The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has called on Fortune 500 companies to reaffirm their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and set clear, measurable goals amid rising challenges to DEI programs nationwide. Holding corporate America accountable The CBC’s first-of-its-kind report aims to hold Fortune 500 companies accountable for their DEI pledges made after George Floyd’s murder in 2020. Titled “What Good Looks Like”: A Corporate Accountability Report on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the report is based on months of meetings with hundreds of executives across different sectors and
In this episode of Techish Podcast, Abadesi and Michael discuss Beyoncé’s recent brand launches Telegram CEO Pavel Durov gets arrested – privacy vs. accountability Financial literacy in the music industry The rise of frenemies The Play School accelerator and more! Listen to the episode You can find the Techish podcast on Spotify, Apple, and all good podcast apps. Watch On YouTube Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast episode represents the personal opinions and experiences of the presenters and is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered
A new development project will bring over 100 affordable homes and a Black business hub to North Portland. The Williams & Russell project, managed by Williams & Russell CDC, will create 85 affordable apartments and 20 townhomes for sale on a block that has been vacant for nearly five decades. Significant Funding and Community Impact The project has already secured $10.3 million in funding, including $1.6 million recently announced by Oregon senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley. An additional $23 million is pending from the Portland Housing Bureau and Prosper
The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) has partnered with Urban Strategies Inc. (USI) to enhance opportunities and access for minority businesses across the US. Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development at the MBDA, Eric Morrissette, and USI President, Esther Shin, marked the partnership with the signing of a memorandum of understanding. Expanding Access to Resources for Minority Entrepreneurs The USI’s federally designated Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) fund aims to promote racial and economic equity by offering resources and capital. By working together, the the MBDA and
Blapp is changing the way Black-owned businesses connect with their communities and attract new clientele. Blapp: Bridging the Gap for Black-Owned Businesses Jon Laster, a comedian-turned-app developer, created Blapp to help Black-owned businesses thrive. Following George Floyd’s murder in 2020, Laster sought a sustainable way to support his community. “Blapp works by simplifying people’s desire to help,” Laster said according to ABC News. In Blapp, users can see nearby Black-owned businesses—from restaurants to nail salons—on a map or in a list and search for products and services offered by Black business
MoviePass, a Black-owned movie-theater subscription service, has received an equity investment from Forecast Labs, a consumer venture group owned by Comcast. As first reported by Variety, this investment will help MoviePass attract new customers through targeted TV ads using Comcast’s media reach. The financial details were not disclosed. The company was recently the subject of the HBO series “MoviePass, MovieCrash.” The Rise, Fall, And Rise of MoviePass Launched in 2011 by Stacy Spikes and Hamet Watt, MoviePass allowed subscribers to buy one movie ticket daily for a monthly fee. Despite
Brand new Techish! In this episode, host Michael Berhane is joined by TechCrunch reporter Dominic-Madori Davis to break down: HBO’s Movie Pass, Movie Crash (0:35) Will Smith was never cancelled (7:05) Edward Blum’s anti-DEI lawsuit against Fearless Fund (10:50) Listen on Spotify or Apple podcast also. Watch On YouTube Extra Reading & Resources Fearless Fund: Appeals Court Rules Against Grants For Black Women [POCIT] Conservative Activists Behind Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action Decision Sues VC Fund For WOC [POCIT] Pre-Seed Round Investing For Black Founders. [Michael Berhane] Plus you can connect with Dom on social media
Brand new Techish! In this mini episode, hosts Michael and Abadesi talk all things money! • How to be a savvy saver• Why investing matters• Financial red flags, and more! Listen on Spotify or Apple podcast also. Watch On YouTube Extra reading: I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi [Amazon] Unshakeable: Your Guide to Financial Freedom by Tony Robbins [Amazon] The Money Ladder: A 3-step guide to make and grow your wealth by Franklin Asante aka @urbanfinancier (UK-centric) [Amazon] Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast episode represents the personal opinions
Brand new Techish! Hosts Abadesi and Michael dive into: Weaponized incompetence harms DEI Reflections on getting older Companies outsourcing jobs overseas Tips for new B2B founders Listen on Spotify or Apple podcast also. Watch On YouTube
Life and health insurance provider Globe Life and its subsidiaries, including American Income Life (AIL), are facing serious allegations of racial discrimination and harassment. A Business Insider investigation revealed evidence of racism from Globe’s Texas headquarters to its agencies nationwide. Racism Among Senior Managers Business Insider obtained screenshots that revealed senior managers at AIL exchanged racist, sexist, and transphobic texts between 2014 and 2019. Domenico Bertini, a former AIL vice president, sent a meme depicting a Black man in a mousetrap baited with Kentucky Fried Chicken. Other texts included the n-word and
