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Co-founders Jillian Anderson and DeVynne Starks are breaking ground in one of the nation’s busiest airports. Anderson and Starks are leading HERide, a rideshare company that prioritizes women’s safety. The concept was born in 2017 after Anderson dedicated time to pursuing a professional basketball career. Anderson then moved to Atlanta, GA, and worked in the gig economy as a rideshare worker. On her routes, she recognized a pattern among female passengers — they expressed hesitation about rideshares. “There were a lot of women that were hesitant with riding with men at night using Uber and Lyft. I realized that this was just a consistent problem that those platforms did not have any intention on solving. So I decided to solve it myself,” Anderson, 31, chief technology officer, told AFROTECH™. Bootstrapping the venture, HERide launched in 2019. Anderson brought her insights from her undergraduate years at Albany State University in Albany, GA, where she completed a Bachelor of...
11-year-old Quentin Hines is his own boss. According to CBS Mornings, Hines founded QJ’s Professional Lawn Care in 2022. His lawn-care company offers services like mowing, edging, weed treatments, and leaf pickup. His interest in lawn mowing began when he could walk, and he began to take greater control in mowing alongside his father when he was 8 years old. “I really enjoy it. It makes me feel very soothing,” Hines told CBS Mornings. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Quentin Hines Jr. Lawncare (@qjsprofessionallawncare) In the summertime, Hines invests extra time into his business. When he returns to school in the fall, his business activities are limited to weekends. Hines’ father Quentin Sr. and his mother Shirley run the business’s social media accounts to support their son’s business efforts. Hines’ fifth-grade classmates also support his business venture, and he is in the process of recruiting some of them to help expand his business. His overarching dream for his...
Goodr Founder and CEO Jasmine Crowe-Houston has announced her food waste startup’s latest expansion in Atlanta, GA. On May 8, 2024, Crowe-Houston shared about the launch of Goodr Community Market at iVillage @ MLK. The new market, which uses repurposed shipping containers for a variety of services, has a free grocery store that is set to serve 600 families each month for two years. Goodr Community Market also features the Goodr Health Hub, a health clinic that provides free health screenings and services in partnership with Grady Health, American Heart Association of Georgia, and Morehouse College, School of Medicine; the iVillage Community Resource Hub in partnership with Wells Fargo that offers banking services and financial literacy; and the Feel Goodr Wellness Room, a space that offers meditation. Additionally, Eat Urban Fresh Atlanta will provide prepared meals at a low cost for families, and the market has a floral shop, beauty salon, and dessert shop — all owned by women. “It...
Angela Bassett is set to be honored in Atlanta, GA. In May 2024, the legendary actress will receive an honorary degree from Spelman College, according to WSB-TV 2 in Atlanta. What’s more, it was announced that Bassett is set to give the commencement speech to the HBCU’s class of 2024. “Spelman College is honored to have acclaimed actress and director Angela Bassett to bring words of inspiration to our graduating Class of 2024,” Spelman College President Dr. Helene D. Gayle said, according to the outlet. She continued, “Her work has had a tremendous impact both on and off the screen and serves as an example for our students to lead in their own spaces.” In addition to Bassett, Spelman College will honor Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, award-winning journalist Rose Scott, and Reverend Dr. Yvette Flunder. Gayle says she looks forward to the honorees being a source of inspiration for not only the class of 2024 but also their families and the overall Spelman College...
For over a decade, Stephen A. Smith has been recognized as one of the faces of ESPN. Before becoming a host on “First Take,” the veteran sports broadcaster hosted “The Stephen A. Smith Show” on ESPN Radio from 2005 to 2008, per ESPN Press Room. By 2011, Smith returned to host a weekday local show on ESPN Radio 98.7FM in New York, NY, and a local show on ESPN LA 710AM in Los Angeles, CA. In an interview with “Earn Your Leisure” podcast, Smith recounted being fired from ESPN in 2009. He explained that the reason for his departure was that his contract at the time did not align with what he believed he should earn. “I thought that I deserved more than they offered,” Smith shared on “Earn Your Leisure. “I was appalled at the offer they made me. I did not like it. I did not appreciate it. I felt disrespected. And I said ‘No.’” Smith admitted that his disapproval with the offer he received was based on the acclaim and accolades that were pouring in for him. However, he says when he...
Not saying yes to the first offer could likely benefit you in the long run. For the “Million Dollaz Worth of Game” podcast hosts, this led to a more favorable business outcome. As previously mentioned by AFROTECH™, Gillie Da King and Wallace Peeples, otherwise known as Wallo267, signed a podcast deal with media company Barstool Sports in 2020. The deal is reportedly worth $3 million for 50% ownership in the show. Two years later, the duo signed a new contract with the company. Wallo267 expressed on an Instagram post, “From the bottom of my heart I want to thank all of y’all for being apart of my journey. 🙏🏾💪🏾cuz @gilliedaking WE DIT IT!” At the time of this writing, the “Million Dollaz Worth of Game” podcast appears to be doing well, garnering 1.53 million subscribers on YouTube. Their guests include some of the biggest names in the business — Alicia Keys, Cardi B, Shaquille O’Neal, and Michael B. Jordan. Unsurprisingly, Barstool Sports was one of many companies interested in securing...
Rosalind “Roz” Brewer has joined a coalition of leaders to advocate for financial prosperity in Black communities. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Brewer — an alumnus of Spelman College — formerly helmed as Walgreens Boots Alliance chief executive officer (CEO). This company, headquartered in Illinois, owns the retail pharmacy chain Walgreens in the U.S. and the U.K. However, Brewer exited her position in August 2023. She was the only Black woman to hold the C-suite title in the S&P 500 at the time, per Bloomberg. The former Walgreens CEO was also the third Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company, notes Forbes. Before Walgreens, Brewer served in leadership roles for retail giant Walmart and then transitioned to its Sam’s Club division as president and CEO to advance digital technology and improve shoppers’ experience, a news release mentions. She also took on the role of the chief operating officer (COO) of Starbucks Coffee Company from 2017 to 2021. Her contributions included...
An affordable housing project is underway to preserve a Black neighborhood in Raleigh, NC. According to The News & Observer, LeVelle Moton, the North Carolina Central University head basketball coach, will lead an $8.3 million real estate project called Cottages of Idlewild through his company, Raleigh Raised Development, created alongside business partners with CJ Mann and Terrell Midgett. This project aims to support Idlewild, a primarily Black community that was one of Raleigh’s earliest neighborhoods where former slaves achieved homeownership. The outlet notes that as time went on, however, it became harder for the community to afford to live in the area due to gentrification. Cottages of Idlewild will consist of 18 affordable houses on 1.7 acres of city-owned property, backed by assistance from donors, including NC Realtors Housing Foundation, Wells Fargo Foundation, and the Coastal Credit Union Foundation. The venture holds greater significance to Moton because, per the...
A Black pharmacist has opened a pharmacy to fill a void in an Ohio neighborhood. On April 1, 2024, Dr. Emmanuel Ayanjoke held a grand opening for Altev Community Pharmacy in Avondale, OH, according to WCPO-9 (an affiliate of ABC based in Cincinnati, OH). For nearly two decades, Avondale did not have a pharmacy, making it a pharmacy desert, especially for locals who don’t have reliable transportation. The outlet details that Altev Community Pharmacy has a free discount program for customers who come to pick up their prescriptions. This falls under Ayanjoke’s overall mission to advance healthcare in the Black community. “It’s all about our patients,” Ayanjoke told the outlet. “It’s all about our dedication to their care.” Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney; Cincinnati City Council members Scotty Johnson and Seth Walsh; Congressman Greg Landsman; and Hamilton County Commission President Alicia Reece attended Altev Community Pharmacy’s grand opening ceremony, per the outlet. During...
In an effort to provide safety for women and the LGBTQ+ community, one Black woman-owned rideshare app was launched in the south. Atlanta native Kiersten Harris grew up on the southside of the city and has always been committed to the betterment of her community. The 22-year-old entrepreneur is now the co-founder and CEO of what’s said to be the first female-friendly rideshare app in the south , HERide, according to Reckon. “Our motto is ‘Choose to be unbothered,’” said Harris in an interview with Reckon. “We wanted to create a platform for women to feel safe and welcome. Our drivers and passengers come first. Here’s how you can stay safe during this time of COVID-19. Stay updated by following @CDCgov for tips and updates. If you are showing symptoms please inform a medical professional. pic.twitter.com/ss1rE79bAj — HERide™️ App (@getheride) March 15, 2020 On top of providing safe, reliable transportation for members of the LGBTQ+ community and women, Harris had the vision to create...