• Business

by Nicole Enearu

April 30, 2020

I’m a McDonald’s Restaurant Owner. Here’s How My Team is Navigating This Unprecedented Crisis

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• Wellness checks at the start of each shift
• Gloves and masks provided for all employees
• Plexiglass barriers in the restaurants and Drive-Thrus
• Guides on the floor to ensure proper social distancing

Throughout these uncertain times, as an owner and community leader, I am committed to being a resource for my crew, alongside our team of managers. No one has all the answers when it comes to dealing with a public health situation that is rapidly evolving, but we will continue to communicate and provide access to information and resources to help everyone make the best choices for themselves and their families. If any of our crew members are not comfortable coming to work, they know that their job will be here for them when they are ready to return.

For those who choose to continue to work, we are recognizing their dedication by providing additional pay, a free meal during their shift, as well as an extra free meal coupon for each shift they work to share with their families. In the event that any of our crew is exposed to or comes down with COVID-19, they are eligible for two weeks of paid sick leave to rest and recover before returning to work. At a time when unemployment rates are skyrocketing, I am proud that we continue to provide our crew members a steady job and a reliable income.

The men and women I work with inspire me every day. Seeing their commitment to supporting their families, colleagues, and local communities motivates me. Recently, on behalf of our McDonald’s team, my sister and I delivered McDonald’s to several local hospitals as a small token of appreciation for our first responders and healthcare workers. Together with our crew, we are making sure that essential workers know they have a place to go for a sense of normalcy and a bite to eat served by a familiar face. All our restaurants are honored to provide for first responders and want them to know they can get a free Egg McMuffin® and coffee at our local restaurants or Drive-Thrus. And, if their shifts mean they’re going to miss breakfast, they’re welcome to pick up a free lunch or dinner later in the day. We’re here to serve them, while they serve our communities and save lives.

My leadership philosophy in one word has always been collaboration. This has never felt more true. Our teams and our communities are at our best when we listen to each other, problem-solve together, and support one another, particularly in the face of this historic crisis. We truly are all in this together, and I have never been more proud to serve our communities.

• Lifestyle

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 30, 2020

2019 Finding Ashley Stewart Winner, Addlia Edwards, Uses Positivity & Resilience to Empower Her Community

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The Finding Ashley Stewart finale on Sept. 14, 2019, was the day that changed Addlia Edwards’ life forever. As a loving mother and hairstylist from Rex, Georgia, Edwards had always dreamed of sharing her story to help others in her community and empower fellow women.

After being crowned as the 2019 brand ambassador for Ashley Stewart, Edwards has been doing just that — spending her year-long reign by giving back to the community and meeting young girls and women all around the nation (both in-person, and now virtually) to inspire them to follow their dreams, stay true to who they are, and strive for success just as she did.

From the life struggles that shaped her can-do attitude to receiving her crown, Edwards’ inspiring journey is representative of all that Ashley Stewart stands for — confidence, female empowerment, body positivity, and so much more. Black Enterprise connected with Edwards to discuss how her boundless resilience and positive mindset led her to win the crown at the Finding Ashley Stewart finale last September and what she plans to do next.

What prompted you to enter the 2019 Finding Ashley Stewart search?

Each year, Ashley Stewart, the leading inclusive lifestyle, fashion, and social commerce brand, hosts its annual nationwide Finding Ashley Stewart tour in search of the brand’s next ambassador—a woman who effortlessly embodies what Ashley Stewart stands for: kindness, resilience, confidence, leadership and, of course, fashion.

I’ve always supported the empowering movement, but never imagined that things would turn out as they did. After trying to get some of my other friends to enter, I joked with a friend and told her that I might enter. She said, ‘You really should.’ I told her, ‘There’s no way I would be chosen out of all those thousands of beautiful women.’ And she asked a great question, ‘What do you have to lose?’ I had absolutely nothing to lose! I had already lost it all! I had been praying for something new and exciting to happen in my life and I decided to take a leap of faith to see if this was the answer to my prayer.

How has your background influenced how you carried out your role as Ashley Stewart’s brand ambassador?

I’m no stranger to struggle and hardships. Throughout my life, I had no one to rely on other than myself. My strength and my self-confidence are what I fell back on time and time again to overcome my fair share of adversities, including homelessness and chronic illness. I am a fighter, but through it all, it has always been my passion to lift others up that continues to drive me to seize the next day ahead, and ultimately help and encourage others to fight and to embrace each and every day.

I think my positive outlook and effervescent personality always persevered and gave me the unwavering strength to keep moving forward. I am naturally hospitable. It was embedded in me to treat people kindly, the way I would want people to treat me, and to always be a positive influence no matter the circumstance.

How do you give back to your community? How has your platform helped you empower women across the country?

I’ve always been passionate about helping others and giving back to women who come from similar backgrounds. As a hairstylist, I provide hair services in women’s shelters and to underprivileged young girls.
I try to use the skills and life lessons I’ve learned through the years to spread positivity and confidence to fellow women and spread the message that they, too, can accomplish anything.

I speak to women in homeless shelters. I feed the homeless. I volunteer at my high school alma mater. I speak at different conferences and events, whether it be a mental health conference or women’s empowerment conference. I share my story with other single moms and future hairstylists!

As a part of my winnings, I get an allowance every month to shop at Ashley Stewart. I just recently started taking a portion of that allowance to randomly be a blessing to someone else. While in the Ashley Stewart Stonecrest location one day, there was a customer who was shopping for her birthday and another who had come in[to] the store for the very first time. I secretly took care of both of their purchases. It wasn’t what I did for them that was memorable, but it was their reaction that will forever stay with me.

I have big plans for the future and what I would like to accomplish as Ashley Stewart’s brand ambassador and beyond. I am working on a book and a women’s empowerment brunch. COVID-19 has made its entrance, but I will continue to be a light during this uncertain time. And I will continue to empower others, speak life into others, serve others, and do it fashionably while leaving a little sparkle wherever I go!

• Entrepreneurship

by Dana Givens

April 29, 2020

Black Business Owners Fear Federal Relief May Not Be Enough

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The novel coronavirus pandemic has severely impacted small businesses around the country with many seeking federal relief to keep their workforce and operations afloat. Despite government stimulus incentives and loans through the broken PPP program, black business owners are uncertain that federal relief will be enough for them to save their business.

Kim Harris and her partners opened the craft beer bar and pub Harlem Hops in New York in 2018, which became a neighborhood hang spot. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, they were one of the many businesses impacted by the closures, bleeding money just to stay afloat.

Harris and her partners, all graduates of HBCUs, applied for funding in the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the $2.1 trillion bill that along with other relief programs, was designed to prop up small businesses and save jobs during the public health crisis.

“We applied for everything,” Harris told NBC News. “And [we] were denied for everything.”

As another round of federal funding, $484 billion, is set to come, some small business owners, are alarmed it may already be too late. On a recent New York Urban League conference call, J. Philip Thompson, the deputy mayor for strategic policy initiatives, said, “Most small businesses and especially black-owned businesses have, in a good economy, no more than two weeks of liquidity that they can rely on to keep them afloat.”

Black business owners have been among those hardest hit by the pandemic. Ninety-five percent of black-owned businesses are sole proprietorships or partnerships that have no employees.

“If you use the money for your payroll, the loan is forgiven. What if a business has one employee or no employees? Which a lot of small businesses operating at capacity, black-owned businesses, they don’t have employees, so then you can’t get the loan forgiven so now you go into debt,” Evans-Hendricks, executive director of Harlem Park to Park, a business and cultural consortium of over 250 small business owners,  said on the call. ‟It’s a mounting financial hole, which at some point you can’t dig yourself out of.”

• News

by Derek Major

April 29, 2020

NAACP President Derrick Johnson Demands Federal Government Do More To Help Black Businesses

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NAACP President Derrick Johnson wants to ensure that provisions focusing on small and minority businesses are included in the coronavirus relief packages.

According to BET, Johnson did not mince words when speaking on the virus’s impact on African Americans.

“The current public health crisis has exposed the weaknesses of the policy reality for African Americans in all areas including health, economic groundability, and lack of access to multiple critical needs,” Johnson said. “I equate what’s taking place now to what happened during Hurricane Katrina.”

African Americans are in a tough position during the pandemic. They’re more likely to work low-wage positions and less likely to telecommute. Additionally, due to decades of inadequate healthcare and nutrition, African Americans are more likely to have pre-existing conditions that are complicated by the coronavirus.

Johnson believes the federal government is almost refusing to help African American businesses. However, in doing so, they’re leaving millions on the table. African Americans are the fastest-growing community to create new businesses over the last decade.

“The response in the stimulus packages that have been passed to date has created a vacuum for those same businesses because banks have been given the latitude to cherry-pick their larger customers over smaller businesses,” Johnson told BET.

Johnson added that the NAACP has been working with the Black Bankers Association and minority financial institutions such as Carver Bank and OneUnited to help black business owners. The NAACP is also pushing for a complete discharge of student loans for those who serve the public interest; those who work for government or nonprofits, and those in the medical profession.

African Americans are getting some help from their own during the pandemic. Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Sean “Diddy” Combs, and other black celebrities have either donated or fundraised to help African Americans through the pandemic.

• News

by Derek Major

April 29, 2020

6 African Americans Die From Coronavirus After Attending South Carolina Funeral

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Six African Americans over the age of 60 who attended a funeral in South Carolina have passed away after contracting the coronavirus.

According to The State, coroners believe the six almost certainly became infected as a result of attending the funeral.

“They attended that same funeral and unfortunately passed away from COVID,” Sumter County Coroner Robbie Baker said.

The funeral was held the first week of March and resulted in several attendees self-quarantining after. Four of the people lived in the same county where the funeral was held.

“They came back to Sumter, got sick, and I was notified they had passed,” Baker told The State. “Unfortunately, a large amount of people congregated at that funeral, somebody there was infected with it, spread it, and just didn’t know it.”

The remaining two victims were a couple from Kershaw County, who died days apart at a hospital in Richland County after falling ill.

The coronavirus has had a devastating effect on African Americans. In South Carolina, African Americans make up 27% of the population but are 56% of coronavirus victims.

In Kansas City, Missouri, health officials are reporting black residents now make up 50% of new coronavirus cases despite only comprising 30% of the city’s population. Additionally, African American residents in New Orleans accounted for 70% of coronavirus cases.

Economic factors are also making the situation worse. Many African Americans working check-to-check literally can’t afford to choose their health over their finances. Even in the coronavirus pandemic, bills need to be paid and food needs to be bought. Usually for multiple members of a household.

As a result, African Americans have had to continue working. That means taking public transportation, interacting with strangers, and putting themselves at risk for multiple hours a day.

With the economy at a standstill, state governments are developing plans to reopen their economies, but according to some, that could be a death sentence for African American communities.

“I think it’s incredibly reckless. And, you know, signing these orders is signing a death certificate for many, many, many people who do not need to die and who will,” Van Jones said on CNN’s Daily DC podcast. “I mean, it’s just the bottom line. You’re talking about states where they haven’t even flattened the curve.”

“It’s a death sentence for communities of color that are on the front lines of this thing already and have the least ability to deal with it,” Jones added.

• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 29, 2020

Mike Tyson is Training Again and Wants to Box for Charity

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Ex-heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson is reportedly considering making a return to the ring, according to The Score.

Tyson spoke to rapper and entrepreneur T.I. on Instagram Live and revealed that he is back in the gym and wants to involve himself in some charitable exhibition bouts.

“I’ve been hitting the mitts for the last week,” Tyson says in the Instagram Live clip. “That’s been tough, my body is really jacked up and really sore from hitting the mitts. I’ve been working out, I’ve been trying to get in the ring. I think I’m going to box some exhibitions and get in shape. I want to go to the gym and get in shape to be able to box three or four-round exhibitions for some charities and stuff. Some charity exhibitions, make some money, help some homeless and drug-affected (expletive)s like me.”

Tyson gave details on his workout routine.

“I do about two hours on cardio, I do the bike and I do the treadmill for an hour. Then I do some light weights – 300, 250 reps,” he said. “Then I start my day with the boxing thing. Then I go in there and hit the mitts for like 30 minutes, 25 minutes. Gotta get in better condition.”

But, another retired ex-heavyweight boxing champion, George Foreman is against Tyson attempting a comeback. On Twitter,  Foreman responded to a question posed by boxing promoter, Joe Abel, “what do you think about Mike Tyson training to fight in charity shows? I think if he gets back into shape he could probably do some damage in that division what do you think champ?”

His response:

Tyson has done enough great things for Boxinb, No more is needed, he is in the Hall of fame. And was a mighty puncher. https://t.co/mhiOJQ7NrT

— George Foreman (@GeorgeForeman) April 28, 2020

Tyson, who is currently 53 years old, retired from boxing in 2005 with a career record of 50 wins, which included 44 knockouts and six losses.

• News

by Derek Major

April 29, 2020

New York City’s First Lady Chirlane McCray To Lead Coronavirus Racial Task Force

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New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has appointed his wife, Chirlane McCray, to lead the city’s coronavirus racial task force.

However, according to The Grio, New York politicians on both sides are calling the appointment the opening salvo for McCray to run for Brooklyn Borough President.

Councilman Robert Holden, a Queens Democrat, said the appointment “is political. I wish de Blasio would stop doing this … Let her win the Brooklyn borough presidency on her own merits.

“Her track record on ThriveNYC hasn’t been so good,” Holden added.

ThriveNYC, the city’s $850 million initiative to address a variety of mental health issues, including depression and addiction, was created in 2015. However, it seems no one knows if the initiative has worked.

Politico spoke to more than 16 elected officials, advocates, representatives of community organizations, researchers, and consultants. None of them could say definitively if the program has been a success.

Additionally, City Council Speaker Corey Johnson knocked the initiative last month when it was discovered that less than 13% of its funding was spent on city residents last year—saying the figure should be above 50%.

“The goal of Thrive is a really good goal because we have not done enough for people who are mentally ill in New York City,” Johnson said in March. “[But] it is a program that needs better metrics, that needs better tracking, that needs better reporting, that needs to spend more money on people with serious mental illness.”

One of the bigger goals of McCray’s initiative was to help new mothers by screening them for maternal depression. If diagnosed, the program would refer them to counseling.

However, the program fell significantly short of its goals.

More than 78,000 children are born in New York every year, but only 28,560 new mothers were screened between September 2016 and October 2018, according to Thrive’s data.

As a result, the program reached just 570 women who had been diagnosed with postpartum depression—a sliver of the 12,000 to 15,000 McCray said are affected each year.

Staten Island’s Republican Councilman Joe Borelli referenced the numbers when he said “Chirlane doesn’t have an impressive track record running task forces or agencies … This is too serious an issue to use it as profile raiser.”

McCray’s position will not be paid and according to a City Hall spokesperson McCray will not have any actual power.

“The entity itself does not have decision making power,” Jane Meyer, a spokeswoman for the de Blasio administration told NBC New York. “This group will be an ear to the ground and will be able to raise issues quickly or suggest ways to better connect with and serve communities that are most impacted.”

African Americans are more vulnerable to the coronavirus and are dying from it at a faster rate than other races.

Last week, U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos banned DACA students from receiving coronavirus aid. Now, it is being reported that she will use money from the nation’s COVID-19 relief fund to allocate microgrants for homeschooling to states and families.

Chalkbeat recently outlined DeVos’ plans to use $180 million from the first relief package to fund grants that states will able to apply to for K-12 and higher education.

DeVos is known as an advocate for alternative education and for leaving public schools to fend for themselves. As a part of the microgrants, DeVos seeks to promote virtual learning. The funds that could be used to support public schools will be given to state agencies who opt-in to home school students.

In a statement released by DeVos on Monday regarding her decision, she said, “The current disruption to the normal model is reaffirming something I have said for years: we must rethink education to better match the realities of the 21st century. This is the time for local education leaders to unleash their creativity and ingenuity.”

Here is an overview of how state agencies can apply for grants as outlined by Chalkbeat:

State education agencies can apply for federal money by proposing one of three things.

The first is “microgrants”—what some would call “vouchers”—meant to give families more options for remote learning. Those grants could be used to pay for tutoring, summer programs, tuition to a private or public school online program, counseling, test prep, or textbooks, among other things. The state must allow private organizations to provide those services. 

The second option is for states to create a statewide virtual school or another program allowing students to access classes that their regular school doesn’t offer. States can either expand an existing program or create one from scratch. 

The final option is nebulously defined: For a state to create “models for providing remote education not yet imagined, to ensure that every child is learning and preparing for successful careers and lives.”

Many are not in favor of DeVos’ plans.  Nevertheless, the Education Department expects to award $5 million to $20 million to winning states.

• News

by Derek Major

April 29, 2020

Black Barbers and Barbershop Owners Weigh Health Over Profits

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Black-owned barbershops and barbers across the country are struggling with weighing safety over profits as the coronavirus outbreak drags on.

For African Americans, barbershops are more than a place to get a haircut. Barbershops can be the center of a community. It’s where debates on sports, politics, and life take place. It can be a community center where kids can hang out after school and feel safe.

According to CNN, now barbershop owners are wondering how much longer they can stay closed and keep their businesses open.

“There’s probably all kinds of barbershops talking about what’s going on with our government right now,” Mike Knuckles, 45, a barber at Select Cutz in Grand Prairie, Texas, told CNN Business. “If you lose a barbershop that’s been in the community 30 years and has a tradition and respect in the community, that’s huge.”

Damon Dorsey, 59, president of the American Barber Association, a barber advocacy group, said since the outbreak hit the U.S., barbershop owners are concerned about the coronavirus, but also want to “get back to making money,” Dorsey told CNN Business. “All are struggling with the uncertainty of the moment.”

Some barbershops in Georgia have reopened after Gov. Brian Kemp permitted nonessential businesses to reopen last Friday. But Craig Logan, 54, co-owner of Dre and Craig’s VIP Cuts, in McDonough, Georgia, an Atlanta suburb, decided to keep his store closed.

“I agree with the general sentiment even though, like everybody else, I wanted to get back to work,” Logan told CNN Business.

For barbers who do not own a shop, some are instead making house calls to keep the bills paid. Dennis Mitchell, the owner of Denny Moe’s Superstar Barbershop in Harlem, knows the practice could mean putting his life at risk, but when the alternative is starving, barbers don’t have a choice.

“These barbers, they’re risking their lives, but they’re doing fine,’ Mitchell said. “You going to die from infection or you going to die from starvation?”

Another issue for barbershop owners is the lack of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds the industry has received.

Ivy Hopson, 49, CEO and founder of the Menz Barber Lounge in Milwaukee, said he also applied for a PPP loan, but neither he nor his tax preparer has heard back.

Dorsey told CNN that black barbers are less likely to have established relationships with banks and as a result face more difficulty securing loans through the PPP.

“If you’re a barber and you’re not a large enough priority for a major bank or financial institution, you’re going to be at a disadvantage getting your application in,” Dorsey said. “We’re going to see a certain level of disadvantage for black-owned business because of the nature of systemic racism that exists in the financing industry.”

Black business owners have complained about the lack of PPP funding they’ve received. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass) has called for the Justice Department to collect and release racial data concerning the PPP.