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For the fourth year in a row the men of the Eta Nu Nu chapter of the illustrious Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. held in conjunction with Brave Men, Inc. and the 1911 Foundation one of its highly anticipated events titled MAN P.L.E.A.S.E. Check Yourself! In less than two years of its founding, the men of Eta Nu Nu believed it prudent to establish programs that addressed the health and wellbeing of those Black men who live, worship, work, fellowship and attend school in the Columbus Greater Metropolitan area. Every report that the men of Eta Nu Nu were able to get their hands on that featured the state of Black health in Franklin County showed that Black men are disproportionately impacted by this disease in Columbus, Ohio. The good news is if caught early carriers of the disease stand more than a good chance of beating it, hence the importance of programs like MAN P.L.E.A.S.E. Check Yourself! 

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A new perspective has entered the arena in Ohio's state capital as Samantha Baker announced her people-powered candidacy for Mayor of Columbus in the 2027 election.

Surrounded by supporters at Slammer's Bar and Grill in downtown Columbus Friday night, Baker said “We deserve to be able to afford to live and eat and work in the city we call home. We, the working-class people of Columbus, deserve to have a city that works for us. This campaign is about taking our future into our own hands and fighting for the Columbus that we deserve.”

Monday, September 14, 3:30PM
Columbus City Hall, 90 W. Broad St.

Safety Not Surveillance Coalition Demands More from The City of Columbus; Safeguards Simply aren’t Enough

Community coalition calls for immediate removal of Automated License Plate Reader cameras across Central Ohio, citing documented ICE data access and harm to immigrant communities

The Safety Not Surveillance Coalition, a group of community-based organizations who formed to coordinate anti-Flock organizing in Central Ohio and build a strategy to decrease surveillance in our communities, issued urgent demands on Monday, August 10th ahead of a City Council hearing: the immediate cancellation of all contracts with Flock Safety and the rapid dismantling of its Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) camera network throughout Central Ohio.

Saturday, September 12

This Is What We Need

GET TOGETHER. We really need each other right now.

There have been beautiful events and tributes honoring the life of Pierre Damas Bel, the young man from Springfield whose promise and future was cut short by the Trump administration’s unforgivable immigration policy. If you can, please donate to his family’s expenses and brothers’ futures.

A lot is happening Saturday, September 12 — please join us for any or all of it.

Occam’s Razor is the logic that the most obvious choice to a question is also probably the correct answer.

Take for example, your Columbus City Council recently decided to schedule their public hearing on data center policies at the same exact time as the public hearing on Phase 2 of ZoneIn (September 16).

Exact Same Day and Time.

Two important issues that deserve testimony, but you’re only allowed to attend one of them.

City Council could have scheduled them both on different days, but they made the decision to force you to choose which to attend.

What’s the Obvious Answer to Why Council Would Do This?

·         They don’t want you to attend.

·         They don’t want to hear your testimony.

·         They would rather manipulate the schedule to help themselves work less.

This is what City Council does, but it isn’t democracy.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 11, 12, 13
Friday 4:30-10pm
Saturday 12-10pm
Sunday 12-8pm

On the lawn of the Columbus Health Department between Main Street and Bryden Road
240 Parsons Avenue

Hot Times Festival 2025 at 240 Parsons Ave!

The Hot Times Festival is not just an arts and music festival; it’s an opportunity to connect and be inspired. This event has an atmosphere of positivity and creativity that leaves a lasting impact on all who attend. 

Two music stages, performances, food and drink, arts and crafts vendors, children's activities and community organizations.

Stop by the WGRN 91.9FM radio booth!

Join in the Free Press Second Saturday Salon at the Hot Times porch stage on Saturday at 5pm with "The Irvine Boys' - comedy and music. 

Hosted by Hot Times Festival.

Thursday, September 10, 2026 - 6:00-8:00pm
Northside Branch Library

Come join us for a screening of Condemned, a powerful documentary about Keith LaMar’s wrongful conviction and the ongoing fight to free him.

Condemned explains how Keith LaMar found himself targeted by the State of Ohio for crimes with which he had nothing to do. In spite of the absence of any sort of DNA or forensic evidence and under a mountain of suppressed evidence, and with the only witnesses in his trial benefitting from perks in exchange for their testimony (early paroles and dismissed charges), an all-white jury in an all-white, southern Ohio county found Keith guilty of inmate deaths, and sent him to Ohio’s Death Row.

I spoke to Columbus City Council about the threat of climate change on July 9, 2024. I felt depressed afterwards since it seemed nobody was interested. It was confusing at the time, but at least now I can say that “I told you so.”

The United Nations confirmed that we are past the “tipping point” of severe climate change. We could have done something years ago, but we chose not to.

We can’t stop climate change.

Our two options are to:

GoFundMe for Pierre Damas Bel's family

In memory of Pierre Damas Bel

Pierre Damas Bel was a 20-year-old Haitian immigrant from Springfield, Ohio, whose life ended in a heartbreaking tragedy yesterday. Pierre had recently received a $10,000 academic scholarship, a sign of promise and hard work, while also facing the heavy burden of having an ankle bracelet placed on him due to his immigration status.

I was on the phone with my husband on August 31st when he witnessed the aftermath of Pierre's death by suicide. Since that moment, we have felt moved to do something tangible to support Pierre’s loved ones during this unimaginable loss.

Monday, September 7, 5:45pm
Gateway Film Center, 1550 N. High St.

Three American physicians—Palestinian, Jewish, and Zoroastrian—are united by a single oath to save lives. After volunteering in besieged hospitals in Gaza, they return home determined to fight for the patients and colleagues they left behind, taking their battle from the front lines of war to the halls of Congress.

American Doctor (2026) is an Official Selection of Sundance Film Festival from Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Poh Si Teng.

Also plays Wednesday, August 9 at 5:45pm/