Simmons College Of Kentucky Partners With NBCA

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We are excited to announce a new educational partnership between the National Baptist Convention of America International and Simmons College of Kentucky. NBCA under the leadership of President, Rev. Samuel C. Tolbert, Jr. has embraced Simmons as the educational provider for their denomination. This new partnership will result in the delivery of degree programs and other educational opportunities and programs for the leadership and members of this historic denomination.

Visit the National Baptist Convention of America International Website here.

This post originally appeared on SimmonsCollegeKy.edu.

Virgin Islands HBCU To Host Youth Arts Festival

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Join Reichhold Center’s Youth Moviemaking Workshop for this summer’s premiere of “Hide and Seek” on Saturday, July 30th at 6PM at the Reichhold Center for the Arts. This is the tenth movie project since the program began in 2001.

The Youth Moviemaking Workshop is a summer program that challenges young inquisitive and creative minds between the ages of 11 – 16.  Within the first two weeks, students are expected to understand the production process from camera operations, sound and audio techniques to script writing and team building skills. The last three weeks of the program are dedicated to producing their final project that is presented to the public at an open screening at Reichhold Center.

This year, the “Red Carpet Premiere” has a couple added bonuses. The Reichhold Center partnered with the University of the Virgin Islands Music Camp, under the direction of Professor Austin A. Venzen and the School of Visual Arts and Careers, under the leadership of Ms. Barbara Callwood. The UVI Music Camp will conduct a music concert until the sun sets to view the premiere. The School of Visual Arts will have works completed by students their on display. “We want to encourage support for all summer arts programs and this is one way that we can work together to bring the various art forms together, in one big festival”, says interim director, Denise Humphrey. “This is our first experiment. We hope to be able to grow this activity in the future.”

“Hide and Seek” is about a group of kids who go on a camping trip and decide to play hide and seek deep in a forest that is supposedly haunted. While hiding, each camper experiences a life changing moment that is brought about by some supernatural encounter that alters their perception of each other.

The Reichhold Center’s Youth Arts Festival is a free presentation and the entire summer program is made possible through support from Total Petroleum USVI, Seven Seas Water, United Electronics Industries and the VI Council on the Arts. For inquiries into sponsorship and other Reichhold youth initiatives contact Denise Humphrey at dhumphr@uvi.edu  or (340) 693-1550.

This post originally appeared at UVI.edu.

HBCU Freshmen Bible: 5 Tips To Avoid The Freshmen 15

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We all know that HBCU students love to indulge on Fried Chicken Wednesdays, Soul Food Thursdays and Catfish Fridays. There’s nothing like a home cooked meal when you’re on campus, but beware of those delicious dishes. Some of our favorite foods can rack up on calories and tip the scales.

Here are some tips to help you avoid that freshman 15 and keep you feeling healthy during your freshmen year.

Enjoy those traditions in moderation.

Some of our favorite HBCU café items are large calorie counters. According to caloriecount.com, one serving of macaroni and cheese is 207 calories, a piece of dark meat fried chicken is 335 calories and one piece of fried catfish is 199 calories. This doesn’t even take into consideration the sides, drinks and desserts that we usually have along with our meals.

Although these meals are a staple of many HBCU menus enjoy these traditions in moderation. It’s okay to choose the baked chicken over the fried chicken every once in a while.

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Don’t neglect your on campus work out facility.

Have you ever noticed that abandoned room in the student union with all of those cobwebs? Yeah that’s your on campus gym. Free of charge. Flexible hours. Utilize it!

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Make working out fun and easy.

Not every workout entails hitting the treadmill or lifting weights. Explore your campus recreation center for Zumba, spin, dance or yoga classes. These are great ways to stay in shape while also having fun with friends.

Making minor lifestyle changes can also positively affect your health. Choosing the stairs over the elevator is an easy step in the right direction. Schedule some time to take the long way to class. Anything to get a little extra workout in for the day.

Fast food = slow progress.

A college student’s favorite fall back meal: fast food. Although fast food chains such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Canes and Cook Out can satisfy your cravings at a cost you can appreciate, they’re terrible for your health.

Treat fast food like a distant cousin: enjoy it every now and again. Don’t make it a habit.

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Don’t turn up too hard.

College students love to party, but partying comes with a cost. Sugary alcoholic beverages can really rack up the calories and add to progressive weight gain. According to greenfieldsfitnesssystems.com, alcohol makes burning off carbs, protein, and fat extremely difficult.

So before you take a drink just think!

You don’t have to commit to a vegan diet, an intensive daily workout session or not partying for life to avoid the freshmen 15. Just mindful in the everyday choices you make! Indulge in moderation and at the end of the day always be confident with what you see when you look in the mirror.

Ready for college but not sure what to expect, or even bring? Before you say goodbye to your parents and friends, check out this ultimate guide to surviving your first year in college, and in particular at the country’s 107 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). We created the #HBCUFreshmanBible to help build a bridge for students to make a successful transition from high school to black colleges, you can read more here.

Spelman Student Shares Her Journey From Victim, To Survivor, To Advocate

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Sexual assault is not only something that has impacted college campuses. It has had a huge impact in high schools and across communities. Sexual assault is also something that has affected me in a huge way. I was molested at a young age starting at 12 years old and it lasted until I was 17. I did not speak about my sexual assault until my sophomore year at Spelman College. At first I thought I would be completely fine speaking but once I started telling my story, my emotions took over. After openly sharing my story, I decided to take action by taking care of myself and seeking counseling, as well as by dedicating time to work with other survivors, both men and women.

The It’s On Us campaign gave me a voice, one that I thought I would never have, and for that, I will always be grateful. I started working on the campaign by hosting events and pledge drives on my college campus. It was amazing working directly with students, particularly survivors from Spelman College, Morehouse College, and Clark Atlanta University. I knew that I wanted to continue this work and make more of an impact beyond my campus, so I applied to be a member of the It’s On Us Student Advisory Committee. Through my work on the Student Advisory Committee, I got to meet other amazing campus leaders, and even helped coordinate an event with Vice President Joe Biden at Morehouse College!

Being a part of the event was a great experience. Hearing Vice President Joe Biden speak to students about taking a stand to fight against sexual assault on college campuses in front of so many students was incredible. It was a call to action of a magnitude we have never seen before. Since the event, the entire campus has shifted its focus to be more intentional about creating an environment that supports survivors. This is the first time in a while that sexual assault has been recognized at this high of a level and it’s incredible to see how many students are now taking action to be a part of the solution.

I’m so grateful for the work I’ve been able to do with It’s On Us, particularly being able to help survivors in their personal journeys. I know how it feels to go through something like this alone, and I am happy to be there for them whenever they need me. Every story I hear is an important reminder of why I got involved with It’s On Us. The fight isn’t over — it’s just beginning. I went from a victim, to a survivor, and am now proud to be an advocate.

This post was written by Venkayla Haynes, Student Advisory Committee member and a student at Spelman College, at It’s On Us, where it was originally published. It’s On Us seeks to reframe the conversation surrounding sexual assault in a way that inspires everyone to see it as their responsibility to do something, big or small, to prevent it.

Morehouse Grad, DHS Head Jeh Johnson Admits To Being Racially Profiled

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In early July, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, who is a graduate of HBCU Morehouse College in Atlanta, and NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton appeared on CNN to discuss the deadly Dallas attack that took the lives of five police officers.

The black college grad said he has been racially profiled on State of the Union with Jake Tapper.

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When asked what advice he has to Black parents, especially those who have sons on what to tell their children after the shooting deaths of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge and Philander Castile in Falcon Heights, Johnson said, “Well, I obviously got some experience with this as a parent, and as somebody who’s been around. I’m 59 years old now, and I’ve had my share of unpleasant encounters with law enforcement when I was much younger.”

Tapper followed by asking “What kind of experience did you have as a younger man, if you don’t mind me asking, sir?”

Johnson replied, “Well, you know, the type of road encounters that others have talked about, but you know, we have to put it in perspective and of course they’re unpleasant.”

In the video, Johnson also said he rejects any such notion that the Obama Administration is, at least in part, responsible for what happened in Dallas, you can watch the entire video below. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SAhGRkWOmY

2016 SpelBound Vlog

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A Spelman College student talks on the black college experience, the beginning of life as a Spelmanite and much more! Make sure you check out the video above and tell us your plans this year on campus at an HBCU by commenting below.

How Did Tennessee State Alum Oprah Become So Rich From Nothing?

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How did Oprah Winfrey, who is a graduate of HBCU Tennessee State University in Nashville, become so rich from scratch?

One could argue hard work, discipline and an incredible work ethic. Well, at least, that is the easy answer to a question that many wish to reinvent for themselves.

According to Forbes, the TV mogul is worth an estimated $3 billion and is listed as the number 2 richest self-made women in the United States in 2016, among other accolades.

    

From focusing on her studies at Tennessee State and competing in beauty pageants, to working at a local radio station, to finally getting her big break as the host of her own daytime talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Oprah shared some tips on how we, too, can create wealth.

“The whole idea, I think, of having wealth is not to letting wealth use you but you use it,” she said in a 2001 tapping of The Oprah Winfrey Show. “Being a person who has come from an outhouse, and very poor circumstances, I can assure you that the more money you get, it really doesn’t change you — unless you are the kind of person who is defined by money.”

The lesson is, make the money, do not let it make you.

Morehouse Prez John S. Wilson Jr. On If He Has A Responsibility To Speak Out, His Thoughts On “The Talk”

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President of HBCU Morehouse College John S. Wilson Jr. spoke with The Chronicle about his essay to students. Some highlights of the interview are below.

If he thinks that as an HBCU president he has a responsibility to speak out:

“I absolutely feel an added responsibility because the Morehouse brand and the Morehouse tradition have us engaged with the most critical issues in the nation and in the world. And we obviously have a tradition in improving American society.

There’s little question that the nation and the world want to hear from Morehouse. I tend to have my hand on the pulse of what’s happening now.

The other reason why I felt a sense of duty and devotion about this is because, for the first time since I can remember at least, there was an extremely upsetting response. That response in Dallas was strikingly at odds with the nonviolent tradition at Morehouse College. Obviously our most famous graduate was Martin Luther King Jr., who was about peace and justice. And that’s why in my article I quoted Dr. King on that very point.

On the other hand, anger about Baton Rouge and Falcon Heights is natural. It’s very logical. It’s very appropriate. But as a Morehouse man, it’s what you do with your outrage that counts the most, and we encourage our men to follow the tradition: Register it constructively, and then get back to the business of making yourself a better man and a better force of good.”

If “the talk” is necessary or not:

“There’s always an active engagement of Morehouse students in what’s going on today politically, socially, economically. Activism by Morehouse students is a norm. We are going to engage on this institutionally when they return.

We, I guess for almost 150 years, have done an institutional version of “the talk.” That is to say, we have educated our men about the best ways to productively and safely negotiate this world — not just “the talk” as it relates to the police.

We kind of agree with the Black Lives Matter movement that “the talk” should not be necessary. It should not even be possible that your life should be in danger in an encounter with a policeman in America that is routine, like a traffic stop.

A disproportionate number of African-American men lose their lives in encounters with the police. That is in fact outrageous. What we saw last week were two particularly outrageous examples of that.

But here’s where we go with that outrage at Morehouse. Whether or not there are hateful and homicidal policemen in America, we still want our young men to conduct themselves in all situations in a respectful, dignified, and courteous way.”

Wilson also discussed police-community relations, what else he hopes his students to do, gun control, and more. Head over to The Chronicle to read the full interview.

HBCU Love: Wale & Chloe Are Now Parents — We’re Here For This!

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There is nothing quite like HBCU love.

According to The Shade Room, Wale and his longtime girlfriend, Chloe Alexis, are the proud parents of their first child, a baby girl.

Alexis gave birth to the newborn baby Friday afternoon in a New York City hospital—Wale was scheduled to perform Friday night for the One Africa Music Fest but canceled to enjoy his new role as a father:

From TMZ:

“[Wale] was scheduled to perform at the Barclays Center for the One African Music Fest, but just canceled. He’s still at the hospital enjoying fatherhood.

It was a loooong delivery—we’re told Chloe went into labor Wednesday. No word on the little girl’s name. Congrats!”

Both Wale and Chloe are alumni of HBCU Virginia State University in Petersburg and HBCU Howard University in the nation’s capital, respectively. So if ever you thought finding love before, during, and after the HBCU experience was nearly impossible think again!

(Wale had transferred to HBCU Bowie State University but dropped out due to academic reasons and later started taking rap seriously.)

Congrats!

Correction: A previous version of this article misstated Wale as an alum of Howard University. He attended Robert Morris University and Virginia State University on football scholarships, then transferred to Bowie State University but dropped out due to academic reasons. We have corrected this and apologize for the error.

St. Augustine Leader, Everett B. Ward To Become New Alpha President

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Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. announced on Friday that Everett B. Ward has become the fraternity’s 35th general president elect during the organization’s board meeting in New Orleans. Ward is also the president of HBCU Saint Augustine University in Raleigh, and is also a graduate of the university.

Ward’s record as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha is quite remarkable having years of service to his community and Alpha while finding ways to contribute in different roles in the fraternity. In addition, the black college president is also a “proven national leader in politics, state government, academia, community and Alpha,” according to AlphasForward.com, a campaign organization that helped engineer Ward’s successful bid as general president of the oldest Black Greek-lettered fraternity in the country.  

“I am grateful for the opportunity to lead Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity,” said Ward, after learning the results of the election. “My vision for our organization is to put service before self and to undertake and meet the needs of our communities according to the demands of the times.”

“At its core,” he added, “our tenure in office will be about executing our mission while protecting our organization and preserving the traditions and protocols that have defined us over the last 110 years.”

On Jan. 1, 2017, the day he assumes office, Ward will put his record to test.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BILyIQAjjCB/?taken-by=alphasforward

Dillard University Student: ‘Being Black Is Almost Like A Job’

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“Being black is almost like a job,” says Jaques Clinton, a sophomore at historically black Dillard University in New Orleans, who recently spoke with Stay Tune to discuss what we can do as individuals to change the script. Check out the video at 10:50 to see him express his thoughts on being black in America below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKTBaLlgir8&feature=youtu.be

CIAA Chooses To Stay In Charlotte Despite Outrage Over HB2

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Last week, the NBA announced that it will be relocating the annual NBA All-Star Weekend from North Carolina, which now leaves the state with a large bill to cover.

The action taken by the NBA came after Governor of North Carolina Pat McCrory signed a controversial bill that restricts transgender individuals from using the bathroom of the gender they identify with. The bill also creates a problem for victims of workplace discrimination to sue in state court.

Shortly after the NBA’s huge announcement, though, the CIAA made the surprising decision to stay in North Carolina despite outrage over HB2. “…the conference will not move its coveted basketball tournament from Charlotte,” the league announced Thursday, according to HBCU Sports. The first question to come to mind might be, why—why would one of the best historically black conferences chose to continue partnering with a state that does not see equality as just?

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The simple answer is the money.

In early 2015, the Atlanta Black Star reported that the CIAA Basketball Tournament draws in well over 10,000 fans and brings in an additional $30 million in revenue. The CIAA has made the conscious decision to stay where the money is. And this partnership with the CIAA and the state of North Carolina has been legally “set in stone” at least until the 2020 season.

In a statement following their announcement, the CIAA expressed, “As we asses current and future championship locations, the CIAA will ensure that the host city and venue demonstrate a commitment to provide inclusive and non-discriminatory practices.” (How do they plan to go about implementing this?) “The CIAA’s decision to continue to host championship in North Carolina,” the statement read, “where 8 of our 12 member institutions reside, and hold its headquarters in Charlotte is a decision made for the best interest of the conference…”

It’s now very clear what the motives behind the CIAA’s reasoning behind staying. The CIAA had a big decision to make, and if they had chosen to leave and start anew in another state, how would they be sure that they could obtain the same amount of revenue. Nonetheless, the question still needing to be asked to them is, was it worth?

The NBA, and states like New York and two major businesses has chose their fans over the money and opted out on their partnerships in NC, possibly because they know of the social, political, and economical fire that they will receive had they chosen to stay.

HBCU Leaders Say “Borrower Defense To Repayment” Plan Could Hit Smaller Schools Hardest

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Washington, D.C., July 21, 2016 — In a letter to Education Secretary John King, eight current and former presidents of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and other prominent leaders in the African-American community said that the Department of Education’s proposed changes to the “Defense to Repayment” regulation would, “place smaller schools such as HBCUs in vulnerable financial circumstances that could diminish services HBCUs provide to students.”

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The comment period for the proposed rule, published in June, closes on August 1.

Under the proposal, former students would be able to file claims for loan forgiveness if they felt their institution made a “misrepresentation” in promoting the school.   Currently, students can seek a discharge of their loan if the school committed “fraud.”  The proposed expansion of the law to include “misrepresentation” is one of the primary concerns of the proposal’s critics.

Specifically, the HBCU letter says:

Should a disgruntled former or current student feel an HBCU “misrepresented” their institution by any means, the broad language outlined in the new ED rule could open the floodgates for frivolous lawsuits that will only adversely affect the greater HBCU student body.

Though HBCUs provide excellent academic opportunities for their students, they do not have the monetary security non-HBCUs share. For example, a top-rated HBCU Morehouse College has an endowment of around $130 million, whereas a top-rated non-HBCU such as Harvard University has the refuge of upwards of $36 billion. 

Signatories to the letter include: Andrea Harris, Trustee, Bennett College for Women; Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Founder and President Rainbow/PUSH Coalition; Dr. Ronald Johnson, President, Clark Atlanta University; Dr. Julianne Malveaux, former President, Bennett College for Women; Janice Mathis, Esq., President and CEO National Council of Negro Women; Dr. Haywood Strickland, President, Wiley College; Angela R. Sailor, former Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of Education; Dr. David Beckley, President, Rust College; and Dr. Jerrie Cobb Scott, Professor, University of Memphis.

The letter also cites the schools’ small endowments and the requirement that schools obtain “letters of credit” as placing a severe financial burden on small schools, including HBCUs.

The letter to Secretary John B. King calls for the comment period to be extended 60 days so that the education leaders have an opportunity to discuss alternatives to the current proposal.

The letter can be found here.

Huston-Tillotson Grad, Teacher Breaion King Brutally Arrested ‘For No Reason Whatsoever’

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In this July 19, 2016 photo, Breaion King is overcome with emotion as she describes being pulled from her car and thrown to the ground by an Austin police officer during a traffic stop in 2015, during an interview at her attorney, Erica Grigg's office in Austin, Texas. Patrol car video publicly released Thursday, July 21, 2016, shows a white Austin, Texas, police officer violently throwing King to the ground during a traffic stop, followed by another white officer telling her black people have "violent tendencies" and whites are justifiably afraid.A patrol car video from a June 2015 incident showing a Black elementary teacher in Austin violently arrested by a white police officer during a traffic stop has caused a stir across social media.

Shaun King, a Senior Justice Writer at the New York Daily News, and also a Morehouse College alum, tweeted last night that 26-year-old Breaion King (no relation) is a “wonderful 2nd grade teacher” and “was assaulted by the police for no reason whatsoever.” According to her LinkedIn account, King is a graduate of HBCU Huston-Tillotson University in Austin.

King was pulled over by Officer Bryan Richter for going 15 mph over the speed limit.

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214c1b5According to the Austin American-Statesman, who originally published the video Thursday, after the brutal arrest King requested to be transported by a different police officer citing that she did not trust Officer Richter.

She was then transported to the police station by Officer Patrick Spradlin.

In another video, Officer Spradlin, white, is heard telling King that black people have “violent tendencies” and says “I don’t blame” white people for being afraid, alluding that many people in the black community are violent.

From Blavity:

“Ninety-nine percent of the time, when you hear about stuff like that, it is the black community that is being violent. That’s why a lot of the white people are afraid, and I don’t blame them,” said Spradlin to King, who sat in the back of the police car.

He continued on about ‘dealing’ with black people as an officer.

“There are some guys I look at, and I know it is my job to deal with them, and I know it might go ugly, but that’s the way it goes. But yeah, some of them, because of their appearance and whatnot, some of them are very intimidating.”

According to the Associated Press, Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo, who is Hispanic, said that the actions of both officers were wrong and called the officer’s comments on the video “disturbing,” also telling King that he is sorry.

Fatima Mann, an activist with the Austin Justice Coalition, said, “If that was a white woman, would he have yanked her out … and slammed her on the ground? Most of us could say absolutely not.”

“But for reason,” she added, “for some strange reason, when people look like me, we’re more of a threat, and that means we get treated and thrown around as if we don’t matter.”