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Soledad O’Brien teams up with JP Morgan Chase for Impactful Health & Wellness Event

NNPA NEWSWIRE — The latest effort JPMorgan Chase is hosting a full day of conversations and informational sessions to support financial health education, wealth-building, and financial inclusion for Dallas’ Black and Hispanic communities The Summit will take place at Gilley’s South Side Event Center on Saturday, May 21, 2022, from 11a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and one of the invited speakers include Is Soledad O’Brien, recognized journalist, CEO of SO’B Productions, Producer and Philanthropist.
The post Soledad O’Brien teams up with JP Morgan Chase for Impactful Health & Wellness Event first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 years ago

May 22, 2022

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By Patrick Washington

Sponsored By JPMorgan Chase

In the wake of the 2020 social uprising in response to the now globally recognized George Floyd killing, many corporations and entities public messaged that change was necessary and specifically the engagement and support of the African American community. It is established fact that many facets of American society and power systems purposely excluded Black Americans from achieving success and wealth through various programs and redlining efforts.

One of the companies to pledge support and correction to the injustice was JPMorgan Chase. As the largest commercial bank, JPMorgan Chase pledged billions to the cause. That has manifested in investment into Black owned companies and marketing with Black owned media. The latest effort JPMorgan Chase is hosting a full day of conversations and informational sessions to support financial health education, wealth-building, and financial inclusion for Dallas’ Black and Hispanic communities The Summit will take place at Gilley’s South Side Event Center on Saturday, May 21, 2022, from 11a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and one of the invited speakers include Is Soledad O’Brien, recognized journalist, CEO of SO’B Productions, Producer and Philanthropist.

O’Brien sat with the Dallas Weekly to discuss the potential impacts and value of this event and its subsequent activity. As an advisor to the Advancing Black and Hispanic Pathways Summit O’Brien made sure that isn’t and won’t be lip service without action.

“We’re going to be very intentional, it’s called Advancing Black Pathways, right? It’s not called ‘making everybody more solvent.’ We have got to figure out to improve outcomes for [Black] people when it comes to wealth” O’Brien says, “What I’ve liked about being an advisor to Advancing Black Pathways… is that it’s strategic, it’s tactical, it means they’re focusing on education. Literally how do you get money into the hands of entrepreneurs? How do you literally specifically make those changes? Which I have always appreciated.”

In addition, the Advancing Black and Hispanic Wealth Summit will feature panel discussions with various celebrity and industry experts, including interactive workshops focused on financial wellness, money saving tips, navigating the real estate market and homeownership, entrepreneurship, and wealth generation.

“It’s about focusing on generational wealth building. Where do you find generational wealth? Well, you have to give them access to capital. You have to make sure once they access, they have access to information so their companies can be successful. You have to make sure there is money in the education so people aren’t coming out of college in a ton of debt and you have to make sure you give people access to financial literacy information.” O’Brien says, “Where we have the most wealth is in our homes. We know that’s where people pass along wealth to their kids. That’s how you build generational wealth […] How do you navigate real estate, literally, how do you save money, literally, how do you think about home ownership, literally, how do you think about entrepreneurship literally and specifically.”

The focused effort is the plan for JPMorgan Chase. The very “bankery” approach is the driving force. It’s a detail-oriented plan with follow up activity for ensured success. As a part of the summit, Chase bankers will host breakout sessions and one-on-one meetings with attendees to discuss their own financial health goals. The Advancing Black and Hispanic Wealth Summit is a collaboration between Chase local leaders, Advancing Black Pathways and Advancing Hispanic and Latinos, the firm’s two diversity, equity and inclusion centers focused on helping the Black, Hispanic and Latino community chart stronger paths towards economic success and empowerment.

“There are so many important conversations around financial freedom, entrepreneurship, wealth and legacy building, many of which I cover on my radio show Everyday Wealth, but too often Black and Hispanic audiences are left out. I am honored to join JPMorgan Chase in centering communities of color around creating generational wealth,” said Soledad O’Brien.

Soledad has done stories on red lining and even reported on the southern Dallas community. When talking about the correction of the historic and systemic injustice, she understands and believes Chase understands that there can’t be just a start from scratch approach. There must be clean up first. When a community has had to adjust to oppression, the official rules of how to play the game are not used and become the standard practice of business owners who historically have been denied the opportunities to grow. So, in an effort to right the wrongs, it must be understood that concessions or “outside-the-box” thinking must be applied.

JPMorgan Chase is expressing they have a clear eye view of the challenges ahead. This effort is not a two year or five-year plan. The plan cannot be that simple when you’re talking about generational injustice. When speaking to Soledad about the generational struggle she recalled a well-known story here in north Texas about Shingle Mountain. This is the story of Marsha Jackson’s quarter century fight to rid her community of toxic mountain of roofing waste, just recently came to an end more or less in Jackson’s favor. O’Brien uses the story as a reference of the time it takes to correct injustice in a meaningful way, and emphasizes that that ideology, of long-term investment, is the strategy of JPMorgan Chase.

“It takes a long time, and it requires capital. It requires an organization to say we are going to put a lot of money into educating people, into funding businesses, into making sure we are successful. I’ve been really impressed because JPMorgan Chase is bringing both the conversation and also the capitalization. Bringing money into the community to really help entrepreneurs. Not just say ‘hey we’re here to support you,’ but also here’s the financial wherewithal to back up the information we’re giving you. We know if it’s just information and not funding, its not helpful if you’re not backed up by the money.” O’Brien stated.

JPMorgan Chase is presenting this opportunity to the public for the goals of increasing the diversity pool in the business community, and to begin to shift the relationship between the banking world and communities who have been hurt generationally and historically. The sold-out Summit will be held at Gilley’s on Botham Jean Blvd.

The post Soledad O’Brien teams up with JP Morgan Chase for Impactful Health & Wellness Event 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.

Published

2 days ago

November 21, 2024

Oakland Post

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.”

Published

2 days ago

November 21, 2024

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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.

Published

3 days ago

November 21, 2024

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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.

Virginia Union University celebrates after defeating Virginia State University, and winning the regular season CIAA title in Salem, Virginia, on Nov. 16. (Courtesy photo)

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.

The University of the District of Columbia men’s soccer team celebrates after winning the East Coast Conference championship game on Nov. 17 (Courtesy photo)

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.

Howard University’s volleyball team has been on fire at 21-5 overall and undefeated in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. (Courtesy photo)

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.