Learn a New Skill Right When You Need It With Udemy
In 2016, Black men and women accounted for nearly one out of every eight people in the U.S. labor force. Despite that, they only accounted for just 8 percent of employees in professional roles. Worse still, Black professionals make up only 3.2 percent of all company’s executive or senior leadership roles; and less than 1 percent of all Fortune 500 CEO positions.
The conclusion is obvious yet unsurprising: minorities continue to find it challenging to break into the top ranks of business world leadership. Climbing the lofty heights of a corporate world sometimes stacked against them, minority professionals need access to the right tools to help learn any new skill or discipline they need right when they need to learn it.
Udemy is like having your own portable institution of higher learning ready to teach you just what you need at a moment’s notice. Their archives include more than 183,000 online video courses, each offering expert-driven instruction in various disciplines to help shore up any professional deficiency. No matter your goal, whether to learn a new skill for your current job, or make a career change and learn something completely new, Udemy has the courses you need to accomplish your goals and learn the skills at an affordable price.
You can choose from a variety of hard skills like Python, JavaScript, or graphic design and soft skills like leadership, time management, creative problem solving, and more. Users can feel at ease putting their professional fate in the hands of more than 65,000 highly trained Udemy instructors who know their fields from top to bottom.
Udemy’s lifetime membership means users can explore all their coursework at their own pace. For example, a member can take The Complete 2022 Web Development Bootcamp and become a full-stack web developer. Then they spend time mastering those skills and turn their attention to The Ultimate Drawing Course to develop their artistic side. The possibilities are endless.
Many of the world’s biggest companies have embraced the Udemy way as a prime training avenue to develop their own employees, including Apple, Netflix, Aflac, Volkswagen, Kaiser Permanente, and more.
“I have found it to be great. Course quality…is usually good to excellent, (and) the pricing is very, very competitive, which is no doubt what draws most learners like me to this platform,” Udemy student Anton said. “Great resource for me and used successfully by many of my colleagues in my company as well.”
Learn a new skill and advance your career with Udemy. Right now, new members can enroll in courses with rates as low as $11.99.
Enhance Your Social Media Presence With This Bundle
Telegram and TikTok have exploded in popularity over the past couple of years. People have created burgeoning brands that have launched their profiles socially and opened new income streams. The benefits haven’t been exclusive to individuals. Small businesses and large corporations have turned to Telegram and TikTok to expand their respective footprints.
If you’ve never even heard of the two social media platforms or if you’re well-versed in both, The Telegram & TikTok Mastery Bundle has something that’ll benefit you as you use both platforms.
For a limited time, it’s available for just $19. That’s a savings of 98% from its MSRP ($1,000). Five courses spanning 60 lessons are included in this bundle. Individually, each course costs $200.
Three courses about Telegram are included. With “Telegram Marketing Mindset for Pros: The 7 Success Secrets” users will learn successful ways to approach their Telegram business along with ways to eliminate negative mindsets.
For those wanting to monetize their Telegram channels, “Telegram Marketing Beginner to Advanced: Start + Grow + Monetize” is a masterclass on how to do so. This course has a rating of 4.8 stars. Along with teaching proper ways and tips to see financial growth from their Telegram channels, it also instructs users on how they grow their audience.
The “Telegram Marketing Advanced Monetization Strategies: for PROS” goes even more depth in examining and implementing successful monetization efforts.
If you’re interested in making your TikTok videos available to a broader audience, look no further than the “Viral TikTok Stories: How to Go Viral & Get Traffic (Part 1)” course. It’s the ultimate TikTok stories course. Part Two of the course, titled, “Viral TikTok Stories: How to Go Viral & Get Traffic (Part 2)” expands on lessons taught in the first course.
Black Woman Entrepreneur Partners With Walgreens, Reveals How She Secured $100M Investment
Monique Rodriguez launched Mielle Organics back in 2014 and instantly became a leading brand in the haircare and beauty industries. In 2021, she secured $100 million in funding from Berkshire Partners, and now her company is a global and viral sensation with orders in over 87 countries around the world.
An editor from Blacknews.com was blessed with the opportunity to interview Monique and she shared a lot of valuable information for both aspiring and established entrepreneurs.
Thanks so much for the opportunity to interview you. Congrats on all your success! How did it feel when you made history last year after securing a $100 million investment?
It felt deeply rewarding—like I was showing so many women that it’s possible to have a dream and how far your dream can take you if you have faith and put in the work. I felt like I was changing the narrative for so many Black women who are trying to secure major funding and who have experienced challenges.
There are so many others who need access to funding to get their ideas off the ground. What advice do you have for other Black entrepreneurs who want to raise capital?
My advice would be to focus on building an attractive profitable business, that way you have more leverage to negotiate terms that work on your behalf. Also, make sure that you are aligned with your potential partners because they will be your business partners—and that is like a marriage. I would encourage them to take classes on how to pitch and how to put together pitch decks to present to investors.
I think a lot of people mistakenly assume that raising that much in capital automatically qualifies a business to have its products sold by major retailers. How would you respond to entrepreneurs who have this mindset?
If you have an attractive business where there is a lot of growth trajectory, you can raise money. You don’t necessarily have to be in major retail, you just have to have great top-line sales, and hopefully great profit. If you can sell on the future and show how they will get a return, there is someone waiting to invest in your business.
Tell me about your partnership with Walgreens. Why did you choose them over CVS or Rite-aid?
This partnership means a lot to me, especially as Walgreens is in my backyard (Chicago!). Walgreens was always a destination drugstore growing up in Chicago, and now to have Walgreens support Mielle—another hometown brand—makes it extra special.
Walgreens’ mission is to thread diversity into everything it does. When shelves are a reflection of the local community, it benefits everyone, providing customers with access to a wider selection of products and services while expanding Walgreen’s network of diverse suppliers. Walgreens’ new video series “Shelf Life” features diverse small business founders—like myself—who are open and reflective about their journey, sharing their lives from the inside out. The series showcases how founders pushed their way forward in the midst of challenges as they commit to lifting others as they climb.
Walgreens is synonymous with local community support and convenience, so this was an important opportunity to provide access for the brand. When our customers started voicing their wishes to see Mielle products on Walgreens shelves, we knew it was time to make a move—and that the relationship would help us both better serve our shared customers!
I’m honored to be the first founder to be featured as part of “Shelf Life” and look forward to celebrating the other brands and founders in the future.
There is also a dedicated page on Walgreens.com where consumers can shop for black-owned and founded brands.
How can other entrepreneurs shoot their shot to have their products sold in Walgreens as well?
I get questions from other minority-owned businesses all the time like, “what is the first step to get into a store like Walgreens? What is the process? How do the contracts look, and how do you negotiate?” Here are the top three areas of focus any diverse business should address to better position themselves for success and to get into a national retailer like Walgreens:
– Focus on building a great brand: First, develop a brand and products that create a strong connection with your audience and offer solutions to your customers’ problems.
– Create a community to create demand: Build a community of devoted brand advocates, then deliver a great experience so suppliers are able to maximize value and sales.
– Don’t be afraid to start small: I always say ‘modify your strategy to fit your reality. So, if your reality is you have limited resources that make it harder to scale, then start small and build and grow your way up from there. It’s tempting to want to be in 9,000 stores right away, but it’s a lot harder to fund 9,000 stores than 100. Remember, your partnership with the retailer is everything, so if you can’t deliver on your obligations that partnership will be damaged.
What is your overall plan so that your brand can keep winning?
Since day one, Mielle has been focused on new innovation and how we can best serve and support a diversity of consumers from day one. If we create great products with quality ingredients and fresh solutions, we’re not only bringing our customers what they want, but are also bringing more customers into retailers like Walgreens. With a store on practically every corner, Walgreens attracts such a broad cross-section of consumers, and Mielle is uniquely positioned to meet those many different customer needs and preferences.
HEINEKEN USA Partners with Black Ambition to Support Minority Entrepreneurs
HEINEKEN USA and Black Ambition, a non-profit created by Pharrell Williams to close the opportunity and wealth gap by supporting Black and Latinx entrepreneurs, announced a partnership to provide funding and mentorship opportunities to Black and Latinx founders across the U.S.
The partnership builds upon HEINEKEN USA’s responsible stewardship commitment to support the economic development and empowerment of underrepresented and under-resourced communities, according to a press release.
As the sole beverage and alcohol sponsor, HEINEKEN USA will bolster Black Ambition’s vision through financial and event support, as well as through unique content and personalized executive coaching sessions for founders in the Black Ambition network.
In addition to a monetary donation, HEINEKEN USA will lead a Learning Lab Series that leverages HEINEKEN USA expertise to discuss building an innovative and category-defining business.
Additionally, HEINEKEN USA will sponsor Black Ambition’s podcast and the “Decode the Encoded” speaker series to discuss practical problems that founders face.
“Understanding that financial and professional support are crucial for entrepreneurs and small businesses to succeed, we’re excited to begin our work with Black Ambition to achieve our shared vision of building inclusive communities and closing the opportunity gap,” said Josephine Bertrams SVP and chief corporate affairs officer of HEINEKEN USA.
“HEINEKEN USA employees will donate their time and skills to support emerging entrepreneurs who will go on to create a better future for all, and we’re looking forward to learning from these inspiring leaders through this partnership. We’re equally as honored to help play a small role in their success.”
Partnering with Black Ambition is one of the key platforms within HEINEKEN USA’s community engagement strategy. Collaborating with its employee resource groups, consumers and distributor partners, HEINEKEN USA aims to create a lasting impact in communities by focusing on initiatives that promote social justice as well as those that advocate for racial, gender, and LGTBQ+ equality.
To accomplish this, HEINEKEN USA has also launched a self-service platform, Community Compass, to help employees identify volunteer opportunities and empower them to give back to their communities in ways that are meaningful to them. Employees at HEINEKEN USA are awarded with two additional days of paid time off every calendar year, a unique benefit to make community service more accessible for all.
“We are excited about this partnership. The opportunity for our entrepreneurs to have access, mentorship and strategic support from the HEINEKEN USA team will be extremely valuable along their entrepreneurial journey,” said Felecia Hatcher, CEO of Black Ambition.
The launch of this partnership supports HEINEKEN’s Brew a Better World ambitions aimed at creating a positive impact on the environment, social sustainability, and the responsible consumption of alcohol.
Six Victims in Sacramento Mass Shooting Identified As Police Search for Suspects
The six victims who lost their lives during a mass shooting in Sacramento over the weekend have been identified as police search for “multiple” shooters they believe are behind the violent attack.
On Monday, the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office identified all six victims killed after gunmen opened fire in the California capital on Sunday, CNN reports. Melinda Davis, 57, Sergio Harris, 38, Joshua Hoye-Lucchesi, 32, Devazia Turner, 29, Johntaya Alexander, 21, and Yamile Martinez-Andrade, 21, were among the six fatalities.
Some 12 others were injured in the mass shooting that has police still searching for a motive. On Monday, they arrested Dandre Martin, 26, as a “related suspect,” according to The Associated Press.
“My son was a very vivacious young man,” Harris’ mother, Pamela Harris, told KOVR. “And for this to happen, it’s crazy. And I’m just to the point right now (where) I don’t know what to do. I don’t even think this is real.”
Police said multiple shooters were responsible for the mass shooting, Record Net reports.
“At this point, we believe there’s at least two shooters,” Sgt. Zach Eaton said. “So we’re still working through what actually led up to the fight.”
Eaton says authorities are investigating all sources, referencing a social media video that shows a scuffle ensue right before a series of gunshots rang out.
“We understand that there’s some social media video out there depicting a fight,” he said. “We don’t know if that fight actually led to the shooting. We’re still working through all those details right now.”
Police retrieved a stolen handgun at the scene. Several buildings were also struck by gunfire, authorities said.
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinbergcalled out the increase in gun violence in the city and across the country.
“We now have an opportunity to do everything we can to build on what we’re already doing to help save lives,” Steinberg said. “… It is beyond time to have a sane conversation about guns in America. We have a sickness. It’s a sickness in our country. It’s a sickness in our culture.”
A Scammer Has Been Using Chance The Rapper’s Name To Bait And Con People Out Of Thousands Of Dollars
The charitable work and philanthropy of musician Chancelor Johnathan Bennett, otherwise known as Chance The Rapper, is well known in the Windy City. What isn’t well known is that a scammer has been using his name for years to bait and con people out of thousands of dollars over the last decade.
CBS News reports sisters Ibi and Lulu Cole, who are businesswomen in the financial banking industry, lost $36,000 after being scammed by a man who struck up a conversation with Lulu at a Bank Of America parking lot.
“He called me over to his vehicle,” Lulu told CBS. “Initially, I was very hesitant to even, you know, engage with conversation with him.”
According to Lulu, she was set to walk away from the man who said his name was Jeffery Washington when he asked her if she had any bills. The man claimed the Community and Economic Development Association (CEDA) and Chance the Rapper were working together in a program paying off mortgages and other financial obligations for residents in the area, including light bill, gas bill, car insurance and telephone bills.
Lulu initially told the man no thanks, but the man then told an elaborate story of community service and an urgent need to give away $600,000. The man’s speech hit home with Lulu and she agreed to let him pay her phone bill. The man asked Lulu to call her cell phone service provider and rattled off a bunch of numbers he had memorized, and made a payment of $350.
Lulu called her service provider to confirm the payment, which a representative confirmed as well as her sister, who said she received a text from T-Mobile confirming the payment.
The man then asked Lulu if she had any real estate and Lulu called Wells Fargo where she owed $45,000 on a rental property. She gave the man authorization again, and the bank confirmed the $45,000 payment.
After that payment was made and confirmed, the sisters went in deep with the man as he paid $100,000 of Ibi’s mortgage on a house in Inglewood along with two credit cards and a smaller mortgage, which also went through.
The man then asked the women to pay it forward and the sisters agreed. Lulu gave the man $9,000 in cash but her sister Ibi took out $27,500 in cash and gave it to him.
Four days after giving him the money, Lulu received a text from the bank telling her the payment did not go through. One by one, all the other payments bounced as well throughout the day. The women said they believed the scam because of Chance the Rapper’s name, his efforts in the city, and five different banks confirmed the payments.
Jack Gillis, the former executive director of the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), told CBS the situation shouldn’t happen because when most people deposit checks, they aren’t recognized until the check clears.
“They simply told these victims that everything was good; that they were paid off. So, there’s no reason in the world for them to have doubted notices from an institution such as Wells Fargo, or New Rez,” Gillis added.
In addition to losing $36,000, the women also lost their dream of building an after-school community center in Chicago. The man who called himself Washington has been running the scam since 2014, but didn’t start including Chance The Rapper’s name until 2018. In addition to the Cole sisters, the man who calls himself Washington has scammed eight others out of varying amounts.
The CFA is now urging banks to clarify the language on inconsistent and confusing messaging surrounding initial confirmation notifications.
Ashanti Accused of Plagiarism After Announcing Children’s Book
Singer Ashanti is gearing up to expand her ventures with a children’s book celebrating the beauty of unique names. There’s a small hiccup: she’s accused of stealing the entire book’s concept.
“I’m so excited to finally share the news that my debut picture book MY NAME IS A STORY comes out on July 19th,” Ashanti shared in a lengthy caption on Instagram. “Inspired by my own experiences, I wrote this book to remind children that every name is special and deserves to be honored and celebrated.”
However, shortly after Ashanti’s announcement, Philadelphia author Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow accused her of seemingly copying her children’s book, Your Name is A Song. On Twitter, Thompkins-Bigelow, posted a side-by-side showing how much the two book covers resembled each other.
“My heart hurts…is Ashanti ripping off my book? Ashanti’s is on the left. Here’s mine on the right, published with @InnovationPress” Jamilah wrote in a tweet captured by The Jasmine Brand.
Twitter
Jamilah went on to post screenshots of the synopsis for both books, noting how she didn’t want to make “too big a deal” about the title and cover being so similar—until she saw the description for Ashanti’s upcoming debut.
“Inspired by Ashanti’s own experience, this poetic celebration shares the joy that one child finds in her name and reminds us to honor all the different names,” Ashanti’s book synopsis reads.
(Screenshot: Twitter)
However, Jamilah’s book shares a strikingly similar synopsis.
“Your Name is A Song is a celebration to remind all of us about the beauty, history, and magic behind names.”
(Screenshot: Twitter)
Jamilah recalled her two-year journey to find an agent and get her book published only “for some celebrity who probably didn’t even write it to just steal my idea. I am shaking,” she wrote.
(Image: Twitter)
Thompkins-Bigelow shared how much “worse” it got after she learned even more information about the possible plagiarism.
“Just know, I went to bed in tears and wondering if I even want to stay in this industry,” she tweeted. “I am devastated by the lack of ethics and cynicism. So devastated.”
Social media soon joined the conversation with others noting the direct credits Jemilah receives in Ashanti’s book synopsis.
Brooklyn Nets’ Ben Simmons Files Nearly $20 Million Grievance Against Philadelphia 76ers
Former Philadelphia 76ers basketball player and now current Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons has filed a grievance against his former NBA team.
According to ESPN, Simmons filed a grievance against the Philadelphia 76ers to challenge the almost $20 million salary that the team withheld from him when he didn’t suit up at the beginning of the current season.
The filing was made with the team, the NBA (National Basketball Association), and the NBPA (National Basketball Players Association) late this week.
Reporting with @RamonaShelburne and @BobbyMarks42: Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons has filed a grievance to challenge the nearly $20 million of salary withheld to him by the Philadelphia 76ers this season. Story soon on ESPN.
Last season, after the 76ers were eliminated from the playoffs, Simmons requested a trade after he reportedly lived up to the team’s expectations of him. At the beginning of this season, Simmons cited mental health issues as his reason for not suiting up for the team.
Philadelphia states that when Simmons didn’t suit up to play for the team, he breached his contract under the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and National Basketball Players Association. The team feels they had the right to recoup the money they advanced to him before the beginning of the season. Arbitration is the next step in this payment dispute.
The 76ers stated that its former player breached his player contract when he failed to show up for the start of training camp and refused to participate during the preseason and regular season. Simmons did attend training camp close to the end of the preseason. He reasoned that his mental health was the cause and that his participation in team activities was restricted.
The Philadelphia 76ers started withholding funds from Simmons’ paycheck initially on Nov. 15, which amounted to a per-game salary of $360,000 for each game Simmons skipped. Simmons received a $16.5 million advance on his $33 million salary before the start of the season. There wasn’t enough money in each paycheck to cover the per-game deductions based on that amount.
Simmons has since been traded to the Brooklyn Nets for disgruntled point guard James Harden on Feb. 10.
Recording Academy Teams With Quincy Jones’ OneOf for Limited Edition Grammy NFTs
The Quincy Jones-backed green blockchain company, OneOf, is working alongside the Recording Academy to commemorate the 64th, 65th, and 66th Annual Grammy Awards with an exclusive NFT collection.
The official March 7 launch awarded music fans with a free NFT and a chance to win a single “golden ticket” NFT for an all-inclusive travel stipend for two, to yesterday’s Grammy Awards ceremony in Las Vegas.
“To be on the forefront of technology while simultaneously serving the music community with a new and innovative platform is only the beginning of what NFTs are doing to change the musical landscape and to generate more income for music creators,” said Adam Roth, senior vice president, partnerships and business development, of the Recording Academy.
OneOf has continued to release more NFTs as part of the Grammy NFTs collection featuring three noteworthy “NFT artists from diverse backgrounds that highlight OneOf’s mission to support women and POC in the Web3 space,” according to a press release.
The talented artists are: ThankYouX, an internationally celebrated fine artist, painter, and creative director who began his artistic journey on the streets of L.A., and has exhibited paintings and sculptures in museums around the world; Emonee LaRussa, a two-time Emmy-winning director and motion graphics artist who has worked with Kanye West, Lil Nas X, and Megan Thee Stallion; and Andre Oshea, a 3D artist who has worked with Adult Swim, Snapchat, Tidal, and John Legend.
Each artist has not only created a series of limited-edition collectible works inspired by the famed award ceremony, but had a week devoted to their drop.
For instance, 27-year-old LaRussa revealed her first piece on March 7; her official NFT drop was March 15. She created one looping animation featuring a piano with Cinema 4D and 3D In Adobe After Effects. This idea came from wanting to “try to create these desolate environments where the only things that exist are instruments and music,” according to AfroTech.
Oshea’s NFT, “The Voice of Tomorrow” dropped Mar. 22.
“OneOf is looking forward to celebrating the biggest night in music with the Recording Academy, bringing this new technology to artists and fans in an accessible and environmentally friendly way,” said Adam Fell, OneOf co-founder and president of Quincy Jones Productions.
According to OneOf, a portion of all proceeds will go to the Recording Academy’s scholarship fund for supporting artists.
Rare Unseen Footage Of Prince At Age 11 Found In Archives Of 1970 Minneapolis Teachers Strike
A young future superstar was sharpening his interview skills many years before perfecting his craft, and a video from that encounter has been uncovered in Minneapolis.
According to CBS Minnesota, a recently found video shows an 11-year-old Prince Rogers Nelson speaking to a reporter during a teacher’s strike in 1970 in Minneapolis. The strike occurred 52 years ago this month, and WCCO restored the film to give perspective to an educators’ strike last month in the same district.
WCCO Production Manager Matt Liddy discovered that 13 minutes of an unearthed video had been restored from the film, and he decided to take a look at it.
“I grew up in Minneapolis, so all I cared about was looking at cool old buildings from the place I grew up. Did I recognize my old school? Did I recognize any landmarks?” Liddy said.
He noticed a recognizable yet young face as he looked at the video.
“I immediately just went out to the newsroom and started showing people and saying, ‘I’m not gonna tell you who I think this is, but who do you think this is?’ And every single person [said] ‘Prince,’” Liddy said.
In the video clip, which can be seen below, the reporter asks a young Prince, who may have been around 10 years old at the time, a question about the teachers’ strike. Prince shows his support to the teachers.
“I think they should get a better education too cause, um, and I think they should get some more money cause they work, they be working extra hours for us and all that stuff.”
As the reporter is trying to verify if it’s really Prince who is seen and heard on the video, he got in touch with a childhood friend who was in an early group with Prince. Terrance Jackson, who was also in the band, Graham Central, was shown the video clip and immediately confirmed that the young boy was indeed the Prince we grew to love.
“That is Prince! Standing right there with the hat on, right? That’s Skipper! Oh my God!” Jackson stated, also referring to Prince as Skipper, which was a childhood nickname of his.
