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NEWYORK TREND

NEW YORK TREND

December 17, 2015 - December 23, 2015

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

NAACP GRANTS TO INCREASE MINORITIES IN HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

The NAACP has announced the next iteration of the Backing the B.A.R. (Business Accounts & Retailers)

Acceleration Grant Program sponsored by Bacardi U.S.A. offering $100,000 in grants to the industry. First launched to increase support of Black-owned bars, restaurants, nightclubs, lounges, liquor stores, and small businesses in the process of applying for a liquor license, the program aims to support the underrepresented in the hospitality industry. The program has evolved to expand its support to providing grants to a broader range of underrepresented minorities as a show of continued commitment to the industry.

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

Backing the B.A.R. initiative will award more than$100,000 in acceleration grants, education, support, and entrepreneurship solutions for minority-owned bars, restaurants, nightclubs, lounges, liquor stores, and small businesses who need financial, educational, or mentorship support. "Love for our brands is built in bars and restaurants and we are firmly committed to supporting the industry

“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.”

Backing the B.A.R. will provide critical support to 10 businesses from  underrepresented minorities in the hospitality sectors, with $10,000 grants along with access to valuable resources such as mentorship, tools, and networks.

"The NAACP is excited to open the third round of the Backing the B.A.R. program" said Yumeka Rushing, NAACP Chief Strategy Officer. "By investing in diverse businesses, we not only drive economic growth but also foster a more inclusive and equitable business landscape."

"The NAACP is excited to open the third round of the Backing the B.A.R. program."

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.

- Yumeka Rushing

NAACP Chief Strategy Officer

equity, inclusion, and belonging within the hospitality industry. Through this grant, we are creating opportunities for under-represented entrepreneurs to thrive and contribute to vibrant, resilient communities.

The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the

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.

in the world. The company boasts a portfolio of some of the most recognized and top-selling spirits brands in the United States including BACARDÍ rum, PATRÓN® tequila, GREY GOOSE® vodka, DEWAR'S® Blended Scotch Whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila,

and the spaces that bring people together in moments that matter," said Tony Latham, Regional President, Bacardi North America "Through the Backing the B.A.R. program, Bacardi and the NAACP are committed to empowering underrepresented entrepreneurs and creating more opportunities for them to succeed in the industry."

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

The grant application will remain open for six weeks and is available to any underrepresented minority business owners who possess or are currently seeking a liquor license. Ideal grant recipients include those who are looking for support in accelerating their business for the future. The

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

The program is designed to fuel the growth and resilience of minorityowned businesses, driving economic empowerment and creating lasting impact within the industry. Both the NAACP and Bacardi share a commitment to advancing diversity,

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.

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

20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.

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.

Bacardi U.S.A. Inc. is the United States import and distribution arm of family-owned Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company

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

Honorees, the so-called Central Park 5, are collectively and individually heroes. They are

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 Kharey Wise.

The Black Star News, which focuses on investigative journalism, has been featured as a result of some if CNN, The New York Daily News, The New York Post, The Village Voice, and Brill’s Content magazine.

MARTINI vermouth and sparkling wines, the world's leading vermouth and the world's favorite Italian sparkling wines, and other leading and emerging brands. Founded more than 161 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs approximately 9,000, operates production facilities in 11 countries and territories, and sells its brands in more than 160 markets. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit http:// www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram

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.

HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP CLOSES WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

On March 28, the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation welcomed 35 organizations committed to uplifting American women’s history and empowering women and girls as the Foundation’s founding cohort of National Partners. Together, the Foundation and its National Partners – which represent more than three million women across the world – will celebrate the contributions of women to American democracy through the establishment of the first memorial on the National Mall dedicated to American women’s history.

“As we prepare to honor the 250th year of American democracy in 2026, our partners know it is more urgent than ever that the commemorative works in our nation’s capital fully reflect the richness of the American story,” said Anna Laymon, Executive Director of the Women’s Suffrage

National Monument Foundation “Women’s accomplishments have long been overlooked in our federal monuments and memorials, but by working together with our partners we will ensure that the role women played in shaping our country is finally part of the historical narrative on the National Mall. We are honored to have this distinguished coalition of partners joining us in this work, and we look forward to welcoming more and more champions to this project.”

“The National Council of Negro Women was founded by suffragist, activist, and educator Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, and we are proud to partner with the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation to uplift the ideals of freedom, justice, and opportunity catalyzed by Dr. Bethune’s life and legacy through a permanent memorial on the National Mall. Working together, we will build a monument that lifts all women

out of the footnotes of history and inspires a new generation to continue Dr. Bethune’s march towards equality for all,” said Shavon Arline-Bradley, President and CEO of the National Council of Negro Women

Added Melanie Schild, CEO of the Association of Junior Leagues International: “A life well lived is one that leaves your community better than you found it, and this monument will pay tribute to every American woman who, in her own way, did a world of good. The Junior League is proud to support the Women’s Suffrage National Monument and we encourage women across the country to get excited, get involved, and get ready for monumental change.”

Laymon concluded: “This transformative project will make a difference both today – through its message that women’s contributions matter – and for generations to come. But, we can’t do it alone. And we don’t want to do it alone. We encourage organizations and individuals across the Nation to join us in this historic and critically important work. Together, we will make history.”

The 35 organizations joining the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation today as National Partners are:

 National Council of Negro Women

 Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum

 National Archives Records Administration

 Daughters of the American Revolution

 Association of Junior Leagues

International

 Library of Congress

 Association of African American Museums

 National Women’s Hall of Fame

 Kennedy Center

 Military Women’s Memorial

 National Women’s History Alliance

 Federation of State Humanities Councils

 National Women’s History Museum

 American Association of State and Local History

 National Parks Conservation Association

 Association of Black Women Historians

 National Museum of Women in the Arts

 Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

 Workhouse Arts Center

 Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

 Representation Project

 Destination DC

 A Tour of Her Own

 Alice Paul Institute

 Brookgreen Gardens

 National Susan B. Anthony Museum and House

 Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media

 Harriet Tubman Home

 Justice Bell Foundation

 Monticello

 Lucy Burns Museum

 Made By US

 National Women’s Studies Association (NWSA)

 Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation

 National Sculpture Society

REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA BECOMES FIRST NATION TO JOIN OPERATION HOPE

THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA and OPERATION

HOPE  today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote financial literacy.

Under the MOU, the two parties will collaborate to promote financial literacy in the Republic of Zambia and with Zambian diaspora in the United States of America, with Zambia joining the Operation HOPE-led ‘Financial Literacy for All’ coalition as its first member state.

Launched by a consortium of leaders from the business, sports, entertainment, and nonprofit sectors, Financial Literacy for All is dedicated to embedding financial literacy in schools, workplaces and communities, so that all people can access quality financial education and achieve greater success in their lifelong financial journey.

“We are excited to partner with the Republic of Zambia to help its citizens improve financial well-being and fortify their economic empowerment,” said Operation HOPE Founder, Chair, and CEO John Hope Bryant, in a speech read on his behalf by Mr. Eric Kaplan, who signed the MOU in his capacity as Executive Vice President of Operation HOPE and President of Financial Literacy for All “This MOU – which welcomes the Republic of Zambia as the first country to join our Financial Literacy for All initiative – is a major step forward in our mission to ensure that everyone has the knowledge and skills they need to make informed financial decisions and build a strong foundation for economic security and wealth generation.”

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Hon. Doreen Mwamba, M.P, Minister of Community Development and Social Services.

In her remarks, Hon. Mwamba said financial

literacy training will enable Zambian youths to make informed decisions for their businesses. Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary, Mr. Thabo Kawana and Bank of Zambia Deputy Governor, Ms. Rekha Chifuwe Mhango also attended the ceremony.

With their commitment, the Republic of Zambia will explore the development of a wide range of financial literacy initiatives, including:

 Developing and delivering financial literacy workshops and courses;

 Creating and distributing financial literacy materials;

 Partnering with schools and community organizations to promote financial literacy; and

 Economic empowerment of Zambian citizens, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

“The Government of Zambia is committed to ensuring that all of our people have access to financial education,” said His Excellency Dr. Ambassador Chola Milambo, United Nations Representative of the Republic of Zambia. “This MOU is a significant milestone in our efforts to achieve this goal.”

ABOUT THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA

The Government of the Republic of Zambia through the Ministry of Finance and National Planning is implementing the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) which is anchored on the National Sector Development Policy (NFSDP) to accelerate financial inclusion in Zambia which will lead to the development of a competitive and resilient inclusive financial sector.

The Policy and Strategy were launched in 2017 and align with supporting the National Development Plan and the Vision 2030 of “Making Zambia a prosperous middle-

income nation by 2030.” This is in the spirit of not leaving anyone behind in the national development agenda.

In addition, as part of its National Financial Sector Development Policy, the government is implementing the Second National Strategy on Financial Education (NSFE II, 2019-2024) as a successor to the first National Strategy on Financial Education which ran from 2012 to 2017. The strategy sets out a comprehensive framework for strengthening financial education in Zambia. The primary objective is to empower Zambians with knowledge, understanding, skills, motivation and confidence to help them to secure positive financial outcomes for themselves and their families.

Since its launch, several financial education initiatives have been implemented, resulting in the overall improvement in financial literacy levels in Zambia. However, more needs to be done to realize the strategic vision of having a financially educated Zambian population by 2030.

Furthermore, the Government has renewed its commitment to continue improving financial inclusion in Zambia with its decision to develop the second National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS 2024-2028).

Since 1992, Operation HOPE has been moving America from civil rights to “Silver Rights” with the mission of making free

enterprise and capitalism work for the underserved—disrupting poverty for millions of low and moderate-income youth and adults across the nation. Through its award-winning community uplift model, HOPE Inside, which received the Innovator of the Year recognition by American Banker magazine, Operation HOPE has served more than 4 million individuals and directed more than $4 billion in economic activity into disenfranchised communities—turning check-cashing customers into banking customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into small business owners, minimum wage workers into living wage consumers, and uncertain disaster victims into financially empowered disaster survivors. Operation HOPE recently received Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Award for driving entrepreneurship as well as its tenth consecutive 4-star charity rating for fiscal management and commitment to transparency and accountability from the prestigious non-profit evaluator, Charity Navigator Operation HOPE also recently launched The 1865 Project, an initiative designed to help level the economic playing field for underserved Americans. For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Join the HOPE conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

APRIL IS INTERNATIONAL BLACK WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

April is INTERNATIONAL BLACK WOMEN'S HISTORY

MONTH , a time to honor Black women worldwide for their accomplishments and contributions.

We have heard about and seen countless Black women take a stand and pave the way to unprecedented heights, from brave activists to trailblazing leaders, such as Bessie

Coleman, the first Black woman and the first woman of Native American origin to earn a pilot's license.

As demonstrated by Beyoncé, who became the first Black woman to have a country song debut at number one on the US Hot 100, we continue to shatter stereotypes and prove to the world that we are capable of anything.

Black women have shaped our world with resilience, strength, and determination. This month is all about celebrating their legacy and as we acknowledge and appreciate Black women everywhere, let us also magnify their voices and empower future generations of Black women leaders.

STATE OF BLACK AMERICA EXAMINES CIVIL RIGHTS ACT

The CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 has been transformative in changing American life in a material way. Doors have been opened, and new access has been achieved. But the promise of full equality is still elusive.

“The Civil Rights Act of 1964 promised ‘a more abiding commitment to freedom, a more constant pursuit of justice, and a deeper respect for human dignity,” National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial said. “Sixty years later, our ‘abiding commitment to freedom’ is undermined by discriminatory voter ID laws, gerrymandering, the shuttering of polling places in predominantly minority neighborhoods, limits on early voting, and reckless purging of voter rolls. Our ‘pursuit of justice’ is derailed by persistent racism in policing and sentencing, the dismantling of diversity and inclusion policies in employment and education, and lack of access to financial services, housing and healthcare. And our ‘respect for human dignity’ is called into question by an unraveling social safety net, a povertylevel federal minimum wage, and other economic policies that uplift the wealthy at the expense of working families.”

For Black America, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was the first time that the United States government addressed the racial caste system that had been protected for centuries by unjust laws and systemic brutality of nonwhite people in this country.

Sixty years later, the fight for equality is far from over.

The State of Black America® 2024, “The Civil Rights Act of 1964: 60 Years Later,” paints a picture of American life before and after the passage of “America’s Magna Carta.” This year’s contributing authors use their experiences as elected officials, civil rights advocates, and esteemed academics to analyze the ways in which each title of the Act created the nation

we know today.  They also unpack the threats to the freedoms protected by the law and share their perspective on strengthening civil rights protections for the 21st century.

The 2024 Equality Index, the National Urban League’s semi-annual calculation of the social and economic status of African Americans relative to whites, is 75.7, an increase of 1.8% from the 2022 Index of 2022. Rooted in the Three-Fifths Compromise of 1787, which counted enslaved African Americans as “three-fifths” of a person, the Index would be 100% under full equality.

“In 20 years, the overall Equality Index has moved 2.7 percent,” Morial said. “At this rate, it will take another 180 years to achieve parity.”

This year’s report includes a special progress report on the Biden Administration’s commitment to racial justice.  In 2020, Joe Biden became the first general election candidate to put forward a policy agenda for Black

America, Lift Every Voice. Three years into his presidency, the National Urban League has evaluated his commitments and tracked his accomplishments and the business that remains unfinished.

Featured authors include:

 Joseph R. Biden, President of the United States of America

 Tim Murphy, Chair, National Urban League Board of Trustees & Chief Administrative Officer, MasterCard

 Kristen Clarke, Assistant U.S. Attorney General for Civil Rights

 Kimberle Crenshaw, Isidor and Seville Sulzbacher Professor of Law, Columbia Law School

 Cory Booker U.S. Senator from New Jersey

 Marcia Fudge, U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

 Patrice Ficklin, Fair Lending Director, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

 Peter Flegel, Executive Director, Government of Canada Federal AntiRacism Secretariat

 Dr. Shavon Arline-Bradley, President & CEO, National Council of Negro

Women

 Claire Garvie, Senior Associate, Center om Privacy & Technology, Georgetown University Law Center; Adjunct Professor of Law

 Charlotte Burrows, Chair, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

 Melanie Campbell, Executive Director & CEO, National Coalition of Black Civic Participation

 Wendy Greene, Director, Center for Law, Policy & Social Action and Professor of Law, Drexel University

 Damon Hewitt, President & Executive Director, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

 Janai Nelson, President, NAACP

Legal Defense and Educational Fund

 Ayana Parsons & Arian Simone, CoFounders, The Fearless Fund

 Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder & President, National Action Network

 Julian Wallace, Education and Research Associate, NACDL

 Maya Wiley, President & CEO, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

COMMENTARY

OP-ED: WHEN MATERNAL HEALTH GOES WRONG

-- BY ISOM GLOBAL STRATEGIES

The best day of your life shouldn't be the most fearful. Women like me, Abby Phillips, Elain Welteroth, and others know what it means to manifest the life we've always dreamed of. But when it comes to being a mom, income doesn't matter. For Black and Brown women, our greatest dream can often be our worst nightmare because, regardless of our station, when it comes to healthy births for mothers and infants, the statistics are staggering: Black women are three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes as are White women.

Having a child at any age, economic level, or location should be a celebration, not a crisis.

As a mature woman deciding to be a single mom, I knew that having my first child at age 49 via IVF (in vitro fertilization) would have its challenges: no husband and being selfemployed running my own marketing agency for 24 years. I assumed Mr. Right would come, and I would be a mom of four. I waited years for "the dream," but it never happened. I was happy and horrified at the same time. I was scared of the potential nightmare that me and/or my baby might not survive. You see, for me and many other Black women, maternal health and pregnancy are bittersweet.

For Black women, whether they are from the inner city or highly educated with high net worths, maternal health is the great equalizer beyond income. It is full of racistadjacent microaggressions affecting the quality of care received and leading to worse outcomes. It is manifested in the lack of diversity of Black-owned agencies awarded federal contracts for messaging health disparities that impact people of color, particularly Black and Brown communities. Cultural competency starts with the federal government being courageous enough to hire minority-owned agencies to message, market, and disseminate critical components to Black and Brown communities and healthcare providers.

I knew the stats and was vigilant. I traveled, on average, 100 miles weekly between states and practices to ensure I was being heard, and while none of my physicians were people of color, they listened to my

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concerns and responded. I worked with three doctors to secure a successful pregnancy, yet despite my commitment and access, I still delivered at 34 gestational weeks, developed preeclampsia, and had to have an emergency C-section. With a toddler in the neonatal intensive unit and lost weeks of bonding with my infant, I consider myself one of the lucky ones. If it were not for the GW Hospital and the team of engaged doctors who noticed my daughter's low heartbeat during a routine visit 6 weeks before giving birth, I could also have been a statistic. I was blessed.

The disconnected would have you believe that inequities in maternal health are about the mother and are solely influenced by factors such as socioeconomic status, education, geographic location, and ethnicity, but we now know that not to be true. Tore Bowie, Shalon Irving, Jasmine Patton, Kyira Adele Dixon, and many other upper-middle-class Black women are emblematic of the ongoing inequities that impact people of color now manifesting in our wombs and the graveyards of our children. There is no need for abortion because the system sees that, when it comes to birthing our babies, death is the equalizer for Black women giving birth. Organizations such as Health and Human Services, the Center for Disease Control, and the National Institute of Health, Health Resources, and Services Administration have much work to do. Currently working with MedStar Health on health equity and messaging initiatives, Isom Global Strategies (IGS), my company, knows the impact of messaging the right way to shift outcomes to Black and Brown communications. Communication plays an important role in both patient and physician education and practice. We need to message the right way with the right words and the right solutions for us. That messaging is also being hindered by organizations and their lack of diversity in their outreach efforts. I can't tell you how often we evaluate messaging by organizations that clearly have no diversity on their teams. There is a direct connection between a lack of diversity in outreach and education and health disparities.

The difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic

exacerbated already dire challenges to maternal health services due to healthcare system strains, reduced access to care, and increased economic pressure on families. We need to recruit biology students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), establish birthing facilities (as opposed to hospitals) at every stage of pregnancy for mental and physical wellness, and implement a national initiative for recruiting doulas and midwives. We should offer wraparound services for all incomes: low-income aids for how to access local resource services, and counseling for even high net worth individuals. It's been two years since having my daughter, and I'm just starting to come out of a serious postpartum depression, about which I had known nothing.

By increasing access to skilled birth attendants, expanding access to family planning and reproductive health services, and addressing social determinants of health access to high-quality care before, during, and after childbirth, we can bring about change and reduce maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States in 10 years. Continued investment in maternal health, addressing inequalities, and ensuring that all women have resources are easy

fixes.

Having a child at any age, economic level, or location should be a celebration, not a crisis, but as of late, abortion and a woman's right to choose have been at the forefront of the election cycle. If only we could care about the Black women and babies living as much as the unborn; I'm afraid we have a long way to go.

Towan Isom is the President and CEO of Isom Global Strategies (IGS), a marketing and communications firm known for its impactful health equity campaigns. As a woman of color and mother who has navigated the complexities of maternal health firsthand, Towan brings a deeply personal and professional commitment to addressing the disparities in healthcare. Isom Global Strategies (IGS) is a strategic communications and program management firm specializing in creating campaigns to improve the lives of Black and Brown communities in various sectors like healthcare, entrepreneurship, education, technology and innovation, and military. IGS has primed and successfully executed over 109 government contracts and task orders. IGS' work is driven by a belief that the power of informed communication can change lives and promote equality among all people.

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CBC RELEASES PLAN TO BUILD BLACK WEALTH

Recently, Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Steven Horsford (NV-04) released a plan to build generational Black wealth in America. The plan, which outlines the core tenets of the CBC’s Black Wealth and Prosperity Agenda that will be rolled out over the next several months, was drafted alongside the co-chairs of the CBC’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) and Congressman Glenn Ivey (MD-04).

The plan, grounded in the policy recommendations of the Black Economic Alliance (BEA) Foundation’s “Policy Agenda to Advance Black Work, Wages, and Wealth,” highlights the stark Blackwhite wealth gap in the United States, which has persisted into the 21st century with the typical per capita wealth of white Americans being $284,310, compared to only $44,100 for Black Americans.

The plan further notes specific policy areas where existing barriers have prevented progress and outlines the holistic approach to closing the wealth divide in America.

The core tenets of the agenda are housing, entrepreneurship, employment, tax fairness and equity, and safeguarding the democratic process through the protection of voting rights. Through the creation of legislation within these tenets and supporting already existing legislation that touches on these goals, this agenda will have a profound impact on creating opportunities, building long-term generational wealth in Black communities, and closing the Blackwhite wealth gap.

The plan calls for the House of Representatives to:

 Commit to promoting Black entrepreneurship by expanding funding solutions, strengthening outreach to educate our community, and reforming policies that have created obstacles to success for Black businesses.

 Further policies that would encourage Black homeownership, expand the supply of affordable housing, and strengthen the federal government’s tools to fight systemic discrimination in the housing market.

 Support initiatives to build the Black workforce and equip the Black community with the necessary tools to compete for stable jobs at every career level.

 Support efforts to expand economic opportunity, equity,

and wealth creation for Black Americans at every socioeconomic level, in every industry, and in every residential setting, with progress toward this objective being monitored, evaluated, and enhanced by Federal departments and agencies that have relevant programs and initiatives under its auspices.

The resolution will be introduced

root out systemic discrimination,” said Congresswoman Beatty (OH03). “Economic disparities continue to plague this country. We see it in unequal access to capital, appraisal bias, overrepresentation in minimum wage jobs, and constant barriers to wealth-building opportunities, to name just a few. While conservative activists seek to undo our recent gains, the Congressional Black Caucus stands united in the fight

the following quote: “Years of systemic oppression have blocked Black Americans from the equitable economic opportunities made available to other racial groups,” said Senator Butler “From income inequality to housing, wealth disparities remain an issue of urgent concern across Black communities. This resolution serves as a call to action for Congress to take comprehensive measures in building

in the U.S Senate by Senator Laphonza Butler (D-CA).

Congressional Black Caucus

Chairman Steven Horsford (NV-04) offered the following quote:

“Over the next several months, the CBC will engage in a coordinated effort where our members will create new legislation within the areas of housing, entrepreneurship, employment, tax fairness and equity, and safeguarding the democratic process through the protection of voting rights. The CBC is introducing the Black Wealth Agenda -- a day one agenda for the next Congress -- focused on Black economic wealth creation to implement when we have a Democratic House Majority, with Democrats holding the gavels on committees, and Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker of the House of Representatives.”

Representative Joyce Beatty (OH03) offered the following quote:

“I am proud to join Chair Horsford and Congressman Ivey in introducing this resolution in support of the Black Wealth Agenda to promote Black entrepreneurship, close the homeownership gap, and

for equity, justice, and prosperity for every American.  We know that when Black America succeeds, America succeeds.”

Representative Glenn Ivey (MD-04) offered the following quote:

“From education to entrepreneurial opportunity, from equity in housing and healthcare to equal treatment at the ballot box and at the bank, Black wealth creation must build upon the solid foundation that what’s good for our Black communities is ultimately good for the American economy, American society, and America at large.  Together with our Democrat colleagues in the US House of Representatives, the CBC, with Congressman Hakeem Jeffries as our new speaker in the 119th Congress, will put forth a Black wealth creation agenda that builds upon the cornerstones of hard work, equal opportunity and a level playing field nurtured by legislation and policy which seeks to right the wrongs of the past while promoting the brightest of futures for Black children, Black culture, and American economic optimism,” said Congressman Glenn Ivey

Senator Laphonza Butler offered

Black intergenerational wealth and closing racial divides.”

Black Economic Alliance (BEA) president and CEO Samantha Tweedy offered the following quote: “Thanks to Chairman Horsford and Senator Butler, today we mark a critical step in moving many of the evidence-based solutions in BEA Foundation’s Policy Agenda to Advance Black Work, Wages and Wealth from roadmap to reality. “We share these leaders’ commitment to communityinformed, data-driven steps to move economic opportunity for Black Americans to the forefront of our nation’s agenda. Today's resolutions affirm the Congressional Black Caucus’ unflinching commitment to equitable economic opportunity and demonstrate critical support in both the House and the Senate for policy solutions in five critical areas for advancing Black prosperity -- housing, entrepreneurship, employment, tax reform, and voting rights. I applaud Chairman Horsford and Senator Butler for their leadership. I look forward to working with them closely to find every opportunity to move on the Black Wealth for America Agenda.”

ENTERTAINMENT

Legacy Ball HONORS INFLUENTIAL LEADERS

-- BY R.H. BOYD PUBLISHING CORPORATION

R.H. BOYD to honor distinguished community leaders at signature fundraiser benefiting student scholarships and community grants on June 22, 2024, at the iconic Schermerhorn Symphony Center Ballroom in downtown Nashville.

Honorees are conferred the prestigious R.H. Boyd Humanitarian, Service, and Excellence Awards in recognition of their outstanding contributions. This year's awardees include Matthew Walker

Comprehensive Health Center, a nonprofit medical center providing affordable quality healthcare in Middle Tennessee; Dr. Adrienne Battle, director of Metro Nashville Public Schools; and Slim and Husky's, the award-winning pizzeria chain founded by Tennessee State University alums Clint Gray, E.J. Reed, and Derrick Moore

The Legacy Ball founding chairs are Dr. LaDonna Boyd and Dr. (posthumously) and Mrs. T. B. Boyd III. The 2024 Legacy Ball chairpersons are Dr. and Mrs. André

and Doreatha Churchwell as well as Mr. and Mrs. Herbert and Michelle Brown

At the Schermerhorn Symphony Center's handsomely appointed

DJ Raiden of Nashville, dancing, fine dining, fellowship with local and national leaders, and more. Additionally, scholarship and grant recipients will share their stories and express their appreciation for the

ballroom in downtown Nashville, guests will be welcomed by actor and comedian, Jonathan Slocumb who will serve as the Legacy Ball's Master of Ceremonies. They will also enjoy live music from award-winning artist Eric Benét, an afterparty with

Endowment Fund

The fifth-generation president/CEO of the nation's oldest African-American printing and publishing company, Dr. LaDonna Boyd, established this annual black-tie affair to benefit the R.H. Boyd Family Endowment Fund,

though the R.H. Boyd Company, a 501(c)(3) organization. Since its inception in 1981, the R.H. Boyd Family Endowment Fund has awarded nearly $1,000,000 in scholarships to students nationwide and has supported numerous nonprofit organizations. The Endowment Fund also has given oversight to the renovation of the Historic Boyd House on the campus of Fisk University in its conversion to academic space.

For more than 125 years, R.H. Boyd has maintained its tradition of offering educational, inspirational, and culturally relevant content, services, and events. The company also houses a full-service commercial printing facility, offers multi-media resources, provides white-glove author services, and has numerous community initiatives.

Tickets, tables, and sponsorships are available including custom opportunities. Please visit www. legacyball.org for further details, including additional program and entertainment participation, and be sure to follow R.H. Boyd on social media @rhboydco for updates.

HALLMARK MAHOGANY HONORS FANTASIA

-- BY HALLMARK MAHOGANY

MAHOGANY HONORS is an experience curated to uplift & empower Black women trailblazers, community leaders, cultural icons, unsung heroes and more that will take place in Atlanta, GA with celebrated honorees Pinky Cole Hayes, Egypt Sherrod, Tammy Franklin, Crystal Renee Hayslett, Tiffany "The Budgetnista" Aliche, Alex Ebanks and more.

Hallmark Mahogany is excited to announce its awards experience, Mahogany Honors The event will be held at the InterContinental Buckhead, located in metro Atlanta, GA on Sunday, April 28. Mahogany Honors is designed to honor and celebrate Black women who have a positive impact on the lives of Black women & the Black community across the generations.

Attendees will leave feeling inspired, uplifted, and affirmed by the distinguished group of honorees. Tickets are available now at Mahogany.com "At Mahogany, in all that we create we are intentional in being a gathering place for Black women to connect with each other, celebrate their culture, sisterhood and community," said Alexis Kerr, Vice President of Hallmark Mahogany "With our Mahogany Honors awards experience this Spring, we are honored to deepen our commitment to champion curated

spaces that acknowledge and affirm the unique experiences and contributions of Black women."

McDonald's is joining Mahogany Honors as a presenting sponsor and is

excited to support as part of its ongoing commitment to the African American Community.

Attendees will leave feeling inspired, uplifted, and affirmed by the

distinguished group of honorees. Tickets are available now at Mahogany.com Multiple ticket levels are availableGeneral Admission, VIP, and Platinum –both for individuals and tables.

For nearly 40 years, Hallmark Mahogany has built a relationship of trust with the Black community by honoring, celebrating, and supporting emotional connections among Black families, friends, and other loved ones.

In December 2021, Mahogany introduced Mahogany.com, a lifestyle destination where Black women can trust that their unique stories will be told, their truths will be heard and honored, and their collective culture celebrated through the vibrant spectrum of their individual experiences and launched its e-commerce site in September 2022.

Through entertainment initiatives with Hallmark Media, Mahogany introduced its first movie franchise in August 2022 with more debuting each year. In August 2023, Mahogany and Hallmark Media announced its first, allnew original scripted podcast series. Hallmark Mahogany's gifts and greetings are available at Mahogany. com, as well as select retailers and Hallmark Gold Crown® stores. Connect with Mahogany on Instagram and Facebook

FAT JOE RETURNS TO THE APOLLO

WHAT | The Apollo is set to host a monumental evening of hip-hop as Grammy-nominated and multiplatinum-selling artist Fat Joe returns to its legendary stage on Tuesday, April 2 at 8PM.

Renowned for his unparalleled lyrical prowess and magnetic stage presence, Fat Joe’s Bronx roots have shaped him into a hip-hop icon. Fans can anticipate an unforgettable performance featuring chart-topping hits such as “Lean Back” and “All the Way Up,” which have solidified his place in hip-hop history. Throughout his career, Fat Joe has collaborated with industry legends, creating an unmatched catalog of genredefining anthems.

This special event promises an electrifying concert experience for music lovers.

WHEN

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

WHERE

The Apollo’s Historic Theater (253 W 125th Street New York, NY 10027)

TICKETS

Tickets start at $60. For more information visit, www. apollotheater.org/fat-joe-and-friends

The legendary Apollo—the soul of American culture—plays a vital role in cultivating emerging artists and launching legends. Since its founding, The Apollo has served as a center of innovation and a creative catalyst for Harlem, the city of New York, and the world. In 2024, The Apollo opened The Apollo Stages at the Victoria Theater, marking the first ever expansion and renovation of The Apollo in its nearly 90-year history. The Apollo also has plans to renovate its Historic Theater. For more information about The Apollo,

visit www.ApolloTheater.org.

With music at its core, The Apollo’s programming extends to dance, theater, spoken word, and more. This includes the world premiere of the theatrical adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me and the New York premiere of the opera We Shall Not Be Moved; special programs such as the blockbuster concert Bruno Mars Live at the Apollo; 100: The Apollo Celebrates Ella; and the annual Africa Now! Festival. The non-profit Apollo

is a performing arts presenter, commissioner, and collaborator that also produces festivals, large-scale dance and musical works organized around a set of core initiatives that celebrate and extend The Apollo’s legacy through a contemporary lens, including the Women of the World (WOW) Festival as well as other multidisciplinary collaborations with partner organizations.

Since introducing the first Amateur Night contests in 1934, The Apollo has served as a testing ground for new artists working across a variety of art forms and has ushered in the emergence of many new musical genres—including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul, and hiphop. Among the countless legendary performers who launched their careers at The Apollo are Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, H.E.R., D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Jazmine Sullivan, Machine Gun Kelly, and Miri Ben Ari; and The Apollo’s forward-looking artistic vision continues to build on this legacy. For more information about The Apollo, visit www. ApolloTheater.org

Image Credit: Hallmark Mahogany

EDUCATION

NEW YORK UNCF CELEBRATES 80TH ANNIVERSARY

UNCF (United Negro College Fund) hosted its local “A Mind Is…”® New York Gala celebrating its 80th anniversary on Thursday, March 21 , 2024, at the Ziegfeld Ballroom with 500 guests in attendance. Nearly $950,000 was raised to support UNCF’s

economic mobility.

The occasion included HBCU prominent alumni and UNCF 80th Anniversary CoChairs Kevin Liles, chairman and CEO, 300 Elektra Entertainment and Kim Godwin, president, ABC News and special guests:

important work to uplift historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and help advance educational opportunities to ensure that more deserving, talented students reach their fullest potential.

UNCF presented its “Trailblazer Award” to Essence, which was accepted by Caroline A. Wanga, president and CEO, Essence Ventures; “Leadership Award” to Tony Signore, CEO and managing partner, Taylor Global, & founder, Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Scholarship; and “Shirley Chisholm Award” to Fawn Weaver, CEO and founder, Uncle Nearest, Inc., for their steadfast support of HBCUs and commitment to Black educational equity and

Michelle Miller, co-host, “CBS Saturday Morning;” DeMarco Morgan, co-anchor, “Good Morning America 3;” New York City Mayor Eric L. Adams; Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF; Ed Lewis, co-founder of Essence Magazine and chairman and publisher emeritus of Essence Communications; Dr. Rochelle Ford, president, Dillard University; Dr. Leroy Staggers, president, Morris College; Dr. Reynold Verret, president, Xavier University of Louisiana; and Nettie Washington Douglass and Kenneth Morris Jr., direct descendants of Frederick Douglass and co-founders of the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives. The evening also featured

a stirring rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” sung by Natasha Yvette Williams, Tony®-nominated, Grammy®  award-winning actress; and lively entertainment by the dynamic music group WanMor

The celebration of UNCF’s 80-year legacy of strengthening our nation’s HBCUs and empowering African American students through higher education was most inspiring from the heartfelt acceptance remarks delivered by the honorees to the energy exuded in the ballroom by all the enthusiastic guests.

“As UNCF celebrates its 80 years of success, we continue fueling HBCUs with vital resources to educate generations of African American and other minority students,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF “Thanks to the generous support and commitment of our donors, we are looking ahead to the next 80 years as we help underrepresented students go to and through college into successful careers. We thank everyone in New York that participated in the ‘“A Mind Is…’” Gala to help ensure better futures for us all.”

“For eight decades, UNCF has brought individuals of all backgrounds together to uplift our nation’s historically Black colleges and universities and students so they can thrive,” said Diego Aviles, vice president, Northeast Division, UNCF “As UNCF embarks upon its next chapter, we invite others to continue ‘“walking as one’” with UNCF on a path of unity for the betterment of our HBCUs and students.”

Sponsors included platinum sponsor, Taylor Global; gold sponsors, Delta Air Lines, PepsiCo and Wells Fargo; silver sponsors, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Citi, ColgatePalmolive Company, MetLife, Moody’s, NBA, Ralph Lauren and Sony Corporation

of America; and bronze sponsors, NFL, Paramount, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of New York, Schroders, TIAA and Uncle Nearest

UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. While totaling only 3% of all colleges and universities, UNCF institutions and other historically Black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 15% of bachelor’s degrees, 5% of master’s degrees, 10% of doctoral degrees and 19% of all STEM degrees earned by Black students in higher education. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 50,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”® Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF

Source: UNCF (United Negro College Fund) Photo Caption:  (Left to Right) Kevin Liles, chairman & and CEO, 300 Elektra Entertainment; Tony Signore, CEO and managing partner, Taylor Global; Kim Godwin, president, ABC News; Caroline A Wanga, president and CEO, Essence Ventures; Fawn Weaver, CEO and founder, Uncle Nearest, Inc., and Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF

HONDA AWARDS $ 500,000 TO CREATE THURGOOD MARSHALL FUND

-- BY AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.

Honda has announced a $500,000 grant to Thurgood Marshall College Fund that will be dedicated to awarding scholarships to students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) participating in band programs. The partnership with Thurgood Marshall College Fund furthers the company's longstanding commitment to supporting HBCU students as Honda gears up for the 2025 return of Honda Battle of the Bands, the nation's premier showcase for HBCU marching bands. A total of 41 HBCU students will be selected to receive a need-based scholarship of up to $10,000 ($5,000 per semester) for the 2024-2025 academic year, which can only be applied to costs associated with average tuition and fees.

"We are delighted that Honda continues its robust partnership with Thurgood Marshall College Fund," said Dr. Harry L. Williams, president and CEO, Thurgood Marshall College Fund "By providing scholarships to Historically Black Colleges and Universities students engaged in band or music endeavors, Honda demonstrates an exceptional commitment to both TMCF and the wider HBCU community.  Their continuous support of programs that empower HBCU students for future achievements and enhance their economic

opportunities is remarkable. We are grateful to Honda for our ongoing and life-changing partnership."

"HBCU band programs are a fundamental part of the community's culture, and student participants dedicate immense time and effort to demonstrating unique blends of musicianship and choreography, all while continuing to challenge themselves academically," said Yvette Hunsicker, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility and Inclusion & Diversity at American Honda "Honda is proud to provide these

deserving students with an opportunity to advance their educational pursuits."

Eligible students must be enrolled full time as an undergraduate freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior at an HBCU during the 2024-2025 academic year while also being enrolled in a university band program, including but not limited to marching bands and auxiliary groups, concert bands, and ensembles. Applicants must also have a current cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher, have the 2024-2025 FAFSA on file at their selected college or university, and be able to demonstrate financial need.

The program is open to students who are U.S. citizens, or who have a valid permanent resident card or passport stamped I-551, or international students with an I-20 student visa. Each applicant must also prepare a two-minute video in which they answer an application question.

For 35 years, Honda has supported HBCUs, acknowledging their critical role in providing higher education and opportunities for advancement within the Black community. This support includes scholarships, programs, and initiatives that celebrate the dreams and potential of HBCU students, shaping them into future Black leaders. Honda has impacted the lives of more than 300,000 students and awarded over $14 million in grants in support of HBCU education programs and facility improvements.

To advance its leading investment in HBCUs, Honda is a member of the HBCU Partnership Challenge, a Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus initiative that brings together government, industry and HBCUs to create strategic, more sustainable HBCU partnerships. Honda also has partnered with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and UNCF to provide annual scholarship funding to support HBCU students pursuing an education in engineering, supply chain management and manufacturing-related fields.

The $500,000 grant from Honda will enable Thurgood Marshall College Fund to award scholarships to 41 HBCU students participating in band programs. Photo Credit: American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

HEZEKIAH WALKER DEVELOPS AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN BROOKLYN

HEZEKIAH WALKER has long been a beacon of light and hope in the bustling streets of East New York, Brooklyn. Born and raised in Fort Greene Housing Projects, Brooklyn is where Hezekiah Walker developed a love for Gospel music and a heart for people. The renowned Gospel artist, multiGrammy award winner, and Pastor of the Love Fellowship Tabernacle (LFT) has always believed in the transformative power of music and faith, and he has always had a desire to make a difference in his community – a difference that extended beyond the four walls of the church.

In 2011, Walker and LFT were preparing to build a 2,000-seat church on a property that he had purchased in 1998. While he was in prayer, however, he heard God telling him to not build a church but to build something that would benefit people in the community. Not long after, a developer called Walker about building affordable housing in the area and the project began to gain momentum. In 2013 Walker founded

the Hezekiah Walker Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting the residents of East New York Brooklyn. A large part of the vision was to provide affordable housing for those in need. 11 years later, that vision is coming to fruition with the official ground-breaking for HezHouse Apartments, an affordable and supportive housing development by Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Tabernacle, the Hezekiah Walker Community Development Corporation, Brooklyn Community Housing & Services, TT Development Group and Alembic Community Development. The ground-breaking will take place on Easter Sunday, which is the 30th church anniversary of Love Fellowship Tabernacle

“I really want to leave a legacy above and beyond music,” says Walker “I want to be able to say to people and show people that Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Choir was not just out here singing for money and popularity, we were singing to

invest in our community.”

HezHouse Apartments will bring 236 affordable housing units to the heart of East New York Brooklyn. Among the 236 units, there will be 63 studios, 72 onebedroom units, 73 two-bedroom units, and 28 three-bedroom units, offering a variety of living spaces to accommodate families of all sizes. What sets this development apart is the inclusion of 142 supportive units specifically designed for individuals and families dealing with serious mental disorders or substance use disorders. Of the 142 supportive units, 93 are designated as affordable units, ensuring that those in need have access to safe and stable housing.

Before long, the once vacant lot that was going to be the home of the Love Fellowship Tabernacle will be transformed into safe, comfortable homes for families who have struggled to find stable housing in New York City.

“I’m humbled and excited to finally break ground on HezHouse

Apartments. We have worked hard and waited faithfully for this day to come. What better way to be the hands and feet of Jesus than to help ensure our neighbors have an affordable, safe and comfortable environment that they can call home,” says Walker

PLAN TO ENHANCE FINANCIAL SECURITY IN AFRICA

Qore, the leading Banking-asa-Service platform provider in Africa, has partnered with QoreID, A VerifyMe Company, Africa’s foremost data and e-KYC technology provider, to deliver robust, reliable, and real-time identity verification and AI-powered authentications that safeguard financial institutions against financial crime and ensure regulatory compliance.

Qore is dedicated to giving more than 500 financial institutions within their ecosystem, in Africa,

a competitive edge through their Banking-as-a-Platform (BaaP) proposition, offering complete access to tools created by third-party providers from across the continent.

The strategic alliance between Qore and QoreID (A VerifyMe Company), drives the ‘know your customer’ (KYC) automation and validation process for financial institutions. This will enhance transaction quality, streamline customer onboarding processes, minimize and mitigate fraud resulting from

impersonation. Financial institutions can now leverage Qore’s AI (Artificial Intelligence) capabilities to assess the risk associated with onboarding customers, thwart identity theft, prevent money laundering, and uphold compliance standards.

This achievement stems from the integration of QoreID’s photomatching biometric service, which ensures that a customer’s photo is captured and matched against the image on their government-issued ID using the government agency database before an account is opened.

The services provided by QoreID (A VerifyMe Company) align with Qore’s campaign to reduce fraud within financial services.

“We are thrilled to partner with QoreID” says Mudiaga Umukoro, Chief Operating Officer, and Cofounder of Qore. He further states, “Ensuring regulatory compliance and safeguarding the integrity of our customers’ data is paramount. By partnering with QoreID, we are reinforcing our commitment to delivering the highest standards of trust, transparency, and security to our valued clients. The robust KYC services offered by QoreID, combined with our advanced solutions, will allow us to provide

our customers with an even more secure and reliable identification process to curb fraud cases.”

Commenting on the partnership, Olutunji Oluwole, Executive Chairman, and Cofounder of QoreID (A VerifyMe Company), says “We couldn’t be more excited about teaming up with Qore. Our mission goes beyond just verifying identities, we’re focused on providing our users with a holistic view of the customer they are onboarding. By integrating our AI-powered KYC and data analytics services into Qore’s network, we’re simplifying onboarding processes, mitigating business risks, and enriching the overall experience for institutions and their customers. We’re passionate about connecting businesses with trusted identities and valuable consumer insights,” Olutunji adds. “This partnership is a big step towards building a more secure, efficient and compliant financial landscape in Africa.”

Together, Qore and QoreID, A VerifyMe Company are setting a new standard of excellence in customer due diligence and risk management for sustained success in an ever-changing financial landscape.

OneUnited Bank ANNOUNCES “I GOT BANK” CONTEST

In celebration of National Financial Literacy Month, OneUnited Bank, the nation’s largest Black-owned bank, is proud to announce its 14th Annual “I Got Bank!” National Financial Literacy Contest, where ten children will win a $1,000 savings account. To make financial literacy a core value for children, the Bank is offering a free “I Got Bank” E-Book.

Students from across the country between the ages of 8 and 12 are encouraged to read a financial literacy book of their choosing, and either write a 250-word essay or create an art project to show how they would apply what they learned from the book to their daily lives. Submissions must be emailed or postmarked by June 28, 2024. The Bank will choose ten winners and award each winner a $1,000 savings account at OneUnited Bank by August 31, 2024. For more information, please visit: www.oneunited.com/book

Teri Williams, OneUnited Bank President and author of “I Got Bank! What My Granddad Taught Me About Money,”

wrote the book when she discovered that there weren’t enough books geared toward educating urban youth about finances.

“Given the impact of inflation and shrinkflation, it’s important for families to become financially literate,” states Ms. Williams “OneUnited Bank advocates for financial literacy to be taught in K-12 schools across America. Our contest and free e-book make it easy to teach children about the importance of savings and investments, good credit, home ownership, having a profitable business and other keys to building wealth!”

The 2023 winners were Zoey Bradley, 9, Columbia, MD, Jada Current, 12, Buckeye, AZ, Kailee Marie Friend, 8, Hawthorne, CA, Taelyn Johnson, 9, Dorchester, MA, Sue Lee, 12, Los Angeles, CA, Ian Robinson Jr., 11, Middletown, DE, Cailyn Sanders, 11, Miami Lakes, FL, Aydin M. Soner, 9, Columbia, SC, Katalyn Wiley, 11, Conway, AR, Tatyana Wright, 12, Columbia, SC.

“I Got Bank! What My Granddad Taught Me About Money” is published by The

Beckham Publications Group, Inc. (Beckham House). For more information about the official contest rules, OneUnited Bank is the premier bank for urban communities, the largest Blackowned bank, the first Black internet bank and a Community Development

Financial Institution (CDFI). Its mission is to provide affordable financial services to support economic development in urban communities and maintain superior financial performance to maximize shareholder value. OneUnited is an FDIC insured bank and an equal housing lender.

NBA FOUNDATION EMPOWERS YOUTH THROUGH DANCE AND EDUCATION

DALLAS BLACK DANCE THEATRE (DBDT) and the NBA FOUNDATION are proud to announce a strategic partnership aimed at promoting school-to-career employment opportunities and skills training for Black youth and youth of color ages 14-24. This collaboration, made possible by a generous grant, will span the DBDT’s entire 2024-2025 season, running from August 19, 2024, to May 31, 2025.

The grant, funded by the NBA Foundation, will have a transformative effect on the local arts scene by benefiting Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s second company, DBDT: Encore!, and simultaneously fueling the expansion of the Dallas Black Dance Academy’s Adopt-A-School program.

Zenetta S. Drew, Executive Director of Dallas Black Dance Theatre, expressed her excitement about the partnership, stating, "This collaboration with the NBA Foundation is a significant step forward in our mission to empower young dancers and provide them with the tools they need for successful careers in dance. The grant will not only impact the lives of our DBDT: Encore! dancers but also the communities we serve through the Adopta-School program."

DBDT: Encore! serves as a vital platform for emerging talent, providing young dancers with professional opportunities and mentorship crucial for their artistic growth. Less than 15% of professional dancers in the nation identify as Black, and the NBA Foundation's support will empower these young artists, enabling them to thrive and contribute to the rich cultural tapestry of Dallas as they gain professional dance experience. In turn, these young professionals will serve as role models and mentors by providing dance instruction to aspiring dancers in middle and high school (age 14-18).

The Dallas Black Dance Academy’s

has a distinguished reputation of not only fostering artistic growth but also the life skills that will benefit youth well into their careers.”

The strategic alignment between Dallas Black Dance Theatre and the NBA Foundation exemplifies the power of combining arts and sports to drive positive change in the lives of Black youth and youth of color. The grant will leave a lasting legacy, shaping the future of the dance community in Dallas.

Adopt-A-School program has been a beacon of hope, bringing dance education to underserved communities. Thanks to the NBA Foundation's grant, this impactful initiative will extend its reach to three more schools, providing students with access to high-quality dance education, fostering creativity, discipline, and self-expression.

“The arts are a crucial pillar in the development of young people,” said Greg Taylor, Executive Director of the NBA Foundation “Dallas Black Dance Theatre

 ABOUT DALLAS BLACK DANCE THEATRE

Founded in 1976 by Ann Williams, and currently under the direction of Melissa M. Young, Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s mission is to create and produce contemporary modern dance at the highest level of artistic excellence through performances and educational programs that bridge cultures and reach diverse communities. As the largest and oldest professional dance company in Dallas, DBDT is the fourth-largest Black dance company in the nation, the seventh-largest contemporary

modern dance company, and ranked 36th among the nation’s leading ballet companies.  Located in the thriving downtown Dallas Arts District, DBDT has performed worldwide for over 4.6 million arts patrons and 2.8 million students in 33 states and 16 countries on five continents. The performances include two Olympics (1996 & 2012), the nation’s most prestigious venues (Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Broadway, Jacob’s Pillow), and for such luminaries as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and South African President Nelson Mandela. Since the pandemic began in 2020, DBDT performances have also been viewed virtually in 43 countries. The Company has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts as an American Masterpiece Touring Artist (2008) and received the Texas Medal of the Arts Award for Arts Education (2017).

For more details about Dallas Black Dance Theatre, visit www.dbdt.com

The official school of Dallas Black Dance Theatre celebrates 50 years of delivering dance instruction to a community of diverse backgrounds. It was founded by Ann Williams. The academy trained the first student in the nation to receive the Presidential Scholar Award in Dance in 1980. Students participate weekly in 36 dance classes, including ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and African on-site at DBDT’s studios. Classes are held at Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s studios and are open to students ages four to adult. The academy has three performing ensembles: Allegro Performing Ensemble, Dallas Black Dance Theatre's premier academy ensemble, Senior Performing Ensemble, and Junior Performing Ensemble.

For details on Dallas Black Dance Academy, visit www.dbdt.com/academy

Source: Dallas Black Dance Theatre

END NOTES

FILM INDEPENDENT NAMES FELLOWS FOR ANNUAL FELLOWSHIP

Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards, announced today the six Fellows and their projects selected for its Amplifier Fellowship, a program that provides direct support to emerging and mid-career Black or African American filmmakers. The 2024 Film Independent Amplifier Fellowship is supported by founding sponsor Netflix and its Fund for Creative Equity. The studio is behind acclaimed projects such as Rustin, Stamped from the Beginning, The Harder They Fall and Da 5 Bloods

Over the course of the twelve-month program, the Amplifier Fellows will receive bespoke support to further both their career and projects as well as customized mentorship pairings with a Netflix executive as an industry advisor and a board member from Film Independent. Each Fellow will also receive professional coaching in partnership with Renee Freedman & Co, and financial and business advisement in partnership with The Jill James. Each Fellow will receive a $30,000 unrestricted grant to provide sustainability and/or support their creative endeavors.

“The Amplifier Fellowship provides impactful creative and strategic support to selected Fellows so that they can further strengthen their foundations as both artists and entrepreneurs to have lasting and sustainable careers,” said Angela C. Lee, Director of Artist Development at Film Independent “We are so excited to support our impressive third cohort of Amplifier Fellows and work with them over the next year to help them reach the next level in their careers.”

The 2024 Amplifier Fellows and their projects are:

ZANDASHÉ BROWN , Writer/Director

Zandashé Brown is a storyteller and writer/director born and bred in, and inspired by, southern Louisiana. As a daughter of the abandoned American South, she blends Black Southern introspection and spirituality with surrealistic horror to tell stories about neglected places and peoples. Brown is an alum of the 2022 Sundance Screenwriters Lab and Directors Lab for her debut feature-in-development, The Matriarch, as well as an alum of the 2021 Tribeca Chanel Women’s Filmmaker Program. She was named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film” for 2022. The Matriarch Fiction Feature

Logline: In the aftermath of her mother’s psychotic break, a precocious teenage girl battles her own impending wellness crisis by grounding herself in her late grandmother’s spiritual practice.

MOIRA GRIFFIN , Producer

Moira Griffin is a producer, strategist and former executive with New Bumper and Paint Productions in partnership with writer/director

Marshall Tyler. Their most recent award-winning projects include Slow Pulse (CBS/BET); Cap (HBO); Night Shift (Sundance), executive produced by Juvee Productions; and Landline (Hulu). Her projects have premiered at festivals including Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, ABFF, and the Tribeca Film Festival. NBP is currently developing projects across all genres including the documentary, The Prince of Seventh Ave and the narrative film Fever Dream. In addition, she is producing the documentary The Inquisitor, directed by Angela Tucker through her company Alice’s Plan

The Prince of 7th Ave: The Legend of WilliWear/Willi Smith

Nonfiction Feature

Logline: The Prince of 7th Ave: The Legend of WilliWear/Willi Smith is a feature-length documentary exploring the incredible life, career and legacy of Willi Smith, an innovative Black American designer who disrupted the fashion industry with his eponymous label, WilliWear and single-handedly changed the way we dress today–yet somehow, he remains largely unknown.

CRYSTAL KAYIZA , Director/Producer

Crystal Kayiza is a filmmaker raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma now based in Brooklyn, NY. Her film Rest Stop won the Jury Prize for Best US Short at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Her film Edgecombe screened at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and premiered on POV. The following year, See You Next Time was selected for the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and was released by The New Yorker. Named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film,” Crystal is a recipient of the Creative Capital Award, Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship and HBO/The Gotham Documentary Development Initiative

The Gardeners

Nonfiction Feature

Logline: The Gardeners follows the Worthy Women of Watkins Street Cemetery, keepers of one of the oldest Black cemeteries in Mississippi.

MOBOLAJI OLAMBIWONNU , Writer/ Director/Producer

Mobolaji Olambiwonnu is a storyteller/ educator with Jamaican Christian and Nigerian Muslim parents. Growing up mediating multiple cultural identities has inspired him to use cinema as a tool to illuminate the superficial conditions that divide us and accentuate the merits of shedding our prejudices. He attended UCLA and The American Film Institute

His feature documentary, Ferguson Rises, won an Audience Award at the Tribeca Film Festival and represented Independent Lens/PBS at the Television Critics Association

Noted film critic Kenneth Turan called Ferguson Rises, “excellent and impressive.” Mobolaji is a Gotham/HBO Fellow and repped at UTA

Chosen Fathers

Nonfiction Feature

Logline: An intimate and unflinching look at Black fathers navigating the

trauma of losing a child to violence over the course of a week-long retreat.

AVRIL SPEAKS , Producer

Avril Speaks is an award-winning producer, director and showrunner based in Los Angeles. She has produced several award-winning films including Jinn, Dotty & Soul, and the South African film African America, which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award, four African Movie Academy Awards and streamed on Netflix. Most recently,

life, ambitious Anita escapes her conservative town in India by orchestrating her own arranged marriage and moving to the U.S. But when her fierce pursuit of the American Dream threatens her marriage, she must confront the very life she escaped to achieve true independence.

Film Independent Artist Development programs promote unique, independent voices by helping filmmakers create and advance new work through Project Involve; Filmmaker Labs (Directing,

Avril was the showrunner for the docuseries Uprooted, which is available on Max, and was an executive producer for Files of the Unexplained, coming soon to Netflix Avril has been a Sundance Momentum Fellow, a recipient of the Dear Producer Award, and is also a co-founding member of Distribution Advocates

Pure

Fiction Feature

Logline: For 17-year-old queer Celeste, senior year in her affluent Black community means following family tradition and becoming a debutante… but she longs for a different kind of coming out.

MONIQUE WALTON , Producer Monique Walton is an independent producer. She is the 2024 recipient of the Film Independent Spirit Awards Producers Award Walton’s films include Sing Sing (dir. Greg Kwedar), which premiered at TIFF in 2023, and Bull (dir. Annie Silverstein), which premiered at Cannes – Un Certain Regard in 2019. She produced the feature documentary Hollow Tree (dir. Kira Akerman), which premiered at the New Orleans Film Festival Walton was a 2016 Sundance Creative Producing Fellow, a 2020 Rotterdam Producing Fellow, and a 2021 Cannes-Producers Network Fellow

Anita Fiction Feature

Logline: Desperate for a better

Documentary, Episodic, Producing and Screenwriting); Fast Track finance market and Fiscal Sponsorship, as well as through Grants and Awards, which provide over one million dollars annually to visual storytellers.

For over 40 years, Film Independent has helped filmmakers get their projects made and seen. The nonprofit organization’s core mission is to champion creative independence in visual storytelling and support a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision.

In addition to producing the Film Independent Spirit Awards, the organization supports creative professionals with Artist Development programs, grants and labs. Signature mentorship program Project Involve fosters the careers of talented filmmakers from underrepresented communities. Weekly Education events and workshops equip filmmakers of all ages and experience levels with tools and resources. Global Media Makers, a cultural exchange program produced in partnership with the U.S. Department of State, provides careerbuilding opportunities for international film professionals. And year-round screening series Film Independent Presents delivers monthly, unique cinematic experiences to Members in Los Angeles and beyond.

If you are anywhere in your journey with substance use disorder,

I want you to stop, look around and open your heart.

Revel in the abundance of your existence. See how small substance use disorder can be when sat next to all that you are or ever could be.

Fill your existence with beauty, purpose and a life of service.

And your substance use disorder— your history of addiction, the things you may have done that you are not proud of—will one day be small enough to deal with while allowing you space to live this life of joy.

Hold on.

We are not the sum of our scars but rather a beautiful mosaic of the life they hold together.

—Joseph Washington, DC In recovery from substance use disorder Learn how substance use recovery can