Black Faith Leaders Partner With Black Press to Address Community Disparities and Hold Officials Accountable
Leading Black faith organizations have formed a strategic partnership with the National Newspaper Publishers Association to address systemic disparities in Black communities. The coalition includes Bishop J. Drew Sheard of COGIC, Dr. Boise Kimber of the National Baptist Convention, and Dr. Samuel Tolbert of the National Baptist Convention of America.
Some of the country's most prominent Black faith leaders have joined forces with the Black press to push for policy changes and corporate accountability in Black communities.
The partnership brings together the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and major Black faith organizations, including the National Baptist Convention USA Inc., the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), and the National Baptist Convention of America.
Key figures in the coalition include Dr. Boise Kimber of the National Baptist Convention USA Inc., Bishop J. Drew Sheard of COGIC, and Dr. Samuel Tolbert of the National Baptist Convention of America.
The partnership focuses on five areas: shaping a unified national narrative, mobilizing networks to address community disparities, holding corporate America accountable, empowering the next generation, and pressuring elected officials to align policies with the interests of Black communities.
The announcement comes as Black churches across the country are intensifying civic engagement ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections. Faith leaders have been reviving civil rights-era organizing tactics to mobilize voters, with projects like "Faith Out Loud" encouraging pastors to extend their advocacy beyond their congregations.
In Detroit, religious leaders have spoken publicly about the emotional and psychological strain that federal policies are placing on their congregants, calling for increased investment in healthcare and education.
The coalition represents one of the more organized efforts by Black faith institutions to coordinate with Black media on a sustained advocacy agenda.
