Official/ Approved photo of Tonya Rivens

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.

A recent poll shows that some Pastors of Black and Latino congregations feel ill-equipped, not adequately prepared and not properly trained to address mental health care.  “Where Would You Go? Race, Religion, and the Limits of Pastor Mental Health Care in Black and Latino Congregations is a study published in the Journal, Religions. Parishioners said […]

The North American Falconers Association describes Falconry as “the taking of wild quarry in its natural state and habitat by means of a trained raptor.”  It’s a profession that has been around for close to 4000 years.  And training for the profession is intense with two years as an apprentice and seven years to become […]

Early last year, Black Farmers were rewarded $4 billion in federal funds.  The money has not been distributed due to a lawsuit for reverse discrimination filed by white farmers. National Black Farmers Association President Dr. John Boyd, Jr. says the money is a ‘do or die’ situation for some of them.  Last March, President Biden […]

The US Census says more than 4.4 million businesses, the highest total on record, were created last year.  Many entrepreneurs say the spare time, government support programs, and improved technology influenced their decision to become business owners. Your children don’t have to wait until another pandemic to make the decision to become an entrepreneur.  The […]

When traveling, finding a good hotel can be a challenge.  MadameNoire, an international online magazine, recently listed five black owned hotels you might consider. The Ivy Hotel in Baltimore, MD was founded in 2014 by a husband and wife team, Eddie & Sylvia Brown, who met at Howard University.  Known for it’s unique décor and […]

Healthcare workers at three Atrium hospitals received some TLC last night.  Some members of The Charlotte Symphony performed at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, Atrium Pineville and Atrium University City to thank workers for their tireless efforts to serve others during the pandemic.  Last night’s tribute continues the tradition of the community honoring healthcare workers […]

Please share this number-988.  The number 988 is the new lifeline number to call, text or chat for anyone experiencing a behavioral health crisis.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has launched has launched the Preserving Black Churches Project with a donation of $20 million from the The Lily Endowment. 

A Pew Research Center survey released in December 2021, says that the most religious group in our country are African immigrants.  The survey was based on the following: attendance at weekly service the importance of religion read scripture once weekly believe in God as described in the Bible/ scripture believe that scripture should be taken […]

A look at campus ministries and how they have adjusted to today's student attitude and lifestyle