The revised framework expands CARICOM‘s original 10-point reparations plan adopted in 2014, adding provisions addressing the legacy of slavery on women and girls, Indigenous genocide, climate justice, and financial compensation for descendants of enslaved Africans.
“We live in a world today where people call out people for everything, for misogyny, for sexual assault, for all kinds of behaviour. But yet we have not found the moral courage to state unanimously across humanity that this grave crime against humanity that persisted for centuries ought to be declared so by all.”
Under the draft plan, CARICOM is seeking redress from governments, monarchies, churches, corporations, and other entities linked to the transatlantic slave trade, including formal apologies, education initiatives, and workforce development programs, though it does not specify a dollar figure.
It follows a March 2026 United Nations General Assembly resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade and chattel slavery as a crime against humanity, which received support from 123 countries.
Caribbean and African leaders adopted a broader 19-point global reparations framework in Accra, signaling increased coordination on demands for historical accountability and reparatory justice.
Caribbean leaders have long argued that European powers and institutions that benefited from centuries of forced labor and colonial extraction have a continuing responsibility to address the economic and social consequences.
Mottley, who has emerged as a leading voice in the global reparations movement, has previously called for coordinated international mechanisms to advance reparatory justice through legal, financial, and educational channels.
The framework is expected to be further discussed at upcoming regional and international forums as governments weigh next steps on reparations policy.
Researchers say cannabis operators, investors, and policymakers must prepare for declining prices as emerging markets mature and competition increases.
The Global Cannabis Network Collective (GCNC), in partnership with Whitney Economics, recently released What You Need to Know: Pricing Compression and Its Impact on International Cannabis Markets, a report examining how pricing compression is reshaping cannabis economies worldwide. The study combines economic data with insights from operators, legal experts, economists, and market leaders across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Israel.
According to the report, new cannabis markets often launch with high prices and strong growth expectations. However, as supply increases, regulations evolve, and competition intensifies, many markets eventually experience sustained downward pressure on pricing.
“Every cannabis market evolves differently, but the pricing patterns are remarkably consistent,” said Beau Whitney, economist at Whitney Economics, in a press release. “The operators and investors that perform best are typically the ones using data to anticipate where the market is heading, rather than reacting after margins are already under pressure.”
The report highlights Germany as a key example of how regulatory changes can rapidly alter market economics. Widely viewed as Europe’s anchor cannabis market, Germany is already showing signs of pricing pressure linked to growing imports and evolving regulations.
“Germany is one of the clearest examples of how regulation can directly reshape market pricing,” said Aleksandra Vujinović, founder and Attorney at Law & Strategic Legal Architect, AV LEGAL. “As reimbursement structures and access pathways evolved, the market shifted quickly from scarcity-driven pricing to competitive pricing pressure. That transition impacted supply chains, operational planning, and long-term positioning almost immediately.”
Despite concerns about shrinking margins, the report argues that pricing compression should not necessarily be viewed as a warning sign of industry decline. Instead, researchers describe it as a predictable stage in the evolution of maturing cannabis markets.
“The cannabis industry is moving from isolated markets to a truly global ecosystem, but operators are still navigating vastly different regulatory and commercial realities,” said GCNC co-founder Jillian Reddish. “This report is designed to provide a clearer line of sight into how markets evolve, where pricing pressure is emerging, and what operators should be watching before making expansion decisions.”
The report also notes that increased competition is reshaping global supply chains and creating new export opportunities. As markets mature, consumers are increasingly gravitating toward premium products and trusted brands.
“Across global markets, we are seeing a clear shift as patients and consumers increasingly seek out trusted, consistent, high-quality products as they move toward more premium choices,” said Margaret Brodie, CEO of Rubicon Organics. “Operators who have built their businesses around delivering reliable quality and elevated experiences are well-positioned to support the continued maturation of international markets.”
Female executives, founders, and industry leaders gathered last month in Miraval Berkshires in Massachusetts for the inaugural New Guard Summit, a two-day gathering called “The Third Act: Wealth, Wellbeing, and Influence,” to explore the next phase of their professional lives. The summit was created by The WIE Suite, a membership community for women leaders founded by Dee Poku.
“I want us to see this [stage of life] as a new beginning,” Poku said during the summit’s opening dinner, according to InStyle. “There is so much more ahead of us…we’ve acquired so much knowledge, and we’re just really coming into our full selves.”
The event focused on helping accomplished women think beyond traditional career advancement and, instead, learn how to deploy their resources, expertise, and influence to shape the future. Poku noted that women are expected to control more than $30 trillion in global spending by 2030, creating a significant opportunity for economic and social impact.
One of the summit’s most talked-about conversations featured Reshma Saujani, the founder of Girls Who Code and CEO of Moms First, who encouraged women to become more comfortable talking about money and investing.
“We have to get comfortable with money, and we have to get detached [from] it,” Saujani told attendees. She later emphasized the need for women to use their capital intentionally, adding, “money will actually make things better for women. And we have an opportunity to show what compassionate capitalism looks like, to show what happens when good people who make money do good things.”
Beyond wealth-building discussions, the summit featured wellness-focused experiences, including yoga, hiking, meditation, and workshops designed to help attendees prioritize their health. Speakers included business leaders and experts such as Hillary Super, CEO of Victoria’s Secret & Co., OB-GYN Dr. Sharon Malone, and Forward_Space Founder Kristin Sudeikis.
For Poku, creating a space specifically for women leaders was essential in a moment when many feel their progress is under threat.
“I look around, especially now, and I just see endless rooms full of men telling us how to live our lives, policing our bodies, and really impacting our ability to succeed,” she said. “And we need rooms of our own where we can really determine our own destiny.”
LGBTQ+ Consumers Shift Spending From Target, Walmart, And Amazon Toward More Inclusive Brands
This survey highlights the potential business risks facing major retailers amid ongoing debates over corporate inclusion programs.
LGBTQ+ consumers have shifted their spending away from companies they believe are scaling back diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, according to survey data released June 17 by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, CNBC reports. This survey highlights the potential business risks facing major retailers amid ongoing debates over corporate inclusion programs.
The report found that 71.5% of LGBTQ+ consumers said they had reduced purchases from companies perceived as retreating from diversity and inclusion commitments. Nearly 70% reported avoiding those businesses at least some of the time, while a similar share said they were more likely to spend money with brands they view as supportive of LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion.
The findings come as several large corporations, including Target Corporation, Walmart Inc., and Amazon.com Inc., have faced scrutiny from consumers and advocacy groups over changes to diversity-related initiatives. The outlet reported that some LGBTQ+ consumers identified those retailers among companies where they had curtailed spending following concerns about corporate policies and public positioning.
“71.5% of LGBTQ+ consumers report buying fewer products from companies perceived as reducing inclusion commitments,” the Human Rights Campaign Foundation said in announcing the survey results.
Researchers surveyed more than 3,000 consumers and found LGBTQ+ respondents were significantly more likely than the general public to make purchasing decisions based on a company’s stance on diversity and inclusion. The organization said the findings demonstrate that corporate actions on social issues can directly influence consumer behavior and brand loyalty.
“Consumers aren’t asking the brand to be perfect they’re asking them to be transparent and clear on where they stand,” said Human Rights Campaign spokesman Jonathan Lovitz.
The data arrives as companies across multiple industries continue reassessing diversity programs in response to legal challenges, political pressure, and shareholder concerns. Some businesses have scaled back public diversity commitments, while others have reaffirmed support for inclusion initiatives despite growing scrutiny.
For businesses navigating a rapidly evolving social and political landscape, the survey suggests that decisions surrounding diversity and inclusion may carry consequences beyond public perception, potentially affecting customer retention and long-term revenue growth.
Nigerian Entrepreneur Turns Career Pivot Into Fast-Growing Safety Footwear Company
Lagos-based Yikodeen received funding from Aruwa Capital Management in 2025.
A delayed national service assignment prompted Nigerian entrepreneur Yinka Atunde to pivot from a planned career in technology to launch a safety footwear company, Yikodeen, which recently secured a $1.5 million investment to expand its operations across West Africa, according to Business Insider Africa.
Lagos-based Yikodeen received funding from Aruwa Capital Management in 2025. The investment will support the company’s growth as demand for locally manufactured industrial products in sectors including construction, manufacturing, oil, and gas increases.
Atunde, a computer science graduate of Babcock University, told the outlet that his career plans changed in 2015 after delays to Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps program gave him time to reconsider his next steps.
“I literally had nothing going on, and I kept asking myself what I actually wanted to do with my life,” Atunde said.
Instead of pursuing graduate studies abroad or accepting a technology role, Atunde enrolled in footwear production courses in Italy and later gained experience working in Nigerian factories before launching Yikodeen in 2016.
The company initially produced about 20 pairs of shoes a day using refurbished equipment, the publication reports. Atunde said one of the company’s earliest challenges was convincing customers that Nigerian-made safety footwear could meet the quality standards of imported brands.
“We were spending heavily on testing and certification without knowing if it would even lead to orders. It was a long, uncertain process, but we just kept pushing.”
Yikodeen has since expanded its manufacturing capacity to approximately 500 pairs of safety footwear per day and now employs more than 150 workers.
The company supplies industrial footwear designed for local working conditions and serves clients across multiple sectors, including energy, construction, and manufacturing.
The investment reflects broader investor interest in African manufacturing companies as governments and businesses across the continent seek to strengthen local supply chains and reduce reliance on imports.
Serena Williams first went professional in 1995 and would go on to become one of the all-time greatest tennis players, earning most of her wealth from prize winnings and lucrative endorsement deals. After retiring in 2022, she got into business and started companies like NiNe Two Six Productions and the wellness brand Will Perform. Today, Serena has an estimated net worth of $340 million:
(Photo: Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images)
Serena Williams To Talk Business And Venture Capital At Invest Fest 2026
The tennis champ has invested in more than 100 companies
Serena Williams is making headlines both on and off the tennis court.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion shocked the tennis world earlier this month when she announced that she was returning to the sport after retiring in 2022. On June 21, it was revealed that she had accepted a wild-card invitation to return to the women’s singles competition at Wimbledon, marking one of the most surprising comebacks in recent sports history. In addition to coming out of retirement, the 44-year-old tennis phenom and entrepreneur is set to headline Invest Fest 2026, one of the biggest annual business and cultural conferences in the country.
Taking place Aug. 7 through Aug. 9 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia, Williams will share insights on entrepreneurship, venture capital, investing, and wealth creation at the festival. While Williams is widely recognized as one of the greatest athletes in sports history, she has also built an impressive reputation in business. Through Serena Ventures, she has invested in more than 100 companies spanning technology, healthcare, finance, consumer products, and other emerging industries, helping position herself as one of the most influential investors of her generation.
Her appearance comes as Invest Fest continues to expand its national and global footprint. Founded by Earn Your Leisure and Steve Harvey’s production company, the festival has evolved from an event attracting roughly 5,000 attendees into an international gathering for Black entrepreneurs, executives, creators, investors, and innovators. According to a press release shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE, the 2025 festival attracted more than 25,000 attendees per day and distributed more than $275,000 in capital through pitch competitions and grant programs.
“Serena Williams represents excellence, vision, resilience, and ownership at the highest level,” said Earn Your Leisure Founders Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings in a statement. “What she has accomplished as an athlete is historic, but what she is building as an entrepreneur and investor may be even more impactful. She embodies everything Invest Fest stands for, and we’re honored to welcome her to the stage.”
Invest Fest 2026 will feature keynote presentations, networking opportunities, educational workshops, investment-focused programming, and conversations designed to provide attendees with practical tools to build and sustain wealth. Past speakers have included Magic Johnson, Steve Harvey, Issa Rae, Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson, Charlamagne Tha God, Tabitha Brown, and Jaylen Brown.
Frederick Douglass was nominated for president on June 23, 1888.
Long before former President Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States of America, and took office as the first Black executive in chief, and held down two-terms in the White House— formerly-enslaved, abolitionist and orator Frederick Douglass was nominated for president, becoming the first Black candidate in U.S. history.
It Takes A Village: Fat Joe Launches Grocery Program In NYC
The program comes as many New Yorkers continue to grapple with rising living costs and food access challenges.
Rapper Fat Joe has launched a monthly grocery distribution program aimed at helping New York City families facing food insecurity. He is partnering with the Shawn Carter Foundation and Food Bank For New York City to provide free groceries in Manhattan and the Bronx, NY, Spectrum 1 reports.
The initiative debuted June 20 at the UPNYC store in Washington Heights, where residents received fresh produce and other food items. Organizers said distributions will continue monthly at UPNYC locations in Washington Heights, Inwood, and Mott Haven, with the next events scheduled for July 18 and Aug. 15.
The program comes as many New Yorkers continue to grapple with rising costs and challenges to food access. According to the Food Bank For New York City, roughly 1.4 million city residents experience food insecurity, a challenge that can intensify during the summer months when children lose access to meals provided through school programs.
Fat Joe said the initiative was created to address the growing economic strain affecting families across the city.
“People are really hurting right now in many, many ways,” he said during the launch event. “People don’t know whether to pay the light bill or feed the family.”
The effort is supported by the Shawn Carter Foundation, the philanthropic organization founded by Jay-Z and his mother Gloria Carter. Gloria Carter attended the launch and said community-driven support remains critical for families navigating financial hardship.
“I was raised on a block where we considered ourselves a village,” Carter said. “The neighbors looked out for you because you were family.”
For Fat Joe, the program reflects values he said were instilled during his upbringing in The Bronx. Recalling how neighbors often shared meals and resources, he said community support was a regular part of life growing up.
“We from the projects, and my mother always kept the door open,” he said.
The grocery distributions are designed to provide consistent access to food while connecting residents with community resources. Organizers said additional distributions are planned throughout the summer at participating UPNYC locations across northern Manhattan and the Bronx.
This Mother-Daughter Duo Is About To Open A Whole Wellness Farm Catering To Black Women
Martine and Alexandria Jackson share their entrepreneurial journey to launching B-Omi Farms.
Martine Jackson, a lawyer by trade, and her daughter, Alexandria Jackson, who built her career in product design, branding, and event planning, might not be the obvious choice for transforming 30 acres of bare land into a wellness farm and retreat. But they’re proving that where there’s a vision, there’s a way.
“About three years ago, I relocated to Wendell, North Carolina, for personal reasons. I was closing out 30 years of practicing law and 30 years of marriage after my husband’s passing. I was starting my life new,” Martine says. “I found this land, and I wanted space to grow my own food, to be more intentional about my self-care, and to take real agency over what I was putting in my body.”
But then she got an idea—one that her daughter would help her bring to fruition: “As I was renovating the property, I began to think, what if this wasn’t just for me? What if this was a space where other women like me could come to heal, to exhale, to hear themselves think?”
B-Omi Farms, named after the Yoruba word for water, offers wellness programming including yoga, Pilates, sound baths, and breathwork; farm-to-table dinners and supper club experiences; plus workshops and overnight retreats. They’re currently in soft launch with a full opening planned for late summer/early fall.
“There’s this deeply frustrating narrative that relaxation is a luxury—that homesteading, wellness, slowing down, all of it is this elevated, inaccessible thing,” Alexandria says. “Those experiences aren’t unattainably luxurious by nature. They’ve just been gatekept. What we’re building reclaims that for our community.”
The mother-daughter team shares what it’s been like to pivot from corporate to entrepreneurship and what they’ve learned along the way:
What was it like to quit your day job to become a full-time entrepreneur and open a wellness farm?
Martine: For me, the decision wasn’t about crunching numbers—it was about a vision I could not ignore. When you have something that is innate, something that feels given to you, you move toward it. You don’t wait until everything is perfectly aligned. It requires a constant, continuous step of faith.
I’ll also say this: for many of us, the decision gets made for us. We watched over 600,000 Black women displaced from corporate America, dismissed like they were disposable. That kind of moment—I had my own version of that when I was laid off before law school—only has to happen once. I made up my mind that I would never be in that position again.
Alexandria: I’m still in that in-between space, honestly. I still have my nine-to-five. But what’s shifted is how I see it. My day job no longer has the option to burn me out, because I’ve made a decision about where I’m going, and I protect that energy fiercely.
Change how you see your nine-to-five while you’re still in it. Your job is effectively paying you to work on your dreams. The skills you’re learning, the tools you’re gaining—that knowledge leaves with you. So reframe it. You’re not clocking in for them. You’re clocking in for your future.
How did you prepare yourselves financially for the transition?
Martine: Honestly? Faith. I think we’ve been conditioned to believe that financial readiness is the prerequisite for vision, and I don’t believe that’s true. The vision came first. The provision has followed. That’s not something I can chart in a spreadsheet, but it is something I can testify to. What I can offer practically is this: there is a path forward, and it looks different for everyone. Start where you are. Move in the direction of your answer.
Alexandria: We didn’t have a perfectly laid financial roadmap. And I think that’s actually the more honest thing to say here. You don’t always prepare the way you think you should. What you do is you start, and you figure it out.
Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently on this journey to launching a wellness farm?
Alexandria: I would have brought in thought partners earlier. There’s something about when it’s your own family’s dream that makes it harder to poke holes in, harder to challenge strategically. I actually had to bring in a designer friend to help with our branding because I recognized I was too close to it. Looking back, I would have been more willing to share the half-baked version of the dream with others sooner. The best things are built in community.
Martine: No. Not a single thing. Every misstep, every wrong turn, every wrong hire—those weren’t detours. They were the journey. I’ve been an entrepreneur for nearly 40 years. I’ve started businesses, shut businesses down, and kept every single lesson. The mistakes are the education.
What’s your best advice for women considering the leap to entrepreneurship?
Alexandria: Just start. And when fear feels like it’s stopping you, remember: the fear of staying where you are should far outweigh the fear of building something new. What’s more uncertain: a life you’re building intentionally, or a livelihood tied to someone else’s temperament?
Martine: Do it scared. Get a small, trusted circle around you—three to five people who genuinely want to see you win, who will ask you hard questions, hold you accountable, and challenge your theories. That space, where you feel safe enough to finally give voice to the vision you’ve been afraid to speak out loud, that is beyond valuable. Once you have clarity, break it into manageable steps. You’re not going to do all of it at once. Just do the next thing and watch what unfolds that you never could have planned for. Also, let go of the outcome. We get so attached to what success is supposed to look like that we become paralyzed when the road doesn’t match the map. And those bumps? They’re not signs to stop. They’re redirections. Some of the best places I’ve arrived, I never would have dreamed of—because a bump guided me there.
J.R. Smith Opens Up About His Struggle With Depression: ‘I Probably Played 70% Of My Career Depressed’
The two-time NBA champion talked about the mental health struggles that followed him throughout much of his basketball career
NBA champion J. R. Smith spoke candidly about dealing with depression even at the height of his success despite achieving massive wealth, fame, and two championships.
During a recent appearance on The Pivot Podcast, Smith reflected on his long battle with mental health and the misconceptions people often have about success and happiness. According to Smith, many assume that professional athletes who earn millions of dollars have everything they need to live fulfilling lives. However, the former NBA star said that assumption couldn’t be further from the truth.
“I don’t get to spend the time I want with my kids. I don’t get to live the life that I wanna live, or I feel like I should live, where I’m at in this stage of my life. I don’t have the perfect relationship at home. I don’t have a lot of things that people assume that I got,” Smith opened up in the recent episode of “The Pivot Podcast.”
Smith also revealed the extent to which depression impacted his basketball career.
“I went through things with my mental health consistently long enough to where I feel like I probably played 70% of my career depressed,” he said. “Like that’s crazy to think about. That’s nuts.”
The former guard, who played 16 NBA seasons and won championships with the Cleveland Cavaliers, said that many people fail to recognize that depression can affect anyone, regardless of status or financial standing. His comments echo remarks he made in previous years, when he acknowledged experiencing a “very depressed state” during portions of his career and after stepping away from the game, reports ESPN.
For Smith, the conversation is about challenging the belief that money solves every problem. His story serves as a reminder that mental health struggles can exist even when outward success suggests otherwise.
