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This Florida A&M University student bet on herself and landed in national stores. Kah’Milah Ledgester submitted her designs for Target’s 2021 HBCU design contest and JCPenney’s Young, Gifted and Black design challenge. And, putting her hands in various baskets paid off. Ledgester was informed she won both competitions during the spring of 2021 and to expect them displayed on a national scale for Black History Month of 2022. FAMU senior graphic design student Kah'Milah Ledgester recently appeared in a @Target commercial showcasing her work for their 2022 Black History Collection! Way to strike from the top, Kah'Milah! Check out the commercial below! #famu #rattlers #blackbeyondmeasure pic.twitter.com/q2k7HukC3F — FAMU School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (@FAMUSJGC82) November 26, 2021 “I always get a little excited because of the fact that I did the Target challenge, and I also did JCPenney and won both of them. It made me feel very good because I took a chance,” said...
Houston, TX entrepreneur Tony Chase is keeping his father’s legacy alive. According to a press release, the entrepreneur has donated $1 million to the University of Texas (UT) at Austin’s School of Architecture. His generous contributions will honor his late father John S. Chase, who also made history as the first Black licensed architect in Texas and became the first Black graduate of UT’s school of architecture. “As one of the first Black students to enroll at UT, John Chase helped pave the way for progress and change,” said UT Austin President Jay Hartzell, in a press release. “Then, he brought his considerable talents, creativity and education together to design special places that brought people together. This gift is an investment in the transformative power of education to bring about that sort of change and impact, and will support us as we continue to strive for excellence delivered through a richly diverse and inclusive campus.” The new funding will be used to create The...
Netflix has been championing Black stories, creators, and experiences through a more in-depth lens since 2019 with “Strong Black Lead,” which recently celebrated its three-year anniversary. Now, the streaming giant’s co-CEO Reed Hastings and his wife, Patty Quillin, are dedicated to continuing their mission of advancing the Black and LatinX communities, specifically with educational opportunities for disadvantaged students. Variety reports that the wedded couple donated $10 million to Tougaloo College, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Mississippi. The new funding will be split between scholarships for the HBCU and will establish the Brown-Tougaloo Partnership Scholarship Fund at Brown University — founded by the two universities in 1964 “to prosper and thrive so that future generations of Tougaloo and Brown students can keep sharing new perspectives and generating new ideas.” Hastings and Quillin’s donation marks the largest that the school partnership has been...
The No. 1 high school football player in the nation, Travis Hunter is making moves. Clarion Ledger reports Travis Hunter has signed a name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal with Black-owned coffee shop J5 Caffe. “Hunter set the sports world ablaze when he chose to play for (Deion Sanders) and JSU,” J5 Caffe said in a news release, according to Clarion Ledger. “He possesses unique skills and a mindset that will allow him to be a phenomenal two-way threat for JSU. His uniqueness complements the uniqueness of J5 Caffe and they will both change the game.” The partnership with Travis Hunter honors J5 Caffe’s commitment to empowering aspiring Historically Black College and University (HBCU) students. The coffee company — created by Jabari O. Edwards — not only sells top-of-the-line blends, but each purchase benefits the greater good. According to the company’s website, a percentage of each product sold creates scholarship opportunities for individuals of low socioeconomic status interested...
Inclusive e-commerce beauty brand thirteen lune, backed by Diddy, Gwyneth Paltrow, and more, has closed a $3 million seed round led by venture capital firm Fearless Fund. “We are delighted to welcome thirteen lune into the Fearless Fund family,” says Arian Simone, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fearless Fund, according to Essence. “Nyakio has created a groundbreaking space to foster inclusivity in the beauty and wellness industries and we are excited to support the brand as they continue to scale over the next few years.” As a Black woman founder, receiving funding does not come easy. In fact, only 93 Black women have received venture capital funding over $1 million as of December 2020. Nyakio Grieco — founder of thirteen lune — learned firsthand how difficult raising money can be as an entrepreneur. She was fortunate to collect funds from friends and family to debut her brand into the market. The new funds marks a hopeful step forward to create a new landscape for more...