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Chicago Black Business Leaders Unite at ‘The BlackPRint’
CHICAGO DEFENDER — Christi Love, founder of With an Eye PR, partnered with Que Johnson, CEO of 529 Management, and Lore Enjoli, CEO of all Butter UP, for “The BlackPRint.” She also hosts three events every year for the culture and uplift of Black entrepreneurs:
The post Chicago Black Business Leaders Unite at ‘The BlackPRint’ first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
Black business leaders from Chicago joined forces at Momementun Coffee in the South Loop for “The BlackPRint,” an annual event to uplift entrepreneurs making a difference within their organizations and communities. Public relations maven Christi Love, founder of With an Eye PR, strategically launched the event during National Black Business Month.
Christi partnered with Que Johnson, CEO of 529 Management, and Lore Enjoli, CEO of all Butter UP, for “The BlackPRint.” She also hosts three events every year for the culture and uplift of Black entrepreneurs:
- She Owns It She Biz Conference was created for and by Black women and supported by Black men — to be seen and heard.
- Chicago Cubs Juneteenth at Wrigley features With an Eye PR clients in the Black Entrepreneurs Experience, where they can sell and promote products to Cubs fans.
- The BlackPRint celebrates Black businesses while allowing them to network and build brand awareness of their professional endeavors, all while connecting with the community.
Christi was inspired to launch “The BlackPRint” because she knew collaboration was vital to success.
“I remember this African proverb, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.””
She recalls that she couldn’t have obtained her level of success alone, which was one of her motivating factors for starting “The BlackPRint.” It unites Black leaders and allows opportunities for networking and supporting each other’s businesses, all while positively impacting the communities their business thrives in.
The BlackPRint had several speakers:
Donte Deisel Williams, a photojournalist and filmmaker with projects like “Not Another Black Movie,” “Not Another Zombie Movie” and “Stepdad,” stressed the importance of time management and determination. He believes that having the drive and a clear goal can lead to success if you consistently work towards it.
Cortez Smith, an actor in “The Chi,” talked about changing the narrative when faced with rejection. He understands the idea that we have the power to shape our destinies by shifting our perspectives and pursuing various avenues of success.
Que Johnson, the CEO of 529 Management, started her journey with a simple blog and podcast, “The Purple Girl Show,” which grew into a notable platform with over 30,000 listeners. Her claim to success is understanding the importance of perseverance! No matter the obstacles she faced, more challenges would come. She knew she could overcome each one as long as she stayed focused — “overcoming challenges is an ongoing process!”
Lore Enjoli, the CEO of All Butter UP, aims to promote self-care through skincare. Their motto, “self-care ain’t that deep,” suggests that simple steps like using their skincare butter can contribute to self-care practices.
Overall, these stories reflect Black individuals’ resilience, determination, and creativity in pursuing their passions, overcoming challenges and contributing positively to their communities. They exemplify the importance of representation, self-care and purpose-driven work in shaping personal and collective success.
“The BlackPRint” encourages the power of collaboration, which Christi saw firsthand from her parents, who were also entrepreneurs. She understands that collective efforts can lead to greater success for all involved.
Remembering the African Proverb of togetherness is essential, and knowing that when people unite, legacy bridges are built that will continue to help others for generations.
The post Chicago Black Business Leaders Unite at ‘The BlackPRint’ appeared first on Chicago Defender.
The post Chicago Black Business Leaders Unite at ‘The BlackPRint’ first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
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PRESS ROOM: Clyburn, Pressley, Scanlon, Colleagues Urge Biden to Use Clemency Power to Address Mass Incarceration Before Leaving Office
NNPA NEWSWIRE — Mass incarceration remains a persistent, systemic injustice that erodes the soul of America. Our nation has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with nearly two million people locked in jails and prisons throughout the country.
Read the letter here.
Watch the press conference here.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06), Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) led 60 of their colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden urging him to use his executive clemency power in the final months of his presidency to reunite families, address longstanding injustices in our legal system, and set our nation on the path toward ending mass incarceration.
The lawmakers hosted a press conference earlier today to discuss the letter. A full video of their press conference is available here and photos are available here.
“Now is the time to use your clemency authority to rectify unjust and unnecessary criminal laws passed by Congress and draconian sentences given by judges,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter. “The grant of pardons and commutations and the restoration of rights will undoubtedly send a powerful message across the country in support of fundamental fairness and furthering meaningful criminal justice reform.”
Mass incarceration remains a persistent, systemic injustice that erodes the soul of America. Our nation has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with nearly two million people locked in jails and prisons throughout the country. The extreme use of incarceration has resulted in one in two adults having had an incarcerated family member. People of color are disproportionately put behind bars, along with individuals from low-income communities, LGBTQIA+ folks, and those with disabilities. The bloated prison system reflects and emboldens biases that undermine the ideals of our nation and diminish trust in the rule of law. Mass incarceration attacks the most vulnerable Americans, thereby destabilizing families and inflicting intergenerational trauma.
In their letter to President Biden, the lawmakers praised the President’s efforts to create a fair and just criminal legal system by pardoning people convicted of simple marijuana possession and LGBTQ+ former servicemembers and urged the President to use his clemency powers to help broad classes of people and cases, including the elderly and chronically ill, those on death row, people with unjustified sentencing disparities, and women who were punished for defending themselves against their abusers. The lawmakers also outlined the fiscal toll of the growing mass incarceration crisis.
“You have the support of millions of people across the country who have felt the harms of mass incarceration: young children longing to hug their grandparents, people who have taken responsibility for their mistakes, and those who simply were never given a fair chance,” the lawmakers wrote. “These are the people seeking help that only you can provide through the use of your presidential clemency power.”
Joining Representatives Clyburn, Pressley, and Scanlon in sending the letter are Representatives Joyce Beatty, Sanford Bishop, Shontel Brown, Cori Bush, André Carson, Troy Carter, Yvette Clarke, Jasmine Crockett, Valerie Foushee, Al Green, Jahana Hayes, Steven Horsford, Jonathan Jackson, Pramila Jayapal, Henry Johnson, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Robin Kelly, Summer Lee, Jennifer McClellan, Gregory Meeks, Delia Ramirez, Jan Schakowsky, Robert Scott, Terri Sewell, Marilyn Strickland, Bennie Thompson, Rashida Tlaib, and Bonnie Watson Coleman.
The lawmakers’ letter is supported by the American Civil Liberties Union; Center for Popular Democracy; Last Prisoner Project; Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Death Penalty Action; The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls; The Faith Leaders of Color Coalition; Second Chance Justice of MCAN; JustLeadershipUSA; FAMM; The Episcopal Church; The Bambi Fund; Free Billie Allen Campaign; People’s Coalition for Safety and Freedom; Prophetic Resistance Boston; and Families Against Mandatory Minimums.
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Tennessee State University Set to Debut the First Division I Hockey Team at An HBCU
THE AFRO — “I am incredibly excited to embark on building this program, supported by God, my family, TSU students, alumni, and all those eagerly awaiting this moment,” said Duanté Abercrombie, the head coach of the Tennessee State Tigers ice hockey team, in a press release courtesy of TSU Athletics. “I firmly believe that one day, TSU will be recognized not only as a powerhouse on the ice but also as a program whose student-athletes leave a profound legacy on the world, enriched by the lessons learned at TSU.”
By Mekhi Abbott
Special to the AFRO
mabbott@afro.com
Tennessee State University (TSU) continues to break ground on a historic journey to become the first historically Black college or university (HBCU) to field a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I ice hockey team. Alongside some assistance from the National Hockey League (NHL), the NHL Players’ Association and the Nashville Predators, the TSU Tigers have already named their official head coach, unveiled their jersey and received their first official commitment from a student-athlete.
TSU held an official press conference to announce the plan in June 2023. Their first official season as a sanctioned Division I program is planned to commence in 2025-26. On April 18, TSU named Duanté Abercrombie as the head coach of the Tennessee State Tigers ice hockey team.
“I am incredibly excited to embark on building this program, supported by God, my family, TSU students, alumni, and all those eagerly awaiting this moment,” said Abercrombie in a press release courtesy of TSU Athletics. “I firmly believe that one day, TSU will be recognized not only as a powerhouse on the ice but also as a program whose student-athletes leave a profound legacy on the world, enriched by the lessons learned at TSU.”
Abercrombie was raised in Washington, D.C., and was mentored by hockey legend Neal Henderson, the first Black man to be inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. Abercrombie attended Gonzaga College High School and graduated from Hampton University, where he was a track and field athlete prior to retiring due to an injury. After college, Abercrombie briefly played professional hockey in both the New Zealand Ice Hockey League as well as the Federal Hockey League.
After his career as a professional hockey player, Abercrombie moved onto coaching, including stints with his alma mater Gonzaga and Georgetown Preparatory School. In 2022-23, Abercrombie was a member of the coaching staff for NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs organization.
“We are no longer doing club play in 2024-25. We are going right into D1 play for 2025-26,” Nick Guerriero told the AFRO. Guerriero is the assistant athletic director of communications and creative content at Tennessee State.
On Jan. 19, TSU got their first official commitment from an ice hockey recruit, Xavier Abel. Abel played at Drury University and scored 12 goals in 34 games, including three game-winning goals. Abel was recruited by Guerriero.
In July, the Tigers got their second commitment from forward Trey Fechko. In October, Trey’s brother Marcus Fechko also committed to Tennessee State. Since, the Tigers have also signed forward Greye Rampton, goaltender Johnny Hicks, Grady Hoffman and four-star forward Bowden Singleton. Singleton flipped his commitment from North Dakota to Tennessee State. Guerriero said that TSU has a “few” other recruits that they are waiting to announce during their November signing period.
“I think it’s important to invest in these unorthodox sports for Black athletes because it allows Black children to have more opportunities to play sports in general,” said Zion Williams, a 2024 Gettysburg College graduate and former collegiate athlete. “The more opportunities that children have, the better. They won’t feel like they are boxed into one thing or sport.”
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HBCU Champions Advance to Postseason Play
WASHINGTON INFORMER — From HBCU football teams, to the University of the District of Columbia’s soccer program, and Howard University’s volleyball players, athletes are still working to capture titles and garner bragging rights in their various conferences.
By Ed Hill | The Washington Informer
As the semester quickly winds down, several teams at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are hoping to find success in the postseason.
From HBCU football teams, to the University of the District of Columbia’s soccer program, and Howard University’s volleyball players, athletes are still working to capture titles and garner bragging rights in their various conferences.
South Carolina State proved all the prognosticators wrong by winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) regular season title after being picked to finish fourth in the preseason poll.
As a result of their success, defeating the Morgan State Bears 54-7 on Nov. 16, the South Carolina Bulldogs now qualify for the Cricket Celebration Bowl on Dec. 14 in Atlanta, kicking off at noon and streaming on ABC.
However, another game between Jackson State and Southern University must happen a week before the big matchup in Atlanta, before the Bulldogs (8-2, 4-0 MEAC) know who they’ll be going against.
The Bulldogs, who have one game remaining on the schedule against Delaware State on Saturday, Nov. 23, will square off against the winner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) title game between Jackson State and Southern University on Dec. 7.
The Southern Jaguars (7-4, 6-1 SWAC) won the West Division, while the Jackson State Tigers (9-2, 7-0 SWAC) captured the East Division and the two will now meet up on Jackson, Mississippi at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, kicking off at 1 p.m. and streaming on ESPN2.
In the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championship game, it was Virginia Union University that defeated rival Virginia State 21-17 for the title in Salem, Virginia, on Nov. 16.
It was the Virginia Union University Panthers’ second straight CIAA title, avenging a 35-28 loss to the Virginia State University Trojans on Nov. 9. The Panthers (8-3 overall, 6-1 in the CIAA) got an effort of 178 yards rushing on 32 carries and a touchdown from Jodo Byers.
Virginia Union will open the playoffs with a road game at Wingate in Wingate, North Carolina on Nov. 23, with kickoff at 1 p.m.
In the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAC) championship, it was Miles College (9-2) overwhelming Clark Atlanta (7-3), 53-25 in the title game. The Miles College Golden Bears piled up over 430 yards of total offense, giving them a NCAA Division 2 bid as they host Carson-Newman on Nov. 23 at 11 a.m.
Miles boasts one of the top defenses in the country in Division 2, having forced 33 turnovers.
University of the District of Columbia Soccer Team Defeats Molloy
In men’s soccer, the University of the District of Columbia defeated Molloy University in the East Coast Conference (ECC) championships final on Nov. 17.
Mustafa Tahir scored the game-winning goal in the 100th minute. It was Tahir’s third game winner of the season.
The Firebirds (8-7-4, 3-4-1 in the ECC) earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division 2 tournament against the No. 7 seed Post University. on Friday, Nov. 22. UDC enters the game on a four-game win streak.
Howard University Volleyball Dominating in the MEAC
Howard University is one of the hottest women’s college volleyball teams.
The Bison (21-5 overall, 14-0 MEAC) went undefeated in league play and are on a current 15-game game win streak headed into Friday’s tournament in Dover, Delaware.
The final is scheduled for Sunday at 8:30 pm on ESPNU.
Howard is the top seed, and they will be looking to capture their sixth tournament title and NCAA bid in the past nine years.
The Bison boast one of the top players in the country in junior outside hitter Rya McKinnon, who is headed for an unprecedented third straight Player of the Year honor.
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