February 3, 2023
Black entrepreneurship is on the rise, benefitting both local communities and the U.S. economy, according to SCORE, a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
This Black History Month, SCORE is celebrating America’s more than two million Black-owned small businesses and offering support and resources to Black entrepreneurs who want to launch or grow a business.
“As new small business applications continue at a record-setting pace, Black business owners are thriving, but face unique challenges no matter what their business stage. SCORE is here to provide the tools to meet and overcome these challenges on the road to success,” said SCORE CEO Bridget Weston.
In a recent SCORE data report, Black business owners reported a 23% uptick in annual revenue growth – twice as fast as overall U.S. employer-businesses. Black-owned small businesses also added employees at double the rate of all other U.S. businesses. Despite these gains, Black entrepreneurs struggle to find funding, citing difficulty securing loans or a lack of trusted banking relationships.
A free, virtual SCORE webinar, “How To Find Funding Opportunities For Black-Owned Businesses,” on Feb. 7 will discuss financial opportunities available to the Black community. Click here to register or learn more. “The key is to learn what the different options are, where to find them and most importantly, how to qualify,” explains presenter Phyllis Johnson of PKJ Consulting.
In addition to offering small business workshops and training, SCORE’s nationwide network of expert business mentors can provide Black business owners with critical guidance and connections, customized to the needs of each entrepreneur. Mentoring can take place in-person, virtually or via email and is always free of charge.
“Without my mentor and SCORE, I would not have been able to get the funding I needed to grow,” says Lenora Ebule, SCORE Memphis client and founder of Bailan Spice. “I started with one store with one product and I have gone to an entire range of nine products in more than 30 stores, including Kroger. Working with SCORE has helped me tremendously and I believe it would help any business.”
Visit SCORE for Black Entrepreneurs to learn more.
February 3, 2023
This Black History Month, join Urban Outfitters in honoring Black influence, culture, and history with a month-long celebration featuring Black artists and advocates who move us and who move our culture forward. To kick off the month, Urban Outfitters will release seven limited edition UO-exclusive capsule collections designed by prominent artists Kehinde Wiley, Ron Bass, and Mía Lee, in addition to fashion brands PISHPOSH, Riveriswild, Electric Circus, and musician Oswin Benjamin. The collections will launch in select retail locations and online on February 1st, with a first look at the assortment available during a special pop-up presentation at The Brooklyn Museum on Saturday, February 4th. Later this month on February 23rd, UO will release a commemorative collegiate merch collection in collaboration with Cheyney University, the first Historically Black University, and sportswear brand Mitchell & Ness, with proceeds from the sales of the collection being donated to the university, continuing UO’s support of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The collections and initiatives launching in February speak to Urban Outfitters’ ongoing commitment to nurturing long-term connections within our community by celebrating diverse talent and inspiring the next generations of creative youth.
To continue its support of Black creative talent, URBN Inc, Urban Outfitters’ parent company, has partnered with nonprofit Creatives Want Change to support the (CWC) Fellows Scholarship Program for Black high school students that provides access to pre-college fashion design programs, helping create effective opportunities for Black students into the fashion industry. URBN Inc. has committed over $150,000 to CWC and will encourage its community to support through checkout donations in-store at Urban Outfitters locations. In addition, URBN employees can participate in CWC’s mentorship program. Each semester, current and former CWC Fellows are matched with URBN employees, who help guide them through college exploration and applications and provide insights into different career paths within the fashion industry. This year’s application for CWC Fellows is now open through the end of February.
Designs for the seven Black History Month Capsule Collections will be a reflection of each creative’s individual style and artistic medium.
A curated selection of pieces from the capsule will be on display during First Saturday, a monthly event at The Brooklyn Museum featuring educational programming, a pop-up market, and premiere access to its collections. On February 4th from 5pm-10pm, UO will activate at First Saturday with a table at the market featuring exclusive collections from Ron Bass, Riveriswild, Oswin Benjamin, and Electric Circus. Select styles will also be available through The Brooklyn Museum Shop on site. A special behind-the-scenes look of the collections will be available on the UO Community Page and feature the collection designers, their unique capsules, and what inspired their designs.
Meet the creatives behind the UO-exclusive collections below:
The Black History Month festivities expand with the release of the Cheyney University x Mitchell & Ness UO-exclusive merch collection celebrating the legacy of the nation’s first Historically Black College. The 7-piece collection includes graphic t-shirts, loungewear, and accessories honoring the universities’ history as being the “First Of Its Kind.” Styles will be available online on February 23rd and during a special pop-up on campus at the Cheyney University Student Union on Friday, February 24th. At the pop-up, students will be able to shop the collection, grab unique giveaways, and meet with URBN Inc. talent team representatives providing insights into the industry. A portion of sales from the collection will be donated to Cheyney University, furthering Urban Outfitters’ commitment to supporting Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as seen through the UO Summer Class Program, a 10-week internship and mentorship opportunity for students at HBCUs recognized for their academic excellence and creative prowess that culminated with special capsule collections representing each students school.
URBN Inc. is on a journey to cultivate an environment that provides inspiration, unity, and value to our diverse community. URBN’s efforts to build a talented, inclusive, and united culture will continue throughout the year with additional partnerships and programming spearheaded by the URBN Diversity & Inclusion Committee. URBN Inc. will also expand on its initiatives to support marginalized groups through community engagement and additional charitable donations. For more information, visit https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/celebrate-black-history-month
February 3, 2023
Yesterday, the National Football League announced plans for the Saweetie Super Bowl Concert Presented by Intuit on Roblox. Starring Warner Records hip-hop artist Saweetie, the free virtual concert will be an official part of the NFL’s Super Bowl LVII event line-up. It will take place in Warner Music Group’s Rhythm City, a first-of-its-kind music-themed social roleplay experience on Roblox that was announced earlier this week. Saweetie will perform a family-friendly, fully motion-captured performance featuring her hit singles including “Tap-In,” that will bring the excitement of an NFL Super Bowl musical performance to millions of fans in the metaverse. The virtual concert will celebrate the upcoming Super Bowl LVII and promote a message of female empowerment to all tuning in.
“I’m really excited to bring this iconic moment to the metaverse and share my music with a whole new audience in such a unique way! As an artist, innovator, and football fan, to be able to perform during Super Bowl LVII weekend in this new world — Rhythm City on Roblox — is something I never imagined that I would be involved in. I am very grateful and happy about this opportunity,” said Saweetie. “I can’t wait for fans to experience what we’ve created.”
The virtual concert will premiere on Friday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT and will re-air every hour on the hour until Sunday, Feb. 12. The concert will also be paired with a collection of digital items that will be sold on the Roblox marketplace.
In addition to the virtual concert, the NFL will also launch Super NFL Tycoon on Roblox presented by Intuit on Saturday, February 4. The NFL’s latest experience on Roblox will allow millions of users to live the fantasy of being an NFL team owner and practice important financial and business skills with Intuit’s help. Super NFL Tycoon simulates an authentic business experience, from drafting a team and building an “Intuit Stadium,” to managing cash flow, payroll, taxes and customer acquisition with the help of Intuit’s products. For the upcoming virtual concert, users will be able to move between Super NFL Tycoon and Rhythm City through a designated portal to allow for easy access between the experiences.
“The Saweetie Super Bowl Concert Presented by Intuit will be an anchor entertainment event bringing fans together in the metaverse and further cementing the tradition of content innovation at the Super Bowl,” said Ed Kiang, VP of Video Gaming at the NFL. “Working with Roblox has enabled us to create interactive shared experiences and with the virtual concert and Super NFL Tycoon we will unlock deeper fan engagement.”’
“With only one in four high school students having access to personal finance courses, we’re committed to finding innovative ways to expose more young people to financial literacy tools,” said Lara Balazs, Intuit’s Chief Marketing Officer and General Manager of Strategic Partner Group. “The metaverse provides an age-appropriate environment to introduce younger people to important financial concepts in a fun and engaging manner. We are proud to bring this fun learning opportunity to highly engaged sports and entertainment fans.”
The Saweetie Super Bowl Concert, Super NFL Tycoon, and Rhythm City are all experiences developed in partnership with Gamefam, a leading gaming and content company across metaverse platforms.
“Bringing a cultural moment like the Super Bowl to the metaverse with such innovative partners marks a shift in how brands are coming together to create the next generation of metaverse gaming experiences,” said Ricardo Briceno, Chief Business Officer, Gamefam.
To access the Saweetie Super Bowl Concert Presented by Intuit on Roblox, visit https://roblox.com/rhythmcity.
February 3, 2023
A budding artist, an aspiring neurosurgeon and a creative storyteller are among the 100 talented high school students selected for this year’s Disney Dreamers Academy, an educational mentoring program hosted at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
The 100 students from across the country will descend on Walt Disney World Resort March 23-26 for the 16th annual event, aimed at broadening career awareness and creating exclusive opportunities for Black students and teens from underrepresented communities across America.
To kick off the announcement of the 2023 class, Mickey Mouse, Disney executives, and international recording star Kelly Rowland surprised one of the students with the news of her selection live on national TV from her school in Newark, N. J. Afterwards, the names of the entire Class of 2023 were displayed on a Times Square billboard.
Rowland, the four-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, actress and television executive producer, served last year as the program’s ambassador and as an advocate for the students. She shared personal insights, drawing from her own unique experience as a pre-teen performer, then as a teenager in one of the best-selling female groups of all time, Destiny’s Child.
The Disney Dreamers program is an important part of Disney’s commitment to support diverse communities. By encouraging the next generation to think big, Disney hopes the students will carry what they learn back home and continue pursuing their dreams.
“We’re ready to welcome another outstanding group of teens from across the country for our 16th year!” said Tracey Powell, Disney Signature Experiences vice president and Disney Dreamers Academy executive champion. “They are going to have the experience of a lifetime, setting them on a journey to go out and achieve their dreams, just like the classes who came before them.”
Since 2008, Disney Dreamers Academy has inspired more than 1,500 students from across the country by fueling their dreams and showing them a world of possibilities as they prepare for their futures. In the years following, graduates have become storytellers, artists, engineers, innovators, journalists and more, and have transitioned into mentors to the Disney Dreamers who follow them.
Each year, the Disney Dreamers are selected from thousands of applicants who answer essay questions about their personal stories and dreams for the future. The students and a parent or guardian enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida for the four-day event.
The Disney Dreamers embark on a journey throughout the Walt Disney World theme parks and behind the scenes of the 40-square-mile vacation destination. It is a vibrant classroom where students discover new career opportunities, pursue their dreams and interact with Disney executives, educators, business leaders, celebrities and motivational speakers.
Students participate in immersive, career-oriented workshops that explore a wide range of career disciplines while also learning essential skills, such as effective communication techniques, leadership and networking strategies.
Past celebrity participants have included stars from the big screen and television, noted sports figures and popular musicians, as well as personalities and cast members from across the Disney family, including “Good Morning America,’’ ESPN, Disney Channel and the ABC TV series “Black-ish” and “Grown-ish.”
For more information, visit DisneyDreamersAcademy.com. Regular updates about Disney Dreamers Academy are also available on social media at Facebook.com/DisneyDreamersAcademy, Twitter.com/DreamersAcademy and Instagram.com/disneydreamersacademy.
February 2, 2023
Synchrony (NYSE: SYF), a premier consumer financial services company, today announced a $100 million commitment in Ariel Alternatives’ Project Black, which aims to scale sustainable minority-owned businesses and position them as leading suppliers to Fortune 500 companies.
Project Black is a strategic initiative of Ariel Alternatives, the private equity subsidiary of Ariel Investments, LLC.
“Building a more equitable, inclusive economy is a business imperative,” said Brian Doubles, President and CEO, Synchrony.
“Our investment in Ariel and Project Black will help give Black, Hispanic and women entrepreneurs the support they need to grow long-term. Synchrony is committed to providing the resources and expertise to advance equity for diverse businesses and communities.”
Project Black invests in middle-market companies that are not currently minority owned, as well as existing Black- and Hispanic-owned businesses, providing capital, resources and minority executive talent. Under Project Black’s ownership, these companies are expected to be transformed into certified minority business enterprises (“MBEs”) of scale to fuel Fortune 500 vendor and supply chain diversity. Synchrony, along with other investors, plans to explore collaboration opportunities with portfolio company management teams to pursue growth strategies.
“Synchrony’s partnership will help fuel widespread corporate vendor and supply chain diversity. With their support, we look forward to creating consequential middle-market businesses, changing the perception of what it means to be a minority-owned enterprise in the United States,” said Leslie A. Brun, Chairman and CEO of Ariel Alternatives. “We are delighted and honored to have Synchrony as an investor in Project Black.”
According to CEO Action for Racial Equity, in 2020, Fortune 500 companies directed an average of two percent ($125 billion) of their total spend to minority-owned businesses, yet many have pledged to dramatically increase their spend. With 95 percent of minority businesses having less than $5 million in revenue, few have the scale to tap into this $1 trillion opportunity.
Advancing equity, diversity and inclusion
These efforts build upon Synchrony’s ongoing commitment to treat equity, diversity and inclusion as a strategic business imperative and drive long term progress. The company’s holistic approach includes advancing financial opportunities and growth among diverse businesses and communities.
February 2, 2023
One year later, Serena Williams is finally ready to address Will Smith’s infamous Oscars slap attack against Chris Rock.
It was March 12, 2022, when Smith slapped Rock across the face in front of the live Academy Awards audience after the comedian made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. The slap came while Rock presented an award that ended up going to Questlove minutes before Smith returned to the stage to accept his first Academy Award for his portrayal of Venus and Serena Williams’ dad in the film King Richard.
The tennis champion sisters have been pretty mum on sharing their reactions to the Oscars slap. But Serena recently reflected on the shocking live TV moment during a sitdown with Gayle King on CBS Mornings.
While the 23x Grand Slam title holder admits that the slap ‘heard and seen ’round the world’ “overshadowed” very important moments, she also understands that we’re all human and make mistakes.
“I thought it was such an incredible film and I feel that there was an incredible film after that with Questlove that kind of was overshadowed,” Williams said.
“But I also feel that I’ve been in a position where I’ve been under a lot of pressure and made a tremendous amount of mistakes, and I’m the kind of person that’s just like, ‘I’ve been there. I’ve made a mistake. It’s not the end of the world.’ We’re all imperfect and human; let’s just be kind to each other. So, that’s often forgotten a lot.”
In the wake of the slap attack, Smith was banned from attending the Academy Awards for the next 10 years. The projects the actor was working on were also either pulled or put on pause.
While promoting his latest film, Emancipation, Smith opened up about the root cause behind the attack and shared his regrets.
“That was a horrific night, as you can imagine. There’s many nuances and complexities to it. But at the end of the day, I just — I lost it, you know?” Smith said on The Daily Show, as noted by Variety.
“I was going through something that night, you know? Not that that justifies my behavior at all… It was a lot of things. It was the little boy that watched his father beat up his mother, you know? All of that just bubbled up in that moment. That is not who I want to be.”
Eunice K. Dwumfour, a 30-year-old councilwoman serving her first term in Sayreville, New Jersey, was fatally shot on Wednesday night, officials said.
According to NBC.com, officers with the Sayreville Police Department responded to reports of a shooting at 7:22 p.m. in Parlin, an unincorporated area of Sayreville. They found Dwumfour in her car with multiple gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The shooting occurred at Camelot at La Mer, a complex of apartment buildings and duplex homes. On Thursday, investigators searched a wooded hill near the parkway, which is accessible by foot from the neighborhood. Investigators were reaching into shrubbery and bushes near the shooting in what appeared to be a search for a weapon.
Victoria Kilpatrick, the mayor of Sayreville, said in a statement that “the fact that she was taken from us by a despicable criminal act makes this incident all the more horrifying.”
Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey said he was “stunned” by the “act of gun violence,” adding that Dwumfour “had already built a reputation as a committed member of the Borough Council who took her responsibility with the utmost diligence and seriousness.”
In a statement about her campaign on the Sayreville Republican Party’s website, Dwumfour said she loved and cherished Sayreville and wanted to help improve the lives of its residents. “I am fully dedicated to building a better, stronger Sayreville, and with your support, we can create a brighter future for our wonderful town,” she said.
Bob Hugin, New Jersey Republican State Committee chairman, said Dwumfour’s death is an act of “senseless violence.”
“We will remember Eunice for her steadfast dedication to the community, as well as her deep and abiding Christian faith. We have the utmost confidence that law enforcement will bring the perpetrators of this heartbreaking tragedy to justice. God Bless Councilwoman Dwumfour and her family,” Hugin added.
February 2, 2023
A two-time Super Bowl-winning running back who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers has recently passed away, according to the team.
The NFL team made the announcement that former running back Sidney Thornton died this week via its Twitter account on Wednesday.
“We are saddened by the loss of former Steelers RB Sidney Thornton.”
We are saddened by the loss of former Steelers RB Sidney Thornton. pic.twitter.com/LpKsIbJ1Xq
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) February 1, 2023
According to Sports Illustrated, Thornton was 68 when he died. No cause of death was revealed.
Thornton played his whole NFL career with the Steelers for six seasons. He was active on the team from the years 1977 to 1982. He won two Super Bowl championships with the team in consecutive years in 1979 and the following year, 1980.
He appeared in 74 regular season games and started 21 of them. The running back finished his career with a total of 1,512 rushing yards on 356 carries and rushed for 18 touchdowns. He also caught 46 passes for 515 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Before he officially retired from football, he did a one-year stint with the USFL in 1984 after he retired from the NFL. He accumulated 288 rushing yards and four touchdowns while carrying the ball 101 times. He also caught 175 receiving yards and scored one touchdown on 25 catches.
Heavy reported that the running back attended Northwestern State University from 1973-76. He started for the school’s football team and got himself into the record book at the university. He rushed for 2,336 yards and scored 25 rushing touchdowns. For his last semester at the school, he averaged 100.1 rushing yards per game and went on to win the Most Valuable Player award in the 1976 Blue-Gray Classic. In that game, he ran for a game-record 151 yards while scoring two touchdowns.
The school also acknowledged his death on its Twitter feed.
“The Demon family mourns the loss of Sidney Thornton, an N-Club Hall of Famer and a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers. There was only one “Thundering Bull,” and he will be missed greatly.”
The Demon family mourns the loss of Sidney Thornton, an N-Club Hall of Famer and a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
There was only one “Thundering Bull,” and he will be missed greatly.#ForkEm pic.twitter.com/TwjJGA8TnE
— NSU Football (@NSUDemonsFB) January 31, 2023
Anika Noni Rose is fresh off the heels of tying the knot and is extremely “thankful” for her new marriage with actor Jason Dirden.
Rose and Dirden surprised fans last month when they announced their relationship by tying the knot and posing for the cover of Brides magazine. No one had even known the two actors were an item when they decided to let the cat out of the bag by releasing their wedding photo in a magazine spread.
Now, one month after sharing the big news, The Princess and the Frog star is opening up about how happy she’s been with her Greenleaf star husband.
“I’m just grateful that we found each other, that we were good friends, respecting each other as people and as artists,” Rose told Essence. “I’m just thankful for that.”
When it comes to life as a newlywed, the Power actress dished on how amazing married life is and the thought they both put into taking the big leap over the broom.
“I feel great. It feels right and it feels good and I think that it’s not a decision that I took lightly,” she said. “I’m really glad that it was something that the both of us took our time and let it be a thing that was right.”
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Rose and Dirden were already acquainted as friends before taking their relationship to the next level. The Dreamgirls star didn’t even have marriage on her mind until Dirden came along and changed all that.
“We were really good friends before any thoughts of anything like this,” she explained. “I just wasn’t someone who grew up dreaming of being married. Not that I was against it, I just wasn’t like “Ooooh! When I grow up I’m going to be in a castle!” That just wasn’t me.”
Dirden proposed in December 2021 and the pair tied the knot last October before revealing the nuptials this year, People reported. While marriage wasn’t something she initially saw for herself, the For Colored Girls star now believes she waited for the right person at the right time.
“So when the decision [to get married] came, it felt like a conclusion or something that was just the next step in a road,” Rose said.
“Something that completely made sense and I think that’s what it should feel like. It should make sense. It should feel right. It shouldn’t be, ‘Oh I don’t know.’ If you feel that way, just hold on and wait. You might be with the right person and it might not be the right time. Or you might be with the wrong person and your body and spirit are trying to tell you that.”
February 2, 2023
A legendary publisher on Chicago’s South Side found himself facing thousands of dollars of damage following a flood that destroyed a large amount of merchandise.
A burst pipe sent water gushing into the headquarters of Third World Press (TWP), which has published works by the likes of Amiri Baraka, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Chancellor Williams.
Dr. Haki Madhubati, who recently received the Pegasus Lifetime Achievement Award from the Poetry Foundation, set up a GoFundMe page to repair damages to the independent company.
“I think we put the GoFundMe nonprofit page up on a Friday, and within a week or so, we saw people were responding. It multiplied. And people who had not contacted us in years came to help,” Madhubati said during an interview with Fobes.com. “And what happened? I see it as a movement equated to what we were doing in the sixties and the seventies. It was a movement to save an institution because they knew -one- that I love black people, that’s number one. But they knew also that Third World Press was a publisher of record.”
“We had to throw out books that look like they can be sold, but they had been contaminated as a result of water and mold and so forth. It’s been very difficult,” Madhubati said. He added that damages are somewhere between $250,000 and $300,000.
One of TWP’s most well-known authors, Brooks, has penned more than twenty books of poetry, including Children Coming Home, To Disembark, which was published by Third World Press. In 1946 and 1947, Brooks was awarded a grant from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation. In 1949, she published her second volume of verse, Annie Allen, a portrait of a Bronzeville girl as a daughter, a wife, and a mother, experiencing loneliness, loss, death, and poverty. In 1950, Brooks won the Pulitzer Prize for Annie Allen.
Baraka, who is known as the Father of Black Arts Movement, which sought to duplicate in fiction, poetry, drama, and other mediums the aims of the black power movement in the political arena. Among his best-known works are the poetry collections The Dead Lecturer and Transbluesency: The Selected Poetry of Amiri Baraka/LeRoi Jones, 1961-1995; the play Dutchman; and Blues People: Negro Music in White America.
“We have this tradition and people around the country responded with donations of all sizes,” Madhubuti, 80, said to Forbes. “And we don’t have any judgment around what people give or do not give us, but I always felt that they gave what they can afford to give.”
This year, TWP is set to publish Letters/Poems by Sonia Sanchez, as well as a new edition of Jonathan Tilove’s Along Martin Luther King, Travels On Black America’s Main Street, and A New Black Reconstruction: The Thought, Activism & Love of Edmund Gordon, edited by Ezekiel Dixon-Roman, David Wall Rice, Carol D. Lee and Haki R. Madhubuti.
