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The United Negro College Fund just scored a cool $100 million, and that's more than just a number, it's a supernova igniting the potential of Black excellence across America. Think of it like a victory lap for every dreamer who dared to defy #JimCrow walls and built educational empires on foundations of resilience and hope. This isn't just about cash, it's about catapulting #HBCUs into the future, amplifying their impact, and proving that melanin-powered brilliance deserves center stage. Sure, critics might grumble about acronyms and historical baggage. But let's not get lost in the noise. This is about celebrating HBCUs as incubators of Black leadership, innovation, and cultural vibrancy. From doctors to lawyers, musicians to engineers, these institutions have birthed generations of changemakers who defied limitations and carved their own paths to success. Let's amplify the voices of HBCUs, support their students, celebrate their achievements, and rewrite the future where educational equity isn't a dream, but a reality. #BlackExcellence #EducationForAll #HBCUMakeTheirMark#InvestingInFutures #BeyondTheFunding #TogetherWeRise#PowerInMelanin #RewritingTheNarrative

This Monday, the NBA Foundation marks four incredible years of advancing economic opportunities for Black youth across NBA markets. Over this period, they have proudly awarded $119M to organizations dedicated to breaking down barriers to mentoring, career readiness, and job training programs. Last week, I had the privilege of celebrating this milestone in person with their amazing grantee partners, HBCU Fellows, and All-Star Pitch Competition Fellows. The event was a testament to the community and ecosystem they are collectively building, and several aspects stood out to me: Deepening the Ecosystem: From fellows to BIPOC vendors, the intentional inclusion of diverse voices highlighted the purpose of their gathering. The Foundation's focus on driving economic opportunity and empowerment in the Black community was palpable. Imagining Future Partnerships: They engaged in dynamic conversations about what partnership could look like in the future. The enthusiasm for ideating audacious projects to support the Black community was inspiring. Leveraging Resources: The room was filled with funders, corporate partners, Black BIPOC vendors, nonprofit partners, and talented fellows. This gathering facilitated authentic conversations and community building, paving the way for future alignment and partnerships. It is truly a joy to watch their partners and fellows thrive. Here’s to many more years of impactful work and collaboration! Lauren Sills, Genisha Metcalf, and team ya'll are doing great work! #NBAFoundation #EconomicOpportunity #BlackYouthEmpowerment #CommunityBuilding #Partnerships #BIPOCVendors #Mentoring #CareerReadiness #JobTraining #HBCUFellows #AllStarPitchCompetition

Black History is a constant happening. An everyday occurrence, and when history we made, we celebrate it. Why? Because to not celebrate our history is to accept the place we stand in it. As we continue to celebrate and honor those history makers, let us not only embrace the lessons of our past but also acknowledge the imperative need to learn from history, empower the present, and sculpt a future where equity and justice are intrinsic to every individual's existence. This is something we strive for at Urban League of Philadelphia beyond programming and community efforts. So Today we would like to highlight Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis who became the first Black Lt. Governor in the state of #pennsylvania in January of 2023. He also became the youngest person to serve in his position in the United States. Since then, Davis has vowed to sow hope and opportunity for the ignored, forgotten and to further advance the cause of social and economic justice for all, “especially Black and brown young people.” Whether it be advocating for after school programs, supporting minority-owned businesses, seeking to end gun violence, or speaking out for those unhoused, unprotected, and un-alived; Davis has been sure to keep his promise. Urban League works tirelessly each day to serve Greater Philadelphia, it is because of community partners and leaders like Lt. Gov Davis in the fight toward equity who help us get the job done and make history. Let's continue doing both. #MakingBlackHistory #afterschoolprograms #UrbanLeagueImpact #MovingForwardTogether #ShapeTheFuture #LegacyOfHope #endgunviolence #urbanleaguephila Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro

In 2023, AWBI was increasingly intentional about convening practitioners and supporters to create a just economy. Hence, we launched the Black Community Wealth Network – a national network positioned to build a broad network of practitioners and supporters committed to the task of building Black community wealth. And through it, we have expanded the narrative to apply a more interdisciplinary analysis on what it means to build wealth for Black people and communities, according to Janelle Williams, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder of AWBI. We are grateful to bring together a key group of investors, advocates, practitioners, and scholars who will continue to help us create a just economy for Black people. Explore our full report at https://lnkd.in/dRAazvq #AtlAwbi #communitywealthbuilding #economicjustice

By 2026, the HBCU Transformation Project hopes to support a positive change in life trajectories for 22,000 Black Americans. Education is a key driver of social and economic mobility in the US. But opportunities for higher education haven’t always been accessible for all Americans— particularly for Black, Latinx, and low-income communities — because of systemic racism and other barriers. By supporting and expanding inclusive, accessible pathways to higher education, we move the needle toward a more equitable future. Our collaboration with Thurgood Marshall College Fund, UNCF, and Partnership for Education Advancement aims to strengthen operations, fundraising, performance management, and technology infrastructure at 40 participating HBCUs, with an end goal of maximizing their potential impact and the ripple effects of their successes within surrounding Black communities. https://lnkd.in/d72AY9AM

The Economic Impact of College Athletes' TV Deals on the Black Community Discover the significant advancements in college athlete compensation through TV deals and its impact on the Black community. Learn about the economic consequences of the NCAA taking billions of dollars of Black wealth. Uncover the importance of recognizing the value of Black athletes as a valuable commodity. #CollegeAthleteCompensation #EconomicImpact #BlackWealth #NCAA #AthleteCommodity #BlackAthletes #SportsIndustry #CollegeSports #TVDeals #RacialEquality

I attended NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF BLACK SCHOOL EDUCATORS (NABSE) conference this year to present at an event powered by Varsity Tutors, a Nerdy Company and McGraw Hill. They allowed me to talk about what was on my mind, so the topic of my talk was "Leading While Black in an Anti-Black Cultural Context." I thought it was fitting for NABSE's audience. The gist of my talk was this: We, Black superintendents, must be proactive in our approach to thrive while working to change the trajectory and destinies of the children we serve. Until we, as a community, acknowledge the toxic environments we are asking Black leaders to lead in, we will not change the mediocrity of the status quo. Four points of action I left the group with were the following: 1. Collectively pool resources to establish reputation       insurance with a reputable entity or non-profit to support           legal and media support  2. Encourage and establish research hubs at multiple major       universities and at key non-profit organizations to         communicate the success stories and experiences of Black       superintendents and governance teams and their efforts       to lead for equity  3. Strengthen local state affiliates of Black educator       organizations to support the networking and hiring of         Black superintendents and leaders  4. Be intentional about networking with corporate partners       and universities to strengthen transitional opportunities        and innovative partnerships When you know better, you should do better. I hope my research and actions positively affects at least one aspiring superintendent or superintendent out there. I'll do my part. I hope we do "our" part collectively so that our children receive excellence, by design, every day. AERA SIG 97: Research on the Superintendency HU SOE #NABSE #BlackSuperintendents #SchoolGovernance

Did you know the median wage for Black workers is $32,000 less than white workers in Minnesota? We recently completed an exciting body of work with the ECMC Group to design some new ways to impact the employment gap for young Black adults in the Twin Cities and to connect them with long-term careers, not just jobs. We defined a new set of solutions with a group of young Black adults, rooted in their lived experiences, to give them pathways to long-term careers - not just jobs. Click the link below to see the amazing work, read about a major perspective shift we have, and see the equitable future of education that ECMC Group is working diligently for. https://lnkd.in/d6K3jQAD

The future