REENSBORO (April 13, 2018) – North Carolina A&T track and field opened Day 1 of the Aggie Invitational at N.C. A&T’s Irwin Belk Track with victories in the men’s and women’s long jump and the women’s 100-meter hurdles. Twelve Aggies broke personal records as well.
N.C. A&T junior Kayla White highlighted the day by breaking her own school record in the 100-meter hurdles blazing her home track in 12.92 in the finals. Her time ranks eighth in the nation. Sophomore Madeleine Akobundu was second at 13.19 to rank 19th in the nation while freshman TeJyrica Robinson finished fifth at 13.54. Akobundu and Robinson also set personal records.
Akobundu continued her terrific day by winning the women’s long jump at 19-feet, 7 ½ inches. Junior Anisa Toppin posted a personal-record 19-feet, 2 ¾ inches placing fourth in the long jump. Freshman Royce Johnson finished eighth at 18-feet, 4 ½ inches.
The Aggies took first and second in the men’s long jump with both participants earning personal records. Junior Michael Bell placed first measuring 23-feet, 6 ¾ inches. He was followed by junior Lasheon Strozier at 23-feet, 2 ¾ inches.
Junior Michael Dickson (13.57) and senior Todd Townsend (13.72) were also spectacular for the home crowd by posting personal records. Dickson placed second in the men’s 110mh preliminaries at 13.57 while Townsend came in third at 13.72. In the finals, Dickson placed second (13.71) and Townsend third (13.75) while sophomore Robert Miller was seventh tying his personal record at 14.20.
Sophomore Camille Martin ran a personal-best 19:13.07 in the women’s 5000-meter finals to place third while senior Miranda Green was fourth at 20:24.50. In the men’s 5000, senior Hakeem Mustafaa (16:38.35) was fourth, junior Daquan Maddox (17:02.93) was fifth and junior Joel Freeman (17:54.25) was seventh.
Sophomore Kristoni Barnes led three top-10 finishes in the women’s 800 with a personal-record 2:08.70 to place second. Sophomore G’Jasmyne Butler was third with a time of 2:11.26. Senior Imani Coleman (2:12.48) was fifth and sophomore Khadijah Reid (2:25.27) was 15th.
Senior Corey Aiken led the Aggies in the men’s 800 with a third-place finish at 1:53.93. Freshman Alan Johnson (1:54.52) and senior Steve Stowe (1:55.91) were fifth and sixth respectively while sophomore Marquise McGee (1:56.02) placed eighth rounding out the top-10.
The action continues on Saturday the triple jump at 9 a.m. and the 4×100 relay at 11 a.m.
Chloe, Halle, Brittany, Chris, and Jaylen spoke on the panel “Young, Gifted, & Black: Millennial Founders in the Innovation Economy” moderated by Emmy-award winning journalist Cathleen Trigg-Jones.
“We recognized that something had to be done, and we did it; not just for ourselves, but for HBCU students around the world,” says Ireland to a standing-only room of teens at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center April 7, 2018. She continues, “It was important to see millennials like you and me[African-American] who are living their dreams, being celebrated.”
Chloe and Halle spilled tips from their mentor Beyonce‘ and how they grew to fame, Jaylen told a compelling story about becoming a millionaire before he was even legal, and Chris reflected back to producing the biggest fight on ABC’s hit television show Shark Tank.
The 4-day conference hosted by the Metropolitan New York Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. engaged nearly 1,000 African American teenagers in targeted, structured activities to provide a unique leadership experience.
The youth had the opportunity to network and learn more about education, business, innovative technologies, job readiness, and leadership skills through panels, workshops, and other sessions.
“After the panel a few teens rushed over and told me they had got accepted to various HBCUs, that they followed HBCU Buzz, or that they’d seen our logo various places in their cities. The teens told me I’d see their names in headlines one day… I told them they were correct, that first headline will be from hbcubuzz.com, because we are here for each of you!”
Jack and Jill of America is composed of over 11,000 mother-members who represent more than 40,000 family members across the country. We currently have 242 chapters nationwide and 57 chapters in the Eastern Region that span the District of Columbia and eight states including Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia (Northern). Our conference attendees come from all 57 chapters along the East Coast. While approximately 1000 attendees are teens, we also expect approximately 400 mothers who embrace the values of financial security, academic success, professional advancement and economic empowerment.
About Brittany Ireland
Brittany is a millennial leader in the media industry and proud graduate of Howard University where she serves on the university’s core communications team. Contact Brittany at brittany@brittanyireland.com.
Florida A&M University’s School of Nursing has been placed on probation by the state Board of Nursing following two consecutive years of low passing rates on license exams.
Interim FAMU Provost Rodner Wright said the state notice does not affect nursing students graduating this spring, and it does not affect the school’s accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, or ACEN.
“Florida A&M University’s rates have not equaled or exceeded the required passage rate two consecutive calendar years,” the state board wrote in its notice in February.
The program must remain on probationary status until it achieves a graduate passage rate that equals or exceeds the required passage rate for any one calendar year. Seventeen other nursing programs in Florida also were placed on probation for low passage rates.
Wright said nursing Dean Henry Talley has developed an action plan to better prepare first-time test takers. FAMU’s goal is to show improvement this year and get off probation.
According to the letter, an approved nursing program must achieve a graduate passage rate for first-time test takers, which is not more than 10 percentage points lower than the average passage rate during the same calendar year for graduates of comparable degree programs who are first-time test takers on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensing Examination.
FAMU’s average graduate passage rate for first-time test takers for 2016 was 75.61 percent, while the average graduate rate was 87.80 percent.
FAMU’s passage rate for 2017 was 63.51 percent, while the average graduation rate was 90.04 percent. read more
At separate events held the week of April 2, the Tuskegee University student body selected its new reigning Miss and Mister Tuskegee University and their attendants for the 2018-19 school year.
On April 5, the university crowned Courtney Alexis Landrum, a junior from Greenville, Alabama, majoring in occupational therapy, as its 89th Miss Tuskegee University. She succeeds Jessica Lillian Dedeaux of Wiggins, Mississippi, who graduates this spring with a degree in aerospace engineering.
She is the daughter of Angela and Earnest Hill, and Michael Landrum. Landrum has served through many different campus clubs and organizations, including Miss Freshman 2015-2016, new student orientation leader, and co-president of Inspirational Girls, as well as a member of the President’s Men and Women’s Leadership Program and Tuskegee University Ambassadors.
“I truly believe that you can have a dream, goal or idea, but the grind and hustle are sold separately — meaning it takes hard work to truly see things come to fruition,” Landrum said.
Upon graduation, she plans to pursue a doctorate in occupational therapy at the University of Alabama Birmingham and eventually open her own private practices in rural communities.
On April 3, the university named Tyrin Kirkland, a junior from Birmingham, Alabama, majoring in finance and accounting as its 21st Mister Tuskegee. He succeeds Jalen Law of Robertsdale, Alabama, who graduates this spring with a degree in nutritional science.
Kirkland is the son of Cedric Kirkland and Yolanda Nance. While a student at Tuskegee, he has served as Mister Rockefeller Hall and as a member of several campus organizations, including the Tuskegee University Ambassadors, the Honors Program, President’s Men and Women’s Leadership Program and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
“We should aspire to inspire before we expire,” Kirkland said, noting he strongly believes in the importance of volunteering, hard work, and diligence; empowering African-Americans; and working together for collective achievement.
Upon graduation, Kirkland plans to pursue a career in public accountancy, eventually owning his own finance and accounting firm.
Both Miss and Mister Tuskegee University have attendants that combine to form the Royal Court. Miss Tuskegee University’s first attendant is Shyla Hutchinson, a junior from Alexander City, Alabama, who is majoring in mechanical engineering. Her second attendant is Briann Ryce, a junior from Huntsville, Alabama, majoring in sales and marketing and finance.
Mister Tuskegee’s first attendant is Barry Wayne Howard II, a junior from Madison, Mississippi, majoring in English. His second attendant is Gerald Martin Young II, a junior from Little Rock, Arkansas, majoring in psychology.
The Miss and Mister Tuskegee University titles date back to 1925 and 1999, respectively. In their roles, students selected to hold these titles serve alongside other Student Government Association officers and student leaders as representatives of the student body. Each frequently participates in recruitment events, formal convocations and other programs as on- and off-campus university ambassadors, and serves under the auspices of the university’s Office of Student Life and Development.
Hope Wiseman, a 25-year-old Spelman graduate, plans to open a dispensary called Mary and Main’s in Capital Heights this winter. As a co-founder of Compassionate Herbal Alternative, she’s the youngest Black woman in the nation to own a dispensary.
A 90-day Maryland General Assembly comes to a close at midnight Monday, and though the top objective was achieved when a $44.5 billion budget was approved last month, lawmakers still have dozens of bills they plan to review on the final day, including compromises on medical marijuana.
According to the legislation, Senate and House lawmakers reached a deal Saturday to limit the number of processors to 28. In addition, the bill would add 20 new licenses to grow and process marijuana to ensure racial diversity, as well as allow a former member of the General Assembly who leaves after one year in office to become an owner or have an official relationship with a medical marijuana business. The previous language set the mark for a person to wait two years.
The legislation would force the state’s medical cannabis commission, named after the mother of Baltimore City Delegate Cheryl Glenn, “to the extent permitted by federal and state law, actively seek to achieve racial, ethnic, gender and geographic diversity when licensing medical cannabis growers” and “encourage applicants who qualify as a minority business enterprise.” read more
Fifty years ago, solidarity between Howard University students brought national attention to the class of 1968 due to university’s failure to include student input and in 2018, nothing has changed.
Since Thursday, at least 300 student demonstrators have staged an administration building sit-in “after 13 months of organizing, talking with administrators and exhausting all forms of protest.” The demonstration comes after a student whistleblower exposed the financial aid office for misappropriating funds on the online publishing platform Medium.
Many students applaud HU Resist for their leadership and efforts to raise awareness of issues and concerns plaguing the university. Students say the administration building has created unnecessary red tape also known as “the Howard runaround.”
HU Resist, the student organization leading the sit-in, has fostered a sense of family and community in a space where students previously felt intimidated, neglected and belittled.
“Before [the sit-in], I would come into the administration building emotionally armored to prepare myself for whatever attitude or obstacle might be in the way of what I came into this building for. Now, walking into this building seems very open. I don’t feel like I have to prepare myself for negativity. This whole building has a different energy to it. It feels like the bison family I came to Howard for,” said freshman Journee Harris.
Over the past seven days, HU Resist has organized tutoring and counseling services, know your rights workshops, healing spaces, art therapy classes and gender neutral bathrooms. Some say the student organization has produced more of an inclusive community than Howard has.
“The building has given me a sense of democracy, community and family. Before it was dreadful and painful. HU Resist made it feel like they weren’t worried about who was in charge as long as they got what everybody needed. The power structure is such an important thing at Howard and getting rid of that by creating a democratic society has prevented any problems that could occur in the future,” sophomore Jason Hilaire said.
“Since we are all here for one cause, there’s nothing we need to worry about. There is no craziness going on. Everyone is all in sync,” he continued.
From holding discussions about black queer spaces and placing an emphasis on respecting preferred pronouns, the administration building has transformed from what students say a belligerent space into a safe haven.
Although a junior transfer student at Howard, Savannah Howard has had her share of financial aid woes.
“Every time I walked into this building, I felt hopeless and annoyed. As a transfer student there have been a number of things that have gone wrong. The building wasn’t serving its purpose that it was promised to us, but now we have collective power. I’m not mad anymore. I’m not the way I felt when I had to come in this building to handle matters of my own. This building is filled with students that look like me which gives this building a comforting vibe. It has become a second home to me,” said Howard.
It is unsure how long HU Resist and other student demonstrators will reside in the administration building, but students claim they will not be leaving until the resignation of Frederick and the Board of Trustees is fulfilled.
HU Resist presented the Board of Trustees and Frederick a list of nine demands which include providing adequate housing, hiring more counselors for mental and emotional health issues and disarming campus police officers.
The student activist group formed in February 2016 to “make sure that Howard University fulfills its mission to [us].” HU Resist and student demonstrators hope to hold Howard administrators accountable for their lack of transparency and their abrasive treatment towards students.
Jalil Miles, a San Bernardino, CA native has began to impact his millennial generation and become a new trailblazer in the business world with his triple threat talent. An established DJ, Graphic Designer, and now business owner; Miles has become a mogul in the making. Never forgetting his past, Miles contributes his many successes with his humble beginnings. Growing up in a single parent household on Section 8 and relocating from home to home in an area where crime rates were consistently rising, this fueled his passion towards success from his childhood to his young adult years.
A Senior at Fisk University in Nashville, TN soon to graduate with a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Music Business, Miles contributes the creation of “Trophy Year” to discussions and ideas he and his fraternity brothers shared with each other. Chapter President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Alpha Chi chapter he and his brothers expanded upon their inner desire for more out of life. “We wanted to see growth in ourselves and in each other, remaining motivated as time passes is the major key and this that motivation.” Miles personal mantra is “apply pressure always.” Tapping into his passion for fashion Miles birthed the vision of “Trophy Year” and began working the graphics for his clothing December 2017 , by January his business was in action, successfully selling out of his pre-sale clothing quickly and official trademarked.
The vision of Trophy Year is to encourage anyone and everyone to reach their full potential, to realize that all goals perceived in the mind are obtainable through willpower, work ethic, and pushing through in the face of adversity.
Since the conception of Trophy Year, the business has begun to spread like a wildfire with individuals working out in gear, teachers, and athletes wearing his gear. On his college campus he has impacted students by reminding them to maintain a positive mindset and looking good while doing so. With close to 15,000 followers on Instagram, Miles has created a vision and a clothing line that resonates with individuals his age that appreciate the message and have found something they can live by. Through consistent networking, Miles has been able to see his gear worn by many notable artists, producers, and actors including Rich Dollaz (Love and Hip Hop) , Tay Keith (Producer of “Shoot” and “Look Alive” ), Fetty Wap, Kendrick Lamar, and Suge J. Knight. Individuals have found a clothing line whose mission of achieving anything they pursue resonates with so many people.
Moving forward, Miles says within the next five years he plans to begin collaborating with sports teams in creating warm up gear and team jerseys, as well as collaborating with Adidas, and introducing some work out gear. Spreading from Nashville to Atlanta, Trophy Year looks to begin opening official stores in New York and closer home to Miles in Los Angeles. With the constant support of new artists and established artists, new clothing content is in the works for Trophy Year. A young man driven by success and the pursuit of something more has walked into his Trophy Year.
For information on purchasing clothing, inquiries regarding DJ services, or graphic design
assistance visit his official website at www.jalilmiles.com. His Instagram account for the
apparel page is @TrophyYearApparel and his Personal Account is @dj.jayill.
As Howard University is going through so many administrative changes, a new media outlet is slowly emerging on HU’s campus. The Lunch Table Blog Show, LLC is a media company, originally founded at Towson University, that is beginning to expand throughout the entire DMV area. CEO and Founder David Abraham (@DavyJTheVirgo) says that when he was in college, there was no outlet for him to really garner experience as a host in the media industry. He founded The Lunch Table as a way to give other aspiring journalists and hosts a platform to gain working experience to add to their resume before graduating from college.
Their viral videos, often posted on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram, cover a wide range of funny, wild, and sometimes uncomfortable topics. They recently posted videos about whether or not you should post your significant other on social media, does size really matter?, and coverage of a stroll off event. TLT also hosts events such as panels, cook outs, and probate after parties. It aims to become as involved on college campuses as possible.
Abraham describes The Lunch Table as “a multimedia platform that gives voice to the community through electronic media, film, events.” It started at Towson, but has now expanded to Howard University, Coppin State University, Bowie State University, University of Maryland, and is now on its way to Hampton University. The multimedia company also now offers internships to students pursuing a career in the fields of journalism, public relations, and video production.
“If you search us up on Google in 10 years, it will not say The Lunch Table Blog Show, LLC, it will hopefully say incorporated. I hope to expand way beyond college campuses and maybe start a chapter in each city,” says Abraham.
To see the full video interview with David Abraham about The Lunch Table Blog Show, click here.
Morgan State University athletic legend Marvin Webster will be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, the organization announced Wednesday. Webster is one of six former players in the Hall of Fame’s 2018 class. The 2018 National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Celebration, presented by Nike, will take place on Sunday, Nov. 18 in Kansas City, Mo.
Dubbed “The Human Eraser,” the late Marvin Webster was one of the most dominant big men in college basketball history. From 1971–75, Webster tallied an NCAA record 2,267 rebounds, and his 740 boards in 1974 and 650 in 1973 are the two highest single-season totals in Division II history. Webster was a three-time Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year, and he holds Bears program records in rebounding, blocks, field goals made and free throws made. He averaged 21 points, 22.4 rebounds and eight blocked shots in 1973–74, leading Morgan to the Division II national title.
Webster was drafted in the first round by both the NBA and ABA in 1975 and played 10 professional seasons. He played for the Denver Nuggets in the ABA and for the Seattle Supersonics and the New York Knicks in the NBA.
Webster will be the first Morgan alumnus inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
Webster, Houston’s Otis Birdsong, Arizona’s Sean Elliott, Arkansas’ Sidney Moncrief, North Carolina’s Sam Perkins and USC’s Paul Westphal will join former Charleston coach John Kresse and former Oregon Tech coach Danny Miles to make up the Class of 2018.
Webster is one of 11 players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to be selected to enter the Hall of Fame, joining: Willis Reed Jr. (Grambling State); Vernon “The Pearl” Monroe (Winston-Salem State); Earl “Big Cat” Lloyd(West Virginia State); Samuel Jones (North Carolina Central); Marques Haynes (Langston); Dick Barnett (Tennessee State); Travis “The Machine” Grant (Kentucky State); Bob Hopkins (Grambling State); Zelmo Beaty (Prairie View A&M) and Cleo Hill (Winston-Salem State).
The National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame is located inside of the College Basketball Experience (CBE), an experiential entertainment facility adjacent to Kansas City’s Sprint Center. The Hall of Fame’s 13th induction celebration will precede the 2018 Hall of Fame Classic, which will showcase Nebraska, Texas Tech, USC and Missouri State competing on Nov. 19–20 at Sprint Center.
Elizabeth City State University has tapped a member of a Super Bowl-winning team to be the Vikings’ next head football coach.
Anthony Jones, a member of the 1987 championship Washington Redskins, will join the Viking football program this spring.
Jones replaces Earnest Wilson, who was fired about two weeks ago. Wilson posted a 9-11 overall record and a 6-8 mark in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association games over two seasons at ECSU.
In addition to his duties as ECSU’s new head football coach, Jones will also serve as an academic adviser within the Academic Affairs department.
ECSU officials did not immediately have terms of his contract, including his compensation, available Monday afternoon.
Jones has not coached since 2016. According to an ECSU spokesman, Jones has been enrolled in graduate school at the University of West Alabama, where he is expected to complete a master’s of education degree in student affairs this spring.
According to ECSU’s press release, the Baltimore native was assistant football coach for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff from 2014 to 2016 and before that garnered a .592 winning percentage in 11 seasons as head coach at Alabama A&M University. Read Full from Daily Advance
The U.S. Education Department is granting full forgiveness of $322 million in loans made to four historically black colleges and universities that suffered damage after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the Gulf Coast in 2005.
“This additional disaster relief will lift a huge burden and enable the four HBCUs to continue their focus on serving their students and communities,” Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said in a statement. “This relief provides one more step toward full recovery.”
In the aftermath of the storms, Dillard University, Southern University at New Orleans, Tougaloo College and Xavier University of Louisiana collectively borrowed more than $360 million through the HBCU Capital Financing Program in 2007. The money was used to renovate, refinance existing debt and build new facilities. The schools struggled to repay the debt amid depressed enrollment, and in 2013 received a five-year reprieveon payments that was set to expire this spring.
A provision in the two-year budget deal signed into law this year gave DeVos leeway to forgive the outstanding balance owed by the four schools.
“We are deeply grateful for the bipartisan legislative efforts and to the Trump administration for relief of the Katrina loans to Xavier University of Louisiana,” said C. Reynold Verret, president of Xavier of Louisiana. “Forgiveness of the loans removes a great impediment to innovation and the delivery of superlative education to talented women and men who build and sustain our communities, cities and nations.”
At Dillard, President Walter M. Kimbrough expressed his gratitude and talked about the level of devastation the university faced after the storms. “Dillard had six feet of standing water inside of its buildings, and was the most physically devastated institution of higher education,” he said.
Established in 1992, the HBCU Capital Financing Program provides low-cost capital to help historically black institutions upgrade their campuses and refinance debt. The program is meant to provide a lifeline to schools, many with small endowments, that face challenges in accessing traditional financing at reasonable rates.
Students at Howard University, a historically black university in Washington, D.C., are entering the fourth day of their sit-in as they negotiate their demands with the university involving the handling of financial aid.
The protest was started by the student group HU Resist after Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick said that an internal probe found that financial aid was misused by the university from 2007 to 2016. According to the probe, some employees got grants from Howard and tuition remission that exceeded the total cost of attendance.
Alexis McKenney, a student organizer with HU Resist, told reporters that after meeting with administration officials on Saturday and Sunday morning the students have secured their first demand. That demand was to extend the housing deadline for the fall of 2018 to May 1 and for the school to provide adequate housing for those under 21.
McKenney said the action is a good first step toward a “liberated [historically black university].”
“In the meantime, we will continue to occupy the building and we are prepared to continue to negotiate with the administration and the board of trustees on the terms of our demands,” McKenney added.
The students have demanded a list of assurances from Howard University, including ending “unsubstantiated tuition hikes,” providing adequate housing for students under the age of 21, addressing sexual assault on campus and the resignation of the university president and the executive committee of the board of trustees.
Ideas shared as a Professor of technology, WordCamp speaker, WordCamp organizer/volunteer and business owner.
A. Write as if the world is going to read your content. When people read your content they should experience your passion through your words and pictures. Your voice should resonate with pride and dignity. B. Take the time to read, re-read and edit your content before posting.
“African’s must accept and embrace they are valuable content creators and have a voice that should be heard on a global digital scale.” – William Jackson, M.Ed. 2018
Remember that you’re not just writing for you, your writing and representing your culture and continent.
C. Remain humble to the power of your content. Not everyone will agree with your content, they should see you as truthful, honest and authentic.
D. Embrace the diversity of the continent and your country.
Your writings are global content that will travel across the World Wide Web so be sure it travel well.
E. Be authentic with what you want to share, it is ok to use quotes and comments from others that share similar experiences, but there is only one you. You’re the expert
of you…
F. Don’t allow bias or racism to taint or spoil your views of your cultural diversity. Telling a story means telling
both sides through your eyes and experiences.
G. Chinua Achebe – On the power of storytelling “I write because I enjoy it.”
H. The natural human resources of Africa are abundant. African people of color and culture should not be quick
to run to others for support and resources because the very things needed might be right in their backyard.
I. Accept the diversity of your country and your culture,
unify and recognize the African Diaspora.
J.Who writes your life story? | Hill Krishnan | TEDxCalPoly https://youtu.be/OscDpHfrtog
K. Travel and visit books stores that may contain literary treasures and share them online. Map your travels to intellectual development.
L. Use paper and pencil sometimes because they inspire a
new level of thinking and build thought leadership inside you.
M. Look with different eyes your environment, use places, people, smells, sites and experiences to influence your writing.
N. Use YouTube as a resource to research and learn from great writers like Achebe, Aboulela, Rugero and others. “The storyteller has a different agenda than the emporer.” Chinua Achebe 2008
O. 25 African Writers You Should Read
http://lithub.com/25-new-books-by-african-writers-you-should-read/
P. Don’t look at just one aspect of a culture or society, you should research other diverse areas to get a clear picture
of things.
Q. The Danger of A Single Story –
R.Write to educate, empower, engage and excite others.
S. Set yourself up as a life-long learner. Maintain your library card both digital and hard copy. Never compromise the value of learning.
T. Taylor your thinking to a “growth mind set.”
U. Remember your voice has power, it can inspire, it can heal, it can motivate, but it can destroy, bring chaos and even death.
V. Think of the legacy you want to create and leave, your words will last forever on a digital platform. What do you want generations to know about you? W. Teach each generation to love literature by being a role model and inspiration. Teach others their words do matter and their mind is valuable.
X. Girls and women should have equal opportunities to expand their mental abilities. They have the ability to become thought leaders and spark life-long learning in other girls and women.
Y. Never forget the sacrifices that the elders made so that you can continue to rise. Remember if you start to forget you potentially fall back into past ignorance’s
of educational and economic neglect and mental slavery.
Z. Praise God for your gifts, talents, abilities and opportunities. You are so unique that God created only one of you and your voice is unique, authentic and can influence generations.
“Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers not thunder.” Rumi
William Jackson is a past Professor at Edward Waters College, where he designed a curriculum that embraced Educational
Technology, Social Media and STEAM. He is a WordCamp organizer, blogger, volunteer, speaker and digital community activist for TEDxFSCJ and the Social Media Manager for Jacksonville Sister Cities Association. He blogs about his life experiences as he travels speaking to youth, teens and young adults and is a member of the body of Christ with Northside Church of Christ. William has 28 years as a public school educator in Physical Education and Technology Instruction.
When you hear about this news in regards to the United States Congress managing to somehow give a fresh breath of air to the 107 historically black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, in the nation, we guarantee it that you might just be gone like the wind.
After what seems like forever and a day, the ship has finally docked on the campuses at black colleges in the South and the North and the University of the Virgin Islands. So, in fact, we got it all covered like a wedding band now.
According to a recent report by TMCF which supports and represents nearly 50 of the nation’s public black colleges, the United States Congress not only has listened to HBCU community but has also acted and followed through on their word.
“On behalf of our 47 member-schools, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) extends our gratitude to the United States Congress for supporting our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the FY’18 Omnibus Appropriations Act in such a significant way. Through our collective engagement, Congress has not only listened to the HBCU community but has also acted. HBCUs play an integral role in educating the next generation of leaders and shaping our nation’s and local economies,” said Dr. Harry L. Williams, President & CEO, Thurgood Marshall College Fund in a statement, explaining in details the great news about the nation’s most beloved black colleges that was founded to help educate freed slaves worldwide.
He continued: “We appreciate Congress increasing vital Title III funding which will allow our member-schools to continue building capacity and further demonstrate devoting federal resources to HBCUs remains a sound investment for the entire country. TMCF will continue working with all of our Congressional partners, especially the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus, to ensure our HBCUs remain a budgetary priority so they can continue to thrive.”
For too long HBCUs have been too strong, and like a phoenix bursting into flames and getting lost just to find something new: tell them we are still rising.
About Thurgood Marshall College Fund
Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). Publicly-supported HBCUs enroll over 80% of all students attending HBCUs. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education spaces. The organization is also a source for top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.
TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit: www.tmcf.org.
Shortly after a (now deleted) report leaked that officials at Howard University allegedly stole nearly $1 million from the university’s financial aid office, one former student employee was dragged by Black Twitter into the spotlight and became the face of the controversy. Six employees were fired from Howard University last year after an internal investigation revealed the misappropriation of university-based grants.
Former student employee Tyrone Hankerson Jr. found himself at the center of the scandal when it was reported that he allegedly scammed $429,000 from the university.
Howard University is an HBCU with undeniable talent and an extremely ambitious student body. Mona Dinal, a junior Business Management major from Brooklyn, NY, recently curated an event with the goal to promote black owned business from Howard University students and local Washington, D.C. residents.
Her passion for both fashion and beauty industries inspired her to curate an event that allowed brands from both worlds to collaborate. Dinal single-handedly brainstormed, organized, and executed this event, including having vendors, a fashion show, multiple panels on entrepreneurship, and numerous sponsors.
Leon Funchess, a junior at Howard University attended the event to support his friends who showcased their brands in the fashion show. He said, “the name evolution exhibition kind of speaks to how much I’ve seen a lot of my friends grow up. They started out with t-shirts. Now, they have sweatshirts, my friend Chloe has vests and all of that, it’s remarkable to see their brands grow.”
The event, Evolution Exhibition: The Journey of Fashion and Beauty by People of Color, had guest speakers, vendors, and a fashion show. Vendors at the event included Capsulated, Trophy Year Apparel, The Players Club, PopxTwo, and Baldie Revolution.
There was even free giveaways from companies such as SpokeHub and Shea Moisture.
Dinal, the event curator, recalls the Evolution Exhibition as the “perfect networking place, perfect event to showcase new vendors, and the perfect way for my Howard family to come out and support one another in an awesome, informal time and enjoy themselves.”
