• Diversity, Equality, Inclusion

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 19, 2022

For Hyatt, Martha’s Vineyard Comedy Fest is Serious Business

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Martha’s Vineyard has always represented the idyllic summer retreat for Black celebrities and the Black business and political elite.

Amid this gathering spot that defines Black wealth and influence, one can find pristine beaches, continuous networking, and side-splitting humor. One of the island’s main attractions over the past 11 years has been the Martha’s Vineyard Comedy Fest—a seasonal event in which some of the nation’s most hilarious comedians have brought the funny to scores of vacationers.

This year’s headliner was none other than Sherri Shepherd, who has entertained audiences for more than 25 years and has recently launched a new daytime talk show. Along with veteran comedians Damon Williams, the event’s perennial host, and James “Talent” Harris, they rocked the house—with laughter.

What made the performance on that warm, mid-August evening even more significant was the fact that it was the first time Shepherd graced the stage of the coveted venue–The Strand Theater in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts—and that the event was presented by long-time comedy producer Steve Capers and Hyatt, one of the world’s largest hospitality brands.

As the first national sponsor of Comedy Fest, Hyatt made clear that its investment in the event and presence in Martha’s Vineyard meant serious business.

“Being able to show up here at Martha’s Vineyard was deliberate, intentional, and strategic,” said Tyronne Stoudemire, senior vice president of Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Hyatt.

“We wanted to meet Black people where they are, and this is Black excellence.”

“To bring them in, and win their hearts and minds, to showcase who we are as an organization, and that they can be a part of this journey.”

Sharing its ‘Change Starts Here’ message

The locale served as another valuable touch point to support Hyatt’s ‘Change Starts Here’ initiative. Says Stoudemire: “Many corporations, after the death of George Floyd, either reacted or responded. Hyatt responded with a set of DEI commitments called Change Starts Here, centered on who we employ, develop, and advance, who we support, and who we buy from and work with. And I think it’s very important that when organizations make goals, then they’re accountable. In order to be accountable, they then have to show up and be transparent about what they’re doing…”

Stoudemire maintains that the week Hyatt representatives spent in Martha’s Vineyard—when some of the nation’s most influential Black senior executives, entrepreneurs, political activists, thought leaders, and philanthropists vacation and convene on the island—proved most beneficial as “we amplified organizations that have done business with us for multiple years, and sought out new businesses that we would work with and not wait for them to come to us.”

He says that over the past few months, Hyatt has attended the Black Travel Summit to connect with young, international travelers; met with members of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the nation’s oldest Black Greek sorority, at their national convention in Orlando; and assembled Hyatt colleagues and interns of color in Washington, D.C. to hear from Black general managers at Hyatt hotels and corporate leaders in Hyatt’s offices on their experiences working for an organization in which DEI has been “a part of its DNA” since Hyatt Regency Atlanta—dubbed the “Hotel of Hope”—permitted Southern Christian Leadership Conference and one its planners, civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., to use the venue to deliver an address on racial equality.

Not only did Hyatt make presentations and meet with Black influencers in the relaxed atmosphere on Martha’s Vineyard, but they used Hyatt’s sponsorship of Comedy Fest to further advance Hyatt’s commitment to Black business with one of the island’s most visible enterprises.

Creating a relationship with Comedy Fest

Capers spent decades as an executive involved in programming for such cable channels as Comedy Central and BET before launching Chicago-based Knock-Knock Productions in 2003 to “continue my quest to give out a different brand of comedy that’s more uplifting and elevating.” For several years, he drove his entrepreneurial vision through his handshake agreement with Williams and the creation of vehicles for professional audiences like “Stand Up and Network” and “Funny First Saturdays,” held at luxury hotels throughout the Windy City. As the duo sought to identify the next big thing, Comedy Fest evolved based on a suggestion from Capers’ wife.

“So, we were in the midst of saying, ‘What are we going to do next?’ Let’s open up a club. But then that didn’t fall, getting the liquor license and everything else. It just didn’t happen.”

“While vacationing here with my family, my wife said, ‘You should do comedy here.’”

“And just as a good husband does, I argued with her. I said, ‘No, that’s not going to work. You don’t really know comedy. And I just don’t know.’ And she said, ‘Just try it and see what happens. If it doesn’t work, you did it.’”

So, Capers launched the event in 2011—owing much, he says, to his wife for helping to finance the venture. During the first summer, he was pleasantly surprised that the event came close to breaking even.

He recalls: “I said, ‘We can come back and try it again.’ So, I went old school. I went back to my days in television, that grassroots marketing. I was out at the Inkwell Beach, shaking hands, kissing babies. Just really politicking and telling people that we had this brand of comedy. You need to come and laugh. And now we got people who come to Martha’s Vineyard for the Comedy Fest.”

By year five, word of mouth, sponsorship from HBO, and a slate of headlining stand-up comics that included Las Vegas regular George Wallace and Mark “Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper” Curry, Capers says, “a local draw became a national draw.”

Now, he asserts that the national sponsorship by Hyatt will take Comedy Fest to the next level and, at the same time, bolster the Black supply chain locally and nationally.

“What’s really bigger than this comedy festival is the support that we get from corporations like Hyatt,” says Capers, citing that the event, which sells out before the beginning of summer, grossed an impressive $500,000 this year.

“What I tell people is that this is an economic snowball. Their contribution to us is intentional. And with my business, we’re intentional with hiring African American entrepreneurs.”

“So, our graphic artist is African American, our accountants, our lawyers, all African American firms. Even the man who creates our coasters is African American. So, it has that trickle-down effect. We’re paying these comedians, so we got to be intentional.”

An intentional commitment to boost Black business

Stoudemire stresses that Comedy Fest is part of Hyatt’s companywide thrust to expand opportunities for diverse suppliers. As part of Change Starts Here, Hyatt is doing more to boost the Black vendor pool, including through efforts such as “Hyatt Loves Local,” in which 100 Hyatt hotels and resorts worldwide provide complimentary resources, space, and more to area companies. In turn, these businesses offer Hyatt guests and locals authentic, grassroots experiences.

He further describes the trip: “We came to the island deliberately and intentionally to actually showcase and honor some of the vendors that certain Hyatt hotels work with. So, we did Red Bay Coffee from out of California. The McBride sisters, who were lost at birth, and separated as young girls, came and met as adults, and some Hyatt hotels offer their wines. And then Duke & Dame Liquors, which has gone on to do business with others because of its relationship with Hyatt. [And] Lor Tush, an African American female-owned business that sells bamboo toilet paper.” Capers says he wants to connect with Lor Tush so the company can serve as a supplier for The Strand, continuing his practice of doing business with other Black-owned firms.

Shepherd applauds Hyatt’s sponsorship of Comedy Fest and its overall DEI initiatives. “The fact that Hyatt came aboard says something really, really important. It says, ‘I believe in you, I believe in what you’re doing, I believe in the vision.’ And when you have that, I mean, you can’t beat it. So the fact that this is the first national sponsor and it’s Hyatt, it has reached out to the audience,” she says, citing that the company also facilitated luxury hotel stays as prizes.

“Everybody loves a giveaway…you get a trip to Maui, you get a hotel stay. And now you’re going to have people supporting Hyatt. They’re supporting the comedy show. It is a win-win situation.”

“I loved it when I heard that Hyatt was the sponsor of this comedy festival. It brings other people, other businesses, and corporations who want to sponsor. It always starts with one entity that believes in you. So that’s saying something for this comedy festival. It is making its mark and digging it in the sand.”

• Sisters Inc

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 19, 2022

Michelle Obama Announces New Obama Foundation Girls Opportunity Alliance Campaign to Inspire Everyone to Get Involved in Girls’ Education and Empowerment

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Recently, in celebration of International Day of the Girl, former First Lady Michelle Obama announced that the Girls Opportunity Alliance, a program of the Obama Foundation, is launching a new campaign.

Get Her There is a global call to action to help educate and empower adolescent girls around the world to reach their full potential. Over the next five years, the Alliance aims to bring together a diverse group of everyday people, corporations, industry leaders, nonprofits, and valuable stakeholders to support hundreds of community-based organizations worldwide, reaching thousands of adolescent girls, according to a press release.

Watch the inspiring Get Her There launch video titled “Dear 25-Year-Old Me,” produced by Black-ish actress Marsai Martin, featuring students from the Girls Opportunity Alliance community.

“When we launched the Girls Opportunity Alliance four years ago today, we knew the key to advancing our work was an alliance of stakeholders coming together to support girls completing their education,” said Michelle Obama.

“And that is exactly what the Get Her There campaign was created to do. The barriers our girls face today are steep and are leaving millions of girls out of school.”

“Our goal is to help clear away all that’s standing in the way of girls achieving their dreams. While that’s too big of a challenge for any one of us to tackle alone, it’s something I know can be accomplished if we all work together. We all have a role to play in ensuring girls get the opportunities they deserve, so I hope everyone will join us on our mission to get every girl to the place she wants to be.”

Get Her There represents an expansion of the Girls Opportunity Alliance’s reach and impact. Since 2018, the Girls Opportunity Alliance has worked to inspire, empower, and connect more than 4,000 leaders and community-based organizations who are working to support adolescent girls around the world; drive specific commitments through the Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund; and galvanize young people everywhere to take action in support of their peers.

To date, the Girls Opportunity Alliance has funded 54 projects from community-based organizations in 20 countries, including India, Malawi, Cambodia, and Peru, and has provided these organizations with access to resources to help inform and strengthen their work. Over the next five years, the Girls Opportunity Alliance’s Get Her There campaign will fund more than 100 organizations and grow its network of leaders around the world who are helping to educate and empower our girls. Today, the Girls Opportunity Alliance is adding 12 new community-based organizations from countries like Kenya, India, and Colombia to its fund as part of this effort.

The Girls Opportunity Alliance is grateful to all of the donors and partners that are making Get Her There possible and is proud to announce its diverse coalition of growing sponsors, collaborators, and supporters who are united in ensuring all girls are empowered with the resources they need to fulfill their potential:

Founding Sponsors

• Comcast NBCUniversal
• lululemon
• Saks Fifth Avenue

Supporting Sponsors

• The LEGO Group
• FedEx

Participating Sponsor

• Olivela

Nonprofit Collaborators

• CAMFED – Campaign for Female Education
• CARE
• Girl Rising
• Girls Inc.
• International Center for Research on Women
• Room to Read
• She’s the First
• The GIRL Center and the Population Council
• The United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative
• UNICEF USA

For more information about Get Her There and the Obama Foundation’s Girls Opportunity Alliance, visit GetHerThere.org.

• Women

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 19, 2022

13 Year Old Creates ‘AwesomeLiYou’ Leak Proof Period Panty With Heating Pad

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A recent survey in 2021 found that more than seven in 10 teens had questions about their periods.

Additionally, nearly eight in 10 agreed that they were taught more about the biology of frogs than of the human female body in school. This statistic shows the percentage of teenage students in the United States who reported a lack of communication and education on menstruation as of 2021.

Thirteen year old Aaliyah Clyburn, founder of Awesomeli You a new line of leak proof period panties with a heating pad is on a mission to provide users with a peace of mind and comfort during the most uncomfortable month of your life. The idea for having a heating pad on the go came to Aaliyah while sitting on the couch in pain from cramps and having to get up and run errands with her mother, according to a press release.

 

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Available on the website, the High Absorbent Period Panties With Heating Pad retails at $99.99, comes in sizes S-XXL and has the following features:

• Full protection: Full wide back coverage and extended protective lining in the front ensure no messy stains on sheets or clothes, giving extra protection against leakage; the leak proof lining can prevent liquid going through.
• Fabric: 95% Cotton 5% Spandex – Crotch: 100% Cotton. Soft, comfortable, breathable and durable.
• Super soft: Ultra soft sanitary panties, our underwear is made of super soft fabric, with high proportion of premium cotton, it’s breathable, comfy and elastic; natural dyeing, no need to worry if you are sensitive skin, no fading, soft and healthy, brings you all days and all-night comfort; with high elasticity, our waistband is more stretchy, no ride up, no roll down, doesn’t squeeze into your skin.
• Washing: Can be worn up to 6-12 hours depending on your flow.

AwesomeliYou exists to educate and empower young girls and adults about menstruating.

• News

by Derek Major

October 19, 2022

Chicago Police Officer To Retain Job Despite Links To Proud Boys Organizations, Failure To Disclose Investigation

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A Chicago police officer will retain his position after it was revealed he has links to the Proud Boys organization and failed to tell police he was under FBI investigation.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports officer Robert Bakker will be suspended for 120 days. The punishment comes after a lengthy investigation ended with a mediation agreement in which Bakker agreed not to contest the allegations against him according to an Office of Inspector General’s report.

The investigation into Bakker began after Vice News reported his ties to the Proud Boys organization in May 2020. The probe revealed Bakker communicated with members of the group and organized meetings with group members.

Many members of the far-right, White nationalist, male-only group were at the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot and have previous experience in the military and police departments across the U.S. The group has been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Canadian Government.

In chat logs obtained by Vice, Bakker expressed frustration with a rainbow-colored police emblem celebrating the LGBTQ community that the Chicago Police Department (CPD) posted on social media.

“I’m not wearing any rainbow bull – – – -,” Bakker posted.

Additionally, the CPD’s Bureau of Internal Affairs (BIA) found Bakker failed to submit a written report saying he was under FBI investigation. The BIA eventually resolved the case with a mediation agreement, but the inspector general’s office urged CPD Superintendent David Brown to review the case and determine whether Bakker broke departmental rules by lying.

Brown did not respond according to the Times but did approve the 120-day suspension.

According to ABC News, at least 52 active or retired military members, law enforcement and government service employees were among more than 400 people arrested for their actions at the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot. The arrests include more than half a dozen police officers and multiple elected officials.

“I’m not really surprised that there is a substantial subset of defendants who come from these backgrounds,” Mary McCord, a former national security official told ABC News. “For veterans, the sense of mission is very important, so [Veterans Affairs] should be looking into how they can better serve veterans and help facilitate productive missions for them.”

• Career

by Jasmine Jackson

October 19, 2022

Mentor or Business Coach? Here’s How to Determine What You Really Need

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One of the most frequent questions business owners ask me is: “Can you be my mentor?” I’m not a mentor, nor am I a business coach, so my answer is always “no.”

Recently, I decided instead to ask someone what they were actually looking for. One owner told me she wanted guidance and direction on her business and entrepreneurial journey.

What is a business mentor?

A business mentor is often someone you know or are acquainted with. They’re someone who cares about you and is interested or invested in seeing you succeed.

With a mentor, you likely won’t need to meet on a regular basis. They might check in on you from time to time and if you have a question, they’re available to take your call. Overall, the mentors in my life are business friends who I turn to for tactical business issues, but also for emotional support.

What is a business coach?

A business coach is a different person, and is often someone you hire and schedule to meet with on a regular basis. You usually have full permission to call them within an agreed upon time frame. Business coaches expect and want you to connect with them as much as you need because it’s their obligation to you based on what you pay them.

There isn’t a set rule on how to work with a business coach. You might work with a business coach for a year or more. While another coach might take you through a defined curriculum that lasts 30 to 60 days.

How do you find a business mentor or coach?

Whether you’re looking for a mentor or a coach, it’s important to know that the best relationships take time and a mutual understanding. However, be careful from whom you get advice. You want a coach or mentor with proven expertise and experience who can help you find the best solutions for you and your business. A business coach and mentor can help clarify questions like:

• Does my business have to run Facebook ads?
• Does my business have to hold webinars to drive leads?
• Should I scale my business?

I recommend you get a mentor you’ve known for some time and know a bit about their background and journey. Maybe they’re a mature and seasoned business owner you met at church or another parent you got to know through your child’s third-grade class.

On the other hand, many professional business coaches actively network for clients through podcasts, webinars, and even digital advertisements to make business owners like you aware of their services. Before you hire a coach, spend some time listening to their free content to get a feel for who they are, how they deliver, and what their expertise is.

How much will it cost me?

A mentor is often free. There are several people in my life who call or email me for quick input on things like referrals to other vendors or suggestions on their website.

Of course, I don’t charge them for this because they are friends I want to see succeed.

For a business coach, you should expect to pay for their services, but there’s not one set price.

You might pay $50,000 for a six-month intense program with them, a monthly fee, or by the hour.

Before you lock in and pay a huge fee for a coach, be sure they’re the right fit for you and your business. Get referrals and spend the extra time getting to know them as best you can.

Are you ready?

Before you hire a business coach or work with a mentor be absolutely sure you’re ready. Ask yourself questions like:

• Is my mind open to advice?
• Am I ready to implement someone else’s suggestions?
• Am I prepared to consider that my way might not be the best way?
• Am I willing to go beneath the surface to explore how the emotional and personal aspects of my life affect my business success?

Use multiple advisors

Just because you’ve hired one business coach or have one mentor doesn’t mean you’ve “arrived.” Over the years I’ve had several different mentors and coaches who’ve helped me reach success. Yacov Wrocherinsky, is an entrepreneur in New York City and the founder of Orion Global Solutions. When I worked at the United Nations, and even today, years later, he’s been a true mentor. Even though we’re the same age, he’s built larger and more complex businesses than I have. I visit Yacov’s offices several times a year and we remain in touch by phone. He pushes me to think in different ways about my business and to raise my standard of success.

Some business coaches might specialize in mindset and sales. Others might have more experience in ecommerce and digital advertising.

Regardless, business coaches should have several years of experience building businesses and especially a successful business of their own—I recommend more than one business. Some other things you can ask your business coach or mentor is what books they read, podcasts they listen to, and events they attend. If they’re not investing in themselves first, be cautious.

Article written by Ramon Ray, the founder of ZoneofGenius.

RELATED CONTENT: Ask Your Fairygodmentor®: How To Manage A Team Of Your Peers After Promotion

• Sports

by Eric Moody

October 19, 2022

Marshall Warren Named First Black Team Captain In Boston College’s Hockey History

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Hockey defenseman Marshall Warren proudly delayed turning pro when he became the first Black player at Boston College to be named captain on the hockey team at the NCAA Division I school.

Former Black Ink Crew New York cast member Ceaser Emanuel is opening up after his viral dog abuse video surfaced online.

Emanuel, 42, whose real name is David Emanuel, spoke about the disturbing video caught on Ring video of him abusing his dogs during his rent interview with 107.5 WCGI.

“I regret it 100 percent,” he said during his interview. “Sometimes I wish I can take that night back, but you can’t take nothing back. And that’s the messed up part about it because, in my two seconds of anger, I lost it.”

While he still said there are no excuses for his actions, Emanuel did mention his anger stemmed from a situation with his daughter during the COVID-19 pandemic that caused his mind to be “all over the place.”

“I didn’t know how much stuff I was going through until after this dog situation I got therapy,” Emanuel added during his interview. “I done loss loved ones, people that really mean something to me. I done loss a lot of things.”

Emanuel says that being on TV didn’t help him mend the things he was dealing with in his personal life.

VH1 fired Emanuel from the reality television show and network after the video surfaced online. 

 

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“We have made the decision to cut ties with Ceaser Emanuel from Black Ink Crew New York. Since next season was close to finishing production, this decision will not impact the upcoming season,” the company said in a statement on Thursday, June 23.

The former Black Ink Crew member reportedly surrendered in Georgia to the Fulton County Police Department on Wednesday, July 20, according to jail records.

He is facing two misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty and one felony charge of aggravated cruelty to animals.

• Money

by Jeffrey McKinney

October 19, 2022

75% of Affluent Black Americans Shifting Financial Priorities Post-COVID; Finding Right Financial Adviser Largest Challenge

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Some 75% of affluent Black Americans are now shifting their financial planning priorities after the COVID-19 pandemic, much higher than 46% of the same population generally, new research from Bank of America reveals.

The discovery for well-off Blacks comes as 80% are placing greater emphasis on working with a financial professional they have a personal connection with. Historically the Black community has faced obstacles in accessing the wealth management industry, which makes the move meaningful. That makes it more and more difficult to find a professional who likely understands the group’s unique financial goals and needs.

To boot, volatility in the stock and housing markets, inflation, and economic unpredictability are among the forces post-COVID that have impacted or changed many individuals’ stand on money-making decisions.

The analysis comes as the nation’s racial wealth gap continues to widen based on existing conditions. Researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis noted the median White family had $184,000 in wealth in 2019, eight times higher than $23,000 for the median Black families.

Observers contend the disparity is far-reaching as wealthier families have greater leverage to make game-changing moves securing capital to launch a business, financing a college education, live in neighborhoods with higher home values, and paying for costly medical care if needed.

The study findings are tied to a new Bank of America study that shows how Black Americas, Gen Z, and millennials are prioritizing financial independence. Craig Young, mid-Atlantic division executive at Merrill Wealth Management, provided some email commentary.

Merrill Wealth Management is a unit of Bank of America, the nation’s second-largest bank.

The study showed affluent Black Americans could use help from advisers pertaining to making investments (51%), savings for retirement (45%), and saving for a big purchase like a home (34%).

As the affluent Black population keeps growing, Young says there is more of a need for this community to receive financial advice and guidance. And he says a greater challenge for Black Americans, with 27% of those prosperous individuals saying they don’t know how to find the right adviser for them, versus 22% of the affluent general population.

The difference could be due to many factors. Young says, “They include historical lack of access to the financial industry, being the first in one’s family to need a financial adviser, and a myriad of other societal and personal obstacles.”

The study showed that 64% of people working with an adviser are the first generation in their family to do so, including 80% of affluent Black Americans. Of those without an adviser, 62% would be the first generation to have an adviser relationship, including 76% for affluent Blacks.

So, how could Black Americans changing their patterns help reduce the nation’s wealth gap?

Young explained today’s economic environment makes it more important than ever to work with a financial adviser. He says they are in a unique position to help navigate market uncertainty and make decisions in the wake of unexpected events.

He says a financial adviser’s goal is to help clients grow and preserve their wealth over the long term, along with keeping them on track for priorities or milestones. He says that can mean reassessing how and what clients spend, save, and invest. A financial adviser can help their clients develop better habits and patterns for a healthier financial future.

“Advisers are here to help navigate financial questions and considerations,” Young says. “The right guidance can truly unlock new possibilities. This is true for everyone, including members of the affluent Black community, as they balance current needs with long-term priorities.”

Young said overall the numbers also suggest that “the work we’re doing to lessen the barriers and obstacles to accessing financial guidance for the Black community is working, and that more people today are accessing advice than older generations.”

Before using a financial adviser, experts suggest you ask yourself questions. First, what are looking for? For instance, do you plan to hire one to assist with investing, reaching financial goals in a given time frame, budgeting, or something else? Be sure to ask much you will be charged and for what?

This Moneycrashers site and other sites can guide you on several questions you should ask before committing.

• Education

by Stacy Jackson

October 19, 2022

Howard University Diversifying C-Suites in Hospitality Through Endowment From The Marriott Foundation

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A $20 million endowment has been granted to help diversify the senior levels of the hospitality industry.

Howard University, a notable Historically Black College and University (HBCU), was presented with an endowment from The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation (The Marriott Foundation) to create the Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership in the School of Business.

The center was established in honor of Marriott International’s beloved president and CEO, Arne Sorenson, who died in 2021 from pancreatic cancer. Aiming to diversify and drive greater inclusion to the C-suite levels of the hospitality industry, the center’s mission is to provide students with necessary leadership skills and experiential opportunities.

“I can think of no better tribute to the amazing legacy of Arne Sorenson than to focus on educating and advancing future leaders of the hospitality industry,” said J.W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr., executive chairman and chairman of the board, Marriott International.

“Our industry needs a pipeline of diverse leadership talent and that’s exactly what this Center will achieve,” he added.

According to Howard University, the leadership program focuses on “traditional and experiential learning opportunities.”

“The need for U.S. C-suites to be more diverse is urgent and necessary, and we are in the position to help hold the industry accountable,” said Dr. Anthony D. Wilbon, dean of the Howard University School of Business.

The PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) firm was selected to help blueprint the pipeline, using business, experience, and technology (BXT) co-creation and collaboration techniques. PwC worked with Howard University and The Marriott Foundation to host over 85 hospitality industry C-suite executives and entrepreneurs during a virtual design workshop. Attendees addressed Black history related to the industry through discussions on how to effect change in executive suite diversity.

“The gathering of some of the industry’s ‘who’s who’ was a response to Arne’s call but also a recognition that Howard University was in a great position to hold the hospitality industry accountable on inclusion and diversity,” said PwC Partner, Lawrence Ballard, told AfroTech.

A report by Castell Project on Black Representation in Hospitality Leadership found that Black employees represent 13.6% of hospitality industry employment. However, they currently hold less than 2% of executive leadership positions.