Michael Jackson,film, box office — (Photo: Constru-centro, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons)

by Kandiss Edwards

July 12, 2025

Paris Jackson Wants Answers About Michael Jackson’s Estate, Concerned Over ‘Irregular Payments’

Paris Jackson is going to court after irregular payments to law firms and nine-figure tax penalty led to 'concerns' of misuse of funds.

Paris Jackson filed a petition in court due to her concern over the handling of her father, Michael Jackson’s, estate.

Paris is challenging the management of the Michael Jackson estate. She contends that funds are being misused, stalling payouts. Additionally, Paris alleges that improper management has led to tax disputes, according to People.

June 24, Paris filed documents questioning over $600,000 in “premium payments” made in 2018.

“These irregular payments raise serious and substantial questions about Executors’ ability to effectively supervise counsel,” Paris’ lawyer stated in the filing.

The payments, reportedly, went to three separate law firms for unrecorded work time. She contends the lack of oversight by the courts led to the doling out of “lavish gratuities.”

“These payments appear, at least in part, to consist of lavish gratuities bestowed upon already well-compensated counsel,” the filings state.

In addition to a lack of clear billing documentation, the 27-year-old also raised concerns about a lack of timely communication.

Her legal team is urging the court to block payments to the law firms and any other entities until invoices are fully reviewed. Michael Jackson’s middle child is requesting transparency and a timetable for future fees.

The executors of the Michael Jackson Estate defend their business practices. A spokesperson said attorneys have consistently received bonuses tied to the estate’s growth, including a lucrative 2018 sale of a stake in EMI for nearly $300 million. The attorneys believe the fees are common practice and appropriate for their success.

However, according to the filing, inconsistencies in the billing raise initial concerns.

“One law firm’s invoice reportedly jumped from $194,000 to $211,000, while another plummeted from $789,000 to $258,000, only to later rise again,” the Express Tribune reported.

Additionally, Paris stated that IRS disputes about asset valuation led to a $700 million IRS penalty. She claims the penalty has had a damaging effect on her family. Paris and her brothers, Prince and Bigi, along with their grandmother Katherine Jackson, have had their access to trust assets restricted amid the ongoing IRS review. The estate has argued that distributions cannot resume until the tax valuation issue is resolved.

A hearing is set for July 16 to address the contested payments and distribution timeline.

Hockey, HBCU, tsu — Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-shot-of-a-hockey-puck-and-hockey-stick-6847470/

by Daniel Johnson

July 12, 2025

TSU Delays Debut Of Its Pioneering Hockey Team Until 2026

Due to the university's financial struggles, the hockey program will now begin during the 2026-2027 academic year.

Tennessee State University’s historic hockey program — the first ice hockey program at any HBCU — was dealt a minor setback on July 10 when the university officially announced that, amid its financial struggles caused by chronic underfunding, the program would begin during the 2026-2027 academic year.

According to The Nashville Banner, the State of Tennessee has underfunded Tennessee State University by $544 million over the past five decades. Despite these institutional shortfalls, staff members committed themselves to fundraising while attempting to recruit players, build out a schedule for the team, and address the many other logistical concerns that come with building a program from scratch.

Kevin Westgarth, the National Hockey League’s VP of Hockey Development and Strategic Collaboration, touted the resilience of Tennessee State University in a press release and appeared confident that the program would rebound from this setback.

“Deferring the inaugural season of TSU Tigers hockey to 2026-27 is the right step to build a foundation worthy of the university,” Westgarth said. “We have faith in President Tucker’s vision and look forward to adding new names to the TSU Athletics history alongside legends like Olympic gold medalist Wilma Rudolph and NBA champion Dick Barnett. Hopefully, we’ll see an ex-Tiger raise the Stanley Cup one day, not too far in the future.”

After Tennessee State University announced its intention to start a Division I hockey program in June 2023, the NHL and Tennessee’s NHL franchise, the Nashville Predators, quickly backed the effort, utilizing the NHL’s Industry Growth Fund to help fund and provide resources to the fledgling program.

However, the university’s ongoing financial issues have caused a domino effect, and it was determined that the hockey program needed to raise $5 million in budgetary funding, independent of the university, to cover its first two seasons.

In a press release, Tennessee State University’s Interim President Dwayne Tucker said that both the Nashville Predators and the NHL agreed that it was best for the university to delay the launch of the program to raise the necessary funds for competition.

“Working closely with the NHL and the Predators, we agree that an additional year will provide the program with the time and resources it needs to launch at full strength and with long-term financial success in mind,” Tucker said.

Since his hiring in April 2024, the hockey program’s head coach, Duanté Abercrombie has led the fundraising effort, which will now shift to a model focused on community engagement, initiatives to create more donations, as well as efforts geared at the development of the hockey program itself to keep the fire that was lit at the outset of the program’s inception burning.

Bill Wickett, the Predators’ chief marketing officer, indicated in his own statement in the press release that the team wants to help “make the Division I hockey dream a reality at Tennessee State.”

He continued, “We applaud university leadership, led by Interim President Tucker, for its desire to ensure that when the Tigers step on the ice for the first time, they are doing it for a long time, and we pledge to walk hand-in-hand with that leadership in making it happen.”

ICE, lightfoot, Chicago — Photo by Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Daily News via Getty Images

by Daniel Johnson

July 12, 2025

Nigeria Says No: Country Refuses Trump Administration’s Request To Accept U.S. Deportees

Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar quoted Hip-Hop to explain the country’s reluctance to cooperate with Trump: 'In the words of the famous U.S. rap group Public Enemy — you'll remember a line from Flava Flav: 'Flava Flav has problems of his own. I can't do nothing for you, man.'”

In response to a Trump administration proposal that Nigeria accept non-U.S. citizens from multiple countries for deportation, Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar pushed back, quoting rap group Public Enemy to explain the country’s reluctance to cooperate with the U.S. State Department.

As NPR reports, Foreign Minister Tuggar told Nigerian outlet Channels TV on July 11 that the country has its own internal priorities to attend to, quoting Public Enemy’s resident hype man turned beloved public figure, Flava Flav, in the process.

https://twitter.com/NigeriaStories/status/1943401198796615817?s=19

“We already have over 230 million people,” Tuggar told the outlet. “In the words of the famous U.S. rap group Public Enemy, you’ll remember a line from Flava Flav: ‘Flava Flav has problems of his own. I can’t do nothing for you, man.’”

He continued, “It will be difficult for a country like Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners into Nigeria. We have enough problems of our own. We cannot accept Venezuelan deportees to Nigeria, for crying out loud.”

Tuggar also indicated that in addition to Nigeria, the United States has been pressuring other African nations to accept foreign nationals whom it decides to have deported.

Although other reports have corroborated Tuggar’s assertion of American pressure on countries like Djibouti, Rwanda, and South Sudan to accept deportees, some of which have assisted the State Department in the process, the State Department has not officially confirmed that it is actively pressuring African countries to assist in its deportation efforts.

This was, of course, precipitated by the Supreme Court’s July 3 order establishing that the Trump administration could deport eight men to a makeshift detention center at a United States naval base in Djibouti, a country in East Africa, before they were sent to their end destination: war-torn South Sudan.

The Conservative Majority of the US Supreme Court chose, once again, to do Donald Trump's bidding and forgo Due Process rights under the 5th Amendment by sending immigrants to South Sudan.

This portion of the Sotomayor dissent sums it up perfectly. https://t.co/ea42OUyzoS pic.twitter.com/Sy0d3gNYZe
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) July 3, 2025

The decision was met with strong dissent from the Supreme Court’s liberal justices, who raised concerns about the implications of the ruling. In a joint dissent regarding the deportation of individuals to South Sudan—a country with a documented history of conflict and human rights abuses—Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justice Elena Kagan, expressed concern that the ruling was made “without regard for the likelihood that they will face torture or death” upon return.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the ruling appears to have reinforced the Trump administration’s approach to deportation policy. The report notes that former President Trump referenced a recent State Department request sent to five African nations ahead of a July 9 White House summit focused on economic and security issues.

According to their reporting, the State Department requested that Liberia, Senegal, Mauritania, Gabon, and Guinea-Bissau each take in migrants, which Trump seemed to reference in his remarks at the summit.

“I hope we can bring down the high rates of people overstaying visas, and also make progress on the safe third country agreements,” Trump stated in his opening comments.

According to The Wall Street Journal, United States diplomats are also informing officials from those governments that their assistance in the United States’ effort to increase deportations to third-party countries is encouraged if they wish to improve their commercial ties with the United States.

Based on their responses, many of which pitched the untapped mineral resources in their countries, the leaders of those nations seem eager to engage in this blatantly transparent quid pro quo arrangement.

In a conversation with Politico, Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s border czar, admitted that if countries do not acquiesce to the administration’s desires, it will continue searching until it finds a country that does.

“When you’ve got countries that won’t take their nationals back, and they can’t stay here, we find another country willing to accept them. If there is a significant public threat or national security threat — there’s one thing for sure — they’re not walking the streets of this country. We’ll find a third, safe nation to send them to, and we’re doing it,” Homan said.

Marilyn Mosby, conviction overturned, fraud, Baltimore — Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

by Kandiss Edwards

July 12, 2025

Ex-Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby Conviction Has Been Overturned

Mosby is free of her mortgage fraud conviction. Jurors were given instructions that crossed the line.

A federal appeals court overturned the mortgage fraud conviction of ex-Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby.

In a 2–1 decision, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that the jury was given “overbroad” instructions on venue. The instructions allowed jurors to avoid the jurisdiction of the crime. Instead, the instructions allowed convictions based on predatory actions in Maryland, as reported by the Associated Press.

As a result, the court also voided the forfeiture order on her Longboat Key condominium.

The 4th Circuit also upheld two prior convictions of perjury that were tied to the purchase of Florida properties.  

Federal appeals court upholds Marilyn Mosby’s perjury convictions, but overturns the ex- Baltimore State's Attorney's mortgage fraud conviction. pic.twitter.com/s9YlbMVx4d
— Baltimore Brew (@BaltimoreBrew) July 11, 2025

Mosby was convicted of lying by claiming financial hardship in 2020. The state’s attorney used the claim to withdraw $90,000 from her retirement accounts. Furthermore, she submitted a false $5,000 gift letter to secure better mortgage terms on the Florida property. The court determined that the evidence supporting those convictions was correctly handled at trial.

Mosby’s sentence, issued May 2024, included 12 months of home confinement, 100 hours of community service, and three years of supervised release. She completed the confinement portion of her sentence in June 2025.

Attorneys for Mosby argued against jail time for a non-violent offense. They further argued Mosby’s actions had no direct impact on public funds, nor did it cause harm to any individual.

Judge Stephanie Thacker, writing for the majority, stated that the venue instructions incorrectly allowed the crime’s location to be inferred from preliminary acts.

“As a result of our decision to vacate the mortgage fraud conviction, the forfeiture order related to Appellant’s Longboat Key Condo, which was obtained as the fruit of the alleged mortgage fraud, is also vacated,” Judge Thacker wrote.

Judge Niemeyer wrote the dissent, asserting that sufficient evidence showed Mosby had prepared and transmitted the false document from Maryland, as reported by the Baltimore Brew.

“Mosby did not prepare the false gift letter in Maryland and then carry it to Florida to present it,” Niemeyer continued. “Rather, she both prepared it in Maryland and uploaded it in Maryland to the Internet for the purpose of influencing the mortgage lending business outside of Maryland.”

Mosby, who prosecuted the officers in Freddie Gray’s death in 2015 and served as Baltimore’s top prosecutor until 2023. She has maintained her innocence and sought a presidential pardon, which was not granted.

Her legal team plans to continue appealing the remaining convictions.

ICE, Syracuse Player, Deportation, South Sudan — (Photo: Public domain via Wikimedia Commons)

by Kandiss Edwards

July 12, 2025

Morehouse Graduate Detained By ICE Sparks Large HBCU Support

Morehouse graduate, Alex Maganda, is being held in an ICE detention center. The HBCU community is pooling resources and raising the alarm.

Alums and students at Morehouse College rallied after former football player Alex Maganda was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement outside Dallas.

Maganda, who graduated with the Class of 2018, was held in ICE custody at the Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Anson, Texas, according to Capital B Atlanta. The HBCU community began rallying soon after word of Maganda’s detainment. The concerned parties started the hashtag #FreeAlexMaganda. Support quickly spread on social media.

Fellow Morehouse alum, JaMarcus Toomer, is spreading the word via Instagram. Toomer spoke highly of Maganda’s kind heart and dedication. He stressed that Maganda “has always been there for his friends and family.” As such, now is the time for people to show up for Maganda.

“It is crucial to understand the serious implications that come with ICE detentions. Individuals in these situations may face deportation and separation from their families and communities, often with little notice or recourse. As Morehouse Men, we live by the code “I got my brother’s back,” and now is the time to embody that spirit of solidarity and support,” he wrote.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mr.Toomer (@therealtrendsetta)

After graduating from Morehouse, Maganda taught Spanish to high school students through a TRIO Upward Bound program. Later, he worked as a sales executive at AT&T, according to his LinkedIn.

Many class councils at both Morehouse and Spelman have mobilized to provide legal help. Friends report Maganda has legal representation and is “in good spirits” despite his ordeal.

Immigration advocates warn that Black migrants in the U.S. face heightened scrutiny, often stemming from racial profiling, which can lead to disproportionate detention and deportation. Similarly, Black Americans can also be at risk as there is no way to tell a Black immigrant from a Black American citizen.

Nana Gyamfi from the Black Alliance for Just Immigration told Capital B that law enforcement interactions frequently begin because of race or accent, leading to harsher outcomes. 

Maganda’s arrest also follows heightened enforcement by Texas authorities under new state directives that require cooperation with federal immigration agents.

Despite the gravity of the situation, supporters confirm Maganda is receiving consistent legal counsel and that his family has been notified.

The HBCU community continues to campaign online and coordinate aid. Posts from class councils indicate that Maganda is aware of the broad backlash and thankful for the efforts being rallied behind him. No court date has been announced.

Fargo, Black bus passengers, back of the bus — Photo by Gustavo Fring: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-brown-coat-holding-on-bus-handle-while-holding-a-book-6699549/

by Daniel Johnson

July 12, 2025

Black Passengers Ordered To Back Of Fargo Bus, Minnesota Investigation Finds

A racial discrimination lawsuit against an unnamed Jefferson Lines bus driver is now moving forward.

A racial discrimination lawsuit against an unnamed Jefferson Lines bus driver in North Dakota is moving forward after the Minnesota Department of Human Rights found probable cause to support passenger Xavier Davis’s claims stemming from a 2023 incident aboard the bus.

According to The Minnesota Star Tribune, four months after the incident occurred, Davis initiated a complaint to the state human rights department. According to a memo released earlier in 2025 by Commissioner Rebecca Lucero, the discrimination lawsuit against Jefferson Bus Lines, which mentions the aforementioned driver as John Doe, has her blessing to move forward.

In her memorandum, Lucero said that the driver failed to establish any reason for instructing Davis and another Black male passenger to move to the back of the bus that was not racially discriminatory.

Her investigation also discovered that, in contrast to the two Black men, the driver allowed white passengers to sit anywhere they liked, but forced these two Black men to the back of the bus.

Furthermore, the investigation concluded that the driver’s instructions to the Black men that company policy was for passengers to board from the back of the bus to the front was a contradiction of Jefferson Lines’ actual boarding policy and that the driver assumed the men were traveling together, despite their tickets to two different destinations.

The driver also claimed in a subsequent investigation conducted by the bus line that the passengers had an aroma of marijuana. Once the situation between the three men turned contentious, he threatened to call the police on the two men.

In its investigation, the company only reprimanded the driver for failing to follow the company’s boarding policy and did not address the discrimination concerns.

Although the bus company was operating in North Dakota at the time of the incident, it is based in Minnesota, and thus falls under the jurisdiction of Minnesota state officials.

Davis’s civil lawsuit, recently filed in Hennepin County District Court, draws comparisons to the treatment of Rosa Parks, who famously refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus, a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement.

Davis is seeking damages related to being denied full and equal use of public accommodations in his lawsuit. His lawyer, Sam Savage, told the outlet that Davis and the bus company had been in mediation to resolve their dispute, but indicated to the outlet that the company has been less than cooperative.

“They just are unwilling to do the right thing,” Savage told the Minnesota Star-Tribune.

In a separate statement, Savage invoked Parks’ 1955 protest to KARE 11.

“In 1955, Rosa Parks took a stand, and we are not going back, not ever again and they are refusing to take accountability, and the only thing we can do is make it right by awarding him full money justice. That’s the only justice available,” Savage said.

venus williams, executive coaching, EZRA — photo credit: Wikkicommons

by Kandiss Edwards

July 12, 2025

Venus Williams Set For Tennis Comeback At DC Open

This will be the 45-year-old’s first official match in more than a year.

Tennis legend Venus Williams will return to professional tennis at the Mubadala Citi DC Open.

The event is set to take place from July 21 to 27 in Washington, DC. The tennis icon, now 45, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, accepted an invitation to compete in the main draw as a wild card, the Women’s Tennis Association announced. This will be the 45-year-old’s first official match in more than a year. Williams last appeared on the WTA circuit at the Miami Open in March 2024.

The Olympian has been listed as inactive on the WTA’s official website. She spoke about her excitement to return to the fold and her love of DC.

“There’s something truly special about DC: the energy, the fans, the history,” Williams stated in a press release from the tournament organizers. “This city has always shown me so much love, and I can’t wait to compete there again.”

Mark Ein, chairman of the Mubadala Citi DC Open, talked about the excitement surrounding Williams’s return.

“She has inspired people around the world with her accomplishments on the court and her visionary impact off the court,” Ein said. “I know how much it means to our DC fans and community to be able to watch her compete in person this summer.”

A legend returns ✨ @Venuseswilliams will make her first appearance in DC since 2022!#MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/lLa6LCnG7B
— Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) July 11, 2025

Her last Grand Slam appearances were in 2023, where she exited early at both Wimbledon and the US Open. The upcoming DC Open, a WTA 500 event, will offer Williams the opportunity to compete against top-tier players. Other notable players expected to participate include Jessica Pegula, Naomi Osaka, and Emma Raducanu.

Off the tennis court, Williams continues to expand her career options. It was recently announced that Venus will host a new podcast on X alongside her champion sister, Serena Williams. The “Unfiltered Truth” podcast is set to launch in August 2025. There has been some controversy surrounding the sisters’ use of the Elon Musk platform to host their podcast.

Venus and Serena promise open and candid discussions about all topics, as well as interviews with “visionaries, creators, and rulebreakers.”

Quincy Wilson, Olympics, Track, mens 4 x 400, mens, Richardson, Paris olympics, track and field — Photo: BOOM/Pexels)

by Mary Spiller

July 12, 2025

From Sprinter To CPA Partner: Durran Dunn Talks Discipline & Paying It Forward

Durran Dunn sat on a recent episode of the Journal of Accountancy podcast with Neil Amato.

Before becoming a partner at Bennett Thrasher and a respected voice in accounting, Durran Dunn was a track athlete and an anonymous crowd favorite at Atlanta Braves games, where he entertained fans as a full-body-suited mascot known as “The Freeze.” But according to a July 9 episode of the Journal of Accountancy podcast, Dunn’s path to professional success wasn’t always clear or conventional.

Hosted by Neil Amato, the recent episode featured a discussion on Dunn’s journey from being a collegiate sprinter to working in accounting.

“I didn’t know what a CPA was until my senior year of college,” Dunn admitted.

“I didn’t grow up around the profession. I just checked the accounting box on the list of majors because it was at the top. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life.”

Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Dunn’s early life included dramatic transitions—from the Caribbean to New York and later to Mississippi, where he earned athletic and academic scholarships to the University of Southern Mississippi. There, Dunn pursued accounting while running track.

“I was doing 21 credit hours a semester while competing in the 100m, 200m, 4×100, and 4×400 relays,” he explained to host Neil Amato. “I didn’t even know you could change your major. I was just all in.”

That same discipline carried over into his professional life. Now a leader in Risk Advisory Services, Dunn focuses on internal audit, compliance, ESG readiness, and business problem-solving.

“You can’t outwork me,” Dunn told Amato. “I’m probably not the smartest or most talented, but I’ll get it done.”

Dunn credits much of his professional philosophy to his athletic background.

“Everything about preparing for competition—training, focus, execution—applies directly to business,” he said. “I believe optimal results come from being fully present in the moment.”

Beyond his career, Dunn is committed to mentoring young professionals, especially students who, like him, may not initially be aware of the opportunities within the accounting field. He opened up on the Journal of Accountancy Podcast to highlight that a major point of ambition for him is to be a mentor.

“I go into high schools and talk to students who don’t even know what a CPA is. The profession found me, and I want to pay that forward,” he said. “It saved my life.”

Dunn also emphasized the importance of diversity in the field. “There’s a lot of talk about getting more diversity into the pipeline. I believe we have to start early—with awareness and access,” he stated.

For Dunn, lifelong learning remains essential. “I’m a student of everything I touch,” he said. “Even now, as a partner, I’m still learning every day. That mindset will take you far—no matter what path you choose.”

Dunn left Amato with a piece of advice to end the interview.

Dunn advised, “Be disciplined, solve problems, communicate well, and always be learning.”

Dunn’s hard work has been paying off in recent years. The former Jamaican sprinter was honored in 2024 by Forbes’ inaugural list as a member of the top 200 certified public accountants.

More recently, Dunn launched his first official website on July 1. The site showcases clips of his motivational speaking work, media appearances, and testimonials.

Through the site, organizations can book Dunn for both speaking events and breakout sessions.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLkVhkWMEB_/?igsh=NXI2OThkZzVzMHR5

Dunn wrote of the website launch, “This has been a divine project rooted in my mission to inspire, empower, and challenge individuals and organizations to push beyond limits and lead with purpose. Whether you’re planning a conference, corporate retreat, student event, or leadership summit – I’m here to deliver a message that moves people and drives action.”

RELATED CONTENT: Modern CPAs Need To Learn Strategy

College dorm, Move in, Undergrad, school, Dorm room, hbcu, Mizzou, Camp HBCYouth — (Photo: FVSU/Flickr)

by Kandiss Edwards

July 12, 2025

SpelHouse Alums Support The Next Generation With ‘Camp HBCYouth’

Spelman and Morehouse alums, Reagan Fresnel and Brian Wright, are introducing students to higher-ed through “Camp HBCYouth.”

HBCU alums are giving Atlanta campers an early taste of college life at an HBCU-led summer camp, Capital B Atlanta reported.

Camp HBCYouth was designed to spark interest in historically Black colleges and enhance academic skills. The program offers affordable access and “camperships” for underserved families, said Reagan Fresnel, founder and Spelman alum.

Fresnel recalled attending a summer program at Morgan State and wanting to bring that experience home. Along with Morehouse alum Brian Wright, that is exactly what she did.

“Only 5% of Black children attend summer camp, so we are carving out space for our students,” Fresnel said to Capital B Atlanta.

She described the camp as a pipeline into HBCUs. HBCYouth strives to instill college values like legacy, community, and excellence in students early in life. To that end, the camp currently serves elementary school students.

Camp counselors are current HBCU students or graduates. At a July 3 field day held at Morehouse’s football stadium, campers took part in tug-of-war, water games, and football training led by NFL cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. of the Falcons, sponsored by his foundation.

At the West End Spelman campus on July 9, elementary-aged girls painted a mural under the guidance of HBCU students. The camp integrates STEAM, Black history, wellness, sports, and academic enrichment aimed at preventing summer learning loss. Campers received lessons in budgeting, literacy, and tennis lessons licensed through a partnership with the USTA. Each site serves 60 to 70 children, and organizers say nearly 1,000 students have participated since the program began.

Lauren Reed, Camp HBCYouth’s director of marketing, said that hiring HBCU students provides younger campers with mentors who look like them and reflect college success.

“We want them to see people they can look up to,” she said. Spelman senior Skylar Sanford, working as a counselor, said she saw her role as mentorship and sharing joy.

Supported in part by Walmart and Amazon Access, Camp HBCYouth also offers meals to combat food insecurity and maintains a tuition of around $250 per week. Fresnel said the founders are exploring expansion to all HBCUs, extending programming from elementary to high school age to build a sustained pathway into college.

Founded in 2021 by Spelman alums Fresnel and Wright, Camp HBCYouth offers a seven-week day camp on four HBCU campuses—Spelman, Morehouse, Tennessee State, and Clark Atlanta.

Atlanta’s robust HBCU presence—driven by the Atlanta University Center, the nation’s largest HBCU consortium—provides a rich cultural backdrop for this initiative . Camp HBCYouth aims to reinforce that legacy and ensure Black youth have early exposure to environments that reflect their potential and aspirations.

Queen Latifah, vote, Kamala Harris — (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 12, 2025

Queen Latifah, Danielle Brooks, Fawn Weaver Named 2025 Honorary Members Of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

Queen Latifah has been announced as the newest Honorary Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. added a powerhouse group of Black women public figures to its 2025 Honorary Member class.

The newest Devastating Divas of DST were announced on July 9 at the organization’s 57th National Convention and include multifaceted award-winning actresses Queen Latifah and Danielle Brooks, business mavens Fawn Weaver, Janice Bryant Howroyd, and Toni Townes-Whitley, renowned political strategist and analyst Donna Brazile, and sports trailblazers Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Swintayla “Swin” Cash. With the new members spanning entertainment, business, education, politics, sports, and advocacy, they further strengthen Delta’s legacy of honoring women who exemplify excellence and drive impact on a national and global scale.

“This year’s class of Honorary Members represents a powerhouse group of barrier-breaking women across politics, entertainment, business, sports, and social impact,” Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. International President Elsie Cooke-Holmes said in a statement captured by Stock Titan.

“From a trailblazing political strategist to an acclaimed actress and vocalist, a legendary Olympic athlete to a pioneering tech executive, these women embody excellence, service, and the unwavering pursuit of justice and equity. Their collective influence spans boardrooms, stages, and grassroots movements — each one a force in her field and a reflection of Delta’s enduring mission.”

https://twitter.com/Holly_Lawson713/status/1943154021856129484

Honorary Membership is one of the highest honors bestowed by many Black sororities. For Delta Sigma Theta, it’s reserved for trailblazing women whose impactful work has made extraordinary contributions to society. Each honoree is carefully selected based on how well she embodies the Sorority’s core principles of Sisterhood, Scholarship, Service, and Social Action, as well as how her work aligns with Delta’s Five-Point Programmatic Thrust: economic development, educational development, international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health, and political awareness and involvement.

After announcing the sorority’s newest members, many members of the organization joined in welcoming the “phenomenal trailblazers into our beloved sisterhood with immense pride, joy, and unwavering sisterly love,” DST wrote in an Instagram post.

“The Honorary Members… another line of class & culture! Welcome to the sisterhood!❤️🤍,” one member wrote.

“We got the QUEEN! And Danielle and Fawn! ❤️ Oh to be a devastating DIVA of DST! 🔺🐘,” added another.