All results
The CFDA / Vogue Fashion Fund has been reimagined this year to not only award prizes to the top winners, but for all ten finalists of emerging American fashion brands. According to Vogue, the fashion industry has taken steps to restructure its “business as usual” mindset in light of effects from the pandemic to be more supportive and inclusive of budding designers. “After an incredibly challenging time for all of us in fashion, especially here in New York, we’re thrilled that this year we are able to support all of our finalists,” Anna Wintour — global editorial director of Vogue and chief content officer of Condé Nast — shared. “It’s not only a vote of confidence in their talents, but in a brighter future for American fashion.” Instead of the CFDA /Vogue Fashion Fund’s normal format to grant one top prize and two awards to runners-up as it has in the past, this year all ten designers — who nearly all happen to be Black talent — will earn their grants and a year of mentorship from...
The New York Times shared breaking news from federal health agencies early Tuesday morning (Apr. 13) recommending that the United States put a temporary halt on administering the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine following reports that six individuals developed a rare disorder involving blood clots within two weeks of vaccination. CNN reports that a joint statement from Dr. Peter Marks — director of the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research — and Dr. Anne Schuchat — principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — was released stating, the following: “[The] CDC will convene a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on Wednesday to further review these cases and assess their potential significance. [The] FDA will review that analysis as it also investigates these cases. Until that process is complete, we are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of...
The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) is rolling out a new platform that strives to identify and empower Black creatives and leaders in the fashion space. Impact — a talent directory powered by the job platform Creatively — is a new program launched by the CFDA in an effort to nurture Black talent in fashion by offering them a place to display their work and submit their resumes in consideration for various job opportunities. “This work is essential to the future of American fashion, which must be diverse, equitable, and inclusive,” said CaSandra Diggs, new President of the CFDA, in an announcement. “The CFDA is proud to take the lead in this important effort for the industry and beyond. We launch IMPACT with a specific focus on widening talent pipelines and advancing career development for Black and Brown creatives and professionals. In the future, we will further the initiative to also address other inequities within the fashion system.” Creatively’s job platform that...
The CFDA Fashion Awards — often referred to as the “Oscars of fashion” — is one of fashion’s most prestigious award programs, recognizing the best in fashion creativity. This year, the awards have recognized what CNN describes as the “most diverse group” of winners in the event’s 39-year-old existence. If 2020 has taught us nothing else, it’s that there’s room for cultural diversity in the fashion world — starting with Black designers. The 2020 CFDA Fashion Awards recognized several prominent Black fashion designers as winners in their respective categories during its first-ever digital ceremony, including Christopher John Rogers, Telfar Clemens, and Pyer Moss’ Kerby Jean-Raymond who won the coveted American Menswear Designer of the Year award, CNN reports . Black Designers Matter: Christopher John Rogers, Telfar Clemens and Kerby Jean-Raymond Win 2020 CFDA Fashion Awards: https://t.co/uY6DWg7kcX pic.twitter.com/lyxJxWeKLn — The Root (@TheRoot) September 14, 2020 All winners took to...
Google is using artificial intelligence (AI) to save lives, successfully implementing Loss of Pulse Detection in the Pixel Watch 3. Initially announced in 2024 for the Pixel Watch 3 in the European Union, Google shared on Feb. 26, 2025, that it received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to implement the “first-of-its-kind feature” and begin its rollout in the United States at the end of March. In a previous blog post, Google explained that a loss of pulse happens when the heart suddenly stops beating. The condition can affect people at any age and may be caused by various issues, including primary cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, circulatory failure, overdose, or poisoning. When such a situation occurs, the watch automatically prompts a call to emergency services, potentially providing life-saving assistance. “For three years, Pixel Watch has given people peace of mind with safety and health features like Car Crash Detection, Fall Detection, Irregular...
As the rollback and termination of diversity and inclusion initiatives continue, the fourth annual Fifteen Percent Pledge Gala successfully raised $3 million on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, to support black-owned businesses. According to Women’s Wear Daily, the event at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, CA, attracted many notable figures from culture and business, including Keke Palmer , Ciara, Kelly Rowland, Teyana Taylor, and Jesse Williams. Prominent artists such as Amy Sherald and Mickalene Thomas were also in attendance, along with CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year Rachel Scott from Diotima; Tatcha founder Vicky Tsai; model Amber Valletta; and celebrity stylists Law Roach, Wayman Bannerman, and Micah McDonald. “This is exactly the time we need to show up and continue to speak out,” Fifteen Percent Pledge Founder Aurora James said at the gala, per WWD. “Each and every one of us, our stories, our pasts, our cultures and identities, are part of the fabric that makes America great....
WNBA legend Candace Parker wants to invest in the league. The Tennessean reports the WNBA intends to add a 16th team in 2028. A group of investors, including Former Governor Bill Haslam, Crissy Haslam, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, and entertainers Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Parker, have bid for a WNBA team in Nashville, TN, per AP News. The team, named the Tennessee Summitt, would launch by the 2028 timeline and play at Bridgestone Arena. “We believe a WNBA team, based in Nashville, could serve as a beacon for girls and women, young and old, across Tennessee, while also creating more opportunities for sports fans as our community continues to grow,” Haslam explained, according to AP News. As for Parker’s interest in bidding for WNBA ownership, it comes full circle. Her earlier career days include her time as an athlete representing the University of Tennessee women’s basketball team Lady Vols. She attended the school between 2004 and 2008 under the guidance...
Serena Williams is supporting innovation in women’s health. Teal Health The tennis star has aligned herself with Teal Health, a women’s health startup founded by Kara Egan (CEO) and Dr. Avnesh Thakor in 2020. According to the company website, Teal Health’s inception trickles back to Thakor’s medical experiences over the years. He observed insufficient innovation around cervical cancer screenings and created a self-collect prototype. With Egan’s two decades of experience in finance, health, and technology, the company was formed with the vision to develop an at-home self-collect cervical cancer screening kit, currently under FDA review. A user can start by requesting a kit, which initiates a vetting process to confirm eligibility. Once approved, the kit will be delivered to your home for sample collection. The sample is then mailed to a lab, and results are shared through Teal Health’s application. Users also have the option to speak with a provider for additional support. Teal...
As part of Miami Art Week, Art Basel Miami took place from Friday, Dec. 6, to Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, kicking off with a private dinner on Thursday, Dec. 5, at the Fazeel Khan Residence. Tres Generaciones Tequila, a premium tequila brand known for supporting creators and innovators, and CFDA two-time award-winning fashion designer Maxwell Osborne hosted the exclusive event in partnership with ARTNOIR to celebrate trailblazers marking new milestones at Art Basel, according to a press release. The dinner honored contemporary artist Andrea Chung, recognized for her original work inspired by island nations in the Indian Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, which challenges traditional notions of “paradise” through the outsiders’ perspectives. Guests included Fabolous , Leon Thomas, Paul Anthony Smith, Kesha McLeod, Carmelo Anthony, and Rubi Rose, among others, who all arrived by luxury boat cruiser and were greeted with Jamaican patties, a tribute to Osborne’s Jamaican-American heritage. He is a...
The first patient to receive gene therapy for sickle cell disease since its approval is finally home. The New York Times reported that staff members were overjoyed as 12-year-old Kendric Cromer left Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC, in a wheelchair on Oct. 16, 2024. Kendric is one of approximately 20,000 people with the most severe form of sickle cell disease. This condition results from a mutation in the hemoglobin genes, causing red blood cells to take on a crescent shape. These misshaped cells can block blood vessels, leading to severe pain, stroke, organ damage, and reduced life expectancy. “I thought I would have sickle cell for the rest of my life,” Kendric said, according to The Times. Throughout his childhood, the disease had prevented him from enjoying playing basketball or riding a bike. Such activities would trigger pain and require frequent trips to the hospital. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , about 100,000 people in the U.S....
A dream deferred doesn’t equate to it being denied. Instead, it could open the door to a new dream. Coming from families of entrepreneurs, Joshua Obasohan and Neto Nwogbo, college students at the time, were brainstorming business venture ideas. They initially wanted to start a recycling company in Nigeria, their home country. Then they shifted to health care, wanting to build a hospital there. However, both ideas came with barriers and challenges to properly execute them, which led to a change of plans. “We eventually pivoted to telehealth, but then again, because of a lot of key metrics in Nigeria like the smartphone penetration rate and internet penetration, it wasn’t as feasible,” Nwogbo explained to AFROTECH™. “The tech penetration wasn’t there for the customer base that we wanted to reach and wasn’t as accessible. So then, we pivoted to a market that we know better, which is the university healthcare space.” Obasohan and Nwogbo, both 21, launched Loop Health, a telehealth...
While celebrating the gift of new life that’s on the way, Nelly and Ashanti have also shared a new venture they’ve embarked on. On April 17, 2024, the couple announced that they are engaged and expecting their first child. “This new year of life is such a blessing full of love, hope and anticipation,” Ashanti said, per Essence. “Motherhood is something that I have looked forward to, and sharing this with my family, fiancé and loyal fans, who have been so supportive of my career, is an amazing experience.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ashanti (@ashanti) In Ashanti’s pregnancy announcement video, she opens an early pregnancy test from diagnostic company Proov. What’s more, the company’s logo is featured at the end of the video. Essence reports that Ashanti and Nelly are co-owners of Proov. According to the company website, Proov offers affordable at-home, science-backed fertility and hormone marker tests. In addition to early pregnancy tests, there are “Hers and...
Imagine a world where your thoughts control your devices. No more typing, swiping or even speaking. Elon Musk ‘s Neuralink, a brain chip implant, promises this mind-blowing leap into the future. By merging human and machine intelligence , Neuralink could transform everything from medicine to communication. The wireless brain chip from entrepreneur Elon Musk’s Neuralink has been implanted in an actual person for the first time in 2024, a year after the test was approved. Musk declared that the patient “is recovering well” after receiving the implant. The technology is intended to be used for multiple purposes, such as facilitating a brain-computer interface and helping people regain their motor function . Musk’s assertions were not independently verified, and Neuralink failed to offer many specifics. Though ethical questions about the device and its testing have been raised, Musk has hailed Neuralink as the technology and medical breakthrough of the future. Here’s what you should...
A partnership between Don Lemon and Elon Musk has seemingly soured. In January 2024, TV journalist and former CNN anchor Don Lemon announced on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) that his show, “The Don Lemon Show,” would soon be available for everyone to see — starting with X. “You’ll find it first on X, the biggest space for free speech in the world,” Lemon wrote at the time. “I know now more than ever that we need a place for honest debate and discussion without the hall monitors.” pic.twitter.com/ZO9g546oYo — Don Lemon (@donlemon) January 9, 2024 However, in an Instagram post, Lemon stated that Tesla Motors CEO and X Corp. owner Elon Musk is now retracting from teaming up with him despite the platform’s goal to magnify “new and diverse voices.” “Elon Musk has canceled the partnership I had with X, which they announced as part of their public commitment to amplifying more diverse voices on their platform,” Lemon noted on Instagram. He added, “Elon publicly...