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FOR THE FIRST TIME IN PORTLAND’S HISTORY, THE POLICE AND FIRE BUREAUS ARE BEING LED BY TWO BLACK WOMEN

For the first time in Portland, Oregon’s history, two Black women are leading both the city’s police and fire bureaus.

On June 13, Sara Boone became chief of Portland Fire & Rescue, joining the ranks of Danielle Outlaw, the Oregon city’s police chief.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, people who identify as Black account for only 5.7% of the city’s population of more than 653,000 residents. However, of the nation’s 100 largest cities, Portland is the only one with police and fire bureaus led by Black women, reports Willamette Week.View image on Twitter

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Multnomah Co Sheriff✔@MultCoSO

Today is #Juneteenth and last Saturday, MCSO joined the local community to celebrate!
During the festivities we ran into Portland’s first African American Fire Chief, Sara Boone. We are proud to serve alongside such great and diverse public safety professionals.@PDXFire184:25 PM – Jun 19, 2019See Multnomah Co Sheriff’s other TweetsTwitter Ads info and privacy

Outlaw, who was appointed Portland’s police chief in 2017, has focused on the city’s hotbed climate for protestors and continues to make reforms in leveling back excessive force and handling growing crime rates.

Boone’s appointment makes her the first Black fire & rescue chief in Portland history, but it isn’t the first time she has trailblazed in her hometown. Upon starting her career as an entry-level firefighter 24 years ago, the Northeast Portland native was the first Black female firefighter to join the department since 1883, according to The Skanner News.

“I am deeply honored to be the next Fire Chief of Portland Fire & Rescue, a bureau I hold in high esteem because of the men and women who serve with honor, integrity, and sacrifice,” Boone said. “I am committed to ensuring that our responsiveness and our professionalism live up to the highest ideals of service, integrity, and equity.”

Boone will be sworn in as chief at the beginning of August.

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CHICAGO TWINS WHO TOOK 12 AP COURSES GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AS CO-VALEDICTORIANS

Twins, Tia and Tyra Smith recently graduated from Chicago’s Lindblom Math and Science Academy with 4.0 GPAs and secured the title of co-valedictorians.

The 18-year-old sisters each excelled in 12 Advancement Placement courses, including U.S. history. In fact, they both juggled five AP classes in their final year of high school. 

“I was like, ‘No, I’m not approving this. That’s not a stress level I’m comfortable with,’” Lindblom guidance counselor April Weathers told the Chicago Sun-Times.“What did they get? Straight A’s.”

For their senior year, Tia and Tyra launched two major projects at Lindblom: the academy’s first Black history, student art-featured gallery, titled “More than 28,” and a community health campaign for kidney disease. 

Both sisters credit their achievements to hard work, encouraging one another and consistent communication with teachers. 

“I think we’re successful, because of ourselves and because we’ve worked together throughout all these years,” Tia said. “I think it makes sense to do this together.”

Though they both will be studying theater this fall, Tia will attend Duke University while Tyra will enroll at Northwestern University. 

Both have been awarded a total of $5 million in scholarship funds. 

“Their achievement did not come as a surprise because we’ve been working with them at a very early age,” the sisters’ mother, Lemi-Ola Erinkitola, told Good Morning America. Erinkitola is an educator, author and founder of The Critical Thinking Child, which provides consulting and tutoring services to children, educators and families.

“It was very, very emotional and goes beyond just the title. It was the fact that they can share that platform together and a memory they can carry throughout their journeys in life.”

While neither sister knows exactly where their path will take them, Tyra said she has her eyes set on “be[ing] happy,” and Tia wants to dive into the world of theater, making it “more accessible” for the masses.

Credit: blavity.com

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AARON PHILIP IS A BLACK, TRANSGENDER AND DISABLED MODEL AND SHE JUST LANDS HER FIRST MAGAZINE COVER!

As the first Black, transgender and disabled model signed to a major model agency, Elite Model Management, Aaron Philip just landed her first full spread feature with Paper magazine.




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i’m so happy to share my @papermagazine cover for this year’s #PaperPride ❤️ me by my dear friend @mylesloftin, styled by icon @tiffanistyles, makeup by legends @raisaflowers @kbank.s, hair by wonderful @evaniefrausto, nails by @yukomanicure 💗 this is my first major cover and i just could not be more grateful or excited. i’m speechless, but what’s new? thank you to this fantastic team and thank you @justintmoran for always supporting & loving me 💕 @richiekeo @elitenyc i love you xoxo

A post shared by aaron philip (@aaron___philip) on Jun 24, 2019 at 7:10am PDT

Gracing the cover donning a fluorescent feather boa, the 18-year-old model is one of seven features for this month’s issue celebrating Pride and was interviewed by iconic supermodel Naomi Campbell. Philip, who was born with cerebral palsy, is very vocal about the representation disparities on the runway.

“As of right now, I’m one of two physically disabled models in the entire industry,” she told CNN in February. 

“The fashion industry has only known one type of body, and one type of marketable figure for so long. (But) now we’re entering this time, and this climate, where all types of bodies want to be pushed forward and celebrated —not only celebrated, but be seen as desirable and marketable.” 

She adds that the marginalized should not be responsible for amplifying their voices when others could advocate on their behalf. 

“But it’s just the way of getting to where you need to be,” she said. “So I’ll do it. And hopefully I’ll do it so that other girls in my position don’t have to.”




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LOOK 18 ON @aaron___philip , a moment that will forever make my heart full ✖️ photos/videos by @elischmidtphoto #queercapital #madeinnyc

A post shared by @willienorrisworkshop on Jun 19, 2019 at 1:28pm PDT

Philip’s presence on social media has garnered much attention with a total of 120,000 followers on Instagram and Twitter. 

“Honestly when i get scouted/discovered by a modeling agency it’s OVER for y’all!,” she tweeted in 2017.

Since being signed to Elite, Philip has remained booked and busy with several featured profiles and brand marketing campaigns including Dove, Sephora and Teen Vogue.

Credit: blavity.com

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12-YEAR-OLD KIDPRENEUR AND HER MOM LAUNCH SUBSCRIPTION BOX THAT INSTILLS CONFIDENCE IN YOUNG GIRLS

Kidpreneur Alex Hopkins and her mom, Patrice, have curated a box that delivers self love and serves as a launch pad for self-awareness and self-esteem programming for girls across the nation.

Alex and Patrice Hopkins, founders of Confident Girls

Alex and Patrice Hopkins, founders of Confident Girls

Founded in 2016 by mother-daughter duo Alex Hopkins and her mom Patrice, Confident Girls is a plant-based company committed to the empowerment of young girls, through education and positive self-care. Confident Girls is excited to announce the release of its new subscription box, Confident Crate. Confident Crate offers a fun yet empowering monthly subscription box, that caters to a young daughters’ uniqueness along with fun surprises for the entire family to enjoy. The box contains 2-3 full-sized beauty products and an additional 3-4 curated items with a new and unique overarching theme each month.

Confident Girls is represented through a vibrant mix of characters named Jadira, Alex, Shima, Aja, and Andraya. These characters are loosely based on the characteristics, imagery, and personalities of Alex, her two sisters, and her two cousins. The Confident Girls characters represent the diversity that encompasses the Hopkins family.

Studies show that by the age of 6, girls gain awareness of their body image. By late elementary school 50% of girls develop a negative body image, and 78% by the time they reach seventeen. This lack of self-esteem has lifelong consequences. Girls who are raised with confidence are more equipped to handle stressful situations, exhibit a more positive attitude and have the ability to positively influence others and seek leadership roles in their community. The creation of Confident Crate allows us to bridge this gap and accomplish three key principles: the importance of self-care, seeking diversity in everything we do, and most importantly instilling in young girls all over the world the belief “that confident girls look like me.”

When asked about the importance of this crate Alex states, “Confidence to me is the courage to do something that other people are afraid to do. One of those things is being yourself and doing what you feel is right. Starting Confident Girls with my mom we hope that we can give people the courage and confidence to stay true to themselves.”

The Confidence Girls mission is to create a supportive environment that brings girls together. Alex and Patrice were so touched when girls and their mothers, having seen the characters on their skin care products, would approach them saying say, “Wow, there is a girl with red hair. She looks like me!”

“Representation matters and all girls need to see the best representation of themselves,” said Patrice, who serves as the company’s COO.

Alex is not only the CEO of a successful skincare line for her and her peers, she is also an honor roll student, star on the soccer field, and a county champion in track and field for her middle school. Patrice uses her M.ED in Special Education to create a curriculum for their educational programs and workshops which focuses on self-care, mother-daughter relationships and enhancing their vision of building the self-esteem of young girls all around the world.

For more information about Confident Crate, Confident Girls products or programming, visit www.confidentcrate.com

PRESS CONTACT:
Patrice Hopkins
571-228-6869
patrice@confidentgirls.net

Credit: Blacknews.com

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FLORIDA TEEN DEFIES CANCER DIAGNOSIS TO ATTEND SENIOR PROM

Claudia Medeus is the epitome of a fighter.

A Florida teen was diagnosed with cancertwo months before her prom and went anyway despite her diagnosis. 

Claudia Medeus of Coral Springs was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma in March. The 17-year-old Coral Glades High School student has always had her heart set on attending her senior prom. Nothing, not even cancer, was going to stop her. On the night of her may 18 prom, Medeus got glammed up and ready to go.

The devastating news sent her into freefall. She thought her life was over and her dreams were out of reach.

“Then I started treatment and it made me so sick and there was much risk,” she recalled. “I was scared to even go to prom. I just wanted to sink into a black hole forever.”

But the side effects of her treatment were not enough to deter her. Claudia kept fighting. 

“After a couple of weeks, I thought, ‘It’s my senior year and I shouldn’t let cancer take my happiness away,’” she said defiantly. 

Her immune system was weakened drastically due to the cancer and treatment. However, the teen’s doctors gave her the green light to go to prom.

“When I asked the doctors, it went from, ‘We don’t know to maybe to we’ll see to you can go.’ I was so excited to tell my friends, ‘Hey guys, I’m going to prom!’ At that moment I forgot I had cancer.”

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a soft tissue cancer that affects children and teenagers. According to Cancer.gov, the cancer is a type of “sarcoma that is found in the soft tissue (such as muscle), connective tissue (such as tendon or cartilage), or bone.”

Experts like Hector Rodriguez-Cortes, M.D., medical director of pediatric hematology/oncology at the Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital at Broward Health Medical Center, said treatment for the cancer remains a challenge. Drug resistance to pediatric tumors tends to make the cancer difficult to cure.

Despite the long road ahead, Claudia will remain a “funny, bubbly, crazy fun girl” who isn’t defined by her diagnosis.

Credit: blavity.com

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SERENA WILLIAMS MAKES HISTORY AS THE SECOND BLACK WOMAN TO BE FEATURED ON A WHEATIES BOX

Serena Williams has made history yet again.

The tennis star’s image will be featured on the iconic Wheaties cereal box, reports ABC News. As Williams noted on Instagram, she is the second Black woman to be featured on a Wheaties box. The only other Black woman to receive the honor was Althea Gibson back in 2001. Gibson is widely recognized as one of the greatest athletes to ever grace a tennis court. She was best known as the first Black woman to ever win a Grand Slam title when she won the French Open in 1956.




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In 2001, Wheaties paid homage to a true champion and an icon by putting her on the cover of a Wheaties Box. Althea Gibson was the FIRST Black Woman tennis player to be on the box. Today, I am honored to be the second.

A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) on Jun 25, 2019 at 6:00am PDT

“In 2001, Wheaties paid homage to a true champion and an icon by putting her on the cover of a Wheaties Box,” Williams wrote.

“Althea Gibson was the FIRST Black Woman tennis player to be on the box. Today, I am honored to be the second.”

View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter

noironlineorg@noironlineorg

Wheaties cereal originally began featuring a variant of athletes in 1933; but has featured only two black females within their history.

International tennis players #AltheaGibson was featured in 2011. With #SerenaWilliams recently being featured in 2019.23:00 PM – Jun 25, 2019See noironlineorg’s other TweetsTwitter Ads info and privacy

Wheaties confirmed the development in a press release and praised Williams for her accomplishments.

“Serena exemplifies all of the personal attributes that Wheaties looks for when choosing who its next champion will be,” marketing manager Tiffani Daniels said. “On the court she has been named the women’s most valuable player seven times, while off the court she uses her voice to inspire and spark change to make the world a better place.”

The mom-of-one has won 23 grand slam singles titles and 14 grand slam doubles titles. On June 4, Williams became the first athlete to make Forbes’ World’s Richest Self-Made Women list. Her net worth is reportedly $225 million.




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Be the brand. Starting @Serena and @Serena.Ventures are just a few steps. Honored to be the first athlete on @Forbes #SelfMadeWomen list. Hair by @lorraine_dublin Makeup by @paulinebriscoe

A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) on Jun 4, 2019 at 6:01am PDT

“I am so excited to be on the cover of the next Wheaties box,” Williams said in a statement. “I have dreamt of this since I was a young woman and it’s an honor to join the ranks of some of America’s most decorated athletes. I hope my image on this iconic orange box will inspire the next generation of girls and athletes to dream big.”

Williams’ most recent honor caps off an incredible stretch for the tennis star. She was honored with Sportswoman of the Year award at the 2019 BET Awards on June 23.

Credit: blavity.com

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NIGERIA’S FIRST LADY, AISHA BUHARI CALLS FOR MORE WOMEN IN THE SEAFARING PROFESSION

The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs Aisha Buhari, on Tuesday asked maritime agencies to review subsisting policies to accommodate more Nigerian women in the seafaring profession.

The First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari [NAN]

The first lady who described women as good human and material managers said that, such policy drive would help to level gender inequalities existing in the profession.

Mrs Buhari, gave the advice at the 2019 Seafarers Day organised by the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the event was: `On Board with Gender Equality’ aimed at honouring seafarers for their contribution.

NAN) also reports that the president’s wife was represented at the event by the wife of the Vice President of Nigeria, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo.

She said “There has been significant effort by the NIMASA leadership at making the women play active role in the maritime sector especially in the seafaring aspect.

“Mr President is desirous of seeing more women in the industry this year celebration focusing on women seafarers is therefore apt.

“It will be development on a wider range seeing agencies play pivotal role in leading the pack in the new direction of gender equality in maritime career of the girl child.

“Let me stress that it is important to educate the girl child in opportunities in taking up career in the sector and the derivable benefits there, while dissuading them from the notion that it is men’s job,’’ she said.

Dr Dakuku Peterside, the Director-General (DG) of NIMASA in his address said the agency was gender sensitive, adding that more Nigerian girls had in the recent times benefited from NIMASA cadet training.

“To this end the agency will continue to pursue policies that will accelerate gender equality and empowerment of women in the maritime.

“In addition to the 304 female cadets we have trained since the inception of the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), special attention will now be given to the training of female seafarers in specialised courses to enable them take-up professional responsibilities,’’ he said.

MS Sophia Adula, an awaiting Seatime Mandatory Cadet told NAN that many of them out there were yet to sail out after graduation because of no platform to acquire the training that would certify them.

She called on the authorities to make seatime training platform available for them to ply their trade.

Credit: Pulse News

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A WOMAN WILL LEAD NAVAL WAR COLLEGE FOR THE FIRST TME IN SCHOOL’S 135-YEAR HISTORY

A woman has been appointed as president of the U.S. Naval War College for the first time in the institution’s 135-year history, the Navy announced on Friday.

Selecting Rear Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, a helicopter pilot who now heads a military command in Guam, as the college’s next leader was a “historic choice,” said Navy Secretary Richard Spencer.

Her appointment follows a scandal involving the former president of the Naval War College.

Just days ago, top Navy officials removed the previous president, Rear Adm. Jeffrey Harley, in the wake of an investigation into complaints over Harley’s behavior, including excessive spending and abusing his hiring authority. The Associated Press first reported on the probe into alleged inappropriate conduct, such as keeping a margarita machine in his office.

The official release about Chatfield made no mention of Harley’s removal. Top Navy officials told the AP that though the investigation into Harley has not been completed, officials “had enough information” to justify Harley’s departure this week.

Incoming president Chatfield, 53, is originally from Garden Grove, Calif., and she had been deployed to helicopter detachments in the Western Pacific and the Arabian Gulf before serving as a commander of a provincial reconstruction team Afghanistan in 2008, according to the Navy. Chatfield, who has a doctorate in education, has also taught political science as an assistant professor at the United States Air Force Academy.Article continues after sponsor message

Then a lieutenant, Chatfield told The Los Angeles Times in 1993 when restrictions on women flying in combat missions were lifted: “The goal of every Navy pilot should be to command a squadron at sea.”

More than two decades later, Chatfield will be at the helm of an institution with more than 50,000 graduates since its founding in 1884.

On her appointment, Spencer said: “She is the embodiment of the type of warrior-scholar we need now to lead this storied institution as it educates our next generation of leaders.”

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KENESHA STARLING BECOMES THE FIRST BLACK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF SOUTH TEXAS LAW REVIEW

Kenesha Starling is the first Black student to serve as editor-in-chief of the law review in the school’s history.

The school, which was founded in 1923, touted Starling as a hardworking second-year law student eager to break down longstanding barriers.

“This is an opportunity for us to leave our footprint, our chance to do things a bit differently, a bit better… to shake things up a bit. Our school has a rich and impressive history; our alumni are Texas Supreme Court justices, judges, U.S. and district attorneys, and presidents of state and local bar associations, to name a few,” she told the school in an interview.

“Our Law Review should reflect that same culture; it should be a leading resource for the legal community. It is not enough to be on Law Review — we have to increase our presence, open doors for all the law students who follow our stead as the esteemed South Texas Law Review.”

Starling has an impressive resume. She spent almost two decades working for a federal agency while raising her young son and spending hours studying for her law degree. She already has her MBA on top of all her current work.

“Having a professional background, I tend to see things a bit differently from my peers. Generally, when people think of diversity, they only consider color or ethnicity, but I think diversity is also background, age, and the wealth of experiences that go along with that,” she said.

STCL Houston Professor Shelby Moore said she was proud of Starling for her hard work and said her new position would positively affect hundreds of other people who will look up to her. 

“Kenesha has achieved a truly significant milestone as the first black editor-in-chief of South Texas Law Review — not only for herself, but for all minority students at the law school,” Professor Moore said.

“STCL Houston always has celebrated diversity and this important accomplishment furthers the school’s inclusive environment and reputation as a school of accessibility to all.”

She’s taking almost as many classes as her full-time peers, all while raising her 15-year-old son Darius. Starling was partially inspired to seek the position after seeing an inspirational poster honoring Black History Month. She’s in her final year of law school but is hoping her years of experience will be a benefit to the position.  

“There is a lot of pressure that comes with being the first in anything because people see you as a role model. They wonder if you’ll fall into a certain stereotype or be better or worse than your predecessors. Most of all, you must do your best, more for those coming behind you than for yourself,” she said during the interview with the school.

“Because the reality is — if you don’t knock it out of the park — that ‘failure’ becomes a stigma and follows everyone who looks like you. That’s a weighty but exciting opportunity.”

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MEET JAPAN’S FIRST FEMALE PHOTOJOURNALIST WHO IS STILL SHOOTING AT THE AGE OF 101

At 101 years old, renowned Japanese photographer, Tsuneko Sasamoto continues to express her artistic voice and capture stunning images. Considered to be her country’s first photojournalist at the age of 25, Sasamoto has been documenting history for over 70 years, including pre- and post-war Japan. Her photographs highlighted the country’s dramatic shift from a totalitarian regime to an economic superpower, and the social implications that arose from it.

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Sasamoto shooting in her 20s.

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Sasamoto shooting at 97 years old.

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Tsuneko Sasamoto on the cover of her book, Hyakusai no Finder.

Sasamoto remains enthusiastic about her profession, continuing to impact her chosen field. In 2011, at the age of 97, she published a photo book called Hyakusai no Finder, or Centenarian’s Finder. When she turned 100, she opened an exhibition of selected images.

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Photo credit: Satoko Kawasaki

Now, Sasamoto is currently working on a project called Hana Akari, or Flower Glow, an homage to her friends who have passed away. She is completing this series despite breaking her left hand and both legs last year. Determined to not let it get the best of her, she has attended physical rehabilitation three times a week to get better. When speaking to NHK World shortly before her 100th birthday, Sasamoto offered sage advice.

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Photo credit: Satoko Kawasaki

“You should never become lazy. It’s essential to remain positive about your life and never give up,” Sasamoto told NHK. “You need to push yourself and stay aware, so you can move forward. That’s what I want people to know.”

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Photo credit: Satoko Kawasaki

Via My Modern

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