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Ford Fund Teams Up with the City of Tacoma and the Washington State History Museum to Kick-off Men of Courage Barbershop Challenge  

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  • The Men of Courage Barbershop Challenge invites community-focused barbershops
    in the Tacoma area to submit innovative community program proposals supporting
    why their location should be selected as a Men of Courage barbershop

 

  • Two barbershops will be selected as finalists and compete for a grant of $10,000
    to activate community engagement programs at their shops

 

  • Challenge runner-up to receive $5000 for their favorite nonprofit organization

Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, is joining forces with the City of Tacoma and the Washington State History Museum (WSHM) to offer motivated barbershops in Tacoma an opportunity to compete for a $10,000 grant to support programs they create to educate and empower African American men in their community. Additionally, the runner up in the challenge is eligible to select a local non-profit to receive a $5,000 grant.

To apply, shop owners should visit http://fgb.life and submit their application online. Applications are being accepted now until November 22, 2019.

“The Men of Courage program is designed to uplift and celebrate the many contributions of African American men to our world,” said Pamela Alexander, director of Community Development, Ford Motor Company Fund.“We are excited to bring this program and the associated barbershop challenge to Tacoma.”

The Men of Courage Barbershop Challenge is an expansion of the Men of Courage (MOC) grassroots program that launched in 2015. Its intent is to build communities by advancing the narrative of black men through storytelling. The MOC initiative has included several activations that include community outreach, education programs and toolkits for conversation starters.

Over the past three years, curated forums have been held in Detroit, Baltimore, Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles with national stakeholders such as activist Shaka Senghor, former Detroit mayor and NBA Hall of Famer Dave Bing, and NFL Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis participating. With nearly 200 community leaders serving as mentors and engaging in hours of storytelling, vision boarding and solution mapping with young men in the community, the work has resulted in more than 2,000 toolkits downloaded in 34 cities around the country. Additionally, the theme of the 2016 Ford Freedom Award, which celebrated and recognized achievements of lasting and positive impact for African Americans, highlights the pivotal work of the Men of Courage program.

“In helping African American men tap into powerful community conversations through this new program, we are making a statement,” said Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards. “We are saying that their ideas matter and can, in fact, profoundly shape the evolution of African American male identity in this country.”

The Tacoma MOC Barbershop Challenge seeks state-certified barbershop owners ages 18 and up to submit innovative applications that state why their barbershop should be distinguished as a Ford Fund Men of Courage shop and what that would mean for their community. Two finalists will be selected to compete by developing community engagement programming for adults and youth that focus on education, entrepreneurship and empowerment. Ford will support their efforts leveraging partnerships such as the Washington State History Museum and Microsoft to facilitate fun and engaging activities such as coding workshops, Xbox Game Nights and amplifying a job search with LinkedIn.

“We are proud to partner with the Ford Motor Company Fund in bringing their innovative Barber Shop Challenge to the Tacoma area. We look forward to experiencing the impact of the fun and meaningful activities that will come out of the challenge,” said Jennifer Kilmer, director of the Washington State Historical Society. “Men of Courage is the perfect companion program to the Men of Change exhibition. The Washington State History Museum is honored to host that exhibition this winter and we encourage everyone to take advantage of the opportunity to see it here.”

To apply, shop owners should visit http://fgb.life and submit their application online. Applications are being accepted now until November 22, 2019.

The Men of Courage program serves as a complimentary grassroots activation to the Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth. exhibition at WSHM December 21 – March 15, 2020. Created by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), Men of Change is made possible through the support of Ford Motor Company Fund and highlights revolutionary men—including Muhammad Ali, James Baldwin, Ta-Nehisi Coates, W.E.B. Du Bois and Kendrick Lamar— whose journeys have altered the history and culture of the country. Cincinnati’s Freedom Center was the first stop of the national three-year tour. For more information visit sites.si.edu.

For more information on programs that support the African American community, go to http://fgb.life .

About Ford Motor Company Fund

As the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, Ford Fund’s mission is to strengthen communities and help make people’s lives better. Working with dealers and nonprofit partners in 63 countries, Ford Fund provides access to opportunities and resources that help people reach their full potential. Since 1949, Ford Fund has invested more than $2 billion in programs that support education, promote safe driving, enrich community life and encourage employee volunteering. For more information, visit www.fordfund.org or join us at @FordFund on Facebook and Twitter.

About Men of Courage

Ford Motor Company’s Men of Courage (MOC) initiative launched in 2015 as a grassroots program designed to build communities by advancing the narrative of black men through storytelling, intergenerational forums, and community programs. Since its inception, MOC has hosted forums in the five cities and reported more than 2,000 toolkit downloads across 34 cities throughout the US.

About Washington State History Museum

The Washington State Historical Society partners with communities to explore how history connects us all. The Society’s most visible activity, the Washington State History Museum is located in Tacoma’s downtown core along Pacific Avenue among a thriving cultural scene. The museum features interactive permanent exhibitions about Washington’s past, unique rotating exhibitions highlighting the Society’s collections and dynamic traveling exhibitions.

Minority Business Development Agency Awards $3.6 Million for Business Development in Indian Country

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The U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) announced grant awards totaling $3.6 million to support business development in Indian Country.  The investment represents an historic level of 17% of all the MBDA grants awarded this year.

“Under the guidance of President Donald J. Trump, economies are booming across the country,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “These projects have the potential to further allow Native-owned businesses to build on this unprecedented economic climate and, in turn, create jobs and new opportunities in their communities.”

The diversity among the projects shows strong promise for Native-owned businesses to achieve entrepreneurial growth and global competitiveness.  They encompass a range of strategies to address identified needs in Indian Country, including but not limited to access to capital, incubator/accelerators, federal program coaching, public-private partnerships, and broadband.  Collectively, the objective is to ensure Tribal entrepreneurs and Tribal businesses are better connected to business opportunities and trained in entrepreneurship, leading to a stronger foundation for economic growth.

“These grants affirm MBDA’s long-standing commitment to economic development in Indian Country,” said Henry Childs II, MBDA National Director. “There are many examples of economic success in Indian Country. This includes areas such as energy, tourism, and gaming. Indigenous communities are a vital part of regional economies but are often disconnected from efforts to promote regional and rural development. This disconnect contributes to disparities in socio-economic outcomes experienced in Indian Country. MBDA’s investments will help link Indigenous communities with regional and rural development efforts,” stated Childs.

The FY 2019 grant recipients are:

  • Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
  • Asian, Inc.
  • National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development
  • Native American Development Corporation
  • Oregon Native American Business Entrepreneurial Network
  • Regents of New Mexico State University
  • Rural Community Assistance Corporation
  • Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc.
  • Salish Kootenai College
  • Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
  • Southwest Business Development Consultants, LLC
  • Spruce Root, Inc.
  • The TAALA Fund

Funds will be available for a 2-year period, September 2019 – August 2021.  All recipients will have access to management and technical assistance from MBDA and its Office of Native American Business Development.

About the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
MBDA is the only Federal agency dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of U.S. minority business enterprises through the mobilization and advancement of public and private sector programs, policy and research. Our services better equip minority-owned firms to create jobs, build scale and capacity, increase revenues and expand regionally, nationally and internationally. In 2019, MBDA commemorates 50 years of economic empowerment through entrepreneurship and recommits to Winning the Future for all U.S. minority-owned businesses. For more information visit www.mbda.gov.

African Pride Doubles Down on Moisture with Addition of Two NEW Styling Products

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African Pride, a trusted hair care manufacturer with more than 30 years of experience creating affordable products with high quality, naturally formulated ingredients has added two NEW styling products to its Moisture Miracle collection.

African Pride’s NEW Flaxseed Oil & Shea Butter Gel N Cream.

 

The Moisture Miracle collection, which hit retail shelves Spring 2018, is crafted with a signature blend of natural, premium ingredients of African origin to help those with kinky and coily textures replenish, restore and retain moisture to keep hair healthy and manageable throughout each step of the wash day and styling routine.

“While we had wash day and the hair maintenance part of the routine on lock, we saw an opportunity within the Moisture Miracle collection to provide additional product solutions to help create well- moisturized and defined styles,” said Kendria Strong, African Pride Director of Marketing. “To do that we knew we needed to find the right mix of natural, premium ingredients that make styling and manageability easier for Type 4 hair to combat shrinkage, while elongating and defining curls and ingredients that provide deep hydration to soften the hair and restore shine.”

African Pride’s NEW Rose Water & Argan Oil Curl Mousse

The NEW Moisture Miracle styling products include:

  • Flaxseed Oil & Shea Butter Curl Defining Gel n’ Cream (6oz) – This 3-in-1 curl training formula blends flaxseed oil and shea butter to provide superior curl definition, hydration and shine; enhancing your natural curl pattern without flaking.

Ingredient benefits:

    • Flaxseed Oil – defines and molds curls, provides natural hold, restores shine
    • Shea Butter – deeply moisturizes, strengthens and protects
  • Rose Water & Argan Oil Curl Mousse (8.5oz) – Lightweight foam blends rose water and argan oil to condition hair while adding body, control and flexible hold, leaving curls well-defined, soft to the touch and frizz-free.

Ingredient benefits:

    • Rose Water – softens and helps to repair hair’s porosity
    • Argan Oil – adds natural shine and smooths hair cuticles

These NEW Moisture Miracle products are priced between $4.49 – $4.99 and are available at Amazon.com/AfricanPride. The Flaxseed Oil & Shea Butter Curl Defining Gel n’ Cream is also available at Walmart.

Additional products in the Moisture Miracle range, which include the (1) Aloe & Coconut Water Detangle & Condition Pre-Shampoo, (2) Honey & Coconut Oil Nourish & Shine Shampoo, (3) Honey, (4) Chocolate & Coconut Oil Nourish & Restore Conditioner, (5) Coconut Milk & Honey Hydrate & Shine Leave-In Conditioner, (6) Coconut Oil & Baobab Oil Hydrate & Strengthen Leave-In Cream, (6) Shea Butter & Flaxseed Oil Moisturize & Define Curling Cream, (7) Moroccan Red Clay & Shea Butter Detox & Soften Heat Activated Masque and the (8) Strengthen & Protect 5 Essential Oils with Vitamin E, can be found at Walmart, Dollar General and local beauty supply stores nationwide.

About African Pride
For 30 years, African Pride has addressed the hair care needs of all hair types and textures whether natural or relaxed with brands like Black Castor Miracle, Moisture Miracle, Shea Miracle, Olive Miracle and Dream Kids. We believe in the unspoken power of a great hair day. The boost of energy that’s given when your beauty and confidence is intertwined should be accessible to all women. That’s why we created African Pride products with premium, natural ingredients at an affordable price to ensure that you’re less stressed about your hair and more focused on stepping into your best self.

New Fare Share Plan to Invest in Workers, Housing, and Transportation

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We’re living in the most disruptive time for our workers since the Industrial Revolution. Our economy is changing, and long-term jobs are giving way to gig work. In this rapidly changing economy, we need to make sure our hard-fought worker protections are available for gig workers. That includes Uber and Lyft drivers, who work long hours to help all of us get where we need to go.

As Seattle grows, we also need to make sure our communities can afford to live near where they work, and everyone, regardless of income or ability level, has access to high-quality transit.

That’s why earlier today I announced my “Fare Share” plan to invest in workers, housing near transit, and transit and transportation projects.

Our Fare Share plan will:

  • Mandate Seattle’s minimum wage, plus benefits and expenses, for Uber and Lyft drivers, beginning July 1, 2020;
  • Invest in landmark worker protections, including a first-in-the-nation Driver Resolution Center;
  • Invest in transit and fully fund the Center City Connector streetcar; and
  • Support more than 500 new affordable homes near transit for people earning between $15 and $25 per hour.

 

The City of Seattle wants to create a model to ensure we’re appropriately compensating drivers for the hours they truly work, the expenses they are shouldering, and the benefits they deserve, even if they are currently classified as independent contractors.

Seattle is a national leader in ensuring our workers are treated fairly and can build a better life for themselves and their loved ones. From the Fight for $15 to our Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, we’ve always been the city that puts our workers before any company’s bottom line.

We also know that more and more workers like Seattle’s nurse assistants, construction workers, and preschool teachers can’t afford to live close to their jobs. And that’s why we need to continue to invest in more affordable housing as quickly as possible across Seattle.

There’s no doubt that the explosive growth of companies like Lyft and Uber has helped many people, and has helped create opportunity for many communities throughout our region.

But the fact remains that some Uber and Lyft drivers are not making minimum wage, while billion dollar companies are profiting off of using the City’s public resources, like the right of way and curb space. Last year alone, there were more than 24 million Uber and Lyft rides in our City, half of which started or ended downtown. That has had an impact on congestion, and has crowded our buses and curbs.

That’s why we need to think big and make important investments in transit like this one to ensure we keep transit moving in downtown Seattle, manage traffic, and achieve our climate goals.

This overall plan is about ensuring Seattle builds off our legacy of fighting for working families. And it’s about growing into the city we want to be.

Your feedback is critical to the success of this project. As always, please continue to write me at Jenny.Durkan@seattle.gov, reach out via Twitter and Facebook, and stay up-to-date on the work we’re doing for the people of Seattle on my blog.

Mayor Jenny Durkan is releasing her 2020 Proposed Budget

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Mayor Jenny Durkan is releasing her 2020 Proposed Budget.  In the second year of the two-year budget biennium, this budget maintains core services while at the same time increasing investments in priorities like public safety, housing and homelessness, transit and transportation, and opportunity and jobs for Seattle’s young people.

The 2020 Proposed Budget maintains resources and staff to support the ongoing work of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA).  We will continue to provide:

  • Naturalization assistance through our New Citizen Campaign and New Citizen Program;
  • The Immigrant Family Institute including the evidence-based Strengthening Families Program curriculum;
  • The Ready to Work program in three Seattle locations;
  • Removal defense via the Seattle/King County Expanded Legal Defense Network (ELDN); and
  • Citywide Language Access and Ethnic Media programs.

For those of you who watch the numbers closely, you’ll see that the total annual budget for OIRA looks lower (about $4M rather than $5M).  This is a result of technical changes in the way we reflect our grant funding and the ELDN partnership with King County.  Current recurring OIRA grants will now be added to the budget when each annual contract is signed, rather than assumed in OIRA’s base budget.  And because King County (rather than OIRA) is administering the contracts for ELDN, the King County investment of $810,000 for 2020 is not included in OIRA’s budget.  OIRA’s program delivery will not be affected.

NEXT STEPS AND COMMUNICATION ABOUT BUDGET
Over the next two months, the City Council will review the Mayor’s the proposed budget. Final adoption of the budget is expected on Monday, November 25. More information about details in the budget can be found at www.seattle.gov/budget, and you can also direct any questions to jenny.durkan@seattle.gov.

Local Burger Companies Battle It Out

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South Sound Productions with sponsors 96.5 JACK FM, BD Local, SouthSoundTalk.com, T-Mobile, Axe & Arrow Gastropub, Costco, Hello Fresh, Clear Creek RV Center & DuPont Realty Group present 2019 Battle of the Burger Festival Washington!

For up-to-date information check out our Facebook event:

Burger fans! Come one and come all! This is the event NOT to miss! Here’s your change to try several different burgers from all over the region! Also in the house will be local beverage and businesses! This will be an audience driven vote!

This event will include several burger businesses competing in different categories. There is a wide range of different burgers to satisfy every taste bud: traditional beef, unique, vegan/vegetarian, seafood, chicken etc. Attendees can purchase a burger slider flight (like a beer flight) and taste 5 burger sliders for one price. This is a great way for everyone to be able to vote for their favorites. Yes, we will have other food/beverage vendors as as well as shopping & informational vendors.

Kids are welcome! This event will also feature trick or treat event too.

Current Competitors

Axe & Arrow Gastropub

Ricardo’s Kitchen & Bar

The Cattleman

Street Eats Mobile Eatery

Nici’s Pacific Northwest Cuisine

VeGo Eatz

For up-to-date information check out our Facebook event:

Minority-Owned Firms Can Close the Wealth Gap and Drive the U.S. Economy

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MBDA’s MBE Policy Symposium (l to r: Aron Betru, Milken Institute; Henry Childs II, MBDA; U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross; and Dr. Ashley Winston, Macrodyn Group, LLC)

U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), in collaboration with the Milken Institute, convened prominent scholars, economists and business leaders to combine research efforts in support of the growth and expansion of minority business enterprises (MBEs).  Fifty years after the inception of the MBDA, it is estimated there are more than 11 million minority-owned firms.

“Minority businesses operate in an ever-changing domestic and global economic environment,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.  “With a complex array of variables perpetually at play, it is crucial for MBEs to remain flexible to the realities of the business world, and for government to create new pathways to success.”

Attendees at the MBE Policy Symposium dialogued with experts such as Matthew J. Slaughter, Dean of the Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business, and a former member of the Council of Economic Advisors; and William Bradford, Dean of the University of Washington Foster School of Business, and Partner in the Ascend 2020 Initiative.   Other contributors to the conversation included Gregory B. Fairchild, Academic Director of Public Policy and Entrepreneurship, Darden School of Business, University of Virginia; Melissa Koide, Founder and CEO, FinRegLab; Shelley Stewart III, Partner, McKinsey & Company; and Carol Caldwell, Chief for Economic Statistical Methods Division, U.S. Census Bureau. The discussion emphasized that policies intended to drive positive change for MBEs must be considered in the context of the future of the U.S. economy.

Yet, despite decades of research about MBEs, there are data limitations hindering the ability to develop effective policy in this area.  Existing data, largely survey-based and incomplete, points to disparities, but it has yet to isolate and clearly identify the causes and consequences of these disparities. MBDA, the only federal agency solely dedicated to MBEs, established the Office of Policy Analysis and Development (OPAD) to generate solutions to persistent disparities in access to capital and MBE annual revenues.

By collaborating with renowned institutions like the Milken Institute, The MacroDyn Group and others, MBDA plans to pursue a rigorous, evidenced-based, empirical and analytical foundation for policy development and public engagement.  Ideas for new MBE-focused research topics, datasets and economic modeling were discussed at length during the MBE Policy Symposium and networking breaks.

“Big data, new simulation tools, predictive analytics and the application of machine-learning algorithms offer great promise for researchers in the MBE space,” said Henry Childs II, MBDA National Director.  Childs further stated, “These new techniques have the potential to create inclusive growth strategies and be the building blocks for evidence-based policy making.”

As demographics shift, and minority groups become a majority of the United States population, it is imperative for the growth of the U.S. economy that MBEs are well understood. To achieve that, MBDA is expanding its engagement with statistical agencies, academic researchers, NGOs and other stakeholders to ensure that data continues to be pursued, sourced and continually improved.

“The Milken Institute is delighted to work with MBDA to advance discussions designed to support minority enterprises. Our goal is to explore a host of national policy initiatives to address the lack of capital in low- and moderate-income communities, and to promote research on MBEs and their impact on jobs and wealth creation.” Aron Betru, Managing Director, Milken Institute Center for Financial Markets.

About the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week

MBDA is the only Federal agency dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of U.S. minority business enterprises through the mobilization and advancement of public and private sector programs, policy and research. Our services better equip minority-owned firms to create jobs, build scale and capacity, increase revenues and expand regionally, nationally and internationally. In 2019, MBDA commemorates 50 years of economic empowerment through entrepreneurship and recommits to Winning the Future for all U.S. minority-owned businesses. For more information visit www.mbda.gov.

Since 1983, every U.S. president has issued a Presidential Proclamation designating National MED Week to recognize the contributions of the minority business community to the U.S. economy. MBDA has hosted the National MED Week celebration since its inception.  The 2019 National MED Week events are sponsored by Facebook, The Coca-Cola Company, Raytheon, AT&T and IBM.  The MBE Policy Symposium was supported by The Milken Institute and Mintz.  Learn more at https://medweek.mbda.gov.

America’s Automotive Trust Honors John D. Barline with President’s Award

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John D. Barline

David L. Madeira, Vice Chairman of America’s Automotive Trust announced today that the organization is distinguishing John D. Barline with the 2019 President’s Award for Outstanding Service to LeMay – America’s Car Museum (ACM).

The President’s Award recognizes a member of the automotive community that has made significant contributions to the Museum’s success as the home of the LeMay Collection and nation’s largest automotive museum. Barline was instrumental in establishing ACM, securing land agreements with the city of Tacoma, handling disputes, planning a capital campaign, and helping secure the New Market Tax Credit Financing agreement.

“What a wonderful and totally unexpected honor to receive the ACM President’s Award. It truly means a lot to me since it was Harold who got me involved at the very beginning,” said Barline. “So, I really have to thank my good friends, Harold and Nancy LeMay for this—Thank you Harold and thank you Nancy!

“I vividly recall back in the ’90s having many long meetings centered around how to keep Harold’s car collection together, the creation of the Museum, his purchase of Marymount, the city’s desire for a location next to the Tacoma Dome, the first nonfamily board of directors, and so forth.”

Barline’s name will be placed permanently on a plaque outside the administrative offices at ACM with other recipients from past years. The award will be conferred prior to the Wheels & Heels Annual Gala on September 7 at ACM.

“Each year we make the presentation of the President’s Award to honor those that have taken large who have made outstanding contributions to the success of America’s Car Museum,” said Madeira. “John has been an important partner in many ways, providing us with wise legal and strategic counsel and strong leadership as Board Chairman when we launched the drive to build the Museum. We are thrilled to be able to present him with this honor, forever recognizing his many, significant contributions to LeMay – America’s Car Museum.”

The groundbreaking at America’s Car Museum took place in 2010, followed by its grand opening in summer 2012. The 4-story, 165,000 sq.-ft. Museum is the largest auto museum in North America and houses over 300 vehicles. Funding for the massive complex took part over nearly a decade with the help of Barline, Madeira and many others.

Barline added: “There are lots of memories, but of special meaning was the hiring of one David Madeira to be our first true museum director. He became our fearless leader, raised big dollars, created a hard working national board, and got the museum built and running. What a spectacular and special place Tacoma now has, the LeMay – America’s Car Museum! Thank you David and thanks to our tireless board of directors. It’s been a long road and although quite challenging at times, it has been fun and most definitely worthwhile!”

For more information on AAT, visit www.aat.org.

 

About America’s Automotive Trust (www.aat.org)

America’s Automotive Trust (AAT), headquartered in Tacoma, Washington, is a not-for-profit corporation that seeks to secure America’s automotive heritage and to transfer the skills and knowledge necessary for the future of collector vehicles and the enthusiast community for generations to come. AAT is made up of four founding members: LeMay – America’s Car Museum, the RPM Foundation, Club Auto and the Concours Club.

 

About LeMay – America’s Car Museum (americascarmuseum.org)

America’s Car Museum (ACM), a member of America’s Automotive Trust, is an international destination for families and auto enthusiasts to celebrate America’s love affair with the automobile and learn how it shaped our society. Based in Tacoma, Wash., the stunning 165,000-sq.-ft. facility has been recognized as one of MSN’s 10 Best Automotive Museums worldwide, USA Today’s 10

Best Museums in Seattle and KING5’s Best Museum in Western Washington. ACM serves as an educational center for students of all ages, features 12 rotating exhibits and hosts AAT’s annual

Signature Events.

 

The Black Hair Conspiracy

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Since California passed Senate Bill 188 known as the CROWN Act, becoming the first state to provide expanded discrimination protections for natural hair, other states have followed suit — New York, New Jersey, and now a proposed bill in Kentucky.
Desreta Jackson, known for her iconic role in the film “The Color Purple” as the young Celie, is today a natural hair expert and California native well-versed in the hair discussion. As author of “The Black Hair Conspiracy,” Jackson has extensive knowledge of the history of hair and the ways in which common myths and customs have been falsely ingrained in popular culture. As a thought-leader in the natural hair realm, she provides an insiders-view on this current topic with broad insights and well-versed responses. Desreta is available for interviews to educate your audience on the CROWN Act and its implications for 2020.

 

The Black Hair Conspiracy takes an in-depth look into the psychological effects of social media standards of beauty and its mental and physical impact by connecting historical facts with psychological theories by some of the greatest philosophers in history, The Black Hair Conspiracy debunks a series of lies put in place to psychologically enforce and control the thinking that we have learned today.

The Black Hair Conspiracy is a step-by-step guide on how to grow and maintain healthy, natural hair from maintenance to protective styling; while disproving common lessons and practices passed down by mass media and the hair care industry. The Black Hair Conspiracy will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how the hair grows along with how to safely find protective styles. It also warns you against the dangers of bad braiders, hair stylist and salons, all while invalidating common myths and customs we have psychologically been brainwashed to believe. “It is not just hair” is the core of the book that teaches how to connect your own hair energy and harness the powers to understanding your personal and financial wealth connections!

•Learn how to care for chemically treated hair
•Learn hacks to solve common hair problems
•Learn how to make homemade products they don’t want you to know about
• Learn how to use your own natural hair energy

Have fun documenting your own journey with our interactive hair diary and learn your hair Do’s and Don’ts.

Breastfeeding Unlocks Lifesaving Benefits to Black Mothers and their Babies

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Removing Breastfeeding Stigma Could Unlock Lifesaving Benefits to Black Mothers and their Babies

Black Breastfeeding Week: Disparities in access to maternity care are alarming

The United States is one of the most dangerous places in the developed world for a black woman giving birth and for black infants in their first year of life.[i]

Stark racial disparities exist between black and white infants in the U.S. The infant mortality rate of non-Hispanic black infants is 10.9 per 1,000 live births, which is 2.3 times the infant mortality rate as non-Hispanic whites (4.7 per 1,000 live births).[ii]
Despite the news, there is a healthy, cost-effective strategy to help reduce infant mortality: Breastfeeding.

Dr. Lenaye Lawyer, an OB-GYN and a market chief medical officer for AmeriHealth Caritas, a national leader in Medicaid managed care, said there should be greater awareness of the importance of raising the low black breastfeeding rate. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), black infants are 13 percent less likely to be breastfed than white infants.[iii]

“There are many factors that contribute to the low black breastfeeding rate,” Dr. Lawyer said. “We have to help ensure that hospitals and health clinics in minority communities have breastfeeding and lactation resources and information. And, we have to work with our community partners to remove the stigma of breastfeeding.”

The CDC’s Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) survey found that hospitals and health clinics in communities with more than a 12.2 percent black population were less likely to be supportive of breastfeeding.[iv]

Comparing facilities in areas with more than 12.2 percent black residents with facilities in areas with less than 12.2 percent black residents, the largest differences were in the percentage of facilities that implemented recommended practices related to helping mothers initiate breastfeeding early on (46 percent compared with 59.9 percent), having infants spend the majority of their time in the same room as their moms (27.7 percent compared with 39.4 percent), and limiting what infants eat or drink to only breast milk (13.1 percent compared with 25.8 percent), according to the CDC survey. These findings reveal racial disparities in access to maternity care practices known to support breastfeeding.[v]

An international study found that breastfeeding for at least two months cuts a baby’s risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) almost in half, and the longer babies are breastfed, the greater the protection.[vi] Breast milk is good nutrition for a baby, providing all the proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that a young body needs to stay healthy.[vii] Infants who are breastfed have a lower risk of developing asthma, Type 2 diabetes, eczema, and obesity.[viii] For premature infants, breast milk can be lifesaving, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The organization recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed for about the first six months with continued breastfeeding alongside introduction of complementary food for at least one year.

AmeriHealth Caritas works with local breastfeeding advocacy groups to promote awareness about breastfeeding to expectant mothers in historically disadvantaged communities. The organization’s Bright Start® maternity program hosts Moms2B community baby showers where expectant mothers can connect with local social service organizations and resources, including lactation specialists. The goal of Bright Start® is to improve birth outcomes and reduce pregnancy-related complications through early prenatal education and intervention.

“We have to work to help ensure that there is equal access to prenatal care and lactation programs and to help ensure that there are policies and practices to support women’s breastfeeding goals during prenatal care, during the maternity stay and after the birth,” Dr. Lawyer said.

About AmeriHealth Caritas
AmeriHealth Caritas is one of the nation’s leaders in health care solutions for those most in need. Operating in 11 states and the District of Columbia, AmeriHealth Caritas serves more than 5 million Medicaid, Medicare and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) members through its integrated managed care products, pharmaceutical benefit management and specialty pharmacy services, and behavioral health services. Headquartered in Philadelphia, AmeriHealth Caritas is a mission-driven organization with more than 35 years of experience serving low-income and chronically ill populations. AmeriHealth Caritas is part of the Independence Health Group in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. For more information, visit www.amerihealthcaritas.com.