Atlanta Based Platform EnrichHER Helps Women And Minority-Owned Businesses
The Atlanta-based lending platform EnrichHER is helping to connect minority women entrepreneurs and small business owners with the funding they need.
EnrichHER founder and CEO Dr. Roshawnna Novellus knows the Black Lives Matter movement and focus on social equity helped, but Black women are still struggling to get seed funding, loans, and access to credit. However, she is working to change that.
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the government was giving money away to help keep businesses afloat, Black-owned businesses were still left behind as just 9% received funding from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
“I believe that all women need to have access to their own economic power,” Novellus told 11 Alive. “I have a huge track record of financial knowledge, but oftentimes when I go to make a financial transaction myself, people just assume that I don’t know what I’m doing. Even though I have a doctorate in finance.”
Novellus added that EnrichHER receives about $15 million in loan requests per month from companies seeking to stabilize their business. To date, EnrichHER has given out $14 million in capital to diverse-owned businesses in 47 states.
One of those recipients is Barbara Jones, founder of Lillii RNB Inc. According to Jones, there were times when she couldn’t pay herself and keep her business running. Jones added that the funding she received from EnrichHER not only saved her business but allowed her to receive additional investment from Venus and Serena Williams.
“They gave me the funding, and I was able to hire two people, get them trained, get them on projects,” Jones told 11Alive. “That saved our business because we were able to meet our demand.”
Black businesses, both small and large, are now getting the increased funding and support they need from other Black people in positions of power. Beyoncé, rapper Jay-Z, and many others have started impact funds to help other Black men and women in various disciplines, including cannabis and even banking.
50 Cent’s Sire Spirits Scores Minor Victory in Legal Battle With Rémy Martin
Also known as 50 Cent, Curtis Jackson has been in a legal battle with Remy Martin over his Sire Spirits brand and scored a minor victory last week.
According to XXL, 50 Cent’s company, Sire Spirits, fought with Rémy Martin and emerged victorious after a judge ordered Sire Spirits to move forward with its legal case against the cognac brand that originally sued 50 Cent’s company for copyright infringement.
E. Remy Martin & Co. initially filed a lawsuit against Sire Spirits last August, alleging that 50 Cent’s Branson Cognac design is a ripoff of Rémy Martin’s jewel-shaped glass XO cognac bottle design. Sire Spirits countersued the spirits company by denying allegations of infringement and asking the court to throw out Remy Martin’s lawsuit. Rémy Martin then filed a motion to dismiss the counterclaims and affirmative defenses. The judge denied its motion.
According to paperwork filed, a judge found Sire Spirits’ arguments and defense to be sufficiently pled and “common-place in patent infringement lawsuits.” The judge has also ordered an expedited proceeding to decide the extent of Rémy Martin’s patent.
50 Cent took to his Instagram to chastise Remy Martin on their filed claim.
“They know i didn’t take their bottle design. The Big brands try to put smaller brands in court when they start gaining momentum to slow them down. They know Branson Cognac is the new wave 🌊. Lol @bransoncognac@lecheminduroi“
The attorney for the Power executive, Stephen Savva, also released a statement reasoning that there is no infringement on Sire Spirit’s part.
“Our position continues to be that there has been no infringement of any kind. We intend to vigorously pursue all claims and defenses, including invalidating certain patents and trade dress purportedly held by Rémy Martin. This is a dispute that Sire Spirits did not start, but we will do everything in our power to finish.”
Marginalized People and Black People Likely to Bear the Burden if Roe v. Wade is Overturned
In a leaked draft opinion, Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alitowrites, “We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled.” He said Roe was “egregiously wrong from the start” and called its reasoning “weak.”
The explosive leak signals that the conservative-leaning court is open to overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion. The issue is being pressed by Republican-led states passing increasingly restrictive laws that essentially outlaw the medical procedure. A Supreme Court decision could return the option to states to outright ban abortion.
USA Todaywrites that people of color, poor people, and other marginalized communities are most likely to bear the burden if abortion is banned in the U.S.
“We know that it’s going to impact those who already have barriers to healthcare, even before an abortion ban,” women’s health and reproductive rights policy expert Fatima Goss Graves, an attorney and president of the National Women’s Law Center, told USA Today. “Those who live in rural areas, women of color, those who have low income.”
Overturning the verdict could leave women in rural and southern locations with little-to-no options, including attempting to travel to obtain a legal abortion.
“This will be a giant and larger hurdle placed in front of them,” Goss Graves said. “Most people who seek abortion care already have children. And they may not have time off work, access to child care, the things they need to be able … to leave their community to get constitutionally protected healthcare.”
The leaked opinion is alarming, to say the least. “It is very concerning, and very alarming and would devastate access for many millions of women in the United States,” Elyssa Spitzer, Center for American Progress attorney and women’s health policy analyst, said. Subjecting women to carry an unintended pregnancy to term “is immensely painful, and arduous and a violation of human rights.”
4 Black Students From HBCUs Have Been Drafted to Play in the NFL
Four college football players from HBCUs have been selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. This is a big deal because, in 2021, not even one HBCU student was drafted into the league.
The first HBCU player selected in the 2022 NFL Draft was Fayetteville State cornerback Joshua Williams. Kansas City Chiefs selected Williams, who stands six-foot-three, with the 135th pick overall in the fourth round.
Secondly, South Carolina State cornerback Decobie Durant, who was awarded MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, was selected by the Los Angeles Rams with the 142nd pick overall in the fourth round.
Thirdly, Jackson State outside linebacker James Houston IV, who was earned Newcomer of the Year, was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 217th pick overall in the sixth round.
Finally, Southern offensive lineman Ja’Tyre Carter, who has shown great blocking skills, was selected by the Chicago Bears with the 226th pick overall in the seventh round.
Meanwhile, former NFL star Deion Sanders, who is now Jackson State football coach, expressed his happiness with the recent draft.
“Let’s go, NFL. HBCUs! Everybody that has anything to do with an HBCU, you should be shouting right now and dancing. As a matter of fact, hit the organ right now,” he said in an Instagram video he posted.
Ziwe Questions Charlamagne tha God About His ‘Beefs’ With Black Women
One Black woman took it upon herself to call out Charlamagne Tha God for his past “beefs” with Black women entertainers.
Comedian and talk show host Ziwe recently sat down with Charlamagne for her Showtime show and asked the radio personality about his “hatred” for Black women—something Charlamagne disagrees with.
“I asked Charlamagne about his beefs with Black women,” Ziwe tweeted along with a clip of their awkward exchange.
“So, you’ve had beefs with Lil Mama, Mo’Nique, Cassie, Azelia Banks, your own co-host Angela Yee, the list goes on and on and on and on,” Ziwe told Charlamagne.
However, he was quick to defend himself, saying, “Beefs is a strong word.”
“You’ve maligned Black women,” Ziwe said. “So, why do you hate Black women, exactly?” she asked.
Charlamagne denied hating Black women but admitted that his past actions could lead onlookers to suspect otherwise.
“I guess I can see where people would say that if you want to take those three or four times and put them together in a montage,” he said.
And that’s exactly what Ziwe’s producers did. A montage showed throwback clips of Chalamagne on The Breakfast Club verbally sparring with the likes of Mo’Nique, Lil Mama, and even asking singer Brandy if he could “ask Brandy ‘what that mouth do,’ tho”? and then telling her it was “compliment” when she got offended by the inappropriate question.
When Ziwe asks Charlamagne to be honest, he agrees that he was “a different person” during those past encounters. Producers were quick to post a clip showing Charlamagne a few moments before calling out people who are “ashamed” of their pasts.
Ziwe suggested a way for Charlamagne to atone for his past with an offer to donate 100% of his salary to Black women’s reparations.
“I will pledge that I will help make Black women a lot of money,” Charlamagne responded.
Show Him The Money! Will Smith Look-Alike Cashing In On Oscars Slap, Charges $1K Per Appearance
Shad Ellis, 43, from Bedfordshire in the UK, has spent the last 25 years appearing at nightclubs, weddings, and corporate events as Will Smith’sdoppelgänger.
According to Yahoo! News, the man says that he has been in heavy demand since the beloved icon walked on the stage at the 94th Academy Awards and slapped Chris Rock.
Source: Jam Press/ Australscope
Ellis charges up to £600 ($1,050) per appearance and says that comments from friends, family, and fans center on “The Slap.”
“I had a guy last week stop me to say how much I look like Will Smith. We spoke for a bit, and he ended the conversation by jokingly saying, ‘Don’t slap me.'”
Ellis said that his side hustle as Smith’s doppelgänger has afforded him a home and the ability to “drive nice cars.” He adds that lately, as he is asked about the slap, he has tried to see things from both sides.
“[Given] my thoughts, it was hard for me to comprehend what was happening,” he said.” But after seeing the full situation pan out, I get it from both sides. I think we all as humans are capable of a flashpoint triggered by a raw emotion or feeling, and regardless of the situation, once you see red, everything around you becomes blurred,” Ellis adds.
“I strongly disagree—he should [not] have slapped him, but how many of us do an action we immediately regret after doing it, driven by being caught in your feelings or the moment.”
Ellis has yet to meet Smith. The UK-native said that he was tapped to be his body double in a production that was later rescheduled. For now, he is keeping his side hustle, adding that “it’s all in good humor.”
On the other hand, Will Smith was recently spotted at Mumbai airport, smiling and laughing with his fans.
Captain of the First All-Black Expedition Racing Team Joins Thistle to Spread Vision For Green Meal Delivery
Meet Cliff Lyles, a global expedition racer on Amazon’s World’s Toughest Race and captain of the first all-Black expedition racing team who recently joined the team at Thistle to share his vision for green meal delivery.
With 30 years of experience in the food and food tech industries, Thistle brought Lyles on as its new chief manufacturing and innovation officer. In the role, Lyles will get a chance to tap into his passion for nourishing healthier communities with a central focus on expanding the brand, both from its food offerings to its physical reach.
Lyles’s position will enable him the power to bring a new diverse workforce to the company and keep Thistle in line with its foundational commitment to diversity.
“Personally, as I’m in a role that is often hiring and expanding the Thistle team, I’m committed to looking at the skills of interested candidates and not necessarily the titles they’ve previously held, as that can also be a barrier for diverse voices,” Lyles told BLACK ENTERPRISE.
Courtesy of Cliff Lyles
When it comes to expanding the audience of plant-forward meal delivery options, which is typically female-focused, Lyles explained how green eating helps pour back into the planet.
“Given the widespread environmental impacts of raising animals and their feed, eating a plant-forward diet is the single, most impactful way to reduce our overall environmental footprint,” Lyles said.
As someone who lives a holistically healthy lifestyle, Lyles is using his new role to make healthy food accessible to all.
“Beyond my role at Thistle, I’m also an athlete, a chef, and a member of my community,” Lyles said. “I’ve seen the effects unhealthy living can have on communities, families, and individuals, and often the root of this is food.”
“For that reason, I’m passionate about answering the question – how do you bring good food to everyone?”
Houston Astros’ Dusty Baker Becomes First Black Manager to Win 2,000 Baseball Games in the Major Leagues
Major League Baseball has noted a milestone never before achieved by a Black manager.
With his latest victory, Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker has become the latest manager to win 2,000 games in the MLB while making him the first Black person to do so.
According to MLB.com, The 72-year-old Baker became the 12th AL/NL manager to reach 2,000 wins when the Houston Astors defeated the Seattle Mariners in a shutout win at home, 4-0 at Minute Maid Park.
Baker is destined for the Hall of Fame with his career as a player, executive, and manager. According to ESPN, “Of the 11 managers with more wins than Baker, 10 are in the Hall of Fame, with Bruce Bochy viewed as a lock to get elected when he is eligible for the ballot in December 2023. All 10 Hall of Fame managers with more wins than Baker, however, also have at least one World Series championship, while Bochy won three with the Giants.”
“I think about the people that made it possible for me to get in this position—my dad, Jackie Robinson, Frank Robinson, Cito Gaston— the guys who were minority managers ahead of me,” Baker said.
“You look at guys like Maury Wills and some of the guys that I know. To me, everybody is making a bigger thing out of it than me because I’ve got work to do.”
This is just the latest record that Baker has broken. Last season, the Hall of Fame-bound Baker became the first manager to win a division title with five different teams when the Astros won the American League West. He has led teams to pennants in both the American League (2021 Astros) and National League (2002 Giants).
Baker was coaxed out of retirement in January 2020 when the Astros reached out to him to replace their last manager, A.J. Hinch after he was terminated in the sign-stealing scandal that rocked baseball. He had two goals when he signed on, one was getting to his 2000th win, and the second, he was denied a World Series championship when the Astros lost to the Atlanta Braves in six games.
He didn’t win last year, but he has won in the past. He won a World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a player in 1981 and won one as a coach when the San Francisco Giants captured the championship in 1989.
PEPSI® Spotlights Female Trailblazers in Music For Mary J. Blige’s Inaugural Strength of a Woman Festival
Purchase, NY, May 4, 2022 — In partnership with Mary J. Blige, Pepsi – co-presenter of the inaugural “Strength of a Woman Festival & Summit” during Mother’s Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia – announces a full three days of immersive programming to help elevate, entertain, and educate women in the Atlanta area and beyond.
With a lineup of iconic female music superstars including Mary J. Blige herself, Chaka Khan, Ella Mai and many more, Atlanta will be moving to the soulful sounds of true music legends, but the action-packed festival goes beyond just music and entertainment.
Pepsi is co-presenting the full weekend of festivities with Mary J. Blige and her team to amplify, spotlight and support the talented – and underrepresented – voices of the community, through events and activations inspired by the brand’s rich heritage in music and entertainment, and latest contributions to culture and community. Activations include:
Pepsi Partners with Cutting Edge Web3 Female Artists to Bring Attendees Collectible Custom NFTs: Designed in partnership with leading female artists Rachel Winter (Remarkable Women NFT collection), Shaylin Wallace (digital and graphic designer specializing in surreal art), Amber Vittoria (It’s Because You’re Pretty NFT collection) and Varvara Alay (Flower Girls NFT collection), Pepsi is creating a curated set of unique NFTs exclusively for Summit attendees. Distributed as digital tokens known as Proof of Attendance Protocols (POAPs), these NFTs are true pieces of art that celebrate the partnership with the “Strength of a Woman” Festival and unapologetic love for music. Festival attendees will be able to secure these one-of-a-kind digital works of art, free on-site on Saturday, May 7 from 11 AM -6 PM via digital kiosks. Featured artists will also have selected works displayed at a gallery within The Gathering Spot on Saturday for festival attendees to explore, along with direct access to their public galleries and personal stores. Additionally, Shaylin and Amber will join moderator Sian Morson for the “Empowering Marginalized Voices with NFTs” panel on Saturday from 4:00 – 4:30 PM to discuss web3, the digital art community, how their personal efforts and work can empower and amplify marginalized voices and provide a real-time tutorial of the POAPs.
Pepsi Showcases Pepsi Music Lab Finalist StarchildKayla and Her Original Track, “Up!”: In December, Pepsi launched Pepsi Music Lab, an annual program designed to remove music industry barriers, create new opportunities for artists, and shine a spotlight on the next generation of hip-hop superstars. StarchildKayla, one of three program finalists selected from thousands of applicants will be showcasing her new, original track “Up!” that she created at the first-ever Pepsi Music Lab Academy during the opening of the Friday night concert at the Tabernacle on May 6. The brand is also bringing Pepsi Music Lab to the Summit with an interactive panel moderated by Rachel Jackson, Artist Relations Manager at YouTube Music, featuring Black female talent managers – Claudine Joseph (LL Cool J), Nicole Jackson (MJB), and Ebonie Ward (Future, Gunna) who will discuss how to successfully navigate the music industry.
Pepsi Stronger Together Empowers Atlanta Women by Supporting Black Female Entrepreneurs and Local Organizations That Uplift the Community: Pepsi Stronger Together, PepsiCo’s grassroots series of initiatives which started at the height of the pandemic as a way to directly and positively impact micro-communities across the country, will be providing grants to a selection of local Black entrepreneurs and organizations with the aim to support and uplift women from the inside out. Organizations being supported for their work in empowering Atlanta’s strong, aspirational women include Black-owned businesses The Village Market, 1787 Capital Group and The Pink Boss, and nonprofits City of Refuge, for their work in providing services to women and people in crisis; and Silence the Shame, which aims to break the barriers of access to mental health; and The Pinky Cole Foundation, for empowering generations of color in pursuit of their entrepreneurial dreams, among others. Pepsi Stronger Together will also host a panel moderated by award winning actress and singer-songwriter Naturi Naughton featuring Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon (The Village Market), Myleik Teele (Curl Box, 1787 Capital Group), and Vanessa Parker (The Pink Box). They will discuss their own entrepreneurial and mental wellness journeys.
Pepsi Dig In and Celebrity Chef, Carla Hall, Support Black Restauranteurs in Atlanta and Beyond: Pepsi is bringing the Pepsi Dig In program, a multi-year mission and investment to support and empower Black owned restaurants across the country, to Atlanta. Carla Hall will moderate a panel of Black female-owned restauranteurs including Pinky Cole (Slutty Vegan), Rasheeda (Frost Bistro and Bar), and Tamara Young (Toast on Lennox) to discuss successes and challenges in the food industry. The brand is partnering with Black female-owned restaurants Slutty Vegan, Fowl Play, Lazy Foodie, and Cookie Society to create “Food Truck Village” at The Gathering Spot, where attendees can get free beverages, merchandise, cookies, and other bites while at the Summit on Saturday, May 7. Visitors of the “Food Truck Village” will also be able to nominate their favorite Black-owned restaurants for Pepsi Dig In’s new Restaurant Royalty program, which will formulate the ultimate list of the most loved Black-owned restaurants in the country. Restaurants can be nominated via https://passport.pepsidigin.com.
“This weekend is so important because it is so much more than a concert. There are panels, classes, food events and more, aimed specifically at highlighting and supporting trailblazing BIPOC women in the greater Atlanta community,” said Ashaunna Ayars. “With Pepsi as a co-presenter, we’ve been able to utilize their massive scale to make this beyond anything we could have imagined when we first came up with this idea. It’s a true celebration of the strength of a woman and how that comes to life every day in music, food, culture, art, finance and much more.”
“I’m deeply proud of what this festival represents and the way we’ve been able to use our resources at Pepsi to be true collaborators and help co-present this important event,” said Todd Kaplan, Chief Marketing Officer – Pepsi. “When we engaged with Mary J. Blige last year at the start of our Pepsi Halftime Show journey, we were blown away by her drive and compassion in using her platform and voice to help others. So when this opportunity was born using music as an entry way to help amplify and elevate this underserved community of women, we were all in. We’re so excited to see it come to life next month.”
“Our work in communities is anchored in our goal to utilize our brand platform as an arbiter of positive change and progress. Whether it’s our work with local restauranteurs, aspiring entrepreneurs or a legendary talent like Mary J. Blige, we want to celebrate success at the local level while creating opportunities to pay it forward, which is what we hope fans takeaway throughout the festival,” said Chauncey Hamlett, Chief Marketing Officer, South Division – Pepsi.
“Our mission with Pepsi Dig In remains laser-focused on resourcing and championing Black-owned restaurants and chefs,” says Alexis Porter, Senior Director, Brand Building, PepsiCo Foodservice. “We are excited to partner with Mary J. Blige and the Strength of a Woman Festival to launch our new Restaurant Royalty program and ultimately, to amplify the voices of innovative Black women in the culinary industry.”
The Mary J. Blige and Pepsi “Strength of a Woman Festival & Summit,” in partnership with Live Nation Urban, will take place in the vibrant city of Atlanta, GA with three days devoted to music, comedy, and community between May 6-8, 2022. All tickets can be purchased at www.soawfestival.com.
LINEUP
Friday, May 6
COMEDY SHOW at Buckhead Theater
Ms. Pat, Wanda, Just Nesh, Erica Duchess
FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT at Tabernacle Atlanta
Kiana Ledè, Emotional Oranges, Rubi Rose, Inayah, MK XYZ, Omerettá the Great
Saturday, May 7
SUMMIT at The Gathering Spot ATL Featuring Carla Hall
SATURDAY NIGHT CONCERT at State Farm Arena
Mary J. Blige & Friends, Chaka Khan, City Girls, Special Guest Ella Mai, Special Guests Xscape, Queen Naija, Baby Tate, Omerettá the Great
Social Media Influencer James Wright Puts Walmart on Blast For Not Getting Paid After Patti LaBelle’s Pies Broke Record Sales
In a passionate YouTube review, social media influencer James Wright gave his viewers a reason to run to Walmart and stock up on Pattie LaBelle‘s sweet potato pies. Now, he wants his coins for the record-breaking sales after his video went viral.
According to CNBC, John Forrest Ales, director of corporate communications at Walmart, confirmed that the mega retail giant sold one pie per second for 72 hours immediately after Wright’s video took off.
However, Wright shared that he did not get paid for his contribution to the spike in sales during a discussion on Fox Soul’s Turnt Out With TS Madison, News Onyxreported.
Wright told host T.S. Madison that Walmart promised him a host of things, but “they didn’t do nothing.”
“Don’t promise somebody, like, ‘Oh, we had an executive meeting last week, and the whole meeting was just about you and what Walmart is going to do and how they are going to give you a product, and they’re going to do this, and they’re going to do this,” he said.
At the time, Wright was advised by a woman in Walmart corporate that he could take legal action against the retail store for not being compensated. Her advice was on the basis that Walmart was aware that Wright’s video helped LaBelle’s pies become a hot commodity. But Wright decided not to make a move.
“I just be feeling that I’m blessed, I’m happy, I’m blessed, the joy of the Lord is my strength, and I just be feeling that I’m at peace with everything,” Wright said. “I got to a point where I was just over it. I wanted to be mad, I wanted to be upset, and I was mad, and I was upset, but I couldn’t hold on to that stuff. I had to let that go for me.”
In 2015, Wright’s video garnered over five million views due to his enthusiastic singing while trying out and reviewing LaBelle’s pies, BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported. He serenaded his viewers with some of LaBelle’s popular songs like “When You’ve Been Blessed (Feels Like Heaven),” “On My Own,” and “Isn’t It a Shame.”
