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42 student startups to compete for over $1 million in first virtual Rice Business Plan Competition
Public is invited to watch events online
In its 20th year, the Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC) — the world's largest and richest student startup competition — is going virtual.
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Ana María Martínez to join Rice Shepherd School as professor of voice
Grammy Award-winning soprano Ana María Martínez will join Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music beginning July 1, 2021, as a professor in the Department of Voice.
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How Business Leaders Can Bring Stability And Hope In A Time Of Uncertainty
Many business leaders face extreme challenges during their career, but the coronavirus pandemic is uncharted waters for all.
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Wrongful Conviction Podcasts Presents: Power to the People
In the wake of the recent protests, justice advocate and philanthropist Jason Flom has been flooded with questions from people who are looking for advice on how to use their time, energy and money to make the biggest impact in the fight for equality in our criminal legal system.
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UH College of Medicine Selects Inaugural Class
First Cohort of 30 Medical Students Starts July 20, Construction on New Medical School Building Underway
Maya Fontenot was gifted with a natural aptitude for science and math, but her passion for medicine and activism started as a child in southwest Houston. Though she grew up middle class, Fontenot recalls frequent visits to the county hospital with aunts and uncles who struggled with poverty… and their health. Those eye-opening and alarming experiences gave her a glimpse into the challenges “a poor person seeking medical care” can face.
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New Orleans Business Alliance Raises $1.3M in Direct Relief Funding for Businesses and Workers Impacted by COVID-19
On March 16, the New Orleans Business Alliance (NOLABA) became the first local entity to set up a direct relief effort to counteract the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the launch of its Gig Economy Relief Fund. NOLABA committed $100,000 to establish the fund, with the goal of reaching $500K in total donations from the local business community and philanthropy. As of today (June 12), the relief fund has surpassed $890,00 -- nearly doubling the initial fundraising goal -- which has allowed NOLABA to issue over 1000 grants to local gig workers.
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Uncle Nearest And Jack Daniel's Join Forces To Launch The Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative To Increase Diversity In American Whiskey Industry
Together the Two Tennessee Distilleries Have Pledged $5 Million to Advance African American Leadership in Whiskey
The Jack Daniel Distillery and the Nearest Green Distillery announced today the Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative to further diversity within the American whiskey industry. Both companies are supporting it equally with an initial combined pledge of $5 million to help create the Nearest Green School of Distilling, develop the Leadership Acceleration Program (LAP) for apprenticeships and establish the Business Incubation Program (BIP), focused on providing expertise and resources to African Americans entering the spirits industry as entrepreneurs.
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Wrongful Conviction Podcasts Presents: Power to the People
Thursday, June 11th at 5 p.m. EST
In the wake of the recent protests, justice advocate and philanthropist Jason Flom has been flooded with questions from people who are looking for advice on how to use their time, energy and money to make the biggest impact in the fight for equality in our criminal legal system.
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Open Invitation for a Conversation
To all who have expressed outrage, disgust, anxiety, empathy, or bewilderment at how this crisis in social justice can be our reality in 2020, I ask you to take some time and call a friend, colleague, a mixed race relative-someone who is Black or looks Black-and have a real conversation with them.
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Greenspoint Area Non-Profit Launches Beyond The Lunch Box Summer Food Program For Families In Need
Beyond Fostering, Inc. of North Houston-Greenspoint kicked off their 2nd Anniversary Car Parade and Beyond The Lunch Box Summer Food Program in partnership with Collaborative Voices and The Houston Food Bank.
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As MLK asked in 1967, Where Do We Go from Here: Community or Chaos?
The nationwide protests against the heinous killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis policeman, is reminiscent of the 1960s era of turmoil and voices that fervently called for social and economic justice. Today’s turbulent times seem that history is repeating itself.
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The 35th Annual Miss Black USA™ Pageant Postponed Until February 2021
In lieu of Covid-19 and per the recommendation of the CDC this year's pageant has been postponed until February 2021
The Miss Black USA pageant has officially announced that its annual pageant will be postponed until February 2021. Th Pageant will take place in the US capital, Washington DC. To address the spread of the virus, we made the difficult decision to comply with The Center of Disease Control recommendations by postponing the official 35th Miss Black USA pageant.
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Ben Jealous Selected as President of People For the American Way and People For the American Way Foundation
The boards of directors of People For the American Way and People For the American Way Foundation are honored to announce that Benjamin Todd Jealous has been selected as the next president of both organizations. Jealous will take office on June 15. He succeeds Michael Keegan, who has served as president of the organizations for 11 years and will continue to serve as a member of both boards.
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Unity National Bank Urges the White House to Provide More Assistance for Minority Owned Small Businesses Impacted By COVID-19
Unity Bank’s Atlanta Branch Hosted a Roundtable Discussion with Vice President Pence and Other Members of the Administration
Today, Friday, May 29, 2020, Unity National Bank N.A. held a roundtable discussion featuring Vice President Mike Pence, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and local recipients of the Small Business Administration’s Payroll Protection Program (PPP).
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How Opportunity Zones Could Help Restore The Economy After COVID-19
The COVID-19 shutdown has created financial setbacks for millions of Americans and their communities, but economic troubles – whether caused by the pandemic or otherwise – don’t hit everyone equally.
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Children’s Association for Maximum Potential (CAMP) Announces Cancellati on of Summer Camp
Since 1979, Children’s Association for Maximum Potential (known affectionately as Camp CAMP) has provided safe and fun-filled recreational experiences year-round for individuals with special needs. Due to the severity of their disabilities, many of the individuals now served by CAMP are not eligible to attend other camps, or even participate in other agency programs offered within the special needs community.
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Federal Court Rules Florida Law That Undermined Voting Rights Restoration Is Unconstitutional
A federal court today ruled that a Florida law that created wealth-based hurdles to voting is unconstitutional. The decision restores voting rights to hundreds of thousands of people with past felony convictions.
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New Emergency Loan Funds for Black Businesses
A day before the U.S. House passed the HEROES Act, the Joint Center hosted an online briefing on fair and equal access to capital for Black businesses through stimulus legislation. The briefing addressed structural inequities faced by Black businesses and explored how future stimulus proposals can best help Black businesses thrive in the post-COVID-19 economy.
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U.S. Bank Offers Financial Support an Demonstrates Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
As we weather the COVID-19 pandemic together, U.S. Bank is here to help. We have developed a single site full of online resources where customers can go to find helpful information regarding their financial needs. Through this online resource and other partnerships, U.S. Bank aims to provide simple, clear information to help individuals and small businesses get through the pandemic and tangible financial assistance to support our communitiesAs the global coronavirus pandemic upends all aspects of our lives, U.S. Bank is uniting with other corporations and longstanding partner organizations that are representing members of underserved and minority communities to advocate for inclusion among Pan-Asians and other cultural segments.
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Governor Abbott, Lt. Governor Patrick, Speaker Bonnen Direct State Agencies To Reduce Budgets By Five Percent
Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen today sent a letter directing state agencies and institutions of higher education to each submit a plan identifying savings that will reduce respective general and general revenue related appropriations by five percent for the 2020-2021 biennium.

