Claressa Shields, free agent, history, multi-fight contract, $8 million, Papoose

Claressa Shields Takes Jab At Angel Reese After Losing BET ‘Sportswoman Of The Year’ Award

Claressa Shields is not pleased with her loss to Angel Reese for BET 'Sportswoman of the Year' award and she is being vocal about her displeasure.


Olympic Gold medalist Claressa Shields is confused about why she did not win the Sportswoman of the Year award at the 2025 BET Awards. 

On June 9, the 25th BET Awards ceremony aired. Only a day later, Shields posted her query on X. The 2025 Sportswoman of the Year nominees were some of the most successful Black women in sports. However, Shields called out a singular nominee, the award winner, Chicago Sky player Angel Reese. The undisputed heavyweight boxer has an impressive 16-0 record and questioned if winning matters.

“Still don’t know how I didn’t win the Sportswoman of the Year for the @BETAwards, but Congrats to Angel Reese and all the other Nominees, I just thought accolades mattered,” Shields wrote.

Shields followed up her post with further explanation. According to Shields, she was “under the impression the category was graded on accolades of your sport.” While professing to be a fan of Reese, she firmly stood behind her previous post.

“Ain’t nobody saying Angel Reese don’t have accolades or she not good…. I’m saying I thought the person with “THE MOST” accolades & accomplishments would win the Award. I’m team Angel Reese!” she exclaimed.

Still, even by the metrics Shields outlined, she would not be the clear winner. Shields’ competition included the best Black women in sports today: legendary WNBA Player, Olympian, and college coach Dawn Staley; WNBA Champion and multiple time MVP winner A’ja Wilson; Olympic Gold medalist Sha’Carri Richardson; the Greatest Gymnast of All Time, Simone Biles; 2025 French Open Champion, Coco Gauff; and college basketball standouts Flau’Jae Johnson and Juju Watkins. 

Social Media Backlash

Unfortunately, X users are not pleased with Shields’s competitive nature. Some people recognized the talent in the stacked category and made a point to draw attention to the accolades of the dynamic list.

One X user listed Angel Reese’s accomplishments with a scathing critique of Shields. The commenter emphasized that the award only takes into account the previous year’s milestones. 

“You’re sleeping with a married man. You were never going to win that award. It’s not an overall award. Obviously, you didn’t read the criteria. It’s based off the previous year.”

https://twitter.com/millylovesmilly/status/1932518782066393221

Another user pointed to the boxer’s public relationship with married rapper Papoose. The commenter cited a lack of business acumen and an abundance of social media scandals as the reason Shields did not prevail. 

“You’ve been crashing out behind a married man for months. So much so that you didn’t even promote your own movie. While Angel has been building a brand while focusing on her sport.” @MayRainAway wrote.

The prevailing sentiment among many is that the callout to BET and Reese is unsportsmanlike behavior. Shields has accomplished a great deal in her career. Additionally, she continues to display excellence in her craft. Yet, her actions suggest that maturity is a skill she is still developing. Shields will defend her heavyweight title on July 26 against Lani Daniels at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. 

RELATED CONTENT: Claressa Shields Earns A BET Nomination For ‘Sportswoman Of The Year’

Megan Thee Stallion, Klay Thompson

Megan Thee Stallion Secures Gag Order Against Milagro Gramz In Defamation Lawsuit

Megan sued the blogger last year for allegedly leading a "campaign of harassment"


Megan Thee Stallion has successfully gained a gag order against Milagro Gramz amid her defamation lawsuit against the blogger.

According to Billboard, Milagro, whose real name is Milagro Elizabeth Cooper, will legally have to stop posting about Megan Thee Stallion as their legal battle wages on. Megan sued the infamous blogger over her alleged harassment of her as a staunch supporter of Tory Lanez, who is currently in prison for shooting Megan.

Megan’s attorneys claim that the blogger was fully invested in leading the public smear campaign against her. The lawsuit alleges that Tory Lanez paid Milagro to continue spewing rumors and misinformation against the Houston rapper, also fueling the drama surrounding the shooting.

She referred to Milagro and Lanez’s alleged deal as a “campaign of harassment,” leading her to launch the case against the social media critic.

“Enough is enough,” her team wrote in 2024. “Ms. Pete—a victim of violent crime and champion of women’s rights to her millions of fans worldwide—will no longer stand for defendant’s campaign of harassment.”

Given these allegations, a judge ruled in favor of Megan on June 4, restricting Milagro’s ability to reference the Grammy winner publicly.

“There’s an accusation that you defamed her. So what I have to do as a judge in this case is at least contain the information that’s going around in social media from you right now on this case,” ordered U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisette M. Reid.

However, the gag order works both ways. The 30-year-old also received a court order not to speak about Milagro either.

The judge added, “And the plaintiff would be required to do the same. If she were posting about you or this case, that would be highly inappropriate as well.”

Attorneys for Megan even emphasized how Milagro’s social media comments suggested that the “Hiss” rapper played a role in Lanez’ stabbing while in a California prison last month. Her legal team maintains that Milagro’s continued bashing of the rapper could provoke others to harm her.

“What I’ve described is the least of it. It has taken itself to a more serious level. It rises potentially, at least in our judgments, to a level of incitement. There’s a real risk that people could act on the defendant’s statements,” said Megan’s attorney, Robert Schwartz.

On Milagro’s team, the news comes as she sourced new counsel after Lanez’s defense team dropped her as a client over legal expenses. While Lanez fights for his own appeal, Milagro had to crowdfund to pay for a new legal team. The blogger acquired new representation just weeks before her deposition, as reported by Hot New Hip Hop.

With the new gag orders in effect, Milagro’s deposition remains scheduled for July 1.

RELATED CONTENT: Megan Thee Stallion Announces Anime Series On Amazon Prime In Latest Business Venture

Nigerian, Nigerians, Black Americans, the talk, division, diaspora

The Unspoken Divide: Morayo Afolabi-Brown Reveals Nigerian Parents’ U.S. Directives That Encourage Division With Black Americans

Morayo Afolabi-Brown acknowledged that immigrants benefited from Black American labor and struggle.


A candid revelation by Nigerian media host Morayo Afolabi-Brown has brought to light a rarely discussed, yet seemingly common, piece of advice many Nigerian parents impart to their children before they travel to the United States: a cautionary instruction to avoid African Americans and instead “stay with the white people.” 

Afolabi-Brown shared this “pep talk” on an episode of her TVC program, Your View, exposing a generational fear rooted in stereotypes that creates a wedge between African immigrants and Black Americans.

She described this widespread counsel as being driven by fear and preconceived notions, noting how it inadvertently fosters judgment and distance. This advice, she highlighted, persists despite the profound historical sacrifices made by Black Americans that fundamentally paved the way for African immigrants and their descendants to achieve success and opportunity abroad. While perhaps intended as a form of protection, the sentiment inadvertently reinforces harmful divides within the broader Black diaspora.

“I can’t categorically say every Nigerian got this talk, but–-a lot of Nigerians who travel abroad–-got this talk from their families,” Afolabi-Brown began. “Where they would sit you down and tell you, ‘You’re going over there.’”

“Don’t go talking to those Black Americans, oh..You can get pregnant. You can get into drugs…They give you that talk, ‘Just go to the white community and find a nice place.’ So when you enter America, you already have a perception of African Americans. You judge them, and of course, they can see that judgment. And they see how you, ‘Yes Massa,’ to the oyinbos (whites).”

The savvy media personality candidly expressed how she could see why Black Americans were defensive when it came to Nigerians openly shunning them. Afolabi-Brown also acknowledged that immigrants benefited from Black American labor and struggle.

It’s Onsite Africa’s Instagram page, where the video was posted, and the comments section went up for the difficult open admission.

“It’s always been fascinating to watch Africans, specifically Nigerians, cosplay Black Americaness when it’s convenient for them,” one person wrote.

Social media personality King Keraun chimed in, “We lowkey knew this.”

A Nigerian in the comments section seconded Afolabi-Brown’s charge.

“I have to admit I’m 🇳🇬 and got that same pep talk. Guess who got humbled real quick by them white people in nursing school? Me, they saw me as a threat and hated my soul, so yeah, racism still exists. While I’m proud to be a Nigerian, I got to tip my hats off to the black Americans that sacrificed their lives just for all of us colored people to be in this country. I learned my lesson the hard way.”

“From the way we are treated, we already knew about ‘the talk’”. 😂”

The phenomenon Afolabi-Brown described illustrates a complex interplay of identity, perception, and historical understanding among different Black communities in the United States. Many African immigrants arrive with a distinct cultural background, sometimes carrying stereotypes about Black Americans absorbed from various sources, including media and anecdotal tales.

 Conversely, Black Americans, having endured centuries of systemic racism and struggle, often view such a separation as a betrayal of shared racial identity and a dismissal of the sacrifices made to create a more equitable society.

Afolabi-Brown’s willingness to address this sensitive topic publicly is a vital opening for introspection and dialogue. It highlights the pressing need to dismantle internal biases within the global Black community, encouraging understanding and genuine solidarity over outdated divisions. 

Afolabi-Brown, born in Nigeria and educated in the United States, is a communications executive and television personality with a media career spanning 17 years. She has worked with notable media organizations, including CMC Connect, Cue Media, and HiTV, and currently serves as the Chief Media Consultant of Kabiti Media House Limited. Her first book, Becoming the Queen of Talk TV, further solidifies her voice in the media landscape.

The conversation invites both African immigrants and Black Americans to acknowledge their interconnected histories and shared struggles, ultimately fostering unity rather than allowing systemic prejudice to exploit existing rifts.

RELATED CONTENT: The Enduring Fire: Revisiting Malcolm X’s Vision For Black Liberation On What Would Have Been His 100th Birthday

africa

Purchasing Power Drops In Major African Cities Half-Way Into 2025

The quality of life may deteriorate.


Some of the major cities in Africa are seeing a decline in purchasing power halfway through 2025, while other cities are seeing an increase in purchasing power, according to Numbeo’s “Purchasing Power Index” report, which measures relative purchasing power based on average net salaries.

Losing purchasing power means residents are unable to afford basic products and services. There are consequences, experts warn. With lower purchasing power, people may face restrictions on purchases, fewer businesses may expand, and the quality of life may deteriorate.

The Five Cities in Africa Losing Purchasing Power

  1. Lagos, Nigeria
  2. Abidjan, Ivory Coast, 
  3. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 
  4. Accra, Ghana
  5. Alexandria, Egypt

Why This Matters

Purchasing power reflects the individuals’ ability to afford goods and services. As News Central reports, stronger purchasing power contributes to poverty reduction and a better quality of life. When wages are higher than the cost of living, for example, people have better access to essential services such as housing, healthcare, education, and nutrition, which improves overall well-being and economic stability.

Low purchasing power is often associated with weaker economies, but that’s not always the case. In most cases, purchasing power is also linked to the gross domestic product, economic diversification, and income distribution.

Many African nations rely heavily on the export of raw materials. However, factors such as price volatility, limited job creation, and income inequality prevent the benefits from trickling down into the broader population.

In Nigeria, the naira’s decline has reportedly made everyday essentials more expensive. Meanwhile in Ghana, the inflation crisis is straining household budgets.

According to Numbeo’s Purchasing Power Index, the African nations with the lowest purchasing power so far in 2025 are as follows:

  1. Cameroon
  2. Nigeria
  3. Ivory Coast
  4. Ethiopia
  5. Madagascar
  6. Uganda
  7. Ghana
  8. Rwanda
  9. Egypt
  10. Tanzania

In Cameroon and Nigeria, people are struggling with high inflation and currency instability. People in the Ivory Coast and Ethiopia are facing structural economic challenges, including a heavy reliance on primary commodities and limited industrialization, according to News Central Africa.

RELATED CONTENT: The Unspoken Divide: Morayo Afolabi-Brown Reveals Nigerian Parents’ U.S. Directives That Encourage Division With Black Americans

pride, LGBTQ

Everyone’s Freedoms Are At Risk When LGBTQIA+ Rights Are Attacked

The LGBTQIA+ community is not the only group affected


In recent years, we’ve witnessed an alarming rise in efforts to suppress expressions of gender identity, ban the use of pronouns in schools, and roll back protections for the LGBTQIA+ community. While some frame these moves as cultural or political battles, make no mistake: these actions are part of a broader agenda to shrink civil liberties, silence dissent, and marginalize anyone who challenges the status quo.

The LGBTQIA+ community is not the only group affected, but they are among the first targets. History shows that when authoritarian forces seek control, they begin by isolating and vilifying marginalized communities. What starts as a ban on pronouns or a restriction on gender-affirming care quickly escalates into broader attacks on racial justice, economic equity, reproductive rights, and freedom of thought.

These threats are not theoretical. They are playing out in school districts, statehouses, and courtrooms across the country. Laws are being passed that erase queer and trans identities from curricula, criminalize gender-affirming healthcare, and punish educators and parents who affirm their students’ identities. These laws pave the way for other forms of repression.

Targeting LGBTQIA+ people is a way to test the public’s tolerance for cruelty. If the public accepts restrictions on one group’s identity, it becomes easier to justify discrimination against others based on race, religion, economic status, or immigration background. It’s a playbook that relies on fear, scapegoating, and the hope that communities won’t come to each other’s defense.

It also fractures coalitions. Anti-LGBTQIA+ policies are often designed to divide movements for justice and equity. They attempt to distract from systemic failures by blaming vulnerable groups. When solidarity breaks, the power of collective action weakens.

This is not just a moral issue. It’s a democracy issue. Freedom of expression, the right to live authentically, and protection from discrimination are core to any functioning democracy. Undermining these rights for one group undermines the whole system.

The National Civil Rights Museum has actively engaged in promoting gender rights and LGBTQIA+ inclusivity through various educational programs, exhibitions, and community events. In alignment with its mission to foster dialogue and understanding, the museum has participated in events that celebrate and support the LGBTQIA+ community. During Pride Month, the museum has participated in festivals, offered storytelling and activities for families, and shared historical facts about gender rights through community forums, thereby creating an inclusive space for learning and celebration.

The museum’s commitment to inclusivity is evident in its exhibitions that highlight the contributions of LGBTQIA+ individuals to the civil rights movement. The Speaking Truth to Power exhibit focuses on the life of Bayard Rustin, a gay civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in organizing the 1963 March on Washington. By showcasing personal narratives, the museum educates visitors on the intersectionality of civil rights struggles.

The museum’s collaborations with local organizations like Mid-South Pride, Tri-State Black Pride, and OUTMemphis further its advocacy for gender rights. Through its initiatives, the Museum demonstrates its ongoing commitment to highlighting the diverse narratives within the civil rights movement and advocating for the rights of all individuals, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.

Institutions, communities, and leaders must act. That means passing inclusive policies, showing up at school board meetings, donating to LGBTQIA+ organizations, and speaking out — even when it’s unpopular. It also means recognizing that protecting queer and transgender people protects all of us. Justice isn’t a zero-sum game; it grows stronger when it’s shared.

When we defend LGBTQIA+ rights, we defend the right to tell the truth about who we are. We defend the freedom to learn, to love, to speak, and to live fully. That fight benefits everyone.

We either push back against injustice in all its forms — or we allow it to grow, unchecked, into every corner of society. The choice is ours. We choose true freedom. We choose community.

RELATED CONTENT: Ruby Bridges To Return For Annual Reading Festival At The National Civil Rights Museum

Dr. Russ Wigginton serves as the President of the National Civil Rights Museum. He assumed this role in 2021, and has vast experience in education, fundraising, operations, and community engagement. Wigginton was the Chief Postsecondary Impact Officer for Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) from 2019-2021, where he led the organization’s work for postsecondary access, retention, and completion.  He was vice president for student life and dean of students at Rhodes College in Memphis from 2017-2019, where he oversaw the college’s co-curricular experience for students.

Pastor Jamal Bryant, Black Friday, Black Business Maket

Elevating Your Excellence: The Unyielding Vision Of Pastor Jamal Bryant In The Fight For Economic And Civic Justice

Bryant is a beacon of relentless advocacy, a visionary leader whose unflinching dedication to justice consistently transforms challenges into opportunities for empowerment.


 In an era often characterized by corporate recalibrations and political polarization, the commanding voice of Pastor Jamal Harrison Bryant stands as a formidable force, meticulously orchestrating movements designed to hold major corporations accountable and galvanize the Black electorate. 

As the esteemed Senior Pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Bryant has championed spiritual upliftment and consistently demonstrated a profound commitment to social and economic justice, positioning himself as a true maverick for change who stands firmly on principle.

Indeed, Bryant is a beacon of relentless advocacy and a visionary leader whose unflinching dedication to justice consistently transforms challenges into opportunities for empowerment. With every impassioned sermon and every strategic call to action, he redefines the modern pulpit, moving beyond traditional religious confines to powerfully champion economic fairness and civic participation. 

His intellectual prowess, undeniable charisma, and deep empathy allow him to connect with diverse audiences, galvanizing communities to demand accountability and forge a path toward true equity. 

He is not merely a pastor but a pivotal architect of progress, an unyielding voice for the voiceless, and an enduring testament to the power of principled leadership in the fight for a more just society.

Bryant’s recent endeavors underscore his unwavering dedication to justice, particularly his assertive stance against the perceived erosion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within corporate America. His call to action began with a strategic boycott of Target, ignited by the retail giant’s decision to scale back programs aimed at supporting Black employees and fostering partnerships with Black-owned businesses. 

This initial protest, initiated as a 40-day “fast” during Lent, swiftly evolved into a full-fledged, sustained boycott, sending an unequivocal message that corporate values must align with the communities they serve.

The strategic shift to Target was not arbitrary. Bryant believes the company had “betrayed and walked away from our community,” as he articulated in an exclusive interview with USA TODAY. “We’re done with Target, and then our next focus will be around Dollar General.”

This transition highlights Bryant’s methodical approach, which impacts sales and leverages collective consumer power to demand corporate responsibility.

Dr. Bryant was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1971. However, the theological leader proudly admits that Baltimore, Maryland, raised him.

Drawing from a compelling personal journey—from being kicked out of two high schools to becoming the first person ever admitted into Morehouse College with a GED and holding degrees from Duke University and Oxford—he brings three decades of experience as a civil rights activist and community leader.

In this multifaceted space, he generously shares sermons, reflections, teachings, and stories that chronicle his past and critically inform a collective future. He invites Christians and non-Christians alike to sign up for his daily inspirations, short, powerful messages designed to offer peace, ground in faith, and spark inspiration, underscoring his belief in God’s word to reveal, repair, and restore.

Beyond corporate accountability, Pastor Bryant is a formidable force in civic engagement, leveraging the historic power of the Black church to mobilize voters and drive change. He recently spearheaded Project 5-5-5, an ambitious initiative launched in Atlanta at The Carter Center. 

This project is a direct counter-narrative to what Bryant describes as the “conservative, far-right Republican agenda Project 2025,” designed to trouble its objectives and significantly bolster voter turnout across Georgia.

The kickoff event for Project 5-5-5 brought together a powerful coalition of national organizations and influential public advocates, including Mayor Jazzmin Cobble of Stonecrest, Esq., Mo Ivory, and Congressman Hank Johnson. Key partners, such as the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, 100 Black Men of DeKalb, and Divine Nine fraternities and sororities like Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Sigma Gamma Rho, coalesced to support the collective mission. 

The resounding message, articulated by Yatonya Oliver of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., was that “Getting into ‘good trouble’ is not a solo event,” emphasizing the collective action required to “get folks out to vote to save democracy.” 

In an interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE, Dr. Bryant elaborated on the genesis and objectives of Project 5-5-5. He stressed the urgent need to mobilize the Black community, particularly a younger demographic that expresses disillusionment with the electoral process. 

Bryant highlighted a critical shift from mere voter turnout to voter education, advocating for an informed electorate that votes on “policy, not personality.” 

This educational blueprint aimed to equip Divine Nine organizations, faith-based groups, civic entities, and grassroots movements with speaking points and strategies for engagement in everyday spaces, from barbershops to fraternity meetings.

The strategic timeline for Project 5-5-5 included a major statewide voter registration drive on Oct. 5, leveraging the collective strength of partnering entities, culminating in a robust turnout effort on Election Day, Nov. 5. 

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, under Bryant’s leadership, committed to registering 2,000 Black men, identified as the largest unpolled demographic within the Black community. The church deployed a fleet of vehicles to senior centers and college campuses, providing crucial education on the significance of Project 5-5-5 and the importance of voting.

Bryant’s influence extends to digital platforms, where he continues disseminating his message. His podcast, Let’s Be Clear, serves as a vital channel for informing his audience about ongoing initiatives, including the boycotts of Target and Dollar General. 

The pastor further elaborated on our perceived notions of friendship and invites “to the cookout,” which left us with a false sense of how companies actually saw us. 

“Take a moment and catch up on the latest episode of Jamal Bryant podcast: Let’s be clear on YouTube. I want you to know everything that’s going on with @target and @dollargeneral ….. knowledge is power! This Thursday @rpcoalition @revjjackson and I are demonstrating outside of Target outside,” Bryant captioned on the  Instagram post.

His call to action, exemplified by a planned demonstration outside Target alongside Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, underscores his belief that “knowledge is power” and collective action is paramount. 

RELATED CONTENT: Elevating Your Excellence: Earl ‘Butch’ Graves Jr. Leads Black Enterprise’s 55-Year Charge With Unwavering Vision

Bible, Trump, Oklahoma, IVF, education

Trump Administration Is Forcing DOE Employees To Sit At Home And Get Paid

Federal courts have halted the attempt, by the Trump administration, to layoff DOE employees. Costing the Department of education $7 million.


The US Department of Education has placed half of its workforce on leave and is paying $7 million per month

American Federation of Government Employees Local 252 (AFGE) conducted an analysis after employee cuts. Nearly 1,300 employees accepted severance packages, labeled as buyouts at the beginning of 2025, scheduled to end on June 9. The Trump administration has made it clear its intent to reduce the number of federal agencies, hence, the attempt to push out federal employees.

However, the legality of the buyout packages is under challenge in federal court. In May, a federal court ruled that the dismantling of the DOE is a government overreach. After which, all employees were reinstated and placed on administrative leave. As a result, the current employees will continue to be paid until a resolution is reached.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon echoed the Trump administration’s claims that gutting federal agencies will create a leaner, more efficient government. 

The cuts reflect “commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers,” McMahon said.

CNN reported on the Trump administration’s attempts to push forward with the layoffs. The administration appealed to the Supreme Court to supersede the Boston-based 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals’ previous ruling. Subsequently, the Supreme Court declined to intervene.

Lawyers for the DOE responded to the appeal, citing current law as Trump attempts to expand his authority. The filing outlines the limits of the executive branch.

“The government has been crystal clear in acknowledging that only Congress can eliminate the Department of Education,” the filing stated.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration argues that the power to reduce the size of the federal government lies within the executive branch.

 A DOE lawyer, Ariel Shepetovskiy, shared her views with CNN about collecting a paycheck without fulfilling her job duties. 

“It feels like garbage to receive pay in exchange for doing nothing,” Shepetovskiy said. “I also feel shame because on some level I feel like a parasite for American taxpayers,” said Shepetovskiy.

Furthermore, Robert Jason Cottrell points out the irony in the situation. Paying employees who are not working is certainly an inefficient use of resources.

“I almost feel like a leech on the system. I am able-bodied and able to go to work to help the nation’s mission to educate our future generations. And I’m not doing that right now.”

RELATED CONTENT: Pennsylvania Department Of Education Tells Schools To Keep DEI Initiatives Alive Amid Trump’s Changes 

Rashad Bilal, Troy Millings, Shark Tank

Earn Your Leisure, Steve Harvey Announced For 5th Invest Fest In ATL

'We created Invest Fest to educate and empower our community on how to build real wealth,' said Troy Millings


The producers behind Earn Your Leisure have announced that Invest Fest is slated to return to Atlanta in August with a lineup of heavyweight figures in the financial space.

The latest festival will be the fifth one the duo is doing, and it promises to be the most ambitious year thus far. Along with Steve Harvey, EYL Co-FoundersRashad Bilal and Troy Milling are holding Invest Fest Aug. 22–24. The event will feature speakers who will uplift those in attendance with lessons in financial empowerment, entrepreneurship, culture, and innovation.

“We created Invest Fest to educate and empower our community on how to build real wealth,” said Millings in a written statement.

“We’re bringing the culture to the boardroom and the boardroom to the people,” said Bilal.

The number of people anticipated to make it out to the festival should surpass 25,000, where the attendees, over the course of three days, will have a chance to hear keynote speeches, wealth-building panels, live interviews, vendor activations, musical performances, pitch competitions, and curated networking events all in the name of giving attendees the tools and knowledge to build and sustain wealth.

Key Announcements for Invest Fest 2025:

Billionaires on Stage: Billionaire entrepreneur Jack Dorsey and NBA legend-turned-mogul Magic Johnson will headline the main stage, offering rare insights into business resilience, tech disruption, and wealth-building in underserved communities.

– The Deal Room: A VIP-only experience where accredited investors will meet with entrepreneurs, offering exclusive access to vetted equity deals and high-level investment opportunities

Operation HOPE Business Scholarships: Five entrepreneurs will receive $25,000 each in business grants, mentorship, and training, live on stage with John Hope Bryant.

Open Pitch Live Competition: In partnership with the Open Opportunity Fund, selected founders will pitch their companies live for a $125,000 investment, judged by a panel of elite investors.

Exclusive Financial Partnerships: With support from Fidelity, BlackRock, and Invesco QQQ, Invest Fest is bridging the gap between top financial institutions and underserved communities.

Focus on the Future: This year’s festival will center conversations around AI, crypto, real estate, estate planning, and digital entrepreneurship, all with a global lens, especially as Earn Your Leisure expands its reach to Africa to connect with the Diaspora and foster international economic growth.

Featured Speakers Include: Magic Johnson, Jack Dorsey, Issa Rae, Steve Harvey, 2 Chainz, Tabitha Brown, Ian Dunlap, Pinky Cole, Fawn Weaver, John Hope Bryant, Tamika D. Mallory, Angela  Rye, Stephen Jackson, LaRussell, Matthew Garland, 19 Keys, DJ Hed, Ray Daniels, Ryan Wilson, David Shands, Pretty Vee, Philip Mitchell, Ryan Leslie, Kenny Burns, and many more.
nail salon, self care

The Hustle Don’t Stop: An Atlanta Octogenarian Opens Nail Salon

Wilson is now the proud owner of the Bee nails, located on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Atlanta.


Beatrice Wilson, an 80-year-old Atlanta woman, opened her eighth business, Bee Nails, on June 4. 

Wilson is now the proud owner of the nail salon located on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Atlanta. She spoke with 11 Alive News about her accomplishments and her age. The octogenarian is not burdened by working in the mature stage of her life. In fact, she thinks the opposite. The ability to meet and interact with people daily is her driving force behind opening the salon.

“I feel you’re never too old; it’s never too late to follow what you love doing,” Wilson said. “Personally, I love being away from home and talking and interacting with people.” 

In addition to owning seven salons throughout her life, Wilson is also a dedicated employee. Prior to opening Bee Nails, Wilson worked in multiple car dealerships. She officially retired in 2021.

Wilson chooses to continue to work after retirement. The retiree is pleased with her decision to open Bee Nails. However, many elders are not necessarily afforded the luxury of choice. The Pew Research Institute estimates that “19% of adults ages 65 and older are employed today. In 1987, only 11% of older adults were working.” 

As the baby boomer generation reaches retirement age, the cost of living has risen. Pension plans are no longer a reliable source of income, and there are disadvantages to receiving Social Security early.

Changes to the Social Security system, which raised the age that workers receive their full retirement benefits from 65 to 67, likely have encouraged older adults to delay retirement and continue working, according to labor economists.”

Elders face complications even after receiving full benefits and returning to less labor-intensive part-time positions in the workforce. 

Wilson is technically one of these workers. While fulfilling the duties of a salon owner, she will, hopefully, not be subjected to rough physical labor.

RELATED CONTENT: The Power Of Giving Back: Georgia Grad’s Free Labor Inspires $200,000 In Life-Changing Donations

Lil Wayne, Travis Hunter, sports agent, football. NFL

Travis Hunter Purchases $3.275M Home In Jacksonville

He and his wife are now residents in the gated community of Deerwood Country Club.


Travis Hunter has purchased a $3.275 million home in Deerwood Country Club, the Jacksonville, Florida-based gated community .

According to The Jacksonville Daily Record, the Heisman Trophy winner with the University of Colorado and the second player selected in this year’s NFL Draft, bought an 8,125-square-foot, two-story, five-bedroom, seven-bathroom home that has a four-car garage.

Records show that the Jacksonville Jaguars rookie bought the 13-room home on May 30.

The agent, Angela Stringfellow, who sold Hunter the home, said the sale set a record for the Deerwood Country Club. The house sits on a 7.5-acre property that includes a pool and a tennis court. NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl champion LeRoy Butler, a star with the Green Bay Packers in the 1990s, once owned the home.

Hunter isn’t the only Jaguars player (past or present) living in the community; former placekicker Josh Scobee and defensive tackle John Henderson also own property there.

Jacksonville.com reported that Hunter bought his mother a five-bedroom house in Savannah, Georgia, in 2024. Hunter’s generosity isn’t a one time thing. At his recent wedding to his college sweetheart, Leanna Lenne, Hunter gifted his new wife a brand new Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 BRABUS 800, which can sell for a half-million Euros.

Before entering the NFL Draft, Hunter, a cornerback and wide receiver, became the first true two-way player to win the Heisman since Syracuse’s Ernie Davis in 1961, a capstone on a remarkable season that saw him become the first player in NCAA history to post 92 receptions for 1,152 yards, 14 touchdowns, and four interceptions in a single season.

Hunter recently signed a contract with Jacksonville for $46,649,104 over four years with a fifth-year option.

RELATED CONTENT: Travis Hunter Wins Heisman, Capping One-Of-A-Kind Season

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