Student journalists from 16 HBCUs participate in press conference for the film ‘Creed III’

By Sheyla Fairley

Student journalists at historically Black colleges and universities were invited by Michael B. Jordan to attend a press conference and view an early screening of the movie “Creed III,” Jordan’s directorial debut, on February 23, 2023.

The HBCUs the students were from include: Bowie State University, Bowie, MD; Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA; Coppin State University, Baltimore, MD; Dillard University, New Orleans, LA; Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL; Howard University, Washington, DC; Meharry Mechanical College, Nashville, TN; Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA; North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC; Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX; Spelman College, Atlanta, GA; Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN; Texas Southern University, Houston, TX; Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL; and Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA.

After the screening, the HBCU journalists were given t-shirts with the “Creed III” logo to remember their time.

For more details, read the full article here.

Gadsden State Community College to launch its own police department

By Sheyla Fairley

Gadsden State Community College, Gadsden, AL, has announced it will be creating its own police department to serve all five of its campuses: East Broad, Valley Street, and Wallace Drive in Gadsden, AL; Cherokee in Centre, AL; and Ayers in Anniston.

According to an article, police officers will be “hired once a chief of police is selected” and the requirements for the position include “a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice or a related field; minimum of 10 years employment experience as a police officer; minimum of three years’ experience as a law enforcement supervisor and experience as a criminal investigator and a law enforcement training.”

“Gadsden State is dedicated to providing a safe and secure environment for its campus community,” said Mark Bailey, chief safety and security officer for the Alabama Community College System. “With this in mind, we are hiring the best trained and qualified officers to achieve this goal.”

For more information, read the full article here.

Theatre Tuscaloosa launches Project Broadway at Shelton State 

By Sheyla Fairley

As stated in a release, Theatre Tuscaloosa’s Project Broadway, “a summer intensive workshop for teens in which theatre professionals work side-by-side with participants to craft a unique Broadway-style musical that they write, rehearse, and perform in just one week,” has returned and will meet in the Sandra Hall Ray Fine Arts Center at Shelton State Community College, Tuscaloosa, AL.

The workshop will take place between June 5 – 9, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a final performance “offered to the public on Friday, June 9 at 6:00 p.m. in the Bean-Brown Theatre.” Enrollment is limited to 40 participants who “must be 13 to 19 years old by June 5.”

N.C. A&T and ‘Living Single’ actress Erika Alexander to host reparations debate

By Sheyla Fairley

Inspired by the PBS documentary, “The Big Payback,” North Carolina A&T State University’s, Greensboro, NC, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences will host a discussion about reparations for Black Americans with “Living Single” actress and co-director of the film Erika Alexander on March 21, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. in Harrison Auditorium.

According to an article, “‘The Big Payback’ documentary is based on the summer of 2019, when rookie Illinois Alderwoman Robin Rue Simmons ushered in the first legislation of its kind in the United States, Resolution 126-R-19, which devoted funds to local reparations for Black residents in Evanston, Illinois.”

Read the full article, here

Black-owned vegan meat brand helps HBCUs go vegan  

By Sheyla Fairley

Everything Legendary, a Black-owned vegan meat brand, has recently partnered up with historically Black colleges and universities to increase plant-based food options on campus menus.

As stated in a release, co-founders Duane “Myko” Cheers and Danita Claytor “adopted plant-based diets after each of their parents struggled with chronic health issues” and are” committed to introducing their communities to healthier, plant-based meat alternatives.”

“This is a passion driven company and we are dedicated to educating the community on healthy eating …,” said Cheers. “We graduated from HBCUs and our community is the most affected by health disparities. The fact that we can educate students at an earlier age about healthy eating is important.”