Cam Newton Gives Props To Johnson C. Smith University
The former NFL quarterback acknowledged the HCBU's currently undefeated football team.
First Take commentator and former NFL quarterback Cam Newton stopped at an HBCU and publicly gave it a shoutout after visiting the team over the weekend.
Newton, a former MVP quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, was in Charlotte to conduct a football camp for kids at Johnson C. Smith University, whose football team has won its first eight games thus far.
The school released a video clip on its social media account showing Newton acknowledging the program.
“Yo, what’s good? What’s poppin’? Cam Newton here,” he said in the video. “Man, I want to give a special shout-out to the Johnson C Smith football team. Faculty, staff, football players, coaches, everybody involved, as well as the fans. Man, I’m rooting for you. Keep rocking and rolling. And as always, say one pinky, one thumb, one love.”
The former NFL player hosts his own podcast, Funky Friday Podcast, and was recently added as a regular host on ESPN’s First Take, joining the team of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim on the top-rated sports program. He made his debut appearance on Oct. 11. He was on location when the show filmed at Tennessee State University inNashville for “First Take on The Road.”
At the time of his hiring at ESPN, Newton said, “I’ve always brought passion and energy into everything I do, and that won’t change at ESPN. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to share my perspective and go toe-to-toe with the best in the business. Fans can expect the same intensity I brought to the field, along with real talk, bold takes, and good fun.”
The Culture Creators Announce ‘Lil’ WeezyCon’ As Part Of The Upcoming Lil’ WeezyAna Fest
Lil WeezyCon will take place on November 2 at The Fillmore in New Orleans from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A partnership has developed between Culture Creators Foundation and Live Nation Urban, announcing the launch of Lil’WeezyCon, which has been added to the Lil’WeezyAnaFestinNew Orleans.
The promotion company announced that LilWeezyConwill take place on Nov. 2atTheFillmore in the rapper’s hometownfrom10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Lil’WeezyCon will be available for thoughtleaders,creators, artists,andyoungprofessionals to experience a day ofpanels,networking, andcommunityengagement. The conference will impact the community by including collegestudents,localcommunityorganizations,andhighschool seniors in this collaboration. These individuals will be able to engage with topindustryprofessionals while being able to learn aboutcareerpathsin entertainmentandentrepreneurship.
Lil’ WeezyCon will incorporate studentsfromDillardUniversity to help producetheeventwhile gaining participation from volunteerswho attend Louisiana State University (LSU),XavierUniversity,andotherlocal schools that willcontributetheirskillsandsupport for the conference.
“We’rethrilledtocollaboratewithLiveNationUrbantocreateLil’WeezyCon,where wecanbringtogetherthebrightestmindsandmostinfluentialvoicesfromacross theindustrytoinspireandupliftfuturegenerations,”saidJoiBrown, founderand CEOofCultureCreatorsFoundation in a written statement.“Thisisanincredibleopportunityforour communitytoconnect,share knowledge,andbuildmeaningfulrelationshipswhile celebratingtheculturethatdrivesusall.”
The Lil’WeezyAnaFestweekend will start with a pre-party at The Fillmore New Orleans on Friday, Nov. 1, at 7:00 p.m.,withspecialguests.
OnNov. 2,Lil’WeezyCon will take place with various panels and workshops for those in attendance.
Theweekend ends withtheLil’WeezyanaFestThankYouBrunchon Sunday,Nov.3,at 10 a.m. attheHouseofBluesNewOrleans. The legendary Cita and Reginae will host the brunch, which will feature specialguestRudeJude.
People interested in attending Lil’WeezyCon can obtain free tickets by registering on the website.
Carol Dunn Pushes Barking Owl Mission Forward As New Managing Director
The longtime music professional will lead the day-to-day duties at Barking Owl, which partners with big names like Apple and the GRAMMYs.
Longtime entertainment professional Carol Dunn is the new managing director of Barking Owl, the trusted audio partner of the greatest ad agencies, brands and production companies across the world.
The award-winning music, audio post-production and sonic branding company announced Dunn’s new position in July. “…This move to Barking Owl is the deliberate, exac ting manifestati on of my hard work, sacrifice and dedicated 26-year love affair with music placement,” Dunn said in a press release. As Managing Director, she works closely with Barking Owl’s Creative Director, Johanna Cranitch, and Chief Executive Officer, Kirkland Alexander Lynch, to introduce new opportunities that will stimulate new growth for the agency and its brand partners.
Dedicated to continue the success the company has seen over the past decade, Dunn assumes the duties formerly performed by company founder Kelly Bayett. The Barking Owl founder said that stepping back from the company, into an advisory role, made room to finally work together with Dunn, who she’s been a huge fan of for decades. Boasting a portfolio of projects with big names like Megan Thee Stallion, Adidas, the GRAMMY Awards and more, Bayett is confident that the new Managing Director will push the company further ahead than ever before. “She not only has incredible taste, but her level of professionalism and understanding of the industry is unmatched,” Bayett said. “We feel incredibly fortunate to be able to add her to our parliament.”
Dunn brings a wealth of knowledge to her new role with Barking Owl as she continues her over 30-year career in the entertainment industry. Her range of skills, according to LinkedIn, includes: music supervision, licensing, music production and entertainment, business development, sales, marketing and branding, diversity and inclusion advocate, and culture and talent manager. In her previous role as West Coast Executive Producer for a leading music house, she managed creative projects and audio productions for film and television. She has produced projects for popular brands like Nike, Doritos, Samsung, and Uber. She was the former Head of TV & Film at Capitol Records and has contributed to soundtracks for films including Boogie Nights, Baz Lurhmann’s Romeo + Juliet, and the two Rugrats movies.
With over 15,000 square feet of audio production studios throughout New York City and Los Angeles, Barking Owl was named Sound Company of the Year at Ciclope 2024. The company shouted Dunn out for her July honor as London International Awards’ 2024 Music & Sound Jury President.
Mother And 2 Children Die After ‘Intentionally’ Jumping Nearly 200 Feet At Niagara Falls
Authorities said the New York mother 'intentionally' took the nearly 200-foot fall at Niagara Falls with her 9-year-old and 5-month-old children.
A 33-year-old mother died after she reportedly stepped over the guardrail at Niagara Falls on Monday and plunged nearly 200 feet with her two young children.
According to the New York Post, Chianti Means jumped to her death with her 9-year-old, Roman Rossman, and 5-month-old baby, Mecca Means. New York State Police arrived at the popular but more secluded Luna Island overlook at around 9 p.m.
According to LinkedIn, Means was a resident of the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area who worked as a domestic violence counselor. She earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from Buffalo State University in 2019 and earned a master’s degree of social work at University at Buffalo in 2020. Stunned friends and family flooded social media with tributes and condolences.
“I am literally sick to my stomach, and I can’t even deal with the emotions I am feeling. Just know her and her children are dearly loved by me and my children,” said friend Mich Molina. Another friend, Kayshawna Morgane, added, “I have been speechless and crying and couldn’t sleep at all…Mental health is no joke.”
As the investigation continues and officials work to locate the victims’ bodies, attention has been called to the last posts Means published to her Facebook page, where she identified as “Diamond Scott.”
The timeline of Facebook posts before Means’ death appears to repeatedly address a breakup with a baby daddy she referred to in her bio as “Jeff.” “I wish someone would love me because the man that’s suppose to does not,” she wrote on Sept. 28. The post was followed by several others throughout October, one which read, “Everyone, please leave me alone. I’m in love with my daughter [sic] father. I want my family back. Respectfully Idgaf what I said about him before or what anyone else thinks.”
On Oct. 19, she reposted a statement from another Facebook user that read, “It feels like everyone sees my mistakes, but no one notices how hard I’m trying.” In response to a reposted question from 2020 that read, “why you and yo ex broke up?” Means responded, “Cause I was a dumb a** pregnant b*tch who swore up & down I ain’t want him.”
“You have to hold on to the ones you love. Never know when you might lose them,” she wrote on Oct. 1.
Luna Island, run by The New York State Office of Parks and Recreation, welcomes visitors to the area 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The park has attracted more than 8 million guests annually.
However, several deaths have been reported to happen over the railing that separates onlookers from the deadly plunge. The Warrior’s Journey, a platform that provides resources for individuals preparing to serve in the military, reported that thousands have died at Niagara Falls through accidents, suicide, and daredevil attempts.
“Surviving the 170-foot drop borders on the impossible,” the website wrote above stories of past victims and survivors.
Studio Museum Harlem Receives $10M Endowment From Ford Foundation To Permanently Fund Director And Chief Curator Role
The Ford Foundation issues $10 million grant to The Studio Museum in Harlem.
The Ford Foundation has awarded the Studio Museum in Harlem a $10 million endowment to fund and name the position of director and chief curator for the foreseeable future.
Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation, announced the grant on Tuesday at the museum’s annual Gala, which was attended by Trustees, philanthropists, artists, business and community leaders, and heads of cultural institutions. In recognition of the endowment grant, the position will now be titled The Ford Foundation Director and Chief Curator.
The grant announcement coincides with Thelma Golden’s upcoming 20th anniversary as director and chief curator of the Studio Museum and the anticipated opening of the museum’s new home in the fall of 2025.
“For more than half a century, the Studio Museum in Harlem has been a vital platform for multiple generations of outstanding artists of African descent and, in so doing, has opened vast new areas of scholarship, creativity, and appreciation in the visual arts,” Walker said. “The Ford Foundation is proud to support one of America’s Cultural Treasures’ work to serve artists and the public at large.”
“It is especially fitting to endow the leadership position of Director and Chief Curator when the inimitable Thelma Golden is about to celebrate twenty years of proving to be the art world’s exemplary leader for courageous change,” he added.
The Studio Museum in Harlem is internationally renowned for its pivotal role in advancing the work of artists of African descent. The museum is currently building a new home at its longtime location on Manhattan’s West 125th Street with several goals in mind: to better serve a growing and diverse audience, provide expanded educational opportunities for all ages, broaden its renowned exhibition program, enhance the display of its unique collection, and strengthen its pioneering Artist-in-Residence program.
“The Ford Foundation’s support has time and time again been integral to the Studio Museum’s many successes and evolutions,” Golden said.
“Under Darren Walker’s leadership, the Foundation has transformed the field of philanthropy while addressing inequality and social injustice in the United States and around the world. He has also led the way, through America’s Cultural Treasures fund, in ensuring that arts organizations in the United States would be able to survive the challenges of the pandemic. All of us at the Studio Museum in Harlem are grateful for the Foundation’s extraordinary generosity—and I am personally deeply moved to be the first person within this institution to take up the title as The Ford Foundation Director and Chief Curator.”
HBCU First LOOK Film Festival Is Back For Its 2nd Year
First LOOK Film Festival will bring together HBCU Alumni, celebrity guests and students.
The HBCU First LOOK Film Festival is coming back for the second year in a row. The festival will take place at Howard University’s Blackburn Center Nov. 8-10.
The festival’s aim is to highlight HBCU alumni who have risen in the ranks of Hollywood.
First LOOK Film Festival is dedicated to “creating a pipeline for HBCU students to Hollywood in support of ‘A Celebration of Black Cinema x Activism.’ Attendees will have access to immersive career development opportunities with legendary award-winning experts in the film, broadcast, and entertainment industry.”
The two-day event features candid conversations from executives, producers, and on-air talent, including David E. Talbert, Director; Naturi Naughton-Lewis, actress and producer; Faith Jenkins, producer and Award-winning host; as well as Loni Love, actress and comedian.
The THEM Awards “My HBCU Joy” Luncheon be the culmination of the festival. The luncheon will honor HBCU alumni actress and producer Keshia Knight-Pulliam, Stacy Milner (HBCU Los Angeles), and TeeJ Mercer (Move-In Day Mafia), who are all making a difference with their work to serve student initiatives. The winners of the First LOOK film challenge will be announced at the luncheon.
This year’s First LOOK film challenge received over 200 applicants and was whittled down to seven finalists who will premier their pieces for a distinguished audience. Three winners will be chosen. They will receive a monetary reward and internship opportunities.
2024 HBCU First LOOK Film Challenge Finalists:
BEST FEATURE FILM: “Breaking the Stigma: ADHD in African
Americans” – David L. Brown, Texas Southern University
BEST SHORT FILM: “The Last Summer” – Leah Simone Scott,
Howard University
BEST DOCUMENTARY: “I Will Only Be What Your Eyes Can See” – Victoria Hay, Texas Southern University
BEST MOBILE FILM: “The Family Link” –Tramar Pettaway, Elizabeth City State University
BEST FAMILY & FAITH FILM: “…Young, Black and Gifted” – Promise Robinson, Hampton University
BEST ANIMATION FILM: “Chad’s Night Out” – Kimarley Henry, Morehouse College
BEST WELLNESS FILM: “Champions of Wellness: A Legacy In Motion” – Danielle Hillie, North Carolina Central University
The festival is open to students and the public, and tickets can be purchased at the HBCU FirstLOOK Film Festival’s official website.
According to WSBTV Atlanta, after closing the deal on the home in Dekalb County, Georgia, Holmes discovered the property was disconnected from water services. The new homeowner reached out to the county to reconnect services but discovered that he could not receive any other information beyond the total bill.
To say the least, Holmes was shocked at the steep price of water.
“I had to look at it several times. I’m like, this can’t be real,” he said after receiving an email with limited details.
“There is a unpaid balance on that property and an active Lien by the county for the balance of $71,846.45. The Lien must be satisfied before service can be provided.”
Since the bill is not in Holmes’s name, he was unable to investigate further. It wasn’t until WSBTV’s investigative team reached out to the county that he began to receive answers and solutions.
“A new water account has been established for the customer, and water service will be turned on once the county has proof of completed repairs and there are no leaks,” stated an email from Dekalb County.
Holmes is uneasy about paying a bill he did not accrue. Yet, he understands buying a foreclosed home comes with complications.
In an attempt to capitalize on the rising foreclosures sweeping the nation, Holmes ran into one of the many complications.
According to Finmasters, “31,557 properties in the United States had foreclosure filings in January 2023. This was a 36% upsurge year-over-year. One in every 4,425 housing units had a foreclosure filing.”
Foreclosed homes can be great investments or allow people without access to high-end loans to own homes. Still, homebuyers should do their due diligence before signing on the dotted line.
One way to avoid Holmes’s predicament when considering whether or not to buy a foreclosed home is to complete a property title search. The goal of the search is to warn a potential homebuyer of the barriers to outright ownership or the issues with a particular property.
Homelight defines a property title search as:
“A safeguard, unraveling any possible mysteries or disputes linked to the property. Whether it’s an undisclosed heir with potential claims, an unresolved lien from a previous owner, or discrepancies in the property’s size and boundaries, the title search brings them all to light.”
Understanding the “history of a home” is integral to determining whether to invest in it.
Rudy Giuliani Still Has Georgia Poll Workers’ $148M In A Chokehold Despite Court Order
Ex-mayor, Rudy Giuliani, refuses to give away prized possessions.
Rudy Giuliani was ordered to surrender his New York penthouse property by Oct. 22. Giuliani is on the hook for $148 million as a part of a defamation lawsuit filed by two Georgia election workers, mother and daughter, Ruby Freeman and Shay Moss.
A federal judge ordered the ex-mayor of New York to transfer his assets in lieu of cash. Among those assets ordered to be forfeited are Giuliani’s $5.7 million penthouse, an expensive watch collection, a 1980 Mercedes, which previously belonged to actress Lauren Bacall, and multiple checking accounts.
“I’m refusing to make available certain things such as my grandfather’s 140-year-old watch that was left to me because I’m named for him,” Giuliani said.
He also refuses to relinquish a valuable baseball card signed by famous baseball player Joe DiMaggio.
“He told me he was leaving it to me because I was his hero because of how I crushed the organization he hated more than anything else in the world: the Mafia.”
Giuliani’s troubles began when he participated in the alleged attempts by former President Donald Trump to overthrow the 2020 presidential election. Even after his conviction, the octogenarian refused to admit to any wrongdoing. He instead reinforced his position as a law-abiding citizen.
“I did nothing wrong. I never broke a law. Quite the opposite, I have a long record of upholding the law and I have prosecuted the most consequential cases of the 20th century.”
The ex-mayor was accused of spreading false information about Georgia poll workers Moss and Freeman, which consequently put them and their families in harm’s way.
“The lies Rudy Giuliani told about me and my mommy after the 2020 presidential election have changed our lives and the past few years has been devastating,” said Moss.
The two Georgia residents spoke about the treatment they received due to Giuliani’s claims.
“I was scared to come home at dark, you know,” Freeman said.
Freeman says the fear of retaliation by enraged Trump supporters led to her moving away from her home.
DL Hughley And Jermaine Dupri Debunk Donald Trump Stimulus Claims During BET’s ‘Black Men’s Summit’
Black male voters had their concerns addressed during BET's "Black Men's Summit."
The voices of Black male voters were amplified on Tuesday night during BET’s Black Men’s Summit.
Hosted by comedian and radio personality DL Hughley, the event gathered influential Black men across various industries and backgrounds for in-depth discussions on the critical issues affecting their communities in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. Hughley was joined by prominent guests including actor Michael Ealy, mega-producer Jermaine Dupri, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson, National Urban League President & CEO Marc Morial, rapper and philanthropist Vic Mensa, and more.
Among the discussions gaining traction across social media was the point of the conversation when Dupri and Hughley responded to claims of the economy being better under Donald Trump’s administration due to the stimulus checks given out during the 2020 global pandemic.
“I feel like it is really important that we, as men in this room, give them the facts today,“ Dupri said while advising young viewers to be cautious, noting that some of the news they encounter might be misleading.
“There was a specific reason that Donald Trump, even though he didn’t give those checks out, there was a specific reason he delayed them so he could put his name on it,” Hughley added. “He knew it would have that effect.”
At the time the stimulus checks were to be sent out, the Internal Revenue Service confirmed that The Treasury Department had instructed that President Trump’s name be printed on the stimulus checks, which delayed the delivery of the stimulus checks that were on their way to tens of millions of Americans by a few days.
When it comes to Vice President Kamala Harris’ qualifications for the presidency compared to Donald Trump, Michael Ealy touched on how frustrating he finds the challenges Harris faces with convincing the public of her worthiness for the role.
“It amazes me oftentimes how many times Democrats have to provide receipts for all of the things that they do. And for all of their qualifications, and yet on the other side, there’s just no accountability,” Ealy said.
He continued, “When you look at what Kamala Harris, who’s been a public servant basically her whole life, she is the most qualified candidate to run for president.”
Ealy and Hughley went on to address the rumor that Vice President Harris imprisoned “thousands and thousands” of Black men during her time as a California District Attorney.
“So if you look at her as just a cop, which has been debunked, and it’s been the mythology, like Vic was saying, it was 45 guys, and that’s it.”
Elsewhere during the Summit, Kenny Burns shared his perspective on the concerns facing Black male voters in this year’s election. According to the lifestyle specialist and radio host, Black men are simply seeking their share of the American dream.
“I think tax credits are very important for entrepreneurs here in Georgia,” Burns said. “We also want to be a part of the American dream. A lot of people I talk to want to have home ownership and they want to figure out pathways, how to get there. I think another big thing is childcare and being entrepreneurs.”
HBCU Accelerator Grads Get Business Boost From Wells Fargo Foundation
A Benedict alumna invests in her college's program.
It “takes a village to build a startup.” That’s what Lauren Mills has learned as CEO and founder of College Action Program, a web-based platform that helps college and universities transition students from acceptance to enrollment.
As a graduate of the Benedict College Statewide Investment Accelerator (BCSIA), Mills now has the “community, curriculum and confidence” to take her business to the next level.
\And thanks to a recent $100,000 donation to BCSIA from the Wells Fargo Foundation, Mills and fellow program graduates now have needed financial support for projects such as website updates and expanding marketing and branding efforts.
“I just love the fact that as a first-generation founder, as an underrepresented founder, as a Black woman founder, we have broken down that barrier for access to capital,” Mills, crediting Wells Fargo and BCSIA leaders, tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.
Training Entrepreneurs to Invest in Their Communities
BCSIA provides customized training, coaching, and technical assistance to diverse South Carolina small businesses. According to Program Director Millicent B. Lann, BSCIA selects cohorts of just five small-business owners who engage in 12-week curriculum cycles.
“I help these early stage, diverse founders accelerate their growth to benefit not only themselves, but the entirety of South Carolina, and expand their economic footprint,” Lann says.
The program’s third cohort just concluded coursework. Applications will open this fall for cohort four.
Benedict Alumna Invests in Alma Mater’s Program
Pam Bryant, vice president, community relations with the Wells Fargo Foundation, visited Benedict College’s campus in Columbia, S.C. with fellow leaders in late September, making the donation at a press conference.
“I was raised by Benedict College to be a power for good,” said Bryant, an alumna of the HBCU, “and I’m incredibly blessed to be able to put those skills and gifts to talents to work at Wells Fargo. Let’s continue to support, celebrate, and uplift small businesses across this country and in this state, because when they succeed, we succeed.”
BCSIA Executive Director Dr. Tracy Dunn tells BE that Wells Fargo’s support provides “non-diluted funding” to the graduates of the program.
“We can’t give them $100,000 but we can give them enough to make a difference and move the needle forward for that business,” Dunn explains. “We can gift them these funds for them to use in any way they see fit to grow their business.”
The $100,000 donation will directly support BCSIA graduates, including Mills and Carl Vann, founder and CEO of Pass The Peaz. His unique recipe app aims to preserve culture and heritage through food while also empowering Black and Brown communities to fight food insecurity. He heard about Benedict’s Accelerator Program on Instagram, applied and got in.
“It helped me learn how to talk about my business,” says Vann, a self-described introvert. “It helped me with pitching every single week and I got really good with it.”
Since then, he has taken those sharpened pitching skills and secured meaningful partnerships to help fight food insecurity and to elevate Pass The Peaz.
Purposeful Partnership
During the press conference, Benedict College president and CEO Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis noted that an expansion of BCSIA would “build an entrepreneurial ecosystem that will have a multiplier effect on our communities and help to invest in—not just the communities immediately around Benedict College, but across the state and across the nation,” and added that “it’s because of partners like Well Fargo that we’re able to continue the work that we are doing.”
In addition to the support from Wells Fargo, AT&T donated 100 laptops to Benedict students in early October as a part of AT&T Connected Learning initiative to address the digital divide through internet accessibility, affordability, and safe adoption. The company has committed $5 billion to help 25 million people gain and stay connected to high-speed internet by 2030.
“This laptop is more than just a device. It’s an investment in my future,” said Jillian Garrison, a criminal justice major at Benedict.
