America’s best weekly Pastor Dorothy Stubbs’ pastoral anniversary is a ‘Sneakerball’ SEE PAGES A4, A10
Pittsburgh Courier NEW
thenewpittsburghcourier Published Weekly $1.00
www.newpittsburghcourier.com Vol. 116 No.16 Two Sections
APRIL 16-22, 2025
Black businesses encouraged to apply for NFL Draft Source program Deadline to apply is May 7 by Naomi C. Ilochi For New Pittsburgh Courier
BLAYRE HOLMES DAVIS IS SR. DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY RELATIONS FOR THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS. (PHOTO BY KARL ROSER/ STEELERS)
The 2026 NFL Draft is on its way to Pittsburgh, and the NFL is looking for Pittsburgh-area Black businesses and Black entrepreneurs to hire. It's called the NFL Draft Source Procurement Program, a program run by the NFL that's usually in partnership with the Draft host city. For 2026, the NFL is in partnership with the Steelers and VisitPittsburgh. This program is an opportunity for local, certified diverse businesses including minority, woman, those with disabilities, LGBTQ+, and veteran-owned to “gain exposure to subcontracting opportunities related to the 2026 NFL Draft and provide networking and capacity-building for all accepted businesses," according to an NFL release. Though the procurement program’s process is rather competitive, the incentives available to those who are chosen stand alone. The NFL has spear-
headed similar programs in cities like Detroit, Michigan (2024) and Kansas City, Mo. (2023). In Detroit, Visit Detroit and the Detroit Sports Commission, in partnership with the NFL, found that the NFL's total spend on local, minority-owned businesses during the Draft was $12.1 million, according to an economic report on Detroitsports.org. The Michigan Black Business Alliance (MBBA), Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC), Visit Detroit and Detroit Sports Commission helped Blackowned businesses secure 34 contracts to work directly with the NFL, totaling nearly 40 percent of local contracts. Blayre Holmes Davis, Sr. Director, Community Relations, Pittsburgh Steelers and Co-Chair, Community Impact Subcommittee for the 2026 NFL Draft, has high hopes for the 2026 NFL Draft Source Procurement Program. SEE NFL DRAFT A6
Appreciation for social workers is on the rise Nance's S.W.A.G. Awards recognizes their hard work, impact
by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
If you can believe it, the annual Social Worker Appreciation of Greatness Awards, better known as the S.W.A.G. Awards, already has its date set for its 2026 event—March 7. It will be the sixth iteration of the S.W.A.G. Awards, which honors Pittsburgh's individuals, most of whom are Black, in the often-forgotten field of social work. It's best to mark the date on the calendar because the attendance for the event continues to increase. "We had a packed house,"
Nance told the New Pittsburgh Courier about the 2025 event, which was held, March 22, at the Sheraton Hotel Station Square. The 2025 event's honorees were Dana Warren, LCSW; Khavah Murray, LCSW, CCTP, CGP; Michelle McMurray, MSW; Dr. Sheila Gillespie Roth, Ph.D, LCSW; Detria M. Dixon, MSW, LSW; Janiece Anderson, LSW; and Vanessa M. Beck, MSW, LCSW. The Social Worker Entrepreneur of the Year Award went to LaToya Hamm-Wilson, SEE SOCIAL WORKERS A8
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Lt. Gov. Austin Davis Trailblazer Award Honoree
THE HONOREES AT THE S.W.A.G. AWARDS, March 22, at the Sheraton Hotel Station Square. (Photo by J.L. Martello)
Josh Taylor Celebrity Host