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Digital Pioneers Academy, a tuition-free public charter school in Washington, DC , is testing a new strategy to boost attendance — paying students in cash. According to The Washington Post, nearly four in 10 students in DC are chronically absent, missing at least three weeks of school. Data shows that over half of Digital Pioneers’ high schoolers — most from low-income families — missed over 10 unexcused days last year. This year, the school, which teaches marketable computer science skills and habits of innovation, will randomly select 40 seniors to receive $50 a week, no strings attached, as part of a national study exploring how reducing poverty might impact a student’s life. “At Digital Pioneers Academy, we believe in removing barriers that stand in the way of student success,” Mashea Ashton, school founder and CEO, said in a news release. With a deadline of Oct. 3, 2025, for students to show interest, officials said more than 70 students — over half the senior class — have...
Cheryl McKissack Daniel is president and CEO of McKissack & McKissack, the nation’s oldest Black-owned architecture , construction, and engineering firm, according to UATL. The McKissack family has helped to build over 6,000 projects nationwide, with around 50 recognized as historic landmarks, the outlet reports. Although McKissack Daniel’s company is based in New York, she has partnered with Atlanta-based H.J. Russell Construction Company — a 70-year-old Black-owned, family-run construction firm — on the expansion of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). McKissack Daniel noted that her team’s risk analysis expertise complements H.J. Russell’s project work. She praised Atlanta for supporting Black construction designers and investing in projects that expand accessible transportation for communities. “I think (public transportation) definitely affects the economics of a group of people if they can’t get to where they need to get at a reasonable cost,” McKissack...
In an era where student debt is a pressing national concern and economic volatility has graduates unsettled about their future careers , choosing the right major has become critical. Your choice of degree can influence not only your first job but the trajectory of your career, financial well-being and social mobility. While passion and personal interests are still vital components of long-term career satisfaction, potential salary and job security are increasingly being weighed in college decisions. In this guide, we’ll explore majors that can help pave the way to wealth along with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that students may be considering . What Degree Makes The Most Millionaires? All degrees are not created equal when it comes to becoming a millionaire. While attaining such wealth does not always correlate to majors or schooling at all, there are some degrees that consistently result in high paying roles. According to data collected by WealthInsight and...
More sustainable community schools will be making their way to Chicago. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has a direct allegiance to the public school district. At a news conference on Aug. 4, he shared that he became the first mayor to send three children to study at Chicago Public Schools (CPS), according to Forbes. He added that the same desires he has for his children he has for others across the city, which had over 450,000 people (17.2%) living below the poverty line in 2022, research shows. This has inspired the expansion of an initiative to plant sustainable community schools across the Chicago. “We said the only way we’re going to truly transform our public school system in Chicago is by serving the entire child. We are never going to make any real progress until we reckon with the fact that the struggles of our students primarily result from the fact that 72% of students are from low income families,” Johnson said during the press conference. “The overwhelming majority of our...
Entrepreneur and investor Arian Simone is turning adversity into action with the launch of Fearless Freedom. Simone, who serves as CEO and founding partner of the Fearless Fund, introduced the initiative in an Instagram video. She reflected on the legal battle her team faced starting in August 2023 — when the Fund’s grant program for Black women entrepreneurs was legally challenged over “racial exclusion,” as previously reported by AFROTECH™. “Storms don’t break us—they build us,” she said in the video. “Fearless Freedom is a bold global advocacy initiative to combat economic inequality and champion true economic freedom.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Arian Simone (@ariansimone) A Global Push For Economic Access With Fearless Freedom, Simone is calling for a united effort to expand financial inclusion across borders. Designed as more than just a campaign, per her Instagram post, the initiative blends storytelling, policy conversations, and creative programming...
Amen Rahh, widely known as “Principal Rahh,” is a nationally recognized educator and best-selling author from Compton, CA, who first gained attention after leading a South Los Angeles high school to a 100% graduation rate. However, his mission took an unexpected turn. One of his students, Keon — an unhoused teen in foster care — had been accepted to Tuskegee University but couldn’t afford the final $480 he needed to attend. “He thought, ‘If I can get this $400, I can get out,'” Rahh told AFROTECH™. “Tragically, he lost his life before he could.” Rahh learned the news while working on his doctorate at UCLA and says the loss changed everything. “At [age] 34, I left my job and started a tech company to transform education,” Rahh said. The company — Knowlej — is using fintech innovation to reimagine what’s possible for underserved students nationwide. The Classroom To Real Life Since its 2023 launch, the fintech app Knowlej has reached more than 30,000 students, according to Rahh. He...
Three Black women aim to close the racial wealth gap by building the access they want to see, launching culturally grounded, community-owned business schools by and for Detroiters. According to The Michigan Chronicle, Racheal Allen, Ebony Cochran, and Jessie Hayes are determined to build lasting infrastructure for the city’s overlooked entrepreneurs — proving that real business education isn’t just about profits; it’s about economic justice, shared knowledge, and long-term change. Ebony Cochran In June, Cochran — Michigan’s first Black woman to own a Little Caesars franchise, as AFROTECH™ r eported in 2022 — founded the Detroit Wealth Club, a 7,300-square-foot community business school on the city’s east side focused on entrepreneurship, credit literacy, financial planning, and real estate, The Michigan Chronicle reports. Offering educational programming, mentorship, peer accountability, and expert networks, Cochran calls it a movement — one she’s backed with $155,000 of her own...
Salt Lake City, UT-based Holladay Bank & Trust — located in a community with a Black population of less than 3% — is now Redemption Bank, following its acquisition by Redemption Holding Co. (RHC). Initially announced in 2023, the deal marks the first time a Black-led investment group has owned a bank in the Western U.S., according to The Associated Press. Redemption Holding Co. Chairman and CEO Ashley D. Bell, former White House policy advisor, cited the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in 2023 for the acquisition delay. “This process has undoubtedly taken longer than any of us anticipated,” Bell said. “However, we are grateful for the diligence of the staff at the FDIC, the leadership of the (American Bankers Association), and the renewed sense of urgency from the new administration this year, all of which helped bring everything together.” Redemption Bank is now the first Black-owned bank in U.S. history in the Rocky Mountain region and the only one in the “Black-banking desert,”...
Goodr will be bringing its free grocery store to the windy city. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Goodr — the brainchild of Jasmine Crowe-Houston — is a sustainable food waste management company based in Atlanta, GA. Since its inception in 2017, the company has launched various initiatives, including a free grocery and clothing store at Atlanta’s McNair Middle School in partnership with rapper Gunna (2021). More recently, it introduced the Goodr Community Market at iVillage @ MLK (2024), which features a free grocery store and health clinic, with a goal of serving 600 families by 2026. “I have a lot of crazy good ideas to help people and I am so blessed when partners and my team join me to bring them to life,” Crowe-Houston said at the time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jasmine Crowe Houston (@jasminecrowe) First P ermanent Location In Chicago Now, Goodr is scaling its mission to the south side of Chicago, IL, opening its grocery store model in a hospital. This will...
Cities across the U.S. have a clear opportunity to boost their economies by increasing the number of Black-owned businesses that serve as employers. Recognizing this potential, The Brookings Institution’s Metro Center for Community Uplift initiative is on a mission to help communities, policymakers, and grassroots organizers understand the crucial role of Black entrepreneurship. In June 2025, Brookings launched the Black Business Parity Dashboard. The dashboard shows the number of businesses and jobs, as well as the potential revenue and payroll generated if Black business ownership were to match the Black population in metro areas, according to a Brookings news release. Brookings’ research indicates that Black Americans outperform the national average in entrepreneurial traits tied to business success. However, systemic financial barriers — such as limited access to credit and the long-standing denial of wealth-building opportunities — have hindered growth. Centuries of denying...
Actress and trailblazing producer Marsai Martin is taking her commitment to youth empowerment to the next level. Through her nonprofit, Marsai’s Way Foundation , the young mogul has partnered with Seeds of Fortune Inc. to reach 10,000 young women over the next three years with financial education, mentorship, and access to wealth-building resources, according to a press release. The partnership officially kicked off June 6 at the Seed Forum: Women of Color Creating Wealth Summit, an event designed to offer young women a rare opportunity to connect with financial leaders and gain insight into how they can grow into economic powerhouses of their own. “At Seeds of Fortune, we believe education is the foundation of economic equity,” Nitiya Walker, founder and executive director of Seeds of Fortune Inc., said in a statement. “Our partnership with Marsai’s Way Foundation allows us to scale this mission and deliver financial literacy, mentorship, and career access to thousands of young...
No matter who occupies the White House, Maryland Governor Wes Moore remains steadfast in his commitment to three core pillars for his state’s 6.2 million residents: work, wages, and wealth — and creating pathways for all three. At AFROTECH™ Conference 2024, Moore — Maryland’s 63rd and first Black governor — joined Blavity Inc. Co-Founder and COO Jeff Nelson for a powerful fireside chat focused on economic empowerment, youth engagement, public safety, and sustainable community development. The governor shared insights on building resilient, self-sufficient communities, equipping the conference room of innovators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers with tangible steps to create a lasting impact. Buy your AFROTECH™ Conference 2025 ticket now! Reflecting on his personal journey into public service, Moore shared that he didn’t come from a political dynasty — far from it. Now, he says he sees the world in two categories: Marylanders and future Marylanders. “I had to convince members of my...
About 7.4 million Americans who depend on social security benefits through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program will see two payments hit their accounts in May. It’s not extra money, but it is a significant shift to understand. The Social Security Administration’s (SSA) calendar is the reason for the double deposit, with June’s payment arriving early because the first of the month falls on a Sunday. According to USA Today, the first payment is scheduled for Thursday, May 1, and the second will follow on Friday, May 30. Even though two payments will land in the same month, beneficiaries need to know that the second check is an advance for June. Knowing how and why this happens can help millions who rely on social security benefits plan ahead and avoid gaps in their income. Why Two SSI Payments Are Coming In May Every so often, the SSA’s calendar shifts when regular payment dates fall on weekends or holidays. Instead of delaying deposits, the agency sends payments early....
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. The turmoil over tariffs has taken center stage since President Donald Trump has started to make good on his campaign promise to Make America Great Again. His latest move is leveraging the tactic of tariffs to help bring back manufacturing jobs that he believes have been outsourced to other countries and should be available to people in the United States. However, having the goal of quickly bringing industrialization to a country has been tried elsewhere before. Mao Zedong of China, who formed the People’s Republic of China in 1949 and ran it until his death in 1976, tried what Trump is doing in the U.S. in China. It was called The Great Leap Forward and started in 1958. It aimed to change China from a country that relied on agriculture as its economic center to one that relied on industrialization instead. Similar to Donald Trump’s vision for industrialization, it included a focus on increasing...
Flau’jae Johnson is making a difference off the court by helping wipe out $5 million of debt for 5,000 Louisiana families. On March 14, 2025, global data and technology company Experian announced that the Louisiana State University women’s basketball guard would serve as spokesperson for its initiative to help relieve impoverished families following reports of record-high consumer debt. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Louisiana has one of the highest poverty percentages in the country. Johnson will promote financial literacy and share her experiences managing finances as one of the leading college athletes with a name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal , per a news release. “You know what’s bigger than basketball? Financial empowerment,” Johnson said in an Experian commercial. “Finances are tough, and Experian is helping the next generation pursue their dreams. … Money isn’t everything, but you need it to live a good life. The Experian app can help you save time and money, build...
