Black Girl Sunscreen to be the official sponsor for FAMU Athletics
By Sheyla Fairley
Black Girl Sunscreen (BGS) formed a partnership with Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, to become the official sponsor of the university’s Women’s Track & Field and Softball Teams from 2022 to 2024.
As stated in a release, BGS wants to make sure that women of color are kept safe from “the harmful effects of the sun and has displayed this commitment by teaming up with FAMU, an esteemed and deeply-loved institution, as the sponsor of the university’s female track and field and softball teams.”
“Our goal in partnering with FAMU is to educate athletes of all skin tones about preventing and avoiding sun damage, as they are still susceptible to skin cancer, hyperpigmentation, sunspots, and premature wrinkles…Black Girl Sunscreen sees the importance for outdoor athletes, especially those with deeper skin tones, to wear SPF daily and fight the risk of sun damage by wearing sunscreen,” said Shontay Lundy, founder of Black Girl Sunscreen.
Human Rights Campaign launches program for HBCUs to combat stigma against HIV
By Sheyla Fairley
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation will be launching the HBCU PrEP Ambassador Program, which is an expansion of HRC’s Gen-Z sexual health program.
According to an article, the program hopes to “eliminate HIV & AIDS-related stigma on HBCU campuses through public education regarding [Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis], HIV testing & treatment.”
“As a Black gay man and alumnus of two HBCUs, I know our students’ challenges when seeking support for their sexual health needs and the stigma they are met with. This program is the first step in providing the support needed to the HBCU community to address HIV & AIDS and eliminate related stigma,” stated Leslie Hall, Director of HBCU Program.
For more information, read the full article here.
Edward Waters University hires first woman athletic director in school history
By Sheyla Fairley
Dr. Ivana Rich has been welcomed as Edward Waters University’s, Jacksonville, FL, new Associate Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. Rich makes history as being the first African American woman to lead the athletics department in the over 155-year history of the institution.
According to an article, Dr. Rich, a member of “Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and is also the proud mother of a six-year-old daughter, Melanie Rich,” comes to EWU after having worked at previous HBCUs such as Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA; Howard University, Washington, DC; and Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA.
“I am excited to take this role here at Edward Waters, especially in the 50th anniversary of Title IX to show that there is a need for women leaders and to show that we can do this and we can sit in that seat, I believe that is critically important,” remarked Dr. Rich.
For more details, read the full article here.
Spelman receives $5M to support project focused on women of color in STEM
By Sheyla Fairley
Google.org, the charitable arm of Google, a multinational technology company, granted $5 million to Spelman College’s, Atlanta, GA, Center of Excellence for Minority Women in STEM.
As stated in a release, the grant will “support the development of a comprehensive data dashboard that will help shape the narrative of the impact of Black women leading, working and studying in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.”
“We are thankful for this generous contribution from Google.org, which will support our ability to continue Spelman’s long history of recognizing and nurturing the contributions of women of color in STEM,” said Helene Gayle, M.D., MPH., president of Spelman College. “Black women continue to play pivotal roles in various scientific disciplines. Being able to effectively document those efforts will strengthen our ability to elevate and value the voices, research, and intersectional experiences of these women.”
Griffin Media donates News 9 building to Langston University
By Sheyla Fairley
Griffin Media, an American media company, gifted Langston University, Langston, OK, its KWTV News 9 building located at 7401 N. Kelley Ave. in Oklahoma City which the university will officially acquire in January 2023, after deciding to move operations to downtown Oklahoma City.
“If we abandon this building there is going to be a hole in this community, and we just did not want to leave this community alone,” said David Griffin, president and CEO of Griffin Media. “So, we went on a search to see how we could be a part of something bigger than ourselves. And then it just dawned on me, Langston has a journalism program.”
According to an article, the site will be “home to the Center for Media and Community Advancement at Langston University, funded in part with a grant from the Inasmuch Foundation,” where it will not only benefit students in the journalism program but will also “impact the entire university community.”
Read the full article, here.
