Dune is the mysterious new thriller that will take you to a new galaxy. With themes of love, familial loyalty, and war, this film will feel like it hits home even though it’s set millions of miles away. The film follows the story of a young and gifted Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), who has spent his whole life preparing to lead as the heir to the great House Atreides. He has been trained to keep a level head, and yet for some inexplicable reason, he is plagued by visions of a girl who seems to be sending him signals about the future. Everything Paul has ever known is put to the test when the visions lead him to a new planet and through a dangerous war. Amid the fight for the planet’s irreplaceable resources, the heir will find the path to his destiny — if he can survive.
STUDENTS: Win a personal dorm room screening by tweeting or posting an Instastory of you, in your dorm with “#Dunemovie.” Don’t forget to rock your HBCU gear and tag @dunemovie + @hbcubuzz. Simple as that, win instantly.
Dune is based on the bestselling novel by Frank Herbert of the same name, which was written in 1965. With an earlier film adaptation of the book having been released in 1984, this year’s version will feature a refreshing retake with more effects and excitement. In fact, this 2021 film will be the first installment of a two-part adaptation, brace yourself for a ton of action! True fans of Dune will appreciate the loyalty and mercy of the House of Atreides, the power and brutality of the House Harkonnen, and the survival and resistance of The Fremen.
The star-studded cast of Dune is truly out of this world. Timothée Chalamet stars as Paul Atreides. But although many fans of the young actor may plan to keep their eyes on the young actor, there are plenty more familiar faces. Dune also features Zendaya (as Chain), Jason Momoa (as Duncan Idaho), Rebecca Ferguson (as Lady Jessica Atreides), Stephen McKinley Henderson (as Thufir Hawat), Josh Brolin (as Gurney Halleck), Dave Bautista (as Beast Rabban Harkonnen), Javier Bardem (as Stilgar), and so many more…
Gov. Andy Beshear announced new roadside signs to recognize the state’s two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) — Kentucky State University and Simmons College of Kentucky.
This week contractors will begin work to install five signs on two Kentucky interstates and a local Jefferson County roadway.
“Louisville and Frankfort are home to the state’s only HBCUs, and these signs will elevate awareness to Kentuckians and travelers alike of the historic significance these higher learning institutions have played in Kentucky’s history,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “These institutions, their missions and the people they serve are vital parts of Team Kentucky and crucially important as we build a better Kentucky for every family.”
“We’re proud to display the names of these long-standing institutions on state signs to help visitors easily locate these campuses while giving a nod to one of the many reasons they are notable in Kentucky,” Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray said.
Stephanie J Hunt (KYTC)
Today, three “Historic Simmons College” signs honoring Simmons College of Kentucky will be installed facing both directions of Interstate Highway 65 near Exit 135 in Jefferson County. A third sign will be installed on St. Catherine Street before Seventh Street (Kentucky Highway 1931). This is the first appearance of interstate signage recognizing the college.
“Louisville is blessed to have what only a few cities in America has, and that is a Historically Black College and University,” said Simmons College of Kentucky President Dr. Kevin Cosby. “While being only 3% of the colleges, HBCUs graduate almost 20% of Black baccalaureate degree recipients, 50% of all Black teachers and 75% of all Black doctors, dentists and attorneys in the United States. This sign will point Louisville students to a historic institution that will help them become the absolute best version of themselves.”
“Simmons College of Kentucky, our city’s only HBCU, is a beacon of opportunity and a vital partner in the work of developing, attracting and retaining Black talent – building the next generation of Black professionals and leaders necessary for Louisville to reach its full potential and truly become a city of equity,” said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. “I join in thanking Gov. Andy Beshear for recognizing early on the important role Simmons plays to Louisville and to Kentucky. These signs are literally helping lead the way to Simmons, just as Simmons is helping lead young people toward bright and successful futures.”
Two “Kentucky State University” signs will be installed this Friday facing both directions of Interstate Highway 64 near Exits 53B and Exit 58, respectively. While KSU directional signage has been present on I-64, the new signage will identify the institution as a HBCU. Each sign is 19-feet tall and weighs 907 pounds.
“As Kentucky State University celebrates a proud history of 135 years as the commonwealth’s only public HBCU, the KSU Board of Regents, the faculty, staff, students, alumni and supporters are excited to join Gov. Beshear in recognizing the state’s HBCUs with the installation of new highway signage,” said Kentucky State University Board of Regents chairperson Dr. Elaine Farris. “Today marks a momentous occasion for Kentucky State University as we are honored to continue our legacy of serving and educating Kentuckians.”
“Today we celebrate the rich history of both Simmons College and Kentucky State University for their significant contributions to improving the lives of Black Kentuckians and others beyond our state through higher education,” said Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education President Aaron Thompson. “These HBCUs are the colleges of choice for many students because of their unique missions and distinctive roles in creating culturally competent graduates and a more vibrant workforce. This designation is well-deserved, and all of us in the higher education community look forward to their continued success.”
The feeling of being undervalued or unseen can be draining, especially if you’re an entrepreneur! But for determined double Alabama A&M University graduate Maleeka Hollaway, early feelings of failure became the basis for her business empire! Now, she spends her time helping others get the media and press visibility they deserve but may not necessarily know how to receive. By creating a branding and PR agency, she helps everyday small business owners, entrepreneurs and professional service providers.
Hollaway had always been a hard worker. She initially graduated from AAMU with a B.A. in English and Literature/Letters, and then returned for graduate school to earn her M.S. in Communications. Once she graduated with her second degree, she found herself surprised by the tumultuous time she was having. “I looked great on paper but I did not have one piece of experience many of the companies wanted from me at the time — and that experience was in graphic design,” she said. In addition to the burden of her job search, she was also 24 and fresh out of an abusive marriage.
It wasn’t until Hollaway received great advice from her sister that her life took a turn for the better. “…My younger sister told me to charge for my writing and editing skills,” said Hollaway while reflecting. “She told me to start a business… so that’s what I did! Periscope was hot at the time so I built up a huge audience and following there and the rest is HERstory.” And with that, OMG, or the Official Maleeka Group, was born!
Founded in 2015, OMG offers three types of services: Public Relations, Brand Communications, and Marketing. Public Relations services include campaign strategy, press release write-ups, media pitching and training, plus researching, speaking & appearance opportunities. Under Brand Communications, there are options for website creation & copy, landing/lead page creation & copy, and video communications, and more. Lastly, Marketing services include brand messaging and marketing, video marketing, social media and digital content marketing and more!
OMG is so successful now that Hollaway has employed her own mother! “At every level of business, there are new levels of rewards and challenges and I am embracing them all,” said Hollaway. “From hiring a winning team and creating harmony at home and in the office to scaling my company offerings and staying on top of current industry changes, I’ve been hit with it all and have come out on top.”
To highlight how businesses can help support each other, Hollaway has partnered with the first-ever Facebook Elevate HBCU Hackathon. “We all need a community where we can bounce ideas off one another and get support on growing and scaling,” said Hollaway. The venture will help OMG reach the next level, despite both the anticipated and unexpected growing pains of navigating a small business. We are proud of our growth and our tenacity to roll with the punches and continue to grow in spite of small business challenges.” The next Hackathon event will be November 6th! Interested marketing and engineering students with an interest in supporting black-owned businesses through pitching ideas and designing solutions are encouraged to apply.
To learn more about Maleeka Hollaway and her exciting work, find her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or check out her website today!
CeeLo Green is taking his talents to Paine College! He’ll be taking on responsibilities that range from recruitment, to bringing new life to the choir, to being an artist in residence! Get the full story from Tom Corwin at The Augusta Chronicle below.
CeeLo
Paine College added a big voice to its efforts to recruit new students and restore its fabled choir.
Grammy Award-winning singer CeeLo Green was the surprise guest at a student assembly and will be taking on a musical and mentorship role with the historically black college and university.
Green described his position as a “visiting professor.” Paine Vice President Helene Carter said Green’s title will be the school’s Distinguished Artist in Residence and will help with recruiting and development. The famed singer will also help redevelop the choir, which had received both local and national acclaim and at one time toured nationally, and give it back some of its national prominence, she said. Green said a more formal announcement about his role will come later.
Green is friends with some Paine alumni in Atlanta and, according to J.R. Henderson, a member of Paine’s Board of Trustees, he saw an opportunity at Paine. “(Green)he said, ‘I am really going to effectuate some positive change at Paine College,’” Henderson said.
Paine has only recently emerged from accreditation problems caused in part by difficulties with funding and maintaining certain financial standards and handling external grants. But now administrators are looking to restore the glory that includes famed alumni like Civil Rights leader Joseph Lowery and novelist Frank Yerby.
Green, whose real name is Thomas DeCarlo Callaway, has had a string of hits both as a solo artist and as a member of the groups Goodie Mob and Gnarls Barkley. He has appeared in videos and movies and served as a celebrity judge on singing competition shows like “The Voice” for several years.
“I’m at a point in my career where philanthropy is my passion,” Green said. “How can I give back? How can I show the appreciation for what I’ve been given?”
Decked out in purple and white Paine gear, the Atlanta native said he has a relative who attended Paine years before, and he visited the school as a child. But it is really the city that drew him back.
“I’ve always had an affinity for Augusta, Ga.,” he said. “The city just speaks to me. Every time I cross that line into Augusta, Ga., something comes alive for me.”
Or perhaps it is someone that is drawing him, Green joked.
“I call it the Ghost of James Brown, that’s what I call it,” he said. “I’m Soul Brother No. 2 if you ask me.”
As someone who dropped out of high school and never got to go to college, “I have an affinity for education,” Green said. “I come to aid and assist in every way possible.”
That includes bringing more students to Paine.
“We want to see this gymnasium full,” he said. “We want to see (enrollment) increase. We want to see success for our youth and for the future of our people. We want to see it transpire. We want to see it manifest and become a reality.”
As for his musical influence on the school, “I want to be able to make your voices be more effective outside of these walls and outside of these limitations,” Green said. “I believe that harmony is a vehicle to convey a message. I believe that all music, its origin and its intent is praise and acknowledgement.”
It has a purpose, he said.
“How we can make songs about solution, songs about solidarity, songs about our strength, our plight and our perseverance,” Green said. “How can we make those songs sound good and be effective and be influential.”
He wants to be an influence with the students directly and get to know them and share his wisdom and experience.
“I want to be an encouragement,” Green told the students. “I want to be a fire in your bones.”
Mel Groves, a student who would light up the room on campus Alcorn State University and with friends and family elsewhere, is being remembered. Groves was killed earlier this year, and his death is part of an alarming trend. Get the full story from Jo Yurcaba at NBC News below.
Mel Groves, a 25-year-old studying plant and soil science at Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi, was the definition of a tree hugger, his friend Que Bell recalled.
Bell and Groves met through a mutual friend. The three of them linked up because they were all Black transgender men around the same age. Bell said that one time he was landscaping in his yard and Groves stopped him before he began to trim a tree.
“He was like: ‘No, you can’t do it like that. That’s going to hurt the tree.’ And I was like: ‘OK, let’s go back to the drawing board. Let’s figure out something that’s good for us but also that’s good for the tree,’” Bell said, laughing. “He cared about everything, especially plants.”
On Oct. 11, Groves drove himself to Merit Health Central, a hospital in Jackson, where he lived, and collapsed outside his car, Jackson police said. He had been shot multiple times. Hospital staff members transferred him to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he died later in the afternoon.
Groves’ loved ones said news articles have reduced his life to a statistic: He is at least the 39th trans person to have been killed this year, the deadliest on record for trans people, according to the Human Rights Campaign, which has been tracking fatal anti-trans violence since 2013. They said his story does speak to how law enforcement and social safety nets fail trans people, but they stress that he was more than just a statistic in an increasing tally.
At a virtual memorial Sunday, people who knew Groves described his vast knowledge of plants, his “generous heart” and a smile that made people want to talk to him.
A memorial was held for Mel Groves in Jackson, Miss., last week. (Courtesy TC Caldwell/The Knights and Orchids Society.)
In addition to studying plant science, Groves was also a farmer for the Knights and Orchids Society, an organization based in Selma, Alabama, that prioritizes supporting the Black trans and gender-nonconforming community. Bell, who is the group’s executive director, said Groves drove it to start a community garden program after a supporter donated land. Just before he died, he was about to become the full-time garden manager for the society.
Bell said they used to joke that Groves just wanted to “play in the dirt.” Since his death, Bell said, one of Groves’ former professors has reached out to tell him about important research Groves conducted in plant science. Another professor told Bell that he used to text Groves plant trivia questions and that he had been waiting for Groves to become his colleague one day.
“I’m just thinking that wasn’t even his best,” Bell said. “That was him performing, still, while dealing and facing all these other barriers he was fighting through, so imagine how much he could have contributed to technology, to science, to agriculture if he had been stable and if he actually had a chance. He’ll never get an opportunity.”
Since the two met in 2016, Bell said, Groves had experienced homelessness frequently. His immediate family rejected him after he came out as trans, and he experienced violence and discrimination in college. Groves also previously said he repeatedly experienced discrimination from medical providers.
A deadly system
Sam Brown, the public information officer for the Jackson Police Department, said there has been no indication that Groves was killed in a hate crime.
But his loved ones say that doesn’t mean that his identity as a trans man can be separated from his death. Caleb Gumbs, the mutual friend who connected Groves and Bell, said he has seen comments online that say, “Do we actually know that he was killed for being trans?”
“And that made me really think about, wow, is that really what it takes for us to understand the systems that are at play that have ultimately led to his murder, whether or not it was directly related to him being trans?” Gumbs said.
Gumbs met Groves when they were both about 19, and Gumbs turned 26 the day Groves died. He said it was jarring and telling, because he and Groves lived “parallel lives.” They both grew up with families that weren’t affirming, went to historically Black colleges in south Alabama with full-ride scholarships and were close in age.
“At every turn, the difference between us was so small,” said Gumbs, a Ph.D. student in pharmaceutical sciences at Florida A&M University. “Everything that happened to me was just this minor change and difference — a little bit more acceptance, a little bit more luck. And now, the vast difference between the two of us.”
He said that Groves experienced repeated homelessness but that he couldn’t go to shelters, where many trans people report experiencing violence.
“If he didn’t feel like the streets were his only option available to him, I truly do believe things would have been different,” Gumbs said.
He wrote in a post on Medium that Groves “embodied resilience” but that a culture of transphobia, racism and cissexism, which is a subtler form of discrimination based on sex and gender, led to his death.
“That same system that did ultimately kill him really could have killed me and still can,” Gumbs said.
Even after Groves’ death, his loved ones were fighting those systems. Just hours after he died, they had to reach out to local news outlets that misgendered and deadnamed him while also grieving his loss, Gumbs said. Some updated their stories; others said they couldn’t change them without confirmation from law enforcement or Groves’ immediate family.
A week after Groves died, Jackson police provided the same statement to NBC News that it first issued, which misgendered and deadnamed him. The department has not responded to a request for comment about whether it plans to update the statement.
An increase in violence
At least 41 trans people have been killed this year, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Advocates have said the number is likely to be low because police often misidentify trans people in reports of their deaths. A disproportionate number have lived in the Southeast.
Known trans killings — which, according to the Human Rights Campaign, include both fatal violence motivated by anti-trans prejudice and fatal violence in which a person’s trans identity may have put them at risk — are the most on record. The increase is due in part to better tracking but also to legislation in the last few years that harms trans people and reinforces prejudice, advocates say.
More than 30 states — including Mississippi — have considered over 100 bills this year that would bar transgender minors’ access to certain gender-affirming health care or restrict their participation in school sports, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
Nearly one-third of those bills have been considered in Texas, whose Republican governor, Greg Abbott, is expected to imminently sign a measure barring trans students from playing on sports teams that align with their gender identities. Ricardo Martinez, the CEO of Equality Texas, an LGBTQ advocacy group, said bills like the one headed to Abbott contribute to anti-trans prejudice and violence because “they perpetuate fear and misinformation about who trans people are.”
Mel Groves, a farmer from Jackson, Miss. (Courtesy Mel Groves)
“They build this caricature of trans people as folks that people need to fear,” he said. “When you repeat, time and time again, a lie about a marginalized or group of people that folks may not necessarily have a direct contact with, if you repeat it enough, then some people internalize it as the truth, and that is what’s happening here.”
Nov. 20 is Trans Day of Remembrance, an annual effort to honor the memory of trans people killed in acts of anti-trans violence. Bell said he is already dreading it, because someone had already shared a photo of Groves with a hashtag next to his name.
“I was not prepared yesterday just to open up Instagram and see a hashtag beside one of my closest friends’ names,” he said. “And it’s different for me, because I’m in the work — we’ve been organizers, we’ve been activists, we’ve done these vigils, we’ve done these memorials for folks. But it is different when you know the person, you have poured into the person and there’s that connection. It’s hard to see it.”
Bell said he feels so much pain for trans people whose names are on the list but whom the public doesn’t know anything about aside from the fact that they were killed. That’s why he is trying to celebrate and memorialize who Groves was as a person.
Once, when the two were driving from Mississippi to Alabama, they were taking turns choosing songs to play. When it was Groves’ turn, Bell said, he chose “the oldest blues or jazz song that you could think of.”
“He was a Nat King Cole type of guy,” Bell said. “And I was like: ‘How are you this old? And you’re only like 20-something.’ He was an old soul. He was well before his time.”
The new basketball court at Paul Quinn College is not only a stunning court to win on. Unlike perhaps any other court in the country, the court tells the history of its city! Learn the story of the history of Dallas and more in the full story from Dionne Anglin at Fox 4 News below.
Photo by Roberto Hernandez (Credit: Paul Quinn College)
Earlier this summer, Paul Quinn College debuted the first new buildings on its southern Dallas campus in more than four decades: a residence hall and a “wellness center” with athletics facilities.
The wellness center will be used by the historically Black college’s varsity cheer and dance teams as well as its basketball team, who will play on an extremely cool new court unveiled yesterday. It was designed by Ryan Parker of Free Key Three Creative. Photo above, more details after the jump.
🔦🔦Facility Spotlight 🔦🔦
The Health & Wellness Center on the campus of Paul Quinn College.
Paul Quinn is an HBCU in Dallas TX that plays in the NAIA.
This may be one of the baddest courts in the nation at any level. Take a look! pic.twitter.com/TlG3ehZszi
The new court features historical images of the Dallas skyline, including the winged Pegasus. The goal of the design is to highlight both the College’s and southern Dallas’ connection to the city.
The basketball court is housed in the new 1,100-person capacity Health & Wellness Center – the first new building on campus in almost 50 years. The facility will be used by Paul Quinn’s varsity basketball and cheer and dance teams, Health & Wellness majors and select community partners.
Naming rights for the basketball court are available as well as several other sponsorship opportunities. Interested organizations or individuals may reach out to Alexia Valencia, Development Associate for Paul Quinn at AValencia@pqc.edu for more details.
The school’s current gym, located near the campus’ WE Over Me Farm, will remain fully operational and will be used by the varsity volleyball team, intramurals, youth basketball teams, and for the Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III Global Preparatory Academy at Paul Quinn College and KIPP Oak Cliff Academy.
HBCUs will be taking center stage during the first-ever HBCU Classic at the upcoming NBA All-Star Weekend in February. The main event will be the basketball game between rivals Howard University and Morgan State University. Yet in the long-term, there will be opportunities for HBCU students to gain long-term career development within the NBA! Get the full story from Ben Golliver at The Washington Post below.
The Howard basketball team will take on Morgan State in the HBCU Classic as part of NBA All-Star Weekend. (Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post)
The men’s basketball teams from Howard University and Morgan State University will play a showcase game during the upcoming NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, as the league seeks to expand its support of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
The two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rivals will face off in the NBA’s inaugural “HBCU Classic” on Feb. 19, 2022, at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center. While Howard had been scheduled to host Morgan State at Burr Gymnasium on that date, the schools’ participation in the new event be televised nationally. The HBCU Classic is expected to air on multiple networks in between the NBA All-Star Game practice session and the traditional All-Star Saturday slate, which includes the Skills Challenge, the Three-Point Contest and the Slam Dunk Contest.
“That rivalry between Howard and Morgan State, between Washington D.C. and Baltimore, we thought that was a great rivalry to take advantage of [for the inaugural event] and it wouldn’t require too much maneuvering from their regular schedule,” NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum said by telephone Wednesday. “We hope to showcase and feature other schools down the road, but this seemed to be a pretty good one to start with.”
Last year, the coronavirus pandemic forced the NBA to delay and relocate its All-Star Weekend, which was originally scheduled for Indianapolis. The scaled-down event, which was held March 7 in Atlanta, featured several HBCU tie-ins, including jersey patches, marching band performances and donations to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the United Negro College Fund.
The National Basketball Players Association, under the guidance of then-president Chris Paul, helped push for the inclusion of the Black educational institutions, and the 2021 All-Star Weekend ultimately raised $3 million for HBCUs. Organizers expect this year’s All-Star event to generate an additional $1 million.
Kery Davis, Howard’s Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, said in a statement that his school was “incredibly proud” to be invited to the 2022 contest, noting that the NBA and HBCUs are “natural partners because of our rich legacy elevating underrepresented communities and our shared passion for cultivating opportunities for people of color.”
In addition to the HBCU Classic, the NBA is establishing a new paid fellowship program for HBCU students looking for their first jobs in the sports industry, an effort that Tatum said is aimed at “narrowing the racial inequality gap.” The league’s hope is that other sports organizations and non-sports corporations will follow suit and establish similar programs of their own.
After receiving pushback from players and criticism from media members and fans for hosting the 2021 All-Star Weekend at a time when vaccines were not widely available, the NBA is preparing for a return to a more typical experience in Cleveland. Officials arrived in the host city this week to begin preparations, as the league, which launched its 75th season this week, plans to honor its 75th Anniversary Team, just as it celebrated its 50th Anniversary Team at the 1997 All-Star Game in Cleveland.
“We’re hoping for as much of a normal season that we can get to,” Tatum said. “I was in Milwaukee [on Tuesday night and there was] a full building with enthusiastic fans. This virus is unpredictable, but our hope is that we will have as close to a normal All-Star Game as possible. We’re hoping that we will be able to play in front of a full arena of fans.”
Philadelphia 76ers stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons were unable to compete in the 2021 All-Star Game after they came into close contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus, but fears of a possible superspreader event did not materialize. With 96 percent of players fully vaccinated and at least 75 percent of U.S. adults at least partially vaccinated, the NBA believes it is capable of safely hosting a multiday event that draws fans and media members from around the globe.
“There’s no doubt that we collectively as a country have advanced in many different areas [since March],” Tatum said. “We’ve learned and are continuing to learn how to operate, how to go about living our lives and conducting business in a pandemic. You’ve seen the evolution from [where we were when] the only way to do this safely was in a bubble. [Then, we could] open up our arenas and socially distance people and limit capacity. Today, [we can host crowds] with the right protocols in place, whether it’s a combination of vaccinations, testing, masking and distancing.”
The NBA and the NBPA have been focused on economic empowerment and career advancement issues in recent years, with the league agreeing to provide $300 million over the next 10 years to fund the NBA Foundation in Aug. 2020. In the wake of the Jacob Blake shooting later that month, the NBA and the NBPA agreed to form a Social Justice Coalition, comprised of players, coaches and team owners to advocate for policy changes on issues like voting access and civic engagement.
Some of the most visible advocacy efforts that took place during the Disney World bubble — national anthem demonstrations, Black Lives Matter court decals and social justice jersey slogans — have disappeared since the NBA returned to its home arenas for the 2020-21 season. Yet Tatum asserted that the commitments to HBCUs are evidence of “maturing” activism by the league and its players.
“Symbolic gestures are important, but we are now going beyond symbolic gestures and actually organizing and creating institutional resources to effect change, in partnership with the players,” he said. “By creating our Social Justice Coalition, we’re able to institutionalize some of the action that we’re taking and trying to rally support and advocate for sensible bipartisan changes that we think need to be made in criminal justice reform, voting access and the like.”
The special mustard greens being grown at Alabama State University don’t need much water, and that discovery is now going to help NASA’s astronauts! Plus, the project will feature a collaboration with Alabama A&M University. Get the full story from Kenneth Mullinax at Alabama NewsCenter below.
ASU’s Komal Vig, Ph.D., professor of microbiology, is part of a $100,000 NASA grant to prepare mustard greens in a university laboratory with a goal for them to be grown in the arid confines of the International Space Station. (contributed)
Mustard greens are widely grown and consumed in the Deep South, but a grant from NASA will soon have ASU’s greens growing and being eaten beyond the bounds of Earth – specifically in the International Space Station – thanks to a grant received by an ASU microbiology professor.
The grant awarded to Komal Vig, Ph.D., is part of a $100,000 NASA grant titled “Improved Drought Tolerance of Mustard Greens with Atmospheric Pressure Plasma” that will allow her and ASU microbiology student-interns to prepare mustard greens in a university laboratory with a goal for them to be grown in the arid confines of the space station with little or no water.
“Our main goal is for ASU to perfect a method in my university laboratory that will allow us to grow drought-resistant mustard greens on the space station,” Vig said.
“With limited or no water being expended to grow the greens, we are perfecting a method to irrigate them with a special plasma that we are now perfecting in my ASU lab – with the help from our student-interns – which is composed of a combination of many things that include the noble gases of argon and helium,” she said. “This project aims to study drought stress using Amara mustard greens, and if and how treatment with atmospheric pressure plasma can improve the plant’s drought tolerance and nutritional load.”
The project will be a collaboration among investigators at ASU, the University of Alabama in Huntsville(UAH) and Alabama A&M University. The team combines expertise and lab capabilities in microbiology and genetics (ASU), plasma science and technology (UAH) and agriculture (A&M).
NASA astronaut Joe Acaba prepared the Veggie facility for three different kinds of lettuce seeds as part of the VEG-03-D investigation aboard the International Space Station in 2017. A new grant could see Alabama-grown mustard greens added to the mix. (NASA)
NASA scientists explained that water is used for multiple purposes in a “crewed” space mission, including drinking, cleaning, food preparation and oxygen production for respiration and rocket fuel. Because of a high demand for water, and NASA’s desire for its crew to enjoy fresh vegetables that are grown on the space station, this experiment was born.
In plants, water deficiency decreases the total nutrient uptake and concentration of nutrients in plant tissues. One of the main purposes of the ASU experiment is to produce mustard greens with a good nutrient value.
NASA data explains that as it advances human space exploration, crop-plants will play an important role in a sustained human presence in space, on the moon and on Mars. Crop-plants such as leafy greens and fresh vegetables provide nutrients, varied texture and flavor, and contribute to astronauts’ mental health.
Mustard greens from Alabama could soon be grown in space. (Getty Images)
“Growing plants in the engineered environment of space habitats can introduce multiple abiotic stresses that can impact the plant’s growth and nutritional value that is the nexus of the grant’s goal, which is to grow them with little or no traditional moisture, yet still with a good level of nutritional value,” NASA officials said.
Vig said the project is among a few instances that ASU has worked with an experiment aboard the space station.
“At ASU, the focus of this grant will be on genetic studies to investigate how plasma can change the gene profile of a plant and help it in resisting drought. These studies will enable us to grow plants on the space station under very limited water conditions,” Vig said.
“This grant is an initial award that will fund the preliminary work in this exciting field of space science experiments with an aim to get more funding for ASU next year from NASA,” she said. “I am not aware of a previous time that the university has been involved in an experiment on the space station that involved the growth of plants.”
It’s official: the 2021 Wakati Hair HBCU Homecoming Blowout Tour is here. Across three cities, curlfriends can celebrate the brand and have some real fun. The first stop was in Atlanta, and up next is the DMV! The University of DC, Howard University, Bowie State, Morgan State, and Coppin State. The tour finishes in Tallahassee, FL, so Florida A&M University, get ready!
Wakati Hair is named after the Swahili word, ‘wakati,’ meaning “time.” The Wakati brand provides women the power to spend less time styling their hair and more time enjoying their kinks, curls, and coils. Wakati emphasizes creating experiences for women across generations to embrace and celebrate the hair care tradition.
ATL kept things fun for the first leg of the tour, which included four stops. First was The Gathering Spot, a popular place to be in ATL, where attendees enjoyed the first HBCU Alumni Happy Hour of the tour on October 13th. With such a large HBCU community in Atlanta (Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, and Morehouse School of Medicine), ATL was a perfect city to start in. The next day was HBCU Night at the Black Hair Experience, which featured photo opportunities, giveaways and more. October 15th was another HBCU Alumni Happy Hour at Traffik. The final stop was a celebration specifically for Spelman women with the Spelhouse Brunch at Bar Vegan on October 17th! These events featured great food, great connections, and great conversations!
If you’re reading about the Atlanta tour stops and have some serious FOMO, you have more chances to join us starting tomorrow with similar events! That’s right: beginning October 20th the tour picks back up in the DMV. If you’re an HBCU student or alumnae hailing from Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Howard University, Morgan State University, or the University of the District of Columbia, come on down! So beginning Wednesday, head to The Black Hair Experience in DC. Thursday 10/21 will be HBCU Alumni Happy Hour at the DC location of The Gathering Spot. Finally, Friday 10/22 will be more great vibes at All Things BLK in DC.
Finally, Florida A&M University stand up! Next Wednesday, catch the final leg of the tour in Tallahassee, Florida. On October 27th, catch the Wakati Tour at the Health & Beauty Expo sponsored by MAC. The final stop on Friday 10/29 will really close the tour out with a bang! Celebrate the FAM Fest with Wakati, and enjoy not only giveaways and fun, but a whole lot of money! A whopping $100,000 will be given in an endowment scholarship to FAMU, as well as the announcement of the winners of the $10,000 Student Challenge.
Be sure you’re following Wakati on Instagram or head to their website for more details on the 2021 Wakati Hair HBCU Homecoming Blowout Tour, and we hope to see you there!
A resident beekeeper at Johnson C. Smith University has found intriguing parallels between the way bees structure their colonies, and how the black community can find success through working together. Get the full story from Karla Redditte at Spectrum Local News below.
School is back in session. Courses in reading, writing, and math are happening in person.
However, when it comes to learning life lessons, nature’s classroom never closes.
We can learn a lot by simply paying attention to the great outdoors, and a Charlotte beekeeper teaches her students just that through lessons from the hive.
In a class that’s less about the birds and all about the bees, attire matters. Protective clothing became Janelle Dunlap’s suit of armor when she fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a beekeeper back in 2018.
“I wanted to like, give something back to the ecology of the space instead of taking, which I felt was happening through gentrification,” Dunlap said.
So, this grad student is giving back by taking care of bees, and teaching students more on what the buzz is all about. Dunlap serves as a resident beekeeper at Johnson C. Smith University.
While she is technically the instructor of this course, Dunlap tends to allow the true teachers, Italian honey bees, to fly into the spotlight.
She encourages her students to get close to the hives of “Queen Menen” and “Queen Charlotte.” Dunlap wants them to see not only the complex organization of the colony, but she also wants them to look deeper into what’s happening on the honeycombs.
“Everyone has a role to fulfill in their communities and bees are the perfect example of that,” she said. “Strong leadership is key. Having a workforce, a heathy workforce is key to the health of a colony.”
Without each bee playing its role, the hive fails. However, with success comes the harvest of honey.
Dunlap believes by teaching the art of beekeeping, her sweet reward is helping to bridge the gap between African Americans and nature. It’s a gap she says was created when many moved to cities decades ago, leaving behind their agricultural lifestyles.
“There’s a lot of generational knowledge that’s been lost in not participating in these practices. I’m wanting to reintroduce young people, specifically young Black people, into working with nature to kind of fill in that generational gap,” she said.
With knowledge comes power, and with a little inspiration from these busy bees, Dunlap hopes her students make a beeline for overall greatness using the lessons learned from the hive.
Dunlap is also a mixed media artist who uses encaustic paint to create some of her masterpieces. More information can be found on her website.
Lionel Hollins is heading to Memphis, Tennessee! The accomplished former NBA head coach and player has been officially tapped to lead the men’s basketball team at LeMoyne-Owen College. He’ll be bringing his experience from the Portland Trailblazers, the Memphis Grizzlies and more. Get the full story from the recent LeMoyne-Owen release below.
(Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)
Lionel Hollins, former NBA coach and player, has been selected as the assistant coach for the LeMoyne-Owen College Magicians men’s basketball team, serving under head men’s coach, Bonzi Wells.
Hollins has a wealth of experience with collegiate and professional basketball. Drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the sixth pick of the 1975 NBA draft out of Arizona State University. During his ten-year NBA career, Hollins played for five teams, averaging 11.6 points and 4.5 assists per game. He was a member of the Portland Trail Blazers’ 1976–77 championship team and was a member of the NBA All-Defensive team twice, in 1978 and 1979. On April 18, 2007, the Portland Trail Blazers retired his #14 jersey.
Coach Hollins served twice as the head coach for the Memphis Grizzlies, making this a reunion of sorts for former coach and player who will now work together to build a successful team at LeMoyne-Owen College. On February 11, 2011, Hollins won his 100th career victory, as coach of the Memphis Grizzlies, in an 89–86 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Hollins also coached the Brooklyn Nets, served as an assistant coach to the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Phoenix Suns. Coach Hollins also served as an assistant coach for Arizona State.
“I am very excited to have Coach Lionel Hollins joining our staff here at LeMoyne-Owen College. Coach Hollins‘ basketball experience and wisdom will play a pivotal part as we build a successful foundation for our men’s basketball program,” said Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Bonzi Wells.
Hollins has one son, Austin, who followed in his father’s footsteps to play basketball.
LaKesha Forbes, left, associate provost for equity and diversity at ECU; Dr. Monica Leach, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Fayetteville State University; and Dr. Grant Hayes, interim provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs at ECU, sign a memorandum of agreement between the two universities. (Credit: Rhett Butler)
Leaders from East Carolina University and Fayetteville State University met at ECU’s Main Campus Student Center Friday to take the next step in a partnership intended to promote graduate recruitment and education; undergraduate student engagement and collaboration; and research, public service and scholarship.
“This has been two years in the making,” said LaKesha Forbes, associate provost for equity and diversity at ECU. “There’s a lot that we have in common with Fayetteville State University — student success, community engagement, all those things — that align very well with the two institutions, and so I think that this is going to be a long-standing and mutually beneficial relationship that we’re building here together.”
LaKesha Forbes, left, associate provost for equity and diversity at ECU; Dr. Monica Leach, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Fayetteville State University; and Dr. Grant Hayes, interim provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs at ECU, sign a memorandum of agreement between the two universities. (Photo by Rhett Butler)
Forbes, along with Dr. Monica Leach, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at FSU, and Dr. Grant Hayes, interim provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs at ECU, signed a memorandum of agreement to develop pipelines linking FSU’s undergraduate students to ECU’s professional and graduate programs.
FSU has an enrollment of about 6,700 students, almost half of whom are adult learners, said Leach, so online programs and workforce development could be particularly beneficial.
In addition to identifying connections and pathways between academic programs at the two institutions, intended outcomes of the partnership include:
Exploration of experiential learning opportunities and best practice programming for student success, retention and transition to graduate programs;
The development of early assurance agreements guaranteeing admission of FSU students into ECU’s professional and graduate programs; and
The development of plans to engage and inform FSU students about early assurance opportunities.
Dr. Paul Gemperline, dean of the graduate school, outlined the school’s Grad PIRATE Talks, a student-led seminar series. Since many of the talks are presented online, FSU’s Dr. Afua Arhin, interim dean of the College of Health, Science and Technology, was intrigued by the idea of using them as a means of connecting students at the two institutions.
Seeing students like them doing graduate-level research could help build their confidence that they could do it, too, Arhin said.
Following the discussion and the signing, the group toured ECU’s campus, had a working lunch and participated in a graduate student panel discussion.
“This is an awesome opportunity for us to expand different pathways for our students to have opportunities for graduate education, and I think what’s even more exciting about it is the history and the mission of our two institutions, both here at East Carolina and Fayetteville State University, being in Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties,” said Leach.
“It’s exciting to be able to work with people just as committed to the importance of having our students remain in the state of North Carolina, and to give back and be workforce ready through the undergraduate and graduate programs that both of our institutions offer,” she said.
The family of murdered Huston-Tillotson University student Natalia Monet Cox is suing her apartment complex for damages. In a move that has been seen as negligent, the student’s complex would not relocate her after a stalker initially showed up to her complex with a gun. Their refusal cost Cox her life. Get the full story from Drew Knight at the Texas ABC news station KVUE below.
The family of a Huston-Tillotson University student killed in a shooting at her apartment is now suing her complex’s management, claiming that they failed to help her move when the suspect came to her unit and threatened her.
Natalia Monet Cox, 21, was found dead on March 31 at the Colonial Grand at Canyon Pointeapartments. Police had previously responded to her unit on March 24 when she reported that a man she had recently dated showed up with a gun and threatened to shoot her door open.
According to the lawsuit, after the incident, Cox and her roommate sent written notice to the assistant property manager of the complex about what had happened that night and shared her police report information. The next day, both went to the property’s office to again notify them of the incident. There, they were informed they would have to pay an application fee, a new security deposit, a new administrative fee and two months’ rent for failure to provide 60 days’ notice of their move-out date. The lawsuit claims that since they were unable to afford the costs of moving out, they were forced to remain in their unit.
“Natalia was shot and killed inside of her apartment, despite multiple requests that she and her roommate be allowed to safely relocate without having to bear the exorbitant and unreasonable costs required by the defendant, Mid-American Apartment Communities Inc.,” the suit states. “Defendant Mid-America refused to allow Natalia and [her roommate] to relocate without imposing further penalties for terminating their lease agreement early, even in the face of threatened serious bodily injury or death that took place at the same apartment unit.”
The suit lists Mid-America and the assistant property manager as defendants. The plaintiffs are seeking survivorship and loss of companionship damages. They are also seeking a trial by jury.
Suspect Henry Keith Watson Jr., 24, was arrested on March 31 and charged with first-degree murder. As of Oct. 12, he remains in the Travis County Jail.
HBCU students have proven themselves to be exceptionally talented in the arts. Whether it’s music or murals, they make headlines with ease! And now, aspiring career artists studying at Fisk University will have a new building to work out of! Get the full story from Fisk in the release below!
Credit: Fisk University
The booming Fisk University Art Department is getting a new home on campus. The Art Department which is currently housed in the bottom of Jubilee Hall will be relocated to the Charles O. Hadley Home or the old Race Relations building on campus once renovations are completed.
The building was originally constructed between 1913 and 1915, and was the residence of Dr. Charles O. Hadley, who graduated from Fisk University in 1896 and Meharry Medical College in 1899. Hadley was a local African American physician, surgeon, and assistant professor of anatomy at Meharry. After his death, Hadley’s nephew, Dr. William Hadley Faulkner, lived in residence until 1965, and Highly Regarded Artist and Fisk Art professor.
“The renovation of the Charles O. Hadley Home is exciting itself, but the building’s new role as the home of the Art program at Fisk adds to the significant history of this building,” said Holly Hamby, Chair of the Department of Arts and Languages. “Our Art program seeks to honor the legacy of art at Fisk while also focusing on innovation and technologies, which moves art and art instruction forward for our students. This new home for Art centers the program as key to the vision Fisk has for the future.”
The exterior in currently being restored to its historical standards with new roofing, windows, and siding. The next steps will include a completely updated inside to support the Art Department showcasing student’s work and classes. The project is set to be completed in 6-8 weeks and will hopefully be ready for students for the Spring Semester.
Students studying veterinary medicine at Tuskegee University will receive the financial aid they need thanks to a $400,000 grant from the Synchrony Foundation. Get the full story from the Tuskegee release below.
The Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) is grateful to the Synchrony Foundation for its generous multi-year grant to support veterinary medical education. TUCVM is the recipient of a $400K grant from the Synchrony Foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of Synchrony (NYSE:SYF), a leading consumer financial services company. For students desiring to obtain their DVM from Tuskegee University, this grant will help increase educational and training opportunities for Tuskegee veterinary students and expand pathways for increased diverse representation in the veterinary industry.
“As the only veterinary medical professional program located on the campus of a historically black college or university (HBCU) in the US, the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine has a sustaining legacy of training and educating underrepresented minorities (URMs) as veterinarians in the veterinary profession,” said Dr. Ruby L. Perry, dean of the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine.
“We are very appreciative to be a recipient of this generous grant from the Synchrony Foundation which demonstrates an intentional commitment that will inspire our students to achieve their career goals and aspirations to become veterinarians and ultimately promote diversity and inclusion across the veterinary profession,” Dean Perry continued.
Synchrony’s investment supports the College’s mission to educate and graduate diverse veterinarians, preparing them to tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow.
“Empowering veterinarians is at the heart of our commitment to provide a lifetime of care for pets,” says Jonathan Wainberg, senior vice president and general manager, Pets, Synchrony. “By partnering with the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, we are bringing together resources and people to better support aspiring veterinarians and help grow and diversify the veterinary profession.”
Through the partnership, TUCVM and Synchrony will provide vital skills and veterinary best practice education to aspiring veterinarians. TUCVM students will be granted scholarships that can be used toward the cost of attendance, including tuition, required fees, books, room and board and other educational expenses. Recipients will be selected by the college’s Veterinary Medicine Scholarship Committee.
Synchrony supports veterinarians and the nation’s veterinary universities through CareCredit, a leading promotional financing solution for health, veterinary and personal care. For more than 30 years, CareCredit has been a valuable financing option for treatments and procedures, giving pet owners the peace of mind needed to care for pets big and small. Synchrony has partnerships with 26 of the nation’s 32 veterinary colleges, offering CareCredit to their veterinary patients.
To learn more about the Synchrony Foundation and its philanthropic plans to support veterinary medical education, financial education, mentorship, professional forum and networking, visit www.synchrony.com.
For over seven decades, the TUCVM has produced veterinarians that have made immense contributions to the world at large. To learn more about the living legacy of the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, visit www.tuskegee.edu/vetmed.
A high-achieving freshman at Central State University has been awarded the first ever Lawrence & Judith Dawson Scholarship! Get the full story from the release on EIN Presswire.
Kaylah Huston, the first recipient of the Lawrence & Judith Dawson Scholarship Program (Credit: EIN Presswire)
The Central State University Foundation (CSUF) is pleased to announce incoming freshman Kaylah Huston as the first recipient of the Lawrence & Judith Dawson Scholarship Program. A Miami Valley native, Ms. Huston graduated from Trotwood-Madison High School with a 3.6 GPA. She brings her passion for track and a driving desire to earn her degree in accounting to Central State University, one of Ohio’s two historically black universities.
“I’ve always wanted to go to college. I’m excited to have the opportunity to attend Central State University. Thanks to the Lawrence & Judith Dawson Scholarship, I’ll be able to pursue my dreams at CSU,” said Ms. Huston.
The newly founded Lawrence & Judith Dawson Scholarship Program was established to attract exceptional students to CSU. The program is a four-year, merit-based scholarship awarded to graduating high school seniors with high academic and leadership potential, enabling students who will not only impact the classroom but the campus community as well to attend CSU.
“The CSUF board is thrilled Ms. Huston chose CSU, and we’re even happier to support her college journey through the Lawrence & Judith Dawson Scholarship Program. We cannot wait to see her talents continue to blossom at CSU,” said Dr. Veronica Watkins, CSUF Executive Director.
The Lawrence & Judith Dawson Scholarship Program is the latest initiative put forward by the Foundation. Since 2001, CSUF has raised more than $32 million through donations, bequests, and gifts to support CSU and its students. Along with managing over 150 endowed funds, the Foundation has awarded an average of $225,000 in scholarships per year. CSUF has also invested heavily to strengthen academic programs and support campus improvements at the university, including the purchase of the CSU Dayton Campus, construction of Residence Hall, accreditation for the College of Education, and more.
