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amazon

Amazon has changed its company policy and a part of its website that gives employment information. According to The Washington Post, it has removed language that assures protection for Black and LGBTQ+ employees. The company also removed any language that supported laws addressing misconduct and racial bias in policing, initiatives to protect and expand voting rights, and initiatives to encourage better health and educational opportunities for Black people. In December 2024, Amazon withdrew any statements advocating for transgender rights protections along with showing “solidarity” with Black employees and customers. What sections has

Amazon is stepping up its efforts to close the digital divide with the launch of its AWS Education Equity Initiative, as first reported by Fortune. The program commits $100 million over the next five years to support underserved and underrepresented communities in accessing educational technology. Breaking Barriers With Cloud and AI The initiative, funded through AWS cloud credits, will help educational organizations create and expand digital learning opportunities.  Swami Sivasubramanian, AWS Vice President of AI and Data, emphasized to Fortune that AI is a transformative tool, likening its significance to

The District of Columbia is suing Amazon, alleging it halted its fastest delivery services in ZIP codes 20019 and 20020—two lower-income and predominantly Black areas—while continuing to charge Prime members for expedited shipping. Amazon Faces Allegations of Discrimination The lawsuit claims Amazon shifted from its in-house delivery fleet to third-party carriers like UPS and USPS in mid-2022, resulting in slower delivery times for residents. Attorney General Brian Schwalb stated that Amazon’s actions disproportionately impacted residents of Ward 7 and Ward 8, areas known for limited retail options and classified as

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

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

In St. Louis, GreaterHealth Pharmacy & Wellness is the Black-owned pharmacy addressing the issue of pharmacy deserts, using inspiration from Walgreens and Amazon. Free Delivery and Telehealth Services Dr. Marcus Howard founded GreaterHealth Pharmacy & Wellness, which provides various services, including free delivery of medications, over-the-counter products, and fresh produce.  The hybrid model mimics Amazon’s delivery efficiency and Walgreens’ pharmacy services. Additionally, the pharmacy offers telehealth services, such as medication education, health screenings, and coordination with other healthcare providers.  This approach ensures that residents receive timely and convenient care from their

Amazon-owned Ring will stop allowing police departments to request user doorbell camera footage without a warrant or subpoena following concerns over privacy and racial profiling. Ring’s police partnerships The Ring Doorbell Cam is a wire-free video doorbell that can be installed into people’s front doors and homes. Amazon acquired Ring in 2015 for a reported $1 billion. In 2019, Amazon Ring partnered with police departments nationwide through their Neighbors app. Police could access Ring’s Law Enforcement Neighborhood Portal, which allowed them to view a map of the cameras’ locations and directly

Black-owned fintech startup Conduiit has raised $1 million in pre-seed funding to save entertainment companies time and money by centralizing their production finance operations. Disrupting the production finance space Conduiit is the brainchild of former Amazon and Netflix employees Shawn Hamilton, CEO, and Jason Thurman. The New York and New Jersey-based tech company provides users with digital workflows, SaaS, and DaaS solutions. It also offers budgeting, scheduling, cost tracking, and cash flow management guidance at project and corporate levels. Hamilton worked as a production accountant at Amazon from 2015 to 2017 when

The Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation and Amazon have partnered to bring Native American and Indigenous teams together in Robotics. The REC Foundation The REC Foundation is a global organization dedicated to increasing student engagement in science, technology, engineering, math, and computer science (STEM). They engage students in hands-on, curriculum-based robotics and drone programs. The foundation empowers educators to inspire and equip students for success through comprehensive programs encompassing competitions, education, and workforce readiness. Now, partnering with Amazon, Indigitize, and Google, they are bringing Native American and Indigenous teams

Former Amazon manager Kayricka Wortham has been sentenced for stealing more than $9.4 million from the company. Wortham used the stolen funds to make several luxury purchases, including a million-dollar home, a Tesla, and a Lamborghini and had plans to open a hookah lounge. Seven other individuals have also been charged with the fraud scheme. What happened? According to US Attorney Ryan K Buchanan, Wortham abused her position at Amazon, submitting more than $10 million in fictitious invoices for fake vendors, leaving Amazon paying approximately $9.4 million to Wortham and

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