• Technology

by Black Enterprise Shop

June 8, 2021

Get Premium CompTIA Certification Training For Less Than $40

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When you’re a budding IT professional or looking into breaking into the field, it’s easy to get intimidated by your peers. In the IT field, having the right skills is appreciated, but a growing number of employers are also making certifications a make-or-break criterion when hiring.

Some people choose to earn as many certifications as they can get, but if you’re just starting, you can focus your energy on the industry-standard — CompTIA. With the 2021 CompTIA Master Certification Training Bundle, you can gain access to over 200 hours of premium content. Touching on professional IT skills like cybersecurity, Linux, cloud computing, pen testing, and more. For a limited time, you can get it on sale for an extra 20 percent off.

One of the most jam-packed instructional packages out there, this bundle will help you beef up your IT skills. Expert instruction by ITU Online, an award-winning e-learning platform that has provided in-demand IT training content to over 650,000 students, over 200 companies, and over 50 public entities. You’ll get the training you need to succeed in the IT specialty you want to explore.

There are cybersecurity courses centered on teaching you how to identify, analyze, and respond to security events and incidents. There are pen testing courses that will beef up your hacking skills and teach you how to actively test networks and computer systems for vulnerabilities. You’ll also receive courses on networking, where you’ll get to master installation, troubleshooting, configuration, and management of networks.

Get the 2021 CompTIA Master Certification Training Bundle for $39.20 (Reg. $1089) with code WELOVEDAD.

Prices subject to change.

• News

by Christian Spencer

June 8, 2021

Robert Gilliam Sues Michigan State Police For $1 Million After K-9 Attack

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A Black man filed a lawsuit on June 1 for an arrest in which a Michigan State police officer ordered his K-9 to attack a Black man from Washington State in November.

Robert Gilliam, 41, said in his $1 million suit that Trooper Parker Surbrook mistreated him, The Atlanta Black Star reported.

“I could not move, I was unarmed, I did not threaten the officers. I have permanent scars from the top of my head to my legs. I truly thought the dog was going to kill me,” Gilliam said in a statement.

Represented by civil rights attorney Maurice Davis, Gilliam’s suit is against Surbrook and the State Police.

Surbrook, charged in March with felonious assault as the dog continued to attack Gilliam for nearly four minutes, responded to a driver who had stolen a vehicle with a weapon on November 13. However, Gilliam was unarmed.

Now Surbrook is on unpaid suspension pending his criminal charges.

“My client, a Black man, laid on the ground with a broken hip and begged and pleaded with the officer to call off the dog,” Davis said. “Trooper Surbrook betrayed his badge and betrayed this citizen with his cruel, racist and reckless behavior. The trooper had a duty to protect and serve. This is not serving or protecting — this officer deserves a punishment, and my client deserves justice.”

Footage from a nearby car’s camera shows Gilliam exiting the vehicle, which crashed into a tree and immediately lying flat on the ground. The K-9 was called to attack him.

“Stay on the ground, motherf—-r!” Surbrook yelled, “Don’t move.”

“I’m not moving,” Gilliam said as the dog mauled him. “Please, sir, sir, I’m not moving, sir.” Gilliam’s passenger in the car was restrained during the incident.

After reviewing the footage, the police sergeant said that  “[Gilliam was] not displaying physical active resistance.”

Surbrook has been on the force for eight years and has been the K-9’s handler since 2017.

It doesn’t seem like things will end well for comedian Gary Owen and his estranged wife of 18 years, Kenya Duke. Duke filed for divorce in March.

In a recent Instagram post, the woman aired out her former beau. Duke had plenty to say as she accused Owen of being passive-aggressive, along with some other choice words for him as she claimed he hasn’t paid any bills since April 1.

“I have never gone to the media. The media goes looking for the paperwork. I have allowed you to tell your family, friends, and fans any false narrative that you want or need it to be about us, the relationship and our kids. Because I DON’T care or feel a need to defend or explain myself. You and I know what it really is! But when you go and make these dumb passive-aggressive posts in these insensitive ass t-shirts, I am triggered and you now have my attention. You haven’t supported us since April 1st. Nothing, nada, zero not electric, water, gas, not insurance (medical, dental, life, car, house, etc.), not groceries, not maintenance for the house, not the gas or maintenance of the cars, not the platinum card I got for us (because you wanted one) and you couldn’t get one (on your own), not the cell phone you had for 23 years; instead, you just got another phone number and didn’t pay the bill. All of our bills are attached to my SSN and credit. You have paid the $4500 mortgage that is attached to your SSN and credit (for the 1st time) but that is it.

“You haven’t seen your daughter in over 6 1/2 months, you haven’t seen your son in over 4 months. This is your choice. You do remember us right???? I “guess” we were useful when your content was needed. Or when I allowed you to live your best life while I stayed back with our kids, the house and taking care of the business. This is what it is after 23 years, of being the only one to have your back 100% of the time, wow! The new you is a Mofo. Do you even recognize right anymore? You’ve shown lack of care for me maintaining the financial stability and sole emotional support for our kids. I am the only person that has always protected you and you treat me like this, says more about your character than any of your antics. You are not a good guy, so cut it out and get a shirt that says DEADBEAT. I will let you get back to living your best life…lying, clout chasing, side chicks, and looking for a black celebrity friend group. #igiveyouzeroproblems #noliestold
#DONTBELATEFORTHECOURTDATE“

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Kenya Duke (@trulykenya)

Back in March, TMZ reported that Duke had filed divorce papers in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Owen has not responded to the accusations. And from the read Duke gave her soon-to-be ex, he shouldn’t.

First Lady Jill Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director, visited a COVID-19 vaccination site in Harlem on Sunday.

Biden and Fauci visited a COVID-19 site at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem along with Senator. Kristen Gillibrand (NY-D). The group met with workers registering patients for their vaccines and watched about 125 people receive their vaccinations.

Biden added public health officials have begun giving vaccination shots to adolescent and teen children. Part of that effort is setting up COVID-19 vaccination sites in local community centers, churches, and other locations.

“People in this community trust this church and trust the people in the church. And that’s how we’re going to do this, you know, through some faith community to reach out to the congregation or block to say, ‘Come forward and be vaccinated,’” Biden said according to The Hill.

Biden tried to help a young boy who was scared to get the shot.

“You OK?” Biden asked the boy. “You’re 14, so you’re exactly who we’re going for. We definitely want 12 and over to get vaccinated.”

Biden offered to hold the boy’s hand while he received the shot, but the boy declined. It wouldn’t be the only weird moment for the group, who arrived at Abyssinian Baptist Church met by a group of protestors kept away from the entrance to the church.

Protestors chanted “Fire Fauci” due to his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the release of his emails. The group also went after the first lady.

According to Mayor Andrew Cuomo’s office, 50 percent of New York residents are fully vaccinated, and more than 9.3 million residents are fully vaccinated. As of Monday morning, that puts New York 12th among states with the highest percentage of fully vaccinated residents. The top 10 states are Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Maryland, New Mexico, and Hawaii.

Dr. Brenda A. Allen, president at Lincoln University, commented, “Lincoln remains committed to supporting students to persist to and through graduation. This comprehensive education program teaches students financial literacy and connects them with resources to address their financial gaps.”

Bobbie Knight, president at Miles College, shared how Our Money Matters will benefit students. “This program will provide an important tool to teach our students the importance of good money management and financial responsibility.”

Students and others wanting to learn more about the program can do so here.

• Business

by Black Enterprise Shop

June 8, 2021

Dive Into The World of Real Estate With The Help of This $25 Bundle

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Despite the pandemic, the number of homes being sold in the U.S. is on the rise. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports that the total U.S. home sales rose to 6.76 million units. A 22.2% increase compared to 2019 numbers. What’s more, interest rates are lower than they’ve been in decades, making now an opportune time to invest in real estate.

If you’re toying with the idea of putting your money in properties, The Fundamentals of Real Estate Investment Bundle can help you break into the world of real estate. With 17 hours of content on REIT fundamentals, types, frameworks, and more, this package is designed to give you a hand in making profitable investments. And for a limited time, you can get the bundle for $20 (reg. $1,000) during our Father’s Dale Sale with code WELOVEDAD.

With courses taught by Simon He, a real estate investor and business consultant with an impressive instructor, the bundle explores the fundamentals of real estate, investment analysis techniques, commercial real estate investment and much more. With these lessons, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the different facets of investing in properties. You will be able to  make smarter decisions, should you decide to start buying and selling.

Symon He has years of experience assisting private real estate investors with their acquisitions and deal structuring. With his guidance, you can minimize your losses when you begin investing. You can expect to learn how to properly evaluate residential and commercial real estate opportunities, and use professional-grade investment models. You will be able evaluate your deals, use milestones and actual contributions to calculate a founder’s equity, and pitching your property to a flip investor buyer.

Learn everything you need to know about real estate with this bundle. A value of $1,000, it’s currently on sale for $20 with the code WELOVEDAD at checkout.

Prices subject to change.

As with most mental health issues, it just doesn’t disappear at a moment’s notice. For the second time in two weeks, tennis superstar Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from another tournament, citing the need for a break to handle the mental health issues she is experiencing.

According to Reuters, Osaka has pulled out of the Berlin WTA 5000 grasscourt tournament citing she needed to focus on her mental health. The No. 2 ranked tennis player withdrew last week from the French Open after being fined $15,000 for not attending her post-match news conference after her victory against Patricia Maria Tig.

“We have received notification Naomi Osaka cannot start in Berlin. After consulting her management, she will take a break,” Berlin WTA 5000 event organizers stated in a written statement ahead of the June 14 start date of the tournament.

After receiving her $15,000 fine, Osaka responded to the punishment by going to her social media account to announce her withdrawal from the tournament as she decided to focus on her mental health.

“Hey everyone, this isn’t a situation I ever imagined or intended when I posted a few days ago. I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players, and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris,” she explained.

“I never wanted to be a distraction, and I accept that my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer. More importantly, I would never trivialize mental health or use the term lightly.”

In a joint statement from those in charge of the French Open, Wimbledon, U.S. Open, and Australian Open stated, “On behalf of the Grand Slams, we wish to offer Naomi Osaka our support and assistance in any way possible as she takes time away from the court. She is an exceptional athlete, and we look forward to her return as soon as she deems appropriate. Mental health is a very challenging issue, which deserves our utmost attention. It is both complex and personal, as what affects one individual does not necessarily affect another. We commend Naomi for sharing in her own words the pressures and anxieties she is feeling, and we empathize with the unique pressures tennis players may face.”

• Health and Wellness

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 8, 2021

Black Girls Breathing Pledges to Support Mental Health of 1 Million Black Women By 2025

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Black Girls Breathing has pledged to expand its online network of 16,000 members to aid in the mental health of 1 million Black women and girls by 2025.

Founder Jasmine Marie is happy to see the growth of her breathwork company since its launch in 2018. But she’s fully aware of the health disparities plaguing Black communities, especially when it comes to the topic of mental health. Now Marie is using her brand to help address the gaps.

“I don’t want to keep talking about the gap. We’ve identified gaps in our own research on Black women and their access to all types of healthcare, not just mental health,” Marie told Well + Good. “I’m tired of talking about statistics. I want some solutions, and I want support for the solutions and the resources.”

Now Marie is using Black Girls Breathing to address the inequities in the healthcare industry as it relates to mental health. To do this, the brand will work to provide “accessible mental health resources” and fill in the gaps with “data and research on the demographic…to influence the industry at large through policy and programming.”

Black Girls Breathing is using five pillars to achieve the new goal. First, they will expand their virtual breathwork community beyond the United States. “We have a global community,” Marie said. “We’ve been able to expand into markets because of the nature of online. Second, she is working with licensed psychologists and researchers to launch a breathwork facilitator program.

Third, they will expand in-person breathwork sessions throughout different cities within the U.S. Fourth, they will explore new options for hosting in-person sessions. Fifth, Black Girls Breathing will launch a new online platform for its expanded community.

“We plan to base [the program] on research, on science,” Marie said. “It’s been such a beautiful learning for me to be connected with different Black researchers who were validating my vision and what we’re doing, and the conversation that we’re having, not only within the data space, but also on the healthcare provider side.”

• Business

by Derek Major

June 8, 2021

Hennessy Teams With NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook And Others To Help BIPOC Communities

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Hennessy has joined forces with NBA All-star Russell Westbrook, artist Victor Soloman, and Hoop York City Founder Alex Taylor for a new advertising campaign.

The campaign—called Make Moves That Start Movements—will debut during the second round of the NBA Playoffs, which began Sunday. It features a short film depicting the journey of a basketball to demonstrate just how far the game can take us. The film also pivots to shine a light on the communities that are moving the culture and the game of basketball forward.

The Make Moves That Start Movements campaign also highlights those who are forcing change and starting new conversations including nine-time NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook, who discusses designing fashion with purpose; director Joshua Kissi, who talks about spotlighting diverse perspectives through film; Literally Balling artist, Victor Solomon, who speaks on crafting the game beyond the court and founder of Hoop York City, Alex Taylor, who discusses creating space on the court for women.

“The NBA has always demonstrated a desire to push the game to new heights and into new arenas of culture,” Hennessy US Senior Vice President, Jasmin Allen said in an emailed release. “Led by the actions of players, the league and the larger basketball communities that embody Hennessy’s Never Stop. Never Settle. ethos, the game’s influence goes well beyond the court to impact communities around the world, serving as the inspiration for Hennessy’s new campaign.”

The Make Moves That Start Movements initiative allows Hennessy to extend its Unfinished Business platform to the NBA and will include league-specific activations and plans. Hennessy’s Unfinished Business Program has provided more than $5 million in funding to Black, Asian, and Latino small business owners.

Hennessy will subsequently roll out the film and commercials across broadcast, digital, and social channels.

• Technology

by Black Enterprise Shop

June 8, 2021

Protect Yourself From Unwanted Data Access With CTemplar

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Your smartphone and computer are exposed to thousands of instances of malware regularly, trying to disrupt and damage your system or gain unauthorized access to your personal and professional information. They can be loaded onto your device without your knowledge, which is why you need to be protected as effectively as possible.

With CTemplar, the security of your email data is guaranteed. This web-based encrypted email solution gives you the ability to send and receive completely private messages. The software ensures safety for both your inbox and for those who have communicated with you. It also prevents malware from gaining access to your anonymous mail account outside of the server, so there’s less chance of data interception.

With its powerful, zero-knowledge password protection, CTemplar guards your passwords so that your sensitive personal information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Your private data or addresses will never be sent anywhere without your consent. At the click of a button, all your messages will be forwarded on request and deleted without leaving a trace.

CTemplar complies with Iceland’s privacy laws, which allow anonymous usage and instant data deletion. This means it won’t record, monitor, store, log or share anything you submit. There are dedicated servers with 24/7 security monitoring, so you can go to sleep knowing that your email accounts are fully protected.

For Father’s Day, we’re offering a 20% discount on CTemplar’s sale price of $199.99, so you can get a lifetime subscription to the Prime Plan for $159.99 (originally $960) with the coupon code WELOVEDAD. This deal is only available for a limited time, so subscribe to this plan now and enjoy premium data security for a lifetime.

Prices subject to change.