Southern Company, a leading energy company serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries, released its inaugural “Transformation Report: Moving to Equity,” outlining its uncompromising values and commitments to drive growth and prosperity in historically underserved communities.

Amplifying HBCUs

For Southern Company, investing in the future of HBCUs is an ambitiously intentional effort to create a more inclusive workforce. The company and its subsidiaries have pledged $50 million in a multi-year initiative to provide HBCU students with scholarships, internships, leadership development and access to technology and innovation to support career readiness.

“We are incredibly encouraged by the future possibilities presented through our support of HBCUs,” said Chris Womack, president of Georgia Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company.

“By investing in better outcomes, we create new opportunities for the students of today to become the leaders of a more prosperous tomorrow.”

From sponsoring the “Celebrating HBCUs” exhibit to founding a global technology and innovation hub, the Southern Company is cultivating change and opportunity.

As co-founder of the Propel Center, in collaboration with Apple, the Southern Company’s $25 million investment will help grow Black entrepreneurship across over 100 HBCUs. The hub will be located within the Atlanta University Center (AUC), which caters to Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, Morris Brown College, and Morehouse School of Medicine.

Investing in energy justice & equity

In addition to advancing racial equality, the Southern Company has added energy justice to its three pillars of social justice. The fourth pillar is a reflection of the company’s commitment to lead the charge on innovation in areas such as artificial intelligence and the clean energy transition.

The company has pledged a $225 million pledge through 2025, which includes $25 million dedicated to supporting customers and communities related to energy equity.

Addressing criminal justice inequity

The Southern Company has committed to $50 million to those entities working to lower criminalization rates, support transition, and re-entry into society, create prearrest diversion programs, and more.

Promoting an inclusive work environment

With 27,000 employees, the Southern Company is invested in ensuring that the work environment promotes representation, respect, and value. The company placed 20 on DiversityInc’s 2021 Top 50 Companies for Diversity.

• Sisters Inc

by Stacy Jackson

January 4, 2023

Black Women Are Unapologetically Tapping Into their ‘Soft Life’ Energy in 2023

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Black women are moving past wearing a badge of honor for being strong, and resilient. Now they are tapping into their ‘soft’ side.

Recent trends have reimagined the soft life as an attainable lifestyle where Black women can unapologetically enjoy a comfortable and low-stress life, doing the things that make them happy.

@team_terra

Soft life energy is a luxury! #greenscreen #blackgirlluxury #blackgirltiktok #blackgirls #softlife #blackwomeninluxury #blackwomenoftiktok #PlutoTVIsFree

♬ original sound – Atiya

According to Insider, the soft life aesthetic surfaced from the Nigerian influencer community, in an effort to imagine the separation from the realities of Black women’s labor.

One lifestyle blogger, who identifies as Brittany on TikTok, and a pioneer of the ‘soft life’ trend for Black women, posted in March 2022 about her feelings on the strong black girl narrative.

https://www.tiktok.com/@look_its_britt/video/7071371459960032554?is_from_webapp=v1&item_id=7071371459960032554

Nicole Jenkins, an assistant professor of sociology at Howard University described the soft life as the journey of prioritizing self needs unapologetically.

“Everybody understands self-care, but Black women generally have had a difficult time because they’re often prioritizing other folks’ needs over themselves. It’s a new rendition of self-care that is really unapologetically prioritizing what it is that we need in rejection of this strong Black woman narrative that so many of us have been cultured into really adopting.”

Jenkins confirmed that channeling the soft life is achievable with simple gestures such as giving yourself time to pause, saying kind words to yourself, and uplifting yourself.

“What they’re trying to do with that narrative is opt into femininity that is generally reserved for white women. Black women historically have not been able to get access to this version of womanhood because of slavery,” said Shamora Drummond, a sociology graduate student at University of California Los Angeles.

Drummond believes there is a possibility for the soft life narrative to backfire, warning about embracing a stereotypical image.

“…There still are Black women that have characteristics of the strong Black woman, for various, valid reasons, and now feel like they can’t enjoy the perks of a ‘soft life,'” Drummond said.

Kaya Nova, a Black woman musician, posted a message highlighting some of the hardships transforming to the soft life.

https://www.tiktok.com/@thekayanova/video/7149668308621544750?_r=1&_t=8Ykp1XnJhQU&is_from_webapp=v1&item_id=7149668308621544750

Devyn Walker, a Dallas-based licensed professional counselor who specializes in working with Black women dealing with trauma, believes the trend is beneficial and expands beyond TikTok, identifying Black women who have sought out therapy and driven conversations surrounding mental health within their communities as a significant factor.

“It greatly helps our mental health. It helps us create lives that we enjoy and love regardless of what stress is thrown our way,” Walker said.

“Even if you look at it more so on a community level, we are literally breaking generational curses.” Walker added.

“It’s getting us to the point where we are acknowledging that we don’t want the struggle life. We don’t want the struggle love, we don’t want the struggle job, we don’t want any of that,” she said.

“We want to live a life of ease. And I think we should be able to do that considering the generations and generations of trauma that our community has endured,” Walker said.

@hellodearciera

#luxurylifestyle #softlife #travelaesthetic #aesthetic #blackwomenoftiktok

♬ original sound – szyxxl_

The soft life looks different for every woman. Whether it’s traveling the world, making luxury purchases, or embracing hobbies that give you a peace of mind, putting yourself first is the key priority.

Actress Gabrielle Union keeps it all the way real about her “dysfunctional” first marriage and why she felt “entitled” to cheat.

The Bring It On star appeared on Monday’s episode of the Armchair Expert podcast with Dax Shepard, where she opened up about her marriage to NFL player Chris Howard and admitted that neither of them was faithful, ABC News reports.

“In our first marriage, neither one of us felt like the marriage should get in the way of our dating,” Union told Shepard. “A part of it was keeping up with his activities, and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s what you’re doing? Oh, you’re gonna feel this one.'”

Union, who is currently married to NBA champion Dwyane Wade, explained why she felt justified in cheating on Howard throughout the five-year marriage.

“I just felt entitled to it, as well,” she quipped. “I was paying all the bills, I was working my a– off and I felt like that’s what comes, the spoils of riches.”

Union likened her infidelity to her father, feeling justified in cheating because she was the breadwinner in the relationship.

“Like my dad before me, whoever has the most gets to do whatever the hell they want, is what I thought,” she said. “It was just dysfunctional from day one.”

According to the Being Mary Jane star, the marriage was “a stupid relationship that should have never gotten out of the dating phase.” Union even referenced a therapist who said the only thing she and Howard had in common was their interest in “other people.”

Union met Howard, a former running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars, at a party in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1999, People reports. The pair married in 2001 and separated in November 2005 after four years of marriage.

Shepard admitted to his own past infidelity and noted how he and Union are “identical” in how they approached cheating in their old romances.

“I wish I had more guilt for some of that,” Union said.

• News

by Atiya Jordan

January 4, 2023

England Medical Center Mistakenly Sends ‘Aggressive Lung Cancer’ Diagnosis Instead of Holiday Text

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Patients at a medical practice in Doncaster, England received a false “aggressive lung cancer” diagnosis via text message, instead of a festive greeting for the holiday season.

Askern Medical Practice, which treats nearly 8,000 patients, sent out a mass text on Dec. 23, only to later issue an apology and explanation for what the text “should have read,” according to BBC.

Some registered patients had been tested for lung cancer and were awaiting results, leaving many shocked to the core just a few days before Christmas.

In the text, recipients were told that they not only had “aggressive lung cancer,” but with “metastases,” a type of secondary malignant growth at stage 4. The message instructed patients to complete a DS1500 form, which allows people with terminal diseases to claim certain benefits.

When Sarah Hargreaves received the text, she said she was shopping at the time and “felt sick to my teeth and broke down.” She was waiting for medical test results after a mole removal, so she attempted to contact the surgery center multiple times, but couldn’t get through.

“I had just had a mole removed and was awaiting a result from a biopsy and I had been to hospital as my smear test came back abnormal, so yes, I was very worried,” she said.

Carl Chegwin and his mother, who are also patients at the surgery center, were subjected to the upsetting diagnosis.

• News

by Diamond Jeune

January 4, 2023

What a Mighty Big Man! Ghanaian Named as the World’s Tallest Man

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A man from Ghana named Sulemana Abdul Samed made headlines after being recognized as the world’s tallest man. 

Ghanaian nurses reportedly told the 29-year-old that he was 9 feet and 6 inches tall following Samed’s recent visit. According to BBC, Samed has monthly hospital visits because of his gigantism condition. 

Gigantism occurs when an individual has excessive growth hormones, which in turn causes that person to grow at an alarming rate, according to reports.

Although it can be treated if caught early, those diagnosed with this condition can have adverse effects. According to My Cleveland Clinic, the list includes “mobility issues, sleep apnea, enlarged heart, etc.” 

Samed’s frequent checkups stemmed from the medical professionals finding ways to help him comfortably adjust to his life as a giant. During his most recent visit, Samed, also nicknamed Awuche, caught nurses off guard after they saw that he was taller than the hospital scale.

One of the nurses claimed that she had to acquire assistance from her co-workers in figuring out how tall Samed was. The group then used a measuring stick and a pole to determine Samed’s height, which was way over 9 feet. Despite the commotion, this wasn’t a shock to Samed because he acknowledged that he was different in his early 20s.

When Samed was 22, he dreamed of becoming a truck driver. So during his pursuit, Samed moved to Accra and found a job in a butcher shop to pay school expenses. Then out of the blue, Samed noticed that his tongue had grown to an abnormal size, which led him to have breathing problems.

Samed told BBC, “I realized my tongue had expanded in my mouth to the extent that I could not [breathe properly].” Samed added that before figuring out his diagnosis, he thought he was suffering from an allergic reaction, so he decided to go to a pharmacy and pick up antibiotics.

After a couple of days, Samed realized that other parts of his body had begun to grow. This continued happening for years, and it has now caused his spine to curve because of another condition called Marfan syndrome. The publication describes Marfan syndrome as a disorder that affects an individual’s “cognitive tissues.”

Although Samed’s conditions have limited him from participating in everyday activities, he claims that he wouldn’t change a thing because that is how God “created” him. He said, “That is how Allah chose it for me. I am OK. I don’t have a problem with the way God created me.”

When Samed was asked how he felt about all the attention he is getting from the community, he disclosed that he never turns down a photo opportunity. He stated, “I usually will say, ‘Yes, come closer’—we stand and take nice pictures.”

Samed’s height now surpasses the Guinness World Record held by Sultan Kösen. The Turkey native stood at 8 feet and 2.8 inches. 

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 4, 2023

FBI Offers $10k Reward For Information On Group of White Folks Who Vandalized Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church

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The FBI in Atlanta is offering a few racks to anyone willing to provide information into the vandalism of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church.

The church, pastored by Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock and where Rev. Martin Luther King preached, was vandalized last July following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, 11 Alive reports. A group dressed in all black is accused of spray painting the church with a threatening message that read, “If abortions aren’t safe, neither are you.”

Police say the vandalism took place on July 3, 2022, the same night the city faced protests over the Supreme Court’s decision. Police say a group of 10 people was seen walking around the Sweet Aubrun area that night.

The FBI released security videos showing the group as they walked around the church at the time the crime was committed. The exact moment the church was tagged was not captured on video.

Take a look at this video. FBI offers a $10k reward for info, arrest, and conviction of suspects responsible for vandalism. Camera's captured the group vandalizing Ebenezer Baptist Church Heritage Sanctuary. Call 1800-Call-FBI or send tips to https://t.co/mgzWaqRnkn. pic.twitter.com/ueSOn9imaZ

— FBI Atlanta (@FBIAtlanta) December 29, 2022

However, a group of 10 can be seen dressed in all black walking toward the church. Two separate clips show white individuals dressed in regular clothing and backpacks leaving the area shortly after the church was vandalized. One video showed four people leaving and the other showed six.

“The group stopped in the location by the church where spray paint was later discovered,” the FBI said in a release.

“The group then walked together to a concealed area, and re-emerged without the dark clothing. The group then split up, and four of the individuals went in one direction and six of the individuals went in another direction.”

The church was founded in 1886 and is a “spiritual home” to the state of Georgia, according to the National Park Service, as noted by CNN. MLK served as lead pastor of the church from 1960 until his death in 1968.

Ebenezer Baptist Church, as well as MLK’s childhood home, is part of the federally recognized Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park along with other sites in the area.

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 4, 2023

Swim Instructor Charged in Drowning Death of 4-Year-Old Israel ‘Izzy’ Scott

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According to The Augusta Chronicle, Augusta District Attorney Jared T. Williams has instructed the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to issue an arrest warrant for swim instructor Lexie TenHuisen. She will be charged with involuntary manslaughter for the death of 4-year-old Israel “Izzy” Scott.

Williams released a statement pertaining to the case.

“After months of dedicated inquiry, investigation, and legal analysis, we conclude that a criminal offense has occurred in the death of Israel Scott. I have instructed the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to issue an arrest warrant for Lexie Tenhuisen for the charge of Involuntary Manslaughter, a misdemeanor as defined by O.C.G.A. 16-5-3(b). After conferring with the Solicitor General’s Office for Burke County, in the interest of preventing delays and ensuring continuity of services for Izzy’s family, we shall exercise our concurrent jurisdiction by accusing this matter in the Superior Court of Burke County.”

: – pic.twitter.com/BvSx0acV9v

— Augusta Judicial Circuit, District Atty’s Office (@AugustaDAOffice) December 30, 2022

BLACK ENTERPRISE reported in July that Scott was attending his second supervised swimming lesson before the incident occurred at a residential pool on June 14, per WFXG.

Police officers appeared on the scene after 11 a.m. and were told that the boy was discovered unresponsive in a pool before a nurse arrived on the scene and tried to resuscitate him. Scott was taken to a local hospital, where he died.

Scott’s mother, Dori Scott posted a message to her Facebook page after hearing the news.

“After 6 months, we have some sort of accountability and acknowledgment that someone did wrong. It’s sad that it had to take this long to acknowledge the fact that you paid someone who had a business to teach your son to swim(after she stated that parents couldn’t stay) and you never got him back. As a mother in pain and heartbroken just this small step helps my heart a little because there was no type of accountability or apology for 6 months . Although we still don’t know what happened to Izzy in the pool (only speculation), at least it’s acknowledged that it’s wrong and someone is being held accountable.”

• Technology

by Stacy Jackson

January 4, 2023

Black Man Wrongfully Jailed After Facial Recognition Technology Leads To Mistaken-Identity Arrest

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This Black man says he doesn’t steal but was linked to a theft case.

Randall Reid, a 28-year-old Black man, was reportedly jailed in November in DeKalb County, Georgia, after a facial recognition tool led to a mistaken-identity arrest, falsely linking him to the theft of luxury purses in Louisiana.

Sources reported that Louisiana authorities depended on facial recognition technology to identify the suspect in the June thefts of a consignment shop in Metairie, a New Orleans suburb in Jefferson Parish.

According to Reid’s attorney, Tommy Calogero, the authorities made an error in their investigation, using the tool, which critics believe results in a higher misidentification rate of people of color than their white counterparts.

“They told me I had a warrant out of Jefferson Parish. I said, ‘What is Jefferson Parish?’” Reid said. “I have never been to Louisiana a day in my life. Then they told me it was for theft. So not only have I not been to Louisiana, I also don’t steal.”

Daily Mail reported that the thieves stole $10,000 worth of luxury Chanel and Louis Vuitton purses within three days.

Reportedly, a Baton Rouge Police Department detective erroneously linked Reid to another group theft the same week.

Calogero confirmed differences between his client and the actual thief in the surveillance videos, pointing out a mole on Reid’s face and the 40-pound weight difference between the two subjects. These observations prompted the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office to revoke its warrant.

“I think they realized they went out on a limb making an arrest based on a face,” Calogero said.

Reid was arrested on Nov. 25 and released on Dec. 1 after authorities acknowledged their mistake in the case.

Following Reid’s case, attention has been brought to using facial recognition tools in Louisiana and other areas. Officers are to use the tool only as a last resort and with approval from department officials.

Chilli from the R&B group TLC is ringing in the New Year happily in love after confirming her romance with actor Matthew Lawrence.

On Tuesday, Chilli’s rep Christal Jordan confirmed the dating rumors surrounding the singer and Brotherly Love actor, People reported. The pair, who were both huge stars in the 90s, started dating just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday after they were photographed on a beach in Hawaii last August.

Lawrence spent the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays in Atlanta with Chilli’s family and the new couple is ready to let the world know about their budding romance.

“I’ve been with Chilli since 2005 and I’ve never seen her this in love,” Jordan said. “She is glowing. They are really cute together.”

The rep’s confirmation comes after Chilli, real name Rozonda Thoms, and Lawrence made things Instagram official over the New Year weekend by posting a video sporting matching onesies and reenacting A-ha’s “Take on Me” music video.

“#newyearsshenanigans#onesiegang #wecute,” Chilli captioned the post.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Chilli (@therealchilli)

After announcing their romance, Chilli posted a quote that touched on God’s “perfect timing.”

“God has perfect timing. Never early and never late,” the quote read. “It takes a little patience and a lot of faith.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Chilli (@therealchilli)

“Won’t HE do it!!!!!! Blessed Sabbath Day Everyone 🙌🏽 May YESHUA bless yall with a WAVE of BLESSINGS in the New Year and every year after!!!🙏🏽 #Godissogood❤️,” Chilli captioned the post.

Lawrence’s new relationship comes four months after he finalized his divorce from Dancing With the Stars dancer Cheryl Burke. They were married three years when Burke filed for divorce in February 2022.

Meanwhile, Chilli hasn’t been romantically linked to a fellow celebrity since dating Usher in the early 2000s. She shares her son Tron Austin with music producer Dallas Austin.

• News

by Atiya Jordan

January 4, 2023

Massachusetts Polar Park’s Construction Firm To Pay $1.9M Fine for False Minority Hiring Allegations

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The joint venture company, Gilbane Building Co.-Hunt Construction Group Inc., has agreed to pay a $1.9 million fine to settle allegations by Massachusetts prosecutors that it misrepresented participation of woman- and minority-owned subcontractors on a city-funded minor league ballpark project.

According to a press release, the attorney general’s office announced the settlement of its suit against Providence, RI-based Gilbane and Indianapolis-based Hunt, the two companies who submitted its bid to serve as construction manager of publicly-owned stadium Polar Park in Worcester in 2019. The park is home to Boston Red Sox’s Worcester affiliate team, WooSox.

In the bid, the company pledged to give 20% of the work to women- and minority-owned businesses, the attorney general’s office said in a statement Thursday.

However, the attorney general’s office said, Gilbane-Hunt “did little” to encourage these firms to enlist in the multi-million dollar project, did not track participation, and failed to provide monthly updates to the Worcester Redevelopment Authority. These actions violated the state’s False Claims Act and consumer protection laws.

An investigation by the attorney general’s office, which was sparked by a GBH News investigation in April 2021, uncovered that Gilbane-Hunt reported “projected values” of 17-18% woman- and minority-owned business participation, when in fact the real-time status revealed that only 11-12% of the work was allocated.

“Construction companies in Massachusetts must live up to their promises to create opportunities for women and minority-owned businesses on public projects,” said Attorney General Maura Healey. “If a company says that the inclusion of diverse businesses is a priority in an effort to win a public contract, we are going to ensure that they are held accountable for those representations.”

Another investigation found that the joint company withheld the nature of the investigation in 2021 and 2022 as required with the Massachusetts Department of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance.

As a result, Gilbane/Hunt will pay $1.9 million to the state and the attorney general’s office will return $500,000 to the City of Worcester as restitution. The proceeds of the settlement will be used to promote women and minority-owned business participation in government contracting.

For the next three years, Gilbane Building Company and Hunt Construction will employ a monitor to manage compliance with all contract requirements and state laws referring to woman- and minority-owned business participation on public construction projects.