by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 6, 2026

Southern Black Girls Invests Over $1.2M In 2025 With Historic Black Girl Joy Challenge

The Southern Black Girls movement heads into 2026 strong, having invested over $1 million in Southern organizations and small businesses.

The Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium hit a major milestone in 2025, investing more than $1 million to support over 60 organizations and 25+ small businesses across 13 Southern states.

The Selma-based organization made $1.2 million in investments through its Black Girls Dream Fund, Innovation Fund, and Black Girls Defense Fund to support diverse organizations at a time when funding for racial and gender equity initiatives faces nationwide rollbacks, according to a press release. Adding to the milestone, Southern Black Girls awarded its 1,000th Black Girl Joy Challenge grant in 2025, a program that gives girls ages 13–24 funds to create joy in their communities.

“This year proved that even in difficult times, investing in organizations that center Black girls and women is an act of resistance, imagination, and faith in the future,” said Chanceé Lundy, executive director of Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium.

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A post shared by Southern Black Girls (@southernblackgirls)

Lundy entered 2025 at full speed — her first full year as leader and a full-circle moment with Founder LaTosha Brown, who mentored her as a 14-year-old in a Selma youth program more than 30 years ago. Their intergenerational connection reflects the Consortium’s mission to invest in organizations that uplift Black girls and women.

“As this year comes to a close, I’m reminded that even when the road is rough, we are still holding on,” Lundy shared in a recent letter to supporters. “Even under pressure, we showed up, expanded our giving, and stayed intentional about meeting this moment.”

In June 2025, Southern Black Girls hosted over 1,300 Black girls and women in Atlanta for the Black Girls Dream Conference, themed ‘She Got Next.’ The two-day event featured 80 workshops on STEAM, mental health, financial empowerment, and social justice. The organization’s support for Black women entrepreneurs also paid off, with Crystal Chisholm, founder of The Oyster Journal, receiving mentorship and funding through its Dream Investment Program.

“When I first launched my app, I built it myself, but I had technical limitations,” Chisholm said. “This grant allowed me to hire a contractor to add premium features that will generate revenue for the first time. This marks our shift from building community to creating financial sustainability.”

RELATED CONTENT: Black Joy Festival

WORKPLACE, Bullying, return to office, RTO

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 6, 2026

How RTO Went From Being About ‘Where’ To ‘When’ For Employees

Flexibility is the name of the game.

Employees have changed the ever-evolving “return to office” (RTO) narrative from not being about where to work but when, causing employers to step up their management game, Fortune reports.

Data from commercial real-estate company JLL’s Workforce Preference Barometer 2025 revealed employees have no problem with RTO, but more so with the amount of time required. The change highlights the shift between employee priorities, with work–life balance take precedent over salary.

Sixty-five percent of survey respondents, in comparison to 59% in 2022, have employees seeking “management of time over place” but only 49% of workers have the luxury of flexible hours.

Management expert and New York University professor Suzy Welch warns the RTO shift will challenge employers to find a cure to continuous burnout.

“We believed that if you worked hard, you were rewarded for it. And so this is the disconnect,” she said. “Gen Z thinks, ‘Yeah, I watched what happened to my parents’ career, and I watched what happened to my older sister’s career, and they worked very hard, and they still got laid off.’”

Between Welch and JLL, the closing argument is that there is no need to give up too much time because employees won’t get anything in return.

There is a name for those fighting against returning to the cubicle: “non-compliers”.

Data describe them as being between ages 30 and 34, living in North America, and holding managerial roles. JLL said the group’s stance is driven by personal constraints over simply not wanting to be in the office. Since many are caregivers who feel constraints are “poorly understood and supported at work,” they do what’s best for them.

“Their non-compliance is less a rejection than a calculated decision based on their sense of empowerment,” the study reported.

Globally and stateside, employer have seen pushback from forced RTO. Media conglomerate Paramount received a massive number of resignations in November 2025 after the company announced plans to bring staffers back in person to the office five days a week.

Anthony Joshua, Nigeria, car crash, Boxer,

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 5, 2026

Anthony Joshua Speaks After Fatal Car Crash In Nigeria, Driver Charged With Reckless Driving

Anthony Joshua paid tribute to his friends and former team members on Instagram.

Boxing champion Anthony Joshua has spoken out for the first time since surviving a car crash on Nigeria’s Lagos-Ibadan Expressway that killed team members Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele.

On Jan. 4, Joshua shared a solemn Instagram post featuring two intimate photos of him mourning with Ghami and Ayodele’s families. One photo shows Joshua sitting with his mother and the families as a relative holds a framed photo of Ghami.

“My Brothers Keeper ❤️🪖❤️,” Joshua captioned the post.

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Adenyi Mobalaji Kayode, 46, was charged Jan. 2 with reckless and dangerous driving. Kayode drove the Lexus SUV involved in the crash that left him and Joshua with minor injuries and killed Ghami and Ayodele.

Kayode reportedly did not have a valid driver’s license at the time of the crash on one of Nigeria’s deadliest roads. The revelation came during his Jan. 2 hearing at Sagamu High Court, where Kayode denied all charges, including dangerous driving.

Kayode, who worked for Joshua for three years, pleaded not guilty, claiming the car’s brakes failed. As family members looked on, he was granted bail and escorted to Sagamu Correctional Centre to complete paperwork.

A police spokesperson confirmed that Kayode was charged with reckless and dangerous driving causing death, driving without a valid license, and driving without due care, resulting in bodily harm and property damage. He was granted bail of five million naira ($3,500), but will remain in custody until the conditions are met.

Joshua, who had traveled to Nigeria for a holiday following his knockout win over Jake Paul last month, discussed the crash ahead of attending the funeral for Ghami and Ayodele at London’s Regents Park Mosque on Jan. 4.

They spent their lives together and died together, today the coffins were side by side as the Janaza (funeral prayers) were said for Sina Ghami and Latif 'Latz' Ayodele the beloved friends of #AnthonyJoshua at London Regents Park Mosque. @anthonyjoshua attended to pay tribute… pic.twitter.com/7iV6DJpGb1
— Dr. Burour (@IbrahimBurour) January 4, 2026

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

January 5, 2026

Black-Owned Flight School In Metro Atlanta Pledges $1 Million To Train 1,000 Diverse Pilots

With a shrinking talent pool for pilots, Lookup Flight Academy hopes to fill the gap with diverse applicants.

A Black-owned flight school in Metro Atlanta has pledged a million dollars to get more diverse pilots in the air.

Owned by Michael Ojo, Lookup Flight Academy is Gwinnett County’s first Black-owned flight school. Started in 2023, Ojo’s mission remains the same: to train and inspire pilots to take flight.

Now, this mission has grown even stronger in the new year. Ojo has announced a million-dollar scholarship program for aspiring pilots to join the academy and earn their licenses. For him, breaking down this monetary barrier is one way to get more people into an industry that has historically looked one way.

“When you don’t see someone who looks like you in a pilot uniform, chances are you’re not even thinking about it,” Ojo said to WSB-TV.

Given Lookup Flight Academy’s recent Part 141 certification, the federal recognition also opens more grant and financial aid opportunities for prospective students. Through its nonprofit funding, this money can go toward scholarships, especially for pilots of color.

“It’s about ending the generational cycle of poverty that plagues Black and brown communities,” added Ojo.

These scholarships will tremendously help train pilots from underserved backgrounds. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, nonwhite pilots remain scarce. For Black people specifically, those working in the commercial airline industry account for 5% of all working pilots.

The million-dollar pledge will spread across the next two decades, offering a lucrative and exciting career pathway for generations to come. One student, Troi Miller, has already taken advantage of this opportunity. Her entrance into flight school is especially relevant, as gender disparities remain relevant. According to figures listed by Women in Aviation International, women represent 10% of all commercial pilots.

While the barriers persist, Miller refuses to let the glass ceiling hold her back. As others join her cohort at Lookup Flight Academy, she hopes to lead the charge for women of color guiding the skies.

“The sky knows no colors,” Miller said. “It shouldn’t have any limitations.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 5, 2026

BLACK ENTERPRISE Women Of Power Summit 2026 Marks 20 Years Of Honoring Executive Women Of Color

Registration is now open for the BLACK ENTERPRISE 2026 Women of Power Summit, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary.

BLACK ENTERPRISE will celebrate 20 years of honoring executive women of color and empowering attendees at the 2026 Women of Power Summit.

Taking place March 11–15 at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, the 2026 Women of Power Summit will continue its legacy of bringing together Black women leaders for four days of inspiration, connection, and empowerment. From keynote talks and fireside chats to panel discussions, executive and financial coaching, and evening entertainment, the summit remains a cornerstone experience for professional women across every industry.

With the 2026 summit marking the event’s 20th anniversary, attendees can expect an especially meaningful experience focused on sisterhood, community, and professional growth. Last year, more than 1,800 women gathered for the Women of Power Summit, where trailblazers like Jemele Hill, Melba Moore, Monique Rodriguez, and Valerie Jarrett were celebrated, among others, as Legacy and Luminary honorees.

Attendees walked away with powerful insights on advancing their careers through sessions on leading with authority, securing corporate board seats, and addressing woman-to-woman bias in the workplace. Professional bootcamps further equipped women with tools in such categories as AI, branding, and skill-building.

“This summit is more than a conference—it’s an engine for empowerment,” Earl “Butch” Graves Jr., CEO of BLACK ENTERPRISE, said ahead of the 2025 Summit. “At a time when leadership and career advancement are top priorities in corporate spaces, the Women of Power Summit provides a critical platform for Black women to connect, strategize, and elevate their careers.”

Amid federal cutbacks, DEI rollbacks, and growing pushback against programs that support diverse leaders, the 2026 Women of Power Summit arrives at a critical moment. Continuing its legacy of offering career-shaping mentorship, networking, and leadership development tailored for Black women in corporate spaces, this year’s summit will feature new candid fireside chats, impactful executive coaching, boardroom-readiness sessions, and industry-focused panels made to ensure attendees leave with actionable strategies and powerful connections at a time when they matter most.

Registration for the 2026 Women of Power Summit is now open and available HERE.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 5, 2026

Investigator Says Murder Suspect D4vid Also Had An Unused Chainsaw In His Home

The news comes after Steve Fisher revealed a "burn cage" incinerator was also found.

Over two weeks ago, private investigator Steve Fischer disclosed on social media that a “burn cage” was discovered at the rental home of recording artist D4vd. Fischer recently revealed that a chainsaw was also found.

During a late December appearance on NewsNation, the private investigator said the chainsaw was brand new and unused, and questioned why either of those items would be in the residence.

According to Complex, Fischer was hired by D4vd’s landlord, Mladen Trifunovic, to search the Hollywood Hills home. Trifunovic hired Fischer because he had not received any updates from the Los Angeles Police Department regarding its search of the home before they named D4vid a suspect in the killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

Hernandez’s dismembered remains were found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to D4vd (real name: David Anthony Burke) on Sept. 8.

On NewsNation’s Branfield, Fischer said, that since the chainsaw and the incinerator were not used, “it could go to show some intent of what this plan was, because whatever happened here, like, this was, it was no finalized plan, you know?”

He said that operating a chainsaw requires some training and that D4vid is not responsible for the residence’s upkeep that would require a chainsaw or a burn cavity.

“So what is the purpose?” he said. “And then when you couple it with, not just the incinerator, but now a deceased, 14-year-old in a Tesla that’s been parked at that property, it becomes really troubling. Hopefully, there’s gonna be some justice here soon.”

TMZ reported that D4vid would most likely be indicted in connection with Hernandez’s murder.

Indiana Hospital ,Mother, Birth In Truck

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 5, 2026

Black Maternal Health Advocate Dr. Janell Green Smith Dies After Giving Birth

Only in her 30s, Green Smith was known as the “Loc’d” Midwife,” working with the nonprofit organization and app, Hive Impact Fund, serving as a robust resource during Black Maternal Health Week.

The healthcare industry is mourning the loss of South Carolina midwife and highly respected advocate of Black maternal health, Dr. Janell Green Smith, who died from childbirth complications shortly after 2026 began, The Grio reports.

Only in her 30s, Green Smith was known as the “Loc’d Midwife” and worked with the nonprofit organization and app, Hive Impact Fund, serving as a robust resource during Black Maternal Health Week. In a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of $80,000, the fundraiser says donations “will help provide stability, relief, and care during a time when the family needs it most” as her husband, Daiquan, and newborn grieve such a devastating loss. “Every kind gesture, word, donation, and prayer is deeply felt and appreciated more than we can express,” the campaign reads.

In an April 2024 Instagram post, Green Smith discussed the importance of midwifery care, especially for Black women, and what brought her to practice. She provided the statistic that Black women are three times more likely to die in pregnancy and childbirth than any other race. “In hearing these alarming statistics, I wanted to do something about it. I wanted to be a part of the solution and step into a role as the provider that would listen to my patients when they were in pain,” she said.

“I wanted to be the provider that would answer the questions and that will go above and beyond to allow my patients to feel comfortable in their journey of pregnancy and in labor.”

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A post shared by Hive Impact Fund (@hiveimpactfund)

The discussion of Black maternal health and having a midwife has been at the forefront for Black women for decades, but it seems like heightened advocacy sparked a recent decline in deaths. Data from the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health revealed that fatalities decreased from 817 in 2022 in comparison to 669 in 2023. Unfortunately, research that would seemingly keep these numbers from climbing was cut short by the Trump administration.

In March 2025, a $2.4 million grant for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was cut, with officials claiming that priorities were being shifted — and research would not significantly increase life expectancy. Epidemiologist Jaime Slaughter-Acey said the grant’s termination, which would follow over 500 Black women in Detroit, was “heartbreaking and, honestly, infuriating given the high rates of maternal and infant mortality in this country.”

The work conducted by Green Smith was praised over the years by industry leaders and nonprofit organizations such as the American College of Nurse-Midwives. The group labeled her loss as “the persistent and well-documented reality that Black women—regardless of education, income, or professional expertise—face disproportionate risks during pregnancy and childbirth due to systemic racism and failures in care.”

“We grieve Dr. Smith’s loss and recognize it as a profound failure of the systems meant to protect birthing people. In her honor, ACNM commits not only to reaffirming our values, but to intensifying our actions to dismantle racial inequities in maternal health, strengthen accountability in care systems, and work alongside Black midwives, clinicians, and communities to prevent future tragedies,” the group said in an Instagram post.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 5, 2026

Atlanta Falcons Fire Head Coach Raheem Morris, General Manager Terry Fontenot

'I have great personal affinity for both Raheem and Terry and appreciate their hard work and dedication to the Falcons, but I believe we need new leadership in these roles moving forward,' said Falcons' Owner and Chairman, Arthur M. Blank

“Black Monday,” coined as the day when NFL teams fire coaches a day after the regular season ends, got an early start with the termination of Atlanta Falcons’ head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot just hours after the team finished the season on a four-game winning streak on Jan. 4.

The Falcons announced the personnel move after the team’s 19-17 victory over the New Orleans Saints. The team finished 8-9 (the Falcons had the same record last season), missing the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season. The franchise’s previous playoff appearance was in the 2017-2018 season.

After both men met with the Falcons’ Owner and Chairman Arthur M. Blank, they were informed that their employment with the team had ended.

Blank issued a written statement after the terminations.

“I have great personal affinity for both Raheem and Terry and appreciate their hard work and dedication to the Falcons, but I believe we need new leadership in these roles moving forward,” said Blank. “The decision to move away from people who represent the organization so well and have a shared commitment to the values that are important to the organization is not an easy one, but the results on the field have not met our expectations or those of our fans and leadership. I wish Raheem and Terry the absolute best in their future pursuits.”

Head Coach Raheem Morris and General Manager Terry Fontenot have been dismissed from their roles https://t.co/qW5yA3PxdY pic.twitter.com/kcMOUOjfeT
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) January 5, 2026

Fontenot joined the franchise in 2021 and named Morris the head coach after the 2023 season. In the 2020 season, Morris served as interim head coach for 11 games, with a 4-7 record. As head coach over the past two seasons, he posted a 16-18 record, bringing his overall head-coach record to 20-35. Meanwhile, over five seasons as general manager, Fontenot’s record stood at 37-48. The Falcons did not make the playoffs with both men at the helm.

The New York Post reported that Morris, a New Jersey native, started his coaching career at Hofstra University before getting the opportunity to join the Falcons staff.

The team stated that ZRG Partners will assist with the search for the next head coach, while Sportsology Group will take on the search for a general manager.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

January 5, 2026

Shanice Talks ‘Dream Come True’ Of Playing Michelle Obama In ’44’ The Musical

Shanice has played Mrs. Obama since the show's debut in 2022.

Shanice is entering her own renaissance era with new stages and singles on her horizon.

The 90s singer known for her hit track “I Love Your Smile” has delighted fans with her starring role in 44 the musical. She’s put her five-octave vocal range to good use in the play, allowing her long-time singing prowess to shine in this new arena. The opportunity to star as Michelle Obama in the satirical musical by Eli Bauman has Shanice back in the spotlight.

The musical, which had runs in Chicago, Los Angeles, and off-Broadway, has garnered positive reviews within the theater scene. The show reflects on the former President’s two-terms in office from a light-hearted perspective, allowing audiences to reminisce on the historic milestone. The musical’s song selection also allows Shanice to show off her R&B background and future.

The singer spoke to BLACK ENTERPRISE‘s Director of Multiplatform Content, Selena Hill, on what it means take on this role in today’s political climate, while also charting her new course in music.

Since its debut in November 2022, Shanice has taken on the role of First Lady Michelle Obama, staying on throughout its entire production history. She touched on how it shocked audiences with its dynamic storytelling, bringing light amid a dark time.

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“It’s hilarious. When I tell you, I think people don’t realize how funny it is. When you hear of a story about Barack Obama, you think it’s going to be all serious. But when I tell you, if you want to get out and laugh and have a good time. 44 is the place to be,” she told BE.

The Grammy nominee continued,” And I know I have a lot of people tell me after the show, you know, I just felt so heavy coming into this beforehand, because what I’m seeing on social media and the news, it’s a lot of heaviness going on in the world. And when you come to our show, you’re gonna feel like just joy.”

She called the opportunity to play Mrs. Obama a “dream come true,” allowing herself to recognize the similarities as women in the spotlight. Married to actor Flex Washington for 25 years, Shanice feels deeply connected to Obama as a fellow public figure and Black woman, albeit in different realms.

However, Shanice is still hip on what’s going on in the evolving music industry. Although she got her rise in a different era, the 52-year-old misses the old ways, but appreciates how social media can deepen the fan-artist relationship.

“I think there’s a lot of great talent out right now. I love social media because we get to connect like, directly. The thing that I miss is people having to go to the record store to buy the CDs, read the credits and look at the artwork . . . Now people are just downloading things, you know, online. But I do love media, and we have Instagram and Facebook and YouTube and all that, because I can connect with my fans, like on a personal level. And back in the 90s, we couldn’t do that.”

Being a 90s R&B star has its perks, and Shanice notes that AI could disrupt many emerging music careers today.

She continued, “I’m so thankful that I got to experience the industry in the 90s, and I got to release my music in the 90s . . . I feel like the AI is gonna stop a lot of people from working, like the producers and the writers. It’s kind of unfair, but I know that’s where everything is going.”

While cautious about the state of the industry from politics to entertainment, Shanice still aims to do what she has done best for decades, performing for her fans. With a Christmas movie already streaming on BET Plus, as well as a holiday single titled “Love At Christmas Time,” Shanice continues to make her mark in this new era of the arts.

Sean Combs, ‘Reckoning’ Doc, Abuse Claims, Slap Story, Janice Combs,

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 5, 2026

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Takes $61.5 Million LA Mansion Off The Market

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has taken his $61.5 million Beverly Hills mansion off the market while he remains in prison.

As Sean “Diddy” Combs serves a 50-month federal sentence on prostitution-related charges, the embattled music mogul has reportedly taken his $61.5 million Los Angeles mansion off the market.

Property records show the sprawling Beverly Hills estate was taken off the market on Dec. 24, just two months after Combs received a four-year sentence for transporting individuals for prostitution, Realtor.com reports. The mansion is the same property tied to allegations of Combs’ alleged “freak off” parties, which made it a focus of a 2024 Homeland Security raid as part of a sex-trafficking investigation.

The 17,000-square-foot estate sits inside the ultra-exclusive, gated enclave of Holmby Hills, with A-list neighbors reportedly including Kylie Jenner and Combs’ ex-girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez. Built in 1933, the residence features 10 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, and luxury amenities, including a 35-seat theater, library, wine cellar, gym, and indoor sauna.

The original listing made no mention of its scandal-filled ties to Combs or reports that investigators previously searched the property and allegedly recovered weapons, sex toys, drugs, and dozens of bottles of baby oil. The home first hit the market in September 2024, just days before Combs was arrested in New York on sex-trafficking, racketeering, and prostitution-related charges.

He moved to sell the estate, purchased for $39 million in 2014, after Homeland Security agents raided the property in March 2024 as part of their investigation, along with his $48 million Miami residence. There were reports that the raids caused “significant property damage” to the home.

After a highly publicized 2025 trial, Combs was acquitted of the most serious charges but still received a 50-month prison sentence after being convicted on two prostitution-related counts. He was also ordered to pay a $500,000 fine.

Real estate insiders note that, if the mansion ultimately remains off the market, it could be rented as a high-end ‘trophy property,’ with similar estates fetching up to $20,000 per night on Airbnb. Still, experts say the $61.5 million listing may be tough to move given the home’s controversial ties to the case.

“[He] could be asking too much,” said Justin Paperny, a crisis manager for White Collar Advice. “People might not want the affiliation to him.”