Joe Ricks to Chair the ACBSP Board of Directors

Joe Ricks, the JP Morgan Chase Professor of Sales & Marketing and chair of the division of business at Xavier University of Louisiana, has been named chair-elect of the board of directors for the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), one of the world’s premier accrediting organizations for business education. As chair, Dr. Ricks will help shape the strategic direction of an organization that serves hundreds of institutions across more than 60 countries. He will serve one term as chair-elect and assume the chair’s role during the 2027–2028 academic year.

“Serving as chair-elect of ACBSP is both a tremendous honor and a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the future of business education,” said Dr. Ricks. “I am proud to represent ACBSP and Xavier on the international stage and to collaborate with outstanding educational leaders who are committed to preparing students for success in a rapidly evolving global economy.”

A veteran of the U.S. Army and the Louisiana National Guard, Dr. Ricks has been a XULA faculty member for more than two decades. He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Southeastern Louisiana University, an MBA from the University of New Orleans, and a Ph.D. in marketing with a minor in cognitive psychology from Louisiana State University.

Montford Point Retired Marine Henry B. Edwards Receives Congressional Gold Medal Award

More than eight decades after stepping forward to earn the title of United States Marine, Montford Point Marine Henry B. Edwards received recognition for a legacy that helped shape the Marine Corps for generations to come. Edwards, 97, was presented the Congressional Gold Medal by Maj. Gen. Douglas K. Clark, deputy commander, Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces South, during a ceremony at Bethel Ame Church in New Orleans on Sept. 27, 2026.

Edwards was born March 28, 1929, in Chickasaw, Alabama. After graduating from Mobile County Training School in Plateau, Alabama, in 1946, Edwards enlisted in the Marine Corps that same year. His path took him to Montford Point at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he was among the approximately 20,000 African American men who trained between 1942 and 1949, becoming part of a generation whose service helped break racial barriers within the Marine Corps.

After completing training, Edwards served overseas in Saipan and San Juan, before being honorably discharged in 1947. Though his time in uniform was brief, his commitment to public service continued for decades. In 1948, Edwards enrolled at Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he pledged to the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, participated in the Honor Society Association and earned his degree in 1951.

Edwards later served as a supervisor at Brookley Air Force Base in Mobile, Alabama, an automotive repair instructor at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and as an automotive instructor at a vocational school back in Mobile. His career eventually led him to federal service with the U.S. Department of Labor, where his assignments took him to Dallas, New Orleans, Memphis, Tennessee, and Jackson, Mississippi, before retiring in 1987.

His dedication to selfless service also extended into his community and church. Edwards spent years serving in leadership roles at the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in New Orleans and within the Ninth Episcopal District, as well as at Pine Grove AME Church in Mobile. In 1953, Edwards married Irma Frye Edwards. Their family grew across generations, and the young Marine who once arrived at Montford Point became a father, grandfather and great-grandfather of five. Nearly seven decades later, Edwards stood before another generation of Marines as Clark presented him the Congressional Gold Medal.

“There will be no discrimination, prejudice or immoral conduct in my organization,” Clark said. “You are a legacy, and we all thank you for your selfless service and the path you paved for the Marines who followed.”

This recognition represents more than a single moment in Edward's lifetime. His story spans from Montford Point to federal employment, faith, family and decades of community service. Serving as a reminder of a legacy of service across a lifetime.

SAG-AFTRA AND SOUNDEXCHANGE HONOR COMMON WITH 2026 ARTIST IMPACT AWARD

SAG-AFTRA and SoundExchange presented Common with the 2026 Artist Impact Award at an intimate luncheon on September 24 at The Luckman Club at Soho House West Hollywood. Leaders from across music, film, television and media such as Anthony Anderson, NO I.D., DeRay Davis, and D-Nice gathered to honor the Grammy, Oscar and Emmy-winning musician, actor, producer and entrepreneur.

The Artist Impact Award honors an artist whose work crosses creative boundaries. It recognizes contributions across music, film, television and media that have shaped culture, expanded artistic possibility and inspired new forms of storytelling. Common's career in music, acting, production and entrepreneurship reflects the cross-disciplinary spirit the award was created to celebrate.

"Common is an artist in the fullest sense, bringing integrity and purpose to everything he creates while lifting up the community along the way," said SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. "As AI reshapes our industry, honoring him is also a reminder that progress must move forward with artists, not at their expense. Protecting every performer's voice, likeness and creativity ensures the next generation can build careers as remarkable as his."

"Common's creative voice has shaped culture across disciplines and helped expand what is possible for artists who refuse to be defined by a single category. His career reflects the modern creative economy: artists are music makers, storytellers, actors, producers, entrepreneurs, and advocates, often all at once. That range deserves recognition and protection," said SoundExchange President & CEO Michael Huppe.

In accepting the award, Common shared a few words on the award and the industry today. "As artists, whether through comedy, acting, storytelling, music, songwriting, or playwriting, we bring light and joy into the world. I'm grateful to be here because SAG-AFTRA and SoundExchange have stood up for artists, and I've seen that firsthand. Paul Robeson called artists 'the gatekeepers of truth' and 'civilization's radical voice.' Thank you, SAG-AFTRA and SoundExchange, for advocating for our voices."

SAG-AFTRA and SoundExchange share a longstanding commitment to artists behind the music; making sure they are recognized, protected and fairly paid for their work. Together, they advocate for policies that strengthen artists' rights, from securing fair compensation when music is played on AM/FM radio to establishing federal protections against unauthorized AI-generated replicas of performers' voices and likenesses. Both are working to build a more sustainable music industry, one where creativity and technology can thrive together and every artist shares in the value their work creates.

'Black Cowboys: An American Story' Exhibition Opens at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum

The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum announces a new special exhibition, Black Cowboys: An American Story, which will be on view from October 9, 2026 to April 18, 2027. This powerful exhibition explores the lives and work of enslaved and free Black men, women, and children who labored on Texas ranches and participated in cattle drives from before the Civil War through the turn of the twentieth century.

Black Cowboys: An American Story, created by the Witte Museum in San Antonio, Texas, illuminates the pivotal yet often overlooked role of Black cowboys in shaping the American frontier. Comprising one in four cowboys on the trail, these skilled horsemen, lawmen, and entrepreneurs were instrumental in driving Texas' economic growth. Visitors can explore a curated collection of personal artifacts, photographs, and more that bridges history with the present, honoring the grit and legacy of those who defined the West and continue to inspire American culture today.

"Black Cowboys: An American Story is a powerful exhibition that brings to life the remarkable men, women, and children who played a vital role in shaping the American West despite facing immense adversity," said Mary Pat Higgins, president and CEO of the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum. "By bringing these too-often overlooked stories to North Texas, we hope visitors of all ages leave with a deeper appreciation of the American West's history, and an understanding of how expanding our view of our shared past can challenge assumptions and help us better understand one another today."

Museum visitors will discover how Black cowboys tamed and trained horses, tended livestock and rode on the trail with thousands of cattle across America. Over time, the role of Black cowboys evolved as they used the skills they learned on the ranch and trail to establish their own ranches, serve as lawmen, ride in rodeos, become singers, and perform in movies. Today, the lives and legacies of Black cowboys have inspired new generations to explore the past through music, film, fashion, and design.

Unique to the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum is a special section honoring the late Cleo Hearn, based in Lancaster, Texas, who passed away in 2025, celebrating his lifelong dedication to reclaiming the place of Black cowboys in the West. Hearn was the co-founder of the American Black Cowboy Association, the founder of the Cowboys of Color Rodeo, and known as "Mr. Black Rodeo." The exhibit showcases some of his personal artifacts including a prize saddle, boots, spurs, and photographs that bring his remarkable legacy to life.

"The individual stories of Black cowboys, illustrating courage in the face of discrimination, skill, despite great odds, and success through generations as ranchers and leaders in their field are powerful," said Michelle Everidge, Ph.D., CEO and President of the Witte Museum, which organized the exhibition. "The Witte Museum was privileged to work closely with an outstanding steering committee and advisors, including community leaders, scholars and Black cowboys and ranchers, to create this unparalleled exhibition, which reveals what life was like for Black cowboys during this time."

The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum extends its gratitude to the Jean Baptiste "Tad" Adoue III Fund of The Dallas Foundation, with additional support from American Airlines, Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District, H-E-B/Central Market, and NFI Industries for their generous contributions to this special exhibition.

Black Cowboys: An American Story was developed by the Witte Museum, San Antonio (WitteMuseum.org). The exhibition is presented by Bank of America and generously supported by the John L. Santikos Charitable Fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation, H-E-B and Ed Rachal Foundation.

Black Cowboys: An American Story will run October 9 through April 18 at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum. Tickets can be reserved at dhhrm.org/black-cowboys-an-american-story

About the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum
The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum teaches the history of the Holocaust and advances human rights to combat prejudice, hatred, and indifference. Founded in 1984 by Holocaust survivors, the Museum serves as an educational center for the community. The Museum has three educational wings highlighting Holocaust history and human rights violations that shaped our world; a Dimensions in Testimony Theater featuring an opportunity to interact directly with a holographic image of a Holocaust survivor; a 250-seat theater with daily screenings and regular special events, and a rotating special exhibition gallery. Through powerful exhibitions, engaging programs, and grade-appropriate resources, the Museum inspires students and visitors to become Upstanders who make a positive difference. Visit DHHRM.org or call (214) 741-7500 for more information.

MORE THAN 200 ORGANIZATIONS ENDORSE MARTIN LUTHER KING PEOPLE’S CONVENTION FOR JUSTICE AND RESISTANCE

The 2ND Martin Luther King People’s Convention for Justice And Resistance that will take place Saturday, September 26, 2026, 8:30am to 4:00pm, at Essex County College, Smith Hall, 303 University Avenue in Newark, New Jersey.

The convention is sponsored by the People’s Organization For Progress (POP). It is co-sponsored by the Martin Luther King People’s Convention for Justice and Resistance Planning Committee.

The convention has been endorsed by more than 200 grassroots, civic, community, labor, student, religious, racial and social justice organizations.

“The purpose of this year’s convention is to develop a people’s agenda for social justice and resistance, and a broad coalition to oppose the racist, fascist, and right wing policies of the Trump controlled administration, Congress, and Supreme Court, Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress stated. 

“Also, at this year’s convention special emphasis will be placed on the importance of voter registration, education and most importantly mobilization for the upcoming midterm elections,” Hamm said. 

“We must beat back Trump’s racist and fascist MAGA movement that has a stranglehold on the federal government and is causing so much pain and suffering at home and abroad,” he asserted.

“We must work towards a massive record breaking voter turnout in this upcoming midterm election. And continue the work of organizing and mobilizing the people beyond the November elections,” he declared. 

The convention is open to the general public. Those who wish to attend are encouraged to register in advance. Registration for the convention is still open. There is no registration fee. 

To register for the convention sign up at https://www.mobilize.us/peoplesorganizationforprogress/event/1029296/. Those who are unable to register online can call the People’s Organization For Progress at (973)801-0001 or send an email to info@njpop.org. On-site registration will also take place at the convention.

Hamm said that this will be “a working convention” where the participants will deliberate throughout the day. The work of the convention will take place during morning and afternoon plenary sessions. 

“This will be a convention of the whole body of participants. All resolutions, issues, and business will be conducted before all of the delegates. There are no workshops,” he said.  

During the plenary sessions resolutions on a variety of domestic and international issues will be presented. There will be a closing session with presentations and a summary of the work of the convention.  

“The resolutions adopted at the convention are non-binding and do not supersede the policies and positions of the individual endorsing organizations. Support of the endorsing organizations for resolutions passed at the convention is voluntary,” he added. 

Hamm said endorsements of the convention are still being sought and will be received up to the day of the event. He said groups that wish to endorse should call, text, or email POP immediately. 

For more information contact the People’s Organization For Progress at (973)801-0001.