newsusa- Ongoing professional development for teachers is essential to meet the changing needs of today’s students, experts say, and further investment for teacher training is an opportunity to use remaining federal funds allotted to schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, many schools received funding through the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Fund, also known as ESSER; any funds yet unused must be committed by September 2024, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. ESSER was an unprecedented infusion of funds to schools, and using remainin ..read more

Kevin Keatts, the men’s basketball coach at North Carolina State University, and Alfred Jordan, the men’s basketball coach at Clark Atlanta University, have been named the Clarence “Big House” Gaines College Basketball Coaches of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. The Gaines Awards will be presented during the NSMA’s 64th awards banquet on July 1, 2024, in Greensboro, N.C. Keatts, the Division I winner of the Gaines Award, took NC State on a magical run through the postseason. After finishing the regular season with a 17-14 record, the Wolfpack swept five games in five day ..read more

Update: Ole Miss students who launched verbal attacks against and Black woman counter-protestor and  were removed from the fraternity Phi Delta Theta as a result of the clip going viral and the NAACP releasing a statement about the incident. University of Mississippi Chancellor Chancellor Glen Boyce, promised to launch a vigorous investigation into the behavior of students during a pro-Palestine demonstration on campus. During the protest at Ole Miss, a Black woman could be seen suffering vitriolic verbal attacks from White college students who mockingly called her “Lizzo” and “fat a–” an ..read more

Councilwoman Carmalitha Gumbs of South Fulton recently organized the Couture and Compassion Fashion Show, a creative event aimed at raising awareness about mental health issues. Gumbs, known for her commitment to community welfare, utilized her platform to address pressing concerns such as attempted suicides and domestic violence, which have been on the rise in the city. As the cultural and community affairs manager at ChenMed, Councilwoman Carmalitha Gumbs has spearheaded various wellness initiatives tailored for seniors in the Atlanta area. These programs encompass a diverse array of service ..read more

Black-Owned Town Named Freedom Could Be Reality TV Series A group of 19 African American families bought a 98-acre tract of land in rural Georgia in 2018 to create a freed state community just 130 miles from Atlanta to develop a relatively racially unfettered community for aspiring Black Americans. Freedom, GA was the brainchild of The Freedom Georgia Initiative founders Renee Walters and Ashley Scott for the purpose of offering a living standard that will serve as a ‘safe space’ for black families. A collection of 19 families who recently purchased nearly 98 acres in a small Georgia town 130 ..read more

Pinky Cole, renowned entrepreneur, 2023 TIME 100 Next honoree, and founder of Slutty Vegan and Bar Vegan, gave an inspiring commencement speech for the Savannah State University 2024 graduating class, and surprised the graduates with a very special gift. In collaboration with Operation HOPE and One Million Black Businesses (1MBB), Pinky Cole will give every graduate of Savannah State University a membership to 1MBB and the class will receive $8.75 million dollars worth of in-kind services with Operation HOPE, which will include: Entrepreneurial Educational Resources Mentoring From 1MBB, Inclu ..read more

Youth Apprenticeship Week, an initiative of the U.S. Department of Labor, features a range of events and speakers at venues across the United States to showcase the many benefits of Registered Apprenticeship programs for youth and young adults ages 16-24. The nationwide initiative takes place from May 5 – 11, 2024, and includes more than 300 events and over 70 proclamations intended to celebrate and educate the public about Registered Apprenticeships. Current apprentices and graduates of Registered Apprenticeship programs will share their experiences and success stories. Youth Apprenticeship W ..read more

Hollywood’s failure to engage with diverse audiences has proven to be a costly mistake. Over the last four years, McKinsey & Company has produced three separate reports revealing the staggering financial toll of this oversight—an estimated annual loss of $30 billion. This loss stems from the inability of Hollywood to effectively connect with Black, Latinx, and Asian-American/Pacific Islander communities. McKinsey & Company state in its report: “As our research and analysis have demonstrated, executives don’t need to act out of altruism. The reward for getting it right could create real ..read more

Our Revolution, MPower Change Action, Gen-Z for Change, and IfNotNow Movement join more than 215 progressive and human rights organizations, including Justice Democrats, People’s Action, Working Families Party, Movement for Black Lives, and Greenpeace USA, on a solidarity statement in support of the student encampments and protests for Palestine and condemn the violent university crackdowns. “We commend the students who are exercising their right to protest peacefully despite an overwhelming atmosphere of pressure, intimidation and retaliation, to raise awareness about Israel’s assau ..read more

Fani Willis faced criticism for skipping a debate against her challenger, Christian Wise Smith, for the Fulton County District Attorney seat. The debate was held by the Atlanta Press Club. “My question for you is: Where are you? You know I’m here because I care about the citizens and the families of Fulton County,” Smith said. “But it’s my understanding that you may have attended the White House correspondents’ dinner. You might be fundraising across the country, but what about us here in the Fulton County? What are you doing to address the issues in the jail? What are you doing to address the ..read more