Dwyane Wade and Baron Davis Raise $1.4 Million For App That Ties Credit and Chores For Kids
Kiddie Kredit has helped thousands of children learn the importance of “work hard, play hard.” The app teaches children how to build credit through doing chores and other means of “fun.” The Miami-based startup has raised $1.4 million in funding thanks to some hard-hitting investors.
Backed by NBA legend angel investors Dwyane Wade and Baron Davis, the investments will help founder Evan Leaphart expand the reach of the financial literacy app to kids across the country and worldwide. Some other investors include Nueterra Capital, Plain Sight Capital, Fuerza Ventures, and Verve Capital. Wade said he was drawn to Leaphar’s mission. “I was drawn to what Evan and team are working on with Kiddie Kredit,” Wade said, according to Refresh Miami. “It’s important to give kids a head start and especially on the topic of credit.”
People of Color in Tech report that the mobile app teaches kids from ages 4 to 12 the basics of credit in a fun way by assigning tasks and chores that will give them points toward their “kredit” score. They have even partnered with Equifax to add advertising of the Equifax Family Plan to the parent side of the app. Leaphart started the app by learning the importance of good credit with his own life experiences. From college to apartment hunting, unemployment, and business ups and downs, he slowly learned that a credit score could impact life’s options.
Kiddie Kredit founder Evan Leaphart Photo: Screenshot YouTube Innovation City
The purpose is to help children unlock generational wealth and promote financial freedom. “Most importantly, organizations can unlock for families this entire financial literacy journey of over 250 hours of content that meets multiple National Financial Literacy Standards,” Leaphart said.
This fundraising era is just the next step of excellence for Kiddie Kredit. Last summer, Black Enterprise reported the app was part of Amazon’s first cohort of its Black Founders Build with Alexa program. The program helps build the next generation of voice, artificial intelligence, and ambient experiences.
Heavy D’s Hometown Of Mount Vernon, NY, Has ‘Got Nothin’ But Love’ For Rapper, Unveils New Sculpture
A sculpture honoring the late rapper/actor Heavy D was unveiled in his hometown of Mount Vernon, New York, on Thursday.
Brooklyn-based artist Eto Otitgbe was joined by Heavy D’s family and Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard to unveil his sculpture that honors Heavy D and his influence in hip-hop in celebration of the genre’s 50th anniversary, ABC 7 reported.
“My son loved the arts and this sculpture and this sculpture depicts the love that he have especially for the city of Mount Vernon,” Heavy D’s mother, Euhlalee Myers, said.
The piece is titled “Peaceful Journey” after one of Heavy D’s songs and “offers a thoughtful and complex picture of the lives of Black and Brown people (living) in places like Mount Vernon, the Bronx or Los Angeles,” Otitgbe said.
“I wanted to pay homage to the Mount Vernon community that had such an important place in hip-hop with this work of art,” he added.
Heavy D was born Dwight Arrington Myers in Mandeville, Jamaica, but relocated to Mount Vernon during childhood and developed a love for rap early on. He went on to form the Boyz with high-school friends DJ Eddie F, Trouble T-Roy, and G-Wiz and recorded a demo tape that landed in the lap of Def Jam executive André Harrell, according to All Music.
Harrell was in the process of forming his own label, Uptown, and decided to make Heavy D and The Boyz the first artists he signed in 1986. Their debut album, Living Large, would reach gold status with a series of popular singles like “Mr. Big Stuff” and “The Overweight Lovers in the House.”
By the ’90s, Heavy D became a household name with features on Janet Jackson’s “Alright” and additional chart-topping singles like 1991’s “Now That We Found Love.” Heavy would go on to acting, appearing in Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence’s 1999 comedy, Life, a supporting role in the Oscar-winning drama The Cider House Rules, and Fox’s drama Boston Public.
Heavy acted onscreen all while continuing his music career. On November 8, 2011, Heavy D collapsed outside his home in Beverly Hills and died from complications of pneumonia and a blood clot in his lung. He was 44 years old.
His wake and funeral drew thousands. Many celebrities and fans came out in numbers to pay their respect to the rap legend.
Somalian Women Gets Bullet Surgically Removed From Private Parts Following Accidental Shooting
A woman in Somalia had to have emergency surgery to remove a bullet after being accidentally shot in her clitoris while relaxing at home.
According to a detailed study by the International Journal of Surgery Case, a 24-year-old unnamed patient was relaxing at home when she was suddenly struck by a stray bullet that came through her ceiling and pierced her in the nether regions.
“To the best of our knowledge, this is the first wayward bullet injury penetrating the vulvar area [the outer part of the female genitals] with a retained bullet in the clitoris,” the study’s authors wrote.
“We thought it to be rare and interesting.”
Gunshot wounds in private regions are typically seen in “battlefield trauma or large urban areas with criminal implications,” according to the researchers.
“Tired bullet injuries are caused by low-velocity injuries, commonly seen in residential areas in war-torn countries such as Somalia,” the study authors wrote.
The researchers explained the rarity of non-pregnancy-related “vulvic trauma” saying such injuries are often the result of sports injuries, including straddle injuries, burns, animal/human bites, and sexual assault.
The woman sought treatment at the Erdoğan Hospital in Mogadishu, where a CT scan showed the lead pellet lodged inside her clitoris, a disturbing case considered the first of its kind. Thankfully, the unfortunate body shot was at low velocity and didn’t jeopardize her health.
The patient was placed under anesthesia while the bullet was removed. Doctors noted the extra care that should be taken with procedures around the vulva to avoid causing any damage to the urethra and pelvic area.
She suffered no complications and was released the following day “in good condition,” the report said. The woman returned to the hospital for a follow-up appointment one month later and doctors determined she was in good health.
‘Nothing But Positive Energy Over Here’, Nia Long Thanks Stephen A. Smith Amid Ime Udoka Affair Drama
Stephen A. Smith is still not feeling how Nia Long had her good name dragged in the mud thanks to her cheating ex-fiancé, Ime Udoka.
The famed sports commentator took to his Know Mercy podcast Friday to defend Long in the wake of Udoka’s affair that got him suspended from his coaching position with the Boston Celtics after engaging in an affair with a female staffer.
“Even if they’re not together, that is the father of her child,” Smith said in reference to Long and Udoka’s 11-year-old son, Kez. “If you mention him and another woman, inevitably, she’s going to come up.”
“How come nobody thought about the sister? How come they just left her out there standing on her own?” he added. “I will always defend her. I will always defend her on this issue. It was- how could you do that?”
Last Wednesday, Udoka spoke with the media for the first time after the Houston Rockets named him as their new head coach, Peoplereported. He decided to “take responsibility for” his actions and spoke on his growth in the months since the cheating scandal went public.
“I preach that to the players and so I have to take responsibility for my part in it,” he said.
But Smith thinks Udoka addressing the scandal during a press conference wasn’t the right move, considering his famous ex-fianceé continues to have her name tied to his poor actions.
“You didn’t have to do it that way,” Smith said. “But to have a press conference and put this business tacitly or otherwise on Front Street, you didn’t think about Nia Long at all.”
“But you thought about the other woman, who purportedly was white. And the one woman in this equation who was innocent and victimized was not the woman that Ime Udoka was messing around with. It was Nia Long. She was the one screwed over!”
Long showed appreciation for the sports pundit extending support and left a comment thanking him for defending her.
“Thank you @stephenasmith for your support. TBC…” she wrote before adding in a follow-up. “‘The most disrespected person in America is the black woman’ – Malcolm X.”
The Best Man star followed up with a cryptic post on her page about “revenge.”
“The best revenge is, no revenge. Move on. Be Happy,” the post read.
She also took to Twitter with a message confirming how unbothered she is by the cheating scandal resurfacing in the press.
“Reading into something and creating a false narrative is pure ignorance. I’m sure there’s something more newsworthy to talk about. Move on! Nothing but positive energy over here,” she tweeted.
And One +Diploma: NBA Veteran Gary Payton II Surprises Mom, Earns College Degree
Gary Payton II, the son of legendary NBA point guard Gary Payton, has added yet another achievement under his belt. The Golden State Warrior player shocked his mother, Monique James, when he presented his degree from Oregon State to her in person before the Warriors played the Sacramento Kings in Game 6 of their first-round playoffs series.
“I was so surprised!!!” Monique Payton told the Associated Press via text message. “I had no idea he was going to complete his degree! I had forgotten all about it! Thank God he didn’t forget or break his promise!”
“It’s really for Mom,” Payton said. “I made her a promise to get it done and finished when I left school, so just keeping my word and got that to her. Hope you enjoy it, love it, and it was for you.”
Payton’s superstar teammate Stephen Curry completed his college degree years after leaving college to join the NBA. Even head coach Steve Kerr was just as excited to see him complete that promise for his mother.
“We have a lot of guys who are really committed to the game but committed to themselves and trying to better themselves and do things in the community and try to impact the Bay Area,” Kerr said.
“For Gary to get his diploma, Steph to do that last year, it’s all part of sort of that process of continuing to grow and evolve as people. So I’m very proud of him.”
Along with Payton’s’ college degree, the Warriors beat the Kings yesterday afternoon to advance to the Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Chef Erica Barrett Launches Innovative Dough Boy Pizza Franchise
Chef Erica Barrett is no stranger to the food industry. In 2010, after several years in the corporate world, she entered the Food Network-supported Lea & Perrins Shine at Dinnertime Challenge. In 2012, Barrett started her “breakfast lifestyle brand,” Southern Culture Artisan Foods (SCAF). Two years later, she pitched her product on Shark Tank, followed by an appearance on CNBC’s series The Profit. Her 2016 placement on Oprah’s Favorite Things list for her deliciously creamy SCAF grits propelled her to the next phase of her culinary career. In 2019, Barrett opened SOCU Southern Kitchen & Oyster Bar, an upscale coastal Southern restaurant in her hometown of Mobile, Alabama, followed by a second location in downtown Birmingham in 2022.
Courtesy Chef Barrett
But Barrett didn’t stop there. In August 2022, she opened Dough Boy Pizza in The Pizitz Food Hall, the same location as her second SOCU Southern Kitchen & Oyster Bar. Dough Boy is an innovative fast-casual pizza restaurant focused on Neapolitan-style pizza, which consists of thin crust pizzas with mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce — featuring both traditional toppings (such as pepperoni and sausage) and non-traditional toppings (short rib with caramelized onions and crawfish) – ready in 3 minutes! “It’s fast-food pizza but fresh. The oven is specially made in Italy and can go as high as 650 degrees. Our dough is also from Italy and is vegan,” shared Barrett. But it’s not just the food that grabs patrons’ attention; it’s also that the entire restaurant is technology driven. There are no cashiers, which means customers order directly from electronic kiosks—and the whole restaurant is run on digital screens. “With Dough Boy Pizza’s concept, we are looking to control labor and food costs with our technology focus,” says Barrett. “This is perfect for the millennial who wants to grab their pizza and go—we wanted to build a restaurant of the future.”
When Barrett opened the first Dough Boy, her main goal was to make it highly efficient and profitable. “I felt like both the idea and the business model were so smart and innovative. My vision was to create a pizza shop of the future as the world is quickly evolving.” Franchising was the logical next step.
In February, Barrett opened her first Dough Boy Pizza franchise in The Gallery at South DeKalb in Decatur, Georgia. Famed radio host Ryan Cameron (host of Radio One’s Ryan Cameron Uncensored) happens to be the first franchisee. Cameron decided on this location, as it’s a place he visited often growing up in Atlanta. “This was an opportunity to bring something to an underserved community,” Cameron said in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “That’s been my mall. This was a no-brainer for me. The mall has had only two food options for the past four years. People are coming to me and saying this is the first time they’ve been at the mall in 20, 30 years. Doing this here is like a full-circle moment for me.” Cameron is looking forward to opening more locations in the future.
But Barrett has expansion at the top of her mind. Eight franchise agreements have been signed, five in Atlanta and two in Mobile. “Our pizza shop is very accessible to the average investor as our franchise fee is at the low end for food concepts at $25,000, and the liquidity requirements are one of the lowest in the industry. We created this business model for the average next-door investor.”
Celebrity Chef Erica Barrett
In addition to the affordable investment, unlike some restaurant franchises, experience is not mandatory. “Our Pizza shops are easy to run, so no restaurant experience is needed. My purpose in creating this brand was to make owning a restaurant accessible to everyone. We interview each candidate on an individual basis to determine if they are a great fit.”
Barrett is excited about the opportunities Dough Boy Pizza will bring for entrepreneurs across the United States and internationally. For more information on ownership, visit https://www.doughboypizza.co.
How These Black and Afro-Latina-Owned Bookstores Are Staying Alive
The 10th anniversary of Independent Bookstore Day was April 29, and American Express celebrated by partnering with the American Booksellers Association (ABA) to help amplify six diverse independent bookstores across New York and Los Angeles.
The partnership encourages Amex card members to shop and support local bookstores like Octavia’s Bookshelf in the Pasadena area of Los Angeles and The Lit Bar in the Bronx, New York. The Black-owned LA-based bookstore and Afro-Latina-owned NYC-based bookstore are taking part in Amex’s bookstore program where from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Independent Bookstore Day (April 29), shoppers had the opportunity to receive a $25 gift card they can use toward their next book of choice at that store.
“Supporting small businesses and the communities they are a part of is at the heart of what we do,” Marianne Rausch, Vice President, Small Business Saturday & Shop Small, Global Advertising & Brand Management, said.
“We know that small businesses are the backbone of their neighborhoods, and independent bookstores help tell the stories of their communities. From the books they carry to their strong ties to their neighborhoods, they provide a space where people can come together and feel connected. We want to encourage people to check out their local bookstores and Shop Small, on Independent Bookstore Day and all year long.”
(Courtesy of American Express)
The program was born out of the decline of small bookstores in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. Studies show 20% of indie bookstores across the country were in danger of closing, according to the American Booksellers Association.
There’s also a growing interest in reading as the #BookTok trend sweeps TikTok. So far, the hashtag has amassed more than 110 billion views on the platform, with Gen Z leading the pack. However, despite the growing interest in reading, indie bookstores continue to face challenges with experts predicting they will own less than 30% of the print book market in the U.S. by 2025.
Octavia’s Bookshelf is a new Black-owned bookstore in Pasadena that is also the area’s first and only bookstore focused on BIPOC stories. Named after the late sci-fi author Octavia Butler, who was born and raised in Pasadena, the shop focuses on celebrating diverse authors year-round with a curated selection of books from international BIPOC authors.
Owner Nikki High opened the store in February after going viral In December when announcing her plans to open the store on Twitter. Her GoFundMe campaign raised over $20,000. On opening day, there was a two-and-a-half-hour wait out the door with people from across the city looking to support a Black-owned and BIPOC-focused bookshop.
“Reading and books have always been near and dear to me. I created this store as a gift for my community, but seeing the outpouring of support for it since we opened earlier this year has shown me that people everywhere are craving to hear our stories,” High tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.
“Working together with American Express and the American Booksellers Association for Independent Bookstore Day is allowing me to help even more people discover stories they can connect to.”
(Courtesy of American Express)
The Lit. Bar serves as the Bronx’s only independent brick-and-mortar bookstore in the entire borough. The Afro-Latina woman-owned shop was founded by Noelle Santos in 2015 after she saw the last bookstore in the Bronx was in danger of closing.
Leaving her corporate job, Santos embarked on a mission to save the last bookstore in her community. The store closed its doors during the pandemic but reopened last November on Small Business Saturday.
“I love that Bronx culture literally spills onto the streets in the form of art, food, music, activism, and colorful personalities,” Santos tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.
“Our brand intersects all of these areas as an homage and The Bronx does not play about The Lit. Bar. There’s a history of disinvestment in our community, but we still pooled our limited resources to fund The Lit. Bar’s start-up and ensure we thrived during the pandemic. I’m honored that my community has always believed in me and continues to show their support by shopping small.”
(Courtesy of American Express)
“On Independent Bookstore Day, I am thrilled to welcome even more people into my store and expose them to our literary world here in The Bronx with support from American Express and the American Booksellers Association,” she added.
The Lit. Bar offers a curated selection of books, gifts, and programming that emphasizes the needs and diversity of the community it serves. The shop also offers a wine bar that connects social sipping and introverted reading.
According to American Express’ 2022 Shop Small Impact Study, 67% of Generation Z and 77% of Millennials agree that small businesses are essential to their community. So get out and support your local bookstore to keep the joy of reading alive.
Award-Winning Author Kiese Laymon Celebrates The Culture Of Jackson State University As 2023 Commencement Speaker
Commencement season has started, and some heavy hitters are speaking at some HBCUs this year. Kiese Laymon has joined that lineup.
Over the weekend, Jackson State University graduates walked the stage and crossed the threshold into the real world as their loved ones watched. Over 5,000 students were honored to have award-winning author Kiese Laymon as their keynote speaker at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.
During his speech, Laymon, who once attended the Mississippi-based school, talked about his grandmother, who dreamed of her children and grandchildren attending HBCUs over Ivy League schools. “Her dream was to send her children and her grandchildren not to Harvard, not to Stanford, not to Mississippi State nor Ole Miss,” Laymon said. “Her dream was to send her children to the place that gave her children the greatest chance to equitable access to second chances, healthy choices, good love, and that Black abundance.”
Laymon boasted about the ties he has to the popular school. His parents graduated from Jackson, and his mother, Mary Coleman, Ph.D., eventually became an assistant professor of political science at the HBCU.
Experiencing Jackson at an early age, Laymon, who has written for major publications such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, and more, reminisced on starting his writing journey on campus as a student for a brief time. “I believe by then I was one of the greatest writers in Mississippi, which means I believed I was on the verge of becoming one of the greatest writers in the world,” Laymon said. “And I knew whatever I actually was, will be, Jackson and Jackson State University made me.”
Author Kiese Laymon signs copies of his book “Long Division” at Books and Books on July 11, 2013 in Coral Gables, Florida. (Photo by Vallery Jean/FilmMagic)
The Mississippi native ended his speech by telling the grads, “We are the luckiest people in the world simply because you chose us,” referring to Jackson State. “Thank you for not giving up on us and thee I love, abundantly,” he said.
Last year, the award-winning author was a recipient of the MacArthur Fellows Program, which is only extended to 20 people every year. The program celebrates “the creative genius” of each participant and their ability to show originality and dedication to their creative crafts.
The school had plenty to celebrate besides graduation. During the NFL draft, Isaiah Bolden, a cornerback, was the first HBCU football player drafted this year, selected by the New England Patriots.
Statue Honoring Emmett Till’s Mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, Unveiled at Argo Community High School
The legacy of Mamie Till-Mobley lives on, thanks to Argo Community High School in Summit, Illinois.
ABC 7 Chicago reports a sculpture in the likeness of the civil rights icon was revealed close to the school where Mobley was a student on Saturday. A memorial walkway was also named in honor of her son, Emmett, who was murdered by two white men in Mississippi in 1955.
Till-Mobley was the first African-American student to make the honor roll at Argo and was the fourth student of color to graduate. “This is a great, great honor. She always said, ‘Remember the past, and educate the future,’ and we see that happening today,” Ollie Gordon, a relative of Till-Mobley’s, said.
The 850-pound sculpture and walkway face the high school, adjacent to the neighborhood where Mamie and Emmett once lived, with their former home becoming a historic landmark. Sculpture artist, Sonja Henderson, started the project with clay back in 2021.
“We want to make sure her story is ever-lasting,” said Argo Community High School District 217 Superintendent Dr. William Toulios, according to ABC 7 Chicago.
State officials who attended the ceremony, like state Sen. Kimberly Lightford, said Till-Mobley’s bravery continues to be felt during these trying days.
“Mamie Till-Mobley’s bravery was felt and is still felt across the nation. She personalized strength and action and showed up,” Lightford said, according to The Hill. After her son’s brutal murder, the grieving mother stood strong and demanded an open-casket funeral, where thousands of attendees would see what happened to her son and news photographs of his body would make national headlines, opening a new wave of the civil rights movement.
This historical unveiling happened the same week as the death of 88-year-old Carolyn Bryant Donham, the white woman who prompted Emmett’s death by claiming he whistled at her. For years, activists and beyond called for Donham to be prosecuted for her role in the teen’s murder.
Celebrities Rally Around Ralph Yarl After Racial Shooting, Alicia Keys Invites Teen To Kansas Concert
Support for Ralph Yarl has been pouring in since he was shot by a homeowner in Kansas City after approaching the wrong house.
Lee Merritt, the family’s attorney, told TMZ that singer Alicia Keys invited the 16-year-old to meet her at her Kansas show in July.
Roc Nation, the entertainment company owned by rapper and business mogul Jay-Z, also reached out to Yarl, offering to help him and his family in any way.
Ahmaud Arbery’s mother, Wanda-Cooper Jones, advised Yarl’s mother, Cleo, to “lean on prayer” and that victims, like her son, hold the power.
In addition to personal invites, other stars have aligned for the teen, supporting a GoFundMe launched by Yarl’s aunt, Faith Spoonmore, following the shooting. Reportedly, the fund, that already passed $3.4 million, has seen donations from celebrities like Julianne Hough, Lil Rel Howery, Christina Ricci, Pamela Meyer and Guy Oseary. Writer and social justice advocate Sean King, connected the Yarl family with a professional to assist them with setting up a trust fund for all the donations.
Spoonmore recently shared an update on Instagram about Yarl. “Ralph is getting better every day,” she wrote over a video of her nephew playing.
“Ralph is currently experiencing many intense headaches,” which she noted are sometimes debilitating. She added that her nephew is hopeful that he will be cleared to return to play his bass clarinet again. “Thank you so much for the love, prayers, and support. We appreciate you more than you know,” she concluded.
Yarl is continuing his recovery after being shot in the head and arm by 84-year-old Andrew Lester, who was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump told TMZ he feels the charges aren’t suitable for the crime.
According to KCTV, Yarl is under the care of a trauma-informed psychologist. The teen’s therapist is helping him cope with the matter.
