by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 25, 2021

Musician Reimagines the Negro National Anthem With Remix of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’

The ever-lasting spiritual song, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” has been the backbone of many Black Christian and Baptist churches throughout the years. As the “official” Black national anthem for many years, it had been brought up in many conversations in recent years as even the National Football League had announced prior to last season that the hymn would be heard before each NFL game played during the opening weekend.
Before that announcement last year, in July, two Black musicians, saxophonist Mike Phillips and pianist West Byrd, had added some soul-seasoning to the national anthem by incorporating the Negro national anthem at the beginning of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway.
In January 2020, another talented musician and music educator made the decision to record his rendition of the popular hymn and released it earlier this year (see video below). BLACK ENTERPRISE spoke to Al Strong after the release of the song/short film and while he is in the process of working on his next project.
Why did you decide to do your own arrangement of “Lift Every Voice and Sing?”

This version of “LEVAS” evolved over the course of two years through various live performances, and in January 2020 I decided to enter into the studio and record.

What inspired you to create “LEVAS”?

“Lift Every Voice and Sing” was a standard song, taught and sung often during my school-age years in D.C. public schools. Over the past 11 years as a music teacher at both the collegiate and grade school levels, I came to the realization that many of my music students did not know the song, and sadly never heard of it. In addition, being raised by my father, grandparents, and teachers, many of whom were Black, I found this rendition and short film addition as an honest attempt to honor them, their struggles, and the love that they instilled in me for our people.

What will you be working on next?

With so many great songs to choose from, my team and I are currently sorting through music, and moving toward the goal of releasing the next single from my upcoming album “LoveStrong Vol. 2.” Another short film/music video is in the works as well.
Black Security Company In Chicago Investing $500,000 To Expand Into Surging Cybersecurity Industry
by Jeffrey McKinney

May 25, 2021

Black Security Company In Chicago Investing $500,000 To Expand Into Surging Cybersecurity Industry

Growth in many U.S. industries has been greatly weakened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet cybersecurity is in a rare spot to flourish despite the drastic crisis.

That is among the reasons why John Griffin Jr. is expanding his security business in Chicago. In actuality, Griffin is moving ahead with vigorous strategic steps that include investing $500,000 to expand with a new cybersecurity operation, setting his company up for future revenue gains.

Fueled largely by increased demand for remote workers, growing concerns about cyberattacks, and other factors, the cybersecurity space is expected to surge.

The research firm Gartner projects global spending on information security and risk management services will rise to $150.4 billion this year, up 12.4% from last year.

RELATED CONTENT: 10 Cybersecurity Tips for Small Business

The bullish prospects are big motivators for Griffin. He is the CEO of AGB Investigative Services. With over 1,500 employees, including 98% minorities, AGB calls itself the nation’s largest Black-owned security company. The firm uses technology, physical security, and training to address emerging threats in the public and private sectors. It serves over 15 states including Washington, D.C., targeting such sectors as retail, utilities, commercial real estate, residential, financial, education, and manufacturing. Griffin and his wife, Dr. Denitra Griffin, founded the company in 2001.

The firm just opened its Security Operations Center on Chicago’s South Side not far from its headquarters in the Marquette Park neighborhood, building on recent developments in the area, including the massive Obama Presidential Center.

Located in a renovated two-story building, the AGB cyber unit will include a team of certified cybersecurity experts from analysts to auditors who will now be able to proactively monitor threats around the clock. Other services will include IT security consulting, comprehensive risk assessments, social engineering, and a special focus on securing employees working from home.

Since employees are often the first line of cybersecurity defense, Griffin says his firm will provide clients organizational security awareness to ensure their employees are well-trained and do not fall prey to phishing, baiting, or physical breach attacks.

AGB

AGB declares that the services are needed as cyberattack attempts occur every 11 seconds, damages expected to cost $6 trillion globally in 2021. Further, cybersecurity is a growing concern for many types of businesses as cybercriminals are using more sophisticated tools to disrupt organizations. Griffin says the unit will target a broad mix of businesses, including ones offering financial, higher education, governmental, healthcare, and utility services because they often are among the sectors most vulnerable to cyberattacks.

He projects the expansion to create 20 high-paying technical jobs for those in underserved markets, with that number to rise as AGB grows. The opening of the cyber division is expected to generate $15 million in revenue over three years. Companywide, Griffin expects approximately 2021 revenue of $42 million, up from $31 million last year.

“For the past 20 years, physical security has been the backbone of AGB,” Griffin says. “Next year will be a game-changer with our pivot to cybersecurity. We anticipate half of all sales generated through our new cybersecurity offerings to Fortune 50 clients.”

The fresh operations center transformed the former Brothers Barbershop with the help of a $59,000 grant from the City of Chicago Neighborhood Opportunity Fund. Griffin says his vision was to find a way to give back to the community within Marquette Park that he got to know intimately during his twice-weekly haircuts at the Brothers Barbershop which he co-owned with his brother, Steve Griffin.

“In that location, the unemployment rate is one of the highest for Black and brown people,” he says. “My dream was to bring high-paying technical jobs to bridge the racial gap in the tech industry with career development and support. This not only helps the community but is in line with what AGB stands for— Always Giving Back.”

Along those lines, the charitable arm of AGB, the AGB Foundation, plans this year to offer five $2,000 college scholarships to cover post-secondary education costs for Chicago high school senior students. One of the scholarships will be specifically for a student with an interest in technology or engineering.

Denitra Griffin, the president of AGB and CEO of the firm’s foundation, stated, “The Jibrill Griffin Scholarship is one way we are investing in the future of our community and encouraging students to achieve their dreams and thrive within the technology industry.”

Black-Owned EdTech Company MILO Provides Virtual Teacher Training to Help Close Learning Gaps
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 25, 2021

Black-Owned EdTech Company MILO Provides Virtual Teacher Training to Help Close Learning Gaps

A Black-owned edtech company is hoping to provide a more equitable learning experience for students by training their teachers online.

Started by two longtime friends, Gary Mack and Lybroan James, MILO serves as a subscription-based platform where educators can receive training, services, and assessment tools to aid in enhancing the quality of their virtual classes.

With a goal of closing the learning gaps for underserved students, MILO prides itself on creating communities and culturally affirming learning environments through equity, innovation, and engagement.

“I loved the rigor. It was a lot of work but forced me to be reflective of my practices in the classroom and on a personal level,” educator Monique G said. “I learned that my voice matters and this work is important and worth it. These conversations are uncomfortable but necessary.”

It was during the pandemic when Mack and James bumped into each other while walking through their neighborhood. It had been years since they had seen or spoken to each other, but it turns out that they actually lived 10 houses away from each other.

MILO

James has served in education for over 20 years, and even helped raise the California state math scores for African American students by 26.4% in 2019. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics/Economics from UCLA and a Master of Education from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.

Mack, a serial entrepreneur who runs an LA and Berlin-based event experience firm with clients like Facebook, Bumble, and Instagram Sports, paired perfectly with James in securing funding for MILO from the likes of Deloitte, Salesforce, and Cisco.

Courses within MILO’s platform cover a range of topics including equity and impact, culturally responsive teaching, social-emotional learning, and more. With over 550 certified educators and nearly 280,000 students impacted by the training provided to teachers, MILO is moving closer to reshaping education in the age of remote learning and living.

Wells Fargo, Bank of America Finance Predatory Lenders and Their Outrageous Interest Rates
by Derek Major

May 25, 2021

Wells Fargo, Bank of America Finance Predatory Lenders and Their Outrageous Interest Rates

An investigation by a local ABC affiliate uncovered that Wells Fargo and other large U.S. banks finance many predatory lenders that target minority borrowers with high-interest fees.

WFAA, a Dallas ABC affiliate, explored how large banks won’t lend to, but continue to make money off minority residents in southern Dallas, including buying and profiting from low-income apartments that perpetuate crime and blight.

According to the investigation, Southern Dallas has 88 payday lender storefronts. Payday lenders offer quick loans marketed as a way to pay for rent, or a necessary car repair. However, deep in the fine print are interest rates of up to 400% that are nearly impossible to pay off.

Last Week Tonight did a segment in 2014 detailing how these loans drive minority customers into debt quickly with significant interest fees. Texas was one of the states featured in the segment.

The states Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner is tasked with regulating payday, auto title, installment, and pawn lenders. However, state law allows payday and other lenders to charge interest rates and fees far in excess of what a traditional bank would charge.

The investigation searched public records filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and found 20 banks including Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Texas-based banks such as the Capital Bank of Texas,  TBK Bank, and Independent Bank have either recently funded or are currently funding predatory lenders.

FirstCash, based in Fort Worth, describes itself as the leading international operator of pawnshops, operates close to 3000 stores and charges up to 240% interest on a loan. The investigation revealed Wells Fargo, Texas Capital Bank, and Bank of Texas are all creditors to the company.

World Finance, another high-cost lender that offers installment loans, where a person borrows a set amount of money all at one time. The borrower then can repay the loan over a fixed number of payments, called installments.

These loans carry between 80% and 113% interest and a 2015 SEC filing shows Wells Fargo committed $200 million to World Finance. Bank of America, was also a longtime lender for World Finance, but terminated its relationship with the company last year and began its own lending service called Balance Assist, which allows customers to borrow up to $500, for a $5 fee, with much better terms and interest rates.

Wells Fargo, which paid almost $8 million to settle a class-action suit in a hiring bias lawsuit last year, responded to the investigation in a statement.

“Wells Fargo provides credit and services to companies in a variety of financial services industries,” spokesperson Camille Brewer wrote. “We have relationships with companies that have demonstrated a strong, ongoing commitment and capability to comply with applicable laws and regulations to their business operations.”

Black American and Latino households make up less than half of all households in the state (45%), however, they make up 74% of payday loan customers according to WFAA.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 25, 2021

Georgia Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock Secure $84 Million in HBCU Funding

Georgia Sens. Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock came together to secure $84 million in funding to the state’s local HBCUs.

The two US senators announced the funding on May 13 as part of the American Rescue Plan, The Atlanta Voice reports. To help families struggling due to the economic setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, at least half of the funding must go directly toward grants for student aid.

The American Rescue Plan includes $350 billion in emergency funding for state, local, territorial, and tribal governments, the U.S. Department of The Treasury reports. After President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law in March, Ossoff and Warnock were at the forefront of urging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to allocate funds toward HBCUs.

“The leadership of these institutions will have significant discretion and flexibility,” Ossoff said during a May 7th press conference at Clark Atlanta University. “With respect to the investments that they want to make in facilities Operations, Maintenance and Technology, because the leaders of these institutions know best what they need. We did ensure in the American Rescue Plan act, however, that a full half of this federal support must go to direct assistance for students.”

Warnock, a Morehouse College alum, stressed the importance of HBCUs to the state’s economy and culture.

“Our hardworking students have had to navigate the public health and economic challenges of the ongoing pandemic for the past year, and this critical support from the federal government is an important hand up that will help them pursue their education, strengthen our state’s workforce, and keep our economy moving forward,” Warnock said. “I cannot wait to see how this funding will help our HBCUs and their students excel today and into the future.”

Fort Valley State Provost Ramon Stuart praised the funding initiative after his school received $11,937,555 in grant money.

“We want to thank our legislative partners in Washington D.C and throughout the state of Georgia for the support,” Stuart said. “With funding like this, not only for Fort Valley State University, but the other Historically Black Colleges and Universities, this plays a significant role in helping us keep education affordable.”

by Andrea Blackstone

May 25, 2021

Jrue Holiday and His Wife Donate $1M to Support More Black-Owned Businesses

NBA All-Star Jrue Holiday and his wife, who is two-time Olympic gold medalist, Lauren Holiday, are on an admirable mission to help more Black-owned businesses and Black-led nonprofits. TODAY reported that the philanthropic couple announced that applications for Black and brown business owners who would like to apply for assistance from the Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund (JLH Fund) are currently being accepted through May 28, 2021. The first round of grants was previously distributed to Black-led nonprofits and Black-owned businesses in 2020.

“JLH Fund will provide up to $1,000,000 in grants to Black-led nonprofit organizations and Black-owned businesses,” The Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund’s website details stated.

 

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The grants will focus on supporting applicants who are located in the Greater Milwaukee, New Orleans, Indianapolis, and Los Angeles areas. Funding priority will be given to social impact-focused organizations, in addition to organizations creating a more equitable future for underserved communities. Additionally, the JLH Fund plans to offer business guidance in the form of coaching, training, and mentorship, in addition to financial assistance, according to the website.

“We just want to keep it going. We know there is still a pandemic. And hopefully, we’re at the end of it, but even through that pandemic of 2020 and a little bit of 2021, we know there’s still struggles and needs out there, and we want to be able to provide those needs,” Jrue told TODAY.

 

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Holiday plays for the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Milwaukee Bucks. The NBA reported that Jrue pledged the remainder of his 2019-2020 NBA salary ($5.3 million) to create the JLH Fund.

The second round will be for Black-owned small businesses (with a max of 250 employees); Black-led, tax-exempt nonprofit organizations; founder(s) who are 21+, and individuals who identify as Black/African American, and own at least 51% of the total entity. Please visit this link for further details and guidelines.

Make Your Workout Playlist Hit Different With These Noise-Cancelling Earbuds
by Black Enterprise Shop

May 25, 2021

Make Your Workout Playlist Hit Different With These Noise-Cancelling Earbuds

Summer is coming, and that means beach body season is almost here, too. We believe that your body already looks summer-ready. However, if you’ve made plans to hit the gym, then you need the perfect playlist to keep you motivated.

Earbuds may not be your favorite workout gadgets. However, these ComfoBuds True Wireless headphones are designed and tested to fit securely during the most challenging sessions for $89.99 (Reg.$105). With hybrid ANC technology, precise audio tuning and wind noise reduction, enjoy active noise cancellation and quality Hi-Fi sound.

According to Digital Trends, these sound gadgets have the best ANC you’ll find in a pair of sub-$100 true wireless earbuds. There’s only one way to find out how true this is.

The noise cancellation feature on these headphones has adjustable modes, including a ‘strong’ setting. The ‘pass-through’ mode lets you hear your surroundings clearly while keeping up with the beat. Also, the ‘wind-noise resistant’ setting lets you enjoy both the breeze and the beat. The ComfoBuds were tuned by Grammy-winning sound engineer Luca Bignardi, to give you a fully balanced soundstage.

These wireless headphones also have extended playtime. This allows you to keep the music, and meditation apps, and podcasts going for up to 28 hours. Their 13.4mm titanium composite driver helps deliver authentic sound, and each earbud comes with three microphones, along with an algorithm that helps suppress noise and improve the quality of your phone calls.

The ComfoBuds and all these cool features are now available at a 14 percent discount. Originally sold for $105, you can get a pair for $89.99 and enjoy that extra boost while you work out.

Prices subject to change. 

Chewy Is Your Co-Pet Parent Disguised As An Online Shopping Destination
by Black Enterprise Shop

May 25, 2021

Chewy Is Your Co-Pet Parent Disguised As An Online Shopping Destination

It goes without saying that taking care of a pet is a huge responsibility. Not to mention, between your busy work schedule, household chores, and other obligations, squeezing in high-quality pet care seems impossible.

Still, this doesn’t mean that you should skimp on your furry friend. After all, they’re part of your family, and just because you’re busy doesn’t mean you can’t give them the love and care they deserve. That’s what Chewy is for.

Your co-pet parent disguised as a one-stop shop for all things pets, Chewy offers the pet care services and supplies that you need to optimize the time spent caring for your pal. From pet food to toys to medicine to even health services, Chewy is an online destination for pet parents everywhere.

Exceptional customer experience

The team at Chewy is made up of actual pet experts. They have over 3,000 customer service representatives on board to respond to thousands of phone calls, chats, and emails 24/7, all with the goal of helping you be a better pet parent.

The best part is you will never converse with a bot—all calls are answered by real people, who also happen to receive hundreds of hours of ongoing training to provide the best customer care.

Every Chewy representative is trained to help with any type of issue, ranging from recommending pet food to tracking your packages. They also go way above and beyond to make everyday moments feel extra special.

They send handwritten cards for holidays and pet birthdays, flowers when they receive news that a pet has gone over the rainbow bridge, and even hand painted pet portraits to lucky customers who have their pet photo uploaded in their Chewy profiles.

In short: Chewy is committed to providing the best customer care for you and your pet. It’s no wonder that Newsweek awarded them America’s Best Customer Service three years in a row.

Stress-free Autoship program

Chewy is also in the business of taking the hassle and guesswork out of shopping for your pet. With Autoship, you can schedule custom recurring orders for items that your pet regularly consumes or uses, like treats and potty pads.

No more rushing to the store whenever you run out of cat litter—because you’ll never run out when you enroll in the program. There is no membership fee and you can cancel or change any Autoship at any
time. You can even save 30 percent when you set up your first delivery.

For more savings, Chewy offers a 5- to 10-percent discount on select brands for all future Autoship orders, including American Journey, Blue Buffalo, Purina, Greenies, and their exclusive brand Frisco. You’ll get an email every time you have upcoming orders and shipments so there are no surprises, and you can easily postpone if you have to jet out of town for a meeting.

Whether you choose to purchase using Autoship or not, you’ll get your order, packaged with care, in just one or two days. And Chewy’s selection includes Black-owned brands like Trill Paws.

Accessible pet pharmacy

To further save you time, Chewy carries pet prescriptions for all types of animals, including medicines for issues like dehydration, skin and coat, allergies, and antibiotics for small animals, birds, reptiles, and horses. Ordering is simple, too.

So long as you have a current prescription, you can order the medicine your pet needs. Simply browse the Chewy pet pharmacy to find the medications that your vet has recommended, add the items to cart, enter your pet, vet, and approval method at checkout, and you’re good to go.

Prescriptions are processed by the pharmacy within 24 to 48 hours after they are received by mail, and when you enroll the meds in Autoship, you never have to remember to order refills.

Pet parents can also connect with licensed vets via Chewy. If you’re located in one of their 35 states, you have the option to chat directly with a licensed vet between 8 am–8 pm Eastern.

This makes it easy to get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions, receive advice, discuss concerns you might have regarding the health and wellness of your furry BFF, and even get referrals to a local veterinarian or any necessary emergency clinics.

Make taking great care of your pet less of a chore when you try Chewy today.

This 10-Course Bundle Offers You Business School Knowledge for $30
by Black Enterprise Shop

May 25, 2021

This 10-Course Bundle Offers You Business School Knowledge for $30

A successful business needs a consultant to provide expert opinions on technical industry issues, identify potential challenges and develop practical solutions. The journey to becoming a business consultant might seem difficult. However, with a guide like the Ultimate Business Consulting Prep Bundle, you’ll learn to make a lucrative career out of it.

The bundle contains ten courses, and offers 40 hours of content. It covers business analysis, business goal-setting, powerful public speaking, resilience training for business owners, and more. These are essential skills for any potential consultant. Also, this guide breaks each concept down to the most digestible level, making it easy to master each skill quickly.

Looking to improve yourself and take on a new trade? This bundle has a wealth of knowledge that can be leveraged into fruitful business careers.

What You Will Learn

The copywriting masterclass includes 84 lectures that will teach you to write compelling copy that reaches your audience effectively. Furthermore, there are 11 lectures that focus on providing up-to-date knowledge and techniques in business processes. Other course topics in the bundle include the business consulting masterclass, cognitive biases in business, and more.

The instructors in the Ultimate Business Consulting Prep bundle include John Colley, a Cambridge-trained ex-investment banker with over 25 years of experience; Liz Makin, a London-based business coach and stress management consultant; Leon Chaudari, a business development expert; and other experts in project management, customer acquisition and sales skills. In additionn, the diverse group of instructors are on hand to provide firsthand knowledge on all the complex aspects of business consulting.

The Business Consulting Prep Bundle contains many industry secrets you might miss in Business school — and it costs even less. The ten courses in this online guide have a total value of $2,000, but it’s now available for $30 — a 98% discount that’s worth a lifetime of knowledge.

Prices subject to change.

Learn What It Takes To Build A Successful Startup With This Course Bundle
by Black Enterprise Shop

May 25, 2021

Learn What It Takes To Build A Successful Startup With This Course Bundle

If you’re planning on building a business from the ground up, the perfect scenario would be having a revolutionary product. This would garner attention right away and having the resources to execute your idea. Your customer base grows, and your business begins to expand operations. Then you would achieve loftier goals, and perhaps even consider offering an IPO.

Starting a business and working hard to make it successful is tough work, especially if you’re a CEO who calls the shots. This is where the Complete CEO Startups Venture Capital Bundle comes into play. It’s a jam-packed learning guide filled with actionable insights to help you become the best CEO in town. For a limited time, you can get it on sale for just $39.99, well below its list value of $1400.

RELATED CONTENT: Founders of Black-owned Ticketing Platform, Eventnoire, Win First Place in A $1 Million Startup Competition

With courses (averaging a 4.5/5 rating on Amazon) on business strategy, capital raising, venture capital, and more, this learning package is chock-full of useful content that will help you build a successful startup. You’ll understand business strategy design to come up with a fail-proof plan. In addition, you’ll discover how to think like an investor to ensure the best chances of getting funded, figure out how much money you ought to be raising, and understand the investor landscape in general.

You’ll also get to take a deep dive into the major issues critical to startups. But beyond that, you will hone in on the entire investment process and deal terms. With the courses, you’ll be well equipped to propel any business venture to success and dodge startup failure altogether.

The Complete CEO Startups Venture Capital Bundle typically retails for $1,400, but for a limited time, you can get it on sale for only $39.99 — a generous discount of 97 percent. That comes out to just $4 per course.

Prices subject to change.

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