Business

Amazon ordered to let workers vote on unionizing — for the 3rd time

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By Alina Selyukh Amazon workers at a warehouse in Alabama should get a third opportunity to vote on unionizing, a federal labor judge has ruled. The vote is not expected any time soon, however, as the legal process drags on. The warehouse in Bessemer made history as the site of the very first union election by Amazon workers, in 2021. But the outcome was not historic: workers voted against unionizing. U.S. labor officials later ruled that Amazon improperly influenced the vote, and workers voted a second time in 2022. The outcome remained too close to call for years, with hundreds of ballots challenged by either

HBCUs Philander Smith University And Southern University Just Won This Entrepreneurial Pitch Competition

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By Kui Mwai Students from Philander Smith University and Southern University and A&M College won the sixth annual Moguls in the Making entrepreneurial pitch competition, which invites 50 students from historically Black colleges and universities to develop business concepts designed to improve Detroit’s economy. This year’s participants competed for over $200,000 in scholarships and prizes. Two teams tied for first place. Each student winner won a $20,000 scholarship and a guaranteed internship. The competition, which was held from Oct. 2 to6, was hosted by Ally Financial in collaboration with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Hampton University was second place and Spelman College was third. “These Moguls stand

Billboard Names Howard University A Top Music Business School

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By Amber Dodd For the third consecutive year, Howard University’s School of Business and its Warner Music/Blavatnik Center for Music Business have been recognized in Billboard’s 2024 Top Music Business Schools report.  Located in the School of Business, the premiere center continues to prepare the next generation of changemakers by fusing music education, industry networking, and social justice into a fellowship experience.  “This recognition is a testament to the work we are doing here at The Mecca. We take great pride in pouring into our students to educate, empower and excite the next generation of music business icons,” said center

Harris’ small-business pitch resonates in Georgia’s most diverse county. Can it win her the state?

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By J.J. McCorvey  The election could be decided in Georgia’s fastest-growing and most ethnically diverse county. In Gwinnett County, a part of metro Atlanta where 58% of voters backed Joe Biden in 2020 compared with the 40% who voted for Donald Trump, both parties are again locked in a race centered on the economy. Vice President Kamala Harris’ economic pitch has heavily emphasized small-business owners, and those in Gwinnett County — one of the “Decider” counties NBC News is tracking — acknowledge they could use more support. So far, many like what Harris is offering, though some remain undecided just over a week before Election Day. Their choices

Howard Alum Chequan Lewis to Deliver Executive Lecture at Howard University School of Business

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By Brittany Bailer The Howard University School of Business will launch its annual Executive Lecture Series with a visit from Crunch Fitness President and Howard alum Chequan Lewis (B.A. ’05). The title of his lecture is “Legendary: Powered by Legacy.”  As president, Lewis works directly with Crunch executives and franchise partners to develop growth strategies, improve performance, and elevate the Crunch brand. He was most recently the Chief Operating Officer for Pizza Hut, where he led the operational focus of service and experience for the Pizza Hut customers and the restaurant teams serving them. He previously held other leadership roles at Pizza Hut

Morgan State University Launches Student-Managed Investment Fund

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Courtesy of Morgan State University Morgan State University, a historically Black educational institution in Baltimore, has recently launched the Student-Managed Investment Fund (SMIF), a program that provides real-world portfolio management experience to undergraduate students majoring in accounting and finance. The program allows student members to invest real money, giving them the experience needed to gain practical skills that will open the door to successful careers in finance after graduation. The SMIF was provided with $120,000 in initial funding, raised in part by Morgan State’s Graves School of Business and Management. The majority of seed funding came from students’ prior winnings

Delaware State University Launches Private Merchandise Label, Making HBCU History

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Courtesy of Delaware State University Delaware State University is breaking new ground in collegiate branding by becoming the first Historically Black College and University to distribute its own private merchandise label. Starting this week, select DSU apparel and items will be available on prominent platforms, including Amazon Marketplace and Walmart.com. This was made possible through a groundbreaking partnership with Everything Collegiate, LLC—a black-owned business based in Atlanta, Georgia. The launch of this private label marks a significant evolution in DSU’s merchandising strategy. It enables the university to control the design, quality, and variety of products that students, faculty, staff, and

HBCUs need more funding now to keep pace with digital demands

By Alcino Donadel With campus IT teams reaching Amazon-like levels of service, predictive analytics boosting student enrollment and retention, and AI yet to unlock its potential, HBCUs can no longer afford to do “more with less” in higher ed’s tech-infused environment, declares a new report from Complete College America. The nonprofit, dedicated to improving equitable college completion rates, is challenging policymakers to erase longstanding funding gaps between HBCUs and predominantly white institutions. Heavier investment, researchers argue, will help HBCUs build a digital learning infrastructure that supports the latest trends in student personalization, administrative automation and edtech solutions. “Investing in cutting-edge technology on HBCU campuses isn’t just

Apple Hosting HBCU Arts and Entertainment Accelerator Program for 50 Students

By Todd Spangler Apple is hosting 50 students from 19 historically Black colleges and universities for an immersive two-week experience as part of the Propel Center‘s arts and entertainment industry accelerator. Apple and Southern Company are the founding partners of Propel Center, launched in 2011 as a hub designed to support and advance the work of HBCUs. The organization’s 2024 Arts & Entertainment Industry Accelerator program is a year-long experience launched exclusively for HBCU students, designed to create greater diversity in the arts and entertainment industry. The Propel Center’s arts and entertainment accelerator kicks off at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tenn., on

As holiday shopping begins, Black business owners hope shoppers don’t forget them

By Curtis Bunn April Showers (her real name), a self-described “serial entrepreneur” much of her life, looks at 2020 as a paradox. George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis and the ensuing social justice movement across the country were “painful and exhausting. Very troubling and a moment in time we won’t forget,” she said. For a Black businesswoman, though, the subsequent impact of the protests following Floyd’s death heightened awareness of vast social inequities and inspired the #BuyBlack movement, which encouraged support of Black-owned businesses. In June 2020, Canadian fashion designer and activist Aurora James reasoned on social media that Black people represent 15% of

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