Black Female Lawyer Announces 2026 Expansion

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Black Lawyer Announces 2026 Expansion Focused on Power, Intellectual Property, and Women’s Strategic Leverage

 Tiffany Michelle Simmons, known as The Plug’s Lawyer, is entering 2026 with a sharpened focus: transforming legal expertise into scalable intellectual property for women who already hold influence but want leverage.

After years of national media coverage spanning law, television, publishing, and cultural
institutions, Simmons is shifting away from visibility for visibility’s sake. The next phase centers on ownership, strategy, and execution.

Ayanna Sanaa Davis Curates The First Black Autism Acceptance and Awareness Day

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Meet the Woman Behind the First Black Autism Acceptance and Awareness Day Coming Later This Year

This year marks a historic first with the recognition of Black Autism Acceptance and Awareness Day, to be observed annually on September 19th. The national observance is dedicated to highlighting the lived experiences, challenges, and contributions of Black autistic individuals while addressing long-standing inequities in diagnosis, access to care, and support.

The day was established following the introduction of a congressional resolution emphasizing equity-focused awareness and acceptance. The resolution was inspired by the advocacy work and lived experience of Ayanna Sanaa Davis, a Black autistic advocate whose voice has helped bring national attention to a frequently overlooked community.

Get The Scoop On How The Black Health & Wealth Virtual Summit 2.0 Showcases A Dream Team Of Medical and Business Moguls

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The Black Health & Wealth
Virtual Summit 2.0 Showcases a
Dream Team of Medical and
Entrepreneurial Powerhouses

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The Black Health & Wealth Virtual Summit 2.0 isn’t just another online event — it’s a strategic gathering of culture, capital, and community.  Curator Kamau Austin shares his overview "this year’s summit is already bringing together a Dream Team of medical innovators, wealth builders, business architects, and movement leaders who are flipping the script on what health and economic empowerment looks like in Black America."

"In a period when over 1.1 million Black people have lost their jobs and Black unemployment hit over 7.2 percent, since the last election cycle, the Black Health and Wealth Virtual Summit 2.0 is a timely and relevant event to jump start an economic reset in our community," adds Austin.   This year's line up of presenters for the virtual summit are impressive to say the least and state the obvious. 

On the wealth side, financier and investor Gary Smith will break down how he has helped Black communities move from being shoppers in the mall to owners of the mall — making major corporations cut the rent check to us.  Gary also has extensive experience in helping Blacks and other entrepreneurs buy and sell viable businesses.

Financier, Business & Commercial Real Estate
Investor and business broker Gary Smith 

Tech titan and multimillionaire Chuck Starks, author of Get Rich While Black!, will share how he scaled an Inc. 500 company and turned distressed properties in our communities into high-value community assets.

Self-Made Millionaire Chuck Starks

The health and innovation lane is just as powerful. Medical researcher Renee Williams is using AI to help Black women achieve better health outcomes, proving that technology can be both culturally competent, enhancing health, and life-saving.

Medical Researcher and
AI and App Innovator Renee Williams 

Afi S. Okon, MPA, founder of the American Obesity Foundation, continues to push solutions and policy conversations around one of the most urgent health crises impacting our community.  Ms. Okon is a Solutions provider with focus on wellness and community empowerment.

Afi is the Creator of Let’s Make Healthy Our New Happy, a nationwide campaign designed to reframe health as joyful, doable and family-centered journey that meet families where they are – at home, school, places of worship and in their neighborhoods. With over a decade of expertise in nonprofit leadership and deep-rooted passion for community well-being, Ms. Okon has dedicated her career to addressing health disparities through education, advocacy and empowerment.

Pierre Clark is a Harvard-trained entrepreneur and will deliver high-level strategies on creative business development and smart investments.  He is the Founder-Editor of The Entrepreneur’s Corner™, Homefree, NuFutures Development Ventures LLC, and NuMillennium Opportunity Capital Ltd.

Pierre is also a well respected writer and publisher on entrepreneurial and business operations.

AI Film Superstar Eric Hamilton: Directing the Future

"The Architect of AI Hollywood Joins the

Black Health & Wealth Virtual Summit 2.0 to

Break Down the Next Era of Tech, Media & Ownership"

Eric Hamilton is an award-winning AI filmmaker, technology leader, and President & Executive Producer of EHAMX Studios, a next-generation AI film company pioneering cinematic storytelling through generative artificial intelligence. With over 30 years of experience across Google, Yahoo!, Cisco, and Dow Jones, he blends executive leadership with creative innovation to redefine how stories are made and distributed.

His feature film EHAM Classified won Best Sci-Fi Film at the New York International Film Festival, and his AI-generated music work has been featured on CBS News. Through his signature “Machine-Perspective Cinema” style, Hamilton explores the intersection of artificial intelligence, culture, and human instinct—shaping the future of film in the AI era.

Checkout Eric Hamilton's Electrifying
Movie Trailer Below

Dana Hill Who Advised Barbie to Wear an Afro and Discuss Racism Introduces ME Doll

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Marketer Who Advised Barbie to Wear an Afro and Discuss Racism Introduces ME Doll

 The Black Doll Affair (TBDA), the Barack Obama Presidential Volunteer Service Award–winning cultural arts and self-esteem movement, announces The ME Doll (Mitochondrial Eve) – a human family heirloom inspired by the shared origin of humanity. Through the launch of the ME Doll, TBDA also introduces ME + You, a global artistic and cultural initiative inviting artists and the public to participate in telling the oldest story on Earth: that every living human traces their maternal lineage to one African Mother. Founded by Dana Hill, better known as “Mama Doll,” The Black Doll Affair continues its mission to merge education, empowerment, and cultural storytelling through art.

ME is short for Mitochondrial Eve, the African woman from whom all living humans trace their maternal lineage. While she was not the only woman alive at the time, she is the only one whose mitochondrial DNA line continued unbroken to the present day. This scientific understanding affirms that every person alive today belongs to one human family, connected through a single maternal origin in Africa.

The ME Doll transforms this truth into a tangible educational artifact designed to spark conversation, understanding, and connection across cultures and generations. Conceived as both a keepsake and a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) learning tool, the doll presents ancestry, science, and identity in a form that can be held, interpreted, and passed down.

“Mitochondrial Eve is more than a doll,” says Hill. “She is a human family heirloom and an educational artifact I created to dismantle the false divisions that racism depends on. When we understand that all of humanity comes from one African mother, the story we tell about who we are begins to change.”

Black Author, New Memoir “Deceitful Intentions”

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Black Founder and Best-Selling Author Releases New Memoir “Deceitful Intentions”

Nationwide -- Gerard C. Cole Sr., best-selling author and founder of Joy in the Journey LLC™, announces the release of his new memoir, Deceitful Intentions — a deeply personal account of one man’s faith walk as he fought to guide a rising musical family through triumph, deception, and destiny.

Inspired by real events, Deceitful Intentions picks up after the world first met Voices of Glory — the three young siblings who became a Top Five finalist on Season 4 of America’s Got Talent (2009).

New “ABCs of R&B” Children's Book About the Legends of Black Music

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Author Releases New Children’s Book “The ABCs of R&B,” About the Legends of Black Music

 Get ready to hit the stage with The ABCs of R&B, the first A-to-Z children’s book celebrating the legends of rhythm and blues. Written by educator and author Claudia Walker and published by HBCU Prep School, the book is written in engaging, rhyming prose that takes readers of all ages on a soulful journey through the artists who shaped music, culture, and memories for generations.

From Motown legends like Stevie Wonder and the Temptations, to 80s and 90s icons like Prince, Aaliyah, and Mary J. Blige, to contemporary stars like SZA and H.E.R., The ABCs of R&B introduces children to the stories, achievements, and impact behind the music they hear every day. With vibrant, playful illustrations by XPayne that bring each artist to life, every page feels like a front-row seat at a live concert.

Get The Scoop On How Wanda D. Hollis Author of The Breakthrough Book I Am Enough Is Launching Her Latest Major Expo and Leadership Conference

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Wanda D. Hollis Marks Anniversary of
Breakthrough Book I Am Enough: Wake Up
Winning with Major Business Expo &
Leadership Conference

Wanda D. Hollis Marks Anniversary of Breakthrough Book I Am Enough: Wake Up Winning with Major Business Expo & Leadership Conference

Celebrated transformational leader, empowerment voice, and visionary strategist Wanda D. Hollis is honoring the anniversary of her groundbreaking book I Am Enough: Wake Up Winning with a powerful Empowerment Expo and Leadership Conference designed to elevate entrepreneurs, ignite confidence, and amplify voices across the country.

Known as a phenomenal force for personal transformation, Hollis has inspired thousands to move beyond limitations, eliminate excuses, and step boldly into purpose.

The event will bring together leaders, business owners, authors, creators, and speakers for a full weekend of collaboration, business growth, and legacy-building.

“I wrote I Am Enough: Wake Up Winning to remind people that greatness already exists within them. This anniversary is not just about the book it’s about every dream, every voice, and every person ready to stand up and say: I am enough,” said Hollis.

The I Am Enough Empowerment Expo will feature dynamic speakers, vendor and talent showcases, ancestral recognition, breakthrough sessions, live interviews, media opportunities, and connections with platforms that elevate culture, commerce, and community.

For more information, please visit: I Am Enough Tap Here

Get The Scoop On How Entrepreneur Valerie Ross Expands Legacy With Motivational Speaking and Business Mentorship

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Indianapolis Entrepreneur
Valerie Ross Expands Legacy With
Motivational Speaking and

 Business Mentorship

Valerie Ross is a respected Indianapolis-based entrepreneur with more than 33 years of experience in the janitorial and service industry.

She is the founder of Industrial Building Services, a leading janitorial company serving Indianapolis and surrounding areas for over three decades.

For the first 25 years, Valerie personally owned and operated the company, which grew to become one of the largest janitorial businesses in its sector, including large-scale apartment and commercial cleaning services.

In addition to her success in janitorial services, Valerie Ross is a real estate owner and investor, and the owner of a boutique and a barbershop, reflecting her diverse entrepreneurial portfolio and commitment to community-centered business development.

Building on her decades of experience, Valerie operates her motivational speaking and mentorship division, Valerie Lassere Ross, through which she speaks on entrepreneurship, discipline, consistency, faith, and leadership.

Get the Scoop On Black Women Refusing to Become a Statistic (Part 1) By Renee Williams

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“I Refuse to Become a Statistic (Part 1): Why Black Women Need More Than Apologies — We Need Power”

By Renee Williams

Nia Robinson is a 31-year-old coordinator in Atlanta who is done feeling powerless in the doctor’s office.

“I’m not just ‘another patient’ in a gown; I am a woman who refuses to become a statistic because a doctor wouldn’t listen.”

Her words hit even harder when we look at what’s happening in hospitals today.

Recently, more than 500 women filed a lawsuit against Chesapeake Regional Medical Center in Virginia. They say a former doctor there performed unnecessary surgeries, including hysterectomies and other major procedures, that they didn’t truly need.

One attorney called this case:

“Perhaps the single largest case involving civil rights violations of humans in our lifetime.”

Think about that.

Hundreds of women. Their bodies were cut open. Life-changing surgeries they may not have needed. All inside a system that was supposed to protect them.

This isn’t just about one bad doctor. It’s about power.

• Who has it?

• Who doesn’t?

• And what happens when we walk into exam rooms with no tools, no proof, and no backup?

The Problem: When We’re Not Heard, We Become “Cases”

Black women have carried stories of dismissal, disrespect, and danger in healthcare for generations. Now those stories are showing up in courtrooms and headlines.

The truth:

• Black women are about three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.

• Our pain is more likely to be ignored, minimized, or misdiagnosed.

• Our concerns about periods, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause are often brushed aside with “you’re fine” or “it’s in your head.”

The Chesapeake Regional case is one extreme example, but many of us know smaller — and still life-threatening — versions.

And this doesn’t just happen to women without money, status, or fame.

Black Author, New Book “Overqualified. Overworked. Overlooked.”

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Black Author Announces Forthcoming Book “Overqualified. Overworked. Overlooked.”

In a professional culture that rewards performance while punishing humanity, certified confidence coach, author, and anti-trafficking activist Deondriea Cantrice is asking a question many high achievers are afraid to voice: What if winning at work is costing us ourselves?

Her forthcoming book, Overqualified. Overworked. Overlooked: How to Win Without Losing Yourself, scheduled for release in February 2026, confronts the silent crisis facing professionals who appear successful on paper yet feel depleted, unseen, and disconnected internally. The book is a bold examination of what happens when ambition is weaponized, confidence is slowly eroded, and excellence becomes a liability rather than a shield.

Actress Dawnn Lewis’ Foundation Sponsors Elementary STEM Clubs for Underserved Chicago Students

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Award-Winning Actress Dawnn Lewis’ A New Day Foundation Sponsors Elementary STEM Clubs for Underserved Chicago Students

Frost Equity Initiative, a Los Angeles-based STEM education nonprofit, is expanding access to high-quality elementary STEM programs thanks to funding from A New Day Foundation, founded by award-winning actress, musician, producer, and activist Dawnn Lewis.

With support from A New Day Foundation, Frost Equity Initiative launched STEM Clubs for 2nd–5th grade students at Ida B. Wells Elementary School and Woodlawn Community Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois, providing students with 30 hours of hands-on STEM instruction during the fall 2025 semester. The program delivered hands-on, age-appropriate lessons in computer science fundamentals, physics, and artificial intelligence, designed to build curiosity, confidence, and foundational technical skills.

The artificial intelligence curriculum introduced students to emerging concepts such as computer vision and machine learning, culminating in students designing and creating their own games. For Woodlawn Community Elementary School, this initiative marked the first STEM program in the school’s history, representing a milestone for both students and staff.

Black-Owned Luxury Salon and Wellness Spa in DC Setting a New Standard of Inclusive Beauty

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Founder of Black-Owned Luxury Salon and Wellness Spa Setting a New Standard of Inclusive Beauty in Washington, DC

Ngina Thomas, the Founder and CEO of Studio Chique, a Black-owned luxury salon and wellness spa in the heart of Washington, DC, is redefining the beauty landscape with an elevated, exclusive experience that seamlessly blends expert hair care, holistic wellness, and refined indulgence.

Thomas, a trailblazing entrepreneur who built her business with unwavering faith and courage, created Studio Chique as a testament to purpose-driven leadership. Guided by conviction and resilience, Ngina transformed her vision into a premier luxury destination—creating a space where beauty, wellness, and empowerment intersect. Her leadership has positioned Studio Chique as both an industry standout and a source of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs.

THE STORY OF NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY AND THE HUGUENOT LEGACY THAT LEADS TO VENITA BENITEZ

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 THE STORY OF NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY AND THE HUGUENOT LEGACY THAT LEADS TO VENITA BENITEZ

Founding Era, Foundational Black American and
American Descendant of Slavery

Venita Benitez Reflects On Her Legacy

National - Every year on February 1, the United States observes National Freedom Day, a national observance established by Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman in 1948. The date marks the signing of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery and opened a new chapter in the nation’s long struggle toward liberty.

President Harry S. Truman Signing The Proclamation Establishing National Freedom Day

National Freedom Day is a moment to reflect on what freedom truly means — not as a single event, but as a journey shaped by countless individuals who fought, fled, sacrificed, and persevered so that future generations could live with dignity and choice. It honors every story of resilience, every act of courage, and every family that carried the idea of freedom forward, even when the world tried to silence them.

The Original Founder Of National Freedom Day Movement, Major Richard Robert Wright Sr. 

It is within this national context — a day dedicated to the meaning of freedom — that the story of the Chapelier – Chappelear family becomes especially powerful.

The lineage begins in the ancient Protestant stronghold of Uzès, Languedoc, where Rev. Louis Chapelier served as a minister during one of the darkest periods for French Huguenots. When the Edict of Nantes was revoked in 1685, ministers like him were targeted first. Their churches were destroyed, their families threatened, and their faith criminalized. Yet Rev. Chapelier stood firm, anchoring a family whose courage would echo across continents and centuries.
    

Award-Winning Black Podcast Host Dr. Catrise Austin to Reveal PR Strategies at Podfest 2026

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Award-Winning Black Podcast Host to Reveal PR Strategies at Podfest 2026

Dr. Catrise Austin, award-winning podcast host, CEO of Celebrity Branding, LLC, and nationally recognized branding, PR, and media visibility strategist, will take the stage at Podfest Multimedia Expo 2026 to share proven strategies that help podcasters turn content into visibility, authority, and revenue.

Dr. Austin will present “7 PR Strategies That Work for Podcasters” on Thursday, January 15, from 9:00–9:30 AM, offering podcasters and entrepreneurs a practical framework for earning media attention, building credibility, and monetizing their message beyond downloads.

A recipient of the 2025 Best Podcast Host Award at the Dental Socials Awards, held during The Dental Festival in Delray Beach, Florida, Dr. Austin brings more than 25 years of national media experience to the Podfest stage. She is the host of the Let’s Talk Smiles podcast and the founder of Celebrity Branding, LLC, where she helps podcasters, authors, speakers, executives, and healthcare leaders become the most visible and in-demand voices in their industries.

Black Woman’s Federal Disability Lawsuit Advances Federal Recognition of Endometriosis as a Disability

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Black Woman’s Groundbreaking Federal Disability Lawsuit Advances Federal Recognition of Endometriosis as a Disability… and She Did It All Pro Se

After a rare and potentially precedent-setting summary judgment ruling, 27-year-old Christian (Cece) Worley — a Black, second-year law student — has successfully reached a settlement in her disability discrimination lawsuit against the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS). In her amended complaint, Worley alleged in part that NCDPS failed to accommodate her under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in May 2022 after she disclosed and requested accommodations for the symptoms of her endometriosis, a chronic and debilitating reproductive disorder affecting 1 in 10 women in the United States. At the time, Worley was employed as a Juvenile Court Counselor Trainee.

Worley filed the lawsuit without an attorney in June 2023 in the Eastern District of North Carolina after repeated denials of legal representation by various lawyers. Worley says she was told by legal professionals that the law surrounding endometriosis as an ADA disability was “too open to interpretation” and not “fully developed.” Despite this, Worley’s pro se case (Proffitt v. NCDPS, No. 5:23-cv-00306) survived summary judgment. On July 18, 2025, federal Magistrate Judge Robert T. Numbers II found sufficient evidence that a jury could conclude Worley’s request to telework on only the first day of her menstrual cycle was reasonable, and that NCDPS’ denial may have constituted unlawful discrimination. Notably, he also found that the symptoms of her endometriosis were severe enough to establish disability under the ADA. The magistrate judge’s order was later adopted in full by District Judge Terence Williams Boyle on September 30, 2025.

To the best of available case law, this is the first time in North Carolina that endometriosis has been recognized as an ADA disability, and it appears to be the first time in the nation that a plaintiff was allowed to proceed to trial on this legal theory. The case settled on December 19, 2025, and included favorable monetary terms for Worley and a commitment by NCDPS to implement enhanced, department-wide ADA training for management personnel.

Young Black Author’s “Beautiful Dreams” Becoming a Reality as Books Earn International Awards

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Young Black Author’s “Beautiful Dreams” Becoming a Reality as Books Earn International Awards

Open Hearts Big Dreams (OHBD) – Open Hearts Big Dreams (OHBD) started because a little girl named Leyla Angelidis dreamed of a world where kids from her birth country of Ethiopia could get access to lots of beautiful books, just like she had living in the United States. Recently, one of the books that now-teenage Leyla Angelidis coauthored with her mother, Ellenore Angelidis—Beautiful Dreams, illustrated by Nahosenay Negussie—has been nominated for inclusion on the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) 2026 Honour List of outstanding books for young people globally.

Beautiful Dreams, which was nominated for “Best Illustration,” is part of the OHBD Fine Art series, featuring fine artists from Ethiopia and other parts of the world. The book’s message is that little girls can dream about becoming anything they want to be—a dream that Leyla Angelidis holds for children everywhere.

Joel and Jessica Myers Build App to Help Others Heal in 2026 and Beyond

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After Surviving a Year of Grief, Black Couple Builds an App to Help Others Heal in 2026 and Beyond

The year 2025 was filled with unexpected loss, life lessons - and a surprise blessing - for Joel and Jessica Myers. Jessica abruptly lost her beloved mother, Janice, after a short illness. Joel was coping with his own losses too - the deaths of his brother and grandfather - all while the couple navigated the pressures of daily life and entrepreneurship. Amid it all, they learned they would soon become first-time parents too.

The series of events invoked a whirlwind of emotions. The grief was heavy and often arrived in waves that felt disorienting, relentless, and often impossible to bear. In their home, where the weight of unanswered questions often hung the heaviest, sound offered an unexpected form of relief. It resonated from a crystal singing bowl that emitted tones designed to help the body and mind settle.

For the Atlanta couple, this simple practice, known as a sound bath, became a lifeline, an immersive experience in which listeners are surrounded by sustained tones and vibrations produced by instruments such as crystal bowls or gongs. Unlike traditional music, the focus is on frequencies and resonance rather than melody. Many practitioners describe it as a form of auditory meditation; a way to give the brain space to decompress, process, or simply rest.

"Sound helped me detach from the intensity of grief," remembers Joel, a lifelong musician and co-founder of the couple's new tech venture. "Inside the sound, I could visualize, I could breathe, and I wasn't emotionally set back by everything I was carrying."