Showing 177 results for:
advocacy
Popular topics
All results
Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) is mobilizing support for Black maternal health. Black Maternal Health Week April 11–17 is Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW), an initiative created by the Black women-led, cross-sectoral consortium Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA), with the intent of raising awareness and fostering community around the experiences of Black mothers and birthing people, according to information shared with AFROTECH™. Atlanta-GA-based BMMA traces its origins to 2013 when the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR) and SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective (SisterSong) began constructive research on the obstacles Black mothers face in accessing health care. Once it had become its own independent entity in 2018, BMMA established Black Maternal Health Week and began working with up to 18 community-based organizations. That number has since grown to nearly 50. Black Maternal Health Week also intentionally coincides with National Minority Health Month,...
Activism has always been the center piece for Color Of Change President Rashad Robinson. Advocacy Was In His DNA Within his family home during his upbringing, his parents would often discuss issues faced by their eastern Long Island community. The family even once skipped out on a family trip to Six Flags in New Jersey due to his parents allocating the funds to support Jesse Jackson’s second run for presidency in 1988. “I remember really early on getting involved in protests and activism and knocking on doors with candidates well before I could even vote,” he told AFROTECH™. “So it’s always been part of my DNA… There was something about that I was always drawn to about social change and about the idea that I could be part of making the world a better place, making things better for my family, making things better for my people, making things better for myself.” To no surprise, Robinson’s community work also take root in Long Island, an area which he says had a small population of...
Angela Rye is one of today’s leading voices in political advocacy and social justice. Recognized for her politics and culture commentary on networks like CNN and ESPN as well as her own podcast “Native Land Pod” with co-hosts Tiffany Cross and Andrew Gillum, the award-winning host, commentator, and lawyer transformed her passion into IMPACT Strategies. Launched in 2013, the political advocacy firm creates strategic partnerships and coalitions to birth societal change. In an interview with AFROTECH™ before her fireside chat, “Bridging the Gap for an Equitable Community,” at AFROTECH™ Executive Newark, Rye shared the backstory of one of IMPACT Strategies’ most impactful partnerships to date. Moreover, it came following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. “A lot of companies were coming asking for Black support, Black help, Black input, Black advice, and strategy,” Rye recalled to AFROTECH™. “A t the time, I represented PayPal and worked really diligently with them on their [$535...
Travis Scott’s commitment to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) is paying off! Billboard reports that the “Pick Up The Phone” rapper has been awarded for his philanthropic efforts of assisting students at HBCUs. He is one of five recipients to receive the honor at the Red Carpet Advocacy (RAD) impact awards, which aims to highlight those who “inspire purpose,” according to Billboard. In October 2020, Scott announced via Twitter that he would cover tuition expenses for five students who attended HBCUs. “AND I KNOW SCHOOL JUST STARTED AND I WANNA TAKE CARE OF 5 KIDS TUITION FOR THEIR FIRST SEMESTER OF SCHOOL!!! WHY NOT!!!!!” he said in a previous tweet. “5 KIDS THAT ATTEND A HBCU. Send me ur schools ya heard!!!” Scott also shared that this cause was near to his heart because his parents had previously attended HBCUs. His mother went to Prairie View A&M University in Texas and his father attended Grambling State University in Louisiana. Just a month after his call to...
Climate change has been a long-standing global issue, and following Wednesday’s vice presidential debate, it’s clear the world needs more direction and initiatives focused on cleaning up the planet. In an effort to make changes on HBCU campuses across the country, the HBCU Community Development Action Coalition (HBCU-CDAC) — a nonprofit HBCU advocacy group — founded a Clean Energy Initiative to implement sustainable solutions for historically Black colleges in America. According to Black Enterprise , the initiative was created with the help of a grant previously received from the National JPB Foundation — a nonprofit dedicated to supporting initiatives toward medical research, sustainability, and empowering those living in poverty. “With the JPB Foundation’s increasing their support for our Clean Energy Initiative, we will deliver more residential installations and increase awareness in underserved communities around the country,” said Ron Butler, CEO of the HBCU-CDAC in a press...
Last year, Amazon launched Echo Dot Kids — which was essentially the exact same as the company’s other devices, but with the bonus of parental controls. Now, child and privacy advocacy groups claim that Echo Dot Kids violates the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by recording and storing kids’ conversations. Organizations involved include Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood (CCFC), Color of Change, Electronic Privacy Information Center, and more. In a complaint submitted to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the groups wrote: “The Echo Dot Kids Edition has the capacity to collect vast amounts of sensitive, personal information from children age 13. For example, voice recordings of children are considered personal information under COPPA. The Echo Dot Kids Edition records children’s voices any time it hears the wake word, and it stores these recordings in the cloud unless or until a parent deletes them.” As its name suggests, COPPA imposes requirements to protect...
After reports of a built-in Nest microphone, Google admits it was an “error on our part” but a simple apology might not cut it. The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) is calling on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to make Google divest from Nest, as reported by Business Insider . In a letter to the FTC , the privacy advocacy group expressed concerns over potential consumer risk, writing, “It is entirely unclear whether Google, a remote hacker, or anyone else enabled the microphones in the Nest devices after they were installed by customers in their homes.” Google says the microphone has never been on, because it only becomes active when users themselves enable the option. However, Google has struggled with devices recording data without permission before. For example, in 2017, a flaw in Google’s mini speaker allowed it to secretly record conversations without users knowing. “The FTC should now commence an enforcement action against Google,” the EPIC wrote, “with the aim...
House Republicans have introduced a new Medicaid bill aimed at cutting federal healthcare spending without dismantling the program. What’s Inside The GOP Medicaid Bill? According to the Associated Press, the House Energy and Commerce Committee introduced the Medicaid bill as a central piece of the Republican plan to secure $1.5 trillion in savings. Much of the savings would go toward extending the 2017 Trump-era $4.5 trillion tax cuts, which are scheduled to expire at the end of 2025. To help reach that target, the committee proposed $880 billion in cuts, most of which come from changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It is important to note that the Affordable Care Act, signed into law by former President Barack Obama in 2010, was a landmark healthcare reform aimed at expanding coverage, reducing costs, and improving care delivery. Though it significantly increased access through subsidies and Medicaid expansion, many Republicans have long opposed the law, using it...
Formula 1 (F1) is the holy grail of motorsport, where the world’s fastest single-seater race cars and most skilled drivers compete worldwide for bragging rights, prize money, and team supremacy. Since debuting in 2022, the Miami Grand Prix, part of F1’s efforts to expand its U.S. footprint, has quickly evolved into more than just a race — it’s become a cultural spectacle. The race takes place at the Miami International Autodrome, a temporary street circuit around Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, FL. Celebrating Miami’s vibrant culture, the event blends high-speed racing with innovation, diverse styles, luxury experiences, and pop culture. Building on momentum from 2024, this year’s Grand Prix — from May 2–4, 2025 — is expected to draw over 275,000 fans. According to F1 Destinations, the average attendee is projected to spend $2,230 over the weekend. Off the track, F1 is accelerating into the future by embracing sustainability, with innovations including a commitment to use 100%...
Colin Kaepernick hasn’t taken an NFL snap since 2017, but he’s never been idle. While the league may have shut its doors, Kaepernick has been steadily opening new ones, quietly constructing an empire grounded in justice, creativity, and economic power. His path since leaving the NFL hasn’t just been one of resistance. It’s been one of reinvention. Kaepernick’s legacy began to shift in 2016 when he took a knee to protest police brutality and racial injustice while playing for the San Francisco 49ers. The moment cost him a job in the NFL, but it cemented his voice as one of the most powerful in American public life. And instead of retreating, he leaned in, turning his influence into a platform for economic change and cultural ownership. Kaepernick has proven that social activism and wealth-building aren’t mutually exclusive through a broad portfolio of business ventures, investments, and creative initiatives. They can be mutually reinforcing. Colin Kaepernick’s Storytelling Journey...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. Often, those who rank in seniority get to speak for the broader community. How long does that work though, and how long should it last? It’s a question that comes up whenever someone of a previous generation is asked to speak or is seen as a representative during a current crisis a community is facing. AFROTECH™ previously reported that after Target rolled back its commitments to DEI, the retail store has seen a decline in foot traffic for the past 10 weeks. Target was one of the brands that, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd in 2020, put a lot of time and money towards pushing for racial justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion across the board. After the decline, The New York Post reported that Target CEO Brian Cornell met with Reverend Al Sharpton about its DEI policies, but should Sharpton be the one speaking for us? Sharpton came to prominence during the 1970s with his focus on...
If you’ve been plugged-in to the political side of the business world lately, you may have noticed a fundamental shift in how corporate culture is responding to DEI measures . DEI, which stands for diversity, equity and inclusion, has been the industry standard blanket term for the last several years regarding certain hiring practices, employee training routines and more. Major companies such as Target, Costco and Apple have utilized specific language upholding DEI in their company guidelines at one point or another, amid a national push to support BIPOC employees , those with disabilities and members of all other marginalized communities. Of course, when Donald Trump regained control of the White House in January, he issued a day-one decree that all companies must remove DEI protections from their charters, sparking a wave of discussion about government overreach and the future of diversity in the workplace. Some, such as Target, Walmart and Harley Davidson, were quick to discard...
In an era where the boundaries between technology, law, and culture constantly shift, Blake Richardson, Esq., is one of the few professionals standing firmly at the intersection. As chief legal officer at Gala Games, Gala Music, and Gala Film, Richardson navigates one of emerging tech’s most complex regulatory environments: blockchain. But her journey — from working behind the scenes at NBCUniversal, Lionsgate, and the Phoenix Suns to helping shape blockchain legal frameworks — is more than a personal evolution. It’s a case study in how legal minds are increasingly essential to the tech sector’s future. Understanding Legal Tech In The Age Of Blockchain At its core, legal tech encompasses tools that streamline how users interact with and interpret the law. From document automation and case law research to e-discovery platforms and client management systems, legal tech is transforming how firms and in-house departments operate. But as Reuters notes, it’s not just about efficiency —...
Will Packer knows a thing or two about spotting a good story. With films like “Ride Along,” “Think Like a Man,” and “Stomp the Yard,” he’s turned everyday moments into box-office gold, built characters we root for, and created cultural blueprints that stick. But when the call came offering a confidential shot at owning a piece of an NFL team — no details, no guarantees — this wasn’t a plot twist in a film. This was real life. And it didn’t come with a pitch deck or press release. It came with a non-disclosure agreement and the vaguest of possibilities. “I said, NFL? National Food League?” Packer joked. “Because I know the NFL doesn’t just let people in.” The terms? Mysterious. The team? Unknown. The risk? High. But Packer signed the NDA anyway. That moment — unflashy, uncertain, but undeniably bold — set off a chain of events that would lead him not just into the NFL ownership circle but into a growing movement to rewrite what power and equity look like in professional sports. Fast...
Virginia Union University (VUU) students can become certified doulas on campus, making it the first historically Black university in the state to offer such a class. On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, the private, Richmond, VA-based HBCU announced a partnership with the birth center Birth In Color and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to launch a six-month doula training certification program, according to WRIC Channel 8. VUU’s announcement came just ahead of World Doula Week, which runs from March 22 to March 28, 2025. In an interview with AFROTECH™ , Mama Glow Foundation founder Latham Thomas described a doula as a birth “producer” who provides emotional and physical support, education, and advocacy tools during childbirth. While some people view doulas as less educated or non-compliant, Thomas noted that they are just as important as other healthcare professionals, especially in a society where women, particularly Black women, are expected to advocate for themselves. “Black women...