by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 14, 2025

Hundreds Of CDC Staff Layoffs Reversed After Trump Admin Blunder

Of the 1300 people initially notified that they were being laid off, only 600 were actually a part of this round of workforce reduction.

Hundreds of CDC staffers who received layoff notifications have had their terminations reversed.

On Oct. 10, multiple government agencies faced the first wave of layoffs sparked by the government shutdown. For the Centers for Disease Control, 1,300 workers learned that their jobs no longer existed. However, this news turned out to be a fluke for the majority of these CDC staffers. In fact, only 600 were actually part of the government’s workforce reduction. Approximately 700 people were wrongfully led to believe that they lost their jobs and were reinstated.

A Trump official released a statement acknowledging the blunder and how those employees actually remained.

“The employees who received incorrect notifications were never separated from the agency and have all been notified that they are not subject to the reduction in force,” said Andrew Nixon, director of communications for the US Department of Health and Human Services, according to CNN.

A coding error led to incorrect layoff notices, initially leaving many central CDC departments essentially unstaffed. Some of the employees who worked as staff published the agency’s flagship journal, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Other departments spared included the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, the Global Health Center, and the Public Health Infrastructure Center. Officers at the Epidemic Intelligence Service, the nation’s first responders to disease threats, also had their layoffs rescinded.

“It’s pure managerial incompetence,” said Dr. Nirav Shah, who resigned as a principal deputy director of the CDC earlier this year. “I used to think that chaos was the byproduct of this managerial incompetence. Now I start to wonder whether the chaos is the point.”

However, the actual layoffs will still prove troublesome for the CDC. These shutdown-induced layoffs have already faced legal scrutiny and public pushback.

Shah added, “These cuts will mean that when the next health crisis comes along, precious days, weeks, months will be spent getting ready when we should have been ready.”

The Department of Education also had hundreds laid off, particularly in its Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, threatening programming for disabled individuals. Other federal agencies that faced cuts included the departments of Commerce, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, Homeland Security, and Treasury.

New Year’s Eve, Morris Brown AME Church, Freedom’s Eve, Watch Night Service

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 13, 2025

Family Of Artist Who Painted Historic Black Jesus Mural In Detroit Church Fights To Save Artwork

The family of the artist who created the mural are fighting to see if the artwork can be salvaged.

A Detroit community refuses to say goodbye to a historic mural of Black Jesus as the long-time Catholic Church faces a shutdown.

On Oct. 12, St. Charles Lwanga, formerly known as St. Cecilia, held what many deem as its final Mass service. However, many hope that the Black Jesus on its ceiling can find a new home, especially given its historic significance.

Created in 1968 by a local artist DeVon Cunningham, the piece sought to represent the shifts in the neighborhood. The unveiling became a point of contention amid racial issues on both regional and national scales, including the 1967 civil uprising in Detroit and the overarching Civil Rights Movement.

However, the Black Jesus lies in jeopardy as the Church shuts down. St. Charles Lwanga’s officials say the cost of upkeep, repairs, and dwindling membership leaves them no choice but to close its doors.

Rev. Theodore Parker, the now-retired parish priest, said the building would need a new roof and an upgraded heating system, pricey upgrades that its limited number of parishioners cannot justify. According to The Detroit News, the church only has 200 members.

However, the timelessness of the mural remains. When initially revealed, it sparked praise and backlash, with its own artist receiving death threats. At its heyday, the mural became the cover of Ebony Magazine’s March 1969 issue, with additional coverage in the New York Times as well.

While stopping the church’s closure seems too lofty a fight, one family hopes to salvage the famous mural at least.

“We would love to save it, and we hope there is enough support from the community and others to recognize it should be preserved,” shared Leisa Traylor, Cunningham’s daughter. “At this point, we are really hoping to get more information of what happens to the building.”

However, the building’s decline may have also impacted the quality of the mural. Observers noticed the discoloration on Black Jesus’s robe due to roof leaks. Despite the drawbacks, they hope to find some way to keep the mural for the community’s viewing, as it once represented their place within Detroit and the Catholic Church.

young boy, masculinity, harmful ideals, social media, content, common sense media

by Kandiss Edwards

October 13, 2025

Report: Boys Receive Harmful Ideas About Masculinity On Social Media

Teenage boys are consuming 'masculinity-related material' on social media.

Social media content is shaping the way boys see masculinity, according to a new report.

Common Sense Media reports nearly three in four teenage boys are regularly exposed to social media content that links masculinity to dominance, money, and physical power. Clinicians warn that the trend may distort boys’ sense of self and emotional well-being.

Boys ages 11 to 17 are consuming online content that centers on “masculinity-related material.” The same study said more than two-third of respondents come across posts that “promotes problematic gender roles.” Such content includes videos that depict success as control over others or romantic attention as a status symbol.

Michael Robb, director of research at Common Sense Media and lead author of the study, discussed the parameters of the study with CNN.

“We’re documenting how the algorithms that kids are a part of are specifically shaping their identity during this really crucial period of adolescence, which is a time of identity formation,” Robb said.

Robb added that he was particularly concerned about the connection between digital misogyny and real-world violence.

“My research suggests that when negative messages about women and girls are normalized online, it can cause offline violence,” he said.

While the survey did not prove a direct link between exposure and behavior, Robb acknowledged it could underestimate the impact.

“Those who hold these views may not have been willing to admit in the survey that they were experiencing emotional struggles or feeling vulnerable,” he said.

Melissa Greenberg, a clinical psychologist at Princeton Psychotherapy Center who was not involved in the research, said parents should assume their children will encounter such material regardless of online restrictions.

“Even if we monitor and limit what our kids see at home, they will be exposed to content we are not aware of in other settings, and through friends and peers,” Greenberg told CNN in an email.

Experts said parents can help counteract negative influences by having open, judgment-free conversations about what teens see online. Robb advised asking boys directly about their digital experiences, adding, “One secret tip is that kids are actually quite excited to talk about their media use.”

Common Sense Media is calling for better media literacy education to help youth identify bias.

Restaurant, Atlanta, florrisant, Bliss, age requirement, 35 years old, 30 years old

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 13, 2025

Baltimore Waitress Tearfully Slams Diners Who Dashed On $200 Bill As Boss Says Pay The Tab

The waitress called out her boss as well who tried to make her pay half the uncovered tab.

A waitress in Baltimore tearfully called out diners who dashed on their $200 bill, after her boss told her to cover the tab.

The waitress, who works at a Crafty Crab location, got emotional as she recalled the incident where the group ran out on their bill. The woman cussed out the scamming customers for forcing her to deal with their inconsiderate move. Its Onsite re-shared the woman’s rant against the reckless patrons.

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A post shared by Onsite!® (@its_onsite)

She emphasized the carelessness of the rude diners, as they did not consider who would have to make up for their expensive tab.

” I can’t believe I’m crying. I’m so f–king frustrated. Because why would you do that?” she questioned. “Like, why the f–k are you such a f–king bum a– b-tch that you would come to [somebody’s] establishment and run out on a f–king bill, not knowing what happens after that?”

The server then began to call out her manager. She said the man tried to place blame on her for not making sure the customers stayed to pay their bill.

“My manager is such a piece of sh-t, like he’s such a piece of sh-t trying to [say its] is my f–king fault. B-tch, it’s not my fault. I did everything I [was] supposed to do…I did everything I was supposed to do. I checked on the b-tches, and [they] was gone two f–king seconds. Want me to run after these b-tches? I’m not doing that. That’s not in my f–king that’s not in my job description.”

Through her tears, the waitress then went on to detail how the manager tried to make her cover half the bill. However, she stood her ground to the manager, telling him that she would not do that as it was illegal.

“Then talked about pay half as soon as I said, ‘B-tch, that’s illegal,’ he like, ‘Oh, no, we don’t do that.’ Yeah, b-tch, don’t f–king play on me. It’s enough. It’s enough s–t going on in this f–king establishment. You’re not about to make me pay for a $200 bill.”

According to Maryland law, employers cannot make a tipped employee cover the bill if a customer walks out without paying. She also posted footage of the conversation with the manager.

@nah43227 #corrupt #CraftyTowson #fyp ♬ original sound – NAH

The video swiftly went viral over the audacity of the manager and the customers. One empathetic public figure, Big Freedia, offered to help the woman with the unexpected cost.

“Send your cash app [love],” commented the influencer.

Others encouraged the tired worker to file a complaint with the Department of Labor for her troubles. Although she was fired from the Towson eatery, she posted a follow-up TikTok thanking her supporters.

@nah43227 #thankyou ♬ original sound – NAH

Martha's vineyard film festival, Michelle Obama

by Mary Spiller

October 13, 2025

$2.5 Million Initiative: Forever First Lady Michelle Obama Ramps Up Advocacy For Girls’ Education

The Obama Foundation’s Girls Opportunity Alliance will support local organizations helping young women overcome barriers to education and opportunity.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama is renewing her commitment to global girls’ education, announcing a $2.5 million pledge through the Obama Foundation’s Girls Opportunity Alliance to strengthen grassroots efforts that empower girls in economically disadvantaged regions.

“These groups are changing the way girls see themselves in their own communities and in our world, helping create the leaders we need for the brighter future we all deserve,” Obama said in a video released Oct. 11 to mark International Day of the Girl. “Because when our girls succeed, we all do.”

As reported by Fortune, the funding raised through Michelle Obama’s program will go toward dozens of local organizations working to dismantle barriers that keep girls from school, such as child marriage, gender-based violence, and financial hardship. These groups also provide counseling, mentorship, and vocational training for young women between the ages of 10 and 19.

The Girls Opportunity Alliance, founded in 2018 as an extension of Michelle Obama’s earlier White House initiative, has long focused on helping adolescent girls access education and leadership opportunities. But the renewed effort comes as international organizations warn of declining global education funding. UNICEF projects that a 24% reduction in aid from wealthier nations could push six million girls out of school by the end of next year.

“The need right now, I think more than ever, is crucial,” said Tiffany Drake, the Alliance’s executive director. “We were just in Mauritius and we heard it time and time again that organizations need funding. They need support.”

At the Alliance’s recent summit in Mauritius, African and Asian partners shared stories of perseverance despite scarce resources. One attendee, Jackie Bomboma, who leads the Young Strong Mothers Foundation in Tanzania, said connecting with other women in the network gave her new energy.

“We call ourselves ‘watoto wa Michelle Obama,’ which means ‘the children of Michelle Obama,’” she said. “Everyone feels so proud to have such a mother who is very strong, who is very powerful and who is very loving.”

The fund offers grants of up to $50,000 for specific projects, along with training and mentorship from major international NGOs. Beyond direct support, Drake said, the Obama Foundation’s Girls Opportunity Alliance initiative amplifies these smaller organizations’ work through public campaigns and crowdfunding.

“We didn’t want to just tell people and say, ‘Google how you can help,’” Drake said. “We wanted to give them a place where they can take action.”

self deport, Haiti, Photojournalist Dieu-Nalio Chery

by Mary Spiller

October 13, 2025

Armed Gangs And Economic Collapse Push Haiti To The Brink Of Famine

More than half of Haiti’s population now faces acute hunger as violence and instability block aid, cripple farming, and drive prices to historic highs.

Haiti is in the midst of a worsening humanitarian disaster, with more than half of its 11 million citizens struggling to find enough to eat as armed groups tighten their control and the nation’s economy continues to collapse.

According to a report published Oct. 11 by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), approximately 5.7 million Haitians are enduring severe food insecurity. Of that number, nearly 1.9 million are in “emergency” conditions — facing extreme shortages and malnutrition — while another 3.8 million are one step behind, classified at crisis levels.

The IPC projects that the situation could deteriorate further by mid-2026, with nearly six million people expected to experience acute hunger as Haiti enters its lean agricultural season.

In response, Haiti’s transitional government announced the creation of a new Food and Nutrition Security Office to coordinate humanitarian aid efforts. Louis Gerald Gilles, a member of the presidential council, said that officials are “mobilizing resources to reach those most affected as quickly as possible.”

Still, relief efforts face overwhelming barriers. Armed groups now control about 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and have begun extending their reach into rural regions vital to food production. Over 1.3 million people have been displaced by violence, a 24% increase since December, with many living in overcrowded shelters without access to food or sanitation.

Farmers who remain on their land must often pay gangs in crops or cash for the right to work, while road blockades prevent food from reaching major markets. The broader economy has been decimated — Haiti has suffered six straight years of recession, and food prices rose 33% last July compared with the year before.

The crisis is hitting children the hardest. Around 680,000 have been displaced by violence, and more than 1,000 schools have closed. Armed groups have even recruited some children.

The United Nations recently approved a 5,550-member international force to restore order, though instability persists.

“Progress remains fragile without long-term investment to tackle the root causes,” said Martine Villeneuve, Haiti director at Action Against Hunger.

Department of Education, special education, layoffs, government,

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 13, 2025

Gutting The Core: Special Education Office Axed As Federal Layoffs Hit The DOE

The wave of layoffs nearly axed all employees within the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services.

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has laid off almost all employees in the special education office as the government shutdown wages on.

The layoffs at the federal agency began with a first wave on Oct. 10, essentially affecting the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. According to its official website, the OSER managed federal funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, supporting programs that assist people of all ages with disabilities.

According to its union representatives, most employees in the OSER below the leadership level were terminated. Rachel Gittleman, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 252, told USA Today that the workforce reduction is an attempt by the government to “double down” on its harmful policies for U.S. students.

“Based on multiple reports from staff and their managers, we believe that all remaining staff in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), including the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the Rehabilitative Services Administration (RSA), have been illegally fired,” shared Gittleman, as detailed by NPR.

A court filing by the Justice Department detailed that the layoffs included more than 460 employees, while official estimates by the Education Department have not been disclosed. Other offices also impacted by the reduction mandate included workers who oversaw the TRIO college access program. The layoffs, prompted by the shutdown, aim to pressure Democrats in Congress to end the government shutdown.

The news comes as almost 90% of current workers at the Education Department have faced furloughs. Now, as the OSER grapples with severely limited staffing, those left voiced their concerns on how they will proceed with their programming.

“The system is designed to happen at the school level, with oversight from the district, with oversight from the state, and then with oversight from the federal level,” shared Glenna Wright-Gallo, who served as assistant secretary in the office from 2023 to 2025, to the news outlet.

“Now we’re losing that checks and balances system.”

Furthermore, Education Secretary Linda McMahon had previously stated that support for disabled individuals remains a top priority for the Trump Administration despite plans to overhaul the department’s budget. The government also hopes to push this responsibility onto the states. However, some experts fear that no federal oversight could negatively impact disabled children’s education experiences.

“The concept of leaving special education up to states sounds great, but it’s scary. What happens if one state decides to interpret the law one way, but another state disagrees and interprets it differently?” questioned one state director of special education to NPR, who wished to remain anonymous.

Now, parents must advocate at both the state and local levels to ensure their children and loved ones have the resources and support for a quality education.

Cecil Brockman, North Carolina, ssex crimes

by Mary Spiller

October 13, 2025

North Carolina Lawmaker Arrested, Charged With Sex Crimes Against A Minor

Democratic Rep. Cecil Brockman faces multiple felony charges after allegations of sexual acts with a 15-year-old.

The state representative for North Carolina, Cecil Brockman, has been arrested and charged with several sex-related offenses involving a 15-year-old minor, according to court documents released Oct 9 and obtained by Times Union.

Brockman, a six-term Democratic lawmaker from High Point, was taken into custody on Oct. 8 on two counts of statutory sexual offense with a child and two counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor. A magistrate’s order accuses Brockman of engaging in sexual acts and committing “lewd and lascivious” behavior with the same juvenile around Aug.15.

The State Bureau of Investigation has joined the probe.

The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Brockman, 41, is being held without bond. His initial court hearing, scheduled for this Thursday afternoon, was postponed to Friday after records showed he was hospitalized.

Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Bria Evans said she could not provide details about his medical condition due to privacy laws, but confirmed he remains in custody at the High Point jail.

Political leaders from both parties have called for his resignation in response to the charges. North Carolina Democratic Party officials joined Republican House Speaker Destin Hall, Democratic House Leader Robert Reives, and Gov. Josh Stein in demanding that Brockman step down.

“These charges are extremely serious and deeply troubling,” Gov. Stein said in a statement. “While the legal process has yet to play out, it’s clear he cannot effectively serve his constituents and should resign immediately.”

Court documents also indicate that Brockman was denied release because of concerns that his political position and “abundant resources” could help him evade prosecution. The magistrate further alleged that Brockman had attempted to contact the victim, including efforts to locate the teen at a hospital and use his status to gather information about the juvenile’s whereabouts.

Brockman, first elected in 2014, has at times crossed party lines to support Republican-backed bills. He serves as one of four vice chairs on the House K–12 Education Committee and narrowly won his most recent primary election to represent the 60th District, which covers parts of southwest Guilford County.

by Daniel Johnson

October 13, 2025

Paul Robeson House And Museum Reopens After Yearlong Hiatus

It had been closed due to repairs.

The Paul Robeson House and Museum reopened on Oct. 10, after being closed since August 2024 due to repairs that had to be undertaken on half of the building. The long road to the reopening of the house that Robeson occupied from 1966 until his death in 1976 was marked by a celebration of its new artist in residence space and a community celebration.

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the house is owned by the West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance and they marked the celebration by making admission to the museum — normally $12 — free to the public. Roberson, who was born in Princeton in 1898, moved to Philadelphia after his wife, Eslanda, died in 1966, and he lived with his sister, Marian S. Forsythe, until he died in 1976.

Robeson is revered by many Black Americans for the stance he took — at the height of his fame as one of the country’s pre-eminent Renaissance men, regardless of race. Robeson refused to renounce his anti-capitalist and socialist views, as well as his associations with Black American Communists during one of America’s most repressive periods, the anticommunist witch hunts of the 1950s led by Sen. Joseph McCarthy. His dedication to those causes eventually led to his erasure and quite literally his cancellation by the American government.

https://twitter.com/wellstonism/status/1690407612481683456?s=19

The Paul Robeson House in West Philadelphia is set to reopen with a mission to educate and inspire the public about the trailblazer's contributions to society. Report by Sherry Stone. https://t.co/e84SjgwRgZ
— Philadelphia Tribune (@PhillyTrib) October 4, 2025

The funding to renovate the home was provided through a $1 million grant from the Mellon Foundation, per Azsherae Gary, the interim director of the Paul Robeson House.

Gary also noted that the funds were split equitably between the house in Philadelphia and the Paul Robeson House of Princeton, the house in which his father, William Drew Robeson I, raised him.

As Gary told The Inquirer, “You have to care for your institutions and steward them properly. This is a person who played a significant role in American history. He was only living here for a short time, but he had a big impact.”

She continued, noting that Robeson “is relevant today because of what he believed in. He’s an American hero who was a humanitarian at heart. He cared about social justice. He cared about workers and their rights. He stood up and sacrificed his livelihood, because he had a basic moral compass and belief in doing the right thing. We want people to bring people here to learn about the history.”

As it regards the blatant erasure of Robeson from American history, Philadelphia musician Jamaaladeen Tacuma, who once performed a tribute to Robeson at the house in 2022, said that when he discovered Robeson’s prodigious accomplishments as an adult, it upset him that Robeson had been blacklisted.

“I was mad because I didn’t know anything about him, because his story had been erased and I hadn’t been taught about him in school,” Tacuma said. “I mean, goodness gracious, everything he put his hands on, he was unbelievable at.”

Robeson holds the distinction of being the third Black student to attend Rutgers University and its first Black football player who was so good, coach and sportswriter Walter Camp (who has a collegiate player of the year award named after him) referred to him as “the greatest defensive end to ever trod the gridiron.”

A strident anti-fascist, Robeson told the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1956, “The question is whether American citizens, regardless of their political beliefs or sympathies, may enjoy their constitutional rights. My father was a slave, and my people died to build this country, and I am going to stay here and have a part of it just like you. And no fascist-minded people will drive me from it.”

Joyel Crawford, fairygodmentor, contributor

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 13, 2025

Ask Your Fairygodmentor: Emotional Intelligence Beats IQ In Leadership Every Time

What to do when you’ve already made your first steps to strengthening your leadership skills by stepping back and realizing that you want to develop your emotional intelligence skills.

Dear Fairygodmentor,

I want to strengthen my leadership skills by developing emotional intelligence. What steps can I take to get there?
– Leading with Heart

Dear Leading with Heart,

My dear, you’ve already made your first steps to strengthening your leadership skills by stepping back and realizing that you want to develop your emotional intelligence skills.

What is emotional intelligence? Since 1990, Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer have been the leading researchers on emotional intelligence. They defined emotional intelligence (EI) as “the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions.” Having high emotional intelligence is linked to better decision-making, improved communication, stronger business relationships, and effective leadership.

American Psychologist Daniel Goleman developed a four-part model for emotional intelligence. Each aspect can give you insights that can translate into skills to help you listen more effectively and then respond in a way that can enhance your own life and be of value to those you’re trying to lead.

Self-Awareness

Each day we bring our emotional carry-on to work, and more and more emotional clothes get stuffed into our carry-on throughout the day at work until it explodes! Understanding your emotions and how they affect others is called self-awareness. If you know how to tap into your emotions well enough to understand how they impact you and other folks, it’s like having a really cool superpower.

Self-Management

Self-management is knowing what to do with your emotions before taking action. I like to call self-management the “Check yourself before you wreck yourself” EI skill. This skill also helps us understand how and why we get triggered. Knowing how to navigate through certain situations is also key to understanding the behavior of others and knowing how to deal with that.

Social Awareness (Empathy)

Having strong social awareness and empathy will help you so much with problem-solving. I like to call this the “Read the room” EI skill. As a leader, you’re interacting with your team on a daily basis.

As you lead, it’s important to communicate by telling, but it’s also stepping back and listening with empathy. The key is to seek to understand. Active listening plays a huge part in social awareness. Once you’ve heard them and really understand what they’re sharing with you, this is where you leverage the problem-solving part of what you do. Active listening leads you to be able to better understand your team and also de-escalate situations when tempers are running high. Empathy also builds trust. Trust is the foundation of any relationship, especially when leading teams.

Relationship Management

This last EI skill is all about using your awareness of your emotions and that of others to develop solid relationships, manage conflict, and communicate effectively. Sometimes we get so lost in the sauce of the management part of our role that we may lose sight of the relationship part. Relationship management is the leadership piece.

Be intentional in developing solid relationships with your team. Get to know them. Understand how they like to be coached. How do they like to communicate? Set up one-on-one meetings to level-set on the business end, learn more about their career aspirations, and hold space for them. Holding space will help them feel like their opinions and voicing their needs are welcome. One way I liked to strengthen my relationship with team members was to also ask for feedback. Yes, it may be scary to Show Your Ask in that way, but how will you know how to better support your team if you don’t ask?

Like with any skills, you need to practice using them. In time, you will strengthen your EI muscles and become the leader you aspire to be.

You got this!

Yours truly,

Your Fairygodmentor®

About Joyel Crawford:

Joyel Crawford is an award-winning career and leadership development professional and founder of Crawford Leadership Strategies, a consultancy that empowers results-driven leaders through coaching, training, and facilitation. She’s the best-selling author of Show Your Ask: Using Your Voice to Advocate for Yourself and Your Career.

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