Just ahead of Mental Health Awareness Month, some of today’s biggest music artists have teamed up to kick off a new nationwide campaign championing positive mental health for Black and brown youth. Sound It Out — created by the Ad Council, in partnership with Pivotal Ventures and a coalition of organizations — is a national initiative that’s using the power and soul of music to help parents and guardians offer better support and resources to their middle school aged kids and help boost their emotional wellness. According to a press release, the new campaign features exclusive new music for an album and interviews from all participating recording artists, including KAMAUU, Tobe Nwigwe, Lauren Jauregui and Empress Of. In addition to contributing music, all artists were able to participate in candid, intimate conversations with middle schoolers and their caregivers, facilitated by mental health experts, to assist in translating the kids’ emotions and experiences into their respective...

Today’s youth are getting more creative in the ways that they’re innovating technology to improve our society. According to The Seattle Medium, a group of young Black and brown high school students — alongside the city of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development (OED) and Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle — just recently launched a Youth Web Design Program to introduce them to the world of website design as a means to also help local small business owners. “The past year has brought unprecedented challenges to everyone in our city but it has been even more challenging for our Black and African American youth and small business owners, who have been disproportionately impacted by the economic downturn during COVID-19,” Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said to The Seattle Medium. “The Youth Web Design Program teaches Seattle’s BIPOC youth new skills while simultaneously providing assistance to Black owned businesses who need it most.” The idea behind the new program is to allow 16 high...

Neiman Marcus has reaffirmed its commitment to Black youth, and has put their money where their proverbial mouth is to prove their commitment. In a press release, the luxury retailer has announced they’ve joined forces with the Boys & Girls Club of America for the next three years, so that the non-profit organization can continue its fundraising efforts in the stores throughout Black History Month. The ultimate goal, the company says, is to deliver more than $1 million toward the advancement of youth. With 4.6 million young people in Boys & Girls Clubs of America, 26 percent, or 1.1 million, are Black. Donations from the Neiman Marcus Group — the parent company of the store and its ancillary properties — ensure all youth, including Black youth, receive the knowledge, skills, and experiences to prepare them for school, work, and life. Donations are also used to advance young emerging scholars interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). “Neiman Marcus Group...