Author: Writer

Comcast announced that it will award 13,000 businesses owned by people of color (including Black, Hispanic and Asian Americans) in a variety of categories including monetary grants, technology makeovers and marketing services from Comcast RISE. To date, the company has already disbursed $5 million in grants to businesses in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Houston and Philadelphia, …

New Comcast RISE Program Makes Investment in Businesses Owned by People of Color Read More »

In the last two decades, college enrollment by African American students has drastically increased. Over 2.1 million African American students have enrolled in colleges or universities in the last few years, in contrast to the 1.5 million in 2000. As of 2019, 29% of African Americans aged 25 to 29 also now hold a bachelor’s …

The Effects of Student Loan Debt on the Racial Wealth Gap Read More »

With school, work and home life moved online, it’s more important than ever for families to have access to quality, reliable broadband internet services. As the summer approaches, the digital divide that currently exists will become magnified as many kids leave the classroom and subsequently lose access to digital devices and broadband they may enjoy …

America’s Digital Divide Could Widen Disparities This Summer, but the EDISON Alliance Is Working To Help Read More »

Despite increased calls for racial diversity across business, academia, law and politics, diversity in the medical field lags behind. The proportion of the medical workforce of color — and particularly African American men’s enrollment in medical school — has not improved in the past 20 years. In fact, there has been a slight decrease.  Although …

The Importance of Increasing Black Students’ Medical School Enrollment Read More »

Women are a force to be reckoned with in the workplace. They are strong, determined and just as hardworking as their male counterparts. Research has also shown that Fortune 500 companies with a high representation of women on their boards regularly outperform those that do not. This all translates to more profitable companies. It’s reported …

Increasing Women in Executive Leadership Positions in 2021 Read More »

Student Freedom Initiative will make its first official debut in fall 2021, launching at Tuskegee University and eight other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for the 2021-2022 academic year. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring freedom in professional and life choices for students attending Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), Student Freedom Initiative will enhance …

Student Freedom Initiative Launches at Tuskegee University and Eight Other HBCUs Read More »

It’s no secret that many restaurants are struggling right now. According to Fortune Magazine, more than 110,000 eating and drinking establishments in the United States closed for business — temporarily or permanently — since the beginning of the health and economic crisis.  For the last year and a half, Robert F. Smith as well as …

Helping Black-Owned Businesses Survive and Thrive Read More »

At a Racial & Economic Justice Virtual Town Hall in April, organized and hosted by Roland Martin, Robert F. Smith discussed how to direct capital for the purpose of ending systemic inequities in the Black community. The talk, which covered a range of topics from corporate responsibility to economic activism, was part of the “Roland …

How to Direct Capital for Racial and Economic Justice Read More »

With the summer right around the corner, people are turning their attention outdoors and looking for fun activities. Experiencing the outdoors is so important, particularly for kids, who through experience can learn to become more responsible stewards of nature. Unfortunately, many barriers to equal access to high-quality outdoor experiences still exist. In an examination of …

3 Ways Robert F. Smith is Helping Bridge Gaps in Outdoor Access Read More »

Juneteenth is a celebration of the end of slavery in the United States. It celebrates June 19, 1865, when enslaved Black people in Texas were declared free by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger of the Union Army. Texas was one of the final holdouts of the Confederacy and the slave trade. Two years after The Emancipation …

Honoring the History of Juneteenth Read More »