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Illinois has welcomed its first licensed predominantly Black-owned cannabis business thanks to the helping hand of a disrupter in the space. Star Buds, a weed company based in Colorado, partnered with SB IL Grow LLC to help them get their feet wet in Illinois.
Despite growing backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the corporate world, shareholder support for these efforts remains strong. Shareholders at 30 of the largest U.S. companies just delivered a powerful counterpunch to the anti-DEI movement. During the 2025 proxy season, every single one of the anti-DEI proposals filed at these corporations’ shareholder meetings was rejected, according to a news release. The companies represent over $13 trillion in market value and include prominent names such as Apple, Costco, Mastercard, Levi Strauss, McDonald’s, Walmart, and Coca-Cola, per Impactivize data. According to the nonprofit, most of the proposals failed by wide margins, with 98% to 99% of votes against cutting DEI initiatives. “Shareholder voting margins send a clear message: Investors understand that diversity is good for business,” Impactivize Founder Nancy Levine Stearns said in the news release. “The overwhelming tallies are significant, corporate...
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...
John W. Rogers Jr. founded the nation’s first Black-owned mutual fund company and remains committed to expanding opportunities for other minority groups. Rogers comes from a family who upheld civil rights, fairness, and economic justice, he revealed in an interview with the SIU Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. It would be his father who sparked his interest in finance and economics. When Rogers was 12 years old, he received stocks as gifts for Christmas and his birthday. These included $200 worth of shares from companies such as General Motors and Commonwealth Edison, and he was able to pocket the dividends from those investments. “My dad was very insistent,” Rogers explained in the interview. “He wanted me to learn everything there is to know about the market, so he made me read the annual reports of the companies that were sent out every year, the quarterly reports that the companies would send out in those days, and I’d read about those companies.” His father also connected...
The restaurant industry remains in a state of constant uncertainty, and Hooters of America is the latest brand to find itself under scrutiny. According to CNN, the fast-casual restaurant filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a Texas court, formally beginning a 90 to 120-day restructuring process aimed at preserving the brand while retooling its financial foundation. Despite widespread speculation about Hooters’ restaurants closing, the chain clarified that it has no plans to disappear from the casual dining scene. Instead, it’s reorganizing and transferring ownership of over 100 company-owned restaurants to two major franchise groups, one of which includes the brand’s founders. This strategic pivot comes amid a string of high-profile restaurant sector bankruptcies, including Red Lobster and BurgerFi, as businesses grapple with elevated food costs, labor shortages, and shifting consumer behavior. Hooters’ current trajectory reflects economic pressures and deeper, more cultural...
Michael Jordan’s sports memorabilia remains highly sought after. AFROTECH™ has covered multiple auction sales featuring memorabilia from Jordan’s legendary NBA career. This includes a jersey worn during his 45-point game during the 1996-1997 season with the Chicago Bulls, which sold for $4.7 million at Sotheby’s auction house in November 2024. “One of the finest Michael Jordan jerseys ever to come to auction, MJ wore this road-red jersey for 5 months and 17 games during the Chicago Bulls legendary 1996-1997 championship season,” Sotheby’s detailed on their Instagram. “In the 1990s, the jersey’s image landed on trading cards, magazines, newspapers, and collectable posters like these from Starline or Costacos Brothers that decorated the walls of kids’ rooms around the world.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) In February 2024, a set of six individual sneakers sported by Jordan during his victorious championship season sold for $8 million, which was the...
Bo Jackson remains one of the most legendary multi-sport athletes of all time, having excelled in both professional baseball and football. His unparalleled athleticism and dominance in two major sports made him a household name in the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, an injury ended his football career prematurely, forcing him to pivot toward business and other ventures. Unlike many former athletes who struggle financially after retirement, Jackson leveraged his brand and earnings into long-term financial success. With multiple revenue streams, including endorsements, real estate investments, and business ventures, he has maintained a strong financial standing. But how much is he worth today? Let’s explore his career earnings, business endeavors, and financial growth before revealing Bo Jackson’s net worth in 2025. Bo Jackson’s Athletic Career And Earnings Bo Jackson’s career began at Auburn University, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 1985, solidifying himself as one of the...
Junior Bridgeman has passed away at 71 years old, leaving behind a lasting legacy. The former NBA Milwaukee Bucks player who became a prominent businessman died on March 11, 2025, following a medical emergency. He had collapsed during a luncheon at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, KY, for the Lincoln Heritage Council of the Boy Scouts of America, according to WDRB. His exact cause of death has not been confirmed, but various Louisville television stations reported that he was seen holding his chest at a point during the event, per ESPN. “We express our heartfelt condolences to Junior’s wife, Doris, their children, Eden, Justin and Ryan, the Bucks organization, and his many friends and admirers in the basketball community,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement, notes ESPN. Bridgeman was a well respected figure for his accomplishments on and off the court. In fact, his jersey was retired at Fiserv Forum, the Milwaukee Bucks’ home arena in Wisconsin, in 1988 to honor his...
Former NBA athlete Junior Bridgeman is now a billionaire. From NBA Player To Successful Businessman Bridgeman was among the 1975 NBA Draft class and was selected in the first round as the eighth pick by the Los Angeles Lakers, notes Basketball Reference. He was soon traded to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a deal to bring Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the Lakers. He went on to play with the Bucks until 1984 before spending two years with the Los Angeles Clippers. Bridgeman returned to the Bucks for his final season in 1986-87, according to ESPN. His starting salary in the league was two payments totaling $140,000, but he only saw $55,000 due to taxes and agent fees. Over his 12-year playing career, he earned $2.95 million and never made more than $350,000 in a single season. When Bridgeman retired from the league in 1987, he had already considered a roadmap for his post-career as a businessman. Forbes notes that he received guidance from former Milwaukee Bucks owner Jim Fitzgerald, who...
Cincoro, Michael Jordan’s spirit company, is making large strides. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the tequila company was founded in 2019 by Jordan in partnership with NBA team owners Jeanie Buss of the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks’ Wes Edens, and Boston Celtics’ Emilia Fazzalari and Wyc Grousbeck. Since then, it has won numerous awards and attracted notable investors, including Serena Williams, Derek Jeter, Michael Strahan , Fenway Sports Group Co-founder Tom Werner, and RedBird Capital Partners Founder and Managing Partner Gerry Cardinale. “Michael introduced me to the brand, and I’ve been an avid fan of Cincoro Extra Añejo since it launched in 2019. I’m honored to support Cincoro in its next era,” said Jeter in a press release. Williams commented: “Being part of Cincoro isn’t just about business —it’s about championing a legacy of greatness. I love Cincoro. Just as I’ve strived for excellence on the court, I recognize the dedication and drive behind Cincoro, and I’m...
Robert L. Johnson ’s journey from a young man with a vision to a media magnate and philanthropist is a story of perseverance, strategy, and relentless pursuit of success. As the founder of BET (Black Entertainment Television), Johnson became the first African American billionaire, cementing his place as one of the most influential figures in the media industry. His journey, however, was not without its challenges. Here’s a closer look at how Johnson built his empire and made a lasting impact as a businessman and philanthropist. Early Life And Education Born on April 8, 1946, in Hickory, Mississippi , Johnson grew up in a family that valued education and hard work. His parents were both educators, and their influence instilled in him a desire to succeed academically and professionally. Johnson attended the University of Illinois, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. Afterward, he went on to obtain a Master of Public Affairs degree from Princeton University. His time...
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...
The public release of ChatGPT in 2022 marked a massive milestone in the popularity and global interest in AI. It showed off impressive capabilities in natural language, and sparked hundreds of projects that fueled a boom in the advancement of artificial intelligence. It’s natural, with AI creeping into everything from online shopping to healthcare, that it would eventually find its way into education. Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing education by enhancing teaching methods, improving accessibility, and personalizing learning experiences. As technology continues to advance, its integration into the educational sector has the potential to reshape how students learn, educators teach, and institutions operate. AI In Education Isn’t Exactly New The term ‘artificial intelligence’ was coined at Dartmouth College in 1953, but it wasn’t until 1960 that we saw the birth of computer-assisted instruction (CAI). These programs were built on the massive, expensive computer systems of...
Ira Salls is an inspiration for her history-making role as a McDonald’s franchisee. Salls, a Cincinnati, OH, native, graduated from Northern Illinois University and later earned both an MBA and a master’s degree in public administration from Northwestern University. She secured her franchise title in 1991, as she explained during an interview with WHAS 11 in 2021. Before becoming an owner and operator, she first worked at the fast-food chain as an accountant. “I was hired by McDonald’s because I already had a degree and (was) a CPA. McDonald’s was forward thinking, and they wanted Black CPAs working in their accounting department,” she recalled to the outlet. Salls’ pivot to owning her own McDonald’s locations led her to become the first Black woman franchisee of the chain in Kentucky and Indiana in 1991, the Louisville Business Journal reports. She would go on to become one of the company’s most successful operators, managing six locations in Louisville, KY. She also understood the...