John Legend Announces Loved01 - Affordable Skincare for Melanin-Rich Skin

Award-winning singer-songwriter, entrepreneur and activist John Legend is announcing the launch of Loved01, a unisex skincare brand formulated in partnership with dermatologist Dr. Naana Boakye to treat the needs of melanin-rich skin. With accessibility at its core, the brand's mission is to democratize skincare with affordably-priced products available at mass retail.

"Our mission is to celebrate melanin-rich skin and provide the love, care, and attention it deserves," says Loved01 founder John Legend. "We hope to help democratize the beauty space by offering high-quality products at an accessible price point. Everyone deserves to be seen, represented and provided with the tools to love themselves, starting with healthy skin."

At launch, Loved01 introduces six dermatologist-approved products to offer effective and nurturing skin-care for complexions of color, while addressing issues universal to all skin-types. The formulations are specifically balanced to moisturize, nourish, and uplift melanin-rich skin with natural ingredients that have a history in communities of color including Shea Butter, Jojoba and Coconut Oils and enhanced with the antioxidant properties of Rosehip Oil and Sea Buckthorn Oil. The line includes a Face + Body Wash, an Exfoliating Cleanser, a Shave Cream, a Toning Mist, a Face + Body Moisturizer, and a Face + Body Oil.

Founder of Loved01, John Legend, is dedicated to increasing inclusivity and representation in the skincare industry, and has teamed up with Dr. Boakye to help ensure formulations are of the highest efficacy and standard. Loved01 has worked to ensure all products are reviewed in-depth, bringing forth only the best ingredients and solutions for melanin-rich skin needs coming from a diverse and passionate group. 

Legend worked with A-Frame, a Los Angeles based holding company that develops talent-led sustainable personal care brands built for underserved communities, to make the Loved01 brand a reality. "John's passion for highlighting a missing gap in the skin care space brought us together to make it possible for all to enjoy effective skincare solutions," says President of Loved01, Kia Lowe. "We're grateful to our loyal retail partners who have been so supportive and excited to help us reach our mission of making Loved01 accessible to all."

Loved01 ensures skincare with effective ingredients for melanin-rich skin is financially accessible so that everyone has a chance to properly maintain the health and beauty of their own skin. Products will range in price between $10 - $15 and be available starting February 1st, 2023 on Loved01.com and at CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide and on CVS.com and launch in select Walmart stores and on Walmart.com in March 2023. For more information, visit loved01.com and follow @Loved01Skin on social.

ABOUT LOVED01
Founded by John Legend in February 2023, Loved01 is a personal care brand on a mission to democratize skincare by providing elevated, unisex skin and body products for melanin-rich skin, at an affordable price point. Featuring a line of 6 products at launch, Loved01 offers targeted skin-care solutions made of thoughtful ingredients for melanin-rich skin to deliver truly effective results. Loved01's dermatologist-approved products nourish, moisturize and gently rebalance the skin's pH levels, leaving users feeling clean, vibrant and beautiful. Rooted in accessibility and simplicity, the brand's initial collection will be priced from $10-$15 USD. Loved01 will be available starting February 1, 2023 through Loved01.com and at CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide and at CVS.com and launch in select Walmart stores and on Walmart.com in March 2023.

Uncle Nearest To Raise $1M for Underfunded HBCUs

 

Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, the top-selling Black-owned spirits brand in the world, announced the launch of its HBCU Old Fashioned Challenge, a nationwide initiative to raise $1 million dollars for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Kicked off on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and extending through Black History Month and Women's History Month in February and March, respectively, the program will raise money to be distributed amongst the country's top 58 ranked HBCUs to use as they see fit.

Through the HBCU Old Fashioned Challenge, Uncle Nearest not only aims to raise money for these institutions, but to shine a light on their contributions to workforce diversity and the role they play in economic mobility. HBCUs make up less than 3% of college institutions, but they enroll 10% of all African American students, and produce almost 20% of all African American graduates. These graduates have gone on to hold high income jobs, making up 40% of Black judges, 50% of Black doctors and lawyers, and 40% of Black engineers. Underfunding of HBCUs leads to lower graduation rates due to student debt and lack of resources, as well as causes understaffing and underrepresentation of Black faculty members.

"Many have opinions about Deion Sanders' decision to move from Jackson State, an HBCU, to Colorado. I will tell you what I know to be true: Coach Prime put a much-needed spotlight on how HBCU programs can compete if they are properly funded," said Fawn Weaver, founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest. "He showed us what one person with influence, shining a light on HBCUs, can do to help. Enrollment in HBCUs grew tremendously after Beyonce's 2019 film, Homecoming. I am certainly no Beyonce, but I have a spotlight on me, and it's my greatest honor to be able to shift that spotlight where it should be - on our incredible Historically Black Colleges and Universities. When I reached out to share this program, so many of them asked me, 'What can we do to help?' I told each of them that I didn't want them to do anything. It's our turn to be torchbearers and give back, asking nothing in return."

The launch date of the Uncle Nearest Old Fashioned Challenge on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, was strategically chosen to spotlight the legacy of HBCUs in the life of one of our greatest American leaders. At the age of 15, following in the footsteps of his father Martin Luther King, Sr., MLK Jr. enrolled at Morehouse College, a historically Black, men's liberal arts college in Atlanta, Georgia. Both MLK Jr. and Sr. received their undergraduate degrees from Morehouse. The Uncle Nearest Old Fashioned Challenge extends through Women's History Month as an homage to Spelman College, a historically Black women's college and the number one ranked HBCU in America.

From January 16 to March 31, 2023, consumers will be able to participate in the challenge in one of four ways:

• For every Uncle Nearest Old Fashioned sold at participating bars and restaurants, one dollar will be donated to the challenge.
• Uncle Nearest will donate one dollar for each bottle of whiskey sold at participating online and brick-and-mortar retail stores.
• ReserveBar will sell Old Fashioned Cocktail Kits, featuring a bottle of Uncle Nearest as well as syrup and bitters from Hella Cocktail Co., the Black-owned bitters and soda company. For every kit sold, both Uncle Nearest and ReserveBar will donate one dollar to the challenge.
• During the time period, brand fans can also submit a photo of a homemade Uncle Nearest Old Fashioned at www.oldfashionedcocktail.com. Uncle Nearest will donate one dollar for each image received.                                                                     

"As a proud Morehouse Man and member of Pi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, I'm honored and grateful to work for a company where I didn't need to go to the leader and say HBCUs need our help," said W. Jay Madison, IV, Director of Legacy and Strategic Partnerships for Uncle Nearest. "Fawn came to me and said, 'We have to do something.' Every one of my team members immediately embraced the mission of this initiative, and our distributors, retail stores and outlets, restaurant, hotel, and bar partners came on board. One million dollars is just the beginning. We expect to see this program get bigger and even better every year, and our hope is other corporations will join with their own initiatives to support HBCUs."

For more information on the HBCU Old Fashioned Challenge, including a list of participating bars, restaurants, and retailers, and to follow along on the road to $1 million raised, please visit www.oldfashionedcocktail.com.

About Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey

Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey honors the world's first-known African American master distiller, Nearest Green. It was the first spirits brand in the world to be named after a Black American. The portfolio is the Most Awarded Bourbon and American Whiskey of 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, with over 600 awards and accolades since the brand's 2017 launch, including 406 Gold medals or higher, 71 Best in Class honors and an average critic's score of 92. Uncle Nearest is currently sold in all 50 states and 12 countries, and is sold in more than 25,000 stores, bars, hotels, restaurants, as well as at its 323-acre Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville, Tenn. For more information, please visit the Uncle Nearest website, and follow on Instagram and Facebook @unclenearest.   

‘The Woman King’ Wins Best Picture and Best Director at African American Film Critics Association Awards

“The Woman King” won the top prize at this year’s African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) awards, taking home the award for best picture. The Sony Pictures film was up against “Till,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”; each feature ended up winning at least two awards.

Along with best picture, “The Woman King” notched an award in the best director category, with the honor going to Gina Prince-Bythewood.

Winners and special honorees will be celebrated at the 14th annual AAFCA Awards on March 1 at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, Calif. Additional special events and programming will be anoounced in the coming months.

See the full list of this year’s winners below:

Best Picture: “The Woman King”

Best Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood (“The Woman King”)

Best Actor: Jeremy Pope (“The Inspection”)

Best Actress: Danielle Deadwyler (“Till”)

Best Supporting Actor: Brian Tyree Henry (“Causeway”)

Best Supporting Actress: Angela Bassett (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”)

Emerging Face: Jaylin Hall (“Till” & “Bruiser”)

Emerging Filmmaker: Carey Williams (“Emergency”)

Best Independent Feature: “Nanny”

Best Animated Feature: “Wendell & Wild”

Best Documentary: “Sidney”

Best Ensemble: “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”

Best Writing: Rian Johnson (“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”)

Best International Feature: “Saint Omer”

Best Song: “Lift Me Up” (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”)

Best Live Action Short: “We Cry Together”

Best Animated Short: “New Moon”

Special Acievement Honorees

Impact Award: “Till”

The Innovator Award: Composer, Michael Abels (“Nope”)

Building Change Award, presented by Lowes: Production Designer, Hannah Beachler (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”)

The Beacon Award: Antoine Fuqua and Will Smith (“Emancipation”)

The Ashley Boone Award: Producer, Nate Moore (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”)

CBS Sunday Morning interview with Governor-Elect Wes Moore

Watch this interview with Wes Moore former Army captain, bestselling author, and anti-poverty advocate, who will be sworn in this week as Maryland's first African American governor. He talks about his unique career path to the governor's residence in Annapolis.

Wes Moore (@iamwesmoore) is a former Army captain, bestselling author, and anti-poverty advocate, who will be sworn in this week as Maryland's first African American governor. He talks about his unique career path to the governor's residence in Annapolis. pic.twitter.com/uGypoQocTE

— CBS Sunday Morning 🌞 (@CBSSunday) January 15, 2023

President Biden Speaks at Ebenezer Church in Atlanta

President Biden spoke at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta where Dr. King once served as the church’s pastor and where Senator Raphael Warnock serves in that role now. In his remarks, President Biden spoke about democracy and voting rights in the present, which he called “the time of choosing,” between “democracy over autocracy,” "community over chaos," and “love over hate.” He said that “Dr. King’s life and legacy show us the way” through these times, and he called on the congregation to “redeem the soul of America.”

Watch his speech below: