by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 11, 2025

OpenAI Foundation Launches Fund To Support Nonprofits Advancing AI

The OpenAI Foundation is investing $40 million in nonprofits that promote the use and understanding of AI.

The OpenAI Foundation has announced a multi-million-dollar investment in community-based nonprofits whose work includes broadening access to AI.

On Dec. 3, the top AI platform unveiled its People-First AI Fund, pledging $40.5 million in unrestricted grants to 208 U.S. nonprofits that strengthen communities while advancing AI use. The first round of funds will be distributed by year’s end, with an additional $9.5 million in board-directed grants to be announced in the coming months.

“The People-First AI Fund reflects our commitment to supporting a wide range of organizations advancing work that strengthens communities and expands opportunity,” said Bret Taylor, chair of the OpenAI Foundation Board. “We’re proud to support this first group of grantees and to continue work that is mission-driven and responsive to the people it exists to serve.”

Nearly 3,000 U.S.-based organizations applied to the fund between Sept. 8 and Oct. 8, which the tech giant said highlights both the demand for support and the eagerness of community groups to shape how AI benefits their work and communities.

Through the People-First AI Fund, OpenAI seeks to back nonprofits driving transformative AI initiatives in areas like health, reflecting the fund’s commitment to people-first values and public impact.

The first 18 grant recipients serve communities spanning rural and urban areas. They include national networks for news literacy and veteran support, youth-led initiatives in the Midwest, faith-based groups in the South, rural development programs in California’s Central Valley, and Native-led media and STEM education projects in the Southwest.

Through the People-First AI Fund, OpenAI aims to support community organizations offering forms of AI literacy, public education, innovation, economic opportunity, and transformative programs. By providing flexible, unrestricted funding, it aims to tackle the priorities that communities identify as most important.

“Thank you to the community leaders who helped shape this Fund. We’re committed to learning side-by-side with grantees, sharing insights, and continuing to support efforts that improve people’s lives,” the foundation said.

Digital ID’s, digital IDs, Georgia, TSA precheck, TSA pre check

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 11, 2025

Tourists From 42 Countries May Have To Submit 5 Years Of Social Media Content To Visit The U.S.

Since taking over the White House a second time, President Donald Trump and his team have focused on criticism spread on social media.

The Trump administration wants visitors from 42 countries enrolled in the United States’ visa waiver program to submit personal information, in addition to five years of social media history, so they can enjoy visa-free travel to the U.S., CBS News reports.

The information came from a notice shared by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Countries enrolled in the visa waiver program, which permits visitors coming to the U.S. to stay for up to 90 days for business or pleasure without having to apply for a visa, include European countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, and allies such as Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea.

Visitors will still be required to submit an application online under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) process designed to guarantee applicants are eligible for visa-free travel to the U.S. and don’t pose a security threat.

Changes are still subject to review by the White House’s budget office but are designed to align an executive order President Donald Trump issued in early 2025 with the goal of denying entry to foreigners who may be seen as a threat to national security or public safety.

The Trump administration seems to think social media is the way to spot such people.

Since taking over the White House a second time, Trump and his team have zeroed in on criticism spread on social media, targeting political takes from foreign college students and professionals. According to The Hill, a French scholar was denied U.S. entry for posting critical messages about the administration’s research policies. Soon after, the student was deported to Europe.

In April, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the social media accounts of applicants flagged for antisemitic content would be considered grounds for immigration benefits denial. Months later, the State Department projected foreign student visa applicants would be required to make their social media accounts public for vetting or risk being denied entry to the U.S.

To date, eligible foreign tourists are permitted to visit the U.S. for 90 days without a visa, but not without obtaining the $40 electronic travel authorization.

Critics feel the proposed changes will do more harm than good, scaring potential travelers and negatively impacting tourism ahead of the United States hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup along with Canada and Mexico.

Not On My Shift: Convenience Store Manager Locks ICE Out Of Building

by Kandiss Edwards

December 11, 2025

Not On My Shift: Convenience Store Manager Locks ICE Out Of Building

ICE agents have descended on the state in a continued effort to support the Trump administration immigration mandate.

A convenience store manager in Kenner, Louisiana, locked a group of U.S. Border Patrol agents out of his store over the weekend.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have descended on the state in a continued effort to support the Trump administration in its mass deportation mandate. The incident occurred at a Brother’s convenience store on Dec. 6. When two unmarked sport-utility vehicles containing agents wearing Border Patrol vests pulled into the parking lot, assistant manager Wayne Davis took action. Davis was inside helping a customer, and the customer showed signs of distress at ICE’s presence. The Louisiana man decided he would bar entry to the building, opting instead to taunt the agents. Footage of the event went viral.

“You want some chicken? You ain’t getting it here, bro,” Davis can be heard saying.

He also directed the agents to “go somewhere else” as they attempted to enter the store. Furthermore, as Davis records the encounter on his cellphone, he raises his middle finger toward the agents. Eventually, the agents returned to their vehicles before leaving the scene.

YES….This is the way….don’t let the ICE Nazis Agents into your stores….let them starve like the filthy rats they are….Brother's Food Mart in Kenner, Louisiana for the win! 🎯🔥
pic.twitter.com/jOLLap4nim
— Lucas Sanders 👊🏽🔥🇺🇸 (@LucasSa56947288) December 7, 2025

According to NOLA, the Border Patrol agents were in Kenner as part of a broader federal enforcement campaign dubbed “Operation Catahoula Crunch.” That operation involves Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents working in southeast Louisiana and New Orleans. The outlet also reports that internal documents reveal the intent to detain 5,000 immigrants.

U.S. Border Commander Greg Bovino is currently in Louisiana heading operations for “Operation Catahoula Crunch” and is speaking loudly about his aggressive tactics, touting America First rhetoric.

“This is f***ng country Somebody’s taping me? Continue to tape me. Nobody tells us where to go, when to go, how to go — in our f***ng country!” Bovino said in a video posted to X.

A lawyer interviewed by local media said that under the current law, a business is generally within its rights to refuse entry to anyone, including law enforcement. Unless those officers possess a valid warrant signed by a judge, they can be denied. The lawyer said that the state law that makes interfering with federal immigration enforcement a crime has limited application when it comes to private property access.

by Jameelah Mullen

December 11, 2025

Global State Of Women Relief Fund Continues To Aid Black Women During Unemployment Crisis

The initiative continues to offer critical financial assistance to those in need.

For the third time this year, the Global State of Women Relief Fund is offering financial aid to Black women, aiming to support those who have lost their jobs in 2025. The Relief Fund provides one-time grants ranging from $500 to $ 1,500.

Sponsored by Teknique Cares, a nonprofit centered on beauty and wellness, the campaign is offering another round of grants. In September, the organization awarded 66 grants ranging from $500 to $1,500, and on Dec 1, it presented two Expert Creator awards of $2,500 each.

In 2025, over 300,000 Black women lost their jobs, many due to the dismantling of DEI initiatives and government shake-ups caused by the Trump administration. The Global State of Relief Fund aims to help bridge the gap. While everyone is welcome to apply, priority will be given to Black women facing unemployment, especially those who are caregivers, single mothers, or work in industries that have recently experienced mass layoffs.

“As 2025 comes to an end, we recognize this may be a time that brings both reflection and increased pressure. Our commitment remains steadfast as we work to raise additional resources and provide relief to women navigating financial strain, employment challenges, caregiving responsibilities, and unexpected life transitions,” the organization wrote on its website.

Award recipients may receive between $500 and $1,500. The organization stated it has received an “overwhelming” number of applications, but encourages others in need to apply. Those who have already submitted their applications do not need to reapply, as their applications will be considered during this process. Interested applicants must submit their applications by December 21.

Founded by tech and entertainment mogul Valeisha Butterfield, The Global State of Women is an international platform dedicated to empowering women worldwide through advocacy. The organization also produces State of Women Reports that track progress and highlight racial and gender disparities across sectors.

Carmelo Anthony, soccer trial, Puerto Rico, invstment

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 11, 2025

Carmelo Anthony To Serve As New York/New Jersey Hospitality Captain For 2026 FIFA World Cup

'I’m thrilled to be your FIFA World Cup Hospitality Captain.'

NBA Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony has added another job to his slate. He has announced that he will serve as the New York/New Jersey Hospitality Captain for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Brooklyn-born former basketball player took to social media to inform his followers and soccer fans that he will take on the role of highlighting the games in the area. He also stated that he will help connect fans and the sports world to the “local flavors” between the two neighboring states. As Anthony seems excited to lead the charge for the games, he says, “I can’t wait to welcome the world to New York and New Jersey!”

“The biggest stage in sports is set – and coming here to our home turf!”

“I’m thrilled to be your #FIFAWorldCup Hospitality Captain, connecting with fans and putting a spotlight on the football/soccer, local flavors, and energy that gives NYNJ our edge.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Carmelo Anthony (@carmeloanthony)

Anthony, who was recently inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Sept. 6 in Springfield, Massachusetts, the “Birthplace of Basketball,” has been pretty busy for a man who has retired. He is currently a sports analyst with NBC and a successful entrepreneur. In April, he revealed that his cannabis brand, STAYME7O, and agency, Grand National, have launched their company in New York.

And keeping with his New York roots, where he once played for the New York Knicks, he announced earlier this year that his wine, VII(N) The Seventh Estate, is being sold at Madison Square Garden.

The Denver Nuggets drafted Anthony, and during his playing career, he also played for the Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, and Portland Trail Blazers before ending his career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

During his only season of college basketball, he led Syracuse University to its first and only NCAA men’s basketball tournament championship. He then entered the 2003 NBA Draft, in which the Denver Nuggets selected him with the third overall pick.

by Kandiss Edwards

December 11, 2025

Is Diddy Filing A $1B Lawsuit Against Netflix?

Diddy's team has condemned the project as a “shameful hit piece."

Sean “Diddy” Combs is reportedly preparing to file a $1 billion defamation lawsuit over the new docuseries, Sean Combs: The Reckoning, All HipHop reports.

Since the release of the docuseries, Diddy’s team has condemned the project as a “shameful hit piece” and a “blatant attempt to harm Mr. Combs’ reputation.” The legal team has consistently cited two points of contention:

Unauthorized Footage: Diddy’s representatives argue that the filmmakers relied on appropriated footage and material that Combs had been gathering to narrate his own life story since he was 19. They claim this content was never authorized for public disclosure, making Netflix’s use “fundamentally unjust but also illegal.”
Lack of Impartiality: The legal team has heavily criticized Netflix for collaborating with 50 Cent, Diddy’s nemesis and an executive producer on the docuseries, arguing that the streaming service granted creative control to an individual who “harbors a personal vendetta” against Diddy. They contend that a project demanding neutrality was shaped by a longstanding personal grievance, which represents a profound “rupture of trust.”

https://twitter.com/Onye_Nnewi/status/1998778663441998217

Diddy was recently sentenced to four years in prison for soliciting prostitution. Controlling his personal narrative will go a long way in reviving his career once he’s released.

His mother, Janice Combs, has also taken exception to multiple assertions in the documentary, and spoke out on claims from Diddy’s former business partner and childhood friend, Kirk Burrows, made in The Reckoning.

“The allegations stated by Mr. Kirk Burrows (Diddy’s former business partner) that my son slapped me while we were conversing after the tragic City College events on December 28, 1991, are inaccurate and patently false,” Combs said. “That was a very sad day for all of us.

Janice Combs is seeking a retraction of these and other claims.

Trump, meme, Barack Obama, Sherrill, campaign, Virginia, New Jersey

by Kandiss Edwards

December 11, 2025

‘Santa Obama’ Reads To Students At Chicago’s Bessie Coleman Library

Former President Obama was in the Windy City to check on the progress of the nearly finished Barack Obama Presidential Library.

Former President Barack Obama made a holiday pop-up visit to a Chicago library for an impromptu story time.

On Dec. 9, Obama donned a Santa hat and visited the Bessie Coleman library in his former city. Students from Burke Elementary school were surprised by the arrival of “Santa Obama.” The children were diligently working at the time of his arrival, though he was under the impression that a celebration was underway, the Chicago Tribune reported.

“Everybody seems to be working hard,” Obama said. “I thought we were going to have a little Christmas party, and everybody’s doing their homework. What’s happening?”

While the students were not born when the first Black president held office, they learned about his history-making presidential victory during the day’s lesson. Their newfound knowledge prompted exclamations of surprise when he entered the room.

In keeping with the location, Obama read the students Flying Free: How Bessie Coleman’s Dreams Took Flight by Karyn Parsons. While reading about Coleman’s fulfilled dreams, Obama questioned the children about their personal aspirations.

“I want to be like you!” a student declared.

I had fun reading to some Burke Elementary students at the Chicago Public Library today. When the Obama Presidential Center opens next year, we’ll have a new branch of the library for the community to enjoy. pic.twitter.com/IQVJSXRglt
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 10, 2025

The visit to Chicago was more than holiday fun for Obama. The former president dropped in on the Windy City to survey the progress of the Barack Obama Presidential Center. The structure was initially slated to open in 2021 and has suffered setbacks. Construction on the center is behind schedule and over budget by over $300 million, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported. Furthermore, outside entities involved in the project are at odds with one another. Former construction worker for the project, Robert Mcgee, is suing the center’s engineer for racial discrimination. However, even the setbacks are not stopping progress.

During a visit to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas, Obama announced the Barack Obama Presidential Center will open in June 2026. The summer opening guarantees the Chicago cold is not a deterrent for out-of-towners.

“We’re going to open in June so that y’all don’t have to bring your coats up,” he said.

The facility will feature a full-length basketball court, a branch of the Chicago Public Library, acres of park space, and more. The former leader said the space is designed to foster community.

“We want to create a campus, a place where the public gathers for a range of things that puts them face to face with each other and get them to meet and be in dialogue and conversation and exposed to new ideas with each other,” Obama said.

Black Lives Matter Plaza, Republicans, Polititcs

by Mitti Hicks

December 11, 2025

Political Troll: Rep. Nancy Mace Seeks To Rename Black Lives Matter Plaza After Charlie Kirk

Trump and other Republican lawmakers have said Black Lives Matter has antisemitic ties.

South Carolina Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace has introduced a bill to rename the former Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C., to Charlie Kirk Freedom of Speech Plaza.

Mace introduced legislation on December 11 to rename the well-known stretch of 16th Street NW in the nation’s capital. It comes nearly three months after Kirk, a conservative political activist, was killed during the first stop of his America Comeback Tour with Turning Point USA at an Utah college.

According to Mace, the change honors Kirk’s commitment to the First Amendment. She called him “a champion of free speech and a voice for millions of young Americans.”

According to WTOP, her bill would require official signs to be placed in the plaza and updates made to federal maps and records.

In 2020, the street was originally dedicated as Black Lives Matter Plaza following nationwide protests over the police killing of George Floyd. As soon as President Donald Trump took office for his second term, he and other Republican lawmakers advocated to remove the name. Lawmakers claimed that “Black Lives Matter” (BLM) had antisemitic ties.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered workers to paint over Black Lives Matter to appease the current administration and to slow down federal intervention city-wide, The Hill reports.

Mace doubled down on the name change.

“The BLM movement is a terrorist organization who targeted our law enforcement, rioted in our streets, looted, and burned cities to the ground,” she said on X. “One deserves to have memorials and recognition. You decide which.”

D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton is pushing back on Mace’s bill.

“D.C. deserves to decide what its own streets are named since over 700,000 people live in the city,” Norton wrote on X. “D.C. is not a blank slate for Congress to fill in as it pleases.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 11, 2025

Former New England Patriots Running Back Kevin Faulk Loses Second Daughter In 4 Years

His 30-year-old daughter, Tanasha, died at Oschner Lafayette Medical Center in Louisiana

Super Bowl champion Kevin Faulk is reliving grief, following the death of his daughter, Tanasha, four years after the death of another daughter, Kevione.

According to The Acadiana Advocate, Faulk’s 30-year-old daughter died Saturday, Dec. 6, in Louisiana at the Oschner Lafayette Medical Center. No details have been released on the cause of death, but no foul play has been suspected. Sadly, Faulk had to mourn Kevione in September 2021 when she passed away at the age of 19 while attending Louisiana State University (LSU). She was serving as a student worker for the school’s football program when she died.

Faulk is a former New England Patriots player who spent his entire career with the franchise (1999–2011) and is currently on the New York Giants coaching staff.

At the start of his weekly press conference, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel acknowledged Faulk’s loss and well-wishes to him.

“I just want to send anything that we can and well wishes to Kevin and Latisha Faulk. Obviously, we’re all heartbroken. Kevin was a teammate. He’s a huge part of this legacy here of this football team, and the impact that he made here, coaching in college, and how much he loved LSU. There’s no way to describe what they’re going through, but I just wanted to make sure that everybody knows that we care deeply about Kevin and his family, and our thoughts and our prayers are with them.”

Coach Vrabel extends heartfelt condolences and sympathy to Patriots Hall of Famer Kevin Faulk and his family. pic.twitter.com/TxJraxOUP3
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 10, 2025

Before Faulk began his professional football career, he played quarterback at Carencro High in 1992, leading the school to a state championship. While at LSU, he switched positions and became an All-American running back. After being drafted by the Patriots, he helped them win three Super Bowls before retiring after the 2011 season.

Tanasha left behind three daughters.

Kerry Washington, Tyler Perry, The Six Triple Eight, WWII

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 11, 2025

Kerry Washington Joins Elaine Welteroth’s BirthFUND100 To Raise $1M For ‘Mothers Who Have Been Failed For Far Too Long’

Kerry Washington is teaming up with Elaine Welteroth’s BirthFUND in response to recent cases of Black mothers being denied care during labor.

Kerry Washington is teaming up with Elaine Welteroth’s BirthFUND100 to raise $1 million to support mothers, responding to viral cases of Black women being turned away from hospitals while in labor.

On Dec. 2, Giving Tuesday, Washington took to Instagram for a call to action to mobilize a “cultural power list” of 100 leaders, “to stand in the gap for mothers,” in helping raise funds in support of BirthFUND’s mission to provide mothers in need with “real support, real resources, and real protection when it matters most.”

“I saw you sitting in that hospital room, folding inward with fear, screaming out in your suffering, every contraction a question. Will anyone here help me? Can they not see my pain?” Washington said in the video.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kerry Washington (@kerrywashington)

As the Scandal star spoke, clips and viral videos highlighted recent incidents of Black mothers being turned away from hospitals during active labor, including Mercedes Wells at Franciscan Hospital in Crown Point, Illinois—a case that led to the introduction of the maternal health WELLS Act.

“No woman should have to prove she is worthy of care. No mother should have to fight to be seen as human while bringing human life into this world. Your body was speaking truth, and they chose not to listen,” Washington said. “Because what happened to you is not just cruelty. It is history repeating itself in real time. It is bias disguised as protocol. It is neglect disguised as neutrality. It is a system failing Black and brown women in the moments that matter most.”

Research indicates that Black women face far higher risks of death and complications during pregnancy and childbirth—2.6 to 3 times higher than White women—due to systemic racism, socioeconomic disparities, and implicit bias in healthcare. Recent data sets show roughly 50–70 deaths per 100,000 live births for Black women, compared with 14–19 for White women, even as overall maternal mortality declines.

“That just helps frame how dire some of these situations are and just how afraid many Black women and women of color are of the hospital system,” Welteroth said. “…That is why we have to create a pipeline for more community birth workers who look like the patients that they [serve], who can [serve] them in a way that is respectful and empowering and dignified and in their own home, if that’s their preferred choice.”

When launching BirthFUND in 2024 with Serena Williams, Welteroth shared how a midwife saved her life after spotting post-birth blood clot symptoms. Midwives play a critical role in reducing maternal and neonatal deaths, especially for Black women, research shows, by providing culturally competent, holistic care.

Citing viral cases of Black mothers being denied care and how the BirthFUND was able to support a mother of five who needed an at-home birth, Welteroth emphasized the urgent need for a larger, diverse pool of birth workers.

“That just helps frame how dire some of these situations are and just how afraid many Black women and women of color are of the hospital system,” Welteroth told AfroTech. “…That is why we have to create a pipeline for more community birth workers who look like the patients that they [serve], who can [serve] them in a way that is respectful and empowering and dignified and in their own home, if that’s their preferred choice.”

Through its latest campaign to engage “100 culture changemakers” and raise $1 million for a rapid relief fund, BirthFUND100 seeks to address urgent challenges facing mothers and families, including food insecurity, unsafe housing, transportation barriers, and medical emergencies, joining Welteroth and Washington as cultural impact partners are Michelle Monaghan and entrepreneurs Laura Modi and Nancy Twine.

“#BirthFUND and #BirthFUND100 are uplifting mothers who have been failed for far too long. And together, we can help make birth safe, equitable, and full of dignity for EVERY parent,” Washington wrote on Instagram.