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Goodr will be bringing its free grocery store to the windy city. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Goodr — the brainchild of Jasmine Crowe-Houston — is a sustainable food waste management company based in Atlanta, GA. Since its inception in 2017, the company has launched various initiatives, including a free grocery and clothing store at Atlanta’s McNair Middle School in partnership with rapper Gunna (2021). More recently, it introduced the Goodr Community Market at iVillage @ MLK (2024), which features a free grocery store and health clinic, with a goal of serving 600 families by 2026. “I have a lot of crazy good ideas to help people and I am so blessed when partners and my team join me to bring them to life,” Crowe-Houston said at the time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jasmine Crowe Houston (@jasminecrowe) First P ermanent Location In Chicago Now, Goodr is scaling its mission to the south side of Chicago, IL, opening its grocery store model in a hospital. This will...
Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” proved to be good business for Chicago, IL, locals. The entertainer who won Best Country Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards for “Cowboy Carter” is currently touring its tunes with a stop in the Windy City. According to USA Today, the three planned concerts took place on May 15–18 at Soldier Field . View this post on Instagram A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) The tour brought great momentum for the city and was beneficial to several Black-owned businesses, including Bronzeville Soul. The restaurant first benefited from the Carter family in 2023. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Hip-Hop mogul Jay-Z had been in the area to celebrate his wife Beyoncé’s second night of her “Renaissance World Tour,” which was also held at Soldier Field. The soul food restaurant had been “up and down” for nearly a year before Jay-Z’s visit, but it was able to gain new momentum afterward. “The element of that surprise was huge. It was overwhelming,” Bronzeville Soul Co-Owner Mario...
A plan to empower Chicago, IL-based Black students is now being investigated by the federal government. According to ABC 7, Chicago Public Schools is being investigated by the Trump administration’s Department of Education — led by Linda E. McMahon — for allegedly using racial discrimination in its Black Students Success Plan. The plan is a five-year initiative that was announced during Black History Month 2025 to improve graduation rates and reduce suspensions for Black students, increase hiring of Black teachers, and “combat anti-Blackness” through its curriculums and professional development, notes Chalkbeat-Chicago. “Today’s action by the Trump Administration’s Department of Education, influenced by the right-wing group Defending Education, is yet another attempt to hinder the progress we are striving to achieve,” Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates commented in her statement, according to ABC 7. “Rather than using the Department to create opportunities for...
Common, born Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr., is a multi-talented artist who has made a significant impact not only in the music and film industries but also in business and philanthropy. With a career spanning over three decades, Common has transcended the typical rapper persona to become an influential figure in Hollywood and the entrepreneurial world. In 2025, his net worth continues to grow due to his diverse ventures and his commitment to social change. So, how much is Common worth in 2025? Let’s explore the trajectory of his career, his business ventures, and his philanthropic efforts, which are integral to his financial success. The Early Years And Breakthrough In Hip-Hop Born and raised in Chicago , Common began his music career in the early ’90s, initially releasing Can I Borrow a Dollar? in 1992. However, it was his critically acclaimed album Resurrection (1994) that introduced his poetic and socially conscious style to the world. Tracks like “I Used to Love H.E.R.” cemented his...
Black residents in Chicago, IL, will be able to invest their dollars in its first casino. The TRiiBE reports locals gathered for an information session hosted by City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin and members of the Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus to buy shares in Bally’s Casino, a $1.6 billion project in the 21st Ward that will also feature a hotel, a 3,000-seat theater, and a Riverwalk extension to Chicago Ave. A requirement for the casino is that at least 25% of the investment must come from minorities and women. “Tonight is about a new opportunity on how to participate, about not just being a consumer but to be an owner,” Ald. Ronnie Mosley (21st Ward) said at the pulpit of Third Baptist Church, according to the outlet. Conyears-Ervin added: “Remember when they legalized marijuana a few years ago? We knew that we were the community that was affected the most by it, but we felt that we did not have access to being owners. Well, this, ladies and gentlemen, is quite different.”...
Derrick Rose is truly living up to his name. The former NBA point guard is hosting a pop-up flower shop in Chicago, IL, on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. Rose’s Flower Shop will be open for “one day only,” from noon until 4 p.m., according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “Welcome to Rose’s, the No. 1 flower shop in Chicago . How can I help you?” Rose teased in an Instagram reel announcing his venture. “A dozen roses? Coming right up. … We’re open for business. We can do that. We got you. It’s on the house. We appreciate your business.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Derrick Rose (@drose) Rose, a Chicago native, began his NBA career with the Bulls , where he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 Draft. He made history as the youngest MVP in NBA history, winning the award in 2011 at 22 and 6 months old, the Commercial Appeal reported. While Rose is giving the community their flowers in the city where it all started, the Bulls are honoring him in return. The Bulls shared...
City Year Chicago, a chapter of the national nonprofit, is on a mission to ensure that every student, especially those in under-resourced communities, has the support they need to succeed. The organization deploys young leaders in collaboration with The Corporation for National and Community Service, through the AmeriCorps program, to serve as full-time mentors and tutors in schools across Chicago, IL , according to ABC-7 Chicago . Founded in 1994 by Chicago Sky owner Michael Alter, City Year Chicago members wear signature red jackets that have become synonymous with the organization’s mission. Valencia Koker, senior vice president and executive director of City Year Chicago, told ABC-7 that the organization works with 250 AmeriCorps members, aged 18 to 25, serving in 32 schools — 31 of which are part of Chicago Public Schools. “City Year Chicago exists to create the conditions for young people to reach their full potential, especially those further from opportunity,” Koker told...
Erika Allen is on a mission to create sustainable communities. Heart Posture For Serving Others Growing up, she had an epiphany that ignited her desire to serve the broader community. And it was her interest in the creative arts that eventually guided her toward a multi-faceted passion project in Chicago, IL. Between 1987 and 1992, Allen transitioned from her family farm to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. During this time, she encountered structural racism and social demarcation that shaped her perspective and mission. “Was literally told during my orientation to not go south of Van Buren, which of course triggered a lot of questions as to why, and that was just sort of something that was shared with me and was indoctrinating me as a new student,” she told AFROTECH™. “And to come to find that south of Van Buren was the south side, primarily black community that I’m part of. That really fired me up, my heart posture around wanting to extend what was a privilege to...
After hosting several pop-ups, Amanda Harth and Felton Kizer now have their own storefront. Block Club Chicago reports the pair are now proud owners of Monday Coffee, located in Chicago, IL’s North Lawndale neighborhood. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Monday Coffee (@drinkmondaycoffee) Prior to opening the storefront, the founders had been making their mark in the area through various pop-ups, including events at Soho House Chicago and the Obama Foundation, since launching the company in October 2020. The pair were creating what they believed to be a “safe space.” “Being able to be in North Lawndale and serve a community, create a safe space through art, and continuing to use coffee as a vehicle is basically the foundation of Monday Coffee,” Harth told the outlet. “It’s important for Black people, Brown people, to have a safe space to exist. With the pandemic, a lot of those spaces disappeared.” For a two-year period starting in 2021, customers could find Monday...
Mathew Knowles was inspired to invest in a sports team due to a former Destiny’s Child member. On Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, Knowles graced the Main Stage during the Building Wealth Today for Tomorrow (BWTT) Financial Empowerment Summit at the UIC Forum in Chicago, IL. The event promoted wealth-building among the Black community through workshops moderated by local financial experts and insightful discussions from panelists, including Keke Palmer, Larenz Tate, and Knowles, among others. Photo Credit: Building Wealth Today for Tomorrow “Building Wealth Today for Tomorrow is the largest financial education program of its kind,” Chicago’s City Treasurer Melissa Conyears Ervin explained in a statement shared with AFROTECH™ . “It brings together experts and leaders from businesses, community organizations, and city, state, and federal agencies to lead workshops and discussions that help Chicagoans build a more financially secure future.” Knowles shared insights into his family history —...
Dwyane Wade has revealed who influenced his decision to invest in the WNBA. In 2023, the former NBA player, who was born in the “Windy City” and has three national championships to his name, decided to become an investor in the Chicago Sky when the team was valued at $85 million, a news release mentions. It was not revealed what size stake Wade purchased. The team is now worth $95 million, according to Sports Illustrated. Reflecting on Wade’s participation as an investor, Nadia Rawlinson, co-owner and operating chairman of the Chicago Sky commented,” Not only has Dwyane been an extraordinary talent on the court during his career, but even more so in his business and philanthropic endeavors after. We care a lot about the culture that we’ve built, and we want people around us that have the same outlook and values as we do, and he is definitely one of those people.” She added, “Dwyane is very much someone who can help us achieve those goals and even take them to another level. There...
Few Black-owned bookstores exist in Chicago, IL, yet Danielle Moore now owns two. ABC7 reported that Moore is the founder of the Semicolon Bookstore. Her vision for the store was to create a space that reflected her likes and interests: books and the arts. “Semicolon’s creation was a complete accident,” she told The Newsette. “I wanted a space where I would want to hang out all day, and my favorite things are books and art, so it just made sense. I wanted the space to feel like home, and I believe that it does.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Semicolon Bookstore & Gallery (@semicolonchi) Per the company’s website, Semicolon Bookstore’s mission is to increase literacy rates in the city by creating access to and generating interest in books. “We were created with one thing in mind — community . We are committed to having a direct impact in raising literacy rates in Chicago and beyond,” the website mentioned. Semicolon Bookstore hosts monthly events for Chicago Public...
Nadia Rawlinson believes in investing in women’s sports. Rawlinson carries executive experience with tenure at companies that include Live Nation Entertainment, Slack, and American Express. It’s her collective experience that has emboldened her involvement with the WNBA’s Chicago Sky along with her deep appreciation for the city of Chicago, IL. “It’s having a level of understanding of how things can be done in an elite way,” she explained to Market Watch. “You have players, you have 22-year-old rookies who are moving to a new city to have their first job out of college. I care a lot about Chicago. I was here during the Bulls years when Jordan was here, which was epic. How can I recreate that here with the Sky? We are the future of Chicago and Chicago sports.” Rawlinson’s commitment to the team is exhibited in her decision to purchase equity in it. She now serves as co-owner and operating chairman of the Chicago Sky. “I’m also operating chairman, but I lead and manage our board of...
It’s raining Black excellence at Southland College Prep Charter High School! For the 11th year in the row, its senior class, which is predominantly Black, have all been accepted to college, Black News reports. In fact, $50 million in merit and need-based scholarships have already been offered to students, with that number expected to exceed $60 million. “And the amount of money rises each year,” senior Lundyn Williams told CBS News. Dr. Blondean Y. Davis, Southland’s CEO and superintendent of Matteson School District 162, told Black News: “Our students faced unprecedented challenges, and they addressed every one of them and more than met them.” Davis adds when she founded the Chicago, IL, area school in 2010, she was told by others that “students from our area would not be able to access the Ivy League or top schools in the country.” Clearly, she has proven doubters wrong. “I have been accepted to 43 different schools and applied to 51,” Williams mentioned, according to CBS News....
The Chicago Sky team are already reaping the benefits of Angel Reese’s arrival. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Reese, a current Louisiana State University (LSU) student, was drafted to the WNBA as the 7th draft pick in the first of three rounds on April 15, 2024, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York, NY. She will be joined on the team by recent National Championship winner Kamilla Cardoso from South Carolina. “It’s a great moment. I’m super excited to go into the W,” Reese, 21, said in reflection during an interview on the “Today” show. “This has always been a dream for me and a dream come true. And then with amazing girls, only 15 girls get to be selected to come to New York and have this experience. And as a little girl, being able to put the dress on and actually go up there and hear a name called was amazing. So I’m just happy to be here and enjoy the moment.” Reese’s entry into the league is already being met with excitement. Within days of being drafted, the team’s...