John Amos, best known for the 1970’s sitcom “Good Times” and the miniseries “Roots” during the same decade, has died at 84, his publicist finally confirmed. Why it is being announced more than a month after it happened due to
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. famously spent his last days in Memphis in April 1968 to support sanitation workers who had been striking for nearly two months. William “Bill” Lucy, a Memphis native and leader in the American Federation
Michaela DePrince, the Sierra Leonean-American ballerina who inspired a world of ballet students with her story of overcoming being orphaned and discriminated against, has died. She was 29. No cause of death was disclosed when the heartbreaking announcement of her
Frankie Beverly, front man for the R&B soul and funk band Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly, died on Sept. 10. He was 77. His family made the announcement on Sept. 11 on his official social media accounts. “Grieving the loss of
James Earl Jones, the versatile actor perhaps best known for the baritone voice he lent to CNN, Darth Vader of Star Wars and King Mufasa of the Lion King died Monday in Pawling, N.Y. He was 93. Jones overcame a
After over 20 years of working in corporate and federal sector, Sandra D. Troutman decided that she wanted to spend the next part of her career integrating her information technology training and experience with her passion for wellness. She decided
Alotta Taylor recently retired from NASA as a senior executive and now serves as the President of Taylor Enterprises. In that capacity, she helps provide leadership and diversity training, as well as advocate equity and inclusion for all. Taylor says
Benita Thompson-Byas is vice-chair and senior vice president of Joint Ventures and Business Development for Thompson Hospitality, the nation’s largest minority-owned food service company. In this role, she is responsible for contracted food and facilities management accounts operated jointly between
Georgette “Gigi” Dixon is an executive vice president at Wells Fargo and head of External Engagement for Diverse Segments, Representation, and Inclusion. She is a member of the NAACP board of directors; U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. corporate advisory board (vice-chair);
Vicki Miles is the Diversity and Inclusion Senior Consultant for Volkswagen Group of America. She has worked in DEI for more than 12 years and currently oversees their diversity strategy, including managing corporate partnerships, consulting on diversity training, talent acquisition
Ashley M. Fox took a big risk, leaving her Wall Street analyst position to begin her own fintech brand. There were all kinds of ways she could have fallen on her face and missed the mark. Big risks, however, can
Fifty years after leaving an indelible mark on Major League Baseball and the American sports landscape, a legendary figure is being honored with his own U.S. Postal Service stamp. Henry “Hank” Aaron, the Atlanta Braves Hall of Famer and baseball’s
Marla D. Thrower is the matriarch of the Thrower Organization and the CFO of Jamjomar d/b/a McDonald’s. This is the managing company for several McDonald’s locations in southeastern Michigan. Marla and her husband, Jim, made a dream become a reality
Kendra Davenport-Cotton is a seasoned professional with more than 20 years of experience building and cultivating relationships in order to advance a favorable public image and positive strategic agenda for the individuals and organizations that she serves. Kendra is currently
Natalie King, a visionary in clean energy, is the driving force behind Dunamis Clean Energy Partners, LLC, and its subsequent venture, Dunamis Charge, Inc. Her leadership has propelled Dunamis to a multimillion-dollar status, employing over 150 individuals in southeastern Michigan.
TeShayla Coates, fondly known as “Everyday Shay,” is a ground-breaking serial entrepreneur and owner of multiple businesses across multiple industries. She is notably the founder and CEO of Coates Communications, a marketing agency. Alongside her valuable expertise in marketing and
K.C. Wilbourn-Snapp is a turnaround specialist in the industries of education, corrections, and non-profits. She is responsible for violence interruption and program facilitation in the Richmond City County Jail and has provided engagement for low-to-maximum security classified inmates in correctional
Shanna Johnson, FACHE, is the President of Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, joining Henry Ford Health in April 2022. Johnson leads the 191-bed acute care medical campus in the Metro Detroit suburban area. In her role as president, Johnson works
As a Trust Advisor for Comerica Bank in Detroit, LaShawn Jimenez plays an invaluable role with the ability to be the highest quality trust provider, while growing the business in Wealth Management and the Trust division. In her role, she
Cassandra Kirk is the first Chief Magistrate Judge of Fulton County appointed by Governor Nathan Deal. With over 30 years in legal roles, including as a jurist, administrator, prosecutor, defense attorney, and civil litigator, Kirk spearheaded the creation of the
