January 10, 2023
digitalundivided, the leading non-profit leveraging data, programs, and advocacy to catalyze economic growth for Latina and Black women entrepreneurs and innovators, announced the appointment of Brittany S. Hale as Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer.
Hale takes the reins from Lauren Maillian, who recently abdicated the role after two years of leadership. Unanimously trusted by digitalundivided’s Board of Directors, Hale will serve in the role of CEO as the organization conducts a nationwide search for a permanent leader.
“The Board of Directors has placed tremendous trust and confidence in the leadership changes made and is confident that these changes will lead to greater long-term success and impact,” says Yemi Akisanya and Larry Wilson, Board Co-Chairs of digitalundivided.
“As we embark on the journey of finding a permanent CEO, we are honored to have Brittany at the helm of driving digitalundivided’s future. Collectively, we know the leadership team will ensure that the transition is smooth and successful, and we are very excited about what the future holds.”
Previously serving as digitalundivided’s Director of Operations and People, Hale spearheaded the development of operational systems that allowed digitalundivided to gracefully and sustainably scale its activities. In the role of Interim CEO and COO, she will work closely with digitalundivided’s Board of Directors and executive leadership team to advance the organization’s strategic vision, execute its programs, and oversee operational strategies and initiatives.
A leadership and organizational design expert, Hale brings to the roles her deep expertise in litigation, politics, and risk management and a fiery commitment to dismantling destructive systems of racial and gender bias.
“digitalundivided has been a champion for economic empowerment for Latina and Black women founders for over a decade, leading programming and initiatives dedicated to creating sustainable change for these innovators,” says Brittany S. Hale, Interim CEO and COO of digitalundivided.
“As the organization continues to evolve and invest in the entrepreneurial journeys of Latina and Black women, I am honored to contribute my experience and vast leadership and organizational knowledge to driving this mission forward.”
Since 2012, digitalundivided’s work and advocacy has laid the groundwork to empower generations to speak in profound ways about the realities, experiences, and disparities of entrepreneurship while defining actions for change. On a mission to create a greater world in which all women of color own their work and worth, digitalundivided is excited to continue serving as a trusted resource for founders and funders.
January 10, 2023
Fans asked, Chex Mix answered—with a little help from hip-hop legend Sir Mix-A-Lot.
After years of calls, petitions, and social media pleas, Chex Mix is bringing the beloved bagel chip back to Traditional Chex Mix. To remix the classic in a way only Sir Mix-A-Lot and Chex Mix can, the mix master is releasing a remix of his hit “Baby Got Back” for the first time in the song’s 30-year history.
The duo teamed up to create a snack-inspired remix and corresponding music video, aptly titled “Bagel
is Back.”
“You can’t name a better duo than Chex Mix and Sir Mix-A-Lot. But something was missing, we needed
another hit in the membership, and knew we had to bring back the bagel chip—with a remix,” said Sir
Mix-A-Lot.
“Chex Mix has always been a go-to snack for me, so I’m excited to collaborate on a remix to
celebrate the return of this iconic piece.”
Bagel chip makes its highly anticipated return to Chex Mix original recipe, joining corn and wheat Chex,
pretzels, rye chips and mini breadsticks, all combined with a unique seasoning blend for a one-of-a-kind
snack.
“Chex Mix fans have been calling for the return of the bagel chip for years and we knew when the time
came that we needed to bring it back in a big way,” said Stephanie Lensing, Brand Experience Manager
for Chex Mix.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with mix master, Sir Mix-A-Lot, to not only bring back the
bagel chip but to also drop a remix to his legendary song in its honor.”
Inspired by the classic video with some Chex Mix twists, the song was brought to life in a music video led
by award-winning director DAPS and features nostalgia enthusiast and content creator, Chrissy Allen.
Fans can catch the “Bagel is Back” song and video by visiting chexmix.com and YouTube.
Chex Mix is available at retailers nationwide for an MSRP of $3.99. To explore all the offerings and to
learn more, visit chexmix.com and follow @ChexMix on TikTok, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
January 10, 2023
Singer El DeBarge was once again arrested—this time for drug and weapon possession.
According to TMZ, the famed original member of the R&B/Pop family singing group, DeBarge, was arrested earlier this week. The “I Like It” singer was detained by the Burbank Police Department early Sunday around 3:40 a.m while he was at a gas station. Police officers noticed that his vehicle had expired tags, and stated that when they approached the car, they saw an expandable metal baton, which is classified as an illegal weapon.
Police decided to search the vehicle and discovered pepper spray and suspected narcotics. To make matters worse, DeBarge did not have a valid driver’s license.
The officers arrested and booked the singer on several charges, including possession of a leaded cane or baton, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police officials suspected that the narcotic found in his vehicle was heroin. News Talk 1290 CJBK reported that DeBarge was arrested just before 4 a.m. and was booked into jail 90 minutes later. The 61-year-old vocalist was released later that day after posting a $25,000 bond.
This isn’t DeBarge’s first time being arrested or jailed. In 2001, he was arrested for drug possession and was detained at least three more times between 2006 and 2008. After he was in jail for 13 months, DeBarge claimed that he was clean and no longer doing drugs. Yet, he was back in rehab in 2011.
El was part of the successful music group that included his siblings, Mark, James, Bunny, and Randy. The group, DeBarge, recorded on the Motown-distributed label, Gordy Records, in the 1980s. DeBarge charted hits, including “I Like It,” “All This Love,” “Who’s Holding Donna Now,” “Time Will Reveal,” and “You Wear It Well.” All hit the top 10 on the Billboard R&B chart, with “Time Will Reveal” hitting number one.
Unemployment rates across the board have fallen, but work still needs to be done when it comes to Black women.
Data from the Labor Department shows the unemployment rate for Black women increased by 0.3%. CNBC reported the rate went from 5.2% to 5.5% in November. Michelle Holder, senior fellow at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth says we have “regained jobs lost” but it’s still impacting a group of people. “But the sort of industrial mix has changed, and has kind of impacted what we’re seeing with regard to the distribution of joblessness, by gender, race and ethnicity. And it’s really disaffecting Black women and Latinx men,” Holder told CNBC.
Rates for Latinx men have also increased to 4% in December from from 3.6% in November.
This looks to have been the trend for Black women in 2022. In February, it rose to 6.1% from 5.8% in January. Then, again in April, increasing from 5% to 5.9%, according to CNBC.
However, in 2023, economists like Elise Gould of the Economic Policy Institute say the labor market is “strong.”
There is room for growth when it comes to the hospitality and leisure space. Black women and Latinx men are well-represented but it is still below the pre-pandemic levels. Employment rose by 67,000 last month, but is still 5.5% below what it was in February 2020. Holder believes this space is a large part of the issue regarding Black women and the work force. “This is what is constraining Black women’s ability to get back to the state that they were with regard to the American workforce before the pandemic.”
There is a small light at the end of the tunnel. With the Dow Jones estimating 200,000 non-farm payrolls for December, the number actually grew by 223,000. The average earnings per hour increased 4.6% from a year ago. However, some parts of the economy where Black women are actually overrepresented aren’t showing the same improvement. The Labor Department shows industries like government jobs only added 3,000 jobs in December. Some state government education employment dropped close to 25,000, thanks to university employee strikes.
January 10, 2023
A founding member of the R&B group, The Whispers has passed away.
According to ABC 7, Gordy Harmon died in his sleep on Jan. 5. at age 79. His family informed the media outlet that he died of natural causes.
The official Instagram page of The Whispers acknowledged Harmon’s death.
“We are saddened by the passing of one of the founders and former members of the Whispers. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and his memory and his contributions will never be forgotten. Much love ❤️ #gordyharmon #legendarywhispers #singerandsongwriter #inspiring #smooth #dancer“
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The Whispers started in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles in 1964. Harmon joined with twin brothers, Wallace and Walter Scott, Marcus Hutson, and Nicholas Caldwell to start their musical journey as a group. Some of the members grew up in the Jordan Downs housing project.
Unfortunately, Harmon had to leave the group after he suffered an injury to his larynx in 1973.
The group’s name was given to them by the owner of a small record label in Hollywood, who recommended The Whispers to reflect their soft singing style.
According to UDiscoverMusic, they initially signed with Dore label in 1964 before inking with the Soul Clock label, where they eventually charted on the national U.S. soul charts at the end of the decade. Their song, The Time Will, Come rose to the No.17 on the charts in 1969. They achieved their first Top 10 R&B hit with the ballad Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong in 1970.
In the 1980s, they were able to land two of their most popular songs on the R&B charts. The first one, And The Beat Goes On, was released in 1980, while the 1987 classic, Rock Steady, broke through as a Top 10 pop hit as well.
The Scott brothers remain active, but Caldwell passed away in 2016 and Hutson in 2000. The group was inducted into the R&B Music Hall of Fame in 2014.
January 10, 2023
In December 2020, Army Second Lt. Caron Nazario, an Afro-Latino man, was stopped by two Windsor police officers, Joe Gutierrez and Daniel Crocker, in Virginia because he didn’t have a visible license plate on his Chevrolet Tahoe.
At the time, Nazario had recently purchased the vehicle and placed a temporary license plate on the rear window of his SUV. This traffic stop, which was captured in a video from the officers’ body camera, made headlines because of the aggressive force Gutierrez and Crocker used to get Nazario out of the car, including drawing their guns and pepper spraying him.
A short time later, Nazario got out and was pushed to the ground. The officers would also search his Chevrolet Tahoe. In April 2021, months after the incident and the footage was released to the general public, Nazario filed a $1 million federal lawsuit against Gutierrez and Crocker. According to ABC News, Nazario sued the police officers for “violating his constitutional rights, assault, and false imprisonment.”
In the court documents, Nazario claimed that he was unlawfully stopped, and his vehicle was searched without cause. Around that time, Gutierrez was fired from the Windsor Police Department after the recording prompted an independent investigation by the Virginia governor, while Crocker remained on the force.
Gutierrez and Crocker responded to Nazario’s lawsuit by denying the allegations. One of the officers went as far as to claim that Nazario was trying to escape from them during the traffic stop because he didn’t instantly pull over. Regarding Nazario’s refusal to stop, he disclosed that he didn’t because he was trying to find a well-lit location.
Fast forward to Jan. 9, when Nazario’s trial against Gutierrez began. Court records report that the hearing occurred in Richmond, Virginia, and started at 9:15 a.m. Despite the court appearance, no additional information has been released to the general public.
January 10, 2023
Consider that Black entrepreneurs on average have $35,000 of capital to start a business. In comparison, white entrepreneurs have more than $100,000 of capital to do the same.
Those were among new thought-provoking statistics mentioned last week by Donald R. Cravins Jr., the first Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development. He leads the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). A part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the MBDA is the only federal agency dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of U.S. minority business enterprises (MBEs).
Cravins talked about the MBDA Capital Readiness Program, which will award almost $100 million to expand opportunities for underserved entrepreneurs, including businesses run by Black owners.
The MBDA is seeking applications for its new $93.5 million program grant competition to assist minority and other underserved entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses.
In a live video conference viewed by BLACK ENTERPRISE, Cravins stated, “It will help tens of thousands of underserved entrepreneurs jump start and scale to grow for industries, including health, healthcare management, and infrastructure.” He added the effort will provide funding for nonprofits and universities.
He said the program, initially announced here, will provide services to underserved entrepreneurs to help them access capital opportunities, networks, and build capacity for their businesses. The MBDA-run program is the largest of its kind in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s history.
Cravins said the program will help fund business incubators or accelerators. The funds provided by the grant to these incubators and accelerators will help businesses and entrepreneurs navigate the unique systems and barriers they face. He explained underserved entrepreneurs, including those with disabilities, people of color, and entrepreneurs or founders living in rural communities will be targeted. “People who are living in groups or part of groups that have been underserved in our nation’s history.”
Grants will be awarded to entities that serve entrepreneurs. Cravins said services will include resources for minority and other underserved entrepreneurs to access capital and gain funding, technical assistance, networking opportunities with peers, experts, and vendors, as well as mentorships.
The novel program comes as businesses owned by women of color are among the fastest growing sectors in the economy. Yet, structural barriers remain, preventing many women from starting their own businesses and accessing capital, childcare solutions, and peer networks.
Cravins was confirmed in his new role last August by the U.S. Senate and his appointment was announced by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
When he speaks to entrepreneurs across the country, especially those of color, Cravins says they tell him a huge barrier they face is access, including access to capital. Among his goals: reduce the large funding gaps between minority entrepreneurs compared with their non-diverse peers. “We know those statistics are there and we know MBDA has to do something to change that narrative.”
The application deadline for the grants is Feb. 28, 2023. Check here for more details and to apply.
January 10, 2023
This Black woman stood out as the best candidate to support the mission and vision of the National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS).
LaNiece Tyree, associate vice president for Auxiliary Enterprises, has joined the board of directors for NACAS, after being appointed last month as the association’s vice president.
“The NACAS Board of Directors is the governing body for the Association,” the NACAS website wrote.
According to Howard University’s hub for campus news and stories, The Dig, Tyree joined Howard in March 2022 and has become the sole representative on the NACAS board from a historically Black institution.
“I am honored to represent Howard University in this position, and to bring the unique perspectives of the university to the conversations fostered by this body,” said Tyree.
“I bring a diverse set of skills and experiences to the Board, and I look forward to working with my fellow directors in supporting institutions in my years to come in executive leadership.”
In Tyree’s executive leadership role with NACAS, she is set to serve a four-year term in the order as vice president, and then in concurrent years as president-elect, president, and immediate past president.
The NACAS-certified auxiliary services professional is joining the board of directors with over 20 years of experience and credentials in auxiliary services, large event management, foodservice & vending, and retail.
Tyree’s performance is an extension of Howard’s campus business profile and its efforts to increase visibility and performance in revenue-bearing partnerships.
“The Howard brand is powerful in our city and around the world, thanks to the loyalty and enthusiasm of students, alumni, and supporters,” Tyree said.
Alongside her newest position with the board, Tyree fulfills duties as part of the advisory committees for tuition rates, housing, and institutional sustainability.
“We are working hard to bring excellence in quality and consistency in all of our products and services, and I think the community is recognizing that effort,” she added.
The controversial ride or die, rabble-rouser known as “Diamond” who supported former President Donald Trump and his lies, has died “unexpectedly.”
Diamond, born, Lynette Hardaway, is now stumping on the other side in the upper room after she “passed away at her home” on Monday, the Daily Beast reports. Trump reportedly announced the news on his Truth Social site.
“Diamond’s death was totally unexpected, probably her big and precious HEART just plain gave out,” Trump wrote.
On Twitter, the pro-Trump duo’s official Twitter account which Diamond shared with her sister Rochelle “Silk” Richardson, announced the news and released a statement.
The World just lost a True Angel and Warrior Patriot for Freedom, Love, and Humanity! Please respect the privacy of Diamond’s family! Memorial Ceremony TBA.
Contributions towards Preserving Diamond’s Legacy are only being accepted at the following link:https://t.co/g6J6NlBXE7
— Diamond and Silk® (@DiamondandSilk) January 10, 2023
“Diamond blazed a trail, founded on her passion and love for the entire race of humanity,” read a statement on a fundraising page for her memorial.
The Black conservatives seemed to have issues with the same network that has been accused many times over the years about its racist slants in national news coverage.
Diamond and Silk were hired by Fox News to produce videos for its streaming platform, Fox Nation. The pair was let go in late April, after spreading coronavirus conspiracy theories and stating that the death count of COVID-19 was an attempt to make President Donald Trump look bad.
January 10, 2023
2022 proved to us that being stressed, on the move, and constantly grabbing a quick fix is the new norm. That could be like a third cup of coffee from your favorite spot, a quick sugar filled granola bar, or another guilty pleasure that has the potential to wreak havoc on your teeth. This could be incredibly detrimental if you don’t have the right tools to combat mouth bacteria.
When you need to get a complete mouth refresh, the AquaSonic Black Series Toothbrush should now be your go-to. Here on sale for $29.99, the AquaSonic works to remove ten times more plaque effectively than the average manual toothbrush quickly, making it a perfect addition to any dental artillery. Whether you’re trying to remove coffee breath or a few unsavory yellow spots, the AquaSonic will do the work.
Speaking of those discolored portions of your mouth, the brush uses a 40,000 VPM motor to help dissolve stains on your teeth. These may have found their way teeth side via everyday consumptions like foods, cigarettes, or coffee. At the exact same time, whitening functions are working for that extra layer of brightness you’ve been craving for so long.
Another feature we really love about the AquaSonic is that it has quite a few modes, including soft, whiten, massage, and cleaning, so you can curate a smile in your own fashion while still keeping your oral hygiene at the forefront. The AquaSonic Black Series Toothbrush also improves your gum health in as little as one week, so your whole mouth gets a white glove experience.
If you need to brush on the road, the included is a carrying case perfect for portable use. It could be incredibly difficult to find something this powerful so far away from home, so best to be prepared.
Find out why the folks in our store gave this brush 4.5/5 stars and Amazon 4.6. Get the AquaSonic Black Series Toothbrush and Travel Case With Eight Dupont Brush Heads for $29.99 (Reg. $39.99), which is $10 less than you can find it on Amazon.
Prices subject to change.
