Pinky Cole Promotes Her ‘RHOA’ Debut, ‘I’m Vegan, Don’t Bring Me No Beef’
Pinky Cole Hayes proudly promotes her addition to Season 17 of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta."
Slutty Vegan Founder Pinky Cole Hayes is stepping into a new spotlight that will amplify her expanding food empire nationwide as she joins Season 17 of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.”
The Season 17 trailer, released on Feb. 24, gave Cole Hayes the chance to publicly express her excitement about joining the hit reality series. She’ll be joined by fellow newcomer K. Michelle as the two make their debut on the upcoming season alongside returning housewives Porsha Williams, Phaedra Parks, Drew Sidora, Shamea Morton Mwangi, Angela Oakley, and Kelli Ferrell.
“I’m vegan…so don’t bring me no beef 😏🍑 #papasmurf 😝,” Cole Hayes captioned an Instagram post, sharing the new trailer and referencing a shady jab she received from Oakley in the trailer.
Cole Hayes is set to introduce a fresh layer of representation to the coveted Bravo franchise as an established, self-made entrepreneur. Her multimillion-dollar plant-based empire boasts dozens of locations nationwide, with a strong presence throughout metro Atlanta, where the reality show is based.
She’s also no stranger to the small screen, having worked behind the scenes as a television producer before launching Slutty Vegan. Now, the renowned restaurateur is stepping in front of the camera following a year of navigating high-profile business challenges that made media headlines. Joining her on the journey will be her husband, Derrick Hayes, founder of Dave’s Cheesesteaks, suggesting viewers can expect both business and personal storylines to unfold.
“They counted me out…….Bravo counted me in,” she captioned a follow-up post of her cast photo.
K. Michelle also took to social media to celebrate and promote her addition to the series. Fans already know the “V.S.O.P.” singer, who built a loyal following during her years starring on Love & Hip Hop.
“I just flipped the switch,” she wrote on Instagram. “I don’t know nobody else that’s doing this.”
Season 17 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta premieres Sunday, April 5, at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
Obama Presidential Center Will Display Muhammad Ali’s Gloves
They'll be available to view in June.
Former President Barack Obama is donating a pair of red Everlast boxing gloves autographed by Muhammad Ali to the Obama Presidential Center, currently under construction in Chicago’s Jackson Park.
“Ali’s story has been an inspiration for President Obama,” the organization said. The gloves, which Ali gave to Obama will be on display at the Obama Presidential Center Museum in June.
“They were a reminder of a quality the President admired most in Ali: ‘his unique ability to summon extraordinary strength and courage in the face of adversity, to navigate the storm and never lose his way.’ These gloves remind us all to have the courage of our convictions. They will be on display in an exhibit highlighting sociopolitical movements from the 1960s to the early 1990s that helped shape. @BarackObama and @MichelleObama when they were young.”
We have many special objects to share with the public when we open, but today we’re especially excited to preview a pair of boxing gloves Muhammad Ali gave to President Obama that will be on display at the Obama Presidential Center Museum starting in June.
The presidential center has been hit with lawsuits as well as community concerns about gentrification and displacement on Chicago’s South Side since its construction was announced in 2015.
Additionally, the grandiose nature of the building has incited criticism, specifically objections related to text on a 225-foot museum tower. Detractors say the lettering is unintelligible and an eyesore, Fast Company reported. While the lettering serves a practical purpose as a load-bearing structure, the words have meaning. The lettering spells out a quote from Obama’s “You Are America” speech delivered in Selma, Alabama, in 2015. Though the message may be poignant, many observers claim it is unintelligible.
Complaints over the extended timeline of the structure have been abundant. The building’s presence on the South Side of Chicago is meant to drive investment and expand economic opportunity after decades of underinvestment. It’s set to open this spring.
Data Shows Public School Students’ Cognitive Skills Have Declined Despite $30B Invested In Technology
Neuroscientist Jared Cooney Horvath testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation to explain why technology has stunted Gen Z's cognitive abilities.
A 2024 $30 billion investment in educational technology in public schools is seemingly going to waste after a new report reveals the lack of textbooks is pushing a decline in students’ cognitive skills, Fortune reports.
Neuroscientist Jared Cooney Horvath testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation to prove why technology has stunted Gen Z’s cognitive abilities.
Data from the Program for International Student Assessment revealed a harsh drop in standardized test scores in 15-year-olds around the world in addition to a noticeable correlation in scores and the time spent on school computers.
While admitting the argument isn’t “a debate about rejecting technology,” Horvath pointed the finger at students having unfiltered access to technology.
“It is a question of aligning educational tools with how human learning actually works,” the neuroscientist said, adding more blame on the iPhone. “Evidence indicates that indiscriminate digital expansion has weakened learning environments rather than strengthened them.”
The writing has been on the wall in the United States since 2002, when Maine became the first state to launch a statewide laptop program to certain grade levels. At the time, former governor Angus King felt the program would put the internet at children’s fingertips. By 2016, 66,000 laptops and tablets were distributed to students.
But now, rather than empowering the students with access to more knowledge, technology has done the opposite.
“A sad fact our generation has to face is that our kids are less cognitively capable than we were at their age,” Horvath said, according to AfroTech. “Since we have been standardizing and measuring cognitive development since the late 1800s, every generation has outperformed their parents. Until Gen Z, the first generation in modern history to underperform us on basically every cognitive measure.”
Research from Brookings Institution’s Center for Universal Education seemingly shows support for Horvath’s data. By working with focus groups, including K-12 students, parents, educators, and tech experts in 50 countries, it was found that the use of AI in education can “undermine children’s foundational development.
The “damages” are labeled as “daunting” but “fixable.” The threat to students’ cognitive development was listed as a “con,” while AI helping students learn how to read and write, while making teachers’ jobs a little easier, were on the pro list.
Alpha Phi Alpha Celebrates New Community Hub And Residence Hall At Cornell University
The Alpha chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is celebrating a historic milestone after launching the first Divine Nine-established campus facility at its founding home, Cornell University.
On Feb. 25, the Ivy League university announced that, in October, Alpha Phi Alpha’s founding Alpha chapter established a new campus space that doubles as a residence hall and community hub, according to the Cornell Daily Sun. The facility, called the House of Alpha Leadership Institute, is designed to be a “destination for dialogue” and a supportive space that uplifts people of color, according to the Ithaca-based Alpha Light Fund, which manages the institute.
“[The creation of HoALI] is a huge step in the right direction, and a very important step for the legacy of the fraternity and … for minorities and Black men on campus,” said Christian Flournoy ’27, president of Cornell’s Alpha Phi Alpha chapter.
Located on the campus where Alpha Phi Alpha was founded in 1906, the new facility features 13 residential rooms along with a flexible event space for educational programming. Activities at HoALI are guided by the fraternity’s seven core pillars and focused on the challenges facing emerging leaders, including healthcare and corporate inclusion.
The milestone marks a historic achievement for the Black Greek-lettered fraternity. HoALI is the first facility of its kind not only for Alpha Phi Alpha but across the entire Divine Nine, the nine historically Black Greek-letter organizations within the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Since opening, the space has also welcomed programming from Black Students United, Black Student Empowerment, and other campus groups.
“It is creating a space where scholarship meets civic responsibility, where dialogue becomes action, and where young leaders are equipped with the tools to shape society,” Gavin Mosley, Cornell’s Alpha Phi Alpha chapter advisor, and Shawn Lee, leader of the Alpha Light Fund, wrote in a joint statement.
With a distinguished roster that includes trailblazers like Martin Luther King Jr., W.E.B. Du Bois, Thurgood Marshall, and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), whom Flournoy has personally met, he stressed that the strength of Alpha Phi Alpha’s brotherhood is at the heart of HoALI’s mission.
“It’s not just the house and the leadership institute as itself,” Flournoy said. “It’s also the people that live within it.”
“This Black History Month, I’m excited about the road taken to get here, but I’m even more excited about what HoALI will represent for generations of Cornellians and Ithacans to come,” Mosley added.
AI & Ambition: This Women Of Power Session Will Teach Strategic Fluency For The Modern Workforce
As AI continues to sweep the workforce, the BLACK ENTERPRISE Women of Power Summit will be conducting an AI Certification Course, "Strategic AI Fluency for the Modern Workforce."
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to dominate across sectors, it’s reshaping the daily workplace reality that is impossible to ignore. As companies integrate these tools into their operations, professionals who understand how to leverage AI gain a clear competitive edge, which is why the 2026 BLACK ENTERPRISE Women of Power Summit will be conducting an AI Certification Course, “Strategic AI Fluency for the Modern Workforce.”
The transformative AI bootcamp will be led by Bethanie Nonami, an internationally certified AI consultant, award-winning keynote speaker, trainer, and published author. She will guide attendees in becoming future-ready while staying grounded in their unique human strengths. Having trained more than 5,000 professionals and certified over 500 individuals in AI, Nonami has built a reputation for making artificial intelligence practical, accessible, and empowering.
The course is structured to help participants build a practical “AI toolbox” for ideation, research, and sharper decision-making, complete with workflows they can implement right away, a concept Nonami recently explored in greater detail during a LinkedIn Live session. Attendees will receive an internationally recognized certification, along with one continuing education and one professional development credit, and walk away feeling confident, up to date, and equipped with the skills driving today’s workforce.
“Because your value is needed in the market, because this is going to be a defining year where humans will need to guide organizations through what’s happening,” Nonami said. “Because clearly, buying AI, and turning it on, and telling your organization to be amazing isn’t enough.”
From automating routine tasks to powering high-level strategy, AI is transforming industries at a rapid pace. For women in particular, who remain underrepresented in many tech-driven spaces, building AI fluency is more than a career boost; it’s a pathway to influence, equity, and leadership in a rapidly evolving workforce. Staying current isn’t optional. It’s essential to ensure women aren’t just participants in the future of work, but architects of it.
CIAA Tournament Brings Education, Jobs, And Health Events Beyond Basketball To Help The Community
More than 60 companies, including Food Lion, Under Armour, and Nationwide, will be among participants at the CIAA Career Expo.
An immense 65,000 people are expected to attend the 2026 men’s and women’s CIAA basketball tournament this week in Baltimore.
Yet it’s worth noting that there will be more than just hoops taking place, with several special activities and vital resources being offered to help Black students, jobless workers, and the community prosper.
Much of the flurry is being stirred by a partnership between the CIAA and the Baltimore-based American sportswear company Under Armour, along with support from other companies during Black History Month. Several events are scheduled at different venues in Baltimore, including Under Armour’s new headquarters.
The CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) tournament includes five days of events from February 24-28. The annual affair has become an established custom in the city. Take the CIAA High School Education Day on Wednesday at the Baltimore Convention Center.
3,500 Students Gain Helpful Details About HBCUs
CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker told BLACK ENTERPRISE by email that Education Day is one of CIAA’s most enduring legacy programs. She added that it introduces high school students to its 12 HBCU institutions and equips them with best practices for college and career readiness. This year, over 3,500 students will have a chance to explore the institutions, present their high school transcripts for scholarship consideration, and receive on-the-spot college acceptance. “Education remains a cornerstone of our mission.”
The event has reportedly reached over 30,000 students. High school students and chaperones meet college recruiters from Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
Another important function this year is the CIAA Career Expo, which could create new jobs for students and federal workers in Baltimore who were laid off following President Trump’s job cuts.
Over 60 Companies Expected At Career Expo
McWilliams Parker explained that the event on Thursday will provide real employment opportunities and career resources. She says over 60 companies, including Food Lion, Under Armour, Nationwide, Verizon, and Wendy’s, will participate. They will offer jobs at various levels across many industries.
“This is an opportunity for job seekers to bring their resumes and have face-to-face contact with employers and potentially have access to jobs and resources that they may not have access to online.”
For the general public, the CIAA will host a Health and Mental Wellness Summit on Thursday to address medical disparities in the Black community. It will include discussions on cancer, nutrition, and diabetes among the topics, with insights from local athletes and experts.
Also, the gathering will feature some high-profile speakers, including Eunique Jones Gibson, the founder of Because of Them We Can, at a Tech Summit on Friday. Luke Lawal, creator of the HBCU Buzz platform, is co-hosting the Money Moves Financial Summit on Saturday. That summit will include a fireside chat with Uncle Nearest Founder and CEO Fawn Weaver.
Weaver plans to talk about the ups and downs of her career. This month, a U.S. District judge reportedly granted extra time for Weaver and Kentucky lender Farm Credit, and receiver Phillip Young to submit briefs. They have until March 5 to respond.
For its part, “Under Armour directly invests in CIAA student-athletes. For instance, through programs like Project Rampart and our HBCU Career Combine, Under Armour is building pathways that connect students to mentorship, scholarships, internships, and early-career exposure. At every level, the focus is long-term impact and community connection, not just tournament week,” a company spokesperson stated.
Tournament Has Colossal Economic Impact on Baltimore
Business-wise, the tournament is a financial boon. Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott says while a projected impact for this year’s tourney has not been projected, the 2025 CIAA tournament alone drove more than $27 million in total economic impact and brought more than $15 million in direct spending to Baltimore. Since coming to Baltimore five years ago, the tournament has purportedly generated $100 million in economic impact for the region.
Scott shared how Black retailers and restaurateurs benefit as well. Each year, he says the CIAA tournament brings thousands of student-athletes, families, and fans to Baltimore. From 2022 to 2025, he says the tournament generated $4.8 million in direct spending with minority-owned businesses.
During the week, the CIAA and the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore host the Black-Owned Restaurant Tour, highlighting 18 Black-owned restaurants downtown.
“The tournament shows visitors the very best of Charm City — in large part because of the hard work of our Black business owners.”
Botswana’s President Slams Diamond-Funded Healthcare Failures
Duma Gideon Boko outlined his plans to rebuild and repair the country’s broken diamond-funded healthcare system.
Botswana’s President, Duma Gideon Boko, has issued an open letter outlining his push for the country to rebuild and repair the country’s broken diamond-funded healthcare system.
After announcing Botswana’s plans to secure a majority stake in De Beers, the UK-based diamond giant whose wealth is rooted in the African nation, Boko laid out his broader vision for a stronger Africa, including rebuilding the country’s strained healthcare system.
In a Feb. 21 open letter forThe Guardian, Boko, who assumed office in November 2024, detailed why he declared a public health emergency last year.
“Shortages of medicine in Botswana forced me to declare a public health emergency last year,” Boko wrote. “Patients went without treatment–not because health workers failed them, but because the system did. For a nation committed to universal healthcare, free at the point of use, it was a moment of hard truth.”
Last August, Boko declared a public health emergency in Botswana after a severe shortage of medicine and medical equipment exposed deep cracks in the healthcare system. The crisis was fueled by a collapse in state funding tied to a global diamond market downturn, the nation’s primary revenue source, alongside U.S. aid cuts under Donald Trump, more than 1 billion pula in supplier debt, and a strained procurement system that worsened the situation.
Pointing to the ongoing health crisis, Boko has doubled down on calls for stronger government action across Africa as he works to chart a new course for Botswana.
“Even outwardly strong public health systems can be fragile. As donor assistance bites across the continent, governments cannot afford to delay building resilience,” he wrote. “As a stable, middle-income country, Botswana was only ever a peripheral recipient of aid. Yet when diamond revenues—the country’s primary export—fell amid a market downturn, the fiscal shock was no different in effect.”
The crisis has been fueled by a shrinking national budget tied to the global diamond market downturn. Diamonds account for about 80% of Botswana’s foreign earnings, but falling sales have forced spending cuts. Reduced U.S. aid, once a major source of HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis funding, has deepened economic strain. UNICEF warns urgent action is needed as the health emergency worsens, with rising child malnutrition in some regions.
“Yet the same diamond revenues that built our system also masked its weaknesses,” Boko explained. “Problems were paid away rather than fixed. Drug prices were inflated many times over. Supply chains were inefficient. Public capacity was hollowed out through outsourcing. These failures did not suddenly appear but accumulated over the years.”
He continued. “Falling revenues simply made them impossible to ignore. When healthcare systems face a moment of reckoning, the same prescription is reliably offered: inject more ‘private-sector rigor’ into inefficient public health delivery. But greater reliance on private provision fragments care, raises costs, and diverts scarce health budgets into profit margins.”
To address the country’s strained healthcare system, Boko laid out a plan that includes shifting away from private providers and strengthening publicly owned medical facilities, along with other reforms.
“Botswana is expanding public capacity. We are bringing our largest private hospital into public ownership to relieve pressure on overstretched facilities,” he wrote. “We are restructuring the national medicines procurement body, making it autonomous to cut bureaucratic delays. A national health intelligence centre will soon be operational, using real-time data to forecast medicine demand and prevent shortages. And once the health insurance bill passes parliament, health funding will be ringfenced—ending our exposure to swings in commodity markets.”
“Together, these reforms will determine whether a mother can find antibiotics for her child, or whether a patient needing dialysis must travel huge distances for care,” Boko added.
Boko’s open letter follows his November 2024 announcement about Botswana’s push to secure a majority stake in De Beers amid a competing bid from Angola. Botswana, which owns 15% of the diamond giant and produces about 70% of its rough diamonds, views the company as a key national asset despite falling global prices.
Talks between the two nations came as Anglo American, the London-based mining giant that holds 85% of De Beers, moves to sell its stake as part of a shift toward copper and other clean-energy metals, valuing the company at about $4.9 billion.
Office For Missing, Murdered Black Women And Girls Unveils Official Logo That’s ‘More Than A Design’
The Office for Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls (MMBWG) has finalized its official logo, unveiling a design rich with symbolism and purposeful detail.
The Office for Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls (MMBWG) has introduced its official logo, a symbol designed to capture the mission, core values, and profound significance of the office’s work throughout Minnesota.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety unveiled the logo, which is packed with symbolism, on Feb. 19. It incorporates a periwinkle flower, which has long been associated with enduring love, remembrance, and resilience, and petals that were thoughtfully designed to mirror the profile of a Black woman’s hair.
“Black women and girls have too often been overlooked or lost. We are committed to helping families, advocates, and communities as they continue to demand justice and lasting change across Minnesota,” said Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson. “This new logo is more than a design. It is a reflection of why the Office for Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls exists.”
The logo’s imagery reflects a commitment to inclusivity among foundational Black Americans, including multiracial individuals and African immigrants, symbolizing Black women and girls across the full spectrum of African heritage. By blending elements of nature and humanity, the design pays tribute to the lives of those who have been lost, harmed, or remain missing.
Most central in the logo is a woman’s silhouette that sits subtly woven into the petals, underscoring the office’s mission to support real people, real families, and real stories. Its color palette adds further depth to the message. Purple, long associated with the movement to end domestic violence, represents awareness and advocacy, while periwinkle — a soft lavender hue — reflects a shared commitment to honoring those affected and pursuing justice with urgency and compassion.
“Our new logo carries both the weight of our purpose and the hope of our communities,” said MMBWG Office Director Kaleena Burkes. “It honors the lives of Black women and girls who should still be with us, and it reflects the strength of those who continue to fight for answers. This identity is a reminder that our work is urgent and that every life deserves to be protected, valued, and remembered.”
To create the meaningful logo, MMBWG collaborated with Blackbird Revolt, a local Black woman-owned design firm, which worked with intention and passion to bring the vision to life.
“Working with Blackbird Revolt was a deliberate choice because we trusted the care and dedication they would bring to the project,” Burkes said. “They translated our vision into a design that reflects thoughtfulness, creativity, and excellence.”
Held on Feb. 19, this year’s ceremony spotlighted the leadership, resilience, and lasting impact of Black women and girls who continue to shape New York City, the Amsterdam News reports. The event builds on Councilmember Althea Stevens’ successful push to pass a 2023 resolution formally recognizing the achievements of Black women and establishing a dedicated day of celebration each February.
“What keeps us grounded is knowing that our work matters,” Stevens said. “Every policy we push, every young person we mentor, every family we support, every voice we uplift — it all matters. This is the true measure of leadership, and leadership is not confined to titles.”
This year’s celebration recognized standout community leaders across the city, including Nicole Meyers, president of the NAACP Staten Island chapter; Shelia Duke, CEO of Roads to Success; Michelle Cretensil, political director of the New York State Nurses Association; and Tanya Pedler, founder of Sensory Exploration Center Inc. Each honoree received an official proclamation in recognition of their impact.
“Thank you for seeing the work, my heart, and the commitment behind it,” Pedler said. “Black Girl Magic, for me, is not just about shining; it is about resilience, it is about turning pain into purpose. It’s about showing up for your community when you’re tired, especially when you’re tired.”
“To the young girl, my nieces: Your voice is not too loud,” Meyers added. “Your dreams are not too big, and your presence is not accidental. You are not waiting to become magic — you already are.”
Several lawmakers were also in attendance, including City Council Speaker Julie Menin, Majority Whip Kamillah Hanks, Councilmembers Rita Joseph, Crystal Hudson, Selvena Brooks Powers, and Amanda Farias, as well as State Assemblymember Chantel Jackson. The evening’s program featured a poetry performance by SaidSaidd, a vocal selection from DioMara Delvalle, and a ballet presentation by the Edge School of the Arts (ESOTA) youth dance group.
“You can’t be what you can’t see. So many of us are here who are mentoring young women to make sure they know their possibilities, so that they know their work, so that they know that they are loved,” said Bronx District Attorney (DA) Darcel Clarke, who is the first Black woman DA in New York State.
Mobile Police Searching For Man Accused Of Brutally Beating Son
Kendall Freeman is wanted for allegedly beating his 4-year-old son.
The Mobile (AL) Police Department is asking the public for help in locating 33-year-old Kendall Freeman, who has been accused of physically abusing a child who had to be hospitalized.
According to NBC 15, an arrest warrant has been issued for Freeman, who has been charged with aggravated child abuse. The child he allegedly abused is his son, Kentrall Freeman, according to the child’s mother, Kaitlyn Gates, who reported the alleged abuse to police officers.
Kentrall is still in the hospital recovering from his injuries. Gates said the boy suffered two black eyes, had his teeth knocked out, and could not walk or use the bathroom on his own.
She said she left Kentrall with Kendall Freeman so they could attend Mardi Gras Parades.
“He left that day super-happy,” Gates said.
Then, a phone call. Kentrall told her he was in the hospital because he had fallen in the bathtub. But when Gates arrived at USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital and saw his condition, she knew Kentrall was lying.
“I immediately knew my son had been beat on when I lifted the covers back, he had so many whips and so many bruises,” Gates said.
“I told him, like, ‘you know the promise we made that you never could lie to mommy? So tell mommy the truth.’ And my son told me that he had peed on himself, and his dad whooped him really hard with a belt,” said Gates.
She said that DHR (The Alabama Department of Human Resources) came to the hospital, and Kendall left. Now, police officers are looking for him.
“We’re just taking it day by day. The swelling in his face has gone down a lot, but he does still have a lot of bruising in his face, and he’s just in a lot of pain. Like, I can’t believe it, four years old, my son is on morphine,” said Gates.
She added that Kentrall has kidney damage and can’t walk right now.
A GoFundMe has been started by Gates’ sister, Erica Edwards, to help with the costs associated with Kentrall’s injuries.
Anyone with information can call the Mobile Police Department at 251-208-7211. Alternatively, anonymous tips can be submitted by texting 844-251-0644 or by visiting mobilepd.org/crimetip.
