All results
The majority of Levi Strauss & Co.’s shareholders have voted against anti-DEI proposals. WWD reports the company received a proposal from the National Center for Public Policy Research requesting that its shareholders “consider abolishing its DEI program, policies, department and goal.” At a time when other major corporations have rolled back their diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in response to President Donald Trump’s efforts to eliminate DEI across the federal government , the proposal referenced that “Alphabet and Meta cut DEI staff and DEI-related investments; and Microsoft and Zoom laid off their entire DEI teams.” Levi’s executives, however, do not believe the company has partaken in discriminatory policies in its recruitment or promotions, according to David Jedrzejek, Levi’s senior vice president and general counsel, per the outlet. Still, Stefan Padfield, executive director of the National Center’s Free Enterprise Project, made a point to mention at the...
The date Oct. 1, 2023, holds weight for the Beyhive for two reasons. One, it’s the day that Beyoncé closed out the “Renaissance World Tour” in Kansas City, MO, and two, that same night she shared a teaser for “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé.” Released on Dec. 1, fans lined up to watch the documentary concert film at AMC Theatres. And while the impact was already felt within that limited time of its showing, a new report shares the true magnitude of it all. According to The Hollywood Reporter, AMC Theatres announced that its fourth-quarter revenue for 2023 was $1.10 billion with a net loss of $182 million. In 2022, it had revenue of $990.9 million and a net loss of $287.7 million. The outlet details that AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron said “literally all” of the company’s increase in revenue was due to Beyoncé and Taylor Swift’s concert films. “What is particularly noteworthy is how much AMC benefited from our trailblazing industry leading efforts with our highly successful distribution...
Jade Kearney is placing Black women at the forefront of mental health and wellness. As the CEO of She Matters, Kearney created the digital health platform to ensure Black women and women of color find the support they need. Kearney hopes to provide women the assistance she failed to receive following the birth of her daughter while working to complete her second master’s at New York University. “When I had postpartum, I was feeling the cultural norms of suffering in silence and I was invisible to the healthcare system. I experienced a lot of cultural stigma around mental illness and when it came to healthcare professionals or healthcare networks, I didn’t have any of them making the connection between what I had gone through physically while giving birth, which was preeclampsia and hemorrhage,” Kearney told AfroTech exclusively.
For over a decade, seasoned journalist Roland Martin has voraciously served daily news to the Black community on #RolandMartinUnfiltered, and he’s ready to take things to new heights with his next venture. Since its inception, the daily news show has “generated nearly 509 million views and more than 1.5 billion minutes watched,” a press release states. Now, Martin realizes that there is a need to provide the Black community with content driven by their concerns. With that said, the award-winning journalist has recently announced the debut of the Black Star Network on the third anniversary of #RolandMartinUnfiltered. “We’ve proven over the last three years that Black women, men and children desire culturally relevant content from a Black-owned media company. We have traveled all over the country covering a variety of big news stories, and Black Star Network will allow us to further expand our footprint,” Martin said in a press release. The network features an array of Black news and...
Football season is in full swing! There’s nothing quite like fall football games at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). And this year, Pepsi is blessing fans for their school spirit in a huge way. According to an official press release, the beverage company has launched a contest where HBCU students and alumni can vote for their favorite university. In turn, they will donate $25,000 to the winning institution’s general scholarship fund. “As a long-time resident of the South, I love the energy, spirit, and sense of community that HBCUs bring, especially around the highly anticipated return of football,” said Chauncey Hamlett, Vice President, and Chief Marketing Officer, PepsiCo Beverages North America (South Division) in an official release shared with AfroTech. “This scholarship opportunity isn’t just open to students and alumni to cast their votes, but to anyone who shares pride and enthusiasm for these great institutions. I have a strong passion for HBCUs, and I...
For many professionals navigating creative spaces, it can seem difficult to find your own lane in such a saturated market. But for Browned 2 Perfection (B2P) founder Junae Brown, being her own boss was always a part of her master plan to dominate the marketing industry. Brown — a Harlem native whose been dubbed by her peers as the “Beyoncé of Marketing” — knew early on in her life that she always had a knack for marketing and event planning. Coming from a strong-spirited entrepreneurial family, Brown tells AfroTech that seeing so many people around her take charge of their own lives inspired her to want to do the same. Being the planner of her friend groups and family was a natural talent for Brown, and after serving as the President of Student Activities at her alma mater — Five Towns College — she realized that she had great potential to succeed in the marketing industry. “I really love being able to take something from point A to point Z,” she tells us. “Most people that I...
This Howard University (HU) graduate is living proof that you’re never too old to follow your dreams! According to a news release distributed by the venerated Historically Black College and University (HBCU), 70-year-old Joseph Grant is a proud member of the HU graduating class of 2021. He’s matriculating from the university with a Ph.D. in political science. Dr. Grant’s focus will be on American government and Black politics. “I always wanted to go to Howard University, literally all my life. This is my first HBCU experience,” said Dr. Grant, in a statement included in the university’s release. “When I graduated high school, there was a big move to integrate, and because they needed Black students and I needed the money, it was an easy decision to go to those schools. I was determined [as I got older] that when my children were in college, they would go to an HBCU.” Dr. Grant said that he grew up during a time of segregation, where things were “separate but equal” in the United...
When Eric Coly founded AYANA Therapy, he knew that there would, initially, be some resistance to the concept. As a Black man originally from the country of Senegal, Africa, he understood that there would be cultural resistance from the Black men both from his country of origin and his adopted country. “There are a number of reasons why, of course,” Coly told AfroTech. “But no matter where in the diaspora you’re from, the resistance to therapy can be summed up in one word: culture.” Coly said he was inspired to start the company after having a chat with a longtime friend, who told him of the struggles he was having with his mental health. The friend, according to Coly, recognized that he was in need of mental health services, but he struggled with finding a therapist that was sensitive to his cultural needs. And thus, AYANA Therapy was born. Billing itself as an online platform that offers access to mental health services to minorities and marginalized communities with an emphasis on...
Afrinanny — an online marketplace — is on a mission to help families locate childcare providers that will provide their children with the most culturally relevant experience. Founder Dr. Irene Okoronkwo-Obika was inspired after she did not have a good experience with finding a provider who would meet the unique needs of her children. “I figured that families of Black children need a streamlined way to access providers,” said Dr. Okoronkwo-Obika in an interview with SHOPPE BLACK . “ Our kids need to be the priority, not the afterthought.” She also noted how important it is for Black children to receive childcare that reiterates cultural experiences most relevant to them. “From birth, the odds are stacked against Black children,” she says. “It is important for them to have a community around that uplifts and instills cultural pride and identity.” As the brand continues to grow, Dr. Okoronkwo-Obika says she hopes the community will continue to support them by word of mouth so more...
In the weeks leading up to Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the president received backlash for wanting to host his first rally of the year on Juneteenth in the city that was once home to Black Wall Street. He pushed the rally to June 20th, but that was not good enough for those who did not want the streets of Tulsa overthrown by his racist followers. On June 15, Donald Trump took to Twitter to announce that nearly one million MAGA supporters would be attending his campaign rally in downtown Tulsa. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1272521253136498690?s=20 “Almost One Million people request tickets for the Saturday Night Rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma,” he tweeted. At every turn, he made it a point to brag about the huge attendance at his upcoming rally. Compilation of people bragging about a million people signing up for the rally pic.twitter.com/X9EHPSvv8Z — Acyn (@Acyn) June 21, 2020 In anticipation of such a large turnout, the BOK Center, which only has a...
By: Barbara Whye, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for Intel I have so much respect for the women in technology we met during our AfroTech event. That said, even as we celebrated all of the amazing #STEMstories that were told, I’m sure they would all agree, we still have a challenging road ahead and must continue to rally together on our journey to open doors for others. What does that mean? Simply put, in order to help close diversity gaps in STEM, we must address the bias Black women face in the technology industry daily. Bias, I would even say, that extends beyond this one industry and lives at the very core of our shared Black female experience. As the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for Intel, I’m committed to using my position to build ongoing solutions. In 2015, Intel pledged to achieve full representation in our workforce by 2020. I’m proud to say that we hit this goal in October 2018, a full two years ahead of schedule! It’s an amazing achievement for Intel, but...
No matter who occupies the White House, Maryland Governor Wes Moore remains steadfast in his commitment to three core pillars for his state’s 6.2 million residents: work, wages, and wealth — and creating pathways for all three. At AFROTECH™ Conference 2024, Moore — Maryland’s 63rd and first Black governor — joined Blavity Inc. Co-Founder and COO Jeff Nelson for a powerful fireside chat focused on economic empowerment, youth engagement, public safety, and sustainable community development. The governor shared insights on building resilient, self-sufficient communities, equipping the conference room of innovators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers with tangible steps to create a lasting impact. Buy your AFROTECH™ Conference 2025 ticket now! Reflecting on his personal journey into public service, Moore shared that he didn’t come from a political dynasty — far from it. Now, he says he sees the world in two categories: Marylanders and future Marylanders. “I had to convince members of my...