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This past Monday, The Kresge Foundation — one of the nation’s leading social services and philanthropic nonprofits fostering economic and social change — announced investment banker Suzanne Shank as one of its newest members to join the foundation’s board of trustees, The Bond Buyer reports . Both Shank and her colleague — finance scholar Michael Barr — were named trustees to serve on the governing body for the private, national foundation. “Suzanne and Michael are extraordinary additions to our Board of Trustees,” Kresge Board Chair Elaine D. Rosen stated in a news release . “Their individual expertise in finance and banking and combined community development leadership—specifically in low-income communities—will further bolster the foundation’s efforts to expand opportunity for people living in America’s cities.” Following their initial 4-year terms, per the foundation’s governance rules, Shank and Barr’s trustee appointments could extend to a maximum of 16 years, The Bond Buyer...
Issa Rae refers to Sienna Naturals’ expansion with Sephora as a “dream come true.” Rae co-founded the award-winning hair care brand Sienna Naturals, which was first envisioned by Hannah Diop in 2012. Diop, reflecting on her own challenges in finding hair products that met her needs, recalls how clarifying shampoos fell short in restoring her hair’s health during her time on the swim team. This firsthand experience played a pivotal role in shaping Sienna Naturals, a brand founded on a proprietary clean chemistry approach that prioritizes scalp health , according t o the brand’s website. The haircare line is powered by hydrating, abiotic, pH-balanced ingredients (H.A.P.I.). “The first impression I want people to have when they use Sienna Naturals is how beautiful their hair is. So that wet-feel design is very intentional,” Diop told AFROTECH™. Photo Credit: Sienna Naturals When Rae discovered Sienna Naturals, she was in the process of learning how to best care for her natural hair...
JPMorgan Chase has begun removing any mention of its DEI efforts from its website, according to The Wall Street Journal. As AFROTECH™ previously mentioned, the bank’s CEO, Jamie Dimon, had vowed to maintain its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as well as environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) policies, despite pushback from the conservative National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC). The center had also suggested that JPMorgan Chase, which employs 300,000 people globally, reexamine executive compensation tied to DEI goals — an initiative it introduced in 2020 through its “accountability framework.” That same year, the company had launched a $30 billion program to promote racial equity in personal finance as well. In response to the recent pushback, Dimon said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last month, “Bring them on. We are going to continue to reach out to the Black community, the Hispanic community, the LGBT community, the...
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is like the studio album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” — critically acclaimed by some, misunderstood by others, and a constant source of debate. Whether celebrated or criticized, DEI has become one of the most polarizing issues in corporate America. And let’s be honest: When companies start scaling back on DEI, it’s not just a boardroom shuffle — it’s a move that disproportionately impacts the Black community. This polarizing environment extends beyond corporate America. According to the Associated Press, President Donald Trump made waves with executive orders aimed at dismantling DEI programs within the federal government. Among these was the rescission of Executive Order 11246, which mandated affirmative action for federal contractors, a policy originally designed to level the playing field for underrepresented groups, as well as nondiscrimination. In addition, DEI offices were defunded, DEI employees were laid off, diversity training...
Costco shareholders want to uphold DEI policies. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Costco’s board of directors has requested that its shareholders reject a proposal introduced by the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) to eliminate its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The NCPPR argues that upholding DEI efforts should not be permitted due to the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action in June 2023. The ruling struck down race-conscious affirmative action across colleges and universities, NPR notes. However, Costco’s board of directors contends that the NCPPR has an agenda of “abolishing diversity initiatives,” and its critique of Costco’s DEI policy “reflects a policy bias,” according to Fox Business. “Our success at Costco Wholesale has been built on service to our critical stakeholders: employees, members, and suppliers. Our efforts around diversity, equity and inclusion follow our code of ethics: For our employees, these efforts are built...
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is not backing down from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments. According to Business Insider, Dimon confirmed that the financial services firm will continue to advance its DEI efforts and environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) policies despite pressure from the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC), a conservative nonprofit organization. The NLPC has proposed that JPMorgan reevaluate how executive compensation is linked to the company’s racial equity goal. “Bring them on,” Dimon told CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “We are going to continue to reach out to the Black community, the Hispanic community, the LGBT community , the veterans community.” In 2020, JPMorgan launched a $30 billion program to promote racial equity in personal finance, which included mortgage refinancing and partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities . The bank also launched an “accountability framework” to...
Hello Alice’s steadfast commitment to supporting small businesses remained strong, even amid adversity. Founded in 2017 by Elizabeth Gore and Carolyn Rodz, Hello Alice is driven by a mission to support the growth and success of small businesses. This dedication was evident from the outset, especially when the company faced a financial setback due to the cancellation of South by Southwest (SXSW) at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Instead of moving forward with a large marketing campaign as planned, Hello Alice redirected those funds to launch a grant program, offering critical support to small business owners in need during a challenging time. “It was the biggest amount of money we’d ever spent on anything at the time. And then the world shut down and there’s initially that moment of us saying, ‘Oh my gosh, like what’s gonna happen to us?’ And then we said, ‘If we’re dealing with this, and here we are that we had the luxury of having raised capital, we had investment...
The city of Houston, TX, remains deeply rooted in the heart of Kelly Rowland. Rowland, originally from Atlanta, GA, relocated to Houston, TX, when she was 8 years old to pursue her dreams of becoming a singer and resided with the Knowles family. She rose to fame as part of Destiny’s Child, originally named Girl’s Tyme, which was managed by Mathew Knowles, Beyoncé Knowles’ father. When she was 11, Rowland joined Girl’s Tyme, which originally had six members. She remained part of the group through various lineup changes, ultimately becoming one of the lasting three members of Destiny’s Child in 1999, alongside Michelle Williams and longtime friend Beyoncé. The group disbanded in 2006, but is still recognized as one of the best-selling music groups in history, with over 60 million records sold, noted Business Insider. Destiny’s Child made its mark in music history thanks to records like “Say My Name” (1999), “Bills, Bills, Bills” (1999), “Soldier” (2004), and “Lose My Breath ” (2005)....
Hello Alice can continue on its mission to support small businesses. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the company, created by Elizabeth Gore and Carolyn Rodz, was named in a class action lawsuit for awarding up to $25,000 in grants to 10 Black-owned businesses in partnership with Progressive Insurance Co. They were sued by Nathan Roberts, who owns an Ohio-based trucking dispatch company and claims he didn’t know Progressive Insurance’s Driving Small Business Forward fund was exclusively for Black-owned businesses. Progressive Preferred Insurance Co., Progressive Casualty Insurance Co., and Circular Board LLC — which operates Hello Alice — are listed as defendants in the lawsuit filed by America First Legal, Mitchell Law PLLC, and Ashbrook Byrne Kresge LLC. Now, a resolution has been reached. According to a news release, the case has been dismissed by a federal judge in Ohio. “This resolution marks a pivotal moment not only for our company but for the broader small business...
Amid the attack on venture capital investments to Black businesses, Hello Alice has come out on top. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the fintech platform — created by Elizabeth Gore and Carolyn Rodz — that has helped small businesses through capital, had been named in a class-action lawsuit filed by America First Legal, Mitchell Law PLLC, and Ashbrook Byrne Kresge LLC in October 2023. The company was targeted for partnering with Progressive Insurance Co. to offer up to $25,000 in grants to 10 Black-owned businesses. “We were founded on the principle of equality, with the aim of ensuring that everyone — women, men, people of color, U.S. Veterans, and more — have an equal opportunity to launch their businesses and pursue the American Dream,” Hello Alice shared at the time in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter. “From Texas to California to Florida to New York, small business owners are the most trusted voice in America and a critical engine of our economic growth. Today our...
Recent reports have shown companies pulling back from implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). A leader in global communications has spoken out against the matter. At the 2024 Women of Color Connecting Summit, hosted by the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership, Edelman CEO Richard Edelman led the session titled “Data Matters.” During his presentation, he shared findings from “Edelman’s Trust Barometer Special Report: Business and Racial Justice,” according to the virtual summit’s website. While relaying the findings was to inform allies, investors, and policymakers, Edelman took a moment to address the misconceptions about DE&I. “This is one of the big problems in America. We lack reliable information,” Edelman said, per a news release. He continued, “I have heard so much about ‘let’s drop DE&I as a phrase; let’s just focus on sustainability.’ Nonsense. We have to defend DE&I as an important part of the equation of ESG [environmental, social, and governance]. ESG...
Society would want us to believe that it is not “manly” to cry. Whatever that antiquated notion is supposed to mean holds no real value. Human beings, no matter how they identify, are emotional beings. So whether it’s due to anger, sadness, shock, or pure joy — crying is a normal healthy behavior that should be embraced, not shamed. Rapper and podcast host Gillie Da King held back no tears at what seems to be the signing of a new, lucrative contract alongside his cousin and co-host, Wallo, for their show Million Dollaz Worth of Game.
If you thought something was wrong with your Instagram profile, specifically its filters — it might not be just you. For users attempting to use filters on the social media platform, they’ve been met with an “unable to use effect” message that has sent folks into a frenzy. According to a report from HITC and various users, the error is stopping people from using various effects on their stories , and in true digital age fashion, folks have resorted to another social network to express themselves. Why would they take our instagram filters? That’s childish. Lol — KYLESISTER (@AriTheDon) May 26, 2022 Is anybody else instagram filters not working? — Ni🥂🖤 (@luxurylifewitni) May 25, 2022 Soooooo who else Instagram filters not workin? It’s saying it’s unable to allow this effect on your device or sum ?😭 #instagramdown #instagram — barbietingz ♡︎. (@Ifthesh96828720) May 26, 2022 Instagram better be putting back them filters 😒 — DB! (@thatgirlDB) May 26, 2022
The future of STEM is underway thanks to a new initiative led by IBM, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Specialisterne Foundation, and six different Historically Black Colleges and Universities(HBCUs). According to a press release, the group will now provide no-cost STEM job training to the U.S. military as well as neurodivergent learners across the world and students that make up communities that are underrepresented throughout the nation. “We believe that the most promising job candidates for today’s demanding careers will come from communities that may have been historically overlooked or excluded due to outdated hiring policies and old-fashioned credentialling,” said Justina Nixon-Saintil, Vice President, IBM Corporate Social Responsibility and ESG in an official statement shared with AfroTech. “That’s why we’re uniting the public, private, and not-for-sector sectors to cultivate STEM talent from underrepresented communities to address the world’s most critical...
Here’s to Black women making history. ESSENCE reports that Pamela Culpepper just became luxury fashion brand Prada’s newest board member, and she makes history as the first Black woman to do so in its 109-year history. Along with Anna Maria Rugarli, Culpepper was appointed as the Independent Non-Executive Director of Prada S.p.A., the parent company of Prada. Both were chosen based on their backgrounds in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG). They will support the Board of Directors with sustainability assessments and any decisions based on the three courses of action at the core of the company’s ESG strategy, which include people, environment, and culture.