Black NASCAR Driver Rajah Caruth’s Partnership With Hendrick Cars Goes The Distance
HendrickCars.com has announced the extension of its partnership with rising NASCAR talent Rajah Caruth and Spire Motorsports.
On Feb. 23, HendrickCars.com announced the extension of its partnership with rising NASCAR talent Rajah Caruth and Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team for the entire 2024 race calendar. Initially set to sponsor Caruth for 10 races this season, the decision reflects the 21-year-old driver’s impressive performance, marked by a third-place finish at Daytona International Speedway and an eighth-place showing at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Gary Davis, executive vice president of Hendrick Automotive Group, expressed confidence in Caruth, stating, “Rajah has had a tremendous start to 2024… we couldn’t pass on supporting him for the entire season.” Caruth, a Washington D.C. native, started his 2024 NCTS campaign on a strong note and is currently fifth in the championship point standings.
HendrickCars.com, the digital hub for Hendrick Automotive Group, serves as the primary sponsor for Caruth, showcasing its commitment to supporting emerging talents. The collaboration includes the unveiling of the newly launched “Swoosh Bag,” a product co-created with the French luxury brand Jacquemus. The brand extension emphasizes Caruth’s on-track potential, charismatic representation, social media influence, and the robust fan support he garners.
Rajah Caruth, appreciative of the continued support, commented, “Knowing that HendrickCars.com has extended their relationship with Spire Motorsports and my No. 71 team kind of leaves me speechless…I’m excited to get on with the rest of the season.”
Currently positioned fifth in the NCTS championship, Caruth heads into the Las Vegas Motor Speedway race with an impressive 5.5 finishing average for the 2024 season. Spire Motorsports President Doug Duchardt praised Caruth’s positive momentum and expressed pride in HendrickCars.com’s decision to support the driver for the entire season.
The Victoria’s Voice 200 from Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be broadcast live on FS1 on March 1, at 9 p.m. EST.
You can have a memorable wedding on a budget. Here's how.
Originally Published Nov. 18, 2014
As my fiancee and I were planning our wedding, one recurring idea continued to undergird our wedding decision: “‘I do’ doesn’t have to mean ‘Go broke.'”
I know you may think the aforementioned is commonsense, but let me remind you that emotions tend to take over when it comes to matters of the heart.
Where is the money coming from to pay for modern-day weddings?Unlike what was experienced historically, where parents absorbed a large amount of the wedding expenses, today’s couples are having to bear responsibility for the entire cost of the wedding, reception and the honeymoon.
Do you have thousands set aside and allotted for your wedding? If not, all is not lost with being able to plan a classy, fun, and enjoyable wedding.
You just have to think creatively and be willing to develop a simple but comprehensive wedding budget. People tend to hate the “B” word, but it’s an absolute necessity to keep from going broke for your one-day celebration. As with most matters of the heart, you have to be willing to communicate and make decisions to help keep in alignment with your long-term goals. Don’t let “I do” cause you to “Go broke.”
Consider the following to manage the total expense of your wedding:
1. Wedding Venue
As you plan your wedding, you will learn very quickly that the word “wedding” automatically adds a premium to the normal cost of goods and services. There are non-traditional options that offer a nice ambiance for you and your guests. Consider outdoor locations like a park or other public location. Also, destination weddings are becoming more popular because they allow you to manage overall cost, while providing you and your guests with beautiful scenery.
2. Manage Your Guest List
As a general rule of thumb, people enjoy sharing in the marital celebration of a new couple. The question you need to ask yourself is, “Are we in a position to accommodate the expense of having business associates, old elementary school teachers and family we may not regularly interact with, etc.?” Don’t be afraid to reduce your guest list, because $30-$125 per plate can become costly.
3. Food
As mentioned above, the reception celebration has the ability to turn your budget upside down. A $20-$30 reception dinner becomes $30-$125 just because it’s associated with a “wedding.” As you plan your reception, consider options that allow you to select your own caterer instead of having to use the in-house provider. You can save hundreds or thousands of dollars by using an outside caterer.
4. Dress
Generally one of the most expensive line items on a wedding budget, the wedding dress focus can take you out of budget if you get caught-up on name brands and celebrity associations. Don’t be intimidated by boutiques, discount providers, and secondhand stores.
5. Photography/Videography/Music
You cannot afford to skimp on the photography investment. Pictures are the keepsake you retain for a lifetime. Photos allow you to remain connected to the special moments before, during and just after saying “I do!” Videography is an area that you may be able to live without if you are on a tight budget. Chances are you will only watch the wedding video a handful of times before it takes residence in your attic. Music is an area you can get creative with. You may be able to create the fun atmosphere you desire by using a playlist instead of hiring a DJ or live band. Choosing the playlist option may save you $500-$1,500 depending on the DJ or band selection.
6. Miscellaneous
There are a number of miscellaneous services and products you can become enamored with and overwhelmed by while planning your wedding. However, if it doesn’t fit within the budget, leave it out. Save the Date cards can be replaced by e-mail or website notifications. Wedding favors typically get tossed out by guests after the event, so don’t get too focused on having them as part of the celebration. The list goes on and on.
The above only represents a handful of the various components of wedding celebration. As you can see the costs add-up and can become overwhelming. Remember, there are couples who have opted for a courthouse ceremony and are still married today. Don’t allow the infatuation of “I do” cause you to “go broke” in the process. Make smart money decisions that will allow you to save for your long-term future instead of a 4-10-hour event.
Kenny Pugh is a strategist, coach, speaker, media personality, and a sought-after speaker on finances, singleness, relationships, and life.
Finance leader Carla A. Harris shares wisdom on managing money for the elderly.
Originally Published Nov. 17, 2014
Carla A. Harris’s pearls of wisdom derive from personal experience and love.
“I love to share our knowledge and best practices with each other, says Harris, a leading expert in finance and global investments. Harris says that if sharing her experience makes others more successful, “that’s what it’s all about. Women of color can come together to share and learn.
Strategize to Win: The New Way to Start Out, Step Up, or Start Over in Your Career, her book, came out, December 2014. It is the follow-up to her debut book, Expect to Win: 10 Proven Strategies for Thriving in the Workplace. What pearls of wisdom does she share in her books? From her first book, “perception is the co-pilot to reality. You have the power to train people [in the way] they think about you,” says Harris, named by BE as one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business. “The most important ‘pearl’ in my next book is understanding the relationship between relationship currency and performance currency.”
Taking a page out of her personal life experience, Harris shares strategy-filled pearls for managing healthcare and finances for elderly family members.
1. Understand the family issues
First, have a good grasp of the medical issues in your family and know your family history. When my parents were sick I carried their meds in my BlackBerry. So whenever the doctor calls and asks, “Do you know what she’s taking?” I can say, “Yes, here’s the meds and dosage.”
2. Find out what they want
You should understand what they want to do if they become incapacitated. Whom do they want as a decision maker? Do they want a healthcare surrogate? How do they feel about in-home care or facility care? You need to have a serious conversation about long-term care. You’re talking about $57,000 a month; after tax money it’s $84,000. How is that going to be paid for? What assets are they willing to liquidate for their own care? Do they want to put money in a trust? How do they want to segment it? What if you need 24/7 care? That’s $19-$20 an hour. Do they need a live-in? If you’re working full time, you can’t afford long-term care. Culturally we do that. But what if you’re not qualified? Why not get qualified care? Make sure you have the conversation.
3. Decide on the legal matters
Who’s going to have power of attorney? Who’s going to pay their bills? Who’s going to take care of the household and pay the lights and insurance and keep things functioning when they can’t function?
4. Draft a will
If they do expire, you must have a will in place. They can do it quietly, and decide what happens.
5. Educate yourself about healthcare
If you show up in the hospital ignorant about what’s going on, it’s easy for you to be taken advantage of. So say the healthcare provider has no malice, but they’ve been up for 15 hours, they’re tired, they have other patients. Because you’re not informed, you don’t know what questions to ask, you’re not helpful to the healthcare provider. So the doctor looks to you and wants to know what kinds of meds they’re taking. And they have to guess and they could prescribe something that could cause reactions. If your loved one is in a serious condition, then you start getting professionals saying, “The right thing to do is x.” So you don’t understand what they’re saying. And then you get those questions, “Do you know what they want, and have you had this conversation?” But we don’t know that, because we haven’t had the conversation.
6. Face the inevitable
We need to own the fact that inevitably those who are in charge today won’t have the capacity to remain in charge. So you need to think about who is going to make those decisions. Culturally, we are uncomfortable talking about money. In the Black community, the generation before the boomers didn’t discuss money. People worried about being taken advantage of, even by their own family. As a result, you have old folks that won’t tell you their assets or what they have. But if you’re incapacitated and no one knows what you have, you leave your loved ones ill-equipped to make good decisions on your behalf. You may have long-term insurance that could be helpful, but if your kids don’t know, they can’t help you.
Setting Intentions: How To Get Your Desired Outcome
Originally Published Feb. 2, 2015
We all have specific desires in our life. It can be in health, relationships, career, and spirituality. There is a way to get what you want in life, and the first step is to set and declare your specific intentions. Think about what you want, imagine the feeling you would like to experience and write it down.
From here, as you create your intention, focus on it enough to get to work, but let go of the outcome. We have our desires, and we do the work, but the beauty of the journey is that the outcome can be greater than we ever imagined. Here are some tips to help you set your intentions and see them come to fruition.
1. Be specific: When you set an intention, it is important to be as specific as possible. This will help you stay focused, and it will be easier to say no to things that no longer serve you and that are not aligned with what you would like to accomplish.
2. Get to work: Once you set your intention, get to work the best way you possibly can. Everything will fall into place. Even if it isn’t right away, it is all a part of the divine plan. Just keep your focus on the bigger picture. If things get difficult, pray and ask for guidance to get through the lesson. Follow the order from your higher source and keep working.
3. Pay attention: Once you set your intention something starts to happen. You will be led to certain people and situations to help you get what you want and need.
4. Let it Go: Some outcomes are better than ever imagined. We have many goals and intentions for ourselves, but know that your higher source can dream a dream bigger than you can for yourself. Holding on to anything too tight, we will lose it. Set the intention, work hard, pay attention, and let it go. Pray for direction, ask God to do what you can’t do for yourself, have faith, and it will all work out.
Do you set intentions? Let us know in the comments below or #Soundoff via Twitter, and follow me at @yvelettestines.
Yvelette Stines (www.yvelettestines.com) is an award-winning writer whose work has been published in Essence, Uptown, Heart and Soul, Jones, Hispanic Executive Quarterly, and Green Build + Design, just to name a few. Her book Vernon the Vegetable Man encourages children to choose healthy lifestyle habits. Stines’ blog, Calming Corners, motivates readers to live a calm and healthy lifestyle. You can find her calmly playing on social media @yvelettestines and @calmingcorners.
“Serena asked how I was feeling and I sent her a picture of me wearing a sick-sad face. She responded, ‘Gross, ugh…yuck.’ At first, I was a little annoyed by her response. I was feeling under the weather and of course she definitely made me laugh while hurting. Secondly, she did not realize I was telling her I was sick using my customized emoji, instead of the circular yellow emoji representing illness. But before I started to explain my intent, I began jumping up-and-down screaming, “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh I have to create Emoji’s of anything..”
The thought led Alleyne on his entrepreneurial journey.
BLACK ENTERPRISE caught up with the Brooklyn, New York, native to learn more about his journey as a an entrepreneur and success coach.
There are many people who dream of creating their own mobile app. How did you move from concept to execution?
I underwent several phases; from concept, to design layout and name changes. In fact, it was conceived just days before its launch on the iOS market. Here is an overview of my design process:
Recorded every possible thought pertaining to my idea (including how to protect my rights), by thoroughly researched.
I had to zero-in on one concept.
Hired workers to create my idea. This was the hardest because on three different occasions I was scammed out of my money and the services I paid for.
Which skill was critical to achieving your goal?
Perseverance. When hope was hidden and every time defeat whispered ever so sweetly, I believed anyway. As clouds of darkness (negativity, hearing NO) would form and light began to fade, I had to search within to shine anyway! Lastly, instead of seeking revenge from those who laughed at, doubted and stole from me, I knew I had to love anyway!
Did you use investors or your own money?
I used money from waiting tables as a restaurant server; funds from my graduate school scholarship and I was able to secure financial investments from close family members and friends.
Can you provide any tips or any lessons learned from marketing your app, working with developers, and/or getting people to endorse your service?
Clearly define your vision. Write it down and make sure it’s embedded in your mind. Lastly, believe, act and say to yourself, until it becomes second nature, “No, ‘NO’ Can Stop My Yes.”
How have you kept users engaged?
Social media–using Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and hashtags all over the cyber world.
Personal and professional relationships—sharing with my contacts and close family and friends via text, email, call, and meetings.
Public Relations and Marketing activities—to spread awareness about my business, I created business cards, retractable banners, posters, T-shirts, edibles such as cupcakes and drinks, stickers and hats. I also used press release and media kits to gain press coverage. Additionally I secured speaking engagements at schools, business forums, meet-up groups, churches, and other events.
Entrepreneurs, Here’s How to Systemize Your Business
One of the keys to success in business is ensuring you work efficiently. Being a solopreneur or small business owner can be stressful. However, don’t add to everyday anxiety by not systematizing your business. Learn how to systemize your business by implementing business systems and maximizing your efficiency.
People often ask me how I am able to operate multiple businesses using my laptop and handheld devices. Having a degree in industrial and systems engineering has assisted me in this area, and I look for opportunities to reduce or eliminate my personal effort wherever possible. In every aspect of business, you have to ask yourself, “Am I working too hard to do something that software/technology can do more easily?”
How to Systemize Your Business
Online Presence: Every business should have a website. Most people won’t contact you until they’ve vetted you online or via someone they know and trust. There are several solutions for creating an online presence, some inexpensive, others not so cheap. Several inexpensive options, like Wix, GoDaddy Website Builder, and WordPress, still offer you a professional appearance without breaking your budget. All of my websites, 15 of them, are built using WordPress. The tool is user-friendly and offers several templates to customize the appearance. Also, your website needs to be responsive (mobile device friendly); otherwise, you jeopardize losing potential customers because they can’t easily conduct business with you.
Business Phone System: Every business should have a dedicated business phone line. This should be self-explanatory, but there are still a number of people doing business via personal phone lines. There’s nothing worse than calling someone for business only to have their kids answer the phone as if you’re interrupting something. With a number of options out there, like Google Voice, Voice, and Grasshopper (my choice), there’s no excuse for not having a dedicated business phone line. Plus, these solutions are either free or very low in cost.
Business Branded E-mail: Another professional touch to add to your business is utilizing a business-branded e-mail address. This might seem like a minor element, but there is a different view from a business perspective when you conduct business online with someone using a business-branded e-mail address versus other free options. Yahoo and Google are great companies, but I prefer to conduct business using my business-branded e-mail accounts. You can set up your own business e-mail account using companies like GoDaddy.
Customer Relationship Management: Communicating and sharing products/services with your customers is a major key to the success of your business. Unfortunately, several people are still leveraging spreadsheets and offline distribution lists. This makes communicating with your clients and customers much more complex than it needs to be. Take a look at low-cost solutions like Aweber, Mailchimp, or Constant Contact. You can also opt for other solutions requiring more investment, like Infusionsoft or Act-on. The main point is to easily organize and communicate with your customers by leveraging streamlined automation.
Social Media Management: You can spend countless hours juggling between X, formerly known as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest. Quite frankly, it can be a downright hassle trying to manage all of those social media channels while still servicing your customers. Fortunately, there are a number of applications that assist with this effort. Take a look at options like Hootsuite, TweetDeck, and Sprout Social.
Oprah Cuts Ties With WeightWatchers, Donates Shares To NMAAHC
The media mogul plans to donate her shares, valued at around $4 million, to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Oprah Winfrey has decided not to seek re-election to the Board of Directors of WeightWatchers International. She has donated all her stock to the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC).
“I look forward to continuing to advise and collaborate with WeightWatchers and CEO Sima Sistani in elevating the conversation around recognizing obesity as a chronic condition, working to reduce stigma, and advocating for health equity,” Winfrey said in a Feb. 28 press release.
As a longtime supporter of NMAAHC’s mission, the media mogul “is proud to continue her support” and donate her shares to the museum, valued at around $4 million, according to CBS News. The donation comes as Winfrey looks “to eliminate any perceived conflict of interest around her taking weight loss medications.”
Winfrey has served on the WeightWatchers board since 2015. Her involvement initially doubled the company’s share price, but it has declined exponentially since. The company’s stock reflected a 17% plummet after early morning trading on Thursday. Rival weight loss drugs and shifting consumer preferences have disrupted diet companies like WeightWatchers. Established in 1960, the company has faced financial turmoil, with revenue dropping 15% to $889.6 million in 2023 while losses ballooned to $112 million.
Oprah’s stock ownership is now valued at just $4.1 million according to her 1.4% stake, compared to her initial $43.2 million investment for 6.4 million shares.
WeightWatchers Board Chairman Thilo Semmelbauer thanked Winfrey for “her energy, dedication, and for continuing to play a role as a collaborator and thought partner going forward” in Wednesday’s press statement. Semmelbauer noted The Color Purple actress’ inspiring presence, advocacy, and insight for members over the past eight years. “What I know for sure, we will dearly miss her presence on the Board.”
Winfrey plans to appear at several public speaking engagements on the pressing issue of weight health and wellness. “Weight Health is a critically important topic and one that needs to be addressed at a broader scale,” she said. In May 2024, the health and wellness advocate will co-host a WeightWatchers event confronting societal stigmas around obesity and promoting health equity.
Heavyweight Boxer Jared Anderson Arrested For Allegedly Obstructing Police
This is the second time in four months that Anderson has been arrested.
Heavyweight boxer Jared Anderson, was arrested Thursday, Feb. 29, for allegedly obstructing police in Huron Township, Michigan, according to ESPN.
No details about the arrest were given. This is the second time Anderson has been arrested in four months.
In November, the heavyweight contender was arrested and charged with improperly handling firearms in a vehicle while knowingly under the influence and operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
According to WTOL, a report from the Oregon (Ohio) Police Department stated that Anderson was pulled over for driving 55 m.p.h. in a posted 40 m.p.h. zone.
The police officer said that he could smell weed coming from Anderson’s car and saw an open container of Don Julio tequila in the vehicle. He also stated that the scent of alcohol was coming from Anderson. While searching his vehicle, police found the firearm in a locked glove box.
Anderson was released from jail after he posted a $7,500 bond.
In December, Anderson pleaded no contest to an amended charge of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle. The charge of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs was dropped. He was fined $200 and given a 180-day suspended sentence at the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio, contingent on Anderson not committing a similar offense within one year.
Anderson, “The Real Big Baby,” has record of 16-0, with 15 wins coming by knockout. His last fight took place in August when he scored a technical knockout over Andriy Rudenko in the fifth round. He is slated to fight April 13 vs. Ryad Merhy in Corpus Christi, Texas, which will be seen on ESPN.
Resisting and obstructing a police officer in Michigan is a felony “punishable by imprisonment for not more than two years or a fine of not more than $2,000.00, or both.”
Ghana’s Parliament Passes Controversial Rigid Anti-Homosexuality Bill
If the legislation is passed, members of the LGTBQ community and their supporters could be sentenced to years in prison.
Ghana’s parliament has voted to pass a controversial bill that will make it a criminal act to be openly gay in the West African nation, according to Al Jazeera.
The bill was presented to parliament in 2021 and received support from a coalition of religious and traditional leaders. It was sponsored by several lawmakers who passed the bill on February 28.
The bill still has to be endorsed by Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo, before entering into law.
“We want the president to walk his talk by appending his signature to the bill to enable it to come into force.”
Activist groups are demanding that the President reject the “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values” bill, which is also referred to as the Anti-Gay Bill. Although the president hasn’t openly supported the bill, he has said that gay marriage will never be allowed while he is president.
Under the provisions of the bill, people who engage in LGBTQ sexual acts may face six months to three years behind bars. People who participate in “wilful promotion, sponsorship, or support of LGBTQ+ activities” may receive a sentence of three to five years.
The Big 18, a human rights coalition consisting of lawyers and activists, has condemned the bill.
“You cannot criminalize a person’s identity, and that’s what the bill is doing and it’s absolutely wrong,” Big 18 member Takyiwaa Manuh told DW News.
“The passing of this bill will further marginalize and endanger LGBTQ individuals in Ghana.” LGBT+ Rights Ghana Alex Donkor said in an interview with Al Jazeera.
Discrimination against LGBTQ+ people is already common in the West African nation, but Donker fears that, if passed, the bill “threatens the safety and wellbeing “ of the already vulnerable LGBTQ+ community.
Karla DuPriest, a businesswoman from Mobile, Stacey Shepperson, a McIntosh educator, and Newton City Council member Belinda Thomas are proud of the values and historical context they bring to the state’s GOP.
As the only African American female public officer in the state, Thomas feels she is more than qualified to hold the position as she has proven herself. “I won my election in 2020 – the first African American ever elected to the Newton City Council,” she said.
“I was the first African American to ever be chair of our water authority in an all-white voting district, a Republican district, and I won as an African American. So I’ve proven myself.”
One of Thomas’ main issues is border security. She plans to help farmers find ways to improve the economy by restoring conservative values and prayer in the community.
“We need prayer and strong, strong, strong conservative leaders to restore our country,” Thomas said. “We need to go back to the fundamentals on what America was built for.”
Shepperson shares those same viewpoints. The mathematics instructor at Bishop State Community College supports more border control. Following former president Donald Trump’s migrant laws, she supports the crackdown on illegal immigration.
“I would definitely support more stringent border patrol,” Shepperson said.
“I think Trump was definitely on to something about this, and this is something we have to fix.”
Her main focus is affordable housing, something the 2nd Congressional District struggles with, according to the Alabama Reflector. Without a housing authority in her region, urban areas are landlocked. While meeting with developers for projects, Shepperson hopes to work with the state for funding and housing grants. “I would definitely look to build on the current industry that’s there and see how we can get some subcontracting opportunities or other, inviting more sustainable energy into our areas that are willing to be good corporate citizens, working hand-in-hand with the government,” she said.
Lack of opportunity is why DuPriest favored Alabama’s controversial redistricting concept. The owner and founder of Christ & Carla Heavenly Ribs believes redrawing the congressional district will give Black voters a better opportunity to choose a better representative, favoring red in a Democratic-leaning district. “It’s a good thing that they did redistrict, and the people of that district can elect a person who can reflect their values,” the Mobile resident said.
DuPriest says having someone who can sympathize with voters shouldn’t be limited to just the Democratic Party. Just because her views — low taxes, being pro-life and pro-gun — are GOP leaning, she doesn’t think her affiliation will fail her in the polls. “It’s not necessarily someone who looks like them, but it’s an advantage to having someone who can sympathize with the challenges of jobs, education, and health care,” she said.
“People need people who stand for their values and the values are not unique to the Democratic Party, but which are unique for the people in the 2nd congressional district.”
