It is safe to assume that you must live under a rock if you haven’t heard about AFROTECH Conference ’23. AFROTECH Conference isn’t holding back on anything with this year’s conference. As always, the event will be power-packed with information and opportunities to allow each ticket holder to grow and develop beyond their imagination. This year’s speaker lineup is out of this world too, with industry experts and influencers such as Grammarly’s Chris Locklin, Google’s Adrienne Lofton, venture capitalist Ashley DeWalt, and Sylvia Obell of “The Scottie & Sylvia Show.” This fire speakers’ list is guaranteed to leave people inspired with gems and tools to take their careers and business ideas to the next level. But don’t get it twisted. AFROTECH Conference isn’t just about work. The conference is curated in a way that amplifies the “work hard, play hard” motto in all of the best ways. AFROTECH Music is bringing social vibes with performances from major artists including Rick Ross and...

In 2016, Solange released her critically acclaimed album, “A Seat at the Table.” The album spoke to the Black experience and some of how the community navigates culture. One of the songs from this album that fully embraces the concept of the challenges, range, and beauty of the Black experience is “F.U.B.U.” In it, she opens by declaring, “…Made this song to make it all y’all’s turn. For us, this sh-t is for us.” In just a few short months, the Solange-inspired calling card will have undeniable evidence as members of the tech and business communities gather in Austin, TX, for AfroTech Conference. On Nov. 13-17, 2022, conference attendees will participate in panel discussions and keynote addresses, network with industry experts, and engage in various entertainment experiences guaranteed to keep the vibes high. While the conference is open to everyone, there is no doubt that AfroTech is a F.U.B.U (for us, by us) situation. So, check out these tips to help maximize your experience at...

Shaquille O’Neal is always raising the bar! As AfroTech previously reported, the basketball legend and serial entrepreneur became a co-owner of Big Chicken in 2018 before introducing the restaurant chain to Las Vegas and California. Now, it appears Shaq is still on the move! Houston Chronicle reports Big Chicken will be opening 50 locations throughout Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin. The first restaurants are expected to open at an undisclosed date later this year and it appears Houstonians and Austinites will have first dibs. “Big Chicken is exactly the kind of brand that succeeds in Texas: pioneering and bold, yet rooted in delicious tradition. Our restaurant industry’s rich diversity is our greatest strength, and we’re absolutely thrilled that Shaquille O’Neal and the Big Chicken team are joining us,” said Emily Williams Knight, president and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association, according to the Houston Chronicle. “Welcome back home to Texas, Shaq.” Big Chicken’s...

Rent prices have increased by two percent to four percent nationwide each year since 2011, according to CoreLogic. While gains in federal and state minimum wage rules have somewhat mitigated the bite for lower-wage earners in certain areas, it’s often not enough to compete with the rising cost of housing. Meanwhile, the population of renters has increased, forcing renters to compete for a finite supply of rental housing, which is already pricing out some people. Using data from the Joint Center of Housing Studies and the Economic Policy Institute, MagnifyMoney identified 16 cities where the median rent claims all of a minimum wage worker’s take-home pay, and then some. Let’s take a look at big cities that are more affordable and ones where the rent is too darn high. Key findings Austin, Texas, is the least affordable major U.S. city for minimum-wage workers. Austin’s median rent is equal to 143 percent of take-home pay at the minimum wage. The median rent in Austin is $1,220 per...

The dust has nearly settled after Amazon announced it would no longer move half of its second headquarters to New York. Now,  the company plans to expand its Austin Tech Hub and employ 800 more people. “ With a strong pool of technical talent in Austin and a dynamic quality of life, we are excited to continue to expand and create more opportunity in this vibrant city,” Terry Leeper, General Manager of Amazon’s Austin Tech Hub, said in a press release. Amazon’s presence in Texas has brought more than 22,000 jobs to the state, and the company is looking to spread its impact. The tech hub expansion will create hundreds of software and hardware engineering, research science, and cloud computing positions. Austin has steadily made its mark as one of the growing tech cities in the United States and one of the top tech hubs in the South. The annual South By Southwest conference and Apple’s plans to build a $1 billion Austin campus have been major players in the shift. Smaller companies are...