ESPN recently announced a partnership that will create better opportunities for Black professionals in several creative business areas.

The sports network has become a founding partner and title sponsor for the newly created Black Sports Business Symposium. It was created to develop new and broader chances for more diverse professionals within the sports industry.

The inaugural Black Sports Business Symposium will take place in June in Atlanta.

There will also be ongoing on-air, marketing, social media, and creative collaborations throughout the year as both organizations will pioneer steps to increase Black representation in all facets of the business. ESPN will search for professionals at all stages of their careers across multiple functions, including marketing, content creation, and business affairs, at the initial Symposium this June.

The Black Sports Business Symposium was started by HBCU Battle of the Brains Founder and Executive Director Gregory Gibson Jr., NFL Network Senior Correspondent Steve Wyche, and Los Angeles Rams Chief Operating Officer Kevin Demoff.

“Having ESPN step up to support every aspect of our vision and mission is incredible,” said Gibson. “The sports business expertise, talent cultivation abilities, and true commitment to a diverse workforce of ESPN mean it is the ideal founding partner to enable us to make Black Sports Business Symposium the truly impactful, life-changing organization we know that it can be.”

In a written statement, James Pitaro, chairman of ESPN and Sports Content: “It is essential that the sports industry reflect the diversity of athletes playing and fans cheering. We are pleased to create this multi-year partnership with the Black Sports Business Symposium to support the important work they do and expand our commitment to diversity and inclusivity. Together, we can provide the roadmap for those interested in the business of sports and look forward to welcoming many talented Symposium attendees to the ESPN team.”

The Black Sports Business Symposium, which will take place from June 16–18 in Atlanta, will be invitation-only.

It will serve as an epicenter for Black talent acquisition, engagement, and development for sports organizations. Business executives, on-air talent, athletes featured in upcoming ESPN films, and talent acquisition team members from ESPN will be active at the event.

There will be forthcoming announcements about the Black Sports Business Symposium, including who will be the keynote speakers. That information will be available soon at www.blacksportsbiz.com.

Amira Rasool, the 26-year-old tech founder behind The Folklore, is making history as one of the youngest Black women to raise over $1 million in pre-seed funding for a fashion and lifestyle company.

Rasool was just 22 years old when she created The Folklore, the e-commerce platform offering fashion and lifestyle products from Africa and the diaspora. Now with the new funding, from investors like WNBA star Nneka Ogwumike, Rasool is expanding The Folklore to include a new B2B wholesale e-commerce platform called The Folklore Connect.

“Our vision is to see a customer walk into their local boutique looking for a last-minute outfit and find products from their favorite African and diasporic brands,” Rasool told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“The more retailers we connect with brands, the closer we will get to making that a reality for everyone around the world.”

The new platform will allow global retailers to more easily discover and work with African and diasporic designer fashion and lifestyle brands. The funding sets Rasool apart and made her one of the few Black women to raise over $1 million in venture capitalist funds, as noted by Business Insider.

“Our mission since inception in 2018 is to bring African and diasporic designer brands to the forefront of the global high-end fashion and lifestyle industry,” Rasool said.

“As a part of this mission, we are creating solutions that have a positive impact on the way brands, retailers, and consumers engage in conscious commerce.”

Rasool is passionate about creating new opportunities for African designers who have historically been undervalued or ignored when compared to their Western contemporaries. In recent years, retailers have started amplifying more designers from diverse backgrounds.

The shift inspired Rasool to pivot her business model to help retailers keep up with the demand..

“For brands, we are helping by developing streamlined supply chain systems that expand entrepreneurship, jobs, manufacturing, and the overall African and diasporic economy,” Rasool said. “For retailers, we are helping them discover and access the brands of the future that their customers will love and buy.”

Despite the hurdles, Rasool was able to convince her investors of The Folklore’s importance within the fashion and lifestyle sector.

“The biggest challenge was trying to sell investors on the market size without having hard data,” Rasool admitted. “There are not many studies on the high end African and diasporic fashion and lifestyle industry, much of the information out there now is dated or very broad.”

“Since most of the investors we were speaking to were not familiar with this market, getting certain investors to see the huge multi-billion dollar opportunity was difficult.”

The Folklore Group is now accepting applications for the next wave of brands and retailers to join the
waitlist for The Folklore Connect. To learn more about The Folklore Group, visit www.thefolklore.com, and
to explore The Folklore Connect, visit connect.thefolklore.com.

• Health and Wellness

by Black Enterprise Shop

April 19, 2022

Understand Your DNA and More With This SelfDecode Test Kit

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Who hasn’t wondered about their family history?

Technology has made tracing your family history easier than ever before and has revealed fascinating tidbits along the way. More than just that, learning one’s family history can be beneficial when determining predisposed health issues entrenched in one’s DNA.

Today, discovering one’s DNA has never been easier, and The Complete SelfDecode DNA Test Kit is one of the best in its category. For a limited time, you can purchase the kit along with a 1-year subscription for just $89. That’s a savings of 54% from its MSRP ($196).

Simply put, SelfDecode’s saliva DNA kit is an at-home DNA test that goes beyond your 23 chromosomes to provide personalized health insights based on your genetic profile. It doesn’t provide ancestry information within the reports. To collect your DNA, all you have to do is spit into the provided tube and send it off via a prepaid shipping label.

The one-year subscription provides users with comprehensive health reports, allowing users to get a better gauge of their blood pressure, gut issues, mood, and more. The technology used is backed by scientific research. Also included with the one-year subscription are personal health reports and traits, unlimited access to health tools, such as a regimen builder and lab analyzer. Your DNA is 100% protected and will never be shared.

Watch this video.

The Complete SelfDecode DNA Test Kit has an accuracy rate of 99.7%, and samples are sent to a CLIA-certified lab.

Transcription of one’s DNA can yield positive benefits to one’s health goals, as well as enable you to take the right steps to prevent any issues that could arise in the future. Purchase this product today and give your health the attention it deserves.

Price subject to change.

• Entrepreneurship

by Daron Pressley

April 18, 2022

The Order Project Brings Order to Chaotic Lives

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Lauren Hill, Tneisha Brown, and Varatip “V” Johnson started The Order Project (TOP) to get their spaces in order, become more organized, and have some sanity in their life. The three friends are wives, mothers, and career women who focus on organizing spaces that are beautiful and “Pinterest-perfect” and actually make lifves easier!

The ladies started with family and friends as clients. Now their work is available for the world to see in a new show called Chaos to Calm airing on Aspiretv. Celebrity guest appearances this season include Grammy-winning gospel artist Kirk Franklin and NBA star Thaddeus Young.

Each episode for the Dallas-based home organization company will tackle a client’s problem area in one day—with a dramatic makeover reveal at the end—and provide helpful tips for viewers.

BLACK ENTERPRISE had a chance to talk with Hill, Brown, and Johnson about what inspired them to start, their career paths, and the importance of lifelong learning.

What inspires you to show up at work every day?

Varatip: That’s an easy one—helping people. Through the organization, we help people reduce stress, be more productive, and save money. Seeing the joy on our clients’ faces when we reveal their transformed space is incredibly rewarding!

Colin Kaepernick is still hoping for a chance to play in the NFL again and is even willing to serve as a backup quarterback if the opportunity presents itself.

Kaepernick recently appeared on the I AM ATHLETE podcast where former NFL stars Chad Johnson, Adam “Pacman” Jones, and Brandon Marshall got Kap to open up about his strides to potentially re-enter the National Football League.

Kap was wrapping up a workout at the House of Athlete facility in Weston, Florida, and was asked if he’d consider returning to the NFL in a role similar to what Carmelo Anthony took in the NBA, TMZ reports.

Anthony joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021 after signing the veteran’s minimum of about $2.6 million for a small role on the team.

“I know I have to find my way back in. So, if I have to come in as a backup, that’s fine,” Kaepernick said.

https://twitter.com/IAMATHLETEpod/status/1515782907499094021?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1515782907499094021%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.outkick.com%2Fcolin-anyone-who-will-listen-kaepernick-ok-playing-backup%2F

When asked if he really wants to play football, Kaepernick doubled down saying he’s just “looking for a chance to walk through any door. I’ll handle the rest from there.”

Kaepernick is confident that even if he starts in a backup position, his natural skill and ability will eventually secure him a spot on the starting lineup once again.

“But (being a backup is) not where I’m staying,” Kaepernick said. “And when I prove that I’m a starter, I want to be able to step on the field as such. I just need that opportunity to walk through the door.”

Kaepernick hasn’t played in the NFL since 2016 when he started 11 games as the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. Kaepernick drew criticism by kneeling during the national anthem as a form of silent protest against police brutality and racial inequality in America.

Kaepernick has accused the NFL of blackballing him for taking a knee. He filed a lawsuit accusing the league of colluding against him and settled in 2019.

• Health and Wellness

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 18, 2022

Dr. Anekwe E. Onwuanyi Installed as President of the Association of Black Cardiologists

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Anekwe E. Onwuanyi, MD, FACC, was installed as the 19^th president of the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) during the Spring 2022 Membership Meeting. He is the first board-certified, advanced heart failure specialist to hold the position in ABC’s nearly 50-year history.

Dr. Onwuanyi is professor of medicine and chief of cardiology at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM), medical director of the Heart Failure Program at Grady Memorial Hospital and co-chair of Grady Heart and Vascular Center, Atlanta, Ga. The Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program at Morehouse School of Medicine was established in 2017 under his leadership with a key goal of diversifying the cardiovascular physician workforce. Prior to joining MSM, Dr. Onwuanyi held faculty appointments as assistant professor of medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, according to a press release. 

A dedicated life member of the ABC, Dr. Onwuanyi has been active with the organization for more than 30 years. He has served in various capacities including president-elect and board member, assistant editor of the ABC Digest of Urban Cardiology, chairperson of scientific symposia, and most recently as a member of ABC’s Preventive Cardiology Committee.

During his presidency, Dr. Onwuanyi will continue to prioritize diversity, inclusivity and belonging in ABC’s efforts to expand the cardiovascular workforce through solution-focused partnerships and collaborations. The commitment to innovation in education, research, advocacy and community engagement among scholars, policymakers, community leaders and advocates remains a core focus and serves to also drive real progress in addressing pervasive health disparities.

“It is the honor of a lifetime to have been entrusted by the membership to take the reins of the association we love,” says Dr. Onwuanyi.

“I look forward to continuing the ABC work that has had such a strong impact and building on the accomplishments of my predecessors whose outstanding leadership and vision have shaped the organization ABC is today. We must now double our efforts due to the increasing burden of the healthcare needs and mortality in communities of color as has been laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic. ABC’s strident leadership, capabilities and strengths spanning nearly half a century remain our North Star in facing the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

In tandem with Dr. Onwuanyi’s presidency, ABC announced its new board chair, Barbara Hutchinson, MD, PhD, FACC. Dr. Hutchinson, currently serves as president of Chesapeake Cardiac Care, in Annapolis, Md. She is one of a few doctors in the United States board certified in cardiovascular disease and sleep medicine. Dr. Hutchinson is a life member and past president of ABC. Prior to her election as board chair, she served as co-chair of ABC’s signature Spirit of the Heart Annual Awards Committee.

Other newly elected board members installed during the membership meeting on Apr. 2, 2022 included Rachel M. Bond, MD, FACC; Kevin F. Kwaku, MD, PhD, FACC; Eldrin F. Lewis, MD, MPH, FACC; and Joyce Gwendolyn Bartley Taylor, MS. The ABC Board of Directors comprises a wide range of experience in various fields, including healthcare, organizational management and capacity building.

To learn more, visit http://abcardio.org/board-of- directors.

• Money

by Black Enterprise

April 18, 2022

Black Millionaire ‘Whisperer’ Dr. Dennis Kimbro Shares How Courage and Vision are the Pathway to Wealth

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After talking to 1,000 Black millionaires, Dr. Dennis Kimbro, author of “The Wealth Choice” and the New York Times best-seller, “Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice,” is sharing their secrets to lift up the Black community.

• News

by Atiya Jordan

April 18, 2022

Update: K’aun Green, Gunned By San Jose Police After Saving Lives, Files Lawsuit

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K’aun Green, the 20-year old who was gunned down by California police after disarming an attacker, is suing the city and the department for monetary and punitive damages.

BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported that the college student and football star was shot several times after police mistakenly identified him as an attacker. Attorneys for Green said he’s a hero who acted immediately to save his life and everyone else involved in a fight at La Victoria Taqueria in San Jose on March 27.

The police department revealed that it thought Green was connected to a homicide that took place less than a mile way from the taqueria. But video footage confirmed that Green was indeed tussling with the attacker to disarm him.

Green’s injuries have resulted in multiple surgeries that could ruin his chance at an NFL career.

“Mr. Green is facing a long and uncertain road to recover the life he once lived, the sport he once enjoyed, and [the] dream he was moving ever closer to making his reality,” his attorneys said in the complaint. “The officer’s rash decision to shoot Mr. Green, who had done nothing wrong, has potentially jeopardized the young man’s promising future.”

According to the federal lawsuit, a fight broke out at the restaurant when a man “showing signs of being highly intoxicated” delivered a blow to Green’s face, ABC 7 reported. One of the man’s friends took out a gun on Green and his friends, but Green jumped to action by wrestling the gun away.

A third man got involved and assisted the other two men with attempting to retrieve the gun from Green, the complaint said. As Green was heading to the front door of the restaurant, one of the men tugged at his clothes, but Green managed to slip out of his grasp and back out the door.

Green was met with bullets as he held the gun pointing up in the air with his right arm.

The lawsuit cites that an officer shot Green four times without warning, nor did he get a chance to acknowledge the orders. After being taken to the hospital, the lawsuit also alleges that Green remained handcuffed and was restricted from seeing his family.

“They treated me like a criminal even though I saved my friends’ life,” he told NBC News.

He added: “It’s still surreal to me, it just hurts to know I can’t play football this year. I’m going to try my hardest to make a comeback.”

Another man involved in the brawl was arrested and charged for carrying a firearm as a felon.

Green’s legal team said the incident has “physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially” harmed the young football player. They are seeking compensation for Green’s wages and other income loss and medical expenses.

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 18, 2022

Man Convicted of Killing Angela Simmon’s Ex-Fiance Gets Life in Prison

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On Friday, Angela Simmons gave an emotional speech in court before the man convicted of killing her ex-fiance was sentenced to life in prison.

Michael Williams was sentenced to life in prison for murdering Sutton Tennyson, TMZ reports. Williams was also hit with an additional 15 years for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Simmons shed tears while sharing how her son, Sutton Jr., still asks her when his father will come home. The entrepreneur and reality star spoke of the difficulties of raising her son alone while recalling how excited Sutton Sr. was about raising their son.

Tennyson was murdered inside of his driveway in 2018 following a heated exchange with Williams. Police found Tennyson dead in his garage with multiple gunshot wounds.

Williams turned himself in days later and was charged with eight counts, including murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and possession of a firearm. At the time, police claimed that Williams killed Tennyson and “sped from the scene in a car.”

Tennyson was 37 years old at the time of his murder, People reports. Simmons took to Instagram to honor her son’s father following the sentence.

“We got you. Justice served today,” she captioned a photo of Sutton holding up their son.

“Justice served today! We got you ! We got him 🙏🏽💪🏽,” she captioned a throwback family photo from Sutton’s first birthday.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Angela Renee Simmons (@angelasimmons)

Another throwback photo showed Tennyson kissing Simmon’s baby bump. “We got you,” she captioned the heartfelt post.

“Thank you for leaving behind my greatest gift,” Simmons captioned a series of family photos.

“I’m hurting. I’m numb. Thank you for the out pouring [sic] of love everyone,” she continued, adding that she couldn’t “believe I’m even saying Rest in Peace Sutton.”

Angela Simmons is the daughter of legendary hip-hop icon Joseph Ward Simmons, a.k.a Run of the group Run-DMC.