Clark Atlanta University’s (CAU) School of Business hosted its first Entrepreneur Scholar-in-Residence, John Hope Bryant for a fireside chat in partnership with PNC Bank. The event marked the launch of PNC’s National Center for Entrepreneurship. Bryant’s new post aims to help CAU serve as an incubator for developing the next generation of leaders at the Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Bryant is a serial entrepreneur, philanthropist and the founder of Operation HOPE, the nation’s largest non-profit dedicated to financial literacy.

During his residency at CAU, Bryant will lead an ongoing speaker series on a range of topics such as managing financial risk, negotiating deals, and the importance of FICO scores, among others. He is also a member of CAU’s Board of Trustees.

Bryant’s remarks included a historical review of The Freedman’s Bank and various HOPE programs including Financial Literacy for All (FL4A) and One Million Black Businesses (1MBB). He asserts that Black entrepreneurs hold the key to transforming communities through ownership and improved financial wellness. The event was a celebration of the shared commitment to advancing Black entrepreneurship and brought together nearly 100 students, alumni, business experts and community leaders. PNC has been a HOPE strategic partner for nearly a decade. To view event images, click HERE.

“When you are sitting in history it doesn’t feel like it, this is one of those moments. Today, the right partners are at the table,” Bryant said. “We are at an inflection point that I call the ‘Third Reconstruction’ and I look forward to engaging both PNC and CAU’s extraordinary students in a conversation about how they can change the world through entrepreneurship. By better understanding capitalism and learning the language of money, they will be equipped to shape the future of America.”

“For three decades, John Hope Bryant has been on the frontlines with a message of ‘Silver Rights.’ He is an experienced and successful businessman who has demonstrated a strong commitment to helping others build generational wealth,” said Dr. Silvanus Udoka, Interim Provost and SVP for Academic Affairs, CAU. “We are confident that Mr. Bryant’s leadership, in partnership with PNC, will resonate with CAU students and unleash the power of entrepreneurship.”

According to the US Small Business Administration, minority businesses account for more than 50% of the 2 million new businesses started in the United States in the past 10 years. Despite that growth, minority-business ownership represents only 18 percent of total U.S. businesses, and the businesses face huge disparities when it comes to access to capital, contracting opportunities and other entrepreneurial development.

• Technology

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 19, 2023

Discrimination Continues to Be Major Issue for Tech Professionals

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Despite many companies’ public and extensive efforts to put Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) policies in place, 24% of tech professionals said they experienced racial discrimination in 2022— up from 18% in 2021. Tech career marketplace Dice, a DHI Group, Inc. brand (NYSE: DHX), reported today that the percentage of tech professionals who said they experienced gender discrimination also increased, from 21% in 2021 to 26% in 2022.

In a survey of nearly 2,500 U.S. tech professionals, Dice found that underrepresented groups are generally less satisfied with their careers than their counterparts. That discrimination can have very real impacts on tech professionals’ satisfaction, burnout rates, perception of compensation fairness and general quality of life.

“The data we have gathered on perceptions and experiences of discrimination clearly shows how important equality and belonging in the workplace are to all tech professionals, and especially those in underrepresented groups,” said Art Zeile, CEO of Dice. “Creating an environment that is inclusive and safe, and where every employee can be their true selves requires buy-in and effort from everyone at all levels of an organization. While the lack of progress in some areas continues to be disheartening, it can serve as a catalyst for companies and their leadership teams to refocus their efforts on DEIB-related work, and to approach these initiatives with the same commitment they bring to every other strategic imperative.”

The Perception Gap of Racial and Gender Inequality

The data indicates that certain groups in tech perceive inequality at a much higher rate than others. For instance, 53% of Black tech professionals believe that racial inequality occurs very frequently or frequently, which is significantly higher than all other groups surveyed: 30% of Hispanic / Latinx respondents, 29% of White respondents, 28% of Asian / Pacific Islander respondents and 19% of Asian Indian / Indian Subcontinent respondents reported that racial discrimination occurs frequently or very frequently in the tech industry.

Perceptions of racial inequality were also high among tech professionals with disabilities: 43% of respondents with a disability or mental health condition said racial inequality occurred frequently or very frequently. For those who did not indicate a disability, perception of racial discrimination was at 30%.

When asked how often they thought gender discrimination occurs in tech, 51% of respondents who identified as women said frequently or very frequently, compared to only 30% of respondents who identified as men.

Tech Professionals and Discrimination in the Workplace

When asked about experiences with discrimination, once again, candidates’ experiences vary by group. While 54% of Black tech professionals said they experienced racial discrimination (significantly higher than all other groups), 73% of White tech professionals and 51% of Asian Indian / Indian Subcontinent respondents said they did not experience racial discrimination in the workplace.

Women reported experiencing gender discrimination in the workplace more than three times as often as men did (48% vs. 15%, respectively). One bit of data in this area showed progress: While 26% of women reported they hadn’t experienced gender discrimination in 2021, that increased to 31% in 2022.

Dice also analyzed racial and gender discrimination for tech professionals who reported a disability or mental health condition vs. no disability indicated. Across the board, those with a disability said discrimination occurred more often than those without a disability:

• Perception that racial discrimination occurs frequently or very frequently
  • Disability / mental health condition: 43%
  • No disability indicated: 30%
• Experienced racial discrimination in the workplace
  • Disability / mental health condition: 30%
  • No disability indicated: 23%
• Perception that gender discrimination occurs frequently or very frequently
  • Disability / mental health condition: 51%
  • No disability indicated: 34%
• Experienced gender discrimination in the workplace
  • Disability / mental health condition: 42%
  • No disability indicated: 23%

Employers and Tech Professionals Are Not on the Same Page

Survey results also unveiled a large gap between how often HR professionals and tech employees perceive discrimination occurs. While 32% of tech professionals said they think racial inequality occurs frequently or very frequently, only 15% of HR professionals responded this way. That gap widens with gender discrimination: 37% of tech professionals believe gender inequality occurs frequently or very frequently, while only 12% of HR professionals feel the same.

The knowledge of this disconnect in discrimination perception, paired with burnout data presented by Dice, can help organizations as they attempt to make the workplace more equitable and inclusive, and assist HR professionals and leadership in attracting and retaining top tech talent.

The Buffalo Bill’s Damar Hamlin has been cleared to join his Buffalo Bills squad on the field again. 

ESPN reports that the safety made his last visit to his specialist on Friday, and he has been participating in voluntary workouts with teammates. 

“He’s fully cleared, he’s here and he is of the mindset; he’s in a great head space to come back and make his return,” Brandon Beane, Buffalo Bills general manager, said to ESPN. 

In January, Hamlin scared the football community when he suffered a cardiac arrest during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Since then, Hamlin has visited several specialists, all of whom concluded that the safety could play football if he chooses to, according to ESPN. 

“When he left Cincinnati, he came here; it was Buffalo General [Hospital],” Beane said to ESPN. “He saw a couple of specialists here in Buffalo, and then, since then, he’s seen three additional specialists, most recently on Friday, and they’re all in agreement. It’s not 2-1 or 3-1 or anything like that. They’re all in lockstep of what this was and that he’s cleared, resumed full activities just like anyone else who was coming back from an injury or whatever.”

For Hamlin, returning to the football field has been his goal since the unfortunate incident in January. 

“Eventually. That’s always the goal, like I said, as a competitor, you know, I’m trying to do things to keep advancing my situation,” Hamlin told Michael Strahan during an interview on Fox Super Bowl LVII, cited by ESPN. “But I’m allowing that to be in God’s hands. I’m just thankful he gave me a second chance.”

Hamlin hasn’t only been focused on returning to the game he loves. He’s also been busy promoting laws to give schools better access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs). 

The Bills’ voluntary offseason began on Monday.

• News

by Sidnee Michelle Douyon

April 19, 2023

New York State Confirms New Chief Judge, Installing Liberal Nominee

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New York’s Senate on Tuesday easily confirmed Governor Kathy Hochul’s nominee to lead the state’s highest court, elevating a judge favored by liberal lawmakers.

Rowan Wilson was approved by a vote of 40 to 19 as chief judge of the New York State Court of Appeals. Wilson will be the first Black judge in the role, which also oversees the state’s court system.

Wilson said at a hearing before the state’s Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday that the court should play a prominent role on the national stage, especially “in the face of the U.S. Supreme Court’s retreat from several of its seminal decisions.”

Wilson, who has been an associate judge on the Court of Appeals since 2017, is viewed as a liberal and has issued rulings favorable to civil rights, unions and criminal defendants.

Vincent Bonventre, a professor and expert on the state’s courts at Albany Law School, said Wilson is known for his intellectual heft and his dissents, which often oppose the government and business interests.

Wilson dissented from prominent decisions by former Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, including a ruling last year that maps of the state’s congressional districts redrawn by Democratic lawmakers violated the state’s constitution.

He was questioned by lawmakers during his confirmation hearing over a recent ruling he authored tossing a rape conviction over delays in acquiring evidence. Wilson defended the ruling while acknowledging it was “not an easy thing to do.”

Wilson’s swift confirmation comes after Hochul’s first nominee for the post, appellate Judge Hector LaSalle, was rejected by the state Senate amid criticism from Democratic lawmakers about his record on abortion and labor issues.

Wilson, a former partner at corporate law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore, was first nominated to the Court of Appeals by former Democratic New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Related: GEORGIA DEMOCRAT CALLS SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CLARENCE THOMAS AN ‘UNCLE TOM’ UNDESERVING OF STATUE

• Health and Wellness

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 19, 2023

Fidelis Care Raises Awareness of Health Equity Issues During National Minority Health Month

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In observance of National Minority Health Month this April, Fidelis Care is raising awareness about the health disparities facing minority populations. This year’s theme, “Better Health Through Better Understanding,” focuses on how meeting cultural and linguistic needs can help improve health outcomes for individuals of all ages.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health (OMH), established National Minority Health Month to promote educational efforts on the health problems currently facing racial and ethnic populations, and to help eliminate health disparities.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), minority groups are more likely to experience chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. By addressing health literacy and linguistic needs, community-based organizations, local leaders, providers, and health plans can work together to reduce the risk of these conditions and improve overall health outcomes.

Fidelis Care collaborates with providers across the state who speak many different languages. Receiving a diagnosis or lab results and being able to talk with a doctor in your own language and in a simple, understandable way makes a huge difference in supporting an individual’s health and wellness.

“National Minority Health Month provides an opportunity to acknowledge and address health disparities and inequities among minority populations,” added Camille Pearte, MD, Fidelis Care Senior Medical Director. “We want our members to be engaged in their health and wellness, ask questions, and follow through with the care and services they need. This is best accomplished when care is being delivered in a way that is sensitive to every individual’s cultural identity or heritage.”

In addition to working with diverse providers, Fidelis Care staff speak several languages and are active in their communities. Members of Fidelis Care’s Marketing team, which has a grassroots presence statewide, speak 29 different languages – from Spanish to Urdu. Through our strong partnerships with providers and community organizations, Fidelis Care helps to address health equity through community events and education.

For example, Fidelis Care recently partnered with CINQCARE, a provider-led, community-based comprehensive care delivery partner based in Buffalo, to discuss the importance of culturally sensitive healthcare.

“At CINQCARE, we are passionate about understanding the communities we serve and that’s why we are dedicated to creating a world where healthcare isn’t a burden,” said Anthony Welters, Founder and CEO. “We are committed to recruiting, empowering, and equipping physicians, nurses, practitioners, and caregivers with what they need to deliver better health and care where people live, especially those in Black and Brown communities.”

Beyond National Minority Health Month, Fidelis Care will continue to focus on health equity and ensuring our members and the communities we serve have equitable access to the highest quality care. This commitment also requires that we continue to address the social determinants of health and health disparities statewide.

About Fidelis Care 
Fidelis Care is a mission-driven health plan offering quality, affordable coverage for children and adults of all ages and at all stages of life. With more than 2.5 million members statewide, Fidelis Care believes that all New Yorkers should have access to affordable, quality health insurance. Follow us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/fidelis-care, on Twitter at @fideliscare, Instagram at @fideliscare, and on Facebook at facebook.com/fideliscare. For more information, call Fidelis Care at 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547) or visit fideliscare.org.

Contact: MediaInquiries@fideliscare.org

Tabitha Brown and McCormick are back just in time for summer with five new salt-free seasonings and full recipes to get us through barbecue season.

On Tuesday, Brown and McCormick® announced the addition of five new salt-free vegan seasonings to the growing McCormick by Tabitha Brown collection. It comes two years after Brown’s limited-edition Sunshine seasoning sold out in just 39 minutes online, and one year after her spices became available in grocery stores nationwide.

Now with the new seasoning blends, Brown has a new set of original recipes that will take us through spring and summer. The new products include the McCormick® Like Sweet Like Smoky All Purpose Seasoning, McCormick® Very Good Garlic All Purpose Seasoning, McCormick® Taco Business Seasoning Mix, McCormick® Burger Business Seasoning Mix, and McCormick® Sauté Business Seasoning Mix.

The “Tab Time” star took to Instagram on Tuesday to announce the new flavors to her loyal fans and followers.

“Family!!! Look at what the Lord has done!!!! My Sunshine’s @mccormickspice family is growing!!!” she captioned her post.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Tabitha Brown (@iamtabithabrown)

The new spices vary in taste and effects. The McCormick® Like Sweet Like Smoky All Purpose Seasoning offers a salt-free blend of sweet and smoky flavors for all types of meals. The McCormick® Very Good Garlic All Purpose Seasoning is jam-packed with garlic to add a salt-free, savory flavor to veggies, pasta, marinara sauce, and much more. The McCormick® Taco Business Seasoning Mix pairs well to make any type of taco.

For burger lovers, the McCormick® Burger Business Seasoning Mix provides a salt-free, savory flavor to all burgers regardless of type. For our veggies and side dishes, the McCormick® Sauté Business Seasoning Mix adds the perfect salt-free savory taste.

The new spices aim to complete Brown’s growing McCormick collection and highlight the catchy one-liners she uses in the kitchen.

“It was very organic; these are all things I say,” Brown told BLACK ENTERPRISE of her new product names.

“So, with Very Good Garlic, Very Good is something I say. Like Sweet Like Smoky, I also like to say Like So Like That. And, of course, all the Businesses – Burger Business, Taco Business, Sauté Business. I always talk about things being my business.”

“Also, wanting Sunshine’s family to grow – the original seasoning that was meant to bring people joy, happiness, and sunshine during the pandemic,” she continued. “Everyone loves that one, so I thought, why not add to that by bringing humor and delicious seasoning at the same time.”

If you’re wondering if you’ll still get the same kick out of your favorite meals using Brown’s salt-free seasonings, the Image Award winner says, “ABSOLUTELY!”

“And actually, you could kick it up a little bit more because you can add as much as you want to because there is no salt,” she declared.

“It’s good for you, and it won’t hurt you. It won’t hurt the meal; it will still be delicious and layered with flavor.”

In addition to this launch, Brown has co-developed new recipes with McCormick using the new seasonings that will be shared on social media throughout the spring and summer.

“They have tons of flavor,” she said. “These are recipes that remind you of summertime and family gatherings, but you won’t miss any flavor.”

The recipes include the Like Sweet Like Smoky Portobello Mushroom “MLT,” Like Sweet Like Smoky Air Fryer Brussell Sprouts, the Garlicky Mushroom Alfredo, and the Very Good Garlic Pasta Salad.

To further celebrate the new products and connect with her fans, Brown and McCormick® will host a special farmer’s market pop-up in New York City this June. McCormick will use its social media channels to launch special giveaways this summer for those who can’t make the pop-up.

This actress and godmother understood the assignment.

P-Valley star Brandee Evans recently stepped out for the night to accompany her goddaughter, Jaylynn, to her prom over the weekend.

Evans took to her Twitter page and other social media channels to express her love for her goddaughter and share photos of the special day with her followers.

“My God baby asked me to be her chaperone/plus 1 for the prom,” Evans wrote in the post’s caption. “She doesn’t ask me for much. Actually, she really never asks for anything. So, I had to make sure I made this happen for her,” she continued.

Evans and Jaylynn stunned in all-black floor-length gowns that hugged the women’s curves to perfection. Evan’s classic one-shoulder dress complemented her goddaughter’s long sleeved gown that was detailed with lace and beading and trailed feathers from its train.

https://twitter.com/Therealbrandee/status/1647309151591186437

“She wanted a ‘CLASSY’ theme. (Yes, she chose CLASSY ) That’s my baby girl y’all! ” the caption continued before she sent out a special thanks to everyone who made her daughter’s day special.

“Believe me… It took a village! #IYKYK ,” Evans wrote in the Instagram caption ahead of a list of people who helped bring the night together, such as wardrobe stylist, Ryan Christopher, and celebrity makeup artist Yánneek Brinson, who has also worked with The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kenya Moore.

Fans showered the godmother-goddaughter duo with compliments following the release of the prom photos, which Evans organized in a carousel. One user wrote, “Looks like 2 Beautiful Black Barbies shut Memphis DOWN!” while another confirmed that it had to be the “Best date ever! .”

Celebrities like actress Keshia Knight Pulliam and comedian Kid Fury left emojis under the Instagram photos. Actor and social advocate Miss Lawrence commented the word “Beautiful” under the post followed by four red hearts.

• Celebrity News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 18, 2023

LL COOL J’s Rock The Bells First-Look Deal With Paramount Global Leads $15 Million Funding Round

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This is the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and one of the first commercially successful artists in the genre is STILL rocking the bells!

NCIS: Los Angeles’s LL COOL J, who started his career as a feisty young lyrical rapper from Queens, NY, is still impacting the game with his global platform, Rock The Bells. The platform, which doubles as a radio station and website, has announced that it just received a $15 million funding round that was led by Raine Ventures, Irving Azoff of Iconic Artists Group, and Paramount Global, with participation from Amex Ventures, Wildcat Capital Management, and Capstar Ventures. Other investors include ASK Capital, North Island (Glenn Hutchins), AME Cloud Ventures, and XO Capital.

It also has signed a first-look deal with Paramount Global.

“This Series B round is a reflection of the confidence that our investors have in Rock The Bells as a global platform,” said LL COOL J, Founder and CEO of Rock The Bells, in a written statement. “Hip-Hop is an art form that many people doubted from day one, but our culture continues to rise to higher heights! I’m honored that Rock The Bells is leading this resurgence of timeless Hip-Hop, while simultaneously bridging the generations. I’m so excited about all of the amazing things we have planned for the community, fans and brands! This is just the beginning.”

LL and Rock The Bells and Paramount Global have partnered by entering into a multi-year first-look deal. That agreement covers feature films with scripted and unscripted content. There is also the opportunity to live-stream the upcoming 2023 Rock The Bells Festival as it continues the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop.

The collaboration between the two entities will also help identify and develop co-branded merchandise opportunities that combine Paramount’s intellectual property with relevant storytelling in hip-hop. Paramount Global will also supply help with marketing for Rock The Bells content, experiences, and activations.

“Paramount is thrilled to expand our deep relationship with LL COOL J with our investment in Rock The Bells,” said Bruce Gillmer, President of Music, Music Talent, Programming & Events at Paramount. “We look forward to working with him to shine a spotlight on Hip-Hop culture and icons through music, events and diverse content.”

The next event taking place for Rock The Bells is the return of the annual Rock The Bells Festival, taking place on August 5 at Forest Hills Stadium in LL’s hometown of Queens. Rock The Bells will also host Rock The Bells Cruise: A Hip-Hop Experience leaving Miami to head to the Bahamas on November 13-17.

Hip-Hop fans, and especially fans of Young Thug, are holding their breath, hoping the Jonesboro Housing Project-raised MC beats his RICO case.

On April 17, the Young Stoner Life head honcho was in court for a hearing, as the prosecutors and Thug’s attorney, Justin Hill, presented evidence to Judge Ural Glanville. During the hearing, Hill showed that he was up on today’s slang, when he told Judge Glanville that “the assertion that” he didn’t mention earlier is “cap,” TMZ reported. 

“I will start by saying that this assertion that I did not mention before pre-argument…,” the lawyer began.

“Don’t worry about that, OK,” Judge Glanville countered. “Because I’d have to do it anyway. So, don’t even worry about that.”

“I was just saying, it’s not true” the lawyer followed up. “It’s cap, to be honest.”

It’s not clear what the attorney was referring to.

A short conversation about Young Thug and attorney Justin Hill, and calling cap on the DA in court. pic.twitter.com/5xUfZgjTrI

— George Chidi (find me on Mastodon) (@neonflag) April 17, 2023

There have been wild moments since the hearings began. Recently, a disturbing video of alleged YFN associates beating an alleged YSL associate, who was tied and gagged in a cell, began circulating online. In December, a court hearing was interrupted when someone played a sexually explicit video during a Zoom meeting. Earlier this year, a prosecutor hilariously said: “[Young Thug] is the one everyone is afraid of, and he’s the one directing traffic, he’s King Slime.” Oh, and there’s the situation where Judge Glanville ordered a juror to write a  30-page essay for missing jury duty, and Young Thug was allegedly caught on camera being handed a prescription pill by a co-defendant. 

In May 2022, Young Thug and 27 members of Young Stoner Life, including Gunna, were indicted on RICO charges. In December, Gunna pleaded guilty before walking out of the Fulton County Jail. Several other Young Stoner Life members have also pleaded guilty. 

A former NFL player passed away at the age of 31.

Various reports have acknowledged the passing of former defensive lineman, Chris Smith, who played with seven different teams during his eight seasons in the National Football League. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, announced his passing on Tuesday when he sent condolences to his friends and family.

“Rest in Peace Chris. Condolences to all his family, friends and loved ones. We will miss you”

Rest in Peace Chris. Condolences to all his family, friends and loved ones. We will miss you pic.twitter.com/alpUAeqIhY

— Drew Rosenhaus (@DrewJRosenhaus) April 18, 2023

One of the teams he played on also sent a message via Twitter earlier today.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of former Browns DE Chris Smith. Chris was one of the kindest people, teammates and friends we’ve had in our organization. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”

We are deeply saddened by the passing of former Browns DE Chris Smith.

Chris was one of the kindest people, teammates and friends we’ve had in our organization. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/K8HySW4erM

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 18, 2023

Today reported that Smith hailed from Salisbury, NC, and played football locally at West Rowan High School. His high school alma mater acknowledged him as well on social media.

“Rest in Peace to a West Rowan Legend! Chris was a better person than he was player! The impact he had on those around him will be remembered forever!”

Rest in Peace to a West Rowan Legend! Chris was a better person than he was player! The impact he had on those around him will be remembered forever! pic.twitter.com/9oVKyM4Gs2

— West Rowan Football (@WRowan_Football) April 18, 2023

As of now, there are no listed cause of death in any of the reports.