Navy Officer Faces Death Penalty After Alleged Kidnap And Murder Lover’s Baby’s Mother And Child

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 19, 2023

Navy Officer Faces Death Penalty After Alleged Kidnap And Murder Lover’s Baby’s Mother And Child

A U.S. Navy petty officer is looking at a possible death sentence after being accused of a murder-for-hire scheme that resulted in the death of a woman and her 10-month-old baby in Jamaica, NBC News reports.

Leoda Vanessa Bradshaw, 34, was indicted early October 2023 for her involvement in the kidnapping and murders of Toshyna Patterson, 27, and her 10-month-old daughter, Sarayah Paulwell. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Kingston said in a news release that Bradshaw was in a relationship and had a child with Phillip Paulwell, member of Parliament from Kingston East. She considered Paulwell her spouse.

According to prosecutors, Sarayah Paulwell was also Phillip Paulwell’s child.

Prosecutors in the case claim Navy Petty Officer Bradshaw traveled to Jamaica on Sept. 6 with a plan involving three men, Richard Brown, Roshane Miller and cousin Roland Balfour, to kidnap and kill Patterson and the baby. The plans were made through conversations between Sept. 6 and Sept. 9, with the murder plot allegedly carried out on Sept. 9. Bradshaw kidnapped the victims from their home and delivered them to the men in St. Andrew, Jamaica.

During a press conference, Jamaica Constabulary Force Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey referred to the case as “one of the most painful investigations” after revealing that the bodies were burned and disposed of.

Bradshaw was indicted on two counts of conspiracy to kidnap, two counts of conspiracy to murder, two counts of kidnapping, and two counts of capital murder. Brown, Miller and Balfour were indicted on several charges, including conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to murder, kidnapping, murder and accessory before the fact to kidnapping.

Phillip Paulwell posted a picture of the victims on Instagram on Sept. 15, shortly after their kidnapping, with a lengthy caption describing his feelings.

“The last week has been very horrific for me,” he wrote.

“I have dealt with many things in my life, but the disappearance of my daughter and her mother is by far the most difficult thing I have ever had to navigate.”

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A post shared by Phillip Paulwell (@paulwellphillip)

Bradshaw released a statement claiming she was innocent and that her involvement with the victim was solely online.

“On Tuesday, September 5, I received an email from a Jessicadean568@gmail.comadvising me ‘she’ has been trying to contact me for months on Facebook to inform me that Ms. Patterson had a child with Phillip,” Bradshaw wrote, according to Atlanta Black Star.

“I spoke to Phillip and he confirmed that he had a brief relationship with Ms. Patterson and it is possible that the child was his but he was not certain as a DNA test had not yet been done.” Bradshaw said Patterson searched for her on LinkedIn twice before the emails started, and she decided to reach out directly to discuss the possibility of her baby being Paulwell’s child.

In a statement, the Navy confirmed that Bradshaw was a petty officer assigned to a talent acquisition team in Miami and “takes all allegations of misconduct seriously.”

The BOSS Network & Sage Releases Groundbreaking Report Addressing Challenges Atlanta-Based Black Women Founders Face

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 19, 2023

The BOSS Network & Sage Releases Groundbreaking Report Addressing Challenges Atlanta-Based Black Women Founders Face

*Originally reported by Blacknews

Nationwide — The BOSS Network — an online community of professional and entrepreneurial women who support each other through conversation, online, and event-based networking — has released a report entitled “Voices of Strength: Pathways to Success for Black Women Founders.”
Released in partnership with Sage – the leader in accounting, financial, HR, and payroll technology for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) – this groundbreaking report identifies the most prominent challenges facing Black women founders in Atlanta, including a lack of access to funding through grants and government resources, mentorship, and the ability to digitally scale their businesses for growth. Findings were from a joint study with insights from 40 Black women entrepreneurs, all founders of small businesses within the metro Atlanta area.

Access to Capital, Digitalization, and Mentorship as Biggest Challenges

Despite Black women being the fastest-growing community of successful entrepreneurs in the US, with a growth rate of over 18% since 2017, only five percent of the surveyed founders have been able to secure funding through business loans or venture capital funds. Additionally, only 20% were familiar with the process to apply for and receive funding through government grants. While access to capital remains a key barrier for growth among this group, there is also a large gap in mentorship and training in the intricacies of social media algorithms to garner a return on investment from social media efforts.

Although the report found that challenges among Black founders heavily impacted success, results also demonstrated the resiliency and enthusiasm among founders. Of those surveyed, 88% were optimistic about the future of their business, driven by confidence and their personal and community passions to improve the lives of others and deliver an impact greater than themselves.

“It’s through important partnerships with companies like Sage that we are able to effectively shine a light on the struggles that Black women founders face in an exponential way,” said Dr. Cameka Smith, founder of The BOSS Network. “We hope this report will inspire businesses and corporations in Atlanta and beyond to take meaningful action in support of Black women business owners to achieve success for the betterment of our economic development.”

To address the challenge of lack of capital and drive immediate change among Black founders in Atlanta, Sage and the BOSS Network launched the “Invest in Progress” program in 2022. This research is essential to extending our work to ensure continued support of Black women founders. It is dedicated to fostering a pipeline of funding, mentorship, and access to Sage technologies to help founders grow and scale their businesses. Sage has committed to providing funds through the grant program to support and drive the resilience and passion within this group of dynamic women.

In addition, Sage and The BOSS Network are announcing a new partnership with Swoop, a prominent global fintech company specializing in funding solutions. This collaborative endeavor, made possible through the Sage Foundation, is designed to further empower this community of entrepreneurs, in direct response to the insights uncovered in the Voices of Strength report. It will encompass personalized financial training programs and enhanced access to capital resources.

Through this strategic alliance, the organizations will offer:

• Up to 150 women entrepreneurs in Atlanta will be provided a 3-year membership to The BOSS Network and 1 year of training access for up to 150 Atlanta women founders (including the commission) giving them access to The BOSS Network, resources, support, and events.

• 7+ grants from the Invest in Progress program to go to founders in Atlanta (valued at up to $70K)

• Custom trainings through BOSS Business University, Sage, and SWOOP for the Atlanta cohort of Invest in Progress recipients in response to the themes identified in the report, including finance training and resources for access to capital.

by Daniel Johnson

October 19, 2023

55-Year-Old Lyft Driver Sexually Assaulted In Georgia

Antonio Cartagena, a 25-year-old Macon, Georgia resident, was arrested after being accused of sexually assaulting a Lyft driver. According to The Telegraph, the Duluth Police Department says that Cartagena groped a driver who was transporting him on Oct. 10, and also performed “lewd acts” in the back seat of the car.

Police say Cartagena reached over from his position in the back seat and began inappropriately touching the 55-year-old woman who was driving for the rideshare company. According to the driver, she turned around and saw that he was half-undressed and performing vulgar acts.

A spokesperson for Lyft emphasized their commitment to driver safety, telling The Telegraph, “Safety is fundamental to Lyft. The behavior described is reprehensible and has no place in the Lyft community or anywhere in society. We permanently banned the individual from the Lyft platform and have reached out to the driver to offer our support.”

Following his attack on the driver, Cartagena fled on foot but was later captured and held in Gwinnett County Jail on $11,400 bond, which he paid.

Lyft’s website says Lyft connects its drivers to ADT security in emergency situations and also remotely monitors rides in real time.

According to Employee Benefit News, two-thirds of rideshare drivers reported being harassed in 2022, and the problem was acutely worse for drivers of color. Of the drivers of color surveyed, 86% reported being called a racial, ethnic, or religious slur.

Joan Moriarty, director of strategic research and campaigns at the Strategic Organizing Center, told the outlet, “These statistics are just from the last 12 months, and it’s not that something has changed in the last year,” Moriarty said.

“It’s that the corporate policies of Uber and Lyft force workers to accept rides they don’t feel are safe and don’t let them stop rides in the middle if they’re being harassed.”

Moriarty also said that the platforms place drivers like the 55-year-old woman in a precarious position because they have to choose between their safety and their position on the platform.

“They literally have to choose between their own livelihoods and safety,” Moriarty told Employee Benefit News.

“Drivers depend on this income to survive and have their families survive. So when forced to make these choices, they’ll choose to put themselves at risk.”

Moriarty said that rideshare companies have to get serious about their drivers’ safety.

“Both Lyft and Uber really actively promote their passenger safety measures,” she said, contrasting passenger well-being with the lack of consideration for the platforms’ drivers.

“Driver safety is not antithetical to passenger safety, and companies are going to really need to take a hard look at their policies.”

by Jameelah Mullen

October 19, 2023

Halle Bailey Proves That She Is Indeed A ‘Game Changer’

Singer and actress Halle Bailey was honored at 2023 Glamour Women of the Year event and walked away with the 2023 Woman of the Year Gen Z Game Changer award.

The Grammy award nominee attended the star-studded event with her beau, rapper DDG. Bailey wore a stunning black velvet strapless mini dress, designed by Nicole + Felicia Couture, that featured an underskirt of satiny white roses, a signature concept for the designers.

“When I hear the word ‘game-changer,’ I think of rewriting the rules and setting up a whole new board game,” the 23-year-old told Glamour.

“This is the world that our children will one day live in, and we want it to be beautiful for them. And we know that we have the power in our hands; that we can make a difference by speaking up and speaking out.“

The multi-hyphenate star accepted the award on behalf of the women who came before her and the women who will come after.

She later took to Instagram to express her gratitude for the honor.

“i’m so grateful that I was honored with the Glamour Woman of the Year Gen Z Game-Changer award ❣️✨this is such a special honor to me and feels oh so amazing to be recognized for the work that I have put in all the years of my career.” Bailey continued, “being a young woman in the spotlight is definitely not for the weak.. but because of God, my loved ones and mentors I am able to face the world everyday with my head held high.”

Bailey became the ultimate game changer when she landed the lead role in the film adaptation of the Disney classic The Little Mermaid.

As of September 2023, the successful film had grossed $569 million. The actress spoke to USA Today about her impactful role.

“What truly strikes my heart and makes me just cry are seeing the reactions of the babies and the children and the beautiful Black, brown boys and girls who see themselves in this character, in this new version of Ariel,” she said.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 19, 2023

Vogue Editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson Removes Job From Bio After Anti-Israel Posts

Vogue editor-at-large Gabriella Karefa-Johnson is leaving fans to wonder if she’s still at the publication. The stylist has removed the job title from her social media pages following posts made condemning Israel for violence inflicted on Palestine.

The 32-year-old made headlines after posting her views on recent violence between Palestine and Israel, as detailed by the Daily Mail. Karefa-Johnson took to her Instagram to voice her belief that Israel is committing genocide and other acts of oppression against the Palestinian people.

‘It’s so disappointing to see the utter lack of understanding of the basic tenets and tactics of colonization, and one’s willingness to justify and defend those systems which have only ever oppressed,’ she posted on Oct. 14.

The fashion editor’s bold statements led to backlash from some of her colleagues in the fashion industry, prompting another public response about those she respected in her field that uphold “horrifying” opinions.

“Damn. I hate when Instagram shows me what I hope I never know about the people I follow and their horrifying belief systems,’ she also stated.

The New York-based stylist has not minced words in her posts, detailing her thoughts on the international issue and calling it a “mass Palestinian extinction plan.”

“I cannot believe that the world is watching in silence as a GENOCIDE — a mass Palestinian extinction plan — is happening before our very eyes,” expressed the first Black woman to style a Vogue cover.

“These are WAR CRIMES. I am sickened and saddened beyond belief. I feel helpless assessing the atrocity from the comfort of the west but we should not be okay with doing and saying nothing.”

In the aftermath of the controversy, Karefa-Johnson removed her job title from her official account bio, instead going for an ambiguous “many things.” After garnering attention for the heated exchanges, a spokesperson for Vogue stated, “Gabriella’s social media posts and opinions are her own and do not represent those of the company.”

Whether or not the style contributor is still associated with the magazine is unclear, as neither party has made an official announcement on her current employment.

Big Freedia, Bold Beats, makeup, Black Opal, gender-neutral makeup

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 19, 2023

Big Freedia Ready To Slay Beauty Game With Bold Beats Makeup For All Genders And Tones

Big Freedia is now a boss! The Queen of New Orleans Bounce music has officially announced the launch of her new beauty line, Bold Beats, in partnership with BLK/OPL.

This latest Black-owned beauty venture has an even more inclusive aspect: gender-neutral makeup, which the New Orleans native calls “fundamental” to her look. Big Freedia describes herself as “gender nonconforming, fluid, nonbinary.”

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A post shared by Big Freedia 👑 (@bigfreedia)

“It’s finally here! I’m so excited for the launch of my limited edition Bold Beats Collection in collab with @blackopalbeauty,” shared the media personality on social media. “This collection is all about being your best, bold, beautiful self…I can’t wait to see y’all in these beautiful products!!”

She also revealed her inspiration behind the brand in a press statement, re-shared by MyNewOrleans.com, calling it an “honor” to release the collection with BLK/OPL.

“On the road over the years, I saw very little gender-neutral makeup,” she explained. “I thought, why not develop a make-up line that’s for everyone–for all gender orientations and skin tones?”

Bold Beats will not only feature traditional makeup products such as eyeshadow and lashes, but also items that keep up with Big Freedia’s true form, including vibrant nail tips. The eyelashes comprise three different styles named after some of the content creator’s most notable phrases, such as “Ya Best Believa” and “Girl Down.” The nail sets come in two colorful forms. All products range from $12 – $17 in order to be widely accessible to all groups.

The line represents Big Freedia’s partnership with BLK/OPL, a cosmetics brand known for its affordable and wide-range of products especially for those with darker skin tones. Bold Beats, sold exclusively at the Afrocentric beauty line’s website, is available now.

New Book Explores Black Women’s Pathways To Academic Leadership Amid Challenges In Higher Education

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 18, 2023

New Book Explores Black Women’s Pathways To Academic Leadership Amid Challenges In Higher Education

Originally reported by Blacknews.com

In the face of ongoing challenges to diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education, a groundbreaking new book titled Black Women’s Pathways to Executive Academic Leadership has been released, offering a powerful and timely exploration of the experiences and challenges faced by Black women leaders in community colleges, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and predominantly white institutions (PWIs).

The book comes at a crucial moment as higher education institutions grapple with legislative attacks on diversity initiatives in states like Florida and Texas. The authors of Black Women’s Pathways to Executive Academic Leadership address the urgent need for leaders who understand the experiences of racially and ethnically diverse student bodies, identify barriers that mask merit, and garner support to create welcoming and inclusive campus environments for all.

Over half of college presidents (55%) are planning to step down from their positions within the next five years. This impending change in leadership, particularly among underrepresented groups, presents an opportunity not only to diversify leadership but also, as the editor states, address “the need for leaders who understand the experiences of racially and ethnically diverse student bodies, who can identify barriers that mask merit, and who can garner support to make campuses welcoming and inclusive spaces for all.”

Key highlights of the book include:

• The voices and experiences of Black women leaders in various higher education settings, including community colleges, HBCUs, and PWIs.

• Through in-depth analysis and personal narratives, the authors delve into the intricacies of academic leadership, shedding light on the obstacles and opportunities that Black women leaders encounter.

• A powerful call to action for higher education institutions to prioritize diversity and inclusion within their leadership structures.

• The invaluable contributions of Black women leaders in shaping the future of education and calls for recognition and support for their vital work.

As the landscape of higher education evolves, this book serves as a crucial resource for navigating the complexities of leadership and fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion on campuses nationwide.

You can purchase Black Women’s Pathways to Executive Academic Leadership at UWPBooks.com or contact geane.delima@sagepub.com

Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Trump, Governors Association Dinner

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 18, 2023

Gov. Wes Moore, Maryland’s First Black Governor, Celebrates 45th Birthday

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, an accomplished leader who holds the distinction of being the state’s first Black governor, celebrated his 45th birthday on Oct. 15, according to Afro.com.

To mark his 45th year, Moore used Baltimore’s iconic Hippodrome Theater as the venue for his birthday celebration. The gathering featured live performances by distinguished rap artists LL Cool J, MC Lyte and D-Nice, an unforgettable event that brought together music, culture, and celebration.

Sen. Cory McCray offered his felicitations to Moore and expressed his enthusiasm for the governor’s achievements during the past legislative session. He praised Moore’s role in the significant wage increase that will see Maryland’s minimum wage rise to $15 on Jan. 1, 2024, a milestone that holds great promise for the state’s workers and economy.

Moore’s background features a stint as a captain in the 82nd Airborne. Beyond his military career, Moore has made a significant impact as an author. He is the creative mind behind several best-selling books that tackle racial equity and opportunity.

The governor, who has also been recognized as a Rhodes Scholar, embodies the notion of excellence in education and scholarship. His intellectual pursuits have not only enriched his life but also the lives of those he serves.

Moore has authored 10 pieces of legislation that address critical issues affecting Maryland residents. They encompass substantial investments of $122 million in local police departments throughout the state as well as an $11 million fund dedicated to the revitalization of West Baltimore. Moore also introduced innovative measures such as a gap service year option for recent high school graduates, child tax credits, and essential financial support for Maryland’s veterans.

As he embarks on the next chapter of his tenure, Moore’s leadership continues to resonate with the citizens of Maryland as he works to address the most pressing challenges and advance the state toward a more prosperous future. On Jan. 18, 2024, the governor will have completed his first full year in office.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 18, 2023

Howard Professor Prepares Next Generation Of Black Space Law Professionals

Howard University Professor AJ Link is passionate about advocating for Black students’ involvement in his lesser-known field of expertise: Space Law.

In honor of World Space Week, conducted in early October, Link shared how he is preparing the next generation of Black Space Law professionals to insure that diversity is in and out of this world.

Space law entails the legal framework that governs activities related to outer space. Similar to general international law, it includes a range of international agreements, treaties, conventions, United Nations General Assembly resolutions, and regulations established by international organizations.

After discovering a course in the subject as a first-year student at George Washington Law School, Link went on to receive his own LLM, or Master of Laws, in space law, from one of the two law schools that offer the unique degree, the University of Mississippi.

“With the lack of options and access to space law as a field of study for J.D. students, and legal professionals seeking an LLM, it’s no wonder that the space law community is lacking anything close to adequate representation of Black folks in the profession,” he wrote in an essay for Howard’s The Dig.

Upon completing his education and noticing he was one of few Black people to do so, Link returned to D.C. to teach the first-ever course on space law at Howard University Law School (HUSL). The professor is now ensuring that access is given to Black people who are interested in this realm of space outside of STEM-subjects such as astrophysics or aerospace engineering.

He especially noticed this gap during events for Black Space Week, where the number of Black space lawyers was particularly meager. However, his addition to the HUSL’s faculty will ensure that at least one HBCU in the country is able to teach students about the Black letter law of international space treaties, as well as the space policy in the U.S.

As new groups, such as BlackInAstro, advocate for diversity in the stars, these growing programs will seek to provide opportunity and spark passion for this evolving field that will become more prominent as space activity advances.

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Link’s inclusion at Howard’s law program aims to make the HBCU a “premier space law institution,” as well as one that champions the next generation of Black space law experts.

Google Executive Defends Search Quality In U.S. Antitrust Trial

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 18, 2023

Google Executive Defends Search Quality In U.S. Antitrust Trial

*Originally reported by Reuters

WASHINGTON, Oct 18 (Reuters) – Alphabet’s (GOOGL.O) Google called its first witness on Wednesday in a once-in-a-generation U.S. antitrust trial, putting on the witness stand an executive who detailed the vast effort the company puts into ensuring search quality.

The Justice Department has called witnesses who testified about Google’s payments, billions of dollars annually, to smartphone makers and wireless companies to make Google search the default on devices, and win more users. Others testified how search dominance led to clout in online advertising, including the ability to quietly raise ad prices.

Google has countered these arguments with several of its own, zeroing in on how the high quality of its search products have played a crucial role in customer demand and help explain the prominent placement on phones and tablets.

Pandu Nayak, a vice president for search who has been with Google since 2004, testified on Wednesday about the efforts that Google has made to index the web, culling out irrelevant pages and ranking websites in order to answer user queries with sources that are relevant and reliable. He also testified about how Google used machine learning tools that it developed to improve search.

Nayak’s discussions of improving search appeared to downplay the role that search query volume played, implicitly disagreeing with Microsoft (MSFT.O) CEO Satya Nadella’s arguments that his company needed more search queries to improve its Bing search engine but was being blocked by Google.

Judge Amit Mehta, who will decide the case, asked Nayak how important “user interaction” was. Nayak acknowledged that user reactions to queries mattered but stressed the need for other factors – like infrastructure to track websites and how they change – is key.

Nayak also testified that Google compared its results to answers from Microsoft’s search engine Bing, and found Bing to be lower quality. He said that Google has also begun comparing itself to the videosharing app TikTok.