Outdoor Afro and KEEN Partner with YMCA to Address Black Youth Drowning Crisis Expanding ‘Making Waves’ Program this Summer
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 13, 2022

Outdoor Afro and KEEN Partner with YMCA to Address Black Youth Drowning Crisis Expanding ‘Making Waves’ Program this Summer

KEEN, Inc. (KEEN), the global footwear brand on a mission to make outside inclusive and accessible to all, announced its “Making Waves” partnership with Outdoor Afro, the nation’s foremost not-for-profit organization celebrating and inspiring Black connections and leadership in nature, and the YMCA, the leading U.S. nonprofit committed to strengthening communities. A limited edition Outdoor Afro x KEEN sandal collection released Apr. 12 in support of a national program to impact 100,000 Black youth and their caregivers over the next 10 years.

The program is designed to increase attention while helping to raise funds for Swimmerships™, scholarships for swimming lessons happening primarily at YMCAs. It launches with an awareness and fundraising campaign highlighting the alarming statistic that Black children are nearly six times more likely to die from drowning than white kids, according to the CDC.

“These alarming statistics demanded action,” said Rue Mapp, founder, and CEO of Outdoor Afro, according to a press release.

“We need to stop the drownings and give kids confidence in and around the water. It’s about saving lives and enabling stronger connections to our waterways and the outdoors. This is an important step in the right direction. We are most grateful that our partner of a decade, KEEN, has supported Making Waves for the last three years, and are excited that the YMCA is adding its strength to the effort. It’s great to see this all coming together.”

Outdoor Afro created Making Waves in 2019 with KEEN and the YMCA first supporting a pilot program in New York, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Phoenix in 2021. The expanded partnership will now help Outdoor Afro grow in key markets across the country in 2022. Kids and their caregivers may sign up for Swimmerships™ on Outdoor Afro’s website beginning this summer. Each Swimmership™ provides a new swimmer with a full swim course of eight to 10 lessons. Swim lessons take place at local YMCA’s and select community pools. Individuals may sponsor a swimmer on Outdoor Afro’s website. $10 = a lesson, $100 = a Swimmership™, $1,000 funds a full class.

“The statistics speak for themselves,” says Erik Burbank, vice president of the KEEN Effect.

“We’re proud to be supporting Outdoor Afro on this movement, and it’s really motivating to have the YMCA joining the effort. Having a partner that can help us scale the program over time reinforces our ability to create change and have a significant effect on this issue.”

“As the nation’s largest and best-in-class provider of swim lessons, the Y has decades of experience working to address and eliminate the disparities associated with swimming,” noted YMCA of the USA Director of Movement Engagement, Innovative Priorities and Aquatics Safety Lindsay Mondick.

“This initiative is what the Y is all about—making meaningful impact on communities and creating connective learning opportunities for all—and our expertise around water safety and drowning prevention makes this partnership a perfect fit.”

The YMCA over the years has worked to increase participation in swimming among Black children and reduce drowning rates in those and other communities of color. Through public service campaigns, inspiring storytelling across multiple platforms, and partnering with the CDC to explore and analyze the barriers that Black/African American families face with swimming, the Y has made a difference in these areas. The YMCA’s commitment is to help all children become strong, confident swimmers and reduce water-related injuries in every community.

The Outdoor Afro x KEEN sandal collection features artwork from Outdoor Afro volunteer leader Leandra Taylor. Taylor has been an inspiration, teacher, and friend to kids hungry to learn about the outdoor experience. Her art is incorporated in silhouettes for the whole family, including Newport H2 for men; Astoria West for women;  Newport H2; and Stingrays for kids. The collection will be available on keenfootwear.com and at retailers across the U.S., as well as select retailers in Canada, Europe, and Japan.

One percent of all sales will go to fund new Swimmerships™. To learn more or to sign up for a Swimmership™, please visit Outdoor Afro.

North Carolina Nonprofit Works With The Criminal Justice Sector To Explore Traumas of At-Risk Youth
by Atiya Jordan

April 13, 2022

North Carolina Nonprofit Works With The Criminal Justice Sector To Explore Traumas of At-Risk Youth

Mecklenburg Council of Elders is a champion for at-risk youth.

As reported by The Charlotte Observer, the nonprofit organization based in Charlotte, North Carolina, works vigorously with the criminal justice sector, launching a diversion program for the betterment of at-risk youth and to create “viable citizens.”

The juvenile court intervention program began two years ago with just 45 students. Now, educators hope to reach 150 students who have faced challenges with childhood abuse, gun violence, mental health, anger management, and more. Mecklenburg Council of Elders “provide services to residents of Mecklenburg County by way of seminars and events designed to raise awareness of their rights and options as citizens—regardless of past involvement with the law,” the council’s website states.

Executive Director Maria Macon said the biggest problem in Charlotte right now is young people getting guns and using them. To help put a stop to the issue, the diversion program works with judges, social workers, and the community to assist the students in coping with adverse experiences.

“When you talk to many of the young people that are in jail or in court and waiting to be sentenced, something happened in their childhood that has triggered an adverse thought in their mind. And they enter into these gangs, into shooting,” Macon said.

In classrooms with children aged 8 to 21, students gain access to various classes, including recantation therapy, which is taught in a Locked Out Love group within the jail and juvenile detention center. Camille Stephens, who leads the group, teaches moral recantation therapy and Work Smart, which focuses on soft skills for the workplace.

“What I hope kids get out of the program is to be able to utilize the tools that are provided to keep the recidivism down to nothing,” said Stephens.

Tysha Pressley’s Abusive Childhood Experiences class helps students understand trauma and how to cope.

“It’s really an amazing time, just coming together and helping them to kind of understand themselves a little bit more,” said Pressley, a licensed clinical mental health counselor. “That’s what I really hope that they get out of it. I really hope that they get that, number one, (…) they matter, and they’re not just one dimensional, they are three-dimensional beings.”

The 2022 program started April 4 and will extend for six months free of charge. A community referral is required to be considered.

 

 

Morehouse College Students Earn Top Honors at 33rd Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, America’s Premier HBCU Academic Competition
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 13, 2022

Morehouse College Students Earn Top Honors at 33rd Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, America’s Premier HBCU Academic Competition

Morehouse College has emerged as the champion of the 33rd Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC), America’s premier academic competition for students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), after more than 150 thrilling games of head-to-head competition.

More than 300 HBCU students, coaches, presidents and institutional representatives participated in this year’s virtual HCASC program, which included student development seminars and activities with HBCU presidents. Honda provided nearly $400,000 in institutional grants to the participating HBCUs, according to a press release.

“Congratulations to the winning scholars from Morehouse who symbolize our mission to power HBCU minds and help students achieve their dreams,” said Yvette Hunsicker, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility and Inclusion and Diversity at American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

“On behalf of everyone at Honda, we appreciate the tremendous efforts from all of students participating in this year’s competition and we want to offer special thanks to the many volunteers and HBCU alumni who make HCASC possible.”

During the fast-paced gameplay, the four-student Morehouse team demonstrated incredible skills and teamwork to answer questions on topics ranging from history and science to literature and pop culture. Coached by Robert Myrick, the championship team features team captain Stephen Agyepong, a senior majoring in Biology from Silver Spring, Md., Isaiah Thompson, a senior majoring in Economics from Stone Mountain, Ga., Andre Brown, a junior majoring in Biomedical Engineering from Atlanta, Ga., and Kendall Wood, a junior majoring in Biology from Cleveland, Ohio. Since HCASC was established in 1989, Morehouse College has qualified for the HCASC National Championship Tournament every year.

“HCASC has been a positive space for young Black people to immerse themselves in all of the subjects that they know, love and study,” said Stephen Agyepong.

“Although my HBCU experience was greatly impacted by COVID-19, I still found a sense of community from my team and other schools in the HCASC cohort.”

Runner-up Kentucky State University was awarded a $30,000 institutional grant, while the third and fourth place finishers—Oakwood University and Tuskegee University, respectively—each received $20,000 grants. Dillard University, University of the District of Columbia, Alabama A&M University and Spelman College rounded out the “Great 8” teams that competed in the HCASC Finals, held Apr.10-12.

Honda Virtual Seminars Help Prepare Students for Post-Graduation Success

In addition to the tournament experience, Honda created virtual development seminars aimed at increasing career readiness and student empowerment. More than 200 students learned interview tips, resume writing best practices and ways to prepare for success after graduation. These seminars were conducted in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Columbus Urban League, Honda Talent Acquisition, and a panel of Honda associates who are HBCU graduates.

Honoring Individual Contributions

Every year, dedicated coaches, volunteers and program alumni help to make the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge a success. Fellow HCASC competitors selected Joshua Ernest of Winston-Salem State University to receive this year’s Ernest C. Jones Sportsperson Award, which recognizes a student who epitomizes team spirit, camaraderie, good sportsmanship and academic focus during the National Championship Tournament. The award is named for one of HCASC’s early volunteers who mentored many HBCU students.

Honda recognized Robert Myrick, eight-year Morehouse HCASC team coach, as Coach of the Year. Myrick earned this recognition due to his exceptional coaching skills that have consistently kept Morehouse among the top HCASC teams, his generosity and enthusiasm to support the HCASC community.

Honda Campus All-Star Challenge is a year-round program celebrating Black excellence and showcasing the academic talents of top HBCU students from across the country. HCASC challenges students to expand their scope of knowledge on a wide range of topics while also helping to develop their leadership and collaboration skills. By bringing together students from other HBCUs, participants have the unique opportunity to network, gain mentorship opportunities with program alumni and become “friends for life.”

Since 1989, more than 145,000 scholars have competed in the academic tournament.

For additional information about the 33rd Honda Campus All-Star Challenge and to watch video clips from the tournament, visit HCASC.com, as well as the HCASC Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube channel.

Honoring A Trailblazer: Brenda Lewis Peel, The First Black University of Tennessee Undergraduate To Earn A Degree, Dies At 80
by Atiya Jordan

April 13, 2022

Honoring A Trailblazer: Brenda Lewis Peel, The First Black University of Tennessee Undergraduate To Earn A Degree, Dies At 80

A trailblazer has transitioned.

The University of Tennessee’s first Black undergraduate to earn a degree, Brenda Lewis Peel, died on April 3 in Atlanta, Knoxville News Sentinel reported. She was 80.

“I will always remember her Southern charm and her grace in all situations, and it’s the model for how I try and live my life, and how I try and raise my child, and how I want to be a member of my family—to carry my mother’s being, her essence, forward, in some hope that I can be a fraction of what she is,” Peel’s son Joey said at a celebration of her life on Tuesday.

The East Knoxville native, born on June 29, 1941, was the youngest of eight children. Attending college and earning an education was an expectation in her family. Peel’s collegiate journey began at Westminster College in Pennsylvania, but she was propelled to the South to hear a commencement address from Martin Luther King Jr. at Knoxville College in 1961. She was unable to hear him speak, so she found a way back home.

At the time, the University of Tennessee had admitted its first three Black undergraduate students. The intuition, unlike other southern schools, integrated without heated riots. In September 1961, Peel transferred from Westminster to UT, majoring in psychology while raising her son Joey.

For her, the experience at UT was a lonely one. With only 18 Black students on campus during the fall of 1961, Peel recalls being ignored by white students and faculty. But that didn’t discourage her from marching for racial justice with Students for Equal Treatment as part of the civil rights movement in Knoxville.

Photo Credit: University of Tennessee, Knoxville

“I don’t know if anyone even knew there was an African American student graduating,” Peel said in an interview with the UT in November. “I just stood in line and walked across the stage with everybody else.”

Following graduation, Peel worked at Beardsley Middle School in Knoxville before moving to Atlanta. She obtained her master’s and education specialist degree from Georgia State University. According to WVLT, Peel served the Atlanta Public Schools system as a school counselor for 27 years. She retired in 2002.

“I wanted to help kids get through their tough times in school, help them gain confidence in themselves, and help them believe that they could dream big and earn a college degree,” she told UT.

In 1994, Peel was inducted into the inaugural class of UT’s African American Hall of Fame. In November of 2021, the university dedicated a Galleria in the library to honor her courage and perseverance.

“It’s never easy to be the first, and she’s paved the way for so many,” her daughter Dana Peel Dudley said, as per the news outlet. “By honoring her in this way, everyone will know you can make it through challenging times. Mom would want everyone to know that it’s important to persevere through challenges.”

The beloved educator and counselor is survived by her children Joseph Michael III and Dana Peel Dudley; grandchildren Kenneth Jr., Bryce, Daniel, Julia Dudley, and Brendan Michael; brother and sisters, Dr. Aldorothy L. Wright and Dr. James Lewis and many more family and friends.

The family requested that people make donations to the UTK Black Alumni Scholarship Endowment in lieu of sending flowers.

 

Zia Cooke, Named One Of The Highest Paid College Basketball Players
by Atiya Jordan

April 13, 2022

Zia Cooke, Named One Of The Highest Paid College Basketball Players

For the first time in the history of March Madness, players can sign endorsement deals that allow them to capitalize off the use of their names, images and popularity.

Zia Cooke, a a junior guard and leading scorer for the University of South Carolina’s women’s basketball team, is winning on the court and off the court. She recently took home the tournament win in March, along with her teammates. This achievement coupled with her star reputation as an athlete speaks to why she has been named one of the highest paid college basketball players in the Final Four, according to Bloomberg.

And she is representing for all other Black female student-athletes.

“It just shows that we can do a lot of things that a lot of people say we can’t do,” she told CBS News. “To see all the girls on there for the NIL and I think it was just one boy it shows that we can do literally everything they can do. It’s a business and it’s super effective for women and men.”

The move of endorsement signing comes after a Supreme Court decision last summer that effectively upended years of resistance by the NCAA, which had blocked student-athletes from getting paid. Now, college athletes have the power to take control of their own athletic career, as sponsorships are considered.

In many cases, women have out-earned the men as brands tend to look at larger social media followings, as per CBS News.

With 225,000 Instagram followers, Cooke earns roughly about $7,923 on social media based upon her following, as reported by Bloomberg. She is among three other top earners in collegiate basketball as a whole.

Cooke recently signed a sponsorship deal with H&R Block as part of the financial services company’s “A Fair Shot” campaign. She takes pride in participating in a  initiative, which invests in female college athletes, to show off her authentic self.

“It gave me a chance to show who I am for one minute,” she said. “I’ve done DoorDash, which was also super fun. I did Bojangles deals and I’ve done Fenty Skin, Rihanna’s line, so I have quite a bit and it’s just the beginning. I’m excited for what else is in store.”

But for Cooke, she’s focused on bringing her best work on court and off court.

She continued: “I really don’t even want to know how much money I have,” she said. “I haven’t looked at the account since I’ve started. Now I’m just trying to stay focused on my best work….I want to save because once you see the prices, like you want to buy stuff like that.”

Tap Into The World Of Psychology With This Psychotherapy Bundle
by Black Enterprise Shop

April 13, 2022

Tap Into The World Of Psychology With This Psychotherapy Bundle

Over the past two years, there’s been a significant shift in thinking toward therapy. Attitudes surrounding mental health have begun to change, and there’s been a concerted effort to encourage people to embrace mental health and seek out ways to ensure a clearer mind.

Therapy sessions are no longer limited to offices. Virtual appointments and mobile device-based apps have seen significant increases in recent years. According to a November 2020 report from the American Psychological Association, those in the field reported a “Large Increase In Demand For Anxiety, Depression Treatment.”

While there’s never been a more encouraging time for therapists, the same can be said for those who have wanted to explore the field of psychotherapy. The Complete 2022 Psychotherapy Training Bundle is a great way to explore the field. For a limited time, it’s available for just $35.99. That’s a savings of 98% from its MSRP ($1,990). Ten courses spanning 218 lessons are included in this bundle. Individually, each course costs $199.

Starting with the How to Become a Psychotherapist course, interested parties will learn about what the field of psychotherapy entails along with information about opening their own practice. Also, learn about psychotherapeutic approaches and types, and understand various types of mental health disorders, among other important topics. This course currently has a rating of 4.6 stars.

The Introduction to Psychotherapy course, which is rated 4.5 stars, offers a much clearer understanding of career paths in the field. Students will learn how to provide psychotherapy to children, adults, families, and groups, and they’ll come to know the benefits of online psychotherapy. This course is fully accredited by the International Association of Therapists (IAOTH).

Additional courses include Psychology & Therapy of Addictions, Gestalt Psychotherapy, ACT: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Break the Cycle of Worry: Lower Your Anxiety & Raise Your Resilience with CBT, and others.

Nationwide efforts have been concentrated on promoting better mental health as there’s been somewhat of a paradigm shift in thinking. This 10-course bundle offers a deep dive into the field and explores whether it is for you. Purchase it today.

Prices subject to change.

‘SoHo Karen’ Who Attacked Black Teenager in New York City Avoids Jail Time With Plea Deal
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 12, 2022

‘SoHo Karen’ Who Attacked Black Teenager in New York City Avoids Jail Time With Plea Deal

Miya Ponsetto, better known to the world as “SoHo Karen,” has avoided jail time with a plea deal after she went viral over a year ago for attacking and wrongly accusing a Black teen of stealing her iPhone at a New York hotel.

According to The New York Post, the 23-year-old from California pleaded guilty to a felony hate crime.

Ponsetto copped to one count of felony unlawful imprisonment as a hate crime for attacking a Black 14-year-old teenager, Keyon Harrold Jr., as she accused him of taking her phone at the Arlo Soho Hotel in December 2020.

As part of her deal, if she stays with her counseling and keeps out of trouble and has no dealings with the criminal justice system for two years, Ponsetto will be able to replead to aggravated harassment, a misdemeanor.

“You have been given a tremendous opportunity,” Justice Laura Ward told the 23-year-old in Manhattan Supreme Court Monday. “Turn this lousy situation into a good situation so you never find yourself here again.”

If she fails to adhere to the terms of the agreement, Ponsetto could face up to four years in prison.

On that fateful day in December 2020 in New York City, a white woman falsely accused the 14-year-old son of a Jazz musician of stealing her iPhone at a SoHo hotel, earning her the nickname “SoHo Karen.”

A portion of the skirmish was captured on video and posted to social media. Ponsetto is seen on video as the aggressor and then claimed to be the victim as she said that she was the one who was assaulted. The New York Police Department has released portions of a surveillance video from the hotel where the incident occurred, confirming that the woman attacked and tackled the Black teenager she falsely accused of stealing her iPhone.

In the disturbing video, the woman—later identified as Ponsetto—was seen, from two different viewpoints, running after, then grabbing and tackling the teenager, Jazz musician Keyon Harrold’s son, Keyon Harrold Jr., to the ground.

Black Enterprise Speaks With Rodney Brooks On His New Book, Fixing The Racial Wealth Gap And Leaving A Legacy Behind You
by Derek Major

April 12, 2022

Black Enterprise Speaks With Rodney Brooks On His New Book, Fixing The Racial Wealth Gap And Leaving A Legacy Behind You

Journalist and author Rodney Brooks has a wealth of knowledge on the economic history of Black Americans and according to him, the Black racial wealth gap in America isn’t an accident.

Brooks discussed his new book FixingThe Racial Wealth Gap on the Your Money, Your Life podcast presented by Prudential Insurance and hosted by BLACK ENTERPRISE Senior Vice President and Executive Editor Alfred Edmond Jr.

Brooks, who has written for USA Today, The Washington Post, ESPN and National Geographic, talked with Edmond about the racial wealth gap, the history of Black economics in America and how Black wealth has been stripped away through violence, public policy, and legislation including the G.I. Bill after World War II.

“There are things like the Black GIs coming back from World War II. The G.I. Bill was passed but the president pushed its implementation down these White Southern states, so they found a way to not let Black GIs get their benefits,” Brooks told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“Also housing wealth is a big part of this. So you had things like Levittown, PA where these White GIs were able to settle with their families to build home wealth and Black GIs could not live there, in fact, they banned us from living there.

“You can go on like that and see incident after incident and you begin to see why we’re here and how we got here,”  Brooks added.

Brooks also told Edmond that Black Americans can build generational wealth using many of the same methods used by White Americans. The problem is a lack of knowledge. It’s no secret that Black Americans are taught less about financial literacy than white Americans and one of the first things Brooks suggested was signing up for your employer’s 401K plan and matching contributions

“The easiest part is funding your retirement if you’re working for a company that has a 401k plan or an agency that has a 403 plan,” Brooks said. “But even with the company contribution, you find Black people, who don’t think it’s important to make that contribution.”

Brooks knows Black Americans typically do not think about planning for the future, because they’re too busy trying to catch up today. However, he adds that 38 percent of Black seniors rely on social security for 90 percent of their income compared to 28% of white Americans.

Brooks also suggested hiring a financial advisor, adding that many do pro bono work if you can’t afford one.

“Retirement, 401K and estate planning all come together in a financial plan,” Brooks said. “You can’t focus on one part without focusing on the other.”

Brooks also discussed the importance of leaving a will and having a life insurance policy to make sure the family left behind has more than “just enough money to put you in the ground.”

The full interview can be seen here.

National Urban League Report Says State Of Black America Is Grim
by Derek Major

April 12, 2022

National Urban League Report Says State Of Black America Is Grim

The National Urban League (NUL) released its annual report on the state of Black America Tuesday, and its Equality Index shows Blacks are still suffering from systemic racism.

According to the NUL, Black Americans have made economic and health gains but have fallen further behind white Americans in education, social justice, and civic engagement since the index was first launched in 2005.

“These numbers change so little and so slowly. What it tells me is that this institutional disparity based on race seems to be built into American society,” NUL President Marc Morial told the Associated Press.

According to the NUL, the median household income for Black Americans ($43,862) is 37% less than the average income of White Americans ($69,823). Additionally, due to redlining and racism that exists to this day, Black Americans are twice as likely to be denied a home mortgage or home improvement loan keeping them from one of the main drivers of generational wealth in the U.S. today.

While the overall health of Black Americans has improved, their life expectancy has declined slightly to an average of 74.7 years, four years less than the average white American. On top of that, the report showed some stunning inequities in health.

Black women are 59% more likely to die as a result of bearing a child and 31% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women. Black men are 52% more likely to die of prostate cancer than white men.

The study pointed out that white Americans outpace Black Americans in certain areas. White Americans are 55% more likely to die from chronic liver disease, or cirrhosis, from drinking than Black Americans. They’re also more than twice as likely to die by suicide.

When it comes to educational gaps and law enforcement, the numbers shouldn’t surprise Black Americans. According to the NUL, Black and white children enter preschool equally prepared, but the educators and schools they enter are remarkably different.

Schools with more minority students are more likely to be staffed with teachers that are inexperienced, less trained, and even uncertified in some cases. Additionally, Black students are less likely to enroll in STEM classes and are less likely to graduate college.

The NUL also used Justice Department data to show Black Americans are more than twice as likely as white  Americans to experience threats or use of force during police encounters and three times more likely to be jailed if arrested.

White California Deputy Fired for Striking 14-Year-Old Black Boy Has Job Reinstated
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 12, 2022

White California Deputy Fired for Striking 14-Year-Old Black Boy Has Job Reinstated

A white police officer fired in 2020 after a video of him striking a 14-year-old Black boy went viral has been reinstated.

Rancho Cordova Police Department Deputy Brian Fowell got his job back late last month after being fired in September 2020 for a use-of-force incident, The Sacramento Bee reports. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office terminated Fowell after a professional standards unit investigation concluded he used excessive force against then-14-year-old Elijah Tufono.

The incident was captured in a short cellphone video in April 2020 that became widespread on social media with even then-Sen. and vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris labeling it “a horrific abuse of power.”

However, Fowell’s attorney, William Creger, claimed that the “video is not the whole story,” despite playing heavily into his client’s appeal process.

Now, two years after filing an appeal, Fowell has returned to his post as deputy.

“The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office will comply with the mandate of the independent arbitrator and integrate Deputy Fowell back into the organization,” a statement from the sheriff’s office read.

Sacramento NAACP President Betty Williams has expressed her outrage at Fowell’s reinstatement.

“Well, Chris, my first reaction is that I’m pissed. That’s my first reaction,” Williams told ABC10.

“How many steps forward and how many steps back,” Tanya Faison, with Black Lives Matter Sacramento said.

“It’s just a really big disappointment where we finally get — in Sacramento — we finally get a situation where actual accountability has come out of a situation, and it just got reversed,” Faison added.

Tufono’s attorney, John Burris, confirmed that the teen received a six-figure settlement for his civil lawsuit last year. Even around the time the incident took place, Tufono appeared open to reconciling with Fowell.

“I just hope that we could meet again and be on better terms,” Tufono said at the time.

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