Dumas has made his last stop, but it’s a run he won’t soon forget.
“I’ve done everything except deliver a baby, and I came close to doing that. Twice,” he told Atlanta News First.
MARTA estimates that Dumas transported nearly 3 million passengers and covered an equivalent number of miles. His Austell home is a testament to his dedication, adorned with plaques and proclamations honoring his work.
Among the cherished mementos is a MARTA uniform, signed and framed by his coworkers, presented during a November retirement party.
“I’ve been blessed to serve MARTA and Atlanta and the State of Georgia,” Dumas said.
A highlight in Dumas’s living room captures a framed photo depicting his face adorning the side of a MARTA bus to celebrate his 50 years of service.
“I’ve always said, ‘We carry the most valuable cargo you can imagine, and that’s human life, and everybody cannot do what we do,’” Dumas said.
He added, “To do what we do, you have to have a special kind of spirit and understand the responsibility. We have people that rely on us to go to the grocery store, to go to the doctor, to go to work, to go to school.”
Retirement doesn’t mark the end of his connection with MARTA. In January, Dumas intends to return to mentor and train new drivers, instilling in them the same passion and dedication that defined his lengthy career.
Dumas is currently focusing on his “honey-do list” during his retirement. He quipped that it should be about 50 years long.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Gears Up To Regulate AI In Hiring And Employee Recruitment
The EEOC is gearing up to regulate AI in hiring practices to prevent racial and gender bias, but enforcement won't happen overnight.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is gearing up for a big role in policing Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Politicoreports a survey by the Society for Human Research Management released last year showed that 79% of AI use in the workplace is focused on hiring and recruitment.
Keith Sonderling, the EEOC commissioner, has been one of the driving voices regarding the EEOC and AI, often speaking publicly about employers’ obligations in using the new technology.
“The difference with AI is the scalability of it,” Sonderling said, according to Politico. “Before, you have one person potentially making a biased hiring decision. AI, because it can be done at scale, can impact hundreds of thousands or millions of applicants.”
Sonderling added that existing civil rights laws still apply to AI. He wants the EEOC and the human resources sector to take a leading role in showing how the government can deal with AI technology in different settings.
“You’re dealing with civil rights,” Sonderling, former acting head of the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division, said. “The stakes are going to be higher.”
According to Sonderling, AI is having a significant impact on the EEOC, and the agency has been letting companies and corporations know that laws and standards will apply to AI.
The EEOC typically has jurisdiction over four entities: employers, employees, unions, and staffing agencies. However, with the addition of AI, venture capitalists and investors are now investing in technology that’s tasked with changing the workplace. Talented programmers, entrepreneurs, and developers are building these products and companies are looking to release these products.
However, it might take a while for the EEOC to develop basic standards and rules regarding AI and non-discriminatory hiring. For starters, U.S. lawmakers are largely unfamiliar with AI technology and how it works.
Also, the workplace has changed significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Forbes, 12.7% of full-time employees currently work from home, and 28.2% work a hybrid model where they split time between the office and home. Additionally, most job interviews take place online now.
Perfecting AI will be a tough task as it has already shown a racial and sexual bias in several areas, including security, art, and employee recruitment. Sonderling said one thing that will help is that federal agencies are now trying to figure out how AI will benefit their agencies, which Sonderling said should help the EEOC develop better practices and standards.
“The more guidance, the more we can do to help employers who are willing to comply is really all we can do. Every agency needs to be doing that, no matter what the context is.”
American Institute Of Architects Elects First Black Woman President
Kimberly Dowdell, an architect with a distinguished career spanning design, education, and urban development, will begin her term in 2024.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has inaugurated Kimberly Dowdell as its 100th president, the first Black woman to hold the position.
Dowdell, an architect with a distinguished career spanning design, education and urban development, will begin her term in 2024.
She joins AIA CEO Lakisha Ann Woods and President-elect Evelyn Lee to mark the second straight year of all-female leadership for the industry group, according to HOK, a global design, architecture, engineering, and planning firm.
“Being elected as the 100th president of AIA is both an honor and responsibility that I embrace wholeheartedly,” Dowdell said. She added that the opportunity aligns with her mission of using design to “nurture progress, equity, and sustainability for all.”
Dowdell’s rise, from her roots in Detroit to leading the prominent 98,000-member organization, serves as an inspiration for women and people of color aspiring to leadership roles in architecture.
“Seeing her in this significant leadership role sets an inspiring example and path for more women and people of color to achieve influential positions in architecture and design,” said HOK Co-CEO Susan Klumpp Williams, one of the first women to lead a major design firm.
As president, Dowdell plans to promote diversity and sustainability across the built environment. She brings experience from her time as president of the National Organization of Minority Architects and co-founder of the SEED diversity initiative.
Dowdell’s portfolio encompasses architecture, teaching, government and real estate development. She holds degrees from Cornell and Harvard and was elected to Cornell’s board in 2022.
The AIA presidency caps Dowdell’s steady ascent as a champion for equity in the field. Her inclusive vision for architecture lines up with the institute’s mission of advancing the value of architects worldwide.
“This opportunity to serve my profession beautifully aligns with my overarching mission,” Dowdell said.
Black-Owned Golf Apparel Brand Eastside Golf Projected To Generate $4M In 2024
Black-owned golf apparel brand Eastside Golf started out with $100,000 in revenue its first year to a projected $4 million in 2024.
In recent years, a new wave of golf apparel brands have emerged, revolutionizing the sport with bold designs and attracting diverse players. One such brand making waves is Eastside Golf, founded in June 2019 by Olajuwon Ajanaku and Earl Cooper. Eastside Golf has experienced exponential growth, starting from two to 16 employees. According to FastCompany, with revenue starting at $100,000 in its first year, it is projected to reach $4 million by the close of 2023.
Initially a golf lifestyle apparel company, the brand has evolved into a significant force in diversifying the sport, adorned by luminaries like Barack Obama, DJ Khaled, Dwyane Wade, and CC Sabathia. Collaborations with Jordan Brand, the NBA, Apple, and Mercedes-Benz USA have cemented Eastside Golf’s position as a trailblazer in the industry.
Ajanaku and Cooper, former teammates on Morehouse College’s golf team, played pivotal roles in the Tigers winning a national championship in 2010. Cooper became a Class-A PGA pro and a renowned instructor, while Ajanaku, unable to secure sponsorship for his pro golf aspirations, found a unique path. Leveraging his accounting degree, Ajanaku ventured into finance but soon conceived the idea of starting his brand, Eastside Golf.
The brand’s distinctive swingman logo, featuring Ajanaku in jeans and a sweatshirt, caught the attention of onlookers. Ajanaku highlighted the logo’s significance, telling FastCompany, “The logo literally says I don’t care. I’m out here because I love the game of golf and because I like dressing fly. When people are able to be themselves, it gives them the power to do so many other things.”
Regarding the collaboration with Jordan Brand, Ajanaku emphasized the shared passion for the game, stating, “We’re just bringing a different wave to golf.” The collaboration resulted in diverse apparel items and shoes, with the recent launch of the Change 1961 Collection featuring Eastside Golf X Jordan Golf shoes and a 14-piece apparel collection.
Beyond the accolades, Ajanaku and Cooper envision a more significant impact on the golf industry. As the game’s economic impact surpasses $100 billion, they aim to foster diversity and expose communities to opportunities within the sport. Eastside Golf’s donation of $150,000 and a custom Sprinter van to the Morehouse golf program exemplifies their commitment to future leaders.
Looking ahead, Eastside Golf plans community events in various cities, including Atlanta, Detroit, Memphis, and Augusta, Georgia. The brand will launch a women’s apparel line around a prominent women’s amateur golf event. Aspirations include establishing a brick-and-mortar store in Atlanta, an Eastside Golf-style country club, and a foundation nurturing junior golfers.
“We want to grow the brand to a place where we’re touching all points of golf,” Ajanaku said. “Growing the game of golf to a place we wanted to see it when we were younger. Now, it’s about putting that into play because I know that’s what the next generations want to see.”
While Ajanaku hasn’t abandoned his dream of turning pro, Eastside Golf’s founders are on a mission to leave an enduring impact on the game and inspire generations to come.
Taraji P. Henson And Oprah Winfrey Present United Front Amid Calls To Address Pay Gaps For Black Actors
Taraji P. Henson posted online crediting Oprah Winfrey for supporting the cast of 'The Color Purple' amid voicing pay frustrations.
Taraji P. Henson and Oprah Winfrey praised each other online, quieting recent speculation about whether there was tension between the two regarding Henson’s statements on pay disparity for Black actors.
Henson has been vocal about pay inequality, citing her Oscar-nominated role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, earning her $150,000 compared to millions paid to her co-stars. Today reported that the Golden Globe award recipient also nearly walked away from her current role in The Color Purple musical over low pay.
As fans began to assume her frustrations were connected to executive producer Winfrey, Henson posted an Instagram message crediting Winfrey for supporting the cast of The Color Purple.
“Ms. OPRAH has been nothing less than a steady and solid beacon of light to ALL OF THE CAST of The Color Purple!!!” Henson wrote. “She told me personally to reach out to her for ANYTHING I needed, and I did!”
Winfrey also posted, praising Henson for her performance and welcoming the actress to the “Purple sisterhood.”
While The Color Purple executive producer did not address pay gaps in her post about Henson, the two presented a united front amid calls for Winfrey to address the concerns. Their messages underscored Henson’s vow not to let Hollywood “steal her soul” and to continue fighting for change.
Henson broke barriers by detailing the hurdles she previously faced and still faces when it comes to pay negotiations as a Black woman in Hollywood. According to the outlet, she said that studios justify lower offers by claiming Black-led projects “don’t translate overseas.”
“You get tired. I hear people go, ‘You work a lot.’ I have to. The math ain’t mathing,” she told Gayle King with Today tearfully.
Henson follows Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, and other Black actresses speaking out about pay gaps for Black women in the industry compared to their white counterparts. Spencer recalled when Jessica Chastain helped her negotiate equal pay on a project they collaborated on.
Damon Dash: ‘I’m Taking Back Roc-A-Fella; I Don’t Need No Paperwork’
The co-founder of the famed label that introduced Jay-Z to the world insists he is still the CEO of Roc-A-Fella Inc.
The record label Roc-A-Fella Records has been dormant for many years after the “breakup” of Jay-Z, Kareem “Biggs” Burke, and Damon Dash.
Although all parties have continued with other ventures, the beef Dash has with Jay-Z doesn’t seem like it’s going away anytime soon. In a recent interview, the Harlem-bred co-founder insists that although nothing is going on with the label, he is still “the CEO of Roc-A-Fella Inc.”
Dash appeared last week on “The GAUDS Show,” a podcast, and said he’d like to have a conversation with Jay-Z, but he made it clear where he stood.
“I’m taking back Roc-A-Fella; I don’t need no paperwork,” he said. “Roc-A-Fella never dies. It’s not dead; I just f**kin’ took a vacation. I’m the CEO of Roc-A-Fella Inc. and JAY-Z knows it, and so does Biggs. Not Roc-A-Fella LLC—we sold that; Roc-A-Fella Inc.—I’m still the CEO.”
Dash also firmly believes that if it weren’t for him, there would be no “rapping Jay-Z” and that the “Hard Knock Life” rapper and future billionaire wasn’t concerned about business.
“If I listened to them, there would be no Jay-Z.,” Dash said. “He wasn’t gon’ do it. There would be no rapping Jay-Z if it wasn’t for me 100,000 percent. He wasn’t gonna do what I did to make sure he got heard. He was hustling.
“He wasn’t gonna put a record out by himself and create a record company. He could rap, but he didn’t know business. I taught him business. How to put a record out yourself. How to leverage your celebrity and put it on a product yourself.”
As is his style, Jay-Z has not yet, nor is he expected to, respond to Dash’s comments.
NBA Player Khris Middleton Rewards Brooklyn Chop House Staff With $1K Tip On Christmas
The 11-year NBA veteran was with the Milwaukee Bucks when they played the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden
An NBA player spread the love earlier this week while he was in town to play the New York Knicks and graciously left a $1,000 gratuity to the staff that served him and his family and friends.
According to Page Six, while the Milwaukee Bucks were in New York to play the Knicks on Christmas, Khris Middleton took 12 of his friends and family to music industry vet and now restauranteur Robert “Don Pooh” Cummins’ popular spot, Brooklyn Chop House, in the financial district. Not only was the small forward generous with his circle, but he also left the staff with a hefty $1,000 tip to help brighten their holiday.
The 11-year NBA veteran ordered two of the restaurant’s $495 LSD meals, which come with lobster, steak, and duck as the main items and include sides like fried rice, fries, and other selections.
Middleton had a good game and scored a season-high 24 points (10-20 FG, 4-9 3Pt), pulled down two rebounds, dished out six assists, and had one steal while playing 33 minutes. According to CBS Sports, it still resulted in the Bucks losing to the home team 129-122. He tied a season-high during the game when he made four three-pointers. For December, he is scoring about 17.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 2.1 threes, and 0.8 steals over that stretch while making 50% of his shots from the floor.
ESPN reported that Middleton’s injury before last season kept him out of the 2022 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics. Then, he only played in 33 regular-season games last season due to a combination of wrist and knee issues.
He did sign a new contract for three years for $102 million, and to keep him from any further injuries, he has averaged less than 20 minutes a game for his first 10 games this season. He missed one game due to an Achilles injury but has been striving in the limited minutes this season.
3 New Year’s Goals That Most Entrepreneurs Haven’t Considered
Here's a list of goals that will require you to get outside of your head and conquer those fears you've been avoiding.
Originally Published Dec. 12, 2016
Are you stuck working on the same New Year’s goals you’ve had for the past few years?
Don’t get stuck with the same goals—it becomes a repetitive process that stops inspiring you to do more. If you want to achieve something different, you have to try something different.
Be cautious: this list of goals will require you to get outside of your head, and conquer those demons you’ve been avoiding the majority of your life. Here are three nontraditional New Year’s goals that probably weren’t on your list last year, but if you try them this year, they are guaranteed to take your career and business in unexpected directions.
Attend a Summit or Conference in Another State
You may have stretched your relationship-building goals by attending more networking events this year. Now, it’s time to spice up your professional life with a couple of multi-day conferences.
Attending workshops, meeting industry leaders, and networking with fellow attendees can have a positive impact on your business. Go online and identify 10 potential conferences that you are willing to attend. Search keyword terms, such as “women in business conferences.”
If you haven’t already registered, check out the BLACK ENTERPRISE Women of Power Summit. This is your chance to connect with the most influential women in the world.
You might find your “possibility posse”—high-achieving leaders who give you feedback and recommendations. They help you to be more purposeful and profitable in your business. It has often been said that you are a combination of the company you keep. Guard your social circle wisely, and place yourself in environments with people who inspire you to dream bigger.
If you’ve ever thought about competing in a pageant, it was probably during your teenage or young-adult years, when you were fascinated by those beautiful girls that flaunted their perfectly sculpted bodies in dazzling, four-inch heels across the stage.
On the other hand, maybe you have always deemed pageants to be sexist and irrelevant to modern day progress.
All pageants are not created equal. If you are a career-driven professional or entrepreneurial-focused individual, you’ve probably never thought about tapping into the pageantry circuit in order to develop your brand.
For example, have you heard about the Ms./Mrs Corporate America (MCA) pageant? It’s a pageant that celebrates the accomplishments of outstanding businesswomen, between the ages of 21 and 55. This pageant acknowledges your progress as a businesswoman, and provides you a platform to empower other women. Many career experiences result in women tearing each other down in order for them to climb higher, but MCA focuses on women coming together to advance the ambitions of women all over the world.
What makes this an especially huge, brand-boosting opportunity is the series of events that take place before the pageant. Contestants showcase why they should be the next titleholder through a host of appearances, sponsor support, and video contests. These are the same activities you should partake in to grow your business—even if you are afraid of the spotlight. There is somebody who needs exactly what you have. It’s important that you present your gifts to the world, so that you can share them.
Travel Around the World
What you know is limited to how far you go. If you never step outside of your country, you limit the relationships and impact that you could have as a leader.
When you are staring at a pile of papers and a growing list of action items, traveling to a different country may not appear to be the most feasible activity to undertake. But what if I told you that traveling would increase your clients, profits, and confidence? There are many traveling opportunities that you can explore no matter where you are in your entrepreneurial journey.
If you are a business leader between the ages of 17 to 29, consider Up with People. This 6-month, multi-continent tour gives you a chance to increase your cross-cultural competencies and hone your leadership skills.
Another travel opportunity for those seeking to connect, create, and collaborate in world-renowned destinations is Unsettled. Unsettled travel community gives you the opportunity to connect with other creative entrepreneurs on a 30-day retreat.
Finally, those who want to increase their language competencies can participate in a language immersion course in another country. Don Quijote offers over 25 short- and long-term Spanish courses of all different levels.
“I have a disability myself. I have serious Ankylosing (kind of arthritis),” Barber said. “I walk with two canes. I have bad hips, and I can’t sit low.
The minister of Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro says he didn’t see any signs or rules suggesting he was violating any rules. Lt. Justin Wooten was one of the officers called to the scene. According to WITN 7, the department received a trespassing call, and upon arrival, he witnessed Barber arguing with staff. Afterwards, Barber left without incident.
As a prominent leader in the community, social justice, and civil rights, Barber says this is the first time he has been told he wasn’t allowed to use the chair. “So whether I’m on Broadway, the White House, the State House, United States Congress, they always let me bring this chair,” Barber said. “Never been a problem. In fact, other movie theaters have never been a problem.”
The Greenville Police Department released a detailed statement regarding the incident and said no charges will be filed against the minister. Barber, however, claims to be hosting a press conference soon to speak on his experience.
Baltimore Mayor Has December to Remember: Proposes To Girlfriend, Becomes Dad
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott has had a very eventful December.
The Mayor of Baltimore is a newly engaged man. Brandon Scott, a native of the city, proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Hana Pugh, on Christmas.
Scott shared the news on his personal Facebook account with a traditional relationship update that he was taking his status with Hugh to the next level.
Before announcing the news, Scott shared Christmas pictures of their blended family—Pugh has a 7-year-old from a previous marriage—as he wished his hometown “the strength of community” during the holiday season.
“Wishing you a festive holiday season filled with joy, peace, and strength of community,” the 39-year-old politician wrote. “May the spirit of unity and kindness illuminate our city, bringing hope and happiness.”
According to the Baltimore Banner, Pugh is also a public servant in her own right. She is the operations director for a local nonprofit, Bmore Empowered, which works to uplift Black girls and women through programming and professional development to aid in their academic or entrepreneurial journeys.
Alongside the eventual wedding planning and “Baby Charm,” 2024 is set to be a busy year for Scott, who is seeking reelection. He first assumed office in 2020, succeeding Catherine Pugh, whose scandal involving wire fraud led to her resignation and guilty charges. (Note: Hana Pugh is not related to the former mayor.)
Scott recently hosted the 49th annual Mayor’s Business Recognition Awards in December to highlight Baltimore businesses working to stimulate the city’s economic and communal development.
