About Tonya Rivens
Tonya Rivens is an award winning Journalist with close to 30 years in Radio, ten years in television and is a feature writer for a monthly publication. Tonya received the 2021 Chan Zuckerberg Grant from the National Association of Black Journalists and is a 2021-2022 North Carolina Equity Fellow. She has a BA in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with her family.
'After a lengthy career in Airline Management Tonya developed a passion for all things radio. As a radio veteran, Rivens has worn the titles of Program Director, Music Director and Community Affairs Director. Her current show, Sounds of Inspiration With Tonya Rivens, is featured on Praise 100.9 FM and she works as a television freelance reporter. Her radio career also includes stints at WPEG (Power 98 FM), WBAV (V101.9) and WPZS (100.9) and Streetz Charlotte.
Tonya is a member of Hunters Chapel UMC, where she is a Lay Leader.
Hickman Temple AME, an African American Church in West Philadelphia, had two rare Tiffany rose windows that were sold to an antiques collector in November 2022 for $6,000. The windows were auctioned at a Philadelphia based auction house on May 18th for $200,000. The church was built by Presbyterians in 1898. In 2017, Philadelphia’s Department […]
In 2019, the United Methodist Church (UMC) approved an exit plan for churches who disapproved of the denomination’s beliefs about sexuality. The mass exit has resulted in about six percent of its members, mostly in the south, leaving, according to a recent report in Christianity Today. The General Council on Finance and Administration of the […]
Tyrone Porter, one of the founders of the award-winning group, The Christianaires, died on February 14th after a lengthy illness. Porter also served as the President of the Quartet division of the Gospel Music Workshop of America. Porter was known as a champion of quartet music and was known for assisting record labels. A Facebook […]
More than 300 Black female minsters attended the first Black Women in Ministry International Awards Gala at the National Press Club in Washington, DC last month. Twenty outstanding She-roes were recognized in an attempt to mentor Black female clergy, who will lead the future of a predominantly male led profession. Some of the honorees: Dr. […]
In 1922, six black families planted a church in Kearnes, Utah. At the time of the church plant of New Pilgrim Baptist, US Census data shows African Americans were less than .5% of Utah’s population. Pastor Corey J. Hodges says the ministry was inspired by the traditional Southern Baptist style of worship. New Pilgrim Baptist […]
The National Institutes of Health has partnered with Tulane University and forty-two churches in the New Orleans area to start a five-year study to address hypertension in the black community. A grant of $7.6 million has been donated to train church wellness coordinators to work with church members to start early conversations about disparities in […]
Watch the story: https://youtu.be/4M2dMAVmmQc (https://youtu.be/4M2dMAVmmQc) Bernard Robinson, the father of Shanquella Robinson, says he is leaning on his faith and his family as he seeks justice for his daughter. I asked Robinson and their family pastor, what justice looks like. Bishop John Walker, of Macedonia Baptist Church, says he believes that all of the individuals […]
Victory Christian Center (VCC) released a statement today to advise that Senior Pastor Robyn Gool transitioned on yesterday, November 18th. The statement on their website reads: “We wanted to inform you that Pastor Robyn Gool went home to be with the Lord Friday evening, November 18. While we are saddened by his passing, we rejoice […]
According to Forbes, in 2012, 80 percent of Black beauty supply stores were stocked with products for chemically straightened hair and 20% of products for natural hair. Today, the demand for natural hair products has reversed as Black women have transitioned back to natural hair. Kline & Company, a market research firm, says that “sales […]
A new study published by the journal Cell Metabolism indicates that eating early helps with weight loss. The research from two studies suggests that keeping meals within a 10-hour period could improve cholesterol and blood sugar levels. According to Cell Metabolism, two studies were conducted. Participants consumed the same meals, and the number of calories […]
A group in Hastings, Minnesota says they are on a mission to excavate the history and share information about Brown Chapels African Methodist Episcopal Church, established in 1891. According to Rex Chapman, Black people worshipped with their white neighbors at a church on Vermillion Street but reportedly did not feel welcome. They purchased a white […]
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has created a one-day training workshop to train Black clergy, staff, lay pastors and faith-based clinicians on issues related to mental health and suicide prevention. The workshop, Soul Shop for Black Churches, was created to train church leaders on the impact of suicide on their communities. The workshop also […]