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
The Ke’nekt Founder Kiyomi Rollins Shares Insights on Atlanta’s Entrepreneurial Scene
New Partnership With Pittsburgh Yards Built on Aligned Missions Atlanta is widely regarded as fertile ground for business start-ups, supported by a robust ecosystem that actively champions minority- and women-owned enterprises. The region has become a destination for aspiring entrepreneurs and established small businesses seeking access to resources and innovative programs designed to combat financial inequities, build capacity, invest capital, and revitalize underserved communities. In an exclusive interview with Atlanta Daily World, Kiyomi Rollins, founder and CEO of The Ke’nekt Cooperative, shared insights into Atlanta’s entrepreneurial landscape—particularly the growing role
OHM Advisors names Kelly Jackson VP of Human Resources
Architecture, engineering and planning firm OHM Advisors has promoted longtime Human Resources Director Kelly Jackson as the company’s first vice president of human resources. “People are the foundation of any successful business, and over the last three decades, Kelly has been crucial in building and expanding that foundation,” said OHM President Jon Kramer. “Since the firm’s inception, we have grown from fewer than 100 people working in one building to nearly 1,000 employees across eight states. Over the past 30+ years, Kelly has been instrumental in shaping and supporting the continuity of our
H.J. Russell Company and family: Key players in Atlanta’s grand plan
What do the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the Georgia Dome, Turner Field, Phillips Arena, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. and the downtown Atlanta skyline have in common? They all, in one way or another, bare the DNA of Atlanta entrepreneur extraordinaire Herman J. Russell. Many of the structures referenced - along with scores of other highly crafted developments around the country - originated in a less elaborate but equally important building at 504
After 25 Years of Telling Detroit’s Story to the World, Rochelle Riley is Heading to South Carolina
For a quarter-century, Rochelle Riley has built an address book of contacts across Michigan that, if compiled in print, would probably rival that of the old Yellow Pages that used to drop on our doorsteps annually. Through these connections, Riley has been able to find the right person for the right job at every level, be it for correcting a bank error at her preferred financial institution or assembling a mass tribute to victims of the COVID-19 epidemic on Belle Isle. In the days leading up to