The music world is still mourning the unexpected passing of music executive and multi-hyphenate Andre Harrell. The Uptown Records founder and former president/CEO of Motown Records died on Thursday, May 7 at the age of 59.
Since the spread of COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus, there has been a fight for states to provide more testing in order to contain and combat the virus. The United States has been lagging behind when it comes to providing proper testing for its residents as compared to other countries that have made efforts to make the test readily available and free of charge. In one of the country’s epicenters for the viral outbreak, an HBCU institution is stepping up to provide COVID-19 testing for the local community.
Last week, Howard University announced its Faculty Practice Plan in partnership with Bank of America with the opening of a free COVID-19 testing center to serve communities located east of the river. The testing site opened a few weeks back at the newly-repurposed Benning Road Center.
“Many of our patients travel great distances to come to Howard University Hospital, which makes it challenging to seek medical attention at the first sign of illness,” said Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick in a press statement. “Our goal is to meet the community where they live so their access to care greatly improves and hopefully we can reduce the spread of the coronavirus.”
“You will not need to have a doctor’s prescription in advance to get tested at our location,” said Dr. Hugh E. Mighty, Howard University vice president of clinical affairs said in a statement reported by FOX 5 DC.
“We want to eliminate the obstacles so more people can be tested because we believe everyone should be tested. We want to screen our community neighbors in the areas where there are higher incidents of hypertension, heart disease and diabetes because those pre-existing conditions are linked to the higher incidents of coronavirus that we’ve seen in African American communities.”
Testing will be available on Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the next three months with no prescription needed. The Howard University team will see patients who are “showing symptoms or who believe they are asymptomatic.” D.C. residents can sign up for an appointment by calling 202-865-2119, option 3.
Last week, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported that ex-heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has been in the gym training and considering getting back into the ring. Now we hear that his former nemesis, ex-heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, is doing the same. Holyfield has even said that he envisions having a third bout against Tyson but this time, they will do it for charity, according to Boxing Scene.
At 57 years old, Holyfield is making a return to the ring and has his eyes set on having a third fight with the 53-year-old Tyson. According to reports, he would like to stage an exhibition boxing match to raise money for his charity Unite 4 Our Fight.
“I’ve already done what I wanted to do in my career, and have been the best that I could be. If it wasn’t for charity, I wouldn’t fight Tyson,” Holyfield told Boxing Scene in an interview. “I don’t look at it as being a winner in this fight. This is a charity event helping our foundations. The thing is knowing what you’re doing it for.
“I’m not afraid of [Tyson] or anything like that, as long as it works for both of us [financially]. I wouldn’t ask for him to do it if he didn’t want to. He’d have to ask me. It’s like being the bully, I already beat him twice.”
Just last month, Tyson said he’d consider making a comeback and fight in four-round exhibition matches. After seeing a video of Tyson training, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship offered Tyson $20 million for a fight with one of its athletes.
Tyson also spoke to rapper and entrepreneur T.I. on Instagram Live and revealed that he is back in the gym and wants to involve himself in some charitable exhibition bouts.
“I’ve been hitting the mitts for the last week,” Tyson said. “That’s been tough, my body is really jacked up and really sore from hitting the mitts. I’ve been working out, I’ve been trying to get in the ring. I think I’m going to box some exhibitions and get in shape. I want to go to the gym and get in shape to be able to box three or four-round exhibitions for some charities and stuff. Some charity exhibitions, make some money, help some homeless and drug-affected (expletive)s like me.”
According to Boxing Scene, bookmaker SportsBetting.ag listed that a pro or exhibition boxing match in 2020 between Tyson and Holyfield would be a tossup with even odds of -120 on both sides.
“My whole thing is that I’ll do exhibition matches with people that I trust,” said Holyfield. “It’s important in an exhibition to describe how you want it to be. You talk about how to work together. It’s not going to be a tough fight. If you hit me hard, I hit you back hard. That’s my attitude. I have the hand speed and can pop you and move on with my business. I can hold my own, but I’m not here to hurt people. I can fight — plus, I am in better shape than them. If I wasn’t in shape, I wouldn’t go in there with anybody.”
Amid the global pandemic, there are a number of companies looking to help entrepreneurs and small business owners make a way out of what can feel like no way. The economic impact COVID-19 is having on business owners is projected to leave a lasting mark on some businesses and in efforts to help combat that The Access Project will accept three women-owned businesses into their accelerator.
The Access Project is a nonprofit, seed-stage startup accelerator for women-owned businesses that leverages the expertise of the fashion and beauty industry, namely branding, marketing, and design. They believe that building your brand—and not just a product—is a way startups can be more resource-efficient and increase their probability of success. In addition to an elite mentor list, startup participants will have access to agency resources and work alongside team members focused on business development.
The Access Project runs two, 12-week accelerator programs a year for a group of 2-3 startups (each flight) selected from a highly competitive application pool.
The mentorship board for The Access Project includes trailblazing women that are artistic directors, professional communicators, and executives that are behind the scenes in pivotal campaigns. The mentors are Stephanie Powell, Jamé Jackson, Cierra Jaye’, Jasmine C. Green, and Valese Jones. The chosen candidates will benefit greatly from the guidance of these trailblazing women.
This time around, The Access Project is accepting up to three women-owned businesses to join its program. This incubator will lend its expertise in the fashion and beauty industry, branding, marketing, and design.
In a statement released by The Access Project, the group shared, “We believe that building your brand—and not just a product—is a way startups can be more resource-efficient and increase their probability of success.”
To learn more and apply for the accelerator, click here.
Last week, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported that ex-heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has been in the gym training and considering getting back into the ring. Now we hear that his former nemesis, ex-heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, is doing the same. Holyfield has even said that he envisions having a third bout against Tyson but this time, they will do it for charity, according to Boxing Scene.
At 57 years old, Holyfield is making a return to the ring and has his eyes set on having a third fight with the 53-year-old Tyson. According to reports, he would like to stage an exhibition boxing match to raise money for his charity Unite 4 Our Fight.
“I’ve already done what I wanted to do in my career, and have been the best that I could be. If it wasn’t for charity, I wouldn’t fight Tyson,” Holyfield told Boxing Scene in an interview. “I don’t look at it as being a winner in this fight. This is a charity event helping our foundations. The thing is knowing what you’re doing it for.
“I’m not afraid of [Tyson] or anything like that, as long as it works for both of us [financially]. I wouldn’t ask for him to do it if he didn’t want to. He’d have to ask me. It’s like being the bully, I already beat him twice.”
Just last month, Tyson said he’d consider making a comeback and fight in four-round exhibition matches. After seeing a video of Tyson training, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship offered Tyson $20 million for a fight with one of its athletes.
Tyson also spoke to rapper and entrepreneur T.I. on Instagram Live and revealed that he is back in the gym and wants to involve himself in some charitable exhibition bouts.
“I’ve been hitting the mitts for the last week,” Tyson said. “That’s been tough, my body is really jacked up and really sore from hitting the mitts. I’ve been working out, I’ve been trying to get in the ring. I think I’m going to box some exhibitions and get in shape. I want to go to the gym and get in shape to be able to box three or four-round exhibitions for some charities and stuff. Some charity exhibitions, make some money, help some homeless and drug-affected (expletive)s like me.”
According to Boxing Scene, bookmaker SportsBetting.ag listed that a pro or exhibition boxing match in 2020 between Tyson and Holyfield would be a tossup with even odds of -120 on both sides.
“My whole thing is that I’ll do exhibition matches with people that I trust,” said Holyfield. “It’s important in an exhibition to describe how you want it to be. You talk about how to work together. It’s not going to be a tough fight. If you hit me hard, I hit you back hard. That’s my attitude. I have the hand speed and can pop you and move on with my business. I can hold my own, but I’m not here to hurt people. I can fight — plus, I am in better shape than them. If I wasn’t in shape, I wouldn’t go in there with anybody.”
