by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 21, 2024

Grandmother Graduates From Clark Atlanta 32 Years After Leaving High School

Ebony Chappel has defied the odds by graduating from college over 30 years after she left high school to work full time.

The 48-year-old matriarch with three children and six grandchildren isn’t like most students in her graduating class. But thanks to her desire to fulfill a dream she set for herself 30 years ago, Chappel pushed herself to attend college and obtain a degree that furthers her entrepreneurial endeavors.

She told WABE that films like “School Daze” and shows like “A Different World” helped introduce her to college life.

“I wanted to go to that exact school. Not knowing that they were a made-up school,” Chappel said of her desire to attend one of the fictionary colleges in the film and shows she watched on television.

Once she learned the fictional colleges were designed after Clark Atlanta University, Chappel was set on attending the historically Black college or university (HBCU). She initially had aspirations of becoming a teacher and studying education in college. However, she became a young mother at 17 and left school to work full-time and support her family. She wouldn’t obtain her General Educational Development (GED) until 2019, 27 years after dropping out of high school.

“I was a young mother. I’ve been an entrepreneur all my life,” Chappel explained. “I actually dropped out of school at 17 in the 11th grade to work.”

She did try to attend beauty school, but work took over as she needed money to provide for her family. Chappel maintained a goal of returning to school to obtain her college degree and hoped to do so before her children graduated college.

“I said, ‘I can’t keep telling them, and I haven’t done it,'” Chappel recalls telling herself.

However, Chappel kept pushing back her dream to return to school to work and care for her family. When her youngest child was preparing to graduate high school and embark on college, her daughter’s college advisor helped Chappel get the boost she needed to obtain her GED.

Five years after overcoming challenges to earn her GED “earlier than expected,” she’s fulfilled a dream by attending her dream college and graduating with a bachelor’s in fashion design.

It comes after decades of practicing her design skills by making clothes for herself and her children. Chappel didn’t even think attending an HBCU with a GED was up her alley.

A television commercial on BET inspired her to apply to Clark Atlanta for a fashion degree. Just two weeks after applying, she received an acceptance letter from the school. She joins CAU’s graduating class of 2024.

When it comes to advice for anyone struggling with the idea of going back to school, Chappel stresses the importance of moving past any doubts or fears.

“I am a living witness that it’s not too late,” she says. “I will be 49 in September and I’ll be starting my masters.”

Chappel continued. “Never stop dreaming. Never stop believing. Even though time has come and gone, as long as you’re still here, there’s still time for you to do what you would like to do.”

by Stacy Jackson

May 20, 2024

Rep. Shontel Brown Introduces U-FIGHT Act To Combat Uterine Fibroid

The Democrat revealed her personal battle with uterine fibroids was painful, causing her to opt for a hysterectomy.

U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown has taken a deeply personal stride in advocating for improved gynecological health by introducing the U-FIGHT Act: The Uterine Fibroid Intervention and Gynecological Health and Treatment Act.

During a May 16 announcement, the Warrensville Heights Democrat opened up about her own battle with uterine fibroids, describing the experience as “having an uninvited guest take over your body, month after month, for years.” According to Cleveland.com, Brown shed light on the debilitating effects, stating the condition presented painful and messy menstrual mishaps that took a mental toll on her and prompted her decision for a hysterectomy.

Her candid testimony underscored the urgency behind the proposed legislation. The U-FIGHT Act aims to empower the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants focused on early detection and intervention for uterine fibroids, educational awareness programs, and critical research efforts. Additionally, the grants would further address issues including pain control, management, and conditions like Asherman’s syndrome, a condition characterized by uterine scar tissue buildup following surgery.

Brown emphasized the profound impact fibroids can have, particularly on Black women, stating, “Too many women delay medical care or are denied full treatment and care because they don’t know that the symptoms they’re suffering through aren’t normal.”

The legislation has garnered endorsements from a diverse array of organizations, including The White Dress Project, The Fibroid Foundation, Black Health Matters, Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Birthing Beautiful Communities, and major healthcare centers like the University Hospitals, Cleveland Clinic, and MetroHealth.

“We look forward to working with Congresswoman Brown to advance legislation that would expand access to early screenings and detection methods for uterine fibrosis, a debilitating condition that impacts millions of women, especially women of color,” said MetroHealth President & CEO Airica Steed. “Together, we can create a healthier community for every woman.”

While the U-FIGHT Act currently has 50 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives, all Democrats, Brown remains committed to garnering bipartisan backing and introducing companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.

by Stacy Jackson

May 20, 2024

Spelman College Graduation Celebrates Black Female Excellence At Its Finest

Over 500 Spelman graduates received their degrees alongside honorary degree awardees, Ketanji Brown Jackson and Angela Bassett.

A momentous occasion unfolded on Sunday as the Spelman College class of 2024 crossed the graduation stage, basking in the radiance of Black female excellence.

Two esteemed trailblazers graced the ceremony: Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman appointed to the nation’s highest court, and Emmy Award-winning actress Angela Bassett. The duo received honorary degrees, with Bassett bestowed a Doctor of Fine Arts and Brown Jackson a Doctor of Laws, according to The Atlanta Voice. Accolades also extended to WABE personality and “Closer Look” host Rose Scott, who received the National Community Service Award, a distinguished recognition by the Spelman College Board of Trustees.

Dean of Chapel, Rev. Dr. Neichelle Guidry’s prayer reminded the graduates that this pivotal juncture was a moment to honor God.

Bassett, who served as the commencement speaker, urged the over 500 new alumni “to decide what your contributions to this planet will be.” WSBTV reported that the “Black Panther” actress expressed immense pride in addressing the “mecca of Black excellence and Black womanhood,” referring to Spelman as “the higher education equivalent of Wakanda.”

Bassett’s words resonated deeply as students self-confirmed, “I am a Spelman woman.” The graduates were challenged to contemplate how they would push humanity forward and ensure equity and equality for future generations. She drew inspiration from her Oscar speech, recounting the trailblazing path of Hattie McDaniel, the first Black actress to win an Academy Award for her role in “Gone with the Wind.” Basset stated, “The world today recognizes and pays tribute to those who have given their best regardless of creed, race, or color.”

The ceremony celebrated the graduates’ achievements and highlighted their boundless potential. As a video showcased, many are headed toward master’s and doctoral programs, securing coveted jobs and internships.

by Sharelle B. McNair

May 20, 2024

Minnesota AG Sues Real Estate Broker For Alleged Contract-For-Deed Deals Targeting Muslim Home Buyers

The suit filed by Minnesota's Attorney General Keith Ellison claims Chadwick Banken violated state and federal laws, including a state law against religious discrimination.

Minnesota’s Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a lawsuit against a real estate broker that was allegedly targeting a popular Muslim community with contract-for-deed real estate deals.

In the suit filed on May 14 in Hennepin County district court, Ellison’s office claims Chadwick Banken and his six limited liability corporations violated state and federal laws, including a state law against religious discrimination. He is accused of using the transaction type to sell homes at higher prices than valued and issuing worse terms to Muslim buyers. Authorities described the practice as “predatory and deceptive” and Ellison said Banken isn’t the only one issuing contract-for-deed deals.

However, the lawsuit is about sending a message to others. “He’s not the only one, but he’s one of the worst that I’ve seen,” Ellison said. “When people can’t pay back, they’re out of their house, and they’re out of their money. I can’t think of anything more financially devastating to a family than that.”

An investigation into the deals started in 2022 after a rise in contract-for-deed home sales, particularly in the Somali community. Buyers would avoid paying or profiting from interest due to their religious principles, and investors would offer deals as an “interest-free” opportunity to purchase a house. But victims said they signed contracts knowing they didn’t exactly understand, and wouldn’t be able to pay the loans off.

The suit claimed Banken would use inflated home prices, higher-than-normal down payments, and six-figure balloon payments due at the end of short contracts as a way to push buyers into default.

In the end, Banken would be able to gain ownership of the property.

Trucker Abdinoor Igal purchased a home from the defendant in 2022 in the suburban neighborhood of Lakeville. He is listed in the suit as “purchaser 2.” Igal had to leave his home in winter 2023 after making close to $170,000 in payments. The arrangements forced him to have to sleep in his truck for months after he had to send his wife and children back to Kenya in Africa. Excited about the legal action, Igal said, “I can’t even believe how I’m feeling.”

Banken has allegedly sold hundreds of homes in contracts-for-deed deals to victims like Igal over the past six years. The suit lists one of Banken’s LLCs, Slow Flip LLC, as one of the company’s where buyers would submit high down payments and agree to large monthly installments that would lead to default.

In an email from Banken’s business to a real estate agent, the ideal buyers are described as buyers with “low credit scores” or a “recent bankruptcy/foreclosure.” He also is accused of insisting buyers enter contracts using business names, to create a false impression in court that it was commercial tenants being evicted. Contracts under Banken failed to list the true cost of the homes or the balloon payments — a violation of the Truth In Lending Act requirements.

The attorney general is encouraging buyers to reach out to his office if they feel they’re in a contract-for-deed deal, as there may be opportunities for restitution in the future.

Minnesota is known for being a hot spot for contract-for-deed deals. Despite the high risk, county governments in the state recorded 47,524 land contracts in the state, the fourth highest in the country, between 2005 and 2022, according to Pew Trusts. Three in four contracts-for-deed were used to purchase homes, while the rest listed agricultural or commercial properties.

The investigation prompted both Republican and Democratic lawmakers to introduce the Preserving Pathways to Homeownership Act of 2024 in February 2024 that will require states to implement laws providing additional protections for home buyers, with the goal of minimizing exploitative seller behavior.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 20, 2024

America’s First Black Astronaut Candidate Soars To Space 60 Years Later, Becomes Oldest Person In Cosmos

Ed Dwight, 90, finally made it to outer space.

Ed Dwight, 90, who became America’s first Black astronaut candidate under John F. Kennedy’s presidency has finally made it to outer space more than 60 years later.

He is the oldest person to do so.

Dwight was a part of the six-person crew that flew into space as part of Jeff Bezos’ space company Blue Origin, according to the Associated Press. The spaceship launched from West Texas to the edge of space on May 19—Blue Origin’s first flight since the suborbital New Shepard rocket was grounded in 2022.

Dwight’s history-making space orbit came decades after Kennedy and the U.S. Air Force supported his candidacy for NASA’s early astronaut corps. But despite the recommendation, Dwight never made it to NASA’s 1963 class.

At the time, NASA wasn’t accepting Black astronauts and didn’t start until 1978. Guion Bluford became the first African American in space in 1983. The Soviets launched the first Black astronaut, Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez, a Cuban of African descent, into space in 1980.

Dwight finally received his “life-changing experience” after embarking on the 10-minute flight that skimmed through space and offered the six passengers a few minutes of being weightless.

“I thought I really didn’t need this in my life,” Dwight said after exiting the rocket. ”But, now, I need it in my life….I am ecstatic.”

The short flight helped Dwight break Star Trek actor William Shatner’s 2021 record as the oldest person in space. He was joined by four business entrepreneurs from the U.S. and France and a retired accountant who paid undisclosed amounts to board the capsule. Dwight’s seat was sponsored in part by the nonprofit Space for Humanity.

After being turned down by NASA, Dwight continued in the military until 1966. He worked for IBM and launched a construction company. In 1970, he earned a master’s degree in sculpting and created pieces that focus on Black history and serve as memorials and monuments across the country.

A few of his pieces even flew into space before he did.

Saint Augustine University, Commencement, HBCU

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

May 20, 2024

Saint Augustine’s Hosts Commencement As HBCU Risks Losing Accreditation

Saint Augustine's is in the midst of appealing the decision.

Saint Augustine’s, an HBCU in North Carolina, hosted what could be its final commencement ceremony on May 4. The school is set to lose its accreditation.

The school, founded in Raleigh in 1867, currently stands as one of three HBCUs in the area. However, it failed to meet financial oversight standards set by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS). In the midst of the school year, Saint Augustine’s learned that the issue would lead to SACS taking away its accreditation.

With the HBCU’s future in jeopardy, its newest alums used the event as a call to action. NPR reported on the choice of words used during its pivotal commencement ceremony. Ariana White, student body president at Saint Augustine’s, tried to instill hope in her fellow graduates to keep their legacy going.

“We’re just going to keep praying. We’re just going to keep fighting,” expressed White. “With my class of 2024 – us being COVID babies, we don’t give up easy. So I just want to let it be known that with us being the new alumni, we’re not going to let our school go down at all.”

However, White’s final year was stricken with financial woes, impacting her experience and education beyond the pandemic. Saint Augustine’s failed multiple times to pay its faculty and staff on schedule, leading to virtual learning toward the end of the fall semester. Students returned home as the HBCU struggled to regroup.

However, this issue is not unfamiliar to other HBCUs. Most notably, Morris Brown College in Atlanta lost its accreditation over 20 years ago. Moreover, the school only earned it back in 2022. Its journey indicates the years-long effort of an unaccredited school to regain its footing.

Despite the decision, Saint Augustine’s hopes to continue educating its primarily Black student body. They have appealed the decision, which awaits SACS’ approval.

taxes, Black people, taxes, refund, bill, owe

by Ashley M Fox

May 20, 2024

Here’s How To Use Your Tax Refund To Increase Wealth

You are a wealth builder, and as a disciplined wealth builder, you must have a plan in place for your tax refund.

Originally Published Jan. 2, 2017.

Have you ever gotten a tax refund or lump sum of money and months later felt like you had nothing to show for it? If this has happened to you, it’s OK to make mistakes. However, it is not OK to repeat them.

You are a wealth builder, and as a disciplined wealth builder, you must have a plan for your tax refund. It’s about time we give your money a purpose. Here are some ways to use your upcoming tax refund wisely.

Start or increase your “in-case-life-happens” fund

There will always be unexpected expenses that require you to use money. Face it: life happens! Unexpected expenses will always come, but it is only considered an “emergency” if you’re unprepared.

Start with an account ready for any unexpected expense that comes your way. Saving something small every month is great, but why not jump-start the year with a solid foundation? The goal is always to set aside three to six months of your monthly expenses. So, be sure to determine that amount and deposit a portion of your tax refund into your savings account.

Pay down your high-interest credit cards

If you are like most people, the thought of owing someone is often annoying. You’d rather just get it over with, pay them off, and go about life without the thought of having to pay yet another bill. Review your outstanding debt, and only pay your high-interest credit balances down to a 30% utilization. By just paying your high-interest credit cards down, you will increase your credit score, and you can potentially lower your monthly credit card payment. Do not spend your entire tax refund on paying down debt.

Once you’ve paid the credit cards down, CUT UP THE CREDIT CARDS. There is no point in paying down your credit cards just to use them again. Grab some scissors, and end that bad habit immediately.

Invest in a Roth IRA

Paying down debt is important, but how long will you defer your wealth just to pay down debt? While building a plan to pay everyone back, make sure you take care of yourself!! Depending on your income, age, and financial goals, use your tax refund to open a Roth IRA. Roth IRAs are a great way to help lower your taxes and increase your retirement savings. Roth IRAs also allow you to take advantage of the tax-deferred compounded growth. Just think: when you retire, you don’t want to live off less income, right? If you’d like to be better financially in the future, it is time to start planning for tomorrow, TODAY!

Invest in a permanent life insurance policy

Life insurance is one of the best ways to create generational wealth for those most important to you. Having a life insurance policy in place should be a standard for people of ALL ages because it helps ensure that, as a community, we are leaving our families in better financial positions. However, life insurance can also be used as a way for you to invest your money and use it while you are living. By utilizing permanent life insurance to help grow your money, depending on the company and product, you can also receive downside protection (if you are uncomfortable with watching your money go up and down with the stock market).

Every year during tax season, you can contribute annually to your policy. This way, you do not have to worry about monthly payments. Not only will you have one less monthly bill, but also another investment that can help create AND pass down wealth. Key items such as your age, health, and income will help determine how your local agent should structure your policy. Companies such as Nationwide, Pacific Life, and Transamerica Premier have great permanent life insurance policies that many people can take advantage of.

Alfonso Ribeiro, will smith, fresh prince of Bel air, worst thing that happened

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 20, 2024

Alfonso Ribeiro Explains Why ‘Fresh Prince’ Role Was ‘The Greatest And Worst Thing That Ever Happened To Me’

Alfonso Ribeiro is opening up about the highs and lows that came with his breakout role on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."

Alfonso Ribeiro, who became a household name on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air with his character Carlton Banks and his signature “Carlton dance,” is talking about the cost that came with the high-profile gig on the classic sitcom.

“Playing Carlton on Fresh Prince became a sacrifice. I used to always say doing Carlton was the greatest and worst thing that ever happened to me,” Ribeiro told Closer.

“It was one of the greatest roles that I ever was fortunate enough to play, but it was also the role that stopped me from acting again because people couldn’t see me as anything else,” added Ribeiro, now the co-host of Dancing with the Stars. “The sacrifice was not having an acting career anymore.”

Ribeiro starred in all six seasons of Fresh Prince (1990-96). He appeared in two films during the popular sitcom’s run, but didn’t land a consistent TV gig after the show ended until his role of Dr. Maxwell Stanton on In The House.

Since then, Ribeiro has maintained a presence as a television host, including America’s Funniest Home Videos and Jack Hanna’s Passport on ABC. He’s the perfect fit on DWTS after winning Season 19 of the show in 2014.

“I’m enjoying being a host and am very happy with it,” he said. “But, yes, I would go back to acting if it was exactly the right thing,” he saids.

As for what Ribeiro considers to be his big break, the Bronx, New York, native believes it was his Broadway debut in 1983’s The Tap Dance Kid, which helped him land the lead in a Pepsi commercial with Michael Jackson.

“Playing the title character in a Broadway show was a big deal,” said Ribeiro, who added that the Pepsi commercial “really broke me out of the New York area and gave me some worldwide notoriety.”

by Stacy Jackson

May 20, 2024

Blair County NAACP Takes ‘Aggressive Approach’ To Investigate Removal Of ‘Lift Every Voice And Sing’ From Middle School Concert

Spring Cove District administrators removed the "Lift Every Voice and Sing" hymn from the concert to maintain order at the event.

A decision by the Spring Cove School District in Pennsylvania to remove the hymn “Lift Every Voice and Sing” from a student choral concert on May 7 has sparked an investigation by members of the Blair County NAACP’s executive board.

According to the Altoona Mirror, District Superintendent Betsy Baker and Middle School Principal Amy Miller made the call to axe the hymn from the program after students voiced concerns. Baker said the decision aimed to ensure everyone would “feel comfortable” and be “able to participate” after students said they were worried “the song would cause a controversy in the community.”

The decision, driven by concerns over potential divisiveness and controversy, has drawn scrutiny and prompted calls for accountability. Spring Cove School Board President Troy Wright acknowledged it as a “lose-lose situation” after parents threatened to withdraw their children from the concert over the matter. “We can’t make everyone happy,” Wright said. “We have to do the balancing act between who supports it and who doesn’t support it and our job is trying to find the balance between it.”

Stephen Hershberger, a district parent of one of the chorus members, revealed Baker’s concerns over maintaining order at the event as a factor in pulling the hymn. Teachers in the music department selected the songs for the concert lineup and felt “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was an appropriate selection among the other musical ensembles. However, another selection filled the slot after the anthem was dropped.

The hymn, penned in 1900 by James Weldon Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson and nicknamed “The Black National Anthem,” has held profound significance as the NAACP’s anthem for over a century. Altoona Mirror mentioned that Blair County NAACP President Andrae Holsey said the branch would pursue an “aggressive approach” on the matter, which will include public press conferences to address “why our anthem could ever be considered divisive,” considering it has been sung for over a century.

by Kandiss Edwards

May 20, 2024

Are You Bossing Up In Your Online Meetings?

Body language and presentation expert Linda Clemons shares seven key elements to master video presentations and digital work conferences.

Originally Published Mar. 31, 2020.

If you conduct a quick search on the internet, you will probably find a skit centered on office culture. Pre-pandemic work culture is no longer a reality for many. We now live in a world where Zoom and Teams are considered “the office.” That said, how does one show up and exceed in an online setting? Body language and presentation expert Linda Clemons says one of the key elements to nailing remote work performance is connecting well via video and that the rules for doing so are specific. Here are her fail-safe tips:

Prepare and rehearse

“It wasn’t raining when Noah built his ark,” says Clemons. So, don’t wait until you’re on screen with four (or 40) other people to realize your lighting is so poor they can’t even see you. One advantage of working remotely is that no matter how small your home is, you control your virtual image. Adjust lighting, angles, and props favorably, and reserve enough time to test and refine your screenshot. “Even in a tight space, you can create a tight shot that shows you as organized, ready, and at your absolute best,” Clemons says. Also, pay attention to details. It’s one thing to have your young child or pet stroll into camera range unavoidably and another to have an overflowing hamper or sink full of dirty dishes as your backdrop.

Shower, shave, and show up correct

Certain things seem like common sense — groom yourself as you would if you were walking out the door, don’t appear on camera in your robe or workout clothes — but that may not be common knowledge. Even if your team’s emerging remote culture seems to welcome dressing way down, do not show up in your pajamas (at least, not from the waist up, says Clemons). Not only does it look like you’re not really working, but you won’t feel or present yourself in the game-on way that you need to, especially now when the stakes for everyone in business are so high.

Smile, though your heart is aching

If you’re hosting a meeting and you begin with a smile, others will automatically smile, too, which helps relax things. “A smile is like a yawn,” says Clemons. “It’s contagious. These are tense times. We need that.” Smiling — even if you’re forcing it a bit— at the start of a presentation will help put you at ease and help others tune into what you have to say.

Acknowledge the elephant in the room

Everyone is stressed, and every meeting offers an opportunity to show empathy and leadership, primarily by acknowledging that it’s a tough time but that we are all working through it together—and will prevail. Clemons says you want to convey the message that “Yes, we’ve all panicked, but now we have to pause so we can pivot and get back on purpose as a team.” With new developments in business, our health, and the global economy being processed throughout the day, you can briefly check in on the news during a meeting but don’t dwell on it or any information that distracts from the tasks at hand.

Stay on time and on task

Strive to come across as clear, strong, and concise. Video meetings can be even more efficient than in-person meetings because of fewer distractions. That’s a good thing, so take advantage of it; don’t drag things out. When it’s your turn to speak, “Stay on message and on point,” says Clemons, adding a warning: “When you go long, you go wrong.”

Keep your energy up

“There’s a reason we connect with great talk show hosts,” says Clemons, and the common thread is that “they may be talking to millions, but we feel like they’re talking just to us.”

If you’re not used to video conferencing or uncomfortable being on-screen or with the technology, it’s easy to appear wooden or robotic. As much as possible, you want to come across as natural and open. Being stuck at home makes many of us feel drained, so on both audio and video calls, take extra care to modulate your vocal tone to be animated and energetic. On video, try to shoot yourself from the belly button up, if possible (think standard news anchor desk height), so that your heart is in the shot. These unspoken cues make an impact.

Be 100% present

There will be distractions and technological mishaps that throw the moment and pull people off course. It’s inevitable. So stay flexible, but keep your focus as much as possible. If you’re the meeting’s host or the cause of the glitch, acknowledge it and keep going. Clemons advises that you let your meeting motto be no different than it would be if everyone were gathered together at the same table: “Be present in their presence.”