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Moses West wants clean water to be accessible to all. Solving An Issue Impacting Billions The U.S. Army veteran and engineer has used technology to develop an Atmospheric Water Generator that turns air into clean water. This groundbreaking invention has the potential to address the needs of more than a billion people who currently do not have clean water. Forbes reports that while water covers 70% of our planet, only 3% is fresh, and the majority of this fresh water — two-thirds — is held in frozen glaciers. It also highlights that 1.1 billion people lack water access, 2.7 billion struggle to find clean water at least one month each year, and 2.4 billion face issues with insufficient sanitation. Despite these statistics, West is looking to change these outcomes through his Atmospheric Water Generator. “The one crisis that everyone says, ‘We’re going to run out of water,’ and I’m sitting here saying, ‘No you’re not. You’re walking around in it every day. T rillions of gallons of it,...
Charles Barkley is fulfilling his commitment to a school that has ties to a historic math discovery. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Calcea Johnson and Ne’Kiya Jackson, who attended St. Mary’s Academy in New Orleans, LA, at the time, found an alternative way to solve the Pythagorean Theorem during their senior year. Without using circular reasoning, they were still able to use trigonometry, which had puzzled mathematicians for over 2,000 years. “Calcea and Ne’Kiya explained it to me like this: Basically, trigonometry is based on Pythagoras’ Theorem (A^2 + B^2 = C^2, sound familiar?), so using trigonometry to prove Pythagoras’ Theorem is what’s known as circular logic,” mentioned WWL-TV 4 reporter Sam Winstrom. The young prodigies had come to this conclusion following a math contest held at their school, which was attached to a $500 incentive. “There was a bonus question that was to create a new proof of the Pythagorean Theorem,” Johnson told PEOPLE. “Ne’Kiya and I were the only...
Restaurants and pop culture have a special relationship with Red Lobster. From the mention of its signature biscuits in songs to being one of the go-to spots for family and friends, Red Lobster has decades of impressions among millions of consumers. Now, the fast-casual restaurant has a new CEO at its helm, 35-year-old Damola Adamolekun. Adamolekun is a Nigerian native who now leads Red Lobster after a successful stint as the top executive and first Black CEO of the Asian-fusion restaurant P.F. Chang’s. According to the National Restaurant Association, Adamolekun helped generate an estimated $1 billion in revenue for the chain. This level of expertise is part of the reason the former Goldman Sachs investment banker was hired to help Red Lobster overcome its looming business performance problems. In May 2024, the seafood chain filed for bankruptcy. CNN noted that years of mismanagement, inflation, and competition led to more than $1 billion in debt and less than $30 million in cash...
Roland Parrish is reportedly the second-largest Black franchisee of McDonald’s, per The Dallas Morning News. The Dallas Business Journal mentions he owns 24 locations across Dallas, TX, including at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. This was accomplished across his more than 30 years at the fast-food company. Journey To Franchising Parrish’s journey to franchising was planted while in college. Carrying his experience as an All-American in track and field, he would continue sports while attending Purdue University’s business school in 1971, the schools website mentions. He continued to fair well in sports, being named Most Valuable Player twice during his college years. He was able to translate his discipline in sports into his academics, and he received guidance from Dr. Cornell A. Bell, the former director of the school’s Business Opportunity Program (BOP), who doubled as his mentor. “I spent more time in the libraries than on the track during my time on campus,” Parrish...
Howard alumni are taking over the restaurant scene in Washington, DC. In 2012, Denville Myrie Jr. began selling Jamaican jerk chicken from the comfort of his Howard University dorm room, which filled a gap for quality late night foods, according to information on his company website. Students took great interest in Myrie’s cooking, and he would carry on with the food service beyond the campus walls. He was able to hire his peers as delivery drivers when he relocated into a town house, and his employees would serve Howard University six days a week. Myrie’s vision was also aided by Kadeem Todd, who also attended Howard University and serves as a co-owner in the business, according to Fox 5. The business, named Jerk at Nite, became so successful, a food truck was purchased in 2014, with jerk oxtail serving as one of its standout menu offerings. Over time, two additional food trucks were purchased with the goal of establishing a storefront for what would become Jerk at Nite. In 2019, a...
Khalifa Aminu, at 18 years old, is reportedly behind a groundbreaking invention. It all started in Aminu’s childhood when he grew interested in building things after watching movies, he explained to DailyNews24 TV. That led him to build his first project, a canoe, and it opened his eyes to building intentionally to help out his community. Born in Kano, Nigeria, he cites other works, including a radio station, a bomb detector, and an automatic water spray for farmers. “All these inventions were made by me alone, without any support or materials provided for mass production,” Aminu told the outlet. Aminu’s next invention is now sensory glasses, which can help the visually impaired navigate their steps safely and unassisted. Infrared sensors attached to the glasses are able to detect approaching objects, according a video shared on TikTok by The 77 Percent. “I grew up in an area where there’s visually impaired people, and I understand what they’re going through. This is why I began the...
Bright mind Heman Bekele has been named TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Bekele, who was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, developed the idea to create a Skin Cancer Treating Soap (SCTS), which resulted in a “compound based bar of soap charged with different types of cancer-fighting chemicals.” According to TIME, the soap incorporates imiquimod, which is a drug used in treating one form of skin cancer as well as other skin-related issues. “It’s supposed to help heal the skin internally, which will then show results externally because the skin cancer will slowly start to fade away,” Bekele explained in 2023. This led to him being recognized that year as “America’s Top Young Scientist” in the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, the nation’s premier middle school science competition created by 3M and Discovery Education. Bekele became the first Black scientist to receive the honor at 14 years old. “It’s incredible, and it’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime type of...
Through entrepreneurship, Ibukun Olubiyi is looking to create a lasting impact in Canada’s capital city. According to a news release, Olubiyi reportedly opened the first Chick-fil-A restaurant in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada . She was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and spent time in London, England, and Dublin, Ireland, but her journey to becoming an owner-operator was made possible by moving to Canada. Olubiyi pursued her studies at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. In her final year, in 2012, she took a trip with Habitat for Humanity to help those who were still struggling with the effects of Hurricane Katrina. On their way to New Orleans, LA, her group visited a Chick-fil-A restaurant. “During our 27-hour drive, we stopped to eat at Chick-fil-A…,” she said. “What stood out to me more than the food was the impeccable customer service, especially the team members who were extremely courteous as they took my order.” The fast-food chain left a lasting impression on Olubiyi. She completed...
Shakea Miller is looking to transform education in Alabama and make history in the process. Black News reports Miller opened 1 on 1 Technical & Theological College on June 24, 2024, in Phenix City, AL. In doing so, she became the first Black woman to open a degree-granting technical college in Alabama, and the sixth Black woman nationwide. “I am deeply honored to open the doors of this institution, which stands as a beacon of hope and a testament to the resilience and determination of countless individuals who have fought for equal rights in education,” Miller reflected, according to the outlet. “This College is more than an academic institution as it is a platform for transformation while providing the tools and knowledge necessary to uplift our communities.” Carla Barnett, assistant dean of 1 on 1 Technical & Theological College, commented: “Shakea Miller’s accomplishment is not just a personal triumph but a monumental victory for the African American community and all those in...
Lauren Scruggs is a Harvard student and Olympic champion! Road To History Scruggs, 21, was introduced to fencing by her brother, Nolen, Essence reports. The sport has now taken the Queens, NY, native to the grand Olympic stage. She has received her first medal at the 2024 Olympics, earning silver in individual foil, falling just short to U.S. teammate Lee Kiefer. “It’s just unbelievable,” Scruggs told Today. “Seeing my family in the stands and being able to fence in front of all those people in Paris in that great building was just insane to me. Just to have the medal over me and feel the weight was heavy, was unbelievable.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Team USA (@teamusa) Additionally, Scruggs made history in the process, becoming the first Black American woman to earn an individual fencing medal at the Paris Olympics, Essence reports. “Fencing has largely, historically been a non-Black sport,” Scruggs said, per the NCAA. “So I hope to inspire young Black girls to...
12-year-old Zoe Oli is making history with Target! As AFROTECH™ previously reported, she is the genius behind Beautiful Curly Me, a doll company empowering young Black girls. The company stemmed from a lack of confidence she had with her natural hair at the age of 6, comparing it to the straight hair her classmates had. Even after her mother purchased her a Black doll, Oli could not help but notice the doll still did not have her textured hair. So by the age of 7, she officially became an entrepreneur. “My mom got me a Black doll that looked like me to help, and it really did but I noticed that the doll did not have hair that looked like mine and I wanted dolls with curls and braids, so when she went back to the stores couldn’t find any,” Oli explained during ForbesBLK Summit 2024. “I decided that I wanted to make my own business and do something about it, and that’s how I got started.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Beautiful Curly Me (@beautifulcurlyme) Oli hopes to...
Ariane Kirkpatrick was undeterred by the limited presence of Black entrepreneurs in the cannabis sector. In 2017, she made her official foray into the space, according to WKCY-3. “We made the decision that we, despite the barriers, despite the obstacles, despite being Black and female, we were going to make this work and we did,” Kirkpatrick told the outlet. Per Kirkpatrick’s LinkedIn page, she served as the CEO of several large-scale medical, cannabis cultivation, and dispensary companies, such as Harvest Grows, Harvest of Ohio, and Harvest Processing, which had operations in the Ohio cities of Ironton, Beavercreek, Columbus, and Athens. She mentioned that her aim was to transform lives and strengthen economies by providing jobs and economic development opportunities through marijuana. However, Kirkpatrick would hit a major roadblock after falling out with her business partner, multi-state operator Harvest Health and Recreation, when it was acquired by national cannabis and...
Inflation impacts everyone and everything, and college tuition is no exception. For years, students and parents have often complained about the rising tuition costs and associated fees. These costs have prevented many students from pursuing their academic journeys because financial aid hasn’t been measuring up. According to College Board, the average tuition and fees for the 2023-2024 academic year are $11,260 for in-state students at public four-year institutions and go all they up to $41,540 for private nonprofit four-year institutions. In the words of Gen Z, these numbers are crazy work. They don’t even account for room and board, books, or other living expenses. While the rising costs of college tuition can be daunting, it’s important to remember that there are specific strategies and financial options that can help alleviate this burden. With that said, understanding and securing student aid can make higher education more accessible and affordable. This guide is designed to...
A resurfaced clip concerning a teacher who downplayed Beyoncé’s future in music is making its rounds on the internet. The 2023 clip came from an episode of “The Mindvalley Podcast with Vishen Lakhiani,” in which Beyoncé’s father, Mathew Knowles, recalled an incident prompting him to come to his daughter’s defense. The incident in question involved an elementary school teacher who made comments about Beyoncé’s commitment to music overshadowing her focus on core school subjects, Atlanta Black Star reports. “This was a Montessori school, and I was on the board there,” said Knowles, recounting his daughter’s time as a student at the school, St. Mary of The Purification, located in Houston, TX’s Third Ward neighborhood. “And this teacher walks up to me and says, ‘Well, you know Beyoncé made a C+ in math, and she could do better, and she’s spending too much time with music.’” He also noted that the teacher shared that Beyoncé was “always talking about music and singing,” and that she was...
New funding will be allocated to preserve some of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). According to a press release, the National Park Service will allocate $10.7 million to support 15 projects within eight states under the Historic Preservation Fund’s (HPF’s) HBCU grant program. Per its website, the program is intended to “identify and restore historic structures on Historically Black College & University (HBCUs) campuses considered to be the most historically significant and physically threatened.” In fiscal year 2023, Congress provided financial support for the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Grant Program through the fund. HPF, founded in 1977, had been approved for $150 million yearly toward historic preservation grants through 2024 and has contributed $2 billion to these efforts across states, tribes, local governments, and nonprofit organizations. The National Park Service has distributed $60 million in grants since the 1990s to more...