• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 14, 2023

Magic Johnson and Philadelphia 76ers Owner Josh Harris Close to Purchase of the NFL’s Washington Commanders

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We have another Black owner in the National Football League!

According to NFL.com, the owner of the Washington Commanders, Dan Snyder, has agreed to sell the NFL franchise once known as the Washington Redskins. If the league approves the sale, then the new owners will be the group headed by Josh Harris, which includes NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson.

The sale of the franchise is an NFL record-breaking $6.05 billion.

“Breaking: Dan and Tanya Snyder have a preliminary non-exclusive agreement to sell the Commanders to Josh Harris’ group for a record $6.05 billion, sources told @AdamSchefter.

Vice President Kamala Harris is set to sit down for an exclusive daytime talk show interview on “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” airing Thursday, April 20. This marks the first time an elected national leader will be featured as a guest on the freshman show.

Additional upcoming guests include legendary actor Samuel L. Jackson, multi-hyphenate Priyanka Chopra Jonas, global superstar Meghan Trainor, Grammy Award-winner Seal, NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook, and Emmy Award-nominated stars Issa Rae and Milo Ventimiglia.

Hosted by Emmy®, GRAMMY®, Oscar®, and Tony winner Jennifer Hudson, the youngest female EGOT winner in history, “The Jennifer Hudson Show” debuted in September 2022. Renewed for a second season, the one-hour nationally syndicated talk show lights up daytime with celebrity interviews, topical stories, human interest guests, community heroes, viral sensations, and musical performances. Hudson uses her powerful voice in a new way, bringing fun, uplifting, and empowering conversations to the forefront, shining a light on extraordinary stories, talents, and passions.

In its freshman year, “The Jennifer Hudson Show” host won a NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Talk Show Host,” was honored as one of People Magazine’s “People of the Year,” and one of Glamour Magazine’s “Women of the Year.” The show was also nominated for a People’s Choice Award and GLAAD Media Award.

During the inaugural season, Hudson has welcomed the biggest names in music, including John Legend, Patti LaBelle, Blake Shelton, Chance the Rapper, Shania Twain, Sam Smith, and DJ Khaled. She has also sat down with award-winning actors, including Viola Davis, Eddie Redmayne, Quinta Brunson, Octavia Spencer, Kerry Washington, and global superstar Khloe Kardashian. Plus, Hudson has had incredible reunions with original “Dreamgirls” star Sheryl Lee Ralph fresh off her Emmy Award win for “Abbott Elementary” and the original “American Idol” judges from her time on the singing competition show, including Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson.

“The Jennifer Hudson Show” airs weekdays. Check your local listings or visit www.jenniferhudsonshow.com.

The Brotherhood Sister Sol (BroSis), the Harlem-based youth development and social justice organization, today announced the return of its signature Voices gala. Returning for its 18^th iteration on Thursday, May 11^th, Voices serves as the organization’s annual benefit that celebrates its youth members and enriching programming. Taking place at New York City’s Ziegfeld Ballroom, this year’s event will honor special guest Dapper Dan to recognize his legendary work within fashion, music and culture timed with the 50^th anniversary of Hip Hop.

“We are very excited to be honoring Dapper Dan at our 18th annual Voices gala. Dap is a true icon, a son of Harlem whose unique creativity and innovative designs have captured the attention of the world,” said Khary Lazarre-White, Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Brotherhood Sister Sol. “Dapper Dan deeply believes in our mission and our commitment to uplifting young people and providing them with the resources and support they need to succeed. We are excited to celebrate his lasting impact on our community and we look forward to recognizing and honoring him as we also uplift and elevate the voices of our young people and the mission of BroSis.”

A fellow Harlem native, Dapper Dan pioneered streetwear in the early 1980s, co-opting luxury branding to design original garments with high-end detail. With an impressive client roster of celebrities and entertainers, Dapper Dan changed fashion and design through his bold take on styling. Following BroSis’ recent partnership with Dapper Dan for the DAP GAP collection, the organization is pleased to recognize his deep impact across fashion, music, and culture.

“I am truly humbled and honored to be recognized at The Brotherhood Sister Sol’s annual Voices Gala,” said Dapper Dan. “As a son of Harlem, it means the world to me to give back to the community that has given me so much. The work that BroSis does to uplift young people is truly inspiring, and I am proud to support their efforts. I look forward to celebrating with them and continuing to work together to make a positive impact in the lives of young people in Harlem and beyond.”

Voices is BroSis’ signature annual benefit highlighting its inspiring young people. Putting a spotlight on their personal journeys through spoken-word performances, heartfelt speeches, and more, the event provides an extraordinary opportunity for dynamic supporters to celebrate BroSis’ commitment to helping youth develop into critical thinkers and community leaders. This year’s event will additionally include special appearances from supporters of the organization to be in attendance.

“It is very exciting to celebrate the endeavors of an organization dedicated to empowering the lives of Black and Brown youth,” said Detavio Samuels, CEO of REVOLT and BroSis Board Member. “The Voices Gala is a tribute to the unwavering spirit of Black excellence and honors trailblazers who are paving the way for future generations. I’m excited to honor and amplify Black voices of all ages, from those who led the way to those who will be doing so in the future.”

“BroSis continues to pave the way for our next generation of leaders, that leaves an impact not only on the youth members but also the communities they represent,” said Rahsan-Rahsan Lindsay, CEO of Mediaco Holding Inc., and BroSis Co-Chair. “Voices speaks to the organization’s accomplishments and sheds light on how important our community’s resources are in making a difference.”

The organization’s Voices gala further carries out its mission of celebrating and recognizing future leaders of tomorrow. The evening features a festive reception, seated dinner, and dynamic program to make for an evening to remember.

“We are thrilled to kick off this year’s Voices gala, a powerful event that showcases the immense potential and promise of Black and Brown youth in our communities,” said Clara Markowicz, BroSis Co-Chair. “As we honor Dapper Dan’s legacy, we also celebrate BroSis’ enduring impact on the lives of young people in Harlem. This is a momentous occasion to uplift the voices of our future leaders and recognize their resilience, strength, and perseverance.”

For more information, please visit brotherhood-sistersol.org and follow The Brotherhood Sister Sol on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.

H&R Block has expanded the A Fair Shot NIL program to champion gender equity in name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals for female college athletes, and highlight the tax implications of NIL income.

The A Fair Shot program was started in 2022 and supported 19 female college athletes. This year the program has been expanded to support and celebrate 50 athletes, including 18 Black women, from 13 different sports, including track & field, lacrosse, rowing, tennis, field hockey, and ice hockey which are underrepresented in the NIL space.

According to the tax prep company, since the NCAA began allowing college athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness, female athletes have received fewer sponsorships and lower compensation than their male peers, especially those outside of the Power 5 conferences and mainstream sports.

“The inspiration for ‘A Fair Shot’ was really a convergence of two things, our purpose: to provide help and inspire confidence in our clients and communities everywhere; and an apparent need to help bring awareness to the pay gap between female college athletes and their male peers when the NCAA announced the change to NIL,” Chief Marketing and Experience Officer of H&R Block Jill Cress said.

Knowing this change would mean new tax implications for students, as the company that revolutionized the tax service industry, we knew there was an important role for H&R Block to play.

The program includes NCAA Division II and Division III colleges and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Athletes in the program include Amaya Gainer and Aniya Hoggatt, who are teammates on Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University’s softball team; Breana Cook, who plays tennis for Norfolk State University; Kaylin Strahan, a Track & Field athlete at Clark Atlanta University; Mia Ewell, a Morgan State University softball player. Female athletes sponsored by H&R Block also include former South Carolina basketball player Zia Cooke, who was selected tenth in the 2023 WNBA Draft.

NIL deals became effective June 30, 2021, the Division 1 Board of Directors approved an interim name, image, and likeness (NIL) policy allowing college athletes to sign sponsorship deals with local and national businesses.

“It’s been wonderful to evolve the program to be more inclusive as we work to close the pay gap and bring awareness to this issue, knowing that female college athletes get only 23% of NIL deals while giving 100% effort on and off the court and field. As a girl mom, I’m especially proud of this program and its positive impact,” Cress added.

• News

by Sidnee Michelle Douyon

April 14, 2023

Tech Exec Arrested in Stabbing Death of Cash App Founder Bob Lee

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A tech executive was arrested on Thursday for the stabbing murder of Cash App founder Bob Lee in San Francisco, police said, stressing that the suspect knew the victim but declining to discuss a possible motive for the crime.

Lee was found stumbling through the streets of San Francisco at around 2:30 a.m. Pacific Time on April 4 bleeding from a stab wound. Lee, 43, later died of his wounds at a hospital.

Nima Momeni, the 38-year-old founder of software company Expand IT, was arrested on suspicion of murder in the Bay Area city of Emeryvile, where his company has offices, San Francisco Police Chief William Scott told an afternoon news conference.

“We can confirm that Mr. Lee and Mr. Momeni knew each other,” Scott said, although he declined to describe the nature of their relationship or why they were together that night.

Reuters could not reach Expand IT representatives on Thursday.

Lee’s murder touched off a furor in San Francisco and elsewhere over crime in the city amid rampant homelessness and public drug use.

Among those critics were billionaire SpaceX founder and Twitter owner Elon Musk, who tweeted that “violent crime in SF is horrific” and accused the city of too readily releasing violent offenders from custody.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins during Thursday’s news conference hit back at Musk, accusing him of spreading misinformation about the crime.

“I must point out that reckless and irresponsible statements like those contained in Mr. Musk’s tweet that assume incorrect circumstances about Mr. Lee’s death serve to mislead the world in their perceptions of San Francisco and also negatively impact the pursuit of justice for victims of crime,” Jenkins said.

Momeni was expected to make an initial court appearance in the case on Friday. It was not clear if he had retained an attorney.

Block Inc-owned Cash App allows users to transfer money through a mobile application, which the company touts as an alternative to traditional banking services.

It was the Fall of 2022, and organizers of the Michigan Council of Teachers of English were anxiously awaiting their Centennial Conference in Lansing, Michigan. Their keynote speaker, Semaj Brown, Poet Laureate of Flint, Michigan and Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellow, 2021, informed them of her special presentation, “PSL, Poetry as a Second Language: The Semajian Method”, and that she would be launching her multimedia youth platform, BLACK DANDELION: CONVERGENT VOICE™(BDCV), something that they had not experienced before in education. It is an intergenerational, futuristic platform that utilizes “applied poetry” as an integrative tool. The platform amplifies literacy capacity, improves skill-based learning, and heightens critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and cognitive expansion across disparate disciplines of science and art.

According to research, the pandemic deepened inequities in literacy rates. Students at lower-achieving schools fell further behind, potentially widening the pre-existing achievement gap between rich and poor. The COVID pandemic with its isolation and virtual teaching, exacerbated the problem of children not reading on grade level. The problem of young people reading well below their grade level increases exponentially when they attend high-poverty schools.

Semaj Brown’s presentation did not disappoint. After receiving a rousing standing ovation, news about her new platform quickly spread across the state of Michigan, with multiple teachers asking to initiate BLACK DANDELION: CONVERGENT VOICE™ in their classrooms. Within a week, Brown was peppered with additional requests from Colorado, California, and Togo West Africa. It is official, the multimedia platform based upon a singular poem is now international.

“Semaj Brown’s keynote address was a vision. It was one of what education could be-and should be-in a just world that is equitable, diverse, and inclusive. She fused science, art, storytelling, and language into a tapestry for everyone in that room to discover. I think this is what led to her standing ovation: the perfectly articulated, intentional way that Semaj connected with every educator in the space in such a small-time frame.”   Carrie Mattern, President-Elect of MCTE, Michigan Council of Teachers of English, Flint Courier News

When asked how she developed the multimedia platform, the award-winning educator and Poet Laureate explained, “Words are the building blocks of language, just as cells are the building blocks of the living. Each word is a world, teaming with synonyms, antonyms, histories, and mysteries, a universe of narratives to be explored. The BLACK DANDELION: CONVERGENT VOICE™ platform establishes a new way of thinking in education,” states Brown.

With the immediate success of BLACK DANDELION: CONVERGENT VOICE™, Brown is seeking corporate support, and funding for this innovative platform. To learn more about this new transformative educational tool, BLACK DANDELION: CONVERGENT VOICE™click this link: https://issuu.com/1plflint/docs/colored_final_booklet_blackdandelion_mcte_color

T.D. Jakes Enterprises, a social impact holding company, announces its launch of a national initiative, the Good Soil Movement with its first entrepreneurship event ahead of the annual global summit. The event will be hosted on May 3 in Orlando, Fla. and is made possible through a partnership with Stand Together Foundation. The day-long intensive, happening ahead of T.D. Jakes’ noted International Leadership Summit, will serve as a platform and clearing house for business leaders, influencers, and would-be entrepreneurs to inspire and proliferate opportunities for scaled black entrepreneurs and small businesses in diverse communities.

“We see Good Soil as a movement to cultivate the next generation of business leaders,” said Michael Phillips, chief operations officer of T.D. Jakes Enterprises. “This convening brings together culture shifters who are committed to connecting ideas to actions in our communities. Good Soil is more than inspiration – it’s taking action to impact, grow and scale minority owned businesses through a supportive ecosystem that will drive financial inclusion and achieve generational wealth building for our communities.”

Throughout the day, business leaders can learn and participate in keynote and breakout sessions featuring conversations on strategic partnerships, access to capital, marketing and advertising, franchising, real estate and more. The Good Soil Movement will be a “Seed” Capital Fast Pitch competition in where BIPOC entrepreneurs will pitch for the opportunity to receive grant funding to scale, grow and impact their businesses.

Longtime entrepreneur, businessman and global faith leader, T.D. Jakes will deliver the keynote address on his vision for helping businesses achieve financial success. Actor and author Hill Harper will serve as the event emcee with singer/songwriter KEM opening the day with a performance.

Featured panelists in fireside chats and breakout sessions include:

• Angela Yee, media personality
• Timbaland, singer/songwriter/producer
• Enitan Bereola, FLOURYSH
• Dr. Marcus Collins, Wieden + Kennedy
• Maya Hicks, Target
• Danielle O’Bannon, Goldman Sachs
• Ambassador Ron Kirk, Former United States Trade Representative
• Danyel Surrency Jones, Amazon Black Business Accelerator
• Detavio Samuels, REVOLT
• Sharde Marchewski, Wayfair

The Good Soil event marks the launch of the Good Soil Movement, an ongoing program to catalyze and support diverse business owners via a free, private app and a year-round schedule of live and virtual events to provide tools, resources and thought leaders. Within the next decade, Good Soil seeks to launch and nurture a million diverse entrepreneurs.

“Stand Together Foundation works alongside our partners to empower people to realize their full potential,” said Evan Feinberg, executive director of Stand Together Foundation.

“Fueling increased entrepreneurship not only improves lives but inspires transformation of entire communities. We are proud to partner with T.D. Jakes Enterprises and the Good Soil Movement to lift up Black entrepreneurs across America.”

Grammy award winning pianist, songwriter and record producer, Robert Glasper, will perform to close out the day.

Good Soil will be held at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center and is open to the public via ticketed registration at ThisIsILS.org/goodsoil.

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) announced yesterday that it launched a second MM Catalyst Fund (MMCF) of $100 million to continue investing in Black-led startups as well as overlooked businesses across Massachusetts, building on the first $50 million fund the company launched just over two years ago. Additionally, this second fund will selectively invest alongside fund managers within MassMutual’s First Fund Initiativein Black, Latino and Indigenous-led businesses across the US and Canada.

Since 2021, the MM Catalyst Fund has invested in 16 businesses across Massachusetts, driving growth in Black-led companies as well as startups in rural areas of the Commonwealth – including investments in HourWork, a recruitment and retention platform for hourly workers in the quick-service restaurant industry, and Clean Crop Technologies, a western Massachusetts-based agriculture technology startup that’s redefining food and agriculture performance with its fully electric innovations, from field to fridge.

“This new fund will build and expand upon the MM Catalyst Fund’s success – including our innovative, consultative approach that helps address the gaps and barriers to funding,” said Jason Allen, Portfolio Manager of Impact Investments at MassMutual. “We look forward to investing in companies led by exceptional founders who are solving problems with compassion and conviction to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact while addressing inequality in capital markets.”

Through both the MM Catalyst Fund and the First Fund Initiative, MassMutual’s total impact investment commitment has more than doubled to $300 million in just over two years. MassMutual’s First Fund Initiative invests in Black, Latino, and Indigenous first-time fund managers. With the second MM Catalyst Fund, MassMutual will now consider investment opportunities alongside these fund managers in diverse-led businesses across the US and Canada.

Liz Roberts, Head of Impact Investing at MassMutual added, “As one of the first movers in this space, we are excited to continue supporting entrepreneurs in our home state of Massachusetts as well as expanding our focus to select investment opportunities in diverse-led businesses across the country. Importantly, we hope that our continued commitment and investments in diverse and overlooked companies will inspire other firms and institutions to follow suit so we can collectively reduce structural barriers and advance racial equity.”

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday refused to halt a legal settlement that would erase more than $6 billion in debt owed by former students of colleges – many of them for-profit institutions – who have said they were misled by schools about academics and job prospects.

The justices turned away a request from three colleges that are challenging a settlement between the U.S. Education Department and borrowers that linked the colleges to claims of “substantial misconduct,” an allegation they dispute.

Three of the schools identified in the settlement – for-profit Lincoln Educational Services Corp and American National University Inc as well as nonprofit Everglades College Inc – challenged the agreement after it was approved by a federal judge in California last November. Around 3,500 borrowers entitled to automatic loan discharge under the settlement attended one of the three schools.

The decision was separate from a case pending before the high court over the legality of President Joe Biden’s plan to cancel $430 billion in student debt for about 40 million borrowers. A ruling in that case is expected by the end of June.

The latest dispute stemmed from a class-action settlement under which the Education Department would automatically cancel the debt of nearly 200,000 borrowers who attended 151 schools.

The schools have been accused of boosting enrollment through aggressive sales tactics as well as misrepresentations about the quality of their academic offerings, graduates’ career prospects and networking opportunities, according to Eileen Connor, director of litigation at the Project on Predatory Student Lending, a group that represents borrowers involved in the settlement.

“Today’s swift and decisive action from the highest court should end, once and for all, any ongoing debate about the legitimacy of this settlement. The message is clear: the rights of student borrowers will not falter, even in the face of well-funded, overblown political attacks masquerading as legal argument,” Connor told Reuters.

The three schools argued in court filings they had suffered reputational harm, comparing their inclusion on the settlement’s list of schools to being “branded with [a] scarlet letter.” They also argued the Biden administration lacked the legal authority to cancel the debt.

The settlement arose from what initially was a legal effort by borrowers in 2019 to force then-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who served under President Donald Trump, to resume the Education Department’s adjudication of their misconduct claims against the schools. After three years of litigation and a change in presidential administrations, the parties reached a settlement in June 2022.

California-based U.S. District Judge William Alsup approved the settlement last year and in February rejected the objections raised by the three colleges. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in March denied the bid by the three schools to block the settlement from taking effect while their appeal proceeds.

Twenty conservative-leaning U.S. states, led by Ohio, had asked the Supreme Court to grant the request by the schools to pause further loan discharges under the settlement.

Around 78,000 borrowers had already received loan discharges by April 11, the Biden administration told the justices in a court filing.

The administration declined comment and an attorney for the schools did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

• Health and Wellness

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 14, 2023

Baby Dove Launches a New Black Doula Directory to Help Close the Black Maternal Care Gap in the U.S.

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Baby Dove has partnered with Sista Midwife Productions, a birth advocacy, training and consulting agency, to launch a NEW Black Doula Directory. The ‘Black Doula Directory’ is a national resource offering expectant moms and birthing individuals access to Black doulas nationwide along with doula members from around the world, including Canada, Australia, England, and Germany. To-date, there are over 1,000 Black doulas featured on the directory, with a goal of doubling the list of qualified doulas by April 2024.

Research shows that with the support of a doula, moms are two times less likely to experience birth complications, four times less likely to have a low-birth-weight baby and are more likely to experience overall positive health outcomes during the birthing journey.¹ The Black Doula Directory comes as Baby Dove’s continued commitment to closing the Black maternal care gap in the United States. Black expectant mothers face significant disparities in care before, during and after childbirth. This gap in care has created a world where Black women are dying at 3-5x the rate of white women.²

“At Baby Dove, we believe Black moms have the right to superior care at every step of their journey, which means making quality care accessible and affordable is a top priority in closing the Black maternal care gap in the U.S.,” says Neha Minj, Brand Director for Baby Dove.“We are hopeful that the Black Doula Directory, created in partnership with Sista Midwife Productions, will limit barriers to accessing Black doulas who can provide quality care to Black families across the country.”

Many Black mothers and birthing families experience discrimination and mistreatment during their birthing journey and postpartum. Baby Dove’s partnership with Sista Midwife Productions on the Black Doula Directory was created to provide access to doulas to assist in improving outcomes and amplifying the safety and comfort of the overall experience.

“Providing an easier way for Black families to identify and connect with Black doulas who look like them and have similar lived experiences is a critical part of improving Black maternal health outcomes and experiences,” says Founder of Sista Midwife Productions, Nicole Deggins, CNM, MSN, MPH. “Having access to qualified Black doulas, can allow for Black moms and birthing families to be even more empowered to make decisions about their birthing experience and care.”

Expecting mothers and birthing individuals can access the Black Doula Directory at BlackDoulaDirectory.com. Doulas who are interested in being listed on the Black Doula Directory can make a request to join the directory online.

In 2021, Baby Dove set out on a mission to close the Black maternal health gap by working towards systemic change to improve the birthing journey for Black moms and their babies. In partnership with Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Baby Dove expanded access to doulas through the Black Birth Equity Fund, which provides Black expectant mothers in the U.S. with immediate financial support so they can access doula services. One-time grants of up to $1,300 help cover the cost of a doula. During its first year, Baby Dove has pledged $250,000 for grants. Since the launch, Baby Dove has invested $650,000 into the Black Birth Equity Fund, which is set to provide approximately 500 moms with financial support for a doula from the start of the initiative.

Reinforcing our partnership with organizations at the forefront of maternal justice advocacy, Baby Dove is continuing our partnership with Black Mamas Matter Alliance, the founders of Black Maternal Health Week. Baby Dove will sponsor this year’s Black Maternal Health Week (April 11 – 17). During the virtual conference, Baby Dove will host a panel titled, “Celebrating the Birthing Journey: The Importance of Doula Care and Introduction of the Black Doula Directory” featuring Angela D. Aina (Co-Founding Executive Director of Black Mamas Matter Alliance), Nicole Deggins (Founder of Sista Midwife Productions), and Neha Minj (Brand Director of Baby Dove) as they spotlight the Black Doula Directory, powered by Baby Dove and Sista Midwife Productions; highlight the value of Doula care across the care spectrum, and vital need for expanded doula access for Black moms and birthing families. Join the panel virtually today April 13th at 2:30 p.m. EDT HERE, and follow along with national Black Maternal Health Week updates on Instagram via @blackmamasmatter and #BMHW23.