by Sharelle B. McNair

September 12, 2025

TikTok’s Shavone Charles Departs D&I Post To Launch Fashion Series

Prior to bringing her expertise to TikTok, Charles worked with other major platforms like Twitter, Instagram and photo-editing app VSCO, where she held the title director of consumer communications for two years.

TikTok’s Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion and Multicultural Communications, Shavone Charles, is leaving the social media platform behind to launch a fashion series for creators, scheduled to debut at the 2025 New York Fashion Week (NYFW), according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The model and creative agency — Future of Creatives — founder announced she will depart from TikTok to work on the Future of Fashion series in partnership with Ford Models Digital and Soho House in New York City. The series will highlight visionary creatives and disruptors of the fashion culture who are redesigning the industry in addition to uplifting innovation, inclusivity, and the voices of the future.

In a LinkedIn post, Charles made her grand exit, celebrating her successes with the platform. “Over these years, I’ve had the honor of creating and scaling a global marketing and communications function that helped reshape how the brand engages with culture, public figures, communities, and creators, driving campaigns and initiatives that reached billions of impressions (and hearts) worldwide,” she wrote.

“I want to give a special shout-out to the colleagues who truly cared, showed up for our creators authentically, and partnered with me to push this work forward. As I shift gears and focus on what’s next, alongside growing Future of Creatives (FOC), my tech-minded, multidisciplinary creative collective, hospitality brand, and global consultancy, I’m excited to welcome new conversations and beginnings.”

During the days of the COVID-19 pandemic, TikTok sought to improve the relationship between Black creators and the brand after several spoke out on not receiving credit for their creative trends that went viral around the world. One of the most popular trends — the Renegade dance — received backlash after late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon invited influencer Addison Rae to the show to perform the dance instead of its original creator, Jalaiah Harmon.

After a number of creators went on strike, TikTok then hired Charles in 2021 as the brand’s first-ever diversity and inclusion communications executive in an effort to build profiles of underrepresented creators. While the creative visionary admitted there was no plan in place, she knew that her job was to bridge the gap. “There was no roadmap. But I knew there was a gap, and I set out to build what was missing in support of amplifying brilliant creators and underrepresented communities,” Charles said, according to PR Week.

Under her leadership, Charles created and expanded the global marketing and communications function at the popular platform, which helped reshape how the brand engaged with culture, public figures, communities, and creators, driving campaigns and initiatives that reached billions of impressions and hearts worldwide.

Prior to bringing her expertise to TikTok, Charles worked with other major platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and photo-editing app VSCO, where she held the title director of consumer communications for two years.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 12, 2025

The Knight Foundation Commits $19.8M To Turn Detroit Into A ‘Vibrant And Thriving’ Community

Detroit will undergo a nearly $20 million facelift thanks to the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Detroit will receive nearly $20 million from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to support new investments into the city’s art, technology, and public spaces.

Announced on Sept. 7 during a community celebration at Michigan Central, the Knight Foundation will invest $19.8 million in 12 Detroit projects, the Detroit Free Press reported. The funding will expand trails and public green spaces, strengthen the city’s equity-focused tech economy, and revitalize educational and arts institutions, among other efforts.

“These are all things that we believe are really important to creating a vibrant and thriving city,” said Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, President and CEO of the Knight Foundation. “By focusing on these areas, we create opportunities for connection, we help preserve vital history for the community, we provide ways for the community to really access one another and the downtown core.”

The Unified Greenway Project will receive the largest share of the investment, with $5 million allocated to expand nearly 30 miles of trails and public spaces connecting the Joe Louis Greenway, the Detroit Riverfront, and 23 neighborhoods. The funding will be split evenly, with $2.5 million going to the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and $2.5 million to the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy for construction and activation.

Black Tech Saturdays, the Joe Louis Greenway Partnership, the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, and the Vanguard Community Development Corporation will each receive $2 million. The funding will help scale Detroit’s tech space by connecting residents to high-growth jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities, create the Woodward Avenue trailhead linking Highland Park to the 27.5-mile greenway, upgrade the museum to expand community programming, and complete the city’s new cultural hub at the North End Community Campus.

“Detroit has always been a city of resilience and reinvention,” Wadsworth said. “Our latest investments support a Detroit that will continue to be shaped by the creativity, talent, and vision of its residents. Whether it’s transforming public spaces along the Joe Louis Greenway, expanding local residents’ economic power in tech, or strengthening the city’s creative economy, these efforts reflect the energy of a city on its triumphant rise.”

The Eastside Community Network’s Mother Tree Wellness Campus will receive $1.5 million to complete a nine-acre public space focused on health and the environment. Detroit Horse Power will get $1 million to develop a 14-acre equestrian center with youth programs and community events. Give Merit – Merit Park will receive $1 million to convert vacant land into a youth hub with sports fields, outdoor classrooms, retail incubators, civic spaces along the Joe Louis Greenway, and a small business space at Merit Park Plaza.

Design Core Detroit/College for Creative Studies will receive $1 million to support local creative businesses through training, funding, and events like Detroit Month of Design. Black Leaders Detroit will receive $1 million to fund a no-interest loan program for marginalized developers and entrepreneurs, expected to support over 30 residential projects and create 150 jobs. Downtown Detroit Partnership will receive $800,000 to improve accessibility in spaces such as Campus Martius and Capitol Park, while Rootoftwo via CultureSource – The Transformer Building will get $500,000 to convert a former electrical substation into a civic studio with tech labs, digital tools, and workshops.

“We’re here to support the amazing, creative, passionate people who are Detroiters, who have the ideas about what it is that their community needs in order to continue to thrive,” Wadsworth said of the projects chosen to receive the funding. “Knight’s role here is really only to serve as the wind at the back of these amazing people who care so much about their community. So every one of the decisions about where we invest is driven, first and foremost, by the people of Detroit.”

by Jameelah Mullen

September 12, 2025

History In the Making: First Woman Preaches At National Baptist Convention Annual Meeting

The National Baptist Convention ordained its first woman preacher in 1965.

Reverend Tracey L. Brown became the first woman to preach at a worship service during the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.’s (NBCUSA) annual meeting.

The 63-year-old pastor learned of the accomplishment from NBCUSA leaders moments before the Sept. 9 service held at the Kansas City (MO) Convention Center.

“I feel humbled and honored,” said Brown, founder and pastor of Ruth Fellowship Ministries in Plainfield, NJ, told Religion News Service.

Although women have been preaching in local Baptist churches for years, Brown’s sermon was a significant moment.

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“It’s a long time coming; it’s 2025,” Professor Renita Weems told Religion News Service. “A lot of local churches are light-years ahead of the executive cabinet of the National Baptist Convention.” The organization is 145 years old.

In her sermon, Brown spoke mainly about recent changes in the church, including some of the traditions lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, she acknowledged that the church has benefited from being forced to adapt.

Brown, who has been an ordained minister since December 15, serves as an Associate Minister of the Rose of Sharon Community Church in Plainfield, New Jersey. She founded Ruth Fellowship Ministries in 1999.

At the close of the evening worship service, Rev. Boise Kimber, president of NBCUSA, praised Tracey Brown, saying the night “will go down in the history books,” Religion News Service reported. Kimber discussed his plans to increase the visibility of women leaders and younger pastors.

In April, Kimber appointed Rev. Debbie Strickling-Bullock as the first female chairman of NBCUSA’s Sunday School Publishing Board.

In June, Kimber faced criticism after reports surfaced that NBCUSA received donations from Target for education and economic development initiatives. This occurred during a months-long boycott led by Pastor Jamal Bryant, another Baptist leader, due to the retail giant’s decision to scale back its DEI initiatives.

by Ahsan Washington

September 11, 2025

11 Ways To Honor Victims Of 9/11 On Sept. 11

The lives of thousands of innocent people were lost

Approaching another solemn anniversary means remembering and honoring the 3,000 souls lost 24 years ago on Sept. 11, 2001. The violent attack has forever changed the way citizens navigate daily life in the United States, particularly in travel. For example, only recently has the government waived the removal of shoes when going through airport security screening. More importantly, the lives of thousands of innocent people were lost during the attacks and in the aftermath. An act of remembrance is the smallest way to honor those lives. Here a several ways to participate.

Attend or Watch the Official Name-Reading Ceremony

Every year at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City, there is a ceremony to honor the victims of the 9/11 attacks by reading the names of those who perished that day. The event can also be viewed via stream starting at 8:25 a.m ET.

Observe a Moment of Silence

Giving a moment of reflection is an honorable gesture to share on Sept. 11. Paying respect in this way is promoted by the 9/11 Memorial site for remembrance purposes.

Join or Host a Stair Climb

Participate in a Stair Climb event, which pays tribute to the 343 firefighters and other first responders who lost their lives as a result of the Twin Towers attack by climbing 110 floors. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and similar organizations host these events in communities nationwide in remembrance of fallen service members.

Run in a 9/11 Heroes Run

Join a 9/11 Heroes Run each September to bring communities together in honor of those lives that were lost and to raise money for veterans and military families as support to first responders and survivors of the event.

Volunteer on the National Day of Service & Remembrance

Engage in community service on the National Day of Service and Remembrance, an occasion that also serves as a day of volunteerism. Groups such as Points of Light organize volunteering activities nationwide, from assisting with hunger relief to participating in community initiatives.

Perform Acts of Kindness: #PayItForward9/11

Participate in the “Pay It Forward 9/11” initiative, which encourages people to do three deeds for individuals and mention a 9/11 victim during each deed. This helps honor the memory of those lost in the tragedy while promoting acts of kindness during interactions.

Visit or Support the 9/11 Memorial & Museum

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is a place where people can visit to see artifacts and hear stories of that fateful day. It’s open all year for anyone to come and learn about the events of 9/11. The museum relies on the kindness of donors to continue its work of honoring and educating people about this moment in history.

Experience the “Tribute in Light”

Witness firsthand “The Tribute, in Light” in New York City and at 9/11 locations where 88 vertical beams of light illuminate up into the evening sky at the location once occupied by Twin Towers of World Trade Center. This moving display that started back in 2002 is upheld each year as a radiant homage that can be seen from far distances.

Contribute to or Attend Memorial Events in Your Area

Visit gatherings in your local area where communities come together to honor and remember those who have passed away as a result of 9/11. Towns across the country hold their own ceremonies to pay tribute. Many set up flag memorials to commemorate each life lost in their community and ensure they are always remembered.

Visit Memorials Across the Globe

Exploring monuments globally is an experience worth embarking on. Tribute Park in Queens, New York, stands as a tribute to the 343 firefighters who lost their lives through inscribed bricks and a granite fireman’s helmet etched with their names. Similarly, in Jerusalem lies the 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza, which commemorates the victims of the tragic event — including five Israelis — through a sculpted flag transformed into flames and melted metal from the Twin Towers forming a cenotaph.

Honor Black First Responders and Families Personally

The Black Vulcan Society of the FDNY pays tribute to the 12 Black firefighters who lost their lives each year on September 11 with events like memorial services in Brooklyn and street-namings, along with reaching out to families personally to honor the bravery and sacrifice of their fallen loved ones in a visible and respected manner.

SAVE, plan, student loans, borrowers, president, Biden, Harris,

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 11, 2025

Kamala Harris Calls Joe Biden’s Reelection Campaign ‘Recklessness’ In New Memoir

Kamala Harris is breaking her silence on the "recklessness" tied to Joe Biden's 2024 reelection campaign.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris is speaking her truth on the “recklessness” of Joe Biden’s 2024 reelection campaign.

In her new memoir, Harris speaks candidly about the Democrats’ failed 2024 campaign, which ended with her losing the presidential race to Donald Trump. An excerpt from her forthcoming book, 107 Days, describes Biden’s decision to run as a “personal decision” made by him and his wife.

“‘It’s Joe and Jill’s decision.’ We all said that, like a mantra, as if we’d all been hypnotized,” Harris writes in her book. “Was it grace, or was it recklessness? In retrospect, I think it was recklessness.”

Harris continued. “The stakes were simply too high. This wasn’t a choice that should have been left to an individual’s ego or ambition. It should have been more than a personal decision.”

The surprising reveal highlights the division between the Biden administration and the debate over Biden’s decision to seek a second term amid concerns about his age. In hindsight, Harris says she believes she should have spoken out.

“During all those months of growing panic, should I have told Joe to consider not running?” she wrote. “Perhaps.”

Before Biden dropped out of the race, Harris wrote that she feared he might see her advice to withdraw as “naked ambition” or even “poisonous disloyalty.” She also criticized his age, saying, “At 81, Joe got tired. That’s when his age showed in physical and verbal stumbles.”

“I don’t believe it was incapacity,” she added. “If I believed that, I would have said so. As loyal as I am to President Biden, I am more loyal to my country.”

The memoir also details Harris’ struggles with Biden’s associates, whom she feels contributed to the “constant attention” on her vice presidency.

“And when the stories were unfair or inaccurate, the president’s inner circle seemed fine with it,” Harris wrote. “Indeed, it seemed as if they decided I should be knocked down a little bit more.”

She also criticized the administration for failing to defend her against right-wing attacks over her handling of migration at the southern border, a responsibility Biden had assigned to her.

“When Republicans mischaracterized my role as ‘border czar,’ no one in the White House comms team helped me to effectively push back and explain what I had really been tasked to do, nor to highlight any of the progress I had achieved,” Harris wrote.

The former Vice President also took issue with how the administration “rarely pushed back with my actual résumé” when conservatives attacked her “on everything from my laugh, to my tone of voice, to whom I’d dated in my 20s, or claimed I was a ‘DEI hire.'”

According to the former California Senator, she “often learned that the president’s staff was adding fuel to negative narratives that sprang up around me.” And despite the White House having a large communications team, Harris said, “getting anything positive said about my work or any defense against untrue attacks was almost impossible.”

Biden has not commented on the revelations from Harris’s memoir, set to be released later this month.

by Kandiss Edwards

September 11, 2025

Back-To-School Shopping Did Not Give Target A Leg Up

According to reporting, Target’s August performance shows a decline despite expectations of a boost from back-to-school shopping.

Back-to-school hopes for Target have not panned out as the corporation is still experiencing a sales slump.

Sales figures for August have been released, showing that foot traffic at its stores has dropped for the seventh month in a row. Target continues to face fallout from recent changes to its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Changes that prompted an ongoing nationwide boycott

According to Fortune, Target’s August performance shows a decline despite expectations of a boost from back-to-school shopping. Target’s previous quarterly reports had already shown signs of the decline. In the second quarter of 2025, foot traffic fell 3.1% compared to 2024.

In addition to fewer shoppers in stores, Target has also seen significant financial consequences. Earlier reporting showed that Target lost billions in market value following public criticism of its reversal of its DEI policies. Critics argued that the company did not adequately prepare investors or customers for the risks tied to the change.

Amid the growing backlash, Target is attempting to shake up leadership to regain customer confidence. Brian Cornell, who has served as CEO since 2014, announced he will step down in February 2026. COO Michael Fiddelke will take over the role. Although the move may be viewed as a step in the right direction, many feel it is performative.

Pastor Jamal Bryant reacted strongly to Target CEO Brian Cornell’s decision to step down, calling it “stylish with no substance.” He argued that although Cornell is leaving the CEO role in February 2026, he remains on Target’s board and is still “making decisions concerning the company,” meaning the change is more cosmetic than real.

As the holiday shopping season approaches, all eyes will be on whether Target can reverse the trend of declining foot traffic and regain its footing.

Teyana Taylor, Essence, Apollo,, Innovator Award

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 11, 2025

Teyana Taylor Says Culinary School Has Been ‘Very Therapeutic’ For Her

Teyana Taylor is discovering joy and a sense of therapy through culinary school.

Teyana Taylor is sharing her excitement about returning to school to study a passion of hers: cooking delicious meals.

The multifaceted singer, actress, and creative director opened up about her decision to enroll in culinary school and pursue something she’s always been interested in.

“I’m so excited. Like, literally as soon as we get off this interview, I’m going straight to class. I’m putting on my coat, my uniform, and I’m getting to it,” Taylor told Marie Claire. “It’s always been a passion of mine. I’ve always loved to cook. It’s been very therapeutic for me.”

With such a demanding schedule as an entertainer and mother of two young daughters, Junie, 9, and Rue, 5, Taylor views pursuing her passion for cooking as “showing up for myself.”

“I don’t have the time to do it, but I have the time to show up for me,” she shared. “It’s ‘work’ in the best way because it’s something that you’re doing for you. It’s a passion that you’re turning into purpose.”

In July, Taylor announced on Instagram that she was enrolling in culinary school with a playful video showing off her apron and chef’s hat. In the caption, the A Thousand and One actress shared her lifelong love of cooking, noting her neighborhood nickname, the “Hood Betty Crocker,” for baking treats for friends.

“Wow… it’s really happening. A dream I’ve carried in my heart for so long is finally becoming a reality, and I’m feeling every bit of it,” Taylor wrote.

“Cooking and baking have always been more than just hobbies for me; they’ve been my passion, my peace, my therapy. Since I was a little girl, I remember being glued next to whoever was in the kitchen while the other kids played around! Lol, watching all the amazing women in my life cook all our favorite meals with so much love and joy. I must say I def got a cooking ass family lol That’s where it all started. And by the time I was 13/14, I was the “hood Betty Crocker” in Harlem, baking cakes for the neighbors and anyone who asked.”

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Despite life’s “twists and turns” and her busy schedule as a working mom, Taylor is finding joy in pursuing a natural passion that continues her family’s legacy in the kitchen.

“Through every twist and turn in my life and career, the kitchen has been a safe space,” she added. “So it was always a goal of mine to get my degree in Culinary Arts & Pastry Arts but I never got around to it due to my crazy work schedule, mommy life and simply life, life’nnnnnn lol but honestly finding my way back and going to school at this time is important because it’s the time where I get to show up for me. No matter how hectic life gets, I find comfort in the rhythm of it all—the chopping, the stirring, the creating.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 11, 2025

Schools Ramp Up Efforts To Close STEM Gender Gap

Schools in Irving, Texas are working to close the STEM gender gap that widened after the pandemic.

Teachers in Irving, Texas, are working to close the gender gap in STEM that widened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

New analysis shows that in the years before the pandemic, the gender gap in math was nearly closed, The Associated Press reported. However, within a few years, girls lost much of the progress they had made in math scores over the previous decade. Adjustments made for remote learning during the pandemic likely disrupted this progress, allowing old biases and practices to resurface and renew the decline in young girls’ interest in math.

“Let’s just call it what it is,” said Michelle Stie, a vice president at the National Math and Science Initiative. “When society is disrupted, you fall back into bad patterns.”

A look into the average math test scores for third- through eighth-graders across 33 states found that in the 2008–2009 school year, boys generally outperformed girls. By 2019, girls had not only caught up but were ahead, with slightly more than half of districts reporting higher average math scores for girls.

However, within a few years of the pandemic, this progress reversed. In 2023–2024, boys outscored girls in math in nearly nine out of ten districts. A separate study found that gaps between boys and girls in science and math, which were nearly nonexistent in 2019, shifted by 2022 to favor boys.

Researchers attribute the decline to girls reporting higher levels of anxiety and depression during the pandemic, as well as taking on more caretaking responsibilities than boys. In addition, many programs designed to engage girls in STEM were disrupted when schools shifted to virtual learning. Experts also noted that Zoom-based instruction often relies on rote learning, which may favor boys, rather than teaching problem-solving approaches that can benefit girls.

“It wasn’t something like COVID happened and girls just fell apart,” said Megan Kuhfeld, one of the authors of the NWEA study.

To address the decline, schools like De Zavala Middle School in Irving, Texas, have invested in additional teacher training and launched a new science curriculum from LEGO Education that uses LEGO blocks to teach students about kinetic energy and genetics, among other STEM subjects.

“It is just rebuilding the culture of, we want to build critical thinkers and problem solvers,” said Erin O’Connor, a STEM and innovation specialist at de Zavala.

Teacher Tenisha Willis recently guided second graders at Irving’s Townley Elementary School in building a machine to push blocks into a container. When three girls struggled with the task, Willis knelt down to offer extra patience and support, which worked.

“Sometimes we can’t give up,” Willis said. “Sometimes we already have a solution. We just have to adjust it a little bit.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 11, 2025

How Atlanta HBCUs Have Benefitted From The Historic $55M Gift By MacKenzie Scott

The gift also sparked a wave of philanthropic attention toward the HBCUs.

HBCUs within the Atlanta University Center have already gotten to work with the $55 million gifted by MacKenzie Scott.

Scott donated the lofty sum to the schools following her divorce from Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos. She acquired a portion of their Amazon stock, which held a price tag of more than $38 billion.

On her own mission, Scott decided to give away the majority of her new wealth, donating to multiple Black institutions in the wake of the summer 2020 protests for Black Lives Matter. That July, she gave Morehouse and Spelman $20 million apiece. Clark Atlanta received its own check for $15 million, five months later.

The money came with no restrictions, allowing the schools’ leaders to allocate the funding as they saw fit. Given systemic and historic lack of funding for HBCUs, the checks helped with scholarships, endowments, and new building developments for students on campus.

According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Morehouse specifically used the donation to support its new campus center in development. The center will boast three stories and 58,000 square feet, providing a communal yet educational hub for the all-men’s HBCU. However, the construction costs total $80 million, with Scott’s contribution making a significant dent.

Morehouse administrators remember how Scott’s philanthropy displayed trust in Black institutions to use these resources to uplift their campuses and student bodies.

“It was refreshing to see a donor who really genuinely wants to help organizations without having any restrictions. What that really conveys is trusting those organizations to utilize the resources as they need and as they see fit, said Hodan Hassan, Morehouse’s vice president of the Office of Institutional Advancement and chief advancement officer.

Clark Atlanta put $10 million of the gift towards its endowment. The HBCU’s president called the donation a “true turning point” for the university. It is still recognized as the single largest private, individual gift in the school’s history,

“It has helped us fortify our financial base, enrich our academic offerings, expand opportunities for our scholars, and significantly enhance our visibility and reputation,” explained George T. French Jr., the school’s president, to The AJC.

The rest went to its W.E.B. Du Bois Southern Center for Studies in Public Policy, as well as its Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Development, with $500,000 allocated for full-tuition scholarships for graduates of Atlanta Public Schools.

Following suit, Spelman also contributed over half of its donation to its endowment. Given its smaller population of around 2,100 students in 2020, each received a $3,500 award. The leftover funding supported technology upgrades and advancing student experience.

However, the AUC agreed that the gift went beyond its direct monetary impact. It signaled to other philanthropists that HBCUs were “worth the investment,” as stated by Hassan. By amplifying its fundraising efforts, these schools acquired even more funding from other avenues, gaining millions to support their cause for Black scholars.

Scott’s generosity indirectly started a movement that spotlighted the AUC and other HBCUs. She continues to pour financial support to other causes, with billions still left to give.

by Jeffrey McKinney

September 11, 2025

Breaking Barriers: Black Woman CEO To Take Helm Of $120M Airport Concessionaire

Nikki Tinsley Harland is recognized for her ability to drive growth, foster innovation, and lead with integrity.

After serving as CEO of Concessions International LLC for 12 years and 42 years with the company, Donata Russell Ross will retire next month.

Nikki Tinsley Harland, a seasoned leader in the travel retail industry, will take over Oct. 6, the company said in a press release. The Atlanta-based Concessions International (CI) is one of the largest Black-owned airport concessionaires in America.

Russell Ross helped build CI into a business with an annual revenue of $120 million and 1,100 employees. During her time as CEO, the firm said it boosted airport presence, added national brands, and elevated women and minority business participation.

CI serves over 30 national, regional, and proprietary brands at almost 40 locations in eight airports.

Russell Ross will remain board chair of H.J. Russell & Co. and assist Tinsley Harland during the transition. That process is expected to be done by late Q1 2026.

“We couldn’t have found a more perfect candidate to be my successor,” Russell Ross said of Tinsley Harland. “With her Atlanta roots, knowledge of the industry, leadership skills, innovative spirit, and proven track record, she is the ideal person to lead CI into the future and take CI to the next level.”

Tinsley Harland will become CI’s top executive after she was chosen by a CEO search committee consisting of Russell Ross’ brothers, Michael B. Russell and H. Jerome Russell.

The siblings are the children of the late legendary Atlanta businessman Herman J. Russell, who started H.J. Russell & Co. in 1952. Now led by CEO Michael Russell, it’s one of the nation’s largest Black-owned construction firms. It has been regularly listed on the Top 100 list of BLACK ENTERPRISE‘s annual ranking of America’s top Black-owned businesses.

CI was founded 46 years ago by H.J. Russell and two business partners, Felker W. Ward Jr. and Jesse Hill Jr. Russell bought out the partners in 1999. CI became entirely family-owned.

Tinsley Harland has 12 years of leadership experience in the travel retail industry. She most recently was chief operating office at Paradies Lagardère, an Atlanta-based airport concessionaire that offers travel essentials, specialty retail, and dining.

CI cited Tinsley Harland’s ability to drive growth, foster innovation, and lead with integrity.

“I am excited to join Concessions International as CEO and build upon the incredible foundation and legacy established by those who came before me, and particularly by Donata, who has served as an industry role model for so many of us,” Tinsley Harland said.