Courtrooms are stacked with cases and millions of Americans face a major disadvantage when they go to court without a lawyer. Black professors, Sonja Ebron and Debra Slone worked to change that.

The two operate a management platform known as Courtroom5 to provide clients with everything they need to represent themselves in court. TechXplore reported that the platform is one of the few Triangle startups founded by Black women.

The two professors launched the platform in 2019 to offer step-by-step guidance on navigating civil cases, in addition to understanding paperwork and important information needed to prepare. The company also provides automated templates for users to write pleadings and motions.

According to Forbes, the five-step process provides an affordable system for litigants to hire legal experts to help with limited portions of their cases.

“People are very intimidated when they go to see a lawyer, or when they go to see a judge. But the civil procedure is just about what information they are asking,” said co-founder, Ebron, who previously taught electrical engineering. ”

“…We give that information to help them answer that question and choose from a limited set of options.”

Ebron has a PhD in electrical engineering with a background in artificial intelligence, and Slone, wife and co-founder, is a PhD librarian and expert in qualitative data analysis.

After a share of their own failed attempts representing themselves, they recognized the importance of providing courses and workshops on how clients should represent themselves in a court case.

“Our goal is to give people a chance,” she said.

Reportedly, the company isn’t employing its own lawyers, however, it’s working to provide a service where clients have connections to lawyers on an individual basis.

“There are times where you want to have a phone consultation or have a lawyer go argue a motion,” Ebron said. “We want to have lawyers available on a task basis. Not full representation…but users might be happy to spend a few hundred dollars to have someone argue a motion or $50 for a phone conversation.”

• Celebrity News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 19, 2022

Kandi Burruss’ Mother Wants Her Daughter to Level Up With a Man on the ‘Same Financial Scale’

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If there’s one thing Kandi Burruss‘ mother, Mama Joyce, is going to do, it’s remind us how much she dislikes her daughter’s husband, Todd Tucker.

The Old Lady Gang owner was present at BravoCon 2022 over the weekend, where Mama Joyce was asked about replacing her son-in-law, who’s been married to the Grammy award-winning singer since 2014 and shares two young children.

Instead of playing nice, Mama Joyce threw the whole tree at Todd and admitted she’d like it if her daughter dated someone with a better job.

“If I could have replaced Todd, I probably would’ve picked anyone that had a decent job,” Mama Joyce told one fan who asked who she would’ve set Kandi up with.

“Somebody that was maybe in the same business, in the financial realm that she was in,” she continued.

“I just think that she should’ve married someone that was on the same financial scale.”

Mama Joyce on who she’d replace Todd with for Kandi! #RHOA #BRAVOCON22 pic.twitter.com/EQNP8itpkH

— Whitney Vasquez (@whitgetitwhit) October 16, 2022

Mama Joyce has been vocal about her opposition to Kandi’s marriage from the beginning. The family drama has played out on The Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA).

But after two children and nearly 10 years of marriage, fans would think Mama Joyce had finally come around to embracing Todd. However, after her latest comments about her son-in-law, critics are sounding off and encouraging Kandi to check her mother.

“Kandi at some point baby… you gotta…. Check this,” one fan wrote.

“Yeah, I honestly couldn’t imagine my mother speaking this loudly and rudely about my partner,” another user said.

“It’s disrespectful. Ain’t no way anyone in my family would be allowed to speak disrespectfully regarding my husband privately let alone publicly,” added someone else.

Fans have gotten an inside look into Mama Joyce’s combativeness over her daughter’s love life. In the past, Kandi also had to defend her relationship with her ex-fiancé Ashley ‘AJ’ Jewell who was tragically murdered outside of a nightclub in 2009.

Since Kandi found love with Todd, who worked as an RHOA producer at the time, Mama Joyce’s been vocal about her dislike for him. Viewers constantly criticize Mama Joyce for her attitude towards her daughter’s love life. But Kandi makes it clear that she’s gonna stick beside her mama.

Kandi Burruss that’s my mama and y’all can tweet you can do whateva you can tweet till you get blue in the face I don’t care she can have whatever she want cause that’s my mama defending someone going up for her mom choked up emotional idc unapologetic Andy Cohen RHOA reunion pic.twitter.com/n6B7rKHBCH

— niggative memes(WE’RE SO BACK!!) (@niggativebts) June 2, 2021

• Food

by Derek Major

October 19, 2022

Department Of Labor Orders N.C. Restaurant To Pay Back $157K To Employees After Taking Tips

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The Department Of Labor (DOL) has ordered a North Carolina Restaurant to pay more than $157,000 to staffers after taking their tips.

Finurah reported that on Oct. 11, the DOL ordered Jay’s Kitchen, located in Goldsboro, North Carolina to pay back $157,287 to 65 staff members after failing to give them the tips they earned.

“Tipped workers in the food services industry rely on their hard-earned tips to make ends meet,” Richard Blaylock, district director of the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division in Raleigh, North Carolina, said in a statement, according to Finurah. “Tips are the property of the worker and, under no circumstances, may employers keep any part of their employees’ tips.”

The DOL says the company denied “the workers their full wages by keeping portions of their earned tips.” Withholding tips is a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is considered wage theft.

Because they took a percentage of employee tips, the DOL said Jay’s Kitchen, which is part of a group of six restaurants owned by Mugen Inc., owes the workers the difference between their paid cash wage and the federal minimum wage, according to the DOL.

Additionally, the DOL said Jay’s Kitchen violated child labor laws by allowing three 15-year-old children to work at the restaurant for more than three hours on a school day and past 7 p.m. on a school night. The restaurant was ordered to pay a civil penalty of $1,915. According to Restaurant Business Online, Jay’s Kitchen was also fined for a failure to keep an accurate record of hours worked, dates of birth for workers under 19, and a lack of an address for several employees.

In addition to Jay’s Kitchen, Mugen Inc. operates Jay’s Sushi & Burger Bar, two units of Ninja Hibachi Express, Ninja Grill, Ninja Hibachi & Burger, and Jay’s 108. All the restaurants focus on Asian Fusion.

Goldenvoice, the organizers behind the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, are suing the founder of Afrochella, an African music festival based in Ghana.

Rolling Stone reports that the lawsuit was filed Wednesday in a California District Court and comes three years after AEG (which owns Goldenvoice) issued a warning to Afrochella organizers about infringing on the festival’s trademark.

“Regardless of the celebration or event, your use of Afrochella as the name of a music and arts festival is highly likely to create a likelihood of confusion and mistake as to the affiliation, connection, or association of you with AEG and with Coachella. In particular, the public is likely to believe that you are authorized by, or affiliated with, AEG or Coachella. In fact, you have even admitted that your event name and your event were inspired by Coachella. Similarly, comments to own your own Facebook page comment that your festival name is merely trading on the goodwill of the Coachella mark,” AEG wrote in 2019.

According to the Afrochella website, the festival was designed to highlight Africa’s millennial talent through an interactive event that teaches, explains, and explores various cultures through a pioneering approach.

Afrochella was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the festival took place in Ghana in 2021 and this year’s festival is set to take place December 28 and 29 at El Wak Stadium in Ghana. Additionally, Afrochella is set to expand to South Africa and organizers have begun hosting events in the U.S., which prompted the lawsuit by AEG.

Coachella, meanwhile, held its first festival in 1999, which featured Rage Against The Machine, and was attended by 25,000 people. The festival took a year off in 2000 but came back as a one-day festival in 2001 and has been a multi-stage, two-day festival ever since.

This isn’t the first time Coachella has sued a festival over the name “Chella.”  In 2016, the festival organizers sued the underground festival dubbed Hoodchella.

In addition to the similar names, AEG claims in the suit that Afrochella organizers have attempted to patent both “Coachella” and “Chella” in Ghana, and Afrochella’s logo uses a nearly identical font as the Coachella festival.

“Not simply content to imitate and attempt to trade on the goodwill of Chella and Coachella, Defendants even went so far as to apply in Ghana to register Coachella and Chella as their own trademarks, using the exact same stylization as Plaintiffs’ registered Coachella (stylized) mark,” the lawsuit states.

In the suit, Goldenvoice also provided social media evidence showing users confusing the two concerts and tweets showing that Afrochella organizer Edward Elohim attended Coachella in 2018 and admitted that the festival inspired the Ghanaian music festival. The suit also noted that the Afrochella website is a North American-based domain, which helps it attract a U.S. audience.

AEG is seeking more than $100,000 for claims of cybersquatting domain names, and an immediate restraining order on the Afrochella name.

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 19, 2022

Elderly Civil Rights Activist Stabbed Multiple Times Thanks Two ‘Angels’ Who Saved Her

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The 91-year-old civil rights activist who is recovering after being stabbed multiple times in a Boston park is thanking the “two kids” who helped save her life.

On Tuesday, Jean McGuire was released from the hospital one week after she was targeted in an unprovoked knife attack inside Franklin Park, CBS News reports. McGuire was stabbed on October 11 while walking on a path near Seaver Street sometime between 7:55 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Her attacker fled the scene and there have been no arrests. But McGuire is thanking the “two kids” for saving her life following the stabbing.

“I’ve never in my 91 years not felt safe walking the streets of Boston day or night ever. And now I will never go up there to the park alone again,” McGuire said.

“It’s in my head that it wouldn’t be wise. It’s a different time.”

McGuire, a Boston schools pioneer who was the first Black woman elected to the Boston School Committee and served as a former director of the METCO desegregation program, used her self-defense skills to fight off her attacker.

“I didn’t have any words. I used the training that I had, which I did with my staff to protect myself when somebody attacks my body,” she said. “That was my foot and my knee and it almost ruined my arm.”

McGuire is thanking the two young people who came to her aid following the unprovoked knife attack.

“Two kids. I don’t know who they are. They were going to the light show. They were coming from the light show — I was walking toward there,” she explained.

“They’re angels without wings I’ll tell you that much.”

“Their parents should be so proud that they cared enough to get help for somebody laying on the street bleeding,” she continued. “There’s a lot I don’t remember. I don’t let it bother me now. You all took care of me and so you move on but you do have to be prepared to protect yourself in the future.”

• Celebrity News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 19, 2022

Wendy Williams Exits Wellness Facility — Says She is ‘Back and Better Than Ever’

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After a couple of tumultuous years, there is some good news coming out of the Wendy Williams camp. Reports have surfaced that the talk show queen has completed her stint in a wellness facility and is feeling “better than ever.”

According to Fox News, the future podcaster is out and ready to get back to work.

Williams’ publicist, Shawn Zanotti told the media outlet, “We are happy to report that Wendy Williams is home and healing after being in a wellness facility since August. Wendy is excited about the road ahead and looking forward to releasing her many projects.”

Last month, the 58-year-old media personality checked into a “wellness facility” to  “manage her overall health issues,” Zanotti told The U.S. Sun. Williams informed TMZ that she was entering the world of podcasting after the loss of her television talk show earlier this year. Williams had stated that she already had plans to have big-name celebrity guests. In a brief interview, Williams told the media outlet that she will make more money podcasting than she did on her popular syndicated talk show.

Zanotti also had a direct message from Williams that she wanted to tell her fans. “Thank you to my fans for your love, support and many prayers, I am back and better than ever.”

The New York Post reported that Fox NY’s Rosanna Scotto ran into Williams recently and she stated she wants to open a restaurant. Possibly.

“She loves the meatballs at Fresco and the last time I talked to her she’s like, ‘OK, Rosanna, I am coming to Fresco and I want the meatballs and then you’re going to help me open up my own restaurant.’ And I’m like, ‘What, sister, you wanna take my people away to your restaurant?”

“I don’t know if she wants me to waitress or what,” Scotto said, “but she did tell me she wants to open her own restaurant and she wants me to help… If there is [a restaurant] from Wendy, it will be big competition but I love her.”

The Wendy Williams Show aired from 2008 to 2022, but medical conditions forced her off the air for the past year and a half. An array of guest hosts kept the party going until the show’s end.

• Sisters Inc

by Eric Moody

October 19, 2022

Black-Woman-Owned Health Tech Startup Reaches Billion-Dollar Status

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CEO and co-founder, Iman Abuzeid, achieved an impressive milestone when her company, Incredible Health, reached billion-dollar status after its latest round of funding.

According to reports, the Black-owned health tech startup has a current valuation of up to $1.65 billion.

Abuzeid is reportedly the fourth Black woman to ever have a company valued at $1 billion, after securing a series B round of funding of $80 million.

“We’ve transformed how nurses are hired and will build on this work to help health systems and healthcare workers manage surging patient demand in the midst of a national labor crisis,” Abuzeid said in an interview.

The healthcare career marketplace, founded in 2017, connects U.S. hospitals and healthcare organizations with qualified nurses to fill vacant positions.

Abuzeid and her team were acknowledged for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic in helping medical providers find top matching candidates in 20 days.

“Nurses are the backbone of the U.S. healthcare system, and they deserve the well-staffed teams and tools to not only succeed but also feel fulfilled in their careers,” she added.

The platform first began its partnership with 200 hospitals and has now increased to 600 across the U.S.

The CEO, who was also featured on BLACK ENTERPRISE‘s Sisters Inc. podcast, strongly believes that the need for healthcare is increasing with an aging population.

A demand many saw during the pandemic when nursing shortages impacted many hospitals, causing availability delays for patients due to the lack of medical personnel.

Abuzeid shared those same focuses in a post after announcing the company‘s milestone.

Incredible Health also provides free accredited nursing courses to fill the critical void of talent.

“We are committed to addressing both sides of this crisis with tech-enabled support and services for the U.S. nursing workforce,” Abuzeid added in her interview.

According to federal data research, the U.S. is expected to lose 500,000 nurses by the end of this year.

• Celebrity News

by Stacy Jackson

October 19, 2022

Erykah Badu’s New Couture Footwear Line Is Actually ‘Sea Anemone Leg Warmers’

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Celebrities have been known to push fashion trends beyond everyday basics, especially innovators like Erykah Badu, who never misses a chance to serve the public a dose of extravagance.

The hip-hop and R&B singer is stepping into a new venture outside of music and expanding her talents to the fashion industry with a new couture shoe line that she announced to her Instagram followers on Sunday, Oct. 9.

“Under Water Boogie Baby. Anemones by Badu. A [collab] with my Hitta @myahhasbany – for e.Badu’s 1st collection in upcoming couture line (still unnamed),” she captioned the post.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by UNICORN Mutant Cobra – present (@erykahbadu)

The high fashion swag will literally allow fans to step into her aesthetic when they try on her new footwear.

The leg warmers were custom-made for Badu by Myah Hasbany, a fashion student at the Central Saint Martins School in London. Hasbany caught Badu’s attention when she was a teen studying at Booker T. Washington High School in Dallas, one of the schools Badu once attended and presently supports, according to The Dallas Observer.

Hasbany’s designs reflect wearable knitted art that Badu’s worn before in more elaborate, full body looks.

“[A] rule about cool shoes is that they must be a little ugly,” director Sayna Fararaghi wrote on Twitter.

According to W Magazine, the entertainer was spotted numerous times during Paris Fashion Week wearing the tentacle-like accessories around her feet, including a red version she wore to Rick Owens’ show in Paris, and the final Burberry show in London.

Although Badu’s been making a statement in the leg warmers, like the blue ombre pair she wore during her summer performance in Switzerland, a date has not been set for when the singer’s footwear line will be available for purchase.

https://twitter.com/yemisizealtv/status/1575923416896802817

• Health and Wellness

by Atiya Jordan

October 19, 2022

Retro Fitness’ Project LIFT Plans To Open 500 New Health Clubs in Black and Brown Communities

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Retro Fitness, one of the fastest-growing health club franchises, is spearheading an unrivaled solution for Black and Brown communities to gain access to affordable exercise.

Over the past couple of years, the pandemic hasn’t only induced looming obesity rates and other health issues, but also the inaccessibility to health clubs. In response, Retro Fitness launched Project LIFT, an eager commitment to open 500 health clubs in 50 Black and Brown communities across the country in the next five years.

A historic deal

With the support and partnership of BlackRock’s Impact Opportunities Fund and investor, James Collins, the historic development deal initiated the opening of 80 health clubs in Houston, Dallas, and South Florida.

“Project LIFT is Retro Fitness’ north star, creating a company with a purpose,” Andrew Alfano, CEO of Retro Fitness, told BLACK ENTERPRISE in an email statement.

“Our exclusive partnerships with a variety of experts adds an educational component to these communities covering a variety of topics including anxiety and depression, healthy recipes by Culinary Institute of America Chefs, as well as published authors covering nutrition.”

“Blackrock recognized Retro Fitness’ initiative to provide health and fitness solutions to Black and Brown communities, while at the same time creating a compelling opportunity for investors.“

“This motivated them to make the largest investment deal in the history of Retro Fitness,” he added.

In working on Project LIFT, Collins told BLACK ENTERPRISE that when he learned of Retro Fitness’ efforts to “combat health issues that disproportionately affected Black and Brown communities” it immediately resonated. He said he “feels confident in knowing that these clubs will be accessible to those whose health and wellness have been negatively affected [by the pandemic.”

“These health clubs are here for them, and we want to show up and provide that community feel.”

Closing the wage gap for Black workers

In addition to spearheading change in health and fitness, Project LIFT offers positive financial opportunities for the local community. From the construction of clubs, to front-desk attendees, employment will be more accessible in order to tackle the wage gap for Black workers.

“That means hiring [people] from the local community that look like the people in the health clubs and providing them with fair and equal wages,” Collins said.

“Along with their wages, the employees and General Managers will receive a valuable work experience that also provides substantial career opportunities and advances.”

He continued: “It’s my hope that by having the Project LIFT locations employed by Black and Brown community members, that we create a true breeding ground for future leaders, whether that’s within Retro Fitness or elsewhere in the community.”

Giving back to the community

The pipeline grows stronger as Retro Fitness will be donating a percentage of their royalties back to an organization or charity within the Black and Brown communities.

Diddy is back in working artist mode. The successful entrepreneurial hip-hop stalwart is making his rounds through media outlets as his chart-topping single with Bryson Tiller made Diddy’s return as a recording artist official.

After releasing the song, Gotta Move On, and remixing it, the “Bad Boy” came back with a video featuring former Murder Inc. queen, Ashanti.

The remixed video includes a verse from Ashanti that seemingly addresses her “affair” with Murder Inc. founder and CEO, Irv Gotti who, in recent months, appeared on the Drink Champs podcast and spoke recklessly about his former artist.

With Yung Miami also on the track, the Foolish singer has many thinking she is addressing Gotti’s obsession with their past romance.

“It’s giving obsessed, it’s giving you stressed/It’s giving you pressed, it’s giving this n**ga missing the best,” Ashanti croons on the remixed song. “But it’s been 20 years, please cry less/We can see you and your tears.”

Back in August, the internet was ablaze when Gotti, and rapper/entrepreneur Ja Rule made an appearance on the popular podcast, Drink Champs, which is hosted by hip-hop artist N.O.R.E. and DJ Efn. During that drink-filled podcast, Gotti mentioned that he was in love with Ashanti and revealed that they were intimate during her career with Murder Inc.

Fans of Ashanti chastised Gotti for revealing the private details of his past relationship with the singer while he was on the show. At one point during the conversation, he revealed that right before Ashanti recorded her song, Happy, they were intimate. He stated that while he was in the shower after having sex with her, the melody came to him, and he immediately called his producer to craft the song. Then it was presented to the singer so she could write to it.