Dallas, Black dancers, union
by Ahsan Washington

January 9, 2026

Jump Into A Fitness Career With These Online Certificate Programs

The CPT programs enable individuals to work as entrepreneurs

Entering the fitness industry no longer requires physical travel to the traditional educational setting or classrooms. The rise of digital learning has created accessible online personal-training certification programs, which serve as popular entry points into the growing fitness industry. Online certification offers the perfect opportunity to enter the fitness industry, with its flexible nature and cost-effective approach, meeting the rising need for professionals who deliver online or hybrid fitness services. The CPT programs enable individuals to work as entrepreneurs or become employed in fitness centers and institutions. 

New professionals and wellness experts seeking expansion and lifestyle brand owners wanting additional income can now access fully online credentials from reputable organizations that meet industry standards. The following guide explores the top programs to help choose the best path for starting a modern fitness career.

International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)

The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) offers personal training certification programs recognized worldwide through its online, flexible learning platform. The Certified Personal Trainer program from ISSA includes educational materials such as an online textbook, video/audio lectures, quizzes, a final exam, and optional specialization courses, including nutrition training, CPR/AED certification, and job-support tools. Students can complete the course at their own pace, but certain packages offer accelerated “fast-track” options to finish sooner. ISSA provides affordable packages that deliver complete training content, including business and marketing education, that benefits trainers who operate independently. The standard online CPT courses cost approximately $868, and payment plans are available. 

American Council on Exercise

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) holds a strong reputation as a fitness professional certifying organization in the United States. The Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) program from ACE provides study resources, digital textbooks, and practice exams through an online platform that also administers the final exam. The NCCA accreditation of this program ensures broad recognition, enabling graduates to find work in national gym chains and as independent trainers. The price of ACE CPT packages ranges from $675 to $1,729, depending on the support level chosen.

National Academy of Sports Medicine 

The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) offers a highly regarded certification program for fitness professionals. The NASM CPT program allows students to choose between self-directed online study or premium support packages, which include extra training and tools. Students can begin the program whenever they want and finish the coursework at their own pace before taking the examination. All program components, including materials, lectures, quizzes, and exams, are delivered online through remote access. The strong reputation and science-based approach of NASM certification make it credible among gyms and employers.

American College of Sports Medicine 

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) is a leading professional organization in exercise science and fitness, which provides evidence-based credentials. Their CPT certification (ACSM-CPT®) includes an online prep course, resource books, interactive modules, practice exams, and a proctored final exam. The modules can be started at any time and finished at your individual pace. Beginning in 2025, exam and prep bundle pricing will be offered. The certification suits individuals who want to pursue clinical fitness, rehabilitation, or special populations training because it has a scientific basis and strong recognition from fitness and healthcare facilities. Prep bundles (exam + online course) range roughly $449–$609; non-member exam fee is $410.

RELATED CONTENT: Can’t Make It To The Gym? Get Fit With These Black-Owned Wellness Apps

OpenAI, chatgpt
by Sharelle B. McNair

January 9, 2026

OpenAI Wants To Be A Data Hub With ChatGPT Health

OpenAI’s CEO of Applications Fidji Simo labeled the application as “another step toward turning ChatGPT into a personal super-assistant that can support you with information and tools to achieve your goals across any part of your life.”

Since millions of people already ask ChatGPT question concerning their health, its parent company, OpenAI, has launched ChatGPT Health, Fortune reports. 

OpenAI’s CEO of Applications, Fidji Simo, announced the new product designed inside the popular chatbot that will connect medical records and wellness apps like Apple Health, Function, and MyFitnessPal securely in an effort to personalize conversations regarding healthcare concerns.

The company says it would not train models to collect personal medical data.

Simo shared how the application helped with a personal medical matter. After she was hospitalized for kidney stones and developed an infection, Simo was prescribed a basic antibiotic, but after she researched it against her medical history via ChatGPT, the medication was flagged. It could have reactivate a life-threatening infection she had years ago.

“The resident was relieved I spoke up, she told me she only has a few minutes per patient during rounds, and that health records aren’t organized in a way that makes it easy to see,” Simo said. “I’ve heard many stories like this from people who are using AI to help connect the dots in their healthcare system that really wasn’t built to see the full picture.”

She labeled the application as “another step toward turning ChatGPT into a personal super-assistant that can support you with information and tools to achieve your goals across any part of your life,” according to CNBC. In partnership with b.well, providing the connectivity infrastructure to allow users to share their medical records with ChatGPT Health, OpenAI says ChatGPT Health will host a dedicated space where files, conversations, and connected apps are separated from other chats, with the goal of replacing medical care. 

ChatGPT Health will start off by being available to a small group of users who will offer feedback and will expand in the coming weeks. 

While the company says ChatGPT Health was developed in “close collaboration” with physicians and other healthcare professionals, studies show AI is not as popular with patients.

As 2022 Pew Research Center poll revealed that 60% of patients aren’t too comfortable with AI diagnosing disease or recommending treatments. Stanford Health Policy research scholar Charlotte Haug expressed the need for AI to slow down and encouraged developers to lean on the standard protocols of scientific discovery. 

“Things are changing very fast and at the same time, things haven’t changed so much for patients—and I wish the patient view would be more prominent,” Haug said.

Patient care correlated to AI is a reason why other organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) are stepping in to make sure the equity gaps in healthcare are a focus. In late 2025, the civil rights group announced the ACE Your Health Initiative, designed to provide an “equity-first, human-centered approach” to healthcare service strengthened by AI, targeting underserved communities.

RELATED CONTENT: Trump Signs Executive Order Blocking States From Regulating AI

HBCU, essence classic
by Sharelle B. McNair

January 9, 2026

The Not-So-Shocking Reasons Why 60% Of High School Students Aren’t Considering HBCUs

Researchers found 61% of students had almost no familiarity with the institutions.

A heart-breaking survey from the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) has revealed that 60% of high school scholars aren’t aware of how attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) can be a gateway to their futures, AfroTech reports. 

The “Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges” study, which polled 150 high school students, teachers and school counselors from seven schools in the northeast, midwest and West coast, showed a staggering number of knowledge gaps when it comes to the benefit of HBCUs.

Researchers found 61% of students had almost no familiarity with the institutions that have bred Black icons such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Kamala Harris, and Rev. Jessie Jackson. 

Meanwhile, 67% of teachers and 60% of counselors were only somewhat aware. Even worse, 53% of surveyed students said school counselors never mentioned HBCUs as an option for them post graduation. 

For white and Hispanic students, 83% and 80% had little to no knowledge of HBCUs compared to close to half of Black students. The silver lining is that out of 58% of students who admitted to not knowing much, 14% expressed interest or planned to attend after guidance from teachers or counselors. 

Researchers recommend a number of improvements to close the gaps, including more exposure to HBCU scholarships and financial aid in addition to anti-bias training. Several institutions are known to send financial aid information directly to the schools and even collaborate on anti-bias training for staff teaching K-12.

Study co-author and UNCF’s director of K-12 research and advocacy, Dr. Meredith B.L. Anderson, feels it’s time for school leaders to step up as grade school is pivotal for college readiness.

“The pivotal role of K-12 schools in shaping students’ college aspirations and preparedness cannot be overstated,”  Anderson said. “Teachers and school counselors carry considerable influence in guiding students through the college application process.” 

While students are still encouraged to attend whatever school they want, HBCUs are known as providing more a stellar education and creating a vivid and robust sense of community for Black students and others well after they graduate.

An HBCU may be the best choice. If a student wants to be a doctor, enrolling in Xavier University of Louisiana and Prairie View A&M University in Texas makes sense as they rank among the 10 producers of Black doctors compared to all U.S. institutions, according to BET. 

As gaming has evolved from popular hobby to career, Benedict College now hosts an Esports gaming major, making the South Carolina-based HBCU the first to have the degree.

RELATED CONTENT: HBCU Grad Becomes First To Earn Mechatronics Engineering Degree At South Carolina State

Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Tackle ,Kevin Johnson, Killed, Los Angeles
by Kandiss Edwards

January 9, 2026

Atlanta Falcons Along With The Arthur Blank Foundation Invest In Female Footballers

The funding initiative is intended to help schools offset costs associated with starting or expanding girls flag football programs.

Every accredited high school in Georgia is eligible to apply for grant funding to support or launch girls’ flag football programs, according to an announcement from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and the Atlanta Falcons.

The funding initiative is intended to help schools offset costs associated with starting or expanding girls’ flag football programs. The grant will cover all costs associated with running the programs, including equipment, uniforms, and coaching resources. High schools statewide, both public and private, that meet eligibility requirements are can apply.

The owner of the Atlanta Falcons, Arthur Blank’s said the grants build on years of investment in girls flag football in Georgia. Participation in the sport has grown rapidly since it was first introduced at the high school level. According to the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), the foundation previously provided grant funding to hundreds of schools to help establish and sustain programs.

In a statement, Greg Beadles, president and chief executive officer of the Atlanta Falcons, said the organization is committed to expanding access to the sport for female athletes across the state.

“The growth, energy, and support for girls flag football in Georgia has been outstanding over the past several years and has provided a model to extend our support across the nation. . . Arthur Blank, his Family Foundation, and the Falcons recognize the importance of providing girls the opportunity to play the game. We are honored to continue our support for girls flag football through camps and clinics, our annual college showcase at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and this grant opportunity,” he said.

The state of Georgia sanctioned girls’ flag football as an official high school sport after a multi-year pilot program. The GHSA credited sustained support from the Blank Foundation and the Falcons with helping schools remove financial barriers to participation.

The grant program is only one of the ways the Blank family and the Falcons are attempting to increase access to sports for young people in Georgia. In December 2025, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation pledged more than $6.3 million to six metro Atlanta school districts to expand youth access to athletics, including flag football, soccer, and other programs. The funding is designated to help remove barriers to participation and support physical education. The following counties will see an infusion of funding in their physical education and sports programs: DeKalb, Clayton, Rockdale, Gwinnett, Griffin-Spalding, and Fulton.

RELATED CONTENT: Atlanta Falcons; AJ Terrell Jr. Announces Fundraiser At Mercedes-Benz Stadium

report, Blackness
by Kandiss Edwards

January 8, 2026

The North Has Something To Say: Urban Civil Rights Museum To Tell The Tale Of Northern Black Activism

The Urban Civil Rights Museum will be housed in the Urban League's Empowerment Center in Manhattan. 

A museum dedicated to the history of civil rights movements and its impact on Northern cities is set to open in Harlem this year.

The Urban Civil Rights Museum is being developed by the National Urban League and will be housed in its Empowerment Center on 125th Street in Manhattan. Occupying about 20,000 square feet of exhibition and programming space, the museum aims to educate visitors about how the struggle for racial justice shaped major urban centers.

The permanent exhibit will include stories of people and organizations central to the movement. 

The museum is being developed in partnership with Local Projects, a design and technology firm, to provide interactive installations, rotating exhibits, and public programs that explore topics including the Harlem Renaissance, the Great Migration, and Northern civil rights activism. It will also highlight the National Urban League’s work in advancing economic and social opportunities for Black Americans. 

“As a museum focused on social justice, we hope to connect and communicate with the people, communities, and initiatives that are interested or becoming interested in fighting for change,” Jennifer Scott, the museum’s director and chief curator, said in a statement. “The museum will be a place where one can see and feel the work of the many people who fought for justice in urban centers in the North and reflect on past civil rights efforts so that we can imagine and inspire new possibilities of collective action.”

Scott said the permanent installation will also attempt to answer questions about Black people in the North “pre-Civil War” and how they engaged with the concept of freedom when many were still enslaved.

The museum, expected to open in June 2026 to coincide with the organization’s 250th anniversary, will be the first in New York City dedicated specifically to the American civil rights movement with a focus on northern urban environments.

The Urban Civil Rights Museum will be part of the Urban League Empowerment Center, a recently opened headquarters and community hub that also includes affordable housing and space for minority-owned businesses. The National Urban League said the museum will serve as a resource for scholars, residents, and tourists, connecting local history with broader national stories of activism and change. 

RELATED CONTENT: Angola’s National Museum Of Slavery Aims To Unite The Diaspora

monks, Selma
by Jameelah Mullen

January 8, 2026

‘Your Soul Is on the Line’: Christian Protester Disrupts Monks’ Peace Walk In Georgia

What would Jesus do? Probably just mind his business.

A group of Buddhist monks is currently participating in a 2,300-mile “Walk for Peace,” which will go from Texas to the Nation’s capital. The peace-promoting trek has drawn massive crowds who come to witness the historic event and offer their support. But some Georgia-based Christians had a different agenda. 

As the monks made their way through Walton County, Georgia, an unidentified man appeared, holding a sign that included words and phrases such as “Drunkards, thieves, liars, homosexuals…. hell awaits you.”  

“You have to turn to Christ, he’s the only way,” the man stated in the clip of the incident that circulated on social media. 

One Walk For Peace participant responded that they were not promoting any religion during their walk. 

“If your peace is not rooted in Christ, then it’s false peace. You’re walking your way to hell, and I don’t want that for you,“ the protestor stated. 

“If we have to go to hell, that’s our choice,“  a monk-supporting onlooker declared. He then asked the monk if he thought that.

Onlookers supporting the monks defended the holy men and asked the unidentified man to step out of the monks’ path so they could continue their walk. 

“I wish you well,” the monk told the church-going protester. 

Social media users flooded the comment section to condemn the righteous protester for his actions. 

A lot of “Christians” would turn Jesus himself away if he didn’t fit what they think Jesus should be. The same folks they judge are the same people Jesus would have made community with, one commenter wrote on The Neighborhood Talks’ Instagram video depicting the incident. 

The monks started their 2,300-mile journey in Fort Worth, Texas, on Oct 26, making several stops along the way. They plan to walk through 10 states with additional stops. The walk will end in Washington, D.C., around Feb 13, where the monks plan to hold a peace rally. Visit the Walk For Peace Facebook page to follow their journey. 

RELATED CONTENT: Black Churches Can Apply For Grant To Preserve African American Heritage

OJ Simpson, Florida
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 8, 2026

O.J. Simpson Lawyer Sues Estate For $1.1M In Alleged Unpaid Legal Fees

Simpson died in April 2024.

A lawyer has sued the estate of O.J. Simpson, claiming that his former client owes him more than $1 million in unpaid legal fees.

Ronald P. Slates, a California-based creditor attorney, filed the lawsuit on Jan. 2 against Malcolm LaVergne, executor of Simpson’s estate, CBS Austin reports. The suit claims Slates represented Simpson in multiple matters, beginning in 2006, and accrued $1,147,373 in legal fees.

Simpson died at his Las Vegas home in April 2024. According to his family, the NFL legend who became one of the 1990s most scandalous figures after a long career as an actor and broadcaster, died of cancer. He was 76.

The complaint, which cites several 2021 receipts allegedly billed to Simpson, states that LaVergne was named executor of Simpson’s estate in 2024. By October 2025, the unpaid legal fees reportedly totaled $1,147,373.36.

According to Slates, when he filed a creditor’s claim on October 30, 2025, LaVergne rejected it just days later.

The lawsuit, filed last week in Clark County’s Eighth Judicial District Court, claims LaVergne breached a contract by not paying for services provided.

The case follows a high-profile November settlement in which Simpson’s estate agreed to pay Ron Goldman’s family $58 million, resolving a decades-old civil judgment holding Simpson liable for Goldman’s 1994 murder, for which he was acquitted in the now infamous criminal trial.

Fred Goldman, Ron Goldman’s father, won the civil judgment after initially seeking $117 million from Simpson’s estate. But with Simpson’s death and the estate valued between $400,000 and $500,000, collecting the full amount was always unlikely.

LaVergne, the estate’s executor, had said he did not want any of the estate’s funds going to the Goldman family.

RELATED CONTENT: Cam’Ron Pays Homage To OJ Simpson Amid Ongoing Criticism

Amazon, robots, workers
by Kandiss Edwards

January 8, 2026

Amazon To Invest $800K Into AI Training For Teachers And Students

The initiative includes support for the White House Presidential AI Challenge, a national effort designed to encourage students, educators, and community teams to apply AI to real-world problems. 

Amazon, the online retail giant, is expanding its efforts in order to give K-12 students and educators hands-on experience learning artificial intelligence (AI).

At the CES 2026 tech conference in Las Vegas, Ben Moskovich, senior manager of public policy at Amazon Web Services, said the company aims to train 4 million learners. The goal: prepare 10,000 educators with AI-ready curricula by 2028.

The initiative includes support for the White House Presidential AI Challenge, a national effort designed to encourage students, educators, and community teams to apply AI to real-world problems. 

The Amazon program is backed by $800,000 in investment through a partnership with education nonprofit PlayLab, which will help deliver AI tools and training across 18 education partners in seven U.S. regions. That expanded support will reach nearly 500,000 students, according to a recent announcement.

Moskovich said at CES that Amazon and PlayLab recently held a two-day workshop in Washington, D.C., bringing together about 60 middle and high school students to build AI-powered mobile applications and brainstorm future project ideas for the Presidential AI Challenge. Many participating students had limited or no previous experience with AI prior to the event, Moskovich said. 

The expanded AI education program is meant to integrate AI learning tools directly into classroom environments, giving educators the support and resources needed to incorporate artificial intelligence into traditional lesson plans. Schools participating in the program receive custom AI tools and access to professional development so teachers can help students design and test AI-based solutions to real-world challenges. 

Education officials and technology advocates say equipping young learners with AI skills may help prepare students for future careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and close gaps in access to emerging technologies across school districts. 

RELATED CONTENT: North Carolina Central University Launches 1st Of Its Kind Artificial Intelligence Institute

Ghana President, Reparations, UN
by Ahsan Washington

January 8, 2026

9 Ghanaian Business Leaders You Need To Know

A demonstration of Ghana's expanding economic power

The future of West African business depends on Ghana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, which is driven by founders who establish legacy companies while transforming traditional industries and developing global connections from local innovations. The 9 Ghanaian business owners who lead media, manufacturing, fintech, agribusiness, and tech education sectors demonstrate how vision, resilience, and strategic leadership transform economic growth while redefining African-led enterprise globally. 

They demonstrate Ghana’s expanding economic power across Africa, as the country establishes itself as a continental center for investment, innovation, and talent. These individuals form a diverse group of Ghana’s top dealmakers, builders, and changemakers who are essential to know now.

Osei Kwame Despite

The CEO of Despite Group of Companies, Osei Kwame Despite, manages a media, manufacturing, and retail conglomerate that includes utility terrain vehicles (UTV), Peace FM, Okay FM, Neat FM, and Hello FM in Ghana. Despite having operated since the 1990s and having received the Africa Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2021.

Richard Nii Armah Quaye

The business world has received important contributions from entrepreneur and investor Richard Nii Armah Quaye. In 2009, Quaye founded Bills Micro Credit at Jamestown, in the Greater Accra Region, before converting it into Quick Angels Limited in 2019. Quick Angels Limited delivers support services to startups and small-to-medium enterprises. Quaye led the company to expand its philanthropic food-security initiatives in 2025. Quaye has been essential for Ghanaian investment practice development while speeding up business growth and aiding new enterprises.

Anthony Dzamefe

The founder of Caveman Watches, Anthony Dzamefe, established a luxury watch brand that expanded from street-level sales to nationwide fame. Dzamefe started his business journey in 2015 by selling watches at age 22 after growing up in Ghana’s Volta Region. Caveman Watches started its official operations in 2018 and now serves customers in Accra and other locations. Dzamefe achieved remarkable success, which made him one of Ghana’s youngest iconic entrepreneurs, while his creative branding earned worldwide recognition.

Ernest Ofori Sarpong

Ernest Ofori Sarpong established Special Ice Company Limited to manage his manufacturing, water production, salt mining, finance, and media businesses. Through his leadership of UTV and other enterprises, Sarpong developed local brands that earned respect throughout Ghana while generating thousands of jobs and expanding the nation’s industrial sectors.

Foster Awintiti Akugri

Through the Hacklab Foundation, Foster Awintiti Akugri leads youth education and innovation through tech training and job creation programs in Ghana. Akugri received recognition as one of the most influential Ghanaian entrepreneurs under 40 in 2025, due to his work to create inclusive tech development for Ghana’s digital economy.

Regina Honu

Regina Honu established Soronko Academy as the first coding and human-centered design school for youth in West Africa. Honu’s work received global recognition from BBC 100 Women for breaking barriers in STEM and empowering future innovators.

Nii Osae Osae Dade 

Nii Osae Osae Dade is a fintech and blockchain founder who creates financial inclusion solutions for Africa through his work with Mazzuma and Utopia Technologies. Dade operates from Ghana, yet maintains a worldwide reach in fintech. Forbes recognized Dade as part of the 30 Under 30 Africa list. Through his innovative financial-technology approach, Dade creates solutions that can transform the lives of millions.

Alloysius Attah

The traditional farming methods are being transformed by digital tools through Farmerline founder, Alloysius Attah, who is a tech leader. Through his role as CEO, Attah delivers agricultural services to smallholder farmers in Ghana and West Africa by providing them with weather alerts and financing options, and market access. Attah received multiple awards for his leadership, including a spot on Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 because of his work to create economic sustainability in agriculture.

Khadija Serwaah Owusu

Khadija Serwaah Owusu leads the AKAYA Foundation as its founder and CEO. AKAYA creates mentorship and leadership development programs for young women in Ghana and beyond. Owusu appears in Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 in 2025, as a female empowerment champion who creates more opportunities for future women leaders.

RELATED CONTENT: Ghana’s Move To Pivot From ‘Detty December’ To Heritage Tourism

Bank of America, employee, disabled client
by Jameelah Mullen

January 8, 2026

Feds Charge Second  Georgia Lawmaker With Fraudulently Receiving COVID-19 Employment Benefits       

Karen Bennett announced her retirement from office days ahead of indictment.

A former Georgia lawmaker is accused of lying to receive $13,940 in federal unemployment benefits during the pandemic. On Jan. 5, federal prosecutors filed charges against Karen Bennett, alleging she made false statements to obtain the benefits. Bennett served as Georgia State representative for District 94.  

Bennett waived indictment, pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was released on $10,000 bail after a Jan. 5 court appearance. Waiving indictment means a defendant gives up their right to a grand jury review for a felony, which allows the U.S. Attorney to file charges through  “information.” In federal court, waiving indictment often results in a defendant pleading guilty.

According to prosecutors, Bennett, a physical therapist, stated that COVID-19 quarantine mandates prevented her from working at Metro Therapy Providers, which she owns. However, they allege the business continued to operate and generate income, aside from a brief closure.

Additionally, prosecutors say Bennett failed to disclose that she was also receiving $905 in weekly pay from a church where she served as a minister. 

Since 2013, Bennett has served as Georgia State representative for District 94, which covers parts of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties in suburban Atlanta. The Democrat resigned from the House effective Jan. 1. 

Bennett is the second House member to be charged with falsely collecting unemployment assistance during the pandemic. Rep. Sharon Henderson was indicted in December 2025 on charges of theft of government funds, and Henderson is accused of illegally receiving $17,811 in unemployment benefits. Henderson was released on bail and currently remains in office.

Following Henderson’s arrest, U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg said that other Georgia state House members were being investigated. It’s unclear if more lawmakers will face charges.

Georgia lawmakers will return to session on Monday, Jan 12, with two fewer members. Democratic state Rep. Lynn Heffner of Augusta resigned on Jan 5. Heffner said her resignation was due to a potential residency conflict. The lawmaker noted her home suffered structural damage from Hurricane Helene in 2024, she was involved in the rebuilding process, and it has reached an “impasse,” leaving her unsure if she could maintain residency in House District 130, which she represents. 

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