Iconoclast Dinner, Martha's Vineyard, Dr. Lezli Levene Harvell — photo credit: Dave Welch

by Sidnee Michelle

August 14, 2026

The Iconoclast ‘The King Is Dead.’ Dinner Experience Celebrates Women Chefs On Martha’s Vineyard

The dinner took place at The FARM Institute, a 162-acre working farm and educational center in Edgartown

The Iconoclast Dinner Experience returned to Martha’s Vineyard on Aug. 9 for the sixth annual “The King Is Dead.,” bringing chefs, winemakers, and cultural leaders together for an evening celebrating women in the culinary industry and the island’s agricultural community.

Presented by Target, the dinner took place at The FARM Institute, a 162-acre working farm and educational center in Edgartown, Massachusetts.

The farm-to-table experience challenged participating chefs to source ingredients from Martha’s Vineyard, placing sustainability, seasonality, and local agriculture at the center of the menu.

Chef Ting, culinary innovator and founder of Oak Bluffs-based Black Joy Kitchen, served as host chef. Chef Preston Clark, culinary director of Lure Fishbar and Bar Mercer in New York City, served as culinary chair.

Chefs-in-residence Monika Dominguez, chef de cuisine of Shiso in Miami, and India Doris, executive chef and co-owner of Markette in New York City, helped bring the dinner to life in addition to Chef Sahar Siddiqi and Chef Whitney Stancil. Jahdé Marley, portfolio manager for Zev Rovine Selections in New York, led the wine experience.

Internationally renowned painter Tschabalala Self served as honorary chair, extending the evening’s celebration of women beyond the culinary world and into the arts.

The dinner is part of a larger mission established by Dr. Lezli Levene Harvell, a board-certified pediatric dentist who founded The Iconoclast Dinner Experience 11 years ago to increase visibility for diverse culinary and beverage professionals.

“For seven years, this dinner has brought together rising female chefs and Martha’s Vineyard’s farming community to create a celebration of place, seasonality, and innovation,” Harvell said.

The experience also carries a philanthropic component. Net proceeds from Iconoclast Dinner Experience events support international students from Jamaica and sub-Saharan African countries attending Spelman College. Under Harvell’s leadership, the organization has raised more than $150,000 for international Spelman students.

On Martha’s Vineyard, that broader mission translated into an evening where food, farming, art, and philanthropy shared the same table.

Microschool, student, classroom, four-day. school week — (Photo: RDNE Stock project/Pexels)

by Sidnee Michelle

August 14, 2026

Dr. Cynthia Smith Builds A K-12 STEM School And It’s Tuition Free

Minds of the Future Academy became fully accredited in July.

Dr. Cynthia Smith is expanding access to STEM education and workforce training for students in Jacksonville, Florida, in the East Side neighborhood where she grew up, Afrotech reports.

Minds of the Future Academy, the tuition-free private K-12 STEM school Smith founded, became fully accredited July 17, according to the outlet. The milestone comes nearly a decade after Smith, a lifelong educator who spent 16 years in the public school system, launched the academy as a for-profit preschool in 2016.

In 2019, Smith expanded her vision into a K-12 school operating under the nonprofit Minds of the Future Foundation. The organization receives funding through Step Up For Students to help cover attendance costs.

“It was a big deal for me to open my school, my vision, in an area in which I grew up because I knew that I would be fully supported,” Smith told the outlet.

Smith said her goal was to give children access to specialized educational opportunities without the financial and admissions barriers families can encounter at other schools.

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In October 2025, Smith purchased a 28,000-square-foot facility, bringing the academy’s operations under one roof. The campus includes computer and STEM labs, podcasting and media production facilities, and a makerspace where students can design clothing.

Career preparation is also central to the curriculum. Students in kindergarten through fifth grade can take daily electives in coding, robotics, and visual arts. Middle and high school students can participate in workforce development programs covering artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, digital marketing, carpentry, cosmetology, graphic design, media production, CPR and first aid.

“We’re giving students an additional eight certification opportunities for them to be able to walk out of our doors and work immediately upon graduation,” Smith told the outlet.

The academy also provides arts programming and internships for juniors and seniors. Its community garden supplies students and their families with free produce on Fridays.

According to the publication, the academy has a 90% student retention rate and a 97% staff retention rate. Its staff has expanded from eight to 30 employees ahead of the new school year.

Smith is now seeking additional funding to expand the academy’s programs and continue creating educational and career opportunities for students in the Jacksonville community.

Rick Ross, EnSima Holdings, hometown, real estate — (Photo: Cassidy Sparrow/Getty Images for SpringHill)

by Sidnee Michelle

August 14, 2026

Rick Ross Slides Into Major Miami Gardens Real Estate Development

The Grammy-nominated rapper and entrepreneur has joined EnSima Technologies and EnSima Holdings as a partner.

Rick Ross is bringing his business ventures back to his hometown with a new role in a major real estate development planned for Miami Gardens, Complex reports.

The Grammy-nominated rapper and entrepreneur has joined EnSima Technologies and EnSima Holdings as a partner, according to a July 28 announcement from EnSima. EnSima Holdings is behind EnSima Miami I, a mixed-use development planned near Hard Rock Stadium.

The eight-story project is expected to include 670 residential units and about 165,000 square feet of retail space. Ross joins EnSima Founders Shalom Arik Maimon, Lior Suchard, David Shapiro, and Ali Yesil.

Italian design firm Pininfarina, which has a decades-long history of working with Ferrari, is overseeing the project’s design. TerraForm Development is expected to handle construction. Financial terms of Ross’ partnership have not been disclosed.

The venture has personal ties for Ross, who was raised in Carol City, a neighborhood in Miami Gardens. His involvement comes as he marks the 20th anniversary of his 2006 debut album, “Port of Miami.”

According to Complex, residences are expected to start at roughly $593 per square foot. One-bedroom residences, measuring about 650 square feet, start at approximately $450,000, while two-bedroom units of about 900 square feet start at roughly $580,000. Developers have not announced a construction start date. A sales office is expected to open in September.

The project expands the business portfolio Ross has built beyond his music career. He founded Maybach Music Group in 2009 and has operated Wingstop franchises through Boss Wings Enterprises. His other ventures include a partnership with Sovereign Brands and Slippery Soap, an automotive detailing brand sold at AutoZone stores.

Ross has also invested heavily in real estate. In 2023, he purchased a mansion on Star Island in Miami Beach.

Grambling State University — Photo credit: Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

by Sidnee Michelle

August 14, 2026

Grambling State Marching Band Stars In Urban Outfitters Campaign

The retailer released its "All Together Now" campaign featuring 76 students from more than 10 universities.

Six members of Grambling State University’s World Famed Tiger Marching Band are bringing HBCU culture to a national audience through Urban Outfitters’ first dedicated back-to-campus commercial, according to HBCU Gameday.

The retailer released its “All Together Now” campaign Aug. 11, featuring 76 students from more than 10 universities. Grambling State is the only historically Black college or university represented in the campaign, according to the outlet.

The Grambling students featured are Destiny Day, Raina Delee, Haylen Mallery, Dale Marshall Jr., Harmony West, and Jaylin Williams. Their academic disciplines include criminal justice, mass communication, sports administration, music education, history, and electrical engineering.

Filmed at Rutgers University’s SHI Stadium in New Jersey, the commercial features college students rather than professional actors. The cast includes musicians, dancers, student-athletes, and digital creators from universities across the country.

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The Grambling students appear alongside members of the UNLV Rebel Girls & Company, the San Diego State University Dance Team, and Rutgers University athletes and performers.

The national campaign comes during a milestone year for Grambling State and its renowned marching band. The university is celebrating its 125th anniversary, while the World Famed is marking its centennial.

“Opportunities like this allow our students to see where their talent, discipline, and preparation can take them beyond the traditional performance setting,” Nikole Roebuck, Grambling State’s director of bands, said in a university statement.

Marshall, a music education major and former head drum major, said participating in the campaign demonstrated how experiences gained through the World Famed can translate beyond the marching band.

“Being part of this campaign was another opportunity to see just how far the World Famed experience can take you,” Marshall said.

Urban Outfitters is extending the campaign beyond the commercial with an original track composed by Bryan Master. “All Together Now (UO Version)” is available as a standalone single and appears on the retailer’s Game Day playlist.

The song is also expected to play in Urban Outfitters stores nationwide throughout the college football season, extending the campaign’s reach as students return to campuses this fall.

AI, interviews, flexibility, AI agents, hiring process — Photo by VioletaStoimenova/Getty Images

by Sidnee Michelle

August 14, 2026

24% Of AI-Generated Job Interviews Go Down After-Hours

The shift highlights one potential advantage of automated interviews: flexibility.

Artificial intelligence is changing when and how Americans interview for jobs, with a growing number of candidates completing automated interviews late at night instead of during traditional business hours, WIRED reports.

About 24% of AI interviews conducted through recruiting software company Ribbon take place between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, according to company data. The figure rises to 35% among Ribbon’s manufacturing clients. More than 500 companies use the service.

Hiring platform Greenhouse is seeing a similar pattern. The company told WIRED that roughly 15% to 20% of candidates using its voice agent schedule interviews at night.

The shift highlights one potential advantage of automated interviews: flexibility. Parents, hourly employees, shift workers, and people who cannot leave their current jobs during the day can interview when their schedules allow.

“This is a genuinely new option for people,” Ribbon Co-Founder Arsham Ghahramani told the outlet, noting that some applicants have limited opportunities to interview during conventional working hours.

But job seekers remain wary of AI’s growing role in hiring.

Greenhouse’s 2026 Candidate AI Interview Report, which surveyed 2,950 active job seekers, found 63% had been interviewed by an AI agent. Thirty-eight percent of U.S. candidates said they had withdrawn from a hiring process because it included an AI interview, while another 12% said they would withdraw if one were required.

Transparency remains a major concern. Greenhouse found 70% of U.S. candidates were not clearly told before their interview that AI would evaluate them. Another 38% wanted confirmation that a person would review AI-generated results before employment decisions were made.
Research suggests automated interviews could also help some candidates advance.

A 2026 field experiment by researchers Brian Jabarian and Luca Henkel randomly assigned 70,000 job applicants to interviews conducted by either human recruiters or AI voice agents, according to WIRED. Applicants interviewed by AI were 12% more likely to receive job offers. Human recruiters evaluated interviews and made the hiring decisions in both groups.

The findings come as employers increasingly turn to AI to screen large applicant pools. While automated interviews can give workers greater control over when they interview, candidate resistance suggests employers also face pressure to clearly explain how the technology is being used and where humans remain involved in hiring decisions.

BLACK ENTERPRISE Is 56 Years Old: Our Tribute To The Visionary

by Derek Dingle

August 14, 2026

BLACK ENTERPRISE Is 56 Years Old: Our Tribute To The Visionary

In reading this special issue, readers discovered the story of a determined man prepared to win against the odds

“Lacking Capital, managerial and technical knowledge, and crippled by prejudice, the minority businessman has been effectively kept out of the American marketplace. We want to help change this.”

With that charge, BLACK ENTERPRISE hit the newsstands in August 1970.

That monthly publication evolved into a multimedia conglomerate that fueled the aspirations of generations of African American men and women.

For the 50^th Anniversary of BLACK ENTERPRISE, our editors fittingly celebrated the golden anniversary with a special salute to “The Visionary” — our late founder and publisher, Earl G. Graves, Sr.

In the issue, we wrote the following:

“He was a tireless change agent driven by a mission to make African Americans full participants in the economic mainstream as successful captains of industry, executives of immeasurable influence and multigenerational wealth builders. At the same time, he was the connector who served as the link between Black America and corporate America; he was our advocate who kept institutional leaders — whether they were the CEO of a major corporation or president of the United States — accountable for furthering access in any and all arenas of American society.”

His platform: BLACK ENTERPRISE. Throughout five decades, it served as a tool to record and guide every milestone tied to Black empowerment in this nation, while making history of its own with an array of franchises that drove Black advancement and the progression of the company.

In 1973, BE unveiled the Top 100 — an annual listing of the nation’s largest Black-owned companies — the annual barometer for Black business development, in its June issue
In 1986, the company established the Professional Networking Forums series, which served as its entree into the events space
in 1997, BE went digital with BlackEnterprise.com (originally called BE Online) as a destination on the World Wide Web for Black business news and resources
In 2000, BE launched the Black Wealth initiative to spur financial empowerment, home ownership, and stock market participation among African Americans
in 2003, the company made its first foray into television with the Black Business Report, which spawned a series of broadcast properties to provide other vehicles for business and financial information

These offerings and the evolution of others continued to meet the needs of different segments of the BE audience on the platforms of their choice.

On the pages of our special anniversary issue, the last regular print magazine, as well as the commemorative digital edition, we gave a full measure of the icon and the vehicle that inspired and uplifted millions of Blacks across the globe.

It was a deeply personal issue, sharing Earl Graves, Sr.’s amazing journey and his impact on business, corporate America, politics, and wealth creation through his own words; commentaries and remembrances of the nation’s most powerful business leaders; and a touching “Letter To My Dad” written by his son and the current CEO of BLACK ENTERPRISE, Earl “Butch” Graves, Jr., who offered reflections on his father’s leadership as well as his most important roles as a husband of 52 years to his best friend, closest confidant, and the love of his life, Barbara Graves; a demanding and supportive father to his three sons, Butch, Johnny, and Michael; and a loving grandfather to eight grandchildren. Butch Graves wrote the following about his father: “You met directly with more than eight presidents in your lifetime, yet were equally engaged with your interactions of everyday people. You were as excited to share our family Christmas card with the skycaps at American Airlines as you were with its CEO.”

In reading this special issue, readers discovered the story of a determined man prepared to win against the odds — and his drive to show legions of African Americans how to chart their own path to wealth, power, and success.

Nolan Wells (Photo Credit: Image provided by Jackson County Sheriff's Department)

by Sidnee Michelle

August 13, 2026

Nolan Wells’ Family Speaks To The National Association Of Black Journalists In Atlanta

The family is demanding a full federal investigation.

The family of 18-year-old Nolan Wells is calling for a federal review of the investigation into his death, more than a month after he disappeared during a Fourth of July boating trip in Mississippi, according to WLOX.

Wells’ parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, joined civil rights attorney Ben Crump, the Rev. Al Sharpton, and U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath on Aug. 13 at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Atlanta. The group discussed the case during a panel moderated by journalist Tiffany Cross before holding a news conference.

Wells was reported missing after he failed to return from a July 4 boating trip with friends. His body was found on July 6 in waters near Horn Island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast.

The Congressional Black Caucus is also seeking federal scrutiny. In a letter sent Aug.12, caucus Chair Yvette Clarke and other members urged Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel to launch an independent review. McBath said federal officials were given seven days to respond.

“We are demanding a full federal investigation,” McBath said. “We want to make sure that every stone is turned because his life matters.”

Wells’ parents have questioned the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and the authorities’ initial response. Christine Wonsley said she contacted multiple law enforcement agencies while trying to report her son missing, but was redirected because of jurisdictional questions.

An independent autopsy commissioned by the family classified Wells’ cause and manner of death as undetermined. The office of District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath has said the state autopsy report will be withheld until a grand jury reviews it.

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Crump’s team and the district attorney’s office have also discussed jointly examining Wells’ cellphone. Attorney Liza Park said the family’s forensic team is waiting for prosecutors to establish a time and location for the examination.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office told the outlet the investigation remains open and ongoing. Crump’s team is conducting a separate investigation.

“We want truth. We want transparency,” Crump said.

Sharpton said the family would accept the findings if the investigation provides clear answers.

“If the truth comes out and it is clear, then we will accept the truth,” Sharpton said. “That is all we are asking.”

Wells would have turned 19 on Aug. 19. His family plans to hold a national prayer rally that day at Greater St. John AME Church in Biloxi, Mississippi.

“We just want the truth,” Elmore Wonsley said. “We just want to know what any other parent would want to know.”

penny, pennies, Common Cents Act — photo credit: pexels

by Sidnee Michelle

August 13, 2026

Senate Passes ‘The Common Cents Act’ To End Penny Production

The goal is to revamp the nickel

The U.S. Senate has passed legislation that could formally end penny production, establish nationwide rules for rounding cash transactions, and eventually change how nickels are made, The Hill reports.

The Senate passed the Common Cents Act unanimously on Aug. 7. The House previously approved its own version of the legislation. The chambers must approve identical legislation before the measure can advance to President Donald Trump.

For consumers and businesses, the legislation could bring clarity to cash transactions as pennies become increasingly scarce. The bill would allow businesses to round cash purchases to the nearest five cents while leaving credit, debit, and other electronic transactions unchanged.

For example, a $19.82 cash purchase could be rounded down to $19.80, while a $19.83 purchase could be rounded up to $19.85.

The federal framework could also address inconsistencies created by state and local laws that restrict businesses from rounding transactions.

The legislation would formally end production of pennies for general circulation. The U.S. Mint produced its final circulating penny in 2025, although special collectible pennies were released in 2026 to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary. Existing pennies would remain legal tender.

The outlet reported that more than 300 billion pennies are estimated to remain in circulation or held by consumers.

The Common Cents Act also takes aim at the rising cost of producing nickels.

According to U.S. Mint figures cited by The Hill, producing a nickel cost 13.31 cents in fiscal year 2025, down from 13.78 cents in fiscal 2024. The nickel has cost more than its 5-cent face value to produce for 20 consecutive years.

Nickels are made primarily of copper, which has contributed to their elevated production costs. Under the legislation, the Treasury Department would be authorized to test a less expensive composition using zinc and nickel.

Any alternative would have to reduce production costs while creating minimal problems for vending machines and other equipment designed to accept coins.

The legislation would not eliminate the nickel. Both nickels and existing pennies would remain legal tender even if the measure becomes law.

CURLS, Mahisha Dellinger, Black Business Month — (Photo by Samson Katt: https://www.pexels.com/photo/positive-black-woman-with-curly-hair-near-green-plants-5255559/)

by Kenneth Meeks

August 13, 2026

Before Selling Her Business, Mahisha Dellinger Combed Out A Small Part Of An Estimated $4B Natural Haircare Industry

For Black Business Month, we celebrate a former mogul in the natural haircare industry.

Mahisha Dellinger is the founder and former CEO of CURLS Beauty Brands, a business BLACK ENTERPRISE has introduced to its audience many times since she started it more than 20 years ago. And as BE recognizes Black Business Month, we’re excerpting a Beyond the Hype episode featuring Dellinger, who talks about her entrepreneurial journey. No longer affiliated with the company she sold, Dellinger’s story is still a lesson for young entrepreneurs.

Mahisha Dellinger’s products have a journey of their own

Starting her business through e-commerce, Dellinger’s products have since appeared in major retail outlets such as Target, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, and Kroger’s. Her advice to young people wanting to take entrepreneurial ventures comes from her own experience. Go after something you’re passionate about. But do your due diligence to make sure what you think is a good business is actually a sustainable one.

Record-Breaking 31K People Hit Up ‘Invest Fest’ 2026 After Controversy With The City Of Atlanta

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

August 13, 2026

Record-Breaking 31K People Hit Up ‘Invest Fest’ 2026 After Controversy With The City Of Atlanta

Serena Williams and Mayor Andre Dickens Lead Cultural Wealth Summit

Invest Fest 2026 wrapped up its sixth annual conference at the Georgia World Congress Center, drawing a record-breaking crowd of more than 31,000 attendees, according to a post-event press release shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE. The numbers are impressive after public discourse around support from the city of Atlanta.

The three-day summit, which was founded by Earn Your Leisure Co-Founders Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings and Matt “The Mortgage Guy” Garland, transformed into a global convergence point for generational wealth, venture capital, artificial intelligence, and urban policy.

Invest Fest demonstrates how economic empowerment and Black entrepreneurship intersect with contemporary entertainment. Programming encompassed stock portfolios, real estate acquisition, estate planning, crypto assets, and AI deployment.

Serena Williams And Key Cultural Figures Transform Invest Fest 2026

Tennis titan and venture capitalist Serena Williams made history as the event’s first female headliner, shifting the convention’s scope toward institutional venture capital and generational wealth. Williams spoke on the sacrifice required for elite performance and emphasized that peak success demands singular focus, sparking extensive discourse across digital platforms.

Financial support was directly allocated to early-stage founders during the Invest Fest Pitch Competition, where industry figures including Dr. Paul Judge, Master P, La La Anthony, and Angela Simmons evaluated startups. Groundwork Health and Path Intelligence each secured $125,000, distributing $250,000 in direct seed capital to foster scalable financial education and tech enterprise. AI entrepreneur Alicia Lyttle showcased autonomous digital agents on stage, training attendees to utilize machine learning to scale financial education and business infrastructure.

The summit also recontextualized media success into long-term equity. Hip-hop icon T.I. detailed how his early corporate ownership decisions secured generational wealth for his family, while Porsha Williams shared how her venture, Go Naked Hair, establishes long-term autonomy beyond reality television.

Former Atlanta Mayor and Georgia gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms addressed civic equity, while TIAA President and CEO Thasunda Brown Duckett, BET President Louis Carr, and Morgan & Morgan Founder John Morgan provided executive insights on institutional leadership.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens And Earn Your Leisure Had An On-Stage Reconciliation

Prior to the event, a public debate emerged after Bilal and Millings questioned the degree of municipal backing provided by Atlanta during an appearance on The Breakfast Club. Mayor Andre Dickens addressed the critique publicly, sparking discussions regarding city engagement with minority-led enterprises.

The dispute reached a constructive resolution on Aug. 8 when Mayor Dickens joined the Earn Your Leisure founders on the main stage. Emphasizing the guiding ethos to “Build Bridges, Not Walls,” Dickens and the founders outlined strategic alignment for Invest Fest 2027, reframing public debate into a model for partnerships that advance financial education and economic development for Atlanta residents.