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Tish Archie-Oliver, Tamesha Hoppie-Henry For decades, Gap Inc.’s iconic American brands—Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta—haven’t just reflected culture; they’ve shaped it. From inspiring authentic self-expression through fashion to marketing that celebrates humanity and its diverse stories, the company has consistently sought to bridge divides. Gap Inc.’s approach to inclusion and belonging is proving that its purpose—“bridging gaps to create a better world”—extends far beyond fashion. At the heart of this movement is Tish Archie-Oliver, Gap Inc.’s Chief Inclusion & Belonging Officer, who describes the company’s commitment to inclusion not as a surface-level initiative, but as the fabric of Gap Inc.’s business, legacy and culture today. Tish joined Gap Inc. in August, wanting to approach her work from a global, more holistic perspective at an organization that has been committed to this journey since its inception. During the hiring process, conversations with senior...
City Year Chicago, a chapter of the national nonprofit, is on a mission to ensure that every student, especially those in under-resourced communities, has the support they need to succeed. The organization deploys young leaders in collaboration with The Corporation for National and Community Service, through the AmeriCorps program, to serve as full-time mentors and tutors in schools across Chicago, IL , according to ABC-7 Chicago . Founded in 1994 by Chicago Sky owner Michael Alter, City Year Chicago members wear signature red jackets that have become synonymous with the organization’s mission. Valencia Koker, senior vice president and executive director of City Year Chicago, told ABC-7 that the organization works with 250 AmeriCorps members, aged 18 to 25, serving in 32 schools — 31 of which are part of Chicago Public Schools. “City Year Chicago exists to create the conditions for young people to reach their full potential, especially those further from opportunity,” Koker told...
Rumors surrounding Cynthia Erivo’s and Ariana Grande’s compensation have been addressed. T he two actresses star in “ Wicked ,” directed by Jon M. Chu. The film impressed with a stellar opening weekend, earning $162.5 million globally, according to Deadline. Based on the Broadway adaptation, it was produced on a budget ranging from $145 million to $150 million, per Screen Rant. Grande plays Glinda the Good Witch while Erivo plays Elphaba, The Wicked Witch of the West. Speaking on their roles, Grande commented to Blavity’s Shadow and Act, “I think it’s such an incredible honor and privilege to be trusted with the responsibility of playing Glinda, a role that I’ve loved since I was 10. And it does in a way, feel like a reintroduction. I feel like for both of us [Cynthia and I], this baby of ours has been a secret for such a long time. And I know it’s coming fast, and it’s loud, and it’s everywhere, but it’s been such an intimate part of our lives for the past three and a half years...
Students can now lean into Google’s AI assistant for college application readiness. According to a blog post from Google, it has launched Gemini to streamline tasks for users such as researching new topics, providing advice, planning events, and generating ideas. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Google Gemini app (@googlegemini) It can be connected to apps such as Gmail, Google Calendar, Maps, and YouTube and is available in English and Spanish, with the company planning to expand to additional languages. The feature is also a helpful tool for those who are looking for guidance as they prepare for the college admission process, and particularly first-generation college students. According to Reality Changers, these students often do not receive college readiness or familial guidance and have less financial stability. This could later result in lower self-esteem and make the transition to college more difficult. “The college application process can be daunting: There is...
This year’s AfroTech conference going down in Houston is more than just a gathering—it’s a celebration of Black creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship! We’re thrilled to partner with Walmart who will be bringing The Shoutout Experience to AfroTech 2024. Part of Walmart’s Black & Unlimited program, The Shoutout is a bold initiative spotlighting Black creators, founders and businesses through the power of community-driven support. Nearly 50% of Black-owned businesses thrive on word of mouth, underscoring the essential role that we as a community play in driving visibility and success for the Black-owned brands we admire and love. With The Shoutout Experience, Walmart Black & Unlimited harnesses this power, giving us all a way to wear, share and shout out our love for Black ingenuity while amplifying the game-changing creators and entrepreneurs who lead these businesses. So, what can you expect at AfroTech? Get ready for an experience that empowers you to be an ambassador for...
Highlighting bias in artificial intelligence (AI) is essential, but equally important is educating people on ways to prevent it. In 2019, Salesforce established its Trusted AI Principles to address the ethical implications of predictive AI and machine learning. By 2023, with the rapid evolution of generative AI, Salesforce deepened its commitment to responsible AI by participating in the AFROTECH™ Conference, where it discussed strategies for prioritizing ethical and inclusive practices in generative AI. During the session, “ Closing The AI Trust Gap: Battling Bias | Presented by Salesforce,” Jackie Chambers de Freitas, Vice President of Agile Delivery and Coaching at Salesforce, shared how Salesforce’s focus on AI began in 2014, when CEO Marc Benioff declared that the company would become an AI-first company. Watch the session here via AFROTECH™ Labs. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFROTECH (@afro.tech) “The goal was to transform Salesforce into an intelligent...
The NAACP has launched a “fund of funds” to scale impact within communities of color. According to a news release, NAACP Capital was formed with the support of Kapor Capital, the Kapor Center, and nine venture fund managers. It seeks to raise $200 million to fulfill its goal of investing in fund managers connected to sectors such as education, healthcare, and finance, with a focus on supporting underserved communities. Beyond capital, the initiative aims to close racial equity gaps and increase diversity within the tech industry. As part of this mission, resources and support will be provided to fund managers and founders. “As an ever-evolving legacy organization, the NAACP knows that innovation is borne out of inclusivity. Impact investing has the power to drive historic financial returns and uplift overlooked communities,” NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said in a statement. “Right now, deeply entrenched systemic barriers are curtailing the innovative progress necessary to...
Brittney Griner cites the pay gap as her motivation for wanting to play basketball for Russia in the past. On February 17, 2022, the WNBA athlete had landed at the Sheremetyevo International Airport near Moscow as she was set to play for the Russian Premiere League’s UMMC Ekaterinburg. It was the off-season for the WNBA, and playing overseas would afford Griner the opportunity to earn greater dollars than what she made playing in the WNBA. Though the events that followed have been widely publicized, including her detainment by Russia for carrying vape cartridges with small amounts of cannabis oil and her subsequent 293-day imprisonment, the reason she was there in the first place has been drawing more attention. Per Just Women’s Sports, the Russian team had been known to offer significant compensation to WNBA players. Those who have gone overseas to play for the team include Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird. “The whole reason a lot of us go over is the pay gap,” Griner said during her...
Issa Rae has expanded her business empire with yet another venture that caters to creatives. Business Insider reports that the media mogul has launched Ensemble, a company that works to connect brands with Black and brown creators. Moreover, the ultimate mission is to be a part of closing the creator pay gap between creators of color and their white counterparts. Funded by Rae, the company is already working with 50 creators such as comedian Mark Phillips, who is co-founder of the popular social media collective RDCWorld. What’s more, several major brands have joined Ensemble’s roster, such as Pepsi, Chili’s, and Popeyes. “We want Ensemble to be seen as a general market company,” said Montrel McKay, president of development and production at Hoorae Media , Rae’s media and entertainment company. “We want to go after media budgets. We don’t want to go after small allocations that are for diversity buys. That’s why it’s important to work with Pepsi out of the gate — we want to show the...
Taraji P. Henson, Mo’Nique, Gabrielle Union, and Octavia Spencer. Many Black actresses have been vocal about pay disparity in Hollywood with these women being some of the latest to address the issue. As previously reported by AFROTECH™, Henson was transparent about her debating on whether to quit acting. “I’m just tired of working so hard, being gracious at what I do, getting paid a fraction of the costs,” Henson said in a Sirius XM interview with Gayle King. “I’m tired of hearing my sisters say the same thing over and over. You get tired. I hear people go, ‘You work a lot.’ I have to. The math ain’t mathin’.” Henson isn’t the only one who has faced the unfortunate reality of stepping back from being an actress due to Hollywood’s pay gap. During an appearance on NPR’s “It’s Been a Minute,” Jada Pinkett Smith shared that while her “heart broke” for Henson, she was also happy that she was courageous enough to speak up. In addition, she related to her fellow actress’ sentiments, but in...
At the center of Gap’s ethos is a commitment to individuality, creativity and self-expression. And while the company points to one’s fashion sense as a surefire way to incorporate all three into one’s life, it has also intentionally sought ways to ensure that consumers can see their style and values reflected in the brand as well. The Hip-Hop generation will likely recall first becoming aware of Gap’s desire to connect with the culture in 1997, with the iconic LL Cool J commercial. Today, the company continues to foster those cultural moments through unique brand collaborations, and by making sure that those tasked with spearheading these initiatives are people who truly get what these moments can mean when properly executed. “Gap is one of the world’s most beloved brands. People know and love Gap because at our best, we do more than sell clothes. We create conversations,” says Brigid Andrews, who leads the company’s partnerships and collaborations. “By blending creativity with...
After finding success in the music business, Jim Jones transitioned into also building Vampire Life (VL) Records to develop upcoming artists. The record label works to provide distribution opportunities, artist development, and coaching, according to its website. In addition, it’s said to be in partnership with Empire Records.
