Ark Republic

Ark Republic We are a media company committed to rich + robust stories, dope collaborations and powerful conversa

A revolutionary media company that uses story telling to shift the global conversation on today's topics and issues.

01/15/2025

The fires in Los Angeles are a tale of a city divided by class, race and resources.

At Ark Republic, we will cover the stories directly from those impacted, and others who have insight on how the raging infernos show multiple divisions amplified in a climate crisis.

Interwoven in this series are stories of those who have lost everything and need your assistance. We’ve asked the families featured to set up fundraising capabilities so that donations can go directly to them. If you have, please give

Follow us as we provide coverage from the people.

From Newark to Atlantic City, a group of Black-led news and media organizations have come together to provide comprehens...
11/03/2024

From Newark to Atlantic City, a group of Black-led news and media organizations have come together to provide comprehensive reporting on this year’s elections, as part of a project called the “NJ Black Publishers Election 2024 Collaborative Coverage.” https://www.canva.com/design/DAGU7lMwb0s/vhXdsBmf25aE1qiv6YxIyw/watch?utm_content=DAGU7lMwb0s&utm_campaign=share_your_design&utm_medium=link&utm_source=shareyourdesignpanel

The project is being spearheaded by Kaia Niambi Shivers of Newark-based Ark Republic, in partnership with the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University. The work is supported with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

For one week beginning Sunday, Oct. 27 through Sunday, Nov. 3, these outlets are reporting on this historic election and issues driving voters to the polls.

Stories range from the drastic decline of voter participation in Newark — New Jersey’s largest city — over the past 50 years, to “Souls to the Polls” and other outreach efforts in Trenton seeking to engage eligible voters in local and national elections.
Here’s the full list of participating outlets:

Ark Republic
Atlantic City Focus
Black in Jersey
Echo News TV
Faithfully Magazine
Front Runner New Jersey
New Jersey Urban News
Trenton Journal
Trenton 365

Together, participating newsrooms will also cover stories about long-standing quality of life issues on the minds of voters, such as residential segregation and high morbidity rates among Black New Jerseyans.

Other features look at the growing disconnect between progressive millennial and Gen Z voters and the Democratic Party — and how others who also feel disillusioned have instead joined the small but growing ranks of New Jersey’s Black Republicans.

“I think it was not only exciting working with Black publishers around the state but meaningful that we were able to put our heads together and provide coverage that’s meaningful to our communities, said Clyde Hughes, publisher of Front Runner New Jersey, which focuses on African Americans in South Jersey.

For this project, Hughes reported on the candidacy of Dr. Herb Conway and his bid to replace Democrat Rep. Andy Kim in New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District. If successful, Conway would become the first Black Congressional representative from South Jersey.

“In a world where others on social media and even some in the mainstream press are seeking to define what these communities want and deserve, we are making a difference by reporting on what we are hearing, seeing, and feeling in our circles and telling the world about it.” said Hughes. “This is important during an election season where the truth isn’t readily available. I look forward to this leading to more collaborations in the future as we continue to tell our stories.”

As part of our research, the Center has identified at least a dozen Black-owned community outlets in New Jersey. In 2023 the Center launched a peer group to support and foster collaboration between members of New Jersey’s growing Black press.

This reporting project is the first that members of the nascent collective have undertaken.

“A historic project capturing the breadth and insight of New Jersey’s Black newsmakers, the collaborators will cover stories and communities that are either misrepresented or underreported in mainstream news; especially when reporting on Black and other under-represented communities,” said Kaia Niambi Shivers, project lead and publisher of Ark Republic.

“Black NJ newsrooms are sorely overlooked and under-resourced, but we remain resolute in our work,” said Shivers, adding, “The elections presented the right time for us to work together and show our collective audiences and the larger media ecosystem that our reporting is powerful and essential.”

“New Jersey Urban News is committed to addressing issues that affect our communities, and this collaborative project on voting challenges in New Jersey’s urban areas is crucial to that mission,” said NJ Urban News publisher Penda Howell. “We believe that access to voting is a foundational right, and shedding light on the obstacles that prevent people from exercising this right is essential for promoting equity and informed civic engagement.”

“By joining forces we are amplifying diverse voices and stories,” Howell added, “striving to bring awareness to the unique challenges our communities face and inspire meaningful change.”

New Jersey’s Black Press has served communities across the state for the past 145 years, with publications adapting business models over time to promote sustainability and fill significant news coverage gaps for its readership.

These outlets play a key role in New Jersey’s local media landscape, a news ecosystem nestled between — and often overshadowed by — the major media markets of New York City and Philadelphia.

This growing network of publications is dedicated to sharing information about the perspectives and experiences of the 1.1 million Black New Jerseyans who make up roughly 13 percent of the state’s population.

The Biden-Harris Administration issued a total of $2.2 billion to 43,000 qualified applicants in the U.S. Department of ...
08/19/2024

The Biden-Harris Administration issued a total of $2.2 billion to 43,000 qualified applicants in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA), Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP). A majority of the payouts went to Black farmers and ranchers.

About $1.76 billion in payments were issued to Black producers in the U.S. in a financial assistance program that attempts to alleviate financial loss due to discrimination. “Over 80 percent of the recipients were Black farmers,” said the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, Xochitl Torress Small at the Congressional Black Caucus’ Mississippi Policy Conference in Tunica, Mississippi this past weekend.

She furthered, “Over 70 percent of the recipients came from the Southeast [region of the U.S.].”

The program, enacted under the Inflation Reduction Act, detailed that growers in Mississippi (13,283) and Alabama (10,907) were the highest representation of awardees. Mississippi farmers, which garnered the most payouts, showed that 5,892 producers were given payments.

“Farmers and ranchers work around the clock to put food on our tables and steward our Nation’s land. But for too long, many farmers and ranchers experienced discrimination in farm loan programs and have not had the same access to federal resources and support,” said President Joe Biden in a release.

The bold measure was the Biden-Harris Administration’s move to provide some type of financial reprieve to minority farmers after an injunction was placed on the Emergency Relief for Farmers of Color Act. Shortly after the bill passed through Congress in 2021, two white farming groups, one in Florida and the other in Texas, sued the federal government. A judge halted the continued rollout of the program.

Two years later, with mounting pressure by Black agriculturalists and advocates, the Administration pivoted. Rather than focus on social identity and ability classification, the DFAP opened its application process to all, as long as applicants showed discrimination within the parameters issued by the USDA. In the end, out of the 53,000 applications submitted, most were under-represented farmers, ranchers and forest landowners.

The money is not anything close to a free handout or compensation. The USDA emphasizes that it is a way to “ease” any “financial loss” experienced by producers or those who planned to set up an operation, but were discriminated against. Plus, the money given is taxable.

For now, the historical action is celebrated in agriculture and social justice circles. At the same time, farmer-advocates like John Boyd have taken the issue of heirs property to be included in discrimination claims. The USDA has yeT to comment on the lawsuit.

EXCLUSIVE: A source inside the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed with Ark Republic that the criminal justice agency h...
08/18/2024

EXCLUSIVE: A source inside the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed with Ark Republic that the criminal justice agency has started to actively investigate claims made by Black Colorado ranching couple, Nicole and Courtney Mallery. Read the story: https://www.arkrepublic.com/2024/08/18/doj-investigates-colorado-black-farmers-allegations/

The source, who asks to remain anonymous at this time, said that the case would be probed by the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division, which carries the authority to prosecute criminal violations.

Ark Republic broke the story of the Mallerys’ in January 2023 in a series titled, “Get Out.” Their allegations listed a range of hostilities by townspeople in and around Yoder, Colorado that included race-based acts of violence and intimidation; surveillance and harassment; and continuous attempts to sabotage and confiscate their land and animals. From their account, local law enforcement, namely members of the El Paso County Sheriff’s office, provided cover for local residents, and even participated in some of these actions. The El Paso County Sheriff’s office denied the Mallerys’ allegations.

The Mallerys would not comment on nor confirm the Justice Department’s investigation. Further into their case, Ark Republic did obtain a May 20, 2024 document from the Colorado Attorney General stating that the agency “may open a civil investigation” if they find “widespread misconduct” by “a governmental authority [that] may have a pattern or practice of depriving persons of their legal rights.”

The road to justice for the Mallerys has been both bitter and sweet. “We just don’t know who to trust,” said Mrs. Mallery when she detailed to Ark Republic their experiences in the past 15 months. “I just don’t understand why people are so obsessed with us, all we want to do is feed people.”

Deep dive into Jay-Z’s private voucher plan for Philadelphia schools tethers him to Republican interests, faces public b...
07/28/2024

Deep dive into Jay-Z’s private voucher plan for Philadelphia schools tethers him to Republican interests, faces public backlash. While Beyonce's "Freedom" song has been tapped as the theme music for the Kamala Harris campaign, just weeks before, the singer's husband was criticized for his right-wing, conservative ties.

Our reporter, Matthew Gamble looked into Shawn "Jay Z" Carter's political bedfellows and his ties to the Republican party. https://www.arkrepublic.com/2024/06/30/jay-z-private-voucher-plan-faces-public-backlash/

Ark Republic taps back into our resident spiritual, Baba A. Todd Jackson. The Houstonian updates us on recovery efforts ...
07/28/2024

Ark Republic taps back into our resident spiritual, Baba A. Todd Jackson. The Houstonian updates us on recovery efforts in the city after Hurrican Beryl pummeled the city, leaving many without power and other basic necessities. Shifting to another perspective, Baba Todd does a deep dive into its significance from a metaphysical to a spiritual take on climate change. https://www.arkrepublic.com/2024/07/22/hurricane-beryls-recovery-efforts-are-slow/

In preparation for the upcoming workweek, the news hit like a ton of bricks. For weeks after his disastrous debate perfo...
07/25/2024

In preparation for the upcoming workweek, the news hit like a ton of bricks. For weeks after his disastrous debate performance, Biden repeatedly maintained he would be the nominee. Then on Sunday he dropped a remix of what he’d been maintaining in the news cycle.

He stepped off the stage and bowed out gracefully. Then passed the mic to Kamala Harris.

Let’s just say, America has no choice but to be ready.

Read our election coverage of Kamala Harris by our New-York raised, South Carolina situated reporter Tashanta Snyder https://www.arkrepublic.com/2024/07/25/kamala-harris-ready-or-not-here-she-comes/

A monthly meeting working to change the narrative and treatment of Black women in the current political climate quickly ...
07/22/2024

A monthly meeting working to change the narrative and treatment of Black women in the current political climate quickly turned the tide on Harris’ support in her 2024 presidential bid.

The call on Sunday night was supposed to be a strategy meeting through the Win With Black Women organization founded by Jotake Eaddy. It was to get Vice President Kamala Harris the delegates she needed to be the Democratic nominee. Before it started, the conference turned into a high-stakes political convening that set another precedent in U.S. presidential electoral politics.

Read the story today on Ark Republic: https://www.arkrepublic.com/2024/07/22/black-women-voters-make-the-first-rallying-cry-for-kamala-harris/

06/19/2024

Watch break down the significance of Juneteenth and American history. It is Black folks' independence day, and is one of the few remaining observations of its kind.

Happy Juneteenth! was made a federal holiday in 2021, but receive harsh criticisms. Several years later, as more June...
06/19/2024

Happy Juneteenth! was made a federal holiday in 2021, but receive harsh criticisms.

Several years later, as more Juneteenth celebrations emerge, Dr. Sherice Janaye and Dr. Kaia Niambi Shivers talk about the holiday, and how unlike many Black-centered observations were lost in the years of Black folk fighting to survive after the Emancipation.

Juneteenth is an American holiday marking the work of many Black folk who pushed for the end of slavery, and in a post-Emancipation world, worked to weave themselves, families and communities back together.

https://www.arkrepublic.com/2024/06/19/miseducation-of-juneteenth-people-really-got-black-independence-day-wrong/

Last Juneteenth, Nicole and Courtney Mallery of Freedom Acres Ranch celebrated a small, but powerful nod to justice when...
06/15/2024

Last Juneteenth, Nicole and Courtney Mallery of Freedom Acres Ranch celebrated a small, but powerful nod to justice when charges against them were dropped in a fight against Colorado townspeople who lodged a racist campaign to kick them out of a small, rural town. This year, they're hosting their own event, but the road to their Juneteenth festival has been rocky. But, “Ain't gonna let nobody turn them 'round.”

https://www.arkrepublic.com/2024/06/15/juneteenth-celebration-on-freedom-acres/

06/06/2024

Check out our very own Kaia Shivers in an interview tonight at 7pm EST on the Black Business Round Table podcast. She will talk about all things Ark Republic, an update on Black ranchers, Nicole and Courtney Mallery, and the latest on the site.

Plus she'll sit in on an interview with award-winning Rex Picket, author of the Sideways trilogy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAoB3xL17iw

Today’s celebration of Memorial Day, recognizes dead soldiers and in particular, those who were in combat when they serv...
05/27/2024

Today’s celebration of Memorial Day, recognizes dead soldiers and in particular, those who were in combat when they served. Yet, Memorial Day origins actually trace themselves back to formerly enslaved and free Blacks in Charleston, South Carolina who honored Black Civil War soldiers buried in disgrace.

Read the full story today on Ark Republic : https://www.arkrepublic.com/2020/05/26/started-by-charleston-residents-honoring-black-civil-war-soldiers-memorial-day-is-an-american-holiday-using-african-customs/

05/26/2024

In a recent House Committee to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) made remarks to Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) that suggested her physical appearance of lengthy eyelashes, denotes a low intelligence.

Later in the hearing after Rep. Taylor Greene refused to apologize and taunt several congressional members, Rep. Jasmine Crockett responded with fire that stunned the floor and Rep. Taylor Greene. What does the exchange mean, and what does this say about how politics are changing?

Dr. Sherice Janaye and Dr. Kaia Niambi Shivers talk about the exchange.

Black ranchers were in the fight of their lives—they were about to lose their 1,000 acres ranch and their freedom. They ...
05/26/2024

Black ranchers were in the fight of their lives—they were about to lose their 1,000 acres ranch and their freedom.

They fought back and a collective of farmers, veterans, ranchers and citizens who were exhausted by attacks on Black people responded.

A year later, Courtney and Nicole Mallery say the hardest part might be over, but the daily struggle and injustices continue because they outed a racist, violent culture in rural Colorado.

Check out Ark Republic News Podcast on Freedom Acres Ranch https://youtu.be/fETfCjsdvho?feature=shared

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The fires in Los Angeles are a tale of a city divided by class, race and resources. At Ark Republic, we will cover the stories directly from those impacted, and others who have insight on how the raging infernos show multiple divisions amplified in a climate crisis. Interwoven in this series are stories of those who have lost everything and need your assistance. We’ve asked the families featured to set up fundraising capabilities so that donations can go directly to them. If you have, please give Follow us as we provide coverage from the people. #arkrepublic #lafires #losangeles #climatecrisis #CaliforniaWildfires

Ark Republic leads nine Black New Jersey publications in covering this year's election.

Watch @drjanaye break down the significance of Juneteenth and American history. It is Black folks' independence day, and is one of the few remaining observations of its kind. #juneteenth #arkrepublic

Check out our very own Kaia Shivers in an interview tonight at 7pm EST on the Black Business Round Table podcast. She will talk about all things Ark Republic, an update on Black ranchers, Nicole and Courtney Mallery, and the latest on the site. Plus she'll sit in on an interview with award-winning Rex Picket, author of the Sideways trilogy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAoB3xL17iw

In a recent House Committee to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) made remarks to Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) that suggested her physical appearance of lengthy eyelashes, denotes a low intelligence. Later in the hearing after Rep. Taylor Greene refused to apologize and taunt several congressional members, Rep. Jasmine Crockett responded with fire that stunned the floor and Rep. Taylor Greene. What does the exchange mean, and what does this say about how politics are changing? Dr. Sherice Janaye and Dr. Kaia Niambi Shivers talk about the exchange.

t feels so satisfying to hear good news about good farmers who are good people. Recently, Farmer Juanita Chavarria of @baby_chavs provided insight on how to grow microgreens in a @washingtonpost article. Farmer Juanita has a greenhouse and a patch in the Tacoma (Seattle suburb) area where she grows a variety of microgreens and herbs. We are so proud to see how she is flourishing; especially because she was our 2nd ever feature, and represented last year at the Organics conference. Keep growing Farmer Juanita #blackfarmersindex #washingtonfarmers #blackfarmers #womenfarmers #microgreens

Four days left in our epic fundraising campaign to raise $30,000. Now our appeals are urgent. We are aiming to raise $30,000 by December 31 with the Knight-Lenfest Transformation agreeing to match up to $10,000 of our efforts. So far, we have raised just over $6,300 with the recent donations of McFarlane Media and Kali A. ($85). Boom! This is major. Wow, we have come such a long way, yet we have more miles to travel. Check this out. We did the math. If everyone who has yet to donate and receives our newsletter—which is just shy of 3,100 people—gives $10 or more, we will meet our goal. That’s it, $10. That’s a cup of fancy coffee and a breakfast sandwich. Just $10 right now goes toward fueling a newsroom committed to delivering great news, features, stories and narratives on the regular. Dollar wine is the title of one of my favorite calypso songs. Trust me, every time we see a donation I am tapping these feet and moving my hips. https://lnkd.in/ebZ6zqPU

Merry Christmas from Ark Republic

It's that time of year again. You know the one where the same old, regularly scheduled, cheap Christmas movies with predictable romantic faux pas play nonstop? Despite their modest budget, they undoubtedly have the power to inspire you to experience love the same way. Or are these movies figments of the imagination? What is true, your plus-one for the holiday parties has yet to manifest. All year, you tried all types of courtship: online dating, blind dates, social meet ups, friend and family pairing, and even matchmaking. You question how you got to be in this situation once more—that is, without a date for your yearly office holiday party. Before, you might have huffed and puffed with anxiety, but this year is different. Eff what they say at a party, or even who you bring, as long as you bring your whole, healthy, gorgeous self. Read the story today by @ayanaproductions --- https://www.arkrepublic.com/2023/12/17/tis-holiday-season-theres-still-time-to-find-love-self-love-that-is/ #arkrepublic #happyholidays #christmas

In our fifth installment of the Intermezzo Podcast by creator, Amanda Agyei, she interviews Ian Elly Ssali Kiggundu. Italian born and of Uganda roots, Ian Elly Ssali Kiggundu is a classically trained pianist who brings the joys of piano to an array of different audiences, his influences range from Beethoven to Malcolm X. Born and raised in Rome, he has carved out a specific lane for himself—he teaches Piano, English, culture and performs internationally. He has also found the time to study Law and lobby the Italian government for rights of second Generation Italians. As well, the virtuoso just finished interning at the Director General's Cabinet within the Director General's Services at the European Space Agency. In this interview, Amanda Agyei weaves an intricate conversation that captures the complex and brilliant tapestry of Kiggundu's perspective and work. The Intermezzo Podcast explores the experiences of the various diasporic communities living in Europe.

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Our Story

Ark Republic started out as a twinkle in my eye.

I noticed a vacuum in mainstream media.

It rarely featured the complex lives and perspectives of the people I interviewed, or the issues we found critical in navigating the world.

Then, friends and colleagues expressed disappointment in the media landscape. For us, news turned into either, partisan politics or entertainment journalism. Repeatedly, I asked, “Where were ourstories? Where were we?” And often, after I read or watched the news, I finished unsatisfied.