Howard University Alumna Dominique King Helps Fund HBCUs Through New App

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Dominique King, a Howard University alumna, is paving a way for HBCUs to get the financial support they need with her app I Heart My HBCU. Get the full story from Marybeth Gasman’s Forbes article below.

Dominique King, Founder and President of I Heart My HBCU (Credit: I HEART MY HBCU)

The average rate of alumni giving at the nation’s 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) has hovered around 10% for the past few decades, with private HBCUs having slightly higher rates of giving than their public counterparts. However, some HBCUs have alumni giving rates that any college in the country would covet. Claflin University, in Orangeburg, South Carolina, for example, has an alumni giving rate of nearly 48%. Spelman College, in Atlanta, Georgia, and Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina — institutions that educate Black women — both boast a nearly 39% alumni giving rate. These three small colleges work hard to instill a culture of giving from the first day students arrive on campus, resulting in committed alumni and ample giving.

Recognizing that HBCU alumni might give more if giving was easier, Howard University alumnus Dominique King founded I Heart My HBCU, a mobile app that allows people to donate their spare change to HBCUs. The app works like other spare change technology — allowing users to round up their credit and debit card purchases and donate to five of their favorite HBCUs. Users can also make monthly or one-time donations to HBCUs using the app.

During a time when people are increasingly isolated due to the Covid-19 pandemic, King believes HBCUs need a tool that fosters community. The I Heart My HBCU app intentionally goes beyond a “set and forget” platform — typical of spare change apps — and attempts to attract new users and keep them engaged through activities.

King set up  alumni chat rooms to foster engagement around HBCUs. Alumni are able to come together and reminisce about their HBCU experiences, which helps to foster additional giving. According to King, “While HBCU alumni are large in numbers, preserving our HBCUs will take a community effort. I Heart My HBCU’s chat integration takes the app from just being a donor marketplace to a donor community for HBCU alumni and friends of HBCUs to network, exchange ideas, support other Black-owned businesses and, most importantly, support HBCUs.”

King wants to bring financial support to HBCUs because her own experience at Howard was vital to her success: “the culture was uplifting and played a role in giving me the confidence to be a tech entrepreneur.” Given King’s interest in tech-based marketing, she could have directed her idea towards many other areas of need, but her plan was “to preserve the rich heritage of HBCUs and combat challenges that lead to the closures of some of these great institutions.”

Of note, King wants users to think about supporting all HBCUs and not just the one from which they graduated. Thus, users choose five HBCUs for their spare change to benefit. With this approach, King is spreading the wealth throughout the HBCU community and ensuring that users learn about all HBCUs. “When creating this app, it was important for me to encourage HBCU alumni to support all HBCUs. Users can easily adjust how much or how little of their spare change they share to their five favorite HBCUs,” says King.

King recently partnered with Xavier University of Louisiana, located in New Orleans and known for its stellar record of placing African Americans in medical school. Research on income mobility finds that the Xavier, while enrolling large numbers of low-income students, has a higher income mobilityrate than any other HBCU, and a higher rating than comparable Predominantly White Institutions as well. Specially, nearly 80% of Xavier graduates reach incomes on par with the median U.S. earner (i.e. middle class status). Xavier University has a relatively strong alumni giving rate at 17%; however, given how many of the institution’s alumni become doctors, and its track record in terms of income mobility, there is considerable potential for growth.

Through the partnership with the I Heart My HBCU app, Xavier students, alumni, and friends will be able to connect and raise funds to support scholarships, academic programs, campus enhancements, and the institution’s endowment. During the two-year partnership, Xavier and I Heart My HBCU jointly aim to have 10,000 people join the Xavier University donor community, and for every new donor who signs up, I Heart My HBCU will donate an additional $1 up to $10,000.  

According to Lacrecia Jones, Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving at Xavier, “Not only does the spare change app serve as a way to reach donors and raise money for the university, but it is also providing a way for Xavierites to reconnect and remain connected no matter where they are in the world.” Xavier is particularly excited about the spare change app because it creates a space for donors who may not be able to contribute large amounts. Executive Director of Advancement Services at Xavier, Kendra Tircuit shared, “We want to ensure that everyone understands that every donation counts, no matter how big or small. Those small amounts add up and allow us to make big changes on Xavier’s campus.”   

HBCU alumni are known for being  fiercely loyal and frequent visitors to their alma maters. Yet, their giving rates do not correspond to this loyalty. The I Heart My HBCU app provides an avenue for anyone anywhere to donate spare change to any HBCU in the country and King is hoping it makes a difference in alumni giving.

Steven Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’ Debuts in Theaters on December 10

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Watch The Greatest Love Story of All Time

Ariana DeBose as Anita in 20th Century Studios’ West Side Story.

At a time where a pandemic and more seems to be pushing us apart, the perfect movie is here to bring us all together. The legendary tale of West Side Story is coming back, and it’s better than ever. When the new film adaptation premieres December 10, 2021, you’ll find yourself entranced by new talent and a fresh twist on the old musical. 

West Side Story was an instant hit when it originally emerged in 1957. It tells the story of two adversarial street gangs in New York, and the forbidden love caught in between their chaos. Tony, a tennager with ties to the white “Jets” gang, falls head over heels for Maria, who happens to be the sister of the rival Puerto Rican “Sharks” gang’s head member. The tension of the rivalry produces not only love, but ultimately tragedy as well. Inspired by the tale of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story was first written as a book by Arthur Laurents. With ensuing success, it was turned into a hit Broadway musical that has toured for decades and even an award-winning film, which premiered in 1961 and featured big names like Natalie Wood and Rita Moreno.

The 2021 adaptation of this film has been crafted by some heavy hitters in entertainment! Produced and directed by veteran filmmaker Steven Speilberg, this year’s adaptation of West Side Story is in great hands.​​The cast features Angel Elgort (Baby Driver, The Fault In Our Stars), introduces actress Rachel Zegler as his love interest, and even features a return from Rita Moreno! The newest screenplay was written by Pulitzer Prize-winner Tony Kushner.  It was produced with the help of Tony Award-winner Kevin McCollum and Academy Award-nominee Kristie Macosko Krieger. When it comes to the music, they pulled together the best of the best. The music team includes legendary conductor Gustavo Dudamel and Academy Award-nominee composer and conductor David Newman, who helped craft the score, Additionally, Grammy-nominee Matt Sullivan served as executive music producer. The dance numbers that have become a key part of the Story will receive a fresh update from Tony Award winner Justin Peck. ​​The cast features Angel Elgort (Baby Driver, The Fault In Our Stars), introduces actress Rachel Zegler as his love interest, and even features a return from Rita Moreno! Moreno, who is one of only three entertainers in the world to receive an Academy, Emmy, GRAMMY, Tony, and Peabody Awards, is an executive producer on the film. 

VIewers can anticipate that the new film will maintain the magic of the original story, while also being updated for the times. Spielberg recently shared that pulling the remake together was both a complex and rewarding project. complexity of the remake. “West Side Story is arguably the greatest score ever written in the theater, and that’s not lost on any of us,” he said. “It’s very intimidating to take a masterpiece and make it through different eyes and different sensibilities without compromising the integrity of what is generally considered the greatest music ever written for the theater. But I believe that great stories should be told over and over again, in part to reflect different perspectives and moments in time into the work.” 

Speilberg’s adaptation comes at a very pivotal time in our country. Centered around xenophobia, or the prejudice of people from other countries, there is much that can be connected to real situations today. In the film, it is the mindset of the Irish-descent members of the “Sharks” street gang as superior that creates the tension with the Puerto Rican members of the “Jets” and their community at large. Much can be connected to the United States’ changing demographics thanks to an influx of Mexican, Asian, and Haitian nationals for example. With the original West Side Story film adaptation winning 10 Oscars, we’re looking forward to how this year’s version will tell the story in a refreshing way. 

Catch West Side Story when it premieres in theaters December 10, 2021. 

Business And Media Maven Dr. Rashad Richey Appointed To Director Role At Morris Brown College

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Morris Brown College has just selected a success businessman to head its Institutional Advancement & Corporate Relations. Learn more about Dr. Rashad Richey in the MBC News release below.

(Credit: Dr. Rashad Richey)

Dr. Rashad Richey, Emmy-nominated broadcaster, political strategist, news analyst, business executive, professor, lecturer, entrepreneur, and fundraiser, has been named Director of Institutional Advancement & Corporate Relations at Morris Brown College.

Dr. Richey is well-known for higher education policy advocacy and previously served as a department chair of adult learning at Beulah Heights University. In addition to his directorship role at Morris Brown, Dr. Richey will also serve as an adjunct professor for the institution.

Dr. Richey has interviewed everyone from United States Vice-President Kamala Harris to Ice Cube. He is Host of the award-winning Rashad Richey Morning Show on News & Talk 1380 – WAOK and Political Commentator for The People’s Station V-103 FM (the largest urban station in America), where he was voted Best Talk Radio Personality by readers of the Atlanta Journal Constitution (first African American to receive this distinction) and Most Trusted Voice in Atlanta by the Atlanta Business Journal.

Dr. Richey is an Emmy nominated Political Analyst for CBS News Atlanta and television anchor for the acclaimed national TV news show, ‘Indisputable with Dr. Rashad Richey’, which airs live daily on multiple networks. Moreover, Dr. Richey is President of Rolling Out Magazine, the largest free-print urban publication in America with a monthly readership of 2.8 million and combined social media following of over 500,000. Rolling Out covers political, entertainment, cultural, and business news.

Dr. Richey has received various honors for his policy-centric leadership, including The President’s Lifetime Achievement Award from United States President Joe Biden, Congressional Proclamation from US Congressman Hank Johnson, and The Whitehouse Volunteer Services Award.

Dr. Kevin James, President of Morris Brown said, “I am excited to select Dr. Rashad Richey for this important role. His business acumen, experience, personal and corporate relationships will lend well to the forward progress of the institution. Dr. Richey will be a valuable resource in assisting me in working with major corporate donors.”

Dr. Richey is on the Board of Directors at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital and a member in good standing with the American Association of University Professors, National Black MBA Association, Atlanta Press Club, Atlanta NAACP, and the Black Law Students Association.

Dr. Richey earned his Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and Master of Business Administration from Beulah Heights University. He completed his Doctor of Education from Clark Atlanta University, where his research focused on federal policy and student outcomes in higher education. Additionally, he obtained a certificate in Executive Leadership from Cornell University and is currently matriculating at Birmingham School of Law completing his Juris Doctor Degree.

Founded by formerly enslaved religious leaders at Big Bethel AME Church in 1881, Morris Brown College is the first college in Georgia to be owned and operated by African Americans. The iconic Fountain Hall and the current Morris Brown campus are where Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois wrote “The Souls of Black Folk” in 1903. Notable alumni include Alberta Williams King, mother of Martin Luther King, Jr., and James Alan McPherson, the first Black writer to win a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Walter L. Smith, FAMU’s Seventh President, Passes Away At 86

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Florida A&M University‘s seventh president has unfortunately passed away. Learn more about former FAMU president Walter L. Smith from Andrew Skerritt at FAMU Forward below.

Walter L. Smith, Sr. Ph.D., the seventh president of Florida A&M University (FAMU), died in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday, November 25, 2021.  The former athlete, scholar, historian, and education leader was 86.

FAMU President Emeritus Smith was also the second president of Roxbury Community College in Boston, Mass.

Notable achievements during the Smith’s eight-year tenure at FAMU include the addition of undergraduate and graduate studies; the expansion of the Black Archives; several new and improved facilities, a boost in sports, the expansion of Bragg Memorial Stadium, and reaccreditation of the several professional education programs.

“I was saddened to learn of the passing of Florida A&M University’s seventh President and President Emeritus Walter L. Smith, Ph.D. Dr. Smith left an indelible mark as the University’s leader from 1977 to 1985, developing new academic programs and steering FAMU in the right direction,” said Robinson, FAMU’s 12th President. “We’re thankful for his leadership and celebrate his legacy and join the Smith family, friends and Rattlers around the world in celebrating a life dedicated to service and one well-lived.”

Walter Lee Smith Sr. took an unconventional route on his journey to becoming an international education leader.

Early Years

Born in Tampa on May 13, 1935, Smith grew up in Cairo, Ga., Tallahassee, and Harlem, N.Y. In high school, he was a stellar athlete in track, basketball, and baseball. When he was FAMU president, Smith fondly recalled the days he played atop the rolling hills of Florida A&M College (FAMC), where his parents both worked.

A high-school dropout at the age of 16, Smith spent his young adult years in Harlem, where he found work as a messenger and racks pusher in the New York Garment district before he joined the U.S. Army. He served for 30 months during the Korean War. After his discharge at age 23, Smith enrolled at Gibbs Junior College in St. Petersburg, Fla., where he became president of the student government association.

Smith returned to Tallahassee and earned two degrees from FAMU – the Bachelor of Arts in biology and chemistry, and the Master of Education in administration and supervision.

In 1965, Smith was recruited by the U.S. Office of Education (USOE) where he became a program officer in facilitating the 1964 Civil Rights Act and Title I of the 1965 Elementary Secondary Education Act. He worked specifically with school districts in the eight Southeastern states in the development of desegregation plans and compensatory education programs for students and teachers throughout the south. He also helped to develop desegregation and graduate education training centers for African American administrators at select universities. This included the University of Miami and the Desegregation Center at FAMU under the direction of the late Dr. James Beck.

Smith was later recruited from the USOE by the National Education Association (NEA) to assist in breaking down racial barriers in teacher organizations in the Southeastern states. He also assisted in the development of collective bargaining concepts for classroom teachers. Smith became the first assistant executive director of The Florida Education Association, and the programs he developed in human relations in Florida received the National Rosena Willis Award from the NEA in 1971 and 1972. For his work in developing strong human relations programs throughout Florida and other states, Smith was awarded a full scholarship by the African American Institute of African Studies to study abroad. Throughout the summer of 1971, he studied at universities in Ghana, Togo, Dahomey (Benin), and Nigeria.

Upon completion of his doctoral coursework at FSU in 1972, Smith was recruited by Hillsborough Community College (HCC) as assistant to the president. He was later promoted to collegiums director, dean and provost at HCC.

Additionally, Smith served as assistant to the dean of FAMU’s School of Education from February 1972 through January 1973. He earned a doctorate in higher education administration from Florida State University in 1974 and was named president of Roxbury College that year.

FAMU’s 7th President

On August 11, 1977, the Florida Board of Regents appointed him FAMU president. His appointment began in September. He was inaugurated as FAMU’s president on April 22, 1978.  Smith, who served until 1985, is recognized for being a valiant advocate for his alma mater.

While Smith was president of FAMU, the University grew from seven to 11 schools and colleges. Among those added were the School of Allied Health Science, School of General Studies, the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and a Division of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education. In 1984, the University was granted the authority to offer its first Doctor of Philosophy degree, the Ph.D. in pharmacology. The ‘80s also saw the expansion of the Gaither Athletic Center, which included the construction of a new Women’s Athletic Complex equipped with a track, an Olympic pool, men’s and women’s weight training rooms, and softball and baseball fields. Bragg Memorial Stadium was renovated and expanded to accommodate 25,000 spectators, and a modern field house was erected.

Additionally, new facilities were constructed to house the Schools of Allied Health Sciences, Architecture, Business and Industry and Nursing. Construction and renovation projects amounted to more than $34 million. As the University prepared to observe 100 years of its existence, the Smith administration launched the Centennial Celebration Fund to establish a University Endowment, which has grown to more than $150 million.

In 2007, the University named the School of Architecture and Engineering Technology building for him and acknowledged his accomplishments while president. Naming the building after a living person required an act of the Florida Legislature, and that body approved the request in 2006. Smith was instrumental in obtaining the funding to design and construct the original building for the School.

President Smith talking to students during his tenure. (credit Meek-Eaton Black Archives)

Rodner Wright, dean of the renamed School of Architecture and Engineering Technology, said Smith’s dedication to and support of the School continued throughout his presidency. Wright was hired as dean in 1996, after the Smith Administration.

“He always referred to me as ‘his dean’ because he was very proud that the SOA was one of the programs that he had started,” Wright said. “He was also very proud that the renovated building was named for him. Whenever I would see him at university events, in town or out of town, he was sure to acknowledge me.”

International Educational Leadership

Following his term as president, Smith was appointed senior Fulbright Scholar at the University of Malawi. During this period in 1985-86, he served as head basketball coach. His team at Chancellor College won the Malawi National Championship.  Smith focused on new higher-education initiatives in Africa before returning to the FAMU campus.

 Smith’s accomplishments and commendations were many to include the following:

  • In 1993, Dr. Smith was asked to return to South Africa; later, he became the founding president of South Africa’s first American-style two-year college.
  •  Smith was a U.S. monitor for the 1994 election that brought Nelson Mandela to power as President of the RSA.
  • In 1998, he was inducted into the FAMU Athletics Hall of Fame for his significant contributions to the program.

Later, in 2002, Smith opened the Dr. Walter L. Smith Library in Tampa, his native city. The privately-owned library/museum is dedicated to enhancing the educational development of the people in his boyhood community.

Later, in 2002, Smith opened the Dr. Walter L. Smith Library in Tampa, his native city. The privately-owned library/museum is dedicated to enhancing the educational development of the people in his boyhood community.

He is survived by his wife Barbara W. Smith; five children, U.S. Army Colonel John L. Smith, Attorney Salesia V. Smith-Gordon, Andre Smith, Walter L. Smith II and Tracy Abrams Butler; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, December 11 at Allen Temple AME Church, 2101 N. Lowe St., Tampa, Florida. FAMU will host a memorial service at 3 p.m. Wednesday, December 15 at the Al Lawson Multipurpose Center, 1800 Wahnish Way, Tallahassee.

Jackson State Tigers Win Their First SWAC Title Since 2007

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Jackson State University won the SWAC title over the weekend, and it’s a historic win for the university. Read the story by Jean-Jacques Taylor at The Undefeated to learn about how Jackson State’s performance has earned the Tigers their first trip to the Cricket Celebration Bowl

Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders (left) is congratulated by Prairie View A&M head coach Eric Dooley (right) after Jackson State beat Prairie View A&M in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game on Dec. 4. (Credit: Rogelio V. Solis/AP Photo)

With its first SWAC title since 2007, JSU will play S.C. State in Atlanta

As the clock wound down in the Cricket Wireless Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game, Jackson State coach Deion Sanders enjoyed the moment.

He laughed with athletic director Ashley Robinson and posed for pictures.

He hugged defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman and linebackers coach Andre Hart.

Jackson State 27, Prairie View A&M 10.

Fittingly, linebacker James Houston provided the game’s biggest play.

He returned a third-quarter interception five yards for a touchdown to break open a close game before a crowd of 50,128 at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

Jackson State linebacker James Houston IV (left) tackles Prairie View A&M running back Ahmad Antoine (right) after a short run during the first half of the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game on Dec. 4 in Jackson, Mississippi. (Credit: Rogelio V. Solis/AP Photo)

It was JSU’s school-record 11th win.

The Tigers will play South Carolina State in the Cricket Celebration Bowl on Dec. 18 in Atlanta as the SWAC representative.

“Everybody didn’t believe. High school guy. Pro experience. Knew the game, but you didn’t understand what I was capable of,” Sanders said.

“It’s not arrogant. It’s not cocky. It is what it is — do not let my confidence offend your insecurities in here today. I promise you we believed. The inner core. The nucleus of this team believed we’d be sitting right here today in this moment. We really did.”

Robinson hired Sanders to return the program to the glory days it had under former coach W.C. Gorden.

Gorden went 119-48-5 as Jackson State’s coach from 1976 to 1991. He won eight SWAC titles and made nine playoff appearances.

“It meant a lot. It was huge. It brought tears to my eyes,” Robinson said of sharing the final minute on the sideline with Sanders. “I was thinking about all the things we’ve been through since 2018 — the good and the bad.”

JSU won the SWAC East title for the first time since 2013. The team had not won the SWAC since 2007.

Sanders changed all that with an infusion of swagger and talent.

He used the transfer portal and the best FCS recruiting class to end JSU’s drought. 

He did it by recruiting his son, Shedeur, one of the top quarterbacks in the country, to provide stability at the game’s most important position.

All he did was throw for over 3,000 yards with 29 touchdowns and six interceptions as a freshman quarterback.

But the story of this season has been JSU’s defense.

It finished fourth in the nation in total defense (258.3 yards a game) and third in scoring defense (13.5 points). It led all FCS schools with 49 sacks, 11 more than Harvard, which finished second.

The Tigers did it with a litany of transfers, highlighted by Houston, SWAC Newcomer of the Year.

He made the game’s biggest play with 8:20 left in the third quarter when he made a juggling left-handed interception on a screen pass and returned it for a touchdown that gave JSU a 20-10 lead.

“It was over at that point,” Sanders said. “Do you know how hard it is to come from 10 points down against us?”

Houston, a graduate transfer from Florida, entered the championship game with 20.5 tackles for loss (fourth in the country), 14.5 sacks (second) and seven forced fumbles (first).

Defensive tackle Antwan Owens (17 TFL and six sacks) and linebacker Aubrey Miller Jr. (91 tackles, 10.5 TFL and 5.5 sacks) were named first-team All-SWAC. Linebacker Keonte Hampton and safety Shilo Sanders were named to the second team.

Thurman, who played nine NFL seasons for the Dallas Cowboys and St. Louis Cardinals, coached in the NFL for 14 seasons.

He was the defensive coordinator for two years in Buffalo, and he met Sanders when he was the defensive backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens.

“DT has been unbelievable, man,” Sanders said. “… Dennis Thurman, Jeff Weeks, Andre Hart, Kevin Mathis. These guys are good. They study their butts off and they make these guys change gears. You gotta go into halftime and come up with something new and oftentimes that’s not done.”

Thurman has conducted the defense superbly all season.

He did it again against Prairie View A&M, attacking the Panthers’ four- and five-receiver sets with pressure.

Jackson State’s pass rush and constant pressure limited Prairie View A&M’s ability to throw the ball downfield. 

Jackson State running back Peytton Pickett (center) follows his blockers as he runs upfield past Prairie View A&M defensive end Kevin Victorian (right) during the second half of the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game on Dec. 4 in Jackson, Mississippi. (Credit: Rogelio V. Solis/AP Photo)

Even when quarterback Jawon Pass had receivers open, the Louisville transfer didn’t have time to step up in the pocket and hit them.

He threw three interceptions and lost a fumble against the Tigers.

He was benched after the Houston interception.

Prairie View A&M managed just 230 yards of total offense. The Panthers completed just 10 passes.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, Jackson State pressured Prairie View A&M quarterbacks on 33% of their dropbacks (14-of-42), not including the touchdown pass thrown by wide receiver Ty Holden in the first half. Pass and Trazon Connley struggled mightily against the Tigers’ defense, failing to complete a single pass when they were pressured.

“I think they have a great defense, but we blew some opportunities,” Prairie View A&M coach Eric Dooley said. “I can see it like it just happened.

“No. 82 should’ve had three touchdowns, but the quarterback has to deliver and the line has to protect.”

They couldn’t do either consistently, so JSU is going to the Cricket Celebration Bowl.

Howard University Student Tamia Thompson Awarded White House Presidential Service Award

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A Howard University student recently received a prestigious award from the White House! Learn more about Tamia Thompson and what she did to earn the award in the story from Howard below.

Howard University College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Tamia Thompson has been awarded the 2021 White House Presidential Service Award. This award honors Thompson for contributing 176.98 service hours to several nonprofit organizations, including Whatsoever Is Good, Inc. and the Zero Debt College Project. Thompson provides one-on-one mentoring, scholarship essay writing assistance and scholarship strategy advice to 10-year-old through college-aged students.

Credit: Howard University

“She writes curriculum for the Whatsoever Is Good, Inc. weekly virtual activities and pitches in wherever necessary to ensure the program’s success,” said Monique Thompson, Ph.D., founder of Whatsoever Is Good, Inc. and the Zero Debt College Project. “Through her role as our top student leader and mentor, she helps others learn credible information about scholarships and dispel myths about needing to graduate top of their class or with perfect grades to avoid student loans.”

A Dallas native, Thompson is majoring in political science and minoring in philosophy. She became a published author in 2017 with the release of her book “Thirteen” and serves as the executive director and co-founder of the Zero Debt College Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since her start at Howard University, Thompson has managed a school board trustee campaign as well as a mayoral campaign in Little Elm, Texas – both of which were successful, leading to Little Elm Independent School District electing its first Black woman to the Board of Trustees and the city of Little Elm electing its first Black mayor. She also worked a student writer for Stories from the Mecca during the Spring of 2020.

Credit: Howard University

Currently, Thompson is a member of the Model United Nations team and the NAACP. “Giving back to the community and advocating for marginalized groups are core values of mine, which is why I plan to attend law school after completing my undergraduate degree in order to pursue a career as a civil rights attorney,” says Thompson.

HBCUs Continue To Recruit Top Basketball Talent

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Even if you may hear about it less, HBCUs are still holding their own win it comes to top basketball recruitment. Get the full story about why you just may be hearing about these successes a little less from Jason Jordan at Sports Illustrated below. 

This time last year, it had been roughly six months since the killing of George Floyd and racial tensions remained high as an abundance of Black Lives Matter protests and marches brought out countless world leaders, celebrities and athletes to speak against racism, inequality and police brutality.

The trickle down, as it pertained to the college basketball recruiting space, was an influx of interest from elite high school stars in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).

Top players who customarily post offers via social media from college basketball heavyweights like Kentucky, North Carolina and Duke, were trading in the blue blood offer announcements to feature offers from HBCU like Howard, Hampton and North Carolina A&T.

“It was a beautiful thing,” said elite 2022 combo guard Skyy Clark. “I committed to Kentucky because it was the perfect fit for me, but I loved to see the HBCU get the attention. It’s always been a question about why players don’t look at HBCU more, but last year we saw a lot of top guys putting out that they were interested in them.”

Floyd, a Black man, died on May 25, 2020, after being pinned beneath police officers, one of whom kneeled on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds, as he was detained. Floyd repeatedly told the officers that he couldn’t breathe.

The officer who kneeled, Derek Chauvin, was convicted of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter and was sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison last month.

A year and a half later, with less national headlines surrounding racial and social issues, the social media posts have halted to an extremely slow drip at best, which begs the question: Is HBCU interest still real among elite players or was it all just a knee-jerk reaction to the moment?

Howard men’s basketball coach Kenny Blakeney said it’s “still very real,” but that “the narrative is a lot less focused than it was last year.”

Blakeney made history last July when landed consensus top 15 player Makur Maker, giving the Bison the highest rated player in the modern recruiting era to commit to a HBCU.

Unfortunately, Maker never got to shine on the big stage.

He suffered an injury two games into last season then Howard was forced to cancel its season due to COVID-19 related issues.

Now, Maker is playing professionally with the Sydney Kings in the NBL in Australia. 

“There was such an intentional focus surrounding the horrible murder of Mr. George Floyd at the time,” Blakeney said. “It’s been over a year, and, as things do, it’s died down. As a result, players and their families wanting to have the association of HBCU and their recruitments has not been the same. It’s still there, it’s just not as loud.”

When Maker committed to Howard he said his goal was “to make the HBCU movement real so that others will follow.” He specifically named Mikey Williams as one of the rising high school stars he wanted to influence “to join me on this journey.”

Williams, a junior, is the most popular high school athlete in the country with an Instagram following that eclipses 3.4 million and friends like Drake and Da Baby, as well as NBA superstars like LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard.

In July, Williams inked a deal with Excel Sports Management, becoming the first high school basketball star to sign with a major sports agency to pursue name, image and likeness (NIL) endorsements. 

Last month, he inked a multiyear deal with Puma, making him the first American high school basketball player to sign a sneaker deal with a global footwear company.

Williams’ mother, Charisse Williams, was a star softball player at prestigious HBCU Hampton University and in August his father, Mahlon Williams, said his son is “leaning toward” playing at a HBCU.

Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul is doing his part to keep HBCU at the forefront, consistently sporting HBCU paraphernalia before and after games. His Winston Salem State hoodie was a go-to look for him during the NBA Finals this summer.

Chris Paul is bringing the spotlight to HBCU. (Credit: Getty Images)

Paul talked about the importance of promoting HBCU, and recently produced the docuseries “Why Not Us,” which followed HBCU powerhouse North Carolina Central.

Paul, who played two years at Wake Forest before going on to the NBA, is currently studying Communications at Winston-Salem State University.

“Just trying to make sure that they get that spotlight,” Paul said.

North Carolina Central coach LeVelle Moton contends that while the spotlight is currently illuminated it’s not aligned with the trend; and therein lies the problem.

“These kids do what’s trendy, it’s the world we live in,” Moton said. “Whatever’s hot is the wave they ride. The bottom line is this: When it comes to decision time are they gonna turn down the aesthetics and glitz and glamour and go with the culture?”

Elijah Fisher, a junior who is widely regarded as a top 10 player in the 2023 class, said he wants to normalize HBCU offers being a big deal.

“I got offered by Morgan State and it’s a big deal for me,” Fisher said. “I think it’s important to support the schools that predominantly have people that look like me there. I love that Morgan State is a HBCU.”

Typically, players in Fisher’s position opt for schools in Power 5 conferences to maximize resources and exposure, but Fisher said, “It may be time to change things.”

Blakeney’s Bison recently made the top eight for elite junior forward Sean Stewart, and Ron Holland, arguably the top junior forward in the country, took a visit to Tennessee State in October.

“I like the idea of making history,” Holland told SI. “That’s what they’re pushing, and it makes sense to me.” 

Cade Cunningham never had the option.

Cunningham, who went No. 1 overall to the Detroit Pistons in this year’s NBA Draft, grew an affinity for HBCU watching the famous Prairie View A&M-Grambling rivalry while growing up in Texas.

Still, when it came to his recruitment, Cunningham never received any interest, likely because of his stature as a top five player with top pick projections even in high school.

Cunningham, who eventually picked Oklahoma State, said he would’ve “seriously considered” HBCU had they reached out.

“I definitely support any younger guys that want to go to HBCU,” Cunningham said. “I think that would be a great step.”

Still, Blakeney said while ultimately landing elite prospects is the obvious goal, the attention top tier players bring by reciprocating interest in HBCU via social media “definitely helps.”

“I think any time that we can bring light to our HBCU, especially young men with social media followings reaching tens of thousands, that’s a good thing,” Blakeney said. “Just seeing what took place since Mr. Floyd’s murder, and seeing Makur come to Howard and grow and develop even as a one-and-done type player is a positive. He’s a guy who will have a chance to achieve his goals and dreams, and that’s the ultimate goal.” 

Girls Who Invest Shares Pipeline To Finance Industry During HBCU Game Night

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Learn about FREE opportunities at GWI

Learning how to invest can sometimes seem so intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! Recently, we hosted an HBCU Game Night Info Session in collaboration with Girls Who Invest (GWI) to give a few HBCU students insight into just how exciting finance can be. Girls Who Invest is a non-profit organization that was created in 2015 to increase the number of women in portfolio management and in executive leadership positions in the investment management industry. 

The ladies who attended our game night were able to test their knowledge in the management industry in a fun trivia game. 

The participants of the game night included:

  • Ty’Queyia Jenkins of Norfolk State University
  • Ashleigh McKinney of Xavier University of Louisiana
  • Madison Moffatt of Clark Atlanta University
  • Faith Crawford of Howard University
  • Jordyn Allen of Howard University
  • Deveraux Mackey of Howard University
  • Alyssa Moore of Howard University
  • Jaden D. Johnson of Southern University
  • Kaila Reggans of Fisk University
  • Jamerya Kelley of Johnson C. Smith University 

In addition to testing their existing knowledge, the participants were able to learn about two free GWI programs. Thankfully, you too can learn about these programs and see all the opportunities waiting for you in investment management. Regardless of your major, Girls Who Invest has something for you! As long as you are a hard-working student with an interest in finance, there are free Summer Intensive and Online Intensive programs for you to take advantage of.  The GWI Summer Intensive Program is a ten-week experiential program, featuring academic instruction from top business school professors and a paid internship at a leading investment firm. College sophomores are eligible to apply for this program. First-year students (in addition to sophomores) or students looking for more flexibility can apply for the GWI Online Intensive Program, a self-guided option that can be completed at your own pace. From February through August, students learn key finance and investment concepts from educational partners like Wharton Online, CFA Institute, and Wall Street Prep. The program culminates in a certificate of completion from Girls Who Invest.

Long-term, Girls Who Invest looks to increase the amount of women in finance by ensuring more motivated women are applying for roles in the industry. GWI has created a remarkable pipeline to prepare these women for their dreams. GWI’s vision is to have 30% of the world’s investable capital managed by women in 2030! 

To learn more information about Girls Who Invest and follow along on their journey to change the face of investing, follow their Instagram page.

Tennessee State’s Hercy Miller Out For Season With Injury

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Some unfortunate news has been released regarding one Tennessee State University‘s star basketball players: Hercy Miller is out for the rest of the season due to an injury. Get the full story from TMZ Sports below.

Credit: Getty

TMZ Sports spoke to Hercy Miller’s dad — AKA Master P — about his star freshman hoops playing son. P revealed Hercy had been dealing with the lower leg injury for some time … and tried to play through the pain.

Master P says HBCUs need more funding to bring their medical services up to par with powerhouse basketball programs across the country.

P also told us universities have been attempting to re-recruit Hercy now that he has been granted 4 years of college eligibility … despite playing in a handful of games for Tennessee State.

Sad news from Hercy Miller — Master P‘s Tennessee State hoops star son is out for the rest of the year after suffering a season-ending injury.

The freshman guard made the announcement on Tuesday … saying, “Due to a lower-body injury I’ll be out for the ’21-’22 season.”

But, don’t worry, Tigers fans … the 19-year-old says he’s already looking forward to his comeback campaign.

“I’ll be back next year for the show! Stronger and better,” he added.

The 6’3″ guard averaged 10 minutes in 6 appearances for the Tigers … scoring an overall total of 13 points. TSU is currently 1-5.

“THANK YOU, to all the fans,” Miller said, “and everyone who supported me this season.”

Miller — who was a 3-start recruit from Minnehaha Academy — picked the HBCU earlier this year over UCLA, LSU and other Power 5 programs.

As we previously reported, Hercy signed a multi-million dollar endorsement deal after the NIL policy change … telling us in July, he learned from his dad.

“I signed a deal with an American technology company. Like my dad said, it’s a blessing,” Miller said.

“I learned from my dad, I’m gonna start off by giving back to the community and everyone around me.”

Delaware State University Hits Multiple Enrollment Records

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Delaware State University has hit new enrollment records at rates that have never been seen before! Get the full story from the DSU release below.

In a continuation of the unrelenting growth trajectory that has seen the institution expand by 40% between 2009-2019, Delaware State University has once again established multiple enrollment records during the Fall 2021 Semester, including the largest student body ever (5,649), surpassing its previous record of 5,054 in 2019.

The University also achieved records in the categories of undergraduate students (4,848), graduate students (801), and online enrollment (317). The 9.7% rise in undergraduate enrollment (an increase of 429) was a major factor in achieving the record total enrollment figure.

The new Freshman class totals 1,023 students, including 445 in-state students, 298 of whom received the state-funded Inspire Scholarship. This represents a 67% increase in Inspire Scholars driven, according to school officials, by the expansion of the scholarship to cover full tuition for all four years of attendance. This undergraduate success has also been bolstered by a Freshman retention rate that has stayed above 70% for the past seven years, with the latest figure being a record-breaking 75.1%.

“We are thrilled to be bucking some major national trends,” said Antonio Boyle, Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management. “According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, higher education numbers around the country are down in all those categories this fall.”

Boyle noted that these increases also correspond with the expansion of the University’s footprint with the acquisition last summer of the former Wesley College, now renamed DSU Downtown and serving as the home of the Wesley College of Health and Behavioral Sciences. Wesley legacy undergraduates account for 334 new enrollees at Delaware State University, over two-thirds of those eligible to continue their progress toward degrees at significantly reduced tuition rates.

The graduate enrollment record – 193 students over the previous year – is largely a result of the University’s strengthened emphasis on its master’s and doctoral programs, which has accounted for enrollment increases over 20% for each of the last four years. Graduate Dean Dr. Patrice Gilliam-Johnson credited much of the growth to “everyone on the faculty and staff being personally engaged in recruiting and spreading the word about the tremendous value of our low-cost, high-quality degree programs.”

Gilliam-Johnson said that much of the enrollment growth could be attributed to the School of Graduate, Adult, and Extended Studies’ most popular majors, including Social Work (230 students), Educational Leadership (148 students), and the Master of Occupational Therapy (93 students), which came to Delaware State University this year from Wesley College. “Our MSW and MOT programs are unique in the state,” she said, “and have become major attractors for students interested in starting new careers with strong growth potential.”

Graduate enrollment also received a boost from the University’s international programs, where 108 students are now enrolled in new Educational Leadership degrees in Changchun, China, and in Jamaica.

The total international enrollment, either in residence in Delaware or offered through partner institutions abroad, rose by 173 to a record 623 students, with enrollment in the University’s Accounting and Computer Science programs at Ningbo University of Technology in China likewise hitting a new record with 449 students. This 38% growth stands in sharp contrast to a 21% average decline in international enrollment nationwide, which has suffered primarily due to travel restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Dr. Tony Allen emphasized that achieving such increases across the board during a global pandemic has required thoughtful planning, administrative flexibility, and careful marketing of the University’s value proposition.

“In so doing, we have had to grow responsibly and with clear intention.  Investments like the Inspire Scholarship, the Early College High School, and the acquisition of Wesley College have helped us move the needle,” Allen said. “Still, execution is always at the forefront of our minds.   Our students come to us not simply for quality education, but to literally change the trajectory of their lives for themselves, their families, and their communities. They deserve our very best in helping them do exactly that.”

Trail At Historic Park Named After Former Kentucky State University Regent Lester Mimms

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Former Kentucky State University Regent Lester Mimms is being memorialized with a hiking trail in a historic state park! Get the beautiful full story from Madisonville, Kentucky’s The Messenger below.

Credit: Cherokee State Historic Park/Facebook

They called him “Professor.”

From the testimonials of his students, Lester Mimms earned the cognomen as more than just a sign of respect, but also as a term of endearment.

At the time of his death in October 1991, a former student who later worked with Mimms as a teacher, Marion Gill said, “He thought it was necessary for every boy and girl to have an education. He was always interested in his students. He was very good to his students, and his students loved him.

The long-time Hopkins County educator and civic leader was recognized Thursday as a hiking trail at Kenlake State Park was named for him in honor of his service to the young people of Earlington.

The two-mile long trail connects Cherokee State Park with Kenlake Campground in Marshall County.

The trail’s significance mirrors that of Mimm’s own career. Cherokee, now part of Kenlake State Park, was built in 1951 as the only segregated state park in the South, and one of only three such resorts in the entire country. The 300 acres housed a 200-seat dining hall—which was renovated in 2009—a restaurant, cottages, and a bath house. Upon the desegregation of travel and lodging in the 1960s, Cherokee became part of Kenlake. Most of the cabins at Cherokee were relocated and many other structures were abandoned.

Mimms guided the students of J. W. Million High School into the era of desegregation by becoming Kentucky’s first Black principal of an integrated school, Earlington High School, in 1967.

Credit: Kentucky State University/Twitter

The Professor was the third and final principal of Million, serving in that role from 1943 until its closure in 1965. He taught one year at Earlington before taking the administrative position from which he would retire in 1970.

Mimms was also an outstanding basketball coach.

Gill recalled the excitement the students felt for the Million team.

“”He kept everybody enthusiastic about basketball,” she said. “When we had a game you could hear us all the way to the company store.”

Nora McClain, another former teacher who worked alongside Mimms, recalled in 1989 just how exceptional a job Mimms did with the program.

“He never had more than twelve members on a team, and he never had a losing season,” she said.

She added that Mimms had led the Purple Waves to three appearances in the Kentucky state basketball tournament between 1935 to 1965.

Mimms was named Coach of the Year by The Messenger for the 1963-64 season.

In 1969, the educator was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel by Gov. Louie Nunn, who also named Mimms to the Board of Regents of Kentucky State University in 1970. He served the Frankfort-based school from 1970 to 1974.

Mimms later became coordinator of Head Start in Hopkins and Muhlenberg counties, and opened several such centers. He also organized and developed the Senior Citizens Center for Hopkins County.

In 1978, Gov. Julian Carroll named him to the State Building and Housing programs.

Simmons Bible College in Louisville awarded Mimms an honorary doctorate in humanities in 1980.

Mimms died Oct. 11, 1991 in Madisonville.

HBCU Bands To Be Highlighted In New $3 Million Commercial

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Two HBCU bands will be getting their shine thanks to a new ad from Pepsi! The ad is a win not only for Florida A&M University‘s Marching 100 and for Jackson State University‘s Sonic Boom of the South, but for all HBCU bands. Get the full story from Garfield Hylton at the Orlando Sentinel below.

The FAMU and B-CU marching bands are part of the appeal of the annual Florida Classic at the Citrus Bowl. (Credit: Donald Montague/Orlando Sentinel)

Pepsi and FAMU worked together to shoot the first-ever ad highlighting HBCU band culture for one of the biggest college football games of the season.

The 60-second ad is called “The Halftime Game,” according to a PepsiCo press release.

HBCU album Alan Ferguson directed the ad in partnership with the Creators League, Pepsi’s in-house studio led by Lou Arbetter.

The ad features FAMU and Jackson State Unversity’s band while highlighting “the electricity and history they bring to game day,” according to the press release.

Pepsi spent more than $3 million on the ad, which is set to run across media for the Southwest Atlantic Conference (SWAC), ABC’s Celebration BOWL, and other national media outlets throughout the end of December.

“This ad campaign provides a fitting showcase for two exceptional music programs,” said Dr. Shelby Chipman, FAMU Director of Bands. “Our marching band students are committed to excellence in the classroom and performing on the field. This campaign celebrates their dedication and talent. Fans of the incomparable Marching ‘100′ will be pleased.”

PepsiCo says the ad illustrates their commitment to racial equality, according to the press release.

In 2020, as part of the company’s Racial Equality Journey, they announced a commitment of more than $570 million over the next five years to “elevate diverse voices within the company, supply chain partners, and communities, while helping to address issues of inequality and create opportunity,” according to the press release.

The Florida A&M “Marching 100” performs during the Battle of the Bands at the Amway Center on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021 in Orlando, Fla. (Credit: Chasity Maynard/Orlando Sentinel)

Dr. Roderick Little, JSU Director of Bands, called the ad “an outstanding opportunity for our students, band, and university, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge what this affiliation means for all HBCU band programs regarding exposure that could garner the support of future donors and corporate sponsors.”

Dr. Little added his belief that the future was bright for HBCU band programs because of opportunities like Pepsi provided.

FAMU will play Jackson State University in the championship game at 4 p.m. Saturday in Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Mississippi.

Tuskegee University Selects TSU Alumnus As Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs

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Tennessee State University alumnus S. Keith Hargrove is transferring HBCUs to become Tuskegee University’s new Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs. Learn more about him and his previous work at his alma mater in the TU release below.

Tuskegee University has appointed S. Keith Hargrove, Ph.D., CMfgE, PE, MBA, as Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs effective January 1, 2022. Hargrove currently serves as dean of the College of Engineering at Tennessee State University.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to return to Tuskegee University and serve in this leadership role that impacts academic programs, support faculty, and the engagement of students for success beyond their college experience,” said Dr. Hargrove. As Provost and Chief Academic Officer, he will be responsible for helping to implement the recently announced 5-Year Strategic Plan, supporting faculty, promoting continuous growth in research activity, and ensuring a rich student experience. 

In his role as dean of the College of Engineering for over a decade, Hargrove has increased enrollment, research funding and implemented new academic programs to prepare students for industry, government, study abroad, and entrepreneurship. In 2017, his college was recognized as the Best HBCU STEM Program by HBCU Digest. He previously served as Chairperson of the Department of Industrial, Manufacturing & Information Engineering in the Clarence Mitchell, Jr. School of Engineering at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD. Hargrove also completed a one-year Administrative Fellowship at Harvard University and was Assistant to the Dean and Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering, Architecture & Physical Sciences at Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama. 

Hargrove has worked for Boeing as a Welliver Fellow and General Electric upon completing the Manufacturing Management Program as a manufacturing engineer in the Electronic Systems Division and Transportation Systems. As a research engineer, he has worked for Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and Y12/Oak Ridge Laboratory. He also worked as a research professor/post-doctoral at the University of Michigan for the NSF Engineering Research Center for Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems. 

Hargrove has received research funding from the National Science Foundation and conducted research projects with Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky Aircraft, Boeing, NASA, US Navy, and the US Army in systems engineering, design, virtual and augmented reality, advanced manufacturing, and minority engineering education, and has more than 100+ publications and presentations, and attracted more than $14M in external funding. He is the founding Director of the TIGER (TSU Interdisciplinary Graduate Engineering Research) Institute at Tennessee State University, a group of laboratories funded by external grants and contracts. The TIGER Institute has collaborated with other disciplines such as health sciences, psychology, and education. He has received several awards for teaching, research, and mentoring.

He is an Associate Member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Institute of Industrial Engineers, American Society of Engineering Education, Tennessee Academy of Science, and the Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers. He is recognized as a Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE), registered professional engineer (PE), and recently certified as a Professional in Engineering Management (CPEM).

Hargrove received his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa as a CIC Fellow. He received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Tennessee State University as a General Motors Fellow, MS from the Missouri University of Science & Technology in Rolla, MO, as a National GEM Consortium Fellow. He is recognized as the first GEM Fellow to obtain a Ph.D. He completed the Higher Education Leadership Foundation (HELF) program and the Becoming a Provost Academy, sponsored by the American Society of State Colleges and Universities (AACSCU).

A firm believer in K12 STEM education, he is a founding board member of STEM Preparatory Academy, a local charter school in Nashville, Board Member of Smithson Craighead Academy, Advisory Board in Engineering for Stratford STEM Magnet High School, and served on the advisory board of Union Elementary STEM School. At TSU, he received the Community Service Award for Administrators to engage with the local community and K12 schools. Dr. Hargrove is also a strong advocate for mentoring tenure-track and minority faculty throughout their academic careers, and Co-Editor and contributor of “Navigating Academia: A Guide for Women and Minority STEM Faculty,” published by Academic Press (Elsevier), and author of “In Search of Academic Leadership: A Primer for Faculty Development.” 

Stacey Abrams Announces Plan To Run For Georgia Governor

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Spelman College alumna and political powerhouse Stacey Abrams recently announced her plan to run for the upcoming Georgia governor seat! Learn more in the article below by Greg Bluestein at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Credit: Kevin Lowery

Stacey Abrams launched a campaign for Georgia governor Wednesday with a pledge to fight for economic equality and expand health care access, setting up a potential rematch against Republican Gov. Brian Kemp in one of the nation’s most competitive political battlegrounds.

The Democrat announced her campaign with a video that highlighted her work in the state since her narrow 2018 defeat to Kemp, along with a message that “opportunity and success in Georgia shouldn’t be determined by your ZIP code, background or access to power.”

Her decision, long expected by local Democrats, clears the way for what could be a titanic showdown between two longtime political rivals. That is, if Kemp survives a fight for the GOP nomination first.

Abrams lost to Kemp by less than 1.4 percentage points in 2018, the closest Georgia gubernatorial election in decades, and her refusal to concede defeat because of what she called an “erosion” of voting rights made her an icon to many Democrats and a villain to conservatives.

If Abrams prevails, she would become the first Black governor in Georgia and the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history. She would also end a string of Republican victories in gubernatorial contests dating to Sonny Perdue’s upset win in 2002 over Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes.

She’s running in a tough political environment. Despite statewide victories in the last election cycle, Georgia Democrats will be on the defensive during the 2022 midterms, when U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock is also on the ballot. Abrams’ campaign countered by noting Democratic gains in this year’s mayoral elections, including flips of several Republican-held seats this week.

Kemp might as well have ripped a page from his 2018 playbook with his reaction to her announcement, which repeated a stark warning that Abrams’ “far-left agenda” doesn’t reflect Georgia’s values.

“Next November’s election for governor is a battle for the soul of our state,” he said. “I’m in the fight against Stacey Abrams, the failed Biden agenda and their woke allies to keep Georgia the best place to live, work and raise a family.”

‘One Georgia’

Abrams’ announcement ends a guessing game among some Georgians about what she would do next. A former Democratic leader in the Georgia House, Abrams is now a nationally known politician who has been talked about as a future White House contender.

She gave the response to then-President Donald Trump’s State of the Union in 2019, was considered as Joe Biden’s running mate and started a constellation of influential advocacy groups. And she’s grown her media platform withlucrative book and movie projects and a national tour that just wrapped up.

But she’s also maintained a foothold in state politics, pummeling Kemp for his approach to combating the coronavirus pandemic, his support for an overhaul of the state’s voting laws and his refusal to expand Medicaid. Her campaign launch video emphasized her Georgia focus.

“Regardless of the pandemic or the storms, the obstacles in our way or the forces determined to divide us, my job has been to just put my head down and keep working toward one Georgia,” she said. “Because in the end, we are one Georgia.”

The campaign, which filed paperwork Wednesday, will be led by her longtime aide Lauren Groh-Wargo. A major statewide launch is in the works for next year, but Abrams’ initial steps are expected to involve small-scale meetings with Georgians and fundraising events.

Abrams can count on a unified Democratic Party behind her candidacy. No other credible Democratic contender has entered the race, and her fundraising record and visibility allowed her to wait until December to announce. The timing gives her a full month to raise funds in 2021.

There’s no doubt that Abrams and her allies also aim to exploit ongoing feuding among Georgia Republicans, who have been engaged in a yearslong battle between various pro-Trump factions.

Trump and his loyalists have vowed to exact revenge on Kemp after he refused to overturn 2020 election results in Georgia, and the former president suggested at a September rally that he would have preferred if Abrams was governor.

Former U.S. Sen. David Perdue is seriously considering a primary challenge against Kemp with Trump’s support. He’s told donors and activists that he’s tempted to enter the race because he fears Kemp will get trounced by Abrams next year.

Several other Republicans have already launched campaigns premised on their loyalty to Trump, including former Democratic state Rep. Vernon Jones.

An epic rematch

With her 2022 campaign, Abrams is hoping to harness a Democratic surge she helped engineer.

She and her allies spent most of the past decade mobilizing liberals with a campaign as an “unapologetic progressive” with vows to oppose abortion limits, support new gun restrictions and take other stances that many other statewide Democratic candidates avoided.

But she also embraced initiatives with more widespread public support, such as expanding the Medicaid program, a policy that Kemp and other Republican leaders have long opposed as too costly.

Her narrow 2018 defeat showed Democrats a new path to victory that relied on maximizing turnout among voters of color who often skipped midterm elections while also appealing to suburban voters alienated by Trump.

Biden captured the state in November, marking the first time Georgia voted Democratic in a presidential election since 1992. Nine weeks later, Jon Ossoff and Warnock ousted Sens. Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, flipping control of the chamber.

The victories were particularly sweet for Abrams, who passed on her own bid for the U.S. Senate and helped recruit Warnock to run instead. Back then, she said “Georgia will always be at the center of my plans” even as she was coy about her next step.

Still, there was little mystery among her closest friends about whether she’d mount another run for governor. She’s long been drawn toward executive office and often acknowledges that she wants to eventually run for president.

Stacey Abrams bumps elbows with Raphael Warnock during his campaign last year for the U.S. Senate. Abrams passed up her own opportunity to run for the seat and recruited Warnock as a candidate. (Credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images/TNS)

An aide said that if she’s elected governor she will serve the full four-year term in office, adding that the buzz about a potential 2024 White House bid is “the talk of folks who don’t know her desire to lead Georgia.”

‘Unifying’

Her ambitions will also be used against her. Kemp and other Republicans have derided Abrams as a “celebrity” candidate with little long-term interest in Georgia. And Republicans have tried to blame her for Major League Baseball’s decision to yank the All-Star game from Atlanta, though she discouraged boycotts over the new voting law.

“Over the past four years, Gov. Kemp has exhibited courageous leadership for Georgians and guided his state through a turbulent time,” said Maddie Anderson of the Republican Governors Association. “Stacey Abrams spent her time touring the country in search of fame and fortune.”

She’s also been accused of hypocrisy for assailing Trump when he didn’t concede to Biden while she issued a nonconcession speech that criticized the “systemic disenfranchisement, disinvestment and incompetence” of Georgia’s election system under Kemp’s watch. Kemp has denied any wrongdoing when he was secretary of state.

Unlike Trump, Abrams never tried to reverse her election defeat and instead filed litigation seeking to expand access to the ballot. The Democrat also acknowledged that Kemp had won the election and that she was not the governor.

She settled another issue that dogged her during the 2018 campaign. Abrams paid off the roughly $54,000 she owed to the Internal Revenue Service, along with other credit card and student loan debt she reported during her first election run.

This campaign, Abrams would also be supported by the powerful Fair Fight political organization that she launched even as she ended her 2018 campaign.

The group has grown into a fundraising behemoth, collecting more than $100 million since its inception, and it has blitzed the airwaves with criticism of Kemp. It has become such a formidable force that Loeffler recently started her own group, Greater Georgia, to counteract its influence.

Gov. Brian Kemp, shown campaigning in 2018, responded to Democrat Stacey Abrams’ announcement that she will run next year for governor by saying her “far-left agenda” does not reflect the values of Georgians. “Next November’s election for governor is a battle for the soul of our state,” he said. (Credit: Ryon Horne, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Many Republicans have eagerly expected Abrams’ entry, and some were running against her long before she announced. Candidates for obscure political offices have targeted her, and a group called Stop Stacey stocked with Kemp campaign strategists aims to keep her in front of a GOP battering ram.

No one, of course, mentions Abrams as often as Kemp, who essentially never stopped campaigning against her. He said Wednesday that every political step she takes is calculated “in service to her ultimate ambition of becoming president of the United States.”

Stephen Lawson, a veteran Republican strategist, is among the political foes who have long awaited her announcement. He said she offers the divided state GOP a common adversary.

“Never underestimate the unifying power Stacey Abrams can bring to Republicans in Georgia.”

https://twitter.com/staceyabrams/status/1466140248887418885

Meharry Medical College Hopes To Relieve Student Hardships With $10,000 Gifts

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Looking to relive the financial burdens of students this holiday season, Meharry Medical College sent nearly 1,000 medical students $10,000. Check out the incredible story from Jeffrey McKinney at Black Enterprise below.

Future medical professionals attending Meharry Medical College could have a merrier Christmas after receiving a $10,000 gift from the HBCU.

Presented unconditionally and aimed to ease financial hardship heading into the holiday season, Meharry President Dr. James E.K. Hildreth announced the Thanksgiving gift on Nov. 22 in a video shared with students at the historically Black college in Nashville, Tennessee.

According to the Tennessean, Meharry’s 956 students each received the donation. The money came from federal COVID relief funds sent to higher education institutions for financial aid.

The CARES Act dispersed some $14 billion to help schools handle the coronavirus pandemic’s financial strain. It also assisted students with academic debts and the clearing of tuition costs. Meharry landed a $20 million grant to be used partly to bolster its medical curriculum with virtual simulation and telemedicine training. The bounteous student gifts applied nearly $9.6 million of those funds.

“In the past year-and-a-half we’ve all had to learn as it says in scripture to give thanks in all circumstances and keep thankfulness in our hearts,” Hildreth reflected as part of a holiday message.

He added, “I’m thankful for you students and the future of healthcare, public health, and research that is entrusted to you. That future looks bright.”

Meharry’s medical professionals-in-training helped administer COVID-19 tests and provided information and strategies to mitigate further spread of the novel virus throughout 2020. “You heard me right. We’re making these gifts out of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds, which Meharry received as part of the CARES Act,” Hildreth explained.

The money was transferred into the bank accountants of students with direct deposit on Thanksgiving Eve. Others were able to pick up their check on campus. Hildreth advised students to use the money to pay costs tied to their education instead of being tempted to use it for Black Friday shopping.

Students completing up to four years of matriculation in the school of medicine or dentistry graduate with roughly over $280,000 in debt based on an analysis of tuition and fees for the 2021-2022 school year. Several other Black higher education institutions, such as Atlanta’s Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University, sought to help students with their academic-related financial burdens by clearing debts.

2 Huston-Tillotson University Students Serving On Commission Battling Austin Housing Crisis

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Austin’s housing crisis is becoming a problem for college students across several colleges and universities. To counter that impact on students, 2 Huston-Tillotson University students are sitting on a student-led commission to fight against the pressing housing disparity. Get the full story from Daniel Martin at KXAN below.

As Austin’s city council prepares to talk housing affordability at a meeting Tuesday, a special commission is working to make sure college students who struggle with rent have a seat at the table, too. 

Huston-Tillotson University students pose before getting ready to volunteer for EarthDay ATX 2017 (Credit: Julianne Hanckel)

The City of Austin’s College Student Commission is comprised of 15 members representing UT Austin, St. Edwards University, Huston-Tillotson University, Concordia University Texas, and Austin Community College. The Concordia seats are currently unfilled.

The group plans to finalize a list of affordable housing recommendations to pass along to city leaders, giving students a voice in the discussion.

Commissioner Edwin Bautista, a UT graduate student studying urban planning, told KXAN some of the commission’s ideas include creating student neighborhoods similar to UT’s West Campus around other local universities, but adding tight city rent control measures to keep costs down. 

“One of the goals for the commission is to help push the city into kind of creating those residential districts,” Bautista said, adding that as a student, himself, he also struggles with rent.

“I work part-time, and I make a quarter of the median household income,” he said. “That forces me to live in a reality of low-income status while also having to find housing.”

After a year at a sorority house, UT student Kennedy Lightfoot told KXAN she’s moving to a new West Campus high-rise next year, where she’ll pay more than $1,200 per month for a bed in a shared unit. 

“It’s ridiculous, I think my parking is like over $200 a month,” she said. “There are cheaper options, but a lot of times the cheaper options don’t feel safe.”

In East Austin, affordable housing options are quickly vanishing for students at Huston-Tillotson. The historically Black university has seen the neighborhood around it transform as pricey custom homes replace older houses, many of them rentals.

Austin City Council Member Greg Casar said he feels the city’s development code needs a refresh.

“Right now, what we really encourage is tearing down an existing apartment complex and building an expensive new one on top of it or tearing down a little old house and building one big one in its place,” he said. “That’s going to oftentimes lead to more expensive options.”

Meanwhile, students like Lighthouse are calling for middle ground.

“Something where you’re not worried the quality of the place in which you’re living, but you’re not worried about how much you’re paying,” she said.