College dorm, Move in, Undergrad, school, Dorm room, hbcu, Mizzou, Camp HBCYouth
by Kandiss Edwards

September 12, 2025

Clark Atlanta And Other Atlanta HBCUs Released From Shelter-In-Place Orders

The colleges briefly enacted shelter in place advisory orders on Sept. 11, following threats aimed at Clark Atlanta.

Clark Atlanta University students no longer need to shelter-in-place.

Clark Atlanta, Spelman College, Morehouse College, and Morehouse School of Medicine briefly enacted shelter in place advisory orders on Sept. 11, following threats aimed at Clark Atlanta.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that Clark Atlanta issued its order just before noon after receiving unspecified threats. Officials described the move as a “precautionary measure to address a situation on campus.” The HBCU urged people to remain indoors while law enforcement checked the campus for active threats.

“We are currently addressing a situation on campus that requires a shelter-in-place notice as a precautionary measure,” Spelman officials said in a statement. “We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of the campus community. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Our priority is the safety of all students, faculty, and staff.”

Spelman College said that it did not receive any direct threats but the HBCU said it acted out of concern due to its shared space with Clark Atlanta. The Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Spelman College make up the Atlanta University Center (AUC), all located in Southwest Atlanta. Spelman increased security at its two main entrances and asked faculty, staff, and students to shelter in place and to avoid Clark Atlanta’s campus.

By about 2 p.m., the orders and advisories had been lifted. Spelman confirmed the shelter-in-place alert was withdrawn and urged ongoing vigilance from its community. Morehouse and Morehouse School of Medicine lifted their advisories around the same time.

No physical incidents or emergencies were reported. Investigations are underway. The institutions say safety is their highest priority while law enforcement agencies continue assessing the credibility of the threats.

RELATED CONTENT: HBCU First Look Film Fest Stops At Spelman College For ‘Let’s Talk’ Mentorship Conversation With Cathy Hughes

Australia, The Real Tarzann, crocodile, crocodiles, wildlife, influencer, social media,
by Jameelah Mullen

September 12, 2025

Black Influencer Under Investigation In Australia For Crocodile Posts

The influencer shared two videos with his 15 million Instagram followers, and the internet calls out the double standards

Australian authorities say they are investigating an American social media influencer after he posted a series of videos showing him capturing crocodiles in Queensland. 

Mike Holston, a scientist known as “The Real Tarzan” on social media, posted two videos on Instagram, including one where he appears to wrestle a crocodile before taking a photo with the animal.

 In another video, Holston captures what he calls a juvenile saltwater crocodile. According to officials, it is unusual for people to catch crocodiles this easily. 

“These actions are extremely dangerous and illegal, and we are actively exploring strong compliance action, including fines to deter any person from this type of behavior,” the Queensland Environment Department said in a statement, NBC News reported.

In a comment, Holston noted that he filmed the video of the saltwater crocodile for educational purposes. The wildlife conservationists said that he filmed the videos on “aboriginal protected land” and does not encourage his followers to attempt to recreate his videos.

Holston faced backlash on social media—one commenter said they hoped he got eaten, and others accused him of imposing cruelty on animals. Others noted the double standard. They pointed out how public reaction to Holston’s posts differed from the response to similar content shared by non-Black media personalities.

“I’m honestly really confused as to why the uproar. Didn’t the “national icon,” the Crocodile Hunter, not make a career out of this? How is what he is doing any different?” One social media user asked.

“I see all white folks commenting angrily here cause he’s a black man doing the unthinkable! If he was white, you would be congratulating him instead! Pathetic mindsets!, an Instagrammer commented. 

Conservationist Bob Irwin, father of the late Steve Irwin, who is also known as The Crocodile Hunter, slammed Holston’s video and demanded harsher penalties for social media personalities visiting Australia.  

“People visiting our country need to respect our wildlife, or they need to be booted out the door,” Irwin told News.com.au.

Bob Corwin’s son, Steve Cowirin, rose to fame in the late 1990s through his wildlife reality show The Crocodile Hunter, where cameras filmed his encounters with crocodiles, similar to the Holston videos. Irwin died suddenly in 2006 when a stingray fatally pierced his chest while he was filming his show. 

Both saltwater and freshwater crocodiles can range from approximately 6 feet to 13 feet in length and can weigh over 600 pounds, according to the Queensland Environment Department. 

The maximum penalty for interfering with a crocodile is a fine of $25,000 USD. 

RELATED CONTENT: Trump Rescinds HBCU Support: A Dismantling Of Opportunity For Our Youth

Jay-Z, lawsuit, dropped
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 12, 2025

Jay-Z’s Bid To Bring Caesar’s Palace Casino To Times Square ‘Makes Perfect Sense’

Jay-Z explains why his bid to bring the first-ever casino to New York City's busy Times Square "makes perfect sense."

Jay-Z is taking his love for New York City to new heights as he works to bring his hometown its first-ever casino in busy Times Square.

Jay-Z’s Roc Nation has joined forces with developer SL Green and Caesars Entertainment to compete for one of three downstate casino licenses in New York City, proposing to open the city’s first Times Square casino at 1515 Broadway, right in the center of the city’s busiest tourist hub.

For Jay-Z, the push to open Times Square’s first casino feels like a natural move, given his track record of bringing major ventures to New York, from co-owning the Brooklyn Nets and helping launch the Barclays Center to his ongoing efforts to reopen his famed 40/40 nightclub.

“New York City is the entertainment capital of the world, so the idea of a world-class casino here makes perfect sense,” Jay-Z told City and State NY.

Building on a history of profitable ventures that push the culture forward, Jay-Z views his bid for Times Square’s first casino as a natural extension of his people-first approach to business.

“I’ve always looked at opportunities that can shift culture while uplifting communities, and Caesars Palace Times Square is exactly that,” he said. “For me, it’s an extension of culture, an extension of the energy and action that makes New York the city it is.”

Jay-Z and his partners face tough competition from other bids, including projects in Coney Island and near the United Nations. However, for critics and Broadway fans worried a casino could overshadow Times Square, the hip-hop mogul insists it would only “complement” the area rather than “compete” with it.

“Our plan is the only one that transforms an existing building into a project that creates massive opportunity without displacing the neighborhood,” Jay-Z said. “With limited space inside –- no retail and just one theater –- visitors will naturally flow into surrounding Broadway shows, restaurants, and shops. Add to that the unmatched access to mass transit and the global recognition of Times Square, and it’s clear this is the venue that makes the most sense for New York City.”

Caesars Palace is set to boost the city’s economy, with visitors likely to buy Broadway tickets, dine before shows, and fill nearby hotels, Jay-Z said. Community initiatives are also part of the plan, including partnerships with the Civil Rights Museum and local theaters like Town Hall and Sony Hall.

“Our goal is to create opportunity and ensure this project delivers real value to the communities that need it most,” the Roc Nation founder said.

RELATED CONTENT: St. Louis Legend Jenifer Lewis Awarded Honorary Doctorate, Tells WashU Graduates To Prioritize Mental Health

Serena Williams, cotton decor, hotel
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 12, 2025

Serena Williams Ups Her Investment Strategy As Founders Get ‘More Choosy’

Serena Williams is channeling her competitive edge into the boardroom, sharpening her investment strategy as startup founders become “more choosy.”

Since launching Serena Ventures, the tennis legend has grown the firm into a $111 million fund with stakes in 16 unicorns, startups valued at over $1 billion. Yet despite her name and reputation, Williams still faces challenges securing investments in today’s highly competitive market.

“Founders are getting more choosy,” Williams told Business Insider.

The rapidly shifting tech industry is reshaping venture capital as top investors pull back, firms raise smaller funds more slowly, and AI startups attract the bulk of new investments. For everyone else, funding is harder to come by, pushing founders to weigh whether investors offer more than just capital.

“Founders are really evaluating who they want to partner with,” said Beth Ferreira, a Serena Ventures general partner. “If they don’t believe that our network and the ideas we have about their company can change outcomes, we’re not going to get into the deal.”

“I think most of the time, those founders are realizing that this is different and could very much complement the rest of their investment base,” she added.

Amid the industry’s shift, Williams noted that her firm is investing as much as it did three or four years ago, reflecting the more cautious market of today. New Serena Ventures acquisitions now demand a closer look at whether founders are truly solving the problems they set out to address, a change Williams views as a healthy shift that pushes both investors and entrepreneurs to be more strategic about where capital flows.

“Not all money is good money,” Williams said.

With investments spanning cosmetics, media, and even professional sports teams, Williams emphasized that she’s a partner at her namesake firm, not the sole captain steering the ship.

“I remain a partner at Serena Ventures, not in an operational role,” Williams tweeted in response to an “inaccurate” news story about her role at the firm.

“To say that Serena Williams, a person, and Serena Ventures, an institution, are one and the same is inaccurate,” she added.

RELATED CONTENT: St. Louis Legend Jenifer Lewis Awarded Honorary Doctorate, Tells WashU Graduates To Prioritize Mental Health

racial Tensions, Therapist ,Mental Health, AI theraphy
by Ahsan Washington

September 12, 2025

8 Resources To Share During National Suicide Prevention Month

Suicide Prevention is crucial at any time of the year, but major attention is given to suicide during National Suicide Prevention Month in September. Black Americans are plagued with a number of health issues, including mental health issues, which have resulted in suicide for many. In 2020, there was a significant increase in the suicide rate among African Americans. That jump was 5.5 per 100,000 in 2011 to 7.7 per 100,000 in 2020. According to the Suicide Resource Prevention Center, suicide is more prevalent in adolescents and young adults in Black populations. 

Here are eight resources to keep on hand not only during National Suicide Prevention Month, but every month in case it is needed. 

L.E.T.S. Save Lives (AFSP)

L.E.T.S Save Lives (AFSP) introduces a program focused on preventing suicide in African communities by tackling the stigma and facilitating discussions to recognize signs of distress and struggle, among individuals within these groups. The initiative was crafted in collaboration with community specialists, researchers, and survivors. It operates year-round and is particularly suited for visibility during National Suicide Prevention Month. Reach out to a local chapter or visit the AFSP website for additional details.

Soul Shop for Black Churches

The Soul Shop program for churches offers one-day training sessions to empower African American religious leaders in dealing with the effects of suicide within their congregations and communities. Taking advantage of the partnership between AFSP and American faith groups allows these workshops to be held in environments that are familiar and trusted by those who may be struggling with mental health challenges and seeking support initially.

SAMHSA’s Black Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative (BYPSI)

SAMHSA’s program, called the Black Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative (BYPSI), is focused on lowering instances of ideation and actions, among individuals aged 5 to 24 years old in the United States. Black Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative collaborates with states to address the rising rates of youth suicide with a specific emphasis on equity and targeted intervention on a national level.

Therapy for Black Girls

Therapy for Black Girls is a platform that provides a directory of therapists, along with a blog and podcast, to assist women and girls on their mental health journeys. The founder of this platform is Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed psychologist who aims to close the gap in access and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health support for Black women. 

Black Mental Health on 988 Lifeline

On the 988 Lifeline, Black Mental Health support services are available with advice and assistance designed for individuals, such as safety strategies and immediate crisis help to deal with systemic issues, by offering culturally sensitive crisis intervention via the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline service.

Digital Shareables from NIMH

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is offering content for media to raise awareness and share resources for suicide prevention with hashtags, like #shareNIMH. They aim to support those seeking assistance by using easily accessible digital materials. 

To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA)

To spread awareness and support for health issues in advocacy-driven ways during World Suicide Prevention Day and National Suicide Prevention Week, To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) a nonprofit organization, shares yearly Suicide Prevention Packs that include clothing items and outreach materials to promote activism and community engagement around mental health concerns.

Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program

The nonprofit organization known as the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program is dedicated to increasing awareness of suicide in the United States by celebrating Yellow Ribbon Week during World Suicide Prevention Day. Recurring each September, the program aims to provide engaging activities for students and teachers. 

RELATED CONTENT: ChatGPT Adding Parental Controls After A Family Says AI Led To Teen’s Death By Suicide

online, young men, mental health
by Jeffrey McKinney

September 12, 2025

Report: Young Men Leveraging Online Spaces To Learn More About Everything From Masculinity To Companionship

Cativating, motivating and enlightening are amony reasons young men are turning to online spaces for help.

New data shows tapping into electronic gaming, maintaining a digital presence, streaming TV and movies, and listening to podcasts is how young men spend much of their time.

Those are some findings from New Map: Young Men’s Digital Worlds in 2025. It is the newest report done by the Young Men Research Initiative and the Movember Institute of Men’s Health. The provocative analysis offers timely views and a functional understanding of how 12-17-year-old boys maneuver now in the digital realm.

Slightly over 3,700 of them were freshly quizzed from six counties, including the United States, Canada and Australia. The report provides a data-driven view of what young men focus on online and projects trends that will boldly shape their technological futures.

Simultaneously, the account discloses that youngsters not connected online are being confronted with increasing health challenges, higher levels of loneliness, and suicide, among the headwinds now being made known worldwide.

 The report covers what they share and do online, which determines their health. And it’s driving their ideas on what it means to be a man and how to bond with other people.

A main discovery: Young men spend most of their time online in mainstream media ecosystems. Gaming, podcasts, and AI tools are “core areas where they spend a large share of their day seeking information, exploring relationships, and curating how they want to show up in the world,” according to the report.

 Still,  the report claims there are vulnerabilities and opportunities for mediation. It cited emerging digital trends – from podcasting to AI companions – are becoming the norm of young men’s online lives. However, regulatory structures and proof exposing the health impacts of these trends are budding. Exacerbating this, many youngsters don’t have digital literacy skills to comprehend and control the deep impact of algorithms on their online circumstances.

Other key findings from the report included:

  • Some 88% of young men play video games at least once a week, with short-form video platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat being popular choices daily. Around 89% of young men consume short-form videos at least weekly, and 59% do so daily.
  •  A surging area for young men is listening to podcasts. Their leading preferences: Gaining more profound knowledge related to the hyper-masculine wellness industry. They opt for ads on supplements, performance enhancers, wearable health devices, gambling, and alcohol. As cited in the report, The Joe Rogan Experience – averaging 11 million listeners for each episode – was the most listened to podcast among young men.
  • The adoption of AI-mediated companionship is growing among young men, the report indicated. It cites channels including candy.ai, pephop.ai, and joyland.ai that permit young men to act out romantic and intimate options. Approximately 49% of all traffic to the top AI girlfriend sites originates from individuals aged 18 to 24, making them among the largest users of these services.
  • AI is shifting how young men access online data. About two-thirds (61%) use it at least once a week. The report says tech giant Google (67%) is the most popular search engine. 
  • The capacity of young men to know and navigate new digital technologies tops their online actions. Algorithmic literacy – the knowledge to understand and interact with algorithms – is key to their digital experiences. Some 57% shared they don’t get how social media platforms decide what content to show them, and 53% want more control over the content presented.
  • Some 40% of young men stated their parents knew about all their social media functions. Yet,  parental input often ended on platforms where young men spent most of their time online.

      The report offered some important areas and call for action to enhance the health of young men, their comfort level, and their relationships. Check out more details here.

RELATED CONTENT: Five Years Later: George Floyd’s Murder And The Creeping Tide Of Regression

Saint Augustine University, Commencement, HBCU
by Kandiss Edwards

September 12, 2025

The ‘Gro Fund’ Will Provide Cash Assistance To Atlanta’s Young Adults

The program offers monthly income assistance with capital to build long-term wealth.

A new program named Freedom Futures seeks to support young adults in Atlanta by putting money in their pockets.

The program offers monthly income assistance with capital to build long-term wealth. The pilot program is an initiative of the Georgia Resilience and Opportunity (GRO) Fund. Those accepted into Freedom Futures will receive $500 per month with no conditions for four years to help cover basic, day-to-day expenses.

Additionally, each participant will receive an “investable sum,” sometimes called a “Baby Bond.” The Baby Bond is worth more than $20,000. It’s intended for purposes like starting a business, buying a home, educational investments, or planning for retirement. The program also offers financial education and advising services. To meet all the educational needs, services offer both one-on-one and group sessions to help participants use the funds effectively. 

Freedom Futures aims to ease immediate financial stress while also providing tools for long-term wealth creation. GRO Fund’s goal will be to observe the success of the program in four years. The hope is that the initiative will generate evidence and narratives that could inform public policy around wealth-building programs like Baby Bonds. Addressing disproportionate wealth disparities, especially along racial lines, is central to its mission. 

The Atlantic region’s data show that white households hold substantially more average wealth than Black households. This is only one reason the pilot is structured: to address “structural wealth exclusion” for young people. 

Applications are open to young adults aged 18-25. The program is open to all with no standing requirements. Instead, it seeks to offer a foundation from which lucky participants can build financial resilience and expand future opportunities. 

The GRO Fund is accepting donations to help propel its mission forward. For more information, go to the GRO Fund official website. 

RELATED CONTENT: Serena And Venus Williams Launch Program For Underserved Youth To Become ‘;Leaders Of Tomorrow’

business, AI, AI slop
by Kandiss Edwards

September 12, 2025

Work-From-Home-Only Employees Offered Severance By NBCUniversal

The company is directing its hybrid employees to resume in-office work four days per week beginning January 5, 2026.

NBCUniversal is offering severance packages to work-from-home employees who refuse to come back to the office. 

The company is directing its hybrid employees to resume in-office work four days per week beginning January 5, 2026. Only Fridays will be allowed for remote work. The new terms of employment were laid out in a memo, obtained by Deadline, from Chief Operating Officer Adam Miller.

“We are better when we are together.” Miller stated, “As we have all experienced, in-person work and collaboration spark innovation, promote creativity, and build stronger connections.” 

NBCUniversal has made a “voluntary exit assistance package” available to employees who would rather not comply. All employees who elect not to return must give notice to their HR manager by Oct. 3. The severance package includes eight weeks of base salary and three months of continued healthcare, which includes medical, dental, and vision. Additionally, they will be eligible for their full bonus, provided they remain on active payroll through December 31 and assist with transitioning other employees to fulfill their duties. 

This policy applies to U.S.- and U.K.-based hybrid employees at the vice president level or below. Employees in divisions affected by an upcoming spin-off of NBCU’s cable networks, including MSNBC and CNBC, are excluded from this mandate and the severance offer. 

In the memo, NBCUniversal reminded staff of its supposed goal: to reunite more employees in physical spaces, believing that working side by side enhances problem-solving and team bonds. 

The corporation is not the first to demand employees return to the office after the 2020 COVID shutdown led to a mass work-from-home movement. NBCUniversal’s parent company, Comcast, made similar demands of its workforce in 2023. 

As companies attempt to balance the chemistry of in-person work with employee expectations for flexibility, NBCUniversal’s policy will serve as a closely observed example. Employees have a few months to assess their options and respond.

RELATED CONTENT: Most Remote Workers Were Ordered Back To The Office. They’re Still Working From Home

College dorm, Move in, Undergrad, school, Dorm room, hbcu, Mizzou, Camp HBCYouth
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 12, 2025

‘The Price Of Excellence’ Documentary Details Historic Underfunding Of HBCUs

The documentary was made in partnership with U.S. Congresswoman Alma Adams.

A new documentary is highlighting the systemic underfunding for HBCUs.

Alma Adams, a U.S. Congresswoman for North Carolina’s 12th district, has partnered with The Century Foundation to bring “The Price Of Excellence” to the big screen. Adams appeared in the documentary’s trailer about how the opportunity to learn is a “fundamental” civil right.

“Of all of the civil rights for which the world has struggled and fought for 500 years, the right to learn is undoubtedly the most fundamental,” shared Adams.

The progressive think tank that produced the film aims to shed light on the importance of HBCUs and how they catapult diverse youth in academia. Filmed entirely at North Carolina A&T University, stories from both HBCU educators, students, and advocates give a holistic view of this persistent issue.

The documentary not only includes this personal insight. The Century Foundation detailed how the film examines “deep historical processes and complex data that impact underlying endowment practices, state appropriations, and funding gaps, painting a poignant picture: a transformative social institution hampered by the same biases it sought to address,” as reported by The Grio.

The discrepancy in funding and resources between HBCUs and predominantly white institutions remains vast. According to the Columbia Political Review, the endowment gap stood at 100:1 in 2024, with HBCUs essentially getting only $1 for every $100 a PWI receives. For land-grant institutions, the 2023 report confirmed these HBCUs were grossly underfunded by the states in which they are located, totaling $13 billion. They received only $1 billion in funding, compared to the $45 billion allocated to PWIs.

The gap remains an issue, as HBCUs continue to serve as a pipeline for Black graduates in medicine, engineering, law, and other fields. While significant political strides occurred during the Biden administration, including a record $17 billion allocation toward HBCUs, these institutions face budget cuts under President Trump. Now, many HBCUs are concerned about their futures, as federal funding is in jeopardy.

“The Price of Excellence” calls attention to the ongoing plight of HBCUs and how they are crucial to the upliftment of diverse communities in America. It includes commentary from various experts, including Dr. Katherine Wheatle of the Equity Research Cooperative, and historian Dr. Jelani M. Favors, a former professor at North Carolina A&T University who serves as VP for the Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute at the United Negro College Fund.

“The Price of Excellence” premieres on September 25, with both online and in-person screenings at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s annual conference. The director, JD Jones, calls the documentary “both a love letter to the legacy of HBCUs—and a battle cry for their future.”

RELATED CONTENT: 10 Historically Black Colleges And Universities With The Lowest Tuition

TikTok ban, Trump
by Sharelle B. McNair

September 12, 2025

TikTok’s Shavone Charles Departs D&I Post To Launch Fashion Series

Prior to bringing her expertise to TikTok, Charles worked with other major platforms like Twitter, Instagram and photo-editing app VSCO, where she held the title director of consumer communications for two years.

TikTok’s Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion and Multicultural Communications, Shavone Charles, is leaving the social media platform behind to launch a fashion series for creators, scheduled to debut at the 2025 New York Fashion Week (NYFW), according to The Hollywood Reporter. 

The model and creative agency — Future of Creatives — founder announced she will depart from TikTok to work on the Future of Fashion series in partnership with Ford Models Digital and Soho House in New York City. The series will highlight visionary creatives and disruptors of the fashion culture who are redesigning the industry in addition to uplifting innovation, inclusivity, and the voices of the future. 

In a LinkedIn post, Charles made her grand exit, celebrating her successes with the platform. “Over these years, I’ve had the honor of creating and scaling a global marketing and communications function that helped reshape how the brand engages with culture, public figures, communities, and creators, driving campaigns and initiatives that reached billions of impressions (and hearts) worldwide,” she wrote. 

“I want to give a special shout-out to the colleagues who truly cared, showed up for our creators authentically, and partnered with me to push this work forward. As I shift gears and focus on what’s next, alongside growing Future of Creatives (FOC), my tech-minded, multidisciplinary creative collective, hospitality brand, and global consultancy, I’m excited to welcome new conversations and beginnings.”

During the days of the COVID-19 pandemic, TikTok sought to improve the relationship between Black creators and the brand after several spoke out on not receiving credit for their creative trends that went viral around the world. One of the most popular trends — the Renegade dance — received backlash after late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon invited influencer Addison Rae to the show to perform the dance instead of its original creator, Jalaiah Harmon. 

After a number of creators went on strike, TikTok then hired Charles in 2021 as the brand’s first-ever diversity and inclusion communications executive in an effort to build profiles of underrepresented creators. While the creative visionary admitted there was no plan in place, she knew that her job was to bridge the gap. “There was no roadmap. But I knew there was a gap, and I set out to build what was missing in support of amplifying brilliant creators and underrepresented communities,” Charles said, according to PR Week. 

Under her leadership, Charles created and expanded the global marketing and communications function at the popular platform, which helped reshape how the brand engaged with culture, public figures, communities, and creators, driving campaigns and initiatives that reached billions of impressions and hearts worldwide.

Prior to bringing her expertise to TikTok, Charles worked with other major platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and photo-editing app VSCO, where she held the title director of consumer communications for two years.

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