Apply For the Spirits Grant Initiative Now Through May 1st!
Pronghorn is covering up to full tuition for students attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) who are selected as recipients of their new need-based scholarship, the Spirits Grant Initiative.
Pronghorn is a stand-alone business dedicated to cultivating the next generation of Black founders, executive leaders, and entrepreneurs in the spirits industry.
Through the Spirits Grant Initiative, selected recipients attending partnering HBCUs can get up to full tuition for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Student recipients will also serve as campus ambassadors on their college campus.
To apply, students must meet the following requirements:
Rising undergraduate senior or graduate student
In good academic standing
Interest in the spirits/alcohol beverage industry
Currently utilizing federal or private loans
Pronghorn is asking students to fill out a form that includes a resume, financial need, interest, learning experiences in adversity and leadership, a recommendation letter, and a few other details. Applicants must submit two video essays and a written essay on interest in spirits and learning experiences in leadership and through adversity, a professional or academic recommendation, a transcript (optional but strongly encouraged), and completed FAFSA or institutional financial need documentation.
Credit: The Washington Post, Illustration by Eliana Rodgers
What Is Redlining?
Redlining is a discriminatory practice that puts services out of reach for residents of certain areas based on race or ethnicity. It started in the 1930s and was used to prevent people of color in urban areas from buying a home in certain neighborhoods or getting a loan to renovate their house.
The U.S. government used color-coded maps ranking the loan worthiness of neighborhoods in more than 200 cities and towns across the United States.
Banks and other mortgage lenders regularly rejected loans for creditworthy borrowers based strictly on their race or where they lived.
Redlining is most often associated with mortgage lending practices, but it can also be seen in student loans, business loans, car loans, and personal loans.
According to the real estate app, Redfin, Black families have lost out on at least $212,000 in personal wealth over the last 40 years because their home was redlined.
Today, redlining is an illegal practice thanks to the 1968 Fair Housing Act and the 1977 Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The Fair Housing Act bans discrimination based on someone’s race when the person is trying to rent or buy a home, as well as apply for a mortgage. The act also makes it illegal to impose predatory interest rates or fees.
While redlining neighborhoods or regions based on race is illegal, lending institutions may take economic factors into account when making loans. They are not required to approve all loan applications on the same terms and may impose higher rates or stricter repayment terms on some borrowers.
“[The Fair Housing Act of 1968] doesn’t roll back or undo or make amends for 50 years of housing discrimination that had gone on up to that point,” said LaDale Winling, a professor of history at Virginia Tech. “It’s going to take probably another 80 or 90 years of vigorous enforcement and vigorous remediation to undo that legacy.”
How Does Redling Affect HBCUs?
While the legacy of redlining still impacts minority communities today, it also impacts students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the form of educational redlining.
the Student Borrower Protection Center, a watchdog group, released a report in February 2020, that found some financial service firms may be engaging in educational redlining by placing higher borrowing costs on students who attend HBCUs and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSI).
The group ran a test, applying for a dozen loans on the lender website, Upstart — posing as a 24-year-old man. It said he lives in New York, works as a financial analyst, and makes $50,000 a year. Each time the group applied for a loan, the only factor that changed the outcome was where he went to school.
The group found that if the otherwise identical loan applicant went to NYU instead of Howard, there was an astonishing difference. For a $30,000 personal loan with a five-year term, it found an applicant would pay about $3,500 more in interest and fees if they went to Howard.
“It seems apparent when you do the side-by-side comparisons that where this hypothetical borrower went to school mattered in terms of how Upstart measured their creditworthiness, and that to Upstart there’s a penalty for attending an HBCU or HSI,” Kat Welbeck, the civil rights counsel at the Student Borrower Protection Center, said.
HBCUs are also affected by reverse redlining, which is the practice of targeting minority neighborhoods for higher prices or lending on unfair terms, such as predatory lending of subprime mortgages.
These neighborhoods are often the site of most HBCUs are located, and are being transformed by gentrification.
Gentrification makes off-campus housing unaffordable and pushes students out. For example, in North Nashville, Fisk University and Tennessee State University students were able to rent apartments off-campus for many years, but, recently, as White urbanites move into the neighborhood, the costs of housing have gone up, pushing residents and HBCU students out.
The Future of Redlining
The Biden-Harris Administration has been working to combat discriminatory lending and modern-day redlining.
The Initiative seeks to make mortgage credit and homeownership accessible to all Americans on the same terms, regardless of race or national origin and regardless of the neighborhood where they live.
“We know well that redlining is not a problem from a bygone era but a practice that remains pervasive in the lending industry today,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “ Our new Initiative should send a strong message to banks and lenders that we will hold them accountable as we work to combat discriminatory race and national origin-based lending practices.”
Civil rights attorney and social justice advocate Ben Crump will deliver the Morgan State University spring 2023 commencement address.
Crump is most well known for his work with victims of police brutality and for legislative reforms in preventing excessive police force. He has been known to represent many families such as the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Trayvon Martin.
“Mr. Crump’s passion for addressing injustices committed against marginalized communities and his unrelenting work to hold those responsible accountable, is the type of tenacity we hope will inspire our graduates and current students,” said President Wilson.
“While academic and professional success is noteworthy, we want our graduates to recognize that in fullness of life, public service and heeding the call of social responsibility is as equally important to an individual’s character,” Wilson added.
Crump has represented the residents of Flint, Michigan who were affected by the poisoned water of Flint River, and the family of Henrietta Lacks in receiving reparations from the vast industries that benefited from using her HeLa cell line illegitimately harvested for medical research.
Crump also represented 9 of the 13 Black women who were victims in the Holtzclaw Oklahoma City Police rape case in 2015 and worked with Robbie Tolan on his precedent-setting U.S. Supreme Court case involving excessive police force in 2008. As a staunch advocate against police brutality and civil rights abuse, he has been instrumental in drawing national attention to these cases and leading discussions about reforms, and developing implicit bias training and policies.
“I’m thrilled to be delivering the commencement address to the Spring 2023 class at Morgan State University. The students at this great HBCU represent the very best of what we have to offer for the future,” said Crump. “I look forward to articulating to them ways to make the world a better place for all of God’s children.”
Morgan State will host its graduate school spring commencement on May 18, and its undergraduate spring commencement on May 20.
Delaware State University has reported the largest enrollment growth in the university’s history, with an enrollment of more than 6,200 students.
The accomplishment marks the fourth time in the last five years the university has grown its enrollment. Graduate and online enrollment at Delaware State also saw significant year-over-year increases at 5.7% and 56.8%, respectively.
With the recent spike in enrollment, the institution is closer to its goal to reach 7,500 students by 2026 and 10,000 students by 2029.
“The best signal of success for any higher education institution is more students wanting to enroll, wanting to join our family, wanting to make their mark in a smaller, more interconnected global community,” said Tony Allen, Delaware State University president.
“Regardless of what you look like, where you come from or your financial means, we want a student profile that looks more and more like the country we need to be inclusive, contemporary, and built for generations to come,” he added.
Enhancements to the Inspire Scholarship Program, expansion of the Early College School, and a new emphasis on the university’s graduate and online programs factor into the university’s enrollment success.
The Inspire Scholarship offers a 4-year full tuition scholarship available to qualifying Delaware high school graduates who enroll at Delaware State University in the fall semester right after high school graduation.
Of the nearly 700 first-year in-state students, 67% are Inspire scholars. The current first-year class totals more than 1,400, which is also a record.
The Early College School is a Delaware Department of Education-approved tuition-free public charter school, that offers students the opportunity to accelerate their high school matriculation and their college education.
This fall, seventh and eighth grades were added and the school now boasts a total enrollment of nearly 600 students, 67% of whom enrolled at the Delaware State over the last five years.
Delaware State is also the first HBCU in history to acquire another college as the deal for Wesley College, now Wesley College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, was finalized in July 2021.
“We have had to grow responsibly and with clear intention,” Allen said. “Investments like the Inspire Scholarship, the Early College High School and the acquisition of Wesley College have helped us move the needle.”
“Still, execution is always at the forefront of our minds. Our students come to us not simply for quality education but to literally change the trajectory of their lives for themselves, their families, and their communities. They deserve our very best in helping them do exactly that.”
– Tony Allen, Delaware State University president
Harry L. Williams, president emeritus of Delaware State University from 2010-2017 and the current president and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, brokered the Inspire Scholarship and established the Early College School during his tenure at the university.
For Williams, Delaware State’s enrollment growth comes as no surprise.
“The university has been strategic in growing in a fashion that has markedly increased the university’s footprint and profile in Delaware and across the country,” Williams said in a statement. “Delaware State’s future is extremely bright, and the university continues to be a smart investment for corporate, philanthropic and government partners at the federal, state and local levels.”
The Texas Southern University Cheerleading Team has made history as the first HBCU to win a national title at the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) College National Championship.
The Lady Tigers opened the preliminary round with a 94.05 performance score, 94.3 raw score, and a 23.5125 performance score. In the final round, they stayed the course with a 96.1 performance score, 96.1 raw score, and a 95.5875 event score.
“When I first came to TSU, I told the team we’re going to Nationals,” said head coach Shontrese Comeaux. “When we earned our gold bid at NCA Camp, I told the team, ‘it’s time to go to work’. I knew this was the year and the team to get the job done. I’m so proud of them and where we’re going to take the cheer program next.”
In the summer of 2022, the team set the foundation for its national title with a Gold bid at NCA camp, an All-American award by the mascot Tex the Tiger, second place in overall game day, and overall most spirited.
“Words can’t express how proud I am for our cheer team’s national championship,” said Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Kevin Granger.
“They’ve worked very hard for this moment over the past several months. To see the long hours they’ve dedicated come to fruition in the form of a national championship is amazing as I want to commend the coaching staff and team members for their efforts. This team has made history at Texas Southern and everyone apart of TSU nation is proud of their accomplishments.”
Pay attention to your health this World Health Day and see what issues disproportionally affect African Americans, and what we can do to overcome them.
Today is World Health Day, a day celebrated annually to draw attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. April 7 marks the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948.
This year we want to acknowledge the health disparities African Americans face and the impact it has on their overall health and well-being. African Americans have higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease than other groups and black children have a 500% higher death rate from asthma compared with white children. Social and economic factors such as Black neighborhoods lacking stores that stock healthier foods contribute to these health disparities.
“Our Black and Brown communities are more likely to have an abundance of fast food restaurants and markets stocked with unhealthy processed foods as opposed to our white counterparts, where there tends to be a greater number of grocery stores and markets with an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables,” says Northwestern Medicine Internal Medicine Physician Kimbra A. Bell, MD. “A lack of access to healthy, nutritious foods results in poorer health outcomes.”
Other social and economic factors are more common among African Americans include:
Less access to healthcare and healthcare information, a distrust of healthcare professionals based on historical discrimination, neighborhood walkability, and lower levels of education and income.
These social and economic factors, along with other environmental determinants of health, can negatively impact a person’s well-being, and lead to conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke.
Swipe through to see what health issues disproportionally affect African Americans, and what we can do to overcome them.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is the number one cause of death for all Americans, but is more common in African Americans than other ethnic groups. In 2018, Black Americans were 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease than white Americans. And heart disease develops at a younger age in Black women and men than in white adults. The most common conditions that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke in Black women and men are hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity, and diabetes.
High Blood Pressure
The rate of high blood pressure in African Americans is among the highest of any ethnic group in the U.S. About 55% of Black adults have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension or HBP. They also get it at a younger age and suffer more complications. Higher rates of obesity and diabetes increase the risk for high blood pressure and heart disease as statistics show Black people face disproportionately high rates of both conditions. High blood pressure is a main risk factor for serious health problems such as heart disease, blood vessel disease, kidney disease, and stroke. High blood pressure also causes many other problems including erectile dysfunction and vision loss. But high blood pressure can be controlled and possibly prevented.
Diabetes
Diabetes is an umbrella term for multiple conditions that cause dysfunction in the body’s ability to metabolize glucose, secrete insulin, or both. Black adults in the U.S. are 60% more likely than white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes. In 2018, non-Hispanic Black people were found to be twice as likely as non-Hispanic white people to die from diabetes. In addition to having higher rates of diabetes, Black Americans are also more likely to experience complications from diabetes. A study done by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine found that biological risk factors for diabetes, such as body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose level, and blood pressure, accounted for most of the health disparities within Black communities.
Stroke
Black Americans have a higher risk of stroke and the highest death rate from stroke than any other racial group —and at a younger age. They are also twice as likely to die from a stroke as Caucasians and are more likely to become disabled and experience difficulties with daily activities after having a stroke. Risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, smoking, and obesity—all conditions that are prevalent among African Americans.
Overcoming Racial Health Disparities and Inequities
Making lifestyle changes can help prevent many of the health risks on this list. The basics of a healthy lifestyle consist of getting more exercise, eating more fruits and vegetables, reducing salt in your diet, drinking fewer sugary drinks, managing stress, and quitting smoking.
Her name is derived from her college nickname “Slayla,” and “The Purpose” was a name given to her by her late mother. She effortlessly embodies this name, showing the world that she has always been destined for greatness.
Slayla’s journey from an HBCU student to a rising R&B artist started when she came to TSU as a theater major with big dreams of going to Broadway—but everything changed when she lost her mother during her first semester of college. Her mom was also a singer and together they shared a love of music and the arts. After she passed, Slayla took a hiatus from music, changed her major to English, and shifted her focus to her minor, political science.
After graduating from TSU in 2019 she moved to New York to start a career in politics but ultimately felt unfulfilled.
“It wasn’t something that I love to do, however, activism is something that I do enjoy. But the type of work I was doing, it just was not fulfilling.”
During the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, she came back to her hometown, Atlanta, and tapped back into her old passions. Slayla has been singing since she was three years old and got her start singing in the church.
“I’ve always been very spiritual and very musically inclined. It’s something that’s always come very natural for me,” she said.
During quarantine, she began a spiritual journey and fed her inner child, which led her back to music.
“I just kind of started doing the things that I enjoyed as a kid, and so I started writing again and I was fortunate enough to find a team that I could build with,” Slayla remarked.
She was afforded an opportunity to work with a Grammy-nominated artist and also wrote a song entitled “Flowers” for Lindsey Blackwell, the lead character in Netflix’s “13 the Musical.”
For Slayla, songwriting was a cathartic experience, as it forced her to confront certain feelings she harbored and allowed her to truly grieve her mother.
Just two years later, after deciding to pursue music full-time, Slayla released her debut EP TwelveTwentytwo, which has been the proudest moment of her career so far.
Twelve Twentytwowas released in December 2022 and received 12 playlist placements across music streaming services like Apple Music, Pandora, Tidal, Spotify, and more.
This was a special achievement for Slayla as she received pushback from those around her, advising her not to release the EP so close to the holidays. “Everybody told me it was terrible timing,” she said.
It looks like the timing was just right, as the EP reached 100,000 streams across all platforms within the first month of release.
“That was like, mind-blowing to me,” Slayla said. “I grossed 100,000 streams my first month of release with no fan base, no label backing me, no money, just me and my manager grinding and you know, my friends reposting it and sharing it. So that was probably the most rewarding feeling because I listened to my intuition.”
Known for her unique soulful voice, jazzy melodic cadences, and vulnerable lyrics, Slayla is still innovating her sound but knows what she wants her music to feel like.
“My music is authentic, I would say that my music is passionate— it comes from a very passionate place—and it’s creative,” the songstress said.
The Atlanta native is heavily influenced by music icons Beyoncé and Lauryn Hill, as well as legendary southern hip-hop groups OutKast and Three 6 Mafia.
“I love OutKast. When I talk about my music being creative, it’s definitely influenced by OutKast and how you know, being from Atlanta and also being an individual that grew up in the same area as them and attended the same high school as them, I feel very influenced by their swag, their culture, their slang,”
Slayla says the lessons she learned at Tennessee State University helped her on her journey to success.
A very involved student, Slayla tried her hand at everything at TSU. “I feel like I was one of those people that gave everything a shot at my HBCU. I fully lived the HBCU dream, there was nothing I did not do,” she said.
Slayla served as the 2018-2019 Student Government Association President, the Vice President of the Alpha Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., was an intern at the Tennessee State Capitol, and published a children’s book titled, “Dream Girl, Dream” during her time at TSU.
She said attending an HBCU and being involved in leadership taught her confidence and helped shape her into the woman she is now.
“ It taught me to amplify my voice in spaces where people that look like me aren’t typically heard or aren’t typically seen. It taught me to be confident in my choices and to be confident in myself, my talent, and my skill set and to walk in any room and show up as myself.”
– Slayla The Purpose on attending an HBCU.
Slayla’s advice to those wanting to follow in her footsteps is to “take up space” and don’t “make yourself small.”
She recalls feeling like she was shrinking herself during her TSU days, and how much she’s grown since then. “I’m definitely in a space where it’s like, I’m not apologizing for being great. I’m not apologizing for being talented, I’m not apologizing for being who I am and I’m gonna show up as myself,” she said.
As for what the future holds, Slayla hopes to be a Grammy Award-winning artist with her own foundation rooted in education and committed to giving back to the community.
“I want my life to be beyond making music and being a great artist. I just want to give back to the world.”
She also hopes to be in a position where she can give back to her HBCU which has given so much to her.
Slayla revealed that the visuals for Twelve Twentytwo are on the way! Click here to stream Slayla The Purpose’s debut EP “Twelve Twentytwo.”
On Saturday, Bowie State University honored music icon, Dionne Warwick by naming its performing arts center after her.
The Dionne Warwick Theater is the first performing venue named in the songstress’s honor, according to the university.
Bowie hosted a special unveiling ceremony for the theater, attended by music celebrities, such as Doug E. Fresh and BeBe Winans as well as corporate leaders, politicians, and other officials from across the nation.
Warwick has received many honors in her legendary 40-plus-year career. This includes the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Grammy Hall of Fame, R&B Music Hall of Fame, and Apollo Theater Walk of Games.
She has also sold more than 100 million records worldwide and is one of the most charted vocalists of all time.
Warwick told WJZ that having the theater at Bowie State University’s Fine Arts Center is one of her biggest honors.
“It’s wonderful to know that I have reached a level that I am being appreciated for the work that I have put in, the time I’ve put in. I’ve earned it,” Warwick said.
The six-time Grammy Award-winning singer is a big supporter of HBCUs and has built a relationship with Bowie State students and staff.
“Just conversations, speaking to students and instructors as well, as to what their concerns were and, did they think I could be of some kind of service to them, and I feel I can,” Warwick said.
Bowie State officially renames the Main Stage Theatre honoring the life and legacy of music icon Dionne Warwick. #BowieBold 🖤💛 pic.twitter.com/ZsbRYduOL5
— Bowie State University (@BowieState) April 1, 2023
Bowie State University President Aminta Breaux said the partnership with Warwick was “three years in the making.” “Three years ago, we were privileged and honored to welcome Ms. Warwick here,” Breaux said.
“She embraced the vision. She didn’t waver. She’s dedicated to our youth, Wilkins their education and the arts,” Breaux said.
The Dionne Warwick Theater will host concerts, plays, and other performances.
“To whom much is given, much is expected. I hope I will be able to live up to the expectation you all have of me,” Warwick said.
“And now all of you are my family… You will be seeing me.” Warwick told the crowd at Bowie State during the unveiling ceremony.
Bowie State University has been awarded $5 million grant from The U.S. Department of Education to support mental health counselors in Maryland public schools.
Bowie State University has been awarded a four-year, $5 million grant from The U.S. Department of Education to support mental health counselors in Maryland public schools.
Maryland Congressman Steny Hoyer visited the HBCU campus on Wednesday to sit down with students and administrators to discuss the mental health needs of public school students.
“We need to make sure we have counseling expertise that will identify the problems and intervene in making those problems much less severe,” Hoyer said.
The U.S. Department of Education awarded Bowie State a four-year, $5 million grant to support mental health counselors in Maryland public schools. (Credit: Kellye Lynn, 7News)
“We’re seeing a significant impact on the emotional upheaval of our children in the aftermath of COVID-19,” said Dr. Aminta Breaux, President of Bowie State University. “So, in this partnership, we’re able to produce more school counselors, more teachers that have that culturally responsive model.”
According to a study by the National Center for Education Statistics, public schools have seen an increase in mental health concerns among their students since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This new grant will allow Bowie to provide culturally responsive counseling training to school-based mental health providers and graduate students at the university who are preparing to join the school counseling profession.”It’s going to allow students to get funding hopefully during their internship and also going to prepare better the school counselors once they join the workforce in Montgomery, Prince George’s County, and Anne Arundel County,” Bowie State graduate student Monica Chica said.
Two-time Georgia gubernatorial candidate, Stacey Abrams is joining the faculty at Howard University as the inaugural Ronald W. Walters Endowed Chair for Race and Black Politics.
“Stacey Abrams has proven herself an essential voice and eager participant in protecting American democracy — not just for certain populations, but for everyone with the fundamental right to make their voices heard,” Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick said in a statement.
“As the inaugural Ronald W. Walters Endowed Chair, Ms. Abrams’s selection not only honors the work and legacy of renowned political strategist and scholar Dr. Ronald Walters, it expands on that legacy by bringing Howard students in dialogue with a contemporary candidate whose work has directly influenced today’s political landscape,” Frederickcontinued.
In her new role at Howard, Abrams will lecture, lead research around the university on political issues affecting Black Americans, hold symposiums and workshops, and collaborate with other faculty members on these issues.
Howard says she will work across multiple academic departments to focus on “real-world solutions” to problems facing Black people and other vulnerable groups.
She will also lead the Ronald W. Walters Speakers Series — which will bring speakers to the HBCU to discuss a range of topics representing diverse perspectives.
“We are at an inflection point for American and international democracy, and I look forward to engaging Howard University’s extraordinary students in a conversation about where they can influence, shape and direct the critical public policy decisions we face,” Abrams said.
Abrams is a Spelman College alumna and made history in 2018 as the first African American woman to win a major party nomination for governor in the United States as the Democratic nominee in Georgia.
She is also a former Atlanta deputy city attorney, the former minority leader of the Georgia House, and an entrepreneur who has launched multiple nonprofit organizations devoted to democracy protection, national and local voter engagement, tackling social issues, and building a more equitable future in the South.
In addition to her political, philanthropic, and business career, Abrams is the bestselling author of fifteen books, including, “Our Time is Now: Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America” and “Lead from the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change.”
“Stacey Abrams is a respected voice in American politics, known for her advocacy for voting rights, criminal justice reform, environmental justice, and economic empowerment for marginalized communities,” said Howard University Provost and Chief Academic Officer Anthony K. Wutoh, PhD.
Abrams will begin her multi-year appointment starting this September.
The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, founded by actress Taraji P. Henson, has teamed up with Kate Spade New York to bring wellness pods to HBCU campuses.
The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, founded by actress Taraji P. Henson, has teamed up with Kate Spade New York to launch the ‘She Care Wellness Pods.’ This is a new program that aims to reach over 25,000 Black women on HBCU campuses with frontline mental wellness care.
The foundation, which is named after Henson’s father who struggled with his mental health without any resources, was founded in 2018 to eradicate the stigma around mental health in the African American community.
The ‘She Care Wellness Pods’ will feature physical structures that will offer a range of mental health resources, including:
Free mental health virtual and in-person therapy sessions for women students experiencing an exacerbation of stress, anxiety and depression.
Hangout spaces will provide psychoeducation sessions that allow students to connect with peers and mental wellness professionals to address students’ specific challenges.
Self-regulatory practices including yoga, meditation, art, sound, and dance therapy, all provided by certified practitioners.
Workshops and seminars on a variety of student-requested topics.
Rest pods for silence and respite, to reset from daily stressors.
While the foundation is launching the pods for female-identifying people, He Care and They Care Wellness Pods are set to roll out as part of the foundation’s Meeting You Where You Are initiative.
“You’ve got to take care of the women first because we drive change. Women are the change in most cases and so if you want to save the world, you save the women first,” Henson told WWD. “Black women, we suffer from a myriad of disparities and health, pay, social injustices. No one really hears us when we’re saying we don’t feel well or we’re not doing well mentally today, so we want to provide safe spaces for these young women.”
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health OMH, about 10% of Black women feel like “everything is an effort” compared to 6% of white women who feel the same way.
Henson’s goal with the wellness pods is to expand the foundation’s impact and reach younger students.
“We’re always trying to eradicate the stigma and how you do that is you get people talking about it. If you have these pods on campus, there’s no way you can ignore that. You’re gonna see more people and more students want to take an interest in their mental wellness,” she said.
In addition to fostering conversations about mental health, Henson also hopes that the pods will spark a deeper interest in a career in mental health for the students.
“Hopefully, we’ll see a rise in African American and Brown students wanting to start a career in the mental health field because we don’t have enough therapists, clinicians, and practitioners,” she said. “When you talk about trying to get culturally competent therapists or finding a Black therapist or psychiatrist who can understand what you’re going through on a day-to-day basis, we don’t have it.”
The first pod will be installed at Alabama State University, as The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation will continue to launch She Care Wellness Pods at more HBCU campuses this spring.
Morgan State University continues to prove to be one of the nation’s best transportation research authorities thanks to a large grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Morgan’s NTC is the receipt of a $15-million grant from the USDOT, designed to help further the HBCU’s research activities.
The announced round of federal funding is part of an extensive Biden administration commitment to upscale transportation innovation and research, as well as invest in vital training for a diverse next generation of transportation leaders.
Mansoureh Jeihani, Ph.D., director of Morgan State University’s National Transportation Center
“We are doing research, workforce development education, and outreach activities for transportation, mobility, and equity,” said Mansoureh Jeihani, the NTC director, who leads Ph.D. students in research.
In further support of the regional SMARTER Center, Maryland’s Department of Transportation (MDOT) has committed an additional $4 million in state appropriations to the NTC at Morgan spanning the five-year term of the transportation research initiative.
“Morgan’s National Transportation Center was among the first regional DOT-designated transportation centers of its kind and has exemplified true leadership in this capacity in the research and innovation of our evolving transportation needs,” said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan.
“This recognition of Morgan’s value by way of funding received from the Department of Transportation underpins our strengths and leadership in transportation research and education. We look forward to continuing the center’s work in addressing an array of transportation challenges, from congestion and energy efficiency to equity and modernization. This level of support will help us achieve our goals in these critical areas,” Wilson continued.
Morgan will be the first HBCU and the first university in Maryland to lead a USDOT Regional University Transportation Center (UTC).
Morgan’s NTC was chosen to serve as the principal institution to unite a consortium of institutions in the formation of the USDOT Region 3 University Transportation Center’s (UTC’s) Sustainable Mobility and Accessibility Regional Transportation Equity Research (SMARTER) Center.
“We are honored and excited to receive this level of support from the Department of Transportation. This funding will enable us to actively pursue integrated, transformative and interdisciplinary research; technology transfer; education; workforce development; and community outreach with a resolute team of government agencies, industry partners and partner academic institutions,” said Jeihani.
North Carolina A&TState University officials have confirmed that a freshman at the HBCU was shot and killed near campus on Tuesday night.
Greensboro police officers responded to a shooting on the 1000 block of Sullivan Street at 6:55 p.m., according to a news release.
Officers found the victim, later identified as 18-year-old Deja Rae Reaves, shot. She was taken to a hospital by EMS where she later died.
Police say there was a second gunshot victim with non-life-threatening injuries.
North Carolina A&T sent an alert to students and staff to let them know about Reaves’ death:
We regret to inform the university community that North Carolina A&T student Deja Rae Reaves of Chicago died Tuesday night as a result of gunshot wounds.
Deja was 18 years old and a first-year student in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Her untimely death is a tremendous loss to the university community. Our heartfelt prayers, condolences and thoughts are with her family, friends and professors.
Funeral arrangements will be provided when they become available.
According to the police, a homicide investigation has been opened, however, there is no update on a suspect at this time.
On Tuesday, students at Bennett College declared that they won’t be attending classes until “the matters regarding counseling services are addressed.”
In a joint statement by the HBCUs’ SGA president Zakyha Jones-Waler and the 43rd Miss Bennet College, Ja’Nylah Johnson, they explained their grievances.
“On February 27th, the Director of Counseling Services was fired. Under her were two interns that were only able to exist on campus under a supervisor. However, the following week their hours were completed and they were authorized by the North Carolina A&T Counseling Department Supervisors to leave” the statement read.
The statement continued, reading “We brought matters to our VP of Academic Affairs, Laura Colson and our current President Suzanne Walsh and were told two completely different things. 1. That a Supervisor is on campus and 2. That we would have 24 hr online counseling available by April 1st. There was no supervisor on campus and we still do not have any type of counseling services available. As a school that prides themselves on Health and Wellness, we as a student body are frustrated, tired, overwhelmed and refuse to continue representing this institution until we have the resources we deserve as women of color at an All women’s HBCU.”
On Friday, incoming student Kyrstin Johnson became the first gymnast to commit to the gymnastics team at Talladega College. Yesterday, Kingston, Jamaica native Jamilia Duffus joined her as the second recruit.
Following Fisk University’s footsteps, Talladega will be the second HBCU with a gymnastics team.
Both gymnasts will be attending Talladega College on a full scholarship.
Duffus expressed her excitement and gratitude in a recent Instagram post. She captioned the post, “I am contented to announce that I have committed to the Talladega college @talladegagymnastics on a full athletic scholarship. My heart is filled with joy to know that I will be representing their inaugural class of 2023 as well as the 2nd HBCU to have gymnastics.”
The Talladega gymnastics team will be led by former SEC champion Aja Sims-Fletcher. Talladega College Vice President and Athletic Director Michael Grant spoke highly of Sims-Fletcher saying, “Her experience and passion for the sport will be invaluable as we launch our gymnastics program and compete in the 2024 NCAA season.”
In terms of recruitment, Coach Sims-Fletcher is looking for Level 9-10 athletes.
Grant said that the university is excited about the growth the new gymnastics program will bring to Talladega College.
“Acrobatics and tumbling are an emerging sport that will expand opportunities for female athletes to compete. The program will help increase enrollment and retention while also creating more sponsorship options,” said Grant in a press release.
Competition for the team is set to begin in the spring of 2024.
Greensboro police report that a man has been arrested on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University with weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
Greensboro police report that a man has been arrested on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University with weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
According to court documents, 27-year-old Brandon James Bentley was charged on Sunday, March 26 with the following:
Felony having a gun on educational property
Felony having an explosive device on educational property
Reckless driving
Possessing a weapon on the educational property (not a gun)
Driving with a revoked license
Carrying a concealed gun
Bentley was reportedly found on the HBCU campus at Sullivan Street and N. Benbow Road with a revolver, a loaded handgun, a rifle, two shotguns, and several hundred rounds of ammunition. He was also found to have a “makeshift firework explosive,” brass knuckles, a machete, a sword, a “blowdart weapon,” a crossbow, a hatchet, a stun gun, a dozen knives, “claws,” and a baton.
Also among the items taken from Bentley were bolts for the crossbow, two “choking devices,” a window breaker, a chicken foot, pepper spray, and “holy water.”
Although the arrest happened more than a week ago, NC A&T students and parents just finding out about it now.
Shelby Samuels, a junior at the university told WFMY that she was upset that the student body wasn’t notified.
“Nothing was talked about no alerts were sent we have an alert system for these reasons,” Samuels said. “We’re an HBCU campus hate crimes are a thing so to think he was so close to his goal of coming on this campus and doing what he wanted to do and us not know a thing about it” Samuels continued.
Another NC A&T student, Jannisha Stevens shared Samuels’ sentiment that there should have been more transparency between the university administration and the students.
“I don’t think that it was handled well,” she said. “To hear about torture mechanism tools is really scary and I don’t know why he would have that. Who is it for? Is it for somebody on this campus?” she said. “I should know what’s going on campus. Especially something like this, for it to be kept from us…what is it? Is it an agenda or anything like that? Because I want to be able to protect myself if I see somebody like that or someone suspicious, so I can report it instead of being completely clueless.”
The university said Bentley is not associated with A&T in any way and decided against issuing a campus alert because the suspect was immediately arrested and there was no ongoing threat to campus safety.
Court documents said Bentley was afraid and had the weapons as protection from a cult he felt was after him.
His bond was set at $100,000 and he was able to post bond on Monday, March 27. A condition of his release was that he could not go on any educational property whatsoever.
