by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 27, 2025

Kyrie Irving Donates $50K To Fundraiser For Tamir Rice Foundation

Irving's contribution helps to get fundraiser over $85,000

A fundraiser was started by the mother of police shooting victim Tamir Rice, for the celebration of what would have been his 23rd birthday, and Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving has donated $50,000 toward the cause.

Tamir Rice was only 12 years old when Ohio police officer Timothy Loehmann killed him at a recreation center park area on Nov. 22, 2014. The boy was unarmed but had a toy gun when Loehmann shot him. Samaria Rice, the victim’s mother, recently posted a fundraiser on GoFundMe to raise money for her nonprofit organization, the Tamir Rice Foundation. This year, Tamir would have been 23 years old if the tragedy had not taken place. Samaria is raising funds and asking people to donate $23 to represent how old Tamir would have been.

The funds will be used to give back to Cleveland youth through a building she purchased to support inner-city children.

“I miss my son so much each and every day. As our family approaches Tamir’s 23rd birthday. I’m asking for 23 dollars for 23 years without him. I purchased a building in the city of Cleveland to give back to our inner city youth with art and cultural developments.”

The goal is to raise $110,000.

The fundraiser was started on June 9 and has raised over $85,000. The campaign got a boost with a $50,000 donation from Irving, who is known for donating funds to many causes, and he came through again on June 25. He joined over 1,180 people who are helping to make Samaria’s vision a reality.

The New Jersey-raised NBA player just recently reportedly opted out of his contract with the Mavericks so he can ink a three-year $119 million contract extension to stay with the team until the 2027-28 season. He helped lead the Mavericks to the NBA championship last season, but the team lost to the Boston Celtics. Irving is currently nursing an ACL injury suffered during the last NBA season and is expected to miss the start of the upcoming season.

AI, artificial intelligence, trends, A.I., journey, technology, DryMerge, AI, job interview

by Stacy Jackson

June 27, 2025

EMPWRD AI Platform Connects Marginalized Groups With Equity-Driven Tools

EMPWRD provides users with tailored resources on legal aid, mental health, LGBTQ+ rights, workplace bias, housing discrimination and more.

EMPWRD, an innovative AI-powered platform by Create Labs Ventures, is taking inclusive technology to the next level, connecting users with equity-driven tools leveraged through trusted datasets.

Built upon a community-driven foundation, EMPWRD aims to connect marginalized communities, brands, and its everyday users to tailored resources such as legal aid, mental health support, LGBTQ+ rights, and more. “At EMPWRD, we’re not trying to be everything for everyone,” EMPWRD Founder Abran Maldonado said in a press release. “We’re building a platform with and for the communities who’ve been sidelined for too long—Black and Brown folks, LGBTQ+ users, immigrants, people with disabilities.”

Maldonado, an Afro-Latino technologist and co-founder of Create Labs Ventures, is dedicated to launching innovative projects that will reshape generative AI and digital human design and advance inclusive AI practices for educational and social impact.

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A post shared by Create Labs (@createlabs)

EMPWRD’s chatbot framework utilizes LGBTQ+ best practices from Queerly and incorporates information from the American Civil Liberties Union’s “Know Your Rights” database to provide users with resources and materials on constitutional rights and legal protections. Inclusive datasets by TONL and contributions from creators of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, disabled, and immigrant communities create the intricate details of real communities.

“We want to make sure AI works for us, not against us,” said Maldonado. With previous studies that revealed AI’s frequent misinterpretations of language, tone, an appearance of marginalized groups, “EMPWRD arrives at a critical moment,” the press release stated. “As AI technology becomes increasingly embedded in decision-making systems—hiring platforms, predictive policing, credit scoring—so too do the biases of its training data.”

The platform’s key capabilities include a Community-Trained Chatbot to offer real-time guidance on workplace bias, police encounters, housing discrimination, mental health, LGBTQ+ rights, and more; a Bias Detection Tool to analyze resumes, grant proposals and legal documents for issues before submission; an Inclusive Image Generator which creates AI-generated images that reflect diversity; and Tailored Resource Network to connect users with organizations equipped to provide support, pro bono legal advice, mental health care and DEI consultations.

EMPWRD launched in June, in line with Pride Month and Juneteenth. The AI platform partners with LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, HBCU innovation labs, and social impact organizations. Throughout the year, the platform will unveil new collaborations and community “data drops” from historically underrepresented groups.

by Stacy Jackson

June 26, 2025

Maesa Magic Incubator To Offer Early-Stage Beauty Founders $35K Grants

The Maesa Magic Incubator program seeks to award beauty founders with funding, weekly curriculum, mentorship and promotional opportunities.

Maesa Magic Incubator opened applications for its 2025-26 program and welcomes early-stage beauty and wellness founders from historically marginalized communities to apply for its $35,000, no-strings-attached grant funding.

Now in its third year, the fast-track business-building incubator has awarded over $200,000 in funding to entrepreneurs. “The Maesa Magic Incubator was created in direct response to the ever-present entrepreneurial access gap and aims to empower and amplify early-stage, underrepresented voices,” the website states. “The beauty and wellness industry has created an abundance of incubator programs for specific under-served populations over the past decade, but time and time again, early-stage entrepreneurs are ineligible due to a lack of revenue or inability to be shelf-ready.”

The program offers recipients a hands-on entrepreneurship curriculum, in-person workshops, events, funding, publicity, and community. Measa’s Hands-On Entrepreneurial Track offers a weekly curriculum conducted through virtual lectures and fireside chats with successful beauty and wellness company founders, unique major and minor tracks, and a final capstone project to present to a distinguished Advisory Board. Entrepreneurs are granted admission to Emerson University’s “Future of Commerce and Work” program at Harvard Faculty Club, a fully paid trip to Cosmoprof North America Miami in January 2026, and a premium BeautyMatter membership.

According to a press release, “with less than 3% of venture capital going to women and/or BIPOC founders, the industry’s pipeline problem runs deep,” and Maesa aims to change that. The Maesa Magic Incubator program, founded by Kelly Kovack, is “a hands-on, high-impact program” from the team behind Kristen Ess Haircare, Hairitage by Mindy McKnight, Being Frenshe by Ashley Tisdale, and Fine’ry.

Three winners will be selected to receive a $35,000 grant to support their business, promotional support on CEW, BeautyMatter, and Maesa handles, and mentorship from beauty founders, Maesa executive leaders, and industry experts. Previous program recipients include: The Potion Studio founder Aziza El Wanni; Trinoli founder Marsha McBain; House of Foster fragrance brand owner Selah Jael; and Fuzz Clinic hair removal brand owner Keisha Wagner-Gaymon.

Maesa announced the graduating class of the second cohort of the #MaesaMagicIncubator program. The 3 graduating founders are Jadis Montijo, Motivo Scar Care; Marsha McBain, Berri-Clear Skincare; and Aziza El Wanni, The Potion Studio. Read more about the brands below.
➡️… pic.twitter.com/47Rn9Pgx5f
— Beauty Packaging (@BeautyPackaging) March 16, 2025

The application for the Class of 2026 is now open and will close Aug. 6 at 11:59 pm EST. Women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, differently abled individuals, seniors 65+, and those from low-income households are encouraged to apply via Maesa’s official website.

FAMU, Florida A and M University,DI, Black History Month

by Sharelle B. McNair

June 26, 2025

Florida’s Board Of Governors Blasts FAMU CFO Over Massive Financial Audit Red Flags

With all arrows pointing to Brown, board member and chair of the committee Aubrey Edge feels Brown has been at the job too long to make such vivid mistakes.

The state of Florida’s Board of Governors is questioning Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) Chief Financial Officer Rebecca Brown’s performance after red flags were raised surrounding a recent financial audit, Tallahassee Democrat reports.

A report submitted by the HBCU to the Florida Board of Governors’ audit and compliance committee obtained updates corresponding to findings in the auditor general’s March 2025 reports for the fiscal year ending in June 2024. Several red flags were raised within the report, including a delay in bank reconciliations, which compares cash records with bank statements in an effort to ensure accurate financial recordings, and vendor payment delays.

There were also concerns over internal controls and accounting practices being labeled as weak, in addition to limited staff involvement. With all arrows pointing to Brown, board member and chair of the committee, Aubrey Edge feels Brown has been at the job too long to make such vivid mistakes. “From my perspective, the CFO failed pretty miserably in this job because she’s been there two years and five months, which is long enough to know that you’re not reconciling your statements,” Edge said.

Brown was absent from the June 18 meeting held on Florida Atlantic University’s campus. However, a number of FAMU leaders were there and put forth an effort to defend the CFO, with Vice President for Audit Credentials Joseph Maleszewski blaming the turnover of financial control. “We’ve had instability in leadership, and the turnover has changed the staffing in those functions as well,” the VP said, according to CFO.

The Tallahassee-based HBCU has been negatively trending for weeks following the board’s decision to confirm Marva Johnson as FAMU’s 13th president. The decision was met with massive backlash from current and incoming students, in addition to recent and seasoned alumni.

But the board said it’s more than just leadership, turnover, and Brown. With Edge labeling the financial issue as “systemic,” member Eric Silagy echoed the sentiments and pointed the finger at FAMU’s oversight culture, saying such issues mimic those that may be done in the private sector. “For a chief financial officer to have this systemic breakdown and this loss of risk controls, they would be shown the door so fast it would make their head spin,” Silagy said.

“I personally wouldn’t have confidence in the team you have, and I would ask you to really take a hard look at what signals you’re sending to folks internally so that they understand the gravity of what they’re doing or not doing.”

Edge highlighted how the board started tracking over 30 discrepancies and actions at the home of the Rattlers starting in 2013 to address internal issues. He continued to express how some of the same problems from more than 10 years ago were still an issue within the most recent audits. However, to lighten the load, FAMU’s interim President Timothy Beard stepped in to reassure that the university’s bank transactions were being reconciled and reviewed.

“When I came in, certainly, I could sense some things that needed to be done,” Beard said. “I immediately started working with our VP (Brown) pretty much weekly to look at some corrective actions.” But with the bills being paid on time being an issue for the board, Beard revealed that “significant strides” have been made since 2024, but admitted to work still needing to be done with a corrective action plan put in place in an effort to resolve them.

by Jameelah Mullen

June 26, 2025

Family Of Black Hiker Who Fell From Volcano Blames Rescue Team for Her Death

The Brazilian woman was trapped for four days after she fell while hiking Indonesia’s second-highest volcano.

Juliana Marins, a 26-year-old Brazilian tourist, was found dead after falling off a cliff during a hike on an active volcano in Indonesia. The news of her death attracted international media attention, but her family believes the death of the hiker was preventable.

A post on Instagram from Marian’s family criticized the Indonesian rescue team, accusing them of not taking proper action during the rescue.

“Juliana suffered great negligence on the part of the rescue team,” the family posted on June 25, as translated by People.

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A post shared by @resgatejulianamarins

“If the team had reached her within the estimated time of 7 hours, Juliana would still be alive,” the family’s post continued. “Juliana deserved much more! Now we are going to seek justice for her because that is what she deserves! Don’t give up on Juliana!”

On Saturday, June 21, Marins, a group of friends, and a tour guide set out to hike Mount Rinjani, a volcano over 12,000 feet tall. Around 6:30 a.m., the 26-year-old allegedly slipped and fell off a ridge on the volcano.

Marins initially survived the fall, according to reports. Drone footage showed images of the dancer, where she appeared to be moving. A rescue team tried to reach her, but were stalled by bad weather conditions. When rescuers returned to the spot where they first found Marins, they discovered she had slipped nearly 1,600 feet further into the crater. By the time they sent more drones to find her, Marins was unresponsive.

Marins’ body was reached four days after her fall. Her family confirmed her death.

“With great sadness, we inform you that she did not survive,” Marins’ family said. “We remain very grateful for all the prayers, messages of affection, and support that we have received,” BBC reported.

Marins is one of several people who have died while hiking the volcano. In May 2025, Rennie Bin Abdul Ghani, a 57-year-old Malaysian hiker, died after falling about 328 feet. Kaifat Rafi Mubarrok, 16, also died after falling more than 600 feet.

Authorities have not yet specified the cause of Marin’s death.

Marilyn Mosby, conviction overturned, fraud, Baltimore

by Sharelle B. McNair

June 26, 2025

Marilyn Mosby Free From Home Detention After Federal Perjury Charges

Mosby garnered support from the NAACP, National Council of Negro Women and the National Urban League who felt she was targeted.

Former Baltimore City State Attorney Marilyn Mosby is breathing fresh air once again after ending her federal home detention bid following a perjury conviction, WMAR 2 Baltimore reports.

Mosby’s bid ended June 20, completing one year of home-based incarceration after being convicted on two federal counts of perjury and one count of making a false statement on a home loan application. In a motion dated June 16, Mosby will avoid two additional years of home detention. “United States Probation has advised undersigned counsel that it also plans to file a motion for early termination of Ms. Mosby’s supervised release upon the completion of her detention condition on June 20, 2025,” the motion read.

Legal issues for the former state attorney started in November 2023 after being charged and found guilty of lying about finances surrounding early withdrawals from retirement funds during the COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2024, she was found guilty again of fraudulently claiming that $5,000 was a gift from her now-ex-husband when it was actually hers, while closing on a Florida condo.

While many people side-eyed the former prosecutor’s legal woes after climbing to notoriety following the Freddie Gray case, Mosby garnered support from the NAACP, National Council of Negro Women, and the National Urban League who felt she was targeted. In a five-page letter to former President Joe Biden, the civil rights organizations outlined their concerns about Mosby being unfairly targeted and unjustly convicted: “The only thing Marilyn Mosby is guilty of is the desire to provide her family with a better life,” NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said at the time.

However, it looks like luck is on her side following her dismissal. U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby granted Mosby’s motions to have her passport returned and waived a $1,447 location monitoring fee after she described the charge as “hefty” amid financial distress. “Although Ms. Mosby is currently employed, she has been financially devastated over the course of her prosecution in this case, which started 3 ½ years ago,” Mosby’s legal team wrote to Griggsby.

“During this lengthy period of time, her savings were depleted due to legal fees, long periods of unemployment, and credit card debt—so much that she became indigent and required the services of the Office of the Federal Public Defender.”

On social media, news of her release was seemingly met with praise by supporters who continue to join her in maintaining her innocence. One supporter on X accused her former husband of setting her up. “She should never have been prosecuted when her husband set her up! Funny how he lied and she did the time and that n**** sitting pretty as City Council President!” @rosempearl2 wrote.

She should never have been prosecuted her husband set her up! Funny how he lied and she did the time and that nigga sitting pretty as City Council President! https://t.co/gugQ2S8BSk
— Rose No fucking DM'S (@RoseMPearl2) June 24, 2025

@f2matts gave her some grace with claims that COVID was a time where everyone was looking for a come-up. “Marilyn Mosby has endured enough for her crimes, and I hope she returns to working in office with a new perspective. COVID was a wild time, and EVERYONE was looking for a come up, or an advantage in that time of uncertainty,” the X user wrote.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 26, 2025

Stormzy Earns Honorary Doctorate From University Of Cambridge For Helping Black College Students

Stormzy's scholarship program for Black students at the University of Cambridge earned him an honorary doctorate.

The prestigious University of Cambridge has awarded Stormzy an honorary doctorate in recognition of his scholarship program, which supports Black students at the institution.

The UK rapper, whose real name is Michael Ebenazer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr., received a Doctorate in Law for his “transformative” scholarship program, which helps fund the education of Black students pursuing higher education at the University of Cambridge, according to the BBC.

“Stormzy’s scholarship programme has had a transformative impact and we are proud to recognise his work with this degree,” Prof Deborah Prentice, vice-chancellor at the university, said.

“Each of this year’s honorary graduates has made an extraordinary contribution to their field, and their work continues to inspire people in Cambridge and around the world.”

Launched in 2018 through his #Merky Foundation in partnership with HSBC UK, Stormzy’s scholarship has fully funded tuition and living expenses for 56 students. His impactful work earned him a place among eight public figures honored with honorary degrees at Cambridge’s 2025 commencement ceremony.

“It’s so important for Black students, especially, to be aware that it can 100% be an option to attend a university of this calibre,” Stormzy said when launching the scholarship program.

Since rising to fame, 31-year-old Stormzy has spearheaded numerous philanthropic initiatives in the sports and arts sectors. He launched the #Merky Books imprint to support Black British authors and purchased the AFC Croydon Athletic football club in South London with plans to transform it into a true “community asset.”

Stormzy’s honorary degree from the University of Cambridge marks his second, following one he received from the University of Exeter in 2022, “in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the field of higher education philanthropy and widening participation.” His honorary doctorate was awarded just a week after he premiered his short film, Big Man, on YouTube, released through his production company, #Merky Films, in partnership with Apple.

Bodycam Footage,kids , Stolen Vehicle Chase

by Kandiss Edwards

June 26, 2025

7 Dallas Family Members Plead Guilty To PPP Loan Fraud

The Dallas family admitted to conspiracy and wire fraud after creating fake businesses to receive federal relief funds.

On June 18, A Dallas family pled guilty to defrauding the government by receiving Paycheck Protection Program loans.

Seven adults, Lori Jackson, 63, Saidrick Jackson, 61, Saidrick Jackson II, 36, Saundria Jackson, 36, D’Andria Todd, 46, Bianca Williams, 33, and Valencia Williams, 53, admitted to conspiracy and wire fraud, according to the Northern District of Texas US Attorney’s office.

The Jackson and Williams family claimed to have owned various establishments during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fabrication of the false small business establishments allowed the members to file for federal relief. Each family member claimed a monthly income of $8,000. The fabricated businesses ranged from a beauty salon to a childcare center to a youth sports league.

“The PPP loan applications that were submitted falsely claimed each family member was a sole proprietor with a monthly payroll of approximately $8,000. Purported tax documents filed in support of the applications provided additional false details about the sole proprietorships, including the type of businesses and annual net profits. PPP loans were approved and deposited into the family members’ personal bank accounts. In their plea papers, each family member admitted to receiving federal funds issued to non-existent businesses,” the US attorney’s statement read.

Each defendant faces a sentence of three to five years in federal prison.

Payment Protection Program Prosecution

The Dallas family members are not the only PPP loan scammers to face consequences for defrauding the program.

On May 28, 18 individuals in California were charged with obtaining over $25 million in relief funds. The defendants did operate multiple legitimate establishments. However, each conspired to inflate the employee count and employee pay. The cohort established an intricate scheme to funnel the funds.

“They allegedly submitted at least 29 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications that fraudulently inflated payroll expenses, doctoring bank statements and Internal Revenue Service tax forms to falsely reflect business income. They then routed PPP loan funds through a series of bank accounts to create a false paper trail of payroll expenses.”

Four of the defendants fled to Armenia, escaping prosecution. Five years after the pandemic, the government has vowed to track down abusers of the PPP program.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 26, 2025

David Banner Credits T.I. For Turning Him Into A ‘Million-Dollar Producer’

David Banner credits T.I. for helping him become a "million-dollar producer."

David Banner struggled to gain recognition as a music producer until rapper T.I. stepped in and made sure the “Rubberband Man” creator received the credit he deserved, ultimately helping him become a “million-dollar producer.”

Banner recently appeared on Club Shay Shay, where he opened up about his rise as a music producer and rapper. Inspired by Jay-Z’s way of shouting out his producers on his hit songs, Banner sought to become the first hip-hop producer to include his name at the beginning of a song he produced.

Unfortunately, radio DJs often cut out Banner’s producer tag when playing the song, until T.I. stepped in and demanded that Banner’s name stay at the beginning of his 2003 hit “Rubberband Man.”

“What people don’t know is that I produced ‘Thug Holiday’ for Trick Daddy — but nobody knew who David Banner was at the time. So I wasn’t able to take advantage. I wasn’t even in the video. But T.I. is the person who allowed me to be a million-dollar producer,” Banner explained.

“‘Rubber Band Man’ changed the texture. He’s also, and people won’t admit this, the reason why producers can put their tags on their beat on the radio, cause my tag was on my beats way before ‘Rubber Band Man,’ but the radio stations would shave it off,” Banner said. “T.I. called [the stations] and said, ‘Don’t touch my music, that boy worked hard.’”

The reveal is also a nod to Jay-Z, who Banner says helped music producers increase the price tag on their work after receiving a shoutout from the hip-hop mogul.

“I noticed Jay-Z would say ‘Kanye, you a fool fool fool. Just Blaze, you did it again,’ and every time he would say their name, they could charge $10,000 extra, right,” Banner said.

While Jay-Z was known for spotlighting producers on his tracks, Banner noticed that recognition was often lacking in the South. Many producers behind iconic hits went uncredited because the artists using their beats didn’t give them shoutouts.

“Southern rappers hid their producers. It hurts me to this day,” Banner said. “KLC from Beats By The Pound, as big as ‘No Limit’ was, don’t nobody know who they are. They’re some of my mentors… I really think Beats By The Pound is as big as Timbaland and Pharrell, because they changed music in the same way that those people do, but we don’t know who they are.”

Rather than feeling discouraged, the realization motivated Banner to take action, prompting him to add his signature “DAVID BANNER” tag at the beginning of his tracks.

“And since I saw that, I said, ‘I’m not going to let them look over me. I’mma put my own name before my beat,” Banner said. “It got so hot at one time, and people don’t even give me credit for that… I think I was one of the first people to put my name before a beat, but nobody made it hot in contemporary America like I did.”

Las Vegas Aces, wnba, A'ja Wilson, sneakers

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 26, 2025

A’ja Wilson Scores 5,000th Career Points In The Least Number Of WNBA Games

She reaches the milestone in only 238 games

In a recent WNBA game, All-Star player A’ja Wilson became the fastest woman in league history to score 5,000 career points.

According to the Las Vegas Aces, the three-time league MVP (Most Valuable Player) reached the milestone in an 85-59 blowout victory against the Connecticut Sun. Wilson ended the game with 22 points as she surpassed the mark in the quickest time in WNBA history. Her current point total is 5,015.

She became the sixth player to score 5,000 points, grab 2,000 rebounds, dish out 500 assists, block 400 shots, and make 200 steals. With those totals, she also became the fastest and youngest to hit those marks as well.

With getting to 5,000 points in only 238 games, she got there quicker than Breana Stewart, who reached that mark in her 242nd game. Diana Taurasi did it in 243 games, while Angel McCoughtry reached it after her 257th.

Wilson ended the contest with 22 points, eight rebounds, four assists, four steals, and three blocked shots.

ESPN reported that Taurasi, who ended her career last season, is the league’s career-scoring leader with 10,646 points. She played in the WNBA for 20 seasons.

Wilson has been playing with the Las Vegas team after she was drafted No. 1 out of South Carolina back in 2018. After winning the Rookie of the Year Award in her first year, she has taken home multiple MVP awards starting in 2020, then repeating every other year, in 2022, and then again in 2024.

“One of the reasons they drafted me was to score the ball in many, many different ways,” Wilson said after the victory. “To be the quickest, the fastest [to 5,000], it’s a blessing.”

In her past 62 regular-season games, Wilson has scored in double figures, making her streak the 7th-longest streak in league history. If she continues to score in double figures for another three games, she will match Arike Ogunbowale, who owns the sixth-longest such streak with 65.

The Aces have evened their record to 7-7 for the year as the Sun continued their losing ways by dropping to 2-13.