Aiming To Help Close Wealth Gaps, JPMorgan Chase Commits $30 Million To Black And Latina Women
Marking one of its single largest investments to back Black and Latina women, JPMorgan Chase is committing $30 million to assist and help close the wealth gap for them.
The nation’s largest bank announced two of six winners to gain $5 million each in philanthropic capital tied to an annual contest to source innovative and sustainable concepts to advance equity across U.S. communities. Beginning with Washington D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland, the banking giant reports it will award collaborations across six U.S. cities totaling $30 million.
The bank reported that the philanthropic commitments come as COVID-19 has hit Black and Latina women hard and made worse economic disparities for them. It noted over 2 million women left the labor force during the COVID crisis, and the unemployment rate for Black and Latina women remains constantly higher than the jobless rates for white and Asian men and women.
Based on the JPMorgan Chase Institute, Black and Latina women were especially vulnerable to COVID’S financial effects and ran into “differential impacts like childcare responsibilities caused by closed or virtual schools and daycares.”
According to the bank, “winning collaborations demonstrated significant experience improving outcomes for Black and Latina women, and offered timely and promising approaches to financial health and coaching, entrepreneurship, housing stability, and career support.”
JPMorgan Chase reported five of the six collaborations are led by Black and Latina women. The two announced winners were Advancing Early Education in Washington, D.C, and Prioritizing Black and Latina Women’s Economic Rise in Baltimore. More details on the winners and the commitment can be found here.
Demetrios Marantis, global head of Corporate Responsibility, JPMorgan Chase, stated, “To help address the challenges faced by many Black and Latina women across the U.S., we are investing in collaborations, drawing on the strengths of public and private sectors, to develop and test innovative and sustainable solutions. We know taking on these monumental issues will require a diversity of perspectives, areas of expertise, and skills.”
She added, “Nearly two years into the pandemic in the U.S., we have continued to lose ground on the longstanding economic disparities that have disproportionately impacted Black, Hispanic and Latino people, especially women.”
Damn Gina! Brownsville Police Says They ‘Could Not Validate’ Tisha Campbell’s Version of Attempted Abduction
Over the weekend, Martin star Tisha Campbell reported an alleged kidnapping attempt. However, after an investigation, police officials say they “could not validate Ms. Campbell’s stay in Brownsville hotels nor any other claims made in the video.”
Campbell posted to social media that she was shooting a film in Brownsville, Texas. The Martin show alum explained that ridesharing services weren’t available in the area after the workday concluded, so she called a cab.
Campbell stated that an unidentified man told her to get into the truck he was driving. She didn’t because she said the vehicle looked shady. After the driver told her again to get in the car, another guy motioned her to get in the backseat. Campbell said she hesitated, and the second man suggested that she “get in the front seat then.”
She recapped the story in an Instagram post.
“This was a video I sent to my brother right after it happened but I felt it important for ppl to be aware. I need for EVERYONE to be overly conscious of themselves and their loved ones. As Tonidrivera says it’s SHOPPING SEASON where traffickers try to snatch ppl up!!! If I wasn’t from Newark boyyyyy… If Tony Rivera hadn’t schooled me and my friends on what to look for, SH*T would’ve been real different.”
On Sunday, the Brownsville Police Department posted about the alleged incident Campbell spoke of on its Facebook account and stated that they “could not validate” the claims she made.
“Upon reviewing facts presented by Ms. Campbell in her video, BPD Investigators quickly launched an investigation as such cases are not the norm in our city. Through numerous interviews and reviews of security camera footage, we could not validate Ms. Campbell’s stay in Brownsville hotels nor any other claims made in the video.
“The Brownsville Police Department takes human trafficking and incidents such as the one Ms. Campbell reported seriously and welcomes her to reach out to us to investigate the matter further.”
TMZ reported earlier this week that Campbell’s representative disclosed that the incident did not take place in Brownsville, Texas, but, instead, it was a Marriott in South Padre Island, Texas.
Miss USA Cheslie Kryst’s Grieving Mom Opens Up About Her Daughter’s Death By Suicide
April Simpkins, the mother of former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst, breaks her silence days after learning her daughter’s tragic death on Jan. 30 was ruled a suicide.
In a statement to E! News, Simpkins addressed her daughter’s mental health and recalled “many beautiful memories.”
A correspondent for the television show Extra, Kryst was pronounced dead at the scene after she fell from a 60-story Orion building in New York City. She was 30. It was later confirmed by the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner that she died by suicide, as per the autopsy.
“I have never known a pain as deep as this. I am forever changed,” wrote Simpkins.
“Today, what our family and friends privately knew was the cause of death of my sweet baby girl, Cheslie, was officially confirmed. While it may be hard to believe, it’s true.”
(Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images and Instagram/ @aprils_hr)
According to the grieving mother, Kryst, who was crowned Miss USA in 2019 was struggling with depression and kept it a secret from her closest friends and family members. Simpkins was also not aware of her daughter’s burdens.
“Cheslie led both a public and a private life,” Simpkins wrote. “In her private life, she was dealing with high-functioning depression which she hid from everyone — including me, her closest confidant — until very shortly before her death,” wrote the grieving mom, who herself was a pageant winner, winning the Mrs. North Carolina title in 2002.
Simpkins described her daughter as “my very best friend” while reminiscing on the sweet memories they shared.
“We miss her laugh, her words of wisdom, her sense of humor and mostly her hugs. We miss all of it—we miss all of her,” Simpkins said. “She was a vital part of our family, which makes this loss even more devastating.”
“Cheslie — to the world, you were a ball of sunshine wrapped in smiles,” Simpkins addressed her daughter directly. We talked, FaceTimed or texted one another all day, every day. You were more than a daughter — you were my very best friend. Talking with you was one of the best parts of my day. Your smile and laugh were infectious,” she continued. “I love you baby girl with all my heart. I miss you desperately. I know one day we’ll be together again. Until then, rest easy and in peace.”
In lieu of flowers, Kryst’s family welcomes donations to Dress for Success, a global not-for-profit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
Black-Owned Platform Celebrates 7 Years Teaching Minorities Investing
Meet Ernest Curry and Latoya Smith, the founders of The Profit Room, an online learning platform that teaches people of color how to invest in stocks, cryptocurrency, foreign exchange and futures. Launched in 2016, they are now celebrating seven years of financially empowering and coaching their clients.
The Profit Room does more than just talk about trading. It is an international community of traders who collaborate and support each other in their goals using easy-to-understand language and examples. Even more, there is a focus on teaching Black Americans how to invest and trade to help close the wealth gap.
In fact, as two professional traders who have active portfolios themselves and specialize in technical analysis with a systematic approach to trading any market, they are quite the team. Ernest brings the knowledge and experience acquired from his hedge fund manager mentor to the table. Meanwhile, Latoya’s brings to the table her background in investment banking at a top global bank. Ernest and Latoya work together to create, teach and support all courses, resources, and community at The Profit Room. The mission and ultimate goal is to help people from all socioeconomic backgrounds learn how to trade and invest to be successful in all financial markets. It does not matter how young or old you are. It is never too early or late to learn how to master investing.
Clients of The Profit Room are taught how to both understand and invest in stocks, cryptocurrency and futures independent of market fads, news and trends. Members of the community have opportunities to mentor and be mentored.
Latoya comments, “When I was able to replace my income trading, I partnered with Ernest to launch The Profit Room and it has been great working with savvy individuals from all over the world. Our global impact is incredible and I am happy to be a part of this movement.”
Spike Lee On Board to Direct Colin Kaepernick Documentary for ESPN
Award-winning director Spike Lee will be directing a documentary on controversial former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick forESPN.
ESPN Films announced that Lee is on board and has started production on the previously reported multi-part documentary on Kaepernick. The film will be a part of The Walt Disney Co.’s overall first-look deal with the production company owned by Kaepernick, Ra Vision Media.
Last summer, filmmaker Ava DuVernay and the social activist joined together to present a limited series on Kaepernick’s high school years titled Colin in Black & White on Netflix. That series focused on the former San Francisco 49er quarterback’s formative high school years, which gave meaningful insight into the acts and experiences that led him to become the activist he is today.
With this upcoming documentary, Kaepernick, who has never given a complete, first-person account of his journey, will work with Lee on telling his story from his own viewpoint. There will be comprehensive new interviews as well as a vast never-before-seen archive that will be featured to help with Kaepernick’s telling.
When Kaepernick signed the deal with ESPN, he said, “I am excited to announce this historic partnership with Disney across all of its platforms to elevate Black and Brown directors, creators, storytellers, and producers, and to inspire the youth with compelling and authentic perspectives. I look forward to sharing the docuseries on my life story, in addition to many other culturally impactful projects we are developing.”
The documentary will be executive produced by ESPN Films and produced by Lee’s 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks. Former ESPN television personality Jemele Hill is also a producer on the project.
According to ESPN, Lee also directed the 2009 film, Kobe Doin’ Work, on Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant. That film examined the much-talked-about work ethic of the Lakers basketball legend and basketball expertise through a single Lakers game against the San Antonio Spurs.
The two were seen Wednesday night in New York at Madison Square Garden at the Knicks basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Meet The First Black Female Dancer To Perform With Riverdance On US Tour
Virginia native Morgan Bullock, 22, has just added “pioneer” to her résumé.
Last year, her TikTok videos were viewed by millions, garnering admiration for her high-stepping Irish dance moves to hip-hop hits like Megan Thee Stallion’s song “Savage,” featuring Beyoncé.
Now, the social media sensation will be making her professional U.S. stage debut with “Riverdance,” as the first Black female performer to do so. The two-hour show is loosely based on Irish culture and mass immigration to America while exploring traditional Irish music and dance.
The Irish dance troupe will be kicking off its 25th anniversary North American tour on March 4 after recently completing a United Kingdom tour. The production will open up in Salt Lake City and make stops in Boston; Springfield, Illinois; Pittsburgh; Buffalo, New York; Milwaukee; Toledo, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; Kansas City, Missouri; and Birmingham, Alabama.
“I just feel so honored and so excited to be a part of the show as it’s returning to American audiences,” the Virginia Commonwealth University graduate who studied at the Baffa Academy of Irish Dance told the Associated Press. “I hope that the tour reaches even wider audiences.”
From the age of 10, Bullock was intrigued by the dance style, and her love for it grew into a lifestyle.
“Irish dancing, in general, is just something that I’ve felt deeply since the first time that I saw it — it was something that I was supposed to be doing,” she told the news outlet. “For one reason or another, it has stuck with me.”
Her inclusion has been a lifelong dream for Bullock, but she didn’t always receive praise for her Irish dancing. While some people accused her of cultural appropriation, she dances to represent aspiring dancers while spreading awareness of Irish dance styles and encouraging others.
She continued: “I think what’s so special about Irish dancing is that it does transcend cultural borders, and it’s something that can be enjoyed by literally anyone, no matter where you come from, no matter what you look like, no matter if you even have an Irish connection. It’s a beautiful cultural art form. I think because it has Irish in the name, people think you have to be Irish, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Bullock, an alumna of a Riverdance summer school in Boston, learned and trained for the entire show before she was invited to join the dance troupe. While her TikTok videos reached millions, she became quickly known to producers.
“Besides the talent that she is, her personality and what she stands for as a human is what we’re all about,” says Padraic Moyles, the show’s executive producer and director. “That is one of the major reasons why we felt it’s time for Morgan to be in the show.”
Roland Martin, McDonald’s Team Up To Offer $100,000 In Scholarships To HBCU Juniors And Seniors
Journalist Roland Martin has teamed up with fast-food giant McDonald’s to offer $100,000 to historically Black colleges and university juniors and seniors.
According to a McDonald’s release, the partnership also includes the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, of which Martin is a member, and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF).
The release adds that scholarships and grants typically cover just a quarter of the total cost of college per year, and scholarships for HBCU students are usually centered on a student’s transition from high school to college. As a result, upperclassmen are often left to deal with college costs and student loan debt alone.
Additionally, student loan debt affects Black college students significantly more than white college students. The Education Data Initiative reports Black college graduates owe an average of $25,000 more in student loan debt than white college graduates. Four years after graduation, 48% of Black students owe an average of 12.5% more than they borrowed. Black student borrowers are the most likely to struggle financially due to student loan debt, with 29% making monthly payments of $350 or more.
The TMCF will select seven juniors and seniors and award each $15,000 in scholarships for the 2022-2023 academic year. Those interested can apply on the TMCF website, and scholarship winners will be announced before the fall 2022 semester.
“We know the outstanding work being done at HBCUs, which is why our team is devoted to use our scale and resources to expand educational opportunities for Black students,” Reginald Miller, vice president and global diversity, equity and inclusion officer at McDonald’s said.“Our hope is that this scholarship effort helps build and support the pipeline of diverse talent that will go on to be changemakers in our society for decades to come.”
In addition to the scholarship funds, selected students will also get the opportunity to engage one-on-one with McDonald’s executives currently working in their respective fields of study.
“For more than two decades, we’ve worked with McDonald’s to provide critical resources to students when they need it most. Matriculating through college can be tough, and funds to support navigating that journey is a crucial part of ensuring graduation is attainable,” said Dr. Harry L. Williams, president and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
“And we’re excited to extend our partnership with this scholarship to offer even more funds to HBCU students next year.”
The NFL Team Once Known as Washington Football Team is Now Washington Commanders
The NFL team formerly known as the Washington Redskins, and more recently, Washington Football Team, has officially changed its name. From this point on, the new name is the Washington Commanders.
The team announced its new name on Wednesday and a new look and logo.
“As an organization, we are excited to rally and rise together as one under our new identity while paying homage to our local roots and what it means to represent the nation’s capital,” co-owner and co-CEO Daniel Snyder said in a written statement.
“As we kick-off our 90th season, it is important for our organization and fans to pay tribute to our past traditions, history, legacy and the greats that came before us. We continue to honor and represent the Burgundy & Gold while forging a pathway to a new era in Washington. Today may mark the first day for the Washington Commanders, but we are and always will be Washington.”
To 90-year-old franchise will continue the tradition of the classic burgundy-and-gold color scheme at the center of the Commanders new identity. The home uniform also will keep the burgundy and gold colors, a specific reference to uniforms of the past.
The Washington Commanders will work closely with fans to help with traditions under a new banner and combine them with new ones that they will help to develop. That would also include bringing back the fight song and designing the second alternate uniform.
Even President Biden acknowledged the team’s name change.
The NFL team retired the offensive Redskins moniker in 2020 due to pressure from various groups protesting the use of the name for years. With the logo bearing the red face of a Native American for years, several Indian groups and allies said the original name and logo were stereotypical.
The organization entered the NFL as the “Redskins” in 1933. Former owner George Preston Marshall moved the team from Boston to Washington, D.C. in 1937.
New York’s Largest Minority-Run Homeless Service is Unfairly Attacked
When the late New York Congresswoman, Shirley Chisholm, said, “You don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas,” at least one man was listening — Jack Brown III. He also heard her when she admonished, “Don’t listen to those who say YOU CAN’T. Listen to the voice inside yourself that says, I CAN.”
Envisioning a better way to meet the needs of New York City’s 48,000 homeless residents, Mr. Brown launched CORE Services Group. For more than a decade under his leadership, CORE has provided innovative, high-quality residential and supportive services that have enabled homeless individuals to feel safe, find shelter and be empowered to contribute to their community.
Beginning in 2014, CORE began to build a portfolio of shelter programs for the homeless, including some that were relinquished by providers that had run into difficulty. By early 2020, CORE’s portfolio included 40 programs with 1,300 staff members serving more than 3,000 homeless people each night. CORE appeared to be well on the way to fulfilling Jack Brown’s vision of a better way.
In the category of “no good deed goes unpunished,” Mr. Brown has been blindsided by largely ad hominem attacks from City officials and the local media — together attempting to paint him as a “housing boss” with a “troubled past.” Yet, apparently the worst that can be said is that Mr. Brown has earned a salary commensurate with his responsibilities and that CORE has used a customary corporate structure (which was disclosed to the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) to deliver high quality services. In fact, CORE has been scrupulous in proactively and transparently communicating with DHS and other funders about its organization and staff salaries.
The City’s treatment of Mr. Brown and CORE is perhaps the clearest example yet of how a craven administration hides from its own shameful failures by casting aspersions upon the character of those that it assumes are unwilling or unable to fight back with facts and truth. While the De Blasio Administration trumpets its concern for NYC’s marginalized and disadvantaged residents — here it attacks a minority-run organization in an attempt to hide from its failed housing policies.
De Blasio’s DHS has a dismal record of supporting its providers, especially Black and other minority-governed businesses. In fact, earlier this year, in a report card issued by New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, DHS received an ‘F,’ for failing to do business with Black-owned companies.
Mr. Brown’s mission was, and continues to be, to provide services to the city’s most vulnerable at a time when bureaucrats all too often turn a blind eye to their most disenfranchised constituents. CORE programs help clients secure jobs or access technical skills training, mentorship, training in independent living skills, case management and permanent housing placement. And they do all this without ever losing sight of the dignity and respect owed to those they are helping.
Instead of acknowledging their own shortcomings in addressing homelessness, certain officials in City Hall who have never set foot in a shelter appear bent on sullying Jack Brown’s reputation through leaks to the press. And the media has been happy to oblige and pile on by making insinuations based on cherry-picked facts taken out of context.
Why are prominent media outlets attacking CORE, an organization that has faithfully served the City and people in need and even continued to do so during the past 18 months though it wasn’t being paid for many of the services it was providing? Because nothing sells papers and generates clicks like a juicy corruption story, even one that is rooted in insinuations and lacking in evidence. And perhaps because CORE – which is owed $33 million for services already provided during a pandemic that killed thousands of New Yorkers – asked DHS to pay up so it could continue to employ the staff members who have shown up to work every day since the beginning of the pandemic and have risked their own health (and the health of their families) to care for the most vulnerable among us.
I can only hope that the next administration will correct the wrongs of the De Blasio Administration and do right by Jack Brown, a Black man who has dedicated his life to helping others get back on their feet – because he believes everyone deserves a second chance and no one can do it alone.
Jack Brown’s plight is yet another sad example of the impediments Black Americans still face when we strive for excellence. Mr. Brown is being pilloried for his commitment to caring for homeless New Yorkers, a group which unfortunately includes a disproportionate number of Black and brown people. CORE came every time DHS called. But sadly, as Congresswoman Chisholm also once said, “Racism is so universal in this country, so widespread, and deep-seated, that it is invisible because it is so normal.”
Benjamin Lloyd Crump is an American attorney who specializes in civil rights and catastrophic personal injury cases such as wrongful death lawsuits.
From horticulture to beauty, fashion and lifestyle – these Black business founders are making waves in their respective industries. Check out their stories and how they found inspiration for their captivating brands.
Yinka Alade is an award-winning Art Director that has done artwork for Disney, Dreamworks, Hasbro, Mattel, Marvel, EA, Activision, and many more. Through his 15+year art career he has worked on properties such as Disney’s Moana, Transformers, Spiderman, Madden NFL Football, Star Wars, The Sims 4, and much more. He created Rooted Pots for the main purpose of bringing some much needed color and flavor to the horticulture space. There is a large and healthy base of black plant moms and dads, but nothing out there that represents them in that space, and Rooted Pots is here to fill that void in a stylish and artistic way. With thousands sold, it’s a sign that the culture approves of Rooted Pots!
As a young child, Khadidja primarily learned about skincare by watching her mother. For as long as she can remember, she would see her mother mixing different natural ingredients in their kitchen. These mixtures were natural skin remedies passed down for generations within her family’s West African culture. Her mother would create all kinds of different products, but almost always with bases of shea butter and cocoa butter. Kubra Kay Skincare was created as a way to combine Khadidja’s deep breadth of product knowledge with the powerhouse natural ingredients that she came across during her travels and within her rich heritage at home. As a brand created for the people and by the people, Khadidja seeks to empower others every day through Kubra Kay’s clean, high-performing products.
Brittani Hunt and Tanisha Carothers – HerSpace Co.
HBCU alums Brittani Hunt and Tanisha Carothers’s idea for HerSpace Co. began to take form almost 10 years ago long before it even had a name. From women’s conferences and retreats at hotels to workshops on college campuses, they found themselves creating + holding space for the modern woman. In 2014, they sat in the Palace of Auburn Hills arena for Oprah’s The Life You Want Weekend. They were right in the middle of their own individual life transitions – jobs, engagement, relocation, degree completion, relationships, financial strain, spiritual droughts, mothering and Bar examination preparations. They were tired and discouraged. They then realized what had been calling them since 2008 – creating a space where the modern woman can be and become HerSpace Co. is a lifestyle brand that makes space for the modern woman to be and become. Their planner is a tool for becoming the CEO of your life, built around different layers for dreaming, goal setting and success.
Aysia Hilliard is a young entrepreneur that has a talent for lip-synching and creating lip balms. At 20 years old, the Howard University student is the founder of a fun brand that blends her love of lip balm with hip hop and pop, creating one of the most talked-about items on TikTok. Going viral during the pandemic catapulted the brands from less than 75 orders in its first two years to over 50,000 lips balms to date! Her lips balms have shipped to over 30 countries. The tubes are larger than traditional chapsticks and more affordable, making them a must-have for the Gen Z crowd. This business-savvy woman used a play on words mixing hip hop and pop artist’s names with all-natural lip balm flavors. Meet Post Melone, Leminem, J.Cola, and Billie Limeish, among others. Aysia is a biology and chemistry major who, along with her studies, is working to create more flavors to add to her popular collection. Her TikTok channel now boasts nearly 100K followers and more than 2 million likes.
Adonis King embodies his brand’s ode to travel and experience different cultures. A fashion designer with an eye for creativity, individuality, and adventure, his bag is always packed for the latest outing. Ever so on-trend, inclusive, and fashion-forward, his offerings have found their way into the wardrobes of Shaun Ross, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys, just to name a few. It wasn’t always like this. A brush with a life-threatening illness, myocarditis, left Adonis fighting for his life at age 22.
“I almost lost my life about five years ago. I got really sick and was diagnosed with heart failure. I was watching myself die and doctors telling my mom I wasn’t going to make it. Every day I prayed it would get better. My body was only using 15% of my heart. The only thing I had in the hospital with me was my fashion sketches. I would sketch a garment daily because that’s how much I loved fashion. I was planning on leaving all my designs behind for the world to see.” He miraculously started getting better slowly, learning how to walk and breathe again. His doctors are amazed he was able to pull through to this day.
“I am living proof that anything is possible. If you enjoy doing something and are willing to die for it, there’s nothing that can stop you.”
