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Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, LA, in August 2005, wiping out 200,000 trees. While the city has faced challenges in restoring its tree canopy, efforts were underway thanks to a $75 million grant from the U.S. Forest Service to the Arbor Day Foundation that aimed to plant trees in neighborhoods without the resources to afford them, according to The Associated Press. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has, at least for now, terminated the funding to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order focused on banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts within the federal government. “Protecting the people and communities we serve, as well as the infrastructure, businesses, and resources they depend on to grow and thrive, remains a top priority for the USDA and the Forest Service,” the USDA said, per AP. Trees offer various benefits, including cleaning the air in polluted areas, capturing stormwater and replenishing groundwater, and providing shade...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. During Donald Trump’s second presidential campaign, his relationship with the tech industry was highlighted due to his budding relationship with Elon Musk , who spent $288 million to help elect Trump. While many people in tech believe this is when the federal government started to embrace the tech industry, the relationship with the federal government was started by former President Barack Obama during his campaign and subsequently expanded while he was in office. Obama first supported technology via social media on the presidential campaign trail in 2008. Facebook had been founded on Harvard University’s campus four years before his campaign, and due to its connection with the younger electorate, he leveraged it in a way not seen before, though it has been seen since with Donald Trump’s embrace of X. Obama’s campaign used Facebook to target younger voters, empower grassroots organizations, and...
You can now file reports of discrimination based on race or sex to the U.S. Department of Education. According to a press release by the U.S. Department of Education, it has launched a portal called EndDEI.Ed.Gov , which parents, students, teachers, and community members can use to report incidents of “illegal discriminatory practices” at K-12 schools funded by the government. The form requires an email address, the name of the school and district, and a description of the incident. The aim is to ensure that “students have access to meaningful learning free of divisive ideologies and indoctrination.” “For years, parents have been begging schools to focus on teaching their kids practical skills like reading, writing, and math instead of pushing critical theory, rogue sex education and divisive ideologies—but their concerns have been brushed off, mocked, or shut down entirely,” said Tiffany Justice, co-founder of Moms for Liberty in a news release. “Parents, now is the time that you...
Students from across the country can benefit from the AFROTECH™ Conference. You don’t need to be a professional or a graduating college student to make an impact at the annual Black tech mecca. Learning is a lifelong process, and by attending the conference, you’ll gain access to a dynamic lineup of speakers and corporations covering topics such as entrepreneurship, wealth building, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and more. Additionally, attending AFROTECH™ presents countless networking opportunities—its first year in Houston, Texas, in November 2024 drew more than 37,000 attendees. Morgan State University junior Mivette Garcia had several expectations when she attended the AFROTECH™ Conference for the first time in 2024—expectations shaped by her pursuits as a business administration and management major, an intern at the university’s Entrepreneurial Development and Assistance Center, and the owner of a virtual beauty boutique that she hopes to expand to include beauty...
A scholarship for HBCU students created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture has reopened. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the department had established the 1890 National Scholars Program, which was intended to increase opportunities for underserved and rural communities, particularly in food, agriculture, natural resources, and other related sciences. The scholarship was created in partnership with 19 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that received resources under the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890, otherwise known as the 1890 land-grant universities. The scholarship benefits include full tuition, fees, books, and room and board. 16 Virginia State University students receiving the scholarship view it as “an invaluable resource,” 8News reports. “A lot of us … it was hard for us to come to college alone. We can barely afford it,” VSU freshman Tobias Clark told the outlet. Those very students were stunned when news broke that the 1890 National Scholars Program...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have been wreaking havoc on the American people, from their quest to gain access to sensitive information within the government to assisting President Donald Trump with his plan to lay off federal employees and dismantle government agencies like the Department of Education . Federal jobs were once a symbol of stable employment, but with mass layoffs and confusion surrounding what jobs still exist, that sentiment may not exist anymore. So far this year, about 200,000 federal workers have had their roles eliminated and 75,000 federal employees have been laid off, with more to come as DOGE continues to comb through federal agencies. Agencies have done hiring freezes, offered buyouts, and mass-fired workers. Some workers doubt that they will even receive the settlement that the administration is offering. Many of these attempts to cut down...
A scholarship that provided assistance to HBCU students will no longer exist. In 1992, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) created the 1890 National Scholars Program through a collaboration with 1890 land-grant universities, which refer to the 19 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that benefited from resources established by the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890, according to Montana State University. The first act was established to ensure broader access to education in agriculture, military tactics, and engineering for the working class, and the second act provided further funding to include HBCUs. As for the 1890 National Scholars Program, it aims to increase representation at these schools by funding students, particularly from rural and underserved communities, i n food, agriculture, natural resource, and other related sciences, according to the USDA website. Recipients benefit from full tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Eligibility requirements...
Angela Yee is a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, best known for her work as a radio personality, media mogul, and businesswoman. As one of the leading voices in hip-hop and urban culture, her influence continues to grow, not just through her media presence but also through her various business ventures. In 2024, Yee’s net worth is estimated to be approximately $8 million, though this figure can fluctuate as she continues to build her career and expand her brand. Rise To Fame Yee’s rise to fame began with her work in radio. She first gained widespread recognition as a co-host on the popular morning radio show The Breakfast Club , alongside DJ Envy and Charlamagne Tha God . Known for her candid and often insightful interviews with celebrities, artists, and political figures, Yee quickly became a trusted voice in hip-hop culture. Her ability to engage with guests on a personal level helped her carve out a unique niche in the broadcasting world. Over the years, Yee’s...
A multi-million-dollar investment towards Black farmers is underway. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the Black Farmer Fund, created by Karen Washington and Olivia Watkins, raised $11 million in September 2023 to support Black-owned agricultural systems through wealth-building opportunities. Since then, the New York-based nonprofit has reached its target goal in a second fund, which will deploy $20 million in capital to improve the Black food system, a press release states . It will specifically target food businesses in the Northeast region and provide support in the form of “low-interest loans and gifts.” The intention is for the awarded businesses to enable Black growers to strengthen their presence in the market and gain greater authority in the supply chain. This is timely when considering Black farmers have been faced with various challenges throughout the decades, which includes discrimination that has led to the denial of low-interest loans, grants, and further assistance,...
Direct payouts from the Biden administration will be allocated to Black farmers who have faced discrimination. ABC News reports Black farmers acknowledge that they have been discriminated against by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) when it comes to loans. The outlet notes many had been denied loans or received loans that were less than their white counterparts. Some that did receive loans had even reported having their property foreclosed on sooner than was typical when they experienced issues paying. Denial was the case for Wardell Carter, whose family has owned 85 acres of land in Mississippi since 1939. Yet despite their longevity, they have never been able to access a loan application. Instead, they were greeted by USDA loan officers with a slammed door, and if they persisted they were faced with the reality of having a cop called to their home, he says. Due to these challenges, it prevented the family from purchasing a tractor for years. So, they had to rely on a horse...
The Smart Tech Health Hub will be making its way to Miami, FL. According to a news release provided to AFROTECH™, $4 million has been awarded to the S.E.E.K. (Seeking Education Empowers Knowledge) Foundation Inc., a nonprofit launched by Anike Sakariyawo, in order to make that possible. The foundation, which focuses on STEM education, community involvement, and health and wellness for children ages 3 to 18 plans to open the four-story building in Opa-Locka, a suburb of Miami. This will facilitate access for residents, children, and their families to STEAM education, workforce re-entry programs, and broadband service, dismantling existing entry obstacles. The hub will also provided basic essential health services. Its presence is being described as “the first of its kind in the city” as there has not been a technical facility in the area nor a high school. “The partnership with the Miami Foundation’s Digital Equity Collective program has been pivotal in advancing this initiative,”...
Those seeking funding for their small business have the debt-free option of applying for startup business grants or small business grants. These grants are typically awarded by government entities, private organizations or corporations and, unlike loans , are not expected to be paid back. There are incentives for these companies and organizations to award these grants, as the new businesses could create economic growth or support a certain cause/research topic (like social or environmental) that one of these entities is interested in. These grants are highly competitive and have very specific requirements that must be met before they are awarded. Most likely, applicants will need to prepare by verifying the eligibility criteria, funding amount, application deadlines and any restrictions of a grant that their business aligns with. Also, ensuring the applicant’s business is specific enough to the grant’s requirements is very important . Doing so ensures the applicant has a better...
As the descendant of Black farmers by way of southern Virginia, this Airbnb experience was a reminder that there’s truly no place like home. Thanks to the company’s new Southwest Georgia Agri-Tourism initiative , Black people have the opportunity to connect to their roots in a way like never before. The first stop on the tour for me was the “Taste of The South” Experience at the Vicks Estate, Farm, and Fishery. Upon arriving, the home had a familiarity about it that I couldn’t quite put my finger on — that was until Clinton Vicks met me with a warm greeting as if he was a distant cousin prior to taking me to a backyard oasis that was way too beautiful to put into words. This is not your average tasting experience. Together, Clinton and I picked fresh food from the garden to prepare our meal as we learned our connection to the land lies within our family’s farming experiences. “I grew up doing this with my grandma,” said Clinton when asked when he discovered he had a passion for...
Smithfield Food is on a mission to support Black and minority farmers! The company just welcomed its first family farmers to join its new contract grower program created to support Black and minority farmers as it works to diversify its hog supply chain, per news shared in a press release. Smithfield is leading the charge through a new documentary from the lens of the Martin family, contract hog farmers for the Wayne County, North Carolina-based company. The project will address long withstanding barriers like access to capital and cost of capital for Black and minority farmers and is a part of the $15 million Unity & Action commitment made by Smithfield to level the playing field in food manufacturing, agriculture and education. “Our position as a leading food company and hog producer in America is accompanied by tremendous responsibility to our many stakeholders, including our people and communities,” said Shane Smith , president and chief executive officer of Smithfield Foods in...
Here we go again. A Wisconsin federal judge has ordered a temporary stop to the $4 billion federal loan relief program created to address decades of injustice faced by Black farmers. The decision to halt the program is the response to white tears after a group of white farmers filed a legal challenge in which they claim to have been discriminated upon (the nerve, right?). Last Thursday Judge William Griesbach issued a temporary restraining order that in turn blocked the U.S. Department of Agriculture from moving forward with the relief payments. According to NBC News , Griesbach said that the white farmers are “likely to succeed on the merits of their claim,” that the USDA’s “use of race-based criteria in the administration of the program violates their right to equal protection under the law.” Black farmers like John W. Boyd say that years of work have been put into the bill just for white counterparts to try and shut it down…again. “I’ve been trying for decades to get this passed...