• Politics

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

May 6, 2024

Ex-Fulton County Prosecutor Nathan Wade Defends Actions After Resigning From Trump Case

Wade left the case in March after a court ruling that both he and DA Fani Willis could not stay on.

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Ex-Fulton County prosecutor Nathan Wade speaks to his own defense after resigning from the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump. Wade removed himself from the trial due to his controversial relationship with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

Despite a lengthy battle and testimony from Willis denying any misconduct, a Georgia judge ruled that both attorneys could not stay on the historic trial. Wade stepped down as a top special prosecutor hours after the decision.

Now, Wade is publicly commenting on the additional hearing that threatened to derail the entire trial. According to the attorney, workplace romances are ingrained in American culture.

“Workplace romances are as American as apple pie. It happens to everyone. But it happened to the two of us,” shared Wade during his interview with ABC News on May 5.

When asked if he regretted his relationship with Willis, Wade responded that his only remorse lied in the media attention it received.

“I regret that that private matter became the focal point of this very important prosecution,” he explained. “This is a very important case.”

He added, “I hate that my personal life has begun to overshadow the true issues in the case.”

Wade left the prosecution team in March following a evidentiary hearing into his past with Willis. Trump’s defense team accused Willis of misconduct after discovering their personal relationship, prompting a investigation into allegations that Willis took advantage of the compensation Wade received from his role while on vacation with him.

Judge Scott McAfee determined no sufficient evidence proved a conflict of interest. However, the removal of either Wade or Willis was deemed necessary due to a “significant appearance of impropriety” given their relationship occurred while both worked in the trial.

Following his resignation, Wade has returned to the private sector of law. However, he did acknowledge that the two could have navigated their relationship timeline better to avoid jeopardizing the case.

“Absolutely, absolutely. I’ll concede that that could have been, an approach,” Wade said when asked if they should have considered pausing their relationship. “But there again, when you are in the middle of it, these feelings are developing and you get to a point where the feelings are, are so strong that, you know, you start to want to do things that really are none of the public’s concern.”

Trump’s defense filed an appeal in March to overturn the judge’s ruling to not disqualify Willis. However, the Georgia Court of Appeals has yet to make a decision on that motion. In the meantime, Willis will continue leading the trial against Trump and his affiliates, albeit with no date set.

RELATED CONTENT: Fani Willis Talks Boldly About Race Despite Judge’s Warning 

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

May 6, 2024

78 Dead, More Missing After Extreme Rainfall In South Brazil 

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Originally Published by Reuters 

PORTO ALEGRE/CANOAS/SAO PAULO, May 5 (Reuters) – The death toll from heavy rains that have caused flooding in Brazil’s southern state of Rio Grande do Sul has risen to at least 78, local authorities said on Sunday, with more than 115,000 people displaced.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in Rio Grande do Sul on Sunday morning with most members of his cabinet to discuss rescue and reconstruction efforts with local authorities.

“Bureaucracy will not stand in our way, stopping us from recovering the state’s greatness,” Lula said at a press conference.

• Sports

by Daniel Johnson

May 6, 2024

Olympic Water Polo Star Ashleigh Johnson Prioritizes Inspiration Over Medals, Wants To Empower Black Youth In Water Sport

Johnson made history in 2016, becoming the first Black athlete to make the United States Olympic water polo team.

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For Olympian Ashleigh Johnson, her journey started with a simple desire: to put her mother’s mind at ease when she and her four siblings were near water. Over the course of her life, that desire would morph into a love of swimming, which eventually led to Johnson discovering water polo. Johnson thrived at the goalkeeper position, her prowess led her to Princeton University where she eventually became the institution’s all-time saves leader and helped her squads compile 100 wins. 

As NBC News reports, Johnson made history in 2016, becoming the first Black athlete to make the United States Olympic water polo team, which she led to a gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Rio. Four years later, in Tokyo, Johnson helped the team win gold. Now, as she prepares for the Paris Olympic Games, Johnson is widely considered the best water polo goalkeeper in the world. 

“The longer that you play a sport, the less it becomes about you,” Johnson told NBC News. “I remember when I was young on this national team and just starting to find my footing, I didn’t understand why it was important for me to be here. But I understand now. As a Black woman of Caribbean descent in this sport, I definitely feel a special obligation to be a light for little Black and brown girls—and boys—who may be interested in swimming and water polo. That’s really special and is a priority for me.

“It’s so cool to see how inspiring the sport can be,” Johnson added. “These kids sometimes share their experiences, their struggles, and the chances are I’ve been through something like they have been and [I’m] able to give them some words of encouragement. We’re all unique in some way, but we’re all so similar in other ways. And getting to have these experiences with the kids makes us all really strong.”

“I didn’t even know what water polo was, I had these horrible nightmares and daymares of them falling into the pool and them all trying to save each other, but all drowning together,” her mother, Donna Johnson, told NBC News. “And for Ashleigh, I am very happy that playing the sport has helped her grow into someone who loves to inspire kids.”

RELATED CONTENT: From Walmart Deli To Olympic Dreams: Howard University Graduate Dylan Beard Races For Spot On Olympic Track Team

• Health and Wellness

by Daniel Johnson

May 6, 2024

Maternal Mortality Rate For Black Women Improves, Still Concerning

It is difficult for experts to ascertain exactly what has led to a drop in the numbers.

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According to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the maternal mortality rate for Black women has improved, returning to pre-pandemic levels, but still remains an area of concern. In 2022, the rate of overall deaths returned to 22.3 per 100,000 live births, significantly fewer than in 2021, when it was as high as 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births. This translated into a rate decrease from 69.9 to 49.5 for Black women.

Capital B News reports that the rate is still a matter of grave concern for experts. Jennie Joseph, a midwife and the founder of Commonsense Childbirth Inc. told the outlet that she is still worried about what the numbers represent for Black women. “We’re leveling back out to where we were, which is still abysmal. We don’t know until the next set of numbers come out,” said Joseph before continuing, “This death is preventable no matter which way we count them.”

Right now, with only a year of true post-pandemic numbers, it is difficult for experts to ascertain exactly what has led to a drop in the numbers, but some speculated that it could be due to an increased awareness of and utilization of the services of midwives and doulas, or just the fact that COVID-19 had a devastating impact on childbirth in general. Others hypothesized that the true effect will not be felt until a few years down the road when the impact of closures of rural hospitals, OB-GYN shortages, and the reversal of Roe v. Wade are truly brought to bear on the statistics. 

Dr. Yolanda Lawson, an obstetrician and gynecologist who is also the president of the National Medical Association, told CNN that the stark disparities present for Black women lead her to believe that a lack of adequate maternal healthcare is playing a role in the numbers for Black women. Lawson will testify on maternal health disparities before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education and Pensions on May 9.

“The disparity lingers and persists, as you can see from the data with Black women versus Caucasian women and others. Access is important from a lot of respects. We know that in this country, we’re having maternal healthcare deserts. We have states that have not expanded Medicaid in the face of seeing not only maternal and infant mortality but disparities.” Lawson said. “We have to continue still to make sure that we are supporting states to put in quality improvement projects and initiatives.”

Despite the improved numbers, the United States still has the worst outcomes for mothers among high-earning countries, which remains a point of emphasis for Dr. Angela Bianco, the director of maternal-fetal medicine as well as a professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “Because our stats have been rather abysmal, there’s been really a national call to arms to address our maternal mortality crisis, which is definitively disparately affecting women of color,” Bianco said before emphasizing that a strong mental health support system could help improve outcomes during the childbirth process. 

“There’s also your mental health. Mental health is very much directly correlated to maternal morbidity, maternal outcomes, and mortality,” Bianco said. “So if you can optimize your physical and mental health, have a strong support system in place, have providers that you can build a trusting relationship with, and then if necessary, also avail yourself of ancillary providers like birthing doulas to really have a more robust safety net in place and make sure that you’re in a hospital that provides all the necessary services for you – that’s really the best way to set yourself up for ideal outcomes.”

RELATED CONTENT: New Study Claims The Validity Of U.S. Maternal Mortality Rates Are Up For Debate

• Health and Wellness

by Daniel Johnson

May 6, 2024

Black Men In White Coats Offers Black Children Representation In Medicine

The group's goal is to increase the number of Black men in the medical field through exposure, inspiration, and mentorship.

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As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, Black people tend to live longer in counties that have a higher concentration of Black doctors. In connection with this research, the Black Men in White Coats organization held a youth summit for Milwaukee area youth on May 4. 

Fox 6 Milwaukee reports that the group’s event represents its stated goal to increase the number of Black men in the medical field through exposure, inspiration, and mentorship. The event was held at Milwaukee’s Golda Meir School Upper Campus. Mark Ehioghae, a Medical College of Wisconsin student, said the event was designed so young Black children could envision themselves in those white coats someday. 

“We’re trying to allow these kids to see themselves as they would be in the (operating room),” Ehioghae said. “They’re using their hands. They’re being active, they’re getting the feel of what it is to be a surgeon.” Ehioghae continued, encouraging the kids to keep dreaming. “No dream is too big. I’m a testimony of that, you will be a testimony of that. Find your right mentor and keep pushing forward. I promise you, you’ll get to where I am today.”

An organizer of the youth summit, Dr. Ugwuje Maduekwe, told Fox 6 that the event is closely intertwined with the mission of Black Men in White Coats. “Black men in medicine is a big focus of today because they are the least adequately represented demographic that we have data for,” Dr. Maduekwe said. “Black men in the United States have the worst health outcomes, and we also know that their health outcomes are better when they’re taken care of by physicians who look like them.”

In 2023, Time Magazine reported that the shortage of Black doctors can be traced back to reforms of the early 19th century and into the 20th century, which made it more difficult and discouraging for Black doctors to get licensed to practice medicine in the United States. Motivated by the racist fear of what Black doctors would mean for their share of the profession, white doctors who founded the American Medical Association kept Black doctors from joining their ranks. 

Similar to how the United States would roll out the G.I. Bill after the World Wars, the AMA essentially made it impossible for Black doctors to exist but never explicitly forbade Black doctors from joining its organization. The result of these enacted policies was essentially a segregated system under which Black doctors, unaffiliated with the AMA, would treat Black patients while white doctors treated white patients. This culminated in the release of the Flexner Report in 1910, which had the chilling effect of closing all but two Black medical schools in existence at the time. This has had present-day ramifications, as only around 6% of doctors in America are Black, which experts say constitutes a public health risk. 

New York-based obstetrician and gynecologist Nwameka Ugokwe told Haverford College in 2021 that addressing systemic racism would go a long way toward improving health disparities. 

Systemic racism plays a big part in health disparities,” Ugokwe said. “I work in one of the most underserved areas in Brooklyn—almost all of my patients are Black or Brown. Our neighborhood sees a lack of prenatal care and a lot of preterm births and teen pregnancies. If our hospital were not there, people in this area would have a huge issue getting healthcare at all.” 

Traci Trice, a family medicine physician, agreed, telling Haverford of the importance of ensuring that Black patients are represented by the physicians who participate in the American healthcare system. “Medical students and physicians both benefit from diverse colleagues who can share their experiences and also introduce them to new ones. Diversity increases physicians’ level of empathy toward each other and toward patients from backgrounds different from their own,” she says. “We need more Black physicians because the health of the population depends on it.” 

RELATED CONTENT: Survey: Black People Anticipate Racism At Doctor’s Office

• Sports

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 6, 2024

Serena Williams And Michael Strahan Join Ownership Of Michael Jordan’s Cincoro Tequila

Baseball champion Derek Jeter and pro golfers Keegan Bradley and Dustin Johnson also became part of the ownership group.

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Serena Williams and Michael Strahan are the newest owners of Michael Jordan’s burgeoning Cincoro Tequila company.

The tennis and football champions add to the list of former professional athletes and sports enthusiasts helping Jordan and other NBA-affiliated owners helm their award-winning spirits brand. Along with Williams and Strahan are baseball champion Derek Jeter and pro golfers Keegan Bradley and Dustin Johnson. They are all among the new all-star athletes to join Cincoro’s ownership team, Fox Business reports.

To coincide with the ownership announcement, Cincoro also introduced new 375 mL bottles of Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo to add to its luxury tequila portfolio.

“Cincoro has always been special to me because of the authentic friendships we’ve established around enjoying Cincoro and spending time together, designing it, experiencing it, and tasting it. We are constantly striving for greatness,” Jordan, co-founder of Cincoro Tequila, said in a press release.

“And now that we’re welcoming in some of my closest friends to the business, I’m looking forward to this next era of Cincoro alongside this all-star team.”

Williams already has a decorated business portfolio under her belt with her investment firm Serena Ventures. But her addition at Cincoro allows her to further align herself with sports “greatness.”

“Being part of Cincoro isn’t just about business — it’s about championing a legacy of greatness,” Williams said. “I love Cincoro. Just as I’ve strived for excellence on the court, I recognize the dedication and drive behind Cincoro and I’m thrilled to be part of the team.”

DraftKings Inc. co-founders Matt Kalish and Paul Liberman and CEO Jason Robins also join Cincoro’s all-star line-up of owners. Launched in 2019, the company was founded by Jordan, majority owner of the Boston Celtics Wyc Grousbeck, his wife, financier Emilia Fazzalari, Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, and Wes Edens of the Milwaukee Bucks.

The luxury tequila company boasts its Blanco, Reposado, Anejo, Gold, and Extra Anejo, which retails starting at $99. The black bottle of Jeter’s favorite Cincoro Extra Añejo sells for over $1,000 and can go up to $1,600 at some retail locations.

RELATED CONTENT: Michael Jordan Has Advice For NASCAR Or ‘This Sport Is Going To Die’

• News History

by Daniel Johnson

May 6, 2024

Ole Miss Chancellor Opens Investigation Into Reported Racist Gestures At Campus Protest

The protest marked the first protests of the Israeli offensive in Gaza in Mississippi since students at Columbia University set up an encampment in protest of their school’s funding of Israel.

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As previously reported by BLACK ENTERPRISE, Chancellor Glen Boyce, who oversees the University of Mississippi (commonly referred to as Ole Miss), expressed his intention to initiate an investigation into the behavior of students during a pro-Palestine demonstration on campus. Despite endorsements from Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves and Rep. Mike Collins for the actions of counter-protesters, Boyce proceeded with the investigation.

As Mississippi Today reports, the protest marked the first protests of the Israeli offensive in Gaza in Mississippi since students at Columbia University set up an encampment in protest of their school’s funding of Israel. Initially, the pro-Palestine protest was separated from the hecklers by metal barricades, but the counter protestors found a way around the barricades. Eventually food was being tossed across the barricades and the university police force attempted to de-escalate the situation by escorting pro-Palestinian protestors away from the crowd of counter protestors that had gathered. 

Later, inside the School of Applied Sciences building, pro-Palestinian protestors were thanked by a Palestinian student, Jana, who told the group: “Hey guys, I know that what just happened was really intimidating, and it was a little scary, but I just want to say I’m so proud of you guys.”

Jana added, “This wasn’t going to happen in Oxford without all of you guys. Palestine was being heard. And I just want to thank you guys so much. I know that was such a big risk, but this is the most that people have ever thought for us, so don’t give up. I know that was really hard, but we need to keep fighting. This was just the start of it, okay?”

Although the school’s official position is that they have no ties to Israeli defense funding or defense contractors, protests at other universities have centered on a demand to divest from funding either of those entities. As CNN reports, most of the conversation about the Ole Miss protests revolves around a clip of Jaylin R. Smith, a 24-year-old Black student confronting counter protestors who heckled her, including one who appears to make monkey gestures in her direction. 

According to Ryan Spearman, a student at Ole Miss, Boyce condemned the actions of the counter protestors Spearman describes as racist, and Spearman insinuates in his post on Twitter/X that the wording of the email hints that one of the counter protestors will be investigated.

The NAACP has responded to Rep. Collins’ endorsement of the actions of the student counter protestors, calling for an investigation into Collins by Congressional leaders via a letter. “These actions conducted by a member of the House of Representatives, regardless of intent, legitimize and propagate racism and undermine the principles of equality and justice that our government is sworn to uphold.” The letter, sent to leaders on May 4, reads in part.

As the Daily Mississippian reports, Boyce issued a statement regarding the investigation on May 3. “From yesterday’s demonstration, university leaders are aware that some statements made were offensive, hurtful, and unacceptable, including actions that conveyed hostility and racist overtones. While student privacy laws prohibit us from commenting on any specific student, we have opened one student conduct investigation. We are working to determine whether more cases are warranted,” the statement reads. “To be clear, people who say horrible things to people because of who they are will not find shelter or comfort on this campus. All of us have a responsibility to take seriously our commitment to upholding a safe and welcoming campus environment.”

Xavier Black, a junior international studies major at Ole Miss, told the university newspaper that the history of student protests in America is that those who protest against wars are proven right by history. “There’s a lot of dissension towards this kind of movement. But as we’ve seen throughout history, time and time again, the student movement is never wrong,” Black told the Daily Mississippian. “Time and time again, anytime there’s a student protest, and you’re against it, you’re on the wrong side of history. So I would like to be on the right side.”

RELATED CONTENT: Congressman Applauds Heckling Of War Protestors At Ole Miss, Including Racial Taunting Black Woman With Monkey Gestures

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 6, 2024

Unhoused Cancer Patient Won’t Get New ID To Access $400K Raised Through GoFundMe

Why has the homeless cancer patient who went viral earlier this year still hasn't received his $400,000 in GoFundMe donations?

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The houseless cancer patient who went viral earlier this year after a generous TikToker helped him get off his feet still hasn’t received the $400,000 raised on GoFundMe for him due to his alleged reluctance to obtain a new photo ID.

Sanai Graden went above and beyond for a man identified as Alonzo Hebron after he asked her for a cup of tea in February. Instead of just getting Hebron a cup of tea, Graden shared her journey to purchase groceries and medicine for the ailing man and pay for him to stay inside a hotel.

As she chronicled the development of their friendship, Graden asked social media for help to secure adequate housing and care for Hebron. Since launching a GoFundMe in his honor, Graden has raised over $400,000 for Hebron while she continues to pay for his lodging inside a hotel.

Now, popular Instagram user The Queen Po, who’s been heavily tuned into the story, is explaining why Hebron still hasn’t received the funds and why Graden isn’t to blame.

“Imagine if the only thing standing between you and $400,000 was a trip to the DMV,” she said in a video shared on Thursday, May 2. “Imagine if someone walked up to you and said ‘I’ll give you $400,000 all you gotta do is go get a new ID.”

She provided an update on Graden and Hebron, or “Unc,” as many began to call him affectionately, and how the young college student has continued to support Hebron despite alleged red flags. Not only has Hebron had allegedly suspicious guests come to his hotel that Graden pays for and ordered front desk staff not to allow her up, but he also allegedly had someone hiding in the bathroom shower during one of Graden’s visits to check on him.

Regarding the $400,00 she raised for Hebron on GoFundMe, Graden can only release the funds into a trust account for him because he has refused to obtain a new photo ID.

“It’s been months, and he still has not gone to get that ID,” she said.

“And really, it just breaks my heart because as Nai was telling this story and telling all the lies, she had to deal with all of the running around he put her through. How he’s been sneaking people up into the room and told the front desk not to let her in the room that she’s paying for.”

According to Queen Po, Hebron’s behavior highlights “two lessons” in life.

“Sometimes God will bless us with things that we are not ready for just to show us that we are not ready,” she explained. “And sometimes God will bless you with the very thing you are praying for just to show you who you really are and what you need to really work on.

She went on to call out Hebron for “fumbling” his “life-changing blessing.” She also questioned why he appears reluctant to get a new photo ID and identify himself.

“Why is you not going to get the ID, baby? I’m out of excuses in my head for you. What is going on?” Queen Po asked. “Do you think you got a warrant? You think they gonna lock you up at the DMV? You think they gonna arrest you?”

It was just days after Graden went viral for her random act of kindness that details surfaced about Hebron’s violent past. Among his past crimes include assaulting a homeless woman who was asleep outside a Washington D.C. church and serving five years in prison for stabbing a man in the neck with a screwdriver.

“I pray that Na does not allow this situation to block her helping heart,” Queen Po said. “I pray that she does not allow this situation to hinder her spirit or make her hesitant to help the next person who needs it, and I feel like she wouldn’t because she doesn’t give that energy.

“But I also pray that Nai really learns how to set boundaries based on this situation.”

RELATED CONTENT: GoFundMe Page Created By Mother Of Kansas City Parade Shooting Suspect Shut Down

by Keka Araújo

May 6, 2024

Mississippi Governor Sings Praises Of Ole Miss Counterprotesters After ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ Shenanigans

No arrests or injuries were reported after the protest. 

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Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves took to the X app to praise a group of racist Ole Miss students who sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” as other University of Mississippi students protested the ongoing oppression of Palestinians in Gaza. 

“The ‘protests’ at Ole Miss today. Watch with sound. Warms my heart.

I love Mississippi,” Reeves penned for the caption of the pathetic video.

X app users wasted no time going in on the good ole boy governor. 

“Imagine if white people coveted humanity the way y’all covet this dumb-ass song,’ one tweet read, referencing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” 

One person called Reeves “toxic” after airing out the Mississippi politician’s scandalous past with the welfare system. A lawsuit filed in October revealed that a whistleblower sued the state and Reeves so he would have to repay back monies allegedly used for personal purposes and seemingly being in the pockets of big pharma.

One X app user painted an even more sobering picture of the protest at Ole Miss with a video of white students heckling a heavyset Black female graduate student who stood with the University of Mississippi protesters and was subsequently harassed and targeted by bigoted white counterparts, who were primarily male. One man made monkey noises. Others mocked the graduate student by calling her Lizzo, while others yelled at her.  

The anti-Israel protest at Ole Miss on May 3 was relatively peaceful before bigoted nincompoops began their shenanigans with “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The Oxford campus callout remained relatively small and didn’t extend beyond an hour. The counterprotesters outnumbered anti-Israel supporters. 

Ahead of the ill behavior displayed at the university, the governor said, “I am aware of today’s scheduled protest on the campus of Ole Miss. Mississippi law enforcement is also aware. And they are prepared. Campus police, City, County, and State assets are being deployed and coordinated. We will offer a unified response with one mission: Peaceful protests are allowed and protected – no matter how outrageous those protesters’ views may seem to some of us. But unlawful behavior will not be tolerated. It will be dealt with accordingly. Law and order will be maintained!”

No arrests or injuries were reported after the protest. 

On April 12, Reeves declared the month “Confederate Heritage Month.” Explaining his decision via his official account, the governor said, “I, Tate Reeves, Governor of the State of Mississippi, hereby proclaim the month of April 2024 as Confederate Heritage Month in the State of Mississippi.”

• Business

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 6, 2024

Pinky Cole’s Group Economic Experiment Aims To Help Small Black-Owned Business Make $25K

Pinky Cole Hayes asked for help with the group economic experiment she launched to generate $25,000 for a small business.

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Pinky Cole Hayes asked for help with the group economic experiment she launched to generate $25,000 for a small business.

The Slutty Vegan founder took to Instagram on Friday, May 3, to share a call to action ahead of taking the stage at Savannah State University to deliver a commencement speech. She followed up on the group economic experiment she previously announced to her followers and brought attention to the small business she wanted to focus on called Mess In A Bottle.

“All you have to do is share her video, share this video, go to her website www.messinabottle.com and purchase a product,” Cole Hayes explains.

“We have a goal of helping her to get $25,000 in her business and all it takes is for one person to buy a product and that product will continue to add up as long as people continue to support.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pinky Cole Hayes (@pinkycole)

The experiment lasted throughout the weekend and gave the vegan restaurateur a chance to see if her newly launched economic experiment would work. Cole Hayes launched the project to build a community initiative aimed at combatting the closure of small Black-owned businesses.

“The reality of it is businesses are closing their doors every single day,” she explained. “If we use our cultural capital to keep businesses open, we literally can change the world.”

The businesswoman and philanthropist even gave an option for those who don’t have the financial means to purchase a product, to simply repost the video and help spread the word about the economic experiment. It’s Cole Hayes’ latest in a long list of give-back initiatives she takes part in with or without her Pinky Cole Foundation.

As part of her commencement speech at Savannah State University, Cole Hayes gifted the graduating class with $8.9 million in partnership with Operation Hope and One Million Black Businesses (1MBB). The money is part of an “Entrepreneurial Starter Pack,” that provides students with mentorship from 1MBB, educational mentoring, a free three-month subscription to Shopify, and an eight-week small business training course that includes business plan development and financial management.

“I am passionate about lifting up the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs of our world. I know firsthand what it means to have mentorship and how someone believing in your dream can make a difference,” Cole Hayes said.

“This graduating class has experienced so much adversity. Their college years began with a global pandemic and they have had to navigate their lives through unprecedented events. Through it all, they have thrived and are ready to enter the ‘real world’ with more experience and the confidence to face life’s new challenges. I believe in these graduates, and I hope that this gift will help them as they transition into this next phase of their lives.”

RELATED CONTENT: Slutty Vegan’s Pinky Cole Gifts Savannah States Graduates With $8M Entrepreneurial Starter Pack