Byron Allen's theGrio Launches Inaugural "The Grio Heroes;" Nomination Submissions for Everyday Heroes Starting March 1

Allen Media Group’s news/entertainment media platform theGrio proudly announces the launch and an official call for nominations for the inaugural theGrio Heroes initiative, starting March 1, 2023 via the platform’s website. TheGrio Heroes are about the everyday heroes in our world dedicated to the community and the culture. Some have been working unheralded for years and others are emerging. They all share a determination to make a significant impact on our communities and humanity. TheGrio Heroes have demonstrated outstanding goodwill and achievements for the benefit and welfare of our communities, leading by example through service and finding solutions with compassion, dedication, and determination.

“We are excited to bring theGrio Heroes initiative for public participation as we continue to elevate the theGrio brand globally,” said Byron Allen, Founder/Chairman/CEO of theGrio parent company, Allen Media Group. “TheGrio is about amplifying and celebrating excellence every day and everywhere.”

“Black people are central to the fabric of American culture,” said Geraldine Moriba, SVP, News, Entertainment and Empowerment, theGrio. “We are honoring people who uplift, support and build the Black community by moving us forward.”

Anyone is encouraged to nominate single individuals of African-American descent whose accomplishments occurred or continued after December 1, 2021. More information about theGrio Heroes, including descriptions of categories and frequently asked questions can be found here.

Submissions will be accepted through May 1, 2023, theGrio Heroes finalists and winner will be selected by the community as they will tell us about the heroes in their community who impact and change lives daily. These individuals share a determination to make a significant impact on our communities, and humanity as a whole.

Keeping in mind community impact, innovation and influence, an editorial committee at theGrio will conduct the first round of evaluations and choose a select number of nominees to move forward to the next round. Leading independent industry experts including Karen Boykin-Towns, NAACP National Board of Directors; Candice C. Jones, President & CEO of Public Welfare Foundation; Cameo George, Executive Producer, American Experience, PBS; Jade Magnus Ogunnaike, Vice President of Corporate Power, Color of Change; Irving Washington, Senior Fellow, Health Disinformation, Kaiser Family Foundation and Blair C. Smith, Senior Director for Center for Financial Markets, Milken Institute will then judge as they conduct another assessment to identify the top 20 names. Then the general public will vote online on picking the top 10 finalists. From there, the person with the most votes will be announced this summer and named as the inaugural theGrio Hero for 2023.

Viola Davis wins NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress for The Woman King

Viola Davis won Outstanding Actress in A Motion Picture for her role in "The Woman King." Watch her acceptance speech below:

.@violadavis deserves EVERYTHING! 👑 Congrats on winning the Outstanding Actress in A Motion Picture for "The Woman King." 💕 pic.twitter.com/ECIFNkGnup

— BET (@BET) February 26, 2023

Scholarship Application Open for African American Undergraduates Pursuing Physics, Astronomy

The TEAM-UP Together Scholarship Program is underway and will continue to accept applications for its next round of need-based scholarships until March 15, 2023. The scholarship program is one of TEAM-UP Together’s strategies aimed at doubling the number of African Americans earning bachelor’s degrees in physics and astronomy by 2030. The awards of $10,000 per academic year are to be used for tuition, fees, or supplies.

In December 2022, the TEAM-UP Together Scholarship Program selected its first cohort of 31 scholars. The application for the next round opened in November 2022, closes on March 15, 2023, and will culminate in another cohort of scholars announced this summer.

To apply, students must be African American or Black undergraduates majoring in physics or astronomy at accredited U.S. colleges or universities. Only students who are at the sophomore level or higher are eligible, but freshmen may apply for sophomore year funding. All eligible students can and should reapply each year for additional years of funding.

The online application requires written statements, a transcript, a certification of good academic standing from the student’s academic department, and one letter of recommendation. Students with any questions about the application can reach out to TEAMUPscholarships@aip.org for direct support.

The selection committee will consider applicants’ potential, intention, and commitment to continued academic development toward a bachelor’s degree in physics or astronomy and their level of financial need.

These awards are part of the multimillion-dollar TEAM-UP Together program that provides direct funding and support to African American undergraduate students majoring in physics or astronomy and to physics and astronomy higher education departments for efforts that align with the TEAM-UP Together mission.

TEAM-UP Together’s multifaceted approach will engage a variety of stakeholders within the scientific ecosystem, including faculty, departments, institutions, professional societies, funding organizations, policy leaders, and more, to effect systemic change and double the number of Black students earning bachelor’s degrees in physics and astronomy.

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ABOUT TEAM-UP TOGETHER

TEAM-UP Together is a collective action initiative led by the American Association of Physics Teachers, American Astronomical Society, American Institute of Physics, American Physical Society, and Society of Physics Students and aims to support the scientific community in doubling the number of African American students earning physics and astronomy bachelor's degrees annually by 2030. The pursuit of this goal is supported by these lead partners, their staff, volunteer leaders, and fundraising by AIP Foundation. The TEAM-UP Together scholarships are funded by a grant from the Simons Foundation and Simons Foundation International. Additionally, TEAM-UP Together is aligned with a number of bold initiatives being undertaken by the lead organizational partners and other AIP Member Societies and Affiliates to address underrepresentation and inequity in the physical sciences. To learn more, check out teamuptogether.org.

TEAM-UP Together has also recently been recognized by the White House as one of the commitments in the national strategy to drive transformative equitable change in the U.S. STEMM ecosystem. As a result, AIP is a founding partner of the U.S. STEMM Opportunity Alliance— a collaboration that aims to bring together organizations and entities from across sectors and scientific communities committed to building a STEMM ecosystem rooted in equity, inclusion, and scientific excellence to power progress, innovation, and prosperity for all by 2050.

Virginia NAACP Opposes Governor Glenn Younkin’s Order to Review College Board’s AP African American Studies

The Virginia State Conference NAACP (Virginia NAACP) is outraged by Governor Glenn Youngkin’s decision to review the College Board’s AP African American Studies assessment. There should be no question as to whether African American Studies is a worthy topic of study from an administration that stated a desire to teach all of American history. 

Dr. Amy Tillerson-Brown, Virginia NAACP Education Chair, states,

“Governor Youngkin is using Executive Order #1 to target the content and validity of AP African American Studies courses, which is contradicting his desire to teach a full and accurate history to students in the Commonwealth. 

Robert B. Barnette, Jr, President, states.

“Governor Younkin’s action is an attempt to erase the experiences and contributions of Black people. When Black children cannot see themselves and their experiences reflected in the history of this country, their humanity is diminished, and it leaves them vulnerable to attack.”

The Virginia NAACP firmly believes that if school curriculums do not include and value the history and culture of Black people, then it is impossible to value the Black people that learn and work in Virginia’s schools. The way to erode democracy is to chip away at the historical context to diminish people’s understanding of what occurred in the past and how to recognize what is happening now and in the future. 

The Virginia NAACP is committed to advocating for equitable state policies. The Virginia NAACP will continue to closely monitor the actions of the Governor and his administration on this issue.

SWEETWATER Official Trailer

Watch the official trailer for SWEETWATER, inspired by the true story of Hall of Famer Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, the first African American to sign an NBA contract. Exclusively in theatres, April 14.

SWEETWATER stars Everett Osborne as Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, Kevin Pollak, Cary Elwes, Jeremy Piven, Richard Dreyfuss, Gary Clark Jr., Jim Caviezel, and Bobby Portis.

The movie is written and directed by Martin Guigui/

Watch the trailer below: