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Entrepreneur Kiara Imani Williams claims she was dropped from Target on short notice. Williams is an attorney with a decade of experience in entertainment law, a writer, and the co-founder of the card game LikeU, which is designed to spark conversations among family and friends. LikeU made its way onto Target shelves during a period when many companies were pledging to support diverse brands as a result of George Floyd being murdered at the hands of police brutality. Williams believed Target’s commitment was genuine and would endure, but has been mistaken. “LikeU cards were born out of the conversations that emerged after George Floyd’s murder—a time when so many people were searching for ways to connect, to listen, and to understand,” Williams said in an email interview with AFROTECH™. “Target made a pledge to support diverse communities at that moment, and it was that commitment that made me believe they were the right fit. But since then, like many other organizations, they’ve...
Howard University graduate Olympia Auset is combating food deserts in South Los Angeles, CA. Auset launched SÜPRMARKT, a grocery store that began as a pop-up and subscription service in the area, Forbes reports. Its inception was the result of her reaching a breaking point when traveling over two hours by bus to find affordable organics grocery products that would adhere to her vegan diet. At the time, South L.A. had 1.3 million residents and only 60 grocery stores, classifying it as a food desert. “It became difficult to eat healthy simply due to access,” she told the outlet. In 2016, SÜPRMARKT launched as a pop-up in Leimert Park with community support, according to its website. Four years later, Auset purchased land that would become SÜPRMARKT’s first brick-and-mortar location thanks to assistance from partners Open Architecture Collaborative Los Angeles and Engineers Without Borders. View this post on Instagram A post shared by LOCALE (@localemagazine) The grocery store prides...
Rap duo Krept and Konan are giving back to their community by opening a supermarket. BBC reports the pair will open a 15,000 sq ft. supermarket in Croydon, a diverse area that includes Black and Asian populations, with the help of their business partner, Kaysor Ali. “It’s an honor for us to partner up on this venture,” Krept and Konan said in a statement, per All HipHop. “We are all about representation in the community and finding solutions; we are all from underrepresented communities, so this is a perfect partnership. Saveways is game-changing for our community, and we are excited to bring this vision to life.” Krept reflected on his personal connection to supermarkets, drawing on memories of his upbringing and the frequent need to visit multiple locations to shop for groceries — a reality that remains all too familiar for many in the South London town of Croydon. “Having the experience of going shopping and having to go to multiple places, have to go here for my meat, here for...
The AFROTECH™ 2024 Conference took Houston, TX, by storm from Nov. 15 to Nov. 17, uniting Black innovators worldwide to connect, discuss trends, and network with industry leaders and recruiters. A highlight of the conference was the Women in Tech Luncheon, presented by Yahoo. This event brought together an inspiring group of pioneering Black women in technology for an empowering and supportive celebration. Celebrity wellness and lifestyle expert and birth doula Latham Thomas, known as Glow Maven, opened the luncheon with welcoming remarks. She has been recognized as one of Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul 100 and named one of Mindbodygreen’s “Top 100 Women to Watch in Wellness,” according to her Instagram profile. Notable speakers included Giselle Battley, head of global emerging careers and learning & development at Yahoo. According to her LinkedIn profile, Battley was recognized as one of Women We Admire’s Top 50 Women in Business for 2024. The luncheon opened the door for Black women...
A Black-owned plaza is making its way to Quincy, FL, in Gadsden County. According to WCTV, a variety of Black-owned businesses will be joining Seaboard Plaza. The plaza’s purpose is to increase the economic activity locally and create more jobs. Seaboard Plaza will feature the following types of businesses: Food court Barber shop Hair salon Dry cleaners Construction and real estate offices Full-scale restaurant with a private bar room Event venue “This helps to employ local people. This helps keep local money local and not take it out of town. This also provides convenience to people,” Gadsden County Economic Development Director T.J. Lewis told the outlet. General contractor Latasha Murray, a Gadsden County native, commented: “We considered what other people in Gadsden County wanted. The restaurants was one of the main ones and the cleaners ’cause we don’t have a cleaners here in Quincy as of now.” Furthermore, Seaboard Plaza is being built on the same land as the former Seaboard...
Flowing with Blessings Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Atlanta’s homeless population, has teamed up with industrial design students from Georgia Tech to develop an innovative Mobile Laundry Bus, according to the university’s News Center. Founded by Nicky Crawford in February 2022, Flowing with Blessings provides essential services such as showers and clean clothing for those in need. Georgia Tech reported that Crawford’s commitment to alleviating the daily struggles of those they serve — by helping individuals preserve their cherished belongings and maintain personal hygiene without the stigma often associated with homelessness — inspired the creation of the mobile laundry bus. Crawford bought a school bus to convert it into a mobile laundry service, going to Georgia Tech for help with the process. The initiative, led by Steve Chininis, professor of practice at the School of Industrial Design, involved students Zaria Hardnett, David Hounyo, Lily Liang, Claudia Ross, and...
According to Jamé Jackson, whether you recognize it or not, you are a brand. Jackson, the founder of the entrepreneurship website and podcast “TheBlondeMisfit,” serves as LinkedIn’s community manager of community segments, overseeing over 17,000 individuals. Her tenure with the social networking platform for professionals has centered on scaling its video content and viewership. According to her LinkedIn, coaching, workshops, and initiatives have led to an increase of 0.05% in video creation and attracted VIP and executive clients from tech companies to the platform. “My contributions have positioned LinkedIn as a leader in video-first professional storytelling, further reinforced by my role in ramping the video tab beta to over 10 million members, resulting in a 16% month-over-month expansion within just 12 weeks,” she describes on her LinkedIn profile. Jackson joined the “Black Tech Green Money” podcast, hosted by AFROTECH™ Brand Manager Will Lucas, where she emphasized the...
Community is essential for Black professionals. Among the annual events that center Black audiences, the AFROTECH™ Conference has rightfully earned the title of “Black tech Mecca.” Each year, leaders that have included Robert F. Smith, will.i.am, Beatrice Dixon (The Honey Po co-co-founder and former CEO), and Colin Kaepernick (Lumi Founder) have taken to its programing stages to offer industry insights. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFROTECH (@afro.tech) In attending the AFROTECH™ Conference, attendees have the opportunity to explore the expo floor, which features over 200 tech and enterprise companies actively recruiting, product demonstrations, and event activations both within the conference venue and in the surrounding area. The conference has made its way to Austin, TX, in previous years but has transitioned to Houston, TX, for the 2024 and 2025 years. Transforming Your ATC™ Experience As An Insider Among the list of ATC 2024 attendees was Jade C. Williams, a...
A Michigan-based venture capital fund focused on investing in businesses owned by people of color has joined forces with a renowned investment firm, paving the way for expanded growth and a more significant impact for both organizations. According to Crain’s Grand Rapids Business, the New Community Transformation Fund has partnered with Michigan Capital Network, which will manage fund’s, daily operations, and offer strategic guidance. Discussions between the two Grand Rapids firms began months ago. Paul D’Amato, CEO and managing director of Michigan Capital Network, said it “made sense” for both organizations from the start of the process. “We share their goal of creating access to capital for people of color because we know that business growth, entrepreneurship and capital investment strengthens our economy and makes our state more attractive to other businesses looking to relocate,” D’Amato said, Crain’s Grand Rapids reported. Through the affiliation, which gives the venture...
A Morehouse School of Medicine graduate has opened a bookstore to uplift her surrounding community. According to a news release, Dr. Viola Lanier, who boasts a Master of Science in biomedical research and a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences, has launched Better Today Books & Boutique, located at 2300 Shallowford Rd., Ste. 8, Marietta, GA 30066. In a video shared on the bookstore’s Instagram page, Lanier recounts her journey to owning the storefront. It began after a spa visit, when she noticed a “For Lease” sign on the door of the location while heading home. Intrigued, she reached out to the landlord to arrange a tour. “Wasn’t too impressed about the condition, but I said, ‘You know what? This is a place.’ But I figured I could make it work, even though I was skeptical about a lot. I got it. Anyway, so we’re putting a check mark on these dreams. Y’all stick with me as you renovate,” she explained in the video. Seeing the potential, Lanier’s interest put her on the path to establishing...
The AFROTECH™ Conference is more than just a place where tech experts and enthusiasts gather. It is also a destination where creativity is fostered and new ideas are birthed. The budding social media platform SPILL emerged directly from AFROTECH™ Conference 2022. When the company’s co-founder, Alphonzo “Phonz” Terrell, was laid off during Elon Musk’s acquisition of the app formerly known as Twitter, he conceived the idea for a new platform alongside his former co-worker and friend, DeVaris Brown, during the technology event’s return to in-person programming in Austin, Texas, that same year. “We’re not strangers to AFROTECH™,” said Spill’s Global Vice President of Community & Partnerships, Kenya Parham, ahead of the Creator Unplugged discussions hosted by Speedy Morman to kick off Microsoft’s House of Black TechXcellence during this year’s conference. “Last year, we launched Tea Parties and consistently returned and done product releases at AFROTECH. In fact, I’m talking to you now,...
Civil rights leader Rashad Robinson and actor Kendrick Sampson had a much-needed conversation at the AFROTECH™ Conference 2024. During the fireside chat “We’ve Voted, Now What?,’” on Nov. 15, the two activists led a compelling discussion around post-election and reclaiming our power through infrastructure. Robinson served as the president at Color of Change for 13 years and is currently a board member of the Edward W. Hazen Foundation. With his expertise, Robinson shared his thoughts on what true power looks like for communities of color and the realities of who benefits from the lack thereof. “We have to get clear about power to know what we will do next,” Robinson shared. “When I think about power, I very much think about the ability to change the rules. Far too often, we mistake presence for power. Presence is visibility, awareness, retweets, shoutouts from the stage, etc. For example, we can sometimes think that a black president means that we’re in a post-racial world. Or when...
After hosting several pop-ups, Amanda Harth and Felton Kizer now have their own storefront. Block Club Chicago reports the pair are now proud owners of Monday Coffee, located in Chicago, IL’s North Lawndale neighborhood. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Monday Coffee (@drinkmondaycoffee) Prior to opening the storefront, the founders had been making their mark in the area through various pop-ups, including events at Soho House Chicago and the Obama Foundation, since launching the company in October 2020. The pair were creating what they believed to be a “safe space.” “Being able to be in North Lawndale and serve a community, create a safe space through art, and continuing to use coffee as a vehicle is basically the foundation of Monday Coffee,” Harth told the outlet. “It’s important for Black people, Brown people, to have a safe space to exist. With the pandemic, a lot of those spaces disappeared.” For a two-year period starting in 2021, customers could find Monday...
Tori Bell is helping companies ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is not an afterthought. Interest In DEI Work The Agnes Scott College graduate’s interest in DEI work was sparked during her early career stages in investment banking in Atlanta, GA, at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey. She served as an analyst and associate program manager between 2012 and 2015, managing the summer analyst program, her LinkedIn mentions. She later joined Jopwell, a career platform for minority students and professionals. The platform had received backing from a number of investors, including Magic Johnson, who had participated in a $3.25 million seed round in 2016, according to Inc. magazine. “What I saw during my time there was that you can hire diverse individuals into these major companies, but if they’re not prepared to support them i t’s kind of like you’re yelling into a void, ” Bell told AFROTECH™. “You’re not really doing much to move the needle, because you’re going to see turnover...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s (Lisa Mae Brunson) own and not those of AFROTECH™. The power of community. For many of us, showing up at events like AFROTECH™ Conference isn’t just about collecting business cards or finding the next big career move — it’s about immersing ourselves in a space that validates and celebrates our unique experiences as Black professionals, creators, and innovators. But here’s the thing: to truly make the most out of AFROTECH™ (or any other event for that matter), we have to show up with a plan. With years of experience organizing conferences and building spaces for marginalized communities, I’ve learned that being intentional about your goals and tapping into the power of community can make the difference between a fleeting connection and a transformative experience. Here are seven ways you can create impact and community at this year’s conference. Set Your Intention Before You Arrive I can’t emphasize this enough: Before you step...