Jackson State University (JSU) has been awarded a $2 million grant from the Entergy Charitable Foundation to establish a Critical Power Grid Network Security Lab, designed to address the growing cybersecurity needs of the energy sector. This significant investment will support JSU’s commitment to training a diverse, skilled workforce capable of safeguarding critical infrastructure. The grant was formally announced during a ceremony on October 7, where JSU President Marcus Thompson, Ph.D., received the check from Entergy Mississippi President and CEO Haley Fisackerly. Advancing Cybersecurity in the Energy Sector The new
Global music icon Shakira has partnered with Amazon and Code.org, through her non-profit, Fundación Pies Descalzos, to expand computer science education for Hispanic students worldwide. The collaboration will help young people learn to code through an interactive music experience that uses Shakira’s Spanish-language hits and also provide computer science education training to teachers across Colombia. Learning to code through music Shakira has long worked to enhance educational opportunities for underserved communities in Latin America. In celebration of the partnership, Shakira has donated songs like “Amarillo” and “Chantaje” to Code.org’s Music
NBCUniversal and Group Black has launched ExcellencE!, a new content collection on Peacock, bringing thousands of hours of diverse, inclusive programming to the streaming platform. ExcellencE! – Black-Led And Cross-Cultural Content This partnership aims to highlight Black-led and cross-cultural content, making it a key destination for multicultural stories. Subscribers can now access ExcellencE!, which includes popular shows like Bel-Air, Martin, and The Real Housewives of Atlanta. NBCUniversal plans to expand the offering with additional original content in 2025. This launch is part of a broader initiative, expanding on the 2023
London-based fintech unicorn Zepz, formerly known as WorldRemit, has raised $267 million from new and existing investors to expand its global cross-border payments platform. Zepz’s fundraising round was led by Accel, with participation from Leapfrog, TCV, and Coller Capital, as first reported by Bloomberg. The International Financial Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, has also committed to invest up to $20 million. Zepz not disclose its valuation in this round but was valued at $5 billion after its $292 million Series E round in 2021. Simplifying Money Transfers
The rapid rise of AI is reshaping the workplace, and many Black and Latine professionals worry about falling behind. More than half (54%) feel overwhelmed by the pace of change, and 49% worry about being left behind as AI makes current skills obsolete, according to LinkedIn data shared with POCIT. LinkedIn Career Expert Andrew McCaskill says the solution isn’t to panic but to pivot, embracing continuous learning to stay competitive in this fast-evolving job market. AI: A New Opportunity, But With Risks While AI offers the potential for new job
Yamilée Toussaint, founder of STEM From Dance and an MIT-trained engineer, has been named a CNN Hero for her efforts to bridge the gap between young girls of color and STEM careers. Through her nonprofit, Toussaint combines dance and STEM education to inspire and equip the next generation of innovators, especially those who might not see themselves represented in these fields. “It’s an honor to be selected as a CNN Hero,” Toussaint said. “I’m proud of the work we do to connect girls of color with STEM in a joyful and
AMAKA Studio has successfully raised $2 million in seed funding, led by Equitane Ventures, with contributions from Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab, Silverbacks Holdings, and several angel investors. The social publishing platform is on a mission to empower Black and African creators to reach a global audience and earn through subscriptions and gigs. Fueling Growth and Innovation The funds will primarily support the expansion of AMAKA Gigs, a platform that connects Black and African creators with brands for commissioned work, streamlining the process and ensuring fair compensation. AMAKA also plans to
Africa’s push towards digital identity systems—promoted by the World Bank and UN agencies—has largely failed to deliver on its promises of democratization and development. A year-long investigation by Bloomberg and Lighthouse Reports has found that these systems have disproportionately benefited tech vendors instead of the public. The Push For Digital IDs Countries across Africa have implemented biometric data collection to establish national identity registries, aiming to fulfill the UN’s sustainable development goal of providing legal identity for all. However, in Uganda, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), digital
Everyone in my team is a person of color (POC). Before joining this company, I had unconsciously dimmed my ideas, opinions, and a huge part of myself. Working in an industry that’s 94% white, I’d absorbed the belief that stories about race and identity didn’t always need to be told— or perhaps I was making too big a deal of them. My all-POC team changed that for me. It set a new standard for what I expect from the workplace. Feeling Like I’m “Too Much” As a journalism student at
Propelle, a new investment platform tailored specifically for women, launched on September 25 with an ambitious aim: to close the UK’s gender wealth gap. The platform, founded by 40-year-old Ayesha Ofori, a former Goldman Sachs Executive Director, empowers women to invest confidently and build wealth. Closing The Gender Investment Gap During her six years at Goldman Sachs, Ofori managed over £500 million ($663 million) in client assets and saw firsthand how the investment world primarily benefited the wealthy—and predominantly men. With the UK’s gender investment gap currently standing at £1.65
