Education and Schools, NonProfit and Charities

National Postdoctoral Association Announces Free Membership for HBCU Students

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today announced that it would provide free membership to any undergraduate or graduate student enrolled at any Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCU). The same is true for any postdoctoral scholar ("postdoc") working at such an institution.

"Black History Month provides time for both reflection and action," said NPA executive director and chief executive officer, Thomas P. Kimbis. "We want to do our small part at pushing back against the tide that has historically disadvantaged certain Black students from attaining their desired jobs through first obtaining postdoc positions."

Data show that Black researchers are underrepresented in postdoctoral and university faculty positions. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, "6 percent of faculty were Black, specifically 4 percent Black female and 3 percent Black male" in 2021. Meanwhile, the U.S. Census Bureau finds that Black students make up 15.7 percent of all enrollments in higher education during the same time period, creating a significant disconnect between student and faculty positions.

According to a White House initiative, "HBCUs offer all students, regardless of race, an opportunity to develop their skills and talents. These institutions train young people who go on to serve domestically and internationally in the professions as entrepreneurs and in the public and private sectors."

"Building an inclusive community of support is foundational to the mission and the vision of NPA," said NPA chair of the board of directors, Caleb C. McKinney. Starting immediately, the NPA will offer free access to all of its resources to individuals at HBCU institutions to broaden understanding in the Black community of the pathways opened through postdoc positions.

As the national voice of the postdoctoral community, the NPA provides professional development, networking, skills education, and leadership opportunities to postdocs following a path to top academic, industry, entrepreneurial, nonprofit organization, and government positions.

About National Postdoctoral Association:

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational association headquartered in Rockville, MD. Founded in 2003, the NPA envisions an inclusive community where all postdocs are empowered, valued, recognized, and supported in their current and future endeavors. The NPA serves the entire postdoctoral community, including its 20,000 individual and 230 organizational members.

Learn more: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/Join

RELATED LINKS:

https://nces.ed.gov/

https://jbhe.com/2023/01/black-enrollments-in-post-pandemic-higher-education/

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved. ID:NEO2022

Education and Schools, NonProfit and Charities

National Postdoctoral Association Announces Free Membership for HBCU Students

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today announced that it would provide free membership to any undergraduate or graduate student enrolled at any Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCU). The same is true for any postdoctoral scholar ("postdoc") working at such an institution.

"Black History Month provides time for both reflection and action," said NPA executive director and chief executive officer, Thomas P. Kimbis. "We want to do our small part at pushing back against the tide that has historically disadvantaged certain Black students from attaining their desired jobs through first obtaining postdoc positions."

Data show that Black researchers are underrepresented in postdoctoral and university faculty positions. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, "6 percent of faculty were Black, specifically 4 percent Black female and 3 percent Black male" in 2021. Meanwhile, the U.S. Census Bureau finds that Black students make up 15.7 percent of all enrollments in higher education during the same time period, creating a significant disconnect between student and faculty positions.

According to a White House initiative, "HBCUs offer all students, regardless of race, an opportunity to develop their skills and talents. These institutions train young people who go on to serve domestically and internationally in the professions as entrepreneurs and in the public and private sectors."

"Building an inclusive community of support is foundational to the mission and the vision of NPA," said NPA chair of the board of directors, Caleb C. McKinney. Starting immediately, the NPA will offer free access to all of its resources to individuals at HBCU institutions to broaden understanding in the Black community of the pathways opened through postdoc positions.

As the national voice of the postdoctoral community, the NPA provides professional development, networking, skills education, and leadership opportunities to postdocs following a path to top academic, industry, entrepreneurial, nonprofit organization, and government positions.

About National Postdoctoral Association:

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational association headquartered in Rockville, MD. Founded in 2003, the NPA envisions an inclusive community where all postdocs are empowered, valued, recognized, and supported in their current and future endeavors. The NPA serves the entire postdoctoral community, including its 20,000 individual and 230 organizational members.

Learn more: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/Join

RELATED LINKS:

https://nces.ed.gov/

https://jbhe.com/2023/01/black-enrollments-in-post-pandemic-higher-education/

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved. ID:NEO2022

Business, Education and Schools, Environment and Ecology, Free News Articles

HBCU Green Fund Atlanta University Fellows Spend Spring Break Planting Trees in a Rural African Village to Fight Climate Change

ATLANTA, Ga. -- A group of HBCU Green Fund Fellows from Atlanta University Center recently dedicated their spring break embedded in an African village on the border of Senegal and Mauritania building a tree shelter, planting trees and digging a well in their ongoing efforts to help the vulnerable communities that are most impacted by the effects of climate change, but contribute the least. The climate advocates spent a full week without Internet, TV and phone service to help mitigate the devastating effects of global warming.

The inaugural HBCU Green Fund Eco Spring Break Service-Learning program at REDES Ecovillages connects students, faculty and alumni from Black colleges including Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse and Spelman Colleges in Atlanta, GA, with students and faculty from Cheik Ante Diop University in Dakar Senegal. With over 100 villages in Senegal and Mauritania, REDES Ecovillages helps traditional communities become ecovillages by blending deep-rooted culture with modern ecological and community-building methods. The program gives students an opportunity to help with the climate crisis, and also learn innovative solutions the Africans have implemented.

"I'm so proud of these young leaders who put down their social media to live for a week with families in a rural village where electricity, water and food were extremely limited. It was a game changer for young professionals who consider themselves to be climate justice advocates," said Felicia Davis, founder of HBCU Green Fund. "The experience provided the volunteers with a deeper understanding of climate change, food waste, plastic pollution, and the devastating impact of wasteful western habits on distant communities along with an opportunity to make a real and tangible difference."

Davis adds, "We gain as much or more than we give, it is powerful to function as a part of nature, as a steward seeking ecological restoration and balance. With a small donation the HBCU Green Fund financed construction of a shelter for tree saplings and a well that women farmers requested so they don't have to walk all the way to the river and back for water."

The Eco Spring Break Service-Learning program is one of several initiatives the HBCU Green Fund sponsors as they cultivate relationships with local communities in the U.S., Africa and throughout the African Diaspora to promote conservation, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture and development. The group currently has ongoing projects in 14 countries in Africa, including Ghana and Tanzania, two of the countries Vice President Harris recently visited and declared climate change an "existential threat to the entire planet."

"It was a life-changing experience," adds Serena Echols, an HBCU Green Fund Fellow and senior environmental science major at Spelman College. "We lived with host families sleeping on the floor just as they do. Our days consisted of working on various projects to help transform the villages of the Sahel. We also learned to milk a cow or a goat and planted more than 100 trees."

"When we returned to the U.S. and heard Vice President Harris' call to action it reinforced our commitment to fighting for climate justice and made us feel like we were playing a personal role in the mission to address the climate crisis in Africa," adds Echols.

About the HBCU Green Fund:

Based in Washington, DC and Atlanta, the HBCU Green Fund (hbcugreenfund.org) is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization working with historically black colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad to advance sustainability, promote student engagement in green initiatives, and train the next generation of global green leaders. The organization's Atlanta University Center Clean Energy Fellows Program introduces students to career opportunities in the clean energy sector and connects students with Black entrepreneurs that provide training in renewable energy technologies. The HBCU Green Fund partnered the Harambee House/Citizens for Environmental Justice (HH/CFEJ) to lead a delegation of 27 persons from the United States and Africa to participate in COP27 in Egypt last November and are planning to take a delegation to to COP28 in Dubai in November of this year.

Learn more: http://hbcugreenfund.org/

MEDIA CONTACT:

Edrea Davis 818.613.9521 edmedia@dogonvillage.com

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isn9-OFqcpI

Related link: https://hbcugreenfund.org/

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved. ID:NEO2022

Alliances and Partnerships, Business, Entertainment, Free News Articles, Sports and Activities

Orange Blossom Classic Partners with HANG Media in Creating National Watch Party Featuring Exclusive Connections to Conversations with Star Athletes and Celebrities

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- One of the country's most historic college football games, the storied Denny's Orange Blossom Classic presented by Ready Life, is poised to continue shining light on its bright future. Fans are invited to join a national watch party, which includes the opportunity to discuss an array of topics while viewing the game with sports heroes and celebrities through online channel, HANG Media.

Kendra Bulluck is the executive director of the Orange Blossom Classic Committee (OBC). She is one of only a few women who own rights to a major sports property. Today she is thrilled to announce a partnership with New York-based, HANG Media. Together, they will provide a live game co-viewing experience in an effort to bring HBCUs and the community together. Fans will have the opportunity to mingle with HBCU legends and supporters, which includes current NFL players and entertainers. In addition, the partnership creates a new and national media platform for brands to connect directly with consumers through bespoke association with the OBC.

Founded in 1933 ran consecutively through 1978 and after a 43-year hiatus, the Orange Blossom Classic was re-established by Bulluck in 2021. Its historic importance in the college football landscape and HBCU experience is significant. 2023 marks the third year of the Orange Blossom Classic and the big game will be held on Sunday, September 3 at Hard Rock Stadium. With fans, alumni, HBCU students, and sports enthusiasts ascending on the city of Miami Gardens, this year's theme has been dubbed "The Reunion."

"At its inception, The Orange Blossom Classic created opportunity and inspiration under strict segregation laws. To see this property return on new stages with new platforms in what we trust is a new media world, is an honor and a responsibility," said Jon Klein, HANG ceo and co-founder. "We are thrilled to be working with Kendra and her team to elevate conversations around the Orange Blossom Classic and increase its connections with real people and supportive brands who honor and value the HBCU missions of education and opportunity."

"As the buzz around HBCUs continues to grow, we are proud to partner with HANG in hosting the watch party of the year. We are so proud to bring fans, legendary football players, and entertainers together in what's sure to be a memorable experience for all. Bringing members from across all spectrums of the community together is our top priority. This star-studded watch party is sure to do just that," stated Kendra Bulluck, Orange Blossom Classic Committee executive director.

Denny's Orange Blossom Classic Presented by Ready Life will also be televised on one ESPN's family of networks.

About Orange Blossom Classic:

Founded in 1933 by the son of Florida A&M University's president, J.R.E. Lee Jr. The inaugural Orange Blossom Classic welcomed 2,000 fans to the "blacks-only" ballpark in Jacksonville, Florida, where FAMU beat Howard 9-0 and successfully established the foundation of HBCU classics. After a 43-year hiatus, The Orange Blossom Classic was re-established in 2021 with a mission to enhance the exposure of Historically Black Colleges & Universities.

In its second year, the OBC attracts thousands of fans, alumni, school members, and family members, highlighting interest in HBCUs and their roles in educating aspiring professionals and developing future leaders. However, its main goal remains to raise scholarship funds for the participating schools for years to come, helping to support the knowledge and experience offered by the discipline, commitment, and dedication it takes to be a Historically Black College & University student.

About HANG:

HANG is the leading celebrity-fan community, with 13+ million users taking part in virtual watch parties and IRL gatherings around major sports events including pro and college football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. Fans come face to face with their idols - star athletes, performers, and influencers - while everyone is watching the game on their own TV's. It's a dream come true for sports lovers, who get to have fun and frank conversations with their heroes about life on and off the field, play trivia contests, and sample products delivered by top sponsors including Coca-Cola, Dave & Busters, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Pernod Ricard, Twang, and others.

Join the fun at https://letshang.live.

Related link: https://letshang.live/

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved. ID:NEO2022

Education and Schools, Environment and Ecology, Free News Articles

HBCU Green Fund and Center for Environmental Justice Cites Small Progress Toward Climate Justice at COP27 in Egypt and Commit to Helping Young African Students

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- n an effort to increase diversity at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, the HBCU Green Fund and the Harambee House/Citizens for Environmental Justice (HH/CFEJ) partnered to lead a delegation of 27 persons from the United States, Africa and the diaspora to participate in the global summit touted as "COP Africa." The group is pleased about the historic agreement made to create a loss and damage fund for vulnerable nations most impacted by the effects of climate change and they are working to help advance projects in Africa among the delegation.

"During a COP26 presentation in Glasgow, Scotland, we pledged to expand Black participation at COP27 in Egypt. Our efforts exceeded our expectations, culminating in a network connecting African and African American climate leaders," notes Felicia Davis, founder of HBCU Green Fund. "It is enormously difficult for grassroots organizers to travel to international meetings from the US and almost impossible from Africa, so we came together to help. Dr. McClain's inspiring and powerful message provided a historical linking of continents and bonded the group forever. She reinforced the certainty that a sustainable Africa is crucial to a sustainable planet and our long-term involvement and commitment is key!"

Dr. Mildred McClain, executive director of the legendary Harambee House, expressed during a meet-and-greet for the delegation, "We are linking a continent, central and south America, and wherever we at. Our name is Harambee!" The Environmental Justice pioneer known as "Mama Bahati," continues, "The climate change impacts are so incredible that even us, we don't understand the fullness. It is our responsibility to become subject matter experts and insinuate ourselves everywhere; from the local all the way to international arenas."

The delegation included representatives from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Uganda alongside representatives from the United States to highlight climate work underway in frontline communities and prepare for the United Nations conference. With encouragement from local organizers and friends at Microsoft and Nike, the Green Fund hosted a PreCOP27 Virtual Summit this past September, "A Sustainable Future for Africa and the Diaspora." The event convened young leaders from the diaspora, featured local climate solutions already underway in Africa, mobilized support for projects, and helped raise funding for African youth participation in COP27 in Egypt.

"Climate change is already devastating communities throughout Africa," said Illai Kenney, managing director of HBCU Green Fund. "Our delegation included young leaders from areas most impacted by climate change and for global meetings to produce real solutions their voices must be included. We are glad to have played a small part in making that happen."

During the meeting the HBCU Green Fund announced a new partnership with REDES Ecovillages that features an annual HBCU EcoVillage Spring Break Tour. Twelve students attending historically black colleges and universities will meet with 12 Senegalese students in a service-learning experience. REDES is a grassroots community association dedicated to developing a mutual support network of ecovillages in the Sahel region of Africa. Founded by Dr. Ousmane Pame, REDES has expanded to 141 villages across Senegal and Mauritania.

MORE INFORMATION:

Based in Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, the HBCU Green Fund ( http://hbcugreenfund.org/ ) is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization working with historically black colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad to advance sustainability and promote student engagement in green initiatives.

The Savannah-based HH/CFEJ ( http://theharambeehouse.net/ ) was established in 1991 to educate, inspire, organize and build the capacity of African Americans and other communities of color to create and sustain safe, economically vibrant, healthy neighborhoods that promote environmental justice and green sustainability.

Related link: https://hbcugreenfund.org/

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved. ID:NEO2022

Business, Environment and Ecology, Free News Articles, Green Business

U.S. Climate Activist, Illai Kenney, Urged Young Leaders to Unite Globally for Climate Justice During the Continental Youth Symposium in Uganda

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Determined to encourage unity across the African Diaspora, expand their global network of youth working to advance climate justice and to promote the upcoming PreCOP27 Africa Virtual Summit, the HBCU Green Fund sent a small delegation to participate in the 3rd African Peer Review Mechanism Continental Youth Symposium in Kampala, Uganda last week. Themed, African Union @ 20: Repositioning the Youth Agenda for a Transformative Continent, the symposium brought together over 800 attendees from the African continent and Europe.

Speaking during a session at the symposium, Illai Kenney, director of HBCU Green Fund told attendees, "It's up to young people to advance equity and justice, solve the climate crisis and make the transition to clean energy. To do that, youth of African descent must work together across continents to create solutions. I am here from Washington, DC with my associates in the audience--Jared Sawyer, Jr. from Atlanta, Georgia; Faida Uwase of Rwanda; and Destin Sempijja of Uganda. We'd like connect with you to share ideas. We invite all of you to join our network of youth leaders from over 20 countries united to build a sustainable future for Africa and the Diaspora for our PreCOP27 Africa Virtual Summit."

The award-winning climate justice advocate continued, "Sustainability is not just a word; it is a lifestyle. It is a culture. It is a thing that we have always done as an African people. It is what I was taught as a member of the African diaspora who's been dislocated. A person whose ancestors were taken from this continent, brought to another and used to sustain the culture and livelihood of another people. But that's ok because those skills will sustain us today."

Hosted by the Government of Uganda, the African Union and the European Union, the goal of the Continental Youth Symposium is to develop recommendations for empowering youth to contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic transformation of their respective countries. Topics included: innovative approaches to sustainable youth employment; role of the youth in transfer of science, technology and innovation; the role of the youth in combatting climate change and promotion of green growth; sexual reproductive health and rights; and food and income security and peace. Participants included top youth leaders and youth Parliamentarians, government representatives and representatives of the private sector.

About The HBCU Green Fund:

The HBCU Green Fund is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization working with historically black colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad to advance sustainability and promote student engagement in green initiatives. Titled, A Sustainable Future for Africa and the Diaspora, the HBCU Green Fund's PreCOP27 Virtual Summit will convene young leaders from the Diaspora September 19-23, 2022 to highlight local climate solutions already underway in Africa, mobilize support for projects, and to help fund African youth participation in COP27 in Egypt in November.

For more information on HBCU Green Fund or to register for the Pre-COP27 Virtual Summit visit http://www.hbcugreenfund.org/ to register for the PreCOP27 Virtual Summit go to https://sustainableafricafuture.org/.

Related link: https://hbcugreenfund.org/

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved. ID:NEO2022

Alliances and Partnerships, Business, Education and Schools, Environment and Ecology, Free News Articles

RICE Grant Enables HBCU Green Fund to Expand STEM & Energy Training, Mentorship, and Internship Opportunities for Atlanta University Center Students

ATLANTA, Ga. -- The HBCU Green Fund recently announced a partnership with the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) that increases their capacity to train, mentor and identify internships in energy and STEM industries for students at the Atlanta University Center (AUC). A Department of Energy grant to RICE provides resources for the AUC Energy Project, including a fellowship program exposing students from various majors to emerging opportunities in renewable energy and sustainability.

"We are pleased that the Russell Innovation Center supports a comprehensive program to expose HBCU students to careers in the energy sector, provide them with marketable skills, and introduce students to successful entrepreneurs and leaders working in STEM," said Illai Kenney, national program director, HBCU Green Fund. "Projects like this help to create a pipeline of minority thought leaders in climate and energy and ensure that HBCU graduates stand out in a highly competitive labor market. For instance, the Biden-Harris administration just announced plans to build a $5 billion network of electric vehicle chargers on interstate highways nationwide as part of their infrastructure bill, AUC Energy Fellows will be prepared for those jobs."

The AUC Energy Project offers training across the energy landscape, including wind, solar, energy efficiency and Electric Vehicle Charging Station entrepreneurial opportunities. After completing Energy Audit training, the fellows will contribute to an investment-grade audit on the campuses of Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University. Several AUC Energy Fellows will participate in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, a collegiate competition where teams of students compete to design and build sustainable solar-powered house.

"Students at the Atlanta University Center have a unique advantage being located directly across the street from the Russell Center, the largest non-profit center in the country providing a space and resources for Black entrepreneurs and small business owners to innovate, grow, and create jobs," said Brittany Saadiq, director of development, RICE. "This program gives AUC students access to extraordinary talent and cutting-edge technology."

Thought leaders sharing career advice, mentoring, and business opportunities include HBCU graduates Dr. Anthony Kinslow, CEO of Gemini Energy Solutions; Sheryl E. Ponds Founder and CEO of Dai Technologies; and Gilbert Campbell, founder and CEO of Volt Energy Utility LL; along with AUC faculty mentors Dr. Armita Davarpa, Spelman College, Dr. Cynthia Hewitt, Morehouse College, Dr. Olu Olatidoye, Clark Atlanta University.

An HBCU Energy and STEM Internship registry is currently in development with several summer apprentice opportunities already identified. The 2022 AUC fellows are: Sophia Boyd (Spelman), Serena Echols (Spelman), Indrianna Bowleg (Spelman), Brionna Findley (Spelman), N'Dya Jeffries (Clark Atlanta), Conrad Mctavish (Morehouse), Jason Gill (Morehouse), Ihunanya Destiny Agomuoh, (Spelman), Noah Bacon-Angevine (Morehouse), and Andre Brown (Morehouse).

The HBCU Green Fund is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization working to advance campus-wide sustainability at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and promote student engagement in green initiatives. The organization produces the HBCU Green Report, a ranking of green initiatives on HBCU campuses. In April the organization co-host's the annual BIPOC Climate Justice Dialogue, an opportunity for climate justice scholars, organizers, and funders to discuss national climate goals and Justice40 priorities with government agencies.

For more information on the HBCU Green Fund and AUC Project visit https://hbcugreenfund.org/.

Related link: http://hbcugreenfund.org/

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Business, Free News Articles, General Editorial

National Initiative Vows to Close Racial Wealth Gap and Provide Ongoing Support and Resources to Black Businesses and HBCUs

CHICAGO, Ill. -- 31 Days and Beyond is a national initiative designed to bring awareness, support, and resources during a tumultuous time in America that has caused 41 percent of Black-owned businesses to close their doors due to COVID-19 compared to just 17 percent of white-owned businesses.

L. Maxwell McKissick, Marketing and Entertainment Executive as well as the Founder of the Midwest-based nonprofit, SERVE 60 - created and founded 31 Days and Beyond to serve as a catalyst and call-to-action for Americans to work together and support Black entrepreneurs, Black businesses, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

"Historically, Black Americans have long suffered from the racial wealth gap and Black businesses have been plagued even more so by a multitude of challenges and inequities on the pathway to finding success in America," stated McKissick. "It's the main reason that I felt compelled to create this campaign and initiative so that other Black entrepreneurs could receive some much-needed support via a platform that's actionable, sustainable, and designed to help close the racial wealth gap."

Nikki Woods, former Executive Producer of the nationally syndicated "Tom Joyner Morning Show" and CEO of Nikki Woods Media, LLC will serve as Brand Ambassador and an Official Spokesperson for the initiative.

She is also the product of an HBCU - Howard University.

"This kind of help and support can be crucial for African-American entrepreneurs and small business owners," states Woods. "I'm excited and honored to be a part of it."

National sponsor, Husch Blackwell - one of the nation's largest law firms - has also signed on to support the campaign and website designed to focus on three key areas and goals:

1. Raise awareness and visibility for Black-owned businesses and HBCUs across America.

2. Create, develop and manage an economic empowerment fund to support Black-owned businesses and HBCUs which will provide small business grants and scholarships up to $1,000

3. Create, grow, and manage The Give Black Network- a national network of business professionals that will donate up to 1 hour of skills or services to support a Black-owned business.

Find more details on how you can support the 31 Days and Beyond initiative or become a part of The Give Black Network, please visit: https://31daysandbeyond.com/

ABOUT:

SERVE 60 is a national nonprofit and initiative designed to increase service and volunteerism in America for at least 1 hour at a time. For more information about how you can become a part of the one-hour volunteer movement, please visit https://serve60.com/

*PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-0922s2p-nikki-woods-300dpi.jpg
*Caption: SERVE 60 has teamed up and partnered with Former "Tom Joyner Morning Show" Executive Producer Nikki Woods to help build and grow our initiative to support #BlackOwnedBusinesses and #HBCUs.

Related link: https://31daysandbeyond.com/

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Business, Education and Schools, Free News Articles

Money Flows to Talent: Why HBCUs Must Fight to Attract More Top Ranked Black Student-Athletes

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- In this third installment of the BWC Consulting's series, the North Carolina-based black-owned economic development firm, with a history of working with black institutions of higher learning, discusses the significance of closing the economic gap between Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Historically White Institutions (HWIs) by leveraging athletic programs.

HBCUs have struggled financially for decades. Despite their reputation for producing the largest number of black professionals, these institutions have never received the public and private financial support, or the positioning to earn revenue in ways similar to HWIs of higher education. The struggle to recruit, compete and capitalize on black athletic talent is one of many roadblocks to HBCUs addressing this persistent and lucrative financial support disparity.

"Money and capital [both] flow to winners that produce attractive outcomes," said Cedric Johnson of BWC Consulting. "If more talented young athletes choose to attend HBCUs, the dollars will continue to follow the talent, particularly if this move towards HBCUs is done in mass. Young athletes selecting HBCUs position these schools to be less reliant on the generosity of white philanthropy and their selective process for determining who gets their charity. Americans like to associate with winners, and as these athletes build winning athletic brands at HBCUs, the athletic and academic sides of these institutions will elevate."

Winning athletic programs help attract larger incoming freshmen classes, which translates into larger graduate cohorts. These larger graduate cohorts produce an alumni base that is more likely to give back due to a more favorable student-life experience, which can be directly tied to recognized athletic programs.

North Carolina A&T State University, a Greensboro, NC based HBCU, has witnessed some of its largest incoming freshman classes in recent years. These larger incoming classes have occurred during a period in which the university has won the HBCU Football National Championship three times in the last four years. This success has led to the university joining the Big South Conference, and thus leaving the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), in order to further enhance its brand and attractiveness to future recruits.

Black student-athletes have propped up white college sports teams for over 50 years. Up until the 1980s, if the NFL or NBA wanted to accumulate black talent, they went to HBCUs. Today, they go to the power five conferences. This accumulation of power and revenue via assimilation rather than integration largely explains the vast disparities seen today between the athletic programs of HBCUs and power five conferences.

This assimilation-based college athletics model creates a reality in which what is at stake for HBCUs is more significant than a championship trophy. HBCUs are innovation hubs that spur black excellence at a rate that no other institution can match. Thus, when top-tier black student-athletes decide to attend an HBCU, they have the potential to substantially transform the economic landscape of the institution and the surrounding community. They bring with them talent, revenue, and a dedicated fan-base, as well as future sports fame and prosperity.

"As an undergraduate attending a power five conference school, I was amazed at the throngs of people who embarked on campus on weekends to fill up a nearly 80,000-seat stadium," said Johnson. "My hometown was maybe 25,000 people, so seeing how a football game attracted four times the size of my hometown, was eye-opening. This is how you spur local economic activity and opportunity at scale."

With a windfall of revenue from athletic events, an academically and financially astute HBCU is better positioned to produce more successful black professionals and help eliminate the staggering wealth gap between black and white families. In 2016, a typical white family earned $171,000, nearly ten times greater than that of a black family ($17,150), according to a study conducted by the Brookings Institute.

Many sports fans seem to have accepted the belief that black student-athletes, particularly those on a trajectory to reach the pros, are better served at HWIs. Historically, these schools have offered black student-athletes accessibility and exposure to the professional ranks through heavy media coverage and availability to top sports recruiters. Both of which can lead to large financial contracts and lucrative endorsements.

Despite HWI's ability to help black student-athletes obtain professional contracts, the underlying talent lies with the athlete, and this will always be the case. It is largely the black student-athletes who bring value-add to the HWI and not the other way around. It is also largely the black student-athletes who fill the stands with dedicated fans and allow these HWIs to secure lucrative advertising and endorsement agreements with corporations. Again, money and capital both follow talent. Take away the talent and ESPN Gameday will not continue to host its show at HWIs that are not winners.

"Black athletes perfect their talents on fields and courts in urban and inner-city communities, as well as small towns throughout the country. Football and basketball players at high schools in communities of color are asked to leave their culture and community support behind to attend HWIs to pursue a professional sports career, and that doesn't seem fair," said Elmer Chisholm, partner at BWC Consulting. "Parity and equity are seen on HBCU campuses where black-student athletes are well-represented in the classroom and the field of play, including head coaches and athletic directors. It is apparent that the value of the black-student athlete at HBCUs is appreciated far beyond his or her years on campus."

Athletic programs at HWIs generate significantly more revenue each year compared to HBCU athletic programs. This outcome, in large part, is a result of most student-athletes representing HWIs money-making sports (e.g., football and basketball) are students of color. BWC believes that the misalignment between the origin of the money-making talent and the beneficiaries of the talent must be addressed to ensure long-term financial vitality at black institutions.

"Black student-athletes are responsible for the vast majority of revenue across the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), yet they are not represented equitably as students, athletic directors or head coaches," said Chisholm. "In 2019, across the NCAA, black male students made up less than four percent of the overall student body population but represented more than 50% of the football players and almost 60% of the basketball players, according to statistics from a report by the University of Southern California (USC) Race and Equity Center."

During the fall of 2019, for example, the student body at the University of Alabama (UA) was comprised of only 10% of black students. The nationally recognized football team, by comparison, consisted of approximately 56% of black players. Consider the average worth of one UA college football player to the university was $545,357, according to research by the Department of Education and a Drexel University professor.

In 2018 alone, UA's sports programs generated over $140 million in revenue for the school. This example clearly illustrates that black student-athletes who attend HWIs in the NCAA have a dollar sign on their head-one with enough zeros to change their lives, and subsequently, the quality of life at the institution they choose.

BWC's advice to help HBCUs strengthen their athletic programs and overall institutions is to build on the movement that Maker has put in play. BWC recommends that HBCUs work to increase their chances of attracting the best student-athletes by creating an aggressive recruitment strategy, attracting the best coaches and building a pipeline of younger student-athletes interested in the black college experience. The movement will require more alumni involvement and greater allocation of dollars to support leveraging these new funds to attract even greater capital to support new athletic infrastructure that will aid in the recruitment and retention of the best and brightest student-athletes. Once the young talent is secured, the path forward is clear, and the current model that benefits HWIs provides a reason to believe in the possibilities.

To view the full article, visit: https://bwcconsulting.com/part-3-of-4-money-flows-to-talent-why-hbcus-must-fight-to-attract-more-top-ranked-black-student-athletes/

To view the first installment, visit: https://bwcconsulting.com/part-1-of-4-covid-19-and-the-future-of-historically-black-colleges-universities/

To view the second installment visit: https://bwcconsulting.com/part-2-of-4-covid-19-and-the-future-of-historically-black-colleges-universities/

Related link: https://bwcconsulting.com/

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Business, Education and Schools, Free News Articles

Part 1 of 4: COVID-19 and the Future of Historically Black Colleges and Universities

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- For over 15 years, Bridget Chisholm and her team at North Carolina-based black-owned economic development firm, Building Wealth & Communities (BWC) Consulting, LLC has had first-hand experience with providing high-level financial solutions to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

As seasoned professionals, the firm has helped to build financial strategies to ensure infrastructure improvements on black college campuses and access to capital for major projects in underserved communities to the tune of over $153 million in transactions for HBCUs alone. But now, as the coronavirus crisis and stay-at-home orders have inflicted financial damage on institutions of higher learning like existing debt obligations amid declining revenues, HBCUs are left to tackle long-term economic issues that threaten indefinite school closures and ultimately the elimination of as many as half of existing HBCUs.

The state and fate of these institutions certainly warrants attention, and the question is not whether we should support HBCUs, but how best to support them during this time of economic crisis.

In this four-part series, BWC Consulting will lay out the HBCU value proposition and highlight key opportunities for building a 21st century educational playbook for higher educational institutions that ensures proactive measures are in place to create more agile and resilient learning environments. These solutions will help HBCUs meet the needs of the changing educational landscape by reimagining the unique experience provided at HBCUs and remodeling business strategies, endowment programs and virtual learning opportunities that enhance the overall campus appeal and learning experience.

By exploring non-traditional approaches to capital campaigns and endowment growth, such as an increased focus on securing engagement and support from the largely white-led philanthropy sector, and restructuring the federally-funded HBCU Capital Financing Program, BWC hopes to empower college and university administrators and policymakers to correct historical economic and social injustices that persist in our nation to ensure equity in education and non-discriminatory access to opportunity.

"HBCUs provide immense value-add to society and contribute more to the overall [black] community than most colleges and universities because they offer an opportunity for students to learn in a culturally-enriched environment and in today's world, provide a safe and nurturing space," said Bridget Chisholm, the firm's founder and managing partner.

She adds, "We know how difficult it is for HBCUs to compete with historically white institutions on a level playing field in terms of availability and access to funding and fundamental educational resources like technology. The COVID-19 pandemic presents HBCUs with an opportunity and the motivation to revamp, and where it makes sense, replace antiquated business models with new business strategies designed to meet the needs of students better in an emerging 21st century higher education system. HBCUs have worked tirelessly for over a hundred years to produce black professionals in every field and we anticipate seeing them overcome the current challenges they face."

Unlike predominantly white institutions (PWIs), HBCUs have historically struggled to address issues that have plagued these institutions of higher learning for decades. Disparities that exist between HBCUs and PWIs include inadequate state and federal funding, smaller endowments, access to financial capital and resources that best serve their unique circumstances - not just funding for major campus infrastructure improvements - and a lack of resources to support students from underserved communities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shined a high beam in the face of academic inequality, the lack of economic resiliency for communities of color and ineffective crisis management and contingency planning for the education system. Despite these discrepancies, HBCUs continue their mission to promote black excellence and nurture the growth, vitality, and upliftment of the black community. For many local municipalities across the country, HBCUs are a major economic engine for the surrounding community; thus, the impact of the coronavirus will have a lingering effect for many years ahead.

To read part one of the series and to review BWC Consulting's HBCU Post-Coronavirus Playbook, visit the website - https://bwcconsulting.com/part-1-of-4-covid-19-and-the-future-of-historically-black-colleges-universities/

About BWC Consulting

BWC Consulting is a minority-owned and led boutique economic development finance consulting firm. As a socially conscious firm, BWC takes a holistic, objective, and entrepreneurial approach to consulting with units of local government, higher education clients, operating companies, and emerging enterprises. Started in 2005 by Bridget Chisholm, Founder and Managing Partner, BWC has proven itself and established a strong track record structuring public-private financing for projects targeted to strengthen communities and the people they serve. Learn more: https://bwcconsulting.com/

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