• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 11, 2023

Previously Exonerated Lydell Grant Arrested, Accused of Killing Man in Road Rage Incident

---

He was freed from prison several years ago after being exonerated for a crime he did not commit. Now,  Lydell Grant is facing jail time once again after being involved in a road rage incident that left a driver dead last week.

According to ABC 13 Eyewitness News, Grant, who was released from prison in 2019, after he was exonerated for a stabbing at a Montrose bar in 2010 that left someone dead, was arrested last week after another driver was killed.

The 46-year-old Grant has been accused of killing another driver after a crash in southwest Houston. A $1 million bond was set. The fatal shooting took place last Thursday at about 11:50 p.m. near Hiram Clarke Road and Brentwood Park Drive.

The victim of the shooting was 33-year-old Edwin Arevalo, who died at the scene of the accident.

Grant was arrested on Friday after police officers identified him after viewing surveillance video from the scene. Houston police believe Grant and a woman were hit by a Toyota as Grant ran a stop sign leaving a convenience store. He allegedly got out of his vehicle and proceeded to fire several shots through the windshield of the Toyota before he got back into his car and took off.

KHOU 11 reported that home surveillance video showed Houston police officers arriving at Grant’s residence to arrest him. The white Lexus Grant allegedly drove when the incident took place was parked outside his driveway.

Omari Ishmael Grandberry – known to his fans as Omarion – is slated to star in a series that is loosely based on his life as the lead singer of B2K.

AMC announced the singer/songwriter/author/actor will star in the “scripted dramedy” Involved, which will air on the network’s streaming service, ALLBLK. Grandberry is the series’ co-creator, and will serve as executive producer alongside Tommy Morgan Jr., Kevin G. Boyd, Deji LaRay and Michelle Le Fleur. The first episode is written by Boyd and directed by Bentley Kyle Evans.

“When it comes to forming new ideas, establishing new norms and shaping our thinking, nothing affects us more than the images and concepts delivered into our lives on a daily basis by television and film. It is with great passion and pleasure that I get Involved with you. Just like multi-hyphenated entertainers Jamie Foxx, Martin Lawrence and Will Smith who all have influenced and inspired me and a whole culture, Involved is intended to inspire, shift and impact the culture of American society’s thinking and understanding of special family dynamics. There is no better way for us to learn about and observe these cultural diversities than through the medium of entertainment. I’m not only excited to be in such good company, I’m jubilant to be back on your TV screen! 🤩. Involved is a big vibe. Get ready,” the singer said in a written statement.

Involved follows the character, OB Sharp who has been in a boy band since he was a child. As he is preparing to head out on a world tour, he secretly wants to leave the group so he can concentrate on being a more present father. He also wants to have a better co-parenting relationship with his child’s mother, who lives in his guesthouse with the man she is dating.

His best friend Maya is the only person who understands him and his lifestyle. She is also bisexual and although they have a close relationship, they have never been physical with each other. But, after they meet Edy, an eclectic flower shop owner with a free spirit and fluid lifestyle, they all become involved and form a throuple.

Now, with his new lifestyle, relationship, and family dynamics shifting in such a short time, he has to adjust to all of it while also pursuing new business ventures.

During this year’s American Black Film Festival, there will be a casting call for a leading role in the show, as part of ALLBLK and the American Black Film Festival’s “Shoot Your Shot” taking place in June 2023 in Miami Beach. Actor Lance Gross will be there as the celebrity reader for the casting call.

• News

by Sidnee Michelle Douyon

April 11, 2023

Virginia Mother of 6-year-Old Who Shot Teacher Charged

---

A Virginia grand jury on Monday indicted the mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot an elementary school teacher in Newport News in January on felony child neglect and a firearms charge.

On Jan. 6, 25-year-old teacher Abigail Zwerner was wounded by a first-grade student in her classroom at Richneck Elementary School after school officials received warnings that the boy had a gun at school.

The student’s mother, Deja Taylor, was charged with felony child neglect and misdemeanor recklessly leaving a loaded firearm so as to endanger a child, Newport News, Virginia, prosecutor Howard Gwynn said in a statement.

The indictments are the latest example of prosecutors charging parents of children who commit gun crimes or mass shootings. Last month, a Michigan appeals court ruled in favor of prosecutors seeking to take the parents of school shooter Ethan Crumbley to trial on involuntary manslaughter charges.

An Illinois father was arraigned in February on charges that he helped his underage son obtain a gun that the latter used to kill seven people at a Fourth of July parade near Chicago, despite signs the younger man was mentally disturbed.

In the Newport News school shooting case, Gwynn said that the grand jury would continue to investigate, and would consider whether additional charges were warranted.

“Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues,” Gwynn said.

While shootings committed by a young child in a classroom are extremely rare, school shootings happen with alarming frequency in the U.S., including the deadly attack last month at a small private Christian school in Nashville, where a former student killed three nine-year-old children and three adults.

In Newport News, Zwerner last week filed a $40 million lawsuit against school administrators, alleging they ignored warnings from staff and pupils that the boy had a gun.

School officials have confirmed that they had received warnings that the boy had a gun at school, but that a search of his belongings before the shooting had not turned up any weapon.

A Nashville-area county council on Monday voted to reinstate Representative Justin Jones to the Tennessee House of Representatives, reversing Republican lawmakers who ousted Jones and another young, Black legislator last week for staging a gun control protest on the House floor.

The dispute in the Tennessee House of Representatives has captured national attention, pitting Democrats seeking to advance gun control and racial equality against Republicans who have wielded their supermajority in the statehouse as they see fit.

With more than a two-thirds majority in the House, Republicans on Thursday voted to kick out Jones and fellow Democrat Justin Pearson, but spared a white representative who joined them in their rule-breaking demonstration in the well of the House floor on March 30.

They had been protesting the legislature’s stance on gun violence prevention in the wake of the March 27 shooting at a Nashville school that killed three 9-year-old students and three staff members.

County legislatures are empowered to fill local vacancies to the Tennessee statehouse until a special election can be held to fill out the remainder of the two-year term.

The Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County voted 36-0 to make Jones, 27, the interim representative. Jones had been elected to Tennessee’s House of Representatives last year.

The vote set off a celebration among some 600 protesters gathered outside the Metro Council.

They staged a loud demonstration, shouting “Whose house? Our house!” and “No Justin, no peace” while displaying signs that read, “Protect kids, not guns” and “Stop sales of AR15.”

Jones addressed the crowd before the vote, accusing the Republicans of operating “plantation politics” and abuse of power.

“Thank you, because it’s galvanized a nationwide movement,” Jones said. “The world is watching Tennessee.”

Jones attended Fisk University in Nashville on the John R. Lewis Scholarship for Social Activism and has been arrested more than a dozen times for nonviolent protests, according to his campaign biography.

Jones and Pearson, 28, have both said they hoped to be reappointed and that they would run again in special elections.

The House will seat whomever the county legislatures appoint “as the constitution requires,” a spokesperson for Tennessee Speaker of the House of Representatives Cameron Sexton told Reuters via email earlier Monday.

Pearson could get a similar vote for reinstatement on Wednesday, when the Shelby County Board of Commissioners will consider reappointing him to his Memphis district.

The Shelby County Board of Commissioners has already appointed Pearson once before, in January, to fill a legislative vacancy. He then won a special election in March.

A Memphis native, Pearson previously worked as a community organizer and activist who participated in protests against an oil pipeline through Memphis that was canceled, according to his campaign biography.

Republicans also targeted Gloria Johnson, who is white, for expulsion, as she joined Jones and Pearson in the floor protest. But the vote to expel her came up one vote short of the two-thirds majority needed, prompting criticisms that race was a factor.

The expulsions have become a rallying cry for Democrats nationally over the issues of gun violence and racial inequality, and an opportunity to push back against Republican dominance at the state level.

While Democrats are competitive nationally, winning the popular vote in seven of the past eight presidential elections, Republicans control many of the statehouses where they have large majorities and where issues such as abortion and gun control are often decided.

• Business

by Stacy Jackson

April 11, 2023

A Pivotal Purchase for Grand Opening of Woman-owned Dispensary in New York

---

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards broke stereotypes with a pivotal transaction.

Good Grades cannabis dispensary celebrated its opening in New York on Thursday, kicking off business with the first purchase from Richards.

According to NBC News, Michael James Jr., co-owner of the shop located on Jamaica Avenue, said Richards’ purchase marked a pivotal moment for the start of the business.

“It was very ideal, and I think it killed a lot of stereotypes,” Extasy James, the shop’s other co-owner, said.

“It was so refreshing, and it was so fulfilling, and it was rewarding,” she said about the “high-energy” grand opening. “I also felt a lot of love, and that’s more important. Not just from family and friends, but also from the staff, from security, from everyone.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Good Grades Cannabis Dispensary (@goodgradesnyc)

The dispensary is a source of economic prosperity for Black and brown neighborhoods such as Jamaica, Queens, which lies at the center of three police precincts. Reportedly, most African American and Latino communities had “historically faced disproportionate cannabis criminalization until recreational cannabis was legalized in 2021.”

“With the opening of Good Grades in Queens, we’re continuing to build on our progress to create a safe, regulated cannabis industry in New York,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in an announcement. “New York is working to support entrepreneurs and ensure that consumers can purchase safe, legal products while supporting their communities.”

Good Grades is supported by the New York State Social Equity Cannabis Investment Fund, a public-private partnership providing renovated retail locations.

The James cousins got their license through the state’s Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary license program. “We want to inspire the community that there are second chances and that dreams can come true,” the woman entrepreneur said. “Anything is possible.”

Good Grades has marked multiple historical moments with the shop’s opening, being among the first six retail dispensaries in New York state, the first to open in Queens, and the first woman-owned dispensary to be financially supported by the state’s social equity investment fund.

• Business

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 11, 2023

Ken Frazier to Chair Transcarent Board of Directors

---

Transcarent, a health and care experience company that makes it easy for people to access high-quality, affordable care announced today that industry leader Ken Frazier has been appointed to chair the company’s board of directors. This addition to the Board is a formative milestone for Transcarent. As one of the most influential Chief Executive Officers in healthcare, Frazier brings unmatched experience and business acumen to help shape Transcarent’s long-term growth strategy.

Ken Frazier recently served as the Executive Chairman of the board of directors of Merck, where he was President and Chief Executive Officer for a decade, from 2011 to 2021. He is currently the chairman of General Catalyst’s Health Assurance Initiatives, focused on creating a more proactive, affordable, and equitable system of care.

“Ken’s experience in healthcare and business is unparalleled. He’s a seasoned executive and has been a member of some of the most prestigious industry boards including Merck and ExxonMobil,” said Glen Tullman, CEO of Transcarent. “Ken’s decision to join our Board further validates Transcarent’s mission to solve the industry’s most challenging issues, including making it easy for employees and their families to access high-quality, affordable health and care and ensuring the costs are manageable for employers who pay for care.”

Frazier is also a tireless advocate for social justice and economic inclusion. He co-founded and currently serves as co-chair of OneTen, a coalition of leading organizations committed to upskilling, hiring, and promoting one million Black Americans who lack four-year college degrees into family-sustaining jobs, of which Transcarent is a member. OneTen is committed to facilitating a meaningful, measurable, and lasting impact on our nation’s goal of equal opportunity.

“I’m not sure there is a problem more pressing than the accessibility and affordability of health and care to the average American worker,” said Ken Frazier. “Having run one of the largest companies in the country, I can tell you that the continued rapid escalation of healthcare costs will squeeze out other critical investments we need to make in this country, from infrastructure and innovation for businesses to education and national security for the U.S. government. I’m excited to join the Transcarent Board and to be part of an organization that is uniquely positioned to not only improve health and care delivery, but will do so in a way that makes it more equitable for the individual as well as their employer.”

• Women

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 11, 2023

The Bump Continues Efforts to Increase Awareness and Combat the Maternal Mortality Crisis with Expansion of its Black Maternal Health Hub

---

In 2021, maternal mortality increased significantly in the US, with Black women dying at a rate 3-4 times higher than non-Hispanic white women¹. This issue is alarming, as the maternal death rate among Black women in the US was already one of the highest among industrialized nations and has nearly doubled between 2018 and 2021². Helping to increase awareness of this issue, The Bump, a leading multi-platform brand for pregnancy and parenting, today announced the expansion of the Reclaiming Your Power vodcast series within its Black Maternal Health Hub. The series features discussions and inspiring stories from notable Black women such as Olympian Sanya Richards-Ross and bestselling author and founder of Mama Glow Foundation, Latham Thomas. The series highlights how Black women can harness the power of their physical health, wellness team and community to improve the outcomes for Black mothers in the US.

“The maternal mortality health crisis is a pressing issue that disproportionately affects far too many Black women in the United States. At The Bump, it is our imperative to raise awareness and educate parents about this issue,” said Jen Lee, Head of Marketing at The Bump. “The Black Maternal Health Hub aims to inform, support and empower Black women to advocate for their health and community. Our goal is to reduce maternal morbidity rates while encouraging Black families to focus on the joy and celebration of expanding their families. We are committed to providing authentic and inclusive content to ensure that all parents, especially Black parents, feel emboldened to receive the care and support they need to thrive during and after birth.”

In partnership with the National Medical Association, The Bump launched its Black Maternal Health Hub in 2021 to provide resources, advice and insights for expecting Black parents. The hub features educational and first-person content aimed at helping raise awareness of the maternal mortality crisis and empowering Black audiences.

The Bump vodcast series Reclaiming Your Power expands this week with the launch of new episodes, such as “The Role of Wellness in Your Pregnancy Journey” and “Why Your Wellness Team is so Important.” The series includes notable Black leaders working to make significant changes in support of Black maternal health:

• Sanya Richards-Ross, Olympic runner, star of Bravo’s Real Housewives of Atlanta and founder and co-owner of MommiNation
• Mykal Steen, co-owner of MommiNation
• Hannah Bronfman, activist, angel investor, founder of HBFIT and on-camera personality
• Rachel Villanueva, MD, FACOG, immediate past president of the National Medical Association
• Temeka Zore, MD, OB-GYN and fertility specialist
• Latham Thomas, founder of Mama Glow Foundation + Love Delivered partner
• Lisa Price, founder of Carol’s Daughter and Love Delivered

“We are honored to be acknowledged for our work in advancing Black Maternal Health at the Mama Glow Foundation and to be a part of The Bump’s Black Maternal Health Hub vodcast. We believe that childbirth should be an empowering, transcendent and joyful experience for all birthing people,” said Latham Thomas. “It’s not a privilege; it’s our birthright.”

This year, The Bump has also committed to donate to the Mama Glow Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization committed to advancing reproductive justice and birth equity, through education, advocacy, research and the arts. The Bump will donate $1 for every like, comment and share it receives during Black Maternal Health Week on its April 10th Instagram post about the digital resource, up to $10,000.

The Bump also teamed up with 4Kira4Moms to provide over $25,000 in giveaways to the community from brand partners PROUDLY, Territory Foods and Be Rooted for the Super Sunday Diaper Giveaway Block Party in New Orleans in March. Families received donated diaper bags filled with various baby care products, gift cards, journals, baby food and diapers, while also receiving health and wellness screenings and vaccines from community partners. This event showcased the power of community and the collective responsibility to support families and served as an impactful extension of The Bump’s Black Maternal Health Hub.

Visit The Bump’s Black Maternal Health Hub at TheBump.com/BlackMaternalHealth. To join the conversation and help to raise funds for the Mama Glow Foundation, follow The Bump on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

• Politics

by Sidnee Michelle Douyon

April 11, 2023

Democratic Lawmaker Ocasio-Cortez Wants US Supreme Court Justice Thomas Impeached

---

Democratic U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on Sunday she wants Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to be impeached and his aedvisers probed after a media report described luxury trips he has taken over decades, funded by a Republican donor.

“It is the House’s responsibility to pursue that investigation in the form of impeachment,” she told CNN in an interview. However, she acknowledged progress was unlikely since the House of Representatives has a Republican majority that would not want to take action against a conservative justice.

Ocasio-Cortez said the timeline of Thomas’s relationship with Republican donor and real estate magnate Harlan Crow revealed a conflict of interest since it started after Thomas began serving on the Supreme Court in 1991.

ProPublica reported on Thursday that Thomas accepted expensive trips from Crow over decades despite federal law requiring the disclosure of most gifts.

Thomas defended the trips, saying in a statement on Friday that he had been advised he was not required to report that type of “personal hospitality,” and has always sought to comply with disclosure guidelines.

He said he would now follow new rules brought in by the Judicial Conference responsible for financial disclosure requirements for the entire federal judiciary.

Crow told ProPublica he had “never sought to influence Justice Thomas on any legal or political issue.”

The MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) is leading the movement for gender equity in college sports leadership with action, not words. 

Now in her second year at the helm of the MEAC, Commissioner Sonja Stills was the first female to be named Commissioner of a Division I HBCU conference. With her appointment came a promise to lift up the women around her and to strive for a diverse executive staff, which is now comprised of three females in senior leadership positions.  

Additionally, among the eight MEAC member institutions, five have females in their athletics director roles.  

·       Delaware State – Alecia Shields-Gadson 

o   30+ years of experience in college athletics as a senior-level administrator and coach 

·       Maryland Eastern Shore – Tara A. Owens 

o   Spent four years in the same role at Central State University prior to UMES 

·       Morgan State – Dena Freeman-Patton 

o   First woman to lead MSU athletic operations in its 155-year history 

·       Norfolk State – Melody Webb 

o   First woman to hold the title of athletics director in NSU history 

·       South Carolina State – Keshia Campbell 

o   Second female athletics director at SCSU – her alma mater 

A February report from The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) issued an F grade for gender hiring at the FBS level, due to the number of women working as athletic directors dropping from 13 to 10 (7.6%) in 2022 and only two of the 10 FBS leagues having women at the helm. 

Dubbed the “Fabulous Five”, the MEAC’s five female leaders, along with Commissioner Stills, are going against the grain to help themselves, their institutions and the MEAC lead the push for gender equity at the leadership level in college sports. 

• Lifestyle

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 10, 2023

Black Woman-Owned Micro-Wedding Company Shares 5 Tips For A Budget-Friendly Wedding

---

Every woman deserves to be a bride. But not every bride desires a lavish and expensive wedding! As post-pandemic wedding season rolls into full gear, a growing number of couples are opting out of traditional weddings for smaller, more budget-friendly ceremonies.

That’s where Jennifer Allen’s micro-wedding company, Just Elope, comes in. The founder and CEO went from being a full-time executive assistant to running the company behind over 350 weddings.

She launched Just Elope in 2017 after having an underwhelming experience marrying her husband at City Hall in Dallas. Her only options at the time were Las Vegas or the courthouse, due to her husband leaving for deployment the same day they were getting married.

That left the happy couple only five days to put together Allen’s dream wedding, which was far from a dream, as it felt rushed.

“Definitely not a fairytale day,” Allen admitted. “Now, fast forward to 2017, after seven years of marriage and two children, I was no closer to having a ‘wedding/vow renewal’ than I was the day we got married.”

Allen never wanted another bride to feel the way she did, and that’s when she got the idea to start Just Elope to provide an all-inclusive wedding day experience that could be booked with as short as 24-hour notice.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by JustElope.net (@justelopellc)

Since its launch, Just Elope has provided pre-planned and custom-curated packages for over 300 couples. In addition to custom packages, they also offer Premarital and Marital Coaching for couples in need.

“As a result, I created Just Elope to help other brides have an intentional day locally,” Allen told BLACK ENTERPRISE of her Dallas-Based business.

“Our all-inclusive elopements and micro-weddings are available throughout Dallas. All-inclusive means that the location, the officiant, the photographer, and the on-site planner are included,” she continued.” We can also deliver your flowers directly to you! Due to my own experience, I was passionate about couples having our company as an option.”

Meanwhile, Allen manages her successful business, all while juggling motherhood and still working full-time as an executive assistant to a school principal.

“I never intended to become a wedding planner,” Allen explained.

“As life twisted and turned, I found myself in what I feel is my destiny.”

Allen prefers smaller ceremonies with fewer people and less hassle with setup. She also suggests it to anyone looking for a more intimate wedding day.

“Getting to talk to your guests is the biggest benefit I see,” Allen said of the benefits of micro weddings.

“With fewer guests, you can say more than “hi” and a quick hug. For a few minutes, you can catch up and enjoy their company.”

Since launching her company, Allen has appeared on Netflix’s Love Is Blind and WeTV’s Brat Loves Judy, where she is best-known for marrying rap star Da Brat and her partner Jesseca “Judy” Harris-Dupart.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by JustElope.net (@justelopellc)

Allen shared these five resourceful tips for those looking to tie the knot without breaking the bank.

1. You can potentially save a lot of money if you have a weekday wedding
2. Set a budget and stick to it
3. Make sure you do not look at venues, dresses, or vendors outside of your budget.
4. Decide what is most important to you when it comes to your wedding. Is it the food, the band, or perhaps the location? Regardless of what it is, start there and plan your budget based on what it will cost.
5. You can reduce the number of guests!