Escala, a CRM platform for Hispanic small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), has raised $12 million in its latest funding round. This milestone, led by IGNIA and Alaya Capital, marks a step in the company’s mission to empower Hispanic businesses in the United States and Latin America. High Alpha and other investors also participated in the round. Revolutionizing SMB Marketing and Sales Founded by renowned tech entrepreneur Andrés Moreno, also the founder of Open English, Escala offers a marketing and sales platform. The platform addresses critical challenges faced by Hispanic SMBs
SheerLuxe, a renowned UK lifestyle and fashion magazine, recently introduced Reem Bot, a woman of color AI-powered fashion and lifestyle editor, causing backlash. Presented as a new team member, Reem is designed to provide recommendations on fashion, beauty, travel, and more. However, the announcement was met with significant backlash, particularly regarding the ethical implications and the portrayal of Reem as a person of color. Public Reaction and Concerns The introduction of Reem Bot sparked controversy among SheerLuxe’s audience, which includes nearly half a million Instagram followers. “We’re thrilled to introduce
Eventnoire, a trailblazing event management platform and media hub, has announced a strategic partnership with Pronghorn, an industry disruptor backed by Diageo. This collaboration aims to bolster Eventnoire’s growth and enhance its platform, solidifying its position as a leader in cultural event management and inclusivity. A New Era of Inclusive Cultural Experiences Eventnoire has distinguished itself by connecting consumers and brands with cultural experiences that celebrate diversity. With over 10,000 venues and event organizers, and a community nearing 400,000 influencers across North America and Africa, Eventnoire is growing in the
Luther C. McClellan, a member of the Memphis State Eight and the first Black graduate of the institution has passed away at the age of 83. A Historic Achievement McClellan made history in 1962 when he became the first African American to graduate from Memphis State University, now known as the University of Memphis. He was part of the Memphis State Eight, a group of African American students who integrated the university in 1959. This group included Rose Blakney-Love, Eleanor Gandy, Sammie Johnson, Marvis Kneeland Jones, Bertha Rogers Looney, Ralph
Stand with Asian Americans (SwAA), the nation’s premier civil rights organization dedicated to combating anti-Asian workplace discrimination, has introduced its Workplace Justice Fund. The fund aims to provide legal support and resources for Asians in America facing workplace discrimination. The Workplace Justice Fund The Workplace Justice Fund aims to raise $1 million by year-end, having already secured $100,000 from anonymous donors. This initiative arrives at a crucial moment, with recent studies indicating that Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) employees are considering lawsuits at higher rates than other employees of
Biases in current voice technologies for non-white users has the potential to cause lower self esteem, psychological and physical harm researchers have found. In a new study published in the Proceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, HCII Ph.D. student Kimi Wenzel and Associate Professor Geoff Kaufamn identified six downstream harms caused by voice assistant errors. The pair also devised strategies to reduce them in their work which won a Best Paper award at the Association for Computing Machinery’s Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems.
NASA has made history by transmitting the lyrics of Missy Elliott’s iconic song, “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),” to Venus. This event marks the first time a hip-hop song has been beamed into space. A Hip-Hop Song In Space On July 12 at 10:05 a.m. PDT, the lyrics were sent from NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN) Goldstone complex in California. The DSN, known for its large and sensitive array of radio antennas, facilitates deep-space communication, supporting missions from the Moon to far-reaching planets. The transmission traveled approximately 158 million miles (254
NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston will honor Black mathematician Dorothy Vaughan and the women of Apollo with events on the eve of the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing. The highlight will be the renaming and ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 19 to dedicate Building 12 as the “Dorothy Vaughan Center in Honor of the Women of Apollo.” The Legacy Of Dorothy Vaughan Vaughan, a pioneering mathematician, human computer, and NASA’s first Black manager, will be remembered for her groundbreaking work and leadership. She headed the National Advisory
The Mall of America is facing backlash following the implementation of its new facial recognition technology. The use of the technology has raised privacy concerns among lawmakers, civil liberties advocates, and the general public. Concerns Over Privacy and Misuse Minnesota State Senators Eric Lucero (Republican) and Omar Fateh (Democrat) have united in urging the Mall of America to halt its facial recognition operations. “Public policy concerns surrounding privacy rights and facial recognition technologies have yet to be resolved, including the high risks of abuse, data breaches, identity theft, liability and
Microsoft’s recent decision to lay off its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) team due to “changing business needs” has stirred controversy within the company, Business Insider reports. Internal Email Criticizes Microsoft’s Commitment A prominent leader from the DEI team, whose identity has been confirmed by Business Insider, sent an email to thousands of Microsoft employees. The email criticized the company for deeming DEI work “no longer business critical or smart” as it was perceived in 2020. This message resonated strongly across the organization, reflecting a sense of betrayal among employees
