Gale V. King, The Executive Leadership Council, Alvaro L. Martins Heritage Award

by Selena Hill

October 9, 2026

Veteran Corporate Exec Gale V. King To Be Honored At The ELC Recognition Gala

Gale V. King will receive The ELC’s 2026 Heritage Award, recognizing her more than 36 years of corporate leadership, board service, and community impact.

Gale V. King, a veteran corporate executive and longtime advocate for leadership development, will receive The Executive Leadership Council’s 2026 Alvaro L. Martins Heritage Award, recognizing a career spanning more than 36 years in business, corporate governance, and community service.

The award will be presented Oct. 30 at The ELC Recognition Gala held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. The honor comes as the organization celebrates its 40th anniversary and its longstanding work to expand opportunities for Black executives.

King previously served as executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Nationwide, where she oversaw human resources, corporate real estate, corporate security, aviation, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. In that role, she advised the company’s CEO, board, and executive leadership team on organizational culture, employee experience, and business performance.

“Gale has spent her career doing the work that lasts: building strong organizations, developing leaders and creating opportunities for others to rise,” said Michael C. Hyter, president and CEO of The Executive Leadership Council, in a statement. “Her leadership has touched companies, boardrooms, communities and The ELC itself. During our 40th anniversary year, it is especially meaningful to recognize someone who has given so much of her leadership to the institution and to the people coming behind her.”

Gale V. King Executive Leadership Council — The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) will honor Gale V. King, corporate director, former Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Nationwide, and former Chair of The ELC Board of Directors, with the 2026 Alvaro L. Martins Heritage Award.

The Heritage Award is named for Alvaro L. Martins, one of the ELC’s founding members and its first president and CEO. It recognizes individuals whose leadership and service have helped create opportunities for future generations of executives.

King, who received the Barbara Graves Legacy Award at the 2020 BLACK ENTERPRISE Women of Power Summit, chaired The ELC’s board of directors from 2022 to 2024. She currently serves on the boards of AutoZone and Unum Group, extending her influence across corporate governance and business leadership.

Her career also reflects a commitment to education and philanthropy. King established endowed scholarships at the University of Florida and Santa Fe College and supports initiatives in addressing homelessness and senior care. Her previous recognitions include the University of Florida Distinguished Alumna Award, YWCA Woman of Power, and National Urban League Woman of Power.

Founded in 1986, the ELC is marking four decades of developing executives and strengthening the pipeline of Black business leadership. Its programs span multiple career stages, from helping scholars prepare to enter the workforce to developing midcareer managers and preparing executives for corporate board service.

Earn Your Leisure co-founders Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings are preparing to release their second book, shifting their focus from financial literacy to how professional relationships can create opportunities for wealth and business success.

The New York Times bestselling authors announced Sept. 30 that their upcoming book, Get Rich From Relationships: Build Your Winner’s Circle for Ultimate Success, will be published Jan. 26, 2027, by Crown Currency, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

The book explores how entrepreneurs and professionals can develop meaningful connections that contribute to long-term success. Its central concept focuses on building a “winner’s circle” of five trusted individuals who can provide support, guidance, and professional opportunities.

According to a press release shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE, the authors emphasize that successful networking requires more than knowing influential people. Instead, they encourage readers to establish trust, maintain credibility, and develop relationships built on mutual support.

“We built Earn Your Leisure from a grassroots podcast into a global media platform, not overnight, but through intentional relationship building that compounds over time,” Bilal and Millings said in the release.

The announcement follows the success of their first book, You Deserve to Be Rich, published in January 2025. The book addresses financial independence, investing, and strategies for building generational wealth, particularly in communities facing financial barriers.

Bilal and Millings have expanded Earn Your Leisure beyond podcasting into business education, financial literacy programming, and live events.

Their annual Invest Fest brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and entertainment figures to discuss financial opportunities and business development.

BE recently reported that the 2026 festival attracted more than 31,000 attendees. Organizers also reported distributing more than $600,000 in entrepreneurial grants since 2022.

Through Earn Your Leisure, the pair have interviewed prominent figures, including Tyler Perry, Serena Williams, Steve Harvey, and Magic Johnson, discussing entrepreneurship, financial success, and career development.

The upcoming book will introduce strategies for expanding professional networks, including building relationships with peers rather than exclusively pursuing influential individuals.

“Get Rich From Relationships” will be available in hardcover, digital, and audiobook formats, offering readers another perspective on the connection between financial success and personal relationships.

Goodr Grocery Store Helps Reduce Student Absence At Georgia Elementary School

Goodr is an Atlanta-based food waste management organization founded by Jasmine Crowe-Houston.

A free grocery store inside a Georgia elementary school is helping families access food while school officials report a significant decrease in student absences.

C.J. Hicks Elementary School in Conyers launched the on-campus grocery store in fall 2025 in partnership with Goodr and Kaiser Permanente. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, school records show total absent days dropped 43%, from 1,286 to 733, after the store opened.

How does Goodr initiative impact education?

The initiative is particularly significant for the school’s predominantly Black student population. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Black students accounted for approximately 71% of enrollment during the 2024-25 school year.

Federal education data also show that 837 of the school’s 878 students were eligible for free school lunches, highlighting the importance of accessible food assistance for families in the school community.

By providing groceries at no cost, the program offers additional support outside the classroom. The initiative also helps families obtain food without adding to their grocery expenses.

The store provides fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, frozen foods, breakfast items, juice, and snacks. Families can shop on Tuesdays and Thursdays after signing in at the school’s front office.

Additional assistance is available through food distributions on Fridays. FOX 5 Atlanta reported that 80 families receive groceries to take home each week.

School officials have reported improvements in multiple attendance measures. Daily absences declined 33%, while unexcused absence days decreased 42%. The number of days students were present increased 26%.

What exactly is Goodr?

Goodr, an Atlanta-based food waste management organization founded by Jasmine Crowe-Houston, has established similar grocery stores in schools and community facilities across the country.

According to AfroTech, the organization has opened locations at Atlanta’s McNair Middle School and the Fairmount Heights Branch Library in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

The school’s reported attendance improvements suggest that addressing families’ basic needs has helped support student participation.

Black veterans, Decide DeKalb — Belmont, North Carolina, USA - October 4, 2014: World War II Veterans give their attention to North Carolina Governor, Pat McCrory during a speech dedicating of a statue to honor the Veterans of World War II.

by Sidnee Michelle

October 9, 2026

A New Guide Launches To Spotlight Veteran-Owned Businesses

The initiative is the third installment in Decide DeKalb's business guide series, following the DeKalb Black Business Guide in 2024.

Decide DeKalb is launching a new initiative to increase visibility and economic opportunities for veteran-owned businesses in Georgia‘s DeKalb County, where more than 31,900 military veterans reside, according to a new press release.

The county’s economic development organization announced Oct. 7 that it is accepting submissions for its DeKalb Veteran-Owned Business Guide, which will connect local entrepreneurs with residents, companies, and community partners. The guide is scheduled for publication on Nov. 9, ahead of Veterans Day on Nov. 11.

The initiative is the third installment in Decide DeKalb’s business guide series, following the DeKalb Black Business Guide in 2024 and the DeKalb Women-Owned Business Guide in May 2026.

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According to U.S. Census Bureau data cited by the organization, DeKalb County has 541 businesses with at least one paid employee that are at least 51% veteran-owned. The initiative aims to strengthen the local economy by encouraging residents and businesses to support veteran entrepreneurs.

“Veterans bring leadership, discipline, and a commitment to service to everything they do, and many of them are putting those strengths to work building businesses right here in DeKalb,” said Terra Washington, Decide DeKalb’s vice president of marketing and communications.

“This guide makes it easier for residents, companies, and partners to find those businesses and choose them. Every dollar spent with a veteran-owned business strengthens our local economy and the neighborhoods these individuals call home,” Washington added.

The guide will feature businesses across several industries, including professional services, retail, food and beverage, technology, construction, marketing, and health and wellness.

Decide DeKalb’s previous guides have collectively featured more than 230 businesses, with participating entrepreneurs gaining exposure through the organization’s website, social media channels, and events.

Brittany Smith, co-owner of The Book Bird, an independent bookstore in Avondale Estates, said the women-owned business guide helped her store attract new customers.

“The Women-Owned Business Guide came out right as we were settling into our new space at The Dale, and it brought in neighbors who hadn’t found us yet,” Smith said.

Eligible veteran-owned businesses have until Oct. 9 to submit their information, including business and owner names, contact details, an address, a business category, and a brief description. Decide DeKalb will review submissions before publishing the guide.

Wells fargo, fraud claim, 83-year-old — Photo by Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images

by Selena Hill

October 9, 2026

Trump Administration Targets Wells Fargo $60 Billion Pledge To Boost Black Homeownership

Wells Fargo is under a federal investigation over its pledged to help more Black Americans become homeowners.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is investigating Wells Fargo over programs designed to expand homeownership among Black Americans. The probe comes as the Trump administration has moved to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in government and the private sector.

HUD Secretary Scott Turner announced the investigation on Wednesday, saying the agency is examining whether Wells Fargo’s mortgage initiatives violated the Fair Housing Act by offering different mortgage products or terms based on race. The inquiry centers on programs and commitments the bank made over nearly a decade to increase Black homeownership.

“Even if Wells Fargo did not violate the law, its practice of dividing Americans based on race is immoral, unethical and un-American,” Turner said in a statement. The secretary added that “Wells Fargo and all of its employees” involved in race-based decision-making “should be ashamed of themselves.”

“The Fair Housing Act forbids racial discrimination in housing. It does not say: discriminate, so long as the discrimination is called a ‘special purpose credit program’ and justified as advancing ‘racial equity in homeownership,’” added Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Craig Trainor.

Wells Fargo launched the initiative in 2017 to help Black Americans build generational wealth and close the racial wealth gap through homeownership. The bank pledged to provide $60 billion in loans to help create at least 250,000 Black homeowners by 2027. According to Reuters, the bank later introduced additional initiatives intended to support minority homeowners and racial equity in housing. The bank had reached about 40% of its original $60 billion lending commitment and helped refinance about 5,100 customers when it commissioned a racial-equity assessment in 2023, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The investigation comes as President Donald Trump takes a harder line on corporate DEI policies as HUD officials review similar programs at other banks to address longstanding disparities in lending and homeownership.

Wells Fargo did not immediately comment on the reported investigation.

For now, the probe underscores a growing tension for corporate America: how banks can address persistent racial gaps in access to capital while navigating an increasingly restrictive regulatory environment around race-based financial programs.

“Federal regulators, HUD included, put in writing that these programs were legal,” National Fair Housing Alliance Executive Vice President Nikitra Bailey told Scotsman Guide, citing reporting in the investigation.

That debate is likely to continue as regulators, banks, and civil rights advocates confront a changing fair-lending landscape—and as Black families continue to navigate the nation’s persistent homeownership gap.

Lincoln University of Missouri, HBCUs, 1890 Project — Lincoln University of Missouri (Photo Credit: www.lincolnu.edu)

by Selena Hill

October 9, 2026

Lincoln University Students Sue Missouri Over $550M In Alleged HBCU Funding Gap

Students and alumni say decades of unequal state funding weakened the HBCU's infrastructure, programs, and economic value.

Seven current and former students of Lincoln University in Missouri are suing the state over what they allege are decades of unequal funding that left the historically Black institution struggling to maintain its campus, academic programs, and student services.

The federal lawsuit, filed Oct. 7 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, seeks nearly $550 million in damages and a court order requiring Missouri to provide equitable funding to Lincoln, a historically Black 1890 land-grant university. At the center of the case is a $361.6 million funding disparity federal officials identified for fiscal years 1987 through 2020. The plaintiffs argue that Missouri treated Lincoln differently from the University of Missouri, the state’s predominantly white 1862 land-grant institution.

Between 2000 and 2016, Lincoln diverted $43.5 million from its core operating budget to support agricultural programs after the state failed to provide the required matching funds for federal grants, according to the lawsuit. From 2000 through 2007, the state provided no funding for Lincoln’s land-grant programs, while from 2008 through 2021, it provided between 11% and 51% of the required match. That diversion came at a cost to the institution’s broader operations.

“Missouri’s failure to appropriate the required state match did not merely leave a gap in Lincoln University’s funding,” attorneys wrote in the complaint, according to Missouri Independent. “It forced Lincoln to cannibalize its own core institutional operating budget to survive.”

Students also say they felt the impact personally. Former Lincoln student Makhi Joseph Berinyuy Jaff documented deteriorating conditions in Perry Hall, including a plumbing failure that he said left fecal matter exposed.

“Perry smelled disgusting, and they still left this dormitory open,” Jaff wrote in a presentation cited as evidence in the lawsuit.

Current student Jaydan Monee Ware said she noticed visibly dirty ventilation in her dorm and experienced respiratory and allergy symptoms. She also compared Lincoln’s resources with those available to a cousin attending the University of Missouri.

“I can see how much more funding they have than us,” Ware told her attorneys.

The lawsuit also challenges Missouri’s performance-based funding formula for higher education, alleging that Lincoln faces funding conditions that are not imposed on the University of Missouri in the same way.

The case is the first brought by the 1890 Project, an initiative focused on addressing funding disparities affecting historically Black land-grant universities. The organization has said Missouri is the first in a broader legal effort involving other states.

For Lincoln, the lawsuit places a decades-old funding dispute squarely in federal court with potentially significant implications for the institution’s finances, infrastructure, and ability to compete for students and research opportunities.

foreclosure, 50 veterans in 50 states in 50 days, Letouer Turner — photo credit: respres, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

by Sidnee Michelle

October 9, 2026

U.S. Home Repossessions Jump 42% As Homeowners Face Financial Pressure And Foreclosures

Lenders repossessed 5,794 properties through completed foreclosures in August.

U.S. homeowners face growing financial pressure as the number of properties lenders repossessed jumped 42% year over year in August, signaling increased strain among some borrowers facing foreclosure, Realtor.com reports.

Lenders repossessed 5,794 properties through completed foreclosures in August, up 22% from July and 42% from August 2025, according to real estate data firm ATTOM. Overall, 40,277 U.S. properties received a foreclosure filing, including default notices, scheduled auctions, and bank repossessions. That was up 1% from July and 13% from a year earlier.

Texas recorded the most completed foreclosures, with 1,835, followed by California with 589, North Carolina with 356, Arizona with 296, and Alabama with 286. Among major metropolitan areas, Houston led the nation with 448 completed foreclosures, followed by Dallas with 402 and San Antonio with 256.

South Carolina had the nation’s highest foreclosure rate, with one in every 1,547 housing units receiving a filing. Nevada followed at one in 1,920, while Florida ranked third at one in 2,397. Nationwide, one in every 3,569 housing units received a foreclosure filing in August.

Foreclosure proceedings were initiated on 25,894 properties, down 3% from July but up 7% from August 2025. Florida recorded the most foreclosure starts with 3,189, followed by Texas with 3,126 and California with 2,565.

ATTOM CEO Rob Barber said homeowners continue to contend with financial pressures, including higher insurance and borrowing costs and elevated everyday expenses. Despite the increases, the data does not necessarily signal a return to the widespread housing distress seen during the Great Recession.

Foreclosure activity remains below pre-pandemic levels, according to ATTOM, with Barber describing the current market as experiencing pockets of financial strain rather than widespread distress.

Still, the August figures extend a broader upward trend in 2026. During the first half of the year, 227,548 U.S. properties received foreclosure filings, up 21% from the same period in 2025. Completed foreclosures increased 33%, while foreclosure starts rose 18%, underscoring the mounting financial challenges facing some homeowners even as overall foreclosure activity remains historically contained.

JESSICA WATKINS, NASA, International Space Station — photo credit: Bill Stafford, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

by Sidnee Michelle

October 8, 2026

Jessica Watkins Makes History As 1st Black Woman To Lead Crew Into Orbit

Her latest mission also makes Watkins the first NASA astronaut to launch twice aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins has made history as the first Black woman to command a crew into orbit, adding another milestone to her groundbreaking career in space exploration, The Guardian reports.

Watkins commanded NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission, which launched Oct. 1 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft. The mission marks Watkins’ second trip to the International Space Station.

The four-person crew includes NASA astronaut Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov. The astronauts joined the space station’s Expedition 75 crew for a long-duration science mission.

The flight builds on Watkins’ history-making achievements at NASA. In 2022, she became the first Black woman to complete a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station while serving as a mission specialist on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4. Watkins spent 170 days in space during that mission and orbited Earth 2,720 times.

Her latest mission also makes Watkins the first NASA astronaut to launch twice aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

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“We are so excited to be here. This is truly a special place,” Watkins said after arriving at the space station, according to the outlet.

“It’s amazing and kind of ironic to think that it’s such a short trip to get here because the journey to get here has been long.”

Watkins’ journey to commanding a space mission is rooted in science. She earned a bachelor’s degree in geological and environmental sciences from Stanford University and a doctorate in geology from UCLA. Her previous work includes studying Mars’ surface and contributing to the science team for NASA’s Curiosity rover.

During Crew-13, Watkins and her crewmates will conduct research focused on areas including human health, disease modeling, and crop production in microgravity. The research could help scientists improve life on Earth while advancing preparations for future missions to the Moon and Mars.

NASA selected Watkins as an astronaut in 2017. Her latest mission further cements her place in spaceflight history while expanding Black women’s representation in an industry where they have long been underrepresented.

NAACP Image Awards — Photo by Suvan Chowdhury: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photography-of-microphone-144429/

by Ida Harris

October 8, 2026

Freddie Jackson Dies At 69, ’80s R&B Classics Is His Legacy

Jackson's distinctive voice will not be forgotten.

The music industry experienced a loss Oct. 5, when R&B singer Freddie Jackson died. His family shared the official news of Jackson’s passing on his Instagram page.

“It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Freddie Jackson, who went home to rest last night,” the caption read.

“Freddie was more than a legendary voice. He was a kind, generous soul who loved his fans, his family, his friends, and his music with everything he had. For decades he gave us the songs that became the soundtrack to our love stories, our celebrations, and our most treasured memories.

That gift will live on forever …”

The legendary crooner just turned 69 Oct. 2. In 2024, the balladeer took to social media and disclosed he was diagnosed with kidney disease. However, Jackson’s cause of death remains unknown.

What is known is that Jackson had the R&B scene in a chokehold when his debut album Rock Me Tonight dropped April 28, 1985. The album’s first single by the same name was an infectious hit that dominated the airwaves and could be heard bumping from car stereos and Black Americans’ homes. “Rock Me Tonight” was followed by several other strong cuts, including “You Are My Lady” and “Have You Ever Loved Somebody.” In 1986, the album earned Jackson a well-deserved Grammy nomination for Best New Artist; however, he lost to recording artist Sade.

Jackson’s distinctive voice and exemplary music catalog will not be forgotten. It stands the test of time and will remain one of his greatest legacies. Check out seven of Freddie Jackson’s greatest R&B hits.

Rock Me Tonight

You Are My Lady

Tasty Love

I Don’t Want To Lose Your Love

Love Is One Touch Away

Have You Ever Loved Somebody

Jam Tonight

Medical Advisory Board, BlackDoctor — Photo by LaylaBird/Getty Images

by Selena Hill

October 8, 2026

BlackDoctor Launches Medical Advisory Board With 8 Physicians

The Black-owned health platform is adding clinical oversight as it expands services for more than 30 million users.

BlackDoctor is backing its digital health ambitions with more clinical expertise.

The health and wellness platform announced last week that it has launched its first Medical Advisory Board, bringing together eight physicians representing specialties including oncology, psychiatry, cardiology, ophthalmology, dermatology, orthodontics, and pediatric nephrology. The move comes as BlackDoctor expands beyond its roots as a health media platform into a broader digital health business. The company says it reaches more than 30 million people annually and maintains a database of more than 30,000 Black and culturally sensitive healthcare practitioners.

The new advisory board will help shape the company’s clinical strategy, product development, and health content. Members will also conduct medical reviews, contribute to BlackDoctor.com and BlackDoctor.pro, represent the company at industry events, and help develop relationships across the healthcare ecosystem.

“Our Medical Advisory Board reflects who we are as a company — built by and for the community we serve, with real clinicians in the room,” Akinwole Garrett, BlackDoctor’s CEO, said in a press release. “These eight physicians will help shape every part of BlackDoctor, from the products we build to the content our readers trust every day.”

The board includes Dr. Craig Emmitt Cole, Dr. Chikelue Oragwu, Dr. Nicole Christian-Brathwaite, Dr. Yele Aluko, Dr. Kristen Harris Nwanyanwu, Dr. Adam Friedman, Dr. Beatrice Williams, and Dr. Keisha L. Gibson.

The advisory board also connects its clinical expertise to a growing technology strategy. The company has launched AI-powered tools including WellBot, which uses simulated patient interactions to train providers, and Health on Point, designed to help patients prepare for medical visits. Dr. Craig Emmitt Cole, an oncology and hematology specialist and advisory board member, said his experience treating Black patients with multiple myeloma helped inform his work on the company’s technology.

“We’re not just adding another AI product to the market — we’re building something that actually understands who it’s talking to,” Cole said.

BlackDoctor said the advisory board will serve as the “clinical front door” to its provider network as the company develops future partnerships, products, and initiatives. The launch is part of a broader rebrand and push into health services, positioning BlackDoctor at the intersection of culturally informed health information, technology, and professional healthcare networks.