Kroger Announces New Black-Owned Brands Section In Ohio Store
The grocery giant is spotlighting Black-owned beauty, wellness, and personal care businesses.
Kroger is creating more shelf space for Black entrepreneurs by launching a dedicated section featuring Black-owned brands at one of its Ohio locations.
The grocery retailer recently unveiled the new section as part of the reopening of its Brewers Yard store in Columbus, Ohio. The renovated location now includes a curated selection of Black-owned products focused on skincare, haircare, and wellness, reports Spectrum News 1.
The Brewers Yard Kroger, which is located at 150 West Sycamore Street, underwent a $1.6 million renovation ahead of its reopening. The updated store includes enhancements to several departments, such as floral, cheese, and dairy, as well as expanded product offerings from local businesses.
“Our customers have been asking for these products for their everyday needs, and it’s our responsibility to do right by them,” said Mark Bruce, head of communications and public affairs for Kroger’s Columbus Division.
“We’re excited to be one of five locations in Columbus that offer this unique support for Black-owned local businesses,” Bruce added, according to ABC local news affiliate WSYX.
Securing product placement with a major national retailer can be a game-changer for Black businesses, providing them with increased visibility, access to new customers, and growth opportunities. Retail partnerships are often a critical step for consumer brands looking to scale beyond direct-to-consumer sales.
By dedicating physical retail space to Black-owned brands, Kroger is positioning itself as a platform for entrepreneurs seeking broader distribution while responding to shoppers who want more representation among the products they purchase.
Kai Cenat Is Going Global With Streamer University Initiative
Selected alums will have an opportunity to attend.
Kai Cenat is taking Streamer University international, announcing that the creator development program will launch its first European edition in 2027 as the livestreaming initiative continues to expand its reach beyond the U.S., Afrotech reports.
Cenat made the announcement during the closing ceremony for the 2026 Streamer University on July 20, revealing that the next installment of the immersive creator program will be held in Europe. Selected alums from the 2025 and 2026 classes will also have an opportunity to attend the international program as full-time participants.
“We will really, really be watching, and I would love to see amazing USA creators collaborate with amazing European creators,” Cenat said during the livestreamed ceremony. “I’m very excited because this is now the first step into making this for not just the U.S. but for the entire world and seeing cultures clash.”
Streamer University debuted in 2025 at the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, offering aspiring and established creators mentorship, networking opportunities, and hands-on content production experience. Participants receive travel, housing, and technology support to attend the program. Tech Timesreported the inaugural event generated 27 million hours watched on Twitch, underscoring the initiative’s growing influence in the creator economy.
The 2026 program was held over six days at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, and concluded on July 20 with a livestreamed awards ceremony recognizing standout students, professors, and club directors.
Among the program’s top honorees was creator “ijustlovepuzzles,” who served as the university librarian and received the Heart of the Community Award. During the ceremony, she said her audience grew to more than 100,000 followers and 6,000 subscribers throughout the program. She also received a $30,000 cash award from content creator MDMotivator, which she said she plans to use for dental surgery.
“I only did that because all of you came by and shared your communities with me,” she said. “Every time someone came and sat in a chair next to me, the followers went up, and the subs went up. I love you guys. I appreciate you so much.”
Other honorees included Wardrobe Winter, who received the Steady Growth Award; Surburb Baby, who earned the MVP Award and a brand deal with Dell; and Markell Washington, who was recognized as the program’s top club director. Professors included Ludwig, Lizzo, and Agent00, while T-Pain directed the musical arts club.
Former Harlem Globetrotter ‘Big Brown’ Joseph Provides Air Conditioning Units To Louisiana Seniors
His civic leadership earned him the 2017 Jim Casey Community Service Award.
James “Big Brown” Joseph, a former Harlem Globetrotter and longtime UPS driver, installed 50 air conditioning units for elderly residents in Livingston, Louisiana, July 18. This continues his 17-year campaign to protect vulnerable seniors from extreme summer heat.
Through his nonprofit, Big Brown Reaching Back, Joseph has installed more than 2,500 air conditioners since 2009, including 100 units delivered statewide in two days. The wider campaign, supported by volunteer UPS workers, has distributed over 23,000 window units to low-income households across Louisiana under the slogan “Strengthening South Louisiana One Family at a Time.”
For the BLACK ENTERPRISEcommunity, Joseph’s mission highlights the intersection of Black corporate leadership, mutual aid, and environmental justice. Extreme heat events disproportionately affect Southern Black communities, where seniors on fixed incomes often face energy poverty and must choose between paying utility bills and buying needed medications.
Readers who want to help can donate window air-conditioning units, contribute to local organizations like Big Brown Reaching Back, or volunteer to assist with installations. By supporting or replicating these efforts in their neighborhoods, community members can protect vulnerable seniors and extend the impact of this work.
“Bring an AC to an elderly family who can’t afford an AC because they’re on a fixed income… you’ve relieved some of the heat from our elderly families,” Joseph explained in an interview with WBRZ News.
Big Brown Reaching Back Grew Out Need And Community Concern
Joseph began by raising funds to buy room air conditioners for disadvantaged families along his Louisiana delivery route. Seeing a greater need, he mobilized UPS coworkers to pool resources, donate units, and volunteer for installations.
His civic leadership earned him the 2017 Jim Casey Community Service Award, the highest honor for a UPS employee. Since then, Joseph’s charitable activities have expanded to include distributing protective gear during the pandemic, sponsoring youth sports teams, and supporting local food banks.
To ensure long-term impact, Joseph partnered with the Baton Rouge Area Foundation to manage the Big Brown Cares Fund. The initiative relies on individual donations, corporate partnerships, grants, and community fundraising. These sources sustain the program’s ability to buy and install air conditioning units for those in need. Individuals and organizations can support or expand the program by contributing funds directly to the Big Brown Cares Fund or by donating new air-conditioning units.
This collective approach strengthens sustainability and helps reach more families each year. In addition to providing AC units, the grant initiative offers financial aid to Louisiana UPS workers facing sudden hardships like critical illness, bereavement, or natural disaster recovery.
By using corporate networks to build community resilience, Joseph demonstrates how Black-led grassroots philanthropy can address economic and environmental inequities in the South. His work connects local relief efforts with wider systemic change.
American civil rights activist Colin Kaepernick attends the F1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas at Las Vegas Strip Circuit on November 18, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images)
Colin Kaepernick Receives ACLU’s Inaugural Ralph Ellison Award
The new civil rights honor recognizes how athletes, activists, and entertainers use capital and visibility to promote systemic change.
Former NFL quarterback and social entrepreneur Colin Kaepernick has been named the inaugural recipient of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Ralph Ellison Award for Defenders of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in the Arts, Business, Science, and Sports. He will share the honor with rock icon Bruce Springsteen, whose ongoing advocacy for racial and social justice, support for excluded communities through his music and philanthropy, and outspoken stance on civil rights issues have made him an esteemed voice for equality.
The award pays homage to Ralph Ellison’s landmark novel Invisible Man, published in 1952. Ellison’s masterpiece reshaped 20th-century American literature by dissecting Black identity, systemic disenfranchisement, and the societal refusal to recognize Black humanity.
For BLACK ENTERPRISEreaders who sit at the intersection of commerce, culture, and social progress, Ellison’s legacy underscores a long-standing truth: true economic advancement requires cultural self-determination and unapologetic visibility. By naming the award after Ellison, the ACLU demonstrates how sports executives, creative artists, and business leaders act as essential guardians of civil liberties.
Readers can embody Ellison’s legacy in their careers and communities by mentoring young talent, supporting Black-owned businesses, and speaking out against injustice in their workplaces. Taking an active role in local advocacy, participating in professional organizations to drive diverse policies, and fostering creative expressions that reflect authentic Black experiences are ways to remain visible and influential. Ellison’s example reminds us to use our platforms, big or small, to advance equity and empower those around us.
Kaepernick’s Blueprint for Enterprise and Activism
Since kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 to protest police brutality and racial inequality, Kaepernick, 38, has evolved from star quarterback into business owner and social enterprise builder. While his protest ended his playing career, Kaepernick transformed his personal brand into an engine for community investment and legal defense.
Through his initiative, the Know Your Rights Camp, Kaepernick has funded legal support for protesters, established educational youth programs, launched publishing ventures, and expanded access to emergency relief funds in Black and Brown communities. This work offers a modern case study for Black executives and athletes on turning corporate visibility and capital into lasting equity and community power.
Professionals in other industries can draw inspiration from Kaepernick’s approach by finding ways to invest in community resources, create educational or mentoring programs, or support social justice causes aligned with their field. Launching new ventures, partnering with grassroots organizations, and reallocating resources to serve underrepresented groups are adaptable strategies that can help any leader create meaningful and sustainable impact.
“Colin Kaepernick’s activism off the field has changed lives for a decade, long after the backlash he received for speaking out against racial injustice,” said Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the ACLU.
A Broad Cohort of Honorees
The ceremony will also recognize former U.S. Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta with the Roger N. Baldwin Medal of Liberty. Gupta is well known for her leadership in civil rights litigation, criminal justice reform, and efforts to advance voting rights nationwide. UC Berkeley Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky will receive the ACLU Presidential Prize in recognition of his groundbreaking scholarship on constitutional law and his unflagging advocacy for First Amendment protections. South Carolina advocate Elizabeth Foster will be honored as the Next Generation Leader in Civil Rights for her local activism and devotion to expanding access to education, voting, and fair legal representation within underserved communities.
EEOC Race And Sex Reporting Almost A Wrap Thanks To Trump’s Administration
The EEOC has voted to begin dismantling the requirement .
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has voted to begin rescinding a decades-old requirement that large employers submit annual workforce demographic data by race and sex. Critics of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) applaud the move, arguing that it will reduce regulatory burdens, while critics warn that it could make workplace discrimination harder to detect.
The Current EEOC Reporting Requirement
In a 2-1 vote on July 21, the Republican-led commission approved a proposal to eliminate the EEO-1 Component 1 reporting requirement, which has been in place since 1966. The rule currently requires private employers with at least 100 employees and certain federal contractors with at least 50 employees to report workforce demographics across various job categories, reports The Associated Press. The proposal will now undergo a public comment period before a final rule can be adopted.
EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas, a vocal critic of DEI, argued that the reporting requirement conflicts with the agency’s mission of enforcing equal treatment under the law.
“It may promote racial stereotyping at work, and it may encourage employers to engage in discrimination,” Lucas said ahead of the vote.
Civil rights organizations and Democratic Commissioner Kalpana Kotagal strongly opposed the proposal, arguing that EEO-1 data has long served as one of the federal government’s most important tools for identifying patterns of workplace discrimination and tracking employment opportunities for women and racial minorities. Kotagal also warned that ending the reporting requirement would weaken the agency’s ability to enforce anti-discrimination laws and reduce transparency around workforce diversity. Civil rights advocates similarly contend that the data helps employers evaluate their own hiring and promotion practices while providing researchers and the public with a clearer picture of workplace equity.
The proposal marks another significant shift in the Trump administration’s effort to roll back DEI initiatives. Since taking office, administration officials have increased scrutiny of corporate DEI programs, with the EEOC under Lucas investigating companies and employers over what it describes as “DEI-related discrimination.”
Founded by Liberian-American designer Telfar Clemens in 2005, the New York-based unisex fashion label has built a global following by challenging traditional ideas of luxury and creating accessible, community-driven fashion. The brand’s iconic “Shopping Bag,” which is often referred to as the “Bushwick Birkin,” has become a cultural symbol, worn by celebrities and everyday consumers alike.
On July 17, Telfar shared an announcement citing challenges facing businesses, including tariffs, shrinkflation, and declining support for Black-owned companies.
“Facing the pressures of tariffs, shrink-flation and industry-wide declining interest in black-owned businesses — Telfar is saddened to announce that on July 17th 2026 we will be severely downsizing,” the brand wrote on Instagram.
The message continued, suggesting that the “cut-backs” represented a 90% reduction in scale. However, the announcement was not about layoffs, store closures, or the end of the brand’s expansion. Instead, Telfar was teasing the launch of its new Baby Bag Charm, a tiny, functional version of its signature tote. The miniature bag features the same recognizable silhouette as the original Shopping Bag, along with a zipper, card pockets, and a strap designed to attach to larger bags. The accessory launched for $78, turning a seemingly alarming business update into a viral fashion moment, reports TheGrio.
The campaign reflects Telfar’s reputation for unconventional marketing and its ability to create cultural conversations around its products. Rather than simply announcing a new accessory, the brand transformed a product launch into a conversation about the challenges facing Black-owned businesses and the broader fashion industry. For many Black entrepreneurs, Telfar’s strategy highlights the power of storytelling, community connection, and authenticity in building a lasting brand.
Relationship coach Francesca Hogi says professionals need to rethink what it really means to "love" their careers.
Many professionals proudly proclaim that they love their jobs. But according to relationship and dating coach Francesca Hogi, that devotion may actually be costing some their well-being.
In a recent episode of the FROM THE CULTURE podcast, Hogi joined award-winning marketer and University of Michigan professor Dr. Marcus Collins to discuss the principles behind her book, How to Find True Love: Unlock Your Romantic Flow and Create Lasting Relationships. During the conversation, Hogi, a former corporate lawyer, argued that the same framework for cultivating healthy romantic relationships should be applied to help people evaluate their careers.
“We treat love as a feeling,” Hogi said, explaining that many people remain in unhealthy relationships because they allow their emotions to outweigh poor treatment. The same pattern, she suggested, often plays out in the workplace as employees justify staying in jobs where they are underpaid, undervalued, or passed over for promotions simply because they “love” what they do. Hogi, however, challenged that mindset, arguing that genuine love extends beyond emotion and is grounded in mutual respect, intimacy, safety, joy, and appreciation. Applying that standard to work raises difficult questions.
“How can you really love your job if you don’t feel safe in your job?” Hogi asked during the conversation. If the dedication and respect you give your employer isn’t reciprocated, then she says you run the risk of normalizing mistreatment, often because you don’t see yourself as worthy of better. If a workplace consistently undermines an employee’s dignity or sense of security, she argues, remaining in that environment may signal a disconnect between professional commitment and personal worth.
Hogi also challenged the belief that people must earn love—or validation—through constant achievement. She said many professionals internalize the idea that working longer hours, sacrificing personal time, and proving themselves repeatedly will eventually make them worthy of recognition.
While Hogi describes herself as a workaholic, she emphasized that she refuses to tie her value to her productivity. Dr. Collins reflected on how that distinction resonated with his own career, admitting that being “chosen” for opportunities helped build his confidence but can also become a trap if external validation becomes the primary measure of self-worth. Rather than waiting to be selected by an employer or organization, Hogi encourages people to remember they also have the agency to choose workplaces that honor their humanity.
For professionals navigating burnout, toxic work environments, or career transitions, her message is a timely reminder that passion for work should never require sacrificing respect, psychological safety, or personal dignity. She encourages workers to ask themselves if their job doesn’t respect them, is it really a relationship worth loving?
First Produce, Now Garlic Powder Is Recalled Over Bacterial Contamination
The affected product was sold at Dollarama stores across Canada and through the retailer's online marketplace
Canadian health officials have issued a nationwide recall for Heavenly Spices Garlic Powder sold at Dollarama stores after the product was found to be potentially contaminated with Bacillus cereus, a bacterium that can cause foodborne illness, People reports.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced the recall July 15, advising consumers not to use, sell, serve, or distribute Heavenly Spices Garlic Powder packaged in 70-gram containers with product code RA-82337. The affected product was sold at Dollarama stores across Canada and through the retailer’s online marketplace.
The CFIA classified the action as a Class 2 recall, meaning exposure to the product could cause temporary or medically reversible health effects, although the likelihood of serious consequences is considered low.
According to the agency, Bacillus cereus can cause food poisoning that may lead to nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. Symptoms typically develop within several hours of consuming contaminated food and generally resolve within 24 to 48 hours. Young children, older adults, pregnant people, and individuals with weakened immune systems may face a higher risk of complications.
The CFIA said consumers who purchased the recalled garlic powder should stop using it immediately and either dispose of the product or return it to the place of purchase. The agency also advised retailers and distributors not to sell or distribute the affected seasoning.
Dollarama said eligible customers may contact its customer service department regarding reimbursement, including a $2 electronic gift card, for the recalled product.
As of July 20, 2026, no illnesses associated with the recalled garlic powder had been publicly reported. The CFIA said it is continuing its food safety investigation and will take additional action if necessary. The agency also encouraged consumers to monitor its food recall notices and seek medical attention if they develop symptoms after consuming the affected product.
Black Women’s Equal Pay Day Sparks Push For Workplace Reform
Black women remain concentrated in lower-paying occupations.
A coalition of workplace equity advocates is urging lawmakers and employers to adopt a broad slate of labor reforms to narrow persistent wage disparities affecting Black women, arguing that equal pay cannot be achieved without addressing systemic barriers to economic opportunity, Equalrights.org reports.
The proposal report, “A Wage Justice Agenda for Black Women,” released by Equal Rights Advocates ahead of Black Women’s Equal Pay Day on July 21, called for stronger pay transparency laws, expanded paid family and medical leave, affordable childcare, higher wages, stronger protections against workplace discrimination and wage theft, and increased enforcement of existing civil rights laws. The recommendations are intended to address the structural factors that continue to shape earnings for Black women across the United States.
According to Equal Rights Advocates, Black women remain concentrated in lower-paying occupations while frequently serving as primary or co-breadwinners for their families, making wage inequities particularly consequential for household financial security. The organization argues that closing the pay gap requires reforms that extend beyond equal-pay statutes to include workplace protections for caregivers, pregnant workers, and employees who discuss compensation.
The report coincides with Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, the date symbolizing how far into the new year Black women must work, on average, to earn what white, non-Hispanic men earned during the previous year. Equal Pay Today, a national coalition co-founded by Equal Rights Advocates, reports that Black women earn approximately 63 cents for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men across all workers, or about 65 cents among full-time, year-round employees.
“Black women continue to be underpaid, undervalued, and overrepresented in low-paid jobs, with little opportunity for advancement, and that lack important workplace protections,” Equal Pay Today said in announcing this year’s observance.
Equal Rights Advocates maintains that comprehensive workplace reforms, paired with stronger enforcement of anti-discrimination laws, are necessary to improve long-term economic outcomes for Black women and their families.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Tenisha Warner filed the suit on July 20 against Pamela Warner, Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s mother, who serves as trustee of the Warner Family Trust. The lawsuit seeks more than $1.2 million, alleging the Cosby Show star failed to fulfill several financial commitments outlined in the couple’s prenuptial agreement before his death. The complaint claims the actor agreed to provide several financial protections days before the couple married in May 2022. Those commitments allegedly included maintaining a $1 million life insurance policy naming Tenisha as beneficiary, funding a Roth IRA, making annual tax-free gifts of $16,000, and paying her a monthly $5,000 salary for serving as his assistant and chief of staff, reports The New York Post’sPage Six. According to the lawsuit, those obligations were never fully satisfied before Warner died. Now, Tenisha is seeking payment from the family trust administered by Pamela Warner.
Neither Pamela Warner nor representatives for the Warner Family Trust have publicly responded to the allegations. Page Six reported that requests for comment from both parties were not immediately returned.
The lawsuit marks the first major legal challenge involving Warner’s estate since his passing. As of now, the claims remain allegations that have not been adjudicated in court, and no ruling has been made regarding the merits of the case.
Warner, who is best known for playing Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, died on July 20, 2025, at 54 years old after drowning while vacationing with his wife and daughter in Costa Rica. Authorities ruled his death accidental after determining he was caught in a powerful ocean current.
Throughout his career, Warner became one of television’s most recognizable actors, later starring in Malcolm & Eddie, Reed Between the Lines, Suits, and The Resident. In addition to acting, he earned a Grammy Award in 2015 for Best Traditional R&B Performance alongside Robert Glasper Experiment and Lalah Hathaway.
