• Health and Wellness

by Mitti Hicks

September 29, 2025

Sisters On The Vineyard: Honoring Heritage, Improving Black Women’s Health

The annual event brings together influential leaders in medicine, business, and advocacy, creating a space for growth, education, and community.

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For the past three years, Sisters on the Vineyard, held on Martha’s Vineyard, has become a vital summer health retreat where Black women gather to speak openly and honestly about a healthcare system that has too often failed them.

Neither the organizers nor the panels shy away from the fact that Black women have a 10% higher cancer death rate than white women. Black women have higher rates of chronic conditions like hypertension and obesity, and their maternal mortality rate is three to four times higher than that of white women.

Sisters on the Vineyard is a transformative health retreat founded after a concerning encounter between the event’s founder, Dr. Kordai DeCoteau, and a woman who, according to Dr. DeCoteau, worked for a premier cancer care hospital in the country.

“I asked her about a particular treatment to preserve hair follicles during chemotherapy called Cool Cap,” Dr. DeCoteau, who is also a breast cancer survivor, told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “When I made the joke about freezing during the treatment, she responded that she didn’t know what it was.”

It was a heartbreaking moment of truth for Dr. DeCoteau. In that moment, she asked herself, if someone like that who works for a big health entity didn’t know about these things, what does “my average sister and brother” not know as well? The podiatrist and CEO sprang right into action to eliminate what she calls the “us versus them” gap between doctors and the public.

“As a doctor, I decided I had to make sure that women, especially women of color, were given the same privileges that I was afforded,” she told BE.

Dr. DeCoteau began speaking at events for various organizations, including a virtual session for the United Nations. Through her workshops, she was able to connect with Dr. Ricki Fairley, founder of Touch, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance. From there, they partnered with Dr. Renee Matthews, a health advocate known for her work in asthma and allergy education. With their shared passion for educating women of color about health and financial literacy, they created a platform in 2022 that enables women to openly and freely discuss their health, wellness, and finances.

Sisters on the Vineyard Is Transforming Health Outcomes for Black Women

The annual event brings together influential leaders in medicine, business, and advocacy, creating a space for growth, education, and community. There is a breast cancer panel, sessions on weight loss, cardiovascular health, men’s health, mental health, and financial sessions.

“There’s a lot of misinformation out there and [we’ve found] there is a huge need for transparent and factual information,” Matthews said. “Often, the people who disseminate the information don’t look like us, and we know there are complicit biases in medicine that make [our community] not so trusting.”

A 2023 study published in the JAMA Network found that Black people living in counties with a higher proportion of Black primary care physicians tend to live longer. Health outcomes for Black patients are better because they get more preventative medical care, Black doctors are inclined to write detailed notes for patients, and inform patients about available resources, especially for those who are low-income and underinsured.

“The lack of literacy in our community also has a huge impact on our communities that is breeding inequities,” Fairley added. “We also don’t talk about our health at the kitchen table. We’re dying of prostate cancer, breast cancer, and lung cancer. We’re not getting diagnosed until it’s too late, because we don’t talk about it, and we don’t know our family history.”

Through sisterhood, care, and community, Sisters on the Vineyard is an annual event that uplifts and equips women with the tools they need to thrive both personally and professionally.

“Health is wealth and wealth is health,” says Fairley. “We can’t succeed without good health. People can go bankrupt in a heartbeat over an illness. It’s essential to consider health as a key component of a comprehensive wealth and financial plan. That’s what we cover here.”

Organizers are also expanding to include workshops that focus on men’s health and hosting more events outside of Martha’s Vineyard.

RELATED CONTENT: Support Your Girlfriends Partners With Barbados Tourism To Celebrate Sisterhood At Empowerment Retreat:

• Politics

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 29, 2025

Kamala Harris And Wes Moore Call For Action At Congressional Black Caucus Awards

Harris and Moore were recipients of the CBCF Board Chair and CBC Body awards.

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Political heavyhitters shone during a time of gloom at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s (CBCF) 54th Annual Legislative Conference Phoenix Awards Dinner, honoring former Vice President Kamala Harris and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore as trailblazers making vast contributions to Black culture and the country, according to a press release shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE. 

Harris and Moore were recipients of the CBCF Board Chair and CBC Body Awards as the dynamic leaders spoke about being resilient in a crucial time for the Black community. Moore, rumored to potentially throw his hat in the race as a Democratic candidate for President, has been outspoken against some of the policies handed down by President Donald Trump. 

Most recently, as several governors have conformed to Trump’s demands to gerrymander elected seats to favor the GOP, Moore spoke about the importance of having leaders in place who aren’t scared to take risks and hopes that those who came before him, who did not “bend the knee,” are proud. “At a time when we are watching the President attempting to gerrymander Black leaders out of office, I want to be very clear–while these other states are determining whether or not they have their maps, so will Maryland,” Moore said to the packed crowd. 

“History is not going to remember this administration well. But also, to those that are sitting down and doing nothing, to those that are capitulating — history will remember you worse.” 

Harris, who is making headlines with excerpts from her “107 Days” memoir, shared similar sentiments, calling for the leaders of tomorrow to stand up now, not waiting until later, because it may be too late. “Democrats, we have so many stars and many of them are in this room right now. You are the leaders who are up for the fight. You are the leaders who have the courage,” the first Black Vice President of the United States said.

“You are the leaders who will speak the truth; the leaders who know that at a time such as this, it demands one thing for sure: we must fight fire with fire.” 

Now adding the title of “best-selling author” to her already impressive resume, Harris has been vocal about Democrats embracing more than one leader at a time, touching on the New York City mayor’s race, where Zohran Mamdani is a frontrunner for the position.  

The words reached other honorees in the room, including CBC Chair Awardee Angela Rye, a political strategist, and CBCF ALC Honorary Co-Chair Awardee Jotaka Eaddy, founder of # WinWithBlackWomen. Other Democratic leaders, such as Maryland’s Sen. Angela Alsobrooks and Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), spoke to the audience. Jeffries, according to KFOR 4, spoke on the state of the country, providing reassurance that the fight is ongoing. “Trouble is all around us. We want to move the country forward; they want to turn back the clock. We’re fighting hard to bring people together; they are tearing us apart,” he said. 

“We fight for the people; they fight for the privileged. We believe in truth and reconciliation; they want to erase our history.”

RELATED CONTENT: Kamala Harris Visits Howard University To Promote New Memoir, ‘107 Days’

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 29, 2025

Starbucks Stirred Up: Customer Melts Down After Barista Won’t Call Out Charlie Kirk’s Name

'So you didn't call the name out,' the Charlie Kirk supporter said

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Charlie Kirk fans are standing their ground in the alleged fight of freedom of speech including a Starbucks customer who caused a scene when a barista failed to call out his name, which she labeled as her drink, when the order was ready. 

In a video shared throughout social media, things took a turn when the unidentified woman got upset when the barista brought her drink to her instead of calling out the name on the drink, Charlie Kirk. “So you didn’t call the name out,” the woman said, as the barista responded asking if that’s what she wanted. The barista agreed and called out the name “Charlie” to the almost empty location but when the barista didn’t say the last name, things escalated. 

One woman seated behind the Kirk supporter spoke out to defend the employee, alerting that the woman was recording as the woman continued to claim she posted such a positive review about the location prior to the incident. “A man spoke up for what he believes in and he got shot in the neck for it and you couldn’t stand there and call my name out but you called his name out,” she said, referring to other customers onlooking.

The woman claimed incidents like this “is what Charlie Kirk died for” since “its freedom of speech.” 

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Almost one month after Kirk was murdered during a Turning Point USA event in Utah, the battle of what’s right and wrong in correlation to speaking out against things have flooded the internet. In addition, Kirk supporters have been outspoken about him being assassinated for what he believed, stretching out the ongoing fight between liberals and the world of MAGA. The comment section celebrated the customer who defended the barista while seemingly making fun of the woman making a big deal. “This is so exhausting but I’m glad it’s YT on YT for a change,” @tayehydermua wrote on Instagram. 

Another user pointed out that baristas may not make enough money to deal with additional drama. “Let these people do their jobs. They don’t get paid enough for this. SMH,” @ryansimsbeauty said. 

One user gave an idea that the employee should push litigation against the woman recording. “If I was that barista, I’d sue that lady for emotional distress. Cause that was TOTALLY unnecessary,” @theivth_ wrote. 

Events and moments in Kirk’s honor have continued after a massive memorial with guests including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance took place in Glendale, Arizona, one week after his death. During a Penn State versus Oregon game, Kirk’s favorite team, according to Fox News, several Penn fans were seen wearing Kirk’s “FREEDOM” T-shirts. Conservative political commentator and host of Youtube’s The Benny Show, Benny Johnson, captured the moment and posted it on X saying, “Mission Accomplished.”

RELATED CONTENT: Charlie Kirk’s Death Sparks Division Among Black Clergy

• News

by Kandiss Edwards

September 29, 2025

The ‘Truth, Poverty And Democracy Tour’ Is Coming To A Mississippi City Near You

The tour will make its first stop in Jackson and will feature discussions about the city’s ongoing water crisis.

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The Truth, Poverty and Democracy Tour is making its way across the state of Mississippi to raise awareness about the needs of the state’s most vulnerable residents. 

Taking place Sept. 30 to Oct. 4, events in Jackson, Hinds County, Adams County, Madison County, Humphreys County, Sunflower County, and DeSoto County, organizers say the tour’s purpose is to call attention to systemic barriers. 

The tour will make its first stop in Jackson, the state’s capital city, and will feature discussions about the city’s ongoing water crisis. Mississippi Director for the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Waikinya Clanton, is expected to speak on the steps being taken to resolve the years-long issue of contaminated drinking supply. The SPLC has filed a complaint demanding that $35.6 million in ARPA federal funds, which have been allocated and received by the Mississippi government, be utilized to repair Jackson’s water system.

In a statement shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE, Clanton spoke about the resilience of Mississippi residents in the face of the environmental crisis and the government’s failure to respond. 

“Despite warnings as early as 2020, Mississippi failed to act when residents in Jackson needed them most,” said Clanton.

“It is unfortunate to witness entire families go without clean drinking water, watch muddy water flow freely from faucets and rely heavily on the bottled water to just carry out routine tasks. The early days of the crisis was a time of extreme need that went unmet by policymakers. However, it was also a time of great resolve. Communities rallied to each other’s aid. Organizations provided assistance delivering bottled water and other necessities to those in need. But there is so much more to be done: Jacksonians need relief.”

A People’s Water Project event in Utica, Mississippi, will distribute water while advocating for long-term water justice reforms. The SLPC states that “Access to clean, safe drinking water should never depend on zip code, race, or economic status.” As such, the organization seeks to provide immediate relief to the people of Utica while strategizing and mobilizing for permanent solutions.

The tour will continue with more events throughout the week, focused on the wide range of issues affecting marginalized communities in the state. Events include a roundtable on workforce development and economic opportunity, as well as activations focused on rural health and food. 

Additional stops will focus on housing, education, and civic engagement. The goal of the five-day event is not only to provide immediate relief but also to build coalitions that can advocate for lasting systemic change. To join SLPC and resident advocates in mobilizing for change, you can register at The Truth, Poverty and Democracy Tour’s official website.

RELATED CONTENT: Priscilla Williams-Till, Cousin Of Emmett Till, Launches Senate Bid In Mississippi

• Lifestyle

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 29, 2025

Accused Copycat Of Rare Wu-Tang Clan Album Will Be Sued

The former pharmaceutical executive allegedly made copies of 'Once Upon A Time in Shaolin.'

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After a lawsuit was filed by PleasrDAO, owners of Wu-Tang Clan’s album, Once Upon A Time in Shaolin, accusing convicted pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli of making copies of the album, against the conditions of not keeping any and playing it online without permission, a judge has ruled that the suit can go on.

According to Reuters, U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen ruled that Shkreli, AKA “Pharma Bro,” must face PleasrDAO’s claims that he misappropriated Once Upon a Time in Shaolin in a 32-page decision on Sept. 25. The company is looking for unspecified damages and profits, and is requesting that Shkreli return the copies of the album he is allegedly in possession of.

The lawsuit was filed last summer after the convicted felon allegedly admitted in livestreams that he had made copies of the rare Wu-Tang Clan offering, and he played the album for his followers. PleasrDAO claimed that Shkreli responded online to a post by a PleasrDAO member who posted a picture of the album on the social media platform X by writing, “LOL i have the mp3s you moron.”

Based on the judge’s decision, Steven Cooper, an attorney for PleasrDAO, will “fully and aggressively” pursue its case against Shkreli.

Shkreli did obtain a partial victory when Chen dismissed other claims, including two she said were preempted by federal copyright law. A lawyer for the controversial executive, Edward Paltzik, said the dismissal of some of the claims is “a significant step forward in our effort to vindicate Mr. Shkreli, who we unequivocally believe engaged in absolutely zero wrongdoing.”

In 2015, Shkreli purchased the one-of-a-kind Wu-Tang Clan album at an auction for $2 million. In 2017, he was arrested and convicted of securities fraud. The government seized the album as well as other property that he owned. In 2021, PleasrDAO reportedly bought the album from the government for $4 million.

RELATED CONTENT: DOJ Reveals Buyer Of Wu-Tang Clan’s ‘Once Upon A Time In Shaolin’ Album Paid $2.2M

• Legal

by Daniel Johnson

September 29, 2025

Former Mississippi Mayor, Ex-City Clerk Arrested, Charged With Embezzlement

If they are both convicted, they can be subject to pay up to a $5,000 fine and spend up to 20 years in prison

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On Sept. 26, the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office announced that Brooksville Mayor Earlie Henley and former Brooksville City Clerk Shaquita Malone had been arrested and charged with embezzlement.

According to WLBT, Henley is accused of drafting checks made out to himself without the signature of a secondary authority, and he allegedly took cash withdrawal slips to the bank and took cash from the city’s accounts.

For her part, Malone is accused of manipulating the city’s payroll system by misrepresenting herself as an hourly employee instead of the salaried worker she actually was, and she also increased the hourly rate of her compensation to receive money she was not entitled to.

Malone is also a convicted felon, and as such was not eligible to be employed as a city clerk. If they are both convicted, they may be subject to a fine of up to $5,000 and a prison term of up to 20 years.

As Jacob Walters, the communications director for the auditor’s office, told The Commercial Dispatch, Henley’s alleged embezzlement totaled $19,998 and was accumulated between July and November 2024.

Henley lost his most recent reelection bid and resigned in May, nearly two months before his term was set to conclude. The state auditor is also charging Henley with repaying $184,000, which includes the amount allegedly embezzled, as well as the civil penalties associated with issuing a contract to a business without the approval of an alderman.

Malone, meanwhile, allegedly embezzled a total of $7,500 from the city during the past year; however, her overall total is $47,000, which includes the amount she allegedly stole, as well as the civil penalty for working a city job for which she was unqualified.

According to Mississippi State Auditor Shad White, “We will continue to hold public officials who break the public’s trust accountable at every level. Thank you to the prosecutors who took our investigation and to the men and women of the Auditor’s Office for their tireless work.”

RELATED CONTENT: Georgia Woman Bagged For Embezzling $500K From Local Business, Police Looking for Second Suspect

• News

by Kandiss Edwards

September 29, 2025

Social Media Calls It: Tina Turner Statue Is Simply Not The Best

While some expressed overall distaste for the sculpture, many had a single point of contention.

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Rock and Roll icon Tina Turner was memorialized in her hometown with the unveiling of a 10-foot bronze statue in her likeness. 

The statue portrays Turner with her signature mane of hair, clutching a microphone, captured in mid-performance. Sculptor Fred Ajanogha says he sought to reflect her stage energy. However, many spectators did not see Ajanogha’s vision. Social media users took to their platforms to voice their frustrations and dissatisfaction with the piece. 

An X user deemed the Turner statue a “mess” and seeks clarification on the approval process for the undertaking. 

@sun_iscompass wrote: “Who Approved this hot mess!”

@loganaaronmusic was deeply moved by the piece and not in a good way.

“And whoever made that Tina Turner statue can burn in hell… and the death penalty for the ones who approved it.”

@Matt_2607 took a shot at Ajanogha, stating, “I’m not sure that the person who created this newly unveiled statue of Tina Turner was ……’Simply the Best’ person for the job!”

Another X user expressed offense on behalf of the late icon. 

@krystleDelliHue wrote: “Tina Turner the queen of Rock and roll deserved better. It’s up for whoever created that statue…”

While some expressed overall distaste, many had a single point of contention — the construction of Turner’s mane. Turner is known for wearing a crown of bouncy blond spikes. However, spectators believe Ajanogha missed the mark.

@ChiBoyJimmy wrote: “I’m sorry, but the Tina Turner statue is hilarious. I can’t look at it without laughing. And that’s my girl, but Why they do that to her hair?”

The statue was constructed over a period of roughly a year. Ajanogha began the piece with clay in Atlanta. He then transferred the work to a foundry in West Tennessee to cast the final work in bronze. Approximately 50 donors contributed to the statue project, including Ford Motor Co., which gave $150,000.  

Turner came from humble beginnings in Tennessee and rose to global stardom. Her hits included Proud Mary, Nutbush City Limits, Private Dancer, and “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” 

RELATED CONTENT: The Queen Of Rock ‘n’ Roll Lives On: Tina Turner Statue Unveiled In Tennessee Hometown

• Global

by Kandiss Edwards

September 29, 2025

Doctor Who? Ethiopia Cracks Down On Honorary Doctorates To Protect Academic Merit

Ethiopia is not the only African nation having to contend with honorary degrees

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Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education, Berhanu Nega, has issued a new directive forbidding recipients of honorary doctorates from using the prefix “Doctor.”

The decree applies to use of the moniker outside the institution that granted the honor. Honorary degree holders are now barred from using “Doctor” in public or professional settings. The restriction also applies to nominations. Full-time employees, administrative staff or members of a university senate cannot be nominated for honorary degrees unless they are no longer professionally associated with said institution, Independent reported.

There are also regulations that impose standards on institutions themselves. Only universities that have eight or more graduating classes and offer doctoral programs may confer honorary distinctions. Institutions that fail to meet the guidelines lose eligibility to grant honorary doctorates. 

Political officeholders and government officials are now ineligible to receive honorary doctorates under the decree. Supporters of the policy say it aims to restore integrity to academic titles by preventing ceremonial honors from being mistaken for earned credentials. 

Unfortunately, Ethiopia is not the only African nation having to contend with issues stemming from honorary degrees. In Abuja, Nigeria an honorary degree ceremony was held to award musician Dauda Kahutu Rarara an honorary doctorate. However, European-American University, the university named in the event, claimed the ceremony and honor was in no way connected to its institution. 

In a statement posted on its website the university wrote, “The University has not authorized any convocation … this event has been organized fraudulently without the knowledge or consent of the University.”

The university also rejected connections to figures who alleged to act on its behalf. European-American University believes Rarara and others, who were “conferred” degrees, are victims of deception. Yet, the organization reinforced that any legitimate honorary awards can only proceed through its official review processes

In Ethiopia, the government has not detailed a list of specific penalties or enforcement mechanisms. However, as cross-border cases of fraudulent degrees and ceremonies emerge, the government will likely depend on institutional integrity and social policing.

As Ethiopia moves to restrict the use of “Doctor” by honorary degree holders, the Nigerian controversy serves as a cautionary reminder that regulation is not useful without verification.

RELATED CONTENT: Self-Taught Ethiopian Developer Raises $5M For ‘The Best Authentication Tool’; Better Auth 

• Celebrity News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 29, 2025

After Reports Of Suing Cam’ron, Damon Dash Is Now Going After The Breakfast Club

'I'm suing The Breakfast Club,' the former Roc-A-Fella owner said on a recent podcast

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Shortly after stating that he was suing his childhood friend, rapper Cam’ron, Damon Dash, the former Roc-A-Fella Records founder, said his next target for legal retribution is Power 105’s The Breakfast Club.

During a recent podcast interview on Cam Capone News, Dash claimed he is filing a lawsuit against the morning show featuring Charlamagne Tha God, DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, and Lauren La Rosa, after a rambunctious back-and-forth with Charlamagne when he was a guest on the program. The conversation between the two got heated with Dash referring to Charlamagne as gay, while the radio host kept telling Dash that he was broke, among other insults, during the intense discussion. 

Although both men made disparaging comments against each other, Dash says he is suing because his reputation may take a hit on the premise that Charlamagne stated that he had on “dirty sneakers,” which the Harlem entrepreneur said was not the case, as he was wearing new sneakers. He also mentioned that he is suing other parties as well, relating to past lawsuits against him.

“I’m suing The Breakfast Club, but I also sent a demand letter to the Chris Brown lawyer and everyone that was in that whole circle and scene, for $200 million,” Dash told the Cam Capone News show.

He also said he is sending demand letters to the attorney who represented two of his baby mothers, although he is not suing the mothers. Dash also states that there are “a couple more” people he is targeting with legal papers. The Chris Brown Dash refers to is the attorney who has successfully sued him several times, which led to Dash’s unpaid debt woes and being ordered to relinquish control of his businesses and various movie titles to Brown’s client Josh Weber, who was involved in a film project with Dash.

He explained why he is pursuing a lawsuit against The Breakfast Club.

“The thing is, we on the radio. So if you say I got dirty sneakers, playing or not, and they can’t see it, then they’re going to think I got on dirty sneakers. And it’s going to get into the algorithm. Dame has on dirty sneakers. I don’t want to hear that when I got on new sneakers.”

Dash has been on a media run recently and seems to keep having beef with many people as he has publicly argued with 50 Cent, Cam’ron, and executives at the REVOLT Network, among others.

RELATED CONTENT: Detavio Samuels Debunks Dame Dash’s Claim That He Is ‘Chairman Of Revolt’

• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 29, 2025

Wilberforce University May Bring Football Back Decades After Last Game Played

The Green Wave was a powerhouse in Black college football, winning the Black College National Championship in 1931.

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The country’s oldest private HBCU, Wilberforce University, may bring back football after a decades-long hiatus.

The institution has announced plans to conduct a feasibility study to explore the possibility of reviving a sport that has not been played at the Ohio school since the 1930s. The surge in student enrollment has sparked interest in establishing a football team to complement Wilberforce’s other athletic programs.

“As Wilberforce prepares to surpass 1,000 students in enrollment by 2026, it’s time to revisit the legacy and potential of our football program,” said Dr. Vann R. Newkirk, the university’s president, said in a written statement. “Rising enrollment is prompting this study, and we believe football could be a powerful catalyst for student engagement, school pride, and institutional visibility.” 

The school currently has men’s teams in baseball, basketball, track and field, and cross-country. On the women’s side, Wilberforce has teams that participate in basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, as well as track and field and cross-country.

Last year, Wilberforce became the first HBCU to be sponsored by AND1.

The Green Wave was once a powerhouse in Black college football. The team, in 1931, guided by head coach Harry C. Graves (no relation to BLACK ENTERPRISE founder Earl G. Graves, Sr.), went 8-0 and was crowned the Black College National Champion. During that season, the Green Wave defeated Tuskegee University, ending the school’s 35-game unbeaten streak.

The feasibility study will help the school figure out what is needed to reintroduce football by assessing infrastructure needs, funding sources, staffing requirements, and student interest.  It will also determine the opportunities to partner with local organizations and alumni to support the program’s potential relaunch. 

“This isn’t just about football,” Newkirk said. “It’s about reclaiming a legacy, energizing our campus, and showing the world that Wilberforce is ready to lead again—on and off the field.” 

If the study receives approval for the sport to return, football could start as early as fall 2027.

RELATED CONTENT: ELEVATING YOUR EXCELLENCE: Jamauri Bogan Inspires As The Youngest Black Community Developer In Western Michigan