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

BLK dating and lifestyle app for the Black community proudly unveils their new endeavor: The BLK MBA (Master of Black Affection) Program.

The BLK MBA (Master of Black Affection) Program

Created to empower and support recent graduates from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) facing post-graduation employment challenges, this innovative initiative seeks to redefine both professional and dating dynamics, while providing financial support to young job-seekers.

Improving employment rates

At its core, the BLK MBA Program creates an opportunity for recent HBCU graduates to navigate the journey from academia to the workforce.

Despite improving graduation rates, systemic and cultural obstacles often obstruct the path to employment for Black graduates. African Americans with college degrees are twice as likely to be unemployed as other graduates, with 12.4 percent of Black college graduates being unemployed, a rate significantly higher than the 5.6 percent average for all college graduates. BLK recognizes the need for solutions to fix this gap.

Summer of growth and discovery

The program isn’t your traditional MBA program – there will be no coursework or thesis statements. Instead, BLK will select three outstanding graduates from HBCUs, inviting them to embark on a summer of growth and discovery. These participants will immerse themselves in the vibrant BLK community, exploring networking and connections on the app. Along the way, they’ll share feedback to make the user experience even better, working alongside the brand to gain a deeper understanding of how Black Gen-Z approaches dating, networking and creating connections. Each participant will be awarded a stipend to support them during their journey.

BLK MBA Program Application

The application process for the BLK MBA Program commences in May, inviting recent HBCU graduates to apply.

Applicants will be required to submit their resumes and a personal statement that showcases both their desire and need to be a part of the program. A panel of judges, comprising BLK brand team members and Black leaders from the BLK Advocacy Council, will evaluate applications to select three participants based on academic achievements, personal statements, and potential contributions.

Selected participants will embark on a transformative journey throughout the summer, immersing themselves in the vibrant BLK community to hone their networking skills and forge meaningful connections with other Black singles, recent graduates, young professionals and Black business leaders.

Participants will also proactively network, arrange meetings, and go on dates with the goal of fostering relationships that could lead to meaningful relationships and valuable job opportunities. As they navigate the digital dating landscape, participants will not only shape the future of dating experiences for Black Gen-Z individuals but also gain invaluable insights into effective networking strategies.

More information

For further information about the BLK MBA Program and details on how to apply, please visit https://www.theplugbyblk.com/blkmba2024.

In celebration of the sitcom’s 35+ year legacy, the cast of ‘A Different World’ will reunite for a national 10-city tour across HBCUs, reports PEOPLE.

A Different World HBCU tour

Darryl M. Bell (Ronald ‘Ron’ Johnson), Charnele Brown (Kimberly ‘Kim’ Reese), Jasmine Guy (Whitley Marion Gilbert Wayne), Kadeem Hardison (Dwayne Cleophus Wayne), Dawnn Lewis (Jaleesa Vinson Taylor), Cree Summer (Winifred ‘Freddie’ Brooks), Glynn Turman (Col. Bradford ‘Brad’ Taylor) and Sinbad (Walter Oakes) will participate on the tour.

The tour will feature panels and other events and will also be joined by producers Debbie Allen and Susan Fales.

Dates

The HBCU tour will kick off Feb. 29 in Georgia at Atlanta University Center, which include Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, and Morehouse College.

Other locations include Washington, D.C. (hosted by Howard University) and Montgomery, Ala. (hosted by Alabama State University and Tuskegee University). Both will be in April but no date has been released yet.

More dates will be announced soon.