S.E.E.K. Foundation, Inc. has announced the launch of the groundbreaking SMART Tech Health Hub project in Opa-Locka, Florida, which aims to provide residents, children, and families with access to high-quality STEM education.

About the SMART Tech Health Hub

With $4,000,000 in funding from the state of Florida, this innovative initiative is the first of its kind in the city, aiming to provide residents, children, and families with access to high-quality STEM education, re-entry pathways to the STEM workforce, broadband width, and basic essential health services.

S.E.E.K. Foundation, Inc founder Anike Sakariyawo

“The partnership with the Miami Foundation’s Digital Equity Collective program has been pivotal in advancing this initiative,” says Founder of SEEK Foundation, Inc., Anike Sakariyawo.  “We are looking to provide Opa-Locka community members of all ages access to educational resources and pathways to STEM careers to children and adults, and a space to innovate and follow individual curiosity.”

Beacon of opportunity and advancement

The Smart Tech Health Hub is looking to fill a void that has long been felt in the community as the City of Opa-Locka has no high school or technical facility.

Anticipated to be fully operational by December 2026, the SMART Tech Health Hub will serve as a beacon of opportunity and advancement for the local community, empowering individuals with the tools and resources needed to thrive in today’s technology-driven world.

The SMART Tech Health Hub will be a multifaceted building, serving a purpose for each level.

The first and second floors are designed for children and staff members of S.E.E.K foundation to conduct everyday operations for educational programs in STEM. This will include a pipeline program to create academic access to a specific industry (e.g. USDA – food, agriculture, artificial intelligence (AI) learning deployment and integration, cybersecurity, coding program, robotics, UI/UX Design, etc.).

The third floor will allow children and families to have access to basic health needs, such as annual shots/vaccinations, back to school boosters, telehealth, as additional sites for the community.

1st Annual Youth STEM Summit

This Summer,  S.E.E.K. Foundation, Inc. hosted their 1st Annual Youth STEM Summit, which inspired 500 young students about the opportunities and importance of STEM education. Through hands-on activities, interactive workshops, and informative presentations, they ignited curiosity and nurtured students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

For more information, please visit: https://seekedu.org

BLACK JOY DISCO wants to celebrate Black LGBTQ+ culture in Washington, DC with performances, art, and custom mocktails, but financial challenges have prompted organizer and DC creative Lee Levingston Perine to start a GoFundMe to help fund the affirming space.

“I seek to raise $5,000 by Friday, May 17, 2024, to cover essential expenses for this significant community event,” Perine wrote.

About BLACK JOY DISCO

BLACK JOY DISCO is an Afrofuturist, zero-proof micro-festival celebrating Black LGBTQ+ joy and culture through music, movement, and media.

The event is set to take place Saturday, May 18, 2024 at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.

The lineup includes performances by local luminaries like Riley Knoxx, Pussy Noir, King Molasses, and The Experience Band & Show, a pop-up shop, custom mocktails, and a dance party with Baronhawk Poitier and live drumming by Asha “BOOMCLAK” Santee.

They are also creating a “Liberation Lounge, ” a sanctuary that imagines a collective future where Black LGBTQ+ folx can thrive. The multimedia installation affirms and uplifts Black cultural practices of joy, activism, and wellness through projection, soundscapes, and art making, including the Chocolate City Wishing Tree.

GoFundMe

Donations are expected to help ensure this celebration of Black LGBTQ+ joy can move forward as planned.

To read more and donate to their cause, visit the GoFundMe.

Visit BLACK JOY DISCO’s website.

Higher Collective, the cannabis retail brand committed to fostering a new business model that champions social equity, opened its third location in Connecticut on Thursday, November 2, 2023.

Higher Collective New London

The new store, located at 595 Bank Street, New London, CT 06320, promises to bring a fresh and inclusive cannabis experience to the heart of the Whaling City.

A Revolutionary Retail Concept

Higher Collective New London states that they are not just another retail shop; but a beacon of community, diversity, and innovation within the cannabis industry.

With a strong commitment to social equity, Higher Collective aims to redefine the cannabis retail experience by offering a wide range of high-quality products and services, bringing a new level of inclusivity to the local cannabis community.

“We’re thrilled to continue our journey of transforming the cannabis industry with the opening of Higher Collective New London,” said Patrik Jonsson, Founder of Higher Collective. “From our partnership with Angie Lewis, Dispensary Owner in Killingly, to collaborating with Yanira Wolfgang-Pinto, Dispensary Owner in Willington, and now Tori Garrett, the owner of Higher Collective New London, we’ve had the privilege of kicking off the Higher Collective brand with a remarkable group of women. Each of them brings a unique and compelling perspective on the power of cannabis and is uniquely committed to enriching the communities they serve.”

Offerings

The Higher Collective Group is proud to offer a variety of cannabis products, including flowers, edibles, pre-rolls, and vape cartridges, all with varying levels of THC and onset times, ensuring that every customer can find the right product for their individual preferences.

Higher Collective New London will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

For more information, visit their website.