Black Financial Expert Reveals Game-Changing Blueprint For Money Management and Financial Freedom
A recent survey conducted by Capital One’s Mind Over Money found that 77% of Americans are anxious about their financial situation. The money anxieties were related to managing debt levels, keeping abreast with the cost of living, and not having enough money for retirement. Hailed as the No-fluff Guide to Complete Financial Management, #MoneyChat is a comprehensive resource designed to help readers break the cycle of debt, fear, and limitation regardless of their income.
Drawing from her years of financial expertise, client case studies, and her own experiences, Kelly approaches tough conversations on money using easy-to-understand financial terminology – laced with a dose of humor. Readers will be empowered with simple strategies to eliminate student loans, increase their credit score, map out a realistic budget, and more to fuel their journey to financial freedom.
But that’s not all. Far from the average personal finance book, #MoneyChat includes information and strategies on everything from how to get out of debt to navigating gambling issues. To reinforce the lessons taught in the book, Kelly includes easy assignments and a money mantra at the end of each chapter.
Kelly shares her journey and motivation for writing the book: “There was a time when I would tearfully pray for a miracle in my money.” She continues, “I didn’t grow up learning about money, except about being broke. So, once I mastered the art of money management, I wanted to create a resource that would simplify financial terminologies for people who haven’t had anybody talk about money and equip them with the tactics to tackle their money problems.”
#MoneyChat launched on April 18th during financial literacy month. Everyone who orders the book will be rewarded with exciting bonuses such as credit hacks to improve their credit score in 30 days, a #MoneyChat Book Club guide featuring video snippets on each chapter, #Money Mantras to transform money mindsets, and more.
#MoneyChat is available in paperback, hardcover, eBook, and audiobook formats. For further information or to order the book, visit MoneyChatBook.com
For bulk order inquiries, please see contact information.
Delaware Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester Announces Senate Run
Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) is running for the Senate, potentially becoming the third Black woman to serve in the Chamber.
Rochester made the announcement Wednesday morning on Twitter with a video of her at the Bright Hope Baptist Church in Philadelphia, where she lived until her family moved to Delaware when she was seven.
I’m running to represent Delaware in the United States Senate.
I’m filled with Bright Hope for our future. But a more perfect union isn’t a destination. It’s a journey. Let’s go on it together.
— Lisa Blunt Rochester (@LisaBRochester) June 21, 2023
“It’s been the greatest honor of my life to represent Delaware,” Rochester said in her announcement video. “To represent our seniors, our environment, our small businesses, and women’s reproductive rights, but we’ve got so much more to do.”
Blunt Rochester, 61, who joined the House in 2017 and was the first woman and person of color to represent Delaware in Congress, is running to succeed Sen. Tom Carper, who said in May he would retire after four terms in the Senate.
Carper endorsed Blunt Rochester during his retirement announcement. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told Politico in May he believed the congresswoman would make a good senator.
In the video, Blunt Rochester also talked about her late husband, Charles Rochester, who died in 2014.
“It literally took 30 years before I even ran for Congress. And I did that after the unexpected death of my husband,” Blunt Rochester said. “And I ran even though I had never run for anything, as a widow, over 50, Black, woman, and we made history.”
Despite Delaware, the home state of President Joe Biden, being a Democratic stronghold, Blunt Rochester said she plans to campaign aggressively. According to Politico, left-wing strategists and elected officials don’t necessarily consider her one of their own, but are comfortable with Blunt Rochester, who they believe is far more liberal than Carper and a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus
The University of Delaware alumna is one of several Black women who are eyeing Senate seats in next year’s election.
Wayfair To ‘Homethreads,’ Antoine Grant Is The Man Behind $30M Black-Owned Furniture Brand
A former general manager for an online home marketplace giant acquired a $30 million furniture company.
CEO of Homethreads and former Wayfair corporate employee Antoine Grant believes he can grow the multimillion-dollar online home furniture store to a multibillion-dollar platform. In an interview with Gravy, Grant said there is a big market for home furniture. Grant commented on the growth potential of Homethreads, “This particular platform that we have, I honestly think it’s a multibillion-dollar platform.”
He told Gravy, “Most recently, I purchased a company in the home furnishing, home decor, and home improvement space.” He said about the transaction, “It’s combined a lot of passions that I’ve had over the last almost 40 years … It’s combined a lot of the work that I did as a strategy consultant.”
According to AfroTech, Homethreads brought in $30 million in revenue as of June 13, 2023. “There has been a lot of inputs that led to this point,” Grant further stated in the video interview. Grant reflected on his skillset in his journey and said, “It took years for me to get to that realization of looking into the mirror and saying, ‘Okay, this is what you’re actually good at.'” He added, “‘This is what you’ve been prepared to do. Go and take advantage of this opportunity, which matches your skill set and relationships.'”
The Los Angeles native said his path to entrepreneurship was shaped at an early age and that he had created side companies throughout his schooling from elementary to college. After college, Grant worked as a consultant advising and investing in technology companies and “on the side of business and product development.”
Before making the big venture, Grant also worked as a general manager at Wayfair. He said, “That was when I really went from being an internal strategist or part of a machine to really turning the dia; being able to see what happens interacting with customers and suppliers.”
Grant attended the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and continues to reach new heights throughout his storied career.
5 Florida Students As Young As 13 Graduate From Prep School With 50 College Credits
The future is looking bright for these young Icon Preparatory School high school scholars.
Keniah Washington, Keyanna Grant, Miracle Butler, Tyreek Nash, and Kaitlyn Archie-McDonald recently graduated from Icon Preparatory School in Tampa, Florida, and are well on their way to success. The San Bernardino American Newspaper reports that all five students graduated with GPAs over 3.5 and already have 50 college credits under their belt. The youngest of the group are Washington, 13, and Grant, 14, who began taking college courses at the tender age of 12.
Icon Preparatory School is a Black-owned private school with campuses in Tampa and Jacksonville and over 800 students. The school is open to any student in the state who is committed to their studies as they believe a child’s zip code shouldn’t determine the level of education. Icon Prep “empowers its students to reach their maximum potential preparing them for life in college and beyond,” according to its website.
The next step for the overachieving students is securing their associate’s degree from Saint Leo University. Then, Washington, Grant, Butler, Nash, and Archie-McDonald hope to transfer to a four-year university as juniors to complete their bachelor’s degrees. Some schools they have in mind include HBCUs such as Howard University, Clark Atlanta, and Florida A&M University, where Icon Prep founders are alumni.
Dr. Dwayne Raiford, Lolita Jackson, Maurice Green, Monique Mills, Justin Smith, and Yuri Higgins founded Icon in 2018, and five of the founders are Rattlers, the mascot of FAMU. According to Black News, nearly 40% of Icon Prep’s staff are African American males compared to only 2% nationally. The school prides itself on providing students with exposure to strong role models and mentors and establishing character development which has been key to Icon Prep’s success.
The school is expanding beyond Florida and plans to open a campus in Cleveland during the 2023 fall semester.
Rick Ross Drops $30K To Help Free Healthcare Clinic From Shutting Down
The generosity of rapper Rick Ross does not go without notice. His latest philanthropic endeavor includes a $30,000 donation to help prevent the closure of a Fayette County clinic.
According to WSB-TV, Ross presented the Fayette C.A.R.E. Clinic with a check to ensure the doors stay open and to provide free medical care for residents 18 and older.
“A clinic like this means a lot to me. I lost my father at an early age, and I felt like one of the reasons I lost him so early is because of his lack of healthcare,” Ross said.
After giving the check to the free clinic, Geneva Weaver, executive director of Fayette C.A.R.E. Clinic, thanked the Maybach Music Group executive. “Thank you very much for your donation of the $30,179,” she said.
Before Ross stepped up to cut a check, Fayette C.A.R.E. had previously raised $19,000 of its $50,000 goal.
People who visit the clinic generally don’t have insurance and come from underserved areas. The clinic provides medical care and allows people to see a medical professional and receive preventative care and medications they can’t afford.
“The patients that come to this clinic, all of them, their income level is 200% below the poverty level. The national poverty level,” Weaver said.
This may not be the last time Ross lends a helping hand to the free clinic as he pledged his support to continue providing financial resources if needed.
“I look forward to continuing to help out as much as possible. I consider you family, friends, and of course, neighbors,” Ross said. The multifaceted entrepreneur had previously stated his love for Fayette County when he said he intended to run for mayor in 2024.
Since the beginning of his career, the Miami native has always made it his mission to give back, whether through Habitat for Humanity or by providing scholarships to students from his former high school.
Gen Z Taking Classes On Workplace Etiquette Due To Lack Of Soft Skills, Experts Say
The COVID-19 pandemic changed everything when it put the entire world at a standstill. Students who were in college or graduating high school were thrust into a virtual learning environment for the first time in history.
And now, findings reveal that Generation Z might be lacking in soft skills due to completing most of their college coursework virtually.
As these graduates prepare to enter the workforce, experts say they’re struggling with the basics of how to send an email or dress in an office setting. As a result, a growing number of companies and universities have started offering soft skill classes to new grads, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Major companies and corporations like KPMG, Deloitte, and TwC have started offering new hires training on how to have conversations in person, the appropriate level of eye contact, and pauses to make in a conversation, as noted by Financial Times. Executives at the consulting company Protiviti say they expanded new hire training since the pandemic and have had to remind new graduates that they should not wear ripped jeans to the workplace.
Some training courses teach new hires how to pause after introducing themselves in order to give time for the other person to speak, and how to detect signs that the other person wants to end the conversation.
While it’s normal for new generations entering the workplace to face unfamiliar hurdles, experts believe Gen Z needs more introductory training than previous graduates.
“It’s things like understanding norms, values, and etiquette: Who should you call? How should they be contacted? Are some people out of bounds?” Helen Hughes, associate professor at Leeds University Business School, told the BBC in April.
According to Meta leader Mark Zuckerberg, employees who joined in person performed better on the job than those who joined remotely. Now Meta staffers are required to come into the office at least three days a week. Zuckerberg and other CEOs believe younger workers would greatly benefit from spending more time in the workplace.
Tory Lanez’s Ex-Lawyer Denies Attempted ‘Bribe’ With Megan Thee Stallion’s Former Friend
Amid Tory Lanez’s imprisonment for shooting Megan Thee Stallion, more details are surfacing that reveal how low the rapper-singer was allegedly willing to go to clear his name.
Newly unveiled documents from the Tory Lanez trial reveal why his former lawyer, Shawn Holley, withdrew from the case. According to Legal Affairs and Trials, Holley decided to exit stage left after the Toronto rapper tried to use the “Kelsie defense” that would name Megan’s former best friend, Kelsey Harris, as the shooter.
The “Say It” singer was attempting to free himself from charges that he shot Megan in the Hollywood Hills in 2020 by convincing jurors it was really Harris who fired the rounds. Lanez allegedly wanted jurors to believe that Megan and Harris got into a fight over their shared romantic interest in Lanez.
Once Holley saw that was the route Lanez was trying to take, she sent an email telling him she wouldn’t be able to continue with that line of defense.
“As we discussed on Saturday, I am not comfortable advancing the ‘Kelsie Defense’, primarily because I don’t find it to be a viable strategy,” Holley wrote in aN email.
Holley said she wouldn’t change her mind unless Lanez and his driver, Jaquan Smith, were both “persuasive in the preview of his testimony and you are persuasive under mock cross-examination.” Even if they were, however, Holley was still “not certain that I would be willing to go forward.”
After Lanez hired new lawyers Matthew Barhoma and Jose Baez, they argued that Holley withdrew because she’d been helping Lanez try to bribe Harris as a witness. Barhoma and Baez cited an email Holley sent on December 18, 2022, stoking allegations Harris made that Holley “was somehow involved in facilitating an arrangement between you and she whereby you would finance her business (or something like that) in order to curry favor with her, thereby aligning your and her interests as far as the case was concerned.”
“You and I both know that this never happened,” Holley wrote.
She continued: “In any event, the fact that these false allegations have been made about me — and that they are now evidence in the case — makes it a conflict (as an ethical/legal matter) for me to continue to represent you and, as a result, I am obligated to withdraw as your attorney.”
Later that month, a jury deliberated for seven hours before finding Lanez guilty of first-degree assault, discharge of a firearm with gross negligence, and having a concealed and unregistered firearm in a vehicle. The rapper is still awaiting his sentencing, which was pushed back to August. Prosecutors reportedly want him to serve a minimum of 13 years, as noted by Forbes.
Advancing Health Equity: Deloitte Launches ‘Illustrate Change’ Medical Illustration Library
Deloitte is proud to announce the launch of “Illustrate Change,” a project that seeks to build momentum around representation in medical illustrations and reduce health disparities among people of color, in collaboration with Johnson & Johnson. With its launch, Illustrate Change will immediately make available 25 diverse medical illustrations. The illustrations showcase the work and unique vision of Chidiebere Ibe. Ibe’s impactful Black fetus-in-womb illustration sparked a global conversation about representation in medical images in 2022. His work, alongside that of many other noteworthy medical illustrators, inspired this collaborative effort. Illustrate Change aims to build the largest library of diverse medical illustrations and demonstrates a commitment to address the lack of representation in medical imagery.
“The launch of Illustrate Change marks a step forward toward a more representative medical education system. Illustrations are an important visual tool used in both medical and patient education,” said Chidiebere Ibe, chief medical Illustrator of Illustrate Change. “I’m proud my illustrations will play a vital role in continuing to raise awareness of gaps in the representation of medical images. Closing these gaps helps avoid implicit bias within healthcare settings and increases awareness of how conditions present on different skin tones, which could have very critical implications for health outcomes. I hope these images inspire future generations of medical illustrators.”
Currently, less than 5% of medical images show dark skin. Only 8% of medical illustrators identify as people of color. The Illustrate Change digital library, made possible by a grant from the Johnson & Johnson ‘Our Race to Health Equity’ commitment, will house a collection of diverse medical illustrations across a range of health conditions. The library will continue to grow and evolve, reflecting a more representative patient population. The initial 25 images will represent 23 conditions across dermatology, maternal health, eye disease, oncology, general health, orthopedics, and hematology.
The Deloitte Health Equity Institute, in collaboration with Deloitte Digital, played a crucial role in helping to bring Illustrate Change to life. Inspired by the power of illustrations such as Chidiebere Ibe’s Black fetus in-womb, the Deloitte Digital team saw the need for a digital library that would increase diversity in the world of medical illustrations. Driven by the movement, the team connected the Deloitte Health Equity Institute and Johnson & Johnson with the proposal and led the development of the digital library. Healthcare leaders within the Deloitte Health Equity Institute shaped the strategic direction of the program, led cross-sector collaboration, and facilitated the medical review process alongside Johnson & Johnson.
“Illustrate Change is essential in addressing health disparities and achieving health equity. By increasing diversity in medical illustrations, we can help improve medical education, reduce bias, and ultimately provide better, safer, and higher quality care for everyone,” said Dr. Jay Bhatt, managing director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions and Deloitte Health Equity Institute. “Deloitte is proud to be part of this much needed movement and to contribute our unique expertise across creativity, healthcare, and digital innovation.”
To further support the mission of Illustrate Change, Johnson & Johnson has engaged the Association of Medical Illustrators (AMI) to offer the AMI Diversity Fellowship. This fellowship program will nurture the training and education of 10 medical artists, encouraging them to create 100 new medical illustrations featuring patients of color over the next year.
“The lack of representation in medical imagery is an issue that directly impacts communities of color and their relationship with the healthcare system. This can lead to feelings of not being seen, and continue potential mistrust among communities of color,” said Vanessa Broadhurst, executive vice president of Global Corporate Affairs for Johnson & Johnson. “The AMI Diversity Fellowship is a unique component of Johnson & Johnson’s commitment to addressing racial biases in medicine, increasing representation in healthcare, and promoting health equity so that all communities can thrive.”
“Nurturing the training and education of medical artists from diverse backgrounds will naturally result in healthcare visuals that more accurately reflect the diverse patient population,” said Jill Gregory, president of the Association of Medical Illustrators. “Over time the Fellowship will endeavor to bring greater visibility to issues of health equity and increase the pipeline of medical and scientific illustrators from under-represented communities of color. This fellowship can not only amplify the voices of underrepresented communities but also contribute to the promotion of health equity and improved patient care.”
The Deloitte Health Equity Institute was established because of the stark inequities illuminated by COVID-19 and businesses had to lean in with other stakeholders to advance health equity as a moral and economic imperative. DHEI is addressing disparities in the drivers of health, racism/bias, and structural flaws in the health system. DHEI is focused on investing in programs to directly improve people’s lives, drive new approaches and tools to advance health equity, and activate key decision makers to help ensure that our health ecosystem is advancing health equity as an imperative. By advancing health equity, Deloitte aims to help everyone achieve their full potential in health and well-being, fostering a more equitable society.
Harry Belafonte Honored By New York State Legislature In Official Tribute
The State of New York’s Senate and Assembly gathered on June 7 to officially honor the entertainment icon and civil rights leader Harry Belafonte, who passed away in late April.
The EGOT winner’s legacy on screen and in music, as well as his advocacy for justice during the Civil Rights Movement, was commemorated by the legislature as his contributions on behalf of New York are everlasting.
The Senate Resolution 861 detailed the reasoning for the ceremony as a way “to honor and pay tribute to those musical geniuses whose commitment and creative talents contributed to the entertainment and cultural enrichment of their community and the entire state of New York.”
Born in Harlem in 1927, The “King of Calypso” held a tremendous impact on the Empire state and the nation overall, utilizing his voice beyond its singing and acting capabilities as a platform to champion human rights causes.
A friend and close confidante of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and later Nelson Mandela, Belafonte helped organize the 1963 March on Washington and substantially supported the anti-apartheid movement. His activism continued on throughout his life, financially contributing to women’s right causes, climate change awareness efforts, and African nations’ upliftment. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2022 Inductee pioneered a wave of celebrity activists known equally for their justice initiatives as their work in the arts.
The Belafonte resolution, sponsored by Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, was introduced to the floor by co-sponsor and Senator representing Harlem, Cordell Cleare.
“Harry Belafonte, a true icon and advocate for social justice, has impacted the world through his music, activism, and unwavering commitment to equality,” shared the Senator during the tribute.
“His voice has resonated across generations, inspiring us to confront injustice and work towards a better future. As a beloved figure with deep ties to Harlem, we gather today to honor Harry Belafonte and embrace continuing his legacy of using art and activism to uplift the marginalized and fight for a more just society. May his influence forever guide us in our pursuit of a more equitable and compassionate world.”
Witnesses to the Legislature ceremony in Belafonte’s honor were his former spokesperson, Ken Sunshine, and Voza Rivers, founder of Harlem’s New Heritage Theatre Group.
Disney’s Black Diversity Chief Latondra Newton Leaves Firm
Disney’s chief diversity officer and senior vice president, Latondra Newton, is leaving her role after more than six years, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.
Newton plans to join the corporate board of another company and focus on the creative company she owns, the source added.
Newton’s direct reports will be led by Julie Merges, the senior vice president of talent acquisition, on an interim basis, an internal note from Disney’s chief human resources officer, Sonia Coleman, showed.
Newton had, since 2017, led Disney’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, coordinating with various teams to produce entertainment “that reflects a global audience and sustains a welcoming and inclusive workplace for everyone,” as per a profile on the company’s website.
Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” released last month, featured Black American singer Halle Bailey as Princess Ariel, highlighting the firm’s effort at promoting diversity.
Disney didn’t immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Variety previously reported on Newton’s departure saying “In her role as head of DEI operations at Disney, Newton was charged with overseeing the company’s “commitment to produce entertainment that reflects a global audience and sustains a welcoming and inclusive workplace for everyone.”
(Reporting by Kanjyik Ghosh and Lavanya Sushil Ahire in Bengaluru; Editing by Dhanya Ann Thoppil)
