The Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority is inviting applications for its C. Darline Shepherd Scholarship.
The scholarship has been set up to help a high school senior defray the cost of attending a college/university of the student’s choosing the following fall semester/quarter upon graduation.
The local chapter has set the following criteria to apply for the scholarship:
— Must be an African-American male or female.
— Must be attending an Arkansas public high school in Columbia County or be a resident of Columbia County.
— Minimum ACT score of 16 and/or a high school grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
Applicants must compete an application, provide a seven-semester transcript, and provide a copy of ACT scores.
In addition, applicants must have three letters of recommendation — Two from a faculty/staff at the high school, and one from a member of the community.
They must also submit an essay with 250-300 words. The essay must include a description of the family/personal background, career aspirations, financial need, and how this scholarship would benefit the application.
The application must be returned by the deadline of June 30. Send applications to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Paula Washington-Woods, Scholarship Chair, Phi Zeta Omega Chapter, 7331 Hwy 98 Magnolia, AR 71753
Two scholarship awards valued at $500 each will be presented. One will be awarded to a student attending a historically black college (HBCU). They are not renewable.
Black college women at Howard University established the sorority at Washington, D.C. in 1908. The efforts of Alpha Kappa Alpha women promote high scholarship, vocational and career guidance, health services, and the advancement of human and civil rights.
Morgan State University Director of Athletics Edward Scott, Ph.D. announced the hiring of Kevin Broadus as the 16th head coach of the men’s basketballprogram effective May 1, 2019. Broadus brings more than 20 years of coaching and elite-level recruiting experience to Morgan State.
Broadus comes to Morgan from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he has been one of the nation’s best recruiters as the top assistant on Mark Turgeon’s coaching staff. This past season Broadus was influential in the successful NCAA tournament run for the Terps. Consistently ranked in the top 20 nationally for recruiting, Broadus was instrumental in signing a number of local Baltimore talents such as DeJuan Summers, Brandon Herbert, LaFonta Johnson, and Henry Sims.
“Kevin Broadus embodies all of the characteristics that we desired in the hiring of our next head men’s basketball coach,” said Dr. Scott. “Throughout his career, Kevin has built a tremendous reputation for his ability to recruit outstanding talent and developing his student-athletes on and off the court. His prior experience as a head coach and strong relationships in the DMV area will be a valuable asset to our program. We are excited to welcome Kevin, his wife Belinda, and their children to the Morgan family.”
“On behalf of my family, we are extremely honored and excited to join Morgan State University and to become a part of an institution steeped in the tradition of athletic excellence,” said Broadus. “I thank University President, Dr. David Wilson and Director of Athletics, Dr. Edward Scott for this tremendous opportunity. We look forward to working with the student-athletes, administration, and campus community at Morgan and bringing an exciting brand of basketball to Baltimore.”
The University will host a press conference on Monday, May 6, 2019, at 11 a.m. in the University Student Center to officially introduce Broadus as Morgan’s new head Men’s Basketball coach. The press conference will also be live streamed via the University’s main and athletic websites.
Broadus arrived at Maryland following his second stint at Georgetown University, a run that lasted seven-years. He was a member of Coach John Thompson III’s staff that won three Big East championships and advanced to seven postseason tournaments during his total nine years with the Hoyas, including two trips to the Sweet Sixteen and one trip to the Final Four in 2007. He also spent two seasons as the head coach at Binghamton University (2007-09), leading the Bearcats to an America East championship and their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2009.
Known for his outstanding local ties, Broadus has coached at five universities in the DC metro area. His professional coaching experience also includes having coached and recruited five high school All-Americans and 12 National Basketball Association (NBA) players, including Austin Freeman, Jeff Green, Roy Hibbert, Vernon Macklin, DeJuan Summers, Patrick Ewing, Jr., Otto Porter, Chris Wright, Henry Sims, J.R. Pinnock, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, and Mike Hall.
Broadus played a season of college basketball at Grambling State University before finishing his Hall of Fame career at Bowie State University, where he graduated from in 1990. Upon graduation, Broadus remained at Bowie State as an assistant coach until 1993, before serving as an assistant at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) for four seasons. While coaching at UDC, he earned a master’s degree in counseling in 1995. Broadus also had coaching stints at American University (1998-2001) and George Washington University (2001) before landing at Georgetown in 2004.
A native of the Washington D.C. suburbs, Broadus played basketball at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in the District and at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Md. He began his collegiate career redshirting his freshman year at Grambling State before returning home to attend Bowie State, where he lettered three years and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1990.
Broadus and his wife, Belinda, have four children, Nicol, Milan, Paris and Kevin Jr.
About Morgan
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 100 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
Grambling, LA – Grambling State University named baseball student-athlete, Jalen Alexander Heath, Valedictorian of the Spring 2019 graduating class. Heath earned top honors, with a 3.98-grade point average, and will take the stage Friday, May 10, 2019 at 10 a.m. at the University’s Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
Heath, an infielder for Tiger’s Baseball Team, has earned a series of academic honors including being named the Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award for 2017, 2018, and 2019. He is also a three-time SWAC All-Academic Team member and has been highlighted on the President’s List every semester since beginning his college career.
“My GSU experience was one that I will never take for granted,” says Heath. “I am forever grateful for the experiences that I have had here and how they will make me a better person in my future.”
When asked about his proudest college memories, Heath replied, “My greatest achievement as a student at Grambling State comes from being able to maintain a great academic standing all while completing my dream of playing baseball at the Division I level.”
After graduation, Heath plans to pursue a career as an accountant and ultimately hopes to become a Chief Financial Officer. As valedictorian, Heath will address more than 400 classmates at Spring Commencement.
Xavier University President Dr. Reynold Verret began his tenure in 2015 with a goal of extending its voice to a much larger audience.
Four years later, he has built a strategy and team that includes a new vice president of enrollment and provost, an expansion of academic programs and a renewed marketing push that boosted Xavier’s overall enrollment to its highest level in eight years.
The university had a 20 percent increase in new freshmen last fall, and its rate of retaining students jumped 3 percent. Total enrollment grew 6 percent and stands at 3,232.
Although lower than pre-Hurricane Katrina levels, it is a growth spurt that is prompting discussions about how to meet the needs of a rising population.
“We have been much more intentional about what we do, about where are we not hitting our stride?” Verret said. “We are in an era of growth that requires a strategic approach.”
Verret said he hopes within the next year to have a plan in place to build more dormitory space for 500 students. With an occupancy rate of 106 percent, Xavier had to reserve space last fall at the University of New Orleans and Southern University New Orleans to accommodate everyone. A spot for a new dormitory has not been identified, but Verret said it will be on the university’s property.
The enrollment growth comes amid an aggressive expansion of academic offerings and recruitment efforts. Known for its training in the STEM and pharmaceutical industries, Xavier has added undergraduate programs in neuroscience, bioinformatics, data science, statistics, crime and social justice and jazz studies. It has introduced new minors and established the Center for Justice, Equity and the Human Spirit for research, teaching and public engagement.
Certificate programs have been expanded for entrepreneurs, health communication professions and Spanish speaking health care workers. A master’s degree program in health equity has been added, and the university is developing graduate programs in speech pathology and health sciences. Xavier recently partnered with Ochsner Health System on a new master’s degree program for the fast-growing field of physician assistants.
There also has been an intensive push to modernize Xavier’s recruitment efforts and reach more students beyond Louisiana.
“We have not always been as focused on telling our story and making sure people know the extraordinary success stories we’ve had here and the supportive environment,” said Anne McCall, provost.
Xavier reports that its undergraduate population is now 56 percent from outside the state. Keyona Scales, vice president of enrollment, said there has been an increase in students from northern Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Detroit as well as Texas and California.
Recruiters still use traditional methods of visiting high schools and college fairs, but Xavier now has a more robust social media presence and direct mail efforts, Scales said. Attention from celebrities such as Beyonce, who last year chose Xavier as one of four historically black colleges and universities to receive $25,000 for a student scholarship, has helped raise its profile. National press attention has prompted inquiries from people previously unaware of Xavier, including a physician who gifted the university $25,000 after reading a story in The New York Times, Verret said.
“A good portion” of Xavier students have very few financial resources, McCall said, which creates a challenge that is even larger than finding space to house them. Scales said the university has modified its financial aid strategy to assess the needs of lower-income students.
“Our biggest challenge is making sure that students who qualify for the Xavier experience can actually come here and graduate,” McCall said. “We are very focused on how we can support our students financially, especially with new academic programs.”
The latest NCAA Academic Progress Rate scores show college athletes are continuing to excel in the classroom, according to ESPN, saying that the ”APR report shows athletes’ scores remain steady.” ”The figures also show low-resource institutions and historically black colleges and universities are doing well,” reports ESPN, adding that the overall score of 983, covering 2014-15 through 2017-18, which was released Wednesday, matched last year’s record high. ”The single-year number at lower-budget schools is now 969. The HBCUs’ single-year number dropped one point, to 960, but remain up from 918 in 2010-11. ESPN also stated that scores are based on each athlete remaining enrolled in school and academically eligible—an overall score of 930 correlates to a 50 percent graduation rate.
Southern University has been awarded a $50,000 campus improvement grant through The Home Depot: Retool Your School grant program.
The program awards historically black colleges and universities grants to make sustainable improvements to their campuses. At the end of the competition, the top three schools with the most votes are considered for a grant. With the outpouring of support from the community, student and alumni groups, the university won a grant for a second year, according to a news release.
This year’s grant will be used in the beautification of the iconic, popular part of the Bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, including new seating and lighting.
Last year, the university won a $40,000 grant through the program, which was used to remodel and update the John B. Cade Library. Because of flood damage during the 2018 Christmas holiday break, the grant was used to purchase new furniture and restore study areas.
HOUSTON (May 8, 2019) – Texas Southern University Board of Regents member Hasan K. Mack, of Austin, has been announced as the new Chairman of the TSU Board of Regents. Mack, an alumnus of the University of Houston and TSU’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law, was appointed to the Board of Regents by Governor Greg Abbott in April 2018 and is serving a six-year term that concludes February 1, 2023.
“It is an honor to serve our state and the students of Texas Southern University as Chairman of the Board of Regents,” said Mack, “I am eager to work with my colleagues on the Board and with the President to provide high-quality and accessible education for current and future students and to make our institution the best among our peers.”
Regent Mack is an attorney for McCall, Parkhurst & Horton L.L.P., a firm that focuses exclusively on public finance law. Today, Regent Mack serves as bond counsel, disclosure counsel and underwriter’s counsel for various cities, political subdivisions and state agencies in Texas.
“Our Board of Regents is united in accomplishing the university’s mission and vision, and we stand ready to allocate our resources efficiently to ensure that each is fulfilled,” he added.
Texas Southern University President, Dr. Austin A. Lane, congratulated Mack on his new leadership position. “Hasan Mack has been a vital member of our Board of Regents since his appointment, and I know he will do an incredible job representing the entire TSU community as Chairman.”
Most recently, Regent Mack served as Deputy General Counsel and Director of Intergovernmental Relations in the Office of the Texas Lieutenant Governor. Prior to working in government, he was a banker for J.P. Morgan Chase where he held his Series 6 and Series 63 securities licenses, and a Texas Life and Health insurance license. He is also a member of the State Bar of Texas and the National Association of Bond Lawyers.
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 9,700 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.
You’ve probably scrolled past editorial stylized dishes on your favorite food blog or on social media. But it’s not every day that you learn about the business behind culinary entrepreneurship. Yes, it’s an entire industry. And if you’re ready to learn how to take the heat in the kitchen, Chef Erica Barrett, founder and CEO of Southern Culture Foods, wants to help you learn the recipe for success as a food entrepreneur.
(Barrett is also a graduate of Clark Atlanta University.)
Since launching her company in 2012, Southern Culture Foods products are being sold in 4,000 stores nationwide. And we hear that her pancake mix, waffle mix, and rubs are popular by demand! So, if you’ve been sitting on a family recipe, want to learn more about the science of cooking, orbecome an entrepreneur and food personality like her—she has you covered.
Barrett took a moment from throwing down in the kitchen to talk about all things food and business. Take a look at her bite-size tips for food entrepreneurs.
BLACK ENTERPRISE: There are years of training that goes into becoming a chef, how can those interested in food entrepreneurship learn the basics without formal training?
Erica Barrett: Being an entrepreneur is about figuring things out. When you embark on a food journey, you embark on the road less traveled. Read articles, research everything, exhaust all resources, reach out to people that you admire. Make mistakes as experience is the best teacher.
How did you turn your career as a chef into a successful business, Southern Culture Foods?
I really didn’t do anything outside of step out on faith. God did the rest. My journey has been an everyday journey of learning, growing, networking, structuring my goals, and working tirelessly to make Southern Culture a household name.
What is the secret sauce to the business of culinary entrepreneurship?
You wrote the cookbook, Shuga & Seoul, which seems like a natural move for a chef but what did you learn about culinary entrepreneurship through that process?
Writing a book taught me about structure, being organized, and creating a culinary road map for others to follow.
How important is it for food entrepreneurs to position themselves as personalities and build their social media presence?
Social media is huge and can be life-changing. Don’t be afraid to be yourself, separating yourself comes from being totally different. We have an opportunity to change the world through food, so don’t take it lightly.
Have you been able to monetize your online presence? If so, what advice do you have for other food entrepreneurs?
Yes, I use FB ads; I also do influencer ads, videos, FB lives and email lists. Building a community online is important to success. My advice is to find your unique calling in food and trust your gut. Be bold in who you are as a chef an entrepreneur and success will follow.
If you want to hear more from Barrett, join us in Charlotte for our newest premier event for innovators, creators, and founders; FWD. Get your tickets today!
This post was written by Lydia Blanco, a writer at Black Enterprise, where it was originally published. It is published here with permission.
Black History Month is a time when most American school children learned about the amazing accomplishments of a few iconic leaders like the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. They may have studied the Civil Rights Movement or watched a documentary chronicling the fight for black liberation. However, a few teachers took the celebration of black culture a step further. Here’s a roundup of three creative strategies employed by educators to celebrate and teach their students about black culture.
TEACHER BRINGS WAKANDA INTO THE CLASSROOM
Inspired by Black Panther—a Marvel sci-fi flick that is being celebrated for redefining blackness and its portrayal of Afrofuturism and Africa—one Ohio educator is copying a popular moment from the hit movie to greet her class. Tina Rucker Bailey, a teacher at Dayton Leadership Academies, uses Shuri and T’Challa’s handshake with her students in the morning to help get them pumped for the day, reports Yahoo Entertainment. A video of Bailey greeting her students with their special Black Pantherhandshake while wearing a panther mask went viral.
TEACHER CELEBRATES BLACK HAIR
(Image: Instagram.com/ktatuem)
Another educator celebrated the beauty of black hair by turning the door to her classroom into a giant, 3D mural of a black woman with an afro. Kimberly Tatuem, a History and American Government educator for Baltimore Public Schools, used strips of black construction paper to create faux 3D curls that covered the outside of her classroom door and extended onto the walls of the hallway. The mural also features a black girl wearing a shirt decorated with the faces of historic African American leaders like Huey P. Newton and Dr. Carter G. Woodson.
Tatuem says photos of her creation went viral, installing a sense of cultural pride in her students.
“When I came into school the next day after the post went viral and was shared on sites such as The Shade Room, Black Wall Street, Power 105.1 and Motown Records, as well as liked by a number of celebrities, my students were so excited and proud. I saw in them a renewed sense of pride in themselves, their abilities, their city, and their school,” said the eight-year teaching veteran.
TEACHER INSPIRES BLACK GIRL THROUGH HAIRSTYLE
(Image: Twitter/LeighaBishop)
A Texas pre-K teacher went the extra mile to help a black little girl appreciate her braids by styling her own hair the very same way. Last month, Leigha Bishop of Lakeview Elementary in Sugarland, Texas, said she noticed when her student, August Burroughs, didn’t feel confident about a new braided hairstyle.
“August always changes her hair, kind of like I do. And when she got here Monday, she got out of the car and I was like, ‘August, your hair is so cute,’” Bishop told ABC 7 News. “And she was like, ‘Yep, thank you, whatever.’ And I was like, ‘No, I’m really going to go home and do my hair.’”
The educator stayed true to her word and showed up to class with her hair styled the very same way. She then shared a photo on Jan. 31 of the two flaunting the identical braided topknot hairstyles that went viral.
“I went home and got to work on my hair! With my student’s hair being similar to mine, I thought, what better way to show her how she inspired me to feel beautiful [than] with that same braided updo?” she told Teen Vogue.
The elementary school teacher said the small gestures go a long way to help students embrace and feel good about their originality.
“When students are valued for who they are as an individual beyond grades on a report card, they tend to want to be present in school and want to succeed in all aspects of life.” she explained. “This small gesture of copying a hairstyle also shows that students have the ability to inspire teachers.”
She added, “Ultimately, I am a teacher who sees my students as whole people and not just bodies sitting in my classroom. I am a woman of color, and I want to pour positive light into children of all races and ethnicities.”
This post was written by Selena Hill, a writer at Black Enterprise, where it was originally published. It is published here with permission.
As a boy back in Arkansas, we called them dancing girls. These all-women dance troupes combined the energy of the high-step marching style of black college bands with lyrical, West African, jazz, contemporary, and hip-hop choreography. The result was almost too sexual to be looked at straight on. Back then, I could only steal glances at the Golden Girls, the majorettes for the band at my father’s alma mater, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. I wasn’t old enough to be leering at grown women like that, and why else would a boy be so transfixed by the dancers, unless of course he was “that way.”
You no longer have to be an initiate of Southern black college culture — the kin of some insufferably proud Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) alumni; annual attendee to a black college classic or homecoming game; bystander at a local Juneteenth parade; nostalgist for TLC’s “Baby-Baby-Baby” video, or NBC’s A Different World or Spike Lee’s School Daze— to recognize the style of dance performed by hip-hop majorettes. But even that term, “hip-hop majorette,” is a recent invention, a hastily applied umbrella description for a tradition of movement defined by dance lines that have fronted the marching bands of historically black colleges since the late ’60s. Hip-hop is an anachronistic but necessary distinction meant to distinguish this auxiliary group from more customary majorettes, women who march before traditional bands twirling batons.
Beyoncé’s recent Netflix concert film Homecoming highlights her admiration for the hip-hop majorette style. Her iconic Coachella performance, which opens with a phalanx of majorette-inspired dancers clearing the way for Bey costumed as Nefertiti, arrives at an auspicious moment for majoretting. Advocates of this uniquely Southern performance style — a community that includes both Southern straight black women and femme gay black men — have been using digital media platforms over the past decade to formalize and institutionalize the genre as a dance discipline. The 2018 Beychella performance is a culmination of many cultural phenomena that have helped amplify the visibility of majorette dance, including the emergence of commercial dance through televised dance competitions, the continued popularity of dance reality programming like Lifetime’s Bring It! (which just aired its fifth season and has spawned a road tour that travels the South), and the work of amateur videographers who upload weekly game performance footage to YouTube, creating a digital archive of the dance form and making performances available for future study.
Hip-hop majoretting began formally in the late ’60s. Marching bands had long featured carnivalesque acts pulling acrobatic stunts or tossing and catching flaming batons as a part of their halftime entertainment, but dance lines enabled bands to dramatize the popular songs they were beginning to mine from the radio.
There is some dispute over which school’s dance line debuted first, an issue that still regularly rouses debate from fans online. As the ability to watch black college bands was often limited to spectators at sports games, Alcorn State University’s claimthat its Golden Girls made their national debut at a televised 1968 Orange Blossom Classic offers a tenuous origin date for hip-hop majorettes, or “a featured squad with choreographed movements to an HBCU’s marching band’s live tunes,” as the GGs define it.
The Dancing Dolls of Southern University officially date back to 1969, founded by team adviser/coach Gracie Perkins and then–band director Isaac Greggs. The Dolls have enjoyed national acclaim due to the annual Bayou Classic in New Orleans, which is one of the few nationally televised HBCU football games. Jackson State’s J-Settes were founded in 1971, when Shirley Middleton, a former majorette and the squad’s initial sponsor, petitioned for the majorettes to “put their batons down.” Middleton, along with JSU twirler and choreographer Hollis Pippins, and eventual sponsor Narah Oatis, pioneered j-setting, a style so unique its movement is still recognizable in much of hip-hop majoretting today.
The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) extended the program’s full accreditation, indicating that it meets all the requirements of a quality nursing program with no stipulations. During the accreditation review, the Department of Nursinghighlighted critical improvements in the first-time pass rate of students taking the NCLEX-RN licensure examination to become registered nurses, a key indicator of a program’s success.
“I commend the ongoing work to prepare our students to function as high-quality professionals in the medical community,” said Bowie State University President Aminta H. Breaux. “This achievement is another example of the university’s commitment to quality teaching and learning that is reflected in the Racing to Excellence Strategic Plan.”
Bowie State University enrolls more than 600 students in its undergraduate nursing program, which prepares them for one of the nation’s most critical and in-demand careers. Recent graduates work at local medical facilities, such as the MedStar Health DC Hospital System, Johns Hopkins Medical Center, University of Maryland Medical Center and Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore.
At Bowie State, nursing students learn effective patient care using life-like mannequins in hospital and clinical settings in a state-of-the-art nursing simulation lab housed in the Center for Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Nursing, a premier facility for transformational learning. The simulation lab is designed to flexibly change as new educational strategies emerge. Combined with hands-on experience gained in community-based internships, students prepare to graduate with the skills and knowledge to be an exceptional nurse.
“The faculty and staff of the Department of Nursing have worked diligently to strengthen the foundation of the undergraduate curriculum and provide additional support for our students to ensure that they demonstrate thorough preparation to enter the profession of nursing,” said Dr. Tanya Smith Brice, dean of the College of Professional Studies. “We anticipate seeing continued successes among our nursing students and graduates.”
Demonstrating a commitment to promoting academic excellence, the department provides a Nursing Student Success Centerto closely monitor the progress of undergraduate students through the program and offers appropriate support. The center uses a student-centered approach that includes supplemental instruction, academic coaching and comprehensive NCLEX-RN examination preparation.
Olympia Auset (right) speaks about her fight against food deserts at the Titan Generator in Austin, TX. (theGrio)
But now South LA food entrepreneur and activist Olympia Auset is picking up the torch to help underserved communities access healthier options.
“This is the thing that’s killing us the most and it’s making it so that we can’t pass on that wisdom to our children because we’re dying too early,”
she told theGrio in a recent interview.
Auset, who runs a low-cost organic grocery service and pop up shop called SÜPRMARKT, was deeply touched by the news of Hussle’s death.
In response to his passing, Auset gave away free food at the local Underground Museum and opened up about his impact in a YouTube video.
“That’s just one small way I can contribute…This is just another reason for us to go eight times harder.”
In neighborhoods where liquor stores and fried chicken joints are sprinkled on every block, Black Americans are often left starving for healthy food options.
“When I lived in a food desert, I would ride on the bus for two hours every time I wanted to get fresh food,” Auset recalled
The isolation from anything fresh, organic and green has resulted in the terms food desert, food oppression and food apartheidto describe what has become a growing epidemic. The USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) even has an online food desert tracker which shows what cities are mostly like to be without accessible supermarkets.
Olympia Auset sells fresh produce in her neighborhood. (Photo: John Francis Peters)
“You find it happens quite often in our community; the Black community. That came to be by design and it’s having an effect on us,” said Auset.
According to analysis by Auset’s team, there are only 60 full-service grocery stores to serve 1.3 million people in South Los Angeles, leaving people with little to no choice but to eat from corner stores that only provide prepackaged foods heavy on the salt, fat and additives.
Once she noticed a pattern of family friends who were perishing from preventable health related issues, Auset, a Howard University graduate who became a vegan 10 years ago, decided to put her hustle and book smarts to work.
She started by creating a new business model. If companies wouldn’t bring healthy food to inner city neighborhoods, then she would bring it to them.
Pop quiz! What do Beyoncé and John D. Rockefeller have in common?
At first glance, the two American icons couldn’t be more different. Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter (you’ve heard of her, right?) is a paragon of contemporary black excellence. World-famous for her talent and drive, Beyoncé’s life and artistry in 2019 would likely have been unimaginable to Rockefeller.
Not to be confused with Jay-Z’s former record label Roc-A-Fella, John D. Rockefeller was an oil magnate and philanthropist. Born before the Civil War, Rockefeller died in 1937 and is generally considered to have been the richest person of the modern age. So what interests could these two legendary figures, separated by a century, possibly both share?
The answer is surprisingly simple: both are known as strong supporters of historically black colleges and universities, also known as HBCUs. And there are several reasons why these schools continue to be incredible sources of diverse talent in today’s world.
But first, a quick history lesson. In 1882, the founders of what’s now called Spelman College (keep that name in mind) were on a crucial fundraising tour for their school, which was one of the first higher education institutions for black women in the United States. After meeting with them at a church conference, Rockefeller made a relatively small investment: $250. This was just his first donation toward black education; eventually, he would invest millions. Rockefeller soon paid off the debt for the college’s property and made large donations toward the construction of campus buildings. By 1884, the school’s name had been changed to honor Laura Spelman, Rockefeller’s wife, and her abolitionist parents.
Parents and loved ones gathered from around the world to witness students close a chapter on their educational journey at Alcorn State University.
Over 400 students earned their college degrees during Alcorn’s 2019 Spring Commencement Exercise Saturday, May 4 in the Davey L. Whitney HPER Complex. The new alumni departed the university with well wishes and encouraging words from Entergy Corporation CEO Leo Denault, who delivered the ceremonial address.
Entergy’s leader began his speech by congratulating the graduates on their dedication to achieving their goals.
“You are college graduates,” said Denault. “You have earned your place among the 40 percent of Americans who have earned degrees. I applaud you and your drive, ambition, and perseverance.”
Love was the topic of Denault’s message to the graduates. He encouraged them to define what success means to them and then proceed to pursue their passion.
“The most important word in your career is love. You must figure out what success means to you. Once you find your answer, grow to love what you do. It is also important to love who you are working with and who you are working for.”
Developing bonds with fellow employees in the future was a trait that Denault motivated the graduates to remember when they enter the corporate world. He spoke on how critical it is to support their colleagues.
“Your co-workers are your family away from home. Make sure that you and your co-workers look out for each other and lift each other often. Motivate each other to do your best for the best results. Earn their trust and support them as they strive for excellence.”
Lastly, Denault inspired the graduates to remember those who support them, including Alcorn. He reminded them to give back to the university for providing them with a solid foundation.
“Never forget that they are real people with real dreams, so love the community you serve. Understand that those who invest in you are putting their trust in you. Alcorn has invested in you, so continue to invest in your alma mater with your time, talent, and money in the future.”
Interim President, Dr. Donzell Lee, concluded the ceremony by congratulating the students for reaching the pinnacle of their undergraduate and graduate pathways.
The graduates expressed their excitement for completing their educational milestone. Ayana Jones, a Natchez, Mississippi native who earned a bachelor’s degree in child development, was almost at a lost for words when describing her feelings about graduation. Because of the obstacles she’s had to hurdle, earning a degree is a special accomplish.
“It feels amazing to achieve a goal that I’ve been working on for years,” said Jones. “Initially, I was a nursing major, but I realized that the field wasn’t for me. So, I followed my true passion, which is working with children. So to overcome the obstacles is an indescribable feeling.”
Ro’Myrus Preston, who earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, reflected on the hours of dedication it took for him to become the first person in his family to graduate from a four-year university.
“It was a journey filled with hard work,” said Preston. “I had to juggle ROTC, take 22 credit hours in a semester, and overcome the pressure of passing state exams to receive my teaching certification in Mississippi. It was a hard fought battle, but it was worth it. I love Alcorn, and I’m so glad I chose to attend this university.”
Commencement featured other highlights during the celebration. A total of 81 members of Alcorn’s 1969 Golden Class took the stage to receive their golden diplomas.
Wilbert Jones, a board member for the ASU Foundation, Inc., presented Robert Tatum Jr., a Madison, Mississippi native who earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, with the Award of Excellence, which includes a $1,000 check and a plaque of achievement from the Foundation. The award is the culmination of Tatum’s dedication to academic excellence.
“I was always told to do my best, and that’s what I strove to do,” said Tatum. “I thank God for giving me the strength to persevere through all eight semesters. Being in this position is a surreal feeling because it’s a prayer that has been answered. I’ve waited for a long time to share this day with my classmates that also worked hard to get to this point.”
Before Denault’s address to the graduates, Lee presented him with an honorary doctorate.
For the first time, three Alcorn alumni received the Alcornite of the Year Award. The Rev. Dr. Neddie Winters presented Fred McNair, Braves head football coach, Dr. Alfred Rankins Jr., commissioner of Higher Education for the state of Mississippi, and Senator Willie Simmons, who has served in the Mississippi State Senate for 26 years.
In most cases, college-bound students find themselves counting down the days, eager to leave the home nest and parents behind, to move on campus, meet new friends and get underway with studies.
Madelyn McClarey will graduate from Florida A&M University this Saturday, May 4 with a degree in English with a minor in education. Her twin sons, Aaron and Aubrey Hough, both earned scholarships to FAMU which lead McClarey to take a leave of absence from her job and come to Tallahassee to go to school with them. (Photo: Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat)
Parents, in the meantime, shield their anxieties and wish them well, while inwardly jumping for joy at this rite-of-passage send-off. But, in rare circumstances, there are cases like Madelyn McClarey and her twin sons’ decision to study at Florida A&M University – together.
Rather than leaving mom back in South Florida, Aaron and Aubrey Hough insisted she join them in Tallahassee.
On Saturday, they will celebrate as McClarey crosses the stage at the Lawson Center, graduating with a degree in English from Florida A&M.
For the single mom, it represents a finish line that she’s been edging toward since completing business school in Staten Island, then returning to South Florida following a divorce, holding down full-time jobs, volunteering in her sons’ schools and traveling with them as a band parent.
But what landed her at FAMU was the opportunity presented to her twins, Aubrey, a music business major who will be graduating this fall, and Aaron, who is earning a specialized degree in music composition and expects to graduate in the summer or fall 2020.
Our nation’s historically black colleges and universities have been getting a lot of bad press of late.
They lack quality education and degree offerings. They can’t meet accreditation requirements. Enrollment is down.
Valencia Bean has heard it all.
But here’s a fact that, in her mind, can’t be repeated often enough and should never be forgotten: Not only were HBCUs the first to give African Americans the opportunity to obtain higher education when virtually no other colleges would, they remain vitally important in the black community, especially when it comes to closing wealth and achievement gaps.
That means everything to Bean, and it ought to mean something to the rest of us.
A lot of people give lip service to the importance of education. Bean and the other members of the Pearls of Purpose Foundation Inc., the philanthropic arm of the Nu Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., have for 32 years given scholarships so deserving Atlanta and Fulton County school students can attend college.
Just a week ago, the foundation handed out $31,000 in scholarships at its annual Pink Pearl Mother-Daughter Luncheon, and through its signature College Admissions Program — #CAP — it is helping students with entrance exams and application fees.
