DANITA V. KNIGHT APPOINTED NEW CEO YWCA GREATER ATLANTA
Celebrating 120 years -- the right leader at the right time ATLANTA, GA -- YWCA of Greater Atlanta today announced that Danita V. Knight has been appointed the new CEO of YWCA of Greater Atlanta, replacing Sharmen Gowens who announced her retirement earlier this year. Ms. Knight will officially assume her role as CEO in January 2023. “After a wide-ranging and thorough national search, led by Boardwalk Consulting (a national firm based in Atlanta), we have found an accomplished and experienced person to lead our organization. Danita is well
$400 Million Ballmer Investment in Black-Owned Ventures Comes at a Critical Time
Access to capital – whether through banking or investment – is a longstanding challenge for Black entrepreneurs looking to scale their enterprises. But some much-needed capital is entering the marketplace following a $400 million commitment from billionaire investor, L.A. Clippers owner and Detroit native Steve Ballmer. The former Microsoft CEO, who according to net worth Fortune magazine has a net worth of $76.9 billion, announced that he would allocate $400 million to investment firms Goldman Sachs, Fairview Capital, JPMorgan Chase, Ariel Investment and GCM Grosvenor. These firms would, in
Growing Black-Owned Whiskey Brand Makes Splash Into Market
By Andre Ash, Michigan Chronicle A Black-owned whiskey business is taking shape and growth across the country. Duke & Dame is the name of the newly minted company where its vision early-on was to change the way people consumed their experience of drinking whiskey. It aimed to succeed in its goal by creating a premium flavored whiskey that would “stimulate the senses at each stage of the drinking process, with incredible aroma, remarkable taste, and an extremely smooth finish.” In an interview with Michigan Chronicle, one of Duke &
AUNT JACKIE’S curls & coils SURPRISES FIRST HBCU GYMNASTICS TEAM WITH $25,000
Recently, while on the Jennifer Hudson Show, the newly formed FISK University women's gymnastics team was surprised with a $25,000 check from Aunt Jackie's Curls & Coils. The donation will cover the sixteen-member team's travel expenses enabling these talented student athletes to attend national competitions. This team is the first intercollegiate gymnastics team in HBCU (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) history and will compete against colleges across the country. The women, prior to going on the show, were also treated to a full Aunt Jackie's glam makeover and the studio audience all went
IN MEMORIAM: Jazz Saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, 81
Jazz saxophonist Farrell ‘Pharoah’ Sanders, a pioneer of ‘spiritual’ jazz who lived in Oakland for a time before gaining renown in New York with John Coane’s band in the 1960s, passed away in Los Angeles on Sept. 24, 2022. He was 81. “We are devastated to share that Pharoah Sanders has passed away,” family representatives tweeted Saturday morning. “He died peacefully surrounded by loving family and friends in Los Angeles earlier this morning. Always and forever the most beautiful human being, may he rest in peace.” Tributes like this
‘Big Brother’ Crowns First Black Female Winner After 24 Seasons
After 24 seasons, "Big Brother," the summer competition-reality show of CBS, has crowned its first-ever Black female winner. On finale night Sunday (September 25), former Miss Michigan USA Taylor Hale, 27, earned another title and made history as this season's winner of "Big Brother." A jury of nine former houseguests awarded Hale the win and the $750,000 grand prize by a vote 8-1 against Monte Taylor, a 27-year-old personal trainer from Delaware. Hale's historic win came not without hardship as she was mistreated by her castmates and faced microaggressions from the beginning of the game. Throughout
New Name. Same Soul: Real Times Media Relaunches RTM360° as Pitch Black.
Real Times Media has relaunched its cultural marketing company, formerly known as RTM360°, as Pitch Black. Under the new name, the company will continue to help clients connect with Black audiences through a mix of culturally relevant brand communication & outreach initiatives. It currently supports a portfolio of 15-plus clients nationwide. “As RTM360 we have been able to do some great work on behalf of amazing clients around the country. But it felt like with the watershed times of the past few years, that branding no longer accurately
Buffalo Unveils First-Ever Monument Dedicated To Black Service Members
Black service members have been honored with a first-of-its-kind monument dedicated to acknowledging their contributions to the U.S. military. On Saturday (September 24), the African American Veterans Monument was unveiled in Buffalo, New York, honoring current and past Black military members, NBC News reports. The historic monument marks the first permanent marker in the nation that recognizes the contributions of African Americans who served in the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marines, and the Coast Guard. Military members, veterans, and city and state officials attended the unveiling ceremony at the Buffalo and
Gov. Newsom Signs Legislation Funding Nation’s First Black Women’s Think Tank
Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a budget trailer bill approving $5 million in funding to the California State University at Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) to house the California Black Women’s Think Tank. The California Black Women’s Collective (CBWC) Empowerment Institute will be a founding partner in the development of the policy research institution. The legislation, Assembly Bill (AB) 179, authored by Assemblymember Phillip Ting (D-San Francisco), paves the way for establishing a policy institute that will focus on improving structures and practices that
Father-Son Duo Start First Black-Owned Athletic Supply Company In History
Courtesy of Black Information Network A father-son duo has made history after launching the first-ever Black-owned athletic supply company, Black Enterprise reports. Oronde Booker and his 14-year-old son Kendall are the founders of Book Dawg Sports, an Atlanta-based sporting goods company. After years of supporting Kendall at sports practices and games, Oronde noticed that all of the equipment used by teams was developed by four major companies, none of which were Black-owned. The father was inspired to create a company with his son that could join the ranks of other major suppliers of athletic products. “When thinking about sports, it’s likely