by Stacy Jackson

June 18, 2025

‘Aunties’ Sculptures Collection Leaves Harlem Passersby In Awe

'Aunties' presents three large-scale figurative sculptures with intentional space in between each for the public to stand in the middle.

New York artist Fitgi Saint-Louis is honoring the powerful women of Harlem with three colorful figurative sculptures that make up a collection called “Aunties.”

Saint-Louis was in awe when her sculpture collection went live in Harlem after months of hard work. “Aunties,” which can be found at the intersection of 124th Street and Lenox Avenue, “is an ode to the collective of women, builders, leaders, caretakers, changemakers, and creatives who transform Harlem and beyond all while having impeccable style,” she said on Instagram.

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A post shared by Fitgi Saint-Louis (@fitgisaintlouis)

The project, commissioned by the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) as part of the Community Commissions initiative, is a partnership with the West Harlem Art Fund. The three large-scale figurative sculptures “reflect and honor the women who passionately nurture and embolden the Harlem community.”

The “Aunties” sculptures are placed with enough space in between each figurine for the public to stand with the artwork as a tribute to the collective contributions of aunties of the past, present, and future.

“Our mission is to bring exceptional public art to Harlem and the surrounding areas of NYC. By introducing modern art into urban environments, we aim to bring new perspectives and voices to a wide range of communities,” Savona Baily-McClain, executive director of the West Harlem Art Fund, said in a statement. “Additionally, we include narratives from many diasporas around the world.”

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A post shared by NYC DOT Art (@nyc_dotart)

Citygoers have already embraced “Aunties” with open arms.

“They immediately caught my eye when I was walking from the train station yesterday,” one Instagram user commented under Saint-Louis’ post. A second observer stated, “I drove by it today and said this is the cutest art in the world!”

“Aunties” will be on display in Harlem through April 2026.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 18, 2025

This Atlanta Teacher Is The City’s Second Inductee Into National Teachers Hall Of Fame

Dr. Valerie Camille Jones Ford has led the mathematics department at Atlanta's Ron Clark Academy for over 15 years.

An Atlanta teacher will be inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame, the second educator from the city to receive this recognition, this week.

Dr. Valerie Camille Jones Ford has been the head of the mathematics department at Atlanta’s Ron Clark Academy for more than 15 years. As a pioneer in “MathEsteem,” Jones Ford has changed students’ introduction to math and become a model classroom for math teachers nationwide.

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“It is a tremendous honor to stand alongside so many extraordinary educators throughout America. This recognition is not only a profound professional privilege but a representation of the passion, sacrifice, and brilliance of teachers everywhere,” Jones Ford, a Spelman alumna, said in a press release obtained by BLACK ENTERPRISE. “I’m grateful for the colleagues who’ve inspired me, the students who’ve trusted me, and the opportunity to be part of a profession that changes lives every day.”

With over 25 years in education, Jones Ford has emerged as a curriculum developer and international speaker. She has taught across all levels of academia, holding advanced degrees in mathematics education from Georgia State University and Columbia University. She holds multiple certifications, including in educational leadership and instructional supervision.

Known for her atypical approach to teaching, Jones Ford implemented video games and creative input into her lessons. Also known as “DJ Math,” her viral educational rap , created with Old Navy and Pharrell Williams’ I AM OTHER, made her a household name in reimagining the classroom experience. She has also received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the highest award for U.S. teachers in STEM.

Her contributions to Ron Clark Academy have influenced its ground-breaking curriculum, shaping students in academic readiness. Her induction follows Kimberly Stewart Bearden, a 2016 inductee and RCA’s co-founder and executive director. She is also the sixth Black woman to enter the hall of fame, which has recognized only 165 educators since 1992.

Jones Ford will join four other educators in June 20’s induction ceremony.

by Sharelle B. McNair

June 18, 2025

How The Senate’s Plan For Massive Medicaid Cuts Will Hinder The African American Community

The Congressional Budget Office says changes to the program would result in the number of uninsured Americans increasing to 7.8 million by 2034.

The U.S Senate Finance Committee, led by Republicans, revealed the proposal for President Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill,” including massive cuts to Medicaid and tax provisions, CNN reports.

The committee is one of several racing to get their versions released in an effort for the House and Senate to work out a final deal so it can reach Trump’s desk by July 4. With sudden cuts to Medicaid, this may be one of the most crucial votes to hit the Senate floor.

Provisions would impose a limit on the number of states to increase provider taxes on specific healthcare providers. With hospitals being in question, the percentage would drop to 3.5% by 2031 from the current 6% limit. But it would only apply to the 40 states and Washington, D.C., that expanded Medicaid to underprivileged adults in low-income communities.

For states that failed to expand the program, primarily GOP-led states, a cap would be placed on increasing the rate of their current provider taxes.

Conservatives argued that the states would use the taxes in hopes of receiving additional federal Medicaid funds. Minority members of the committee—all Democrats—feel the deal would hinder hospitals, especially those in rural areas and persons of color in underprivileged communities.

Medicaid cuts have been an ongoing battle, with communities of color facing major disadvantages.

According to data from the Economic Policy Institute, Black and Hispanic individuals are more likely to lean on Medicaid for health coverage. However, in 2023, people of the same demographic under the age of 65 had the lowest rate of uninsured individuals, at 9.7% and 17.9%. The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, made sure that Medicaid was expanded and helped the uninsured rate for Black and Hispanic people drop by more than 10% between 2010 and 2023.

Outside of Medicaid cuts, some new additions are not sitting well with recipients and members of Congress. The new bill implements work requirements in the program for the first time. Provisions would require parents with children aged 15 and older to work, volunteer, be enrolled in school, or participate in job training for a minimum of 80 hours per month to maintain their Medicaid benefits.

Advocates for disabled employees are concerned that such provisions will limit employment opportunities, putting the disabled at risk of losing their benefits. While conservative lawmakers argue that the new rule will crack down on fraud, according to CBS News, even those who have exemptions under the law could risk a loss due to increased or more stringent paperwork mandates.

Outside of work requirements, the Congressional Budget Office said changes to the program could lead to more people losing their coverage, resulting in an increase in the number of uninsured Americans to 7.8 million by 2034.

by Stacy Jackson

June 17, 2025

Chrisette Michele Reveals She’s ‘Severely’ Autistic

The singer-songwriter, who is on tour, says the diagnosis has provided clarity on her life challenges.

R&B singer Chrisette Michele says her life and its challenges finally make sense now that she has learned of her autism diagnosis.

The Grammy-winning recording artist took a moment to share news of her diagnosis with fans on Instagram during an appearance in Atlanta.

“I just learned I’m autistic,” she captioned a photo where she posed stageside. “Official diagnosis. They used the word ‘severely’. I’ve been quiet on here. But… I’ve been outside. Singing. … but learning to strip the mask. One show at a time.”

“Autistic,” she wrote. “Would you get a load of that…” At 42 years old, Michele said she’s “coming to grips with a lot” and giving herself “room to take it all in.”

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In response to a commenter who questioned if “fear” would’ve allowed Michele to “fly” if she’d learned of her diagnosis earlier in life,” the singer stated: “Self-awareness is my superpower. It teaches me what to pray for, what to work on, and how to work on it. It comes a little at a time as science and treatment develops. God knows all…but for those of us who pray in English and in tongues…It’s always good to be able to address the ‘issue’ and grow from it. A diagnosis just helps me understand HOW God made me and how better to utilize what He created.”

Michele has always interacted heavily with her fans on social media and supporters rallied under the June 15 post with love and comfort for the “If I Have My Way” singer.

While some Instagram users connected with the singer by sharing their own stories about autism, others criticized her announcement. Throughout her 15-year career, Michele has publicly dealt with divorce, cancel culture, and stigmas linked with adult ADHD and bipolar type 2, according to her YouTube channel.

In 2017, she was criticized for her appearance at Donald Trump’s first inauguration. Despite facing life’s challenges in the public eye, Michele told BLACK ENTERPRISE in 2015, that she handles criticism and stays grounded through constant prayer and meditation.

Currently, the songwriter is making her way across the country on her 2025 tour, debuting her new single, “Home.” She invites fans to come and hang with her and her friends as they discuss triumph and share inspiring testimonies on her podcast, Come Back Sis.

Michele hasn’t given any further details about her “severe” autism diagnosis but told fans that she’ll talk more soon.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 17, 2025

Kyrie Irving Discusses Mental Health, Advises Others To Pursue Help, Check In On Others

'Check in on your loved ones. Check on their mental health. Check on their spiritual health. Check in on them.'

During a recent livestream, Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving admitted to struggling with his mental health.

Discussing one’s mental health has been, particularly for Black men, a good thing that’s been trending lately. With people like Irving talking about it openly, it’s no longer considered taboo.

“I’m at my house watching the Finals going on. I’m recovering from my ACL injury. I could be bogged down. I could be depressed in a way where I don’t want to share this with you guys. But this is the raw, unfiltered, uncut stuff that you guys are going to get because you deserve it,” Irving said.

After admitting that he’s allowed others to spin the narrative, he said that, at times, he has permitted people to get in his head and has taken the wrong advice. They violated his spiritual boundaries, which led to a spiral of emotions for him.

He advised people not to go at it alone and to check in on others.

“Please, please, don’t stay quiet. Please don’t go on your shell. I just wanted to take this time to let you know that I care. Anybody in the chat, please, please reach out to your loved ones. Check-in on your loved ones. Check on their mental health. Check on their spiritual health. Check in on them.”

Kyrie Irving on Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month:

“I’m watching the Finals, recovering from my ACL injury—I could be bogged down or depressed. But I’m sharing this unfiltered because you deserve it. I let people spin narratives, get into my head, violate my spiritual… pic.twitter.com/mYlhkI3mLE

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 15, 2025

Irving suffered a season-ending ACL injury and is expected to return next season for the Mavericks.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 17, 2025

Former Football Player Greg Brooks Jr. Gets Good News In Lawsuit Against LSU

NeuroMedical Center must hand over medical records of the surgeon who operated on Brooks.

On June 16, Judge Tiffany Foxworth-Roberts ruled that a hospital must hand over medical records to former LSU football player Greg Brooks Jr. about the surgeon who operated on him, the LSU Reveille reports.

Brooks is suing LSU and Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center (LSU Athletics’ sports medicine partner) after a brain tumor operation left him permanently disabled in September 2023. The motion to dismiss a subpoena against the NeuroMedical Center was denied by Foxworth-Roberts.

The records must be produced within 30 days.

Brooks’ legal team is questioning the qualifications of Dr. Brandon Gaynor, who performed the surgery on Brooks. The NeuroMedical Center is not a party in the lawsuit, but Gaynor oversaw Brooks’ procedure at OLOL. The NeuroMedical Center claimed that Gaynor’s records were not related to Brooks’ case and that the records could be obtained in other ways.

The former football player, who is in a wheelchair and learning how to talk, write, and eat again, was diagnosed with a brain tumor in September 2023. He had just started his second season at LSU.

Brooks claims LSU’s athletic training staff did not properly treat him before the diagnosis. At the time, he was suffering from clear neurological symptoms like dizziness, headache, and nausea. However, the training staff diagnosed him with vertigo without having Brooks see the team doctors while still having him compete.

While in surgery, Brooks suffered multiple seizures due to mistakes made by Gaynor, according to the lawsuit.

All parties are slated to return to court on Sept. 2 so the court can review the documents produced by the NeuroMedical Center to see which are admissible. On Sept. 8, the court will consider a motion to compel Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center to produce certain records.

by Stacy Jackson

June 17, 2025

Lizzo Signals Cease And Desist To Trump After ‘About Damn Time’ Used At Military Parade

Lizzo was not happy to hear her song at the June 14 event.

Lizzo is about ready to hit President Donald Trump with a cease and desist after hearing her 2022 hit song “About Damn Time” was used at his birthday parade in Washington on Saturday, June 14.

The Grammy award-winning artist took to TikTok to publicly condemn the appearance of her song.

In a Stitch with Courier Newsroom, Lizzo reacted to a video that showed parade attendees scattered throughout an open field as a live cover of “About Damn Time” blasted in the background. Within five seconds, Lizzo appeared disgusted in the Stitch scanning her eyes up and down in disapproval.

“Cease and desist,” she captioned the video, which concluded with her finger gesturing to push something.

@lizzo
#stitch with @COURIER cease & desist
♬ original sound – lizzo

According to USA Today, the lineup at Trump’s parade included DJ Nyla Symone, Lee Greenwood, Scotty Hasting, Noah Hicks, and Warren Zeiders. While the specific performer of Lizzo’s award-winning hit remains unclear, Lizzo’s fans already knew she wouldn’t approve of her music being used for an event celebrating Trump. “

The first thing I said was I don’t think Lizzo would appreciate this,” one commenter wrote, while another commented, “We all knew that wasn’t Lizzo approved.” Others hyped up the singer’s idea to immediately send a cease and desist to Trump.

Last week’s festivities, which also served as a military parade to honor the Army’s 250th anniversary, didn’t enjoy the attendance of various “No Kings” protests nationwide. Attendees voiced immigration concerns and argued that the Trump administration used the military to promote the Republican president.

Lizzo has never shied away from publicly voicing her political views. Billboard reported that the funk-pop star previously endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris during her 2024 presidential run, highlighting her efforts to strengthen global alliances, passing the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, and tackling issues related to healthcare, gun safety, and unemployment.

The singer was one of the first celebrities to come to Harris’ defense after critics responded to Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the presidential race.

Laptop, work, stress, credit score, FICO Credit Score, Student Loan

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 17, 2025

Credit Scores Tanking As Student Loan Collections Resume

Credit scores are declining nationwide since the government has returned to collecting on outstanding student loans.

Millions of Americans are seeing their credit scores drop following the U.S. government resuming referring missed student loan payments for debt collection.

Borrowers who go more than 90 days without making a payment risk having their delinquent or past-due accounts reported to major credit bureaus by student loan servicers. This reporting can negatively impact their credit, as it factors into the recalculation of their credit scores. With its government-ordered return, there has been a steady drop in credit scores nationwide, the Associated Press reports.

The first quarter of 2025 saw 2.2 million student loan borrowers experience a credit score drop of 100 points, with another one million scores falling by 150 points or more. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported that by the end of March, roughly one in four student loan borrowers were over 90 days past due on their payments.

Lower credit scores create more or more costly barriers to accessing car loans, mortgages, credit cards, auto insurance, and other financial services, resources that come in handy during today’s inflation, high interest rates, and industrywide layoffs.

In March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic began, the U.S. Department of Education paused federal student loan payments to provide relief amid the economic uncertainty.

Although payments officially resumed in 2023, the Biden administration implemented a one-year grace period that lasted until October 2024. Last month, the Trump administration reactivated the collection process for unpaid student loans, including plans to garnish wages and withhold tax refunds from borrowers who remain in default.

Those who were delinquent at the time collections resumed were surprised with lower credit scores.

“All of a sudden, I was delinquent, even though I’d never received notice,” said Dom Holmes, 28, a nonprofit worker based in Manheim, Pennsylvania.

Holmes said he woke up in early May to discover his credit score had dropped by 60 to 70 points overnight. Now in the process of relocating to a new state, Holmes is concerned that the lower score could make it harder for him to secure a rental.

“I’m at the ideal age where I should be starting a family and buying a home,” Holmes said. “When you destroy me financially, what are the chances I’m able to do that and that’s viable for me?”

A Federal Reserve of New York study found that borrowers over 40 are most likely to be delinquent. Andrew McCall, 58, of Boise, Idaho, still owes about $30,000 for his computer science degree. Unable to afford his $250–$300 monthly payments, he is worried how a damaged credit score could impact his life.

“The fact that this economy is driven by debt to begin with causes my score to be paramount no matter what financial decisions I’m making, outside of going to the grocery store,” McCall said. “My car, my house… Your credit rating becomes a social stratifier.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 17, 2025

Study Lists Georgia Among Top Five Worst Places For Seniors To Age In Place

Georgia struggles to meet a essential basic need for seniors.

A new study has listed Georgia as among the worst places for seniors to age in place.

To “age in place” is a popular concept for those in retirement, with many seeking to stay in their homes rather than transition to assisted living facilities.

Seniorly compared data in 10 categories, such as seniors’ risk of isolation and home health care quality, to compile a ranking of states’ ability to support the elderly. Other categories included emergency care timeliness, smart home adoption, housing costs, road safety, and weather hazards.

Georgia rounded out the bottom five with Kentucky, North Carolina, Alabama, and Florida. In categories such as walkability, home health aide availability, and annual precipitation, the state placed in the bottom 10, leading to its extremely low overall ranking. The top states on the list included Utah, North Dakota, New Jersey, and Texas.

However, Georgia’s listing primarily stems from its lack of meal delivery access for the majority of elder residents. It ranked at #50 for this service, signaling its lack of local infrastructure to address this necessity for many seniors.

“Georgia struggles with meal delivery for seniors, providing services to only 957 per 100,000 older adults under the Older Americans Act,” according to the study.

According to the state’s official website, over 14.6% of its residents are 65 or older. Georgia’s elderly population in rural areas is also expected to grow rapidly over the next two decades, making its inefficacy for aging in place concerning. Furthermore, Georgia has ranked in the top 10 in the number of food-insecure seniors.

This news may especially impact Black seniors. According to the “2020 Profile Of African Americans 65 and Older,” Georgia is one of eight states that host over half of all Black seniors in the country. Georgia had approximately 362,535 Black elderly people living there as of 2019.

Given the shift of more retirement-age Americans choosing to reside at home, food insecurity remains an ongoing issue for Georgia as its elderly population grows.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 17, 2025

Issa Rae’s ColorCreative Forms Strategic Partnership with HarbourView Equity Partners

Issa Rae scored investment backing for her ColorCreative production and management company.

Issa Rae’s management and production company, ColorCreative, has secured investment backing from Harbourview Equity Partners.

Rae was slated to officially announce the partnership at the Cannes Lions Festival on June 17, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The partnership looks to “expand its talent representation and production capabilities while also accelerating the creation and ownership of original content,” according to a press release.

Terms of the deal were not released.

“We built ColorCreative to be a home for visionary talent and distinct, multifaceted stories,” Rae said in a statement. “Partnering with HarbourView allows us to dream even bigger while staying true to our mission of helming and supporting the kinds of projects that made us fall in love with storytelling.”

ColorCreative doubled its revenue from 2023 to 2024. Rae co-founded the company in 2014 with Deniese Davis and Talitha Watkins.

ColorCreative, founded to create opportunities for underrepresented creators in TV, film, digital, and branded content, will begin production on its first slate of projects under the HarbourView partnership early next year.

“This partnership marks a defining moment in ColorCreative’s journey,” said Watkins, president of ColorCreative. “We’ve always believed that culturally driven content can also be commercially powerful. With HarbourView’s partnership, we believe we have the resources and reach to take our vision to the global stage— without compromising the creative integrity that defines us.”

The new venture follows ColorCreative’s partnership with Tubi, announced last October, to launch Stubio, a platform giving five creative teams the chance to develop and debut their first projects on the streaming service. Through its management division, ColorCreative will mentor the selected creators, while Tubi provides funding for their productions.

“To be able to participate in a pipeline for the next generation of creators to have a fast track into this industry is all that I’m about,” Rae told HuffPost at the time. “And to be able to also mentor these creatives on their journey, in an organized, cohesive way to produce something tangible, is also what I’m about.”