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Jaylen Brown has designed courses that champion STEM education to empower students. As the founder of the 7uice Foundation, he aims to create better educational outcomes for underserved youth of color, with support from institutions, organizations, and social change leaders, its website mentions. Its four pillars include: Entrepreneurship and financial literacy Health and wellness Leadership and activism Sustainability and technology The foundation also offers a Bridge Program in partnership with MIT’s Media Lab with a four-day camp held during the summer for students in eighth through 12th grade. Brown designed a science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) curriculum for the program, which includes space exploration, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence, as he revealed during a conversation on “The Stephen A. Smith Show.” “I designed a curriculum over at MIT pretty much every summer… I take kids from Dorchester, from Roxbury, from underrepresented...
A Black woman is leading the establishment of New York City, NY ‘s first HBCU Early College Prep High School, a groundbreaking initiative developed in partnership with the historically Black college from which she graduated. Dr. Asya Johnson, chancellor’s master principal of NYC Public Schools, is a passionate advocate for racial justice and educational equity with over 16 years of educational experience. A proud Delaware State University alumna , she stated that the prep high school aims to “bridge the accelerated academics of a rich tradition of HBCU experience,” Waymaker Journal reported . She is now paving the way for a new generation to follow in her footsteps. The HBCU Early College Prep High School will open in Southeast Queens in September 2025, fast-tracking NYC Public School students’ path to college. They will be able to start receiving college credits as early as ninth grade and graduate high school with a diploma, a tuition-free associate’s degree, and guaranteed...
Business coach Precious Azuree is helping Black-led organizations measure their impact. Precious Azuree Group The Houston, TX, native has been leading her own coaching business for more than a decade. The pathway nearly fell into her lap upon graduating from high school as a self-taught web and graphic designer and blogger. Quickly gaining a reputation for social media marketing, many began to reach out to Azuree for her services, which evolved into the launch of the Precious Azuree Group, originally established as a project management and branding agency. “I was working with influencers, helping small business owners develop their brand identity, monetize their brand, build out their teams,” she told AFROTECH™ in an interview. Through her business, she worked with a myriad of clients which included Stacy Ike Inc., earning them over $100,000 in brand deals, as well as Essence Festival, AT&T, Pantene, and Regal Cinemas, on social media strategics that enhanced their brand engagement...
During Donovan Mitchell’s off season he is educating himself on the wine sector. The starting guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers is said to be the first-ever NBA star wine apprentice, according to information shared with AFROTECH™. Mitchell dove into the various aspects of winemaking with the help of The Prisoner, a Napa Valley-based wine brand that has worked closely with the NBA since 2020. The company also works with 100 growers in the northern region to produce various blends, according to their website. Mitchell’s introduction to the winery dates back to two years ago, while attending an event in the midst of the summer league in Las Vegas. “Ever since then it’s been a non-stop in my house,” he explained in a YouTube video. Now, as a student in the field and through the assistance of The Prisoner’s head winemakers, Chrissy Wittmann and Todd Ricard, he became more familiar with the systems in place to blend wines while in the barrel room and has gained an understanding of the...
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has revealed his thoughts amid the ever-changing landscape of workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. In a shareholder letter shared via Axios, Dimon reiterated the bank’s commitment to DEI, noting its programs that include resource groups for Black, LGBTQ+, and employees living with disabilities, as well as other initiatives, including a fund geared toward helping entrepreneurs of color, investing efforts in rural communities, and recruiting at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Moreover, Dimon revealed that the $30 billion racial equity commitment made by JPMorgan Chase in the wake of racial unrest and turmoil in 2020 is “nearly completed,” with plans to make the initiative a permanent program. “We’re thoughtfully continuing our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts,” he wrote. Dimon also confirmed that the initiatives will adjust as laws continue to evolve around these issues. His statement comes at a time...
A program working to “break the cycle of homelessness for good” in the Bay Area of California has launched, and Google is backing its mission. Google.org, the charitable arm of Google, is a funding partner for It All Adds Up (Bay Area Thriving Families Study), a pilot program that is providing 450 families in the Bay Area who have faced homelessness with guaranteed basic income for a year. Each family is given a randomized amount of either $1,000 a month for 12 months or $50 a month for 12 months, according to the program’s website. Its fellow funding partner is J-PAL North America, a regional office of the global research center Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab housed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Bay Area families that receive services from Compass Family Services or Hamilton Families and are part of their rental subsidy/rapid re-housing programs qualify for the recurring cash payments as long as they are in the final three months of their housing subsidy....
Gina Belafonte is someone who walks the walk and talks the talk. As the executive director of Sankofa, she’s combining the arts and activism to carry on her father’s legacy. Though initially starting out as an actress, Gina Belafonte is now focusing her efforts on the organization her father started and choosing to focus her efforts on larger social justice causes. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t use entertainment to get her point across. On March 1, HB95 — a celebration of Harry Belafonte’s 95th birthday — will be a star-studded event that will take place at the Town Hall Theater in New York City. Proceeds will benefit Sankofa, whose mission “educates, motivates, and activates artists and allies in service of grassroots movements and equitable change,” per the organization’s official website. Their outreach is, of course, grassroots in nature — they work with local partners to amplify their message, but their amplification involves some of the biggest names in the entertainment...
For years, Black Americans have fought social injustice, and this woman is using technology to further the movement. Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, social justice advocate, and CEO at Promise joined AfroTech’s Will Lucas on the latest episode of Black Tech Green Money to further discuss how technology can be used to not only amplify social justice work but set our people up for success. Through her work at Promise, Ellis-Lamkins helps people to avoid utility shut-offs, license revocations, sky-high interest fees, and incarceration with flexible, interest-free payment plans, a range of payment options and even 24/7 client support. “Most of my preparation game is really from being broke,” she expressed. “I say that because I think your life is shaped by your own experiences and how the world sees you. So for me, [some people] I hear their amazing stories and they’re like ‘I felt triumphant,’ but unfortunately for me, I think I felt a lot of shame.” She further explains what it was like to be...
La La Anthony wears many hats — businesswoman, actress, television personality, author, and investor. According to a press release, in her latest venture, she put on her investor hat with an investment in LEUNE, a California-born cannabis brand — founded by Nidhi Lucky Handa — with a focus on shedding light on social injustice. “LEUNE is honored to be part of the cannabis community – the constant excitement and growth potential is part of what keeps us dancing on our toes. We also realize that being in our industry comes with a platform – an ability to use our voice and help bring awareness to social injustice and inspire true, positive change. There is a mountain of work to be done, and beyond the fad buzzwords and headlines of the week, we’re here for as long as it takes,” the company website says. One of LEUNE’s recent actions include a partnership with the Last Prisoner Project, an organization working to end marijuana convictions. In January of 2021, the company launched an...
Bridge Philanthropic Consulting (BPC) — considered the largest full-service Black-owned social justice fundraising firm — has announced new promotions within the company including appointments of Dr. Tashion Macon and Prof. Jennifer Jiles to its staff. According to a press release, Dr. Macon — an award-winning Marcom Strategist and Culturalis — has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Marketing/Branding and Social Justice Strategy where she will utilize her wealth of knowledge in branding and marketing to lead this department. Additionally, Prof. Jiles — an award-winning integrated communications leader, writer, content editor, and producer — has moved up the ranks as the new Senior Vice President of Communications and Public Relations/Social Justice Strategy. “We are thrilled to advance the roles of these two outstanding leaders—BPC is poised for continued growth and market expansion—Dr. Macon and Jennifer Jiles both bring the commitment to quality, experience, and vision to...
Healthcare company Johnson & Johnson has announced plans to expand its commitment and address racial and social injustice in the U.S. The organization has pledged $100 million over the next five years to invest in and promote health equity solutions for Black and brown communities across the country, according to a news release . The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the economy throughout the year and revealed implicit systemic racism that has greatly impacted health equity in America. “The quality of your healthcare should not be determined by your race and ethnicity,” said Alex Gorsky, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Johnson & Johnson, in a press statement . She continued her statement sharing her sentiments of the state of healthcare for Black and brown citizens in America: “There is an urgent need to take on the inequities rooted in systemic racism that threaten health in communities of color across the United States. That’s why Johnson & Johnson is focusing its efforts and...
Last month, NIKE, Inc. announced a $40 million commitment to support Black initiatives in the fight against racial injustice over the next four years in a formal statement . Today, they continue their dedication by donating a $1 million grant to Black Girls CODE. Excited to announce that as part of @Nike 's $40M, four-year commitment to fight systemic injustice, the brand has donated $1M to support @BlackGirlsCode ! It's an honor to be recognized alongside @NAACP @NAACP_LDF two organizations driving impactful change. https://t.co/HsOuNKYtat pic.twitter.com/BlidQOa0iT — Black Girls CODE (@BlackGirlsCODE) July 29, 2020 Black Girls CODE — an organization dedicated to changing the narrative surrounding racial and gender diversity in STEM by educating and empowering girls and young women of color — is now considered an official partner of NIKE as they both work together to create long-lasting change for the Black community. “Our goal is to train 1 million girls by 2040, but that’s the...
It’s always good to see athletes using their platforms to fight for justice and change. This week, NBA stars Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, and Dwyane Wade launched the Social Change Fund to offer more financial support and resources in the Black community while also addressing issues like public safety and criminal justice reform, according to The Hollywood Reporter . https://www.instagram.com/p/CC8fyvdHqcJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link The three athletes have banded together to put their money behind concrete action. “Our mission is to address social and economic justice issues facing Black communities and break down the discriminatory barriers to success,” Paul said in an Instagram post . “The Social Change Fund will help advance racial equality and opportunity.” Additionally, the fund is acting on behalf of the Black community in America who has gone unheard and mistreated in response to our demands for justice. “When all else fails to organize us, conditions will,” Anthony said in...
The social justice initiatives keep rolling in, and now athletes are stepping into the mix to help fight against systemic racism. New Orleans Pelicans star Jrue Holiday has generously pledged his remaining NBA 2019-2020 salary toward social justice funds and initiatives, BET reports . In collaboration with his wife and former U.S. women’s soccer team player Lauren Holiday, the two have formed the Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Justice Impact Fund . View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jrue Holiday (@jrue_holiday11) “I have pledged the remainder of my 2020 NBA salary as a progressive step toward combating systemic racism as well as social and economic inequality that continues to prevent Black communities from upward mobility,” Holiday wrote in his post. According to his post, the philanthropic fund will assist “Black-led nonprofits, programs and institutions of higher learning” in New Orleans, as well as the Los Angeles area and Indianapolis, where Jrue and Lauren are...
Social media has been in an uproar since a video of Ahmaud Arbery’s death surfaced online and has since called for immediate justice from the state of Georgia. Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was shot on Feb. 23 while jogging through a neighborhood by Gregory McMichael and his son Travis, who chased him down before killing him. McMichael and his son were only arrested and charged for the murder just last week, USA Today reports . The video caused such a stir online that Roc Nation’s philanthropic arm Team Roc and civil rights lawyers S. Lee Merritt, Esq. and Benjamin L. Crump, Esq. signed an open letter calling for justice from Georgia state officials. Open letter to Georgia elected officials appearing in the Atlantic Journal-Constitution today, calling for justice to be served in the case of Ahmaud Arbery's murder. Convict his killers and show the world that hate and fear will lose. #JusticeforAhmaud #iRunWithMaud pic.twitter.com/w0nuXthGEc — Roc Nation (@RocNation) May 10, 2020...