Little Jaylen (right) and Big Jerome (left) in a still from the “It Takes Little to Be Big" campaign. (Big Brothers Big Sisters of America)
Photo credit: Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Big Brothers, Big Sisters Reports Growing Need For Male Mentors In San Antonio
The organization said many boys remain on a waiting list for months in hopes of being matched with a positive adult role model.
Nearly 400 boys across San Antonio are currently waiting to be paired with adult male mentors through Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas, highlighting what organization leaders describe as an ongoing mentorship shortage in the region. According to the nonprofit, the most urgent need is for Black and Latino men willing to volunteer as mentors for local youth.
The organization, which serves children throughout South Texas, said many boys remain on a waiting list for months in hopes of being matched with a positive adult role model. The mentoring initiative connects children, known as “Littles,” with volunteer adults, called “Bigs,” through community- and school-based programs. The nonprofit says those relationships are designed to provide emotional support, guidance, and stability for children facing social or economic challenges.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas currently supports more than 1,000 active mentorship matches in the San Antonio area. The organization reported that the average community-based mentoring relationship lasts more than 33 months, with some partnerships continuing for over a decade.
One of those long-term mentorships includes 15-year-old Shilou Mack and mentor Gable Crowder, who were paired together four years ago through a workplace mentoring program at Jackson Middle School in San Antonio. Since then, the pair has bonded over basketball, music, and community activities.
“Being able to look up to him as a leader, and showing me what he does, made me want to start doing what he does,” Mack said to KSAT. “It pushes me greater than I already am.”
Crowder, who also serves as the organization’s director of community engagement, said mentorship can provide young people with encouragement and exposure to opportunities they might not otherwise experience.
“The majority of the families we have are single-parent homes, and they need men, especially men of color,” Crowder said. “The impact that it has is needed, and it’s a must.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas said adults interested in becoming mentors can apply through the organization’s website, where volunteers complete training and background checks before being matched with a child. The nonprofit says its mentorship programs aim to help children improve confidence, academic performance, and long-term personal development.
From Gridiron to Ivy: Collin Johnson Retires To Join Elite Wave of NFL Academics
At MIT Sloan, Johnson will pursue an MBA, joining a distinct group of NFL players who transitioned from professional sports to elite academic institutions
While announcing he’d be enrolling at the highly prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the Northeast this fall, NFL wide receiver Collin Johnson also announced his retirement from the league, trading complex defensive playbooks for intensive academic textbooks.
At MIT Sloan, Johnson will pursue an MBA, joining a distinct group of NFL players who transitioned from professional sports to elite academic institutions, further defining a trend among top athletes. According to a 2022 report by the NFL Players Association, more than 30 former and current NFL athletes have enrolled in graduate programs at top-tier universities over the past decade, including business schools at Stanford, Harvard, and MIT. While still a relatively uncommon path, the number of NFL players seeking advanced degrees at elite institutions has steadily increased as the league expands its initiatives supporting post-career education.
I’m grateful to share that I’ll be enrolling at MIT Sloan this fall to pursue my MBA.
At the same time, I’ve made the decision to retire from the NFL.
Football has shaped my life in more ways than I can put into words. It taught me faith, discipline, resilience, leadership, and… pic.twitter.com/BfpKp2QYqY
“Football has shaped my life in more ways than I can put into words,” Johnson shared via Instagram. “It taught me faith, discipline, resilience, leadership, and how to compete at the highest level. I’m thankful for every teammate, coach, organization, and person who helped me along the way.”
The 6-foot-5, 220-pound wide receiver from the University of Texas was a fifth-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2020 NFL Draft. He recorded career highs in his rookie season, catching 18 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns. Johnson later spent two seasons with the New York Giants and had stints with the Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders.
At MIT, Johnson plans to expand ‘Beyond Sports’, an educational and venture-building platform he runs for current and former athletes. ‘Beyond Sports‘ aims to empower athletes to succeed beyond their playing days by providing mentorship, entrepreneurial training, and resources for building ventures. The organization has already supported dozens of athletes in launching businesses, pursuing advanced education, and preparing for life after sports, signaling its growing impact on athlete transition and personal development.
“For a long time, athletes have been seen as endorsers of other people’s companies,” Johnson said. “I believe we can be the founders, operators, investors, and owners behind them, too.”
Johnson’s path echoes that of NFL veterans who channeled athletic discipline into top graduate programs, helping reshape ideas of athlete careers beyond sports. Such high-profile transitions not only expand opportunities for athletes themselves but also challenge public perceptions, encouraging society and younger players to view professional sports as a launching pad for diverse pursuits in academia and leadership.
As more stories like Johnson’s emerge, expectations of what athletes can achieve after their playing days continue to evolve, potentially inspiring new models of lifelong learning and multidimensional career planning.
Take a look at a few examples of NFL athletes who have walked away from the gridiron to pursue degrees in higher education.
Doctorates and Medical Degrees
John Urschel: The former Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman stunned the sports world by retiring in 2017 at 26 to focus entirely on mathematics. Urschel enrolled at MIT, where he completed his Ph.D. He has since published multiple research papers and currently works as an assistant professor in the MIT Department of Mathematics.
Dr. Myron Rolle: Drafted by the Tennessee Titans as a safety, the former Florida State standout was a Rhodes Scholar who constantly prioritized medicine. Rolle retired from the NFL after three seasons to attend the College of Medicine at Florida State University.
Julius Thomas, a former Pro Bowl tight end for the Denver Broncos, decided to retire from football at 30 to pursue a doctorate in psychology, according to a letter he wrote for The Players’ Tribune as reported by Sports Illustrated. Thomas earned a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) and completed a residency focused on community mental health. He continues to study cognitive science and performance coaching through his athletic development initiatives.
Business, Arts, and Creative Fields
Andrew Hawkins: Following a six-year career as a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns, Hawkins shifted his focus to sports business. He earned a master’s degree in sports management from Columbia University, maintaining a 4.0 GPA while actively playing in the NFL.
Chris Conley: After a 10-season career as a veteran wide receiver with teams including the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, Conley retired to chase a long-held passion for filmmaking. Conley returned to the University of Georgia to study film, hoping to build a secondary career behind the camera as a director and storyteller.
For Johnson and others, retiring from the NFL signals not an end, rather a transition—a new phase in which the focus and drive required in football fuel their pursuit of academic and career excellence.
Damon Dash Launches Dash Records With Call For Emerging Creatives
Dash invited artists and creatives to submit portfolios for consideration.
Hip-hop entrepreneur Damon Dash is making another move into the music business with the launch of Dash Records, a new creative venture aimed at discovering emerging talent across multiple industries. The announcement was made through Instagram over Memorial Day weekend as Dash invited artists and creatives to submit portfolios for consideration.
According to Dash’s public open call, the company is seeking recording artists, videographers, engineers, producers, makeup artists, stylists, and digital marketers for its initial rollout. Applicants were encouraged to submit their work directly to the label, while supporters were urged to tag creatives who could benefit from the opportunity.
“We are searching for the best Hungry and talented Recording Artist, Videographers, Engineers, Producers, Make up artist, Stylist and Digital Marketers. Share and Tag Your Favorite Creatives. Come Get With The Hottest Record Label In The World. Please email your portfolio to: Dashrecordinglabel@gmail.com.”
The launch marks another entrepreneurial chapter for Dash, who co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records alongside Jay-Z and Kareem Burke in 1994. The label helped shape the sound and business landscape of late-1990s hip-hop through artists including Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel, and Cam’ron.
Dash Records arrives at a time when the media executive has continued to expand independent business ventures while also publicly reflecting on his legacy in music and entertainment. Industry outlets reported that the new imprint is still in its early stages of development, with no official artist roster or release schedule announced yet.
The announcement also signals Dash’s continued interest in cultivating independent creatives at a time when many artists are seeking alternative paths outside traditional label structures. Hot97 noted that the venture appears designed to operate as a broader creative collective rather than a traditional music label alone, incorporating visual media, branding, and digital content creation.
Cardi B Expands Her Empire As The New Face Of Luxury Resale Platform FASHIONPHILE
The collaboration centers on the company's new "Get Your Bag" campaign, which highlights the growing demand for pre-owned luxury accessories
Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B is adding another fashion partnership to her growing business portfolio after luxury resale platform FASHIONPHILE named the artist its 2026 global brand ambassador.
The collaboration, announced May 20, centers on the company’s new “Get Your Bag” campaign, which highlights the growing demand for pre-owned luxury accessories and the resale market’s emphasis on long-term value. According to the company, the campaign was photographed in New York City and features Cardi B showcasing a curated selection of rare and high-end designer pieces.
“I love a good bag, but I love a smart buy too. I love Fashionphile because they really have it all. The rare pieces, the classics, and everything’s authentic,” said Cardi, according to Complex. “This partnership made sense because we both care about quality, style, and getting to the bag!”
Founded in 1999 by Sarah Davis, FASHIONPHILE has become one of the leading luxury resale retailers specializing in authenticated handbags, jewelry, and accessories from brands including Hermès, Chanel, and Goyard. The company has also expanded its retail footprint with locations in New York and Los Angeles while positioning itself within the growing circular fashion economy.
The company said in a press release that Cardi B’s influence in fashion and her reputation as a collector made her a natural fit for the campaign. The rapper has frequently showcased her extensive luxury handbag collection online, including rare Birkin bags and archival designer pieces.
“At FASHIONPHILE, we’ve always believed that ultra-luxury is an investment, not just a purchase,” said Davis, founder and president of FASHIONPHILE. “Cardi embodies that mindset in a way that’s both aspirational and real. She understands the value behind these pieces and brings a level of visibility and energy that expands how people think about resale.”
The campaign also includes a curated edit of Cardi B-approved items available through the resale platform. FASHIONPHILE said the initiative reflects the brand’s “shop-and-sell” model, which encourages consumers to buy, resell, and reinvest in luxury fashion.
The endorsement marks another major business move for Cardi B, whose fashion partnerships have included campaigns with Reebok, Balenciaga, and Fashion Nova.
John Hope Bryant looks for the rainbow that follows the storm
At the 2025 XCEL Summit for Men, honoree John Hope Bryant, founder, chairman, and CEO of Operation Hope, rallied the audience to draw lessons from the past, using Frederick Douglass, a businessman, abolitionist, and owner of prime real estate in Baltimore, as his example.
African Americans have contributed to the success of our country from the beginning. And as Douglass went from freedom to access, to opportunity, and to ownership, it’s part of a modern-day Reconstruction that today’s entrepreneur can learn from. And yet, success won’t come without its challenges. But remember, he tells attendees, as we approach the 10th anniversary of the XCEL Summit for Men, a “rainbow will always follow a storm.”
D’USSÉ Celebrates 30 Years of Jay’Z’s ‘Reasonable Doubt’ With JAŸ-Z 30 Box Set and Live Activations
The cognac brand co-founded by the hip-hop billionaire is honoring the legacy of "Reasonable Doubt" with exclusive releases, signature cocktails, and immersive fan experiences
Three decades after Shawn “JAŸ-Z” Carter’s Reasonable Doubt transformed hip-hop, D’USSÉ Cognac is launching a nationwide campaign to celebrate the cultural milestone.
To mark the 30th anniversary of Carter’s debut album, the luxury cognac announced the release of a limited-time Jaÿ-Z D’USSÉ VSOP collector’s box set. D’USSÉ, which was founded by the hip-hop mogul and the global spirits company Bacardi, will also host a variety of live events in Atlanta, Houston, Chicago, Washington, New York, and Philadelphia, celebrating the album’s legacy and Carter’s storied career.
Source: D’USSÉ Cognac’s limited-edition JAŸ-Z30 VSOP Collector’s Box Set (Photo courtesy of NIKE Communications)
“Mr. Shawn Carter’s codes of ambition, craftsmanship, and excellence are woven into the DNA of D’USSÉ, and JAŸ-Z30 is a powerful reflection of that legacy,” says Gigi DaDan, the General Manager of D’USSÉ, in a press release. “For 30 years, he has shaped culture through music, art, style, and philanthropy, and as a brand built as an extension of his innovation, D’USSÉ has continued to redefine the cognac category while honoring its heritage.”
To further commemorate the moment, D’USSÉ announced a signature cocktail called CODE30, which combines the bright, citrus-forward blend of D’USSÉ Cognac with lemon, amaretto, pineapple juice, and soda water.
Source: D’USSÉ Cognac’s limited-edition JAŸ-Z30 VSOP Collector’s Box Set and the CODE30 signature cocktail inspired by legacy, celebration, and modern cognac culture. (Photo courtesy of NIKE Communications)
“D’USSÉ was created to celebrate those forging their own path — and we believe the best moments are meant to be shared. There’s no better way to mark 30 years than raising a glass to community, legacy, and what comes next,” said DaDan.
Outside of the collector’s box set and cocktail, the campaign will host activations at major events throughout the summer, including The Roots Picnic, which the Grammy-winning rapper is headlining, along with his upcoming Yankee Stadium residency in July, dubbed “JAŸ-Z 30” and “JAŸ-Z 25.” The first will pay homage to his 1996 debut album, followed by a celebration of the 2001 release of Carter’s The Blueprint.
The performances mark JAŸ-Z’s first solo stadium shows in nearly a decade, reports REVOLT. Fans attending the events can expect dedicated D’USSÉ bars, specialty cocktails, and branded experiences celebrating the rapper’s contributions to hip-hop.
Does Serving on a Prestigious Corporate Board Actually Hurt Women’s Future Prospects?
New research by Harvard Business Review suggests that serving on a prominent corporate board decreases women’s likelihood of securing additional board appointments.
We all know how important it is to have women represented in the boardrooms of corporate America. Study after study has underscored the benefits of diverse perspectives on a corporate board, including improved decision-making.
Shellye Archambeau, a 2026 Women of Power Legacy Award honoree, who sits on the boards of Verizon, Roper Technologies, Okta, and Lineage, summed it up perfectly: “The broader set of perspectives you have in making any decision and hashing through any idea, will give you a broader way of thinking about it, will give you both opportunities as well as risks.”
“If everybody’s thinking the same, then every idea is going to sound perfect,” she told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “So you want people that bring different views.”
But new research from Harvard Business Review looks beyond representation and the impact diverse directors have on an organization to the effect that board service has on the directors themselves.
In a review of almost 2,000 board directors from the FTSE-100 (the 100 largest companies on the London Stock Exchange), where women now hold approximately 45% of corporate board seats, HBR found that women who serve on these boards are generally more likely than men to be appointed to additional boards. However, as the prominence of the board they serve on increases, women directors’ likelihood of getting additional board placements begins to decrease.
What’s causing this? HBR’s exploration of why this gender divide exists suggests two reasons that many women executives are already familiar with—increased workload and increased scrutiny:
“Our research suggests that this scrutiny is often more intense for women, raising expectations around preparation and performance and requiring greater effort to demonstrate competence. Women may also be more likely to take on additional responsibilities, such as mentoring, representing the organization externally, or contributing to diversity initiatives. These demands are rarely formalized, but they add up. They can shape how women are evaluated and how willing they are to pursue further opportunities, which helps explain why prestige can sometimes become a constraint rather than a springboard.”
Unrelated research shows that those extra responsibilities come at a steep cost for women, as female board members on the FTSE-100 are paid 69% less than their male counterparts, according to employment lawyers Fox & Partners. Even an apples-to-apples comparison of pay for executive (full-time) board members and non-executive (part-time) board members reveals that women earned 26% and 33% less, respectively.
HBR experts Isabel Fernandez-Mateo, Adecco Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at London Business School; Hans Frankort, professor of strategy at Bayes Business School, City St George’s, University of London; and Raina Brands, professor of organizational behaviour at University College London’s School of Management, shared their recommendations for what organizations can do to ensure elite corporate board placements lead to advancement for women directors. Those suggestions include clarifying expectations around roles, assessing how responsibilities are distributed, and pairing visibility with sufficient support and sponsorship.
Lester McPherson Challenges African Americans and Minorities to Embrace this Explosive Technology
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become part of much of today’s society: entertainment, customer service, manufacturing, and — yes — even medicine. It’s transforming how Americans live, work, and lead. No one knows it better than Lester McPherson, director of Global Specialized Delivery at AWS. He says AI is here to stay and encouraged everyone who attended last year’s XCEL Summit For Men to embrace it.
Understanding the opportunities and risks associated with its development and integration will be critical to tomorrow’s career success. And while a heated debate centers on AI ultimately replacing the human workforce, instead, McPherson wants today’s Black men and women to learn how humans can collaborate with AI. Noting that there aren’t enough African Americans and minorities in this space, but opportunities are everywhere.
As BLACK ENTERPRISE approaches its 10th anniversary of the XCEL Summit For Men this year, both the editors of BLACK ENTERPRISE and the many panelists who attended this past Summit encourage everyone to stand out as leaders in the age of AI. Listen to McPherson, one of last year’s panelists, make his case in this short clip from his on-stage interview with moderator Dwayne Dixon, managing principal of Dwayne Dixon International.
Atlanta Senior Carries Historic Family Legacy To Georgia Institute Of Technology
Ralph Long IV, a graduating senior at Benjamin E. Mays High School, will attend Georgia Tech this fall after earning top academic honors, years after his grandfather helped to desegregate the university.
An Atlanta high school senior is preparing to continue a family legacy more than six decades in the making at Georgia Institute of Technology, CBS News reports.
Ralph Long IV, a graduating senior at Benjamin E. Mays High School, will attend Georgia Tech this fall after earning top academic honors, including a Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR), and ranking among the top 10% of his class. The achievement carries historical significance for the Long family because his grandfather, Ralph Long Jr., was one of the first Black students admitted to the university in 1961.
Long IV said he chose Georgia Tech for its engineering opportunities and plans to study computer engineering with a focus on artificial intelligence and hardware systems. He also received several scholarships ahead of enrollment.
His grandfather, alongside Ford Greene and Lawrence Williams, became known as “The Three Pioneers” after integrating Georgia Tech during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. The three men were later honored with statues on campus recognizing their role in desegregating the institution.
Ralph Long Jr. told CBS Atlanta that his time at the university was marked by isolation and intense scrutiny. He recalled avoiding much of campus life because of safety concerns and racial tensions during the era, but looks forward to Ralph IV experiencing his own journey.
“The legacy is there but it’s Ralph’s will now,” said Long Jr. “He has to prove himself. Hopefully, he realizes he has the capabilities to do a lot of things that enable other Blacks to follow him and continue the legacy.”
For his grandson, the experience is expected to look very different.
Long IV said comparing his acceptance process to his grandfather’s underscored how much access and opportunity have changed for Black students pursuing higher education in STEM fields.
“I want to make sure I get a lot of hardware and software experience there. I definitely want to see what their AI machines are looking like.”
Georgia Tech’s history with Black students has become a broader symbol of educational progress in Atlanta. The university has continued recognizing trailblazing Black alums, including Ronald Yancey, who became the school’s first Black graduate in 1965.
As Long IV prepares to enter the Georgia Institute of Technology, his grandfather said he hopes the milestone inspires more Black students to pursue higher education and careers in technology and engineering.
Tourism is far more than a leisure industry in Jamaica; it is the economic heartbeat of the island nation. As Jamaica’s primary source of foreign exchange earnings, tourism contributes more than 30% to Jamaica’s GDP both directly and indirectly, while supporting approximately 175,000 jobs across hospitality, transportation, agriculture, construction, banking and finance, entertainment, and utilities.
Jamaica’s tourism relevance is amplified by the broader Caribbean market, where travel is a major economic force. According to the Caribbean Tourism Organization, the region welcomed approximately 35 million stay-over visitors in 2025, signaling continued momentum across Caribbean destinations.
For Jamaica, however, that momentum was interrupted by one of its most devastating natural disasters in recent history.
Hurricane Melissa’s Devastating Economic and Human Toll
Hurricane Melissa delivered a historic blow to Jamaica, exposing the vulnerability of tourism-reliant economies to climate disasters.
According to a United Nations recovery assessment, current estimates place total damage and economic losses between US$8 billion and US$15 billion—nearly one-quarter of Jamaica’s GDP. Dennis Zulu, UN Resident Coordinator for Jamaica, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos, described the scale as catastrophic. The hurricane impacted more than 626,000 people, claimed 45 lives, and left widespread damage across the island.
The storm’s destruction was severe. At least 120,000 buildings lost roofs, primarily across southwestern Jamaica, while 90 emergency shelters remained operational, housing nearly 950 displaced residents unable to return home.
Entire communities were left vulnerable. “Western parishes were left without electricity for weeks on end,” the UN report noted.
The damage extended into Jamaica’s education system as well, with approximately 450 schools—nearly two-thirds of schools nationwide—reporting significant damage, including roof loss, structural failure, and major disruptions.
Within just five days of the storm, Jamaica successfully accommodated approximately 25,000 visitors, minimizing disruption and preserving traveler confidence. Within weeks, the country announced reopening plans, sending a strong signal to international markets.
According to Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, recovery is rooted in trust.
“Confidence and trust define tourism,” Bartlett said to BLACK ENTERPRISE. “Hospitality is in the DNA of Jamaican people.”
That trust is supported by Jamaica’s hospitality infrastructure, particularly in Kingston, which experienced limited storm damage and continued operating as a critical business and tourism hub.
Kingston Hotels as a Stabilizing Force
As recovery efforts accelerated, Kingston’s hotel sector played an important role in maintaining tourism continuity.
“The Jamaica Pegasus is literally the grand dame of Kingston—a timeless beauty with a rich tradition of impressive service,” says Group Director of Marketing & Sales for Courtleigh Hospitality Group, Nicola Madden-Greig. Often referred to as the Protocol Hotel of Kingston, Jamaica Pegasus Hotel has long served as a cornerstone for dignitaries, executives, and high-profile events.
“We’ve hosted royalty, presidents, and dignitaries from around the world,” Madden-Greig explains. “We’re known for executing high-stakes, high-profile events with ease.”
Its sister property, The Courtleigh Hotel & Suites, complements that offering with a boutique-style experience while supporting Kingston’s growing MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) market.
Tourism’s Ripple Effect Across Jamaica
For Madden-Greig, tourism’s economic impact is broad and deeply interconnected. “Tourism touches so many industries,” she says. “From agriculture, manufacturing, to the creative industry, we rely heavily on Jamaican businesses.”
That interdependence makes tourism recovery especially critical after climate-related events, helping reactivate local suppliers, transportation providers, entertainers, restaurants, artisans, and entrepreneurs.
Repeat Visitors and Jamaica’s Emotional Brand Advantage
Jamaica’s recovery is strengthened by one of its most valuable tourism assets: visitor loyalty. According to Bartlett, approximately 45% of Jamaica’s visitors are repeat travelers, reinforcing the island’s strong emotional brand equity.
“The repeat visitor is critical to the tourism sector and industry,” Bartlett says.
Many travelers return with family, driving intergenerational travel patterns that sustain long-term tourism demand.
“We are more than an island and geography,” Bartlett says. “We are a living organism with eyes, ears, warmth, emotion, and love.”
He summarizes Jamaica’s tourism essence in three words: food, music, and love.
Building a More Resilient Tourism Future
Jamaica is not simply rebuilding—it is reimagining.
Recovery plans include highway improvements across the North and South Coasts, expanded maritime tourism experiences in Lucea, and a new inland airport planned for Vernamfield to reduce vulnerability to coastal weather disruptions.
Meanwhile, Port Antonio is being positioned as Jamaica’s next luxury destination.
A new medical campus in Montego Bay and expanded Destination Assurance protocols are also strengthening Jamaica’s tourism resilience strategy.
“What you eat and drink, hospitality—the tourism product is Jamaica,” Bartlett says.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica has demonstrated that resilience is not simply about restoring buildings, but restoring confidence, protecting people, and evolving its tourism infrastructure for the future.
Jamaica’s message to the world is clear: the island is open, resilient, and ready for its next chapter.
