Obama Foundation features works from celebrated artist Julie Mehretu at Obama Presidential Center
Julie Mehretu's art serves as a powerful bridge between past and present, personal history and public space in ways that captivate and inspire. Her art will soon be showcased at the Obama Presidential Center, where her work promises to leave an indelible mark on the cultural landscape. Julie's journey from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to becoming a renowned abstract artist is a testament to the transformative power of art and the deep connection between personal history and creative expression. Born in 1970, Julie experienced the upheaval of the Mengistu
Julian Thomas to serve as Chief Information Technology Officer for Concessions International, LLC
Concessions International, LLC (CI) announces Julian Thomas will serve as its Chief Information Technology Officer, inclusive of serving in the same position for Russell Family Enterprises and all of the other entities that fall under it. Thomas will lead enterprise technology strategy, security, and systems alignment, while managing IT operations across the organization and helping advance secure, scalable solutions that support day-to-day operations and long-term growth. Thomas brings more than 20 years of information technology leadership experience, with a background spanning enterprise technology strategy, digital transformation, cybersecurity, infrastructure,
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch named executive vice-chair of Cook County Democratic Party
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch has been named Executive Vice-Chair of the Cook County Democratic Party, further strengthening his leadership role within one of the nation’s most influential Democratic organizations. Speaker Welch, who also serves as Committeeman for Proviso Township, has been a leading voice in advancing policies that promote equity, economic opportunity, and strong communities across Illinois. His appointment as Executive Vice-Chair (suburbs) reflects his longstanding commitment to Democratic values and his ability to unite leaders across Cook County. “I am honored to serve as Executive Vice-Chair
First Independence Bank taps Caroline Chambers to lead new community investment foundation
A bank with a long history of serving communities too often locked out of mainstream financial opportunity is preparing to widen that work through a new foundation, and it is placing that effort in the hands of a leader whose career has centered philanthropy, inclusion, and community partnership. First Independence Bank announced the appointment of Caroline Chambers as Director of Community Investments, a new leadership role that puts her at the center of building the bank’s charitable foundation. That foundation, expected to officially launch later this year, is
5 Black poets for students to study and know
This post was originally published on Word In Black. BY Alvin Buyinza It’s often called the voice of the human soul. It was a means of rebellion for Phyllis Wheatley, Langston Hughes, and Nikki Giovanni. And it’s the bedrock of rap music, often called “the CNN of the street.” Poetry, the art form in question, is embedded in the Black experience, a form of resistance and truth as well as beauty and resilience. Yet people often see poetry as inaccessible — reserved for eggheads, elites and reluctant K-12
Dr. Demarus Crawford White | From Burden to Breakthrough
Dr. Demarus Crawford White is guided by a simple conviction: opportunity should never be determined by circumstance. When she joined Npower Ohio, she found not just a leadership role but a mission to expand access to education and career pathways for people often overlooked in the technology sector. As executive director of the technology training nonprofit, she has emerged as one of Ohio’s most vocal champions for equity, workforce readiness, and the belief that success is attainable when people are given the tools to pursue it. “Npower is a
Morehouse School of Medicine names Gerald L. Hector EVP and CFO
Gerald L. Hector, CPA has been appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer for the highly esteemed Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. Hector also held similar positions in higher education at Cornell University, Ithaca College, Johnson C. Smith University, and Central Florida in Orlando. FL. His experiences span all aspects of higher education management that include treasurer, debt management, controller’s office, information technology, post award management, policy office, student accounts/bursar, facilities, grounds, business operations, auxiliary services, risk management, purchasing and procurement, legal, financial aid, campus safety, compliance,
Atlanta Executive Todd Greene Joins Excelsior University Board of Trustees
Excelsior’s governing body named the Work, Education, and Labor Division vice president and WorkRise Urban Institute executive director among its six new trustees. The Excelsior University Board of Trustees has named Atlanta resident Todd Greene, vice president of the Work, Education, and Labor Division (WELD) at the Urban Institute and executive director of WorkRise, among its six new trustees. The University's governing body, the board consists of individuals from across the country who are leaders in the fields of business, education, and government. In his role as a vice president of WELD at the Urban Institute, Greene leads a team of K–12, higher
From Glenville to Greatness: Wayne Dawson’s Journey of Faith, Family, and Forty-Five Years of Broadcasting Excellence
Written by Deante Young Photo by Deante Young Greatness was always Wayne Dawson’s destiny. He was born in the Glenville district of Cleveland, Ohio, in 1955, the same year Rosa Parks launched the Civil Rights Movement with a defiant act on a bus that brought a young minister named Martin Luther King, Jr. into the public’s consciousness. King inspired hope in all people, especially his own. Inside the Dawson household during the late 1950s and early 60s, young Wayne was inspired by his mother, Annie L. Dawson.“Where I didn’t achieve,
Danette Render: A Living Legend in Communications and Community Service
For more than four decades, Dannette A. Render, President, CEO, and Founder of DAR Public Relations, Inc., has shaped the landscape of marketing, public relations, and integrated communications across sectors as diverse as healthcare, transportation, and tourism. Founded in July 1984, DAR Public Relations stands as a testament to Render’s fearless spirit and unwavering commitment to excellence — a journey she credits first and foremost to her faith. “If it wasn’t for the Lord, I wouldn’t have made it," Render said. "With God at the helm, I do