Renowned actress and Howard University alumna Phylicia Rashad will step down from her position as dean of Howard University’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts after the 2023-2024 academic year.
Renowned actress and Howard University alumna Phylicia Rashad will step down from her position as dean of Howard University’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts after the 2023-2024 academic year.
The news of her departure was announced on Monday by Howard president Wayne A. I. Frederick via an email sent to Howard students and faculty.
“We deeply appreciate Dean Rashad’s selfless contributions and commitment to our alma mater during her leadership of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts and the many contributions she has made to Howard University’s students, graduates, and global community,” the announcement read.
Rashad graduated from Howard in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and is best known for her performance as Clair Huxtable on the NBC sitcom, “The Cosby Show.” In 2004, she became the first Black actress to win a Tony Award for best actress in a play for her role as Lena Younger in a revival of “A Raisin in the Sun.”
In 2021, she returned to her alma mater to lead the re-establishment of the College of Fine Arts.
Frederick credited Rasahad with bolstering faculty and revitalizing and increasing contributions to the College of Fine Arts in his announcement.
The university said it will begin the search for a new dean shortly.
According to Diverse Education, a spokeswoman for Howard said that Rashad will be issuing a statement concerning her resignation in the near future.
Meet Nandi Edouard, she’s a Spelman College alumna about to make history as the founder of the first Black-owned STREAM school in Cobb County, Georgia.
Meet Nandi Edouard, she’s a Spelman College alumna about to make history as the founder of the first Black-owned STREAM school in Cobb County, Georgia.
Edouard is the CEO and founder of The Simple Vue Academy, a new charter school coming to Cobb County by 2025 with a mission to create a sustainable pathway to entrepreneurship by providing grades 6-12 with a STREAM-based education.
She received $20K in grants to open Simple Vue Academy and is excited to bring STREAM education to the classrooms.
Simple Vue Academy founder and chief executive officer, Nandi Edouard.
So what is STREAM education? Like STEM, it includes, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics but also incorporates the Arts and Reading. Edouard says that emphasizing the importance of reading and writing is crucial in educating the minds of the next generation.
“We all know that there is a literacy crisis going on, and we know that our students are falling behind when it comes to literacy, and so we want to not only make sure that that is at the forefront of our curriculum, but we also want our kids to be able to understand the things that they are reading and be able to then articulate those ideas and create value for themselves and their community,” she said.
Creating a positive school culture that provides a safe, supportive, encouraging, inviting, and challenging environment for students and staff, which allows students’ academic achievement to grow is Edouard’s personal mission.
She got her start in teaching at YES Prep Public Schools in Houston, Texas where she spent 3 years teaching and leading 6-8th grade English and Language Arts. She later served as the Director of School Culture, Managing Dean of Students, and New Teacher Development Lead at Prospect Schools in Brooklyn, NY before founding Simple Vue Academy.
The educator received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Spelman College and holds a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Edouard credits her alma mater, Spelman College, and its positive influence on her life that led to the creation of Simple Vue Academy.
Growing up in a predominantly white community, Edouard said Spelman taught her the “ins and outs of black people” and the importance of self-advocacy.
“Spelman taught me what it meant to show up as a black woman in the world, show up as a boss, someone who is knowledgeable and able to stand in the room with others.”
– Nandi Edouard on the impact of attending Spelman College.
Edouard also said the supportive and familial community at Spelman influenced the atmosphere that she wishes to cultivate at Simple Vue Academy.
Simple Vue’s mission is to provide a sustainable pathway to entrepreneurship while producing future business leaders, change agents, and innovators, according to Edouard.
When it comes to advice for other black educators pursuing their degree or just entering the workforce, Edouard says to “lean into community” and praises her own community that has helped her with Simple Vue Academy.
“I’ve found through this journey that community has been the only way that I’ve gotten to the next step. I’ve not done any of this work by myself. I have a really strong team, a really sound board, and a community behind me and I don’t make a move without them and their input and that has really been transformative to this process and for me to actualize my vision.”
McCain makes his return to North Carolina after being released by the Detroit Lions in May.
The cornerback entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos in 2021 and later signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as a waiver claim, playing in two games for them during his rookie season.McCain returned to the Broncos later in the 2021 season and then rejoined the Eagles as a member of their practice squad for the last two seasons, according to NBC Sports.
To make room for McCain, the Panthers waived cornerback Colby Richardson.
McCain, a Greensboro native is now returning to his home state, where he was N.C. A&T standout.
His accolades include two first-team All-MEAC selections, a second-team All-MEAC honor, multiple All-American FCS honors, and a sophomore All-American nod from Hero Sports as well as All-American honors from the Associated Press, Phil Steele Magazine and BoxToRow.
He is also well known because of his family’s historic legacy at N.C. A&T as he is the grandson of the late Franklin McCain, one of the four N.C. A&T students who were a part of the famous 1960 Woolworth lunch-counter sit-in protest, known as the Greensboro Four.
Dillard University has been awarded a $750,000 grant from The U.S. Department of Interior to restore the historic academic building Howard House.
The restoration grant is one of the first awarded by the U.S. Department of Interior, which protects cultural heritage under the National Historic Preservation Act.
The grant was presented by the agency’s Assistant Secretary of Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Shannon Estenoz at a press conference on Friday.
Credit: Biz New Orleans
“At the Interior Department, it is our job to help steward America’s story. By preserving sites like Dillard University, we not only honor long-underappreciated Historically Black Colleges and Universities, but we also safeguard important pieces of American history,” said Estenoz. These investments are part of the Biden-Harris administration’s work to ensure that vital cultural, educational, societal and aesthetic legacies will live on for future generations.”
The grant will go to restoring the historic Howard House, originally named the Practice House.
The 2,400-square-foot building was designed by campus architect Moise H. Goldstein and was built in 1936. Its rich history includes being used by Homemaking Educational Program during World War II when mostly young female students attended Dillard University.
The building was damaged by a fire in 1945 and was later restored and expanded to double its size, housing primarily young female faculty members when it reopened later that year.
In 1948 the Practice House was renamed Howard House in honor of the late Alvin P. Howard, a New Orleans businessman who had served as the university’s First Treasurer of the Board of Trustees and was on the building committee for Flint-Goodridge Hospital, which was the original buildings of the university, according to Biz New Orleans.
“Dillard’s architectural treasures are a link to our collective heritage,” said Dr. Rochelle Ford, president of Dillard University. “This grant marks a step towards Dillard serving as a communiversity with facilities that withstand the forecast that shapes our living, learning, serving community that cultivates leaders that will make our world healthier, safer and more innovative.”
“For nearly two centuries, HBCUs have stood as beacons of hope, providing education, empowerment, and opportunity to generations of African Americans around the country. The significance of the National Parks investment cannot be overstated. It is an investment in our past, our present, and most importantly, our future. These funds will breathe new life into the very buildings that have been the backdrop to the education of trailblazers, visionaries, and leaders who have shaped the course of our nation’s history,” said Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr.
A Baltimore judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Coppin State University and its former men’s head basketball coach Juan Dixon that was filed by a former player alleging a member of the program sexually assaulted and blackmailed him.
A Baltimore judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Coppin State University and its former men’s head basketball coach Juan Dixon that was filed by a former player alleging a member of the program sexually assaulted and blackmailed him.
The player, identified by The Baltimore Banner as 23-year-old Iba Williams, filed the lawsuit on Nov. 2. It alleged that Lucian Brownlee, a teammate who went on to serve as director of player development sexually assaulted and blackmailed him and that the university failed to protect it’s student athletes.
The Baltimore Banner reported that Baltimore Circuit Judge Melissa K. Copeland made the ruling based on various legal grounds at a hearing on Monday. However, she said she would allow the complaint to be amended, stating, “We are very much at the very beginning of the case.”
PHOTO: RICH SCHULTZ/GETTY
The lawsuit claims in the Fall of 2018, Williams was deceived by someone pretending to be a young woman on social media who convinced him to send images of a “sexual nature,” which he believed were “private and in the context of developing a romantic relationship.”
The lawsuit states that the person revealed that the young woman did not exist and told Williams that he would have to “submit to further demands or risk the public disclosure of the material.”
The Baltimore Banner reports that the blackmailer later directed Williams to “engage in sexual encounters” with Brownlee, who had since graduated and became part of the coaching staff, the lawsuit alleges.
According to The Baltimore Banner, the lawsuit claims the following: “Upon information and belief, the blackmailer was Coach Brownlee.” The extortionist, the complaint asserts, revealed material to members of the men’s basketball team as well as the public.”
According to the lawsuit, Williams was made aware by Dixon that Brownlee was “mentally ill or otherwise emotionally imbalanced,” and stated that Director of Athletics Derek Carter and Coppin State knew about that history.
Furthermore, the lawsuit stated that Coppin State questioned Williams about his past sexual experiences and orientation after he asked the school to conduct a review of the claims of harassment, sexual assault, and blackmail, according to The Baltimore Banner.
After six seasons with the school, Williams left Coppin State in March and is now attending Morehouse College.
Dixon was relieved of his duties as head coach in earlier this year in March.
The Baltimore Banner reports that the judge also dismissed the counts against Carter, the University System of Maryland, and the State of Maryland.
Last Tuesday, Philander Smith officials announced the school’s transition into a university.
According to college officials, the transition signals Philander Smith’s “continued commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and meeting the evolving needs of its students and the community.”
“Philander Smith University. That one word. That one word means that we’re moving forward. It means that we’re offering a different level of excellence,” Philander Smith University interim president Cynthia A. Bond Hopson. “Whether it’s a master’s degree, a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree. A certificate. We’re going to make the world a degree better.”
University leaders say the move will allow the school to expand its academic and research offerings and continue to serve the central Arkansas region as a pillar of higher education.
Hopson said the new status would help the university grow academically and enhance research opportunities. “We are absolutely ready to move forward and conquer the rest of the world,” she said.
The school was founded in 1877, making it one of the oldest private, historically Black higher ed institutions in Arkansas.
It’s almost back to school season and that means we’re getting closer to the most awaited time of the year at Historically Black Colleges and Universities — that’s right, we’re talking about homecoming. Every year the HBCU community gathers to celebrate their respective institutions through a week of events leading up to the big homecoming football game. Homecoming is a staple in the HBCU community, every year creating new memories to look back on for years to come. There were so many memorable moments last year, as many schools saw their first fully in-person homecoming in two years since the pandemic. This year is sure to bring even more remarkable moments and HBCU Buzz is here to give you all the homecoming dates so you don’t miss a thing. Check out the official HBCU homecoming schedule below!
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is supporting agricultural research and education projects at HBCU land-grant institutions through generous funding of $33 million. Learn more in the story by Ariana Figueroa at Kentucky Lantern.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is supporting agricultural research and education projects at HBCU land-grant institutions through generous funding of $33 million. Learn more in the story by Ariana Figueroa at Kentucky Lantern.
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture Monday announced $33 million in funding to 19 Historically Black Colleges and Universities designated as land-grant institutions to support research and education projects.
The funding through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture will support 82 projects in sustainable farming practices such as reducing use of plastics, enhancing nutritional value in vegetables and addressing shortages in sunflower seed oil.
“The work these universities will take on as a result of this funding have ripple effects far beyond the walls of their laboratories and classrooms,” Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small said in a statement.
Torres Small said the investments will help “deliver real-life, applicable solutions to make our food system stronger, while at the same time inspiring a next generation of students and scientists who will help us meet tomorrow’s agricultural challenges.”
1890 Land-Grant Institutions are a byproduct of a Civil War-era law that gave land to dozens of universities, including the HBCUs, but the land had been forcibly taken from Indigenous tribes. In total, nearly 11 million acres were taken from more than 250 tribes, according to a project published in High Country News.
“USDA looks forward to the impact these visionary projects will have in improving the supply of affordable, safe, nutritious and accessible food and agricultural products, while fostering economic development and rural prosperity in America,” NIFA Director Manjit K. Misra said in a statement.
Many of the projects are geared toward sustainable practices in farming. U.S. agriculture contributes to about 11.2% of greenhouse gas emissions, and the Biden administration has focused on “climate smart” farming practices.
One project at North Carolina A&T State University was awarded about $250,000 to conduct farm trials of biodegradable mulches, which would be an alternative to plastic mulch.
Another land-grant university in Wilberforce, Ohio, the Central State University, was awarded about $500,000 to explore the use of a perennial flower — meaning it comes back year after year — as a way to improve honey production in order to enhance sustainability practices in agriculture.
And in Nashville, a project at Tennessee State University was awarded $100,000 to evaluate climate resiliency in legume species, which are crops such as snow peas, chickpeas and lentils, that are crucial to fixing nitrogen into the soil to improve soil health.
A full list of projects can be found here, and the 19 land-grant universities sharing in the $33 million include:
On Friday, Morehouse College hosted a ceremony to celebrate the launch of the new John Lewis Forever Stamp.
The stamp honoring iconic Morehouse alum John Lewis was announced in late 2022 for the upcoming year and unveiled by both parties of the U.S. House in June.
According to Rough Draft Atlanta, the two-hour ceremony at Morehouse, which coincided with the on-sale date of a “forever” stamp, was likened to a ‘celebration of life’ church service.
The stamp features a photograph of John Lewis, taken for Time Magazine in 2013
The celebration was hosted by esteemed actress Alfre Woodard and was attended by Georgia senators John Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, former Atlanta mayors Bill Campbell and Shirley Franklin, and Lewis’ former staffers, family, and neighbors. The event also featured the musical selections of the Ebenezer Baptist Church choir.
Many speakers reflected on John Lewis’ life and legacy and shared memories and the impact the congressman has had on their lives.
“It wasn’t just his words and courage but his humility that influenced me to go into public life and to vote every time,” former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin shared.
A banner featuring the John Lewis stamp sits next to a painting of Martin Luther King, Jr. and a bust of Gandhi at Morehouse College in Atlanta on July 21, 2023. (Credit: GPB News)
“John was able to see people with his heart, rather than with his mind, and that made all the difference,” Peggy Wallace Kennedy, daughter of segregationist and former Alabama Gov. George Wallace said. “Peace and love abided with his heart, that is the man I shall always remember.”
“His life is a testament to the power we all have to create the country that lives up to the ideals that John Lewis fought for, and this stamp is a reminder of that power and those ideals,” Ron Stroman, a Governor of the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service, said at the event.
The John Lewis Forever Stamp is available now at your local post office.
After all football activities were halted due to an unauthorized music video shot at Florida A&M University, the university has cleared the team to resume.
After all football activities were halted due to an unauthorized music video shot at Florida A&M University, the university has cleared the team to resume.
On Friday, FAMU’s head football coach Willie Simmons released a statement announcing that all football-related activities after a rap video featuring some of the team’s players was shot without permission in the Rattlers’ locker room.
The video posted to Youtube was by rapper Real Boston Richey, titled “Send A Blitz.” In the video, the rapper appeared in the locker room wearing a Florida A&M shirt and team helmets, and several Florida A&M players are also seen in the background of the video.
In his statement, Simmons explained that the explicit language is the video does not reflect FAMU’s core values, principles and beliefs. “It is a privilege to wear the Orange and Green and as a football program, our young men have failed to live up to the standards set before us,” he said.
An internal investigation was launched to determine who allowed the use of the athletic facility and how the licensed apparel worn in the video could potentially violate Florida A&M licensing and branding agreements.
On Monday, Florida A&M announced that the investigation is ongoing and that football activity is allowed to resume.
“The FAMU Football team has been cleared to return to all football-related activity, effective Tuesday, July 25, 2023,” FAMU vice president and director of collegiate athletics Tiffani-Dawn Sykes said in a statement. “An investigation into the unauthorized video that was partially filmed in the football locker room is being led by the University’s Office of Compliance and Ethics. Since this is an ongoing investigation, no further comment can be shared at this time. In my role, I have been transparent with stakeholders and this time will be no different. I will make myself available for comment at the conclusion of the investigation.”
The Rattlers are slated to open fall camp on Aug. 4 and play against Jackson State University in the Orange Blossom Classic on Sept. 3.
The highly anticipated 114th NAACP National Convention is coming to Boston from July 28 to August 1, 2023.
Focusing on the theme of “Thriving Together,” this year’s convention will bring change-makers from across the globe together to celebrate and uplift the Black community’s collective power.
“Each year, NAACP members, friends, and elected leaders gather at the Convention in a shared space that has proven vital for our collective growth and advocacy,” said NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson. “This space, intently curated each year by the Association’s local branch, state conference, and national leaders, provides us with the ability to harness the power of Black America. We use this sacred time to inspire each other and align on what we need to do to continue pushing this country forward. Now more than ever, this sacred convening is crucial to our continued fight for the preservation of democracy. We are excited to bring vitality and vibrance to our roots in Boston, home of the Association’s first chartered branch.”
NAACP has assembled numerous elected officials, activists, scholars, organizers, faith leaders, entrepreneurs, and entertainers to network and exchange ideas addressing critical issues faced by Black communities.
Prominent figures speaking at this year’s convention include the following:
Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States of America
Hillary Clinton, Former Secretary of State
Ayanna Pressley, United States Representative, Massachusetts
Justin Jones, United States Representative, Tennessee
Shavon Arline-Bradley, President and CEO of The National Council of Negro Women
Kimberlé Crenshaw, Scholar and Civil Rights Activist
Gary Chambers, Social Justice Advocate
Bishop Vashti McKenzie, Author, “The Journey to Well”
Rome Flynn, Actor, Netflix’s “Raising Dion” and Prime Video’s “With Love”
Sheryl Underwood, Comedian, Host, ABC’s “The Talk”
Adrian Holmes, Actor, Peacock’s “Bel-Air”
Jasmine Guy, Actress, “A Different World”
Lamman Rucker, Actor, OWN’s “Greenleaf”
Essence Atkins, Actress, BET’s “First Wives Club”
Marcus Scribner, Actor, Freeform “Grown-ish” and ABC’s “Blackish”
Kadeem Hardison, Actor, “A Different World”
Danielle Ponder, Singer
Joy Taylor, Fox Sports Analyst and Co-Host of Speak on FS1
Robert Kraft, Chairman of The Kraft Group and Founder of the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS)
Robert “Meek Mill” Williams, Co-Chair of REFORM Alliance, Grammy-nominated recording artist, and entrepreneur
Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., Historian, Filmmaker, and Harvard University Director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research
The annual convention will be composed of can’t-miss events including the grand opening of The Hub, an immersive cultural experience that will kick off with an opening block party feat. DJ Jazzy Jeff, the annual Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) competition, the Cinematic Shorts Competition, and the Spingarn Freedom Fund Awards Dinner honoring Dr. Hazel Dukes.
The NAACP’s 114th National Convention will also feature a panel discussion entitled “Hate Has No Home Here – A Moderated Conversation on Racism, Antisemitism, and Building Bridges to Fight All Hate” focused on the intersectionality of racial justice and the continued rise in hate crimes.
“Year after year, a resounding chorus of community members, celebrities, and elected leaders join us at the National Convention because this is where Black America reunites to recalibrate our compass. The Association and our network of activists have consistently influenced the moral direction of this country since its founding, proving time again that Black people can, and will, move mountains together,” said NAACP Convention Committee Chairman Michael Turner. “I look forward to another Convention filled with impactful and meaningful conversations and celebrations that will advance Black America’s vision for a society where we can thrive together.”
More information about the 114th NAACP National Convention, including a schedule of events and registration details can be found here.
Florida A&M University has suspended all football-related activities after a rap music video featuring some of the team’s players was shot without permission in the Rattlers’ locker room.
Florida A&M University has suspended all football-related activities after a rap music video featuring some of the team’s players was shot without permission in the Rattlers’ locker room.
Head football coach Willie Simmons released a statement announcing the decision on Friday night hours after the music video was released.
Simmons said that while he supports free speech and musical expression, the “graphic language” used in the video is “not consistent with Florida A&M’s core values, principles and beliefs.”
MOBILE, AL – FEBRUARY 04: A general view of a FAMU (Florida A&M) Rattlers helmet during the Reese’s Senior Bowl on February 4, 2023 at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)
FAMU is conducting an investigation to determine who allowed the use of the athletic facility.
The music video shot in the university’s locker room, titled “Send A Blitz” by rapper Real Boston Richey was posted to YouTube on Friday. The video shows the rapper in the locker room wearing a Florida A&M shirt and team helmets. Several Florida A&M players are also seen in the background of the video.
In his statement, Simmons said that the licensed apparel worn in the video could violate Florida A&M licensing and branding agreements and will also be investigated.
“It is a privilege to wear the Orange and Green and as a football program, our young men have failed to live up to the standards set before us,” Simmons said. “They will all learn from this mishap, and we will continue to work hard every day to become the best version of ourselves and continue making Rattler Nation Proud.”
Simmons told Associated Press that a team meeting is scheduled for Monday. “We’ll determine at that point if more severe penalties need to be handed down,” he said.
For years, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have produced great athletic talent and football players that have reached National Football League (NFL) status. NFL greats, from Jerry Rice and Deacon Jones to Shannon Sharpe and Michael Strahan, came from HBCUs before making their mark in the NFL. Today, HBCU football players in the NFL are continuing to leave it all on the field. Although this year’s NFL draft had a disappointing turnout with only one player (Isaiah Bolden) from an HBCU being picked, HBCU Buzz would like to highlight the HBCU football players that are currently in the NFL while we continue to call for the NFL to recognize HBCU talent. Check out the list below!
Bowie State University has met its goal of raising $50 million as part of its fundraising campaign, BSU Bold: The Campaign for Excellence, two and a half years ahead of its December 2025 closing date.
In December 2021, Bowie State announced The BSU Bold: The Campaign for Excellence campaign, the largest fundraising in the university’s history. The campaign has been fueled by strengthening the university’s professional fundraising organization and developing new relationships with alumni, friends, corporations, and foundations.
“We have not wasted a moment asking our philanthropic partners to invest in the success of our students through this campaign,” said Aminta Breaux, president of BSU. “We are appreciative of all the individuals and organizations who have invested in our historic institution. Now we’re able to provide more of our students with scholarships.”
According to WJLA-TV, BSU Bold fundraising will increase Bowie State’s private scholarship funding and call attention to the university’s athletic program, which does not receive state funding, fine arts, and nursing programs, and its entrepreneurship education ecosystem.
Breaux said the university’s endowment increased more than 500% and is now standing at $40 million.
Many corporations contributed to the campaign, such as Adobe, the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation, Baltimore Gas and Electric, Truist Bank, the Blackstone Charitable Foundation, and more.
BSU received its largest gift of $25,000,000 from philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott back in 2020.
Although the school has reached its campaign goal, its fundraising efforts are far from over according to Breaux.
“While we have met our initial campaign goal of $50 million ― we are challenged and inspired to continue our fundraising and expand the campaign, inviting others to join as we raise an unprecedented level of support for our students,” Breaux said. “We must continue and work to help make college more affordable and reduce student loan debt.”
On Wednesday, Clark Atlanta University (CAU) announced that it received a $1-million gift from Chick-fil-A.
The gift was presented by CAU alumna and director of community affairs for corporate social responsibility at Chick-fil-A, Carol Waddy during the university’s 34th annual commencement on May 20.
Accordig to the school, the donation will support the university’s historic $250 million Campaign for Clark Atlanta University, which has a principal goal of generating much needed funds for student access, retention, and graduation support.
The $1 million gift is set to be distributed over the next two years, according to a press release.
“Chick-fil-A’s generous commitment of $1 million is an investment in the bright futures of Clark Atlanta University students and will help ensure that we continue building on our mission of delivering education that is accessible, relevant, and transformative,” Clark Atlanta University President Dr. George T. French, Jr. shared in a said.
“With partners like Chick-fil-A, our vision of being a leading institution of higher learning that impacts society through transformative, educational experiences is within reach,” he continued. “At Clark Atlanta, finding a way or making a way is a community endeavor.”
In addition to Chick-fil-A’s gift, CAU received a $2.5 million gift from the William F. Pickard Foundation to establish a scholarship fund and rename Beckwith Hall in honor of Dr. William F. Pickard and Thomas W. Dortch, Jr.
The HBCUs have created a new program called, PHIT4DC. It allows anyone from high schoolers to working healthcare professionals to enroll in public health informatics and technology courses.
“The program is offered in several pathways,” said Dr. Mary Awuonda, director of Howard’s Telepharmacy Center. “We have a no-wrong-door model for entry. So, we can make sure we have an impact in D.C.”
“Health care now is in the community,” Awuonda said. “The lack of direct engagement is what led to a lot of the poor outcomes Wards 7 and 8 saw over the pandemic. Frontline workers naturally know that a connection is important and know how to inform them.”
The program is geared towards students from Wards 7 and 8, who will focus their training on patients and residents in that area. They will train healthcare providers to understand a patient’s lived experiences and help those residents navigate healthcare information systems, according to Awuonda.
“When we’re talking about our communities in D.C., especially our underrepresented communities, we know that we need people we can trust,” Charletta Washington, PHIT4DC program director at UDC said the program said. “So, if and when the next public health emergency comes along, we know that we have a workforce that’s ready to engage the communities that are sometimes left out of the conversation.”
