October 2024

One thing that is constant in this country is voter suppression. States have removed citizens from voting rolls and passed new election laws with less than 60 days before the election. Check your voter registration status here to make sure you are still registered in your state, especially if you live in the South.

We're not just voting for the next President, but we're voting for Senators, Representatives, and State and Local officials. If we want things to change, we have to be active participants in the process. Voting is just ONE of the ways we can do that.

Your assignment right now and for the rest of the year is YOU. Work on YOU. Water YOU. Invest in YOU. Be so committed to your growth that you are willing to say no without guilt, and yes without fear.

- Chelsea Guarriello -

Just The Two Of Us: Edy Jackson Lawson and Samira Jackson are breaking barriers by being the first mother-daughter team to be certified as sports agents by the NFL Players Association. Out of nearly 1,000 certified NFL agents, only 88 are women, and an even smaller fraction of those are Black women. Check out their amazing story here.

The First But Not The Last: James M. Jeter was recently named the new Creative Director, Design & Brand Direction for Men’s Polo at Ralph Lauren. Jeter is the first Black Creative Director in the brand’s 57-year history. Learn how James influenced the 2022 HBCU collection and climbed the corporate ladder to sit in his current position.

Maxine Shaw Attorney At Law: Her iconic character on Living Single is why so many Black women decide to become lawyers. Erika Alexander, the woman behind the character that left an imprint in our hearts, now has a street named after her in Philadelphia. Check out Alexander's reaction to the naming here.

Do It For The Kids: A former public school educator, Briana Ambre Houston, launched a micro-school to address the needs of children with autism, ADHD, and more. The Differentiated Education and Learning Academy offers vital tools such as one-on-one teaching, homework assistance, activity books, and guides for parents and teachers. Find out what inspired her to start the academy. It’s something that is needed for children all over the country.

Just Different, No Less: Dr. Hokehe Eko is a board-certified pediatrician and the owner of “Glow Pediatrics,” the first Black-owned virtual autism clinic for children in the U.S. Based in Oklahoma, Dr. Eko’s virtual clinic boasts a maximum wait time of a week, starkly contrasting the national average of 27 months for an autism diagnosis evaluation. She currently offers services to patients in multiple states. See if your state is one of them here.

Don't Wait 'Til The Water Runs Dry: U.S. Army veteran and engineer, Moses West, has used technology to develop an Atmospheric Water Generator that turns air into clean water. This groundbreaking invention has the potential to address the needs of more than a billion people who currently do not have clean water. Check out how it works and the communities he’s able to serve to date.

It's Time To Move!

Last week, Just Move Supplements founder Keaira Lashae posted on Instagram that her company may have to close. Not on our watch! After Slutty Vegan owner Pinky Cole put out a call to action to support, Just Move Supplement raised over $200K in three days 🙌🏾 They need anywhere between $250K to $1M to keep their doors open and they are well on their way.

If you've been looking for vegan supplement options (protein powders, capsule blends) in some of your favorite dessert flavors (sweet potato pie, apple pie, banana pudding, chocolate cake) or just want to do your part to keep a Black business open, click the link below to shop or make a donation.

Stepping Into The Future: Black-owned shoe company Rebecca Allen has been acquired by Plain View Shoes. Rebecca Allen was one of the first shoe brands to offer affordable nude heels in a variety of tones Black women could wear.

Looking Out For Our Own: The Black Farmer Fund, co-founded by Karen Washington and Olivia Watkins, has raised $20 million in its second fund to support Black-owned agricultural businesses in the Northeast through low-interest loans and gifts, helping Black farmers strengthen their market presence and supply chain roles.

Build Your Own Table: NBA MVP Jaylen Brown declined $50M in offers from prominent brands for sneaker deals to have full ownership and control of his own brand. He recently launched his performance brand, 741. He plans to sign other athletes to the brand and is dedicated to setting the cost of his shoes at a low rate for big kid sizes — about 40% below or lower than competitors.

You, Me and Whiskey: Shinju Spirits, the Black-owned brand behind Shinju Japanese Whisky has secured a major investment from Pronghorn Investment Management. This investment will help Shinju Spirits boost production and expand its market reach.

Walk It Out: Tens of thousands of dockworkers on the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast hit the picket line early Tuesday amid a strike over wages and automation at ports. The walkout followed months of stalled contract negotiations and a last-minute exchange of counteroffers. Here’s what you need to know.

Free Groceries For All: The Highlandtown community in Baltimore will now be able to shop at the Pratt Free Market, which will operate as a full-service grocery store inside the city's Enoch Pratt Free Library. Income verification or ID will not be required at the grocery store, and all items will be available for free. Here's how this dream idea became a reality.

Well Traveled: Is it time to renew your passport? You can now do so online here. This service is unavailable for first-time passport applicants, children’s passports, or those requiring expedited processing.

The M Factor: Ladies, we're closer to menopause than we'd like to think. Premiering on PBS and PBS.org beginning October 17th, The M Factor documentary will talk about menopause in a way we've never seen it discussed publicly before. Check out clips from the documentary here.

Girls Wanna Play Ball Too: The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) has sanctioned Girls Flag Football as an official sport in Pennsylvania. The Girls Flag Football League was launched in 2022 by the Philadelphia Eagles with the goal of getting the sport sanctioned by 2027. The Eagles Girls' Flag League has more than 1,600 girls playing throughout the eastern side of Pennsylvania. Another 36 schools play in the Pittsburgh Steelers Girls Flag League.

We're Not Surprised By This: The US ranks last on key healthcare measures compared with other high-income nations, despite spending the most. The US has a lower life expectancy and higher rates of death and disease despite spending the most on health care, according to a recent report. The three top-performing countries in the report were Australia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

READ: Lovely One by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson​
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson pulls back the curtain, marrying the public record of her life with what is less known. She reveals what it takes to advance in the legal profession when most people in power don't look like you, and to reconcile a demanding career with the joys and sacrifices of marriage and motherhood.

WATCH: Evolution of the Black Quarterback​
​In celebration of how Black quarterbacks have changed the game of professional football, retired NFL Pro Bowl quarterback Michael Vick travels across the country learning about the pioneers who fought for acceptance, the players who cemented their spot, and what the future of the game can hold. Season 1 features Patrick Mahomes, Cam Newton, Steve Young, and more.

LISTEN: THE FORCE by LL Cool J​
​With the release of his album THE FORCE, LL Cool J becomes the first and ONLY rap artist to chart a new billboard entry each of the last 5 decades. THE FORCE debuted at number 9 on the Billboard Top Rap Album Chart, which gave him his fifth consecutive Top 10 on that list which was launched in 2005.

Last weekend, Viva Books, a new and used bookstore in the heart of downtown Baltimore, was struck by an unexpected disaster. A manhole cover across the street exploded into the air, triggering an electrical fire that spread into the basement below Viva Books. The front windows were shattered, and an 11x14 hole now scars the front of the store, exposing the basement.

With the help of community support, Viva Books hopes to rebuild. Please click the link below to donate to the store's GoFundMe.

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