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Community welcomes St. James AME Church's new senior pastor SEE PAGE A4
Pittsburgh Courier NEW
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www.newpittsburghcourier.com Vol. 117 No. 13 Two Sections
APRIL 1-7, 2026
Community activists to the NFL and VisitPITTSBURGH: RELEASE THE NUMBERS Just how much will Pittsburgh's Black businesses benefit from the NFL Draft? by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
Everyone knows that the majority of players who will be officially drafted into the National Football League in the first round on April 23 outside of Acrisure Stadium will be Black. Everyone also knows that the majority of Pittsburgh-area businesses who will financially benefit from the NFL Draft being in Pittsburgh will be those that are White-owned. The question some community activists and Blackled organizations really want to know is, just how many Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs will be included in the projected $215-plus million that the Draft is expected to bring into Pittsburgh? From the NFL, to VisitPITTSBURGH, to the Pittsburgh Downtown
Partnership, so far, no one is talking about it. Not publicly, at least. The fact that no one is talking had B. Marshall, leader of Stop The Violence Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh’s Juneteenth celebration, bring the co-leader of the national Target boycott from Minnesota to Pittsburgh on March 30 to advocate for Pittsburgh’s Black community and businesses. The fact that no one is talking about it had Tim Stevens, CEO of the Black Political Empowerment Project, issue a statement asking for transparency from the NFL and local officials. The fact that no one is talking about it had the NAACP Pittsburgh Branch issue a statement demanding transparency from the SEE NFL A3
B. MARSHALL WANTS MORE BLACK BUSINESSES TO BE INCLUDED WHEN THE NFL DRAFT COMES TO TOWN IN A FEW WEEKS. (PHOTO BY ROB TAYLOR JR.)
History Made
Zeigler is first Black Commissioner of Crescent Twp. by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
By day, Dr. Julie Zeigler is the Chief Financial Officer for Tadiso Inc., one of the state's largest medication-assisted treatment facilities. But she’s also one of five
Commissioners for Crescent Township. If you haven't heard of Crescent Township, it's located near Moon Township and Sewickley in Allegheny County. She loves living there. And she enjoys her role as Commissioner, a role she's
had since January 2026. But what few people know is that Dr. Zeigler is the first Black Commissioner to ever serve in Crescent Township. Dr. Zeigler had formerly served as Judge of Elections for the township, but some of the other commis-
sioners contacted her to see if she would be interested in becoming a commissioner. She said yes. Dr. Zeigler is a member of the New Pittsburgh Courier's "Women of Excellence" Class of 2024. Originally from Youngstown, Ohio, she
came to Pittsburgh by way of Dayton, Ohio, in the mid-’90s. She's lived in Crescent Township for nine years. Crescent Township has been around for more than 150 years, but it hasn't been a home for many African Americans. Its popu-
lation is about 2,800, with, according to Dr. Zeigler, "one percent, if that," classified as African American in the township. Dr. Zeigler and the other four commissioners, for all intents and purposes, run SEE ZEIGLER A6
WOMEN IN MEDIA
DR. JULIE ZEIGLER IS THE FIRST BLACK COMMISSIONER IN CRESCENT TOWNSHIP HISTORY.
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THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY hosted a “Women in Media” panel discussion on Wednesday, March 25. The panel was emceed by New Pittsburgh Courier Sales Director Ashley Johnson (seated at right), and moderated by WPXI-TV anchor Lisa Sylvester (seated at center). Also seated is Dr. Juel Smith with CCAC. Standing, from left, are Jeanna Sybert, Diane Daniels, Debbie Norrell, Kiki B. Jones and Kathy Bynum. See more photos on Page A5. (Photo by Gail Manker)