In school, students are learning new skills that will help them achieve their dreams. For a growing number of them, these dreams include owning their own business. Small businesses are an important part of the American economy and have accounted for two out of every three jobs added in the past 25 years, according to…
National Preparedness Month was last month, and FEMA and the Ad Council have released new Ready Campaign Public Service Announcements (PSAs), developed specifically to target Black and African American communities as part of FEMA’s ongoing approach to advance accessibility and cultural competency in boosting the nation’s preparedness. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and Deputy Administrator Erik…
Sheldon Theragood is the author of the inspiring book, “Whatever It Takes, Walking Through God’s Purpose.” Sheldon is also a motivational speaker, youth mentor, police officer, and philanthropist. He is a native Houstonian who received his Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Texas Southern University and a Master of Arts in Counseling from Prairie View…
Following President Joe Biden’s announcement canceling student loan debt of up to $20,000 for specific borrowers, the U.S. Department of Education said applications for relief under the plan should be submitted by Nov. 15. Department officials said they’ve made the application process simple, and if borrowers fail to apply by Nov. 15, they’d still have…
More than one in three Black community college students is in poverty, and widespread inequality in community colleges deepened throughout the pandemic for Black students facing basic needs insecurity. According to a new report from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies on the state of Black students at community colleges, an alarming 70…
As inflation continues to put a strain on budgets, talk of an upcoming recession has Americans worried about their finances. Prices on everyday items continue to rise and consumers are trying to find ways to make their dollar stretch further while safeguarding their money against the potential challenges a recession may bring. The future may…
Life insurance is for people of all ages, not just parents and grandparents. While life insurance needs vary by age and stage of life, it’s a good idea to invest in a life insurance plan while you’re young. If you’re in your 20s and 30s, life insurance may not seem necessary, but it’s a useful…
If you’re unsure of how to start planning for your financial future through investing, you’re far from alone. In fact, it might surprise you to know that 80 million Americans are interested in investing but don’t know where to begin. Yahoo Finance even reports that 54% of millennials have less than $5,000 of their money…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Hear Her campaign raises awareness of potentially life-threatening warning signs during and after pregnancy and encourages the people supporting pregnant and postpartum people to really listen when they express concerns. Valencia, one of the women featured in the campaign, talked about her experience with a pregnancy-related complication….
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent The current trend of polypharmacy – the simultaneous use of multiple drugs by a single patient for one or more conditions – reflects racism and discrimination in the treatment of Black, Indigenous, and people of color children and teens, according to Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross, an…
A staggering 90 percent of people fail to achieve a good night’s sleep, according to new international research presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2022. The study found that suboptimal sleep was associated with a higher likelihood of heart disease and stroke. The authors estimated that seven in ten of these cardiovascular…
Feeling overwhelmed by your Medicare options? There’s a good reason for that. With more than 3,000 Medicare Advantage plans, over 700 Part D Prescription Plans available and an array of carriers offering Medicare Supplement plans, there’s a lot to consider. “Whether this is your first time enrolling in Medicare or you’ve been through the process…
The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unprecedented challenges and altered ways of living across the globe. Now, more than two years later, the effects are still felt widely. Many non-emergent clinical services were limited or suspended during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US, which may have adversely impacted epidemics of public health importance,…
Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer diagnosed and the second leading cause of cancer death among Americans with prostates. This year alone, more than a quarter million people in the U.S. will receive the diagnosis. With approximately 1 in 6 Black men expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his…
Health care is essential for everyone throughout their life. To further equity, improve outcomes and increase access, it is important people are able to get the care they need when and where they need it. However, the American healthcare system can be complex. Medicaid is a government-sponsored program to help provide low and often no-cost…
The 2022 Top 30 Influential Women of Houston Honors a Dynamic and Determined Sisterhood Driven to Make a Difference The d-mars.com 9th Annual Top 30 Influential Women of Houston Awards continues to pay tribute to a distinguished sisterhood of women around Houston and the nation who are dynamic and driven to make a difference in…
If you dream of homeownership, having your mortgage application denied can be devastating. If this does happen to you, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Thirteen percent of all purchase mortgage applications — a total of nearly 650,000 — were denied in 2020, according to federal government data. Before quickly reapplying for a…
Bank of America announced a new zero down payment, zero closing cost mortgage solution for first-time homebuyers, which will be available in designated markets, including certain African American and Hispanic neighborhoods in Charlotte, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Miami. According to a news release, the Community Affordable Loan Solution aims to help eligible individuals and…
By Contributing Writer Marla Lewis, President of the Houston Black Real Estate Association If you are setting your sights on buying a home or condominium, keep in mind that the property may be governed by a homeowners association (HOA). More than 63 million people live within communities that are overseen by HOAs, according to the…
Similar to how the ways we listen to music and watch movies have changed, cellular networks are evolving too. In fact, all major wireless providers plan to shutter their 3G cellular networks this year. 3G networks are the wireless equivalent of being on dial-up internet access years ago. Built in the early 2000s, 3G networks…