Former First Lady Michelle Obama is returning back to the land of podcasts!

Audible and Higher Ground have announced that on March 7 Obama will return for a limited series of episodes based on her latest best-selling book, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times.

Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast is the first project under the newly created exclusive, worldwide, multi-project, multi-year first-look production deal that was signed between Audible and Higher Ground.

Episodes of Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast will be available exclusively on Audible for two weeks. After that they will be available on other platforms that host podcasts.

In a written statement, Obama said: “Like so many people around the world, I felt isolated, disconnected, and discouraged during the pandemic. Writing The Light We Carry was a way for me to make sense of it and reflect on some of the biggest challenges we all face in life—and the tour was an incredible way to share those stories with my readers and connect with real people once again. The best part is that this time around I got to bring some of my best friends and favorite personalities to join in the fun.

“That’s what Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast is all about—it’s a deeper examination of those fun and meaningful moments, lovingly made by our incredible team at Higher Ground and the fantastic people at Audible,” she added. “I can’t wait for you all to take a listen.”

When The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times was released, Obama went out on a highly anticipated, six-city U.S. book tour. The tour visited intimate venues and in front of small audiences, where the former First Lady had conversations with some of her esteemed friends, including Tyler Perry, Conan O’Brien, and Oprah Winfrey.

With the current podcast, these informative discussions can now be heard by everyone who tunes in.

“After the remarkable reception to The Michelle Obama Podcast, we’re excited to bring listeners more wisdom, humor, and empathy from Mrs. Obama and some of her brilliant friends,” said Dan Fierman, head of audio at Higher Ground said. “With Audible, a company with a rich history of producing compelling audio storytelling, we have found a true collaborator. Using audio from her deeply inspiring The Light We Carry tour as a foundation for this original series, we look forward to sharing these incredible stories and profound conversations with listeners throughout the world.”

• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 3, 2023

Want to See LeBron James Break the NBA Scoring Record? It’ll Cost You. A Lot

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History is about to be made in the NBA. Based on recent performances by Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, the future Hall of Famer should break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record for having the most points scored next week.

According to NBC Los Angeles, the four-time NBA champ and all-time great could pass Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387 points on Tuesday. James is 63 points away from scoring the most points ever in the National Basketball Association. He is averaging 30 points a game this season. More improbably, he’s putting up those gaudy number at age 38, which makes James a senior citizen in the NBA.

The Lakers are scheduled to play the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 7. Amazingly, tickets are still available for this contest. As one can imagine, the price of tickets may have risen.

According to NBC Los Angeles, there is a two-ticket listing on the Ticketmaster website from a verified reseller. The astronomical price for the tickets for the upcoming Oklahoma game is $200,000. Each. Oh and then there is the service fee. The good news is that it’s only $46,000.

Oh, one last thing: “All Sales Final — No refunds or Exchanges.”

The first order of business is for James to contribute some points in the Saturday game in New Orleans on Saturday when the Lakers face the Pelicans. He could possibly score 63 points, which would be a career-high if he does so. Undoubtedly, people will be watching that game to see how many points he may need to score this Tuesday.

So, if you happen to have $250,000 to blow, there’s still a chance that those two tickets are available and you can possibly witness King James snatch the NBA all-time scoring record from Abdul-Jabbar.

Otherwise, if he doesn’t reach it, we’ll see if someone will offer a similarly priced ticket Thursday when the Lakers are home against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Fox News anchors should be careful with their words because someone will catch them slipping.

That someone in this particular case is comedian D.L. Hughley who hosted The Daily Show and took a deep dive and pointed out something interesting Fox News anchor Sean Hannity said regarding systemic racism, claiming it doesn’t exist in policing, The Huffington Post reported.

“You have got to hear the latest thing they’re talking about when it comes to police shooting Black people,” Hughley said.

He then played a clip of Hannity saying racism doesn’t exist since police shoot white people as well.

“Here’s something that the ladies of The View apparently don’t know, white people do get beaten by the police,” Hannity said. “In fact, far more far more white people are killed by the police.”

The controversial host then pulled up a number, claiming 374 white Americans died in 2022 by the hands of police. He got caught up, ending the segment saying “and there is a small majority of bad cops.”

Take a pause and relax.

Former CEO and executive director of Every Woman Works nonprofit Stacey Howell has transitioned her focus into owning a Woodhouse Spa franchise to offer guests a luxury wellness experience through different treatments.

After becoming a loyal customer at one of the spa’s locations in New Jersey, Howell’s experiences inspired her to dig deeper into the health and wellness industry and become an owner.

Howell shared her journey with BLACK ENTERPRISE and discussed how she strives to be a role model in her community as a franchisee of one of the few spas in the Buckhead owned by a Black woman.

Woodhouse Spa’s mission

“Wellness has always been one of my passions so I wanted to create a happy place for people to relax in,” Howell says.

Woodhouse Spa offers guests a variety of luxury treatments fully customized to meet their needs in a calming environment rich with warm earth tones and textures. Sounds of nature, soothing aromatherapy for skin treatments, massage therapies, facials and other exquisite services add to the spa experience.

“Every treatment, detail, space and feature has been carefully crafted by the Woodhouse masters of mood care,” Howell said.

Health and wellness services for the community

“I believe in self-care first and that every person deserves to have a go-to place to relax and exhale. Life is stressful and people should have a way to manage their stress. Otherwise, we don’t operate as our best selves,” Howell says.

As a health and wellness professional, Howell notices the lack of healthcare options in ethnic communities.

“If there’s no proactive self-care, the community will result in higher levels of silent heart disease, obesity, diabetes, etc. I am a firm believer that healthy individuals create healthy communities,” she adds.

Promoting wellness amongst the Woodhouse Spa company

“As a spa owner, I’ve made it my mission to work closely with the community to continue to be an ambassador for health and wellness. I do this through implementing tactics such as giving my employees two paid volunteer days each year to give back to local nonprofits,” the franchisee says.

“My employees are offered free services for their birthdays, with a 75% discount on services for themselves and a 45% discount on all products,” she adds.

Strategies for companies to implement

Howell encourages her employees to take care of themselves even with their duties as wellness specialists.

She is expanding on her efforts to implement strategies within her own company by activating partnerships with corporations and insurance companies to promote health and wellness days for employees.

“My goal is to identify three large corporations to pilot health and wellness programs through their HR representatives in charge of benefits and create a redemption program for spa treatments at Woodhouse for their employees to enjoy,” Howell says

Adding wellness practices to your lifestyle routine

The first step is to start a regimen and stay consistent, Howell says. Next, it’s important to identify your body’s specific needs.

“It should include exercise, massages, plenty of sleep, facials, and a healthy diet. What we put into our bodies will be reflected on our outer skin,” she adds.

New to the wellness journey, Howell suggests starting small.

“Don’t try to jump into everything too fast. A good place to dive into a wellness journey is to incorporate a massage once a month, alternating with a facial. I also recommend doing 30 minutes of daily movement.”

Woodhouse Spa Expansion

Woodhouse Spa is part of Radiance Holdings, a global company representing a collection of premier brands in the beauty, wellness and self-care sectors. It was recently acquired by TSG Consumer Partners.

Howell is pursuing partnerships with employers to provide positive health measures and affordable treatments for employees.

“I am in search of a new city to consider opening a Woodhouse Spa and a massage school to provide my community with additional job opportunities,” she says. Her goal is to provide more jobs with alternative paths and lower tuition.

Looking into 2023, Woodhouse Spa new locations will be in Raleigh, North Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; and Odessa, Texas.

• Entrepreneurship

by Jeffrey McKinney

February 3, 2023

Minority Firms Can Pursue $10,000 Grants at Citizens Bank

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Minority-owned businesses, including Black entrepreneurs, could obtain $10,000 grants from Citizens Bank.

The Providence, Rhode Island-based bank is offering funding through its annual Small Business Community Champion Award Contest. Prospective recipients should apply soon: the contest ends at 5 p.m. Eastern Tuesday, February. 7.

All told, the grants will provide $10,000 each to 30 small businesses, including 10 minority-owned and 10 women-owned businesses, where Citizens operates. The funding, now in its sixth year, aims to recognize small businesses’ positive contributions to their communities, per a news release.

To date, the program has awarded almost $1 million, helping 82 small businesses to grow, offer valuable products and services to customers, and support community growth. Citizens Bank is part of Citizens Financial Group Inc., which calls itself one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions. It reported assets of $226.7 billion in late December 2022.

Grants can be a plus for small businesses because they offer funds that don’t have to be paid back, unlike loans. Companies can use grants for several purposes, including expanding their establishments, working capital, recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, or helping benefit their community.

Sometimes grants are offered to stimulate minority entrepreneurship in a community. Minority firms finding it difficult to gain capital to start up or expand may also turn to grants to access such funding.

For the Citizens contest, businesses must answer questions on how they will use the award to strengthen and sustain their business and how they would use it to support their community’s growth and evolving needs and behaviors.

Eligible applicants should be for-profit small businesses with at least five full- or part-time employees or contractors for no less than 51% of any calendar year with up to $3 million in annual revenue.

Businesses applying must be either a Citizens Bank account holder in good standing as of January 24, 2023, or based in the bank’s footprint, which includes several states. The rules, eligibility, submission requirements, and more information on the grants and contest can be found here.

Daily Show correspondent and podcast host, Roy Wood Jr., will host the White House Correspondents’ Association annual dinner on April 29, the organization announced Thursday.

According to a press release, the comedian — whose stand-up special Imperfect Messenger is now streaming on Paramount+ — studied broadcast journalism at Florida A&M University in the late 1990s, and has a special passion for news.

Wood’s late father, Roy Wood Sr., was a radio and television journalist who covered landmark moments, including the U.S. Civil Rights movement and the Rhodesia/Zimbabwe civil war, and was honored with a lifetime achievement award from the National Association of Black Journalists.

“It’s an honor to be a part of a long-running tradition of celebrating those members of the media, who work so hard to uncover the truth, and hold our government accountable,” Wood Jr., 44, said in the WHCA release.

“It will be a great night that will go down in the history books, or not, depending on which state you live in.”

Last year’s dinner was hosted by former Daily Show host Trevor Noah, and marked a return to star-power for the gathering, which had avoided entertainers in the wake of comedian Michelle Wolf‘s turn as host in 2018, which some critics argued went too far in mocking then-President Donald Trump’s cabinet.

The annual correspondent’s dinner traces back to 1921 and has historically been attended by members of the association, as well as high-ranking government officials, including the president and first lady.

Under Trump, however, that tradition changed. Trump’s Administration began avoiding the event after Wolf’s turn as emcee in 2018. Like comedians before her, she bluntly mocked several D.C. players, including former Trump spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

The 2020 and 2021 WHCA events were canceled, meanwhile, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the first three years of his term, Trump snubbed the gathering, telling reporters in 2019 that it was “too negative.”

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 3, 2023

Update: Three Bodies in Abandoned Building Believed to be Missing Detroit Rappers

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Three bodies discovered Thursday in an abandoned apartment building near Detroit in nearby Highland Park that may be the three Michigan rappers who disappeared after last month.

According to NBC News, the bodies have not been identified but are believed to be Armani Kelly, Dante Wicker, and Montoya Givens, who traveled to Detroit to perform at a show that was canceled. The three have not been heard from since.

Kelly reportedly left his home in Oscoda, Michigan, on January 21 at approximately 11 a.m. in a gray Chevrolet Equinox.

As part of an investigation, Michigan State Police officers entered an abandoned apartment complex in Highland Park, about 6 miles northwest of Detroit. The police department sent out a Tweet on Thursday.

Happening Now:
Members of the Homicide Task Force, Metro South Post and the MSP Forensic lab are currently at an abandoned apartment complex on the corner of McNichols and Log Cabin in Highland Park on a death investigation. 1/ pic.twitter.com/napJZklthP

— MSP Second District (@mspmetrodet) February 2, 2023

The police department posted additional information regarding the investigation in follow-up Tweets. There were several victims discovered who had not been identified. Police were in the process of obtaining search warrants to continue the investigation.

Several hours later, an update stated that forensic scientists from Michigan State Police’s lab had entered the building to gather evidence, but its progress was slow due to the building’s poor condition and rat infestation.

First Lt. Mike Shaw of the Michigan State Police said the victims could not be identified and were taken to the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office. Autopsies will be performed and it may take up to 48 hours to produce a positive ID.

Homicide Investigation Update:
2/3/2023 pic.twitter.com/TbFS7QUHRC

— MSP Second District (@mspmetrodet) February 3, 2023

Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer said Thursday that a 15-year-old was apprehended last week because he was in possession of Kelly’s Chevrolet Equinox. Authorities believe that if these bodies are the missing men, they weren’t killed in the retrieved vehicle.

“There was no blood or anything of a nature that would lead us to believe they were either transported or murdered in that particular vehicle,” Dwyer said.

BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported that Kelly arrived at Detroit around 5 p.m. and called his family members to let them know that the performance had been canceled.

On the way to the show, Kelly’s mother, Lorrie Kemp, said her son picked up the other two men before the concert.

Cota Skin, a leading provider of luxury skincare products, has partnered with the platinum-selling rap group City Girls to bring its high-quality products to a wider audience.

The City Girls, made up of JT and Yung Miami (host of Caresha Please), are one of hip hop’s most popular rap groups and have a large following of working-class women who prioritize skin care.

City Girls are known for their flawless skin and love of luxury products, so this partnership is a perfect match.

Cota Skin’s CEO, Britni Ricard, states that “City Girls are the perfect partners for us because we understand how difficult it can be as Black consumers to find the skin care solutions we need to combat hyperpigmentation issues, so we’ve decided to get involved and create something that specifically addresses these problems.”

JT from The City Girls says “What caught my eye about Cota Skin was the 24-karat gold serum. It caught my attention because of the gold flakes. I dug more into the serum, and I see that the flakes specifically help with dark spots, which I struggle with.”

Yung Miami, adds, “I know for Black women, it’s hard for us to get products that really work on our skin. So, when I saw that the product was created and owned by a Black woman I said, “Let me try it out.”

The Collection includes the COTA Cleanser, Rose Toner, 24K-Gold Skin Brightening Serum, COTA Cream, Hyaluronic Rose Mask and retails for $172.00. Thanks to this new partnership, all women can lavish in high-end skincare without breaking the bank and will be able to experience what sets Cota Skin apart from other skincare brands.

Ricard is no stranger to success, hitting over a million dollars in sales during Black Friday, she prides herself on continuing to build her business acumen. With a desire to start a skincare line, no industry experience, or access to a personal computer, Ricard capitalized on her tax dollars, maxed out her public library card in New Orleans, Louisiana and taught herself how to start a business.

“It’s refreshing to see Black celebrities using their platforms to promote and patronize small Black businesses. It’s also very reciprocal because as consumers, we support their music, art and more. Partnerships like these allow our communities to thrive.”

ABOUT COTA SKIN CARE

Cota Skin is a female-owned and operated company based in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Founder and CEO Britni Ricard has always been passionate about recreating the skincare routine shared with her by her late brother.

To commemorate Ricard’s late brother, she named the company using the abbreviations of his musician stage name, Chev Off the Ave (COTA).

COTA is committed to providing the perfect skincare regimen that targets all skin types.

These women are flipping their way to the big screen.

Fisk University is partnering with global independent studio wiip to develop a docuseries surrounding the institution’s women’s gymnastics team.

According to a press release, the series will follow the 15-member team through its 2023 inaugural season of Intercollegiate Women’s Artistic Gymnastics at the Nashville-based HBCU.

The docuseries will reveal the challenging pressures and stereotypes the team has to endure as an all-BIPOC team.

“I am so honored to see this story brought to light in a documentary series. Following this team as it makes history and sharing the courage and fearless nature these student-athletes bring to the mat every day is inspiring to all,” coach Corrinne Tarver said.

“Fisk University has always been at the forefront of social justice and impact from W.E.B DuBois, to Diane Nash, and Nikki Giovanni. This remarkable gymnastics team continues this unique legacy by paving the way for the next generation of HBCU athletics and Black gymnasts.”

“Creating a safe and inclusive space for female athletes of color to compete and thrive was of great importance to me,” said Terricka Cromartie, who the team credits as the brainchild of the program.

Filmmaker Deborah Riley Draper and Baller Alert Films CEO Robin Lyon will executive produce the docuseries alongside Gail Lyon,  Paul Lee, Hope Hartman, and Fisk University.

“This is the most aspirational coming-of-age sports story of the year. We have not seen this before and its happening in real time. My work as a filmmaker has always and will always be about unpacking and centering stories of extraordinary Black women as they navigate the intersection of race, gender, and class. Watching this unfold in gymnastics will be a blueprint and a lesson for equity and access,” Draper said.

As previously reported by BLACK ENTERPRISE, Fisk’s gymnastics program, which consists of mostly first-year college students, became the first historically Black institution to form a gymnastics team last February.

HuffPost reported the women also became the first HBCU program to compete at the NCAA level earlier this year at the 2023 Super 16 gymnastics invitational in Las Vegas.

History = made ✅

Fisk University is the 1st HBCU program to compete at the @ncaa level!#fiskgymnastics #fiskuniversity #super16 #hbcu #explore #morganprice pic.twitter.com/z9zJVuIrTC

— Fisk University (@Fisk1866) January 7, 2023

Thrivent, a Fortune 500 diversified financial services organization, announced today that N. Cornell Boggs, III has been elected by the Board of Directors to serve as its next chair.

His term will be effective on Feb. 1, and he will succeed Bonnie E. Raquet, Thrivent’s first-ever female chair of the board, who will conclude her board service after holding this important leadership position since 2018.

“Cornell has been an invaluable member of Thrivent’s Board of Directors for nearly a decade, and we’ve greatly benefited from his leadership, vast business experience and passion for helping Thrivent’s clients achieve financial clarity, enabling lives full of meaning and gratitude. Along with the Board of Directors, I look forward to continuing our work with Cornell in his expanded leadership role as he guides Thrivent into our next phase of growth,” said Terry Rasmussen, president and CEO of Thrivent.

“I also want to extend a sincere thank you to Bonnie for her board leadership over the past five years. Bonnie played an integral role in Thrivent’s client-first, digital-first transformation and under her guidance, Thrivent continues to be financially strong and stable, well-positioned to grow so we can meet the needs of our clients today and into the future.”

Boggs has been a member of the board since 2013 and most recently served as vice-chair, chair of the Governance committee and as a member of the Human Resources, Strategy and Executive Committees.

“I’m deeply honored and humbled to serve as Thrivent’s next board chair,” said Boggs. “Thrivent is one of the original purpose-driven companies in America, having served Christians as a member-owned fraternal benefit society for more than 100 years. It offers industry-leading financial advice, products, and service that put clients at the center, a strong team culture and an unmatched commitment to inspiring generosity and making a positive community impact. I believe we have an incredible opportunity to grow Thrivent across the country and with more diverse clients, serving more families with expert advice, investments, insurance, banking and generosity programs and solutions that differentiate Thrivent in the marketplace.”

With his appointment, Boggs becomes one of approximately 25 Black leaders to have served as a Fortune 500 CEO or Chair.

Boggs is currently a senior strategic advisor for Quarles & Brady, LLP, a national, multi-disciplinary legal services firm. He previously served as a senior advisor for BarkerGilmore, LLC, a corporate legal advisory firm. In addition, Boggs has served in executive-level roles at Toys ‘R’ Us, Inc., Dow Corning Co., MillerCoors, Coors Brewing Co. and Tyco Plastics & Adhesives. He began his career as a judicial clerk for the Indiana Court of Appeals, followed by an appointment in the Attorney General’s Honor Program, where he served as a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice. Boggs is also an Emeritus member of the Valparaiso University board, where he served as a director for eighteen years.

Boggs was recognized in 2009 as one of the 150 Most Influential People in Valparaiso University’s 150-year history. He also received a Burton Award as a Legend in the Law in 2017. Most recently, he was named by Savoy magazine in 2021 as one of the Most Influential Black Corporate Directors for his distinguished leadership and service to Thrivent’s Board. In 2022, Savoy named him as one of the Most Influential Black Lawyers in recognition of his accomplishments as a general counsel and corporate secretary, experienced in all aspects of corporate management and oversight.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism with distinction from Valparaiso University and a Juris Doctor from the Valparaiso University School of Law.