The California-based non-profit Prison From The Inside Out is bridging the gap between people in prison and those in the community, says the organization’s founder and executive director.

Prison From The Inside Out offers the incarcerated community a platform to share their stories, accept responsibility for their actions, as well as mentor others. Led by Porshe Taylor, FTIO’s goal is to reach the incarcerated in every state and to serve as a model nationally and internationally.

“We wanted to make sure that people who are not impacted had a source of connection to people who are currently serving and are formally incarcerated,” Taylor tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.

Born out of her experience in dealing with the challenges her husband faced when he was behind bars, Taylor wanted to build a platform that humanizes the incarcerated.

 

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“My husband is formerly incarcerated and during his incarceration, I was angry,” Taylor reveals. “I’ve seen a lot of things happen to him as a nonviolent offender in regards to rehabilitation that I just did not agree with.”

 “He wasn’t provided with the tools that he needed to learn from his mistakes, heal from his mistakes, and then come out to be a better person,” she added.

From witnessing her husband’s experience, Taylor came up with a plan to build a bridge between the incarcerated and the outside world that would offer criminal offenders an opportunity to show how they’ve changed while or since serving their time.

“I wanted to kind of share with people who are not impacted by the atrocities that happen behind bars, and also share that everybody that’s in prison is not a monster,” she says. “And, in doing so, Prison From the Inside Out was born.”

 

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Since its inception in 2019, FTIO has expanded nationally and internationally, including Uganda, Africa. With over six government-funded programs, FTIO is offering creative outlets through its Poetry Slam Program, teaching lessons on self-control and cause and effect to inmates, as well as preventative outreach and accountability.

Taylor is the first African-American woman to create a nonprofit organization that supplies correctional institutions with innovative and rehabilitative curriculums that have been approved and funded by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) partner Innovative Programming. Her goal is to expand FTIO to correctional facilities across the country.

Press play below to learn more about how Prison From The Inside Out is helping to advance the prison reform movement.

• News

by Daniel Johnson

September 16, 2023

Supreme Court Justice Jackson Reminds Alabama That History Cannot Be Whitewashed

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Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, on hand to memorialize the 60th anniversary of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, stressed that Americans have to confront harsh realities about race in America. 

Her speech hit back at the tendency of leaders like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to attempt to sanitize history by removing parts they find uncomfortable, NBC News reports.

“If we are going to continue to move forward as a nation, we cannot allow concerns about discomfort to displace knowledge, truth or history. It is certainly the case that parts of this country’s story can be hard to think about,” Jackson said. 

Jackson’s comments came as Alabama’s Republican leaders seek to recreate a congressional map that a lower court has already said denied Black voters political determination. This follows a Supreme Court June 2023 ruling that the Voting Rights Act was enacted to protect Black voters from political retaliation. 

Jackson has often been critical of the legal interpretations spouted by her conservative colleagues on the Court. She authored a minority dissent on the affirmative action case in 2023, which established that the admission policy violated the equal protection clause.  

“It would be deeply unfortunate if the Equal Protection Clause actually demanded this perverse, a historical, and counterproductive outcome,” she wrote in her decision. “To impose this result in that Clause’s name when it requires no such thing, and to thereby obstruct our collective progress toward the full realization of the Clause’s promise, is truly a tragedy for us all.”

As it relates to the 1963 bombing of a Birmingham church by the Ku Klux Klan that claimed the lives of four African-American girls, there is a growing movement not to forget the two Black boys (16-year-old Johnny Robinson and 13-year-old Virgil Ware) who died in the aftermath of the bombing that killed Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carol Robertson, and Denise McNair. 

“While the bombing happened that morning, their deaths that afternoon were the residual effects of the terror. Those individuals who exacted that terror upon Virgil and Johnny, they were emboldened by what happened that day,” DeJuana Thompson, president of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, told NBC News.

RELATED CONTENT: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Jackson, Embarking on First Term, Says Her Appointment Inspires Pride Among Americans

• News

by Daniel Johnson

September 16, 2023

Georgia County Judge Rules Trump And Co-Defendants Cannot All Be Tried At Once

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A state judge in Georgia has denied the prosecutors’ request to consolidate all 19 defendants for the Georgia 2020 election interference case scheduled for next month.

On Thursday, Sept. 14, Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee rejected the request. 

“The Court joins the skepticism expressed by several federal courts that denying severance always ensures efficiency, especially in ‘mega trials’ such as this,” McAfee wrote in his court order, The Hill reports.

This means District Attorney Fani Willis‘s strategy of forcing all 19 defendants, including ex-President Donald Trump, to stand trial together is dead in the water. McAfee did not set an official trial date in his ruling, but it is expected that Trump will delay the case as long as possible.

Other defendants, such as Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell, will be tried together due to their lack of ability to demonstrate a need to separate their cases. 

Part of McAfee’s ruling indicates that the judicial logistics required to try 19 defendants at once does not exist, writing in his judgment that the Fulton County Courthouse does not have a large enough courtroom to make such an arrangement feasible. In addition, he wrote, “Relocating to another larger venue raises security concerns that cannot be rapidly addressed.” 

Willis had previously argued that the defendants could be tried together because the courthouse could accommodate a trial of all the defendants together.

McAfee also indicated that such a high-profile case could have adverse effects on the local criminal justice system. However, he is not inclined to allow defendants such as former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to pause their prosecutions while they try to move their case to the federal court system.

“However, as appeals to the Eleventh Circuit and the United States Supreme Court could take months to resolve even if expedited, the Court does not intend to delay pretrial litigation,” McAfee wrote in his decision. “Pending the removal appeals, Defendants are expected at a minimum to review discovery and prepare their pretrial motions. The arguments within these motions should mirror whatever would be filed if this case is removed, lessening concerns regarding unnecessarily expended resources.”

RELATED CONTENT: Georgia DA Fani Willis Responds To Rep. Jim Jordan Inquiry Of Trump Indictment

• Sports

by Derek Major

September 16, 2023

LeBron James’ Associates Named In Biogenesis Doping Investigation Documents

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Two associates of Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James have been named in unredacted federal documents related to the 2013 Biogenesis doping Investigation.

Deadspin reported James’ friend and business manager, Ernest Mims, and trainer David Alexander, who worked with James in the past, were named in documents as clients of the now-defunct rejuvenation clinic Biogenesis of America. James is not accused of taking performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), and none of the documents accuse the 19-time All-Star of taking steroids.

Mims was cited in the federal documents as buying controlled substances for personal use without the intent of distributing the drugs to anyone else. According to ESPN, Mims was never charged with a crime nor interviewed by federal authorities. Alexander, meanwhile, is listed in the federal documents as a Miami-based personal trainer for James’ wife, Savannah. He was also named as an associate of former Biogenesis founder Anthony Bosch, where he traded drugs for new personal training clients, one of which was Mims,

A representative of James told ESPN that he had no clue that he, his wife, or any associates were referenced or named in the Biogenesis investigation until ESPN approached him concerning the documents last year.

The findings of the Biogenesis investigation led to the suspension of 14 major and minor league baseball players, including New York Yankees outfielder Alex Rodriguez, who was suspended for the entire 2014 MLB season after his suspension was upheld on appeal. Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun received a 65-game suspension; Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz received a 50-game suspension; and New York Yankees catcher Francisco Cervilli received a 50-game suspension.

James and the Lakers are gearing up for another season of high expectations after the Lakers went 43-39, finishing seventh in the Western Conference and being swept by the NBA Champion Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. In addition to resigning guard Austin Reaves, the Lakers have added Gabe Vincent, Jaxson Hayes, Cam Reddish, and Taurean Prince to their team this season.

RELATED CONTENT: U.S. Anti-Doping Agency Bans Olympic Silver Medalist Raven Saunders for 18 Months

Nia Long’s ex-fiancé, Ime Udoka, opposes the actress’s request for primary custody of their 11-year-old son. According to court documents obtained by Radar Online, Long filed for physical and legal custody of her son, Kez Sunday Udoka, last month, because Udoka reportedly “failed’ to support the boy. Udoka finally responded to Long’s petition and told the courts he wanted to receive joint custody instead.

In the filed response, Ime has demanded joint legal and physical custody through the Los Angeles Superior Court. The Nigerian-American NBA coach is also fighting for visitation rights alongside the altered custody agreement. 

Long’s initial filing included a “Petition to Determine Parental Relationship” as well as a request for Udoka to cover all of her legal fees associated with the scandal, just a few months after Udoka was revealed to be having an affair with a female co-worker at the Celtics, where he had been head coach since 2021.

Long wrote that her ex-fiance “failed to support their child.” So he should be restricted to having “reasonable visitation…consistent with the child’s best interest” while she maintains primary custody of Kez. The request also included that Udoka should be ordered by the court to cover all of her legal bills accrued from the case.

Udoka’s response requested that both parties cover their own individual legal costs. 

The former couple’s relationship ended publicly after Long announced that they were splitting after 13 years together. Udoka was suspended from his former position with the Boston Celtics for reported “multiple policy violations.” Just a few weeks after the suspension, it was revealed that Udoka was actually involved romantically with one of his co-workers. Following the immediate split, Long’s representation said that although she and Udoka were no longer together, they would “remain fully committed to co-parenting their son.”

At the time, the cheating scandal grew so big that Long had to pull Kez from school to avoid the overwhelming spotlight and drama.

RELATED CONTENT: A Nia Long Memoir Is On The Horizon With Promise Of ‘Truth And Transparency’

• News

by Mary Spiller

September 16, 2023

Jeezy Files For Divorce From Jeannie Mai

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TV host Jeannie Mai and rapper Jeezy are splitting. On September 14, Jeezy filed for divorce from Mai in a Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta after being married for two years.

In the filing, Jay Wayne Jenkins, more commonly known as 45-year-old rapper Jeezy, said, “The marriage is irretrievably broken. There is no hope for reconciliation.” 

The filing continued to say that he “desires” that he and Mai will “share joint legal custody on a temporary and permanent basis.” The couple already have a prenuptial agreement in place, so the split seems to be moving along without public dispute.

Jeezy and Mai met in 2018 on her talk show The Real and began dating shortly after. Mai previously described her relationship as “one of the most beautiful experiences” of her entire life. 

“Getting to know him has been one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. He’s introspective, he’s passionate, he’s incredibly deep, he’s a visionary, he’s a great leader, he’s an amazing servant to his community.”

She continued to describe Jeezy. “I found my equal,” she admitted. “I really got to know him just off our first date. We’re in our 40s. God somehow managed our timing.”

After having their daughter, Jeezy and Mai took a trip for their two-year anniversary to Vietnam. They discussed the importance of the trip in their bonding with PEOPLE. 

Mai told the outlet, “When Jeezy and I met, we bonded over the similarities and differences of our cultures. Now that we have a daughter, blending our worlds, it gives even more meaning to explore Vietnam together as a multicultural family.”

“When Jeezy proposed to me, he decorated his condo to look like Hoi An. It brought the memories of our engagement full circle when we were finally in Hoi An for the first time.”

RELATED CONTENT: Motivation 101: Jeezy Is ‘Most Profitable’ In His Business Endeavors

• Business

by Daniel Johnson

September 16, 2023

Byron Allen Makes $10 Billion Bid To Acquire ABC Network From Disney After BET Deal Falls Through

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Media mogul Byron Allen has made an offer of $10 billion for Disney’s ABC Network. According to Bloomberg, Allen made the offer as Disney is looking to shed what it considers “non-core assets” and looks to focus their efforts on streaming services.

According to a Bloomberg, a source familiar with the offer said the offer centers on ABC’s broadcast network as well as FX and National Geographic. Other sources claim that Disney has also been in contact with Nexstar Media Group about selling the ABC network and its local news affiliates, but nothing concrete has emerged as of yet. 

Disney released a statement on Sept. 14, saying that no sale has been made, but the company also did not rule out the possibility of a sale, echoing statements from its CEO, Bob Iger, in July 2023.

The statement read: “While we are open to considering a variety of strategic options for our linear businesses, at this time The Walt Disney Company has made no decision with respect to the divestiture of ABC or any other property and any report to that effect is unfounded.”

There has been speculation, fueled by statements made by Iger, that Disney is looking to get out of TV assets that investors have largely come to regard as dead weight.

“We are expansive in our thinking about [the linear business], and we’re going to look expansively … [for] opportunities there because, clearly, it’s a business that’s going to continue to struggle,” the Disney CEO said in an interview with CNBC in July. Iger acknowledged the current distribution model is “definitely broken,” saying that linear TV assets “may not be core” to Disney’s strategy any more. His perspective aligns with the industry’s evolving perception due to the rapid surge in consumer streaming consumption.

Although Allen is one of the media industry’s power players, he began his career as a standup comedian before getting into producing TV shows, mostly of the daytime courtroom variety. According to IMDB, Allen has 16 writing credits and directing credits. Allen has spent the last several years acquiring brands like The Weather Channel and regional stations across the U.S. Allen was one of the names associated with the attempted purchases of BET and Tegna Inc. 

Even though Allen’s offer of $10 billion for the Disney assets is preliminary, the offer is currently based on models that assume that the ABC brands Allen is interested in purchasing will net him $1.25 billion before interest, taxes, and depreciation factor in.  If that number changes, Allen has the flexibility to change his offer to reflect these changes. Allen will reportedly work with banks and equity firms to complete the deal, according to Bloomberg’s source. Allen could also look to sell some of the regional stations he owns that are not ABC affiliates, so there is not a conflicting issue with networks like CBS and NBC.

The Allen Media LLC reportedly does carry a significant amount of debt, and that could be something that affects whether or not Disney chooses to sell to Allen.

Industry analysts like Evan Young believe that Disney’s willingness to sell is an indication that it believes traditional TV is about to fizzle out, which could lead to it being sold at a fraction of its current value. Young noted “a sale of ABC tells us that Disney’s view on pay TV is that it will soon implode, which to us means applying meaningful discount rates to all linear cash flows.”

RELATED CONTENT: Diddy Has A Dream Of Teaming Up With Tyler Perry And Byron Allen To Form The Ultimate Media Conglomerate

• News

by Mary Spiller

September 16, 2023

CAU Dorms Flooded After Severe Storm Sweeps Atlanta

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Severe flooding has caused damage throughout Atlanta. Late Thursday afternoon, Fox Weather reported that the storm poured down 2 inches of water in a little over an hour, leaving the Clark Atlanta University (CAU) students scrambling to escape their dorms as they filled with water.

Viral social media videos taken by CAU students show the water flooding into the dorm buildings, which subsequently lost power. A video taken in a dorm hallway by student Ashley Clark revealed that the floor was covered in water, and one student even seemed to have her leg stuck in a door due to the water current. 

A student’s leg appeared to be stuck in a door during flooding inside the Clark Atlanta University dorms earlier

“All students living in the residential areas affected by flooding are in the process of being relocated to new housing,” the university said https://t.co/0Yx9u9BOxS pic.twitter.com/BPLhJDHtc6

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) September 14, 2023

Thankfully, fellow dorm members were able to come together to free the student’s leg before the water rose any further. Reportedly, Clark told 11Alive, “I used a fire extinguisher to keep banging the door, and they pulled her out. It took a few minutes, but we did it by ourselves. Her leg was bleeding really bad, so we carried her up the stairs, and they took her to the hospital. Her mom said she got out of surgery a few hours ago and is in recovery. I’m going in the morning to see her myself, but all of our rooms are completely damaged.”

Update from the person who recorded this video: “I used a fire extinguisher to keep banging the door and they pulled her out. It took a few minutes but we did it by ourselves. Her leg was bleeding really bad so we carried her up the stairs and they took her to the hospital.

Her…

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) September 15, 2023

An 11Alive representative spoke to a CAU student who was studying in the library as the flash flooding occurred. 

She told the outlet that when she left, there was water already rushing over her shoes.

“It was scary,” the student explained, “I looked out the window and seen the large flood, and more videos kept coming in of the cars floating.” 

A CAU spokesperson assured the public that school officers and responders handled the situation according to protocols and as quickly as possible. The spokesperson said in a statement, “All students living in the residential areas affected by flooding are in the process of being relocated to new housing. We will continue to assess the impact of the severe inclement weather.”

The university has work crews trying to assess the situation and make repairs to return displaced students to their dorms.

The damage expanded past the dorms. The roads surrounding CAU are entirely covered in mud following the ceasing of the flooding, and cars were left moved after being swept up in the water.

by Sharelle Burt

September 16, 2023

Wellness Agent Cherron Perry-Thomas Advocates For Equity In Cannabis Industry During Black Cannabis Week

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In an industry where Black people are often stigmatized, one Black woman is fighting for a change.

Meet Cherron Perry-Thomas, co-founder of the Diasporic Alliance of Cannabis Opportunities (DACO) and Black Cannabis Week. Black Cannabis Week is a Philadelphia-based gathering to encourage entrepreneurship, wellness, innovation, and more in cannabis industry. In the event’s fourth year, attendees can count on hearing from organizations, businesses, and elected officials on “advancing social justice efforts,” according to the website.

For years, Perry-Thomas has been advocating for change in the cannabis world, working with lawmakers at the city, state, and federal level for “social equity and justice policy.” Perry-Thomas’ work on this initiative is a testament, she says, to how cannabis has helped others heal.

“I was first introduced to the challenges of accessing medical cannabis by a neighbor undergoing cancer treatment,” Perry-Thomas remembers in a press release. “She couldn’t afford costly medications to ease the side effects of chemo and cannabis, even for medical purposes was still illegal in the state of Pennsylvania.”

 

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She added that the moment helped her realize that “education and advocacy would be essential to increasing awareness and opportunities.”

The hybrid event, Sept.17 through Sept. 24, coordinates with the DACO Cannabis Opportunities Conference, a partnership with Pennsylvania State Senator Sharif Street, at Temple University’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine. The free conference has been a growing platform for providing informational panels and speakers as well as legal and career support to marginalized communities. Perry-Thomas said the conference is a chance for the “cannabis curious” to gain insight.

“I regularly participate in rallies and forums with legislators advocating for communities harmed by the war on drugs and demanding equity and inclusion in an industry that has been oppressive to the poor and black and brown people,” the founder said.

“I then invite many progressive legislators to join us at the DACO Conference and Black Cannabis Week to engage and collaborate with the community.”

 

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While cannabis is legal in some states, reports have come out on lawmakers limiting business opportunities in some of those same states. In August 2023, a judge signed an order in New York blocking marijuana regulators from processing retail licensing until further notice. But thanks to advocates like Perry-Thomas, other outlets are available with the resources needed to thrive.

RELATED CONTENT: Owner of Black-Owned Cannabis Wellness Brand Launches Platform to Help Other Startup Entrepreneurs