Blue Cross NC Announces $1 Million Investment In NCCU’s Nursing Program

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Investment will be used to address access to care and nursing shortages, educational resources and technology.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) will invest $1 million in North Carolina Central University’s (NCCU) nursing program. The investment is part of Blue Cross NC’s commitment to contribute $50 million toward community health initiatives in 2018. The investment is partially funded through $40 million in tax savings generated through the recently passed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

NCCU will use the investment for scholarships to address access to care and nursing shortages, educational resources and technology.

“As a practicing physician, I’ve seen firsthand the central role that nurses play in creating a higher-quality, more affordable health care system,” said Dr. Patrick Conway, President and CEO of Blue Cross NC. “We are excited to be able to help NCCU admit and train new nurses, especially from rural North Carolina. To bring costs down and increase quality, we have to think more broadly about what it means to invest in health – this is a great example of that principle in action.”

According to a recent study by Georgetown University, North Carolina is projected to have the second-largest shortage of nurses in the nation – a deficit of 12,900 nurses. The shortage is especially challenging in rural North Carolina. The state’s metropolitan areas have 32 more nurses for every 10,000 people than rural counties. Seventy of North Carolina’s 80 rural counties are classified as “medical deserts” due to their lack of primary care. Additionally, nurses play a central role in increasing the value of health care, both in terms of improved outcomes and lower costs.

“North Carolina Central University is grateful to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina for making a major investment in the university,” said Dr. Johnson O. Akinleye, NCCU Chancellor.

“This significant gift for our Department of Nursing will ensure that NCCU will continue to fulfill a critical workforce demand for the state of North Carolina and supply compassionate care, knowledgeable practitioners and highly trained healthcare providers who serve the citizens of North Carolina.”

NCCU’s nursing program is dedicated to providing access to the profession for students from diverse backgrounds in regards to race, gender, socio-economic status and locality. Specifically, increasing the number of African-American nurses will provide minority populations with increased access to practitioners with whom they share similar backgrounds, experiences and communities. These commonalities can foster patient trust and improve health care satisfaction scores, which can lead to higher compliance, better outcomes and lower costs for everyone.

The $1 million will be invested into the following areas:

  • Scholarships, Recruitment, and Retention

There is a significant need for scholarships and financial aid, especially to students from poor, rural areas. NCCU plans to use funding to increase the number of low-income graduates from 781 in 2016 to 916 by 2022. The school plans to increase the number of rural area graduates from 344 in 2016 to at least 400 in 2022.

NCCU will partner with local community colleges to increase the number of students in its RN to BSN program. Nurses from rural counties who earn BSNs are twice as likely as those from more urban counties to practice in rural areas. Additionally, patients who receive 80 percent or more of their care from nurses with baccalaureate educations have 7 percent lower odds of readmission than patients treated by nurses without degrees.

  • Educational Training 

Students who earn a nursing degree must pass the NCLEX exam before they are allowed to practice. NCCU’s will use funding from this investment to help prepare its students for the NCLEX.

  • Technology

NCCU’s nursing program includes the state-of-the-art Eagle General Hospital, which is equipped with smart classrooms and computer laboratories. NCCU will use funding from the investment for technology upgrades such as pediatric simulators to provide students with proper practical experience.

TSU Tigers To Face Xavier Musketeers In NCAA Tournament

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Texas Southern advances for the first time in University history

HOUSTON (March 15, 2018) – Texas Southern University (TSU) continues its historic drive in the NCAA Tournament after moving on Wednesday night with a decisive 64-46 win over North Carolina Central in the First Four round of the NCAA Tournament. The victory secured TSU’s invitation to the Big Dance and a prime-time television match.

The 16th-ranked Tigers advance to face #1 seed Xavier (Ohio) on Friday night in Nashville. The game will air at 6:20 pm on TBS. A campus watch party for students, faculty and staff will be held in TSU’s Sterling Student Life Center.  TSU’s team, under the tutelage of Coach Mike Davis, is enjoying their fourth appearance in the NCAA Tournament with invitations in 2014, 2015 and 2017.

TSU’s win Wednesday night was a first in the team’s history. The victory was driven by Damontrae Jefferson, a 5-foot-7 point guard whose wily, quick moves spurred the drive over North Carolina Central. Jefferson, who scored 25 points and snagged eight rebounds, described the win as ‘a blessing’ and ‘for the university.’

Head Coach Mike Davis said, “You create miracles in March. Everybody who loves basketball…will watch March Madness.”

–

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.

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Lincoln University Of Missouri Announces Its Newest President

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After a six-month search, Lincoln University has named Dr. Jerald Jones Woolfolk as their 20th President.

The position is currently held by Interim President, Micheal A. Middleton who was brought in after Dr. Kevin Rome—current President of Fisk University—unexpectedly resigned as his role as president of LU in March 2017.

Dr. Woolfolk currently serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at State University of New York (SUNY)-Oswego. She has received both her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and her Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Higher Education from Jackson State University. Woolfolk also holds a Master of Science degree in Counselor Education from Iowa State University. Additionally, she has completed the Harvard University Institute for Educational Management.

High expectations are bestowed upon the new president. As Curator Marvin O. Teer, President of the Board of Curators, said in the university’s official news release, “We have a lot of work to do and Dr. Woolfolk is exactly who we need at the helm to move us forward.”

The President’s main effort will be focusing on increasing the retention rate at Lincoln University.

Woolfolk will be introduced as president during Lincoln University’s 16th Annual President’s Gala weekend. The event is is expected to be held at The LINC in Jefferson City, Mo. on April 7, 2018 beginning at 5 p.m.

Tuskegee University Stylish Buzz Of The Week: Diamond Ceré Woods

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On the campus of Tuskegee University struts Diamond Ceré Woods, a political science major hailing from Birmingham, Alabama. Woods rocks a style that’s classy yet edgy.  She loves adding a bold accessory to simple looks.  In fashion Woods lives by “less is more” but is the total opposite when serving her University and community. Founder of non-profit Palm2Palm, Woods operates the organization to bring a sense of togetherness through community service in various areas of Alabama. Brains and beauty for sure! She is a Tuskegee University Ambassador and is a part of the Tuskegee University Honors Program.

DiamondCere.com is a fashion and lifestyle blog that was recently launched by Woods. The page displays personal style as well as other sophisticated fashion forward women. When it comes to the Do’s and Don’ts of fashion Woods has a few tips. Do add contrast to every look. This is accomplished by adding a statement piece that can consist of either jewelry, handbags, or hats. Do have splashes of boldness. Bold accessories add flavor to simple looks. “There are no rules or requirements to her fashion designs. If she likes the final look, it’s a GO; regardless of what anyone says,” stated her mother, Ruby Davis.

Tight fitting clothing is a don’t for Woods. She thinks that it is imperative to always dress for your body type. “I am very slim so I try to avoid wearing tight fitted clothing and lean towards more loose fitted or flare styles; but not too loose that result in the loss of detail of the piece,” stated Woods. College girls can be very fly while managing class, work, and extracurricular activities. Woods makes that a fact and not opinion.  “She has created an aesthetic of using earth tones to create different looks. These looks transcend the average look & style of any other college girl,” stated Tiawndrea Ware.

When HBCU Buzz caught up with Diamond at Tuskegee’s Homecoming she most definitely stood out in the crowd and we are not the only ones who noticed. “I love how she thinks outside of the box and pieces things together that you wouldn’t initially think complement each other,” stated Austen Howell. You can keep up with Woods and her stylish ways on social media by following @imdiamondcere on Instagram and her lifestyle blog at www.diamondcere.com

Here’s How HBCU Students Can Find Their Dynamic Calling In Life As Content Creators

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Historically Black Colleges and University students are growing as content creators and the need for training is increasing. WordCamp conferences meet the needs of bloggers, micro-bloggers, and podcasters. As speakers and participants of WordCamp conferences, Aida and I provide a few hints for HBCU students before registering for WordCamp.

HBCU students should already have expectations for learning. Having attended and spoken at several WordCamps in 2017 the benefits are everlasting. The potential for continued collaborations are endless and possibly life changing starting careers in diverse areas of technology. The motivation is that less than 1% of tech companies are owned by people of color. There are different expectations for each person, there needs to be an established plan that fits individual needs based on the session or track that is available.

As a past professor at the historic Edward Waters College, I regularly took students that could attend with me to expose them to industry experts and leaders. Deciding what your goals are as a content creator and how you mesh or combine your plan to learn, integration of technology that can aid your business and personal growth, build a brand and market yourself. There is more to gaining readers, viewers and engagement than a flashy web site, dazzling coding and eye candy photos, it takes planning and engagement.

How you’re marketing your brand and integrating content as an engaging and interactive developer makes a difference in achieving the goals you have set as an entrepreneur and future professional. Attending WordCamp assists in finding out what products, services and resources can benefit you and your customers. Security updates, SEO changes and coding tips and tricks and learning the language. Make sure you have plenty of business cards, your appearance matches your brand, you have questions after or during sessions.

Building a brand creates future opportunities for investments and expansion outside of normal business lines. The benefits resulting from investing in attending WordCamp may lead to internships, new career options or second jobs. As a content creator you represent your business so consider the potential of building business relationships. Never judge a person by attire, color or culture, gain insights during conversations and interactions. Events like WordCamp provide opportunities to expose HBCU students to applying social skills and learning business skills that are important in commerce, finance and knowledge based careers.

HBCU students are establishing businesses and building awareness for their contributions. Building relationships in business and the connections to
future careers starts with networking. Intellectual design is key because knowledge based careers are expanding. Knowledge is power when applied strategically and effectively. Building self-confidence, self-awareness, self-determination and self-respect.

WordCamps are in every state and have after conference meetups that provide additional learning and networking. Technology contains and embraces diversity so students can gain opportunities. WordCamp venues contain great potential to be an awesome experience. To build life-long and generational intellectual learners. Access to wealth resources, intellectual design, community activism through digital community engagement. Building entrepreneurial vision that allows the embracing of adaptation, change and growth. WordCamp is unique, engaging, interactive and empowering.

https://videopress.com/v/Hh7voNWV

Albert Einstein Went To An HBCU

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Although I didn’t attend an historically black college, I’ve always been proud to know that they existed even before the end of American slavery.

The fact that institutions of learning were established with the express purpose of educating black people in a country that hated them and saw African Americans as a detested servant class, reflects the craving of black Americans for knowledge and enlightenment.

I recently learned that an honored guest once visited the campus of Lincoln University, an HBCU established prior to the Civil War—none other than Albert Einstein, the brilliant German-born physicist who had fled Germany after the Nazis’ rise to power.

He would make America his home, only to discover a sick racial prejudice here, although it wasn’t like what the Jews experienced during the Nazi era, and it was mostly—Jews and some others were also discriminated against—directed toward black people.

Read an excerpt here from the website Blavity, which describes the day Albert Einstein visited Lincoln University, and what he had to say about racism in the United States.

Dr. Albert Einstein is most celebrated for being a Nobel Prize-winning physicist and [developing] the theory of relativity.

Einstein was one of 340,000 Jews who became refugees after fleeing Germany during Hitler’s reign of terror…. Having been persecuted for his faith, Einstein knew–firsthand–the negative and deadly impact of power and oppression.

However, one aspect of the genius’s life that is often overlooked is his relationship with African Americans and his role in the civil rights movement.

In 1946, he visited Lincoln University, an HBCU located in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The school is the alma mater of some of the greats, including Langston Hughes, Thurgood Marshall, and Cab Calloway, and was the first university that allowed African Americans to earn … degrees.

… Einstein’s visit is … important because he shirked the racial climate of the time. Prejudice and racial violence against blacks [were commonplace]. Within this period, segregation was a way of life, and several lynchings and riots had occurred.

Undeterred, Einstein not only visited, but also spoke and took questions from students and accepted an honorary degree from Lincoln University.

“There is … a somber point in the social outlook of Americans … Their sense of equality and human dignity is mainly limited to men of white skins. Even among these there are prejudices of which I as a Jew am dearly conscious; but they are unimportant in comparison with the attitude of ‘whites’ toward their fellow-citizens of darker complexion, particularly toward Negroes. … The more I feel an American, the more this situation pains me. I can escape the feeling of complicity in it only by speaking out.”

Read more at Blavity.

Howard University Students Rebuild, Mentor In Puerto Rico For Alternative Spring Break

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By Tatyana Hopkins (NNPA Newswire Special Correspondent)

ARECIBO, Puerto Rico—When Howard University student Jasmine Stevens fled New Orleans in 2005 to avoid Hurricane Katrina, she left with just enough clothes for two days. The Category 3 storm would cover her family’s neighborhood in eight-feet of water, destroy their belongings and force them to abandon their home and flee to Port Arthur, Texas, where they remained for three years.

“We lost everything,” Stevens, 20, said. “It didn’t hit me until I watched the news and saw my city underwater.”

Now, Stevens, a junior biology major, finds herself in a familiar spot, but this time hundreds of miles away in Puerto Rico, where another hurricane has wreaked havoc on the lives of millions of Americans.

Stevens is here with fellow Howard students to help the people still recovering from Hurricane Maria, which six months ago destroyed thousands of homes, wiped out the island’s already out-of-date electric grid, and limited access to clean drinking water for millions.

Most of the island now has electricity and water, but the restoration of destroyed homes, businesses and churches continues.

Stevens and six other Howard students spent Monday rebuilding La Hermosa Church in downtown Arecibo, a town of 96,000 on the island’s northern coast. Stevens, who is participating in Howard University’s Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program, traveled to Puerto Rico during her spring break to assist in recovery efforts.

The students in Puerto Rico and more than 700 other Howard students have given up their vacation week, the parties and trips home to help people in various distressed areas, including Haiti, Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Thomas, Flint, Mich., New Orleans, Chicago, Texas and Florida.

“I believe that, as a global citizen, it’s important to help those in need,” said Ngodoo Iye, 21, a senior on her third ASB trip.

Stevens echoed those sentiments.

“For me, this trip is a way to give back to those who helped my family when we were victims of Hurricane Katrina,” Stevens said.

Once a place of worship for a congregation of about 40 people, La Hermosa Church remains without power and running water. After the storm, the 12,000-square foot, one-story building church was submerged in at least eight-feet of water, said La Hermosa’s pastor, Miguel Asegarra.

“I was outside watching the hurricane, and it never touched my home,” Asegarra said, “but it destroyed our church.”

Asegarra has led the church for two years. He lives 15-minutes away in a residential neighborhood.

La Hermosa rests in the city’s downtown, which was flooded by the Rio Grande Arecibo, a river just blocks away.

“This is one of the oldest churches in this city and we lost everything,” Asegarra said. “But, God has blessed us, because many people have come to help us.”

The Howard students picked up restoration of the church where several other groups left off. The church, once covered in mud and debris, had been cleaned and gutted by previous groups. The ASB team was tasked with repainting the church’s walls.

The church was one of dozens of buildings—businesses, homes, schools, government offices—that were severely damaged in Arecibo, which lies about an hour and a half west of the capital city of San Juan.

Irma Sierra Cordova, owner of a downtown pharmacy, said she used her savings to re-open her business, which closed for two months.

“I lost all of my inventory,” Cordova said, “but homes should be the priority.”

Others are still repairing homes ripped apart by the fierce winds of the storm.

“I lost my whole roof, and I have a blue tarp on top of my house to prevent it from leaking [when it rains],” said Roberto Valez, 68, a Puerto Rican native who retired here after 30 years working construction in New London, Conn. “In the first month, rain would get in and damage everything.”

While Stevens’ team worked on the church, other Howard students helped restore a building in nearby Dorado. A third group visited the local Boys and Girls Club in Las Magaritas, a neighborhood in San Juan. While there, they tutored older students and danced and played hide-and-seek with the younger ones. They taught the kids the “Cha Cha Slide” and the students taught them salsa.

Pastor Humberto Pizarro of Connected Life, a ministry in San Juan, helped Howard’s ASB program connect with those most in need. Pizarro’s church organization, Shining Bright International, is a missionary and outreach ministry that has helped more than 40 teams from the United States and the Caribbean work more than 240,000 volunteer hours to restore the island.

“God has trained us for this, and we hit the ground running,” Pizarro said.

Within two days after the hurricane, his church began delivering meals, fuel and water to residents, and by the end of the week, they had flown in their first group of helpers from the U.S. mainland.

“Everyone in our church is trained to respond to these [types] of disasters,” Pizarro said. “The church is a temple to worship, but [the church’s mission] happens outside of its four walls. We focus on outreach.”

Howard student Audre’ana Ellis said she was impressed with the work Pizarro’s church had done to move recovery efforts along.

“I’m excited to help and serve,” Ellis, 18, said. “I’m surprised to see that everyone here is so strong and has come together to get through this.”

Hampton University, MEAC Announce Separation Agreement

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HAMPTON, Va. – The Pirates are free to set sail into the Big South.

Monday, Hampton University announced an “amicable agreement” with its former league, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), on terms of separation. Per a release from the university, HU agrees to pay a fine for failing to meet the MEAC’s July 1, 2017 deadline for withdrawal from the conference as it transitions into the Big South.

“Hampton University values our relationship with the MEAC and I believe this agreement is best for all parties going forward,” said Dr. William R. Harvey, President of Hampton University. “This agreement is not only what’s best for Hampton University and the MEAC, but it is what’s best for our collective students, alumni, boosters and fans.”

HU and the MEAC were involved a dispute related to the Pirates’ plans for departure. Norfolk State, Hampton’s longtime conference rival, released its 2018 football schedule last week – and HU was not on the slate for the first time since 1962. According to Hampton, Monday’s agreement “allows for Hampton University and MEAC member institutions to play as non-conference opponents in the future and preserves the traditional rivalries held dear by stakeholders of both Hampton University and the MEAC.”

“We are very pleased with the agreement reached between the MEAC and Hampton University,” Dr. Dennis E. Thomas, MEAC Commissioner, said in a statement. “We wish Hampton University student athletes, coaches and staff continued success in their future endeavors.”

This article was originally published via WTKR

FAMU Soon To Be The First HBCU With Accredited Police Department

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A team of assessors from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators will arrive on FAMU’s campus on March 25. Team members will be here to examine all aspects of the Florida A&M University Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operation, and support services.

Verification by the team that the FAMU Police Department meets IACLEA’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation – a highly prized recognition of campus public safety professional excellence.

Since its inception on Nov. 6, 1958, the IACLEA has represented campus law enforcement and security issues before law and policymakers, higher education officials, and members of the public for more than 3,700 members at approximately 1,000 colleges and universities in 15 countries, according to its website.

This is the final stage of a 36-month process, which, according to Wendy Dorival, the accreditation manager for FAMU’s Police Department, started two years ago. “This is all Chief Calloway,” said Dorival “This was part of his plan since the beginning.”

FAMU PD Chief Terence Calloway, of Cleveland, was sworn in during February of 2014. “What I bring to the table is stability, accountability, discipline, structure and communication,” Calloway said at his swearing in ceremony. “I bring a different kind of leadership style here. I don’t have just one leadership style.

“I believe in coming together as a family and doing things collectively as a team. It’s not just about me,” he added.

This accreditation process is another step to assure the safety for students on campus. “They have standards set where those standards provides the best practices in law enforcement,” said Dorival. “There are over 210 standards that enables us to enhance our protection. So a lot of those standards focuses on safety for students, faculty and staff, how we respond to calls, what is our process for maybe making an arrest and processing information,” she said.

“The assessment generally consists of a tour of facilities, interviews with agency personnel and members of the campus community served, a compliance review of applicable standards, and receipt of public comment.  The assessor will review all standards and verify applicable standards as well as standards not applicable to the department.  Assessors will provide feedback to the department during the review.  The assessors will prepare a written report and submit it to IACLEA,” according to its website.

Dorival is optimistic. “If everything gets passed and we receive our accreditation, we will be honored in June,” she said, “making us the first HBCU in the country to receive accreditation from the IACLEA.”

University members, agency employees, and the public are invited to offer comments by calling (850) 412-5434 on Monday, March 26 between 1 and 3 p.m. Comments will be taken by the assessment team.

Telephone comments must address the department’s ability to comply with IACLEA’s standards. The IACLEA Accreditation Standards Manual is available on the IACLEA website (www.iaclea.org).

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Florida A&M University Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to IACLEA Accreditation at 1110 Bonifant Street, Suite 220, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.

Claflin University Wins First SIAC Championship Title Over Clark Atlanta

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 3, 2018) – “Going all the way back to August until today, they’ve been challenged. The challenges they’ve met have been unreal from start to finish, but we’re not done yet,” said Coach Ricky Jackson, head men’s basketball coach at Claflin University.

These challenges have only pushed the Claflin Panthers forward as they solidified their first title as 2018 SIAC Men’s Basketball Tournament Champions since joining the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Jaleel Charles, who was named this year’s All-Tournament Most Valuable Player, scored 18 points for the Panthers while adding 10 rebounds which lifted Claflin over previous champions, Clark Atlanta, in a 69-61 victory.

“From the jump, we just wanted to win. We said in the locker room, it doesn’t matter what it takes, the next man, me, Triston, Benjamin “Tre” Williams, we were going to get it done and everybody stuck by their game plan,” Charles said.

The Claflin Panthers (25-6) secured their championship title after finishing third place in the eastern division during regular season.

Clark Atlanta Panthers struggled shooting in the paint and from behind the arc as the Claflin Panthers kept them shooting under 35 percent in both categories. Claflin led the entire game as Clark Atlanta encountered various fouling troubles throughout the game.

“I thought it was a great game. I thought they thoroughly outhustled and outworked us. When you shoot 35 percent from the field, 15 percent from the 3-point line, and 64 percent from the free-throw line, you won’t beat anybody. Let’s just call a spade a spade,” said head men’s basketball coach, Darrell Walker.

Claflin finished by outscoring Clark Atlanta 11-7 in the final four minutes, the final point a free-throw by Benjamin Williams.

Clark Atlanta (24-5) fell 2-1 within the tournament having split with Claflin in the regular season.

“Our rebounding we kind of cleaned up, but we have to get our basketball IQ better. I’ve been saying it for the past four to five weeks,” emphasized Walker.

Akil Douglas led scoring with 14 points as Mitchell and Davis added 12 for the Clark Atlanta Panthers.

With 4:06 remaining, Triston Thompson tried for a jumper and was successful as the Clark Atlanta Panthers trailed and eventually fell, leading the Claflin Panthers to their first conference title.

2018 Men’s Basketball All-Tournament Team
MVP: Jaleel Charles (Claflin)
Brandon Morris (Benedict)
Triston Thompson (Claflin)
Akil Douglas (Clark Atlanta)
Cairo Brown (Benedict)

Howard University Community Mourns The Death Of Recent Howard Grad Robert Lawrence

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Back in January, friends, and family of the bison community took to social media to talk about reports of Robert Lawrence, a recent Howard University graduate, who was missing. Police from the 114th Precinct in Astoria had put a notice of him and he was last seen Wednesday, Jan. 3, leaving his Main Street home at 7 p.m., according to the NYPD. The 2012 graduate was said to have been working as a front desk administrator for VOICE Charter School in Long Island City before he went missing, according to multiple Facebook users who shared his missing poster.

In another public Facebook post, Nancy Rodriguez called Lawrence “a great sweet man with a great smile and personality.”

This is a tweet from the university below.

Today, those same students and alumni are mourning his death receiving notice from his mother, Keisha Lawrence.

Rob is a loving son and brother and he was enthusiastic about life, charismatic, kind and creative. He is funny too.

He is my only son and this is such a traumatic and devastating loss.  In lieu of receiving flowers we have set up this memorial fundraiser.  Rob did not like flowers and he would go out of his way to give me any gift except flowers to say thank you or I love. The funds we are raising will be used to defray the cost of the memorial services and to make a donation towards suicide prevention. 

We appreciate your offerings as soon as possible.

Thank you for all of your love and support during this difficult time. 

Keisha Lawrence, Mom 

https://twitter.com/MrsSewItAll/status/970792527434575879

Here is how you can Donate and help in his Honor.

The Mutiny At Hampton University

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Students at one of America’s top HBCUs are protesting a long list of problems faced by students at the school, including sexual assault, safety, food and the lack of maintenance of campus facilities.

The long-simmering situation at Hampton University is reaching a slow boil, pitting the student body against the university’s leadership and administration. Faced with a maelstrom of criticism over the school’s perceived apathy and lack of concern for the constituents of the heralded Virginia school, the Pirates of Hampton now face a quiet mutiny that has not only manifested itself on campus but has also spilled over onto social media and the public eye.

Hampton trails only Spelman College and Howard University on U.S. News & World Report’s 2018 list of the best HBCUs in America. Founded in 1868, the liberal arts institution of more than 4,600 students is always included in the list of historically black schools known as the “black Ivy League.”

On Feb. 20, Hampton students, frustrated by a number of unaddressed issues, held a town hall meeting to confront the school administration’s seeming indifference to the concerns repeatedly raised by various groups at the school. According to several Hampton students who spoke with The Root, the airing of grievances quickly turned contentious when students felt that Hampton’s leadership was ignoring and belittling their concerns.

One of the more important issues mentioned at the protests and by the students who reached out to The Root was what the students described as a prevailing culture of sexual assault on campus and the administration’s perceived unwillingness to address the issue.

Each freshman and transfer to Hampton is required to take a course called University 101, focused on the tradition of the college. According to the university, the U101 course covers test anxiety, personal finance, the dress code and even the alma mater. The student catalog describes the University 101 course as:

A one-semester required orientation course designed to improve the quality of the freshman experience for entering students by helping them understand the purpose and value of higher education at Hampton University, as well as the larger context in which that education takes place and the multicultural nature of the problems and concerns which it addresses; to develop positive attitudes toward the teaching learning process; and to acquire coping skills essential for successful college life.

Despite the school’s past problems with sexual assault, including a 2014 case of a faculty member allegedly assaulting a student and a report that the school is being investigated by the Department of Education’s Civil Rights Division for violating Title IX campus sexual-violence policies, Hampton still lags behind other schools in informing students about sexual assault on campus.

For comparison, since 2014, Howard University has mandated that all freshmen take Title IX training. According to student organizers, Hampton, in its University 101 course, has chosen to solve its campus problem of sexual misconduct in a unique way:

By not addressing it at all.

Read full at the Root by Michael Harriot

Virginia Union Wins CIAA Title For First Time In Over A Decade

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The Virginia Union University men’s basketball team claimed their first CIAA title since 2006 with an 82-52 victory over Johnson C. Smith University Saturday night at the Spectrum Center.

With the victory, Virginia Union is now the fifth team since 1975 to have both the men’s and women’s teams to claim the title in the same year; while receiving the CIAA’s automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Division II Tournament. The last team to pull of the men’s and women’s sweep was Shaw University in 2011.

Todd Hughes scored a game-high 22 points and six rebounds to lead the offensive attack for VUU. Andre Walker added a double-double, 19 points and 11 rebounds while William Jenkins also chipped in a double-double, 16 points and 11 rebounds. Kory Cooley would round out the double digit scoring for the Panthers with 13 points in the win.

The first half saw four ties and five lead changes with Johnson C. Smith outscoring the Panthers 14-10 in the paint, (5-4) points off turnovers, and (8-3) in bench points. Virginia Union claimed the edge (10-6) in second chance points; while both teams recorded two fast break points, respectively.
Arthur Bennett (Powder Springs, GA) recorded the opening points of the game on a lay-up at the 18:37 mark, gifting the Golden Bulls a quick 2-0 lead. Free-throws off the finger-tips of Jenkins knotted the game at 2-2. CIAA Player of the Year Robert Davis (West Friendship, MD) added a jumper at the 17:20 mark to take a 4-2 lead.

A back-and-forth half, the Panthers grabbed the momentum with 3:21 remaining (27-26) off a three-pointer from Hughes and took a 36-28 lead into the locker room, after shooting 41.4 percent (12-of-29) from the floor, 33.3 percent (4-of-12) from behind the arc, and 88.9 percent (8-of-9) from the line.

JCSU closed out the half, shooting 36.7 percent (11-of-30) from the field, 30 percent (3-of-10) from downtown, and 50 percent (3-of-6) from the charity stripe. Union led by as much as eight during the half; while out-rebounding the Golden Bulls (24-14).

The second half would be all VUU as the Panthers opened up the stanza with a 19-7 run to lead 55-36 over Johnson C. Smith with 11:16 left in regulation. The Golden Bulls trimmed at the deficit with a 3-point play from Roddric Ross (Forest City, NC) but VUU then ballooned to tenacious lead after producing a 23-9 scoring margin that would eventually lead to the Panthers outscoring Johnson C. Smith, 46-24 and the Panthers cruising to the victory.

Davis was the only Golden Bull who reached double digits in scoring, he finished with 12 points, three rebounds and three steals.
For the contest, Virginia Union shot 50 percent from the floor (28-56), connecting 7-of-18 (38.9 percent) from long distance and 19-of-28 (67.9 percent) from the charity stripe whereas the Golden Bulls were responsible for 19-of-60 (31.7 percent) from field goal range, 25 percent (5-20) from the free-throw line and 53.9 percent (9-17) from the charity stripe.

Cory and Hughes was named to the 2018 All-Tournament team as Cory was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

2018 CIAA Men’s All-Tournament Team:
Richard Granberry – Virginia State
Omari George – Bowie State
Todd Hughes – Virginia Union
Roddric Ross – Johnson C. Smith
Kory Cooley – Virginia Union
Robert Davis – Johnson C. Smith
Cameron Burhannon – Livingstone
Jonathan Curtis – Johnson C. Smith
Willie Gillmore – Fayetteville State
Quincy January – Saint Augustine’s

2018 Men’s Basketball Most Valuable Player
Kory Cooley – Virginia Union

2018 CIAA Sportsmanship Award
Livingstone College

Grambling Grad Kaeyla Boyd Starts Cultural Threads Brand To Promote Love For Melanin

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GSU graduate, Kaeyla Boyd, creates inspiring clothing brand Cultural Threads, for culturally conscious minds aiming to educate and promote progression through fashionable street-wear.

After contemplating on creating her own brand for years Boyd finally launched her business early this year with merchandise that she feels will appeal to people everywhere who love both culture and style.

“I wasn’t sure in what direction I wanted to go in for a while because I had so many passions,” said the Shreveport native.

The new brand owner explained that her attending Grambling State was extremely inspiring and that just being surrounded by the HBCU culture and many creative people really motivated her.

“I’ve watched people create their own businesses while attending Gram and thereafter, being around that and helping other people with their projects gave me the energy to want to create for myself,” she said.

Recently she figured with her passion for street-wear, urban clothing and social work, that she could tie the things she’s interested in together.

Boyd knew that she wanted to do something that promoted progression and that was culturally conscious, coming up with the brand name Cultural Threads

Boyd’s brother had the pleasure of assisting her with the business concept and her partner assisted her with a name that turned out to be a perfect fit! Although, the name changed a few times before they finally decided upon Cultural Threads

“I’ve sat on the idea for a long time so, it just seemed like now would be a good time to take that leap of faith sort of speak,” Boyd said.

On a few of the new Cultural Threads caps, there is a saying, ‘Melanin & Dope’.

Boyd says to her  the saying means that “we are dripping in finesse”. She felt like it was a pretty cool phrase and that exhibiting melanin is strong, beautiful….and dope!

“Melanin should be praised in any and every way,” she expressed. ” I believes its extremely important that woman of color completely love their skin. The beauty of melanin is that we all have it, some more concentrated than others. This is why its ‘DOPE’.”

She explained that for so long women of color have been devalued for their skin being too dark or their skin being too light. Its as if they can’t win because of the color of their skin.

“I love the amount of praise we are giving each other now days. I only want to be a part of it and continue support my Melanin DOPE sisters,” Boyd said.

Boyd said starting her own business was pretty frightening, but also very exciting.

“You just don’t know how people will respond to the things you put out, so I’m being open-minded and just enjoying this experience. I’m still tackling challenges because we are very new but I find that I have to completely plan and become more organized than I thought I was,” she said.

In addition to Grambling State, Boyd’s inspiration comes from ‘the culture’, and she explained that with different aspects in mind including: Black culture, street-wear as a culture and African-American women as a culture.

In terms of street-wear brand inspiration, Boyd loves the ‘God is Dope’ line.

“I know that brand is fairly new, but the creators behind it are so talented. I admire everything they are doing there. I also admire and got inspiration from Bobby Kim with his Hundreds brand, Neek Lurk with ASS club and old school brands like Karl Kani and Pelle Pelle too.

More personally, Boyd’s aunt inspires her tremendously. She describer her aunt as being very wise and soulful and she’s always looked up to her.

In her aunt’s college days at Southern University she did a lot of poetry. One poem that she performed was titled ‘Taking back my Crown.’ She speaks of the black woman being the mother for us all and how her crown has been taking away by impostors and people that aren’t for her.

Boyd had the poem in mind when deciding on some of  the phrases for the T-shirts.

She says she is still learning to balance her life as a full-time employee and a new business woman.

“Being that Cultural Threads is new I’m multitasking a lot,” she said. “I try to do what I can during my 8-5 work day and dedicate more time to the brand after then. I’m lucky to have my partner with me supporting and helping in any way she can.”

Although, Cultural Threads is a clothing business, Boyd would love for it to become more than that and for people from all over the world to learn and become more aware of their culture and be excited to express that from her brand.

Also, with her professional background in Social Work, she knew whatever she did would be centered around the community and giving back.

“Under Cultural Threads I will host food pantries, clothing closets and back to school giveaways for the community.”

Right now, Cultural Threads has caps available. Boyd mentioned that she wanted do a soft start for Black History Month. The current color theme of the caps and fonts were chosen because of Black History Month.

“I absolutely love the caps,” she said. “I like that they are embroidery instead of screen printed. I really enjoyed the creation process.”

In addition, they will be selling t-shirts and other inspiring apparel that will become available next month.

Boyd plans on working towards having a booth at Bayou Classic next year, the Essence Festival and other events that provide her the opportunity.

“I’m looking forward to connecting with other black business owners,” she said.

In five years, Boyd would like to see Cultural Threads become apart of the community by hosting several fundraisers and truly giving back. She would like to offer more products and focus on becoming more than the average t-shirt line and creating an impact on others lives.

The new entrepreneur says her advice to people who want to start a business or build a brand would be not to think about it too long.

She says if you have an interest in owning your own business and it’s all you think about, go ahead and take that step. If you contemplate on it too long you’ll find all the reason why you shouldn’t do it.

Boyd plans on using social media as much as possible to promote Cultural Threads, host pop-up shops and collaborating with other artists in the community.

“I have some fun things coming up,” she said.

If you are interested in purchasing a cap from Cultural Threads for JUST $12, head on over to Instagram @cultural__threads or send a quick order email to culturalthreads00@gmail.com

Wilberforce University Alumna Edmonia Lewis Loved Her Freedom So Much She Emancipated Herself — Three Times

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Today, we honor Wilberforce University alumna and sculptor Edmonia Lewis (1844-1907). She played a vital role sending messages to those who need it most.

“Edmonia Lewis marketed her work to Wilberforce University and other HBCUs by ‘direct mail’ (writing letters): affordable plaster busts of Bishop BW Arnett, Sen. Sumner, John Brown, around 1876, the time of the Centennial,” wrote Albert Henderson on Twitter, celebrating the life and legacy of a lost but never forgotten hero. Henderson is the author of the award-winning biography of the pioneering artist. According to him, Lewis is the first American sculptor of color and an artist at war.

Wilberforce which is adjacent to Ohio’s only public HBCU, Central State University, is the nation’s oldest private black college in the nation.

In a story by Henderson on EdmoniaLewis.com about how Lewis managed to emancipate herself three times, he noted that “Henry Wreford (Athenæum, Mar.  3, 1866) described the first Emancipation statue sculpted by an African-American artist: “Her first ideal group was to be executed under a promise for some gentlemen in Boston, and, in the true spirit of a heroine, she has selected for her subject ‘The Freedwoman on first hearing of her Liberty.’”

He continued:

“She has thrown herself on her knees, and, with clasped hands and uplifted eyes, she blesses God for her redemption. Her boy, ignorant of the cause of her agitation, hangs over her knees and clings to her waist. She wears the turban which was used when at work. Around her wrists are the half-broken manacles, and the chain lies on the ground attached to a large ball. ‘Yes,’ she observed, ‘so was my race treated in the market and elsewhere.’ It tells, with much eloquence, a painful story.”

“A dispute arose with her biggest booster in New England, Lydia Maria Child. Mrs Child was one of several women to whom Lewis sent photographs of her work. “The Freedwoman” was not seen again and was rarely mentioned in later interviews. Edmonia went on to a second Emancipation vision, which we now know as Forever Free. The unfortunate conflict with Mrs. Child continued. Forever Free found a home in Boston without Mrs. Child’s blessing. It is owned today by Howard University in Washington DC.”

Head over to EdmoniaLewis.com to read more.

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Tennessee State Deontae Henderson Takes Children’s Book To The Top

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Deontae Henderson is the young and ambitious author responsible for the creation of “To The Top,” a children’s book that showcases the journey of Koa the turtle. The concept of the children’s story came about when Henderson was running track for the Tennessee State University Flying Tigers. As he began watching motivational videos on YouTube he came across a video of Steve Harvey talking.

In the video, Harvey talked about his journey to comedy. He questioned his involvement with the sport of basketball and figured he needed to operate in his gift. The same awakening came for Henderson. Leaving behind the sport of track and field, he decided to focus on what mattered the most to him and that was being inspired.

To The Top empowers both children and adults by intentionally planting the roots of persistence into their minds. Explained in an understanding format for kids, the story showcases how Koa was always told to not continue up the mountain. Always going with his gut and not the words of others Koa eventually finds something so beautiful as a result of his drive to continue to move forward. Koa wanted a greater view of the world and Deontae is sharing that inspiration of going after what you can’t see yet with young people all over the country.

His friends including Jemarruse Amos took away valuable thoughts from the book. “I enjoyed the story of people talking down on the turtle because people go through it all the time. You only need one person which is God,” stated Amos as he sat still reflecting on the story looking beyond the walls that surrounded us.

Henderson is pictured giving a motivational speech on the campus of Tennessee State University.

You never know how far your work will go and what barriers it will break.

The book is featured now with Barnes and Nobles, Amazon, Kindle, Nook, iBook, Xulon Press, and Mall Of America, and Minneapolis Barnes and Noble in the children’s section with its own section.

The first ever signing was in question for this new author as the expectations from the bookstore that held his first signing was not high. The place that wasn’t too optimistic of the book now showcases a section in the children’s section just for To The Top. Minneapolis Barnes and Noble is proud to showcase Henderson’s work especially with him being a hometown writer.

Congressman Keith Ellison of the Congressional District, who once had the record for most books sold by a local author at the Minneapolis Barnes and Noble, is now second as Henderson is currently the top salesman for the store.

The book has been featured on Thisis50.com briefly for its inspirational message. When presenting the book to Ricky Davis, former NBA Player from Minnesota Timberwolves, Henderson was requested to sign the book for his kids.

Henderson is not slowing up when it comes to writing and has recently came out with yet another children’s book, Momma Bear. The running didn’t stop for Henderson, the track just changed.

Posted by Delvakio Brown Posted on 48 articles