New York state’s gun buyback program saw more than 3,000 guns surrendered in exchange for gift cards last week. Nine buyback locations were set up in various regions of the state, with two in New York City.
Organized by State Attorney General Letitia James, this was the first-ever statewide gun buyback in New York history.
The gun buyback events were conducted in partnership with local law enforcement agencies and public officials. The attorney general’s office said it collected 185 assault weapons, 1,656 handguns, and 823 long guns. In New York City, 90 guns were collected in Brooklyn and 70 in the Bronx.
The NYPD has also established a Cash for Guns program that offers $200 to anyone who surrenders a gun. Individuals who choose to surrender their guns do not have to identify themselves nor will they be asked any questions by officials.
This week, the members of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus voted to advance their priorities from the 2023 People’s Budget in the SFY24 Enacted Budget. Together, the Caucus held firm throughout negotiations to stymie unfavorable proposals and attain vital wins for Black, Latino, & AAPI New Yorkers. The People’s Budget, presented earlier in the…
Harlem Bespoke: We have been following the sale of this notable brownstone over the past few months now the local papers have reported that downtown celebrity Julia Fox has made the big purchase to move uptown.
The apparent 2-family brownstone at 102 West 123rd Street went up on the market for $3.65 $2.99 million asking price last fall and now has a contract out as of the last week of February. This impressive 20-foot-wide corner landmark townhouse in the historic district has some expensive upgrades inside and there appears to be two duplexes set up since two kitchens are within the floor plans. With that said, the Mount Morris Park Historic District is one of the most south after neighborhoods to be found uptown and there is a lot to offer on Lenox Avenue including the Whole Foods just a couple of blocks north. We also appreciate that quite a few original details are still intact within. More on information and photos on Streeteasy:LINK
Do you feel like you’re finally ready to turn your dream house into a reality? Designing the house of your dreams doesn’t have to be hard if you take it one step at a time. Though it may seem like an overwhelming project, breaking down and following these six crucial steps can help make the…
Electronic transportation devices are everywhere in New York City now – and from daily commuting to food delivery, they are revolutionizing how we get around. E-bikes and e-scooters are convenient and low-cost alternatives to cars. They help reduce congestion on our streets and make our city cleaner and greener. Tens of thousands of our delivery workers rely on them for their…
WASHINGTON (AP) — Howard University is turning to an experienced scholar of the African diaspora to serve as its new university president.
Ben Vinson III, currently the provost at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, will officially take over as president from the retiring Wayne Frederick on Sept. 1. Vinson is a historian specializing in studies of the African diaspora, particularly in Latin America.
His appointment comes at a crucial time for the historically Black university; the venerable institution is riding a wave of national prominence, with illustrious alumni, major funding boosts and high-profile staff additions.
Vinson called the Howard position, “the honor of a lifetime,” in a statement put out by the university.
“Howard’s incredible legacy, its remarkable trajectory, combined with the fine talent of its faculty and staff, situate Howard at the uppermost echelons of higher education,” he said.
Vinson grew up partially in the D.C. area and graduated from high school in neighboring Alexandria, Virginia. His list of academic roles includes senior positions at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and George Washington University in Washington.
“I look forward to returning to the DMV (the greater D.C. area), which I consider home, and working with the broader campus community to fortify Howard and help build upon its incredible tradition of delivering excellence, truth, and service to greater humanity,” he said.
Long one of the jewels of the Historically Black College and Universities network, Howard is enjoying a season of plenty. High-profile alumni like Vice President Kamala Harris and the late “Black Panther” actor Chadwick Boseman have brought fresh prominence and rising enrollment numbers. Major benefactors like NBA star Steph Curry and MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos, have come to Howard with significant donations.
The university has also leveraged its prominence to secure a string of headline-grabbing faculty members. Two of America’s most prominent writers on race relations, Nikole Hannah-Jones and Ta-Nehisi Coates, joined the university in 2021, and famed actress and Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad now heads the College of Fine Arts.
Harlem Bespoke: Harlem cycle debuted within the Strivers Row neighborhood on Adam Clayton Powell by 138th Street on the lower level of historic brownstone back in 2016 and now has a second location on 125th Street. This cardio destination is not a big flashy gym so uptown fitness enthusiasts will receive more one-on-one attention and do not have to go all the way downtown for something similar. Drop by for details or support this local small business by booking classes online: LINK
Harlem Bespoke is Harlem’s most followed blog website page on Facebook with original content! Join our growing community of over 14,000 followers on the Harlem Bespoke Facebook site and receive daily updates to your account by liking our page: LINK
High demand for data science skills generates rewarding career opportunities, but those opportunities have not historically gone to underrepresented populations. Innovative professors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are forging opportunities for students to engage with data analytics in meaningful and creative ways, ensuring students develop career-ready analytics skills. To supercharge their efforts, SAS developed the HBCU Fellows Program and recently named the four members of the inaugural cohort.
The HBCU Fellows Program supports educators at Historically Black Colleges and Universities by helping integrate analytical tools into academic programs and increase access to data and analytics education. Fellows are chosen based on interest in data analytics, feasibility of proposed plan and projected impact to teaching. The inaugural cohort is using SAS to explore compelling real-world applications in financial services and investing, human resources, marketing, and sports analytics.
“The HBCU Fellows are opening doors to exciting careers in data and analytics for their students,” said Liz Moran, Director, SAS Academic Programs and Certification. “They are also helping make their institutions destinations for a new, more diverse generation of data scientists and analytics experts that can use data to grow businesses, power research and improve society.”
Those selected for the program receive customized curriculum planning and technical guidance, opportunities to network with technical experts, and more. Fellows will participate in quarterly training and professional development events aimed at advancing their analytics and data science skills and identifying resources for teaching data analytics in their disciplines. The first cohort of HBCU Fellows are:
Minnette A. Bumpus, PhD, Associate Professor of Management in the College of Business at Bowie State University.
Gregory W. Ramsey, PhD, Associate Professor in the Information Science and Systems Department at the Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management at Morgan State University.
Pamela Queen, PhD, Professor in the Accounting and Finance Department at the Graves School of Business and Management at Morgan State University.
Joni Jackson, PhD, Associate Professor of Marketing in the College of Business at Chicago State University.
Striving to close a growing skills gap
According to CompTIA’s State of the Tech Workforce report, Black people account for 12% of the US workforce but occupy only 8% of tech jobs. That gap is projected to widen. Technology jobs are expected to grow 14% by 2032, but Black tech talent in those roles is expected to grow only 8%.
By integrating data skills into coursework and projects, HBCU Fellows will prepare students with real-world experience to seize those growing opportunities.
At Morgan State University, some of that experience will be in the rapidly growing area of sports analytics. Students will get to work with the university’s Center for Data Analytics and Sports Gaming Research to study and support research on socio-behavioral attitudes about esports, sports wagering, gambling addiction and other trends to inform public policy and regulations.
“The SAS HBCU Fellows Program will enable me to serve as an ambassador to my colleagues by customizing curriculum and student assignments that will better prepare Morgan students to utilize data analytics in various business disciplines, including sports and fintech,” said Queen.
Increasing representation in the analytics workforce
For decades, SAS has supported education at all levels to shrink the data skills gap and prepare more students for college, work and success in the analytics economy. From its partnerships with minority-serving institutions to diversity hiring initiatives and employee inclusion groups, SAS is committed to increasing diversity, equity and inclusion within the company and in the industry.
Last year, SAS hosted the first HBCU Invitational in concert with the SAS Championship golf tournament. It joined many other outreach and recruiting programs, including SAS HBCU STEM & Business Connects, HBCU Career Development Marketplace and HBCU Academic Excellence Program.
Harlem Bespoke also has a Twitter account with over 6,730 followers for those who want daily updates about stuff that is happening in the neighborhood. If you Twitter, check out our Harlem tweets and join here: LINK
