract way. Um and that's important.

[00:19:49]Uh but I think for especially for people in uh majority black districts where after years of um legal fights, they finally have a representative who can go to Washington say like my district needs XYZ um uh to have that sort of suddenly taken away um or threatened um and makes them fear for what will their material circumstances uh look like in the years ahead if they don't have um someone in Congress who um understands the community um that he's supposed to represent.

[00:20:19]You know, I'm personally having a hard time understanding how do we go from a second majority black district and then now the Supreme Court striking this map down. How do we get here?

[00:20:32]>> Yeah. Uh it's it's very um because the Supreme Court in 2023 um actually was saying, you know, with Alabama uh upheld Alabama drawing redrawing their map so that they have a second majority black congressional district. Um but what a lot of uh voting rights experts told me was it was less the Supreme Court um which still had a conservative majority then saying like actually we think that this is a very important um uh sort of reflection to have in the map reflecting uh the racial composition of Alabama. Um what some voting rights experts told me in my reporting was uh what the court was actually saying was um it feels a little too egregious um the way that um Alabama lawmakers were um disenfranchising black voters essentially um and so to basically like go out and come again um but have a more sort of compelling argument why um there shouldn't be two uh majority black congressional districts. Um, and so, um, I think what some people have told me is like Louisiana seems like the that do again sort of process, uh, where it says like, okay, like if we say that, um, it's unconstitutional to have, um, a second majority black district because it relies too much on race or it discriminates against voters who aren't black. U,, which is a real argument um, that some people involved in the case uh, we're making. um then that sort of uh gives uh the court the ability to say like actually this seems like a compelling reason to uh invalidate this map. Um, and so I think for people to sort of be like it's sort of like a whiplash uh situation where um, you know, different actors in Louisiana, they created this map, they signed it into law. Um and then to have the court um sort of agree with the argument that this is um somehow racially discriminatory against non-black people um I think is something that um uh it the word that a lot of people I spoke to um you know since the court issued that decision um the word that they kept coming back to was disappointment. um you know, they've said that they remember what it was like to not have representation um in Congress, the kind of representation that uh they felt like helped their circumstances. Um and so then to see the court sort of get to this place where um you know it's invalidating that map um they just said is it's creating this feeling of just massive extreme disappointment um with the direction that the country seems to be going in. and you spoke with people directly impacted like Press Robinson.

[00:23:03]Uh what are you hearing from black people, black voters on the ground right now in Louisiana?

[00:23:09]>> Yeah, I mean sometimes uh some of them, you know, there's that feeling of disappointment. Um but I think there's also been this feeling of sort of renewal uh in terms of fighting. Um it's almost like having to go through the different stages of of grief. Um where you know there's this sort of morning period that I think people are going through. Um that's then followed by a feeling of resolve um of sort of needing uh to fight. Um and so what I've been hearing from people in uh Louisiana in particular is um you know they're already filing lawsuits. authority uh challenging um different uh challenging the court's decisions um challenging the decision of uh the Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry to uh suspend uh their primary elections when the election has you know early voting had already begun.

[00:23:59]Um and so we're seeing a sort of uptick in litigation. Um so as disappointing as the situation is, what I'm hearing from a lot of Louisiana residents is um you know the fight's not over. Um, you know, one woman used the expression, you know, this is a chance to like I'm rolling up my sleeves. Um, I want to figure out a way to um, push back as much as I can.

[00:24:20]>> I know Derek Johnson with the NAACP is calling this decision a betrayal of democracy. U, do you think that reflects just how serious this moment is? Yeah.

[00:24:31]And I think uh one of the things that's interesting about this is uh about this particular court decision is um I I think for communities who will be impacted by it, people who work uh sort of in that space uh with civil rights, voting rights, um they really understand just how impactful this decision will be. Um, you know, uh, one person with the NAACP, Kristen Clark, um, he used to be an assistant attorney general, um, in the Biden administration, uh, told me that, um, she thinks this is, uh, you know, maybe the the biggest Supreme Court, uh, decision in the 21st century, um, which, you know, I think is a really, um, powerful, uh, sort of statement, um, when you think about other sort of voting rights decisions that have that have occurred. Um and but I think part of that fear um about how big the decision is comes from um what we've talked about with the ripple effects um the potential ripple effects.

[00:25:26]You know, it won't stay contained to Louisiana. Um, but we are already seeing uh state legislators uh throughout the south, you know, in South Carolina, in um in uh Alabama, in Tennessee, um in Florida who are making moves uh to also redraw their maps in a way that favors one party over another. Um but as I said, we know that um you know, partisan lines often overlap a lot with racial lines in this country.

[00:25:54]to the people who are watching at home who just may still feel frustrated and discouraged, any last words about um what they should understand about this fight?

[00:26:07]>> Yeah, I would say to like really I think take heart in uh what some of the plaintiffs in the case have been saying.

[00:26:14]Um I found it very discouraging. I think as someone who, you know, has been covering uh covering this case uh for years now, um as um I think sobering as the decision was, uh just as a black person in this country, um I've actually taken found a lot of um uh maybe comfort in what in the words of some of the um people who have lived through different generations of voting rights um have had to say about this. Um and so I would encourage people to uh maybe seek out uh what people have been saying. It's been in our reporting um at Capital B uh but really just highlighting um uh the people on the ground who are most impacted but taking heart in some of the things that they've been saying about what they want to do in the years ahead.

[00:26:58]>> Brandon Tinsley with Capital B. We appreciate you for joining us today on the breakdown and breaking this all down for us.

[00:27:05]>> Of course. Thank you.

[00:27:06]>> Absolutely. Coming up after the break, Roland Martin breaks down what he calls the GOP's war on black America after a decision by the US Supreme Court sets the stage for a redistricting battle in Mississippi. And have you come across a new story that deserves our attention?

[00:27:23]We want to hear from you. We want to add the story to our lineup here on the show. Please submit your ideas to us.

[00:27:30]There's a QR code. Scan that, connect with us, and we will be right back. Stay with us. You're watching the breakdown.

[00:27:39]>> [music] [music] >> They said the quiet [music] part out loud. Black votes are a threat. So they erased them. After the Supreme [music] Court gutted the Voting Rights Act in 2013, Republican legislators moved fast.

[00:28:00]new voter ID [music] laws, polling place shutdowns, purges of black voters from the roles. Trump's justice department didn't [music] stop it. They joined in.

[00:28:10]In 2018, his DOJ backed Ohio's voter purge [music] system, a scheme that disproportionately erased black voters.

[00:28:18]Their goal, erase black [music] votes and political power. Yeah, that happened. These are the [music] kinds of stories that we cover every day on Roland Martin unfiltered. Subscribe on YouTube and download the BlackStar Network app. Support fact-based [music] independent journalism that centers African-Americans and the issues that matter to [music] our community.

[00:28:49]If in this country right now you have people get up in the morning and the only thing they can think about is how many people they can hurt and they got the power, that's [music] a time for mourning.

[00:29:00]>> For better or worse, what makes America special? It's that legal system that's supposed to protect minorities from the tyranny of the majority. We are at a point of a moral emergency. [music] >> We must raise a voice of outrage. We must raise a voice of compassion.

[00:29:21]>> And we must raise a voice of unity.

[00:29:24]>> We are not in a crisis of party versus party. [music] We are in a crisis of civilization, a human's rights crisis, [music] and a crisis of democracy itself. And guess what? You've been chosen to make sure [music] that those that would destroy, those that would hate don't have the final say and they don't ultimately win. [music] What's happening? This is your man, Mottown recording artist Kim. You are watching the Blackar [music] Network.

[00:30:02][music] >> [music] [music] >> black and missing segment. We're asking for your help in finding Benjamin Rothweight. He's been missing since April 27th around 9:30 p.m. in the 4,000 block of Regency Trace Southwest in Atlanta. That's in Georgia. If you have any information, please contact the Atlanta Police Department. The number to reach them, it's 404546 4260.

[00:30:49][music] This on Roland Martin unfiltered. Roland talks about the GOP war on black America as the Supreme Court of the United States triggers Mississippi redistricting special session.

[00:31:07]>> Let me go to Tennessee where we have our Charl Char Charlene Oliver. She's a Tennessee state senator. Uh in your state, uh we have seen the Republican governor Bill Lee call for a special session. They took apart the Nashville congressional seat, split it up into three or four different Republican seats. Now they want to turn Memphis into a red seat. And what Republicans are saying is if the whole state supports the Republican party or they vote red, well, the whole state uh should be red. Well, Memphis ain't red.

[00:31:36]Memphis is blue. So, they want to wipe out black power in Memphis. And even though Steve Cohen, who's white, congressman represents Memphis, that historically has been a seat held by an African-American. State Representative Justin Pearson is running against him in the primary. So, they want a white conservative Republican to be representing Memphis.

[00:31:59]That's right, Roland. Um, but you know what? Memphis has has the right to choose who they want to be their representative. And if that that's Congressman Cohen, so be it. If that's representative Pearson, so be it. But they get that choice. And what's happening now with this special session is Republicans are trying to take that choice away from them and essentially steal another House seat so that Donald Trump can keep his majority in Congress.

[00:32:27]So um what Memphis is is a natural naturally occurring black district. It just so happens to be black. There is nothing about the congressional 9th district that's that is, you know, supposed to be a a a black district. It just so happens to be a black district.

[00:32:48]And the way that it is drawn is it's drawn around the the mun the the county lines. And so it is a naturally occurring black district. And now they're trying to say after all these years that now somehow it is unconstitutional to have a district drawn this way.

[00:33:04]>> Uh but what you also have there in Tennessee, you have a state law. Uh and I saw I'm trying to look for it right now. Uh you had uh a Republican uh you have a Republican uh who said, "Wait a minute. Uh what are we doing right here?

[00:33:18]We're breaking the law uh if we do this here." and what they and and what they if they don't completely replace a district, I wouldn't be shocked if what they do to Memphis is what they did in Nashville. Split Memphis into three or four congressional districts as their way of decimating uh that position.

[00:33:37]>> Yeah, we know this is calculated and it is intentional to take away the ability of black folks in Memphis to be able to elect who they want. And it's also illegal because in our Tennessee code it explicitly says that you cannot redraw maps between aortionments. So what we are doing here with the special session is illegal and and unconstitutional. And so what the first things that they're probably going to do is have to change the law, which is such a a farreaching uh norm outside of what we've done when we redistrict in Tennessee. This is outside the norms of what we do when we uh redraw lines.

[00:34:20]>> So, um what do you need people to do? Uh listen, if they call a special session, what I keep saying, we have got to have our people flood the state legislature.

[00:34:30]We've got to be uh we've got to be, you know, uh doing all we can protesting and making it making it making it loud. But while that is happening, we also got to be mobilizing and organizing and registering our people so whatever they do, we maximize our power. Because the problem is we can't have weak black voter turnout. Tennessee, like every other southern state, they must feel maximum black pain at the ballot box.

[00:34:55]And that means showing up in numbers that we have not seen since the election of Obama in 2008.

[00:35:02]>> That's right. We need people to first of all wake up to what's going on. We are in the civil war. We are not doing it with bullets. We are doing it with the ballot at this point. and they are redrawing maps to do it. So, we need people to show up at the Capitol in droves from Memphis to Mountain City.

[00:35:20]And this is just not a a fight for Memphis to fight on by themselves. We need the entire state to show up, pack the capital, let them know that we not going for this. And look, the Republicans started this. They set the new president that the gloves are off.

[00:35:37]So, we need to match the energy. So this is not the time to be cute and conform.

[00:35:44]This is the time to rise up and say, "Look, we're not going for this hell or high water."

[00:35:50]>> Absolutely. Uh Senator Oliver, keep us a breast of what happens in Tennessee. Uh we're going to be uh covering this. I know people are planning rallies. So, we want to be able to live stream that stuff uh because we need all of our people completely engaged because I keep trying to explain to folks that when you wipe out black political power, you're wiping out access to billions of dollars in the legislative process when it comes to the city, the county, the school board, the state, uh the federal as well. And so, folks need to understand that this is real. This is absolutely a state of emergency uh in black America.

[00:36:23]We appreciate it. Thanks a lot.

[00:36:25]>> Thank you. I'm going to go back to uh Mississippi. Uh we have uh Representative Kareem. So glad to have you here. So here's the deal. Your state 38% black. And so what these white Republicans in Mississippi are likely going to do is they're going to say, "We don't give a damn if that's the case.

[00:36:40]They want to wipe out black political power." And I'm telling you, this to me is very similar to what happened in 1890 when those white racist dixs were upset that black people kept winning in Mississippi. the the Republicans of Mississippi are mad that the federal courts kept ruling against them. And the problem is this Supreme Court with this Louisiana vers decision has now given these Republicans the power to say, "Oh no, we're not sitting here creating districts by race. We're creating this because we can do partisan." They have given these white conservatives an excuse to completely decimate black political power in Mississippi.

[00:37:22]You're absolutely correct. And to add so add insult to injury, Roland, uh we're having our special session at the old capital uh where they adopted the 1890 Constitution. Now, some might uh say that uh no malicious intent um uh was was done, but it's a slap in the face to the 1.2 million black folks here in the state of Mississippi. And yes, it's 38 40% of us in this state. Where you going to go? You want to take out my dear friend, Congressman Thompson, where you going to put 40% of black folk in the state? We are the largest black populated uh of of peak black folk in the country. What you going to do with us? We got to be somewhere. We're not going out rolling like that. It's uh it's it's a it's a fight and uh we're prepared to uh to do what's necessary.

[00:38:12]>> Uh I was in Mount Bayou, Mississippi on Friday uh doing a show from there. We went to Streetport, Louisiana on Thursday. Uh and and I'm telling you what has to happen is just like freedom summer took place uh when you had these college students who made their way to Mississippi and other southern states, the same thing has to happen. We've got to have the the largest mass black voter mobilization since Obama's election because everything that we're seeing I need everybody listening and watching to understand everything that we are seeing today is a direct reflection on black voter turnout in 2008 and 2012 that scared the hell out of these white conservatives. It was the first time in American history where black people voted at a higher percentage than white Americans. And they've said since then, not again. We ain't going to have this.

[00:39:01]And so all of this, the Chevy v Holder, uh, uh, the all the lawsuits, the affirmative action lawsuit, uh, this lawsuit, the battles over the seats in Alabama and Louisiana is all about how do we destroy 60 plus years of black political progress.

[00:39:19]>> You're absolutely right. And folks need to also look, we just started practicing democracy in 1965. And here I'm the chairman of over 58 black men and women.

[00:39:30]Uh we started out as a caucus of one back in 1967 and he was adopted he was uh seated but before he got seated rolling his his desk was taken out the front door of the capital and sawed in half and he be he was a caucus of one for eight years and now in 2026 uh the late Robert G. Clark, our ameritus leader, is turning over his grave for a situation that should have been taken care of generations ago. But I'm telling you this, our blood, our seats have blood on them, and we are not going without a fight. Uh I don't we've got 40% of black folks in the state of Mississippi. Where you going to put them? If you move one one of us, it's going to affect this super majority that they have. So they have to take that in mind as well. And they've been talking about it, too. Uh I've saw a very conservative uh uh person running for governor saying, "Don't be so quick to move any lines because it can mess up uh the supermajority that we have in the state of Mississippi." Uh but we have to fight Roland. We have to inform the public. Uh the Black Caucus is going on tour, going to every town, Hamlet, and village of making people aware of what's going on uh with this Cala case. And look, this is not the time to go to sleep. This is not the time to stop fighting. Uh the work is just just starting and we're ready for it, Roland.

[00:40:51]And and uh we're asking clergy, elect officials, grandma, grandpa, senior citizens, if you got one fang, one claw, it ain't the time to retire and go sit on the porch. We need you all hands on deck right now here in Mississippi.

[00:41:08]>> Absolutely. Representative Kareem, uh Mississippi Black Caucus. We sure appreciate it. Thanks a lot.

[00:41:16]And tonight on Roland Martin unfiltered, Roland will examine the Supreme Court's recent decision to allow a ruling that limits a significant aspect of the Voting Right to Act to take effect early. This decision increases the likelihood that Republicans will be able to implement a new congressional map in Louisiana before the November election.

[00:41:34]So don't miss it. That conversation, it starts at 6 PM Eastern tonight, only on the Blackar Network. Coming up after the break, one woman is helping black authors take control of their stories and turn their words into legacy. I'll be talking with Dana Bradford Majors of B Majors Publishing right after the break. Stay with us.

[00:42:01][music] They said the quiet part out loud.

[00:42:09][music] Black votes are a threat. So they erased them. After the Supreme Court gutted [music] the Voting Rights Act in 2013, Republican legislators moved fast. New voter [music] ID laws, polling place shutdowns, purges of black voters from the roles. Trump's justice department didn't stop it. They [music] joined in. In 2018, his DOJ backed Ohio's voter purge system, a scheme that disproportionately erased black voters.

[00:42:37]Their goal, [music] erase black votes and political power. Yeah, that happened. These are the kinds of [music] stories that we cover every day on Roland Martin unfiltered. Subscribe on YouTube and download [music] the Blackar Network app. Support fact-based independent journalism that centers African-Ameans and the [music] issues that matter to our community.

[00:43:08]If in this country right now you have people get up in the morning and the only thing they can think about is how many people they can hurt [music] and they got the power, that's a time for mourning.

[00:43:19]>> For better or worse, what makes America special? It's that legal system that's supposed to protect minorities [music] from the tyranny of the majority. We are at a point of a moral [music] emergency.

[00:43:33]>> We must raise a voice of outrage. We must raise a voice of compassion.

[00:43:40]>> And we must raise a voice of unity.

[00:43:43]>> We are not in a crisis of party versus [music] party. We are in a crisis of civilization, a human's rights crisis, and a crisis of democracy itself.

[00:43:53][music] And guess what? You've been chosen to make sure that those [music] that would destroy, those that would hate don't have the final say and they don't ultimately win.

[00:44:08]>> What's happening? This is your man, Mottown recording artist Kim. You are watching the [music] Blackar Network.

[00:44:18][music] >> [music] >> And welcome back for the Noble Spotlight. Today we're highlighting a woman using the power of storytelling to uplift voices that too often go unheard.

[00:44:44]From helping aspiring authors bring their stories to life to making sure black voices are not just included but centered. Our next guest is building legacy through literature. Joining us now is Dana Bradford, founder of B Majors Publishing. Dana, welcome to the breakdown. Thanks for joining.

[00:45:00]>> Thank you for having me. It's so good to see you again.

[00:45:02]>> It's great to see you. Tell us about your story. What inspired you to launch your publishing company?

[00:45:10]>> So, it was just an amazing story that happened with my son and I. uh we were going to work at school and he basically told me that humans could fly certain things and I just said it was an amazing story and I wanted to share that to the world and of course when 2020 happened that was the time of fruition and so by that time uh we sold over 300 um copies in three months and so it just propelled from there and so it's been an exciting journey.

[00:45:37]>> Oh that's awesome. Tell us about representation. Why is it so important that black authors not only get published but have ownership and control of their story?

[00:45:47]>> So, you want to make sure that you create literary experiences, right? Um, you want kids, just kids in general, to see themselves and to build confidence and connect learning to real life. And so, what started as something for my own children, it's grown to a platform that's reaching not only families, schools, but also communities across the country. [cough] [clears throat] Black Star Network is holding a real revolutionary right now.

[00:46:18]>> I thank you for being the voice of black America.

[00:46:20]>> All the momentum we have now. We have to keep this going.

[00:46:23]>> The video looks phenomenal.

[00:46:25]>> See the difference between Black [music] Star Network and Blackown Media and something like CNN.

[00:46:31]>> You can't [music] be blackowned media and be scared.

[00:46:34]>> It's time to be smart. Bring your eyeballs home. You dig?

[00:46:42]>> They said the quiet part out [music] loud. Black votes are a threat. So they erase them. After the Supreme Court gutted [music] the Voting Rights Act in 2013, Republican legislators moved fast.

[00:46:53][music] New voter ID laws, polling place shutdowns, purges of black [music] voters from the roles. Trump's Justice Department didn't stop it. They joined in. In 2018, [music] his DOJ backed Ohio's voter purge system, a scheme that disproportionately erased black voters.

[00:47:11]Their goal, [music] erase black votes and political power. Yeah, that happened. These are the kinds of stories that we cover every day on Roland Martin unfiltered. [music] Subscribe on YouTube and download the Blackar Network app. Support [music] fact-based independent journalism that centers African-Ameans and the issues that matter [music] to our community.

[00:47:43]A decade of love, joy, and power. Black Voters Matter is 10 [music] years old and we are just getting started. This is love with a purpose. This is black joy in motion. This is unstoppable power across campuses, neighborhoods, and back roads.

[00:48:03]>> Let's go.

[00:48:04]>> We show up not just to vote, but [music] to be seen, to be heard, to belong.

[00:48:11]We ride together. We organize together.

[00:48:14]We remind [music] each other that our voices matter because they always have.

[00:48:20]Black Voters Matter is about more than balance. It's about housing [music] and healthcare, clean water and living wages, education, reproductive [music] freedom and dignity.

[00:48:33]It's about turning pain into action, turning belief into movement, turning community into power. We don't wait to be invited. We bring the energy. We bring the love. We bring the people.

[00:48:49]Because when black communities come together, we don't just survive, we thrive.

[00:48:56]This is how change happens.

[00:48:58]This is how history moves. [music] We organize, we build, we win. [music] This week at the Black Table, we discuss a place, an idea, a dream, and a reality that everybody on the planet should know about. a place called Mound Bayou.

[00:49:22]>> What about black people creating their own country, not from the outside in, but from the inside out?

[00:49:30]>> That's next on the Black Table right here on the Black [music] Star Network.

[00:49:39][music] >> Hey y'all, welcome to the other side of change only on the Blackar Network and hosted by myself, [music] Bri Baker, and my good sis Jamir Burley. We are just two millennial women tackling everything at the intersection of politics, [music] gender, and pop culture. And we don't just settle for commentary. This is about solutiondriven dialogue to get us to the world as it could be and not [music] just as it is.

[00:50:01]>> Watch us on the Black Star Network. So tune in to the other side of change.

[00:50:12]>> Violent white supremacy is quote [music] the most persistent and lethal threat in the homeland. The greatest terrorist threat to the homeland is the homegrown violent extreme, including hate crime committed [music] on behalf of some kind of white supremacist ideology.

[00:50:27]>> They are coming after everything in black America. MAGA and Donald Trump are [music] specifically targeting black America. They are going after the money.

[00:50:36]Attack [music] Black Lives Matter.

[00:50:38]Attack critical race theory. Attack woke DEI. MAGA wants to defund [music] Black America. This is a perfect example of their desire to completely degrade and deemphasize black people.

[00:51:04][music] With medicine and science under attack, [music] I want to keep you and your family informed and healthy. I'm Dr. Ebony Hilton, and I knew at the age of eight that I wanted to be a doctor.

[00:51:26][music] So, I studied hard and became the first African-American female anesthesiologist hired at the Medical University of South Carolina since his opening in 1824.

[00:51:36]And I always say I was made into a doctor, but I was born to be a mom. And as a new mom, wife, sister, daughter, and friend, I understand how frightening a medical crisis can be. I care for individuals on some of the worst days of their [music] lives. It is my mission to provide you with a safe space to gain clarity on issues affecting your mind, [music] body, and soul. I recognize that there are health disparities, particularly as it [music] pertains to race, and I want to help bridge the gap between you and your healthcare providers. Join me every Thursday for Second Opinion on the Black Star Network, [music] where each week I'll invite experts from various medical fields to share the latest health news.

[00:52:15]We'll discuss topics such as the vaccine debate, [music] mental and sexual health, medical bias, infertility, menopause, andropause, nutrition, and aging. Together with my medical colleagues, we aim to provide you with a second [music] opinion. Don't miss it.

[00:52:31]Thursdays only on the Blackar Network.

[00:52:35][music] >> If in this country right now, you have people get up in the morning and the only thing they can think about is how many people they can hurt [music] and they got the power, that's a time for mourning.

[00:52:50]>> For better or worse, what makes America special? It's that legal system that's supposed to protect minorities from the tyranny of the majority. We are at a point of a moral emergency.

[00:53:04]>> We must raise a voice of outrage. We must raise a voice of compassion >> and we must raise a voice of unity.

[00:53:15]>> We are not in a crisis of party versus party. [music] We are in a crisis of civilization, a human's rights crisis, and a crisis of democracy itself. And guess [music] what? You've been chosen to make sure that those that would destroy, [music] those that would hate, don't have the final say, and they don't ultimately win.

[00:53:38]>> I'm Risa Colbert, and you're watching the Blackar [music] Network.

[00:53:50]>> [music] [music] >> With medicine and science under attack, I want to keep you and your [music] family informed and healthy. I'm Dr. Ebony Hilton, and I knew at the age of eight that I wanted to be a doctor.

[00:54:12][music] So, I studied hard and became the first African-American female anesthesiologist hired at the Medical University of South Carolina since his opening in 1824.

[00:54:22]And I always say I was made into a doctor, but I was born to be a mom.

[00:54:26][music] And as a new mom, wife, sister, daughter, and friend, I understand how frightening a medical crisis can be. I care for individuals on some of the worst days of their lives. It is my mission to provide you with a safe space to gain clarity on issues affecting your mind, body, and soul.

[00:54:44]>> I recognize that there are health disparities, particularly as I want to help bridge the gap between you and your healthcare providers. Join me every Thursday for second opinion on the Blackar Network, where each week I'll invite experts from [music] various medical fields to share the latest health news. We'll discuss topics such as the vaccine debate, mental and sexual health, medical bias, infertility, menopause, and anthropos, nutrition, and aging. Together with my medical colleagues, we aim to provide you with a second [music] opinion. Don't miss it.

[00:55:17]Thursdays only on the Blackar Network.

[00:55:28][music] We want to welcome everyone back to the breakdown and we want to thank you for your patience as we deal with some technical difficulties. I want to welcome back to this stage uh Dana Bradford. She was telling us about her publishing company and the amazing things that she's doing uh in our community, helping us make sure that our stories get cold. Um it was just very enlightening here about you and your son and your relationship and how that really um helped to launch your publishing company. Um I want you to tell us a little bit more about how you can help authors um take an idea to a finished book. Tell us a little bit more about your company and the work that it is that you can do for us.

[00:56:17]>> So essentially we have to go back to the bare basics the minimum and foundation which is brainstorming. So if you have an idea, don't be afraid to essentially get it out there and write it down. So we have we depend so much on technology now that we literally have a computer in our bodies, which is our brains. So what we do is just write it down, get your idea out, do a rough draft like something that we just always did when we were growing up. you know, I might be telling my age, but at the same time, we want to make sure that you get those ideas out so that way you can enhance and expand those. And so, ultimately with that, I host workshops that allow people to come in and say, "These are the steps." And if you do not want to go through regular or I would say just uh publishing companies, you can you can self-publish yourself.

[00:57:09]>> And you've helped a wide range of authors. is what are some of the most powerful or impactful stories that you were able to help bring to life?

[00:57:19]>> So, I would honestly say the most impactful stories that we've brought to life were essentially our own because we want to make sure that representation is important and confidence starts early.

[00:57:31]We started with um humans can't fly of course uh because big boys aren't afraid of outer space. Um, our most recent one is um, a Treyu, the Azula axelotta where he turns into an axelava after he gets bitten. And so it's just a wide range and a variety of stories that we want to get out there. So we show people who, you know, ultimately uh, our black and brown kids can be creative as well. And it's not just so happens that they're black children creating stories. They're stories created by black children.

[00:58:03]>> And Dana, let's talk about legacy. you know, how has publishing a book shift generational wealth and really even heal families?

[00:58:13]>> It's it's been an amazing journey. I will honestly say it has an opportunity to bring you closer together, have conversations with my children and allowing them to realize that this company is not just mine. This company also belongs to them. They are also co-owners of the company as well. So if I decide to step away and do other things such as uh public speaking or anything of that nature, this is something that they can own and they can cultivate for their own and however they want want to and see fit. So it's very important that they understand that this is a legacy that continues on just outside not only outside of me but for them as well.

[00:58:54]>> We know access is a big barrier. What are some of those challenges that black authors often face in the publishing industry today?

[00:59:04]>> We often face unfortunately uh stories that people claim that they don't want to hear. Uh they'll give you the same blanket response. Oh, this is very well written. However, dot dot dot but the biggest thing I would say is um not wanting to hear our stories and also essentially financial uh backing and support. And that's something that we also need to be made aware of as well.

[00:59:26]So, these you have grants and you have things of that nature that can allow you to self-publish and get your businesses out there and your stories out there.

[00:59:34]So, that's also something that I um I talk about and I look into as well and help people with that.

[00:59:41]>> Dana, for those folks that are watching at home right now and they feel inspired, let us know how they can connect with you and what should be their first step toward becoming a published author.

[00:59:53]>> I would say do it afraid. Um, I always take the first step no matter if you have it together or not. No, it's never going to be a perfect time to do that.

[01:00:02]Um, the way to connect to me is infobespublishing.com.

[01:00:06]You can also go to my website which is bajor.com, Instagram, and also Facebook. It's going to be under bajor.com. So, you can access that at any point in time. Feel free to send me an email if you would like for me to do workshops, author talk tours, anything of that nature. We'll be more than happy to come and assist.

[01:00:25]Well, Dana, thank you so much for joining us today. Dana Bradford, the founder of B Majors Publishing, thank you for the work that you're doing and the work that you're um doing to make sure stories are told and preserved and even owned by us. Thank you so much for >> Absolutely. Thank you so much for having me.

[01:00:45]>> All right, folks. If you know somebody in the community who deserves the Noble Spotlight, we want to hear from you.

[01:00:50]Please share with us your noble thoughts. There's a QR code on the screen right now. Scan it and uh let us know what you think or who we should be speaking with. And coming up right after the break, stay with us. We will tell you about an educator who is using STEM to open doors for the next generation.

[01:01:08]Stick with us. We'll tell you about Nylon Nova after the break.

[01:01:19]>> [music] [music] >> Hey y'all. Welcome to the other side of [music] change only on the Blackar Network and hosted by myself, Ria Baker, and my good sis Jamira Burley. We are just two millennial [music] women tackling everything at the intersection of politics, gender, and pop culture.

[01:01:41]And we don't just settle for [music] commentary. This is about solutiondriven dialogue to get us to the world as it could be and not just as it is. [music] Watch us on the Blackar Network. So tune in to the other side of change.

[01:01:56][music] >> Violent white supremacy is quote the most persistent and lethal threat in the homeland. The greatest terrorist threat to the homeland is the homegrown violent restraint, including hate crime committed on behalf of [music] some kind of white supremacist ideology.

[01:02:17]>> They are coming after everything in [music] black America.

[01:02:20]>> MAGA and Donald Trump are specifically targeting black America. They are going after the money. Attack Black Lives Matter. Attack critical race theory.

[01:02:29][music] Attack WO DEI. MAGA wants to defund black America. This is a perfect example of their desire to completely degrade and deemphasize black people.

[01:03:05]>> [music] >> Welcome back for the culture. Today I had an opportunity to sit down with CEO and founder of a Midwest organization creating interactive STEM curriculum and experiences in school and beyond. Nylan Nova STEM Nikesha Washington shares her mission to educate, empower, and equip young minds and her leading force behind Nylen Nova. Take a look.

[01:03:37]A new approach to education is tackling two major gaps at once, early literacy and STEM learning. And it's starting with our youngest students. The Nyla Nova STEM program is designed for preK through third graders, combining science, technology, engineering, and math with reading and writing to strengthen both skill sets early on. But what makes this initiative stand out? It doesn't stop with students. Through its program, families are also brought into this learning process, helping parents become more active partners in their child's education. Joining me now to break it all down is Nikishha Washington. Thanks for joining us and telling us all about Nyla Nova Stem University.

[01:04:20]>> Yes, thank you for having me. I'm super excited. This is awesome.

[01:04:24]>> Oh, we are so excited to have you too.

[01:04:26]Tell us a little bit about the organization and how you got started.

[01:04:30]>> So, I am a science teacher by trade, assistant principal. I've opened up several schools and one of the things is that when I had my daughter, I was like, I need to do something early on. um being a middle school science teacher, most of the kids, especially girls and girls of color, would come in and say, "I can't do science. I don't like science." And I was like, "Oh, we have to change that." And part of the reason was because they didn't see anyone that looked like them at an early age. And so that's kind of what we started with.

[01:04:59]Starting as early as three years old, we started with a children's book and now it's gone into a whole book curriculum and program.

[01:05:07]>> And tell us a little bit about Nyla and why she's so special to you. So, because I call myself a do it again, my youngest son was um a senior in high school when um Nyla came along and I was like, "What am I going to do with this little girl?"

[01:05:22]And so, and so she would follow me everywhere, of course, and then when I would go in my classroom and setting up my labs, she would pick up stuff like beers and different things and she was like, "What is this? What is this?" And I was telling her and a light bulb hit and it was like, "Why aren't we starting early? Kids are so curious at a young age. They want to know everything. And that's what she did. And so she did not let me stop. Like I had to show her how to do the lab and all those things. And so that's kind of how it started. And I said, "Well, you're gonna be my science superhero." And so her name is Nyla D.

[01:05:56]But we came up with the character Nyla Nova as our like our Mickey Mouse of things. And so we um so we have our character Nyla Nova.

[01:06:05]And so with your character, you've been able to combine STEM with literacy.

[01:06:10]That's something we don't often see. Why is that connection so important, especially early on?

[01:06:15]>> So early on, we know that the best way to get kids to learn um and to do excellent and have great literacy skills is by exposing them early. And so we started with our book where it's not just talking about, you know, like Jane outside running and Sally's doing this.

[01:06:33]is actually a character that looks like them or looks like the person. So Nia Lenova, but then she's also introducing some STEM skills. So some we call it STEM ventures. So she's taking them on adventures using STEM tools. So they might have to use a beaker or they might have to use a microscope or they're creating a glider. And so it's bridging those two. And that's something that I've been learning um on this educational journey is that you have to bridge those two. We keep teaching in isolation. We have a reading class. We have a science class. Let's bridge them together because kids get excited through science and then we have their reading and math combined.

[01:07:12]>> Walk us through what these year-long intensive interventions look like daytoday.

[01:07:18]>> Yeah. Oh, dayto day. So what we have done now is we going into afterchool program some during the day STEM enrichment programs and so our um focus is one hour of intensive learning probably twice a week is ideal for a six week period and so we um have them based on different um themes. So, some can be aviation, some is engineering, um robotics, but a lot of it starts with just hands-on learning. And from that, the kids get um we come in, we dance, we even have a music video. We get them excited. We come in like Nalan Nova taking over. We have a music video. So, they're excited. They're like, "Here comes Nan Nova." And we do like little nanova chants. We start off with trivia.

[01:08:02]We um get their brains excited. And then we do a lot of working together where they might be building a kite or they're learning about flight and drag and stuff that most adults like, "What are you talking about?" And they're as young as five years old are really um speaking the language of engineers and aerospace um um aerospace engineers and all those types of things and scientists and doctors. And so they're starting us early. We even do dissection. We have five year olds dissecting a starfish and a squid perch um cow's heart. And so it's so funny. My granddaughter who's five, >> she's scared of ladybugs, but she would go and start dissecting a squid with nothing because she's been watching and she wants to do that and she's excited about it.

[01:08:51]>> Tell us why it's important for you to include parents and grandparents, caregivers in this model.

[01:08:58]It's very important because just me being a teacher, I knew how important it was to bring in our um families as partners. It shouldn't be, oh well, they teach them at home and I teach them that we're partners together. And so I noticed when our students will come talk about Nylen Nova, Nylen Nova, they will go home and super excited and parents will be like, "Who is this Nylen Nova?"

[01:09:18]Or we'll see them out of like the um in the neighborhood store and they'll be like that because we call ourselves professors. They'll be like, "They'll go my professor." and their parents were like, "When did you go to college?"

[01:09:28]LIKE, "WHAT IS THIS?" And so we um realized that it was important to bring the families along because the families were excited. We're doing stuff that some of the moms and dads had never done. They're like, "You're dissecting?

[01:09:39]I didn't get a chance to dissect in high school and we're you dissecting at five years old." And it's really bridging those gaps of like generational learning, bringing it back together. And so parents feel empowered that they have the support system because they don't have to say, "Well, I wasn't good at STEM, so I don't know how to help you."

[01:09:56]We're we're right alongside of them.

[01:09:59]>> And what would you say to those families and those parents who may feel intimidated by STEM? What would you say to encourage them to get involved?

[01:10:07]>> Get involved with a program like ours, we break it down. We make it super fun and exciting and simple, and we build on those foundational blocks. We don't want anyone to feel intimidated. That's what I noticed as a teacher. Students just felt intimidated by the name. I said science and you would have thought I was. They like, "No, no, no." And I'm like, "It's not that you can't do it.

[01:10:28]You just haven't been exposed." And someone has shown you how to break it down to smaller bites so you can build on those foundational skills. So, I say jump right in along with your students.

[01:10:38]You will have fun, you will learn, and you guys will build that connection together.

[01:10:44]tell us uh what's your long-term plans for this?

[01:10:48]>> Oh my goodness. So, right now we are manufacturing our own STEM kits with comes with videos produced by Nyla herself.

[01:10:57]>> Um these STEM kits come with workbooks, videos, support systems for not just parents but for educators as well. And so we are even putting them in multi- languages. They come in Japanese, Chinese, Spanish. And so we're steady expanding. So our long-term goal is to be a global organization. That's why I call myself the global STEM station. But we are trying to be global and not even only having that, but having brick and mortar learning centers that we're calling Nanova Stemtopia. It's a mixture of Disneyland, Chuck-E-Cheese, Children's Museum.

[01:11:33]>> Wow.

[01:11:34]>> STEM learning all into one big thing.

[01:11:36]And so we're super excited about it. And just you can see the the fun and excitement. We're calling us the Disney of STEM. And so if you think about it, it's multigenerational. It's fun, but it's also learning.

[01:11:50]>> Okay, Nikesha, we love this. How can we get involved?

[01:11:53]>> Yes. So many ways. Um, our website is nylanovaste.com.

[01:11:58]Um, everything social media is Nylenova STEM. Um, and we also have a foundation, Nalenova Foundation. for those that you know say well how can I you know support it financially or with volunteer hours we have that as well so nalenova foundation.org or we're always accepting sponsors from big businesses, small businesses because one thing with our STEM kits, we can co-brand it. So, you can have your logo on it, you can say donated by like we are very much customizing anything that because we wanted to get into the hands of um those that need it the most. So, we're just making STEM education accessible for all. No language barrier, no location barrier, none of those. We are tackling all those and one-stop shop. Nanova STEM Oh, that's perfect. Anything else you'd like to leave with our viewers at home that may be on the fence about um utilizing this program in their own home?

[01:12:55]>> Well, one of the things is is that we have great customer service because it's been tested over and over. Anytime you have a problem, you can contact us. We will definitely walk you through it. We will exchange anything. We just really want to be a partner. We don't want to have that barrier where they feel intimidated. And there's a lot of STEM curriculum out there that you get it and it's just I've had it and it's like I don't know what to do with it and I couldn't call anyone. I could no one would get on a call, FaceTime and walk me through it. We do that. We are very personable. We don't matter what time or day. We are there for you and that's why I said this is definitely it's for us by us.

[01:13:36]>> Oh, this is wonderful. For us by us.

[01:13:39]Nikesha Washington, thank you so much for creating this space. Nyla Nova Simvers and uh we just appreciate you for uh making a space for our youth to grow and succeed.

[01:13:52]>> Thank you. Thank you. It it's it's you know what, it it takes a village. So, I'm super excited that we're able to do this and other people are seeing how great it can be and the impact that we're making.

[01:14:05]>> Well, that's going to do it for us today on the breakdown. Thanks for spending part of your day with us and be sure to keep the conversation going online.

[01:14:12]We'll see you again tomorrow. Have a great day.

[01:14:23]>> [music]