Travis Scott is supporting students in STEM. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the rapper launched the Cactus Jack Foundation in November 2020, and its pillars center on education and creativity. One of its earliest initiatives included a scholarship for HBCU students to pay their tuition fees, and it was named in honor of Scott’s grandfather, the late Dr. Waymon Webster, a Prairie View A&M University (Texas) graduate and dean, according to Variety. “Waymon Webster was a dean of the Prairie View A&M graduate school,” Scott said at the time, per Variety. “My grandfather wanted me to take it all the way through college. I feel there is a power in education so to be able to give someone the opportunity to fulfill that dream as my papa thought for me is amazing.” Partnership With Space Center Houston One year after the foundation’s inception, it launched the 60,000-square-foot Cact.us Design Center at TXRX Labs, which caters to at-risk middle and high school students. The center will...

At 9 years old, Aiden Wilkins is already making history as the youngest student to enroll at Ursinus College. The Collegeville, PA, prodigy is technically still a high school sophomore at his local charter school. Still, a few days a week, he steps into college lecture halls for neuroscience classes, as PEOPLE reports. While most kids his age are navigating elementary school, Aiden is learning about brain function and neuroplasticity. His mother, Veronica Wilkins, first noticed his special abilities when he surprised her by reading traffic signs at just 2 years old. “I could just read them when most kids at my age, at like 2, could barely even speak,” Aiden told ABC Channel 6, adding, “I just grasped it so fast.” That early spark soon revealed itself in full. After taking a gifted test a few years later, Aiden was officially recognized for his advanced abilities. Since then, he’s been chasing knowledge in every direction, with his main fascination locked on the human brain. “Ever...

In an industry where leadership roles for Black professionals remain limited, these two Amazon leaders are redefining the future and what’s possible. Jonah Ukwu and Ricky Madison Jr. hold senior positions in Amazon’s Last Mile Delivery network (AMZL, or Amazon Logistics), which is part of the company’s transportation system. According to Amazon Freight, the “last mile” stage involves sorting goods at a fulfillment facility, loading them onto delivery vehicles, and following planned routes to reach customers quickly and efficiently. Unlike earlier stages, which move freight in bulk, last mile delivery breaks shipments into individual orders. Ukwu and Madison are leaders working internationally with Amazon Logistics and both say their international assignments have expanded their leadership skills and deepened their understanding of different cultures. Connecting Culturally Through Leadership Ukwu recently stepped into a senior regional leadership role at Amazon Japan, where he now...

Recently, more than 125 students graduated from Detroit’s Apple Developer Academy, a one-of-a-kind, free 10-month program launched in 2021 through a partnership between Apple and Michigan State University (MSU), according to a news release shared with AFROTECH™. But the Apple Developer Academy is about more than just coding. It equips Detroiters with real-world skills and the confidence to thrive in app development, business, and today’s ever-evolving tech landscape, per the release. A Pipeline For Real-World Innovation What makes Detroit’s Apple Developer Academy truly unique is its approach. Beyond mastering Swift coding, students dive into AI, UX design, marketing, and project management. The program is also backed by the Gilbert Family Foundation, which helps connect graduates with internships, mentors, and career opportunities across Detroit. “As Detroit continues to emerge as a national hub for technology, the Apple Developer Academy is creating pathways for Detroiters of all...

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky sought out Barack Obama’s mentorship. During an interview with former First Lady Michelle Obama, Chesky revealed that he sought advice from Barack after the conclusion of his presidency in 2017. He believed that Barack was well-positioned to offer guidance that could inform his leadership at Airbnb, a vacation rental company that now boasts more than 5 million hosts and over 2 billion guest arrivals, its website mentions. “Airbnb is a community. Who’s the most famous community organizer in the world,” Chesky said, alluding to Barack while speaking to Michelle. Chesky’s time learning under Barack Obama as a mentee involved completing various homework assignments that he said changed his life. By 2018, he says his daily routine included attending night school with Barack’s lessons and participating in weekly one-hour phone calls. While practical, he points out one piece of advice that has stood the test of time: to become more intentional. “He literally said,...

UX designer Roderick Wilkins strives to make the tech industry more inclusive. Tech Journey The Quincy, FL, native has always had a deep interest in technology and began fixing computers at a young age, which guided his educational pursuits at Florida A&M University (FAMU). He earned a bachelor’s degree in information technology in 2019 and went on to Louisiana State University, where he earned a master’s in digital media art and engineering with a focus on UX in 2021. “When you open that app and you see the first screen, you’re scrolling and you’re interacting with it, I always say someone had to design that,” Wilkins told AFROTECH™. “So I would say, within UX, there are designers, which is what I am, and someone designed that whole page that you’re seeing and you’re interacting with.” While UX includes various verticals one can explore — such as research and accessibility — Wilkins’ interest in graphic design aligned with his goal of becoming a UX designer, which was affirmed...

After years of working in tech, Brian Peret is dedicating his time to making the industry more accessible. Peret, a developer-turned-software-engineer originally from Milwaukee, WI, understood the importance of technology firsthand while attending graduate school in Tampa, FL. Ultimately, It was a nudge from his brother that first got him thinking about transitioning from the wet sciences (chemistry and biomedical engineering) to tech, but he didn’t make the pivot until the 2008 recession. “In a time when everyone else is losing their jobs and people are foreclosing on homes and losing their homes, I’m seeing computer programmers and developers gain wealth. That’s when I really realized that in technology, there is this entire industry that for those who can do the skills and do the job, there will always be a job for you out there. So that’s kind of what got me on board, and then that passion has just increased time and again,” Peret said during an interview with AFROTECH™. Peret’s...

Shaquille O’Neal wants to sport a new hat in the coming years. O’Neal has established his footprint in various ways outside of his time in the NBA, which concluded in 2011 after 19 seasons. He walked away with four championship rings and career earnings totaling $286.3 million, notes Spotrac. He has since gone on to establish himself as a businessman and sports commentator, serving as a host of “Inside the NBA,” where he reportedly signed a contract extension with TNT that will earn him a $15 million annual pay day. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, O’Neal’s ventures over the years include his fast-casual restaurant franchise, Big Chicken, which operates in various states and even has a rewards deal with Carnival Cruise. He’s also the second-largest shareholder of Authentic Brands Group, a company that benefits from his name and likeness through merchandise and endorsements, in addition to those of other prominent figures such as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali, and...