NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal has no faith in his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers. His doubt that the team will make the playoffs is so high, according to USA Today, that he has promised to dress like former professional wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Earlier this week, while the Inside the NBA crew discussed the Lakers upcoming game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Dillon Brooks, who plays for the Grizzlies, appeared at the game in an apparent homage to Austin’s look—black vest with no shirt and ripped jean shorts.

As the cameras showed Brooks walking into the stadium, O’Neal and his colleagues started teasing Brooks about his look. One of the co-hosts asked the former center, “Shaq, how much they gotta pay you to wear an outfit like that?”

Shaq’s response: “If the Lakers make the playoffs, I’ll wear that on the last show.”

.@SHAQ: “If the Lakers don’t make the playoffs, I’ll wear that on the last show.” 🤣

The TNT crew reacts to Dillon Brooks’ arrival fit pic.twitter.com/jY1s3Ma57O

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 1, 2023

It looks like Shaq can keep the leather vest in the closet if the Lakers continue at their current pace.

After Shaq’s promise, the Lakers lost to the Grizzlies 121-109 and sit at the 12th spot in a competitive Western Conference. The team’s chances don’t look bright as it heads into the season’s final stretch. Recently, the team broke up its highly touted Big 3 by trading Russell Westbrook to the Utah Jazz. The team’s superstar, LeBron James, is currently out with a foot injury and is expected to miss the next several weeks. Anthony Davis, the team’s star center, can’t stay healthy. After winning the championship in 2020, the Lakers have not been back to the title game and missed the playoffs last season as well.

Today, Mercury/UMe releases a digital-only 40^th-anniversary Deluxe Edition of Donna Summer’s all-time classic solo album, She Works Hard For The Money. Originally released June 13, 1983, when musical tastes were changing by the minute, She Works Hard For The Moneysealed Summer as a creative multi-genre force to be reckoned with following her amazing string of chart-topping disco and dance hits that helped define the sound of the 1970s. The 13-track Deluxe Edition features the original 9-song She Works Hard For The Money album plus four bonus tracks consisting of two club mixes and two instrumental tracks (full track listing below). These bonus tracks have not previously been available for digital download or streaming. Listen to or purchase Donna Summer’s She Works Hard For The Money – Deluxe Edition HERE.

This special 40^th-anniversary edition of She Works Hard For The Money coincides with Women’s History Month (March) and will kick off UMe’s multi-year celebration of what would have been Summer’s upcoming 75th birthday (New Year’s Eve, 2023). The deluxe edition album also complements the upcoming release of the HBO Original documentary Love To Love You, Donna Summer. The forthcoming documentary is directed by Oscar^®and Emmy^®-winning filmmaker Roger Ross Williams (“Life Animated,” HBO’s “The Apollo”) and Brooklyn Sudano, daughter of Donna Summer. The film offers a deeply personal portrait of Summer on and off the stage, featuring a wealth of photographs and never-before-seen home video footage – often shot by Summer herself – and provides a rich window into the surprising range of her artistry, from songwriting to painting, while exploring the highs and lows of a life lived on the global stage. Love To Love You, Donna Summer premiered internationally last month at the Berlinale (The Berlin Film Festival) and will premiere in the US at SXSW on March 11 before the film officially debuts on HBO/HBO Max in May 2023. For more information, please click HERE.

She Works Hard For The Money saw Summer re-establish her roots as an artist equally adept at pop, rock, soul, R&B, dance, and gospel. The propulsive, empowering title track became an anthem for working women worldwide, buoyed in no small part by its popular music video featuring Summer as a tireless diner waitress. That video makes its official debut on video platforms worldwide today, remastered and better than ever. Watch the newly remastered video for “She Works Hard For The Money” HERE.

Meanwhile, the reggae-tinged hit single “Unconditional Love”showcased Summer singing along with featured guests Musical Youth, the young British/Jamaican vocal group best known for their 1982 international No. 1 hit, “Pass The Dutchie.” On the touching ballad, “Love Has A Mind Of Its Own,” Summer dueted with noted gospel singer Matthew Ward.

Produced and arranged by Michael Omartian (Whitney Houston, Christopher Cross), She Works Hard For The Money was recorded in a trio of locations in California, including Lion Share Recording in Los Angeles, Hollywood Sound Recorders in Hollywood, and Rhema Studio in Beverly Hills. For her part, Summer wrote or co-wrote all nine tracks on the core album, most of them with Omartian.

She Works Hard For The Money has been certified gold by the RIAA. The album peaked at No. 9 on the US Billboard 200 and reached the Top 10 in Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands. The title track and aforementioned lead single, “She Works Hard For The Money,” was an international Top 10 smash hit and made an incredible chart impact upon its release in the United States, ultimately reaching No. 1 on the US R&B chart, No. 3 on the Hot 100, and No. 3 on US Club Play. The album’s next single, “Unconditional Love,” climbed to No. 9 on US R&B and No. 43 on the Hot 100, and it also reached No. 14 on the UK Singles chart. The album’s other two singles were “Stop, Look And Listen” and “Love Has A Mind Of Its Own.”

“She Works Hard For The Money” garnered Summer a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, while “He’s A Rebel” won her a GRAMMY® for Best Inspirational Performance. In addition, fans of the worldwide-popular Netflix series Stranger Things will recognize “I Do Believe (I Fell In Love)” from its prominent use in the series in 2017.

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 3, 2023

Make Learning Fun Again: Jesse Williams Teams Up With VISIBILITY To Create Inclusive Trivia App

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Jesse Williams is combining his love for education and technology.

A source reveals that the former Grey’s Anatomy star has partnered with VISIBILITY, a company he co-founded, to create a new trivia app, Homeschooled. The app will feature questions celebrating diversity in the United States in categories such as pop culture, history, music, film, fine art, and science. The names of the trivia categories make it even better and are appropriate for all ages: Growing Up Black, Who Invented This, Kicks, Divas, Car Culture, Sci-Fi, and Street Fashion.

According to the source, the news release claims the heartthrob will be featured as Homeschool’s Dean of Culture and will host other special guest teachers. Williams says the app will bridge the gap between learning and laughing. “We can learn and laugh at the same time and do so without excluding huge swaths of the population just because that’s how it’s always been,” Williams said. “Traditional school is typically our central source of understanding when it comes to societal contributions in the realms of history, science, arts & culture, etc., but the chasm between that outdated mechanic and the realities of cultural impact in our daily lives is staggering.”

There are so many tech companies that are assisting in helping kids learn in new, fun, and exciting ways. Black Enterprise highlighted Healthy Hip-Hop, winner of Invesco’s QQQ Legacy Classic Startup Pitch Competition. The app empowers and educates children with relatable music and innovative technology. Founder Roy Scott uses livestream performances and YouTube videos, with over 5,000 subscribers, to help kids learn interactively through engaging activities.

Homeschooled is hoping to do the same while helping kids and other “gain deeper knowledge of self and society.” Co-founder Glenn Kaino says it’s all about “celebrating diverse and complicated identities.” “And we can have fun in the process,” Kaino said. “Everyone is welcome to dive in, celebrate and challenge their friends, families, and that random person who thinks they know more than you.”

On a podcast episode of Los Angeles Magazine‘s The Originials, legendary soul singer Chaka Khan had some spicy words for several of the top singers on Rolling Stone‘s “The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time” list.

While speaking to the host, Andrew Goldman, Khan, whose hits range from “I’m Every Woman” to “I Feel For You,” learned Rolling Stone had placed her at number 29 on its list.

“I didn’t even know what the hell you were talking about, so obviously this don’t mean a great deal to me,” she responded. “These people don’t quantify or validate me in any way,.”

However, she asked who else was on the list and at what position.

When discovering that the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, came in at the top spot, she replied, “As she f**king should be!” But when finding out that Mariah Carey was number five, the shade was immediate: “That must be payola or some sh*t like that.”

When folk legend Joan Baez came up on the list at #189, the soon-to-be 70-year-old R&B legend gave her a backhanded compliment: “Let’s be honest, the b**** cannot sing. Now, she was a good writer.” And with Adele sliding in at number 22, she exclaimed, “OK, I quit.”

Khan saved her best venom for Mary J. Blige. She has allegedly dissed Blige in the past when she was said to have introduced the legendary 1975 Rufus ballad, “Sweet Thing,” as “the song Mary J. Blige f**ked up.” Blige covered the song for her 1992 debut album, What’s the 411?

When hearing that Blige was ahead her at number 25, she dissed the editors at Rolling Stone: “They are blind as a motherf**king bat! They need hearing aids…These must be the children of Helen Keller!”

Well Chaka went to town lol. Just coming for everybody. pic.twitter.com/WVZiMWurwx

— Chimurora (@Chxmmy5) March 2, 2023

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 3, 2023

Late University of Virginia Football Player Honored With Hometown Highway Dedication

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The life of a University of Virginia football player is being honored in a major way.

ABC 4 reports a piece of Highway 78 in Dorchester County, South Carolina, will be named after Lavel Davis, Jr. Signs reading, “LAVEL ‘TYLER’ NORMAN DAVIS, JR. MEMORIAL HIGHWAY” will be placed at the 12.79 to 22.39 mile markers of the highway.

Davis Jr. was one of the three University of Virginia football players murdered during a campus shooting last November. Two of Davis’ teammates, Devin Candler and D’Sean Perry, also died. A fourth teammate, Mike Hollins Jr., was also injured but survived.

A proposal for the honor was submitted to the South Carolina General Assembly in February. “Whereas, it would be fitting and proper to pay homage to Lavel ‘Tyler’ Norman Davis, Jr., an outstanding athlete and accomplished young man whose life held such promise,” the bill said, according to TMZ. “But was tragically cut short by naming a portion of highway in Dorchester County in his memory.”

The renaming ceremony was announced via Twitter by Sean Lampkin, Davis’ cousin. “Lavel’s mother, Simone, has informed me that the State of SC has decided to name a highway after Lavel Tyler Norman Davis Jr. near his HS,” Lampkin tweeted. “Continuing your legacy @LDJxlll!”

Lavel’s mother, Simone, has informed me that the State of SC has decided to name a highway after Lavel Tyler Norman Davis Jr. near his HS. They will have a dedication ceremony on Saturday, April 29th, 2023 from 12pm – 2pm.

Continuing your legacy @LDJxlll! 🙏🏾♥️🕊️

📍 Woodland HS pic.twitter.com/vzAJYichHj

— Coach Sean Lampkin (@Coach_Lampkin) March 2, 2023

The highway ceremony is one of many that have taken place honoring the fallen football players. The school awarded the players with their degrees. The NFL’s Washington Commanders paid0 tribute by wearing the players jersey numbers 1, 15, and 41 on their helmets.

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 3, 2023

Wrongfully Imprisoned Black Man Officially Declared Innocent After Serving 38 Years

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One Black man is officially getting a second chance at freedom. Maurice Hastings was officially declared innocent on Wednesday after serving 38 years behind bars, according to NBC News.

Hastings was released from prison last year after DNA evidence led to another suspect. The judge in the case vacated Hastings’ conviction after a request from Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office prosecutors and Hastings’ lawyers from the Los Angeles Innocence Project.

The recent declaration of being  “factually innocent” means the new evidence proves Hastings emphatically did not commit the crime.

“It means a lot. I’m grateful for the judge’s ruling, and the apologies—everything has been wonderful today,” the 69-year-old said. “I’m ready to move on with my life. I’m a happy man today.”

Hastings was found guilty in 1988 for the murder of Roberta Wydermyer in Inglewood and two other attempted murders. Hastings maintained his innocence. He continued to ask for DNA testing, but he was repeatedly denied. Finally, after working with the Innocence Project at Cal State L.A., the DNA he submitted didn’t match the DNA submitted as evidence.

“Thanks to modern science, we now know the identity of another man we believe was involved in the abduction, sexual assault, and murder of Mrs. Wydermyer,” Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said.

After being put into the state database, the DNA was matched to another man who was convicted of armed kidnapping and forced sexual intercourse of a female who was placed in the trunk of a vehicle.

After being freed, many would think Hastings would be angry. “I’m not pointing fingers,” he said. “I’m not standing up here a bitter man. But I just want to enjoy my life while I have it. And I just want to move forward.”

The real suspect, Kenneth Packnett, died in prison in 2020.

• Education

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 3, 2023

New National Survey Reveals Parents’ Mindsets in the 2022-2023 School Year

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National PTA today released the results of a national survey exploring parents’ mindsets in the 2022-2023 school year. The survey, which included 1,400 parents and guardians with children in grades K-12 in public schools, focused on the topics of pandemic recovery, parents’ concerns for their children, mental health supports, curriculum content and dis-/mis-information. It was conducted Nov. 29-Dec. 15, 2022, by Edge Research. This is the fourth in a series of surveys commissioned by National PTA and supported by the CDC Foundation, including one reported in September 2021, one reported in January 2022, and one reported in June 2022.

Key findings of the latest survey show:

• Parents’ comfort level with in-person schooling continues to improve. However, this comfort remains uneven across key subgroups, especially among parents of color.
• Parents’ concerns remain relatively consistent year-over-year, with the exception of school violence. This is the only concern that garnered a statistically significant increase since the last wave of the survey, fielded in April/May 2022.
• Parents value and emphasize mental health supports for students and most support schools conducting mental health evaluations of students to support their well-being. Parents want more information gathered and shared with them so they can be part of the solution supporting their child’s mental health.
• The data also reveal that parents have difficulty finding existing mental health supports in schools. Less than four-in-10 parents are very confident they know whom to ask at school if their child needs mental health supports, and a majority believe mental health supports offered by their child’s school have remained unchanged or decreased compared to before the pandemic.

“As underscored by the survey findings, it remains critical for all of us to work together to promote learning environments where students feel safe and to ensure that children and their families have access to comprehensive supports,” said Anna King, president of National PTA. “At PTA, we remain committed to bringing together families, schools and communities; bringing knowledge, tools and resources into the lives of families; and advocating to make sure they are safe, have what they need, help them navigate challenges and thrive.”

In the survey, 82% of parents reported they feel comfortable having their child at school in-person, 65% of parents said their school has done an ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ job managing pandemic-related challenges, and 76% of parents said they feel their school is prepared to keep children safe in the event of a future pandemic. As parents’ comfort level around the COVID-19 pandemic continues to improve, their worries are re-focusing on pre-pandemic concerns. Fifty-three percent of parents reported they worry about their child experiencing violence at school; 51% of parents reported they worry about their child being bullied at school; and 51% of parents reported they worry about their child struggling socially, emotionally or mentally. Parents’ concern about their child experiencing violence at school has increased since last school year. And across all concerns, Hispanic parents are significantly more worried than Black and White parents.

“Though parents are increasingly comfortable with their children being in school, strong parental support for school-based mental health services indicates the impact of the pandemic continues to be felt,” said Judy Monroe, MD, president and CEO of the CDC Foundation. “This survey provides critical parental perspectives that can inform future public health initiatives around youth mental health.”

Most parents surveyed (88%) indicated they support schools providing resources and services to support their child and other students’ emotional and mental health. Few parents (37%), however, reported feeling very confident they would know who to ask or how to find resources through their school to support their child’s mental health. And only 31% of parents indicated their child’s school now offers more programs or resources for students’ mental health than before the pandemic. Sixty-six percent of parents who indicated they are not aware of their schools doing mental health evaluations reported they would want their child evaluated if such a program existed, and 60% of parents surveyed also reported they would want to be informed of how their child is doing emotionally/mentally if their school did conduct evaluations. When asked what resources schools should offer for students and families if evaluations show that they could use additional support for their emotional or mental health, some key resources parents mentioned included in-school counselors or psychologists, referrals to external providers, interventions being integrated in the school day and efforts to keep parents informed and involved.

“Schools are on the frontlines of the mental health crisis among young people. These data highlight the importance of schools being safe sources of support amidst this crisis. They also highlight how invested parents are in partnering with schools to make sure that their children have the knowledge, skills and resources they need to thrive,” said Dr. Kathleen Ethier, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Adolescent and School Health.

Sixty-nine percent of parents surveyed said it is important for their child’s school to have programs or policies to address or provide social and emotional learning. Seventy-six percent of parents surveyed said it is important for their child’s school to teach social skills like respect, cooperation, perseverance and empathy, and 75% of parents surveyed said it is important for their child’s school to have programs or policies to make sure all students feel seen, heard and included. Parents also support teaching content on race in schools, and most parents believe these topics should be introduced by the fifth grade.

“Making sure the voices and perspectives of parents are heard is a top priority for us at PTA,” said Nathan R. Monell, CAE, National PTA executive director. “Our latest survey and all the surveys we have commissioned in our series have been an important opportunity for us to hear from and elevate parents’ views on topics important to children’s education, health, safety and well-being. And this is important to our efforts to support all children and families and make a difference for the lives and futures of every child.”

Modern maternity clinic Oula, in partnership with Glamour, convened leaders from across the fields of healthcare, advocacy, media, and business for a conversation about the dire state of U.S. maternity care, and the need for a new approach that will deliver better health outcomes as well as an excellent patient experience.

Wednesday’s gathering, held at New York City’s Freehand Hotel, opened with a panel discussion moderated by public health expert and early Oula investor Chelsea Clinton. As part of the panel, Olympian Allyson Felix described how her personal experience turned her into a lifelong advocate for Black maternal health and Glamour Executive Editor Natasha Pearlman addressed the title’s continued commitment to covering issues like maternity care and paid family leave with the urgency and rigor they deserve. Oula co-founder and COO Elaine Purcell also took part in the discussion alongside Oula Lead Midwife Saonjie Hamilton, underscoring the need to expand access to midwife-led models of care. Attendees also heard from Glamour Americas Editorial Director Samantha Barry, Oula CEO and co-founder Adrianne Nickerson, Chief Experience Officer Joanne Schneider DeMeireles, and Medical Director Dr. Ila Dayananda.

Those in attendance included American Ballet Theater Principal Dancer and author Misty Copeland, journalist Gayle King, Planned Parenthood President Alexis McGill Johnson, Moms First and Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani, Paid Leave for All founding director Dawn Huckelbridge, author and activist Hannah Bronfman, and former patient Peloton instructor Becs Gentry.

Oula, recently named in the healthcare category of Fast Company’s 2023 Most Innovative Companies list, was founded in 2020 and has since been making the case for a data-backed model of collaborative care, which combines midwives and obstetricians, as a mainstream solution to the tragic outcomes, horrific experiences, and high costs that define maternity care in the United States.

At present, the U.S.’s maternal mortality, NICU, and cesarean rates are the highest in the developed world. A woman today is 50 percent more likely than her own mother to die in pregnancy or childbirth, and those numbers are even higher for Black women. Compared to women in other high-income countries, women in the U.S. report the least positive experiences in healthcare, and have the highest rate of emotional distress among developed nations.

Research consistently shows that midwives are one of the most effective interventions to  improve health outcomes. However, the U.S. has been slow to embrace this finding, with only 4 midwives per 1,000 births compared to many European countries, which have 5 to 10 times as many.

“When it comes to maternity care, our country has a lot of room for improvement, and that’s putting it mildly,” said Chelsea Clinton, public health advocate, Metrodora co-founder and Oula investor. “Midwives and collaborative care are an integral part of improving maternal health, and I’m honored to be a part of this conversation today. Change-makers like Allyson Felix and innovators like Oula are leading the way to show what’s possible when people have the support and care they deserve at every step of their pregnancy journey.”

“When we first opened Oula, we wondered whether people would really be willing to deliver their babies with a startup. More than 600 births later, the answer has been a resounding ‘Yes!’,” said Adrianne Nickerson, co-founder and CEO of Oula. “Today’s gathering affirms what we hear from our patients every day: People are seeking out a fundamentally different approach to pregnancy care. This work is bigger than any one person or one company, and we’re enormously grateful to everyone who joined us to talk about the future of maternity care.”

“For more than 80 years, Glamour has been fighting for women,” said Samantha Barry, Glamour Americas Editorial Director. “It’s appalling how little has changed for maternity care in this country during that time. The idea that everyone deserves to be safe, supported, and cared for from their first pregnancy test through early parenthood and beyond shouldn’t be a radical idea, and we’re proud to support Oula’s work and use our platform to help advocate for the change we so desperately need.”

“Birth should be a beautiful thing,” said Allyson Felix, Olympian and co-founder of Saysh, and mom. “Instead, for too many women, especially Black women, it’s terrifying and traumatic. It’s past time for that to change. It’s encouraging to spend an afternoon in the company of people who are committed not only to bringing attention to what’s broken in maternity care, but working together to fix it.”

Oula takes all major insurances, including Medicaid, which one in five Oula patients rely on.  54 percent of patients identify as non-white or Hispanic, and one in 10 patients are LGBTQ+. Oula is located at 109 Montague Street in Brooklyn and 202 Spring Street in Manhattan. To learn more about Oula, or to book an appointment, please visit www.oulahealth.com.

• Health and Wellness

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 3, 2023

Janssen Launches Health Equity Campaign in Partnership with Award-Winning Radio Host D.L. Hughley to Raise Awareness About Multiple Myeloma Among Black Communities

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The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announced today the launch of That’s My Word™ to raise awareness of and help to drive better health outcomes for multiple myeloma among at-risk populations. A national campaign bringing together trusted voices among Black communities, including those at risk of multiple myeloma, care partners, healthcare professionals, advocacy groups and award-winning radio host and comedian D.L. Hughley, That’s My Word™ aims to be a source of both information and hope by sharing resources specifically for Black patients and their care partners about this rare blood cancer.

Delays in diagnosis and treatment initiation, as well as unequal access to newer and more advanced medicines, are part of the challenging reality that creates significant health disparities in multiple myeloma.¹

• Each year, approximately 35,000 people are diagnosed with multiple myeloma in the United States, and more than 20 percent of all cases occur in Black people, with cases on the rise.^2,3
• Multiple myeloma is often diagnosed in people over the age of 60 years, but Black people are typically diagnosed 5-10 years earlier.^2,4
• While Black patients are less likely to have more aggressive disease, they are twice as likely to die from multiple myeloma because it is often undetected until it has progressed to more advanced stages.^1,3
• Yet, studies show that with early diagnosis, early treatment initiation, and equal access to care, Black patients can achieve better outcomes.⁵

Comedian and award-winning radio host D.L. Hughley is partnering with Janssen to empower Black communities with information and encourage better self-advocacy for their health. Hughley’s personal experience with cancer, including his father and sister, motivated him to take his own health seriously many years ago.

“Cancer has touched so many of us, but we need greater awareness of diseases that are disproportionately affecting and killing Black people, like multiple myeloma,” said D.L. Hughley. “I am so inspired by people who are living with this disease and who have become actively involved in their health decisions, caregivers who have experienced incredible loss yet push on, and healthcare professionals who are helping to address the complex relationship that our community has with the healthcare system. I am honored to work in partnership with the Black community through That’s My Word™ to raise awareness of critical information and encourage action in a way that can potentially save lives.”

Janssen continues to partner with the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF), which is equally passionate in combating healthcare disparities in multiple myeloma. Together, Janssen and the IMF are encouraging people to make Multiple Myeloma Promises, or pledges, to commit to learning more about multiple myeloma and be proactive with their health to help catch it early and treat it, which hopefully will lead to better health outcomes. Janssen will donate one dollar to the IMF, up to $50,000, for each promise made through the campaign at @thatsmywordMM on Facebook and Instagram.

“Multiple myeloma is too often still diagnosed late or remains undiagnosed altogether in Black communities. While it’s important for patients to be vocal about what they are experiencing, it is equally important that healthcare providers listen to their patients to recognize the signs and symptoms that support prompt and accurate diagnosis,” said Joseph Mikhael, MD, Chief Medical Officer, International Myeloma Foundation and Professor, Translational Genomics Research Institute, City of Hope Cancer Center.^3,4 “Through initiatives such as That’s My Word™, we share a commitment to reaching underserved patient communities that can help result in better education and better outcomes.”

As a leader in the treatment of multiple myeloma, Janssen believes all patients should be treated equally with comprehensive cancer care as part of its commitment to eradicate racial and social injustice as a public health threat, and Our Race to Health Equity.

“We launched That’s My Word™ to change the trajectory of multiple myeloma in Black communities, because we know the impact of health disparities is exacerbated for people who are living with this incurable blood cancer,” said Tyrone Brewer, President, Oncology, Janssen Biotech, Inc. “We are grateful for the partnerships we’ve built within the community because no entity can do this alone. We will continue to work toward a future in which improved outcomes are the reality for all patients, as part of our mission to reimagine care so that patients can redefine living.”

To get involved, follow the conversation on social media using the hashtags #ThatsMyWordMM and #MMPromise.

Learn more at www.janssen.com. Follow us at @JanssenUS. Janssen Biotech, Inc. is part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.

BlocPower, a leading climate technology company focused on greening America’s buildings, today announced a fundraising round of $150 million, including over $24 million of Series B corporate equity led by VoLo Earth Ventures and $130 million of debt financing led by Goldman Sachs. Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund, Credit Suisse, Builders Vision, New York State Ventures, Unreasonable Collective, Kimbal and Christiana Musk, Gaingels, Van Jones, Kapor Capital, My Climate Journey, Tale Venture Partners, and NBA superstar and entrepreneur Russell Westbrook also joined the equity round. To date, BlocPower has raised over $250 million of capital to finance building decarbonization in low income communities.

The investment round will drive BlocPower’s mission by expanding heat pump and building electrification programs across the U.S. BlocPower will further develop its highly differentiated, proprietary BlocMaps SaaS analytics platform; grow its financing and administrative capabilities; and broaden its Civilian Climate Corps green workforce initiative, focused on training and hiring at-risk individuals in vulnerable communities. Notably, the round comes at a time when Black startup founders in the United States raised just 1% of VC funds last year—an estimated $2.25 billion out of $215.9billion—nearly half of what they raised in 2021 ($4.34 billion).

“Since 2014, BlocPower has focused on decarbonizing America’s urban core, developing the green economy’s workforce, and bringing climate justice to underserved and vulnerable communities. We are fighting the climate crisis while improving quality of life for city residents. Series B equity and working capital financing from Goldman Sachs will allow us to accelerate building decarbonization across America. We will help low-to-moderate income communities to access the benefits of President Biden’s once in a lifetime green economy investments,” said Donnel Baird, CEO and founder of BlocPower.

Since its 2020 Series A, BlocPower has demonstrated 4,000% revenue growth, including signing city-scale decarbonization projects in Ithaca, NY and Menlo Park, CA, and large-scale projects in Denver, CO; San Jose, CA; Buffalo, NY; Denver, CO; Atlanta, GA; and San Luis Obispo, CA. The company completed hundreds of green energy upgrades across the country, bringing the total number of completed projects to more than 5,000 apartments, homes, houses of worship and commercial buildings. BlocPower has also added several new American geographies to BlocMaps, which is now being used by municipalities and utilities in New York City, Ithaca, San Luis Obispo, Chicago and other cities to develop and implement equitable, data-driven decarbonization strategies.

In 2022, BlocPower’s Civilian Climate Corps was awarded a two-year, $108 million contract from New York City Mayor Eric Adams to train 3,000 city residents for clean energy jobs and to help reduce gun violence as part of Mayor Eric Adams’ Precision Employment Initiative. The new contract expanded upon a $37 million contract from 2021, which launched the NYC Civilian Climate Corps. To support that growth, BlocPower opened two new training facilities  in Brooklyn and the Bronx, and raised $130 million of debt from Goldman Sachs. The program trains next generation green economy workforce from communities with a high risk of gun violence, focusing on the use of cutting edge software to install clean energy hardware.

“BlocPower has proven that the right combination of technology, finance, industry know-how and determination can help tackle some of the world’s most difficult challenges, and we are excited to support the company as it embarks on its next phase of expansion,” said Kareem Dabbagh, Managing Partner at VoLo Earth, who will be joining BlocPower’s Board of Directors. “At VoLo Earth, we dig deep to source companies with the right combination of technology, scalability, climate and social impact, winning economics, and tremendous long-term growth potential. BlocPower is emblematic of this mix, and we look forward to leveraging our operational expertise to help contribute to the company’s future success.”

Baird concludes, “Whenever someone wants to make a change, or do something new, nothing is guaranteed to turn out according to best laid plans. You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs. You can’t renovate a home without dust and mess, and, sometimes, lead, mold, and asbestos. We go into low income communities to finance and upgrade 100 year old buildings–and sometimes we run into 100 year old surprises lurking in the walls, or hiding in the basement. But I’m proud that at BlocPower, we always finish what we start, and we clean up messes. The biggest mess of all is the climate crisis. We are pleased that VoLo Earth and other climate focused investors like Microsoft, Credit Suisse, New York State Ventures, Goldman, and Builders Vision are investing in building decarbonization as an immediately actionable way to combat climate change. We hope that our momentum will be a catalyst for further investments in other green startups, and startups founded by women and people of color, which have historically received less than 3% of venture capital.”

In addition to the new fundraising round BlocPower launched its corporate rebranding, representing a new chapter of growth, maturity and continued momentum for the company. BlocPower’s new, modern brand aims to convey the intensity and energy that fuels BlocPower’s vision for the future: that every home and building in America can be an engine of opportunity, and that all the climate, health, and economic benefits flowing from the green economy should be accessible for everyone.

In recognition of its work to date, BlocPower is being honored as an Emerging Leader by Vice President Kamala Harrisin Washington, D.C. at the Vice President’s residence. The Biden-Harris Administration is ensuring that 40% of climate infrastructure investments impact “Justice 40” communities, which are communities that have a history of excess pollution, disenfranchisement, and underinvestment.

Home and building owners can complete an instant project assessment to get started with BlocPower. Individuals looking to invest in the company’s work can learn more here.