Samson Dauda wins the 2024 Mr. Olympia

Samson Dauda defeated two previous Mr. Olmypias, Derek Lundsford Hadi Chopan to win the 2024 Mr. Olympia.

Along with Sandow Trophy Dauda also won the first-place medal, the people's champion trophy and $600,000, the largest payday for a winner in event history.

2024 Olympia Top 10 Contenders

• First Place – Samson Dauda ($600,000)
• Second Place – Hadi Choopan ($250,000)
• Third Place – Derek Lunsford
• Fourth Place – Martin Fitzwater
• Fifth Place – Andrew Jacked
• Sixth Place – Hunter Labrada
• Seventh Place – William Bonac
• Eighth Place – Rafael Brandao
• Ninth Place – Brandon Curry
• Tenth Place – Akim Williams

CHECK OUT THIS INTERVIEW WITH THE CHAMP!

URBAN LEAGUE OF ESSEX COUNTY CELEBRATES COMMUNITY SERVICE OF 5 HONOREES AT ANNUAL R.E.D. GALA OCTOBER 16

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we do not always see or recognize people or organizations that are working steadfastly behind the scenes to improve the community. These heroes make it their mission or devote their time to stimulate social justice and economic empowerment to traditionally underserved populations.

The Urban League of Essex County, a major nonprofit organization, invites the public to celebrate five distinguished honorees whose contributions have mirrored the organization’s mission to help African Americans and disadvantaged residents achieve economic and social advancement.

The occasion is the Urban League’s annual R.E.D. (Racial Equity Diversity) Gala to be held at Nanina’s In the Park, in Belleville, NJ on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at 6:00 PM. This year’s theme is “Our Children’s Literacy Crisis – The Urgency of Now.”

The honorees include Mosaic – NJ Advance Media, PNC – Grow Up Great, Dr. Charles Payne of Rutgers University, Source of Knowledge Bookstore in Newark, and former NJ Supreme Court Justice Hon. Gary S. Stein. The event is also an opportunity to recognize two major sponsors, Wells Fargo and PSE&G. Urban Leage President & CEO Vivian Cox Fraser, said, “We are pleased to have such outstanding honorees and sponsors as we bring them and the community together to celebrate them and to raise funds to continue our vital work.”

- more -
The dinner and awards ceremony is the Urban League’s most important fundraiser of the year to support its array of programs and services including individual counseling, groups seminars, social service assistance, and community outreach that results in home ownership, housing assistance, new entrepreneurship, upskilling and employment, and financial literacy.

A recent study showed that more than 80 percent of third graders in Newark district schools cannot read on grade level. A major Urban League initiative for 2024-2025 is to increase its portfolio of services through technology to improve the literacy and reading proficiency of the youth of Newark and the surrounding Essex County.

PSEG is an ongoing sponsor and the President of PSEG Foundation and Director, Corporate Social Responsibility, Calvin Ledford Jr., remarked “PSEG's vision is powering a future where people use less energy, and it's cleaner, safer and delivered more reliably than ever. Our public service efforts help empower our customers, our communities, our workforce and other stakeholders. As a long-time partner of the Urban League of Essex County (ULEC), we’re proud to support ULEC's efforts to combat the literacy crisis and aid in helping underserved residents achieve social and economic advancement.”

Wells Fargo is a prior honoree and an ongoing sponsor. “Wells Fargo is proud of its longstanding support of The Urban League of Essex County,” said Tomas Porturas, Senior Community Impact & Sustainability Specialist. “Through their commitment to literacy and community service, ULEC is making a meaningful difference in the lives of children in underserved communities. Wells Fargo is proud to join ULEC’s efforts to ensure that every child across Essex County has access to a quality education and reading resources.”

- more -
The Urban League has a tradition of bestowing honors in the name of the National Urban League’s first executive director, Whitney M. Young, Jr., and in the name of the founder of the Essex County affiliate, William M. Ashby. Each year, it has these awards and additional awards for people and organizations deserving special recognition:

Community Impact Award Honoree: MOSAIC - NJ ADVANCE MEDIA
Mosaic is an innovative news platform that celebrates the mosaic represented by the richness of New Jersey’s diverse cultures.

Corporate Citizen Award Honoree: PNC GROW UP GREAT - PNC BANK
For 20 years, PNC Grow Up Great® has helped children from birth to age 5 discover their love of learning through volunteerism by its employees.

Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award Honoree: DR. CHARLES M. PAYNE
Dr. Payne, a Professor at Rutgers University-Newark, directs the Joseph Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Research with a focus on urban education and social inequality.

William M. Ashby Award Honoree: SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE BOOKSTORE
Serving the Newark community since 1992, Source of Knowledge is not only a bookstore, but a community center that specializes in Black art, Black literature and culture as well.

Diversity Champion Award Honoree: HON. GARY S. STEIN
The Honorable Gary S. Stein served on the New Jersey State Supreme Court for more than 17 years and subsequently filed a major public interest lawsuit challenging New Jersey's extreme racial and socioeconomic segregation of its public schools as unconstitutional.

For more information on tickets, sponsorships, and donations, contact Ms. Patricia Sermon, Chief Operating Officer, Urban League of Essex County, Newark, NJ, patsermon@ulec.org, www.ulec.org, 973-624-9535 x294.

2nd Annual HBCU First LOOK Film Festival at Howard University Unveils All-Star Programming Schedule

The HBCU First Look Film Festival, dedicated to inspiring the next generation of diversity in film, TV and broadcasting, reveals their second annual screening, speaker and programming slate, taking place November 8-10, 2024, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

As the nation's only film festival honoring HBCU educated filmmakers, executives and content creators, the three-day festivities include celebrities and "I Aspire" honoree changemakers committed to building bridges with HBCU students to Hollywood in support of "A Celebration of Black Cinema x Activism."

Highlights include:

A Conversation on Power, Passion & Perseverance with NAACP Image Award-winning actress Naturi Naughton-Lewis.

Moderated by Emmy Award-winning host, comedienne and actress Loni Love, the two will discuss the state of the industry and navigating its landscape.

Masterclass with creator and showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll (All American, Found)

Career Development with speaker Keanna "KJ" Rose, a 2024 "I Aspire" 100 honoree, speaker, author and FAMU alum 

Screening and Talkback true crime series "Killer Relationships w/ Faith Jenkins"

My HBCU Joy Awards Luncheon honoring Keshia Knight-Pulliam, Stacy Milner (HBCU Los Angeles), and TeeJ Mercer (Move-In Day Mafia). 

The annual HBCU First LOOK Film Challenge, which received over 200 film submissions, will award three winners with internships. 

Closing Night at the Movies: 'The Honorable: Shyne' Documentary 'Exclusive' Clip & Conversations Reception.

Informational sessions celebrating iconic Black film titles include:

STRICTLY BUSINESS: A discussion on independent filmmaking and entrepreneurship with production companies

THE BLACK GODFATHER: A panel on documentary filmmaking, music licensing and supervision 

BEAUTY SHOP: From costume design to character makeup, a talk about the glitz and glam of production

DREAMGIRLS: A conversation with today's young, gifted and Black actresses 

SCHOOL DAZE: How to Identify your career niche and market your brand

– More programming to announced –

For film enthusiasts and students, tickets can be purchased via www.hbcufirstlook.com and HBCU First LOOK Festival app.  For more information, visit all social platforms @hbcufirstlook #hbcufirstlook #blackfilmmakers #myvoiceviewvote #IAspirechallenge

Sponsors and media partners include AARP, HBCYOU, Café Mocha Network, Andscape, NBC Universal, TV One, Oxygen, HBCUGO.TV, Howard University Television + Film, Howard University Television (WHUT), Howard University Radio Network HBCU SiriusXM Channel 142, L.A.I. Communications, and the Mocha Podcasts Network. .

About HBCU First LOOK Film Festival

Founded by Howard University alumni Sheila Eldridge, the HBCU First LOOK Film Festival is inspiring a new generation of minority talent in the film, television, and broadcasting industry by teaching HBCU students' practical skills to improve their craft, and creating places to showcase their work, and connecting executives and students to a pipeline of talent and career opportunities.

Cydney Gillon Wins 8th Olympia Title and Retires From Sport

Cydney Gillon won her eighth consecutive Olympia title in the Figure category. Gillon has won the Figure Divison every year since its inception in 2017. 

After making history she retired from the sport. The champ will be missed and is truly a legend in the sport.

Cydney posted the following message on Instagram to her supporters and fans:

8 consecutive, FIGURE OLYMPIA titles was just a dream, turned into goals, turned into reality.

Huge thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout my competitive journey these last decades. 18 years has flown by.

AND Today marks the END of my DYNASTY.

I’ve done my best to represent this category and our sport to the best of my ability. Now it’s time to pass the torch.

Can’t wait to see who will hold the Figure Olympia Champion title next!

Now time for me to close this chapter, frolic in the streets and enjoy my 30s with my friends, family and new opportunities pouring my way.

- Your 8x Figure Olympia Champion

2024 Figure Olympia Results & Prize Money

• Winner — Cydney Gillon ($50,000)
• Second Place —  Jessica Reyes Padilla ($20,000)
• Third Place —  Lola Montez ($12,000)
• Fourth Place — Natalia Soltero ($7,000)
• Fifth Place — Rhea Gayle ($6,000)
• Sixth Place — Cherish Richardson
• Seventh Place — Ericka Morales Morgan
• Eighth Place — Lena Ramsteiner
• Ninth Place — Tessa Meetze
• Tenth Place — Madison Dinges

Barack Obama message to Black men who don't want to vote for Kamala Harris

Former President Barack Obama addressed men within the Black community that have issues with voting for Kamala Harris at a campaign stop in Pittsburgh Thursday. Watch his message below:

Former President Barack Obama has a “tough talk” at the Black voters for Harris event in East Liberty. He addressed that Black men have not been as enthused about Harris as during his first run, and he sought to encourage them to join Harris’ movement pic.twitter.com/gDFZhsdLxC

— Ryan Deto (@RyanDeto) October 10, 2024

Denise Leary is Missing!

Denise Leary, age 59, was last seen on Monday, Sept. 30, near her home on Rock Creek Road in New Haven, Connecticut. She was wearing blue jeans, a black blazer, a black hat, and black boots. She was carrying a multicolored tote bag.

Leary suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, and police hope to locate her as soon as possible.

She is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs 170 pounds.

Police investigators ask anyone with information on her whereabouts to contact New Haven Police at 203-946-6316.

MICAH GRAY IS MISSING

Chicago police are searching for Micah Grady, a missing 18-year-old woman who has autism.

Police said Micah Grady was last seen at around 7:30 a.m. in the vicinity of Leamington Avenue and Washington Boulevard Monday morning wearing a pink jacket, grey pants and black shoes.

Grady is 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs 190 pounds. She also has brown eyes and black hair according to investigators.

Anyone with information is asked to call Area Four Detectives at 312-746-8251.

NBCUniversal and Group Black Launch ExcellencE! on Peacock

NBCUniversal officially launched their new content collection ExcellencE! on Peacock in partnership with mission-driven media company, Group Black.

ExcellencE! serves as a new destination for the platform's content that resonates with NBCUniversal's cross-cultural audiences and helps advertisers connect with them.

Starting today, Peacock subscribers can visit the ExcellencE! destination to view thousands of hours of diverse-led, inclusive programming such as "Bel-Air," "Martin," and "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," with additional original content to be added in 2025.

This launch is part of NBCUniversal and Group Black's expanded partnership, which originated from Peacock's Black Excellence 365 program in 2023. Over 30 brands joined to support Black-led and diverse content all year-round.   

"NBCUniversal's deep library of inclusive programming is the perfect launching pad for the new ExcellencE! collection on Peacock. Together with Group Black, we are bringing thousands of hours of diverse-led content to a curated destination, enabling our audiences to better explore cultural conversations through storytelling. " - Val Boreland, Executive Vice President, Content Acquisitions, NBCUniversal Entertainment

"ExcellencE! on Peacock will champion authentic voices and stories that reflect audiences' experiences everywhere," said Cavel Khan, Chief Growth Officer of Group Black. "This collection embodies what EXCELLENCE stands for – a platform where multicultural perspectives can thrive."

For more information about ExcellencE! and its available content, visit https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/excellence. 

Jericka Duncan is now the anchor of both the Saturday and Sunday editions of the CBS WEEKEND NEWS

Adrienne Roark, president of newsgathering and editorial for CBS News and Stations, shared the note below with staff to announce Jericka Duncan’s expanded role as the anchor of both the Saturday and Sunday editions of the CBS WEEKEND NEWS.

Hi all,

We’re thrilled to announce that beginning this weekend, Jericka Duncan will become the anchor of both the Saturday and Sunday editions of the CBS WEEKEND NEWS.

Jericka’s reporting, both from the anchor desk and on the scene of nearly every major story over the past decade, has elevated our coverage across platforms, like the WEEKEND NEWS, 48 HOURS, CBS MORNINGS, CBS EVENING NEWS, BET and more.

From her interview with an Ohio woman charged with a felony after a miscarriage, to her moving report on a 5-year-old boy from Gaza receiving medical care in the U.S., to her viral conversation with NBA star Steph Curry on embracing difference, Jericka’s stories reveal and illuminate the humanity behind some of the most pressing issues facing our nation. Her reporting on race and culture challenges our audience to reflect on who we are and who we want to be. This week, her voter panel in Michigan was just the latest example of her strong ability to unveil the issues that matter most to Americans.

She is often one of the first reporters on the scene when news breaks. Last month, Jericka was in Georgia to speak with Apalachee High School students following the school shooting there. We will never forget her emotional interviews with the friends and survivors of the Buffalo, N.Y., shooting in 2022. Reporting those stories is never easy, but in every situation, Jericka forges real connections with the people and communities she covers – in moments of tragedy and triumph – allowing them the space to share their experiences authentically.

Jericka’s in-depth coverage of legal cases for Bill Cosby, R. Kelly and Harvey Weinstein has shaped our understanding of some of the most revelatory trials of our time. Most recently, she reported live from the courthouse in New York where Sean “Diddy” Combs was indicted. She has a proven track record of covering hard-hitting stories like these.

While she will helm the anchor desk on the weekends from New York, Jericka will continue to report across the Network. Please join us in congratulating her. I would also like to thank Craig Wilson and the WEEKEND NEWS team for their work in supporting Jericka and her coverage and staying on top of this nonstop news cycle every single weekend.

Thank you,

Adrienne

NAACP and Singleton Schreiber Champion Justice for Women of Color in Groundbreaking Hair Relaxer Lawsuit

The NAACP has partnered with Singleton Schreiber, a leading law firm specializing in civil rights, to pursue justice for Black and other women of color exposed to toxic chemical hair relaxers (perms). These products, widely marketed to women of color, have been linked to serious health problems such as uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer and uterine fibroids with one of the following procedures: hysterectomy, myomectomy, or endometrial ablation. 

"The NAACP will use all its legal might to seek justice from those companies that have profited while Black women were harmed by these beauty products," said Janette McCarthy Wallace, General Counsel of the NAACP. "It remains the mission of The Association to protect Black women against predation of any form, most especially against their health and wellness."

For generations, Black women have used chemical relaxers to straighten their hair, a practice shaped by societal standards that favor Eurocentric beauty norms over natural Black hair textures. Haircare companies have aggressively marketed these harmful products to Black women and girls, often failing to disclose the associated health risks. Now, a lawsuit targeting major beauty corporations such as Soft Sheen-Carson LLC and others, seeks accountability for these companies' failure to disclose the dangers of their products. Women across the country have experienced health impacts, from scalp burns and infections to life-altering cancers, without being adequately warned. 

"Our partnership with the NAACP amplifies our shared mission to protect the health and rights of Black women," said Danielle Ward Mason, Partner at Singleton Schreiber. "By holding these companies accountable, we're sending a strong message that corporations profiting at the expense of women's health will face justice." 

The campaign aims to raise awareness, provide legal support to affected women, and ensure victims receive the compensation they deserve. This lawsuit represents a pivotal step in addressing the exploitation of marginalized communities by powerful corporations.  

For more information on this legal battle and how to join the fight, visit https://naacphairrelaxerjustice.com/  .  

Three officers found guilty in the Tyre Nichols federal case

Three former Memphis police officers were convicted of witness tampering in the 2023 beating of Tyre Nichols but were acquitted of the most severe civil rights charges related to the deadly beating of Tyre Nichols in 2023.

The jury reached a mixed verdict Thursday the three former Memphis police officers. The officers—Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith—were convicted of witness tampering related to the cover-up of the brutal beating but were acquitted of the most severe civil rights charges they faced.

American Nurses Foundation Awards HBCU Nursing Program $339,000 Grant to Support Programs for Male Nurses of Color

The American Nurses Foundation (the Foundation) is excited to announce that one of its premiere nursing research grants, Diversify Nursing Research through Support of Minority Institutions, focused on both increasing ethnic minority nurse researchers and expanding diversity of topics and perspectives, is already yielding tangible results. The $339,000 grant was bestowed in April to Southern University and A&M College, a historically Black institution of higher learning (HBCU) in Louisiana. And some male student nurses of color within the cohort that received this funding have shared a viral video on social media showcasing the positive impact of this award.

Three minority serving institutions of higher learning were solicited for this grant opportunity and a diverse, independent review panel of three nurses selected the proposal from Southern University and A&M College. The proposal “Workplace Racism, Perceived Stress, and Health Promoting Lifestyle Behaviors Among African American Registered Nurses” was chosen due to its comprehensive approach to engage both faculty, students, and early advance career nurses.

"African American nurses account for 11% of the registered nurse workforce in the United States and even less than that are African American men. Southern University School of Nursing (SUSON) is the largest producer of African American nurses in the state of Louisiana, playing a critical role in addressing racial and gender disparities in nursing,” said the Dean and Professor of the College of Nursing and Allied Health at Southern University School of Nursing. “Through support from the American Nurses Foundation, we are closing the gap and increasing the diversity of the nursing workforce to improve health outcomes in vulnerable populations."

This three-year grant partnership was developed out of the desire to address some of the barriers faced by racial and ethnic minorities in the field of nursing. As one of the main funders of nursing research, the Foundation responded to insights released from the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing workgroup on racism in nursing research, which was the catalyst for the creation of this grant. The goal is to fund meaningful research led by diverse nurses to advance the nursing profession and promote equity and diversity of thought.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to see bright minds benefiting from the Foundation’s support of this program and excited about their future careers in nursing. The American Nurses Foundation is a leader in nurse-led research and funding opportunities for bold projects to advance the nursing profession. In that respect, we are strategic and intentional with our investments,” said Adriane K. Griffen, DrPH, MPH, MCHES®, Interim Executive Director and Vice President of Programs at the Foundation. “My father was a registered nurse, so this is personal for me - and this work is a great step forward in shaping the profession to be more diverse and inclusive.”

To learn more about this opportunity and the other research grants sponsored by the Foundation, please visit the Foundation’s Resource Center on Nursing World.org

###

About American Nurses Foundation
American Nurses Foundation is the charitable and philanthropic arm of the American Nurses Association (ANA), with the mission to transform the nation’s health through the power of nursing. The Foundation supports research, education, and scholarships, which improve health, wellness, and patient care. For more information visit www.nursingworld.org/foundation

About the American Nurses Association
The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the premier organization representing the interests of the nation's more than 5 million registered nurses. ANA advances the profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting a safe and ethical work environment, bolstering the health and wellness of nurses, and advocating on health care issues that affect nurses and the public. ANA is at the forefront of improving the quality of health care for all. For more information

UNCLE NEAREST, INC. LAUNCHES NEAREST GREEN TENNESSEE WHISKEY

Uncle Nearest, Inc., the makers of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, the most awarded bourbon and American whiskey for six years running, announces the arrival of Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey. While Uncle Nearest's current premium whiskeys boast proof points starting at 93, Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey is bottled at 84 proof. With this lower proof and approachable price point of $29.99, Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey was created with inclusivity and versatility in mind—an everyday bourbon that bars and restaurants can confidently pour as their first choice for cocktails or when reaching for a bottle to satisfy any call for bourbon.

Crafted by four-time Master Blender of the Year and 5th-generation Green descendant, Victoria Eady Butler, Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey is designed as the perfect companion for bartenders and at-home mixologists alike. Whether mixing a classic—like a Manhattan, Whiskey Smash or Hot Toddy—or experimenting with a fresh take—like a whiskey spin on a Sidecar, Victoria's personal recommendation—this new whiskey delivers. Its standout taller, slimmer bottle ensures an easy pour, while fitting seamlessly into the Uncle Nearest portfolio with the same signature front label shape.

"Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey captures the spirit of my great-great-grandfather, Nearest Green, while still upholding our pillars of excellence and unmatched quality," said Victoria Eady Butler. "With this new brand, we're not just expanding our offerings—we're expanding the Uncle Nearest family, reaching new consumers who may not consider spending more than $50 on a bottle. Our goal is simple: To make Nearest Green a household name, bringing people together to honor our past while embracing the future of Tennessee Whiskey."

Starting today, Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey is available for order on the Uncle Nearest website via their e-commerce partner ReserveBar. Beginning Saturday, October 5, it will also be available for purchase at the Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville, Tennessee­­—the 7th most-visited distillery in the world—where Fawn Weaver, Uncle Nearest founder and CEO, and Victoria Eady Butler will celebrate its release with their community. Shortly after, Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey will begin rolling out to stores, bars, and restaurants, starting with Uncle Nearest's home state of Tennessee.

As Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey rolls out nationwide this fall, the brand will launch its newest guerilla marketing campaign "Nearest vs. Everybody Part II." Aiming to ignite excitement around the new release, the campaign will host a series of blind taste tests in bars across the country. Starting in Tennessee, Uncle Nearest team members will challenge patrons in bars to taste Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey alongside the bar's well bourbon—without knowing which is which. This competition draws inspiration from Jack Daniel, Nearest's mentee, who in the late 1800s would walk into bars, place a silver dollar on the counter, and offer it to anyone willing to taste his whiskey against their usual pour, confident that none would surpass liquid made by his master distiller, Nearest Green. There is one caveat to 'Nearest vs. Everybody Part II': Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey will not compete against Jack. As it was in their lifetimes, Nearest and Jack won't compete today.

"The 'Nearest vs. Everybody Part II' challenge is our way of inviting people to experience firsthand the legacy and craftsmanship of Nearest Green," said Fawn Weaver. "By going bottle to bottle blindly with the best in the market, we're confident that Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey will shine through, just as Nearest himself did over a century ago. This is a celebration of excellence and an open invitation for everyone to taste history in the making."

The launch of Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey follows the release of Fawn Weaver's best-selling book Love & Whiskey. The book provides a deeper understanding of Nearest Green's impact, recounting the true story of the master distiller and his mentee Jack Daniel, while also delving into the unprecedented rise of Uncle Nearest. Since its release in June, Love & Whiskey has captivated readers, debuting as an instant New York Times best-seller, and remaining on the list for two consecutive months. The book currently holds a 4.8 star rating on Amazon. 

To celebrate the launch of Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey, Uncle Nearest is offering a special online promotion. Customers who order their bottles can email NGTW@unclenearest.com to enter a raffle for a chance to win one of 50 signed copies of Love & Whiskey, along with exclusive swag. Entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM ET on October 30.

For more information about Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey, or to find it at a store, restaurant or bar near you, visit www.unclenearest.com or follow @unclenearest on Instagram.

About Uncle Nearest
Uncle Nearest pays tribute to the world's first-known African American master distiller, Nearest Green. It was the pioneer spirits brand to bear the name of a Black American. The brand's portfolio boasts the Most Awarded Bourbon and American Whiskey titles for the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, amassing over 1,300 awards and accolades since its launch in 2017. This includes an impressive 710 Gold medals or higher, which includes 125 Best in Class honors and an average critic's score of 92.1. Uncle Nearest is currently available in all 50 states and 26 countries, with a presence in more than 45,000 stores, bars, hotels, and restaurants. Uncle Nearest is also available at its 458-acre Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville, Tenn., now the seventh most visited distillery in the world. For more information, please visit the website, and follow on Instagram @unclenearest.

Dorothy E. Roberts Named 2024 MacArthur Fellow

Dorothy E. Roberts, George A. Weiss University Professor of Law and Sociology & Raymond Pace and Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander Professor of Civil Rights at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, has been named a 2024 MacArthur Fellowby the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The MacArthur Fellowship is a five-year grant to individuals who show exceptional originality in and dedication to their creative pursuits.

“Dorothy Roberts’ groundbreaking work at the intersections of law, race, and social justice has profoundly impacted scholarship, public policy, and political mobilization,” says Dean and Bernard G. Segal Professor of Law Sophia Lee. “Her recognition as a 2024 MacArthur Fellow is fitting for a scholar who has reframed debates on critical issues ranging from child welfare to the biological basis of race. We are incredibly proud of her achievements and fortunate to have her as a faculty member at Penn Carey Law.”

Roberts is the first Penn Carey Law community member to receive a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant” since restorative justice attorney sujatha baliga L’99 was chosen in 2018. Esteemed civil rights and criminal defense attorney, Senior Fellow David Rudovsky, was awarded a genius grant in 1986.

The Fellowship is designed to provide recipients with the flexibility to pursue their own artistic, intellectual, and professional activities in the absence of specific obligations or reporting requirements. Fellows are nominated anonymously by leaders in their respective fields and are considered by an anonymous selection committee.

Roberts is a legal scholar and public policy researcher exposing racial inequities embedded within health and social service systems. Her work encompasses reproductive health, bioethics, and child welfare. She sheds light on systemic inequities, amplifies the voices of those directly affected, and boldly calls for a wholesale transformation of existing systems.

“I am extremely honored to receive a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship,” said Roberts. “It is my hope this award will shine a light on Black women’s visions and struggles for reproductive and family justice.”

“The transformative scholarship of Dorothy Roberts focuses on some of the most pressing issues facing our society, addressing issues of inequality, social justice, and race,” said Interim President J. Larry Jameson. “As a scholar, award-winning author, and now MacArthur Fellow, she exemplifies Penn’s commitment to impactful, interdisciplinary, creative pursuits.”

Roberts’ major books include Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty (Pantheon, 1997); Shattered Bonds: The Color of Child Welfare (Basic Books, 2001); Fatal Invention: How Science, Politics, and Big Business Re-create Race in the Twenty-First Century (The New Press, 2011); and Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families – and How Abolition Can Build a Safer World (Basic Books, 2022), as well as more than 100 scholarly articles and essays in books and journals, including Harvard Law Review, Yale Law Journal, Stanford Law Review, and The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story.

Her work has been supported by the American Council of Learned Societies, National Science Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Harvard Program in Ethics & the Professions, Stanford Center for the Comparative Study of Race & Ethnicity, Northwestern Institute for Policy Research, and the Fulbright Program. Recent recognitions of her work include elections to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, American Philosophical Society, and National Academy of Medicine. She holds an Honorary Doctor of Law degree from Rutgers University, an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland,  received the Society of Family Planning Lifetime Achievement Award, and an American Psychiatric Association Solomon Carter Fuller Award.

[SOURCE: UPENN.LAW]

Princeton Professor Ruha Benjamin awarded MacArthur ‘genius’ grant

Ruha Benjamin, the Alexander Stewart 1886 Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University, has been awarded a 2024 MacArthur Fellowship(Link is external) for “illuminating how technology reflects and reproduces social inequality and championing the role of imagination in social transformation.”

“By integrating critical analysis of innovation with attentiveness to the potential for positive change, Benjamin demonstrates the importance of imagination and grassroots activism in shaping social policies and cultural practices,” the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation said in its announcement.

Benjamin is one of 22 MacArthur Fellows in the 2024 cohort, a group of scientists, artists, scholars, and activists who will each receive an $800,000 grant from the MacArthur Foundation over a five-year period. The prestigious fellowships, known informally as “genius grants,” recognize individuals who have demonstrated “exceptional originality in and dedication to their creative pursuits.”

“Ruha Benjamin’s innovative, interdisciplinary scholarship has brought critical new perspectives to our understanding of racial and social inequities in technology, science, and medicine,” said Princeton President Christopher L. Eisgruber. “Professor Benjamin is a strikingly original and creative thinker, writer, and educator who inspires her students and readers.”

In her scholarship, Benjamin studies the social dimensions of science, medicine and technology. She joined the Princeton faculty in 2014 and is currently on sabbatical.

She is a 2017 recipient of the President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching and the founding director of the Ida B. Wells JUST Data Lab(Link is external). She was a member of the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) from 2016 to 2017.

Her research has been published in journals such as Science, the American Journal of Law & Medicine, and Science, Technology, & Human Values. Benjamin was among the Marguerite Casey Foundation and Group Health Fund’s inaugural cohort of Freedom Scholars in 2020. 

She is also an award-winning author and popular speaker who has delivered talks on both the TED and TEDx stages and has written for The New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN and The Guardian, among other publications.

Her most recent book, “Imagination: A Manifesto(Link is external)” (Norton, 2024), showcases artists, educators and activists in a narrative that she has called “a proclamation of the power of the imagination.” Her acclaimed 2022 book, “Viral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want(Link is external)” (Princeton University Press) won the 2023 Stowe Prize for Literary Activism, which recognizes “a distinguished book of general adult fiction or nonfiction whose written work illuminates a critical social justice issue in the tradition of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin.’”

Benjamin is also the author of “Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code(Link is external)” (Polity, 2019) and “People’s Science: Bodies and Rights on the Stem Cell Frontier(Link is external)” (Stanford University Press, 2013). She is the editor of “Captivating Technology: Race, Carceral Technoscience, and Liberatory Imagination in Everyday Life(Link is external)” (Duke University Press, 2019). 

Benjamin received her B.A. in sociology and anthropology from Spelman College and earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California-Berkeley.

She completed postdoctoral fellowships at UCLA’s Institute for Society and Genetics and Harvard University’s Program on Science, Technology, and Society. She was an assistant professor of sociology at Boston University before joining Princeton.

In addition to her tenure at IAS, she has received fellowships and grants from the American Council of Learned Societies, the National Science Foundation, the Ford Foundation and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

“MacArthur Fellows are nominated anonymously by leaders in their respective fields and considered by an anonymous selection committee,” according to the foundation’s announcement of 2024 fellows.

[SOURCE: PRINCETON.EDU/NEWS]

DENVER NUGGETS STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF DIKEMBE MUTOMBO

The Denver Nuggets issued the following statement on the passing of Dikembe Motumbo:

The Nuggets organization is heartbroken to learn of the passing of Denver Nuggets legend and NBA icon Dikembe Mutombo. Dikembe came into his own as a Nuggets draft pick and one of the most memorable moments in our franchise’s history will forever be tied to Mount Mutombo and the image of him crying tears of joy after upsetting the number-one-seeded Seattle SuperSonics in 1994.

Dikembe is one of the most unique and beloved players to ever step foot on a basketball court. The work and efforts he put in off the court to give back to his home country, Africa, and the NBA cities that loved him were just as extraordinary.

Words cannot express how much the Nuggets and NBA community will miss Dikembe, but his memory and impact will certainly never be forgotten. Our thoughts are with all of his family and loved ones during this difficult time.