Cops and Clippers is Back! February 21 marked the kick off for the community event titled Clippers and Cops. The community came out to talk face to face with members of the local police force in hopes of gaining understanding and clarity, while building a relationship between the two parties. The event was moderated by Reec Swiney of Hot 107.9 and Ty Dennis(APD ATF Agent) who is also the brainchild of the program. Ty Dennis (APD) & Reec (Hot 107.9) Topics included: What to do when you get pulled over What Does the community expect from the police Teen crime Police brutality and excessive force Gang policing and prevention One of the most interesting portions of the event was a tutorial on citizen etiquette when getting pulled over. You can see it at Cops and Clippers Facebook Page. Clippers and Cops is a traveling program and will be at a Barbershop near you soon! Tune in to Hot 107.9 for details.
Cops and Clippers is Back! February 21 marked the kick off for the community event titled Clippers and Cops. The community came out to talk face to face with members of the local police force in hopes of gaining understanding and clarity, while building a relationship between the two parties. The event was moderated by Reec Swiney of Hot 107.9 and Ty Dennis(APD ATF Agent) who is also the brainchild of the program. Ty Dennis (APD) & Reec (Hot 107.9) Topics included: What to do when you get pulled over What Does the community expect from the police Teen crime Police brutality and excessive force Gang policing and prevention One of the most interesting portions of the event was a tutorial on citizen etiquette when getting pulled over. You can see it at Cops and Clippers Facebook Page. Clippers and Cops is a traveling program and will be at a Barbershop near you soon! Tune in to Hot 107.9 for details.
Source: Christian Petersen / Getty KD Opens Education Center To Help Low-Income Students Prepare For College According to Sports Illustrated , NBA Superstar Kevin Durant is using his platform in a major way, by opening an education center to help low-income students prepare for college. KD partnered with College Track organization to establish the Durant Center Prince George’s County, Maryland to help teens better their future by assisting them in obtaining a college degree. The center will be located in Durant’s hometown of Suitland, Maryland and will focus on providing lower-income students with the assistance needed to start and finish their college education. According to College Track’s website, their mission is to “empower students from underserved communities to graduate from college. By helping our students maximize the value of their college degree—minimize student loan debt, secure internships, and limit the need to work while in college—we prepare today’s youth to succeed in the 21st-century economy.” The initiative began last year after Durant donated approximately $10 million to start construction on the building and the project. The Durant Center will be accessible to all students in the Washington D.C. metropolitan and will be College Track’s first establishment on the East Coast.
A former educator is on a mission to promote literacy among Black youth. Through his program Barbershop Books, entrepreneur Alvin Irby is bringing literature to barbershops across the country to inspire young African American boys to read, the Tuscaloosa News reported. “Once you figure out how students identify,” @AlvinIrby says, “then you can begin to craft [reading] experiences that are customized to who they are and what's most important to them.” Read more: https://t.co/EH3G0IisNt #ThrowbackThursday — Barbershop Books (@BarbershopBooks) January 3, 2019 The inspiration for the program came nearly 10 years ago when Irby saw one of his students at the barbershop, the news outlet writes. The student—who struggled with reading—was idle while waiting for his haircut and Irby thought that would have been the perfect time for him to work on his literacy skills. A few years later Irby—who taught in Harlem and the Bronx—moved forward with the launch of his organization. Irby believes that representation is everything and it’s important for Black youth to see themselves reflected in the literature that they consume. Through the program—which was created for youngsters between the ages of 4 and 8—the young readers provide suggestions for the types of books that they want to see in barbershops. Irby then ships those books to barbershops throughout the country. The program also allows companies, nonprofits, and individuals to sponsor book stations at barbershops within their communities. “I think many children think learning isn’t for them because they’re forced to choose between who they are and school. But you can be who you are and still be brilliant. You can like rap and be a great reader,” Irby told the news outlet. “Barbershops are like a cultural center for black males. For a lot of boys the barbers are a stable male role model and black boys go there regularly.” Since its inception five years ago, Barbershop Books has expanded into nearly 40 cities and is included in 120 barbershops. There has been a major effort to change the narrative surrounding Black youth and literacy. A group of fifth-graders at the Truesdell Education Campus in Washington, D.C. launched a book club after a Black student shared that he struggled with reading because he didn’t see himself reflected in the characters of the books that he was given. SEE ALSO: DC School Aims To Change The Narrative About Literacy And Black Boys 11-Year-Old Literacy Advocate Promotes Books For Black Boys [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3841619″ overlay=”true”]
T ech giant Google is expanding its efforts to increase racial representation within the realm of tech. After launching a pilot program for Howard University students, the company has announced the creation of a new initiative called Tech Exchange, Ed Surge reported. In addition to empowering students and providing them with first-hand experience in Silicon Valley, Google launched the Tech Exchange with hopes of boosting its own diversity numbers in the long-run. https://t.co/Am7QrjUYvy #highered #edequity — EdSurge HigherEd (@HigherEdSurge) September 21, 2018 As part of the program 65 students from HBCUs and Hispanic institutions will head to Silicon Valley to enhance their computer science skills, the news outlet writes. Tech Surge is an expansion of Howard West; a program designed to send Howard University students to Google’s headquarters on the West Coast for hands-on experience in the tech industry. After witnessing the impact that the program made in the lives of the students who participated, Google wanted to offer the opportunity to students at other HBCUs. Amongst the institutions participating in the tech exchange program are Morgan State University, Florida A&M University, Dillard University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and others. April Alvarez, Educational Equities Program Manager, Google, believes that the Tech Exchange initiative will be an integral part of increasing diversity within the corporation as well as within the tech industry as a whole. “We’re not as diverse as we’d like to be. We’re focused on building a more diverse Google, one that definitely reflects our users. This Tech Exchange is a piece of that puzzle,” Alvarez told Ed Surge. “These students — we hope they’ll come back and work for a place like Google or start their own Google. They’re going to be leaders in the industry.” Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick says that it’s important for companies to hire individuals who reflect their consumer base. “You want diversity of thought in every discussion, and you need to do that by hiring people with the diversity of background in every experience,” he said. According to Google’s 2018 diversity report, only 2.5 percent of employees are Black. SEE ALSO: Black Girls CODE Creating Tech Exploration Lab At Google Issa Work Of Art: 5 Google Doodles Celebrating Black Folks [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3825344″ overlay=”true”]
D iversity numbers in the tech industry remain stagnant. Despite African-Americans being one of the top demographic groups for digital consumption, when it comes to forging career paths in the tech industry there isn’t a level playing field. According to a study released by the National Urban League , at major social media and tech companies, less than five percent of employees are Black. Disrupt Harlem Code Squad —a free Harlem-based tech and entrepreneurship program—is aiming to change the status quo by empowering opportunity youth through STEM education. The program—which is an initiative led by the Harlem Business Alliance —was created as an avenue to connect young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 to the New York City tech industry. Over the course of 15-weeks, program participants are provided with one-on-one training, courses on how to code, field trips to the headquarters of tech giants in the New York City area, and ongoing mentorship. Disrupt Harlem Code Squad also puts the emphasis on entrepreneurship; empowering students to design their own mobile and web apps. After completing the program, some of the participants are aligned with internships in the tech industry and others continue to expand their skills at a full-stack developer coding program led by The Knowledge House. As New York City’s tech landscape continues to expand and there are talks about it transforming into the next Silicon Valley, its imperative for opportunity youth from inner-city communities to be able to compete in this industry. Furthermore, tapping into this talent pool can be a solution to closing tech’s diversity gap. “Through our Disrupt Harlem Code Squad initiative, HBA aims to level the playing field for Harlem’s opportunity youth when it comes to entering the tech industry. African-Americans represent less than 2 percent of employees at major tech companies,” Regina Smith , Executive Director, Harlem Business Alliance, told NewsOne. “Shifting the narrative starts with exposure. One of the catalysts for change is introducing STEM education programs to all inner-city youth. We educate young adults about coding, career pathways in tech as well as basic business fundamentals. We realize our youth possesses tremendous untapped potential and it is our responsibility to invest in the next generation of leaders.” Disrupt Harlem Code Squad has proven to be effective and impactful. Some of the students have received job offers from major tech companies and others have launched their own businesses. Many of the program participants pay it forward by serving as mentors. “Disrupt Harlem Code Squad targets a vulnerable subset of our community—young adults who are under or unemployed—and gives them the tools to make a positive change in their lives. Tech is a growing industry, but members of our community weren’t being prepared to have those careers,” said Disrupt Harlem Code Squad Program Director Philomena Boateng . “We’ve made our program free because we recognize they don’t have the resources that other “non-traditional” students do to pay the high cost of programs like these. We believe that by educating our youth on a new career path, we’re also giving them the means to improve their economic situation on a long-term basis. We put real action behind inclusivity efforts in tech that some companies only talk about.” As the program gears up for its next cohort, it aims to continue to make an impact in the lives of youth. The program is currently accepting applications and the deadline is September 16. Learn more about Disrupt Harlem Code Squad . SEE ALSO: Harlem’s The Lillian Project Empowers Black Women To Step Into Entrepreneurship Black Women Fight Back Against Racial Profiling At Harlem Restaurant [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”2714511″ overlay=”true”]
I n an effort to increase the representation of Black first-generation college students at Spelman College, the institution has teamed up with Ford Motor Company for the creation of a new initiative, the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education reported. . @SpelmanCollege , Ford Fund partner to help first-generation students via @ajc > > https://t.co/gwAlipJryk #FordFirstGen — Ford Fund (@fordfund_) August 16, 2018 Dubbed Ford First Gen, the program is designed to help aspiring college students overcome socio-economic barriers that prevent them from furthering their education, the news outlet writes. Through the initiative, participants will be able to take advantage of services and resources that will ensure their personal, academic, and professional success; including being mentored by students who are in their junior year at Spelman. After going through the program, students will have the opportunity to mentor those who are following in their footsteps. Mentors will be awarded $10,000 towards their tuition. Under the program, there will be seminars hosted that are related to career development and goal setting, trips that will give participants the opportunity to interact with individuals who are making moves in industries that they aspire to pursue careers in, and students will also be aligned with summer internships to build upon their professional experiences. Mary Schmidt Campbell , President, Spelman College, is excited about the partnership with Ford Motor Company and believes that the program will be nothing short of impactful. “Ford Motor Company’s partnership with us in the Ford First Gen program brings a comprehensive, innovative and collaborative approach that exemplifies an important part of ‘the Spelman Promise’ – ensuring that every Spelmanite graduates with a competitive edge,” she said in a statement, according to the news outlet. Ford is looking forward to helping students of color overcome barriers to education. “Ford First Gen is a unique approach to helping break down barriers to success that are sometimes faced by first-generation students,” Pamela Alexander , Director of Community Development at Ford Motor Company Fund told Diverse Issues in Higher Education . “We are very excited about the opportunity we have to impact students’ lives through the mentorship, education and cultural experiences that Ford First Gen will offer, and given Spelman’s rich legacy of success, we could not ask for a better partner for this program.” SEE ALSO: Howard University Swimmer And Siblings To Compete At 2020 Olympics Most Expensive HBCUs Keep Tuition Costs Lower Than National Average [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3823467″ overlay=”true”]
About a month ago, zookeepers very tentatively shared some exciting news: they were testing April the Giraffe’s droppings to discovery if she was pregnant. Update, folks: she is pregnant again! We can hardly contain our excitement! In case you get your news from Instagram rather than from, um, anywhere else, April the Giraffe’s official (verified with a blue check and everything) Instagram account shared this on Wednesday: “If you missed our big announcement on the Today Show, here it is!” Today ‘s ratings are better than they’ve been in years after Matt Lauer’s departure, but just in case you missed the news, they wanted to make sure that you’d see it. “Click below to find out April’s big news!” The link that they included elaborated on the big news. Today reports that April the Giraffe is pregnant again . This will be her fifth child. April is 16 years old. The Animal Adventure Park resident captivated America last year as she struggled to give birth to Tajiri, her son. Her birth was livestreamed and seemed like it would take forever, and became a hot topic of conversation around water coolers nationwide. Tajiri (pictured behind a human in the photo above) is happy and healthy and now stands at a whopping 10 feet tall. Jordan Patch, who owns Animal Adventure Park, broke the news on Today . “The results are in,” Patched teased. “And we are having a baby!” By “we,” he of course means April. Savannah Guthrie could not resist asking: “Who’s the daddy?” (I want to roast her over it but, honestly, when I first read the news, my first thought was the same ridiculous question) “What show is this?” Patch asked with a laugh, as if implying that it was a gotcha question or perhaps that he had accidentally wandered onto the set of Maury. “Of course,” Patch said of April’s baby daddy. “It is Oliver the Giraffe, the same father as Tajiri.” Now that people are reassured that April isn’t some floozy, America can look forward to April’s next childbirth. But … don’t hold your breath. Though the average giraffe’s gestation period is about 15 months, Patch mentions that “April likes to go 16, 17, 18 … 19 months.” The pregnancy was only confirmed in recent weeks, so … it could be a while. That said, you can pencil in another anxiety-riddled giraffe livestream birth for some time in the spring of 2019. Probably, anyway. Pregnancy can be even more mysterious for giraffes than it is for humans. Fortunately, the internet is filled with lots of cute animals to tide us over. View Slideshow: #CuteAnimalTweetOff is Everything America Needs Right Now
We have another Real Housewives franchise cast shake-up. Just hours after we confirmed that Kenya Moore has left the Atlanta version of this program admist a messy contract negotiation, we can now also announce the following: Carole Radziwill is finished with Bravo as well. The 54-year-old, who not everyone realizes is an award-winning journalist and best-selling author, told People Magazine on Wednesday evening that she’s departing the cable network hit. She joined the program during Season 5. “After six seasons on Bravo’s RHONY, I have decided to return to what I do best – journalism and producing,” Radziwill said today, adding in more detail: “I am sure this does not come as a surprise to any of the viewers, all of whom have been supportive, encouraging, and kind. “My original curiosity about reality television has waned over the years and I am focusing on TV and writing projects that better suit my more steady temperament. Radziwill came on board as a Real Housewife in 2012, along with Heather Thomson and Aviva Drescher. It may seem hard to believe now to those who follow this franchise closely, but Carole quickly became good friends with SkinnyGirl founder Bethenny Frankel in Season 8. Their friendship has soured significantly, however. Radziwill and Frankel went at it very hard , in fact, on the most recent episode of this reality smash. You can watch The Real Housewives of New York City online via the following video in order to see what transpired: Watch The Real Housewives of New York City Season 10 Episode 15 Online In her statement to People, Radziwill concluded with a combination of sincerity and humor: “I have worked with amazing producers, made great friends, and I’m thrilled to leave frenemies behind. “I will remember this entire experience with delight, humor, and a veracious accuracy. Next.” For those unaware, Radziwill really does have an impressive journalistic resume. She was stationed in Iraq back in 1991 and was embedded with an infantry unit of the 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan in 2003. In 2006, Radziwill signed with Glamour magazine to write a monthly column titled Lunch Date. Carole also sold her first novel, The Widow’s Guide to Sex & Dating, in a six-figure deal to Holt Publishing. It was released on February 11, 2014. For her work, Radziwill has won three Emmys and a Peabody. In the wakeof her departure, meanwhile, Radziwill left a very simple note on Instagram. It reads as follows: Radziwill’s husband Anthony, died in 1999 after a five-year battle with cancer. She’s currently in an on-again, off-again relationship with chef and filmmaker Adam Kenworthy. Will you miss Carole Radziwill on The Real Housewives of New York? View Slideshow: 14 Shadiest Real Housewives Hook-Ups of All-Time
I don’t know what happened to Emma Roberts . For a while, she was everywhere, but then the hot nobody industry shifted from telling the paps when you were going to be hitting the gym in short shorts to posting hot selfies on social media and my favorite pasty hottie got left behind. Anyway, the good news is, judging from these latest pics, it looks Emma finally got with the program. And she even went to the beach to get some sun on that pasty body of hers. I can barely believe it. Here’s hoping she wore SPF 500.
