In its fourth grant cycle, the Commemoration Fund has selected 32 grantees funds ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 to help mitigate racial inequalities. The Commemoration Fund, founded in 2020, supports efforts to correct social, political and economic injustices that impact Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and people of color in the community. Their funds address disparities rooted in white supremacy and systemic racism with sustainable, collaborative solutions. “The Commemoration Fund is uniquely situated to stimulate the transformative work necessary to address race-based inequities,” said Hannibal B. Johnson, board chair. “Through our strategic investments,
During a recent speech at the Milken Institute Global Conference, Governor Kathy Hochul of New York faced backlash after making controversial comments that that Black children in the Bronx don’t know what a computer is. A misstep at the Milken Conference Governor Hochul made the remarks while discussing her new AI initiative aimed at enhancing technological access in low-income areas. “Right now, we have young Black kids growing up in the Bronx who don’t even know what the word computer is,” she said. “They don’t know, they don’t know these things.” This
Ronald Yancey, an engineer and the first Black graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, presented his granddaughter Deanna Yancey with her master’s degree from the same institution nearly six decades later. Deanna Yancey recently received her master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering. A Legacy of Courage and Determination Ronald’s journey to Georgia Tech was marked by resilience. The school initially rejected him, leaving him to attend Morehouse College, where he majored in math and physics. Despite the absence of an engineering program at Morehouse, his determination did not waver. He
Backpack Healthcare, an online pediatric mental healthcare provider, has announced a $14 million Series A funding round. Backpack Healthcare Backpack Healthcare, formerly Youme Healthcare, is a tech company that offers an app and teletherapy services designed to provide accessible and inclusive mental health support for young individuals. Led by founder and CEO Hafeezah Muhammad, Backpack Healthcare aims to make a positive impact on the lives of children and adolescents struggling with mental health challenges. With studies finding that 1 in 6 children have a mental, emotional or behavioural health disorder, along with more than
Pinky Cole Hayes, renowned for her ventures Slutty Vegan and Bar Vegan, has gifted the 2024 graduating class of Savannah State University a $8.75 million “Entrepreneurial Starter Pack.” The initiative is designed to equip graduates with the essential tools and resources for their entrepreneurial journeys. The gift, which is a collaboration with Operation HOPE and One Million Black Businesses (1MBB), includes a range of resources to nurture and scale Black-owned businesses. During her speech to the graduates, Cole Hayes, a 2023 TIME 100 Next honoree, outlined the components of the entrepreneurial package. Comprehensive Support For Aspiring Business
A national program, The Hidden Genius Project, teaches technology and entrepreneurship to young Black men in Chicago and around the US. The Hidden Genius Project The project was founded in 2012 by five Black male entrepreneurs and technologists who had noticed the high unemployment of Black male youth and the large number of careers in tech. To address the challenge, they created a program to connect young Black males with the skills, mentors and experiences needed to become high-performing entrepreneurs and technologists. “The hidden genius project trains and mentors Black male youth in
HyperionDev, a leading South African startup, has raised R95 million (approximately $5 million) to expand tech education. This latest financial infusion is part of a broader R595 million ($31.1 million) investment to accelerate the company’s expansion within South Africa and internationally, particularly in the United Kingdom. Strategic Expansion and Educational Innovation With the new capital, HyperionDev plans to broaden its reach by entering new markets and increasing tech education accessibility across its platforms. A portion of the funds will also support the expansion of the HyperionDev Academy and its scholarship programs. “This
PROPEL has announced the establishment of the PROPEL HBCU Cybersecurity Consortium (HCC), in partnership with Southern Company, Led by Dr Lisa Herring, the former superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, PROPEL is a first-of-its-kind innovation hub for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Strengthening Industry-Academia Collaboration PROPEL’s new HCC incorporates four key elements: a resource hub, professional development programs, accelerated learning opportunities, and a workforce pipeline. By providing HBCU students and faculty with access to the latest industry trends, technologies, and real-world projects, the consortium aims to create an educational environment that
Leading software company Sage has contributed $100,000 to Morehouse College, supporting a new course for the next generation of Black tech entrepreneurs. Cultivating Future Leaders through Micropreneurship Morehouse College, the nation’s only historically Black liberal arts institution for men, and Sage have joined together to address the underrepresentation of Black professionals in technology. With only 8% of tech workers and 3% of executives being Black, this new course will commence in Fall 2024 to help change the statistics. The 15-week Micropreneurship course, funded by a $100,000 donation from Sage, is designed to immerse students in
MyFiLi is a new AI-powered edtech platform designed to transform how families, schools, and nonprofits engage with financial literacy. The Urgent Need for Financial Literacy Currently, consumer credit card debt in the U.S. has hit an all-time high of $1.79 trillion, and savings account balances average just $4,521. MyFiLi.com addresses this gap by providing tools and knowledge that help users navigate the complex nature of financial management. According to BlackNews, Founder and CEO Joseph Green‘s mission is to empower everyone to develop a healthy relationship with money. “By making financial literacy education accessible,
