Black mayors of America will arrive in Atlanta beginning today, April 24 for the 10th Annual Conference of the African American Mayors Association with the conference concluding on April 27 at Centennial Park’s Omni Hotel in the CNN Center. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens will welcome these municipal leaders including New York City’s Eric Adams, Los Angeles’ Karen Bass, as well as special guest and former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.  The AAMA conference is expected to engage city and civic officials on key topics facing different cities and for the leaders to share policies t ..read more

In a groundbreaking moment for Fort Wayne, Indiana, Sharon Tucker has been welcomed as the city’s new mayor. This marks a historic milestone as she’s the first Black mayor and the second woman to hold this position. The news was announced on Saturday, April 19, and was met with resounding approval from the local Democratic Party, signaling a new era of progress and inclusivity for the northeastern Indiana city.  According to reports from “ABC News,” the Fort Wayne Democratic Party expressed delight at having “Mayor Tucker at the helm,” highlighting her energy and broad support within the ..read more

An alarming new study conducted by NYU Silver School of Social Work professor Wen-Jui Han has shed light on the detrimental effects of overwhelming and packed work schedules, particularly on the health outcomes of Black Americans.  Published in the scientific journal PLOS One, the study underscores the negative impact that work plays in shaping long-term physical and mental well-being. According to Han, regularly working late nights can have harsh effects on your health. “The critical role employment plays in our health by examining how employment patterns throughout our working lives, b ..read more

Leading financial expert Gail Perry-Mason is the senior director of investments at Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. But her storied 30-year career is the stuff Lifetime movies are made of. Perry-Mason began life in less than optimal – no meager conditions and she made her way up from an abandoned bi-racial to later become a receptionist at a brokerage firm where she would ultimately become the one of the most respected financial leaders in the nation. Imagine finally meeting your birth mother and asking the question that every adopted child asks — after “Why did you give me up?” — “What was I like ..read more

A W-4 form, or “Employee’s Withhold­ing Certificate,” is an IRS tax document that employees fill out and submit to their employers. Employers use the information on a W-4 to calculate how much tax to withhold from an employ­ee’s paycheck. When you complete Form W-4, you’re instructing the employer on how much taxes to withhold from each paycheck. The W-4 Form takes into account vari­ous things including: filing status, mul­tiple jobs adjustments, amount of cred­its, amount of other income, amount of deductions, and any additional amount to withhold from each paycheck. Com­pletion of this form ..read more

The National Black Empowerment Council, alongside the Rocket Community Fund and Goodwill of North Georgia, unveiled their groundbreaking program: The Homeownership Wealth Initiative. The lineup of speakers included Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and esteemed leaders from each organization. The press conference, held at Atlanta City Hall, shed light on a pivotal initiative aimed at addressing the racial homeownership gap and empowering individuals to achieve their dreams of homeownership. The program will offer a host of benefits for the participants. From financial education and guidance develop ..read more

The Andrew and Walter Young Family YMCA has served as a cornerstone for the Southwest Atlanta community for decades. It’s serves as a place for families to maintain health and fitness, while also providing special programs.  Founded in 1959 and formerly known as the Southwest Y, the Andrew and Walter Young Family YMCA was one of the city’s earliest Ys. The Young Family Y has been serving the communities of East Point, College Park, Hapeville and West End for more than 60 years.  To provide new touch to the historic center, the Atlanta Hawks/State Farm unveiled a newly renovated ..read more

‘Not Another Church Movie’ unfolds a tale of divine intervention and comedic chaos, as protagonist Taylor Pherry finds himself tasked by God to share his family’s stories and uplift his community. But amidst the divine plan, the Devil lurks with his own schemes, adding a layer of complexity to Pherry’s mission. The movie features an all star cast including Kevin Daniels, Vivica A. Fox, Mickey Rourke, Jamie Foxx, Kyla Pratt, Tisha Campbell, Jasmine Guy and Lamorne Morris.  The entertaining parody, written and co-directed by Johnny Mack and City on a Hill actor James Michael Cummings, is s ..read more

Award-winning singer John Legend did not mince words when he spoke out against former President Donald Trump, accusing him of harboring racist beliefs deep within his core. In an interview with MSNBC’s Jen Psaki, Legend pointed to Trump’s response to the Black Lives Matter protests that erupted following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. “When we protested the killing of George Floyd, he was advocating for the military to shoot us in the streets,” Legend said. He went on to emphasize Trump’s longstanding history of racial prejudice, stating, “He has made it clear throughout his life that he ..read more

Duke University has made a recent decision to discontinue the Reginaldo M. Howard Memorial Scholarship, a full ride program exclusively for Black students, has ignited a mixture of reactions from former recipients and observers alike. The university announced the replacement of the scholarship with the Reginaldo Howard Leadership Program, which will now be open to all Duke undergraduates. This move, according to Duke’s statement, was prompted by legal considerations surrounding race-based considerations in higher education. The removal of the Reginaldo M. Howard Memorial Scholarship at Duke r ..read more