By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com Business partners Navarr Grevious and Mikael Pyles consider themselves brothers. Blood wouldn’t make them any closer, and their brotherhood has become their secret weapon to entrepreneurial success. The duo met in college while attending Clark Atlanta University and happened to pledge Kappa Alpha […]
Category: Technology
Posted inTechnology
First-of-its-kind African-American STEM Doll inspires youth to explore computer science
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com It’s not often that people choose a major without knowing anything about the subject, but in the 10th grade, that’s just what Bukola Somide did. A friend at the time, who was senior, told Somide about computer science, and while she had zero […]
Posted in!Front Page
Nation’s first Black-woman led community solar company forges partnership with University of Maryland Medical system to build Baltimore solar farm
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member msayles@afro.com WeSolar, Inc. (WeSolar) in collaboration with the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) announced a new partnership on Thursday to build a solar farm in Baltimore City that will provide power to UMMS facilities and city residents. UMMS will pay $10,000 per month […]
Posted inTechnology
AT&T automation expert turns cryptocurrency creator by attaching coins to upcoming book
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com Ask David C. Williams and he’ll tell you he grew up in what he characterizes as, “the poorest corners of Dallas, Texas.” The son of a man who took his own life, Williams came from the humblest of beginnings in South Dallas, where […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Ashanti celebrates the 20th anniversary of her multi-platinum Grammy-winning debut album with the launch of NFTs
By Special to the AFRO Singer, songwriter, actor, author, and tech entrepreneur Ashanti made history with her record-breaking, self-titled debut album. Released on April 2, 2002, Ashanti topped the Billboard 200 albums chart, staying on the chart for 55 weeks, and went on to win a Grammy Award among other accolades. Two decades later, Ashanti […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Derrick Adams’ Digital Project receives $1.25 million investment
Compiled by Nadia Reese, AFRO Editorial Assistant The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the nation’s largest supporter of the arts and humanities, has awarded a $1.25 million grant to support the Black Baltimore Digital Database (BBDD). BBDD was conceived by Baltimore-born, Brooklyn-based artist Derrick Adams, whose multimedia practice focuses on portrayals of Black American leisure, celebration […]
Posted inTechnology
Morgan graduate assumes new role as first Chief Technology Officer of Army Command
By Argie Sarantinos, Special to the AFRO Working in a predominantly male-dominated field may deter some people but not Charneta Samms. She is the first permanent chief technology officer at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM)– the Army’s largest technology developer. Her office focuses on integrating efforts across the command and with academic, […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Build(Her) Day uplifts women in business
By Lisa Brown, Special to the AFRO Build (Her) 2022 by Halcyon started with coffee and smiles. The event’s lineup was filled with diverse women who are who’s who in business. From health disparities to tech, to investment angels, the conversations were robust, rapid panels that allowed the time and space for questions from the […]
Posted inBUSINESS
From fashion designer to software developer: Milan Ball’s serendipitous professional journey
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member. msayles@afro.com Milan Ball, 24, doesn’t consider herself your typical software developer. First, she’s a woman. Second, she’s African-American. She also does not have a degree in computer science- that’s strike three. Instead, Ball received her degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New […]
Posted inNational News
Black Engineer of the Year Awards Recap: Ted Colbert receives top honor and Laura Murphy makes history
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com The Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) community boasts over 10,000 individuals. Its premier three-day event is the largest Black STEM conference in the country, during which grade and college students; government, corporate and military professionals; […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Techstars joins Tulsa startup ecosystem to invest in diversify founders
By BlackPressUSA Founded in 2006, Techstars began with three simple ideas: entrepreneurs create a better future for everyone, collaboration drives innovation, and great ideas can come from anywhere. The global investment business that provides access to capital, one-on-one mentorship, and customized programming for early-stage entrepreneurs helps fledgling business owners succeed. Techstars recently launched the Build […]
Posted inHealth
African Americans need more representation in clinical trials
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com Given the history between the American healthcare system and African Americans, it’s natural that Black individuals remain hesitant about participating in clinical trials. The taking of Henrietta Lacks’ cancer cells without her consent or knowledge and the Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in […]