• Entrepreneurship

by Atiya Jordan

May 19, 2022

Black Detroit Entrepreneur Designed A Carry-On To Convert Into A Personal Item

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The founder of Take OFF Luggage designed a carry-on that makes excessive baggage fees yesterday’s problem.

Detroit entrepreneur Stephen Davis established his luggage brand after realizing that the market didn’t offer sophisticated style bags that could convert into a personal item, according to Travel Noire. He created a solution with removable wheels, plenty of space, and money saving ease.

“I was traveling to Phoenix with a friend on Spirit Airlines when we realized the baggage fees cost more than the tickets, which were about $40 each,” he said. “The baggage fees for a carry-on at the gate were about $100 for us, which is more than the ticket.”

With Take OFF, budget travelers are in luck. Davis’ brand offers a stylish compact bag that has enough space to be a carry on but can be adjusted from carry-on into a personal item. The product is retailed for $119, and is available for purchase at takeoffluggage.com and on Amazon.

Davis holds a Bachelor of Science in business marketing from Oakland University. He leveraged his background to research and design the travel product while utilizing more than year to get it ready for the market.

“Being a frequent budget airline passenger, to save costs, I could not believe when they started actually charging me to roll my own bag to my flight and lift it up into the overhead bin,” said Davis. “Since under seat bags are still free, I tried to find a bag that size that would still hold everything I needed to carry.”

The Take OFF Luggage measures 20″H x 14″W x 8″D inches. It comes with four 360 degrees spinner wheels which can be removed by pressing two yellow tabs on each wheel to reduce the length of the bag from 20” to 18” — fitting under most seats. The hard-shell luggage also features TSA-approved locks and interior double-sided storage compartments.

Currently, the luggage can be sported in five colors, including black, blue, rose gold, champagne, and silver.

In looking to the future, Davis plans on creating a bag that will fit both Frontier and Spirit’s standard of a personal bag and for international standards.

• Uncategorized

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 19, 2022

Actor Brian White Teams With Other Celebrities To Create App for Hustlers, Preneur.ai

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Actor Brian White has teamed up with a team of celebrities to launch an app aimed at helping hustling entrepreneurs secure the bag.

White is best known for his standout roles in the films like Stomp The Yard, Dear Frank, and Ambitions. But, during the pandemic, he joined forces with several business partners such as Rico Love, Raz-B, Claudia Jordan, and others to create the ultimate app for entrepreneurs and those who “Hustle”, Preneur.ai.

The app debuted in early 2021 but is making a reintroduction after some recent updates that better serve entrepreneurs. Preneur is working to democratize entrepreneurship by bringing Fortune 500 level software, distribution, and community to individuals and small businesses.

As the digital economy grows, so too does the number of side hustles and new businesses. There has been an influx of around 10 million new businesses started in the last two years and at least a third of Americans pursuing more “side hustles”.

That’s where Preneur.ai kicks in. The app aims to provide side hustlers with an all-in-one solution to help run and grow their business instead of the complicated and expensive applications currently on the market.

Preneur’s goal is to empower the hustle economy so entrepreneurs can engage, grow, and monetize their customers. With White’s background in sports and entertainment, the Scandal actor is proud to get behind a tech product that amplifies the growing community of self-made hustlers.

“I’ve been in the entertainment business for 20 years and before that sports but, traditionally it is very hard to get a direct one on one connection with anybody….social media is wonderful but, it only lets 2% of the intended audience see our messages,” White told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“I have been able to connect with people and gain their contact within 3 seconds using Preneur and from that I have been able to build my brand and monetize business because, now if I have a movie coming out or an event, I can send it to you now directly. Where, the text open rate is 98% versus email is at a 20% open rate. As a business owner Prenuer gives you the type of connection you need!”

 

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Preneur offers entrepreneurs a captivating landing page that can be used as their link-in-bio and aggregates all of their other websites and social pages. Users also receive a business text number that allows them to capture customer information and engage with them quickly and seamlessly.

The app also provides scheduling and payment functions that allow customers to schedule services and pay through the app. A community of other Preneurs are also available to interact, ask questions, and gain insights.

“Preneur aims to help close the income inequality gap, focused solely on the modern-day hustle. Preneur empowers individuals to discover their personal hustle and have the courage to succeed,” said CEO and co-founder Amadeau. “It’s like getting an extra employee without needing an extra desk.”

Get the Preneur app by texting the keyword “APP” to Brian White’s personal Preneur number: 📲 (424) 352-8505.

• Technology

by Black Enterprise Shop

May 19, 2022

Safeguard Your Online Identity and Profile with Adguard

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When it comes to safeguarding your online identity, no measures or steps you take can be too much. Hackers have grown even more creative in their attempts and efforts to penetrate digital footprints. The results have been devastating for many, leaving behind both negative financial and mental impacts.

Thankfully, technology has evolved along with hackers’ efforts. A number of programs exist solely for the purpose of securing users’ online identities and valuable data.

AdGuard VPN has emerged as one of the most trusted in the online security space, and for a limited time, it’s available for just $31.99. This price includes an additional 20% discount with the use of coupon code: VPN20.

AdGuard VPN gives users access to an encrypted connection to the internet that allows them to stay private and secure no matter where they’re located. It acts as a secure tunnel between two or more devices.

Furthermore, it allows internet access without restrictions. AdGuard’s zero-logging policy along with its advanced encryption algorithm guarantees your data isn’t collected.

AdGuard has been featured on USA Today, Forbes, Newsweek, The Guardian, MacWorld, and other leading publications. It’s been rated 4.6 stars on the Apple Store, and it’s received a 4.4-star rating on the Google Play Store.

“I trust in AdGuard due to the AdGuard Blocker. And now I’ve tried the AdGuard VPN for 6 months without problems, and a good speed,” writes 5-star reviewer Miguel V.

With AdGuard, you’ll have access to a global network of servers that can be found in more than 40 locations worldwide. It’s compatible with desktop computers with Microsoft Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista SP2 or macOS X 10.12 (64-bit) or higher. Mobile users with Android 5.0 or higher and iOS 11.2 or higher can use it, as well.

A capable VPN goes a long way in having a safe state of mind every time you log online. With AdGuard VPN, you’re not only getting one of the best online security systems, but it’s available at a low price. Purchase it today.

Prices subject to change.

Meet Nikoa Evans-Hendricks, the executive producer behind culinary to cultural live events across the country and co-owner of Sexy Taco.

Evans-Hendricks lends her expertise to culture and cuisine-focused events like Harlem Restaurant Week and the upcoming Harlem Cultural Festival inspired by the Oscar and Grammy Award-winning documentary Summer of Soul. As an Executive Producer of tv, film and experiential programming, Nikoa aims to support projects that celebrate the cultural legacies and experiences of diverse communities.

Speaking exclusively with BLACK ENTERPRISE, Nikoa shared her professional background and how it helped shape her current work in culinary events.

“I studied Economics at Stanford University undergrad and received my MBA in Marketing and Entrepreneurship at Northwestern/Kellogg Business School,” she said. “These studies provided a foundation for how to create strategic marketing campaigns/activations that integrate economic development strategies to drive growth and sustainability for Harlem small businesses.”

“Harlem Restaurant Week was created in 2010 in response to the lack of inclusion of restaurants above 96th Street in NYC Restaurant Week.”

“By not prioritizing the inclusion of the hospitality community in Harlem and Upper Manhattan, the resulting exclusion indirectly suggested that restaurants and chefs in these communities were not comparable in quality to restaurants downtown.”

“We recognized that the only way we could illustrate to the culinary world that Harlem/Uptown’s dining scene offered world-class food, chefs and experiences was to create a campaign specifically to showcase our community. I executive produced the first Harlem Restaurant Week in Spring 2010 during the economic recession and featured only 10-12 restaurants in Central Harlem and included a cross-promotion with Harlem retail businesses.”

“Over the years, participation in the program grew as Upper Manhattan’s hospitality industry developed. I’m proud to say that Harlem Restaurant Week is now produced twice a year in the Spring and Fall and features over 80 restaurants throughout Upper Manhattan as the only neighborhood-specific restaurant week program produced in NYC.”

Through the Harlem Festival of Culture (HFC), Nikoa and her co-founders Musa Jackson and Yvonne McNair will get a chance to reimagine the infamous 1969 Summer of Soul festival.

The new event is dedicated to “presenting world-class programming that celebrates and preserves the cultural contributions of the black Diaspora in music, media, art, fashion and entertainment,” Nikoa shared.

“HFC seeks to reclaim Harlem’s legacy as a premier destination for Live Cultural and Music entertainment; while creating an ecosystem to foster health and economic prosperity for Harlem’s diverse communities, artists and entrepreneurs.”

The reimagined festival will deliver a series of live entertainment, social impact and economic development programming during the first annual celebration which launched in Spring 2022. A multi-day outdoor music festival will follow in Summer 2023.

Programming throughout the year will include influencer dinners, moderated discussions and film screenings and indoor and outdoor music concerts featuring performances by legacy and contemporary national and local artists from Soul, Gospel, Rhythm and Blues, Hip Hop, Jazz, Reggae, Latin music genres, all celebrating the diverse music and cultural contributions of the Diaspora.

HFC Marketplace will accompany the concert series with curated food and an artisanal fair featuring Harlem-based businesses.

• Uncategorized

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 18, 2022

‘Black Ink Crew’ Star Accuses Chris Brown’s Child’s Mother of Scamming Small Businesses

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Charmaine Bey of “Black Ink Crew” took to Instagram on Monday to put Chris Brown’s baby mama Nia Guzman on blast for allegedly scamming her small business.

Charmaine apparently sought out Brown’s daughter Royalty Brown to provide a paid post on her Instagram page to promote Bey’s dietary supplement brand, Bey Moss. But when Royalty’s mama failed to follow their contractual agreement and blocked Charmaine and her husband on the social platform, the VH1 star decided to call her out online.

“@therealniaguzman is scamming in the name of her own seed royalty brown,” Charmaine captioned her video rant.

“Go to Nia’s page and tell her to pay up. NIA HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO HANDLE THIS?”

In the nearly two-minute rant, Charmaine explains the business deal gone wrong and why she decided to take her frustration to the internet.

“Hate to bring on social media, but Nia Guzman is out here accepting money on her daughter Royalty Brown’s behalf for business promo, and she’s not posting the promo,” Charmaine said at the start of the video message.

The reality star explained the “contract” she had in place that granted her “two posts from Royalty Brown for Beymoss,” Charmaine said. But after Guzman “accepted the money,” the 2nd City Ink owner claims “her manager blocked my husband and I on social media and via text, and she’s never posted.”

“So again, Nia Guzman is out here accepting money on her daughter’s behalf — Royalty Brown’s behalf — and not posting the promo,” Charmaine quipped.

“So, basically, she’s scamming small businesses. Nia Guzman, Chris Brown’s baby’s mom, is scamming small businesses in the name of Royalty Brown. It’s disgusting.”

While some of Charmaine’s followers were on her side and told Guzman to “pay up,” many other shamed the VH1 star for including a child in her social media shade-throwing.

“Expose her, not the child! The baby has nothing to do with this. I’m sure we all know who she is,” one user said.

“And mentioning Chris😒. This isn’t the best look,” added someone else.

by Derek Major

May 18, 2022

ICU Nurse Helena Faustin’s Cooking Blog Is A Side Hustle, But Its Raking In The Dough

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Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse Helena Faustin is raking in the dough from her side hustle a cooking blog where she shares detailed recipes and cooking videos.

During the day, Faustin is a nurse at a hospital in Freeport, NY, but at night the nurse runs her cooking blog  “That Nurse Can Cook,” and a Youtube page where she shares detailed Caribbean recipes and cooking videos including curry turkey neck and Trinidadian style chicken and beef pelau.

Faustin told CNBC cooking is one of her true callings and the work ethic she has in her side hustle reflects that.

“When I first started this side hustle, I legit was so passionate about seeing my dreams come true that I did not stop,” said Faustin. “I literally worked every single day that I was not working at the hospital.”

Faustin added that the cost to operate her cooking blog and videos is around $700 between groceries, ring lights and production materials. The mother of two paid the cost and last year she saw a profit from her moonlighting that exceeded her daytime earnings.

Between brand partnerships, e-cookbook sales and Youtube revenue the nurse brought in an additional $117,000 in 2021. Faustin added that it wasn’t about the money for her as much as knowing it could lead to more options for her and her family.

“I felt like I was going to work really and truly out of necessity,” said the mother of two who added that it’s more than just the money.

“You have bills to pay, you have mouths to feed and the work has to go on no matter what. I said to myself, ‘Gee, if I could have more autonomy over my life, I’d be able to make a lot more decisions for myself and for my family,” she said.

Faustin also added the recipes she uses include traditions that her family holds close to their hearts and she never thought her side hustle would take off the way it has. The mom has also included her two kids and her husband in her videos as an example of how important family is to her.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 18, 2022

Family of Black 14-Year-Old Stabbed to Death By White Teen Sentenced to Only 6 Years Calls Out Lack of ‘Justice’

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A Black family in the U.K. is calling out the lack of “justice” they received after their 14-year-old was “hunted down” and stabbed to death by a white 15-year-old who was sentenced to just six and half years in prison.

Last month, a 15-year-old was cleared of murder charges but convicted of manslaughter in the fatal stabbing of Dea-John Reid, 14 in May 2021, BBC reports. The teen, whose identity is being protected because of his age, is expected to spend less than three years in custody despite the gruesome details in Reid’s murder.

“If an adult did what you did it would almost certainly be murder and they would be sentenced to life imprisonment,” Birmingham Crown Court, Justice Johnson told the teen.

Surveillance footage captured the moments the teen wore a ski mask and gloves while chasing Reid down with a group of four other white teens. The group donned masks and were armed with a wrench and kitchen knife while “hunting down” Reid in what his mother, Joan Morris, likened to a “lynch mob reminiscent of a scene from Mississippi Burning”.

Now Morris is speaking out after the teen had his murder charge tossed and lessened to manslaughter while the other defendants had their charges dismissed.

“This verdict of manslaughter, whilst the others are all found not guilty, just goes to prove to me that the life of Dea-John Reid, my son, a young black man, didn’t matter,” Morris said.

“I do believe that a system that I decided to trust has completely let me, my family, my community, including the friends of Dea-John, down.”

“I do wonder, if the roles were reversed, what the verdict may well have been?” she added.

Community activist Bishop Desmond Jaddoo released a statement on Morris’ behalf following the verdict, as noted by ITV.

“The life of Dea-John Read, my son, a young black man, did not matter,” she said, adding that the defendant’s family would be able to visit him in prison.

“My only visit to Dea-John is a grave in a cemetery. My only reunion with Dea John will be to join him in his grave.”

• News

by Derek Major

May 18, 2022

Lt. Richard Collins III Honored by University of Maryland after he was Murdered on Campus

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The University of Maryland (UMD) dedicated a plaza in honor of Lieutenant Richard Collins III, who was murdered on campus in 2017 by a white man.

CBS Baltimore reports that Collins’ family witnessed the dedication of the plaza along with elected officials and friends of the army officer.

Collins, 23, was days away from graduating from Bowie State University and was visiting friends on the UMD campus when Sean Urbanski ran up to him and two friends at a bus stop and provoked Collins telling him, “Step left, step left if you know what’s best for you.”

Collins replied “no” as Urbanski continued to approach.

Urbanski then stabbed Collins in the chest with a knife. His friends called 911 and waited for authorities to arrive, but Collins was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Urbanski was charged and convicted of first-degree murder. Initially, the attack was not thought to be racially motivated, but authorities discovered he is a member of the white supremacist Facebook group “Alt–Reich: Nation,” according to NBC Washington.

Urbanski was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison for the stabbing in 2019 after the trial was delayed four times.

“May you never know the pain of what it is like to bury a child,” the Lieutenant’s mother, Dawn Collins, told CBS Baltimore

In October 2020, Maryland passed an anti-hate law that gives prosecutors the ability to secure a conviction against a person who commits a crime based “in whole or in substantial part” on a person’s race.

UMD also announced a scholarship will be named after the Lieutenant’s honor.

“At the University of Maryland, we honor and remember 1st Lt. Collins. He is a part of who we are,” said Darryll J. Pines, president of the University of Maryland, College Park.

“Through our newly formed Alliance with our Bowie State colleagues and the establishment of the Lt. Richard Collins III Endowed Scholarship, we reaffirm our commitment to his legacy of service and social justice.”

• Sports

by Atiya Jordan

May 18, 2022

Colin Kaepernick Set To Receive Honorary Degree From Morgan State University

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Morgan State University will award former NFL quarterback and social justice advocate Colin Kaepernick an honorary degree during its upcoming spring commencement.

In a statement Tuesday, the Maryland HBCU announced that Kaepernick, along with filmmaker David E. Talbert and businessman David Burton were selected as “three exemplary vanguards of social justice and the African-American experience,” according to a statement. Talbert and Burton are alumni of the university.

Kaepernick, who played for the San Francisco 49ers for six years, will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. He is widely-recognized for famously taking a knee during the national anthem to protest against racial injustice and police brutality. He last played in the NFL in 2016.

As a result of his protest, Kaepernick went unsigned after 2016 and has been steadily working toward finding employment in the league, CBS Baltimore reported. While awaiting employment, Kaepernick has founded and helped fund three organizations—Know Your Rights Camp, Ra Vision Media, and Kaepernick Publishing—”that together advance the liberation of Black and Brown people through storytelling, systems change, and political education,” according to Morgan State.

In addition, the Super Bowl quarterback is an award-winning writer and champion for social justice. He won two NAACP Image Awards for Colin in Black & White, a six-episode limited series on Netflix exploring his high school years. In 2022, Kaepernick became a New York Times bestselling author for his children’s picture book, I Color Myself Different.

“Leadership, integrity, innovation, diversity, excellence, and respect are more than just words that appear on the flags that adorn our campus, or words that we utter casually when reciting our core values, they represent the embodiment of who we are and what a Morgan graduate stands for,” university president David K. Wilson said.

He added: “With this notion in mind, we intentionally sought a collection of individuals who truly embody these principles, and thankfully we have assembled a trio of diverse voices who have bravely stood—and kneeled—for the betterment and advancement of the voiceless, the marginalized, and the disenfranchised.”

Talbert, class of 1989, has written and produced 14 national tours along with dozens of writing credits, including novels, plays, and films. While  remaining connected to his alma mater, the award-winning filmmaker is set to be awarded a Doctor of Fine Arts degree.

Additionally, Burton, class of 1967, is the founder and CEO of the Diverse Manufacturing Supply Chain Alliance. He currently serves on the advisory board of Morgan State University’s Supply Chain Management and Information Systems Department. He will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

The 145th spring commencement ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 21 at Hughes Memorial Stadium.

• News

by Atiya Jordan

May 18, 2022

They Made it! The First Team of All-Black Climbers Summit the Tallest Point on Earth

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Reaching the top of Mount Everest is a feat all on its own. Yet, the Full Circle Everest Team has made history as the first all-Black American team to attempt and successfully summit the Himalayan peak.

According to CNN, seven members of the full circle expedition completed their quest on May 12. This day signifies that the groundbreaking achievement nearly doubles the total number of Black climbers who have summited the Earth’s highest mountain overall.

Alongside Sherpa climbers and a support team, the seven-person team included: Manoah Ainuu, Eddie Taylor, Rosemary Saal, Demond “Dom” Mullins, Thomas Moore, James “KG” Kagami, and Evan Green.

 

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“The Full Circle Everest team led by Philip Henderson from California has made history as the first all-Black team to stand atop the summit, the highest mountain on earth,” Jiban Ghimire, managing director at Shangri-La Nepal Treks, confirmed to the Himalayan Times.

“Our goal here is to help folks aspire to have a profound and respectful relationship with the outdoors and feel not entitled to it, but welcome to it. If you see it can be done, you can do it right,” said Abby Dione, a member of the Full Circle team.

The determined group first arrived in Nepal in January 2022 to begin adjusting to the lower levels of oxygen, also known as the altitude acclimation process. As the journey began, costs began to pile up. The Full Circle Everest Team managed to secure a group of corporate sponsors including North Face, Summit Coffee, Smartwool, Mountain Safety Research (MSR) and Microsoft. The rest is history.

 

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BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported that Henderson, a former instructor at the National Outdoor Leadership School and veteran Himalayan mountaineer, launched the Full Circle Everest project in hopes of documenting personal stories and highlighting the value of the climbing journey.

“There is representation of Black people in mountaineering, climbing and the overall outdoor industry,” Henderson wrote on Instagram, “but our stories are not being told,” CNN reported.

In making history, Full Circle’s goal was to “represent a zenith in generational perseverance. This expedition will showcase the tenacity and strength of these climbers, and highlight the barriers that continue to exist for Black communities in accessing the outdoors. This historic attempt will inspire the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts, educators, leaders, and mountaineers of color to continue chasing their personal summits,” as per the group’s website.

Follow the team’s historic journey on Instagram and on their website.