by Derek Major

August 16, 2023

ForbesBLK Summit Will Bring Together Black Entrepreneurs, Business Leaders And Creators In ATL

Forbes has announced its inaugural ForbesBLK Summit, bringing together some of the world’s top Black business leaders, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and content creators.

According to a Forbes release, the ForbesBLK Summit will be held Nov. 5-6, 2023, in Atlanta. The theme for the inaugural ForbesBLK Summit is “The Future of Black Entrepreneurialism: Convening Culture, Creativity, and Community.”

The event will include critical conversations between business leaders across the Black community who are breaking barriers and driving a new culture of connection, collaboration, and change. The two-day event will also feature cultural experiences throughout Atlanta.

“We are thrilled to announce Forbes is hosting its first-ever Forbes BLK Summit in Atlanta. We are the city that’s synonymous with Black excellence,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. “Atlanta is the perfect place to host an inaugural event that is so timely, progressive, and connected to culture.”

The city is pushing to become the go-to place for Black professionals and aligns with ForbesBLK’s mission and commitment to creating the best-in-class experiences while championing and supporting the global community of Black entrepreneurs and business professionals.

Confirmed speakers for the summit include:

John Hope Bryant, CEO, Operation Hope
Ron Busby Sr., President & CEO, U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.
Shelly Cayette, Chief Commercial Officer, Cleveland Cavaliers
Tamira Chapman, President & CEO, Storehouse
Phylicia Fant, Head of Music Industry and Culture Collaborations, Amazon
Dr. Debra Furr-Holden, Dean of Global Public Health, NYU
Milt Newton, Assistant General Manager, Milwaukee Bucks
Nicole Pullen Ross, NY Region Head of Private Wealth Management, Goldman Sachs
Isiah Thomas, Former NBA Player, Philanthropist, and Chairman & CEO of Isiah International LLC

“The ForbesBLK Summit is the larger extension of what we’re building around this Forbes platform,” Jabari Young, ForbesBLK editorial lead, said in a statement. “It’s no secret the city of Atlanta is the core foundation of the ForbesBLK community and it’s the perfect home to host and celebrate our inaugural ForbesBLK Summit.”

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

August 16, 2023

Meet the Black Entrepreneur Who Has Generated $10M For Coaches, Course Creators & Business Owners

Tony Smith, also known as @TunedinTony, is the visionary force behind Bizlaunch.io, a creative marketing agency for online business coaches and entrepreneurs. Using sales funnels, he has generated an astonishing $10 million in revenue for coaches, course creators, and business owners so far throughout 2023.

Tony is redefining the landscape of digital entrepreneurship by revolutionizing how business coaches thrive in online product sales. If you’re an entrepreneur striving to amplify your digital products, webinars, and courses, Tony is your ultimate destination – the #1 sales funnel builder on Clickfunnels and Go High-Level platforms. In the competitive realm of online entrepreneurship, Tony emerges as a trailblazer in finding massive success for clients in the coaching industry. His expertise is crafting custom-made sales funnels that skyrocket entrepreneurs’ revenue.

His top clients, such as David Shands of the Social Proof Podcast, William Rivera of Ecom Degree University, David Omari of YT Academy, and many others, have created a massive impact in the black community from podcasts to huge events like Invest Fest hosted by Earn Your Leisure.

Yet, Tony’s journey is far from ordinary – it’s a testament to entrepreneurial resilience, determination, and the power of transformation. His path took an unforeseen turn when he maneuvered through the challenges of a failing e-commerce venture. Although his e-commerce brand had soared close to the 7-figure benchmark, boasting a remarkable $942,000 in revenue, the harsh reality of operating a business with high expenses shut him down.

Unstopped by this adversity, Tony made a huge pivot to digital coaching. Today, he guides his clients towards annual, and even monthly, 7-figure profits just like he did with client Carter Cofield, who generated $1 million in 30 days doing an online challenge in his sales funnel.

His mission vibrates beyond the realms of financial gains. His true genuine aspiration is to empower the Black community within entrepreneurship. By dismantling wealth barriers and fostering opportunities for entrepreneurs of color to thrive online, Tony’s impact transcends commerce – a movement toward empowerment and equity.

Are you a business owner, coach, or someone starting to create courses? Tony wants you to be part of his mission. He aims to help five more people before the month ends. Start your journey with the Sales Funnel Blueprint by visiting FunnelHackerWorkshop.com

Follow Tony on Instagram at @TunedinTony

This story first appeared on blacknews.com

USDA Invests $33 Million Into HBCU Agricultural Programs

by Daniel Johnson

August 16, 2023

USDA Invests $33 Million Into HBCU Agricultural Programs

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is continuing its commitment to bolster agricultural programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) by allocating $33 million to enhance the budgets of those institutions.

According to Spectrum News, this funding will be distributed across 19 HBCUs designated as 1890 Land-Grant Universities. The funds are specifically designated to advance a range of agricultural research projects at those universities.

“The work these universities will take on as a result of this funding have ripple effects far beyond the walls of their laboratories and classrooms,” Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small said in the USDA’s press release, adding that the move will benefit the agricultural industry as a whole. “Through this investment, the Biden-Harris Administration is helping deliver real-life, applicable solutions to make our food system stronger, while at the same time inspiring a next generation of students and scientists who will help us meet tomorrow’s agricultural challenges.”

This latest development follows a $262 million investment by the USDA in June 2023 aimed at creating the next generation of diverse leaders in agricultural professions.

The NEXTGEN program received its funding from the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act. According to Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack, the program represents the administration’s desire to create a more diverse agricultural field.

“We need to ensure our youth have the education and training they need to accelerate the development of an agricultural system that is climate-smart, sustainable, profitable and equitable,” said Vilsack. “This historic investment from the Biden-Harris Administration in our nation’s Minority-serving Institutions brings us closer to building a workforce that represents the richness and diversity of all the communities we serve.”

The USDA has been expanding its initiative, known as the 1890 Land-Grant Institutions National Program, for the past several years. The program, named for the institutions established through the Second Morrill Act of 1899, is designed to bolster agricultural research, education, extension programs, and the number of Black graduates in agricultural sciences.

Earlier this month, the USDA introduced a partnership, the USDA/1890 Scholars Program, aimed at producing more minority scholars of agriculture science. The program provides its scholars full tuition, employment and employment benefits, fees, and books, and pays for their room and board. Upon completion of the program, those scholars become eligible to receive a permanent position within the USDA once they have satisfied their college degree requirements.

by Iman Milner

August 16, 2023

Sage Steele Exits ESPN After Settling Lawsuit Over Coronavirus Controversy

Former ESPN anchor and sports journalist Sage Steele has officially cut ties with ESPN following a lawsuit over statements she made in opposition to its COVID-19 vaccination policy.

As previously reported, Steele turned down a $500,000 settlement from the network’s parent company, Walt Disney Co., due to feeling that her First Amendment rights were infringed upon when she was forced to take a leave of absence in 2021. The 50-year-old anchor alleges that she was treated unfairly following an appearance on former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler’s podcast in which she criticized Disney’s vaccine mandate, questioned former President Barack Obama’s lineage, and openly rebuked the clothing choices of her female peers. Steele would later serve a two-day suspension and claims she was intimidated into issuing an apology for fear of termination.

ESPN is amid great upheaval after parting ways with some of its most recognizable figures; however, according to Variety, Steele’s departure was a mutual decision. “Having successfully settled my case with ESPN/Disney, I have decided to leave so I can exercise my First Amendment rights more freely,” Steele said. “I am grateful for so many wonderful experiences over the past 16 years and am excited for my next chapter!” The sports giant released a statement further cementing the end of the partnership. “ESPN and Sage Steele have mutually agreed to part ways. We thank her for her many contributions over the years,” the network said.

Steele will join the likes of Jalen Rose, Mark Jackson, and Keyshawn Johnson, who have all been relieved of their roles at ESPN. Over nearly two decades, Steele sat at the desk for some of the network’s most popular shows, including Sportscenter and NBA Countdown. Throughout her tenure, she often ruffled feathers with her surprisingly conservative views and critical analysis of race relations in recent years.

by Iman Milner

August 16, 2023

Ava DuVernay Creates Largest Hiring Network In The Industry With ‘Array Crew’ Expansion

Oscar-nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay has doubled down on her commitment to continue diversifying the film and TV industry. Partnering with Hollywood heavy-hitters Brian Grazer and Ron Howard through their Impact platform, the 50-year-old When They See Us director will expand her free service, Array Crew, which boasts over 40,000 active users, stretching its reach to over 1.2 million industry professionals.

According to the Los Angeles Times, this new partnership will constitute the “largest hiring network” in the entertainment industry. “We really did recognize a shared mission here,” Howard said of the merger. For DuVernay, it is yet another way of creating access for “a whole bunch of people who traditionally feel like they’re outside of the system.” To date, Array Crew has been used to staff over 900 films, television shows, commercials, and video projects. In 2022, Impact announced that it closed a $15 million round of funding—raising its total fiscal resources to $21 million—with the help of several notable Silicon Valley and entertainment investors.

Though Howard and Grazer have had a much different journey in an industry that still caters to creators who are both white and male, they, along with DuVernay, saw the present need to keep pushing for true diversity.

“You begin to recognize this insulation is no good for the industry. It doesn’t make any business sense,” Howard said. “It’s bad for the art form, and therefore it is also lousy for society and the audience.” For DuVernay, the power that Grazer and Howard wield in Hollywood as well as the deep pockets of Impact, could help make Array Crew a true power player in the tech space. “We were having challenges breaking into new markets and figuring out technology that would work worldwide,” she said. “Our challenges are that you have to become a tech company in order to run this as a robust digital platform.”

The service will remain free to members, and with Impact’s backing, Array Crew can focus its efforts on further empowering people of color in the industry without bending to the will of outside funders.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 16, 2023

New Initiative In San Francisco Centers On Black Early Educators

San Francisco city officials are dedicating resources to generate employment opportunities for Black early educators. The initiative seeks to ensure that young learners flourish in environments where they encounter familiar faces: those of their teachers.

Graduates of the city’s educator training program are the starting point for a generational impact in the local Black community.

After the height of police brutality protests in the summer months of 2020, San Francisco lawmakers divested money from police departments and reallocated the funding to programs seeking to dismantle inequity within the Bay Area. One of the outcomes was the establishment of the Pipeline for Black Early Childhood Educator pilot program. Its organizers say that encouraging and placing Black teachers in early development classrooms during crucial childhood years will uplift diverse student bodies as they continue into grade school.

“There’s something about affirming a child’s culture when there is a teacher that represents them in a classroom … that understands their experiences, their family … there’s something around that that has impacted Black children’s success,” said Je Ton Carey, the lead coordinator for the program, as detailed by KQED.

The program’s mission is based on the premise that offering assistance and engagement in a profession that has been suffering due to low pay and excessive workload can yield advantages to educators and students alike. Upon receiving their associate teaching permits, graduates of the program can expand upon their certifications by teaching or even developing their own childcare business.

Graduates are encouraged to pursue advanced degrees, as Dr. Patricia Sullivan has. “It was really important to not only show them that someone could be in higher education and be Black, but that, you know, this stuff is not as hard as you think,” she shared on the significance of being such a role model.

The initiative not only offers job security and a sense of well-being for Black residents but also combats educational gaps among diverse children, especially in regard to kindergarten preparedness. A 2022 performance analysis conducted by the public school system within the city found that not even half of Black preschoolers were considered “ready” to jump to kindergarten.

Correcting this issue at the very start of a child’s academic journey can create systemic change, and the inclusion of quality representation in San Francisco’s schools is leading the charge.

‘CLLCTIVLY’ Raises Over $1M In 24 Hours To Support Black-Led Organizations

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 15, 2023

‘CLLCTIVLY’ Raises Over $1M In 24 Hours To Support Black-Led Organizations

More than a million dollars was raised over 24 hours by a social change organization based in Baltimore.

According to a social media post by CLLCTIVLY, which calls itself “a place-based social change organization centering Black genius, narrative power, social networks, and resource mobilization,” it has raised $1,125,707 in 24 hours. The amount was collected during the fifth annual day of giving for CLLCTIVGIVE.

$1 Million Raised in 24 Hours to support Black-Led Organizations in Baltimore – https://t.co/gd5lmSW6tW @TechnicallyBMR @BaltBizOnline @GivingTuesday @afronews @WEAA889 @MiddayWYPR @OnTheRecordWYPR @InsidePhilanthr @CHANGEPhil @PEAKgrantmaking @cyndisuarez @Surdna_Fndn @kresgefdn pic.twitter.com/x38HSHEHlS

— cllctivly (@CLLCTIVLY) August 10, 2023

According to News One, CLLCTIVGIVE, an initiative started by CLLCTIVLY, has helped connect donors with Black-led groups, presented a speaker series and an awards ceremony, and launched the Solidarity Awards in conjunction with the Elbow Fund.

CLLCTIVLY CEO Jamye Wooten, who founded the organization in 2019, said, “Our day of giving was a groundbreaking success that will enable us to fuel the mission and extraordinary work of Black-led organizations and initiatives. This was not only a historic moment in Black philanthropy, but it also reinforced the organization’s commitment to fostering sustainable solutions for social progress. This momentous fundraising event will reverberate through Black-led communities for years to come.”

Wooten also stated that since its inception, CLLCTIVGIVE has received support from individual donors, businesses, foundations, and community partners. The campaign has grown so much over the years, evidenced by the total raised ($5,000) in its first year to more than $1 million in its fifth year.

CLLCTIVLY also announced that its Solidarity Fund, in partnership with the Elbow Fund, will give 15 organizations awards of $50,000 each to support them in their mission to help Black-led entities and the causes associated with them. The Elbow Fund is also providing eight other organizations with grants of $10,000 each as members of the inaugural CONNECT cohort.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 15, 2023

Black Tallahassee Student Group May Change It’s Name To Keep Funding In The Anti-Woke State Of Florida

With presidential nominee Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis causing havoc on Black education with his “Anti-Woke” agenda, a Black student organization at a community college in Tallahassee may have to look for another name or risk losing funding.

According to WSFU Public Media, the Black male students who are members of Black Male Achievers are looking for alternative names to call their organization due to the possibility of losing state funding because of a new Florida law.

During the Civil Rights Movement during the 60s and 70s, there were battles to level the playing fields due to racial politics and the racial imbalance that people of color had to endure. Sixty years later, it seems that certain states and one political party specifically are fighting to reverse that.

In Florida, a new law prohibits student-led organizations that “advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion” and other causes, whether social and/or political, from getting money from the state and/or federal funding. Under this new directive, the organizations can only receive funding from student-activity fees under the new law.

Tyler Soto, who attends Tallahassee Community College, is also a member of Black Male Achievers. Due to what may happen if they keep the name, he says the organization wants to change it. They’re considering choices like “Male Achievers” or “Scholar Male Achievers.” At least this way, they may not have to worry about not getting the funding necessary to keep the organization afloat.

“We’re going to have to change the name of our organization or they’re going to defund it because it has ‘Black’ in front of it,” Soto said.

Soto is also a part of the school’s Student Government Association, and he has stated that laws and policies like this have only encouraged him to become more involved in the political process.

“It has made me want to step up and be the change.”

But, for now, the name change must occur so there can be an organization to be a member of.

by Stacy Jackson

August 15, 2023

Black Woman Brings Soul Food To Mexico City With ‘Blaxicocina’ Restaurant

Thanks to one woman, Blacks in Mexico City don’t have to look far to find soul food.

Mitchellville, Maryland, native Tiara Darnell brought a taste of comfort to a growing community of Blacks in Mexico, native Mexicans, and travelers passing through the region. According to DCist, Darnell owns Blaxicocina, the only soul food restaurant in Mexico City.

The first-time restaurant owner feeds the Narvarte community with food and funds through partnerships with local farmers. Mexican nationals make up all of Blaxicocina’s staff except for one person. Darnell told the outlet employing people from the region is her way of putting money into the neighborhood. DCist also reported most of Darnell’s vendors and contractors are Mexican nationals.

The business owner said several spices and foods used in African American dishes are unavailable in Mexico City. Darnell formed a partnership with The Heirloom Collard Project after being unable to find collard greens in the region. “When I first got here, I see kale, I see Swiss chard, other types of greens, but collards were nowhere to be found,” Darnell said. Soul food dishes wouldn’t be the same without a side of cornbread. Darnell said corn goes through a different process to make tortillas. “We have to grind our own corn to make the cornbread the way we want it to be. We have to grind our own corn to make the coating for the fried green tomatoes that we’re trying out right now on the menu,” the restaurant owner explained.

The soul food restaurant has already warmed the hearts of locals. One customer, Lesly Aldana, said, “I really like that combination when they mix part of the food, the culture, but they also look for more environmental, more ecological options to do it.”

Blacks in the city feel the same. Darnell’s friend, Adi Shaku Bennu, said, “To see people come here and establish roots and build shows that you don’t have to live in America to make it. You know, you can leave and make something great outside of the States.”

According to Darnell, many Blacks in Mexico City left the U.S. to escape systemic racism and oppression. The restaurant owner knows Americans moving to Mexico raises the cost of living, but Darnell aims to create a welcoming space for all people.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 15, 2023

Stephen Curry Hosts Eighth Annual ‘Curry Camp’ For Hand-Selected Group Of Student Athletes

Stephen Curry continues to give back under his Under Armour partnership by hosting his eighth annual Curry Camp in the Bay Area.

Curry and his Under Armour Curry Brand sneakers hosted the latest camp for a hand-selected group of 13 boys and 14 girls playing basketball at the high school level. The Golden State Warrior took part in helping the players hone their skills on the basketball court while encouraging them to give back to their communities.

“I am excited to be back partnering with Under Armour and Curry Brand to make this camp happen, and I’m pumped to get on the court to mentor this select core group of talented young athletes. There are big things ahead for this group, and it means everything to me to play a role in the growth of the future generation of hoopers. They put in the hard work to get here, and it’s my job to add the fuel to the fire that will take them to the next level.”

For Curry, it isn’t just about athletics.

Curry Brand partnered with JPMorgan Chase to host a financial literacy session for the players invited to the camp. The discussion included the intricacies of possible NIL (name, likeness, and image) deals and marketing opportunities that may come their way. With a reported 60% to 65% of professional players going bankrupt within the first five years of leaving the league, Curry wants to educate and ensure that young athletes can be prepared for financial success as they ascend to the pros.

“The women and men at Curry Camp are showing up with elite-level talent and skill, but what I hope to instill again this year are the tools that support them on and off the court—a commitment to impact our shared communities, teamwork in and out of the locker room, celebrating each and every day and having a fierce love for the game.”

But there were also fun times for the players. There was a private screening of the recently released documentary Stephen Curry: Underrated and a trip to Top Golf. They were also outfitted with the latest footwear from the Curry Brand. The players were able to take home the soon-to-be-released Curry Flow 11, which will debut this fall, as well as unreleased colorways of the Curry Retro 4, Curry 4 FloTro, and Curry Flow Cozy.