Howard’s Associate Vice President Highlighted After Creative COVID-19 Outreach Efforts

Posted by Vanessa Roberson
Posted on

COVID-19 has spread us all apart, but that doesn’t mean that HBCU students or even staff should have to feel alone. That is something that Larry Callahan, the associate vice president and chief human resources officer at Howard University, has made sure to emphasize. Check out how he has creatively made his mark on the Howard community in his recent spotlight in Profile Magazine.

Larry Callahan, courtesy of Howard University

A young Howard University student paused, surprised by the voice on the other end of the line. Although the caller was not in her contacts list, she answered anyway. The voice that greeted her belonged to university president Wayne A. I. Frederick. While it’s unusual for university leadership to call students directly, 2020 was no ordinary year. After discussing the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with his cabinet, Frederick joined provosts, chancellors, and others in calling to check in on the mental and physical health of students, faculty, and staff.

Larry Callahan, associate vice president and chief human resources officer, helped birth this idea and matched each name in the directory with a volunteer caller. “If the president is calling, we’re all calling,” he laughs. Callahan remembers speaking to an incoming student council president before leaving a message for one of the university’s football coaches. When the coach returned the call, the two spoke for forty-five minutes. “It was meaningful just to connect with another person and let them know they are cared for,” Callahan says. “Everyone was overwhelmed and grateful.”

No one who has worked with Callahan during his long and distinguished career in HR would be surprised to discover he encouraged Howard University (HU) to weave a personal element into its pandemic response. Church and community were centerpieces of his life in Tennessee, where Callahan was born, and West Virginia, where he was raised.

Larry Callahan, courtesy of Howard University

“I always had people to look up to and that was never in doubt,” Callahan says. “They showed me the right path in life.” He learned to value community while singing in choir, attending Sunday school, playing sports, and serving in the Key Club and National Honor Society.

After starting his undergraduate studies at Marshall University, Callahan was drafted into the US military, where he became a policeman. Although Callahan’s service wasn’t voluntary, he decided to make the most of the opportunity and surround himself with positive influences. “Where you go in life is not an accident. You can often choose to put yourself around good, bad, or indifferent people,” he says. “Your values guide you toward or away from certain people and certain things.” While serving in Germany, Callahan was soldier of the month many times; he received an honorable discharge after two years of service.

During his time in Germany, Callahan transferred from Marshall to West Virginia State University, one of the nation’s most well-known historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), where he also tutored other students for $2 an hour while studying political science. He then graduated in  and immediately started an advanced degree program back at Marshall, where he also served as a graduate assistant.

As Callahan entered the workforce, he began to execute what would become a key strategy in both his life and his career. “If you put yourself close to good people doing good things, you’ll find the right opportunity,” he says. When his sister introduced him to a recruiter, Callahan earned a spot as one of six people in a training program for the company that is now Sprint Corporation.

When his friends and colleagues at Sprint started interviewing with Siemens, a German manufacturing company, Callahan did the same. In 1983, he moved to Boca Raton, Florida, to implement digital business telephone systems for Siemens. This started a twenty-three-year phase that would take him across the eastern United States, and into the world of HR, where he had a wide variety of responsibilities, including serving on global teams and traveling internationally.

“WHERE YOU GO IN LIFE IS NOT AN ACCIDENT. YOU CAN OFTEN CHOOSE TO PUT YOURSELF AROUND GOOD, BAD, OR INDIFFERENT PEOPLE. YOUR VALUES GUIDE YOU TOWARD OR AWAY FROM CERTAIN PEOPLE AND CERTAIN THINGS.”

At first, Callahan was in support and training roles, but when a manager became aware of his skills and experience in working with people, he was offered a position as a regional HR manager. Callahan was soon in the field working as a true HR generalist during an important time of rapid growth for the company. Promotions came every few years, and along the way to his role as senior vice president of human resources, Callahan developed global programs, led mergers and acquisitions, and created emerging leaders’ workshops.

In 2006, Callahan left Siemens for the medical field, where he helped university hospitals and other healthcare systems modernize HR functions that were lagging behind other industries. During those years, Callahan developed a reputation for driving change as he revamped executive compensation and benefits packages, created diversity programs, and helped hospitals make dramatic increases in patient satisfaction scores.

After stacking up accomplishments year after year, Callahan jumped at the chance to join Howard University in 2018. “This place is special and fits who I am perfectly,” he says. “Howard serves a certain constituency, including the underserved, and it needed someone to elevate HR.”

Callahan has been busy at Howard. He leads all HR functions, advises on organization development, and serves in the president’s cabinet.

In his first year, he helped migrate Howard’s retirement savings plan, taking $800 million in assets from five vendors and uniting them in a single TIAA plan. “The success of Howard University’s retirement programs are attributed to Larry’s innovative leadership,” says John Doyle, associate partner, at Aon Investments. “He understands how important benefits are to improving retirement outcomes.”

“IF YOU PUT YOURSELF CLOSE TO GOOD PEOPLE DOING GOOD THINGS, YOU’LL FIND THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY.”

He also helped Howard increase its minimum wage. In early 2020, nonunion employees earning less than $35,000 saw their pay increase to $34,999—one cent below the amount where expensive healthcare premium payments are required.

The move illustrates Howard’s countercultural style, which was on full display during the coronavirus pandemic. As other institutions suffered layoffs, Howard, led by President Wayne A. I. Frederick, maintained all staff and faculty benefits and did not lay off or furlough any employees. The leaders of the university moved to a teleworking environment, implemented robust COVID-19 testing, took students to a temporary pass/fail system, and promoted an on-campus food bank for students struggling with food insecurity.

Callahan sees serving at one of the nation’s top HBCUs as a privilege, especially given Howard’s commitment to diversity, both in its leadership and its academic offerings. Nine of HU’s thirteen deans are women. Howard offers more than 120 degree programs and is the top provider of African American undergraduates in the STEM fields. Its College of Medicine produces more minority graduates than all other HBCUs combined. Some of the nation’s top legislators, attorneys, entrepreneurs, and entertainers have studied their craft at its campus. Alumni of the influential and prominent institution include the newly elected Vice President Kamala Harris, Chadwick Boseman, Toni Morrison, Thurgood Marshall, Debbie Allen, and Ta-Nehisi Coates.

By helping produce graduates of this caliber, Howard is changing the world and developing the next generation of leaders.

PVAMU Becomes First HBCU To Sign Green Chemistry Commitment

Posted by Vanessa Roberson
Posted on

Prairie View A&M University has taken a big step to show its commitment for reducing toxic environmental waste. This also coincides with attitudes towards the new presidential administration’s support for the environment, and reinstating previously rolled back protections. Read below on how PVAMU will support sustainable science studies by signing the GCC!

The newly inaugurated Biden Administration has made it clear – combatting climate change and protecting the environment are among top priorities. Now, Prairie View A&M University’s (PVAMU) Department of Chemistry will also be a bit greener after signing on to the Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC), a program spearheaded by sustainable-science consortium Beyond Benign. The pilot project aims to provide students with skills they will need to reduce environmental hazards and promote sustainability in a way that crosses scientific disciplines.

Beyond Benign defines green chemistry as “the design of chemical products and processes that generate the least amount of harm and waste possible while maintaining excellent quality.”

PVAMU joins the ranks of recent academic cosigners such as the University of Minnesota, University of California-Berkeley, University of California-Santa Barbara, and Michigan State University. However, PVAMU is the first historically black college/university (HBCU) to join the effort. Since GCC’s inception, the program has attracted 70 institutions, reaching more than 1,300 faculty members.

Building on Top of a PVAMU Foundation

“Before the Commitment, we already had people who were invested in doing green chemistry from the get-go,” said PVAMU Assistant Chemistry Professor Andrea Ashley-Oyewole, Ph.D. “Many of our faculty members were already doing sustainable chemistry-based types of research even before that,” she added. Ashley-Oyewole is leading the GCC effort as a university liaison with Beyond Benign.

Andrea Ashley-Oyewole, Ph.D.

“Now, becoming official partners with Beyond Benign helps us as a department to broadcast that we believe in and promote multidisciplinary areas of study.”

Ashley-Oyewole also sees the program as an opportunity to recruit students who might not otherwise be attracted to conventional chemistry majors.

“It makes them visualize chemistry in terms of tangible areas where their degrees can lead to jobs that will pay well,” she said. “I always like to tell them chemistry is the foundation of science – everything is central to [chemistry].”

She added that, as a graduate of PVAMU, she holds a special affinity for the program since she studied chemistry and worked on environmental science-based projects more than 20 years ago when there was no official environmental chemistry major in her field.

“Even though we didn’t have any [official program], I’ve always wanted to do this,” said Ashley-Oyewole, who graduated from PVAMU in 1993 and 1996 with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in chemistry.

GCC Objectives

The GCC launched through a partnership between Beyond Benign and Dow in early 2020. The corporation pledged to provide financial and volunteer support.

Prairie View A & M University

“Our chemistry department is a signer of the Green Chemistry Commitment,” a departmental statement noted. “This aligns with our partner Dow and their ‘Safe Materials for a Sustainable Planet’ goal and ensures the incoming workforce is prepared to design sustainable materials for the marketplace.”

PVAMU’s green commitment is part of a deeper outreach across departmental lines. The chemistry and chemical engineering departments at the university collaborate to promote green chemistry education and related coursework. Ashley-Oyewole has already created a pilot course, and she will work with Beyond Benign to develop a core curriculum.

“I want to create a curriculum that’s going to be applicable for our students and, at the same time, open doors to our department,” she said. “[Green chemistry] is basically capitalizing upon a foundation that we already had, but now it’s making that more visible.”

Under the program, PVAMU’s chemistry department will continue to drive a robust pursuit of research projects focused on green chemistry topics, as well as transitioning the name of the Chemistry Club to the Green Chemistry Club.

Plans are also in the works to develop new courses in cosmetic, environmental, and polymer chemistry. Established courses, such as general inorganic and organic chemistry, will incorporate other GCC green student learning objectives.

‘Off and Running’

Beyond Benign commended PVAMU’s chemistry department for implementing the program despite COVID-related obstacles:

Prairie View A & M University

“PVAMU joined the Commitment in June 2020, and despite the ever-changing and challenging times in higher education due to the ongoing pandemic, they are off and running with their Commitment to green chemistry education.”

Several PVAMU professors are already conducting research across an array of green topics, including:

  • Anada Amarasekara, Ph.D., Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Renewable Fuels and Plastics
  • Marco Giles, Ph.D., Redox-active and Bio-Reducible Dendrimers and Natural Products
  • Yuemin Liu, Ph.D., Quantum Mechanical Calculations for Covid-19 Related Interactions between Monoclonal Antibodies and Spec-glycoproteins
  • Matthew Minus, Ph.D., Addressing Plastic Pollution Crisis with Dynamic Covalent Plastics (DCPLs)

Ashley-Oyewole is looking into Trace Metal Remediation from Wastewater Using Spent Coffee Grounds.

“The work is exciting because it is interesting first and foremost,” Ashley-Oyewole said of her research. “Secondly, it has the potential to provide actual data and impact the lives of real people. Water scarcity is a significant problem for many communities worldwide. This research can make the difference between life and death for many of the world’s poor,” she added. “The additional benefit is that this project is perfectly aligned with our Green Chemistry transform here on campus. For the most part, green chemistry prevents harm to the environment and uses renewable feedstocks like spent coffee grounds that are widely available and degrade easily.”

Making the Connection

As the green chemistry program blossoms at PVAMU, Ashley-Oyewole sees the program bridging the gap between biology and chemistry while helping some students become more comfortable with the more daunting aspects of chemistry.

“By offering alternatives to just the ordinary chemistry degree, we show students that chemistry doesn’t have to be so frightening. Green chemistry allows them to feel that comfort and still persevere,” she said.

Coppin State University Receives Grant To Study Gun Violence Involving Black Males

Posted by Vanessa Roberson
Posted on

Gun violence is an epidemic that plagues that Black community, and it has continued to persist for many reasons. Some may say it can be contributed to poverty, gangs, musical influence, or even a toxic need to prove oneself. A new study involving HBCUs like Coppin State University will now delve into how and why young Black men are particularly susceptible to being victims or perpetrators of gun violence.

Coppin State University, courtesy of The Blue Book

Coppin State University (CSU) has received a two-year, $100,290 grant, to study the attitudes and reasons that spark young African-American males in urban areas pick up and carry guns, in an effort to reduce the problem.

Lead investigator at CSU, Dr. Johnny Rice, II, assistant professor of criminal justice, and a selected team of CSU students will investigate the contemporary causes of gun violence, specifically exploring why Black males ages 15-24 in marginalized urban communities possess and carry guns. The team will also explore factors that influence the impulse to carry a gun and what serve as triggers for gun use, based on the perceptions of African-American men interviewed, who live in affected communities in Baltimore city.  

Dr. Johnny Rice, II

The grant was awarded to CSU by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), who received a $1 million grant by the National Collaborative for Gun Violence Research. To implement the study, TMCF brought together leading HBCU Criminal Justice researchers in Houston, TX, Wilmington, DE, Jackson, MS and Baltimore – leveraging the experience, knowledge and status of HBCUs in the African-American community to conduct research on attitudes toward guns ownership, possession, and usage by urban youth; the dynamics of social transmission of gun ownership and possession, carrying a gun, using a gun to threaten someone; and escalation to gun violence. 

“This scientific study will allow our research team to engage and interview African-American men in affected Baltimore communities and acquire their unique perspectives on factors that influence gun possession and use,” said Rice, noting that he hopes the study can lead to ways to lessen the problem.

“We envision that the information gathered from this study will support community-based violence prevention efforts as well as criminal justice crime plans aimed at reducing gun violence.  I am excited to work with our student researchers to address a systemic problem that continues to negatively impact the Black quality of life,” Rice said.

In 2020, there was a reported 335 homicide victims in Baltimore, which reflected a high rate of deaths due to gun violence.  As such, African-American males often are the main perpetrators of such violence as well as the majority of gun violence victims. 

Other HBCU’s participating in the research project are: Texas Southern, Jackson State and Delaware State Universities.

HBCUs Are Our Past—And Our Future

Posted by Vanessa Roberson
Posted on

HBCUs have left a legacy of Black excellence. They produce a large percentage of the nation’s Black lawyers, doctors, and more. In a recent story from Elle, different HBCU students and alumni have been chronicled, weaving stories of trouble and triumph.

The route to work is always the same. Leave the highway and turn right on Sandra Bland Parkway. Follow it to its end, past the location where a state trooper stopped Bland’s car—the confrontation that would lead to her arrest and ultimately her death—and drive onto the campus of Texas’s Prairie View A&M University, one of 101 historically Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs. Once there, I see what Bland must have seen on her first day of college, and what I saw on the first day of mine nearly 30 years ago: a beautiful campus with lush oaks and stately buildings that tell the story of a people whose freedom has been forged in the face of injustice and whose joy is political resistance.

Every time I make this drive, now as a professor, I am reminded that the first thing our ancestors did when they were emancipated was erect institutions of higher learning. These campuses house and nurture their most important legacy—the committed pursuit of knowledge and freedom, first imagined and then made real for our children. HBCUs remind us all that Black ingenuity is more resilient than white supremacy.

But today, many of these colleges are woefully under-resourced, having experienced the steepest declines in federal funding per student between 2003 and 2015. They are often ignored by the big philanthropic donors; their endowments are 70 percent smaller than those of non-HBCUs. All of this, despite the work they do to change the intellectual and financial trajectory of their students, who are often underserved in K–12 schools. HBCUs represent 3 percent of the nation’s colleges, but graduate about 20 percent of all Black undergrads, and 25 percent of those with STEM degrees. Nearly 75 percent of HBCU students are eligible for Pell Grants, and over half are first-generation college students—yet HBCUs are better at retaining this population than non-HBCUs.

Stacey Abrams at Spelman College in 1992, courtesy of Nick Arroyo

In recent months, the nation has finally turned its attention to HBCUs and their critical importance in society. In part, that is because of the role HBCU graduates played in the 2020 election. Kamala Harris is now the nation’s first Black vice president. She also ticks a lot of other boxes as the first woman, first South Asian, and first graduate of an HBCU—Howard University—to serve in the role. In a moment where we are renegotiating the meaning of race in our society, HBCU graduates, particularly Black women, have emerged with the answers and as the answers.

Fair Fight founder and Spelman College alum Stacey Abrams’s strategic efforts to turn Georgia blue challenged the Republicans’ stranglehold on the Senate. Keisha Lance Bottoms, mayor of Atlanta and a graduate of Florida A&M University, played a key part in the Biden-Harris victory with an early endorsement of Biden and her role as a campaign surrogate. Additionally, if former president Donald Trump is brought to justice in any form, it will likely be under the leadership of New York Attorney General Letitia James, who, like Vice President Harris, earned a degree from Howard.

Indeed, one of the most important political stories of 2020 is how Black women who graduated from Black colleges are changing everyone’s understanding of innovative political leadership. These women committed their time, money, and talent to resoundingly rebuke the Trump administration and affirm their value as candidates and in the rooms where campaign strategy is decided. And there are more of them who will emerge as leaders. I know, because I teach them every day.

Praire View A&M University graduate Jayla Allen advocated for fair election policy as a student, courtesy of Elle

Prairie View A&M University is an HBCU that sits on the site of a former plantation northwest of Houston. Like many land grant institutions that were created in the shadow of enslavement and segregation, Prairie View was established to educate Black students in the agricultural and mechanical trades. Today, it is one of the top producers of Black engineers and architects, and it supplies the state with a large number of Black nurses, teachers, and future medical doctors. It has outlived Jim Crow and two world wars, and it is now weathering a global pandemic, financial hardship, and a season of protest simultaneously.

The students here have also spent the last five decades organizing, demonstrating, and litigating against persistent efforts by local county officials to suppress their vote. There has been a Supreme Court case, false indictments, and miles of protest marches, and still, the county refuses to accept the students as legitimate residents, despite the fact that the college has been here for 145 years. 

At the center of our current protests and court cases are Jayla Allen and Maia Young, two recent alums who allow us to witness the future impact that women from HBCUs will have. While most students were enjoying their first semester of college and excited about registering to vote, Jayla Allen was becoming a precinct chair and advocating for fair election policy for her fellow students. When the county decided to severely restrict access to early voting, the students sued, and Jayla became the lead litigant in Allen v. Waller. She testified at a Congressional hearing and in court about how she and her classmates were treated. Maia Young also became a student political leader early in her time on campus. She was testifying in court while serving as campaign cochair for her classmate Nathan Alexander III, who made a successful bid for Prairie View City Council. Jayla and Maia are both 21. Knowing them makes me hopeful about the future.

Maia Young also became a student political leader early in her time on campus at Prairie View A&M, courtesy of Elle

It has become quite commonplace to discount young people as apathetic and HBCUs as relics of a different era, but Kamala, Stacey, Keisha, Letitia, Jayla, and Maia remind us all that the legacy of HBCUs is to teach our nation what it means to expand the meaning of the values enshrined in the Constitution. They are the inheritors of the work of Ida B. Wells, Johnetta B. Cole, Ella Baker, and Diane Nash. They are living proof that HBCU students’ dreams of freedom did not die when the civil rights movement waned. HBCUs kept educating the sons and daughters of former slaves and encouraging their patriotic right to challenge institutions that did not include them.

HBCUs are incubators for Black leaders because they give students spaces to explore all aspects of themselves, away from racial judgments and stereotypes. Here, Black students can make mistakes and challenge authority while pledging sororities and working in student government, and no one questions the role of race in their success, because there is no doubt that Blacks can be high-achieving. There are no accusations of affirmative action and tokenism in admissions. And if we want to continue to rely on Black women to save America from its worst impulses, we must be committed to sustaining the HBCUs that serve as their training ground.

TV Personality & Hampton Alum Releases Fictional Novel About Sisterhood

Posted by Vanessa Roberson
Posted on

Monique Kelley is a flourishing businesswoman who has turned her pain into progress and a profession. She made the life-changing trip to LA after graduating from Hampton University with a degree in Performing Arts, and spending time studying Shakespearean Theatre in London. 

A painful divorce brought the budding dating guru from a career in the film industry to becoming a dating expert on shows like  Access Live  on NBC, and Good Day L.A. on FOX. She gives empowering dating advice to “The Tamron Hall Show” and “The Talk,” and has been featured in Essence Magazine, L.A. Confidential Magazine, and on TV One. Importantly, she lets women in the dating scene know that they aren’t alone.

Always a creative spirit, Kelley first began writing about her of her post-divorce dating life through her anonymous blog “Confessions of a Serial Dater In LA.”  She would talk about not only dates, but her first impressions, her disappointments, and her pick-me-ups. 

Her latest project, Reality in Chaos, is being called the modern day Waiting To Exhale. Released in January 2021, the novel highlights the value of true friendship. The story follows best friends Simone, Taylor, and Jackie, who all met at Hampton University, Kelley’s alma mater. Now approaching their fabulous forties, the women experience the turbulence of careers, family, marriage, caregiving, and more.  It is a complex and intriguing story filled with reality checks and situations relatable to readers’ own lives. It was written to ultimately remind readers that in the end, love and friendship endure all things. It is Kelley’s first novel.

Monique Kelley continues to explore her talents for creatively helping others. Twice a year, she holds her Cocktails and Confessions. Before the pandemic, the intimate conversations about dating and relationships were held at Hollywood hot spots. No matter what people are going through, whether they are married, divorced, or single, Monique Kelley has advice for everyone. She continues to help both men and women be able to talk about experiences that can be tough, and help them look forward to a brighter day. 

New Report Shows Morgan State University’s Economic Impact Has Expanded

Posted by Vanessa Roberson
Posted on

Morgan State University has been incredible economic driver in its Baltimore community. For years, students and staff have boosted local sales in nearby restaurants and shops. In addition, tourists such as parents and those visiting for commencements have also boosted revenues in the area. However, a recent study has shown that Morgan’s economic impact has grown and is spread across new areas. In fact, a recent study has shown that MSU has generated about $1.1 billion in annual financial impact on Maryland. Get the full details on the eye-opening fiscal report from Patch below.

Courtesy of Tyler Hall/Morgan State University

Morgan State University President David K. Wilson announced today the results of an independent analysis of impact indicators and fiscal contributions affirming that Morgan remains a key economic driver in the region, generating $1.1 billion in annual financial impact on Maryland and $640 million within Baltimore City. The new findingsreveal an 11.1% increase in statewide impact and an 11.5% increase in citywide impact since the University’s last commissioned study in 2018. The FY21 study, conducted by Econsult Solutions, Inc. (ESI), a national economic consulting firm, also found that Morgan is responsible for supporting 6,900 jobs statewide, nearly 4,200 within the City, accounting for $558 million in Maryland wages and $188 million in Baltimore.

As with Morgan’s previous ESI-produced economic impact report, the methodology of this study and its findings focused on an in-depth examination of seven key areas: operations, capital investments, student and visitor spending, wage premium, commitment to community, innovation and economic opportunities to diverse populations, local and statewide.

Courtesy of Morgan State University

“The findings of this latest Economic Impact Update Report validate what we here at Morgan know all too well, that our university is, without question, unrivaled in its ability to impact lives, transform communities and spur economic progress that elevates not only the individual but our society as a whole,” said President David Wilson. “We look forward to continuing to uphold our mission by producing results that make a difference, while offering tangible and measurable return on the investment that has been made into Morgan.”

Benedict College President Appointed to national committee by Congressman Clyburn

Posted by Vanessa Roberson
Posted on

Historically Black Colleges and Universities are woven into the fabric of the United States educational system. However, with bias leading qualified Black students, leadership, and HBCU institutions to be overlooked, it is important that HBCU representatives are placed in high-powered positions. Thanks to the nomination of Congressman James E. Clyburn, Benedict College President Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, has been nominated by Congressman Jim Clyburn to serve on a national committee that works with the Secretary of Education. Get the story from ABC 17 below!

Dr. Artis’ four-year appointment on the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) will begin immediately.

Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, courtesy of ABC 15

Congressman Clyburn nominated Dr. Artis and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi advanced her nomination to one of the six seats she fills on the NACIQI, according to the release.

“I am thrilled to announce that Dr. Artis will join the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity,” said Congressman Clyburn. “Dr. Artis is a fierce advocate for educational access and I am confident in her ability to advocate for positive and strategic transformation. She is a trailblazer, shattering the glass ceiling twice as the first female President of two collegiate institutions in the United States. I am pleased she will have the opportunity to use her experiences to continue advocating for colleges and universities that serve underrepresented men and women of color.”

Congressman James Clyburn (D-SC), courtesy of CNN

“It is my great honor to serve as a committee member for NACIQI,” stated Dr. Artis. “I am deeply grateful to House Majority Whip, Congressman Clyburn and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, for my nomination and appointment to this role. Higher education institutions are vitally important to the fabric of America as they provide the skilled workforce that drives our nation’s economy and stimulate the development of new knowledge to fuel innovation. It is critically important for these institutions to operate with the highest standards of quality and integrity. I am pleased to serve alongside my fellow NACIQI committee members to ensure that these measures of excellence are met throughout the higher education community.”

According to the release, the NACIQI works with the Secretary of Education on establishing and enforcing the standards of academic accreditation and on the eligibility and certification process for institutions of higher education.

Alabama State Alumna Thriving In Film And Modeling Creates Fashion Line

Posted by Vanessa Roberson
Posted on

HBCU students are known to become multi-hyphenates! Recently, a talented Alabama State University who has found success in the film and modeling industries has entered the fashion industry with her own line. Now, entrepreneur Jacelyn Penée Rainere Johnson is looking to say what others won’t through new clothing. Get the story from ASU below!

“What started out as a way for me to promote my (coffee table) book of quotes is now an official clothing brand,” Johnson said.

The self-taught designer used a generous dose of creativity, a pinch of business savvy and a lot of passion and drive to launch PowerTeeQuotes (PTQ), an online store that features T-shirts with trendy and grunge graphic designs from sayings from her coffee table book of quotes. She said her goal was to create designs that were not typically found in stores.

“Whenever you wear my clothes, I want you to feel like the coolest person in the room. Everybody can find a T-shirt with a catch phrase that they can relate to,” Johnson said.

The PTQ clothing line features inner-thought quotes on apparel ranging from T-shirt’s, crop tops, sweaters, jogging pants, sweatsuits and Home Style Collectibles.  Customers can purchase inspirational graphic T-shirts to T-shirts that are a little more ​candid​. They retail between $25 to $45.  

“The brand is for anyone over 21 because the majority of quotes are for a mature audience,” she said. “Each topic stands under an umbrella of PTQ: ‘We Say What You Won’t.’”

 The topics include culture, community, commerce, politics, work, persona, spirituality and relationships.

 “When you do something that you actually like and wake up with a passion to pursue it along with a flexible plan, that’s when you’ll be successful. Once I figured that out, it all clicked for me. I have a lot of passion and conviction in the power of good clothing. You must have a passion for fashion. Passion is the key,” Johnson remarked.

Other Career Paths

Aside from her fashion world, the Michigan native is a screenwriter. She is now working on three pilot scripts for digital streaming and TV.

“I hope to pitch the scripts to HBO and other streaming markets. So far, I have good feedback from a couple of producers and directors on two projects that they can relate to,” she said.

Johnson said her goal is to bring back family-oriented movies to show the connectivity within our African-American families. “The one thing I like to focus on when I’m creating is writing stories full of hope, to give people a way out of traumatic situations,” she said.  

Wearing the actress hat, Johnson was the lead actress in “Happily Married After,” circulating the National Film Festival Circuit since 2020.  She won “Best Comedic Actress Award” for her leading role as Laci Spark. Her other films include “New Afrikan,” “Okechukwu,” “NBA,” and “Coming Together.”

Johnson is also a model for Target. “I’m Target’s brand ambassador for Room Essentials. You can find me in the Bathroom Decor Section in Target Stores nationwide, on the Room Essentials Shower and Head Wrap. I was featured in other Target campaigns as well.”

The Spark Started at ASU

While at ASU, the Theatre Arts graduate (’04) was a Dramatic Guild member, head coordinator of Eclectic Dance Company and model and choreographer/creative director of Elite Models.  

“I helped change the way runway shows were done at ASU. We made the runway shows more of a performance number. The models performed with dancers. I took that as a stepping stone to what was next. And what approached me next is that I returned to Minnesota and started coordinating statewide fashion shows. I was also called upon by actor Vivica A. Fox’s magazine, JOLIE Magazine. The fashion show coordinator asked me to choreograph the fashion show in Minneapolis.”

 It didn’t end there. She was a plus-size model for Evolution of Curves in Los Angeles, an instructor at John Casablancas in Minnesota and became Agency Director of Model and Talent Management Agency in Minneapolis.

“I also coordinated and choreographed the​ Cald​​ to Art, Black Panther Naked Art Fashion Show in 2018, right here in Minneapolis,” she added.

She credits ASU for where she is today.

“I love O’ Mother Dear. There isn’t a year that goes by where I’m not back at State. I’m filled with so much love and gratitude. State has taught me resilience. My alma mater is my family. My father went to State, my sister was Second Attendant to Miss ASU (’01) and my aunt and uncles also went to State. My father, sister and I have been recruiting students to Alabama State for decades.  ASU has not only taught us resilience and the family factor, but about our culture and the rich history of Alabama State.  ASU has played a big part in my life,” she exclaimed.

Johnson said because of their unwavering love for ASU, she, her father and sister created a scholarship last year for majors in music, business and theatre.

“Once they graduate from the Theatre Arts, Music or Business departments, we have a hub for them that can assist them with their next steps in their careers.  ASU…is family to us; it’s in the blood and will always be,” she emphasized. 

5 HBCU Alums Are Heading To The Super Bowl

Posted by Vanessa Roberson
Posted on

It’s no surprise that HBCU athletes have excelled on the field and made it to the NFL. However, we are proud to say that 5 former HBCU athletes are heading to the Super Bowl! We’re happy to announce that former athletes from South Carolina State University, Prairie View A&M University, and North Carolina Central University are making the cut.

Super Bowl LV is set for Sunday, February 7, 2021 in Tampa, Florida at Raymond Jones Stadium. Since both the AFC and NFC championships have finally shown us the 2 top teams, the players for this year’s Super Bowl will hail from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs! Find out which players are making it to the big game below!

Antonio Hamilton, Formerly of South Carolina State University

As a South Carolina State University graduate, Hamilton entered the league as an undrafted free agent with Oakland in 2016 from South Carolina State. He’s emerged as a valuable special teams contributor, earning a grade of 80.2 from Pro Football Focus last season as a five-phase player. His 373 special teams snaps ranked seventh in the NFL in 2019.

As a cornerback, Hamilton played a career-best 132 snaps last season while starting two games for the Giants. He collected a career-high 17 combined tackles last season while breaking up for passes.

Alex Brown, Formerly of South Carolina State University 

First-year defensive back enters his first NFL season with the Chiefs in 2020.

Originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the 49ers in 2019.

Signed to Kansas City’s practice squad (9/2/19) … Released by the New York Jets (8/31/19) … Acquired via waivers by the New York Jets (8/5/19) … Released by Philadelphia (8/4/19) … Acquired via waivers by Philadelphia (7/26/19) … Released by San Francisco (7/25/19) … Originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with San Francisco in 2019

Quinton Bell, Formerly Of Prairie View A&M University

Originally entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick (230th overall) of the Oakland Raiders in the 2019 NFL Draft. Waived on August 31, 2019.

Signed to the Oakland Raiders practice squad on September 2, 2019. Released from the practice squad on October 15, 2019.

Signed to Tampa Bay’s practice squad on November 5, 2019. Signed a reserve/futures contract on December 30, 2019.

Nick Leverett, Formerly of North Carolina Central University

Originally entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick (230th overall) of the Oakland Raiders in the 2019 NFL Draft. Waived on August 31, 2019.

Signed to the Oakland Raiders practice squad on September 2, 2019. Released from the practice squad on October 15, 2019.

Signed to Tampa Bay’s practice squad on November 5, 2019. Signed a reserve/futures contract on December 30, 2019.

Ryan Smith, Formerly of North Carolina Central University

Has played in 57 career games, with 16 starts, recording 98 tackles, one interception, 12 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

On special teams, has returned 10 kickoffs for 169 yards (16.9 avg.) with a long of 24, and added 12 tackles and two forced fumbles.

Snagged first career interception (Nick Mullens) in win vs. San Francisco (11/25/18).

Recorded first career fumble recovery, which he also forced, in win at Miami (11/19/17).

Blocked a PAT at New Orleans (11/5/17).

Made first NFL start at Minnesota (9/24/17).

Registered first career forced fumble in win vs. Chicago (9/17/17).

With Buccaneers leading 16-11 in the fourth quarter vs. New Orleans (12/11/16), kept a Tampa Bay punt from going into the end zone with a leaning save at the goal line, which was downed at the one-yard line.

Made NFL debut vs. Los Angeles Rams (9/25/16).

HBCU Caucus for the 117th Congress Announced

Posted by Vanessa Roberson
Posted on

Especially in politics, this is the year HBCUs will be celebrated, and not overlooked! The election of Vice President Kamala Harris and the recent convening of Congress members will ensure that. See the full release from Senator Chris Coons below on updates for the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus!

U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and U.S. Representatives Alma Adams (D-N.C.) and French Hill (R-Ark.) announced the return of the Bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Caucus for the 117th Congress. The Caucus was originally founded in 2015; since then, it has grown to over 100 Members strong in both the House and the Senate.

Courtesy of TMCF

“We relaunched the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus two years ago to find new ways to support institutions like Delaware State University which continue to expand the opportunity of higher education to more students,” said Senator Coons. “In that time, the caucus’ efforts have helped bring renewed focus to HBCUs: securing permanent federal funding for HBCUs and MSIs, launching new ROTC programs for aspiring pilots, and most recently, passing the HBCU Partners Act to deepen the federal government’s collaboration with these critical engines for equity. Delaware is home to one of the top HBCUs in the country, and I’ve witnessed firsthand the impact that DSU has on our state and on the city of Dover. That’s why I’m proud to lead this caucus with my colleagues and to continue championing priorities of HBCUs and MSIs in the halls of Congress.”

“As the first Senate co-chair of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Caucus, I can assure Americans that our work in advancing the cause of HBCUs is just beginning,” said Senator Tim Scott. “Much has been done since the early days of the HBCU caucus and all our tireless advocacy has not been in vain. We’ve secured historic and permanent funding for HBCUs, hosted university presidents in Washington—for the first time in history—to hear from them directly, and worked to cultivate private/public partnerships between HBCUs and American industries. I look forward to working with colleagues in both chambers, and on both sides of the aisle, to continue building on the good work we’ve accomplished to strengthen HBCUs across the country.”

“Once again, I am proud to lead the Congressional Bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities Caucus,” said Representative Adams. “Now entering its seventh year, the HBCU Caucus will continue to advance equity in higher education with a renewed commitment to giving these schools the support and resources they need. I am honored to be joined by my House co-chair, Rep. French Hill (AR-02), as well as my House Vice-Chairs Reps. Terri Sewell (AL-07) and Michael Turner (OH-10), Senate co-chairs, Sens. Tim Scott and Chris Coons, and the nearly 100 Members of Congress who have joined the Caucus for the 117th Congress. They know HBCUs are agents of access and inclusion in our society, and together we will ensure a bright future for these exceptional institutions.”

Courtesy of Saquan Stimpson

“For thousands of students in Arkansas and across the country, HBCUs like Arkansas Baptist College, Philander Smith College, Shorter College and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff offer the essential tools to help students pursue their own American Dream,” said Representative Hill. “As we start the 117th Congress, my colleagues and I seek to address the unique challenges that HBCUs face and expand opportunity for Black students. As Co-Chair of the HBCU Caucus, I look forward to working with Senator Coons, Senator Scott, and Representative Adams to reach across the aisle and start a national dialogue about what we can do to bolster our HBCUs. We will also work in a bipartisan manner to draft meaningful legislation that will support students and graduates of HBCUs by increasing access to career opportunities.”  

Historically Black Colleges and Universities play a critical role in higher education. Over 100 HBCUs across the country educate and employ many of our constituents, enrolling over 300,000 students every year. As they serve a disproportionate number of low-income and first-generation college attendees, HBCUs provide opportunity for students from underrepresented backgrounds to attain an excellent education. These institutions are essential producers of diverse talent and important pipelines for the workforce.

Despite the important role HBCUs play, they face unique challenges due to historic discrimination and underfunding. These challenges include a limited capacity to access research and development grants, obtain funding for capital infrastructure improvements, and recruit faculty. The Caucus was created to educate Congress and the American people about the important role HBCUs play in higher education, facilitate discussions about the challenges impacting HBCUs, and draft meaningful, bipartisan legislation to address them.

Former Virginia Union University Coach’s Abuse Allegations Halt Season At Detroit Mercy

Posted by Vanessa Roberson
Posted on

AnnMarie Gilbert, who formerly coached for women’s basketball programs at Virginia Union University and Eastern Michigan University, is now in hot water. In her latest role at the University of Detroit Mercy, a Catholic school, her abuse allegations have piled up to a point that it has disrupted the entire season. Get the sad details about the scope of the accusations in the story below.

Detroit Mercy’s women’s basketball team is cancelling the remainder of its season, and it is not due to COVID-19 issues.

Courtesy of Getty Images

A letter obtained by the Free Press and signed by 14 players and their parents was sent Sunday to Titans athletic director Robert Vowels Jr. It detailed a number of allegations of player mistreatment and potential NCAA violations by first-year coach AnnMarie Gilbert, whose time at Eastern Michigan in the last decade ended with the school being placed on probation due to infractions.

Multiple parents contacted by the Free Press confirmed the authenticity of the letter and expressed their frustrations with how Gilbert has treated their daughters over the past nine months since she was hired April 24, 2020.

“It’s been a nightmare,” said one parent, who requested anonymity Wednesday due to concerns of retribution toward their daughter. “Our girls are just not the same.”

An athletic department spokesperson responded to an email with a statement from Vowels, stating: 

“The health and well-being of our student-athletes is our athletic department’s top priority. We have talked with all players and members of our women’s basketball program about their concerns. We take them very seriously and will continue to review them closely. 

Courtesy of AP Photo/Amy Sancetta

“As we have prioritized the needs of our student-athletes during this challenging academic year, we have decided to suspend the 2020-21 women’s basketball season.” 

Gilbert has not responded to email requests for comment from the Free Press. 

The letter was crafted after parents held video meetings during which they began to realize the extent of the situation. Many of them had not met together in a group this season due to pandemic restrictions, but they were “blown away by the horrific stories of utter disregard for the care and wellbeing of our student-athletes” as each detailed their daughter’s stories, according to the letter.

“Everybody had their own little things but thought it was isolated,” said another parent, who also requested anonymity Wednesday. “It makes it tough under COVID when there’s no interaction between parents – you don’t see each other at games, there’s just no connection there. Last weekend, everybody got on a Zoom and told their stories. It started real slow, and then somebody told a story and it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ And then someone else did.

“It’s like, ‘Oh, she’s just evil. She’s bad to everybody.’”

Sources told the Free Press that at a Wednesday afternoon meeting between Vowels and the team, players said they would play this weekend at Youngstown State only if Gilbert was not the coach. Vowels reportedly told them he felt the rest of the season should be canceled “unless you tell me differently” and that Detroit Mercy president Antoine M. Garibaldi had been notified of the situation. Players expressed their concern for potential backlash from the school or Gilbert if she remained or was not put on a leave of absence for an investigation into the allegations.

2 Golf Players In Upcoming Farmers Insurance Open Attended HBCUs

Posted by Vanessa Roberson
Posted on

It’s no surprise that HBCU students are infiltrating the golf game and coming for the big titles! It has turned out that not one, but two players in this month’s upcoming Farmers Insurance Open will be products of HBCUs! Read today’s story from PGA Tour for the full details!

With the tournament set to begin next week, Farmers Insurance® and the Farmers Insurance Open® will again host a group of players from the APGA (Advocates Professional Golf Association) Tour when a collection of the best players on the PGA TOUR come to Torrey Pines, January 28-31, 2021.

In January 2020, the AGPA Tour worked with Farmers® to host its first-ever tournament in conjunction with a PGA TOUR event at the Farmers Insurance Open, an annual PGA TOUR stop at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif. The 27-hole APGA Tour tournament, dubbed the Farmers Insurance Open Invitational, was held on Torrey Pines’ North Course during Saturday’s third round of the Farmers Insurance Open, played simultaneously on the South Course. It was recently announced that the APGA Tour will return in 2021 to play again on the Saturday of tournament week with 17 players set to tee it up on Torrey Pines’ North Course this year.

“At Farmers we value diversity and are proud to help support the APGA Tour in its mission to level the playing field for many talented golfers,” said Jeff Dailey, CEO of Farmers. “We look forward to hosting the APGA during the Farmers Insurance Open with the second-annual APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open Invitational on Saturday of tournament week.”

All 17 participants have unique paths to the APGA Tour as they chase their dream of playing on the PGA TOUR. In fact, two APGA Tour players– Kevin Hall and Willie Mack III—have recently been awarded with sponsors’ exemptions to separate PGA TOUR events in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Genesis Invitational, respectively. The following contains biographical information on several players who will be available by request for media interviews.

Mulbe Dillard, courtesy of Golf Channel

Mulbe Dillard, a senior at Florida A&M, debuts at No. 1 in a newly formed ranking created by the PGA TOUR and the APGA Tour aimed to help top Black college golfers’ transition to the professional ranks by easing the financial burden of playing developmental tours and Korn Ferry Tour Q-School. Dillard leads this new college ranking for Black golfers in NCAA Division I, II and III, with the top five seniors each year receiving summer status on the APGA Tour and an exemption into the pre-qualifying stage for Korn Ferry Tour Q-School.

Kevin Hall, 37, is deaf and trying to pave the way for both the deaf community and African Americans. He played high school golf for Winton Woods (Ohio) while he attended St. Rita School for the Deaf. He went on to play at Ohio State, where he won the Big Ten Conference individual championship in 2004 by 11 shots and turned pro the following year. He has played several PGA TOUR and Korn Ferry Tour events over the course of his career. In recent years, he has won three times on the APGA Tour. His father, Percy Hall, caddies and signs for him, and will be joining Kevin at the 2021 Farmers Insurance Open Invitational.

Willie Mack III, a Farmers Insurance brand ambassador, is a native of Flint, Mich., who played collegiately at Bethune-Cookman (in 2006), where he won 11 collegiate events. Mack was also the first African American to win the Michigan Amateur Championship, in 2011. He won the APGA Tour’s Lexus Cup as the Tour’s top player in 2019. He won two events, finished runner-up twice and recorded six top-10 finishes that year. Mack has won nearly 20 professional tournaments and currently competes on the APGA Tour.

Willie Mack III, courtesy of Steve Jessmore

While Joey Stills has carved his own path through his young golf career as a standout player at the University of West Florida, giving his time as a teacher and mentor at his local First Tee Chapter and now as a professional on the APGA Tour, he continues to chase not only his own dreams, but also the career of his father, Adrian Stills. Adrian is one of the pioneering African Americans to make it to the PGA TOUR through PGA TOUR Qualifying School and joins legendary figures helping to pave the way for African Americans in professional golf. He eventually joined APGA Tour CEO Ken Bentley to develop and co-found the APGA Tour.

Joey joins other First Tee alumni in the field, the aforementioned Mulbe Dillard and Joseph Dent, son of 12-time PGA TOUR Champions winner, Jim Dent.

Other APGA Tour players who will be at the event include:

• Brad Adamonis
• Jarred Garcia
• Joe Hooks
• Michael Herrera
• Maurice Jeffries
• Landon Lyons
• Marcus Manley
• Tim O’Neal
• Tommy Schaff
• JP Thornton
• Davin White
• Rovonta Young

In addition to the APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open Invitational, another APGA Tour member, Kamaiu Johnson, will be playing in the PGA TOUR competition next week after Farmers Insurance CEO Jeff Dailey surprised Johnson with the news that he had been awarded a sponsor’s exemption into the Farmers Insurance Open in October. Johnson called the news “life changing” and will tee it up against the world’s best players when he makes his PGA TOUR debut next week.

With exemptions announced for Hall, Johnson and Mack, three players who have been an integral part of the APGA Tour schedule will tee it up on the PGA TOUR in the next four weeks.

Kamaiu Johnson, also a Farmers Insurance brand ambassador, dropped out of school in the eighth grade. City golf superintendent Jan Auger spotted Johnson, then 13 years old, swinging a stick outside an apartment complex that bordered Hilaman Golf Course in Tallahassee, Fla. Auger told Johnson to head back to the clubhouse, where there would be a 9-iron and a bucket of balls waiting for him. This moment changed the course of his life. At 16, Johnson began competing in events and made history, winning the Tallahassee Open three times, the last of which came in 2017. In 2020, Johnson won twice on the APGA Tour, including a victory at the 2020 APGA Tour Lexus Cup Championship in Los Angeles, and finished second in the 2020 APGA Tour Lexus Cup Point Standings.

A longtime supporter of the APGA, Farmers is deepening its commitment in 2021 by increasing its financial support for player access, working to provide professional and career development opportunities for athletes, and helping to bring the game to more athletes.

Hampton Men’s Basketball Halted After A Positive COVID-19 Test

Posted by Vanessa Roberson
Posted on

HBCU teams have been doing their best to power through the restrictions of COVID-19. For the teams in the NBA, it has taken so far as to go into a “bubble” that isolates players, restricts visits from family and friends, includes daily tests, and more. With that system being a bit more difficult on the collegiate level, the men’s basketball team at Hampton University has just hit a roadblock. Read below for the unfortunate news regarding one of Hampton’s players.

Hampton men’s basketball coach Buck Joyner yells at his players during the Hampton University and Gardner-Webb matchup at Hampton University Convocation Center in Hampton on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. (Hannah Ruhoff / The Virginian-Pilot)

A positive COVID-19 test has forced Hampton men’s basketball into a pause of team activities, the school announced this week.

Four games have been postponed: two against Campbell earlier this week and two against Winthrop on Sunday and Monday. Makeup dates and a resumption of team activities have yet to be announced.

The player received the positive test two days after returning from two wins over South Carolina-Upstate last week.

“The men’s basketball program will now pause and follow Hampton University COVID-19 protocols,” Hampton director of athletics Eugene Marshall, Jr. said in a release. “The health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches and those associated with the team are of the utmost importance.”

No players broke team rules over the weekend, Hampton coach Buck Joyner said, and the positive result came as a surprise.

Hampton University Guard Jermaine Marrow (2) hits a fade away shot against Buccaneers at the Convocational Center Hampton, Virginia on Saturday January 4, 2020. (John Sudbrink / The Virginian-Pilot)

“We test every day,” Joyner said. “We took the test on Saturday when we got back (from South Carolina) and everyone was negative. Sunday the player was positive.”

The team is working through Hampton’s COVID-19 protocols and CDC guidelines with players quarantined and hosting team meetings through Zoom calls.

The next seven to 10 days will determine how quickly Hampton (7-8 overall, 6-4 Big South Conference) can resume its schedule, Joyner said.

“We do a Zoom call and talk every day,” Joyner said. “Other than that, we just have to wait this thing out.”

Spelman Art History Student Aiyana Thompson Writes Affirmation Book For Black Girls

Posted by Vanessa Roberson
Posted on

“All the things you wish for are yours.” This is just one of the messages Spelman College student Aiyana Thompson is ingraining in others with her uplifting brand. The Chicago native is a writer, photographer, artists, and now a self-published author. As an art history major, this Class of 2023 creative has found beautiful ways to not only encourage other women, but empower them.

Courtesy of Spelman College

Black Girl You Are is a beautiful affirmation book Thompson created that every Black girl should read. The contents are there to remind girls of their worth, their potential, and the support they have in this world. With calming tans and feminine pinks, she made sure to make a book this is just as beautiful as it makes Black girls feel. Spread across the pages are perhaps forgotten, or even never-realized messages. One page reads, “You are worthy of love. You are worthy of luxury. You are worthy of respect. You are worthy of peace.” On the Instagram page for her book, she has even used the brand to tell Black girls to vote!

In a highlight by Spelman, Thompson shared her inspiration for beginning this project. “The ‘self-help’ genre has been my favorite as of late and I believe that’s why I ended up writing the book, other than the fact that God literally dropped it in my spirit,” she said. “The death of Breonna Taylor was also a big push for me. This project was written out of both, my admiration of Black women, and my exhaustion as a Black woman.”

Courtesy of Twitter

If you would like to see more Black Girl You Are products, she has created other works of art as well. On her website, the same colorful images of Black women can be found on products like phone cases for iPhones and Samsungs, posters, notebooks, and even creative magazines.

When it comes to her next moves, this creative has shared that she has plenty projects under her belt, and she’s looking for more! These projects include magazines, books, short films, and more. She is also the CEO and Founder of The Concrete Rose Society. Since moving to Atlanta for Spelman, Aiyana Thompson continues to reside there and plans to leave her mark.

Chris Paul Basketball Academy To Host HBCU CON For Students Looking To Go Pro

Posted by Vanessa Roberson
Posted on

Even after enrolling at Winston-Salem State University, NBA player Chris Paul maintained his dedication to the HBCU community. Organized through the Chris Paul Basketball Academy, HBCU CON will provide opportunities for athletic students like himself to prepare for the NBA league that he has thrived in for years. Read all about the multi-day event in the story below.

The HBCU CON, a weeklong basketball and academic experience for elite players from historically Black colleges and universities, will be offering instruction embedded with skill development from former and current NBA professionals and training for male and female HBCU student-athletes aspiring to play professionally.

Chris Paul, courtesy of Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

HBCU CON will occur June 12-19, 2021, at the Chris Paul Basketball Academy in Winston-Salem, NC. The weeklong event will encompass a two-day tournament with a televised championship game played on Juneteenth, seminars, college fair, vendors, and E-Sports lounge. More importantly, an internship initiative will be available to support HBCU students obtain real-life training and industry connections in the pursuit of a business career in sports. Some of the proceeds from the event, which is in partnership with TLS Sports, The B’elle Group, Cxmmunity, and HBCU Gameday, will be donated to HBCUs.

“HBCU CON was created because we weren’t seeing adequate representation of HBCU athletes being drafted to the professional ranks nor HBCU graduates involved on the business side of sports whether a corporate or production position,” says Chuck Stinson (graduate of Morehouse College), Managing Director of TLS Sports. “We see the issue as a lack of exposure, training, and knowledge.”

Chris Paul reps WSSU on his shoes, courtesy of Winston-Salem Journal

TLS Co-Founder & CEO, Cicero Leak added: “TLS is excited about the launch of HBCU CON. We look forward to helping level the playing field for those who attend historically black colleges or universities that aspire to make it to the next level but are overlooked.”

“The Chris Paul Basketball Academy is excited about the opportunity to host the first-ever HBCU CON. Our organization understands the history that these illustrious universities carry, and we want to continue to bring attention to them on a national scale. This event will allow athletes who are not always in the national spotlight to gain valuable exposure that will hopefully propel them to the next level professionally,” says Julian Flack, General Manager of the Chris Paul Basketball Academy.

Morgan State University President Offers Inaugural Poet Amanda Gorman a Job

Posted by Vanessa Roberson
Posted on

Morgan State University’s President David Wilson was just as moved as we all were by poet Amanda Gorman’s inaugural speech. See what he chose to offer in the promising poet in the story below!

Amanda Gorman, courtesy of AP

The president of a historically Black university in Maryland was so captivated by inaugural poet Amanda Gorman’s poem during President Joe Biden’s inauguration that he offered her a job — on Twitter.

Morgan State University President David Wilson joined the many people lauding Gorman, 22, Wednesday after her recital of “The Hill We Climb,” a poem that summoned images dire and triumphant and echoed the oratory of John F. Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. among others before the global audience.

“Ms. Gorman, I need you as our Poet-in-Residence at the National Treasure, ⁦@MorganStateU,” Wilson tweeted. “Outstanding!!!!! Consider this a job offer!” 

Wilson’s offer is certainly not the only opportunity that Gorman, the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, will receive since her widely praised performance. The Harvard University alum and Los Angeles native is already the country’s first National Youth Poet Laureate. She, along with Vice President Kamala Harris, inspired many people to tweet about #BlackGirlMagic on Wednesday. And Gorman hasn’t been shy to say she’ll run for president herself one day.

David Wilson, courtesy of Morgan State University

Her career is already taking off: Penguin Young Readers announced Wednesday that “The Hill We Climb” will be published in a special edition this spring. Within hours after her performance, her illustrated “Change Sings” book was No. 1 on Amazon.com’s bestseller list, her September poetry collection was No. 2, and her Instagram followers grew to 1.3 million.

But Wilson, who says he was “glued to the TV” while Gorman spoke, has hope.

“I’m very serious about opening an opportunity for her to come here as a poet in residence. We have all kinds of authors on campus, and we think that being at Morgan for a year would give her an even deeper and wider perspective on the issues she is addressing. If she would accept this offer, I would move on it in a heartbeat,” he told The Baltimore Sun. 

“I will be watching my emails.”