• COVID-19

by Derek Major

October 2, 2021

Justice Department Files Statement Of Interest In Suit Against Texas Mask Mandate Ban

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The Justice Department (DoJ) has filed a statement of interest in a case involving disabled students in Texas who say the state’s mask ban is putting them in danger.

“The serious adverse consequences on students with certain disabilities is readily foreseeable. Some parents of children at heightened COVID-19 risk will likely keep their children at home—even though the children could safely attend school if mask protocols could be put in place,” the department said in the filing.

Mask mandates, and bans on them, have split parents, schools and school boards all summer as school board meetings have gotten out of hand across the nation. Additionally, 48 million children under the age of 12 are still not eligible for the vaccine and pediatric COVID-19 patients are rising.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association, more than 200,000 new cases of peratric COVID were reported last week making it the fifth consecutive week that any cases were reported.

The DoJ is following the Department of Education (DoE), which plans on investigating any violation of student’s civil rights by instituting mask bans. The DoE said the investigations will focus on disabled students, who are at a greater risk for severe illness from COVID-19, are being prevented from returning to in-person learning, in violation of federal law.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered a ban on masks in school in May but he also argued in court that he is unable to enforce the ban himself. However, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) was more than happy to help Abbott and ban school systems from requiring masks.

Disability Rights Texas, a protection and advocacy agency for disabled teens, filed a lawsuit on behalf of 14 students against Abbott and the TEA. The suit claims Abbott’s executive order banning masks “putting students with disabilities at significant risk, is discriminatory, and violates the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act.”

The DoJ is arguing that the ADA guarantees students with disabilities a “full and equal opportunity to learn alongside their nondisabled peers” and Abbott’s mask ban infringes on their rights.

“Other parents of children at heightened COVID-19 risk—such as parents who cannot be at home during the day—may have no choice but to send their children to school each day, knowing that their children’s health, and even their lives, may be at risk because those in close contact with their children may not be wearing masks and there is nothing the school can do about it,” the DOJ said in a statement.

A New York Times report states a monthly survey on vaccine attitudes by the Kaiser Family Foundation concludes that 58% of parents say that schools should have comprehensive mask requirements. Some 35% say there should be no mask mandate and 4% say only unvaccinated staff and students should wear masks.

• Lifestyle

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 2, 2021

John Legend Introduces New Initiative HUMANLEVEL To Help Tackle Systemic Racism in Local Communities

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R & B crooner and philanthropist John Legend has just announced his latest initiative that will uplift communities disproportionately impacted by institutionalized racism.

The new initiative, HUMANLEVEL works with local government officials and community members to build projects that will address the immediate needs at the city and local level while advocating for more equitable policies at a local, state, and federal level.

“We’ve started an initiative called HUMANLEVEL where local governments have invited us to work on specific projects to make their communities stronger and more equitable. Many of the problems our country faces today are difficult to address at the federal level. Many issues are really at the doorstep of your mayor, your county council, and your community leaders coming together to answer questions about how we can support each other, keep each other safe, and rebuild our country in a way that truly includes everyone.” said John Legend in a written statement.

This initiative includes an executive fellowship program, that will be done in partnership with FUSE Corps, and it will help place executive fellows in 11 different communities: Atlanta, Austin, Birmingham, Durham, Houston, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Oakland, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. These fellows will work with the aforementioned communities to develop strategic impact projects that will be designed to address the immediate needs while working toward sustainable and equitable policies in the areas of jobs, housing, education, health, and the criminal justice system.

“Our goal with this partnership is to take a deeper look at the issues from a human level, with a focus on actions city leaders can take to tackle systemic racism. No single solution will fix the racial and ethnic disparities we see across issues—from housing to education to the workforce—but we must approach this work with a sense of collaboration and urgency,” John Legend said.

Projects that HUMANLEVEL will incorporate with the executive fellows include:

• Increasing the number of accessible living-wage jobs
• Addressing the shortage of affordable housing and its impact on family security and homelessness
• Expanding access to preventive healthcare and mental health resources
• Broadening conceptions of public safety to move beyond policing and incarceration

In 2017, Millennial couple Leo and Faith Jean-Louis started off with a combined debt burden of $211,000, according to Business Insider.

After consistently paying around $2,200 towards student loan and credit card payments every month, the couple knew it was time for a change. They committed to tracking their money and taking on side gigs. Within three years, Leo and Faith became debt-free. They paid off a total of $224,000 including interest.

Over the last year, the couple has boosted their net worth beyond $500,000 and are now on track to become millionaires. They also started a business, Freedom Is A Choice MVT, to help other people achieve their dream of debt freedom.

“You don’t need to pay your debt off by tomorrow, next year or the year after that?” Leo wrote on Instagram. “You just need to DECIDE and have a conviction that the debt has to go! That’s where it starts. We had NO IDEA how long it was going to take us to pay off our $211,000 debt. None!

He adds, “We just knew that carrying $2,000 minimum payments were preventing us from living the life we wanted to live. So we just put one foot in front of the other and tried to figure it out as we went. Next thing you know we paid off $104,000 in our first year of marriage.”

Millennial Couple Debt Pay-Off Strategy

Leo and Faith Jean-Louis were clear about the reason they wanted to get out of debt: time and money freedom. They didn’t want to depend on a 9-5 lifestyle to provide for their family. The couple wanted to travel and spend more time with their kids. They also wanted to pass on generational wealth instead of debt.

“Start with your why,” Leo said in an interview with Black Enterprise. “When your vision becomes clear, the choices become fewer. The decision to take action becomes easier.”

First, Leo and Faith developed a budget, cut their expenses, and tracked their money. They carpooled to work, packed their lunches, and cut cable costs. Their goal was to give every dollar they earned a job so they could be intentional about their money allocation.

To accelerate their debt payment goals, the couple focused on increasing their income. Leo worked as an occupational therapist and picked up additional shifts to bring in more money. Faith, a full-time pediatric nurse practitioner, started working overnight nursing shifts and babysitting. The couple earned around $66,000 from their side hustles in 2018. The following year, they made around $40,000 and allocated all the money towards debt.

The Master Plan to Become Millionaires

After Leo and Faith paid off all their debt, they added to their emergency savings. They also allocated more money towards investments.

“Instead of our money going to debt and building someone else’s net worth, we started allocating it toward our investing and growing our own [net worth],” Leo told Black Enterprise.

The couple invested $81,000 in 2020. They maxed out all tax-advantaged retirement accounts, including the Roth IRA (individual retirement account) and Health Savings Account (HSA). When they welcomed their daughter into the world, they opened a 529 college savings plan.

The housing market boom pushed the couple over the six-figure net worth mark. Now, their Freedom Is a Choice MVT business is adding another boost to their net worth outside of their full-time jobs. Since 2019, they’ve helped clients pay off over $800,000 of debt.

“I’m a big believer in the power of choices,” said Leo. “We are where we are today in part based on the choices we made in the past. The life you live tomorrow will be based on the choices you make today.”

• Technology

by Tai Saint-Louis

October 2, 2021

Meet The First Two Black Women To Be Inducted Into The Inventors Hall Of Fame

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A tech innovator with over 200 patents to her name and the first Black woman physician to receive a medical patent are set to be inducted in the National Inventors Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2022.

Engineer Marian Croak and Dr. Patricia Bath will become the first two Black women to be admitted into the Hall of Fame in its 50-year history. Unfortunately, Bath did not live to see the honor, as she passed away in 2019 due to complications from cancer.

Over the course of her career as an ophthalmologist, Bath received a total of five medical patents. She is being recognized as an inventor specifically for the creation of the Laserphaco Probe, a surgical tool she introduced in 1981 that uses a laser to eliminate cataracts. Speaking to Time Magazine in 2017, Bath said, “I was not seeking to be the first, I was only attempting to do my thing. It’s only when history looks back that you realize you were the first.”

According to Dr. Bath’s official Instagram account, her induction comes after 11 nominations over the course of three decades.

While Croak is being recognized for her contributions to Voice over Internet Protocol advancements, she has intentionally spent her career finding solutions to the problems she saw immediately around her. Currently the vice president of engineering over the Google Cloud team, one of her first roles at Google was bringing internet markets to emerging markets. That work included laying fiber in Africa and providing public Wi-Fi access in train stations in India.

Following the Hall of Fame announcement, she told the company’s blog that she was humbled by and grateful for the recognition. “I have alway been motivated by the desire to change the world,” she said of her work, “and to do that I try to change the world that I’m currently in. What I mean by that is I work on problems that I am aware of, and that I can tackle within the world that surrounds me.

The induction ceremony for the National Inventors Hall of Fame will take place on May 5 in Washington, D.C.

• News

by Tai Saint-Louis

October 2, 2021

Police Gunfire Responsible For Killing 8-Year-Old Bystander Shot Outside Philadelphia, DA Says

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The Delaware County District Attorney’s office has requested a grand jury investigation after determining “with near certainty” that the bullets that killed 8-year-old Fanta Bility were fired by police officers.

Bility and three others were shot on August 27 after an altercation between several young men outside of a Philadelphia-area high school football game exploded into gunfire.

According to CNN, what started as a verbal confrontation broke out just as spectators were leaving the Academy Park High School stadium. As shots rang out from the argument, officers outside of the stadium opened fire on a car which had turned onto the street.

The three surviving victims believed to have been hit by police fire were Bility’s 12-year-old sister, a 13-year-old boy and a 20-year-old woman who was a passenger in that car.

“Our initial ballistics analysis has concluded with near certainty that four of the five gunshot victims, including Fanta Bility, were tragically struck by shots fired by the Sharon Hill police officers,” said DA Jack Stollsteimer in a statement last week. “We await final forensic reports.”

Three officers have been placed on administrative leave as the investigation continues. Their names have not been released. Stollsteimer has petitioned the Delaware County president judge to convene a grand jury that would determine if they have enough to bring criminal charges against the offices.

In the meantime, the DA’s special investigations unit is conducting additional ballistics tests, and former Philadelphia District Attorney Kelley Hodge has been brought in to investigate the Sharon Hill Police Department as a whole, and the conduct of the three officers in question.

The Bility family has hired Bruce Castor Jr., a former prosecutor, to represent them in the case. In a statement released after the family met with Stollsteimer, Castor said that they are “very satisfied that the district attorney’s is doing everything he should be doing.”

Many Black-owned businesses suffered during the pandemic. But there were others who were able to monetize their knowledge and achieve record revenue numbers. Entrepreneurs who tapped into the course creator economy were able to teach others profitable skills from the comfort of their homes.

If you’re thinking about creating an online course, here’s some inspiration from three Black women who’ve hit the million-dollar mark.

Teri Ijeoma

In 2017, Teri Ijeoma quit her job as an assistant principal at an elementary school. She traveled around the world and used her income from trading stocks to fund her lifestyle. She started teaching others how to make money in the stock market too.  Three years later, her course, Trade and Travel, generated over $10 million on the Teachable platform.

“I didn’t seek to start a class,” Ijeoma shared on the Social Proof podcast. “I just wanted an exit strategy. While I was traveling, people started asking me to teach them how to trade. I did my first class in Thailand. The people loved it and asked me to do another one.”

Ijeoma is on a mission to help more people earn $1,000 per day in the stock market. Her course has allowed students to retire their family members, pay off debt, and travel the world.

“Only two-course creators made over $10,000,000 in 2020 and I am one of the two,” Ijeoma told David Never Sleeps.“You don’t become one of the top-selling courses on Teachable by marketing. The course actually has to get people results.”

Danielle Leslie

After getting laid off in 2015, Danielle Leslie earned $10,000 within 30 days by teaching her network how to launch online courses. Eventually, she developed “Course from Scratch, a training program that has generated over $4 million in revenue.

Leslie’s success didn’t happen overnight. She had to identify her niche and develop consistency. Leslie urges entrepreneurs to keep going, stay focused on one idea, and track their progress. She also believes it’s important to marry your story and your skills.

“Know the power of your unique story,” Leslie shared during a podcast interview. “I think that is the reason why I was able to grow this quickly. I tapped into who I am and who I appeal to. Embracing whatever your difference is will take you so far.”

Leslie has experienced tremendous revenue growth over the last four years. She committed to engaging her audience, hiring coaches, leveraging social media, and automating her processes. Leslie went from earning $85,000 in 2017 to $2.5 million in 2018. Her business earned more than $9 million in 2020, according to her Instagram page.

Danielle Pierce

When Danielle Pierce launched her Property Preservation Mastery online course In 2017, she earned a little over $21,000. Fast forward to 2020, Pierce made it to an exclusive list of million-dollar course creators. She hit the $1 million mark by teaching others how to earn more money during the pandemic.

Pierce has been an entrepreneur since getting laid off from her accounting job in 2007. She has explored many real estate side hustles, including tax lien investing and onsite property valuations (BPOs).  But it wasn’t until Pierce invested in a business coach that she really started to see her profits soar. After hiring coach Thomas K.R. Stovall, her online course sales increased over 4,000%.

“He’s the single driving factor behind why there has been and will continue to be such a massive, predictable growth of revenue for Real Estate Profit Lab,” Pierce mentioned in a Facebook post. “If you’re great at what you do, are laser-focused, and a bona fide subject matter expert, I’m here to tell you that working with a specialist will change your life.”

Pierce uses her experience in real estate to help others how to create profitable six-figure businesses, without the stress of selling or building a team. She’s on a mission to help more people develop businesses that aligns with their lifestyle.

“Being able to articulate and deliver consistent results for the customer is how you create a profitable and enjoyable business. In other words, don’t take everyone’s money.”

• Lifestyle

by Tai Saint-Louis

October 2, 2021

Executive Producer Candi Carter Quits ‘Toxic’ Tamron Hall Show

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Executive producer Candi Carter has left the Tamron Hall Show, becoming the third EP to do so in less than two years.

Though an official statement has not been issued by either side, the Daily Mail reports a source close to the show attributes Carter’s abrupt departure to the “toxic” work environment created by Hall.

“Candi was so done with Tamron that she requested that ABC take her off the show,” the source said. “The environment that Tamron has created on her show is toxic. It is literally bleeding staff.”

Prior to leading the Tamron Hall Show, Carter was at The View, where she had become the first Black woman to head the long-running talk show. In March 2020, Hall had nothing but praise for her new executive producer during a digital news conference with several reporters.

“You always need a coach,” she said. “I don’t care how good you are, you need a coach. She is my Phil Jackson. I know this show is in great hands and I know the quality of what we’re seeing right now in this makeshift studio is because of her. Point blank, period.”

At the time, Carter had already been the third person at the production helm of the show last year. She replaced Talia Parkinson-Jones, who had only held the position briefly after Bill Geddie, best known for creating The View.

According to the source, who is also an ABC staffer, the same strength Hall praised ultimately led her to butt heads with Carter.

“Tamron didn’t like that Candi tried to steer the ship and had ideas that clashed with hers, because Tamron believes the only opinion that matters is her opinion,” the source alleges.

This is not the first time Hall has come under fire as an employer.

Last summer, she was called out for staffers for “living her best life” on Instagram a day before 20 people were fired from the show in the middle of a pandemic. A spokesperson, however, claimed that no one had been fired, stating that the show had simply chosen not to renew certain production contracts.

• Technology

by Black Enterprise Shop

October 2, 2021

Boost Your Chances At Winning The Ultimate Gaming Bundle While Doing Good

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There are fewer things less frustrating these days than attempting to purchase a coveted PlayStation 5. Sony’s latest iteration of its flagship console was released last November, and it still remains one of the most elusive electronic items on the market.

Sure, stores like Best Buy, Walmart, and Gamestop have launched restocks, but your chances of successfully hitting one of these restocks are about as good as you winning the next multi-million dollar Powerball offering.

Wouldn’t it be easier – and fulfilling – if there was a way to increase your chances of securing the popular gaming system while also donating your precious time and money to a good cause?

This epic gaming giveaway checks all those boxes and more. A $10 donation entitled you to 100 entries to win the Ultimate Gaming Giveaway.

On sale now for $10, you can get an additional 40% off using coupon code VIP40 as a part of our VIP Sale. That drops your final price down to $6.00.”

This gaming-packed deal not only includes a PlayStation 5 and a five-year membership to PlayStation Plus, but you’ll also win Xbox X Series and a five-year pass to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Membership.

For $25 you can purchase 250 entries; $50 buys you 1,000 entries; $75 entitles you to 1,500 entries; $100 allows you 2,500 entries, and you can buy 4,500 entries for 4150.

There’s more.

A winning donation also packs in a portable 32-gigabyte Nintendo Switch for all of your mobile gaming needs. The bounty, however, isn’t limited to consoles.

A winning draw produces an award-winning TITAN gaming chair from industry leader Secretlab, a Corsair keyboard, a Bose gaming headset, a Logitech BRIO Ultra HD webcam, a Sony 65” 4K Ultra HD smart TV, among other high-tech gaming items.

This package is valued at $5,151.30.

Included in a winning draw is also a $500 Best Buy gift card so you can purchase all the games or console accessories you so desire.

Every dollar you donate goes to the Playing for Change Foundation, an international non-profit that brings music programs to 11 countries. Purchase one of these entries today and feel good knowing that the money spent is going toward a good cause.

Prices subject to change.

• Business

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 1, 2021

Walker’s Legacy Foundation Launches Women Who Enterprise Accelerator Program

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Meet Ayris Scales, the CEO of Walker’s Legacy Foundation, formed in 2009 in honor of the late Madame C.J. Walker, the first self-made woman millionaire in America. As part of continuing Walker’s Legacy Foundation, the foundation is committed to aiding the next generation of minority women entrepreneurs.

As part of Walker’s Legacy Foundation mission, the foundation has launched the Women Who Enterprise accelerator program. The three-month-long business training program is based around a structured curriculum that includes in-person cohort models and expert lecturers that aim to mentor existing businesswomen of color in their pursuit of advancing their business operations and access to funding.

“Our Women Who Enterprise business accelerator is suited for women from diverse industries and that’s one of the amazing things about it,” Scales said.

“The women are centralized based on where they are in their entrepreneurial journey and what they hope to accomplish by way of business fundamentals such as pitching, accessing capital, business plan development and mental wellness vs. what services and products they sell specifically.”

Women Who Enterprise is now available in Washington, D.C., Rochester, NY and Birmingham, AL. The inaugural accelerator program will begin November 6, 2021, and be conducted virtually due to the pandemic.

The curriculum within the program has been updated based on key findings from the COVID-19 Impact Report Walker’s Legacy Foundation conducted in partnership with the Gates Foundation. With a central focus on what Black women business owners actually need in real-time, the accelerator program will focus on key findings such as health and wellness, Emergency Preparedness Plan, and securing funding.

“We are on an aggressive journey to ensure 10,000 Black women are capital ready by 2025,” Scales said. “Our future plans include scaling Women Who Enterprise into 8 additional cities by spring of 2022, and adding additional tracks and tiers to our business development strategy, such as our keystone program PROSPECTUS.”

“Using the feedback from our COVID 19 impact study, our business accelerators will include components that respond directly to concerns and needs of women of color business leaders,” she continued. “We will also have some customized industry specific programming, starting with STEM that we’ll be launching in March of 2022.”

Minority women professionals and entrepreneurs interested in participating in the Women Who Enterprise accelerator program can visit https://www.walkerslegacy.org/accelerators