80-year-old entrepreneur Beatrice Wilson did not take no for an answer. Wilson had worked at local car dealerships before deciding to attend nail school to learn how to do nails, according to 11 Alive. However, when she tried to get a job at a nail salon, she faced rejection. That is when she took matters into her own hands and opened Bee Nails, a nail salon in Atlanta, GA. “I feel you’re never too old; it’s never too late to follow what you love doing,” Wilson told 11 Alive. Wilson opened seven storefronts across metro Atlanta before retiring in 2021. However, as a result of boredom, she jumped right back into the business and opened up an eighth location. “Personally, I love being away from home and talking and interacting with people,” Wilson told the outlet. Now, she is the proud owner of her newest and largest store. Last week, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and City Council member Andrea Boone attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new storefront. “It’s very heartwarming...
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky sought out Barack Obama’s mentorship. During an interview with former First Lady Michelle Obama, Chesky revealed that he sought advice from Barack after the conclusion of his presidency in 2017. He believed that Barack was well-positioned to offer guidance that could inform his leadership at Airbnb, a vacation rental company that now boasts more than 5 million hosts and over 2 billion guest arrivals, its website mentions. “Airbnb is a community. Who’s the most famous community organizer in the world,” Chesky said, alluding to Barack while speaking to Michelle. Chesky’s time learning under Barack Obama as a mentee involved completing various homework assignments that he said changed his life. By 2018, he says his daily routine included attending night school with Barack’s lessons and participating in weekly one-hour phone calls. While practical, he points out one piece of advice that has stood the test of time: to become more intentional. “He literally said,...
Martha’s Vineyard is a place of solitude for Black families during the summer. The island in Dukes County, MA, was recently featured in the popular Netflix series “Forever” directed by the legendary creator of “Girlfriends,” Mara Brock Akil. In the new show, characters Keisha Clark (played by Lovie Simone) and Justin Edwards (played by Michael Cooper Jr.) reconnect in Martha’s Vineyard after a breakup. Edwards’ family resides particularly in Oak Buff each summer. History Of Martha’s Vineyard Explained Furthermore, the location of their reconnection was intentional, per Brock Akil, who lives part-time in Martha’s Vineyard, according to Netflix. The series is adapted from Judy Blume’s 1975 YA novel of the same name, and Episode 5 takes viewers to Martha’s Vineyard, serving as a love letter to the island. “Understanding the essence of the island, even in the way it shaped the story, is important,” Brock Akil told Netflix. “You think you’re just arriving on the island, and you don’t...
Icebreaker questions are an easy practice that can make a big difference in the workplace. Whether you’re kicking off a Monday morning meeting, onboarding a new team member , or leading a company retreat, icebreaker questions are one of the best ways to create an atmosphere of openness and engagement. They can ease tension, reveal common ground, and jumpstart conversations that otherwise wouldn’t happen in a strictly professional setting. When used well, icebreakers can build team cohesion and make each team member feel safer and more included. They’re especially valuable in hybrid or remote workplaces with limited opportunities for informal interactions. The key is to choose questions that are light enough to be low-pressure but interesting enough to invite genuine responses. Here’s a mix of fun, thoughtful, and creative workplace-appropriate icebreaker questions , grouped by themes. Get-To-Know-You Basics What’s your favorite way to spend a day off? This question reveals team...
Jackson Aimiuwu was 19 years old when he first got his hands on a computer, and now he is paving the way at a major technology company. Aimiuwu attended the University of Calgary and earned a Bachelor of Science in computer science. His first year was the most challenging due to not having a computer, but it solidified his interest in the field. He also credits his cousin, who studied computer science and was able to bridge tech and business in his career. Aimiuwu is now doing the same through his role at Amazon Web Services (AWS). Prior to this, his career trajectory included a role at EMC’s (now part of Dell) headquarters in Toronto, Canada, as a senior solutions architect and team lead (pre-sales), which gave him the opportunity to manage a team at Canadian Tire — the second-largest retailer in the country — from 2016 to 2019. He provided support to the company’s chief technology officer and helped build its first private cloud. “They were trying to really change how they went to...
Nonprofit 826 Boston is willing to lose significant funding from the federal government to uphold DEI. The Massachusetts-based organization, which offers writing, tutoring, and publishing services for educational purposes, will no longer seek federal funding . In a letter, it confirmed that the decision follows the Trump administration’s directive for agencies to dismantle DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs if receiving federal grant and contracts. Standing on its mission to support students and reflect the diversity of its community, the nonprofit will withdraw its application to receive a $250,000 federal grant for the 2025–2026 AmeriCorps program year. The organization made this decision in order to uphold DEI in its hiring practices, according to CBS News. “826 Boston’s six Writers’ Rooms in Boston Public Schools are staffed with one full time Writers’ Room Manager and two AmeriCorps service members,” Executive Director Corey Yarbrough stated in a letter, per the...
The Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Harvard University will now be called the Office of Community and Campus Life. Sherri A. Charleston, previously Harvard’s chief diversity officer and now the chief community and campus life officer, shared this news via email on April 28, 2025, according to The Harvard Crimson. The announcement aligns with the Trump administration’s push to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion ( DEI ) programming at schools and universities nationwide. “In the weeks and months ahead, we will take steps to make this change concrete and to work with all of Harvard’s schools and units to implement these vital objectives, including shared efforts to reexamine and reshape the missions and programs of offices across the university,” Charleston wrote, per The Crimson. Charleston noted that in the 2024 campus-wide Pulse Survey, students, faculty, and staff reported feeling a strong sense of belonging; however, a significant number still felt...
As faith leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers navigate the fast-shifting terrain of artificial intelligence, automation, and digital globalization, few figures have leaned into this moment with as much intentionality — or complexity — as Bishop T.D. Jakes. Known to many as a pastor, to others as a media mogul, and increasingly to investors and technologists as an ecosystem builder, Jakes is reasserting his role at the intersection of innovation, equity, and cultural capital. This is where his ongoing initiative, the Good Soil Forum, enters the chat. The conference, which has convened business owners, technologists, creatives, and investors for years, positions itself as a gathering and a long-term infrastructure. It reflects Jakes’ emphasis on sustainability, access to capital, and the kind of practical knowledge often kept behind institutional gates. What has shifted recently, however, is not the mission — but the moment. When Technology Hits Close To Home For Jakes In 2024,...
Remaining a student has led Carmelo Anthony into various industries. The former NBA player, who retired in 2023 and is a first-ballot Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, reflects on his evolution from the 19-year-old drafted in 2003 to a businessman who is now a serial investor and founder in the wine and cannabis sectors. One of Anthony’s biggest takeaways: He is no longer operating in fear. “A top lesson that I’ve learned was ‘stop being afraid,'” he recalled in an interview with AFROTECH™. “ A lot of times when you’re younger and you in these powerful roles and there’s people who are making decisions and there are people writing checks, it’s like ‘You too young to understand it,’ until you grow and until you get older, you go through it and you understand what you truly want to do.” He continued, “At 19, 20, 21, I didn’t have any type of sense of business. I knew street business, I knew street knowledge. I have foundational ethics and morals that could carry over from the streets...
The third annual Black Effect Podcast Festival will take place on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Pullman Yards in Atlanta, GA. Founder Charlamagne Tha God will join popular personalities from his and iHeartMedia’s Black Effect Podcast Network for the one-day festival — which promises some of the “biggest and best” podcasts — featuring live recordings to amplify Black voices and informative discussions to inspire the next generation of podcasters. The Black Effect Marketplace will also be in full effect, featuring various Black-owned businesses and a lineup of food trucks to keep the energy high throughout the day. “We’re excited to return to Atlanta, building on the incredible momentum of the podcast industry and the growing impact of Black creators in the space,” Charlamagne said in a statement. Mandii B and WeezyWTF, hosts of the “Decisions, Decisions” podcast, will host the festival with sounds by DJ Loui Vee of 105.3 The Beat in Atlanta. Appearances are anticipated by popular...
Charles D. King has changed the entertainment landscape for the better. The Journey Born in Harlem, NY, and raised on the outskirts of Atlanta, GA, he showed early signs of being a businessman by selling supplies at school and even cutting neighbors’ grass, CNBC reports . He says his inspiration was his father, who founded a medical practice as a pediatrician. According to Forbes, King originally intended to also pursue a career in the medical field. “Seeing him leave a job to start his own practice. My mother was the first receptionist. It was just amazing watching it, but the other thing was the freedom that he had,” he told CNBC. King would follow that blueprint of ownership, but within the entertainment industry. As a political science student at Vanderbilt University, he showed an interest in recognizing talent. However, his pivot into the entertainment industry came during a two-year stint as a law clerk with a music attorney while at Howard University School of Law between...
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has received clearance to request personal information from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) about undocumented taxpayers. On Monday, April 7, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the IRS filed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, according to The Guardian. The agreement gives immigration enforcement officials unprecedented access to help President Donald Trump fulfill his promise of mass deportations as his administration continues to investigate undocumented immigrants still in the country after receiving a final removal order from a judge. “As laid out in the MOU, DHS can legally request return information relating to individuals under criminal investigation, and the IRS must provide it,” per a court filing, which outlines the procedures for making such requests and specifies the role of each agency in accessing the...
The global economy is not just shaped by technology or innovation — it’s governed by decisions made behind closed doors, often under the guise of economic strategy. One such decision, the imposition of tariffs, is anything but neutral. It is an instrument of pressure, a marker of priority, and increasingly, a reflection of geopolitical posture. Tariffs have reemerged as a centerpiece of American economic policy, not as quiet fiscal levers but as loud, disruptive statements. The Trump administration’s recent directive — a flat 10% base tariff on all imports and a sweeping set of reciprocal tariffs targeting nearly 90 countries — represents a radical reorientation of U.S. trade policy. In an interconnected world already strained by inflation, global supply chain challenges, and diplomatic fragility, these decisions matter deeply — and immediately. What Are Tariffs? At their core, tariffs are taxes on imported goods, imposed by governments to influence the cost and flow of trade. By...
Ice-T has officially opened a cannabis dispensary in his home state. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, the Jersey City Cannabis Control Board (CCB) approved his adult-use cannabis dispensary application in partnership with The Medicine Woman — owned by married couple Charis Burrett and her husband, Luke Burrett — in 2022. “We want everyone to have access to safe cannabis. You are the first application who have said something about the price point. I commend you on that,” CCB member Stacey Flanagan stated . Fast-forward to 2025, and the dispensary has officially touched down in Jersey City, NJ. The Medicine Woman Jersey City held its official soft opening on Thursday, March 27. It will host its grand opening on Saturday, April 19th, and Sunday, April 20th, 2025, according to a press release shared with AFROTECH™. This also marks its first location outside of California. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ICEMFT (@icet) “We’re thrilled to be officially opening the doors of...
After spending significant dollars in DEI efforts, the University of Michigan has closed two offices tied to equity and inclusion. The Detroit Free Press reports that the public research university has spent nearly $250 million on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in recent years. However, the university has now decided to dismantle its Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) and the Office for Health Equity and Inclusion (OHEI).” “Student-facing services in ODEI will shift to other offices focused on student access and opportunity,” the school said in a statement on its website, according to the outlet. The statement also read: “The DEI 2.0 Strategic Plan, the umbrella strategy for schools, colleges and units, will be discontinued, along with DEI 2.0 unit plans, related programming, progress reporting, training and funding. Individual leads, who have supported DEI efforts in schools, colleges and units, will refocus their full effort on their core...