Designer Brands Joins Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design for Ribbon-Cutting of JEMS by PENSOLE, One of the First Black-Owned U.S. Footwear Factories
Designer Brands Inc. (NYSE: DBI) (the “Company” and “Designer Brands”), one of the world’s largest designers, producers and retailers of footwear and accessories, today unveiled the newest milestone achieved together with Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design (PLC) – the ribbon-cutting of JEMS by PENSOLE, located in Somersworth, New Hampshire, as one of the first Black-owned footwear factories in the United States.
The development and opening of the factory represent the culmination of Designer Brands’ $2 million investment into advancing action-oriented Diversity, Equity & Inclusion through its partnership with Detroit-based PLC, the first and only Historically Black College & University (HBCU) in Michigan and the first HBCU with a focus on design. Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, legendary footwear designer and President of PLC, will serve as the first designer to create a collection of shoes to be released by the factory. LeCrown Shoes Industry Co., LTD with decades of footwear development experience has also invested $1 million.
“JEMS by PENSOLE’s opening marks a major achievement in improving representation by people of color in the footwear and design industries,” said Bill Jordan, President of Designer Brands. “We are excited to see the initial shoe designs brought to life by PLC graduates in the new factory, with the future products to be sold exclusively at DSW stores. By honoring the legacy of Black entrepreneurs, we aim to inspire future designers by providing a powerful path for educational, career and retail success. When we work to advance diversity in the world of fashion brands, our business succeeds and everyone wins.”
“JEMS by PENSOLE is a firm step for promising careers for Black leaders in footwear, who as a group represent less than five percent across all design industries,” said Dr. Edwards. “With our factory now open, we’ll quickly advance PLC graduates to training for product pre-production all the way to creation of our first sneakers. Our partnership with Designer Brands and DSW makes all this possible and celebrates Black business innovators in important and meaningful ways.”
JEMS stands for “Jan Ernst Matzeliger Studio” – itself named in honor of the Black footwear pioneer who in 1883 received a patent that revolutionized footwear manufacturing, a process that inspired methods the industry still uses today.
Video Shows Virginia Deputies Restraining Black Man Who Died at Mental Hospital
Virginia sheriff deputies and medical staffers wrestled with a handcuffed Irvo Otieno, a 28-year-old Black man, for several minutes at a state mental hospital before he died, video surveillance shows.
The altercation took place on March 6 as Otieno was being admitted to Central State Hospital in Petersburg, Virginia, according to Dinwiddie County Commonwealth Attorney Ann Cabell Baskervill.
Otieno’s death, which has captured national attention, is the latest example of a Black man dying during a violent encounter with law enforcement.
Police have arrested and charged three former employees of the mental health hospital and seven sheriffs deputies of Henrico County, Virginia, with second-degree murder in Otieno’s death. Most of the deputies and hospital employees involved in the case are also Black. A grand jury on Tuesday formally indicted the ten people charged.
The video, a download link of which was made available in court documents, shows about six officers carrying Otieno into a room. He appeared to struggle as he was put on the ground. At times as many as 10 deputies and hospital workers held him down while his legs were shackled and his arms were held behind his back. Another six deputies and medical staffers were in the room watching the encounter.
Later the video shows Otieno slumped over and motionless. Officers turned him over and began chest compressions. They brought in a defibrillator machine and attempted to revive him. When it is clear Otieno was dead, a lone healthcare worker draped a white sheet over his lifeless body.
The family, who viewed the surveillance video last week, said during a Tuesday evening press conference with their attorney, the civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, that a mental health crisis should not be a “death penalty.”
“Ivor was my baby. He was special, he was caring, he was loving,” said Caroline Ouko, Ivor’s mother. “Those ten monsters, those ten criminals, I was happy to hear they were indicted. But that is just the beginning step. We will achieve justice for Ivor.”
A preliminary report by medical examiners said Otieno, who immigrated to the U.S. from Kenya when he was four years old, died of asphyxiation. Prosecutors say they were told he was restrained during the intake process because he was “combative.”
But Crump said the video clearly showed Otieno in handcuffs and leg shackles, and questioned why it was necessary for multiple officers to smother him as he was already restrained.
Officials have not ruled out making more charges or arrests.
Authorities have not said why Otieno was taken into custody or why he was being transferred to the mental health facility, which is located about 25 miles (40 km) south of Richmond.
The deputies were placed on administrative leave and the Henrico County sheriff’s office is conducting an independent investigation into the incident. The department did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.
Otieno’s death comes after the high-profile police brutality case in January involving some Memphis police officers, who beat Tyre Nichols after a traffic stop. Nichols died after enduring punches and kicks.
The SFI-PLT-MANRRS Black Faces in Green Spaces: The Journeys of Black Professionals in Green Careers guide highlights 22 Black Americans who share their personal stories about finding their passions and overcoming challenges, and offer advice to the next generation about exploring their own careers in the forest and conservation sector. The project was overseen by an SFI-MANRRS Advisory Committee, and Black-owned businesses were hired as consultants, designers, content writers, and photographers.
“For me, it is important to leave an impact on everything that I am engaged in. Being the Co-Chair of the SFI-MANRRS Advisory Committee that produced The Journeys of Black Professionals in Green Careers guide was such an intentional and authentic process. Representation matters: Every person that took part in the project identified as an African American, from the advisory committee to the photographer,” said Dr. Antomia “Mia” Farrell, Co-Chair of the SFI-MANRRS Advisory Committee, Assistant Dean and Director for Diversity, University of Kentucky, and former National MANRRS President. “It is my hope that we can continue to uplift the voices of African Americans in this space, bring awareness to green careers, and ignite young people to know that there are a plethora of career options within the sector.”
The name “Black Faces in Green Spaces” pays homage to Dr. Carolyn Finney, who authored the book Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors. The guide is intentional in showcasing a diversity of experiences and careers to show that there is a place for everyone to find a career in the forest and conservation sector—whether it be indoors, outdoors, an apprenticeship, or with a Ph.D. The guide showcases a small portion of the interdisciplinary careers that fall within the sector. It includes a forester, a biologist, a hydrologist, a GIS specialist, a DEI specialist, an environmental educator, an urban forester, and more.
Many Black young adults are unaware of job opportunities in the forest and conservation sector, and unfortunately, this stems from many reasons. Young adults don’t always have someone they know that they can look up to or seek advice from about forest and conservation topics, but we also know that communities of color are disproportionally affected by pollution and climate change. More than 80% of the U.S. population lives in urban areas and research shows that access to trees and their associated benefits is often lower in neighborhoods of color and lower-income neighborhoods. As we gain a growing understanding of the importance of urban forests, there will be growing career opportunities in this space.
“This partnership between SFI and MANRRS reflects the USDA Forest Service’s mission to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion by creating a diverse workforce as we seek to grow the next generation of conservation stewards that reflect our society,” said Beattra Wilson, Assistant Director for Urban and Community Forestry, USDA Forest Service.
Urban forests and trees are vital for community well-being, health, resiliency, and sustainability. The USDA Forest Service and SFI are making urban forestry a priority and recognizing it as an opportunity to raise quality of place and quality of life with initiatives such as the SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard. Community trees and forests provide many social, environmental, and economic benefits including improved health and well-being, social cohesion and accessibility, outdoor learning environments, climate change solutions, reduced air pollution, and improved urban design. Urban forests and trees and their associated benefits should be accessible and available to everyone.
“With less than 3% Black American representation in forest and conservation careers, these Black hidden figures are iconic to empowering our next generation of forest and conservation professionals,” said Dr. Marcus Bernard, National President of MANRRS. “When students see Black professionals in the forest and conservation sector, they see themselves! They also see a career path they never knew existed. This resource highlights the long-standing contribution of Black forest and conservation professionals working in what we now call environmental sustainability.”
“By elevating the voices of Black Americans, by providing role models, by celebrating innovations and contributions, and by sharing their advice with others, we can inspire, encourage, and engage both this and the next generation of Black Americans to become forest and conservation leaders,” said Kathy Abusow, Co-Chair of the SFI-MANRRS Advisory Committee and President and CEO of SFI. “We also believe it is critical that we engage the forest and conservation sector to ensure they create welcoming places of employment where a diverse workforce can not only be recruited, but can be retained and advanced to leadership positions.”
How to obtain copies and support young adults in your community:
To ensure the guide is shared with as many young adults, educators, and guidance counselors as possible, the digital version of SFI-PLT-MANRRS’s Black Faces in Green Spaces: The Journeys of Black Professionals in Green Careers guide is available for free. Individual printed copies are also available for $39.99. Bulk orders for organizations that want to distribute printed copies to employees, students, networks, and partners are welcome ($800/box of 25 copies). Please consider buying or donating a box that can be given to schools, colleges, and universities across the United States, such as Title I schools and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). If you are an employer, this is a wonderful companion piece to hand out at recruitment events. To purchase or download the book, visit plt.org/journeys
Basketball-New York’s Iconic ‘Captain’ Reed dies at 80
Hall of Famer Willis Reed, the beloved former New York Knicks player who won two championships, has died at the age of 80, the National Basketball Retired Players Association said on Tuesday.
The seven-time All-Star spent his decade-long career with the Knicks, where he famously took the court in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers despite suffering a leg injury earlier.
He barely played but the heroic effort whipped the crowd at Madison Square Garden into a frenzy, as he inspired his team mates to a 113-99 victory and vaulted himself into the pantheon of New York City sports greats.
“As we mourn, we will always strive to uphold the standards he left behind,” the Knicks said in a statement. “The unmatched leadership, sacrifice and work ethic that personified him as a champion among champions.
“His is a legacy that will live forever.”
Reed became the first to earn regular-season MVP, Finals MVP and All-Star MVP honors in one season in 1970, before leading the Knicks to their second championship in 1973.
Beloved by fans and known affectionately as “the Captain”, he retired in 1974, having averaged 18.7 points and 12.9 rebounds per game, and was the first player for the Knicks to have his jersey retired by the team.
“My earliest and fondest memories of NBA basketball are of watching Willis, who embodied the winning spirit that defined the New York Knicks’ championship teams in the early 1970s,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.
“He played the game with remarkable passion and determination, and his inspiring comeback in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals remains one of the most iconic moments in all of sports.”
Reed returned to the Knicks to coach the team in the 1977-78 season. He later coached the then-New Jersey Nets.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New YorkEditing by Toby Davis)
“Discrimination can act as a chronic stressor which can throw the body off balance, resulting in increases in blood pressure, heart rate, metabolism, inflammation, and numerous other factors. These stressors can also increase rates of aging, leading to greater risk of frailty,” said the study’s lead investigator, Jeanne Mandelblatt, M.D., MPH, director of the Georgetown Lombardi Institute for Cancer and Aging Research. “We hypothesize that discrimination can lead to an older biological age than a person’s actual chronological age. This is important to understand as there have been virtually no studies of the relationships between discrimination and aging in the setting of cancer survivorship.”
The investigators looked at associations between discrimination and frailty among 2,232 Black breast, lung, prostate and colorectal cancer survivors within five years of their diagnoses and were no longer being treated for their cancers. Survivors were 62 years of age on average (with ages ranging from 23 to 84) at the time of the study, but they may have experienced discrimination over many decades of their lives. All participants were part of the Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors (ROCS), the largest U.S. study of Black cancer survivors.
The researchers surveyed the participants, via phone, in writing, or online about any aging-related diseases they had, their ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and most importantly, about major discrimination events they may have experienced over their lifetimes, specifically targeting seven areas:
being unfairly fired or denied a promotion in their job;
not being hired for a job;
being unfairly stopped, searched, questioned, physically threatened or abused by police officers;
being unfairly discouraged by a teacher or advisor from continuing their education;
unfairly receiving worse medical care than other people;
being prevented from moving into a neighborhood because a landlord or realtor refused to sell or rent them a house or an apartment; and/or
moved into a neighborhood where neighbors made life difficult.
Based on the survey results, the majority of cancer survivors were classified as either prefrail (42.7%), meaning they had some health difficulties, or frail (32.9%). Only 24.4% of those surveyed had few or no signs of frailty. When queried about the seven discrimination areas, 63.2% of the participants reported experiencing major discrimination, with an average respondent reporting 2.4 types of discrimination.
“For those cancer survivors who reported four to seven types of discrimination events, we observed a large, clinically meaningful increase in frailty scores compared to survivors with fewer discrimination events,” explains Mandelblatt, also a professor of oncology and medicine at the Georgetown University School of Medicine. “Significantly, this pattern of discrimination affecting frailty was consistent across the four types of cancer surveyed, indicating that discrimination is an important factor to study and understand in Black cancer survivors in order to improve their quality and length of life.”
“Our results indicate that after considering the effects of traditional factors on poor health, such as income, education and types of cancer treatment, discrimination was a significant factor explaining frailty and it acted independently of the other variables,” said Ann Schwartz, Ph.D., MPH, co-lead author on the paper and co-principal investigator of the Detroit ROCS. “Regardless of whether you were rich or poor, if you experienced more discrimination, you had greater frailty.”
Schwartz is also professor and associate chair of oncology at Wayne State University (WSU) School of Medicine and deputy center director and executive vice president for research and academic affairs at Karmanos.
For their next steps, the researchers hope to study the relationships between major discrimination, other chronic life stressors, and markers of biological aging and test how cancer and its treatment further contribute to biological aging among racial and ethnic minorities.
“We have long since recognized the impact of discrimination on health and well-being in Black communities,” says study co-author Lucile Adams-Campbell, Ph.D., a professor of oncology and associate director for Minority Health and Health Disparities Research at Georgetown Lombardi. “We hope that this study leads to more discussions between providers and their patients about the types of discrimination they have experienced and gives providers a greater understanding of how discrimination impacts frailty.”
Additional authors include the following members of the Population Studies and Disparities Research Program at Karmanos: Julie Ruterbusch, MPH, research assistant at WSU; Hayley Thompson, Ph.D., associate center director of Community Outreach and Engagement, faculty supervisor of the Office of Cancer Health Equity and Community Engagement (OCHECE) at Karmanos, professor of oncology and leader of the Center for Health Equity and Community Knowledge in Urban Populations (CHECK-UP) at WSU; and Kristen Purrington, Ph.D., MPH, associate professor at WSU School of Medicine.
Xingtao Zhou, MS, and Traci Bethea, Ph.D., at Georgetown Lombardi were also authors of this study.
This research was supported by National Cancer Institute grants, a National Institute on Aging grant, and the Epidemiology Research Core and the National Cancer Institute Center Grant awarded to the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University.
Honoring the Legacy of A Great Chicagoan and Black Business Giant, Edward G. Gardner Passes Away at 98
Edward G. Gardner was a humanitarian, a philanthropist, and a successful businessman, who loved the city of Chicago and Chicago loved him in return. Edward Gardner passed away peacefully Monday March 20, 2023, surrounded by family, and loved ones. He was 98 years old.
Ed Gardner was a well-known and admired businessman. In 1964, he left a career as a popular teacher and assistant principal to start a haircare company, Soft Sheen Products, Inc. with his wife Bettiann. He often stated his primary reason for establishing Soft Sheen Products, Inc., was to create employment opportunities for young Black and Brown men and women. In that same spirit, he continued his commitment to support the livelihood of professional cosmetologists by ensuring that his most popular product system, Care Free Curl, was solely available for purchase and application by them. Throughout his ownership of the company, he continued to offer exclusive products for his beloved salon customers.
From a young age, his four children, Gary, Terri, Guy, and Tracy, along with his wife Bettiann, were intricately involved in the business. Soft Sheen Products, Inc.
based on Chicago’s South Side, evolved into one of the nation’s largest Black-owned businesses.
“He was my father, my hero, my teacher. I looked up to him” Gary Gardner stated on Wednesday. “I feel blessed to have had Ed Gardner as my father. He was the embodiment of the hard-working, family-focused, responsible Black father. He taught me the value of a strong work ethic. He got up early in the morning, telling us “We’re not going to make it this way” meaning let’s get to work. If he wasn’t at work, he was home with family. If you saw Ed Gardner out after work or on weekends, he had us, his children, in tow. As the oldest, I think I spent the most time with him as a child. He taught me to fish. He taught me to garden. He taught me how to build, how to fix things, how to drive, and how not to drive. At twelve, he took me to work with him on Saturdays, where I learned to make hair products. I was his assistant when he made product deliveries. He also taught me how to make mistakes. Most importantly, he taught me how to engage all people with humanity and humility,” said Gary Gardner.
New products, new innovations and new ideas propelled Soft Sheen’s remarkable success, yet, while keeping an eye on his business, his heart was always with the people – especially the youth.
Ed Gardner’s greatest contribution to the city he loved was doing everything he could to help Chicago elect its first Black Mayor, Harold Washington, in 1983. He loaned his creative staff, along with significant advertising dollars, to create the signature voter registration campaign, “Come Alive October 5”.
Blitzing the city with banners, print and radio advertisements, the campaign registered over 200,000 new voters and helped secure Harold Washington’s victory. In 1992, his in-house communication agency, led by his daughter Terri, created a second highly successful voter registration campaign in partnership with Project Vote, led by Barack Obama.
According to Terri Gardner, “One of my dad’s greatest qualities was his perseverance. He believed in himself and his ability to not just hope things worked out, but to make sure things worked out. It’s an entrepreneurial quality that allowed him to create a business despite the challenges of institutional and individual racism. Unfortunately, those challenges never went away – – in spite of his tremendous business success.”
Dismayed by the level of violence in the community, in the 1980s he created the non- profit organization, Black On Black Love. He firmly believed promoting self-love and self-respect could change hearts, and the organization created No Crime Day to celebrate those principles and promote peace. It expanded its offerings to a myriad of social services including after-school programs and employment training. Throughout the decades, Ed’s faith in God and humanity, and his belief in the power of the written word to stop the violence, persisted. In 2007, after 16-year-old Blair Holt was shot and killed while riding the bus home from school, Ed Gardner purchased thousands of dollars worth of billboards with messages about Black-on- Black Love.
His and his wife’s love of theater inspired him to re-create one of Chicago’s most historic entertainment venues, the Regal Theater. The New Regal Theater brought major acts like Gladys Knight and newcomers like Kanye West and Tyler Perry to audiences on the city’s South Side. In 2000, Ed converted an 84,600 sq. ft. warehouse at 95th & Cottage Grove into House of Kicks, a family entertainment and educational complex. With amusement rides, bowling, mini-golf and an interactive learning center, the complex boasted the only roller coaster in Chicago at that time.
In the 1980s, Ed and his wife Bettiann became co-owners of the Chicago Bulls basketball team, cementing their love for Chicago and its award-winning franchise. He served on the boards of Chicago United and The Chicago Urban League.
In September 2012, at the age of eighty-seven, Edward Gardner led over a thousand demonstrators protesting the lack of Black workers on local construction crews. Ed Gardner proudly walked arm-in-arm at the front of the line with his long- time colleagues, Manford Byrd, Lerone Bennett and Timuel Black.
For more than half a century, the family has shared their husband, father, father-in- law, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather proudly and unselfishly with the world. And now his work is done; he belongs to the ages. He leaves a legend of love and a powerful life for the world to remember. Words of remembrance and condolences are invited at Edward Gardner In Memoriam Facebook Group page https://www.facebook.com/groups/3117330031746372
A private family service is planned. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Chicago State University, https://www.csu.edu/foundation/donate.htm
Female Business Leaders & The Businesswomen Who Paved The Way
Black women are trailblazers, leading organizations long before diversity in the business world became a trending topic.
In the spirit of Women’s History Month, we would like to honor Black generational excellence across the technology, business, and beauty realms. This recognition highlights the iconic businesswomen who set the standard and laid the foundation for the next wave of powerful Black women to take the lead. For instance, the CEO of Sundial Brands, Cara Sabin, is intentionally keeping the great Madam C.J. Walker’s legacy alive with MADAM by Madam C.J. Walker line of hair products in its portfolio.
Now, that is gratitude and power at its finest.
Technology
Claudette McGowan: Global information technology leader
Claudette McGowan is a global information technology leader who is dedicated to increasing the representation and empowerment of Black people in technology and innovation.
A sought-out mentor of many young professionals, McGowan launched the annual Black Arts and Innovation Expo in 2016 to empower young people as they develop their passion in the fields of Innovation and the Arts. She co-founded Firewood, a national community of executive and entrepreneurial women in technology, offering women professional development, networking, mentorship, jobs, and funding opportunities.
McGowan is, without a doubt, one of Canada’s most powerful women to become a force in changing the world for the better.
Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson: A pioneer in technology
A Black Enterprise’sWomen of Power Legacy Award Winner, Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson is a leader who has made breakthroughs in the technology ecosystem. She is the first African American woman to receive a doctorate from MIT and the first African American woman to serve as president at a top-ranked research university. Throughout her distinguished career, Jackson worked as a theoretical physicist and held senior leadership positions in academia, government, industry, and research.
“I think one can obviously say the diverse perspectives are very important to the functioning of a great company and particularly one that accesses diverse markets,” she said in the July/August 2016 edition of Black Enterprise magazine.
Jackson leveraged her knowledge of physics to advance telecommunications research at Bell Laboratories, which influenced the creation of the portable fax, the touch-tone phone, and the technology behind caller ID and call waiting.
Beauty
Cara Sabin: Preserving a legacy
Cara is currently the CEO of Sundial Brands, makers of SheaMoisture, Nubian Heritage, nyakio beauty, emerge, and MCJW—inspired by the legacy of Madam C.J. Walker. The beauty marketing executive has over 20 years of general management, business strategy, consumer marketing, digital, and innovation experience.
Prior to her current role, she held management positions in prestige beauty, leading Global Marketing for Clinique’s $1B Makeup and Fragrance portfolio as well as Marketing for NARS Cosmetics’ Americas business.
Madam C.J. Walker: Black self-made millionaire
Madam C.J. Walker was revered as a master brand builder who paved the way for millions of Black women. Her legacy has outlasted those who preceded her, thanks to the commitment of her great-great-granddaughter, A’Lelia Bundles.
The self-made millionaire had a vision for her life. That vision came to her after experiencing hair loss due to stress and weathering. That vision would supersede her career as a washerwoman, help her overcome poverty, create thousands of jobs, and provide generational wealth for her family. She would go on to invent the world’s first hair-straightening formula.
Sundial’s CEO Cara Sabin and Bundles have teamed up on numerous occasions to tap into the spirit of the pioneering matriarch.
“We wanted to make sure we honored Madam Walker’s contributions and that every detail centered her legacy,” Sabin told Byrdie.
Fortune 500
Rosalind “Roz” Brewer: A powerful woman in business
Brewer’s rise to the top transpired after holding several executive leadership positions with Walmart beginning in 2006. She most recently served as Chief Operating Officer and Group President at Starbucks from October 2017 to January 2021. Before vying for leadership roles, she worked at Starbucks drive-thru service and studied Walmart trucking logistics.
“I was willing to take a step down to go much further, and then that’s when my career began to really explode. I was in a learning mode, but I took a step back to get ahead,” she said, per CNBC.
She is currently ranked No. 7 on Fortune’s 50 Most Powerful Women in Business and was named one of the 25 most influential women by the Financial Times in 2021.
Ursula Burns: One of the most important Black people in technology
Ursula Burns, CEO of Xerox Corp. from 2009 to 2017, was the first Black woman to ever serve as CEO of a Fortune 500 company. She began her career at Xerox in 1980 as a mechanical engineering intern. Today, the Columbia University grad continues to pave the way for those who aspire to make bold moves in spaces where Black women are underrepresented.
“If I raised my hand in any meeting, almost surely, it was called on,” Burns told CNBC, according to A previous BLACK ENTERPRISE report. “You’re so different that, at least in open spaces, they can’t ignore you.”
The Panama-born business executive leans on her strong work ethic and desire to solve almost any problem. As a minority, she has felt more of an advantage than a disadvantage at Xerox.
Fortune magazine acknowledged her as one of its “50 Most Powerful Women in American Business” from 2003 to 2006.
Wendy Williams Enjoys a Cocktail-Filled Night In NYC Following Rehab
Wendy Williams was out and about living her best life on Friday night as she partied through town, starting at Fresco by Scotto in New York City and wrapping up at a bar called The Townhouse.
According to Page Six, the former daytime talk show hostess was spotted by “Naughty But Nice” podcast host Rob Shuter, who said she looked lonely before he went over to offer some good company.
“We had a bite, we had some drinks, but then when we were getting ready to say goodbye, Wendy didn’t really want us to leave,” Shuter shared, noting on his podcast that Williams invited everyone over to her table.
Not ready to head home, Williams posed the idea of going to a bar.
“She kept saying she wanted to get drunk tonight,” a diner told the outlet, noting that Williams was revealing plans to move to Los Angeles in three weeks.
“She wasn’t hiding [her drinking],” a source said.
Shuter wasn’t the only celebrity face Williams ran into on her night out. Reportedly, former Real Housewives of New Jersey star Kim DePaola came up to confirm her status as a “Wendy” fan.
“She told this table that she was looking for love—and like in Sex and the City, she’s willing to f–k,” the source said about Williams. These words weren’t anything new coming from Williams as she expressed the same feelings to The Postin 2022, saying, “I would love to fall in love. I want to f–k.”
Williams and her group eventually made their way to The Townhouse, where sources say she posed for pictures.
As previously reported by BLACK ENTERPRISE, fans recently expressed their concerns for Williams after she was spotted at New York Fashion Week. Although fans were glad to see her back in action, some thought she looked “out of it.”
Williams has been making a gradual return to the spotlight. Recently she commented about being ready to return to viewer’s screens, telling paparazzi, “I want to be on TV.”
EGOT Actress Viola Davis Shocked at Michael Jordan’s Request for Her to Play His Mother In New Biopic
As filmmakers were casting Air, the new biopic following Nike’s partnership with Michael Jordan, the NBA legend made one thing clear. He wanted actress Viola Davis to play his mother, Deloris Jordan.
The EGOT-winning actress recently discussed the shock she felt when she learned of Jordan’s request.
According to Entertainment Tonight, Davis said the pressure was on once she agreed to play the role of “the woman who basically is the orchestrator of this great athlete’s life.”
“You know, you’re flattered at first and then the next second is pressure,” Davis said during the SXSW film festival over the weekend. “Obviously she was so influential and then I’m looking at videos of her and if you’ve ever seen videos of Deloris Jordan, she’s extraordinary, she really is,” Davis continued. “Because she’s one of those, you know, she’s one of those people where you’re like, ‘Where did this talent come from? Where did this vision come from?'”
Ben Affleck, who directed the film and produced it alongside Matt Damon, said they went to Jordan for his input when it came to the casting for his mother’s role.
“‘Viola Davis, that’s my mom.’ And that was it,” Affleck told The Hollywood Reporter. “Discussion was over. However it happened, it wasn’t his problem, but it was going to f**king happen. And I was like, ‘OK, Mike.'”
Affleck knew once Jordan requested someone, he would have to make it happen, and he did just that.
“I’m sure it was because I said, ‘Michael Jordan wants you to play his mom.’ It certainly wasn’t ‘Ben Affleck wants you to be in his movie,'” Affleck said about getting Davis to agree to the role.
Davis took great pride in the project, making sure she brought the right approach to the role. When asked about the project, she expressed her excitement for what viewers will experience.
“I want them to see it, I don’t think anyone really knows what they’re going to experience,” Davis told ET. “Because I’ve read comments… [and] when I’m reading the comments, people don’t even –, they can’t even anticipate what they’re about to see.”
Airpremieres in theaters and on Prime Video on Apr. 5.
Minority Businesses Can Apply For Up To $10,000 Grants in Kingston, NY
Small businesses in Kingston, NY – including minority-owned firms – can possibly obtain grants of up to $10,000 through a new effort geared to support such entrepreneurs.
The city has extended the application deadline to March 24, so potential recipients should act fast. Mayor Steve Noble announced the launch of the City of Kingston’s ARPA Small Business Grant Program here. The push will help local for-profit businesses that operate within city limits and have been negatively affected by COVID-19. The funding is aimed to help businesses stay open, protect jobs at risk due to the pandemic, and spur community recovery.
Kingston businesses may apply for grants to help offset the effects of revenue losses tied to the pandemic. The city expects to award almost 100 small businesses a one-time cash grant of up to $10,000. Priority will be given to minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses that meet eligibility requirements.
The population in Kingston is roughly 15% Black, based on a recent census report. The challenge of securing financing to help start or grow businesses is an ongoing problem for many establishments, especially Black-owned businesses. Some 47% of Black small business owners predicted that the success of their business will be conditional on their ability to secure funding, as well as grow their customer base.
Fundraising remains a big challenge for many entrepreneurs, including Black small business owners, training to gain financial support to start new businesses or expand existing ones.
Remarking on the grant program, Noble told The Daily Freeman, “We don’t want any eligible Kingston businesses to miss out on this opportunity for a cash infusion with no match and will be going door-to-door to speak to every possible applicant.”
There are several criteria businesses must meet to be eligible for funding. The businesses must “have 50 or fewer employees; have been operating in the City of Kingston before October 1, 2021; not facing any pending litigation or legal action; not have received alternate federal, state, or local grant funding to cover the same costs in this application.”
Interested businesses can gain more details and apply here.
