Kentucky, Louisville, Small Business, grant

by Jeffrey McKinney

October 9, 2024

Black eBAY Sellers Get ‘Up & Running’ With $10K Grant Opportunity

Several Black businesses among eBay grant winners out of 18,000 applications submitted.

Several Black businesses, selling items ranging from consumer electronics to wigs, are new recipients of $10,000 grants from online marketplace giant eBay.

In late September, the San Jose, California-based firm chose 50 US sellers to receive $10,000, totaling $500,000 in grants. They gained training and mentorship to help strengthen and grow their businesses. Finalists will receive a $500 stipend to equip themselves with essential business technology and tools from eBay Refurbished.

The funding is part of eBay’s Up & Running Grants program, which is currently in its fifth year. A global marketplace, eBay reported receiving 18,000 submissions this year across 28 states. That is a big deal, as eBay stated that it has received its largest and most diverse pool of such applicants to date.

Since 1995, eBay has backed small businesses. It has 132 million active buyers, operates in over 190 markets worldwide, and had a $73 billion gross merchandise volume last year.

Further, this year’s candidates included 19% more early-stage entrepreneurs than last year. “Entrepreneurship is at the heart of eBay. We have always been committed to empowering small business owners and providing the tools they need to be successful,” Dawn Block, VP, U.S. General Manager at eBay, stated.

It was revealed earlier this year that the grants can be used for multiple purposes, including investing in new equipment, inventory, and marketing. The grants are aimed to help Black eBay sellers and all the company’s sellers.

eBay did not disclose the specific number of Black businesses that received the latest grants. However, some Black entrepreneurs who sell on the eBay platform shared how they plan to use the $10K grants.

Take Walter Roberts of The Buying Spot, which sells various goods in categories including consumer electronics, sporting goods, clothing, shoes, and accessories. He plans on using the funds to buy new equipment, make bulk purchases, and travel to the eBay conference for resellers.

“This is a great opportunity, and I thank God for the chance to grow.”

For Rickie Miller of Kris Kross Wigs, a wig entrepreneur in the health and beauty space, the opportunity with eBay helped jumpstart the business. “The funding will allow me to employ women in homeless shelters, train them, and invest in wholesale materials to make my wigs more affordable. My business serves a diverse clientele with products for all races, genders, and ages.”

The grant will help spur growth for Jonathan Copeland of Vino Club Village. His business sells various categories, including sports memorabilia, toys and hobbies, clothing, shoes, and accessories.

“I plan on using the funds to continue to grow my business by investing in high-quality products and to elevate the customer experience.”

Gain more details about eBay and the grant recipients here.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 8, 2024

Black Women At A ‘Crisis Point’ In Nonprofit Leadership Roles Are Leaving The Sector

Black women nonprofit leaders are leaving the sector. A group in Washington, D.C. looks to reverse that trend.

Black women in nonprofit leadership are at a “crisis point” and are leaving the sector as the landscape rapidly declines, according to founders.

In recent years, increasing numbers of Black women have been steadily exiting the organizations they founded as the challenges become too overwhelming. Conversations in close circles reveal frustrations over additional reporting demands from funders, lower compensation than similar-sized organizations, constant doubt about their leadership, and ongoing microaggressions.

Amid the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, a growing backlash against DEI initiatives, and uncertain economic conditions, Black women leaders are facing a precarious mix of challenges, prompting many to step away from their roles in a sector that employs thousands, serves countless individuals, and oversees the distribution of hundreds of millions of dollars.

“We started to see the increase in terms of Black women leaders struggling with their board of directors,” Indira Henard, a longtime D.C. nonprofit leader, told the Washington Business Journal. “Black women leaders leaving their organizations—whether it was by choice, or by force—and when they were leaving their organizations, leaving not well. We also saw the lack of support for Black women leaders, by not just their boards, but just funders and the community at large.”

Henard reached her breaking point two years ago while attending a Leadership Greater Washington poker night. Too many of her fellow Black women nonprofit leaders were struggling, and it weighed heavily on her. The executive director of the D.C. Rape Crisis Center reflected on the rapidly deteriorating landscape and knew something had to change.

“My soul was tired,” she thought to herself. “What is it going to take for the sector to wake up and understand that we’re at a crisis point with Black women leaders?”

Henard teamed up with other Black women nonprofit leaders to find a solution. They initiated plans to commission a report examining the landscape for Black women in leadership and identifying the resources needed to address the challenges. As the project expanded, they transitioned the initiative to the Washington Area Women’s Foundation.

The group’s efforts culminated in the release of the 40-page “Thrive as They Lead” report, published by the Washington Area Women’s Foundation in 2023. The D.C. firm conducted nearly 40 interviews with Black women and Black gender-expansive executive directors, CEOs, and presidents from across the region in the nonprofit sector.

Ninety percent of respondents reported that their work had negatively impacted their health and well-being. Seventy percent agreed or strongly agreed that Black women in leadership had been under attack in recent years. Half admitted to struggling to meet their families’ financial needs, with a quarter strongly agreeing. Only 19% felt the region was a place where Black women leaders could thrive.

The report’s findings shined a light on what many Black women nonprofit leaders and their allies already knew, but formal documentation may prove crucial in shifting the narrative. The report prompted actionable solutions for the nonprofit sector that would guarantee proper support for leadership.

The Women’s Foundation is now focused on implementing the recommendations from the report and is raising funds to support the initiative. It hopes to raise between $3 million and $4 million over the next two years.

“At any given moment, I know of at least five to eight Black women leaders who are this close to saying, ‘I’m done,’” Koube Ngaaje, president and CEO of the District Alliance for Safe Housing, told the Washington Business Journal.

“If we don’t address the harmful systemic inequities, and do it well, and invest deeply, we will lose anywhere between 30% to 50% of Black women leaders in the region’s nonprofit sector in the next three to five years,” Ngaaje added. “And I can guarantee you that.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 8, 2024

Flavor Flav Swaps Oversized Clock For Oversized Popcorn Kernel In New Smartfood Promo

Flavor Flav has gone from hypeman to pitchman.

Flavor Flav is proving that getting older doesn’t prevent you from getting things “poppin.”

Smartfood Popcorn has announced a partnership with the “911 Is a Joke” rapper and Public Enemy hypeman extraordinaire with its latest campaign, “Flavor You Can Feel Good About,” which re-introduces Smartfood Popcorn’s lineup of light-textured, air-popped flavors.

“Everyone knows I’m all about spreading positive vibes and bringing my signature flavor everywhere I go, which is why there’s no one better suited for the job of Flavor Genie than ya booyyyeeee,” said Flavor Flav in a written statement. “I’ve loved Smartfood Popcorn for years, so I’m excited to be the unofficial Hype Man for snackers, dropping words of wisdom and positivity every time a bag of the flavorful snack is opened.”

To fall in line with the promotion, Flavor Flav has swapped out his iconic oversized timepiece with an oversized popcorn kernel, the Pop Clock.

There are several flavors the company is pushing with the help of Flavor Flav.

White Cheddar: The original
Movie Theater Butter: Popcorn coated in golden butter flavor.
Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn: Sweet and salty flavors that balance sweet and salty desires.
Doritos Nacho Cheese: Air-popped popcorn with Doritos Nacho Cheese-flavored seasoning.
Flamin’ Hot White Cheddar: Air-popped popcorn tossed in the flavors of white cheddar cheese and plenty of heat.

“Smartfood is dedicated to providing popcorn lovers with delicious snacking options that they can feel good about, and we’re proud to have cracked the magical balance of light texture and bold flavor desired by snackers across the nation,” said Kristin Kroepfl, vice president of marketing, PepsiCo. “We’re excited to bring more joy to snack time, both through our five delicious flavor variations and our out-of-the-box partnership with the king of flavor himself, Flavor Flav.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 8, 2024

Vote To Live Launches $4 Million Initiative To Mobilize Black Male Voters

The initiative will focus on six swing states.

Vote To Live, a group affiliated with the Collective PAC, has begun a $4 million initiative to boost Black male voter turnout through nonpartisan efforts in six states for the November presidential election, NBC News reports.

Collective PAC, one of the nation’s largest political action committees backing Black candidates, has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.

The group’s efforts will focus primarily on six key swing states—Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—with additional efforts in Arizona and Nevada.

“Black men are now one of the No. 1 targets for misinformation online, so we know they are being targeted by our adversaries, people who are trying to meddle in our elections, both foreign and domestic players,” said Quentin James, founder and president of Collective PAC.

“So we want to make sure we are also communicating with Black men around what they need to go vote, what to bring with them, what’s on their ballot—educating them on the actual process because there is so much online trying to sway them.”

James believes there have been significant efforts aimed at persuading Black men to leave the Democratic Party and support former President Donald Trump. In response, Vote To Live hopes to provide information that counters those initiatives. The initiative remains nonpartisan, as James was unable to secure funding for an effort to support Harris due to the presence of numerous groups already pursuing that goal.

Vote To Live will focus its efforts on educating Black men about how to register to vote, offering free transportation to polling locations during early voting, hiring individuals to engage directly with their communities, and hosting events at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

James points out polls indicating a tight presidential race in which Black men could play a crucial role. The group aims to register 50,000 Black voters by offering resources through VoteToLive.org.

Rosa parks, bus boycott, Alabama, Rosa Parks Day

by Daniel Johnson

October 8, 2024

Civil Rights Activist Gertrudejane Holliday Stone Reflects On The ‘Rosa Parks Moment’

In the same year that Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, Stone did the same thing while aboard the "Big Boy" train, which was headed for Houston.

Gertrudejane Holliday Stone, a Black 89-year-old Houston woman, has a story to share about a trip she took on the “Big Boy” train in 1955. The train, one of only eight remaining from 1941, is currently on a 10-city tour and recently stopped in Houston at the Amtrak station on Washington Avenue. In the same year that Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, Stone did the same thing while aboard the “Big Boy” train, which was headed for Houston.

According to ABC 13, in December 1955, while traveling back to Houston from Tennessee’s Fisk University, where she was attending college at the time, Stone defied not only the orders of the conductor but also the orders of the police.

“When he (the conductor) got to me, he said, ‘Go to the Jim Crow coach.’ I said, ‘I’m not moving,’ and he became very frustrated at my answer,” Stone recounted to the outlet.

Stone continued, “I wasn’t, I guess you would say, disturbed at their response to me, but my response to them, I guess, was off of the chart at that time.”

Stone concluded, saying that she decided to take a stand against injustice that day on the train. “I guess in my mind, I said, ‘Enough is enough,’ and you know there’s a famous quote that says, ‘Refuse to die until you have done something for humanity.’ At that time, I was very young, but I was trying to do something for humanity.”

Stone previously discussed the events with Fox 26 in 2017, describing the ride as “a train ride from H-E-L-L.”

According to the outlet, Stone was berated and taunted by multiple passengers and train employees, but she refused to move.

Stone told the outlet that the brutal murder of Emmett Till earlier that year motivated her to remain in her seat despite the furious whites on the train.

“You get to a point where you say enough is enough. If not me, then who? If not now, then when,” Stone told Fox 26.

According to the outlet, Stone eventually became the first Black salesperson at Pomeroy’s Department Store, the first Black person to chair the Houston Public Library Board, and the owner of Houston’s National African American Museum.

chemical plant, Georgia, chemical fire, Kenny Johnson

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 8, 2024

Georgia Lawmakers To Hear From Residents Impacted By Biolab Chemical Fire

A portion of Rockdale County remains under a nightly shelter-in-place order.

Georgia lawmakers will hear directly from residents of Rockdale County, where a chemical fire at a Biolab facility occurred. Those in the area have had to shelter in place since Sept. 29 due to the toxic fumes in the air. Businesses remain closed, while county public schools are in virtual learning.

The meeting will occur at the Georgia Capitol on Oct. 8. Those present will include state elected officials from the House Minority Caucus as well as members of the House and Senate Rockdale County Legislative Delegations and the DeKalb County Legislative Delegation.

“Because we know the impact is now regional, we must focus on the impact of the chemicals as it pertains to the environment and health of citizens,” said Rep. Rhonda Taylor, who represents the Conyers area and serves as chair of Rockdale’s House Legislative Delegation, in a statement obtained by Fox 5. “We want to hear from anyone along the east corridor about how this incident has affected their lives and how we may be able to help.”

The Biolab facility, which opened in the Conyers area in 1973, works as the swimming pool and spa water care division of Lawrenceville, Georgia-based KIK Consumer Products.

A sprinkler malfunction caused water to react with its water-reactive chemicals, resulting in a multi-colored explosion that left Georgia’s Interstate 20 closed in the surrounding area. Around 17,000 Rockdale residents had to evacuate their homes.

While the fire subsided, its smoke still lingered throughout the area and beyond. Low visibility and potential on-set symptoms prompted the evacuations and other orders. Prior to this recent fire, the lab facility had four other incidences since 2004, some leading to multiple hospitalizations.

However, the latest fire’s plume remains.

“There is product under the building debris that is disturbed during the cleanup process,” explained county officials told FOX 5. “Until the cleanup is complete, there will be fluctuations in the plume.”

As for the ongoing shelter-in-place policy, the county’s EMA Director, Sharon Webb, said the air still contains the chemicals. Limiting exposure as much as possible remains a priority.

“When the temperatures drop and dew sets in, it creates a plume at ground level that it’s more safe for the citizens to be in place at that time,” Webb said.

Multiple class action lawsuits have been filed as well.

by Daniel Johnson

October 8, 2024

New Research Indicates That Increasing Health Spans Is Better Than Longer Lives

Olshansky cautioned against the idea that the extension of longevity is in itself a worthy goal, rather he advocated for health span extension as the better metric for quality of life.

Despite the ubiquity of stories from various news outlets concerning the oldest person in the world or the oldest man in the United States, new research published in Nature Aging indicates that those anecdotes are anomalies.

According to the study, which utilized lifespans in countries with the longest living populations, average improvements in life expectancy in the United States, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, and Sweden have been trending down since 1990.

According to its analysis, it is unlikely that more than 15% of women and 5% of men will survive beyond 100.

Jay Olshansky, a gerontologist and professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Illinois in Chicago and the study’s primary author, told CNN that he and some of his colleagues predicted in 1990 that increases in life expectancy would eventually plateau.

“In 1990, we predicted increases in life expectancy would slow down, and the effects of medical interventions, which we call Band-Aids, would have less and less of an effect on life expectancy,” Olshansky told the outlet.

Olshansky continued, “A lot of people disagreed with us. They said, ‘No, no, NO!’ Advances in medical and life-extending technologies will accelerate and will drag life expectancy along with it. We waited 30 years to test our hypothesis. We have shown the era of rapid increases in human life expectancy has ended, just as we predicted.”

However, Olshansky wanted to ensure that the data is not misinterpreted.

“Now, I want to make sure that this is interpreted correctly,” he added. “We’re still gaining life expectancy, but it’s at an increasingly slower pace than in previous decades.”

According to Olshansky, the fact that more people don’t live to advanced ages is not really a negative. It actually means that people are experiencing aging in a normal manner.

“If you expose enough people in a population to the immutable force of aging, you run up against a roadblock that makes it difficult to achieve further gains in life expectancy, and that’s where we are now. You can continue to make progress against major diseases, but it’s not going to have the life-extending effect that people think — in fact, it will have a diminishing effect.” Olshanky said.

Olshansky continued, “This is a consequence of success. It is not a consequence of failure. It’s a consequence of allowing people to live long enough to experience the biological process of aging, which now is the dominant risk factor.”

Olshansky also cautioned against the idea that extending longevity is a worthy goal; instead, he advocated for healthspan extension as the better metric for quality of life.

“The metric of success should not be lifespan extension. It should be a healthspan extension. This is something we can measure, and this is something we all desire. In fact, I would argue that health span is the most precious commodity on Earth, and we are in the business of manufacturing as much of it as we can,” Olshansky said.

Olshansky concluded, “Remember, death is a zero-sum game. One thing goes down, something else goes up, and the fear is that we’re going to replace cancer and cardiovascular disease with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other serious health challenges that we can’t currently modify. So we have to be careful what we wish for and what we manufacture going forward because life extension without health extension would be harmful.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 8, 2024

Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson Settles Latest Lawsuit

Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

A lawsuit filed Sept. 9 against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson by a woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her in October 2020 has been settled.

Watson was suspended 11 games and fined $5 million in 2022 after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct by 22 women who provided massages during Watson’s time with the Houston Texans.

“We have now resolved our client’s claim with Deshaun Watson,” the woman’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, told ESPN. “The settlement is confidential.” Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, later confirmed it as well.

When the lawsuit was initially filed, Watson denied the accusation.

The unidentified woman, who filed under Jane Doe, said the alleged incident occurred in Oct. 2022, when Watson was with the Houston Texans. She accused Watson of sexual assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress and was seeking over $1 million in compensatory and punitive damages.

The Browns and the NFL have not taken any action, but the league reportedly reviewed the complaint under its personal conduct policy.

Previously, the 20-plus women filed lawsuits against Watson after two different Texas grand juries refused to pursue criminal charges. Along with the suspension and fine, Watson was also required to undergo mandatory evaluation by behavioral experts and follow a treatment program suggested before he was allowed to apply for reinstatement by the league.

Watson has two remaining lawsuits filed against him: one from the original 23 submitted during the summer of 2022 and one separate from the others filed in October of the same year.

Despite the allegations, Watson is still starting for the Cleveland Browns, where he has struggled mightily after signing a $230 million contract in 2023. According to ESPN, in Watson’s five games this season, he has posted a QBR of 21.0, the lowest of any qualified passer in the NFL.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 8, 2024

‘Plane Train’ Glitch At Atlanta Airport Brings Chaos For Travelers

The airport relayed that a "mechanical issue" prompted the train to stay in shuttle mode for hours.

The “Plane Train” at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has been heralded for its efficient transport of hundreds of thousands as they enter the establishment. However, a computer glitch disrupting its operations left passengers in a frenzy to reach their gate.

According to CNN, the glitch occurred early on Oct. 7, with its impact lingering for hours until fixed around noon later that day. With the train out of commission, many had to walk unanticipated long stretches to make their flights on time. The airport relayed that the “mechanical issue” prompted the train to stay in shuttle mode for hours.

The Plane Train is currently in shuttle mode due to a mechanical issue. Passengers are asked to follow directions from ATL and airlines until repairs are completed.
— Atlanta Airport (@ATLairport) October 7, 2024

The inconvenience caused immediate chaos for the world’s busiest airport, which sees an estimated 286,000 travelers daily. Voyagers through the airport shared pictures of the “pandemonium” they faced.

ATL airport is pandemonium with the train down and masses of people at a standstill in the underground walkway between concourses. @ATLairport pic.twitter.com/P09iPnABEp
— Summer Craze Fowler (@sumfowler) October 7, 2024

The X user noted the “standstill” foot traffic in the walkways between the seven concourses. However, in a statement on the issue, the airport assured that personnel and additional ground support were on hand to aid travelers and direct their paths.

Despite claims of on-the-ground support, some passengers deny receiving any help during the ordeal.

“No staff directing, no one providing info. Just people loading off of escalators down into the training area on the ground,” shared one passenger, Keagan Lvonen, to the news outlet. “Honestly, the worst congestion and handling of people I’ve ever seen in an airport,”

On the other hand, those who encountered staff did not find their assistance helpful. Another passenger described staff yelling at walkers despite the “grid-locked” situation.

Tiffany King explained, “Staff was yelling at people to walk forward, but we couldn’t. It was a grid-locked crowd surge.

She added, “It took me an hour to go from B gate to C gate.”

While the disruption was resolved, with the “Plane Train” now operating normally, the short-lived issue did show the Atlanta airport’s increasing reliance on the transportation system.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 8, 2024

Nike To Release Deion Sanders’ Air Diamond Turf Max ’96

The colors will match the uniform colors of the Atlanta Falcons.

A Nike sneaker that NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders wore while playing with the Atlanta Falcons is returning to stores in November.

According to Footwear News, Nike is releasing the sneakers “Coach Prime” ran his plays in during his time with the NFL team (1989-1993): the Nike Air DT Max ’96. The shoe’s colorway matches the Falcons’ uniform colors.

Deion Sanders has some new “Atlanta Falcons” Nike Air DT Max ‘96’s coming soon ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/u0gyqppl54

— Nice Kicks (@nicekicks) October 7, 2024

With the rerelease of the popular Air DT Max ’96, the most recent ones match the colors of the Colorado Buffaloes football team that Coach Prime heads.

“They Coming” pic.twitter.com/PL8UhT5DBI

— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) August 16, 2024

The footwear is expected to arrive at retailers in November when fans and sneakerheads can purchase it for $170.

Coach Prime wore a different colorway of the Nike Air DT Max ’96 when he was a member of the Dallas Cowboys in the 90s. They were his third signature sneaker with Nike and were released in 1996.

Last year, shortly after signing with Colorado, Coach Prime announced that he re-signed with the sports apparel giant. He left Nike in 2017 after being disappointed that the brand did not adequately compensate him for designing his own shoe. At the time, he vowed to never work with them again.

According to Complex, the Nike Air Diamond Turf debuted in 1993. There were follow-up versions of the original: the Air Diamond Turf 2, which came out in 1994, and the Diamond Turf Max ’96, which was released two years later. In 1997, the Air Diamond Turf 4 went on sale, and then the last in the series, the Air Diamond Turf 5, debuted in 1998.

The University of Colorado has had an exclusive contract with Nike since 1995. In the contract Sanders signed after leaving Jackson State University after three successful seasons, he is required to wear Nike gear supplied by the sneaker company.