Trump Administration Ends Protected Status For Haitian Migrants
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian migrants will expire on Feb. 3. It’s a move that will impact more than 352,000 Haitians.
The Trump administration has announced that it’s moving forward with plans to strip thousands of Haitians of their temporary immigration protections, despite also acknowledging that certain conditions in the country “remain concerning.”
In the notice, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated after reviewing country conditions and consulting with appropriate U.S. government agencies, “Haiti no longer meets the conditions for the designation for TPS.”
The notice comes amid a worsening situation in Haiti, a country that is riddled with gang violence and political turmoil that has forced a record 1.4 million people from their homes this year alone. According to a report by the United Nations International Organization for Migration, this marks the highest flight ever recorded in the country and represents a 36% increase since the end of 2024.
“The severity of this crisis demands increased and sustained response,” said Grégoire Goodstein, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Haiti. “The generosity of Haitian communities hosting displaced people must be matched by renewed international support.”
He adds, “What is needed now are sustainable solutions that restore dignity, foster resilience, and create lasting alternatives for those enduring this long and complex crisis.”
Trump Administration Says Haitians Remaining in U.S. Is Contrary To National Interest
Secretary Noem writes in the notice that allowing Haitians to remain in the United States is “contrary to the US national interest.”
“As is widely known, Haiti lacks a central authority with sufficient availability and dissemination of law enforcement information necessary to ensure its nationals do not undermine the national security of the United States,” the notice reads.
“Children in Haiti are experiencing violence and displacement at a terrifying scale,” said Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director. “Each time they are forced to flee, they lose not only their homes but also their chance to go to school, and simply to be children.”
National Coalition Of Black Meeting Professionals Brings 42nd Annual Conference To Portland
Slutty Vegan founder Pinky Cole Hayes was one of the speakers.
The National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP) brought its 42-year legacy of Black excellence in the meetings, tourism, and hospitality sector to Portland, Oregon, for this year’s annual conference and celebration.
Held at the Hilton in downtown Portland from Nov. 19 to Nov. 22 in partnership with Travel Portland, NCBMP’s 42nd annual conference delivered on the mission to Empower, Innovate, and Act with energy and intention. Attendees were immersed in powerful breakout sessions, inspiring keynote speeches, and a candid fireside chat with Slutty Vegan Founder Pinky Cole Hayes—all set against a backdrop designed for meaningful networking, collaboration, and collective purpose. From the first session to the final farewell, participants were poured into every step of the way.
“The NCBMP Annual Conference is a cornerstone event for Black professionals across all sectors of the meetings, tourism, and hospitality industry,” Jason Dunn, CEO of NCBMP, told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “Now in its 42nd year, the conference serves three essential purposes: One is to empower, or renew, or refresh the people who have traveled, many throughout the year, who are maybe dealing with issues of just uncertainty about their professional careers. Our industry is demanding, and many of our members are navigating environments where they are the “only one” in their organization. This conference is intentionally designed as a professional sanctuary—where people can be affirmed, seen, refueled, and inspired.”
Source: Jason Dunn speaking at National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals Conference in Portland, Oregon; Courtesy of NCBMP
Dunn continued. “The second piece is to do business. NCBMP brings together the full ecosystem—planners, suppliers, corporate brands, sports entities, faith organizations, fraternities and sororities, destination organizations, hotel brands, and entrepreneurs. Collectively, our members influence billions of dollars in meetings and events annually. The conference fuels new business relationships and strategic partnerships. The third is to get reaffirmed through education. We focus on elevating competencies, leadership capacity, and professional readiness. Attendees can expand their skill sets, gain credentialing credits, and sharpen their industry knowledge in ways that advance their careers.”
Throughout the conference, attendees said it felt like a genuine “family reunion.” From a community give-back initiative with the Urban League of Portland’s Feed the Folks program, to wine tastings, a live DJ inspiring sing-alongs over meals, and a Kid Capri–curated dance party to wrap a day of impactful learning, the NCBMP conference brought the vibes while continuing to champion excellence in the meeting planning profession.
“There’s a colleague, Najana White, who works with Miles Partnership, and you know, what she wrote about NCBMP last year was that when she’s here, she feels valued, seen, and heard,” said Zoe Moore, of Moore Consulting Agency. “It’s a family reunion. It’s where you can find mentors. Where you can find sponsors. Where you can find individuals who have been on your journey and can give you some guidance, but also learn from each other, and there’s a barrier that’s removed and more familiar when you’re at a coalition event versus going to other industry events. So that translates into the workplace when you often feel or are the only person of color, a Black person, in those spaces, and there always is this barrier of having to explain or code-switch in those spaces. Here, you don’t have to code switch, you know, and we’re going to keep it real with you, and you’re just going to make some lasting relationships, and then when we see each other across the ecosystem winning, we’re going to shout you out, so you have that extended family.”
Since the coalition’s inception in 1983, members have united at the conference under the non-profit’s shared mission of supporting members in all aspects of the meeting planning profession. Two days of specially curated programs and workshops highlight how the organization strives to support the educational advancement of Black association executives, meeting planners, and all meeting professionals, enhancing careers and the sector as a whole.
“They’ve been excellent at helping to connect with resources, whether it is a resource to answer a question, whether you’re looking for a vendor who can help you facilitate something, or you’re asking about a location that you’re considering hosting a meeting and they’ve already done it,” Danielle Kennedy-Jones with 100 Black Men of America Inc. said of NCBMP. “They can give you all of the insights for it. So it’s just been a wealth of knowledge and a wonderful group of people who can just kind of connect you to almost anything.”
Source: National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals Conference in Portland, Oregon; Courtesy of NCBMP
Shari Dunn, executive consultant and author at ITBOM Training and Consulting, energized the room with an opening address that connected Portland’s often overlooked Black history to the ongoing realities of racial bias, microaggressions, and the rollback of DEI progress in today’s workplace. Pointing to the 2020 incident in which Wells Fargo CEO Charles Scharf apologized for claiming there was a “very limited pool of Black talent to recruit from,” Dunn drove home a powerful reminder for NCBMP members: “You are qualified.”
Zeek Coleman, vice president at Americas Tourism Economics, mixed sharp insights with humor and memes in a dynamic, data-driven keynote that broke down the pressures facing the events and tourism industry amid inflation, a tightening job market, and the rise of AI. Kendra Bracken-Ferguson—author, venture capitalist, and CEO of Brain Trust—closed out the two days of educational programming with a powerful address outlining the pillars that shaped her own “Brain Trust” network: community, mentorship, education, and capital. She credited these foundations, along with the trusted professionals within her circle, for helping her succeed as a three-time founder and advisor to top talent.
Slutty Vegan Founder Pinky Cole Hayes brought the transparency as she reflected on a challenging year, tying her message to the theme of her 2023 self-help book, “I Hope You Fail.” After a turbulent start to the year—including temporarily losing and then regaining ownership of Slutty Vegan amid financial setbacks—Cole Hayes candidly described how “ghetto” 2025 felt for her, making no effort to sugarcoat the experience.
“I’m coming from a very vulnerable and transparent space because the year I had…..” Cole Hayes said. “2025 was very ghetto for me. I lost that $100 million company. One day I owned it and the next day, I didn’t own it.”
She opened up about how her company fell into debt despite generating millions across its East Coast locations, and how painful it was to “lose it all right in front of my face and the world’s face.” Yet, still standing with both her business and dignity intact, Cole Hayes credited the peace she finds at home with her husband and children for carrying her through the storm.
Source: Pinky Cole Hayes at National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals Conference in Portland, Oregon; Courtesy of NCBMP
She also shared three key lessons the experience taught her:
“I learned who I need to do business with and who I don’t need to do business with. All money ain’t good money, and you are only as good as your team,” she said.
Cole Hayes also took a moment to spotlight the students in attendance. This year, NCBMP intentionally invited scholars from HBCUs and colleges nationwide to broaden the foundation they’re already laying for their future careers. Howard University students moved through the conference with purpose, networking with industry leaders who offered mentorship, guidance, and pathways to future opportunities. Their presence underscored NCBMP’s commitment to cultivating the next generation and securing its legacy for years to come.
“For many students, attending NCBMP is their first experience in a formal professional space. Exposure matters. Representation matters,” Dunn said. “Seeing Black excellence up close can shift a young person’s entire trajectory. Our message to them is simple: There is space for you here. There is opportunity for you here. And there is a community ready to support your growth.”
The 42nd annual conference closed with a glamorous black-tie gala recognizing members, partners, and organizations for their excellence and contributions to the industry and the NCBMP legacy. With a heartfelt tribute to its founders, NCBMP celebrated in a way that reaffirmed its enduring impact on the meetings, tourism, and hospitality sector for decades to come.
“Our founders created NCBMP in 1983 to give Black professionals a seat at the table. Today, this conference continues that legacy and expands the table,” Dunn said. “NCBMP is committed to building the pipeline—not just for today, but for generations to come.”
Source: Martinique Lewis of Black Travel Alliance accepting her award at the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals Conference in Portland, Oregon; Courtesy of NCBMP
South Fulton Mayoral Run-Off Candidates Are Hit With Claims Of Violence And Ethics Violations
South Fulton Mayoral candidates Dr. Mark Baker and Councilwoman Carmalitha Gumbs will go into the Dec. 2 election with looming allegations.
The mayoral race in South Fulton, Georgia, is making headlines after a temporary protection order was filed against candidate Dr. Mark Baker and an ethics complaint was filed against second runoff candidate Councilwoman Carmalitha Gumbs.
Dr. Mark Baker, who is a candidate for the mayoral seat, was served with a temporary protection order that alleges Baker threatened South Fulton resident Christopher McCreary at an event on Nov. 14, WSBTV reported. The alleged confrontation followed McCreary’s online social media criticism of Baker’s leadership.
“I reached out to shake his hand. He said I should hit you in your face for talking [expletive] about me on [social media],’” the man wrote in the petition. “… I stated this is what I was talking about with him glorifying gangs, and walked off. I told him I was worried for my safety.”
Baker denies the accusation. He told WSB-TV the temporary protection order is a “staged provoking attack” and nothing more than a political stunt.
The legal challenge is ongoing, and a hearing regarding the temporary protection order is scheduled for Dec.15.
Protection order filed against 1 South Fulton mayoral candidate, ethics complaint against another https://t.co/C1ajDbmKQG
As Baker contends with the criminal matter, mayoral candidate councilwoman Carmalitha Gumbs is dealing with an ethics complaint filed by resident Reshard Snellings and reported by WSB-TV. Snellings claims Gumbs improperly voted on a warehouse development because the developer was also a donor to her campaign. Snellings believes that voting on a bid by a political donor violates the public trust. The complaint alleges that the city charter required her to recuse herself from the vote.
Gumbs, however, rejects all allegations of wrongdoing. She stated she did nothing improper. The councilwoman emphasized that she voted against the warehouse development in question. The South Fulton city attorney confirmed Gumbs did not violate the city charter in this instance. Nevertheless, the city’s ethics board is reviewing Snellings’ complaint, which keeps the issue active during the election cycle.
The runoff between Gumbs and Baker to determine South Fulton’s next mayor takes place on Dec. 2.
Emmett Till Center Buys Barn Where Lynching Took Place For $1.5 Million
The move is designed to prevent the site from being exploited by speculators or hate groups, securing the narrative’s integrity for public memory.
On Nov. 23, the Emmett Till Interpretive Center (ETIC) acquired the barn connected to the 1955 murder of Emmett Till, securing one of the most significant and fragile sites in American civil rights history after agreeing to a purchase price of $1.5 million.
The purchase ensures the structure—which eyewitness Willie Reed identified as the location where Till was tortured before his death—will be preserved and transformed into a “sacred space for truth, healing, and national reflection.”
The move is designed to prevent the site from being exploited by speculators or hate groups, securing the narrative’s integrity for public memory.
Preservation Over Profit in the Delta
The ETIC, a community-based organization with a two-decade history of ethical stewardship in the Mississippi Delta, will hold the title to the property.
Leadership stated the decision was guided by Till’s mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, whose charge to “let the world see” remains central to the organization’s mission.
The financial transaction was not taken lightly; the organization had explored alternatives, including donations and eminent domain, but ultimately deemed the risk of the barn falling into private hands too great.
“We chose preservation over risk, and truth over silence — because you can’t put a price on our history,” the organization wrote.
The acquisition was funded through private philanthropy, with leadership support coming from the Rhimes Family Foundation. No public funds were used.
Ending Erasure and Building Conscience
The barn, located outside Drew, Mississippi, holds a profound historical weight. After their acquittal, Till’s killers falsely changed their public accounts, effectively attempting to write the barn out of the history—a silence the ETIC is determined to end.
The Interpretive Center emphasizes that preserving the structure is a necessary act to counter historical violence: “Because erasure is a form of violence… Preserving the barn transforms a site of harm into a place of truth and healing.”
“Through the generosity of writer and producer Shonda Rhimes and the resolve of local residents, the Emmett Till Interpretive Center has purchased and protected the barn near Drew, MS, where Emmett Till was brutally beaten and murdered. It will be preserved not merely as a structure, but as sacred ground — a place where truth can live without fear of being forgotten,” the caption read on the ETIC’s Instagram account.
The ETIC now plans a multi-year process that will culminate in the site opening as part of a larger public memorial by the 75th anniversary of the lynching in 2030. The immediate next steps include:
Stabilization and preservation to prevent structural collapse.
Community engagement and design guided by descendants of the Till family and local elders.
Interpretation and access to develop the site as a space for reflection and learning.
The organization’s highest hope for the barn is that it becomes a sacred site of conscience, moving visitors to confront the human cost of injustice and “recognize that attacks on dignity endanger democracy.”
De La Soul Returns With ‘Cabin In The Sky’ 2 Years After Trugoy’s Death
This is the first release since 2016's "And the Anonymous Nobody..."
Long Island’s own De La Soul has just released their latest project, “Cabin in the Sky,” the first one they dropped since the death of Trugoy the Dove, born David Jolicoeur, who died almost three years ago (Feb. 12, 2023), making this the first album the group (now a duo) has released since 2016’s “And the Anonymous Nobody…”
The album is on the Nas-helmed record label, Mass Appeal Records, which has been releasing a slate of projects (seven scheduled for 2025) from classic hip-hop artists this year. The De La Soul offering is the latest after Slick Rick’s “Victory,” Wu-Tang Clan Member Raekwon’s “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” fellow Wu-Tang Clan brother Ghostface Killah’s “Supreme Clientele 2,” Mobb Deep (featuring vocals from deceased member, Prodigy) ’s “Infinite,” and another rapper who is no longer with us, Big L’s “Harlem’s Finest: Return of the King. Next up is Nas himself, who reteams with DJ Premier for “Light-Years,” scheduled to drop Dec. 12.
The group dropped their first album, “3 Feet High and Rising,” in 1989, introducing the world to what became a hip-hop staple, skits, which were incorporated between songs. So, 36 years after that initial offering, the group still performs around the world, and they have practically hit every popular hip-hop-related podcast and radio show with fans and the media excited to hear what the duo has done with “Cabin in the Sky.”
Posdnuos and DJ Maseo incorporated several producers for the album, which also included vocals from Trugoy. In fact, three of the tracks were produced by him (one co-produced with Posdnuos), along with Pete Rock, who was responsible for the lead single, “The Package,” and three other songs. DJ Premier handled three songs, while Supa Dave West did the bulk of the production (five songs). Other contributors were Erik & Joshua, Jake One, Sam Wish, and Nottz.
Lending vocals to the project are Giancarlo Esposito, Slick Rick, Nas, Common, Black Thought, Bilal, Q-Tip, Killer Mike, Yummy Bingham, Jay Pharoah, Gareth Donkin, Stout, K. Butler & the Collective, Gina Loring, and Yukimi.
“Cabin in the Sky” is available on all streaming platforms.
After their former label, Tommy Boy Records, kept De La Soul’s catalog off streaming services, Reservoir Records acquired the masters and struck a deal with the group, making their music finally available on major streaming services less than a month after Trugoy’s death. In 1991, with their second album, the group declared that “De La Soul is Dead,” but 24 years later, they have proven that statement to be false.
Ray J Arrested On Criminal Threat Charge After Alleged Gun Incident Caught On Live Video
Thanksgiving got a little wild with Ray j...
Rapper and television personality Ray J (born William Ray Norwood Jr.) was arrested early Thanksgiving morning on a charge of making a criminal threat, with bail set at $50,000, following a volatile domestic incident reportedly captured live on social media video.
Law enforcement sources confirmed to TMZ that the entertainer is currently in custody at a Los Angeles-area jail. The arrest followed a distress call placed to authorities around 4:00 a.m. local time regarding a possible domestic violence incident involving threats at a residence in Porter Ranch.
Livestream Captures Alleged Threats
The chaos erupted when Ray J went live on a social media platform from inside his home, immediately launching into a rant about having the “worst Thanksgiving” and claiming threats were being made against him and attempts were being made to take his children.
The situation escalated dramatically when Ray J allegedly pulled a handgun off a table, loaded it, and threatened violence against anyone approaching his door.
The confrontation intensified when his estranged wife, Princess Love, entered the frame, stating she was taking their children. Princess Love, appearing to hold their daughter Melody, repeatedly accused Ray J of pointing the weapon at them. She then confronted him, labeling him a “woman abuser.”
Explicit Threats and Child Distress
A man and another woman subsequently entered the home, leading to an explosion of confrontation. The man challenged Ray J, who allegedly snapped, “I’ll shoot the f*** out of you.”
The video then shifted, leaving only audio rolling, during which Ray J was reportedly heard shouting explicit death threats: “I’ll kill you,” followed by, “Get out of my house before I shoot you right now. I got a gun on me.”
A child’s crying punctuated the escalating audio. As police sirens approached in the background, the audio indicated officers were arriving and securing the scene.
Princess Love was reportedly heard speaking to an officer, attempting to explain the sequence of events, including the comment: “My son told me there was a gun on the table.”
Officers arrived, cleared the residence, and took the suspect into custody.
PILOTS SHOWERED WITH GLASS: NTSB Report Links United 737 Strike To Rogue Weather Balloon
United Airlines flight 1093, carrying 111 occupants, diverted safely to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) after the strike, which preliminary data suggests may have involved a high-altitude weather balloon.
A United Airlines Boeing 737-8 en route from Denver to Los Angeles sustained damage, and its captain suffered minor injuries after the aircraft was involved in a mid-air collision with an unknown object while cruising over Utah, according to a Nov. 20 report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The incident occurred on Oct.16, 2025, at 6:43 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT).
United Airlines flight 1093, carrying 111 occupants, diverted safely to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) after the strike, which preliminary data suggests may have involved a high-altitude weather balloon.
NTSB issues the preliminary report for its ongoing investigation of the Oct. 16 incident in which a United Airlines Boeing 737-8 struck an object while in cruise flight near Moab, Utah. Download the report PDF: https://t.co/9tJEIJA61Jpic.twitter.com/KMuoOxl4Fs
The collision occurred as the aircraft, registration N17327, was established in cruise flight at a pressure altitude of 36,000 feet. The captain reported seeing an object distant on the horizon moments before a significant impact, and a loud bang occurred at the first officer’s forward windshield.
The impact immediately shattered the windshield, showering both pilots with glass. The captain sustained multiple superficial lacerations to his right arm, though the first officer was uninjured. The remaining 109 passengers and two flight attendants onboard were also unharmed.
Following the event, the flight crew quickly initiated a descent, transferred pilot duties, and addressed an illuminated window overheat light per checklist procedures. The captain, after self-administering first aid for his wounds, resumed pilot flying duties for an uneventful ILS approach and landing at SLC.
Investigation Focuses on Weather Balloon
Federal investigators quickly requested data on weather balloons, other aircraft, and any known reentry objects that may have been in the collision area. The investigation has zeroed in on a Global Sounding Balloon (GSB) operated by WindBorne Systems Inc.
WindBorne reported losing contact with one of their unmanned free balloons, launched from Spokane, Washington, that was in the vicinity of the airliner at the time of the accident. The GSB ceased communication between 6:36:16 and 6:43:36 a.m. MDT, with its last reported altitude at 35,936 feet, oscillating within the airliner’s flight level.
The flight data recorder revealed that at the time of the collision, the 737’s track was to the southwest at a pressure altitude of 36,002 feet and a groundspeed of 395 knots, placing it in the same airspace as the last reported GSB location.
Design and Integrity of Impacted Components
WindBorne describes the GSB as a lightweight, long-duration weather platform made primarily of thin, low-tensile-strength plastic film, filled with silica ballast to minimize damage upon impact. No large metal structural elements are employed.
The damaged windshield of the Boeing 737, manufactured by PPG Aerospace, is a composite design intended to withstand significant flight loads and is certified to endure the impact of a four-pound bird without penetration. The glass is composed of multiple layers, including a structural inner pane and a non-structural outer pane. The damaged windshield has been removed and sent to the NTSB Materials Lab in Washington, D.C., for detailed examination, along with the flight data and cockpit voice recorders.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has invited all qualified parties, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), WindBorne Systems, Boeing, and United Airlines, to participate in the ongoing investigation.
Statue Of ‘Remarkable And Brave’ Black Woman Who Escaped Slavery Unveiled In England
A Northern England town is honoring the Black woman who escaped slavery in the U.S. and settled there in the 1830s.
A statue honoring the “remarkable and brave” woman who escaped slavery in the U.S. has been unveiled in the Northern England town where she found her freedom.
On Nov. 20, a statue of Mary Ann Macham was unveiled at the top of the Riverside Embankment Walkway, overlooking the sea close to where she once lived in North Shields, England, BBC reports. Designed by Keith Barrett, the bronze figure stands as a testament to Macham’s resilience and to Britain’s often-overlooked Black history.
“The story was so amazing I just thought we’ve got to share this more widely,” said Steph Towns, a teacher who came across Macham’s story with her grandmother while they were researching Britain’s role in slavery. “She was just such a remarkable and brave woman.”
“I saw a picture of Mary Ann and, well, that really led us down quite a bit of a trail,” Towns said.
Mary Ann Macham, born in Middlesex County, Virginia, in May 1802, escaped enslavement and torture after weeks hiding in the woods and stowing away on a ship, eventually arriving in North Shields in the early 1830s. A Quaker family took her in, she married a local man, and lived in the town until her death at age 91.
Her account of the escape was recorded by the Spence family, who helped her upon arrival. Years later, Towns discovered her story and shared it on Facebook, catching the attention of Nina Brown, a trustee at North Shields’ Old Low Light Heritage Centre. This led to an exhibition centered on Macham’s story and the placement of a headstone on her previously unmarked grave in Preston Cemetery.
A statue inspired by her life was commissioned by North Tyneside Council, with sculptor Keith Barrett taking great pride in the project as a North Shields native.
“I am very pleased to have been allowed to create this sculpture celebrating the life of Mary Ann Macham,” Barrett said. “It has been particularly important to me because North Shields is my home town, and I feel honoured to be able to mark the bravery and insistence on freedom shown by Mary Ann, and the compassion and support for human rights and justice displayed by the Quaker community in North Shields, and all those towns people who enabled her to settle and marry, and live out the rest of her life in safety and freedom.”
Ex-Broncos Star Sammy Winder Explores His Passion As A ‘Bulldozer Man’
At age 66, Winder a former two-time Pro Bowler actively pursues his childhood dream.
Decades after retiring as one of the Denver Broncos’ most productive running backs, Sammy Winder is now a bulldozer operator on Mississippi construction sites.
At age 66, Winder, a former two-time Pro Bowler, actively pursues his childhood dream. He works 50 hours a week as a self-proclaimed “bulldozer man.”
After retiring from the NFL, Winder founded Winder Construction. The company specialized in preparing sites for new home construction in the Jackson area. He would operate the business for approximately two decades. Unfortunately, the economy in 2009 and 2010 slowed his progress. The slow work prompted Winder to pivot, spending 10 years managing local garbage companies.
A man of action, Winder grew restless in managerial roles. Two years ago, Winder returned to his childhood fascination. He currently assists longtime friend Steve Chisholm, owner of Steve Chisholm LLC, in preparing sites for residential development.
“I’m having the time of my life,” Winder told the Denver Gazette.
Denver Gazette visits with ex-#Broncos star RB Sammy Winder in native Mississippi He’s 66 & economically stable but loves working 50 hours a week at construction sites “I’m a bulldozer man.” Winder grew up poor while dreaming of one day riding a bulldozerhttps://t.co/r2Z80D4hQW
Winder grew up poor as the son of a sharecropper. He tells the outlet that construction machinery was a fascination during his youth. He realized his ambition after earning financial stability through his professional football career.
“After playing for the Broncos and getting a little money, I went out and got me a bulldozer and an excavator,” Winder stated.
Winder’s dedication to his work surprises those who encounter him on construction sites. Yet he is committed to hard work, logging 50 or more hours per week.
Drafted by the Broncos in 1982, Winder became a central figure in the team’s offense, eventually ranking third in franchise history. He earned three Pro Bowl placements during his career and secured a spot on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Winder led the Broncos to three AFC Championship wins.
Today, Winder channels the same dedication he applied on the field into clearing the landscape for new homes.
Mielle Becomes First Official Textured-Hair Care Partner of the NFL
Women now make up half of the NFL fanbase. This has forged a “culture-driving force” between both the league and the brand loved by millions of women, Mielle executives said.
Mielle, the Black-founded and woman-led haircare brand, just announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with the National Football League (NFL).
According to a news release obtained by BLACK ENTERPRISE, women now make up half of the NFL fanbase. This has forged a “culture-driving force” between both the league and women.
“The NFL is excited to have Mielle, a brand that is committed to performance, community, and empowering fans and athletes, lean into the NFL partnership,” Tracie Rodburg, SVP Global Partnerships for the NFL, said in a statement. “This partnership aligns with the league’s mission to build lasting connections within our communities nationwide and celebrate the self-expression of our players and fans.”
This ‘Partnership Reinforces That Textured Hair Isn’t A Niche,’ Mielle President Says
Founded in 2014 by CEO Monique Rodriguez, Mielle is the fastest-growing Black-founded and women-led global beauty brand. The brand emphasizes incorporating healthier ingredients and a “root to results” approach. It was acquired by Procter & Gamble (P&G) in January 2023, and it now operates as an independent subsidiary of P&G Beauty.
People from all diverse ethnic backgrounds can use Mielle’s beauty product collection, as the designers created products for all hair types. Consumers can find Mielle in more than 100,000 stores nationwide, including CVS, Sally Beauty, Ulta Beauty, Walgreens, and Walmart.
Mielle’s team says the partnership will give Mielle a powerful platform to prove that its “high-performing ingredients” and products protect curls and coils. This is especially significant for athletes with textured hair. Many experience sweat and friction under their helmets, ultimately leading to dryness, breakage, and frizz.
“This partnership reinforces that textured hair isn’t a niche, it’s central to the culture, the preparation, and the game-day experience,” said Omar Goff, President of Mielle. “Together, we’re creating possibilities and expanding access with textured hair fans around the world through one of the most powerful ecosystems in sports and media.”
The announcement of the partnership is now supported by a social-first campaign, including the viral “Passing the Phone” video moment. The video features talents across the league: from players, executives, agents, players’ families, and on-air talent, who are celebrating how men and women show up on and off the field.
