This consultant leveled up his career to tap into cybersecurity and wants to kick open the door for more to follow suit. Demond Cook transformed his finances shifting from corporate security at the National Basketball Association (NBA) to cybersecurity. Finding his footing took time and Demond Cook relied on self-study, networking, and trial and error before securing his first green light. While venturing into the field, Cook recognized a striking disconnect between hiring managers and recruiters in the cybersecurity space. This led to the creation of Cook Consulting Group (CCG) in June of 2020 to address the knowledge gaps. Now, Demond Cook operates as a beacon of hope for others, opening the doors for more minorities looking to venture into the field. “I noticed the disconnect between hiring managers and recruiters in cyber security,” Cook told AfroTech. “Most recruiters have no idea what cyber security professionals do for a living, so I started CCG to bridge the gap. This would...

Brooklyn Nets owners Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai are trying something ground-breaking that’ll change the game for Black business-owners looking for financial assistance. According to CNBC, as part of their $50 million commitment to help minority communities, the sports owners have launched “EXCELerate,” a $2.5 million Black business loan program to help those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds for the program will come from the Tsai foundation’s Social Justice Fund — which was started last year to help resolve economic inequities in Black communities. “We know that there is no social justice without economic opportunity,” Tsai said in a statement, “which is why we are so excited to launch the Brooklyn EXCELerate Loan Program aimed at elevating Brooklyn’s BIPOC [Black, indigenous, and other people of color] business owners post-pandemic and doing our small part to overcome barriers this community faces in accessing capital.” What’s unique about the program is that instead of...

New York City is giving back to its creatives with a major outlet to not only benefit them but the city too. The New York Times (NYT) reports that the city is launching a brand new $25 million recovery program to lend financial support to artists and performers whose income has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The new program, the City Artist Corps, will reportedly provide funding to artists and musicians as well as other performers to help them create works across the city through public art, performances, pop-up shows, murals and other community arts projects. According to Gonzalo Casals, New York City’s cultural affairs commissioner, the initiative aims to ensure artists are not being left out of the city’s recovery efforts during the pandemic. “We want to make sure that we put funds in the pocket of artists,” he said in an interview with the NYT. “Artists have been one of the hardest-hit populations. They have so much to offer and so much give.” City officials...