Black Tax Fest Celebrates 10 Years: Here’s What To Know About This Year’s Event
Organizers say the Biggest Boss himself, Rick Ross, will make an appearance this year.
Black Tax Fest, the conference dedicated to Black professionals in the financial and tax industries, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Visionary power couple Mowbray and Cherina Rowand, co-founders of ONE STOP Taxes, the largest Black-owned virtual income tax preparation platform in the U.S., created the conference in 2015.
What started as a small awards show has turned into a cultural and professional experience where business, entrepreneurship, real estate, and community come together.
“Black Tax Fest isn’t just a conference, it’s a movement,” said the Rowands in a statement. “We’re bringing together tax professionals, entrepreneurs, and financial leaders from across the country to share strategies, unlock new opportunities, and build partnerships that will shape the future of our industry.”
This year’s Black Tax Fest lineup is proving to be one of the biggest yet. Organizers say the Biggest Boss himself, Rick Ross, will make an appearance this year. Attendees will hear from financial educator Ash Cash, serial entrepreneur Alexis Skyy, as well as Candace Holyfield-Parker, Kyla Brown,and Michel Valbrun.
Other special guests include Rashad Williams, Dr. Rosie Thomas, and a special appearance from Q Parker of the R&B group 112.
Here’s What To Know About Black Tax Fest 2025
“Atlanta is the perfect backdrop, because this is where culture connects with business, and nobody leaves this event the same,” the Rowands add. “If you’re serious about growing your business and doubling your impact, this is the room you need to be in.”
Black Tax Fest 2025 will take place Oct.16 through Oct. 18 at Riverside EpiCenter, located at 135 Riverside Parkway in Austell, Georgia. The three-day event will feature breakfast with bosses, breakout and conference sessions, media mixers, an awards show, and a gala reception.
How The Blood Test That Screens 50 Types Of Cancers Could Be A Game-Changer For Black Patients
Scientists hope the test can soon be given once a year to patients over the age of 50 as another form of cancer screening.
A new blood test known to detect 50 types of cancer is taking the healthcare industry by storm as it could help bring the numbers down of unknown cases for all patients, including African Americans, The Times reported.
Galleri, developed by the American pharmaceutical firm Grail, is designed to detect small fragments of tumor DNA potentially found in the blood to locate cancer well before symptoms begin. Scientists hope the test can soon be administered annually to patients over age 50 as another form of cancer screening.
Former chief executive of Cancer Research UK and Grail’s president of international business and biopharma, Sir Harpal Kumar, says the test can save a “substantial number of lives.”
With testing starting in the United Kingdom, Kumar was hopeful that the UK would be the first country to introduce the system nationally, as he describes the disease as a global burden. “Cancer is already a huge burden on the National Health Service (NHS). It’s already a huge burden on society. It’s a huge burden economically, and it’s going to go up by a third over the next 15 years,” Kumar said.
“If you look at international comparisons, we’ve known for 20 years or more that our survival rates are not as good as other countries with which it’s reasonable to compare; countries like Australia, Canada, the Nordic countries and so on. The good news about that is survival rates are improving everywhere; the bad news is we’re not closing the gap.”
Data shows screenings are pivotal to early detection, especially in demographics where the disease is prevalent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black people have a higher rate of being diagnosed and dying from different forms of cancer. In comparison to white people, Black people are more likely to be diagnosed with breast, lung, and colorectal cancers at a late stage, as the disease is more difficult to treat after it spreads to other parts of the body.
With colorectal cancer being one of the most preventable and treatable cancers, the disease continues to take more lives in the Black community than any other demographic in the U.S., with mortality rates staying steady at approximately 20% and 30% higher for Black individuals than their white counterparts.
There is hope that Galleri can help these numbers go down. The test is being worked on for over 140,000 NHS patients between the ages of 50 and 77, with results due in 2026. But so far, the data from 36,000 U.S. adults has found that the test outperformed other screenings. Warning signals of cancer were found in 43% of patients. The test also ruled cancer out in 99.5% of people who did not have it, and identified the organ or tissue where the disease came from in 88% of cases.
While research revealed annual blood tests for early signs of cancer could prevent roughly half of the cases reaching advanced stages, scientists are still trying to figure out if simple blood tests are practical in picking up cancer before symptoms appear—and if they improve survival rates.
From Eight Months To Eight Days: How A Black-Owned AI Company Is Transforming Learning And Development
Most corporate training programs follow a long, linear process.
By: Karine Bah Tahe
In today’s rapidly evolving business world, one of the biggest challenges facing leaders is keeping their people ready for change. Traditional corporate training programs often take six to eight months to develop. By the time they’re deployed, employees are already behind, leaving organizations to pay the price in stalled productivity, outdated skills, and higher turnover.
This October, during Productivity Month, the question is more urgent than ever: How can companies move faster, smarter, and more effectively when it comes to talent development? The answer is artificial intelligence.
At Oasis Learning AI, we’re proving that corporate training no longer needs to take eight months; it can be built in just eight days. We partner with organizations such as Fortune 500 companies, Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, and other global leaders to deliver programs that are faster, smarter, hyper-personalized, and seamlessly integrated into their existing systems. The result: a minimum of 70% in efficiency gains, higher employee engagement, and measurable business impact.
Most corporate training programs follow a long, linear process. Once a need is identified, months are spent on needs analysis, content creation, reviews, and deployment. By the time a course is ready, the material can already be outdated. This lag creates significant business risks: outdated content, disengaged employees, missed opportunities for innovation, and higher turnover due to a lack of timely development support. Through AI technology, we’re redefining the speed and scale of training. By automating and optimizing each stage of course creation, companies can reduce development time from eight months to just eight days, a 95% reduction. Businesses can seamlessly integrate this technology with existing systems, file storage, and other AI tools. It doesn’t just accelerate content creation—it enhances quality, consistency, and alignment with business goals.
One-size-fits-all training no longer works. Today’s global workforce demands learning experiences that reflect diverse roles, regions, and cultures. This tech enables hyper-personalized learning journeys, whether that means bilingual compliance training for teams in Québec or role-specific simulations for customer service representatives in Texas. The AI also adapts to different learning styles, generating podcasts, microlearning modules, or videos depending on what best suits the audience. This flexibility ensures that learning feels personal, relevant, and impactful, no matter where an employee sits in the world.
Many fear that AI will replace jobs. AI actually empowers teams to focus on strategy and creativity rather than repetitive administrative tasks. By handling the heavy lifting, such as needs analysis, collaborations, formatting, and content tagging, AI allows L&D professionals to concentrate on what matters most: aligning learning with business outcomes and fostering human growth. AI also expands access to professional development, making training more equitable across organizations. When learning content can be built in days instead of months, more employees can benefit, especially those in regions or roles that have traditionally been underserved.
The era of generic, one-size-fits-all training is over. The future belongs to organizations that embrace AI-powered personalization to deliver better performance, faster skill readiness, and higher employee satisfaction.
At Oasis Learning AI, our mission is simple yet profound: to unlock human potential through smarter, faster, and more inclusive learning processes with technology that empowers teams. By giving learning teams the freedom to focus on innovation and employees the tools to thrive, we are building a future where corporate training keeps pace with the speed of business.
For Fortune 500 leaders and global organizations, the choice is clear. Embracing AI in learning and development today will set the benchmark for productivity, performance, and innovation in the years ahead.
Karine Bah Tahe is the CEO and co‑founder of Oasis Learning AI, a company using artificial intelligence to streamline learning & developmentworkflows, reduce complexity, and accelerate training creation.
Archer Jr., 27, shared a statement on Oct. 14, the day D’Angelo died from pancreatic cancer, thanking fans for their love and support.
“I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers during these very difficult times, as it has been a very rough and sad year for me,” Archer told People. “I ask that you please continue to keep me in your thoughts, as it will not be easy, but one thing that both my parents taught me was to be strong, and I intend to do just that.”
The singer’s family and the D’Angelo Estate released a statement announcing his death at the age of 51 following a “prolonged and courageous battle” with cancer.
“The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life…After a prolonged and courageous battle with cancer, we are heartbroken to announce that Michael D’Angelo Archer, known to his fans around the world as D’Angelo, has been called home, departing this life today, October 14th, 2025,” the estate said.
The statement continued: “We are saddened that he can only leave dear memories with his family, but we are eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind.”
Reports indicate that D’Angelo’s health had declined in recent months, with a two-week stay in hospice following several months in the hospital.
In March, Stone, a singer, songwriter, and founding member of the hip-hop trio The Sequence, died at 63 in a car crash after performing at the Mardi Gras Association’s Grand Marshal’s Ball in Mobile, Alabama. In September, her family filed a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging that Stone initially survived the crash but was fatally struck by a tractor-trailer while trying to exit the overturned van.
Archer Jr., who performs as Swayvo Train, shared an Instagram clip in May from the Heart and Neo-Soul (Ginuwine and D’Angelo) episode of MTV’s Family Legacy. The clip showed him and Stone watching an old D’Angelo interview, where he discussed spending the years between his 1995 debut Brown Sugar and 2000’s Voodoo with his family, and how his son inspired his music.
“I had a son. After his birth, I started writing for the album. And this album is dedicated to my son,” D’Angelo said in the interview. “He inspired me not just to write songs but to be a better man and to grow up. And that’s what the album is about. Music to me is about growth, and I grew a lot.”
Meet ‘Aunt Rhonda:’ The Woman Who Stopped At Nothing To Bring Fresh Food Options To A Syracuse Desert
Rhonda Vesey, known as “Aunt Rhonda,” created a successful grassroots campaign
The story of Rhonda Vesey, who stopped at nothing to bring a grocery store to a Syracuse, New York, food desert, proves that sometimes it takes community leadership to get what’s needed in their own neighborhoods, Syracuse.com reported.
Vesey, a former corporate finance professional and the daughter of a 1950s Civil Rights pioneer, took matters into her own hands to bring fresh food options back to the Valley neighborhood in need after Tops Friendly Markets shut down. In collaboration with Buffalo-based grocery entrepreneur A.K. Kaid, Vesey, known as “Aunt Rhonda,” successfully led a grassroots campaign to replace Tops with the Super Imperial Market, which offers fresh produce, meats, prepared hot foods, and other key grocery items.
Kaid called her “a big player” in playing the auntie role of staying on top of the project. Opened in May 2025, the project included renovations with a price tag of $2.1 million.
Vesey said she was “knocking on everybody’s doors,” leaning on her impressive rolodex of contacts, including the plaza owner, Ellicott Development, founded by former New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino. She spent five years emailing, calling, and visiting grocery store operators across the Northeast, even hounding local, state, and federal elected officials to support the cause.
After leaving her career in finance in 2020, Vesey put all her energy into creating Food Access Healthy Neighborhoods Now (FAHNN), a local organization that works with volunteers to fill the gap with fresh food options, with farmers’ markets for neighborhoods labeled as food deserts — areas where little fresh produce is available near residents’ homes. Her work has not only fed those in desperate need but also helped her thrive, getting through the hard days following the passing of her mother. “Since [I started], I have not been depressed since. I’ve been running fast and furious,” Vesey said, according to Local Syr.
“Having the title in Syracuse, New York, of being the most impoverished in the nation is an ugly title. And that’s another reason, I’m going to keep running.”
Shutting its doors in 2018, Tops was the last fresh food resource in proximity. The closest options were roughly two miles away, creating a significant barrier for low-income residents who often lack reliable transportation. And Syracuse is not the only city dealing with such issues. Lack of fresh food access is a problem in just about every American city, some with a strong Black and Hispanic demographic. City leadership often struggles to convince store owners to invest in low-income areas.
Cities like Muncie, Indiana, located in Delaware County, are one of them. Out of 65,000 residents, 64% live in areas considered food deserts, according to Cardinal Media. CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank, Becca Clawson, said the county has “one of the highest rates of food insecurity in the state.”
But thanks to Black women like Aunt Rhonda, who have embraced the challenge of creating reliable food options, things may start to turn around. “We don’t want to see a store leave us again,” she said.
‘Me Too.’ Launches Star-Studded Disruptors Council With Viola Davis, Gabrielle Union
The council consists of gamechangers such as Viola Davis, Gabrielle Union, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley.
“me too.” International, the anti-sexual violence organization co-founded by Tarana Burke, has started a new Disruptors Council featuring celebrity advocates to address the ongoing sexual violence crisis.
The group consists of high-profile stars and politicians like actresses Viola Davis and Gabrielle Union, as well as Congressman Ayanna Pressley. Their work will challenge and disrupt the culture that allows women and survivors to go unheard and unsupported.
The council will promote the work and initiatives of “me too.” as the organization continues its fight for survivors of sexual assault and harassment. They will amplify policy work and cultural shifts that foster a more equitable and safer world for all, breaking down restrictive gender norms that uphold oppressive systems.
“We’re at a pivotal moment. Recent high-profile cases have once again made clear just how prevalent sexual violence still is,” explained Burke in a press release. “The Disruptors Council represents what we’ve always believed: that real change happens when we work together to address the systems that allow sexual violence to persist, not just respond to its effects. Sexual violence is solvable when we bring this conversation into mainstream culture and treat prevention as a shared responsibility.”
Also in the council are Cliff Albright, co-founder and executive director, Black Voters Matter Fund; actress Michelle Buteau; and media personalities Bevy Smith and Jessie Woo.
“I raise my hand as a survivor and the daughter of a survivor,” said Davis. “I raise my hand to be seen and to break the silence and invisibility of sexual assault…to destroy the stigma, the shame, and reclaim our worth. I’m proud to be a disruptor.”
Union also shared, “I speak up because change starts with raising our voices and standing for what’s right. I disrupt by challenging the status quo in ways that create opportunity, understanding, and progress for everyone.”
Through the Disruptors Council, “me too.” hopes to advance its movement toward justice for survivors, while encouraging all to speak up against violence.
Able-Bodied Adults Beware Of New Requirements To Receive SNAP Benefits In Wake Of Trump Bill
If recipients fail to meet work standards, they can only receive benefits for up to three months.
Able-bodied adults should take heed of new requirements that could impact whether or not they get SNAP benefits next month.
The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program helps Americans with the funding needed to purchase food. According to The Hill, 42 million people in the U.S. currently rely on the assistance program. However, in the wake of Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, which went into effect in July, new changes are on the way that could affect many recipients.
The Big Beautiful Bill has ended a waiver program that many states have used to opt out of work requirements. While this program was initially set to end in February 2026, the Trump administration has pushed this expiration to November. Now, counties that directly oversee SNAP implementation must comply with the new regulations.
The news specifically impacts ABAWDs, able-bodied individuals, up to age 64, with no dependents. These applicants must certify that they will work up to 80 hours a month. This work can also count as school studies or volunteer hours, but it must be completed to receive SNAP benefits.
If they fail to meet these standards, they can receive benefits for only up to 3 months. The update also expands who must comply with this stipulation. Previously, exceptions included adults over 55 and people with dependents under 18. Now, only people with dependents under age 14 are exempt. Veterans, unhoused people, and young adults transitioning out of foster care must also prove they meet this work requirement.
However, not everyone fitting this criteria will have to seek immediate employment or school. Native Americans and those living in areas with an unemployment rate of 10% or more do not have to meet this requirement. The latter will be able to qualify for a waiver.
On the other hand, immigrants, including refugees, those granted asylum, and human trafficking survivors, will lose their SNAP benefits due to the stripping of “non-citizen eligibility.”
The bill will introduce significant cuts to the food assistance program. This also means more responsibility on the states to support it. States with a higher percentage of errors in SNAP administration will have to cover a greater share of the cost in upcoming years. Given these new financial constraints, experts believe reductions, if not outright cancellations, of SNAP benefits will likely occur.
Home Depot’s ‘Path To Pro’ Program Expands Trade Hiring And Training
Home Depot has launched a new program designed to elevate and expand careers in the skilled trades.
With more Gen Zers choosing careers in the trades over the traditional high school-to-college path, Home Depot is further amplifying its program to recruit and train skilled trade workers.
On Oct. 7, ServiceTitan, a software company for home and commercial contractors, announced its partnership with Home Depot on the Path to Pro program. The initiative gives ServiceTitan customers access to a strong pipeline of skilled tradespeople, while providing aspiring professionals with streamlined pathways into careers in HVAC, plumbing, electrical work, and more.
Launched in 2021, The Path to Pro Skills Program is a free, on-demand training initiative from The Home Depot that helps connect skilled tradespeople with hiring professionals in the construction and home improvement industries. Now, ServiceTitan has joined the effort to expand connections between jobseekers and employers through the Path to Pro Network.
The program expansion comes as the skilled trades industry faces a severe labor shortage with more than 400,000 open construction jobs across the U.S.
“We know that there are more than 400,000 open construction jobs today, and counting,” Jenna Arca, Director of Workforce Development, The Home Depot, told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “We aim to help build the next generation of trades professionals by providing them with the free resources and training they need to launch a successful career and connect them directly with hiring professionals through the Path to Pro Network.”
Through Path to Pro, job seekers can connect with high-demand opportunities at some of the nation’s fastest-growing service companies. Contractors who register for Home Depot’s free Pro Xtra loyalty program will also gain access to a dedicated hiring network for skilled tradespeople.
The program provides free introductory training in the skilled trades, available in both English and Spanish, for anyone looking to start or advance their career. Participants gain access to on-demand courses that equip them with the foundational skills needed to land entry-level roles in fields such as electrical work, plumbing, HVAC, drywall, and painting.
The initiative allows contractors using ServiceTitan to access a variety of free resources and tools to help strengthen the skilled trades pipeline. These include the Path to Pro Resource Hub, which offers career guidance and information for those exploring trade careers; the Path to Pro Skills Program, featuring free on-demand training and educational content for trades and construction professionals; and the Path to Pro Network, a hiring platform that connects contractors with job seekers.
The program aligns with a growing trend among Gen Z, whose interest in skilled trades is rising amid economic pressures such as pricey college tuition, the fear of AI taking jobs, and the influence of platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where young people share their pursuit of the trades. Many young people now view trade careers as a stable, debt-free route to financial success and fulfilling, hands-on work, and as an appealing alternative to traditional office jobs.
Jamaica Stand Up! Stephen Marley, Beenie Man Honor Reggae Icon Allan ‘Skill’ Cole
Bob Marley's former manager, who was a former football star, died Sept. 9.
Stephen Marley, Beenie Man, Carlene Davis, and other reggae stars honored the life of Jamaican football star and former Bob Marley manager, Allan “Skill” Cole at a Thanksgiving service held at Jamaica’s National Arena on Oct. 11.
Cole died Sept. 9 at The University Hospital of the West Indies. He was 74.
While he became a hometown hero for his success as an international football player, Cole played a pivotal role in the growth of reggae music and the respect of Jamaica’s Rastafari community.
Several Jamaican musicians attended the Thanksgiving service to honor Cole and offered musical tributes, including Herman ‘Bongo Herman’ Davis, Dean Frazer, and Denzil ‘Dipstick’ Williams, a close friend of Cole, who delivered a rendition of Joe Higgs’ 1983 song, “Ah So It Go.”
“I choose this song because one of Bob Marley’s teachers, Joe Higgs, he was the person who did that song. It resonated with me so much that I believed it would fit the occasion,” Williams told the crowd, according to The Jamaica Gleamer. “I changed it up to make it accommodating for this event, and the people loved it. I feel really good that I made a proper choice to sing that song, because overall, when all is said and done, life has to go on.”
Williams reflected on his long friendship with Cole, which began during his upbringing in Jamaica’s Trench Town—a neighborhood central to reggae’s early musicians. There, they were influenced by figures like Mortimer Planno, Bob Marley’s mentor, a Jamaican Rastafari elder, drummer, and supporter of Marcus Garvey’s early-20th-century Back-to-Africa movement.
Referred to as “the mecca of music,” Williams recalled Marley’s eagerness to spend time in Trench Town and connect with Cole, who later became tour manager for Bob Marley and The Wailers in the 1970s. Cole is also credited on their Rastaman Vibration album for co-writing the 1976 song “War.” He introduced Marley to lyrics from a speech by Haile Selassie, which he included on the song.
Cole and Marley remained close friends until Marley died in 1981. In 1980, Cole caught Marley when he collapsed while jogging in New York City and carried him back to his hotel.
The celebrated Jamaican is also celebrated for his advocacy against discrimination toward the Rastafari movement, confronting radio stations that refused to play Bob Marley and the Wailers’ 1974 single, “Rebel Music (3 O’Clock Roadblock).”
Cole is survived by his wife, Sharon Cole, and six children.
Fani Willis Speaks On ‘Culture of Fear’ After Removal From Trump Case
Willis also issued support to Letitia James in an op-ed piece for Madame Noir.
Fulton County (GA) District Attorney Fani Willis is speaking out after the Georgia Supreme Court ruled to remove her from the headlining election interference case against President Donald Trump and his followers.
Her take: she wasn’t surprised as the country is living in a “culture of fear,” WSB-TV reports.
In September, the state’s highest court voted 4-3 not to hear the appeal of a lower court’s decision to remove Willis amid her fight against the MAGA leader to prove interference in the 2020 presidential election.
“I think judges are human beings. We are living in a culture of fear. It did not surprise me. I think you have both prosecutors, citizens, and even judges who are afraid right now for good reason. And so, it didn’t surprise me,” the district attorney told WSB-TV. “There’s many members of that Supreme Court I’m very fond of, but they’re human beings, they have families, and I’m sure they were afraid to do anything other than that.”
Willis was put in the spotlight for her relentless efforts to seek justice against Trump following accusations that he used resources and friends in high places, including disgraced ex-New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, to swing the votes in the Republicans’ favor after his loss to former President Joe Biden.
Things were seemingly moving in the right direction until Willis was ridiculed and tried for hiring a special prosecutor, Nathan Wade, on her team that she was romantically involved with. .
Trump’s Georgia-based lawyer Steve Sadow celebrated the decision in a statement saying, “her disqualification was the result of what she did and for no other reason.” The decision comes as Trump and the MAGA tribe have gone to great lengths to go after the president’s political enemies, seemingly targeting those who are Black women.
His latest obsession: New York Attorney General Letitia James.
After prior attorneys for the Eastern District of Virginia failed to bring charges against James, Trump-appointed interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan managed to get James indicted on charges of bank fraud and false statements to a financial institution.
While James confirmed she has no plans of bowing down to MAGA threats, in an Madame Noir op-ed piece, Willis issued support from one target to another, and gave advice for her to pay attention to the timing.
“She’s accused of mislabeling one of her properties. James has denied wrongdoing and called the charges politically motivated. The timing is intentional,” Willis said while paying homage to other Black women under the microscope like Lisa Cook and Marilyn Mosby. “We are deep in the heart of a political season, and the motive is plain as day: weaken a formidable opponent who previously led a civil fraud case against him.”
As to where the case against Trump will go now that she is no longer involved, Willis says it will be a tough road.
“The reality is it’s going to be hard to find a prosecutor that’s not afraid to prosecute that case when one of the primary defendants is threatening anyone that would dare to prosecute them,” she said. “To only do they not have the resources to do the case, but there’s fear mongering going on right now.”
