Google’s Chief Diversity Officer Melonie D. Parker has been appointed to Kanarys, Inc.’s board of directors.

Ayesha Curry is going from having a “green thumb” to becoming a leader in the gardening space. According to a press release, the chef has joined one of the leading organic gardening brands Back to the Roots’ Board of Directors. With the news, Curry is marked as the sixth member of the Oakland-based company’s board, which has a focus on product and brand development. Through her new appointment, they’re striving to further connect with their Gen Z consumers with Curry’s “ cachet to the company as it looks to capitalize on healthier and more sustainable food practices popular with younger people.” “I am so excited to join the board of Back to the Roots,” Curry shared, per the press release. “Nikhil, Alejandro and I share a passion for educating families about the magic of growing their own food and creating excitement about making healthy food choices. As a mom, it is important for me to encourage my children to develop a healthy lifestyle while also being mindful of protecting the...

Maverick Carter has a new mission on his hands with the Red Sox Foundation. In 2021, Carter became a part-owner of the baseball team alongside his business partner LeBron James. Fast forward to less than a year later, and Carter has been appointed to the Foundation’s Board of Directors, according to a press release.

The cannabis space is still in need of some serious diversifying, but actress and activist Rosario Dawson is helping to change the face of the industry with her newly-appointed role. Today, Dawson joined the Board of Directors of leading cannabis-infused beverage company Cann, making history as one of the first queer women of color to serve on the board of a major cannabis brand. Image Courtesy of Cann The barrier-breaking move is one that the actress was eager to be a part of, noting that the cannabis company is setting an example that could be a catalyst for change across the industry. “Cann has proven to be such a leading voice for diversity and inclusion in the cannabis industry that I knew I had to get involved with the company,” Dawson tells AfroTech exclusively. “Their example is one to follow. As one of the first multi-racial women to serve on the board of a major cannabis brand, my mission is to use this position to push the industry towards much-needed change happening...

Here’s something to raise your coffee cups to! Starbucks just named Mellody Hobson as the new chair of its board of directors, making her the first Black woman to hold the role at the company, reports CNN Business. Hobson is currently the co-CEO of Ariel Investments, an asset management firm, and will step into her new position this forthcoming March. Since 2005, she has been a director at the company and will now replace Myron E. Ullman, III who has been the chair since 2018. Hobson has been among the many who’ve called for companies to put action behind increasing diversity among their leaders. “Companies right now have to get their houses in order,” she said during an appearance on “CBS This Morning” in June. “The board of directors have to hold the leaders of these organizations accountable around these issues of diversity.” As a woman that wears many hats, Hobson is also a director of JPMorgan Chase and previously held positions as a director of Estée Lauder, and was the chair...

AT&T — the world’s largest telecommunications and media company — now joins the slew of U.S. companies being corporately-governed by Black leaders. Today, AT&T’s board of directors announced that it has selected U.S. Ambassador William E. Kennard to serve as its chairman. He will replace current executive chairman Randall Stephenson, effective January 2021. According to Black Enterprise , this appointment in particular holds much significance as the former FCC Chairman now represents a handful of Black executives who have risen to lead corporate governance at the country’s largest publicly traded companies. Earlier this year, AT&T announced its plan to elect an independent chairman upon Stephenson’s retirement — following his 13-year tenure with the company — as part of its commitment to strong leadership. “Bill’s deep knowledge of communications, media and technology, proven leadership and broad experience across capital markets and government uniquely positions him to serve as...

We love to see it! Sports betting operator, DraftKings just announced the appointment of Valerie Mosley and Jocelyn Moore to its board of directors. According to a press release , the ladies will join NBA legend, Michael Jordan , who has just been named as the board’s Special Advisor. “I am very much looking forward to working closely with both Valerie and Jocelyn as we continue to grow DraftKings,” said Jason Robins, the company’s co-founder, chairman of the Board, and CEO in a press statement . “They each bring a unique skill set that will complement those of our existing members while simultaneously bringing new perspectives and ideas to the table.” Prior to joining DraftKings, Moore served as the executive vice president of Communications and Public Affairs for the National Football League and currently holds the seat as the Executive-In-Residence at The Gathering spot in Atlanta. “I am thrilled to serve on the DraftKings’ Board of Directors. With its innovative and engaging...

Image sharing and social media platform, Pinterest, appointed Andrea Wishom to their Board of Directors, making her the first Black person ever appointed to the company’s board. The move to appoint Wishom, who serves as president at Skywalker Holdings, comes after Pinterest received allegations of racism and poor pay by former employees back in June and July of this year. After the social media platform claimed to stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, Ifeoma Ozoma, Aerica Shimizu Banks, and other unidentified individuals told Washington Post that they had been mistreated by their white peers. The allegations were followed by a campaign that called for Pinterest to increase pay for Black employees. A website and arranged walkout emerged to support Ozoma and Banks. Ben Silbermann, the company’s CEO and co-founder, guaranteed that a person of color would soon be hired and that his company “needs to be better.” He followed through on his promise and says that Wishom is “a...