Black Business, Government Leaders Honored at Michigan Chronicle 40 Under 40: Young Gifted & Black
Black business and government leaders across Metro Detroit were honored on Thursday, Aug. 28 during the Michigan Chronicle’s 2026 Young Gifted & Black celebration. The annual event honors a generation of leaders shaping the future of Southeast Michigan. Real Times Media President Cathy Nedd and WDIV host Jay Scott Smith served as the hosts Thursday evening at the Harmony Club in Paradise Valley downtown Detroit. The area has returned as a hotspot of Black business. The event celebrated the honorees achievements and inducted the group into a network of alumni. Special
TSP CEO Lamar Tyler: Standing in the Gap for the Black Business Community
As DEI rollback directives imposed by the Trump administration continue to negatively impact MBEs and Black business professionals in every field, many companies and organizations are taking on the responsibility of offering assistance to the Black business community and providing protections for its members by interceding on their behalf with funders and legislative officials. Lamar Tyler and wife Ronnie, co-founders of Traffic Sales & Profit, made history as the first non-Fortune 500 company presenting sponsor in the prestigious National Black Business Conference's 125-year legacy, which was recently held
Erica Schwartz, CDC nominee for director intends to restore public trust in health organization
Erica Schwartz, the administration's nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, expressed support for vaccines — including mRNA-based covid shots — in a Senate hearing on Wednesday, though she didn’t dispel concerns the agency has lost any independence from the White House. “I have been vaccinating people throughout my entire career in uniformed services. I believe in vaccines,” Schwartz said at the hearing. “I do believe that mRNA technology is safe and effective.” Her position contrasts with that of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F.
Founder of First Black Woman-Owned Skateboard company Proper Gnar launches art inspired collection
Latosha Stone-Keagy, the founder and CEO of Proper Gnar, the first Black woman-owned skateboard company, is marking a new chapter defined by intentional design, creative independence, and a renewed commitment to its original mission. Since its founding in 2011, her company has been recognized for challenging the norms of a traditionally male-dominated skate industry. Built from the ground up, initially out of a spare bedroom, the brand quickly gained national attention, earning features with major platforms and retailers while cultivating a dedicated community of women and girls in
Nikki Harland of Concessions International: Elevating travel to higher heights
When a woman reaches the C-suite in the travel concessions industry - or any industry - she is usually expected to influence workplace culture, particularly around diversity and inclusion. But when a Black woman attains that level of leadership, her presence has a broader impact, shaping the organization’s culture from executive leadership to frontline employees. Nikki Harland, of Concessions International LLC wields that type of influence in the business world and has levied her considerable cache of career achievements and business accomplishments to elevate opportunities for minority
Dream of Detroit Janae’s Wilson builds safe haven communities for the most deserving
Janae L. Wilson is the founder of JLW Professional Services and an economic justice organizer raised and nurtured in Detroit. For the past decade she has worked in community organizing and economic development spaces. She currently serves as Deputy Director at Dream of Detroit, a Black Muslim-led organization combining community organizing with housing and land development through a community land trust and long-term neighborhood stewardship programs. Wilson has worked closely with entrepreneurs, local changemakers, and community organizations to turn community priorities into practical economic opportunities. She leads through relationships and
Jayne Kennedy Visits Chicago on Book Tour, Reflects on Breaking Barriers, Faith, and Journey in Her New Memoir “Plain Jayne”
Jayne Kennedy, the first Black woman to win Miss Ohio USA in 1970 and the Emmy Award-winning host of CBS’s The NFL Today in 1978, is sharing her extraordinary story of resilience, perseverance, and triumph in her new memoir, Plain Jayne. The trailblazing television personality, actress, producer, entrepreneur, and sports broadcasting pioneer opens about the experiences that shaped her remarkable career and personal journey. In a recent conversation, Kennedy reflected on the journey of writing her memoir, breaking barriers and relying on faith through life’s challenges, and the legacy she hopes to leave for
Meet the Black Woman Strategist Advancing Advocacy for Black Families, Disability Rights, and Community Impac
Dr. Issata Oluwadare, speaker, strategist, professor, author, and community advocate, has recently completed the New Jersey Partners in Policymaking program, marking a meaningful new chapter in her ongoing commitment to disability advocacy, educational equity, leadership development, and community transformation. For Oluwadare, the milestone is both professional and deeply personal. As a mother, sister, educator, and advocate, her work has long been shaped by the lived realities of families navigating disability systems, school systems, health care barriers, and public policy gaps. Through her family’s experiences advocating for her son
Annie E. Casey Foundation CEO Lisa Lawson: Chamipon and change agent for the future of children
Why is the Annie E. Casey Foundation CEO and president so good at what she does? It’s simple - or at least she makes it look that way - she is innately adept and extraordinarily experienced in identifying and addressing issues for distressed populations. She has developed a razor-sharp understanding of the needs of young people and how to develop and hone strategies to address the challenges. In short, she is a champion. In an exclusive interview with the architect of Thrive by 25® — a groundbreaking effort
Rev. Cornell Jones gets increased role with the City of Pittsburgh
The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that the Rev. Cornell Jones has been hired to the role of Assistant Director for Community Affairs for the City of Pittsburgh. Mayor Corey O’Connor and the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety Director Sheldon Williams jointly made the announcement on May 21. “To have safer and more vibrant neighborhoods, we’re building a Department of Public Safety with leaders that understand the value of connecting our communities with our public safety bureaus,” said Mayor O’Connor, in a statement. “Cornell has great experience