New York Trend NYC: February 16 – 22, 2023

NEW YORK TREND

February 16th, 2023 - February 22nd, 2023

MAYOR DAVID DINKINS, REP. CHARLES RANGEL, HONORED WITH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY Benjamin CRUMP TO RECEIVE SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARD

Recently, the NAACP and BET announced that U.S. Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.) will be honored with the prestigious Chairman's Award during the "54th NAACP Image Awards." The Chairman's Award is bestowed in recognition of individuals who demonstrate exemplary public service and use their distinct platforms to create agents of change. Past honorees of the Chairman's Award include Samuel L. Jackson, the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis and Ruby Dee, Danny Glover, Rev. James Lawson, Tyler Perry, then-Senator Barack Obama, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and former Surgeon General Regina Benjamin. It was also announced that civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump will receive the Social Justice Impact Award

The Black Stars News 2015 Annual Awards Dinner will honor Mayor David Dinkins, Rep. Charles Rangel, Rep. Yvette Clarke, R. Donahue Peebles, Barbara Arnwine, Inez Barron, Sabrina Lamb, Dr. Rudy Crew, Stephen Byrd, Alia Jones, and the Central Park Five survivors of gross injustice on December 18 from 6:00pm –10:00pm at MIST Harlem, 46 West 116th Street

of individuals who've made an outsized impact on our community; it is our great honor to be able to shine this light in partnership with the NAACP in recognition of barrier-breaking leaders like Congressman Thompson and Attorney Crump, whose work will inspire generations to come."

Born in a state with a unique history of

CELEBRATING30 YEARS!

champion through the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) while a student at Tougaloo College – a private historically black college in Jackson, Miss. He organized voter registration drives for African-Americans throughout the Mississippi Delta on behalf of the organization before graduating and following in the footsteps of his mother

“Each honoree chosen for recognition has demonstrated exceptional leadership and vision in her or his respective profession or endeavor and in some significant measure has contributed towards creating a more just society in this country,” says Black Star News founder and publisher Milton Allimadi. “Obviously much work needs to be done here and around the world.”

"Congressman Bennie Thompson is a voting rights icon with a remarkable career in politics spanning over three decades," said Leon W. Russell, chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors "As the Chairman of the committee investigating the Jan. 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol, Rep. Thompson has worked tirelessly to protect and serve our country. His continued public service and advocacy for social change make him an excellent recipient for the Chairman's Award."

"Benjamin Crump is not just an attorney, but a courageous advocate and force of nature in the fight for freedom and equality," said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP "He has worked tirelessly to provide a voice for the voiceless and continues to inspire the next generation of civil rights attorneys. We're proud to honor him with the Social Justice Impact Award."

"Congressman Thompson and Attorney Crump are among the most deserving recipients of these prestigious NAACP Chairman's and Social Justice Awards, both demonstrating an unwavering commitment to furthering the civil rights agenda," said Scott Mills, President and CEO, BET "Each year, the NAACP Image Awards presents an opportunity for us to amplify the incredible contributions

The gala starts at 6:00pm with a cocktail hour to be followed by the dinner and awards ceremonies. There will be musical entertainment by opera singer Cassandra Douglas and from harmonica phenomenon William Galison. David Dinkins is honored for Lifetime Achievement — he was New York City’s first African American mayor and also welcomed Nelson Mandela to the city after his release in 1990. Rep. Charles Rangel, also honored for Lifetime Achievement, has served in Congress since 1971. He is a recipient of The Bronze medal for helping save soldiers behind enemy line during the Korean War Rep. Yvette Clarke is a Democratic member of the US House of Representatives from New York whose 9th district covers much of central Brooklyn. Before entering Congress in 2007, she

racial inequality, Rep.Thompson draws inspiration from the legacies of Medgar Evers, Fannie Lou Hamer, Aaron Henry and Henry Kirksey. The Bolton, Mississippi native considers it an honor to walk the path Mississippi civil rights icons paved decades ago.

R. Donahue Peebles, honoree, is a leading developer and founder of The Peebles Co., the nation’s largest African American-owned real estate firm with $3.5 billion worth of properties under development or management — he was one of the pioneering developerswho helped turn around and revitalize the once-blighted Anacostia neighborhood in Washington, D.C. A champion of African-American economic empowerment Peebles’ is contemplating a possible run for NYC mayor in 2017.

Serving his 15th term in the United States House of Representatives, Rep. Thompson represents Mississippi's Second Congressional District where he has spent his entire life fighting to improve the lives of all people. He is the longestserving African-American elected official in the State of Mississippi and the lone Democrat in the Mississippi Congressional Delegation.

Rep. Thompson began his grassroots political activism being a civil rights

Honoree Barbara Arnwine, civil rights lawyer, is a champion of protecting voting rights of ethnic minority groups — the emerging

Transformative Justice Coalition. Arnwine was for 26 years executive Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law. , honoree, formerly a member, is now council member and a champion of education for

established himself as one of the nation's foremost lawyers and advocates for social justice, winning a number of record settlements and verdicts for victims and families that have faced injustice. He has worked on some of the most highprofile cases in the U.S., most recently representing the family of Tyre Nichols, as well as the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, the residents of Flint, Michigan, who were severely affected by the pollution of the Flint River, and the family of Henrietta Lacks in a landmark reparations case. In 2021, St. Thomas University College of Law announced the Benjamin L. Crump Center for Social Justice in his honor, which will open doors for minority students pursuing law degrees. His book, published in October 2019, Open Season: Legalized Genocide of Colored People, reflects on the landmark cases he has battled, and how discrimination in the courthouse devastates real families and communities. He is the founder and principal owner of Ben Crump Law

York and a former chancellor of the New York public schools system. Pioneering producers Stephen Byrd and Alia Jones, through their company Front Row Production, brought “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and “A Streetcar Named Desire” with a multi-ethnic cast to Broadway. In 2016 they bring “Eclipsed” with Oscar Winner Lupita Nyong ’O to Broadway.

by becoming a school teacher. During his tenure educating the youth of Mississippi, a fire inside of Thompson was ignited pushing him to be a voice to the voiceless through elected office.

This year's Social Justice Impact Award will go to Attorney Benjamin Crump, a nationally recognized civil rights lawyer. Listed amongst the Most Influential People of 2021 by TIME100, Ebony Magazine's Power 100 Most Influential African Americans, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Lawyers, and the 2014 NNPA Newsmaker of the Year, Ben Crump is referred to as "Black America's Attorney General."

Imhotep Gary Byrd is a legendary radio talk show host and executive producer, radio DJ, poet, songwriter, music recording artist and producer, rapper, writer and community activist. He began his career as a radio DJ in Buffalo at age 15. For over 30 years, he’s been a talk show host at WBLS and WLIB radio in New York City. He also has a Friday night radio talk show on WBAI

Honoree Sabrina Lamb, founder of World of Money, is a champion of financial literacy for youth-- she teaches knowledge about handling money, budgeting and planning.

Honorees, the so-called Central Park 5, are collectively and individually heroes. They are survivors of one of the ugliest miscarriage of justice in New York’s history; having been railroaded and unjustly convicted for a crime they did not commit and for which they served long prison sentences ranging from seven years to 13 years before being exonerated when the actual rapist confessed. They are: Yusef Abdus Salaam; Raymond Santana Jr., Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, and Kharey Wise. The Black Star News, which focuses on investigative journalism, has been featured as a result of some if its news scoops, on CNN, The New York Daily News, The New York Post, The Village Voice, and Brill’s Content magazine.

The public can now vote to determine the winners of the "54th NAACP Image Awards" by visiting www. naacpimageawards.net. Voting closes on February 10, 2023. Winners will be revealed during the "54th NAACP Image Awards'' telecast on February 25, 2023 on BET. NAACP will also recognize winners in non-televised Image Awards categories virtually February 20-23 on www.naacpimageawards.net and at an Awards Dinner and Program February 24. For all information and the latest news, please follow NAACP Image Awards on Instagram @NAACPImageAwards. The "54th NAACP Image Awards" is presented by Wells Fargo and sponsored by AT&T, Bank of America, Gushers, Lowe's, Airbnb, FedEx, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines

Through a steadfast dedication to justice and service, renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Crump has

Dr. Rudy Crew, honoree, is one of the nation’s leading educators. He’s president of Medgar Evers College of The City University of New

Source: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

Past Black Star News honorees have included: Gil Noble (Like It Is), Rep. Maxine Waters, Soledad O’Brien (CNN), Ms. Camille Cosby, Voza Rivers (New Heritage Theatre), Errol Louis (NY1 News), Amel Larrieux (Entertainer), Dr. William Pollard (Medgar Evers College), Herm Edwards (NY Jets), Nayaba Arinde (Amsterdam News), La-Verna Fountain (Columbia University), Lillian Roberts (DC37), Desiree Dancy (New York Times), Greg Floyd (Local 237), Rev. Al Sharpton (National Action Network), and many others.

Photo Credit: Lorie Shaull via flickr

Attorney Benjamin Crump

‘Gentle Warrior Awards’ GALA HONORS LABOR LEADERS

The National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum (NAPRPPM) will mark its 28th anniversary by hosting the “Gentle Warrior Awards” Black Tie Gala Fundraiser. This year’s Gentle Warrior Awardees are Elizabeth Shuler, the first female President of the National AFL-CIO, and Fred Redmond, Secretary/Treasurer, of the AFLCIO Mr. Redmond is the highest ranking African American in the organized labor community. Organizers will also honor three Change Agents from the community. The event will take place Saturday, February 25, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  at the IBEW Local 134 Complex, 2722 S. King Drive in Chicago. Returning as celebrity emcee is ABC 7 Chicago personality Hosea Sanders

“As the only museum of its kind in the world, our mission is simple yet necessary,” said museum’s founder Dr. Lyn Hughes “It is imperative that the contributions of African Americans in the U.S. labor movement be recognized for their efforts, sacrifices and even broader influence. Our museum exists to preserve this history, share their narratives on a national platform and continue to pave the way for African Americans in organized labor.”

The museum is the only one in the world that bears the name A. Philip Randolph, founder of the first Black labor union in the nation -- The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP). The Porter’s union was the first Black union to be chartered under the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the first Black union to win a collective bargaining agreement with a major U.S. corporation -- the powerful Pullman company.

Randolph’s unwavering courage, sacrifice and intuitive leadership opened doors for Blacks in organized labor and enabled the Porters to create the foundation for the Black middle class. As one of America's foremost labor and civil rights leaders,

Randolph became known as the "Gentle Warrior."

The Gentle Warrior Award is presented to individuals who exhibit the similar commitment, focus, and tenacity that Randolph displayed throughout his career. For the first time ever, both recipients are high-ranking officials from the labor community.

This year’s Gentle Warrior Awardees are Elizabeth Shuler, the first female President of the National AFL-CIO, and Fred Redmond, Secretary/Treasurer, of the AFLCIO Mr. Redmond is the highest ranking African American in the organized labor community.

“We are indeed making history by honoring two individuals whose work in the labor movement has national reach and impact,” added Hughes

The evening also includes the recognition of Change Agents. This award is presented to those who have not only invoked positive change through action but have required it of others throughout the communities they serve.

This year’s Change Agent Awardees are the Honorable Arnette Hubbard, Illinois State Court Judge (Ret.); Stacy Davis Gates, President of the Chicago Teachers Union; and Tina Sanders, CEO of Phalanx Family Services

As one of the most highly anticipated labor events, the Gentle Warrior Awards BlackTie Gala Fundraiser is always attended by a diverse roster of labor union leadership, Chicago’s “Who’s Who” and an impressive list of museum supporters. In addition to the award presentations, the posh affair features a red carpet, live entertainment and a savory menu filled with culinary delights and desserts.

Funds generated by the awards gala will support the museum's expansion project which will include the creation of Randolph’s

Way, the first Black Labor Tourism district in America. The project is scheduled to break ground this spring.

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available via SimpleTix. For more information visit, www.aprgentlewarriorawards.com

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION OFFERS ‘be the beat’ TRAINING

Black or Hispanic adults who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital setting are substantially less likely to receive lifesaving care from a bystander. The American Heart Association, devoted to world of healthier lives for all, is working to affect change by empowering members of these communities to learn lifesaving Hands-Only CPR. During Black History Month and in conjunction with American Heart Month, the American Heart Association is encouraging

everyone everywhere  to “Be The Beat” for and in their communities by challenging every household or family to have at least one person who knows Hands-Only CPR. Scientific studies in the U.S. indicate that

a witnessed cardiac arrest outside the hospital are substantially less likely to receive lifesaving care from a bystander,” said American Heart Association volunteer President Michelle A. Albert, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA, the Walter A. Haas-Lucie Stern endowed chair in Cardiology, professor of medicine and admissions dean at University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine “Research shows lower rates of bystander CPR and a need for more CPR training in communities with low socioeconomic status and those with predominantly Black and Hispanic populations. Additional efforts are also needed to address structural racism and other factors that also likely contribute to the statistics.”

to the beat of a song. A new CPR playlist for Black History Month features numerous songs by Black musicians and performers, including Please Don't Stop the Music by Rihanna, You Got Me by The Roots, and Universal Mind Control by Common

The life you save may be someone you love.

Be The Beat Ambassadors

There is more than one way to Be The Beat. During Black History Month, the American Heart Association is highlighting people who have been and can Be The Beat for and in their communities, beyond learning CPR. Be The Beat Ambassadors are being recognized through a social media campaign as changemakers that have removed barriers and positively impacted the Black community.

laypeople are less likely to initiate CPR for people experiencing cardiac arrest in low-income Black neighborhoods or in predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods than in high-income white neighborhoods.

“Black or Hispanic adults who experience

When seconds matter most, CPR can make the difference in whether your friends and family survive. But not everyone knows how to perform CPR. Find a nearby class to take a course to learn the lifesaving skills of CPR, first aid, and AED. Or, individuals, families and friend groups can watch a 90-second Hands-Only CPR instructional video to learn the two steps of Hands-Only CPR: 1) Call 911 if you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse; and 2) Push hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of a familiar song that has 100 to 120 beats per minute. The easiest way to do that is to do compressions

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

FOUNDATION TO BUILD SCHOOLS IN WEST AFRICA ANNOUNCED

On January 13, 2023, The Tanya S. James Foundation and ProSeed Foundation announced that they will be joining forces this year for a life-changing international endeavor – building a school in the Kapakoko Village of the Divo, Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) in West Africa.

Philanthropist Tanya S. James has a reputable history of successful humanitarian efforts. For nearly twenty years, prior to her foundation being established in 2022, James has created a lasting impact amongst individuals, communities, and organizations. Some of her most notable projects include establishing a college scholarship, assisting with medical bills, adopting classrooms, funding mission trips, donating to studyabroad ventures, refurnishing homes damaged by natural disasters, and more. She intends on making an even bigger impact through the Tanya S. James Foundation, starting with the launch of this school.

“Growing up, my family didn’t have much financially. What we lacked in that area, we made up for in love and service to others,” says James “Giving back has been my life’s mission.”

The project’s groundbreaking took place on January 13th, 2023 – a significant date for James, who is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. With January 13th being Delta Sigma Theta’s Founders Day, this date has now reached a new height of importance to her.

“As a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., it was a beautiful surprise to learn that the groundbreaking would take place on our Founders Day. Our sorority was built on service, and I can’t think of a greater way to honor our 22 founders and their legacy,” says James

The ProSeed Foundation will lead the construction process, making this the non-profit’s sixth school-building project. Since the West African government assigns teachers to each school as they become available, the school will start with a limited number of classrooms. It will begin as a three-classroom facility and will ultimately expand to six classrooms.

Upon its opening, the school will host more than three hundred children. The foundations will also leverage local contractors to help fulfill the project,

benefitting not only the village’s children but its economy.

“Partnering with the ProSeed Foundation to build a school in West Africa is truly a dream

come true,” says James “For years, I’ve impacted my local and national community through service, but I’m ecstatic to take my efforts international!”

The school is scheduled to be completed in September 2023. More information can be found via www.thetsjfoundation.org For media inquiries, please email grace@ candicenicolepr.com

Tanya S. James is a devoted wife, mother, philanthropist and entrepreneur committed to being the example that personal and professional success can coexist. She is the Founder of Tanya S. James Foundation & KJ’s Hope Foundation and CEO of TJ Entertainment Group Tanya earned a dual degree in Public Relations and Print Journalism from North Carolina A&T State University and her Master’s Degree in Mass Communication, concentration in Public Relations, from the University of Georgia Additionally, she is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc and The Recording Academy

The Tanya S. James Foundation (TSJF) was established in 2022 as the extension of its founder to continue the work she has been doing independently for nearly twenty years. The heart of TSJF extends to the needs of local communities, national initiatives, and international collaborations. The purpose is to directly impact several areas that need solutions. There’s no particular identity to whom TSJF will help. There are innumerable opportunities to serve and TSFJ is honored to step in when the call is made.

ProSeed is a Christian non-profit organization based in Hahnville, Louisiana with a mission to build and renovate schools in developing countries, promote S.T.E.M Education and Careers by hosting S.T.E.M events in the USA, and reward academic excellence through scholarships to students worldwide. ProSeed’s vision is to empower and shape the leaders of the next generation to reach their full potential. The foundation is committed to giving hope through education by Building Schools in remote Villages in West Africa, awarding academic excellence, and promoting S.T.E.M. Education.

KING CENTER , MICROSOFT LAUNCH NEW ONLINE EXPERIENCE

Culminating the 2023 King Holiday Observance, The Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center) and Microsoft announced the launch of “The King Center Timeline,” an unprecedented collection of artifacts that chronicle its history, impact and the global contributions of its founder, Mrs. Coretta Scott King. In 1968, Mrs. King established The King Center

The Timeline includes an inaugural collection of more than 75 years of documentary material, pictures, and videos, some rarely seen, that demonstrate Mrs. King’s lifelong commitment to human rights, peace, and nonviolent social change, challenging us to be love in the face of opposition and violence. To introduce The Timeline, Microsoft launched the #DearCoretta marketing campaign as an expression of collective gratitude for the life and legacy of Mrs. King. The campaign features a heartfelt video entitled, “Dear Coretta.”

“Microsoft is honored to be the Official Technology Partner of The King Library and Archives,” said Jeff Hansen, Microsoft’s

General Manager of Strategic Partnerships

“Our partnership is a multi-year effort that will use a Microsoft Azure Digital Asset Management solution to help The King Library and Archives (KLA) preserve the world’s largest repository of primary source material related to the American civil rights movement under the leadership of Martin Luther King, Jr.,” he added.

The KLA promotes the appropriate application of archival principles in the preservation, processing, arrangement, and description of materials relevant to the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the American civil rights movement.

“My mother, Coretta Scott King’s lifework and legacy are directly responsible for the institutionalization and popularization of my father, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy,” said Dr. Bernice King, The King Center’s CEO “Through this strategic Microsoft partnership, my mother’s resolve, moral fortitude, and activism will be more accessible alongside the continued exposure of my father’s work and the work of the American Civil Rights Movement,” she added.

“This strategic partnership with Microsoft

enables unprecedented visibility into the life and work of Mrs. King. It signifies a paradigm shift and serves to elevate and expand how we speak and think about

exhibition, the Timeline is an educational tool for people everywhere interested in learning more about the woman hailed as the architect of the King legacy,” Graves said.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center) is a 501(c) (3) organization established in 1968 by Mrs. Coretta Scott King The King Center is the official living memorial and programmatic nonprofit organization committed to educating the world on the life, legacy, and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The King Center serves to inspire new generations to carry forward his unfinished work, strengthen causes and empower change-makers who are continuing his efforts today. The King Center’s premiere educational initiative, Nonviolence365®, is based on Dr. King’s nonviolent philosophy and methodology. His teachings engage participants from various sectors of society, including emerging and next-generation leaders, in modules and exercises that enhance communication, leadership, interpersonal, and conflict reconciliation skills, as well as empower individuals to address injustice.

Photo Source: ncatsualumni.org

Mrs. King’s global contributions,” said Dr. Kelisha B. Graves, The King Center’s Chief Research, Education, and Programs Officer who led the project.  “As our first online

A new partnership between Walser Automotive Group and Urban League Twin Cities supports young, black leaders of tomorrow.

The partnership, funded through the Walser Foundation, is connected to Urban League Twin Cities’ Black Gems program. Black Gems is a college and career readiness program open to Twin Cities students in grades 9-12. The program helps students navigate the transition from teen life to adulthood with a focus on navigating postsecondary training.

Black Gems includes a springtime tour of Historically Black Colleges & Universities, civil rights monuments, and museums. The Walser Foundation partnership will cover fees all 20 program participants this year, totaling $12,000.

“Beyond the financial donation, it is critically important to us that we begin a relationship with this next generation of incredible future leaders,” said Sherry Schultz, Walser’s Chief Human Resources Officer “We feel strongly about digging earlier and deeper to connect with talented individuals we hope to see in our organization one day very soon.”

In addition to career readiness, Black Gems focuses on training

in money management and investing, civics and community service, navigating college admissions, financial aid, and more.

Walser’s partnership comes as the National Automotive Dealers Association (NADA) launches its own initiative with the National Urban League to recruit, train, and hire more women and minorities into the auto retail industry. NADA’s 18-month pilot program will roll out this year.

Schultz described the local Urban League partnership as a natural fit with Walser’s core

values and employee experience. “As a company, we’re highly focused on providing employees with clear career pathing, familyfocused benefits, and a diverse and inclusive culture. We’re excited to embrace a community partner who clearly values these things, too,” Schultz said.

Marquita Stephens, Interim CEO and President of Urban League Twin Cities, said the partnership provides Black Gems participants with a blueprint for vetting future employers.

“Walser came to our students in December, ready and excited to present who they are and

what they do as a community employer. It set the bar for students on what they should seek and expect from employers in the future,” Stephens said. “We see this partnership as especially beneficial for our college students and Black Gem alumni.”

Walser Automotive Group operates 26 new and pre-owned dealerships featuring major domestic and luxury brands throughout Minnesota, Kansas, and Illinois.

Source: Walser Automotive Group

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EDUCATION HOME DEPOT QUADRUPLES COMMITMENT TO HBCU PROGRAMS

The Home Depot will increase its investment in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to $4 million in 2023 by launching an expanded range of community projects and career resources for students in its Retool Your School program.

Half of The Home Depot’s increased commitment will prepare HBCU students to thrive in their future careers with new needs-based programs including externships, scholarships, career workshops and innovation lounges. The other $2 million will double the flagship Retool Your School Campus Improvement Grant, which provides grants to HBCUs supporting campus enhancements. In its 14-year history, the program has given more than $5.2 million across 184 HBCUs.

The vote-based Retool Your School Campus Improvement Grant is expected to support 30 campuses this year with grants ranging from $40,000 to $150,000 per school. HBCU students, alumni and advocates can vote for their favorite HBCUs online, on Twitter or Instagram using the school’s designated hashtag

found at retoolyourschool.com

Applications are currently open and close February 10th.

“We’re strengthening our commitment to HBCUs and their students, from educational enrichment to career development opportunities that will follow them long after graduation,” said Arlette Guthrie, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at The Home Depot “As a proud HBCU graduate myself, I value the education I received and have personally experienced the diversity of thought and innovation that HBCU students bring to the workforce.”

As part of the expanded career-

development offerings, The Home Depot is partnering with the United Negro College Fund to award 60 $2,500 scholarships to students currently enrolled at any HBCU. In addition, a new business externship will give HBCU sophomores, juniors and seniors the chance to work on real-world projects in Home Depot business groups like home services, marketing and strategic business development. At the end of the sixto-eight-week virtual program, they’ll present their final projects to Home Depot executives. The funding will also support the creation of oncampus innovation lounges and resume and interview workshops led by Home Depot career development

experts.

Retool Your School is a key component of The Home Depot’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy, and our commitment to advancing education for all in the community. To drive meaningful change, the company’s DEI strategy focuses on three areas: associate engagement, community engagement and supplier diversity partnerships. For more information on The Home Depot’s Retool Your School program, including information on how to apply for scholarships and other grants, visit retoolyourschool.com

Source: The Home Depot

Foot Locker COMMISSIONS BLACK HISTORY CAMPAIGN

Kicking off Black ‘Her’story month, Executive Producer and Creative Director of MICOLE Creative Studios (MCS), Tannis Spencer, produces and directs a campaign for Foot Locker Inc’s LEED Initiative launching February

8, 2023. The former Foot Locker employee tells the story of LEED’s commitment to support and invest in the longevity of Black owned businesses, and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs through the lens of education and exposure

to the retail industry.

"This is a really meaningful project to partner with Foot Locker on. We share in their commitment to uplift and highlight the Black community’s impact and influence on global pop culture and mass media. The Undeniable series has been a labor of love and privilege to help bring to life."

- Tannis Spencer, Executive Producer & Creative Director

The Black History Month campaign—UNDENIABLE, features 4 episodic-style videos, hosted by Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks, highlighting LEED’s own retail fashion brands and owners, including Midwest Kids by Darryl  Brown, The Aware Brand by Drew Sanders, JJ Grant by JJ Grant, Campus Remixx by Shakir Goodrich and SND Brand by Terrance Hosley Each episode focuses on retail education topics that support growth in entrepreneurship in the fashion retail industry.

Tannis Spencer and Micole Creative Studios are the talent behind the screen leading the creative strategy production, and post-production of the campaign.

Having worked with world-class brands over the years like Google, and Gymshark, MCS continues to build an extensive resume and rapport through their meaningful, multifaceted projects.

Press Requests

For PR inquiries please email Sofia Maame at Contact@SMTPR.co, 240-688-6937

ABOUT TANNIS SPENCER

As an innovative entrepreneur and digital-first native, Tannis Spencer “sees and thinks” bigpicture storytelling rooted in cultural authenticity. As a director and African-American woman, she brings her unique experience to all of her projects. Tannis counts the rarity of her perspective in creative leadership as an asset to telling any brand story.

ABOUT MICOLE CREATIVE STUDIOS

Micole Creative Studios is a Black-owned production studio, founded and led by Tannis Spencer Producing human-centric narratives from concept to final delivery, MICOLE connects cultural moments with authentic brands to tell impactful stories.

Photo Source: The Home Depot

Photo Source: blackprwire.com

Founder of MICOLE Creative Studios, Tannis Spencer, Produces and Directs Foot Locker’s Black History Month LEED Campaign

THE ARTS

PERFORMANCES ANNOUNCED

Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) announces the addition of special guests Grammy Awardwinning bassist, singer and composer Richard Bona (on Friday, February 24) and Grammy nominated vocalist and composer SOMI (on Saturday, February 25) to South African pianistcomposer Nduduzo Makhathini and Brazilian 10-string mandolin wizard Hamilton de Holanda’s collaboration at Jazz at Lincoln

Center, exploring the diaspora of African musical culture to North and South America.

In this special concert event Nduduzo Makhathini and Hamilton de Holanda in the Appel Room on February 24-25 at 7:00pm & 9:30pm ET-- a part of JALC’s Black History Month programming highlighting Black artists and musical traditions-the critically acclaimed artists

will mix their respective traditions in a unique exploration of the diaspora of African musical culture, from the slave trade and colonization until the present day.

Richard Bona is a Grammy Award-winning musician, one of the most accomplished international bass players, composers and multiinstrumentalists. With his unique sound and vocal gift he

is continuously representing his African origins. Richard Bona has toured, composed, recorded, and created musical forms of art with the greatest: Herbie Hancock, Harry Belafonte, Steps Ahead, Quincy Jones, Chick Corea, Buena Vista Social Club, Cesária Évora, Sting, Mike Stern, Pat Metheny, Stevie Wonder, Bobby McFerrin, Chucho Valdés, George Benson, Oumou Sangaré and many more.

PROFILE

QUINTA BRUNSON

WRITER • PRODUCER • ACTRESS • COMEDIAN

QUINTA BRUNSON is a writer, producer, actress, and comedian. Brunson gained prominence for her self-produced Instagram series Girl Who Has Never Been on a Nice Date After growing much popularity from her Instagram series and becoming a viral meme, Brunson wrote her debut memoir She Memes Well The collection of personal yet funny essays described the struggle of trying to make it, staying true to your roots and redefining humor online. She went on to produce and act in content for BuzzFeed Video, and developed two streaming series with BuzzFeed Motion Pictures

She is the creator, executive producer, writer, and star of the ABC comedy series Abbott Elementary (2021–present). At the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, she became the first Black woman to be nominated three times in the comedy category, receiving nominations for: Outstanding Writing

for a Comedy Series (which she won), Outstanding Comedy Series (as an executive producer), and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Brunson was placed on the Time 100 Most Influential People of 2022 list. She continued to showcase her remarkable talents with Abbott Elementary and received her first major acting award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy TV Series at the 2023 Golden Globes. Brunson also racked in nine nominations for the hit series at the 54th Annual NAACP Image Awards

Brunson was born and raised in West Philadelphia. She has acted in the series iZombie, Single Parents, and Miracle Workers; provided voice work for Lazor Wulf and Magical Girl Friendship Squad; and starred in the first season of the HBO sketch comedy series, A Black Lady Sketch Show.

power healthy ecosystems. So we’re proud to partner with The Bee Conservancy, which has protected an estimated 10 million bees to date.

Photo Source: blackprwire.com

THE ARTS

BLACK AMERICAN PORTRAITS EXHIBIT COMES TO NEW YORK

Following its debut at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in 2021, the group exhibition Black American Portraits travels to Atlanta’s Spelman College Museum of Fine Art. Co-curated by Spelman College Museum of Fine Art’s Executive Director, Liz Andrews, and Tate’s Britton Family Curatorat-Large, Christine Y. Kim (both formerly of LACMA), the exhibition reframes portraiture to center Black American subjects, sitters and spaces – this time placing Black women portrait artists center stage. The exhibition will run from Feb. 8 through June 30, 2023. New to the exhibition at Spelman College Museum of Fine Art will be four acquisitions: a new painting by Calida Rawles – who will celebrate her 25th anniversary as a Spelman College alumna in 2023, two works by Augusta Savage and a photograph of Spelman Alumna Stacey Abrams by Sheila Pree Bright

Spanning over two centuries from c.1800 to the present day, the exhibition will feature 120 works to chronicle the ways in which Black Americans have used portraiture to envision themselves in their own eyes. Countering a visual culture that often demonizes Blackness and fetishizes the spectacle of Black pain, these images center love, abundance, family, community and exuberance. Black American Portraits depicts Black figures in a range of mediums such as painting, drawing, prints, photography, sculpture, mixed media and time-based media. In addition to work by artists of African descent, Black American Portraits includes several works by artists of other backgrounds who have exemplified a thoughtfulness about, sensitivity toward and commitment to Black artists, communities, histories and subjects.

The opening Black American Portraits at Spelman will coincide with the release of a book by the same title from LACMA and Delmonico books. Spanning over two centuries from around 1800 to the present day, the Black American Portraits book chronicles the ways in which Black Americans have used portraiture to envision themselves in their own eyes. Remembering Two Centuries of Black American Art, curated by David C. Driskell at LACMA over 45 years ago, this book is a companion to the exhibition and reframes portraiture to center Black

American subjects, sitters and spaces. This selection of approximately 140 works from LACMA’s permanent collection highlights emancipation, scenes from the Harlem Renaissance, portraits from the Civil Rights and Black Power eras, multiculturalism of the 1990s and the spirit of Black Lives Matter. The book is edited with text by Christine Y. Kim and Myrtle Elizabeth (Liz) Andrews, forewords by Mary Schmidt Campbell and Michael Govan, texts by Hilton Als, Bridget R. Cooks, Ilene Susan Fort, Dhyandra Lawson, Jeffrey C. Stewart, and an afterword by Naima J. Keith. The publication was designed by Adraint Khadafhi

Bereal

The Spelman Museum presentation of Black American Portraits will include a slate of public programs including Black

American Portraits: A Symposium on March 2-3, 2023. Speakers at the symposium include Amy Sherald, Calida Rawles, Bisa Butler and Deborah Willis

The Spelman College Museum of Fine Art is the only museum in the nation dedicated to art by and about women of the African diaspora. The museum is located on the campus of Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia on the first floor of the Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby, Ed.D., Academic Center. Initial plans for the Museum were spearheaded by arts faculty who believed that visual art is an essential component of a liberal arts education and that it plays a significant role in encouraging intellectual growth and it has served as a vital resource for the Spelman community and the Atlanta University Center since it opened in 1996. The Spelman

Museum is an internationally respected nexus for excellent exhibitions and programs, and has a renewed commitment to growing and exhibiting the permanent collection of art.

To learn more, please visit museum. spelman.edu or @spelmanmuseum on social media.

 ABOUT SPELMAN COLLEGE

Founded in 1881, Spelman College is a leading liberal arts college widely recognized as the global leader in the education of women of African descent. Located in Atlanta, the College’s picturesque campus is home to 2,100 students. Spelman is the country's leading producer of Black women who complete Ph.D.s in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The College’s status is confirmed by the U.S. News & World Report, which ranked Spelman No. 51 among all liberal arts colleges, No. 19 for undergraduate teaching, No. 5 for social mobility among liberal arts colleges, and No. 1 for the 16th year among historically Black colleges and universities. The Wall Street Journal has ranked the College No. 3, nationally, in terms of student satisfaction. Recent initiatives include a designation by the Department of Defense as a Center of Excellence for Minority Women in STEM, a Gender and Sexuality Studies Institute, the first endowed queer studies chair at an HBCU, and a program to increase the number of Black women Ph.D.s in economics. New majors have been added, including documentary filmmaking and photography, and collaborations have been established with MIT’s Media Lab, the Broad Institute and the Army Research Lab for artificial intelligence and machine learning. Outstanding alumnae include Children’s Defense Fund founder Marian Wright Edelman, Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Rosalind Brewer, political leader Stacey Abrams, former Acting Surgeon General and Spelman’s first alumna president Audrey Forbes Manley, actress and producer Latanya Richardson Jackson, global bioinformatics geneticist Janina Jeff and authors Pearl Cleage and Tayari Jones

To learn more, please visit spelman.edu and @spelmancollege on social media.

USBC TO CURATE LIST OF BLACK - OWNED RESTAURANTS

USBC is excited to announce that ByBlack has partnered with EatOkra, an innovative new app for discovering Blackowned restaurants, to bring the best eateries in America to your fingertips.

The curated list of over one thousand Blackowned restaurants in the United States is made up of hand-selected establishments that have been identified as some of the best in the country.

ByBlack and EatOkra have been working together to build a stronger community, and this partnership is a key demonstration of the importance of mission-aligned partnerships in achieving common goals.

In addition, both ByBlack and EatOkra are demonstrating their commitment to empowering Black-owned businesses by growing their digital communities and providing quality resources for those businesses.

“As ByBlack continues to collaborate with other brands to build a world where Black businesses thrive, we are thrilled to be working alongside EatOkra, a ByBlack

Certified business, to bring awareness to Black-owned restaurants that are often the heart of their communities. We know that this partnership will offer our users the most comprehensive and reliable information about the best places to eat.” says Alicea Gay, VP of External Affairs, ByBlack EatOkra is a searchable database of more than 15,000 Black-owned restaurants across the country. It provides information about each establishment including location, hours of operation and menu items offered. Users can also rate their dining experience at each restaurant so other users can make informed decisions when deciding where they want to eat next time they visit a particular city or town. “EatOkra is excited to curate this list of Black-owned restaurants in partnership with ByBlack. By continuing to offer comprehensive resources for intentional customers seeking cultural food experiences, we see a future that supports the health and the wealth of the Black food community.” says Anthony Edwards, CoFounder, EatOkra

The new partnership will allow consumers, foodies, and culinary aficionados to find restaurants on both EatOkra and ByBlack directories at www.usblackchambers.org/ top1k

other companies to easily find U.S. based Black-owned businesses.

Businesses can complete the ByBlack certification process or create a directory profile by visiting www.byblack.us. The

ByBlack is the first national certification program exclusively for Black-ownership designation. ByBlack provides businesses an approved accreditation trusted by customers and enables consumers and

ByBlack directory enables Black-owned businesses to network, partner with others in the community, increase their visibility and expand revenue opportunities. Learn more at www.byblack.us

TRENDS

NEW STUDY EXPOSES BLACK - WHITE HOMEOWNERSHIP GAP

Almost three in four white Americans own their home, while less than half of Black Americans can say the same. In fact, the gap in homeownership rates has actually grown wider from the civil rights movement to today.

With a newly released data study, researchers at Today’s Homeowner ask the pressing question: Are Black Americans being locked out of the American dream of

homeownership?

Our team examined how homeownership has changed over time, current state-level gaps, and states’ progress towards closing their gaps. We analyzed nearly 300 cities, again identifying where the Black-white homeownership gap stands today and where the most progress has been made recently. The research team engaged experts in real estate, academia, and policymaking to help identify key historic and contemporary

reasons for the persistent gap.

Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford, an authority in the home services space for 25 years, invites you to share our Black Homeownership Gap research findings with your readers to give them a comprehensive view of the racial homeownership gap and some potential solutions.

Here are some of our main findings:

 Since 1994, the gap between Black and white homeownership rates worsened by over two percentage points. Most of this increase has taken place since 2010.

 98% of cities have a gap, and ArdenArcade, CA; Mesa, AZ; Bethlehem, PA; Torrance, CA; and Rochester, MN have the widest gaps.

 In a handful of cities, Black homeowner rates exceed white ones: Santa Ana, Corona, Manteca, Temecula, and Inglewood, CA, and Pueblo, CO.

 Midwestern states had the biggest gaps in 2021: North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

 The South had some of the narrowest gaps, including in South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. The District of Columbia has the smallest gap.

 Most states saw the Black-white homeownership gap worsen recently. In Vermont, Hawaii, Alaska, New Mexico, and New Hampshire the gaps worsened by at least 10 percentage points.

 Only 15 states narrowed their gap from 2010 to 2021 - the Rocky Mountain states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming led the way with double-digit reductions.

We measured the Black-white homeownership gap as the difference between the Black homeownership rate and the white homeownership rate in a given area. These calculations were based on national, state, and city-level data on owner-occupied households from the Census Bureau’s American Communities Survey. In total, we compared all 50 states along with the District of Columbia and 293 cities with available data.

ABOUT TODAY’S HOMEOWNER

Today’s Homeowner has been an authority in home improvement for 25 years. Drawing millions of monthly views, TodaysHomeowner.com provides how-to articles, videos and expert tips for maintaining and improving the home.

McDONALD’S JOINS FORCES with KEKE PALMER TO RECOGNIZE LEADERSHIP

McDonald’s USA has a long history of investing in Black leaders who are taking steps now to create a brighter tomorrow. And, today, the Golden Arches and its Owner/Operators unveil the 2023 Black & Positively Golden Change Leaders – a collective of 10 young, Black movers-andshakers who inspire and enact remarkable change in their communities and beyond. Each Change Leader will receive $20,000, totaling $200,000 collectively, and will have access to elevated platforms to amplify their community missions, ranging from financial literacy to equality across the education system to mental health advocacy.

To further propel their leadership and underscore that Black history and excellence should be celebrated all year, beyond Black History Month, Change Leaders will be featured in a national advertising campaign voiced over by the multitalented awardwinning actress, singer and entertainer Keke Palmer. They will also attend culturally impactful events to elevate awareness of their missions, and will have their stories profiled on McDonald's Black & Positively Golden Instagram, @wearegolden, each month.

“Historically, McDonald’s has celebrated the accomplishments of the people in the communities we serve, and we also recognize the importance of celebrating the community leaders who are starting something today to change everything tomorrow,” says Alexea Gordon, McDonald’s Manager of Cultural Engagement “This program was created to provide the proper resources needed to help young Black community leaders succeed in their endeavors. These change leaders have the opportunity that we know will have a lasting impact on their communities, and we remain committed to not only celebrating but assisting change makers of the future.”

Much like the Change Leaders, Keke Palmer remains passionate about uplifting young adults, highlighting Black excellence and giving back to the community, making her the perfect ambassador for the Black & Positively Golden Change Leaders TV and

radio spots.

“I am so excited to partner with McDonald’s again to pay homage to these young trailblazers who are creating the change they want to see in their communities,” said Keke Palmer “Each day, they are shaping history for the next generation, and I can’t wait for the world to see how they are creating a better tomorrow.”

 MEET THE 2023 BLACK & POSITIVELY

GOLDEN CHANGE LEADERS

 Andrew Ankamah, Jr., Philadelphia, PA, Founder & Director of The Accountability Initiative

 Brianna Baker, Arlington, VA, Activist and Founder of Justice for Black Girls

 Garrick Beauliere, Baltimore, MD, PostDoctoral Fellow

 Kemia Bridgewater, Detroit, MI, CoFounder of First Generation Gems

 Kamarie Brown, Atlanta, GA, Educator

 Hope Bryant, Houston, TX, Filmmaker

 Nyla Choates, Atlanta, GA, Community Activist & Author of “My Roots Are Rich”

 Aaliyah Duah, Brooklyn, NY, Founder of Financial Revolution

 Dorian Hollingsworth, Jr., Norfolk, VA, Founder & Executive Director of Teen Care Network

 Aaliyah Alicia Thompson, Hampton, GA, Owner of Aaliyah’s Beauty Bar

“I’m honored to be recognized by McDonald’s as a Change Leader and hope my journey inspires others that look like me,” said Nyla Choates, 2023 Black & Positively Golden Change Leader, Author, and Community Activist. “When I started my nonprofit organization and wrote the children’s book My Roots are Rich, it was important for me to showcase the positive contributions Black people made to American culture, and I am excited to have a company like McDonald’s to help me raise awareness and continue impacting culture and change in our neighborhoods and beyond.”

Since its inception, initiatives under the Black & Positively Golden platform—Change

Leaders, HBCU student scholarships and program funding—have invested in the voices of tomorrow to help serve up bright futures in the Black community. And for decades, McDonald’s has partnered with impactful organizations like National Urban League, NAACP, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Hope Chicago and more to help close the opportunity gap and provide meaningful resources to the community. In fact, the brand announced this month a new partnership with Included Health to provide specialized physical, social and emotional

and their families; the McDonald’s/APIA Scholarship program catered to Asian and Pacific-Islander American students; and the Archways to Opportunity® program, which provides a variety of educational resources to eligible crew at participating U.S. restaurants.

To learn more about the McDonald's Black & Positively Golden movement and the 2023 Change Leaders program, follow @wearegolden on Instagram and visit mcdchangeleaders.com

health care support that is culturallyaffirming and clinically-competent to meet the needs of Black U.S.-based employees and their families.

The Golden Arches is committed to feeding and fostering education and career development for the communities it serves, with programs like the HACER® National Scholarship and Education Tour, created to support Hispanic high-school students

McDonald's USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. Ninetyfive percent of McDonald's approximately 13,500 U.S. restaurants are owned and operated by independent business owners. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds. com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ mcdonalds

TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance (TOUCHBBCA) announces the launch of For the Love of My Gurls, a new multi-media education platform targeting Black women ages 18-35 to bring attention and action to Black Breast Health. For the Love of My Gurls will join TOUCHBBCA

with the Paul Mitchell Hair & Beauty Schools, HBCUs, and other breast cancer advocacy organizations to comprehensively promote informative materials to reach young women where they work, live, play, pray, and slay.

TOUCHBBCA developed For the Love of My Gurls in partnership with Bright Pink, who has 17 years experience in reaching young women with breast health education. The campaign’s educational resources and programs will focus on Black Breast Health, risk minimization, awareness, and action for young, Black women without a breast cancer diagnosis. The campaign is calling on young Black women to learn

about Black Breast Health and why their needs are different, to unlock their HERstories (family health histories) and make checking their ‘gurls’ a routine in their daily lives.

Through digital initiatives and in-person events, For the Love of My Gurls will

numbers must change. In pursuit of our mission to eradicate Black Breast Cancer, we MUST equip and empower our community with information. As we did, with our successful When We Tri(al) Movement last year, we are going to launch this powerful initiative with surround-sound marketing leveraging all of our communication assets and a few new ones.”

CHC: Creating Healthier Communities, a national nonprofit that removes the barriers to good health and equity, today  announced Jean C. Accius, PhD as its new President and CEO

“After an extensive search over the past six months with an abundance of incredibly strong candidates, we’re proud to welcome Dr. Jean Accius as CHC’s new President and CEO,” said Adam Rothschild, CHC board chair. Dr. Accius previously served as Senior Vice President of Global Thought Leadership for AARP, the nation’s largest nonprofit advocating for solutions that advance equity and foster greater health security so everyone can live longer and healthier lives. Accius was instrumental in establishing AARP as a global convener and thought leader, elevating bold solutions and innovative programs, and forming strategic partnerships across industries to scale for impact and accelerate the pace of change. Prior to that, he held other senior roles at AARP and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

“I was drawn to CHC’s powerful mission and dedicated board and staff team,” said Dr. Jean C. Accius “It’s an incredible honor to join CHC at this significant time, just as the organization has completed a successful evolution to health equity. This is an era of unprecedented opportunity, and I look forward to continuing to grow

cover all topics related to Black Breast Health. The Doctor Is In will host a launch conversation on February 1st at 6pm ET, to be broadcast live on BlackDoctor.org’s Facebook

TOUCHBBCA’s new Black Breast Health web series, Pink Table Talk, will air live on Blackdoctor.org on Facebook the last Sunday of every month at 3pm ET.

“The numbers are staggering for Black women facing breast cancer,” says Ricki Fairley, CEO and Co-Founder of TOUCHBBCA “Black women under 35 get breast cancer at two times the rate of white women and die at three times the rate, well before they would have their first mammograms. These

CHC’s impact, relevance and revenue. Together, we’ll break down the barriers to good health and equity and create resilient communities where everyone can thrive.”

“Leading CHC has been the highlight of my 40-year nonprofit career,” said Thomas G. Bognanno, President and CEO at CHC “As I retire, I couldn’t be prouder of our board of directors and staff team and what we’ve accomplished together at CHC. I’m excited to welcome Jean as CHC’s new leader and am confident he will take our organization to new heights as we enter

As Black Breast Cancer is a different and distinctive disease state, Black Breast Health requires different and distinctive consideration and action. “We believe that young, Black women need more information about the risks of Black Breast Cancer much sooner, before breast cancer impacts their lives. For the Love of My Gurls can, and will, bridge that gap,” says Hayley Brown, TOUCHBBCA’s Director of Programs and Partnerships. The campaign was designed through a lasertargeted messaging lens and informed by TOUCHBBCA’s Young Women’s Advisory Board.

Until now, TOUCHBBCA has focused on supporting and promoting education to Breasties, women already impacted by breast cancer. With this campaign, they are giving young Black women an opportunity to take control of their breast health before they receive a diagnosis.

TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance drives the collaborative efforts of patients, survivors, advocates, advocacy organizations, health care professionals, researchers, and pharmaceutical companies to work collectively, with accountability, towards the common goal of eradicating Black Breast Cancer. Though there are numerous breast cancer advocacy groups and stakeholders, there is a dire need to bring all patients, survivors, advocates, advocacy organizations, health care professionals, researchers, and pharmaceutical companies together to serve as allies to fight Black Breast Cancer.

Source: TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance

YOUNG BLACK WOMEN FOCUS OF NEW MOVEMENT NONPROFIT WORKS TO CREATE HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES

inspiring, impactful leader, personally and professionally dedicated to our mission. I’m incredibly grateful to Kevin Clayton, CHC’s former board chair and the head of social impact and equity at the Cleveland Cavaliers for leading the Board Search Committee. This successful appointment was a unanimous decision and is a testament to the committee’s integrity and diligence throughout the process.”

Accius has published numerous journal articles and research reports and is a sought-after speaker and presenter. His impressive educational credentials

School of Public Health and more. Accius is a certified director with the National Association of Corporate Directors and a fellow with the Executive Leadership Council His official start date will be Monday, February 27, including joining that week’s CHC Board of Directors meeting. To ensure a smooth transition and demonstrate his full support for the new CEO, current CEO Thomas G. Bognanno will remain with CHC through March 31.

CHC: Creating Healthier Communities brings nonprofits, businesses and communities together to improve

our seventh decade addressing critical health issues and advancing health equity.”

“We were fortunate to have such consistent, steady leadership from Tom who served CHC faithfully before announcing his retirement,” said Rothschild “This enabled us to work together through an intentional succession process that will ensure CHC continues to flourish. Jean is an

include a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration from American University; Master of Science in Aging Studies, Social Gerontology from Florida State University; Bachelor of Science in Business Administration also from Florida State University; as well as various certifications and Executive Education from notable institutions including Stanford Graduate School of Business, Georgetown McDonough School of Business, Harvard University

community health. Our focus is health equity, addressing underlying issues and removing barriers so everyone can thrive. Our work is driven by community need, and we direct programs, resources and support where they have the greatest impact. Together with partners, we’ve been creating healthier communities for more than 65 years. Join us at chcimpact.org or @chcimpact

END NOTES

IMPACT OF HIP HOP ON CONTEMPORARY ART TO OPEN

Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip hop, the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) will open a groundbreaking exhibition that explores the conceptual, cultural, and aesthetic attributes that have made hip hop a global phenomenon and established it as the artistic canon of our time. Opening on April 5, 2023, The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century features more than 90 works of art by some of today’s most important and celebrated artists, including Derrick Adams, Mark Bradford, Lauren Halsey, Julie Mehretu, Adam Pendleton, Tschabalala Self, Hank Willis Thomas, and Carrie Mae Weems, as well as several with ties to Baltimore and St. Louis such as Devin Allen, Monica Ikegwu, Amani Lewis, Anthony Olubunmi Akinbola, Damon Davis, and Jen Everett. Their work is presented in dynamic dialogue with fashion and objects created and made famous by Lil’ Kim, Dapper Dan and Gucci, and Virgil Abloh for Louis Vuitton, along with iconic brands like Cross Colours and TELFAR. Together, the works in The Culture weave a compelling narrative about art and culture that is rarely experienced in a museum context—and one that highlights a broad array of conceptual and material innovation. The exhibition will have significant personal and communal resonance for those steeped in hip-hop culture, while providing a crash course into the explosive impact of the genre over the past two decades for those less versed.

The Culture is a ticketed exhibition coorganized by the BMA and the Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM) and will be on view at the BMA from April 5 to July 16, 2023, and at SLAM from August 25, 2023, to January 1, 2024. It is co-curated by Asma Naeem, the BMA’s Eddie C. and C. Sylvia Brown Chief Curator and Interim Co-Director; Gamynne Guillotte, the BMA’s Chief Education Officer; Hannah Klemm, SLAM’s Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art; and Andréa Purnell, SLAM’s Audience Development

DJing; breakdancing; and graffiti writing and arts. From its inception, hip hop critiqued dominant structures and cultural narratives and offered new avenues for expressing diasporic experiences and creating alternate systems of power, leading to a fifth pillar of social and political consciousness and knowledge-building. Over the past two decades, in particular, technology, social media, and capitalist interests have enabled hip hop to grow in complexity and reach, taking on new regional styles across the United States and around the world. The Culture explores this pivotal and fertile era through a wide range of painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, video, and installations organized in six themes— Language, Brand, Adornment, Tribute, Ascension, and Pose. The exhibition experience begins as visitors encounter a pulsing soundscape created by Baltimorebased musicians Abdu Ali and Wendel Patrick, plus several artworks placed outside of the gallery, including a large-scale tribute to Nike Air Force 1 sneakers.

(NFT) is inspired by the cover of Jay-Z’s 1996 debut studio album, Reasonable Doubt. This tribute nods to the future of art, as well as the second generation of hip hop leaders.

• Caitlin Cherry, Bruja Cybernetica. (2022)—In this work, Black female performers and femme avatars pose amidst a masterful bricolage of patterns encompassing moiré, prismatic flares, radiating waves, and a refractive shattering of the picture plane.

• Stan Douglas, (2022)—Douglas’ powerful two-channel video is a fictitious crosscultural collaboration between U.K. grime rappers Lady Sanity and TrueMendous and Mahraganat artists Raptor and Youssef Joker, who mix hip hop, techno, and Egyptian folk music. It is presented in the BMA’s contemporary wing as an extension of the exhibition. Major video works by Arthur Jafa and Kahlil Joseph are also shown in black box screening areas within the exhibition galleries.

 Fashion & Material Culture

will be located downtown near Lexington Market. St. Louis and Missouri artists include Anthony Olubunmi Akinbola, Damon Davis, Jen Everett, Aaron Fowler, Kahlil Robert Irving, Yvonne Osei, and Adrian Octavius Walker. The final gallery of the exhibition features an interactive installation that invites the public to share their hip hop experiences to create a living public archive that recognizes hip hop’s communitycentered roots.

 Catalog

The Culture is accompanied by a 308-page comprehensive catalog that delves into conversation around self-presentation and adornment, language, technology, and the global presence in hip hop. Contributors include author and scholar Todd Boyd (Notorious Ph.D.); multimedia producer and performer TT the Artist, poet Danez Smith, stylist Misa Hylton, choreographer Sean Bankhead, deaf hip hop dancer Shaheem Sanchez, Canadian rapper from the Muskoday First Nation Eekwol Lindsay Knight, Muslim poet/rap activist Mona Haydar, and visual artists Devin Allen, Jacolby Satterwhite, and Murjoni Merriweather. The catalog also includes a transcript of a roundtable of national and international curators who have mounted exhibitions about hip hop in the last two decades: Franklin Sirmans and Lydia Yee, Valerie Cassel Oliver, René De Guzman, Martha Diaz, Carol Tulloch, and Aurélie Clemente-Ruiz

 Tickets

Ticket prices are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, $12 for groups of 7 or more, $5 for students with ID, and $5 for youth ages 7-18. BMA Members, children ages 6 and under, and student groups are admitted free.

 Tour

Baltimore Museum of Art, April 5-July 16, 2023; Saint Louis Art Museum, August 25, 2023-January 1, 2024; Cincinnati Art Museum, June 28-September 29, 2024;

Art Gallery of Ontario, November 23, 2024March 23, 2025

Manager

The Culture is accompanied by an expansive catalog with contributions from more than 50 artists, writers, scholars, curators, and arts leaders. The exhibition and book are further supported by an extensive network of advisors, including community members, artists, and scholars in the study of hip hop.

“Hip hop’s influence is so significant that it has become the new canon—an alternate set of ideals of artistic beauty and excellence centered around the AfroLatinx identities and histories—and one that rivals the Western art historical canon around which many museums orient and develop exhibitions,” said Naeem “Many of the most compelling visual artists working today are directly engaging with central tenets of this canon in their practices, in both imperceivable and manifest ways. Whether through the poetics of the street, the blurring of high and low, the reclamation of the gaze, the homage to hip-hop geniuses, or the experimental collaborations across such vastly disparate fields as painting, performance, fashion, architecture, and computer programming, the visual culture of hip hop along with its subversive tactics and its tackling of social justice surface everywhere in the art of today.”

Hip hop first emerged as music from Black, Latinx, and Afro-Latinx Americans living in the Bronx in the 1970s. It quickly proliferated through large-scale block parties to encompass an entire culture that includes the four pillars of MCing or rapping;

 Visual Art Highlights

• Gajin Fujita, Ride or Die. (2005)—Fujita’s monumental painting depicts a Japanese samurai, surrounded by graffiti tags, riding into battle on horseback with an L.A. Dodgers logo emblazoned on his otherwise traditional helmet, merging Eastern and Western motifs to dynamic effect.

• Carrie Mae Weems, (2017)—In this photograph commissioned for W Magazine’s 2017 art issue, Weems adorns musician Mary J. Blige with a crown, honoring her as the “Queen of Hip Hop Soul” and positioning her within an illustrious lineage of Black icons. The work also beautifully captures the confluence of popular media, fine art, and music.

• Jordan Casteel, Fendi (2018)—This large-scale painting captures an unidentified figure riding the subway, holding bags conspicuously branded with Fendi logos in their lap. The painting suggests the rider’s affiliation with the luxury brands, while also strikingly at odds with reality.

• Lauren Halsey auntie fawn on tha 6. (2021)—Made popular throughout the 21st century by such musicians as Lil’ Kim, Nicki Minaj, and Doja Cat, candy-colored synthetic hair has become a powerful adornment within Black communities. Halsey’s rainbow-hued work elevates and appreciates it as an artform.

• Derrick Adams, Heir to the Throne. (2021)—This non-fungible token

Among the fashion highlights are seven tracksuits, including a leather Adidas Superstar track jacket created by Grammy award-winning artist Pharrell Williams in collaboration with Adidas; a suit by the Nigerian streetwear brand WAFFLESNCREAM, with fabric created by the Yoruba people; and an example from the Black Track collection released this year by luxury brand TELFAR. Additional fashion examples include looks from Virgil Abloh’s collections for Louis Vuitton, legendary streetwear brand Cross Colours, and Dapper Dan and Gucci, among others. Highlights of historic ephemera include a copy of the Jean-Michel Basquiat/Rammellzee Beat Bop / Test Pressing (1983) album, a Vivienne Westwood Buffalo hat (1984) made famous by Pharrell Williams at the 2014 Grammy awards, and several of Lil’ Kim’s iconic wigs recreated by the original hair stylist Dionne Alexander

 Community

To further illuminate hip hop’s influence, the exhibition incorporates artists with deep ties to Baltimore and St. Louis—both cities with deeply engaged communities of visual artists and musicians. Baltimore artists include Devin Allen, Larry W. Cook, NIA JUNE with APoetNamedNate and Kirby Griffin, Monica Ikegwu, Amani Lewis, Megan Lewis, Charles Mason III, Murjoni Merriweather, and Ernest Shaw Jr. Additionally, Baltimoreborn, Los Angeles-based artist Shinique Smith will create a commissioned mural that

 Sponsors

This exhibition is generously supported by the Henry Luce Foundation, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support is provided by The Alvin and Fanny B. Thalheimer Exhibition Endowment Fund

 About the Baltimore Museum of Art

Founded in 1914, the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) inspires people of all ages and backgrounds through exhibitions, programs, and collections that tell an expansive story of art—challenging long-held narratives and embracing new voices. Our outstanding collection of more than 97,000 objects spans many eras and cultures and includes the world’s largest public holding of works by Henri Matisse; one of the nation’s finest collections of prints, drawings, and photographs; and a rapidly growing number of works by contemporary artists of diverse backgrounds. The museum is also distinguished by a neoclassical building designed by American architect John Russell Pope and two beautifully landscaped gardens featuring an array of modern and contemporary sculpture. The BMA is located three miles north of the Inner Harbor, adjacent to the main campus of Johns Hopkins University, and has a community branch at Lexington Market. General admission is free so that everyone can enjoy the power of art.