Welcome back to The Weekly Wrap, our Friday roundup of stories that explain the problems oppressing people in cities and elevate the solutions that bring us closer to economic, environmental and social justice.

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It’s Been Nearly Five Years Since George Floyd’s Death. Has Anything Changed?

Recent research from Pew Research Center shows that in 2025, 72% of U.S. adults said that the focus on racial inequality across the country did not lead to any changes that helped the Black community. That is compared to 52% of U.S. adults who in 2020 believed the increased focus on racial issues would lead to significant change in subsequent years.

In light of that data, the 19th spoke to Black activists in cities and towns across the country about the change they’ve noticed and what still needs to be done. While many recognize that there hasn’t been a lot of progress since the murder of George Floyd sparked a racial reckoning, some note that the work of social movements must continue on — in addition to embracing joy.

“We need all the Black joy as possible because our joy has to be non-negotiable at this time,” Monica Simpson, executive director of SisterSong, told the outlet. “That’s a powerful and necessary part of how we make it through.”

In related news… The Emancipator reports that the Justice Department is rolling back police reform, noting that the move is “emblematic of the Trump administration’s retreat from policies that center equity for communities of color.”

A New Boston Program Is Making Homeownership Possible

Boston’s Co-Purchasing Housing Pilot Program offers a path to multi-family homeownership. The program, which launched in March, offers “first-time homebuyers down payment assistance for co-purchasing arrangements in which multiple families purchase a two- or three-family home under a single mortgage,” Smart Cities Dive reports.

The pilot is meant to address the cost of homes in Boston, which is out of reach for many residents. A market-rate two-bedroom condo in the city was $790,000 in 2024, according to Boston’s Housing Innovation Lab. Through the program, households can receive as much as $50,000 in zero-percent interest-deferred loans to cover down payments or closing costs, depending on their earnings compared to the area median income.

The SBA Is Overhauling Its Community Advantage Loan Program, Aimed at Underserved Founders

When the Community Advantage Small Business Loan program was implemented in 2011, the initiative set out to expand access to capital for those in underserved areas by working with mission-driven lenders.

Now the Trump-era Small Business Administration is effectively ending the program, according to Inc. The SBA points to the combination of a 7% default rate over the past year as a reason to shut it down. But the program has made big impact over the years. Inc reports that between fiscal years 2011 and 2023, the program underwrote 8,248 loans totaling $1.1 billion, according to data from the Federal Register.

The Potential Impact of “No Tax on Tips”

The “No Tax on Tips” provision is part of the sprawling domestic policy bill that House Republicans passed on Thursday. AP reports that the provision would “create a new tax deduction eliminating federal income taxes on tips for people working in jobs that have traditionally received them, as long as they make less than $160,000 in 2025.”

This “No Tax on Tips” pitch became part of Trump’s 2024 campaign, as an appeal to working class voters. Experts share that it might not actually help low-income service workers. “It’s overlooking non-tipped workers who need the help just as badly, and it’s giving the benefit predominantly to the least needy of the tipped workers,” Michael Lynn, a professor at Cornell University whose research largely focuses on tipping and other consumer behavior, told the outlet.

In related news… Al Jazeera reported that the measure known as the “nonprofit killer” was removed from the bill ahead of the House vote.

Museums and Libraries Cautiously Optimistic About Reinstated Grants

Staff at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), who had previously been put on administrative leave, are returning to work and some IMLS grants have been reinstated. During this time, libraries across the country have started cutting back on staff and programming.

Hyperallergic reports that the restoration of funds comes after a major federal lawsuit against the executive order that called for the dismantling of IMLS. It was filed by a coalition of attorneys general representing 21 states.

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MORE NEWS

• Incarcerated firefighters could soon join the LA County Fire Department after they’re released. LAist

• Tenant, real estate groups team up against rent hike for some voucher recipients. City & State New York

• A church wants a homeless shelter. The mayor wants a space for pickleball. New York Times

• Gov. Pillen vetoes bedbug bill aimed at relief for Omaha public housing residents. Nebraska Examiner

• Supreme Court narrows police immunity in use-of-force cases. Smart Cities Dive

• Surviving occupation in a climate-changed West Bank. Atmos

• Justice Dept. to use False Claims Act to pursue institutions over DEI efforts. The New York Times

• Sirens failed. FEMA didn’t show up. Now Black St. Louis recovers from deadly tornadoes alone. Capital B

• Their small farms helped stock food pantries. That program is going away. The 19th

• $365M slated for solar projects in Puerto Rico will be diverted to power grid, sparking outcry. AP

OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES

• DEADLINE TODAY: The Tow Foundation’s Innovation Fund is open to proposals from organizations advancing youth mental health in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New York or Pennsylvania. Apply by May 23.

• The Knight Emerging City Champions program by 8 80 Cities is accepting applications from civic innovators aged 18-35 from Akron, Ohio; Charlotte, North Carolina; Detroit; Macon, Georgia; Miami; Philadelphia; San Jose, California; and St. Paul, Minnesota. Apply by May 28.

• The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Evidence for Action has a call for proposals for two types of research to advance racial and Indigenous health equity: rapid response research and new research support. Apply by May 28 and July 16, respectively. (Disclosure: RWJF currently funds Next City.)

• New Profit seeks a cohort of innovative nonprofits expanding economic mobility for more than $110,000 in funding and support. Complete a discovery form by May 30 to be considered for the current grantmaking cycle.

• The National Low Income Housing Coalition is accepting applications for its next cohort of tenant advocates and community leaders in housing justice with lived experience of housing insecurity. Apply by June 6.

• The Black Migrant Power Fund is accepting proposals for its new Intersectional Power Fund, which is focused on supporting and building power with Black trans and gender non-conforming migrants in the United States. Submit your proposal by June 13.

• The Cartier Women’s Initiative, an entrepreneurship program for mission-driven founders around the world, is accepting applications from women-led businesses that aim to create social or environmental impact. Apply by June 24.

• The Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation’s local grant program is accepting applications from nonprofits supporting mental health initiatives in their own community. Apply by July 1.

• Norfolk Southern’s Thriving Communities Grant and the Safety First Grant are accepting applications for initiatives that drive community resilience and local economic development; public safety and first responder readiness; and sustainability and workforce development. Apply by Sept. 1.

• Check out Next City’s jobs board for new opportunities.

EVENTS

• June 4 at 1 p.m. Eastern: Next City is hosting a conversation about racial justice in mobility with Charles T. Brown, author of “Arrested Mobility: Overcoming the Threat to Black Movement” and founder and CEO of Equitable Cities.

• June 12 at 1 p.m. Eastern: The Chronicle of Higher Education is hosting a series of conversations about the Trump administration’s impact on higher education.

• Check out events from Next City and our partners here!

This post was originally published on Next City.