Meet Morehouse College Alumnus S. Lee Merritt Esq., Attorney Seeking Justice For Ahmaud Arbery

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Are you surprised? S. Lee Merritt Esq. graduated cum laude from Morehouse College and if there is anyone who can secure justice for the Ahmaud Arbery who was murdered in broad daylight, Merritt seems to be the right man for the job.

Unarmed Ahmaud Arbery was minding his business on a jog 2 miles from his home in Brunswick, Georgia on February 23, when Gregory McMichael, 64, and his son, Travis, 34 terrorized, shot and killed him. A video of the tragic episode surfaced. The pair was arrested months later on May 7, charged with murder and aggravated assault.

S. Lee Merritt Esq., also known as “the people attorney,” is a proud attorney and activist. He began his legal career with the Cochran Firm Philadelphia before going into private practice. Merritt now practices law through his federally-based practice, Merritt Law Firm. He holds licenses in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the State of New Jersey, federally in Eastern District of Pennsylvania and US District Court of the Northern District of Texas.

Merritt is a proud member of Omega Psi Fraternity Inc. and is an “emerging as an influential new voice in the fight for Social Justice. A Civil Right’s activist and attorney, Merritt runs a high profile practice focusing on victims of police brutality, hate crimes and corporate discrimination.” His website continues, “As an activist, he has championed police reform and community empowerment. His office has led the way in reform in Texas, a state notorious for its failure to prosecute police officer, advocating for the first murder indictments of officers in the state in over 40 years. Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey in the Summer of 2017, Merritt helped to launch the American Black Cross, a disaster relief organization geared to serve the most vulnerable sectors of society.”

In 2017 Merritt was recognized as one of the top 10 most influential African Americans in the country ages 18 to 45 by The Root. The National Black Caucus of State Legislators awarded Merritt the prestigious “Nation Builder” award, adding him to an elite list of recipients including President Barrack Obama, Shirley Chisholm and Vernon Jordan.

Today, the following statement was released from his office in conjunction with other lawyers on the case which include Ben Crump, Esq and L. Chris Stewart, Esq.:

Our office has reviewed the surveillance video which appears to show a person, believed to be Ahmaud Arbery, entering a property under construction. The individual remains on the property for under 3 minutes before continuing to jog down the road. This video is consistent with the evidence already known to us.

Ahmaud Arbery was out for a jog. He stopped by a property under construction where he engaged in no illegal activity and remained for only a brief period. Ahmaud did not take anything from the construction site. He did not cause any damage to the property. He remained for a brief period of time and was not instructed by any one to leave but rather left on his own accord to continue his jog. Ahmaud’s actions at this empty home under construction were in no way a felony under Georgia law.

This video confirms that Mr. Arbery’s murder was not justified and the actions of the men who pursued him and ambushed him were unjustified. We reiterate, Ahmaud Arbery did not take part in ANY felony, had no illegal substances in his system, was not armed yet was shot three times with a shotgun at close
range.

In a press release shared on Sunday, May 10, Attorney General Chris Carr shared, “We are committed to a complete and transparent review of how the Ahmaud Arbery case was handled from the outset.”

With Merritt on the case, they will not have any other option. Sincerest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Ahmaud Arbery.

Morgan State University Students Win $10k Each In NBA’s ‘Innovate The Future’ Business Competition

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Morgan State University’s newsroom shared an exciting announcement about 3 of its students who each won $10,000 scholarships:

photo: Morgan State University

The National Basketball Association has a tough question. How can the NBA profitably increase engagement of its fans in international markets where its games are televised outside of normal viewing hours? Fortunately for the $8-billion-a-year pro sports giant, three students from Morgan State University (MSU) have an intriguing answer: an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered application designed to make it easy for NBA fans to interact with one another beyond viewing games. With the N-Gage App, fans who wish to be active and play basketball can link up anytime with local friends wanting to do the same. N-Gage scans your area and identifies basketball courts near you, as well as people who are ‘down to hoop.’ Not feeling like being active? N-Gage makes it easy to challenge friends with open-source-augmented virtual reality games and quizzes.

That was the dream scenario that came to life in early April at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund-NBA“Innovate the Future”business competition, where the MSU team composed of senior Finance major Evan Robertson, senior Electrical Engineering major Victor Oyare Oko and junior Electrical Engineering major Martins Umeh took top honors. Each of Morgan’s winning competitors took home a $10,000 scholarship and NBA and Thurgood Marshall College Fund merchandise from the one-and-a-half-day event, which was created to inspire innovative and entrepreneurial-minded students of publicly supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities to change the world through business and technology. Kofi Nyarko, Ph.D., associate professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at MSU, was the faculty advisor for Morgan’s students. Teams from Alabama A&M University, Fayetteville State University, Florida A&M University and Grambling State University also participated in the competition by presenting their solutions to one of the event’s three case studies.

The three Morgan champions are all high academic achievers with cumulative grade point averages of 3.7 or higher, but they believe it was their drive to succeed that gave them the edge in the arena. “We were determined to win the competition from the time that we submitted the application,” said Team Leader Robertson, a native of Baltimore, Maryland. “We made plans to meet as a team every week before we even knew if we would be advancing to the next round. We set up team calls with NBA employees, NBA fans who would potentially benefit from our solution, and a number of experienced advisors. Read the full article.

University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff Celebrates 37 Student-Athletes In Spring 2020 Graduating Class

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The University of Arkansas At Pine Bluff Athletic Department is proud to recognize 37 student-athlete graduates who were honored as graduates for the 2020 spring commencement.

Due to the cancellation of all university events because of the COVID-19 pandemic, UAPB canceled its commencement ceremony this spring. The university plans to invite the student-athletes back to a special traditional commencement ceremony in December.

Below is a full listing of Golden Lion student-athlete graduates:

Spring 2020 Graduates

Baseball (10) Dalton Acosta (Social Science/Sociology), Darrian Aldridge (Social Science/Sociology), Carlos Benoit (General Studies), Kacy Higgins (Industrial Technology), Austin Krzeminski (General Studies), Antoine Luster (Health/Leisure Rec/Wellness), Alvin O’Guinn (Industrial Technology), Bryce Roesch (General Studies), Larry Sims (Health/Leisure Rec/Wellness), Andrew Szalkowski (Health/Leisure Rec/Wellness)
 
Men’s Basketball (5) Issac Bassey (General Studies), Khalid Campbell (Health/Leisure Rec/Wellness), Marquell Carter (Health/Leisure Rec/Wellness), Zavian Jackson (Health/Leisure Rec/Wellness), Jordan McNair (Health/Leisure Rec/Wellness)
 
Women’s Basketball (3) Aiya El Hassan (Biology/Medicine), Noe’ll Taylor (Human Science/Nutrition/Food Science), Shakendra Tilley (Health/Leisure Rec/Wellness)
 
Football (8) Samuel Beavers (Social Science/Political Science), Bradley Burrell (General Studies), Jayden Glover (Industrial Technology), Kolby McNeal (Health/Leisure Recreation/Wellness), Paul Reeves (Health/Leisure Recreation/Wellness), Christopher Robinson (Social Science/Political Science), Raynald St.Jour (Criminal Justice), Josh Wilkes (Health/Leisure Recreation/Wellness)
 
Soccer (4) Sariah Orocu (General Studies), Crystal Ruiz (Biology) Haleigh Russell (Elementary ED K-6) Shannon Seymour (General Studies)
 
Softball (2) Ann Jones (Business Marketing), Ann Gerwitz (Social Science)
 
Men’s Tennis (1) Le’Darrien Ledbetter (Accounting)
 
Men’s Track & Field (1) Shevon Phipps (Rehabilitation Services)
 
Women’s Track & Field (2) Camiya Knight (Psychology), Haley Grice (Industrial Technology)                                     
 
Volleyball (1) Micayla Pope (General Studies)

This article was originally shared to the UAPB Athletics newsroom.

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Little League World Series Winner Mo’ne Davis Reflects On Freshman Season At Hampton University

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Mo’ne Davis doesn’t remember everything from her shutout victory against Nashville in the Little League World Series in 2014. The Philadelphia native only recently rewatched the historic game in March.

Davis revealed as much on Inquirer Live at Lunch Monday while discussing her team’s LLWS run to the brink of the U.S. championship game, how life has changed in nearly six years since 2014 and how she is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic in Philadelphia after finishing her freshman year at Hampton University.

“That was the first time I watched the game fully through,” Davis said. “I didn’t remember [the first through fifth innings] at all. The last inning is the one I remember the most.”

The 2014 Little League World Series catapulted Davis into stardom as the first African-American girl to play in the organization’s history, and she didn’t disappoint. Her most notable performance for South Philadelphia’s Taney Dragons came against Nashville in a shutout effort. At 13, Davis pitched a complete game, struck out eight batters and allowed just two hits.

Davis is now playing softball at Hampton University. As a freshman, she started all 19 games at second base while batting .333 with eight RBIs and five stolen bases. Hampton had one of its best starts in program history with a 15-4 record.

“Next year we will make those numbers increase,” Davis said.

Her first dream was to play basketball at UConn, where Maya Moore was her favorite player growing up. The NCAA notably cited UConn for minor violations for head coach Geno Auriemma contacting Davis during the 2014 LLWS.

Now at 18 years old, Davis enjoys the comforts of attending a historically black college/university (HBCU) and pursuing her undergraduate degree in communications.

“Now that I go to an HBCU, I always encourage my friends from high school to look at an HBCU because you’ll actually enjoy it,” she said. “I just have a lot of fun being around people that you can relate to but different backgrounds, it’s pretty cool. I would say my favorite thing is definitely homecoming. That’s just a different atmosphere.”

Read the entire original article by Damichael Cole.

First Black Male Valedictorian At Thurgood Marshall School Of Law In 13 Years

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Congratulations are in order for Nnamdi Ezenwa. For the first time in 13 years, the highest performing person in the graduating class at the historically-Black, Thurgood Marshall School of Law is a Black man.

In 1978, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, agreed to name formally the “Law School of Texas Southern University,” the “Thurgood Marshall School of Law. (TMSL)” Each year, the Law School ranks in the top five (5) in the nation in the number of African-American law graduates. In addition, it ranks in the top twenty-five (25) in the number of Mexican-American or Chicano graduates.

This month, TMSL recognizes the next class of leaders, led by Ezenwa. He shares:

“Academics has been important to my family and has been important to me for my entire life. It’s an amazing feeling to be recognized like this. I wanted to get my law degree and be a positive example to others. I wanted to prove it can be done and it an be something anyone can achieve with hard work and a great work ethic.”

Without question, Ezenwa proved his point. Although he leads his class, he was also active on campus, participating in Honor Court and the African Law Student Association. He also finds time to be one of the editors for the Thurgood Marshall Law Review.

In high school and college, Ezenwa played basketball, like his father Francis, and had ‘hoop dreams’. He even went on to sign with an agent. When professional basketball didn’t work out, he took another route. Lucky for him (and his future clients), another major plan was in store.

“Continuing my career in basketball didn’t work out and that’s OK,” says Ezenwa. “Sometimes life takes us in another direction and I’d love to stay involved in sports with my law degree and there are multiple possibilities I can do that. I’ll take the Texas bar exam and then we’ll see where I go from there.”

Congratulations again to Nnamdi Ezenwa and all of his colleagues.

Update: May 13, 2020 11am EST: “18 years” has been changed to “13 years” to recognize the valedictorian in 2007.

Nick Cannon Is Now A Howard University Graduate

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Over the weekend, Nick Cannon announced that he graduated from Howard University, historically black college in Washington DC. Here’s what the HBCU Alumni had to say:

“I graduated from Howard University @howarduniversity1867 today! Received a degree in Criminology / Administration of Justice and a minor in Africana Studies! Had the opportunity to speak at the virtual ceremony, Masters and PHD is next! #HU2020,” he wrote alongside a video of himself wearing his cap and gown.

After sharing the exciting news with fans, the Drumline actor was congratulated in the comments section. Back in 2016, Cannon announced that he enrolled in the well-accredited HBCU. In a post to Twitter, the father of two explained the reasoning behind furthering his education. “Nelson Mandela once said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,’ and with that said I have officially enrolled at Howard University.”

He continued, “I am always seeking new challenges and continual growth and decided to obtain my first college degree from an institution that had a proven legacy of producing great minds. I have friends, mentors and colleagues who attended Howard University. I look forward to this new journey in my life and am excited about the possibilities ahead.”

In addition to receiving his degree and gearing up for the release of his upcoming documentary, Cannon is also set to host a daytime talk show, which airs in September. “My goal is to be the most powerful person in the media,” Cannon said in a statement regarding his new venture. “Being able to have a multi-platform empire is really what I have been focusing on. Create household legacies and brands, from radio to digital to daily television, I just feel like I can really do things [that] no one else has ever done before.”

Take a look at Nick Cannon’s virtual ceremony below.

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HBCU Student Megan Thee Stallion Is Gunning For No. 1 With ‘Savage’

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Texas Southern University student Megan Thee Stallion could gallop to No. 1 on next week’s Billboard Hot 100 given that everything goes to plan for her.

Her song “Savage” is currently battling Doja Cat’s “Say So” for the highest perch.

From Billboard.com:

According to projections based on building Nielsen Music/MRC Data figures, Megan Thee Stallion‘s “Savage” and Doja Cat‘s “Say So” should both challenge for the summit of the May 16-dated Hot 100, thanks to notable gains. On the most recently published chart, dated May 9, the former ranks at No. 4, a new high, and the latter places at No. 6, after reaching No. 5.

The tracks are aiming to dethrone “The Scotts,” by The Scotts, Travis Scott and Kid Cudi, as the collaboration is likely to depart the top spot after it launched at No. 1on the May 9-dated chart.

The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming, radio airplay and digital sales data. The top 10 of the May 16-dated chart is scheduled to be revealed Monday (May 11), with all surveys updating on Billboard.com Tuesday (May 12). The May 16-dated Hot 100 will reflect the streaming and sales tracking week ending May 7 and the airplay week ending May 10.

Per preliminary data, “Savage” and “Say So” appear set for a tight battle for No. 1. “Savage” (released on 1501 Certified/300) could draw over 40 million U.S. streams and 40 million in radio airplay audience and sell over 50,000 downloads in the tracking week. “Say So” (on Kemosabe/RCA) could sport over 90 million in radio reach, 25 million streams and 80,000 sold in the same span.

The high-profile remixes of the song have definitely benefited Meg and Doja Cat too.

Beyonce made an appearance with four original verses on “Savage Remix” and Nicki Minaj jumped on “Say So Remix” to drop some dope verses, respectively.

Obamas Will Host A Virtual Graduation Event For HBCUs

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On May 16, former president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama will host a virtual graduation event for seniors of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), reported Business Insider. The virtual graduation is called ‘Show Me Your Walk, HBCU Edition.’

It is one of three similar commencement addresses the Obamas will participate in. Also on May 16, the Obamas will participate in an event for graduating high school seniors. And on June 6, Barack Obama will deliver a general commencement address for graduating students from both high schools and colleges.

The programs are meant to lift the spirits of students who are unable to participate in in-person graduation ceremonies which have been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I’ve always loved joining commencements––the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice,” tweeted the former president. “Even if we can’t get together in person this year, Michelle and I are excited to celebrate the nationwide Class of 2020 and recognize this milestone with you and your loved ones.”

Read full via Diverseeducation.com

Pharrell Williams Surprises Graduates Of Norfolk State

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Norfolk State University students were “Happy” Saturday when singer and producer Pharrell Williams was the surprise commencement speaker at their virtual graduation. Like many colleges and secondary schools across the country, the historically black university in southeastern Virginia moved to virtual classrooms because of the coronavirus pandemic. The school held an online graduation ceremony for the class of 2020 on Saturday.”Even if this is not the norm, you guys and girls still deserve all the praise,” Williams said. “You stuck it through, you made it and today’s your day.”

Patsy Douglas, a graduating mass communications major, said she felt down on her graduation day because she couldn’t have a physical ceremony. But Williams’ message to students lifted her spirits. “His message inspired me to keep going and striving for the highest regardless of the circumstances,” Douglas told CNN via text message. “His words and affirmation to the class of 2020 will be forever carried in all of our hearts.”

Read full via CNN.com

How to Get Funding For Your Start-Up Business While Still In College

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If you are looking to start your own business but you are still in college, you will find that it can be difficult to afford all the things you need to get your business up and running. This is because there are many things that you will need to consider paying for from equipment to your office space and paying any employees that you hire. 

To make things easier, we will discuss how you can get funding to start a business when you are still in college. Keep reading to find out more.

Make Sure You Look at Your Options 

The first thing that you should do is make sure that you have a look at all your options that are available. This is a good idea because as a college student, you might not have the right capital to take out a loan. From loans to financing to grants, you will be able to see what each option can do for you and decide which one will benefit your business the most. There are some options that are better suited to college students.

Ask for Some Advice 

The next thing that you should do if you are looking for funding to start up your business when you are still in college is to make sure you ask for some advice. It is important to look for advice when it comes to funding for your business and this is because it can help point you in the right direction and help you make the right decisions in order to make your business successful. Do you know someone who runs their own business? This might be a good place to start.

Apply for Funding

Another thing that you should do if you are looking to start your business while still in college is to make sure that you apply for funding as soon as possible. Small business funding is perfect for you because it allows you to get a cash injection that you can use to buy the essential items for your business. For instance, it can help to get the office space you need, equipment that you are looking for as well as much more so, if you are looking to apply for small business funding then, have a look at the options that are available.

Make Sure it is Affordable

When you have found a funding option that can help you, make sure you have a look and see if it will be affordable for you. This is because you will need to pay back what you use in a certain amount of time. If you are not able to pay this amount back in time it can cause you to get into debt. Remember that as a college student, you have other expenses such as your tuition loans so these will be additional costs.If you are hoping to start your own business as a college student, use our tips to get started.

Culture Creators C2 Summit Series Set For May 21st

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(NEW YORK, NY) – May 1, 2020 – Culture Creators, an exclusive platform established to cultivate and highlight the achievements of diverse professionals in entertainment, has announced that its second installment of the C2 Summit Series will take place online as a virtual conference Monday, May 18 through Thursday, May 21, 2020.

Confirmed speakers include leaders from William Morris Endeavor, Live Nation, Morgan Stanley, MasterCard, Atlantic Records, Motown Records, Will Packer Films, Rap Snacks, and more. Steve Pamon, President/COO of Parkwood Entertainment will host the Summit’s first Culture Chat on Monday, May 18 at 8:00 pm. A special discussion on college students and mental health during the pandemic will also take place.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural event in Washington, D.C., Morgan Stanley returns as a Summit partner to provide HBCU students with a four-day digital experience that includes panel discussions, one-on-one interviews, speed mentoring, culture chats and a pitch competition. Attendees can take advantage of employment opportunities as well as unparalleled access to job recruiters and seasoned influencers with various backgrounds in business, entertainment, technology, finance, and lifestyle.

New sponsor Microsoft & Microsoft Stores will deliver the C2 Summit virtual experience via Microsoft Teams — the hub for collaboration. Breakout sessions and activities will take place through Microsoft Teams and Channels, and keynotes will be hosted on Microsoft Teams Live Events. In addition to accessing professional development opportunities, Summit guests will receive guidance on using Microsoft Teams for their future careers.

The C2 Summit is FREE for college students.  Sign up now at aka.ms/cc2020.  

“The C2 Summit was truly designed with the college student in mind,” says Joi Brown, Culture Creators founder. “We wanted to create a holistic experience that addressed every need a student may have when embarking upon their career journey. Undoubtedly, there are very few programs that make high-level executives and influencers accessible in such an intimate, one-on-one setting. I’m grateful to Morgan Stanley, Microsoft and Microsoft Stores for sharing in our commitment to sow into these future creators in business and entertainment.”

“As an inaugural sponsor, Morgan Stanley is honored to again partner with Culture Creators for the C2 Summit.,” says Tiara Chesmer, Regional Diversity Officer, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. “The C2 Summit aligns seamlessly with our own core values: ‘Doing the Right Thing,’ ‘Leading with Exceptional Ideas,’ and ‘Giving Back.’ It’s vital that we pave the way for African American youth to have a voice in Wealth Management. As such, we are elated to seize the opportunity to empower these students to oversee their own personal finances and to encourage them to pass the torch within their own communities. As a multicultural woman, it’s not only my duty as a Diversity Officer but a personal passion as well to create more seats at the table. The C2 Summit allows for myself and my colleagues to interact with and encourage African American future executives to take the reins of their financial future and pave the way for generations to come.” 

Deadline to register for the C2 Summit is May 12. Attendees will receive technical instructions for event keynote speakers and breakout sessions upon registration.

Visit http://theculturecreators.co/createnow/ for more information.

HBCU Grad To Release New Book Next Month

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Dennis Richmond Jr. is continuing to beat the drum for historically black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, and next month he plans to drop some jewels on his journey in a new book. Richmond titled the book ‘He Spoke at My School: An Educational Journey,’ explaining that now is the best time to release his book. “I’m in a good space in life right now,” he told HBCU Buzz. He graduated from Claflin University with a B.A. in African and African American Studies in 2017, and he graduated with his Master of Science in Education from Sarah Lawrence College in 2019. “I am 25-years-old, I don’t pay a lot of bills, and I’m substitute teaching until I obtain my teaching certification in New York,” Richmond said. “So I believe that this is the perfect time for me to do this.” Check out the interview with Richmond below. 

Tommy G. Meade Jr.: What do you want readers to gain from your story?

Dennis Richmond Jr.: Some people might consider this book an autobiography, and other people might think this book is a memoir. Regardless, when people read it, I want them to walk away with a sense of encouragement. My experiences through education changed my life, and there are lessons that I learned through it all that can inspire others. I share those lessons in this book. Some things are as simple as hard working paying off. Other experiences, such as people dropping in and falling out of your life, are a bit more complicated.

Tommy G. Meade Jr. What’s your fondest memory of the black college experience?

Dennis Richmond Jr.: My fondest memory of the Black College Experience was when I realized the power of an HBCU. I could go to any other HBCU campus, South Carolina State University, Howard University, Tennessee State University, and have something in common with students. It was powerful. I was a part of something larger than myself is amazing. 

Tommy G. Meade Jr.: Name some topics that will be addressed in the book?

Dennis Richmond Jr.: There are a lot of small topics addressed in the book. Some of the more essential topics are Black history, dealing with bullying, and wanting to drop out of college. The book starts with a portion of my family history from the 1700s. You learn about my ancestors from my 6th great grandmother Margaret “Peg,” to my 2nd great grandfather John Sherman Merritt, to me. I faced bullying in middle school for being different, and I talk about that a lot. I also talk about wanting to leave school. I think a lot of college students have had that thought before.

Tommy G. Meade Jr.: You’re known for your efforts to raise awareness about historically black colleges to students in the New York area, given that these institutions aren’t present there. Why do you keep beating the drums for HBCUs?

Dennis Richmond Jr.: Right. I still beat the drum for HBCUs because of that very reason. There are no HBCUs in New York, so I make sure that as many students as possible know about them. It is imperative that when high school guidance counselors talk about colleges, they talk about all colleges. You wouldn’t want to walk into a restaurant and learn that there’s only one thing on the menu. It’s the same with the college process. You should learn about different types of colleges, not just community colleges or schools in your particular state.

Tommy G. Meade Jr.: What sets you and your journey apart from the rest of the crowd?

Dennis Richmond Jr.: Going back to question number two about my fondest memory in college would answer this question. While I was a student at Claflin University, another fond memory that I have, and something that sets my journey apart from the rest of the crowd, was when I was awarded a scholarship. This scholarship wasn’t your regular scholarship. Back in 2015, I was awarded a $25,000 scholarship from the United Negro College Fund, UNCF. Not only did that scholarship change my life, but because I was one of the recipients of the award, I was featured on Black Entertainment Television, BET.

    My journey resulted in a life-changing experience. A woman saw me on BET, and I ended up speaking at an event in my hometown of Yonkers, New York, and I got paid for it. Thanks to that same woman and some others with that organization, I also had a paid internship. The story goes on and on. That one scholarship changed my life forever. I would have never received that scholarship, had it not been for attending an HBCU.

    Tommy G. Meade Jr.: Any advice for those planning to go to HBCU in the future? 

    Dennis Richmond Jr.: Of course. Where should I begin? I’m going to keep it simple. No matter what happens in life, and I do mean, no matter what happens in life, work hard. You might not look better than the next person. You might not dress better than the next person. You might not even be as popular as the next person. If you can outwork them though chances are, people will gravitate to you first. Especially if they know, you can help them.

    Dennis Richmond, Jr., M.S.Ed., is a 25-year-old HBCU graduate from Yonkers, New York, and a contributor to HBCU Buzz. 

    Feel free to follow me on social media. My Instagram and Twitter are both @NewYorkStakz.

    Howard Alumna Debbie Allen Explains How Mom Stopped Her From Pledging AKA

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    Today, Strong Black Lead, Netflix’s podcast featuring interviews with legendary Black people in the entertainment industry published their season finale, an interview with Debbie Allen. If you don’t know, Allen has done it all: dancer, actor, producer, director etc. Madame Noire’s Veronica Bell covers the interesting peak into Allen’s almost sorority-life:

    So it makes sense that people would want to claim her. And they have. Online if you search Debbie Allen and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, you’ll see that she is listed as a member of the historically Black sorority.

    During the interview, host Tracy Clayton shared that there is much debate about whether or not Allen actually pledged. She laughed before sharing what happened in her quest to become an AKA.

    Tracy Clayton: Are you aware that there is a conversation on the internet about whether or not you pledged any sorority and if so, whether it was Delta or AKA. Is that something that you’re conscious of?

    Debbie Allen: Laughs I’m not aware of the conversation but I’m aware of it every time I’m in the company of multiple Black women who go ooo [oop] or skee wee. And they talk to me.

    So, when I was at Howard University, my sister Phylicia Rashad, whose footsteps I was following everywhere pledged AKA. So, I was going to pledge AKA. I went and I made line. Oh my interview, I just remember it. I was so sharp, they thought I was schooled or I don’t know what. They were gunning for me. They were going to really let me have it. But my mother, Vivian Ayers, said, ‘If you pledge a sorority, then I’m going to take all the money that I have saved to send you to dance school in the summer and I’m going to buy a car. Because your consciousness is not in the right place. Your focus is off. And I’m like, ‘No mom, no.’ So I dropped out of line. So I never did pledge and I went to the New London Dance Festival where I met Alvin Ailey, where I met the protégée of Katherine Dunham, I met Twyla Tharp, Martha Graham. I met the greatest icons in the dance world and momma was right. Read the full story by Veronica Wells on Madame Noire.

    Two PVAMU Panthers Headed To Green Bay Packers

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    The Green Bay Packers have added a couple Black-college players to their roster.

    Not one, but two players will join Green Bay on the field! Prairie View A&M’s (PVAMU) Jalen Morton and Jordan Jones are the newest to receive free agent deals, as shared by PVAMU Panthers Head Football Coach, Eric Dooley.

    https://twitter.com/EricDooley80/status/1254210515729108992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1254210515729108992&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fhbcugameday.com%2F2020%2F04%2F25%2Fgreen-bay-signs-prairie-view-duo-to-udfa-deals%2F

    Morton, PVAMU’s quartback and Jones, tight-end/H-back have made it to the next step of their dreams, despite the HBCU NFL combine being cancelled.

    Morton, nicknamed “J-Mo” is a native of Arlington Texas and shares that his father Jarrett inspired him to pick up the football. The 6’4, 226-pound leader of his team threw more than 4,000 yards and scored 33 touchdowns over his last two seasons, while rushing over 1,200 yards on the ground and six rushing scores. Fun fact: Morton is studying to be an engineer, throws 100 yards, and lives his life according to Proverbs 28:1.

    Jones, nicknamed “Jay” is a 6’1 250-poind senior hailing from Frisco Texas. Jones’ says his mother actually inspired him to play football and if he wasnt on the field, he’d likely be on a basketball court. When he entered the football program at PVAMU, Jones said that in 5 years, he saw himself in the NFL. Dreams manifested! The redshirt senior transfer from Grambling State achieved a career-high of 28 passes for 497 yards and six scores at Prairie View last season. When he isn’t throwing and catching, Jones loves drawing and cooking.

    We are excited for both of these statistics-breaking, educated, young black men. Congratulations Jalen and Jordan!

    NIH Awards $23M To Howard University Partnership Program In Clinical And Translational Science

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    WASHINGTON – The Georgetown-Howard Universities Center for Clinical and Translational Science (GHUCCTS) has received a $24.3 million Clinical and Translational Science Award from the National Center for Advancing Translational Science, a part of  the National Institutes of Health. 

    The competitive renewal represents the third 5-year award for the center, which has secured $89.8 million in research funding over 15-years for its member institutions: Georgetown University, Howard University, MedStar Health Research Institute, the Washington DC VA Medical Center and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

    Led by principal investigators Joseph Verbalis, MD, from Georgetown University and Thomas Mellman, MD, from Howard University, the mission of GHUCCTS is to advance research and training with excellence, innovation, collaboration, and efficiency while realizing the potential of the unique capacities of its constituent institutions for developing new technologies, promoting ethical clinical and translational research, and engaging the diverse populations of our communities that have been historically underrepresented in clinical research, including people from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, people with disabilities, and older adults. 

    “One of the major missions of GHUCCTS has been to stimulate and support the growth of team science,” says Verbalis, a professor of medicine at Georgetown. “Advances in solving the complex and challenging health problems we face today can be achieved more quickly and efficiently by collaborations among investigators from different scientific disciplines working together on common problems.” 

    “GHUCCTS was built on a unique model of co-leadership between Georgetown and Howard University, a Historically Black University,” says Mellman, a professor of psychiatry at Howard. “The partnership has influenced prioritizing health disparities and diversity in our training and research missions. Diversity of institutional cultures and of the disciplines represented in our programs has been a founding and enduring strength of GHUCCTS.”  

    As one of 60 national CTSA programs, GHUCCTS has transformed research in the greater Washington DC region. Verbalis and Mellman along with faculty members from all of the GHUCCTS institutions and numerous collaborators across the region have achieved impressive goals over the last 10 years, including: 

    With this new award, GHUCCTS will continue to develop and promote innovative clinical and translational science research to improve the health of the greater Washington DC population. 

    For more information about GHUCCTS and its programs, visit http://www.georgetownhowardctsa.org/.

    Tuskegee University To Help Develop NASA’s Artemis Lunar Lander

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    Tuskegee University’s engineering researchers will oversee the testing and evaluation of additively manufactured parts for NASA’s artemis lunar lander.

    NASA’s ambitious Artemis program will see two astronauts returning to the surface of the moon for the first time since Apollo 17 touched down in December of 1972. To achieve this by 2024, the U.S. space agency has commissioned three private aerospace companies to design and manufacture human landing systems (HLS) for the mission. SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Dynetics, a subsidiary of Leidos, have begun working on conceptualizing their human carriers which the astronauts will use to land on and take off from our lunar neighbor.

    Within the Dynetics team is a number of smaller subcontractors that will play specific but crucial roles in the development of Dynetics’ HLS – one of which is Tuskegee. As the project’s only university-based team of academics, Tuskegee University’s engineering researchers will oversee the testing and evaluation of additively manufactured parts for the lunar lander.

    Kim Doering, vice president of Space Systems at Dynetics, said, “Dynetics is excited to lead this expert team of subcontractors that will return Americans to the lunar surface. This team has a proven history of technical excellence, and their contributions will greatly benefit the future of space exploration.”

    The Tuskegee team will carry out tensile and fatigue testing on the lander’s 3D printed components, evaluating their quality, durability, and suitability for the harsh environments outside of Earth’s atmosphere. The researchers will also be carrying out metallurgical evaluations from scratch, as 3D printed materials and parts carry new challenges in their standardization and certification. The studies will help establish the currently unknown relationships between the microstructure, processing, and properties of the 3D printed parts.

    Dr. Heshmat Aglan, dean of Tuskegee’s College of Engineering, explains: “Tuskegee University is proud to join this illustrious team helping the nation land astronauts on the moon by 2024. Our College of Engineering’s state-of-the-art facilities in additive manufacturing and materials processing and characterization have placed us in a strong position to join such a significant undertaking. This project provides real-time engineering opportunities as the College of Engineering educates the next generation of scientists and engineers.” Read the full story.