How Jaylen Brown’s Nonprofit Aims to Generate $5 Billion in Wealth for Underrepresented Communities
Jaylen Brown, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP and Boston Celtics star, is taking significant steps beyond the basketball court to make a lasting impact on underrepresented communities with the launch of a revolutionary nonprofit: Boston XChange (BXC). Following his groundbreaking five-year supermax contract extension worth $304 million, Brown is fulfilling his pledge to bring Black Wall Street to Boston, Massachusetts. Boston XChange, unveiled one year after Brown's monumental contract announcement, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to generating $5 billion in new wealth for underrepresented communities. This ambitious goal will
Kwasi Mitchell’s Bold Leap to Leading Purpose and DEI Strategy at Deloitte
by Megan Sayles The Chief Purpose and DEI Officer shares his lifelong fight for equity and addressing disparities. Kwasi Mitchell became Deloitte’s first Chief Purpose Officer in 2020, with leadership of the organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy added to his portfolio in 2023. Now, as Deloitte’s Chief Purpose & DEI Officer, Mitchell leads Deloitte’s efforts on sustainability and climate change, equity including DEI and supplier diversity, trust including responsible business practices and trustworthy and ethical technology, and social impact for Deloitte’s more than 170,000 US employees. But he initially
Commercial Real Estate Developer Quintin E. Primo and the Need for Inclusivity
Quintin E. Primo III is one of relatively few African Americans operating at the highest levels of the commercial real estate business. His company, the Chicago-based Capri Investment Group, boasts more than $14 billion in real estate investment transactions completed – with more high-profile deals in the pipeline. Capri Investment Group and commercial and residential real estate development company, The Prime Group, acquired the James R. Thompson Center, a historic building in Chicago’s Loop District. The deal, which Capri expects will take about three-and-a-half years to complete, came about
Dr. Alicia B. Harvey-Smith, PTC president stands strong on her record; ‘I Finish What I Start’
Dr. Harvey-Smith is the president of Pittsburgh Technical College, or PTC for short. Today, the school is pretty much no more. The school’s Board of Trustees decided in June 2024 to close the college altogether in August following declining enrollment and a host of investigations and local TV news stories that, according to some at the college who spoke with the Courier, including Dr. Harvey-Smith, portrayed the college in a very bad light. In the fiscal year 2019, the college had a debt of $46.4 million, the
BLK Capital Management CEO Angel Onuoha Makes Gains in Hedge Fund Arena
Angel Onuoha, CEO of BLK Capital Management, founded the not-for-profit hedge fund as a Freshman at Harvard University. The 24-year-old business mogul's goal is to help guide African-American students to the field of active investment management, giving them a real-time education while they dive head-first into managing an invested pool of money. BLK Capital Management maintains members from across the nation who manage a long/short equity fund that invests capital across the globe and constantly seek to deliver absolute returns, outperforming industry standards. The Conference will host over 80 students
Rev. Dr. Jim Holley Helps Coordinate Life-Saving Heart Surgery for African Women in Detroit
By Donald James In the capital city of Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa – 5,020 miles from Detroit – the days of Mercy Yango were once filled with boundless energy and spiritual engagement rooted in Liberian traditions with close family and friends. However, life for Mercy took a turn for the worse when, not long ago, the 37-year-old mother of three started experiencing heart-related issues that she couldn't ignore. She was ultimately diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition beyond the scope of what local clinics and hospitals in Liberia
Emerging 100 of Atlanta’s Diriki T. Geuka Shares Thoughts on Empowering the Next Generation
Diriki T. Geuka is an Associate in the Atlanta office of Townsend & Lockett in the transactional practice group. Diriki works on a team focusing on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and general corporate law. Diriki was previously a Pinellas Assistant County Attorney where he represented County agencies run by locally elected and appointed officials. Diriki began his career as federal staff attorney for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, where he served for a year, and was an intern for the Honorable
Dreams in Motion: Lee H. ‘Le$lie’ Alexander’s Inspirational Journey Through the Arts
Ella Fitzgerald once said something so simple yet so profound that decades later, it still touches the masses, "Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong." These words perfectly capture the spirit of Lee H. Alexander, whose journey in the arts is a masterclass in dedication and passion. From his early days in Detroit, where he nurtured a love for storytelling and performance, to his rise as a versatile
Courtney Ebonique Smith: From Detroit Youth Advocate to Global Inspiration
Confidence and support can transform lives, especially for Black women who navigate a world often stacked against them. These elements are the bedrock upon which Courtney Ebonique Smith, the dynamic and inspiring CEO of the Detroit Phoenix Center, has built her journey. Now, she stands at the precipice of an international stage as a candidate for Ms. Voluptuous International, ready to showcase the power of resilience, leadership, and unwavering commitment to community upliftment. Smith’s trajectory from a passionate youth advocate to a beacon of hope in Detroit is
Empowering Change: How RECESS24 is Set to Pave the Way for Black and Brown Innovators in Clean Energy
As the RECESS24: National Black and Brown Clean Energy Conference approaches, excitement is building for an event designed to create an onramp for Black and Brown individuals into the booming clean energy sector. Taking place from September 9-11, 2024, at Huntington Place in Detroit, this conference is more than just a gathering—it’s a movement aimed at fostering inclusivity and innovation in the clean energy industry. The conference follows the success of Black Tech Saturdays’ Clean Energy Takeover, where clean energy founders shared their journeys and fielded questions