For a former Morgan State University football player, his dream to play pro has brought him from Los Angeles to Philadelphia.
Manasseh Bailey, courtesy of MEAC
Now, Manasseh Bailey is heading to New York after signing with the Jets! Read the full story from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) below!
The New York Jets have signed former Morgan State wide receiver Manasseh Bailey to a reserve/future deal.
Bailey (6-1, 195), signed with the Eagles in May 2020 as an undrafted free agent out of Morgan State, was cut at the end of training camp and spent time with the Chargers’ practice squad in the 2020 season.
The Capitol Heights (Md.) product finished his career among Morgan State’s all-time leaders in receptions.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound speedster finished the season ranked 3rd in the MEAC in receiving yards (996 yds) – it ranks as the 2nd highest total in Morgan State history behind Clarence Holzendorf (1,702 yds; 1993).
See below for his year-by-year stats from Morgan State University.
Manasseh Bailey, courtesy of Morgan State University Athletics
As a Senior in 2019: 2019 All-MEAC Third Team selection … Phil Steele’s All-MEAC First Team … Phil Steele’s Preseason All-MEAC Third … finished the season ranked 3rd in the MEAC in receiving yards (996 yds) – it ranks as the 2nd highest total in Morgan State history behind Clarence Holzendorf (1,702 yds; 1993). Bailey also ranked among the league leaders: 3rd in reception TDs (10), 4th in receptions (54), 6th in scoring TDs (11), and 8th in scoring (68 pts) …
As a Junior in 2018: Phil Steele’s Preseason All-MEAC Second Team … started in seven of 11 games played … had 24 receptions for 425 yards (17.7 avg), with four touchdowns … had two catches for 109 yards (54.5 avg), with two TDs at UAlbany (Sept. 15) — also had a 90-yard reception (the 2nd longest catch of the MEAC season) … recorded five catches for a season-high 129 yards, including a TD vs. Bethune-Cookman (Nov. 3) … had five catches for 54 yards at Florida A&M (Oct. 27) …
As a Sophomore in 2017: was converted to WR … started in all 11 games … ranked No. 10 in the MEAC with 37 receptions … ranked No. 8 in reception yards (610; 16.5 avg) and scored six touchdowns … averaged 55.5 reception yards per game … recorded five catches for a season-high 116 yards, including a TD against Savannah State (Oct. 14) … set a personal best with three TD receptions at Delaware State (Nov. 11) … posted a personal best six catches for 89 yards versus Howard (Oct. 21) …
As a Freshman in 2016: saw action in nine games … recorded five tackles …
Alex Fennoy grew up lucky in a 2-parent household. His parents raised him to be grateful but not boastful for what he had. As he graduated from Fisk University and established his career in the finance industry, he searched for ways to give his community the financial blessings he had growing up. Over time, Fennoy has won awards and even worked with Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee to bring families in East St. Louis closer than ever to financial independence. Read his inspiring full story from the Belleville News-Democrat below.
Learning the importance of helping people in his community is a lesson Alex Fennoy understood at an early age.
His mother, Toni, and his father, Nino, were teachers in East St. Louis School District 189. His dad was also an esteemed track and field coach and mentor for kids in the city. His grandfather was a precinct committee officer for East St. Louis.
East St. Louis raised Fennoy. It’s where he developed a firm support system with family and people in the community that translated into a career of connecting underserved Black areas to financial services. As a result of his work, the American Bankers Association honored him last fall with its George Bailey Distinguished Service Award.
Alex Fennoy, courtesy of Belleville News-Democrat
As the executive vice president of community and economic development for St. Louis-based Midwest BankCentre, Fennoy wants to make sure that low-income populations have access to banking needs. It’s a mission that comes naturally for Fennoy, who says his parents always instilled in him a duty to help those who were less fortunate.
“I was blessed to have a two-parent home,” said Fennoy, who now lives in O’Fallon. “Both my parents are retired educators in the public school system for East St. Louis District 189, and I was able to see that other kids didn’t have that. I didn’t look at that as something so much better for me. I looked at it as a blessing, and then never looked down on others who didn’t have what we had.”
“There was a lot of poverty (in East St. Louis). I didn’t know the word poverty at the time, but I knew we had more than most. We weren’t rich, but we were middle class. But my parents put it in my head that it was a blessing and a responsibility to do more for others than it is ‘I’m better than them’, so I never had that conflict.”
‘UNBANKED:’ LITTLE ACCESS TO BANKING SERVICES
The COVID-19 pandemic inevitably exacerbated the recurrent racial wealth gap between Black and white Americans as Black communities disproportionately contracted the virus itself and labor market disparities worsened. In the second quarter of 2020, white households held 84% of total household wealth in the United States compared to 4% in Black households, according to the Brookings Institute.
One factor contributing to this gap is little access to mainstream banking in low-income Black communities. Increased access to banking services can save individual Black Americans up to $40,000 over their lifetimes, according to a 2019 McKinsey & Company report.
It’s why Fennoy opened a Midwest BankCentre branch in 2017 on the campus of Friendly Temple Church in St. Louis. The church is located in the Wells-Goodfellow Neighborhood, a historical underserved area in which over 90% of its residents are Black, says Michael Jones, pastor of Friendly Temple.
“It’s an unbanked community, which means that when people receive dollars to invest or to bank, there wasn’t a bank within the radius of a mile or two in our area to provide those resources, or if homeowners wanted home loans, if small business wanted loans, there were no banking institutions within the immediate community,” Jones said. “It’s also a food desert where there are no shopping centers or food centers. People would have to leave the community and take the resources out of the community to gain access to opportunities.”
Jones said Fennoy, through the Friendly Temple’s partnership with the bank, is helping the church’s effort to restore the neighborhood by bringing more businesses to the area.
“Alex knows our community,” Jones said. “He’s a part of our community. He can relate and identify with the challenges of our community, and he has a passion to want to elevate or raise our community to levels of equity. He knew that this is an unbanked community, and our community needed the services and the resources.”
East St. Louis, Fennoy’s hometown, faces challenges similar to those in Wells-Goodfellow. The city is a food desert, with few grocery stores, and lacks a hospital. Additionally, about 40% of its residents live in poverty. But that’s not the East St. Louis that Fennoy remembers.
“I grew up in the 70s and 80s as a kid, and East St. Louis, at the time, still had tons of opportunity and over 50,000 city population and a bustling small city,” Fennoy, 52, said. “It wasn’t as bustling as maybe 30 years earlier, but it was nowhere near the kind of deficit situation that it’s in now.”
“East St. Louis is about 89 blocks, and we lived on 76th Street and my paternal grandmother lived on the equivalent of 15th Street, not a straight shot, but almost. At 8 years old I could ride my bike from 76th Street down to 15th. That’s my East St. Louis.”
Fennoy remembers making frequent trips as a kid to the candy store, where he first practiced saving.
“If somebody gave me a quarter – my parents, grandparents, my uncle, older cousins – because I did some chore or because they wanted me to have some money in my pocket,” Fennoy said. “It never dawned on me to spend the entire quarter. I remember going to the neighborhood candy store and thinking I have a quarter but I’m not going to spend all this. I’ll put the rest in my piggy bank. That’s never changed from 5 to now.”
‘DIVINE INTERVENTION’
Although banking seemed like a natural fit for Fennoy, it wasn’t the career he initially chose. After graduating from Lincoln High School, Fennoy attended Fisk University, a historically Black college in Nashville, Tennessee, where he was on a path to become a dentist. However, as he neared entering the pre-dental track, he became less interested in the field and more interested in the business classes he was already taking,which led him to switch his major to accounting. Fennoy describes the change as a blessing in disguise.
“I used to say years ago that it was an accident, but I’m a little wiser now to know that it was not an accident,” Fennoy said. “For me, my faith is the most important, (so) it was divine intervention and being led.”
That change in academic majors led to a nearly 30-year banking career for Fennoy that includes his financial work for banks like Boatmen’s, Cass, Regions and National City. Although he said his early career is what fed his appetite to work with nonprofits and churches in underserved areas, it’s his current job with Midwest Bank Centre that he believes best aligns with his purpose.
“It’s about diversity of thought, but it also is about the diversity of people’s experiences,” Fennoy, who has worked with the bank since 2010, said about reaching Black communities.
“I think our philosophy is also that we believe that is going to be needed, especially in historically underserved areas, because it’s a level of hand-holding that, when you’re building that trust, has to happen.”
In January, Fennoy and his team plan to launch a program that will lend up to $200 million in community development loans for the next five years. The loans will be available for minority small business owners or businesses located in low to moderate income areas. Fennoy said although most of the loans will be awarded to owners in St. Louis, a small portion will be open to those who live elsewhere, like the metro-east. He said he’s also working on putting a branch of the bank in East St. Louis, although he doesn’t know when.
Alex Fennoy, courtesy of Belleville News-Democrat
Retired Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee said Fennoy’s work has left an indelible mark on her eponymous foundation. Joyner-Kersee was coached by his dad and remembers meeting Fennoy as a kid. Alex is currently the secretary of the foundation’s board of directors.
“Just to see how he has grown into a young man that takes the community seriously, that looks to give back and try to spread and share his knowledge, especially dealing with the bank sector and trying to get people to understand what it means about being unbanked, is great,” Joyner-Kersee said. “Also him being a part of serving on the board of the foundation and helping to secure opportunities for us that’s fair and equitable is great.”
Joyner-Kersee said Fennoy was instrumental in helping the foundation qualify for a Paycheck Protection Loan, a federal program designed to help small businesses and nonprofits continue to pay employees during the pandemic, this year. She said his financial knowledge has been invaluable to her team and the East St. Louis community.
“A lot of people in the community go unbanked and lack the understanding of having a bank account, so I think his leadership goes beyond his banking experience,” Joyner-Kersee said. “Alex really does care about the community. When you have someone that cares about the community and the relationships, then you start seeing them beyond just that relationship. It’s a true family.”
Being honored for his work in the community was a humbling experience for Fennoy. Each year, the American Bankers Association awards a non-CEO bank employee for their dedication to improving the communities they serve. Fennoy was one of two recipients.
“It’s special, but at the same token, the work ain’t done because so many people in the whole community will be better if we have stronger businesses all throughout our region. If we have opportunities for more people to work because we know that deters crimes. It’s not brutal policing. It’s more jobs, it’s more education, it’s more opportunities. When those things are more, the direct inverse effect on all the negative things that we do to one another in society decreases. It’s proven.”
Apple is showing no signs of ending its pledge to bring HBCUs top-of-the-line resources. Recently, Apple collaborated with HBCUs to increase access to coding technology, and in the process even dispatched some of its own workforce to teach students. Read more details below on how Apple is actually building its next location for HBCU outreach.
Apple is working with Southern Company and a range of community stakeholders to support the launch of the Propel Center, a first-of-its-kind innovation and learning hub for the HBCU community. Apple’s $25 million contribution will enable the Propel Center to support HBCU students and faculty through a robust virtual platform, a physical campus in the historic Atlanta University Center, as well as on-campus activations at partner institutions.
The Propel Center campus (rendering above) — equipped with state-of-the-art lecture halls, learning labs, and on-site living for a scholars-in-residence program — will be located in the historic Atlanta University Center district.
The center is designed to support the next generation of diverse leaders, providing innovative curricula, technology support, career opportunities, and fellowship programs. The Propel Center will offer a wide range of educational tracks, including AI and machine learning, agricultural technologies, social justice, entertainment arts, app development, augmented reality, design and creative arts, career preparation, and entrepreneurship. Experts from Apple will help develop curricula and provide ongoing mentorship and learning support, along with offering internship opportunities.
The Propel Center was imagined and designed by Ed Farm, a groundbreaking organization that works to promote innovation and educational equity. The initiative builds upon Apple’s partnership with Ed Farm and the company’s work with three dozen HBCUs, bringing coding, creativity, and career opportunities to campuses and communities across the US.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Apple on this extraordinary project,” said Anthony Oni, Ed Farm’s founder and chairman of the board, and a vice president at Southern Company. “The Propel Center will help cultivate leadership and drive innovation in tech and beyond, acting as a springboard for change in communities across America.”
Hailee Bryant-Roye, an early-childhood education major at Tennessee State University, has been able to pursue new teaching and learning opportunities with Apple’s Everyone Can Code and Everyone Can Create curricula, offered through the company’s collaboration with TSU. She’ll have access to additional programming, mentorship, and internship opportunities through the Propel Center.
As part of Apple’s ongoing partnerships with HBCUs, the company is also establishing two new grants to support HBCU engineering programs. Apple’s new Innovation Grants will help HBCU Colleges of Engineering develop their silicon and hardware engineering curriculum in partnership with Apple’s experts. The new Faculty Fellows Program will support HBCU educators pursuing R&D with mentorship programs, curriculum development assistance, and funds to equip their lab spaces.
Building on its longstanding scholarship program with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Apple is also now offering scholarships to 100 new Apple Scholars from underrepresented communities. In addition to financial support, the Apple Scholars program includes mentorship and career development experience at Apple.
Read here for more of Apple’s new outreach initiatives in the full release.
Tuskegee University alumna Shayla Redmond loves space, makeup, music, and her alma mater. This week, all 4 of those parts of her life converged after she won a contest hosted by iHeartMedia and Ulta Beauty. Redmond, who is a space advisor and holds degrees in aerospace engineering, physics, and systems engineering never forgot what she learned in college. Get more details on how her experiences landed Tuskegee a sizable donation in this great story from Tuskegee.
Tuskegee University will receive a $30,000 donation from iHeartMedia and Ulta Beauty to support students in its aerospace engineering program. Tuskegee alumna Shayla Redmond ‘11 selected Tuskegee to receive the funds after winning a social media sweepstakes hosted as part of of iHeartMedia’s “HBCU Homecoming Celebration on iHeartRadio.”
As an extension of iHeartMedia’s “HBCU Homecoming Celebration on iHeartRadio” series held in Fall 2020, Ulta Beauty and iHeartMedia hosted a virtual sweepstakes to recognize HBCUs and its homecoming celebrations. To honor the season, iHeartMedia and Ulta Beauty joined together for a month-long celebration of HBCU pride and student achievement with a social sharing challenge – encouraging HBCU students to share their at-home Homecoming style.
Shayla Redmond, courtesy of Female One Zero
Redmond took to social media to share her best “at-home” Tuskegee Homecoming style and was awarded a $500 Ulta Beauty gift card, a virtual meet and greet with celebrity artist H.E.R and the opportunity to select her institution of choice as the recipient of the donation.
“It’s really important to me that this gift go to Tuskegee University’s Aerospace Science Engineering program,” said Redmond. “Given its impact on me, I am deeply honored to have graduated and now I’m helping to build upon the legacy for such a prestigious University.”
Redmond received her undergraduate degree from Tuskegee University in aerospace engineering and physics in 2011; she later went on to receive her master’s degree in systems engineering and space systems at the Air Force Institute of Technology.
An aspiring astronaut, officer in the Reserves, and mom of three, Redmond hopes this funding will inspire other women of color to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
Aerospace Engineering at Tuskegee University, courtesy of Tuskegee
“I am proud to enable this opportunity and expand access to aerospace and engineering research for students as a part of the Ulta Beauty and iHeartRadio’s commitment to the HBCU community,” Redmond noted.
Acting Dean for the College of Engineering Dr. Ben Oni says every dollar counts, and every dollar helps students thrive here at Tuskegee.
“We’re grateful for the funding from iHeartIMPACT and Ulta Beauty because it truly helps students in our aerospace science engineering program succeed, including those who otherwise might have difficulty accessing the resources to graduate,” said Oni. “I’ve seen students struggle, not because they’re not talented, but because they’re fighting to address challenges of finances, access to scholarships, or dealing with issues that prevent them from graduating. This funding helps eliminate some obstacles and helps further Tuskegee University’s impact in the broader engineering community.”
This scholarship, in partnership with iHeartMedia and Ulta Beauty, continues to celebrate the profound impact and influence HBCUs continue to have on our country.
In their own words, Hampton University alumni Calvin L. Butts, Jr. and Carrington M. Carter created private equity firm East Chop Capital in 2018 to pool “the resources of many, to accomplish much more than individuals can on their own.” As real estate developers and experienced entrepreneurs, the two men have found a way to financially support disadvantaged communities and also engage minority investors to lock in on the $170 billion global vacation rental market. In fact, they have brought on other Hampton alumni, HBCU graduates, Divine 9 and Sigma Pi Phi (Boulé) members, and more together to provide the best combined financial, educational, and social returns.
Building wealth for East Chop Capital‘s largely-minority group of investors is prioritized. For example, the firm sets itself apart from others by having investor retreats and bringing people together to learn from them.
Calvin L. Butts, Jr. (left) and Carrington M. Carter (right), courtesy of East Chop Capital
“Our firm was created to help accredited investors build wealth and gain exposure to private investments that they may not have access to,” says Butts, Jr. “East Chop Capital’s first fund exposes our investors to the travel and hospitality industry via luxury vacation rental homes, by owning and operating homes in places like Martha’s Vineyard, Hilton Head, Gatlinburg, Orlando, and several other markets that we will expand to in 2021.”
It isn’t hard to find ambitious Black entrepreneurs, but it is especially difficult for these innovators to find funding. With ECC, the gap created by that funding disparity is combated with the access it offers to capital for not only just Black entrepreneurs, but other minority and women entrepreneurs as well. Financially, East Chop Capital is enriching disenfranchised communities, but it hasn’t been without obstacles.
“It should have been easier to raise $4 million considering we have a 6+ year proven track record, strong network, we’re investing in a thriving industry with significant tailwinds behind us…” said the founders.
During their journey to fundraise for real estate investments, the founders identified several reasons why their target audience of investors weren’t as receptive as they’d imagined. Fear, lack of education, financial literacy, and investing/business acumen were all cited as impediments. In addition, many potential investors didn’t want to part with their money due to their inability to calculate and evaluate risk, a desire for “quick wins” with unrealistic returns and limited risk, inability to find and capitalize on “off the spreadsheet” value, and finally, being too content with the status quo.
Palmetto Manor, courtesy of East Chop Capital
Despite the rocky start, 90 investors ultimately joined East Chop Capital’s first round of funding. Calvin Butts, Jr.’s membership on the Hampton University Board of Trustees and Carrington M. Carter’s membership in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated played a tremendous role. In fact, 20% of the investors are Hampton alumni, and several are Alphas. Now that ECC has the investors it needs, the founders have gotten to work educating their investors on private equity options they may never have come across. With ECC’s guidance and support, investors are encouraged to make their own vacation rental home purchases. The work has bridged the expertise of the founders with outreach that they truly enjoy.
“As avid travelers, Getaway Society and our vacation rental home fund gave Calvin and I the opportunity to build a business based on something we both love, which is travel,” said Carter. “As experienced entrepreneurs, we know the value of investors. Nurturing these relationships and having their support is what enabled us to build a $10 million real estate portfolio in just five years. Raising $4 million and closing this fund is a huge accomplishment for us.”
When asked about what the most exciting goals are for East Chop Capital to accomplish in 2021, Calvin Butts, Jr. didn’t hesitate to let us know.
“Building wealth for our investors, educating them on new private investment opportunities, disrupting the traditional private equity model, and having FUN,” he said.
Howard University alumna Bonita Stewart is a powerhouse that has companies clamoring for her expertise. She currently leads at Google, having made history as their first Black female vice president. Now, she will be channeling her talents at PagerDuty, a corporate digital solutions company, on their Board of Directors. Read the full release from BusinessWire below for more of her background, expertise, and next moves!
PagerDuty, Inc., a global leader in digital operations management, today announced the appointment of Bonita Stewart to its Board of Directors. Stewart brings to the PagerDuty team more than 20 years of experience leading multi-billion dollar operations, accelerating digital technology adoption and driving digital transformation at scale.
Bonita Stewart, courtesy of The Daily News
Stewart currently serves as Vice President of Global Partnerships at Google, where she oversees the company’s global partnerships team for the largest US publishers across Search, Mobile Apps, Broadcast, Commerce, News, Telecommunications and Domains. The first African American woman appointed to a VP role at Google, Stewart brings decades of experience in marketing and technology, combined with a strong partner ecosystem background from major corporations in the IT and automotive fields. Stewart also offers significant public company board experience, having served on the Board of Directors of Pluralsight (NASDAQ:PS) since 2018 and Decker Outdoor Corporation (NYSE:DECK) since 2014. Prior to Google, Stewart served as Director of Interactive Communications, Chrysler Group (now known as Daimler AG), and during that time Chrysler Group was named Interactive Marketer of the Year by Ad Age. Prior to this she spent a decade in sales and marketing management positions at IBM.
“Bonita is a fantastic culture fit with our board and brings tremendous at-scale leadership experience to PagerDuty. Her experience building market presence and partner ecosystems, and scaling larger global operations make me proud to add her to our board,” said Jennifer Tejada, PagerDuty CEO. “A trailblazer in the industry, her decision to join our board is also an endorsement of our efforts to build a diverse business and create equal opportunity in tech and beyond.”
Bonita Stewart, courtesy Operation Collective
Named a Woman to Watch in Tech by Crain’s, Stewart has spent her career breaking barriers. She pioneered the concept of Howard West, a computer science immersion program for historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), powered by Google. While with IBM, she founded One Moment in Time, introducing a new concept in women’s formal wear rentals with a view toward national franchising. Stewart received her BA with honors from Howard University and her MBA from Harvard Business School. In 2020, she co-authored, “A Blessing: Women of Color Teaming Up to Lead, Empower and Thrive.”
“PagerDuty leads the way in making life better for teams tasked with managing complex digital operations in real-time. The company’s focus on customer devotion, coupled with its progressive approach to building a balancing team at all levels aligns with my goal of moving the tech industry towards inclusion to drive better business outcomes,” said Stewart. “I believe we’re at the beginning of a new era in tech, and I look forward to joining Jennifer and her team as PagerDuty continues to lead by example.”
At a time when whole seasons have been cancelled due to COVID-19, an HBCU coach has still managed to make history. North Carolina A&T State University football coach Sam Washington will be the first HBCU coach to participate in ESPN’s MegaCast. This MegaCast will cover the highly-anticipated College Football Playoff National Championship with No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 3 Ohio State set for later today. Read below for more details on this special day from The Undefeated, including an interview with Sam Washington himself.
North Carolina A&T State football coach Sam Washington will be in an enviable position as he watches and analyzes the national title game between Alabama and Ohio State as part of ESPN’s MegaCast Film Room.
Sam Washington, courtesy of Woody Marshall
Washington, whose teams have won two consecutive Celebration Bowls as the top historically Black college football team, has been coaching for 34 years. He landed his first job as an assistant coach with Bethune-Cookman and has had stints on the coaching staffs of Johnson C. Smith, North Carolina Central, Mississippi Valley State and Grambling State. He got his first head-coaching position in 2018 with the N.C. A&T Aggies.
The veteran coach will add his expertise on Monday night alongside SEC Network analyst and former BCS championship-winning head coach Gene Chizik, Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson and Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze.
The Undefeated spoke with Washington about being the first coach from a historically Black college and university (HBCU) on the MegaCast, his thoughts on the Alabama-Ohio State matchup and his mindset in preparation for football returning in February. The Aggies are scheduled to play South Carolina State on Feb. 27.
What will you be doing on the MegaCast?
You know what, to be honest, that I’m not totally clear with [laughs]. What I do know is that I will have a clicker in my hand, and I will have the ability to replay and they want us to treat it just as if we were in the film room. ‘What do I see,’ ‘what do I notice,’ ‘what is this team trying to do and how the other team is trying to stop them.’ Different approaches and schemewise, I think they want us to analyze what is going on.
Sam Washington, courtesy of N.C. A&T
What do you think of the Alabama-Ohio State matchup? What aspect of the game do you think will be the determining factor?
I always felt that the team that is able to run the football had a good chance to win and the team that stopped the run has a better chance at winning. Both of these teams are very explosive, and they have quarterbacks and receivers who can change the complexity of the game in a matter of seconds. So, it is going to be very important that they don’t give up the big play, because the big play is going to be huge. Both teams, I’m sure, are very concerned about that, not giving up that one-play touchdown. They are both very well-coached and, you know, I have been doing some research on them and it is amazing how good they are.
Do you think being on the MegaCast is a good way of getting HBCUs into the CFP championship conversation?
I don’t know about that, but I will put it this way: I think it is the first step to being recognized. It’s the very first step. As far as getting into the playoffs, we would have to become an FBS team first. That is the conversation that I think needs to be had. I would love to see some HBCUs become an FBS-level team in the very near future.
What’s the significance of you being the first HBCU coach on the MegaCast?
You know honestly, I haven’t even thought of it from that perspective. You know, first I just think it is a golden opportunity. I think in these times we are respected as valuable coaches coming from HBCUs. These opportunities have not always been afforded to us, so I’m very humbled and proud at the same time that I was granted this opportunity.
With HBCU football returning in February, what is your preparation mindset right now?
I will tell [you] what, this COVID-19 pandemic is making that very difficult. We try to stick to our regular routine as close as possible. As far as preparation, we’ll go through the conditioning phase initially, then from conditioning we will start putting things together schematically and just do what we do and do it well.
President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris continue to walk in their commitment to building the most diverse administration in U.S. history. Recently, the names of their newest appointees were released to much fanfare. Considering Kamala Harris is a graduate of Howard University, it’s no surprise she recognized the value of having a fellow HBCU graduate on her team.
Florida A&M University alumnus Vincent Evans has been appointed to serve the Biden-Harris administration asDeputy Director of the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs. The decision was shared as part of a larger list of 11 individuals appointed to positions ranging from press to economics. According to The Gainesville Sun, Evans, a Florida native, graduated from FAMU in 2011 after earning his bachelor’s degree in political science and pre-law.
Vincent Evans (left) and President-elect Joe Biden, courtesy of Rattler Nation
“Humbled seems too insufficient a term to describe my feelings today. Thank you madam Vice President-elect Kamala Harris for the profound opportunity and honor to serve you, President-elect Joe Biden, your administration and most importantly, the American people,” tweeted Evans after being appointed.
Vincent Evans is no stranger to working with Biden and Harris. He served as Kamala Harris’ Political Director during the general election, and as the campaign’s Southern Political Director during the primary season.
Well-known in political circles on the national, state and local levels, Vincent Evans has a background in leadership and legislation. Previously, Evans worked for Congress as a member of the senior staff of U.S. Representative Al Lawson of Florida. He also worked as Chief Aide to Tallahassee City Commissioner Curtis Richardson. He has worked in the Florida Senate Demcoratic Caucus for Democratic Leader Nan Rich. He’s also managed or held some other leadership position on the campaigns of two of Florida’s most recent Democratic gubernatorial nominees.
Vincent Evans, courtesy of Tallahassee Democrat
The other appointees chosen alongside Evans included: Yael Belkind as Assistant to the Chief of Staff; Michael Fuchs as Deputy Chief of Staff; Kate Childs Graham as Director of Speech Writing; Dr. Ike Irby as Policy Advisor; Deanne Millison as Deputy Policy Director; Rachel Palermo as Assistant Press Secretary; Mike Pyle as Chief Economic Advisor; Sabrina Singh as Deputy Press Secretary; Peter Velz as Director of Press Operations; and Herbie Ziskend as Deputy Communications Director.
“Building our nation back better requires having the best and the brightest in our administration. These accomplished individuals have the knowledge and expertise to hit the ground running on day one and will work each day in service to the American people. With their varied and diverse backgrounds, they bring a shared commitment to tackling the crises facing America, helping us become a stronger, more united nation,” said President-elect Joe Biden as part of a statement.
“These deeply experienced public servants reflect the very best of our nation, and they will be ready to get to work building a country that lifts up all Americans. Their counsel and expertise are grounded in a commitment to making sure our economy works for working people and all those looking to work. And their leadership will be critical as we work to meet the challenges facing the American people — from the coronavirus pandemic to this economic recession to our climate crisis and long-overdue reckoning on racial injustice. I am proud to announce these individuals will be joining my team and look forward to working alongside them each and every day,” said Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
Benedict College is entering the new year with a progressive new addition to its leadership. In its commitment to preparing students for work in the global economy through its School of Business and Entrepreneurship, Benedict has just appointed a dean that will make history! Read the statement from Benedict to see why Dr. Tracy H. Dunn’s new role is so special.
Eighteen years after joining the faculty at Benedict College, Dr. Tracy H. Dunn has become the first woman to be named dean of the Benedict College Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship. She is the fourth dean to head the College’s business school.
Dr. Tracy H. Dunn, courtesy of Benedict College
“Over the past three years, Dr. Dunn has been an exceptional interim dean of the Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship. Through her leadership, the undergraduate curriculum was updated, the first graduate program was launched, and the School’s accounting and business administration programs secured national accreditation.,” said Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO of Benedict College. “Dr. Dunn is very deserving of this promotion.”
Dunn has significantly expanded the breadth and depth of the school’s co-curricular programming with the opening of the Student Innovation Hub. She has increased student participation in local, regional, and national competitions as well as the development of well-designed service-learning projects with options for consulting projects, and outlets for student enterprise.
“This is the right time to be a student at Burroughs,” Dunn says. “Our students are receiving a solid business education supplemented by a plethora of experiential learning opportunities to develop and solidify important soft skills like critical thinking and teamwork. After four years at Burroughs, our students are transformed into well-prepared professionals ready to contribute to society on day one.”
Dunn holds a PhD and MBA from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. She received a bachelor’s degree in German from Wofford College as well as a Master of Science degree in Journalism from Boston University. Her undergraduate and graduate education included study abroad in Germany (Goethe Institute – Prien and Rothenburg), England (Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester), and Russia (Moscow International Business School).
Prior to her educational pursuits at the University of South Carolina, Dunn worked for IBM, AT&T, and INROADS/Jacksonville.
Former Bowie State University President Dr. Samuel L. Myers, Sr. has unfortunately passed away at the age of 101. Myers served as Bowie’s 4th president for 9 years from 1968-1977.
Over the weekend Bowie’s 10th and current President Dr. Aminta H. Breaux shared the sad news with the BSU community in a tweet.
Dr. Samuel L. Myers, Sr. courtesy of Bowie State University
“Under his leadership, the university saw tremendous growth in enrollment, curriculum enhancements and a new program in social work,” shared Breaux. “He also moved the university to the next level with the first offering of a graduate degree, the master of education, and establishment of a Graduate Division.”
A profile from the American Economic Association highlighted just how much Dr. Myers accomplished in his lifetime. He earned a PhD in Economics from Harvard University in 1949. In 1994, he received the National Economic Association’s Samuel Z. Westerfield Award, which is presented to Black economists every few years to honor their “distinguished service, outstanding scholarship, and achievement of high standards of excellence.”
He went on serve as an economist at the U.S. Department of Labor, and a financial adviser to Latin American countries during the Kennedy Administration. He worked with U.S. President Jimmy Carter on Executive Order 12232, which created a federal program “… to overcome the effects of discriminatory treatment and to strengthen and expand the capacity of historically black colleges and universities to provide quality education.” Myers served at Bowie State University both as an economics professor and as president.
Dr. Myers Sr. with his son and other academics at a Westerfield Awards ceremony, courtesy of the University of Minnesota
After leaving Bowie, Myers continued to dedicate his time to advancing HBCUs. For over 20 years, he served as president of the National Association For Equal Opportunity in Higher Education. He later focused his efforts on Minority Access, Inc. where he worked to diversify universities and corporate spaces.
Myers’ children were educated at HBCUs and have created their own legacies. After teaching at Morgan State University, his son and daughters all earned degrees from the HBCU. Myers’ son, Dr. Samuel Myers, Jr., is the Roy Wilkins Professor of Human Relations and Social Justice at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. His daughter, Judge Tama Rose Myers Clark, was Morgan State University’s first female student government president, and became a successful district attorney.
A spring memorial service is currently being planned Dr. Myers, according to Bowie’s President Breaux. His family is also working to establish endowed scholarships in Dr. Myers’ name at both Bowie State University and Morgan State University.
Morgan State University alumna Yogananda Pittman has been chosen to serve as acting chief of the U.S. Capitol Police. Her promotion is a result of the fallout from the riot at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Yogananda Pittman, Courtesy of Morgan State University
“In the wake of this past week’s horrendous and thwarted attack on the U.S. Capitol, I am pleased to announce that a decision was made to elevate distinguished and decorated Morgan alumna Yogananda D. Pittman to serve in the role as acting chief of the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP),” Morgan State University President David Wilson shared in a statement. “This appointment is notable for our nation and our University, as she will be the first woman and first African American to hold the post of leading the USCP. We commend this wise decision as it is widely known that Morgan graduates are purposefully prepared to not only Grow the Future, but to Lead the World.”
Pittman graduated from Morgan in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. According to U.S. Capitol Police, she earned her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Marist College in New York in 2019. She is pursing her Ph.D. in Public Administration from West Chester University.
Pittman joined the USCP force in April 2001, and her first assignment was to provide security and protective details for U.S. Senators and visiting dignitaries. She has since been promoted several times. First, in 2006, to the rank of Sergeant of the Department’s Communications Division. Second, in 2010, to the rank of Lieutenant to the House Division. Third, in 2012, she became one of the first Black female supervisors to attain the rank of Captain. At that time she supervised the President Obama’s 2013 Inauguration, and managed over 400 officers and civilians. Since, she has been promoted to Inspector in 2015, and Bureau Commander for the Command and Coordination Bureau in 2018.
In her new position, Acting Chief Pittman will be responsible for overseeing the U.S. Capitol Police’s laws and regulations, and ensuring that everything possible is done to prepare and protect the Capitol. On January 17 she will replace outgoing chief Steven A. Sund, who has resigned following the mayhem of the riot.
Philander Smith College has an established history of developing leaders into church ministers and pastors, as well as supporting them. Now, a new grant from Lilly Endowment will add to a previous donation that will ultimately fund the college’s ministry initiatives to the tune of $1 million. Read the full statement from Philander Smith College below.
Philander Smith College is excited to be the recipient of funds totaling $1,049,130 to help establish the Strengthening Ministries in Black and Small Churches in Central Arkansas program. It is part of Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Thriving in Ministry, an initiative that supports a variety of religious organizations across the nation as they create or strengthen programs that help pastors build relationships with experienced clergy who can serve as mentors and guide them through key leadership challenges in congregational ministry.
Philander Smith College students, courtesy of UNCF
Earlier in the year the College received a $50,000 award from Lilly Endowment to support the development of the Thriving In Ministry grant submission. That planning grant, combined with the full grant award of $999,130, represents a total $1,049,130 investment in PSC’s effort to strengthen the pastors serving small churches in Arkansas and nearby states.
Thriving in Ministry seeks to help pastors develop meaningful relationships with wise colleagues who can help guide them through key leadership challenges, especially during transitions in their ministerial careers. The initiative builds upon recent studies that have examined the importance of colleagues and mentors who help pastors face and overcome common professional challenges. These studies include research from the Endowment-funded Flourishing in Ministry project.
Philander Smith religious life, courtesy of Philander Smith University
“Philander Smith College has a legacy of developing clergy who have become leaders and mentors to generations of ministers and pastors,” said PSC President Dr. Roderick L. Smothers, Sr. “Our alumni have broken barriers, published extensively in the field of religious studies, and blazed spiritual trails for a new cohort of preachers and scholars. Funding from Lilly Endowment will help us to continue building upon this sacred foundation,” he continued.
“Leading a congregation today is multi-faceted and exceptionally demanding,” said Christopher Coble, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for Religion. “When pastors have opportunities to build meaningful relationships with experienced colleagues, they are able to negotiate the challenges of ministry and their leadership thrives. Promising efforts in this initiative including the Philander Smith College program, will help pastors develop these kinds of relationships, especially when they are in the midst of significant professional transitions.”
Shaw University‘s Center for Racial and Social Justice has just received a generous gift of over half a million dollars from Gilead Sciences, Inc. In its just to drive social and racial equity, the center recently partnered with the City of Raleigh, North Carolina. Read the release from Shaw below to learn how this recent gift will help support the center’s mission.
Today Shaw University announces that Gilead Sciences, Inc. has awarded the university’s Center for Racial and Social Justice (CRSJ) a $525,000 grant distributed over a three-year period. Shaw’s Center for Racial and Social Justice launched in June 2020 to further the development of a more just and equitable society.
Shaw University Professor Dr. Lynette I. Wood, courtesy of Diversity MBA
The funding will help build general infrastructure and sustainability efforts for the CRSJ including targeted initiatives: lectures, workshops, seminars, certificate programs, forums, exhibits, student-led civic engagement, and ongoing advocacy work.
“Throughout its 155-year history, Shaw University has been a consistent, visible leader in social and racial justice,” stated Dr. Paulette Dillard, President of Shaw University. “Gilead’s investment in the Center for Racial and Social Justice will help us train the next generation of leaders and continue our mission.”
Shaw University, the Progressive Pulse
“Gilead is strongly committed to working with our employees, partners and communities to advance racial and social justice,” said Amy Flood, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Gilead Sciences. “Our partnership with Shaw and the Center for Racial and Social Justice will ensure that meaningful social engagement can continue to develop and strengthen civil and human rights, and build up the next generation of leaders who will fight for the health and wellness of Black communities”, said Daniel O’Day, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Gilead Sciences. “The Racial Equity Community Impact Fund will provide resources to groups that are working on the frontlines to combat social inequities directly impacting the health and wellness of the Black community. This program is one of the ways that we are delivering on our commitment to promote racial equity and social justice.”
Shaw University’s Center for Racial and Social Justice was also recently awarded grants from Duke Energy and the City of Raleigh.
While playing football at North Carolina A&T State University, Justin Cates had dreams of making it to the big league. The unexpected pandemic suddenly sidelined his dreams, but he just caught a big break! Read below to learn more about Cates’ exciting comeback with the Canadian Football League from WFMY News.
North Carolina A&T defensive lineman Justin Cates signed to play football with the Edmonton Eskimos.
Many of us have faced struggles during the pandemic in some way. Imagine being an athlete trying to make it to the next level in a time when the sports world was uncertain. After a little bit of patience, a North Carolina A&T football player’s dreams finally come true.
NC A&T beat Alcorn State in the Celebration Bowl a season ago. It was the final game as an Aggie for defensive lineman Justin Cates.
Courtesy of Justin Cates
“Pro day was the first thing on my mind,” said Cates. Then I got invited to the HBCU combine, the first-ever. I was excited and then everything went down.”
The pandemic canceled both of those opportunities, which were chances for Cates to show off his talent.
“It was a really down point in my life,” said Cates.
Since football didn’t seem to be working out, he had to find some way to bring in money.
“I got a job at Lowe’s,” said Cates.
Almost a year later, one text message popped up on his phone, changing everything.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a while,” said Cates.
Courtesy of North Carolina A&T State University
A CFL team, the Edmonton Eskimos, asked Cates if he wanted to play football again.
“I had to read it twice,” said Cates. “I didn’t believe it at first. As soon as he sent the contract over, I signed it immediately I didn’t play no games. Me and my agent signed it immediately and sent it over.”
Cates said it was a big relief to know the work he’s been putting in since he was 5 years-old is now paying off.
“I almost gave up,” said Cates. “I thought the dream was over but mom and dad always told me to always keep the faith and pursue your dreams. I just stuck with it. I stayed the course and the benefits came for me. I’m just excited as you can tell.
Initially, Earl Monroe saw himself studying at Winston Salem-State University to become a teacher. But after his talent shined on the court, he became a record-breaking basketball player. From becoming the highest-scoring player in the CIAA to an NBA championship win, Monroe has quite the story to tell. Now, his legacy will live on in youth for years to come. Read his captivating story from Winston-Salem Journal below to find out how.
Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, who is in nearly every hall of fame there is, will get another honor this summer when a new chartered high school in New York City is named for him.
The Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball High School will be located in The Bronx with its first class of freshmen starting this fall. The charter high school will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony in June and will open in September. The school will have its new building by 2023.
“This is a project that I couldn’t do by myself because if that was the case it never would have happened,” the former Winston-Salem State star said by phone from New York City. “Our board of directors and Dan Klores have put my vision together and we’re excited about it.”
Earl “The Pearl” Monroe was in Winston-Salem in April 2019 to accept the Ann Lewallen Spencer Sports Connector Award from the National Sports Media Association. (Courtesy of Andrew Dye)
Before he died, NBA commissioner David Stern was also on the board of directors and was a big influence on the project, which has been in progress since late 2017. Others who have helped Monroe see this vision are Russ Granik, Val Ackerman, Marv Albert, Sonny Hill, Bill Rudin, Michele Roberts, Liz Robbins and Jeff Zucker.
Klores was the New York City-based co-producer with Monroe for “Black Magic,” a documentary paying homage to HBCU basketball legends and history. Klores led a successful public relations firm before becoming an award-winning producer.
Now Monroe, a legendary HBCU player himself, is putting his name on a high school that he’s proud of.
“It has basketball in the name of the school, but it will be about more than just playing the game,” Monroe said. “About 99% of our students will come from diverse backgrounds, and we will be keeping each class to 18 and no more than 20 students.”
About 80 freshmen will enroll this summer, and in four years Monroe said the school would have 430 students. Monroe said families of children can apply to the school, part of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
Hall of Fame basketball player Earl Monroe with a retired jersey from the NBA’s Washington Wizards, formerly the Baltimore Bullets, in November 2007. (Courtesy of the Associated Press)
Monroe said the school would expose youth to careers within the sports industry while still having an emphasis on academics. Courses will be offered in broadcast journalism, business, law, finance, print media, analytics, digital media, coaching, physical rehabilitation, nutrition, design, psychology and sports agency.
“It will only be maybe 12 percent of the students who play basketball for the school and participate in the league,” he said. “Our commitment is not only toward each student but to their families as well, and all of our marketing materials will be bilingual.”
Soon after his retirement, in the 1980s, Monroe started a small academy; this is bigger and broader.
“Our motto is ‘a ball and a book can help change the world,'” Monroe said. “Basketball is such a global common denominator. We are not a ‘sports school,’ but we believe strongly in our mission, that the fruits and lessons of the game, off the court, can be used as a tool of hope, teaching, educating and listening.”
Monroe, a 1967 Winston-Salem State graduate whose NBA career earned him entry into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, is the all-time leading scorer in WSSU and CIAA history. He helped lead the Rams and Coach Big House Gaines to a Division II national championship in the 1966-67 season.
During his stellar playing career with the Baltimore Bullets and the New York Knicks, he teamed with Walt Frazier to help the Knicks win the 1973 NBA championship, the franchise’s most recent title.
After his retirement from basketball in 1980, Monroe settled in New York City and had several successful business ventures. In 1996, Monroe was selected as one of the NBA’s 50 greatest players, and a ranking in 2020 of the league’s all-time best by ESPN.com placed Monroe at No. 64.
Earl Monroe is the all-time leading scorer in CIAA history with 2,935 points. (Courtesy of Winston-Salem State University)
Monroe, 76, was born and raised in Philadelphia. He arrived at WSSU in fall 1963 with his good friend, Steve Smith, after deciding to play for Gaines. Both had never seen the campus until they arrived by train from Philadelphia.
One of Monroe’s inspirations throughout his life was the legendary Gaines, who died in April 2005. Gaines preached education and the importance of earning a college degree to Monroe and his teammates.
“I think this would put a smile on Coach’s face if he was still around,” Monroe said. “And this is something he would be proud of because he always stressed the importance of education. Coach Gaines also talked a lot about giving back, and he was constantly on us to work in the classroom toward our degrees.”
Monroe graduated with a teaching degree but instead became an NBA star.
“It’s kind of come full circle because WSSU was known as a teacher’s college, and that’s what I would have become if not for basketball,” Monroe said.
Monroe is proud that the entire 1966-67 team graduated, and he said his education was a testament to HBCUs.
“Enter to learn, depart to serve,” Monroe said about WSSU’s mantra. “I have so much respect for the city of Winston-Salem and for WSSU and what it did for me back in the day.
“I think folks are coming to understand the impact graduate HBCUs can have on our society. You look now at (vice president-elect) Kamala Harris (a Howard graduate) and (Georgia senator) Raphael Warnock (a Morehouse College graduate), and it shows what impact the HBCU experience can have on individuals.”
Bob Ryan, Boston Globe columnist and author, discusses his memories from covering Earl ‘The Pearl’ Monroe. (Courtesy of Andrew Dye)
The pandemic has only exasperated the economic disparities experienced by the homeless, low-income workers, and the unemployed. To help those in need, Honduran University of the District of Columbia student Osman Milla has gone all over the world. He’s given meals, clothes, mattresses, and an ear to hear their stories. Read his inspirational story from ABC7.
Osman Milla has made it a purpose to help others in need for years and it’s something he attributes in part to his upbringing in Honduras.
“I grew up in a village in Honduras without running water and electricity. My mother, father, and four siblings survived without having much to eat and that was the experience. With my experience growing up, I don’t want people to have the same life that I had, I want to help others. We can’t change the world, but we can help impact the lives of others,” Milla says.
Osman Milla has been helping others in need for years and it’s something he was inspired to do early in his life. Milla prepared meals from the restaurant and distributed the meals to the homeless in the D.C. area. Sunday, Jan. 3, 2020. (Photo courtesy of Osman Milla)
The 29-year-old student works at a local restaurant, volunteers, and has been feeding the homeless in the D.C. area for over five years. He’s also a recent graduate from the University of D.C. with an associate’s degree in Hospitality and he’s currently working on his bachelor’s in Hospitality.
Milla prepared meals from the restaurant and gave it to the homeless on his way to class at Union Station three times a week on days he worked at the eatery.
The business would have to throw food away but Milla spoke with and convinced the restaurant manager to let him give the food to the homeless instead of disposing of it.
Osman Milla has been helping others in need for years and it’s something he was inspired to do early in his life. Milla prepared meals from the restaurant and distributed the meals to the homeless in the D.C. area. Sunday, Jan. 3, 2020. (Photo courtesy of Osman Milla)
However, Milla tells ABC7 the pandemic has affected his volunteering activities.
“With the pandemic, I don’t do the same things I was able to do. I used to feed the homeless in downtown D.C. every day, says Milla. The pandemic changed that. I had to find new ways to help. During the pandemic, I was able to help eight families with getting groceries and supplies and was working with two local nonprofits who donated food. And the nonprofit would drop off the food at my home and the families would stop by to pick it up. I was laid off for four months while I was doing this.”
Milla is also enthusiastic about a new endeavor he’s planning to delve into to further support communities in need.
Osman Milla has been helping others in need for years and it’s something he was inspired to do early in his life. Milla prepared meals from the restaurant and distributed the meals to the homeless in the D.C. area. Sunday, Jan. 3, 2020. (Photo courtesy of Osman Milla)
“I’m always trying to do something different. Casa Ruby is a non-profit located in D.C. that helps homeless people in the area and nationwide. This a place where I plan to support starting next week. They help people to secure employment, learn English, find appropriate healthcare and get an education. In the beginning, the nonprofit served the LGBTQ community but now it serves all communities,” Milla says.
In November 2020, Milla worked on a project helping the Honduras community back home after the area was ravaged by two hurricanes.
He sent 20 extra-large boxes of donations and bought 100 mattresses to help the community members in Honduras affected by the hurricane. Milla raised over $10,000 for seven nonprofits in Honduras that helped families in need. The money was used to buy medicine, supplies, clothes, and shoes to help families impacted by the hurricane. And the money was used to ship the supplies and to purchase mattresses.
In November 2020, Osman Milla worked on a project helping the Honduras community back home after the area was ravaged by two hurricanes. He sent 20 extra large boxes of donations and bought 100 mattresses to help the community members in Honduras affected by the hurricane. Milla Raised over $10,000 for seven nonprofits in Honduras that helped families in need. (Photo courtesy of Osman Milla)
Milla also emphasized to ABC7 the need for action by everyone to support those less fortunate because he adds there are a lot of individuals in need globally.
“Let’s help our friends and family and those in need. There is a lot of need in the entire world. We have to work hard. If we can help someone, we can make an impact on that person. We can start by helping one person at a time and we have to keep going and we can help more people. I use my social media pages on Facebook and Instagram to show what I’m doing to help others, and my friends see what I’m doing. If people see you’re doing a great job, they will support you. I got a lot of support through social media,” Milla concludes.
