Side Gigs That Showcase Your Creativity

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Everyone these days is talking about having a side gig or part-time job to make a few extra dollars along the way. You can drive your car around town as a makeshift taxi or walk people’s dogs for money, but these don’t let you express yourself creatively. So then what do you do? Here are some side gigs you can do that can show off your creative side and still let you make a little extra cash.

Designing With Flowers

Yes, there is money to be made working in the garden. People across the country go to extraordinary lengths to make sure their yards look beautiful year round. If you’re creative, love flowers and working outdoors, this is something to look into. Designing wonderful layouts with various types of flowers can net you some good bank. 

Being able to take a simple garden project to the next level to shock and awe friends, family and most importantly your customers, will keep your schedule full. As a bonus, if you are able to learn how to do topiary and add it to your repertoire of abilities, you’ll expand your side gig into something special. 

People want to have beautiful pathways leading to their home or glorious garden landscapes to retreat to after a long day and they are willing to pay the experts to design it for them, so why not use your creativity and skills to make you some extra cash. 

Take Your Art to the Tee

If you have the creative ability to design artwork, you can transition it to make you money as a side gig. Starting up a T-shirt business as a side hustle can bring be profitable when executed properly. 

First off you’ll need to get a hold of a blank tee shirt wholesaler to help you keep costs low. Then the next step is entirely up to you. Finding the right equipment to fit your budget requires research and comparing products. After you’ve found what will work best for you, you can then focus on transitioning your artwork onto shirts for the world to see. 

Once you have the design and production part down, you’ll need to promote your products and offerings to the public. Be sure to promote yourself by wearing items you’ve created and have friends and family members do so as well. This way the word can get around. Lastly, use social media to your advantage and talk about your new adventures into the world of custom T-shirts. Being able to create wonderful designs and implement them onto shirts can be a cash cow waiting to happen. 

Writing for Money, It’s a Thing

Being creative doesn’t solely require you to be able to pick up a pencil or a paintbrush and create a stunning image. For hundreds of years, people have been making a living by writing. What to write exactly is up to you because there are options. 

First off you can start a blog about a topic you enjoy. Granted, blogging takes time and a long commitment, but it can be a fruitful endeavor in the right hands. Next, you can be a ghostwriter for online content such as blog posts or articles. There are people out there willing to pay you for your awesome content. You just have to find the right people to work for and ensure that they are willing to pay you for your time. 

If you’re really creative and can spin a wonderful tale children will enjoy, then why not write a children’s book. With technology today, you can self publish your book and get it posted on many different avenues for the public to view and possibly purchase. And if kiddie books aren’t your thing, try your hand at an adult novel. 

The fact is that, there is money to be had in writing and if you have the drive and are able to commit to it, it can bring in a nice chunk of change you can use to pay bills, knock down debt and buy yourself a little something nice. Don’t dismiss writing, it can be your road to financial freedom. 

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Life After College: Living on Your Own for the First Time

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You’ve graduated college and, with dozens of resumes sent to companies within your field, you’re staying with your parents for a few months until you land a job and find an apartment of your own to call home. 

Getting Started 

Now that you have several job prospects in the works it’s time to search for an apartment. Before you start looking, it’s essential that you create a budget and figure out exactly what you can afford to pay. Factor in food, utility bills like electric and cable, and other expenses. This way you’ll start off the right way, instead of getting in over your head before you get a chance to enjoy your new-found freedom. You can always opt to find a new place once the lease on your first place is up. 

Taking Care of You 

Being on your own for the first time is exciting and seeing a first real paycheck can make you think you have a lot of money that you can spend. Of course, that feeling goes away once you start to factor in all of your expenses. With the holidays just around the corner, you may want to buy gifts for family and friends. However, you now have to support yourself and that must come first. This doesn’t mean that you can’t buy anything. Just keep the gifts limited to small things and, when possible (especially with friends), opt to send paper cards or personalized holiday ecards instead. 

Finding Ways to Save on Monthly Bills 

For the first 6 months, you should hold off on buying anything on credit or using your stashed away cash for unnecessary items. The extras will happen. You, however, must be patient. It’s also beneficial to reduce costs where you are able. This will allow you to make the adjustment into adulthood easier. For example, start out with basic cable and the internet instead of signing up for tons of pay channels that you will hardly ever watch. And, when it comes to your cell phone, if you are already under your parents’ plan, see if you can remain there for a little while and pay them the additional fees to include you. 

Food Shopping 

Since you live alone, your food shopping bill shouldn’t be tremendous. However, often young adults find it easier to order takeout instead of cooking a meal for one. Try to avoid this, as the costs involved will take away from the extra money you have each month, which will ultimately make it hard for you to enjoy an evening out with friends. Instead, make a list of the basic foods you need, and then each week you can add a spice or seasoning to your cupboard until you have all the essentials to cook just about anything. You should also use coupons when you can, and check the weekly flyers of the local stores to see who has what you need on sale. 

Brown Bagging 

It’s your first job and you are so excited to be doing exactly what you want. Don’t let your new-found independence go away due to your overspending. When it comes to work, make a habit of bringing your lunch and your coffee from home. Just those two items alone can consume hundreds of dollars monthly, and before you know it you have nothing left to spend on you. 

Start a Savings Account 

You are making money and, before you start to run up bills, make it a practice of taking a small portion of each paycheck and putting it into a savings account. This money will help to pay for your first car or even provide you with a down payment for your first home. 

Living on your own for the first time is exciting. You have the freedom to make all your own decisions. Just make them wisely so that you can enjoy being an adult.

Most Common Mental Health Issues Facing College Students

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They say that your college years are some of the best years of your life, but it’s not without its complications. Today’s young adults are, unfortunately, faced with so many different challenges from their family and friends to society and the educational system, that it can be a lot to bear. Without the proper tools to cope with the associated emotions from these pressures, many students develop mental health problems that go untreated. 

While there is more awareness about mental health and the importance of speaking up, all too often college students suffer in silence and enter the world as wounded adults. Essentially, educating them on the various types of mental illnesses, common triggers, and effective preventative measures or treatment options can encourage more students to pay attention and ask for help. 

Depression

You’re away from home, trying to do the best you can with your grades, hoping to find people you fit in with, trying to survive on a shoestring budget, and navigating the real-world. This can begin to weigh heavily on a college student. Every week they’re away from loved ones, every bad grade they get on an assignment, and every rejection they get from their peers, causes some to feel sad, depleted, hopeless, and even depressed. 

The symptoms of depression include loss of appetite (or increased appetite), long periods of sadness, insomnia or oversleeping, isolation from friends and activities once enjoyed, stomach aches, headaches, body aches, difficulty concentrating, and thoughts of death or suicide. If you have been experiencing one or all of these symptoms, it is important that you reach out for help. Whether it be through a school counseling group or an outside source like a Santa Barbara mental health treatment center, treating your depression is essentially a matter of life or death.  

Anxiety

Will you be able to pass the test? How will you juggle your part-time job and studying for your final exams? Will you fit in at the party you got invited to? These are all common questions going through a college student’s head. Trying to juggle their studies, jobs, and social life can bring with it a lot of anxiety. While some of this is a normal response to pressure, experiencing this on a daily basis can have a negative impact on your education and overall health. 

Think your anxiety might be more than just situational? If you’re constantly worried, quickly agitated, you’re always on edge, you can barely get any sleep, you can’t concentrate, you avoid social events out of fear, or you experience panic attacks (increased heart rate, perspiration, shaky voice, etc), you may be struggling with an anxiety disorder.

Addiction

Drugs, alcohol, and college campuses, unfortunately, go hand in hand. Students have access to everything from uppers to pull all-nighters to downers to help them get rest and everything in between. Some students take these substances to try to keep control of all the pressure they’re under or to excel in their studies while others simply want to experiment and “have fun”. In any event, the continued use of these substances can harm your physical and mental wellbeing. 

How do you know when you have a substance abuse problem or an addiction? If your thoughts are filled with using the substances again, you can’t seem to go a long period of time without using, you continue to use despite the consequences, you begin engaging in reckless behaviors to obtain it (like stealing), you start having money problems trying to acquire more, you hide or isolate yourself from others, or you experience serious withdrawal symptoms when you try to go cold turkey. 

Caring for Your Emotional Health in College

With all the pressure you’re under it can be hard to stay sane at times. Below, are a few quick suggestions on how to care for your emotional well-being in college. 

  • Eat healthily – a healthy diet goes a long way to maintaining your mental health. Be sure that you’re consuming enough green leafy veggies, fresh fruits, and lean protein. 
  • Get Sleep – Those all-nighters do nothing for your emotional wellbeing. No matter how crazy your school and work schedule are, you need to adjust things so that you’re getting at least 7 hours of rest each night. 
  • Exercise – Staying active helps to boost those feel-good hormones in your body. Try to get up and engage in physical activity at least 5 days a week for an hour each time. 
  • Pencil in time for fun – All work and no play is definitely going to stress you out. Find time in your schedule to do things that bring you happiness. 

The many pressures put on young adults in college, unfortunately, aren’t going away any time soon. Essentially taking preventative measures like eating right, exercising, getting good rest, and carving out time for fun can help to reduce the likelihood of young adults developing such illness. Be that as it may, should you or someone you know, however, be experiencing any of the symptoms for depression, anxiety, or addiction listed above, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help.

Off-Campus Housing: What You Need to Know

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There’s a lot of advice available when it’s time to head off to college. Chances are, everyone you know has some nugget of wisdom to impart, whether or not you listen is another story. For the most part, your friends and loved ones only have your best interest at heart. However, if you don’t listen to anything else, the information below is vital if you’re thinking of living off campus.

Safety Should Come First

While there are many benefits to living off-campus during college, safety should be your number one concern. When you go on a tour of any off-campus housing, there are a few things that you should look for. These are listed below. 

  • The building requires a key to get in the first door, and then a key to get into each individual apartment
  • The building comes equipped with security cameras and alarms 
  • The building has a security guard and a well-lit area and parking lot

These are only a few of the safety precautions that every off-campus housing complex should offer to keep their college residents safe. If none of this is offered, you need to head to the next stop on your list. 

Pests Are Real

When living at home, your parents probably took care of most household maintenance tasks like painting the house and repairing the dishwasher. They also handled any kind of infestation, whether it was mice, fleas, or spiders. Now that you’ll be on your own or living with friends, you’ll need to be sure you are doing everything you can to minimize the chances of having some unwanted pesky pest roommates as well. 

The first thing you can do is to make sure you aren’t leaving food out around the house or apartment. Yes, this includes last week’s pizza that’s under your bed! It’s a sure-fire magnet for ants and mice. Likewise, all trash needs to be disposed of properly outside. Make sure any garbage cans have tight fitting lids the neighborhood raccoons can’t open.

If you do find some creepy crawlies you’d like to evict, contacting a professional like the ones at moxieservices.com is the way to go. Don’t try to deal with chemicals and home remedies if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Location of the Neighborhood

While many college students think the biggest problem they will have is roommates that are too loud or don’t pay their share of the rent, if you aren’t careful what neighborhood you move into, your roommates will be the least of your problems. When scouting the neighborhood, ask neighbors if there are ever any problems there, and whether the people in the other apartments are loud or not. You’ll also want housing that is as close to the college you’re attending as you can get so that you don’t have to travel very far to get to classes on time. 

Screen Your Roommates Carefully

Speaking of roommates, you need to screen any possible candidates carefully before letting them move in with you. If you haven’t known the person moving in with you for a very long time, then you need to get a background check, credit check, and everything else before agreeing to let them move in. It pays to be super careful when searching for a roommate as the world is in chaotic and violent times, and it’s best to be safe instead of sorry. 

Items You Need

There are a few items that you need to set up your off-campus housing apartment, the right way. Those are listed below as well. 

  • A good quality mattress 
  • Bus pass or parking spot
  • Kitchen items
  • Bathroom items
  • Renters insurance
  • Fun things to do 
  • A room dedicated to studying

These are just a few of the top things you should know when you’re looking into living in off-campus. Safety should indeed be your top priority, and you should never move into anywhere that doesn’t take safety as seriously as you and your parents do.

Grambling State Legend Willie Brown Dies at 78

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Longtime Oakland Raiders defensive back, Grambling State Alum and Hall of Famer Willie Brown has died at 78, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Brown played 16 seasons in the American Football League and the NFL and was enshrined into the Hall of Fame in 1984. After playing football at Grambling State University, Brown went undrafted into the then-AFL. He was cut by the Houston Oilers but went on to play four seasons for the Denver Broncos and then 12 for the Raiders. Brown played in 204 games from 1963 through 1978 and was an all-league selection seven times.

The Raiders said he “exemplified the Raider spirit.””His legendary performance on the field changed the way the cornerback position was played and his valued guidance as a coach, mentor and administrator permeated the organization and touched countless individuals both on and off the field,” team officials said in a statement. “Willie’s loss will leave a tremendous void, but his leadership and presence will always be a major part of the fabric of the Raiders family.”Brown played in two Super Bowls for the Raiders, famously returning an interception 75 yards for a touchdown in the team’s Super Bowl XI victory over the Vikings.

Read full via CNN

Don Barden: the First African American Casino Owner in Vegas

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Many may never have heard of him, but Don Barden is one of the more unsung pioneers in African American history and one who, for a short while at least, even attended the HBSU establishment of Ohio’s Central State University. Barden was also a prime example of rising from unpromising beginnings to use all the entrepreneurial skills needed to build a huge business empire. 

As we’ll see, a great deal of his wealth came from an audacious move into casino ownership. So if he were alive today it’s very possible that he would also be involved in online casinos, particularly as Barden understood what people wanted from their entertainment and was not afraid to be a pioneer. Many of these online platforms that are popular today, such as Casumo Casino, share this real understanding of what appeals to players and offer a wide range of different games including slots, roulette, blackjack and video poker. 

To start at the very beginning, Don Hamilton Barden was born on 20 December 1943 in Detroit, Michigan. Always an inquisitive and active child, by high school he was captain of both the basketball and football teams. 

His time at university, however, was short-lived as he found the cost of being there impossible to afford. So he decided to drop out and took a series of jobs from washing up in restaurant kitchens to being a plumber. Throughout that time, he had his eyes firmly fixed on the future and was gradually putting cash aside.

By the time he’d saved up $500, it was time to make his move. He bought a small record store in Lorain, Ohio to take advantage of the new music scene that was emerging in the mid-1960s. He also began booking bands for concerts, and this led to Barden setting up a small record label as well as a public relations firm.

Despite all this success, he still felt he wasn’t earning enough so he made a move into real estate development. By buying up buildings and leasing them to the US Government, his income increased; especially so when he sold the buildings on. 

In the background, his real ambition was to open a casino in his home city of Detroit but at the time getting a license to do this was impossible. Instead, he found a legal loophole: in 1995, he set up a riverboat casino operating out of Gary, Indiana and set his sights on a far bigger prize. This came to be in 2002 when he successfully bid for and took over three Fitzgeralds casinos in Tunica, Mississippi, Black Hawk Colorado and downtown Las Vegas.

At its height, Barden’s casino empire employed 4,000 people and had an annual turnover of $347 million. However, a combination of fierce competition and a major recession meant that this was a success that couldn’t be sustained and in 2009 the business filed for bankruptcy.Just two years later, Barden fell seriously ill and died at the age of 67. But he left behind him a strong legacy, as well as a shining example of just how far determination and vision can take you.

The Greatest Comebacks in NBA History

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Psychologists can spend hours and write hundreds of pages discussing what it is that draws us to a particular sport. But surely one of the most compelling factors is the element of surprise. Just when you think you know what’s going to happen or that a given result is inevitable, you can have the rug pulled from under your feet. 

Expecting the unexpected has become an increasingly important aspect of being a sports fan with the growing popularity of sports betting. That applies to the NFL, MLB and NHL as much as to the NBA. But if you are a devotee of basketball betting, then you’ll always be on the lookout for a potential upset. The following examples, though, are games where even the biggest gambler might have thought twice before laying down a dollar or two. Let’s countdown the three most astonishing comebacks in league history

Third place: Utah Jazz 101 – 93 Chicago Bulls

Home advantage didn’t seem to be counting for much. The Jazz found themselves with a 22 point deficit at the end of the first quarter, and this escalated to 31 in the second, thanks to an on-fire Michael Jordan who contributed 40 points. However, the home team showed no sign of even considering letting their heads drop. Karl Malone scored 30 and John Stockton chipped in with 17 more, as the Jazz clawed their way back to ultimately win by eight. 

Second place: Chicago Bulls 102 – 98 Sacramento Kings

On February 04 1998, the Bulls visited the Jazz in what transpired to be a preview of that season’s NBA Finals. Of course, that ended up going the way of the Bulls, and this game appeared to be going in the same direction. 

The Bulls are known as many things, but chokers is surely not one of them. However, just 10 months after their bizarre game against the Jazz, they were on the wrong side of another astonishing turnaround. Leading 67-43 at the break, the advantage was stretched to a full 35 points in the third. 

However, for the fourth quarter, it was Sacramento all the way, and Bulls fans could only look on in horror as Tyreke Evan led a fightback that nobody could possibly have predicted, and the visitors left the Bulls shell shocked and the losers by four points

First place: Utah Jazz 107 – 103 Denver Nuggets

The biggest ever comeback in the history of the NBA? Once again it took place at the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, back in 1996 when it was known as the Delta Center. The Jazz got off to the worst possible start, finding themselves 70-36 behind at the break. That deficit stretched to 36 points before the most remarkable momentum swing in basketball history. 

The Jazz steadily found their feet, outscoring the Nuggets by 36 to 15 in the third and by 35 to 18 in the fourth. Karl Malone and Jeff Hornacek contributed a combined 60 points on a magical night that saw them steal the game by just four points. 

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MACRO’s Initiative at Howard to Prepare More Students for The Entertainment Industry

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Last Tuesday, October 8th, students at Howard University who were interested in the entertainment industry got the chance of a lifetime.

To the students who attended, MACRO x HU Summit was a day full of valuable information, entertainment, and networking with the right people. From 11am-8pm, there were panels, giveaways, and even an exclusive movie screening. 

The entertainment industry in Hollywood is notoriously difficult to get into. Panels at the summit were aimed at helping students lead a sustainable career in Hollywood after graduation. There was a panel that discussed how Hollywood differs from white-collar industries and how to stay afloat.

There was a panel that on personal branding and how to land that key role or job. MACRO Founder Charles D. King even held a masterclass discussing what it takes to stay centered and persevere in the industry. MACRO, a well-known multimedia company that specializes in telling POC stories in film and other platforms. They truly brought out power players to start the conversation on how more HBCU students can have a seat at the table in Hollywood. 

The final event was a screening of Queen & Slim, which doesn’t even hit theaters until the end of November. Even better, director Melina Matsoukas was there for a Q&A after the screening. 

Texas Southern University And Monterey Jazz Festival Announce New Partnership

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Monterey, CA; and Houston TX; October 15, 2019; The Monterey Jazz Festival is proud to announce a new partnership with Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston, Texas, one of the largest and most comprehensive historically black colleges and universities in the nation. The partnership with TSU will broaden the reach of the Monterey Jazz Festival’s education programs to many more young people, while leveraging TSU’s commitment and legacy of jazz excellence.

The partnership includes activities both in Houston and Monterey and was launched at the 62nd Monterey Jazz Festival, September 27-29, 2019. Jazz and music business students from TSU traveled to Monterey to participate as production and marketing interns during the Festival, providing them with real- world experience and opportunities to work alongside top professionals in the music industry at a world-class event.

The integration of high-quality education and outreach programs and year-round events to expand the legacy and popularity of jazz to a larger, more diverse audience is a critical component of MJF’s new Strategic Plan and Mission, Vision, and Values statements. By working in conjunction with TSU, MJF is achieving this critical goal of reaching younger audiences and helping to create new generations of jazz performers and fans.

“Monterey Jazz Festival is excited to build on the spirit of inclusiveness inherent in jazz as it begins this new partnership with Texas Southern University,” said Colleen Bailey, MJF Executive Director. “TSU has a deep history of producing jazz artists, some of whom have played on the stages of our festival, an incredible jazz program, and they have the #1 student-run jazz radio station. They are the perfect partner for this new initiative that we envision will be a model that we will test and perhaps expand more broadly in the future.”

“Texas Southern University has a long history of educating, training, and employing legendary jazz artists,” said TSU President Dr. Austin Lane. “Our award-winning public radio station, KTSU, has been a launching pad for some incredible jazz talent. By partnering with the Monterey Jazz Festival, we are joining with a national brand—one that adds to our already rich legacy, and one that can help propel more young artists into this dynamic music genre.”

“TSU has, in many ways, been the cradle of jazz music for not only the city of Houston, but for the entire region,” said Ernest Walker, general manager of Texas Southern University’s KTSU radio station. “Likewise, the Monterey Jazz Festival is a recognized leader in the promotion and advancement of jazz music at a national and international level. We are proud to serve as a partner for this exciting mission.”

The partnership continues October 24-26, 2019 with a three-day intensive music symposium, Monterey Jazz @ TSU, and is offered by TSU’s Music Department for all greater Houston-based middle and high school music programs, and the community.

Led by TSU faculty from the music, communications and music industry degree programs and featuring the 2019 MJF Artist-in-Residence, Derrick Hodge, the symposium will include master classes, panel discussions, recording sessions, workshops and more. The symposium will provide students the opportunity to network with professionals and peers, learn insider secrets in the music industry, spark lifelong collaborations, build foundations for a career in the music industry, and prepare students to audition for the Monterey Jazz Festival’s national bands and combos, which tour nationally and internationally.  

In addition, students from Houston-based high schools will have the opportunity to audition for the inauguralMJF@Houston All-Star Ensemble. The conglomerate group will then have the opportunity to perform at MJF’s 50th Next Generation Jazz Festival, which takes place April 3-5, 2020 in Monterey, and at the 63rd Monterey Jazz Festival, September 25-27, 2020.

On October 27 at 6pm, the free event Jazz On The Hill will be presented by the City of Houston and Mayor Sylvester Turner at the Miller Outdoor Theatre in Herman Park in Houston. Featured will be the Monterey Jazz @ TSU High School All-Stars with special guests and GRAMMY® winning artists, including Derrick Hodge; salsa and GRAMMY® winning artists, including Derrick Hodge; salsa legend and conguero Poncho Sanchez; and saxophonist Kirk Whalum.

For more information about the Monterey Jazz @ TSU program in October, click here.

ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

Texas Southern University (TSU) honors our designation as a special-purpose institution for urban programming and research. TSU is a comprehensive university providing higher education access to the nation’s underserved communities. TSU’s academic and research programs address critical urban issues, and prepares its diverse student population to become a force for positive change in a global society. TSU offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations – bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees – organized into 10 colleges and schools on a 150-acre campus nestled in the heart of Houston’s historic Third Ward. The University’s enrollment has a population of more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate-school academic candidates. Texas Southern has been a distinguished educational pioneer since 1927, and the University has become one of the most diverse and respected institutions in Texas. TSU has positioned itself as a proactive leader in educating underserved students and many who are the first in their family to attend college.

ABOUT MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL

The mission of Monterey Jazz Festival (MJF) is to inspire the discovery and celebration of jazz, anchored by an iconic festival. Founded in 1958, MJF envisions a sustainable organization that sets the standard of excellence for jazz, connects a diverse community, and helps people appreciate and learn about jazz as fans and performers.

What Advice Would You Give To Yourself Freshman Year Of College?

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1. Go to class.

This may seem like a no brainer, but it is still important that you go to class every day for obvious reasons. 1. Why did you decide to enroll in college — to earn your degree, right? Then go to class. It is as simple as that. 2. Attendance, which counts for at least 10 percent of your grade, is an easy way to make sure you have good grades during your matriculation in college. Make it easier on yourself by going to class on time, if not earlier.

2. Do not listen to everyone else’s experiences.

Create your own. For example, I remember when I decided to attend Central State University — my friend’s mother warned me that CSU was not a “good” school and told me that I should go elsewhere. However, going to Central State is one of the best decisions that I ever made and I am so glad I went to CSU. The same can be said about pledging a “Divine 9” organization and rumors of a conspiracy. That is to say, create your own experiences at college, not listen to the bad things you may have heard about college life or your HBCU.

3. Keep being the best you, which is truer than true.

You are individual and unique. And do not you forget it. No matter what people say, your are the number 1. like Lil Kim raps in No Matter What They Say. Just try to be you doing what you have to do, not trying to be something you are not. Be a self-starter and always forward, never backward.

4. Have fun.

Make sure that you enjoy your time spent in college because they say that the four years you spend in college are the best four years of your life. Be active on the yard, which goes to my 5th advice below.

5. Be more involved on and off the yard.

Get involved! There are plenty of organizations on the yard that you can lend your services to. Being more involved in campus organizations help mold you into the man or woman that you want to be life. Here are two reasons why you should join an organization on the yard:

  • It looks good on your resume. Employers want to know what makes you stand out from others, and being president of a “Divine 9” organization looks good on paper.
  • Networking with like-minded individuals. This is a game-changer. By joining an organization on the yard you get hands-on experience while bonding with other students who can help you with your success in life.

Inadequate Funding For HBCUs

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Pastor of Lanham United Methodist Church in Lanham, Maryland

The Governor’s offer of $200 million to address the decades of inadequate funding of Maryland’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) should be an insult to our intelligence. He has made the mistake that so many of our White brothers and sisters do on a fairly regular basis. They assume that Blacks will take anything, and just maybe that is not so unwarranted considering our previous behaviors.

But this issue of adequate funding for our HBCU’s has been a constant in our policy and legislative debates since the stirrings of Delegate Rudy Cane and Senator Joan Carter Conway some 15 years ago. Then they argued that evidenced and egregious duplication of programs at the Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) was extremely instrumental in the decline in many of the state’s HBCU’s. Almost every year our African-American legislators have had to deal with this same issue of fairness and equity only to be met with stalled negotiations and outright disrespect. The Governor, like so many before him, relish in the portrayal of our communities as beggars, but that is not the case at all. We are merely demanding that the wrongs of our states past be made right for this generation and those to come.

The demand to fairly and equitably fund these institutions is not without a history. As far back as in 1937 a Maryland Report of the Commission on Higher Education of Negroes pointed out that there was “enormous differential in favor of the white race.” In 1950, the Maryland Weglin Commission Report described the “uphill struggle on the part of the Negro colleges to secure facilities on par with white institutions.” This was reinforced by the 1954 Brown v Board of Education ruling where, the Supreme Court declared “separate but equal” was illegal under the constitution.

As I previously mentioned the impact of duplication in the following years was the driving nail that would ensure the inadequate standing of HBCU’s and the steps to correct it is what leads us to this place today. The inadequacies were so obvious that the Maryland Chancellor William Kirwan, admitted in 2006, that the state had “not done right over time by Historically Black Institutions and they deserve special scrutiny and attention in terms of adequacy of funding.”

Now is the time for all of our local and national organizations to pony up and put their advocacy resources to work confronting this administration’s most recent offer. The Maryland Black Caucus and the state delegations that are predominantly of color must not shoulder this work alone. The leaders of our Divine Nine, NAACP, Urban League, National Action Network, Links, Faith Communities and Masonic Lodges should all descend on Annapolis in a major demonstration demanding that the Governor and his Lt. Governor, who happens to be African American and a graduate of an HBCU, do the right thing and put this matter of justice to rest. We must demonstrate to those in the ivory towers that we can do more than host an amazing party and dance the night away. We can do more than raise money, host wonderful affairs, and serve as guest in your private sporting event boxes. Now is the time to show the powers that be that we can also organize and recognize when we are being insulted.

But not only should our leaders take to the streets, so should our white elected officials. Those officials who conveniently silence their rhetoric on this issue. Meanwhile in the coming months they will be aggressively pursuing African-American support. Senators and congressmen alike have much larger platforms, yet they too remain silent. For too long we’ve put the matter of addressing white injustice to those in the Black community. I would strongly suggest that the time has come that our White brothers and sisters do some of the lifting to address those in their communities. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once stated, “there comes a time when silence is betrayal.”

Also, on this issue, the Black community should seek and request some reciprocity from those other interests whom we’ve partnered with and supported in their time of struggle. When it comes to issues of justice and fairness the mark bends toward justice when we are all doing our part to point it in that direction. Unfortunately, historically, it has been one sided when it comes to issues pertaining to the Black community in this state. When it was rights for those in the LGBTQA+ community it was the state’s African-American community standing on the front lines with them. When the issue involved in-state tuition for this state’s immigrant population it was the African-American community in the state house and throughout the community in support of our brothers and sisters, a majority from the Hispanic community. But when it comes to our issues where in the hell are they? 

Lastly, where is the leadership of the Maryland Democratic Party whose base is sustained and secure because of Black support? Where do they stand on this matter and what has been their vocal and political interest in helping to address an issue that affects so many of their base support. This, in my opinion, is a major problem. But, if this is a problem for any of them today, then I think it ought to be a problem for Black voters on Election Day.

N.C. Central Drops Second Consecutive Conference Game To Bethune-Cookman

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DURHAM, N.C. — North Carolina Central University amassed nearly 150 yards more than Bethune-Cookman University, but a pair of touchdowns by wide receiver and return specialist Jimmie Robinson sparked the Wildcats to a 27-13 conference victory during a live ESPNU broadcast on Thursday night inside O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium.

NCCU accumulated 391 yards of total offense, topped by freshman quarterback Davius Richard with 250 passing yards and junior running back Isaiah Totten with 78 yards on the ground. The Eagles’ defense, led by senior defensive end Darius Roster with 11 tackles, including 2.5 stops for a loss with 1.5 sacks, held the visiting Wildcats to just 243 total yards.

B-CU playmaker Robinson proved to be the difference. He opened the scoring midway through the second quarter by catching a screen pass and racing through traffic for a 54-yard touchdown.

Near the start of the fourth quarter, when NCCU rookie kicker Adrian Olivo connected on his second field goal of the evening to make it a one-possession contest at 14-6, Robinson extended the lead on the ensuing kickoff with a 79-yard return to the end zone.

B-CU quarterback Akevious Williams passed for 95 yards and a touchdown ran for 52 yards and a touchdown and caught a 3-yard touchdown toss to seal the victory.

NCCU junior receiver E.J. Hicks collected a touchdown reception from Richards, while junior receiver Ryan McDaniel tallied a game-high seven catches for 58 yards.

NCCU junior safety Stephen Stokes registered seven takedowns, including 2.5 hits for a loss, while senior defensive lineman Cyrus Stanback was in on seven stops with an assisted sack.

After an off-week, NCCU hosts Delaware State on Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. inside O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium.

Courtesy: NCCU Athletics

Report: Majority Of HBCUs’ Graduates Earn Middle-Class Incomes

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An increasing number of recent graduates from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are experiencing upward mobility, a new report by the Rutgers University’s Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions (CMSI) has found.

About 70 percent of graduates from HBCUs end up earning middle-class incomes, which is a greater percentage than that for Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). Overall, the upward mobility is nearly 50 percent higher at HBCUs than PWIs.

The findings were mentioned in the report titled “Moving Upward and Onward: Income Mobility at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.” HBCUs were found enrolling more low-income students than PWIs, and two-thirds of them ended up in at least the middle class.

“This report’s focus on the student success rate distinguishes it from other research on HBCU economic mobility,” Robert Nathenson, the report’s lead author said.

“By examining students’ mobility after accounting for their origins, this report provides a more holistic understanding of economic mobility and more accurately describes the mobility trajectory of students at an HBCU.”

Researchers mostly credited HBCUs like Xavier University of Louisiana, Dillard University, and Tuskegee University for having a consistent record of ensuring the upward mobility of its students.

HBCUs like Howard University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College push nearly 35 percent of their low-income students into the top fifth of income earners.

“This report builds upon many researchers’ earlier work about HBCUs and their economic impact,” said Marybeth Gasman, one of the report’s authors.

“HBCUs are doing a tremendous job fostering pathways to upward mobility, particularly for low-income students, and they are doing this with often limited resources.”

Earlier reports have praised HBCUs for their enrollment, degree and economic impacts on African American populations within their respective states. HBCUs across 21 southern states and territories enroll 24 percent of black undergraduates and award 26 percent of all bachelor’s degrees to black students.

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9 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Protect Their Business During A Recession

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Though an imminent recession for America is not written in stone, there are red flags an economic downturn may come in the near future. That forecast could be daunting for entrepreneurs already battling to boost sales and trying to build sufficient capital to cover unforeseen contingencies.

Yet, there are actions small business owners can take to equip themselves for such a meltdown. Though some 80% of small business owners fear a potential recession, 44% have not taken steps to get ready for one and 36% are not planning any special actions to prepare within the next 12-24 months, a recent survey from small business lender BlueVine shows. But entrepreneurs may do well to apply such a strategy for multiple reasons.

In another report, some 69% of the economists surveyed by the National Association for Business Economics in September projected a U.S. recession will start by mid-2021, up from 60% in the June survey. A panel of 54 professional forecasters made projections.

The lingering trade war between America and China is a major reason why many investors are worried about a potential economic decline. Doubt about the aftermath of the U.S.-China trade war sparked volatile conditions to the stock market in recent weeks.

Further, how global monetary policy will pan out is raising some apprehension. The Federal Reserve Bank slashed interest rates for the first time in over 10 years in July amid worries about contraction in global growth and surging trade tensions. And other central banks worldwide have moved similarly by cutting rates.

For small business owners, the best time to prepare for potentially harder economic climates is when times are good. Here are nine actions entrepreneurs should consider to help offset any potential storms.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS IN A RECESSION

1. OBTAIN WORKING CAPITAL.

Observers say financial service providers such as lenders are more apt to provide funding before a recession arrives. They maintain the best time to pursue a loan or arrange for a line of credit is when your business and the economy are healthy. For instance, an apparel store and shoe store.

2. BOOST YOUR FINANCIAL POSITION.

Increase cash flow or financial reserves by adding more products and services that complement what you already sell. But analyze carefully how much it will cost to expand and make sure it doesn’t tarnish your firm’s notoriety or brand.

3. INCREASE YOUR NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS AND UPSELL.

Instead of just focusing on gaining sales from your biggest clients, see if you can add some smaller clients as well. Ask yourself, “can my business survive if I lose my biggest client or clients during an economic slump?” By diversifying your firm to serve a larger variety of clients or even new industries, your reliance on generating sales just from larger clients will be less. Also, consider upselling products from your business to existing customers who are not currently using them. Perhaps offer a discount on unused goods or services they use since they are already buying from you.

4. CONSIDER PARTNERING WITH ANOTHER BUSINESS.

This option can offer many benefits, including expanding your footprint, sharing or cutting expenses, and generating new growth ideas. You can also share resources, contacts, customer lists, and marketing efforts.

5. IDENTIFY WHERE YOU CAN CUT COSTS.

Perhaps you can trim what you spend on office supplies, dining out, or travel. See if you can possibly lease space you’re not using to help offset the cost of bills you have to pay. See if you should cut gym memberships, subscriptions, or other discretionary items you’re no longer using.

6. KEEP MARKETING YOUR BUSINESS.

This is an expense that many businesses chop during harder times. But be mindful that if consumers are not aware of your business, they might not conduct business with you or may look elsewhere for what they need. Tell clients what niche products you can offer to set your firm apart from rivals. Also, examine if social media or other Internet marketing options are less costly than other advertising channels. This approach might also bring you a broader mix of customers.

7. ERASE CREDIT CARD DEBT FOR YOUR BUSINESS.

It’s vital to pay down or get rid of business credit cards as quickly as possible. That’s especially true before a recession hits when it’s harder to make money. Consider merging credit cards into one credit card with a lower annual percentage rate, something that can also cut monthly expenses.

8. CREATE AN EMERGENCY FUND.

Fortify your business by establishing anemergency fund that could allow you to endure for a year or longer. That could be particularly important if your business suffers lower revenue generation during a downturn. Make sure the fund can cover key operating costs, including employee payroll.

9. USE ONLINE RESOURCES.

Check out online sites that offer tips to help you survive a recession. For instance, the Small Business Administration provides such information.

This post was written by Jeffrey McKinney, a writer at Black Enterprise, where it was originally published. It is published here with permission.

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Talladega Sorry For Rapper’s Controversial Remarks

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Talladega College has released a statement apologizing for rapper David Banner’s controversial remarks on race during its convocation last week.

Al.com reported that during his speech Banner approached a white high school student and made sarcastic comments. According to WBRC, Banner went on to discuss how historically black colleges and universities sent students off to work for their oppressors and compared that to Jews working for Nazis.

In the apology from Talladega president Billy Hawkins, which was sent to the university community, Hawkins said the college will be reviewing its process of finding speakers to bring to campus. The letter also clarified that Banner’s comments did not represent the beliefs of the college and that the institution valued diverse opinions that were not disrespectful to community members.

Banner told reporters in an interview before the speech that he would speak on the lack of opportunities and healthy outlets for young people, reported WBRC. Banner told media that he was going to speak on the importance of self and anger some older people. Prior to the event, a student-led group spoke with Banner about what his speech would contain, said Al.com.

Banner, whose real name is Lavell William Crump, is a rapper, producer, actor and activist originally from Mississippi.

Oprah To Give $13 Million More For Aid At Morehouse College

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ATLANTA (AP) — Oprah Winfrey says she’s giving $13 million to increase a scholarship endowment at a historically black college.

Winfrey announced her plan Monday at Morehouse College in Atlanta, adding to the $12 million she gave to the all-male college in 1989. She was meeting with 47 students who benefit from the existing endowment.

“I was really surprised to learn that it’s been 30 years since I made that $12 million donation to Morehouse, so today, I’d like to add $13 million to that,” Winfrey said as cheers erupted, in a video released by Morehouse.Advertisement – Story continues below

Morehouse President David Thomas said Winfrey’s endowment has paid to educate nearly 600 students over the past three decades.

The college described the gift as a surprise. Last month, Winfrey also sprung a surprise college donation on an audience, saying she’d give more than $1 million to the United Negro College Fund at a North Carolina fundraiser.

Winfrey’s announcement came weeks after 2,200-student Morehouse announced it would impose an unpaid monthly furlough day for 415 professional employees and stop retirement contributions of 3% of employee salaries. Some jobs will also be eliminated, with the overall cost-cutting effort meant to redirect $3 million to student aid.

Billionaire Robert Smith won wide attention earlier this year when he promised to repay all student and family loans accumulated by Morehouse’s class of 2019. That one-time gift will be worth $34 million, the college said last month.

Thomas said in a statement that he is “feeling hopeful for Morehouse and what it has garnered in terms of philanthropic support with gifts like Oprah’s and Robert Smith’s. I am hopeful that this will also get others to step up with their support of Morehouse, but even more broadly, historically black colleges and universities.”

Many historically black colleges and universities struggle to raise money from private donors, and African American students often accumulate large amounts of debt because their families are not as wealthy as their white peers.