Bloomberg Philanthropies announced a $600 million gift to support the endowments of the nation’s four historically Black medical schools and the establishment of a new medical school in New Orleans. This gift is part of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Greenwood Initiative, an effort aimed at advancing racial wealth equity by addressing systemic underinvestment in Black institutions and communities. Strengthening Financial Stability and Institutional Capacity The $600 million donation is designed to increase the financial stability and institutional capacity of these historically Black medical schools which graduate around half of all Black doctors
Forbes has unveiled its annual 50 over 50 list, highlighting dynamic female leaders and entrepreneurs who have achieved significant success later in life. Let’s meet some Black women over 50 making moves in tech and proving that success has no age limit. Carlotta Berry – Founder of NoireSTEMinist Berry, 54, a robotics expert and engineering professor at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, founded NoireSTEMinist in 2020. The educational consulting firm promotes diversity in STEM through workshops and products. Berry also co-founded the Rose Building Undergraduate Diversity (ROSE-BUD) program, co-directs a
HealthyMD and IMG Health Clinic, have announced a merger aimed at enhancing health equity and providing high-quality sexual healthcare to over 50 million underserved individuals across the United States. HealthyMD and IMG Health Clinic Clifford W. Knights II and Steve Vixamar founded Independent Medical Group (IMG) to provide healthcare services to those in need and to stop the spread of HIV and Hep C in underserved communities. HealthyMD, their telehealth platform, offers comprehensive at-home tests, in-clinic, mobile clinic appointments, improving sexual healthcare access, particularly in Black and LGBTQIA+ communities. This
Uncover, a Kenyan data-driven skincare brand, has successfully closed a $1.4 million seed II funding round to accelerate the growth of its innovative tech platform, introduce new products, and expand its market presence. This round, co-led by EQ2 Ventures and IgniteXL Ventures, saw participation from notable investors such as Chui Ventures, Samata Capital, and Altree Capital. Driving Personalization Through Data Founded in 2021 by Sneha Mehta (CEO), Jade Oyateru (COO), and Catherine Lee, Uncover has distinguished itself in the beauty industry by focusing on the unique skin care needs of
Black Girl Sunscreen (BGS) has achieved remarkable success, earning $1.1 million in just three months on Amazon, according to AfroTech. A Vision Rooted in Necessity In 2016, Shontay Lundy created BGS, a 30 SPF lotion formulated for women of color. Recognizing this gap, she invested $33,000 of her own money to create a product that wouldn’t leave the notorious white residue on darker skin tones. Made with melanated skin in mind, BGS dries completely clear and protects melanin without the white-cast that normal skin care tends to leave, according to
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
Data workers are exposing the severity of exploitation in the tech and AI industry through the Data Workers’ Inquiry. As part of the community-based research project, 15 data workers joined the Distributed AI Research (DAIR) Institute as community researchers to lead their own inquiry in their respective workplaces. Funded by the Distributed Artificial Intelligence Research (DAIR) Institute, Weizenbaum Institute, and Technische Universität Berlin, the project sheds light on labor conditions and widespread practices in the AI industry. The Plight of African Content Moderators Fasica Berhane Gebrekidan, an ex-content moderator for
On July 6, 2024, Serena Williams discussed her journey in founding WYN Beauty at the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture, presented by Coca-Cola. Participating in Beautycon’s “Passion to Profit” panel series, Williams discussed her journey with the vegan makeup brand she launched this year. A Journey Rooted in Passion Williams shared that her interest in beauty began during her childhood in Compton, California. Inspired by her mother’s minimal yet impeccable approach to beauty, Williams developed a fascination with makeup. “You kind of had to be fabulous growing up in Compton,”
Pfizer has urged a US Court of Appeals to uphold a decision to dismiss a lawsuit from an anti-affirmative action group that challenged its diversity fellowship program. The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit dismissed Do No Harm’s lawsuit because the group failed to name at least one individual harmed by Pfizer’s program. The lawsuit against Pfizer The case involves Pfizer’s fellowship program aimed at recruiting and training Black, Latine, and Native American leaders. Do No Harm’s lawsuit claims the program violated federal civil rights laws. In March,
Every June, Pride Month celebrates LGBTQ+ communities worldwide and honors their contributions to society. It’s also a time to recognize the ongoing struggle for representation, equality, and acceptance. In the tech industry, the LGBTQ+ community is underrepresented, with only 11% identifying as LGBTQ+. A McKinsey and Co. report found that while Black people make up 12% of the US workforce, only 8% are in tech jobs, resulting in a relatively low number of Black LGBTQ+ individuals in tech. Despite these challenges, many Black LGBTQ+ people are paving the way for
