Black

Former NCUA Chairman Rodney E. Hood Joins Zest AI's Board of Directors

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 14, 2024

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zest AI, the leader in AI lending technology, is honored to welcome the former National Credit Union Administration Board (NCUA) Chairman, Rodney E. Hood, to its Board of Directors. A longtime champion of economic empowerment and financial inclusion, Hood brings 30 years of both public and private financial services experience to the now five-person board, which also includes Upfront Ventures Partner Aditi Maliwal, Matrix Partners General Partner Dana Stalder, and Insight Partners Managing Director Jon Rosenbaum.

Key Points: 
  • LOS ANGELES, Feb. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zest AI , the leader in AI lending technology, is honored to welcome the former National Credit Union Administration Board (NCUA) Chairman, Rodney E. Hood, to its Board of Directors.
  • "It's a privilege to welcome Rodney to our Board of Directors," said Zest AI CEO Mike de Vere.
  • From his commitment to ensuring an equitable credit system to his fearless and forward-thinking mindset, Rodney embraces AI technology for good.
  • In 2019, he was nominated to serve again, this time as NCUA Board Chairman, making Hood the first Black American to lead a banking regulatory agency.

‘A blood sport feigning as government’: what the ABC’s Nemesis taught us about a decade of Coalition rule

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 14, 2024

For God’s sake let us sit upon the ground And tell sad stories of the death of kings.

Key Points: 
  • For God’s sake let us sit upon the ground And tell sad stories of the death of kings.
  • The latest instalment, Nemesis, dealing with the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison years, is the fourth of these series since the pioneering Labor in Power screened in 1993 chronicling the Hawke-Keating era.
  • The Howard Years (2008) and The Killing Season (2015) followed examining respectively the Howard and Rudd-Gillard governments.
  • By contrast, The Killing Season and Nemesis focus predominantly on the leadership wars that blighted Australian politics between 2007 and 2022.
  • The most striking takeaway from Nemesis is that the Coalition’s decade in office from 2013 to 2022 was a time of abject irresponsibility.

The Abbott years

  • It was a catalogue of swingeing cuts and broken promises (Abbott had pledged no cuts to health or education during the 2013 election campaign).
  • The Abbott government never really recovered.
  • Chastened by that result, Abbott then caused incredulity among colleagues by proclaiming that “good government begins today”.
  • According to Turnbull, Abbott did not welcome the approach, telling him “to fuck off”.

The Turnbull years

  • The public were relieved to see the back of Abbott and welcomed enthusiastically the ostensibly progressive Turnbull.
  • Attorney-general in the government, George Brandis, refers to the Faustian bargain Turnbull had made to win the prime ministership.
  • Dutton, the right-wing hard man who Turnbull scathingly describes as “a thug”, challenged for the leadership, losing relatively narrowly.
  • A revelation about events during that febrile week is that Turnbull considered heading off his opponents by calling an election.
  • The episode ends with Turnbull offering another pungent character assessment, this time of his successor: “duplicitous”.

The Morrison years

  • It errs towards generosity to Morrison, not fully capturing why his leadership became a byword for inauthenticity, a prime minister whose obsession with the theatre of politics consistently trumped substance.
  • The episode recalls many of the notorious statements made by Morrison, which by suggesting he was evading responsibility, was a bully or lacked empathy corroded his public image, especially among women voters.
  • Asked about the comments, Morrison admits to poor choices of words.
  • Nemesis shows that the COVID pandemic was both a blessing and curse for the Morrison government.
  • Morrison then expended dwindling political capital by fruitlessly pursuing religious rights protections, causing ructions with Liberal moderates.
  • We are left with the suspicion that once again Morrison is bending the truth.

A decade of banality and pettiness

  • Participants in the documentary draw on classical allusions in making sense of the chaos.
  • We are told, for instance, that the leadership feud between Abbott and Turnbull was Shakespearean.
  • Yet what Nemesis exposes is the banality of these events and the pettiness of the actors.
  • The post-Menzies Liberal triumvirate of Harold Holt, John Gorton and William McMahon were respectively overwhelmed by the office, reckless and pygmy like.


Paul Strangio received funding from the Australian Research Council in the past.

ServiconCares Shines Light on Ongoing Partnerships in Honor of Black History Month

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

CULVER CITY, Calif. , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In keeping with its mission to support local communities and take action where Servicon employees work and live—and in honor of Black History Month—ServiconCares is sharing insights into some of its ongoing partnerships with historically Black and Black-led organizations. These include Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU), Brotherhood Crusade, and Fly Compton Aero Club.

Key Points: 
  • The university is also committed to community engagement through public-facing programs, clinics, and services and is a leader in health disparities research.
  • He is a board-certified internal medicine specialist whose clinical work has always revolved around caring for the underserved.
  • Since the 2021-22 academic year, ServiconCares has sponsored five $15,000 CDU scholarships annually.
  • "ServiconCares just made its first contribution to Fly Compton, but we plan on continuing to do so as we build our relationship with the team.

Black Rock Coffee Bar Adds Second Store in Eugene, OR

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

“As the birthplace of Black Rock Coffee Bar, Oregon holds a special place in our hearts,” said Mark Davis, CEO Black Rock Coffee Bar.

Key Points: 
  • “As the birthplace of Black Rock Coffee Bar, Oregon holds a special place in our hearts,” said Mark Davis, CEO Black Rock Coffee Bar.
  • It reaffirms our commitment to serving exceptional coffee experiences to the communities that have embraced us from the very beginning.”
    The new 2000-square-foot Black Rock Coffee Bar store showcases the boutique coffee chains’ signature industrial modern design.
  • Black Rock Coffee Bar’s mission is to be a positive force in the communities it serves.
  • In 2023, Black Rock Coffee Bar ranked 1179th among America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies by Inc. Magazine’s 5000 Annual List.

ONEUNITED BANK LAUNCHES THE ONELOVE CARD

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

MIAMI, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a world that seems increasingly divided, OneUnited Bank, the nation's largest Black-owned bank, proudly introduces the OneLove™ Card. This card is not just a financial tool but a beacon of unity, symbolizing the Bank's unwavering commitment to fostering love, belonging, and understanding within the Black community and across the nation during Black History Month.

Key Points: 
  • MIAMI, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a world that seems increasingly divided, OneUnited Bank, the nation's largest Black-owned bank, proudly introduces the OneLove™ Card .
  • This visionary card, featuring designs from the internationally acclaimed artist and OneUnited Bank Artist-in-Residence, Addonis Parker , encapsulates the essence of unity and love, visually narrating the importance of togetherness in today's fragmented world.
  • The OneLove Card is a testament to our dedication, not just to the Black community, but to the very fabric of America."
  • The OneUnited Bank OneLove Visa Debit Card elevates the #BankBlack and #BuyBlack Movement, infusing it with a renewed sense of purpose and unity.

VERONICA BEARD AND KENDRA SCOTT DONATE PROCEEDS TO HELP BLACK FOUNDERS START, GROW, AND ACCELERATE THEIR BUSINESSES

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a collaborative effort to champion entrepreneurship and foster community empowerment, Veronica Beard and Kendra Scott through their respective programs - VB Gives Back and Kendra Gives Back - have teamed up with Kendra Bracken-Ferguson, founder and CEO of BrainTrust Founders Studio, to support the launch of her first book, The Beauty of Success, Start, Grow and Accelerate Your Brand. Released on February 13, 2024, the book amplifies Bracken-Ferguson's mission to create an ecosystem of resources for entrepreneurs rooted in community, mentorship, education and capital. Proceeds from book tour events held in Veronica Beard and Kendra Scott stores will be donated to BrainTrust Founders Studio to underwrite resources for founders in the community.

Key Points: 
  • Proceeds from book tour events held in Veronica Beard and Kendra Scott stores will be donated to BrainTrust Founders Studio to underwrite resources for founders in the community.
  • Launched in October 2021, BrainTrust Founders Studio is now the largest membership-based platform for Black founders of beauty and wellness companies.
  • "To have both Veronica Beard and Kendra Scott supporting diverse founders through this launch is a beautiful and important example of how allyship grows the American economy," said Kendra Bracken-Ferguson.
  • - Veronica Miele Beard and Veronica Swanson Beard, Co-Founders, Veronica Beard
    Join "The Beauty of Success Books + Bubbles Tour" through December by visiting: https://kendrabracken-ferguson.com/beauty-of-success#tour .

‘Fascinating and troubling’: Australians would rather save a single human life than prevent an entire species from becoming extinct

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Since colonisation, 100 native plant and animal species have become formally listed as extinct due to human activities.

Key Points: 
  • Since colonisation, 100 native plant and animal species have become formally listed as extinct due to human activities.
  • In emergency situations, there is a long-held convention that official responders such as firefighters first attempt to save human life, then property and infrastructure, then natural assets.
  • We found the people we surveyed valued one human life more than the extinction of an entire non-human species – a result both fascinating and troubling.

What are we willing to lose?

  • In such emergencies, our choices reveal in stark detail the values we ascribe to different types of “assets”, including plant and animal species.
  • Our priorities will become even more crucial under climate change, which is bringing worse bushfires and other environmental catastrophes.
  • If nature is always saved last, we can expect recurring biodiversity losses, including extinctions.

Making the hard choices


The survey involved 2,139 Australians. Respondents ranked the assets they would save in a hypothetical bushfire, choosing from the following options:

  • Saving a person who had not received evacuation warnings was rated highest, ahead of saving a person who ignored evacuation advice.
  • The remaining options had negative scores, meaning that respondents were more likely to choose them as least important than most important
  • Next in line would have been the wallaby population, then a relatively less consequential loss of koalas.
  • But the results were the opposite: people prioritised the koalas over the wallabies, with less concern for the shrub and the snail.

The results are revealing

  • We take several key messages from the survey results.
  • First, the conventional hierarchy of protection during fire – prioritising human life, then infrastructure, then biodiversity – does not always reflect societal values.
  • In the Black Summer fires, the attempts to save crucial populations of the imperilled Wollemi Pine showed such protection of biodiversity assets is possible.
  • And finally, our results were troubling for the conservation of poorly known species, the extinctions of which are increasing around the world.

Rethinking our priorities?


The world is becoming more perilous. There’s a high risk of losing much of the nature that surrounds us, supports us and helps define us as Australians. We must think carefully about what future we bequeath to our children and to future generations. This may require reconsidering our priorities – and in some cases, making different choices.
John Woinarski is affiliated with Charles Darwin University, the Biodiversity Council, Australian Wildlife Conservancy and Invertebrates Australia. Stephen Garnett works for Charles Darwin University. He receives funding from the Australian Research Council. He is affiliated with BirdLife Australia.

Black Rock Coffee Bar Opens Third Store in Glendale, Arizona

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Scottsdale, Arizona, Feb. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glendale, Arizona residents will notice that Black Rock Coffee Bar , located at 8325 W. Northern Avenue at the intersection of Northern and Loop 101, opened its doors today, February 12.

Key Points: 
  • Scottsdale, Arizona, Feb. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glendale, Arizona residents will notice that Black Rock Coffee Bar , located at 8325 W. Northern Avenue at the intersection of Northern and Loop 101, opened its doors today, February 12.
  • “This exciting opening day strengthens our connection with the Glendale community, where our talented baristas are dedicated to delivering fast and friendly service,” said Mark Davis, CEO Black Rock Coffee Bar.
  • “This is a continuation of the growth we are experiencing in Arizona and there is more to come!”
    The new 2000-square-foot Black Rock Coffee Bar store showcases the boutique coffee chains’ signature industrial modern design.
  • In 2023, Black Rock Coffee Bar ranked 1179th among America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies by Inc. Magazine’s 5000 Annual List.

CANADIAN NON-PROFIT OFFERS FREE ACCESS TO THEIR SUPPORT PATHS FOR BLACK FOOD ENTREPRENEURS.

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 9, 2024

Now in its fourth year, the Advisor-Led Start and Scale Support Path project provides free access to industry experts ranging from accountants and branding professionals to chefs and food scientists throughout its guided nine-month program.

Key Points: 
  • Now in its fourth year, the Advisor-Led Start and Scale Support Path project provides free access to industry experts ranging from accountants and branding professionals to chefs and food scientists throughout its guided nine-month program.
  • More than a traditional incubator accelerator, the paths focus on removing systemic barriers, increasing access, forging community and centring the lived experience of BIPOC individuals.
  • ‘It is through food that communities connect and foster a sense of belonging,’ says Foodpreneur Lab founder Janice Bartley.
  • ‘The network, the experience, and the results have all been amazing,’ says Start Support Path participant Robert Robinson of Robinson Sauces.

ITA GLOBAL Launches Afro-Panamanian Cultural Guide Book Showcasing the Richness and Diversity of Afro-Panamanian heritage

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 9, 2024

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Birth of the Afro-Panamanian Cultural Guide Book

Key Points: 
  • ITA Global (ITA), an award-winning Destination Management Company and its Partners wants you to see, feel and experience the Afro-Panamanian traditions, the people, the stories, and the cultural mosaic that make Panama truly special in the new book called "Afro-Panamanian Cultural Guide Book".
  • BEIP was initially a Facebook group created because Charlotte found no other Black Expat Groups representing Panama.
  • For the past three years, ITA GLOBAL has consistently demonstrated exceptional precision and excellence in crafting routes and overseeing all logistics for BEIP Relocation Tours.
  • Through meticulous planning and unwavering commitment, ITA GLOBAL has played a pivotal role showcasing the beautiful influence of the Afro Panamanian Culture.