Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter could soon have an official holiday in his home state of New York.

AT&T is committed to empowering youth in New York, NY, through a new initiative.

As the world changes, particularly regarding income and wealth, traditional school curriculums are a significant discussion point. Many argue whether or not more practical and innovative approaches to K-12 curriculums are necessary to prepare students for the future of work. Since many public schools are riddled with bureaucracy from governmental and quasi-government stakeholders, change can be slow and sometimes tedious. However, some schools, mainly in the charter and private spaces, are proactively moving toward more innovative approaches that center equity and prepare their students for the future they desire. The Marcy Lab School in Brooklyn, NY, is an example of one of these approaches, creating an alternative path for students interested in tech.

The emergence of the holiday season usually means an array of parties, an abundance of shopping, and a lot of seasonal foods and drinks. And when it comes to food, some venture out and try new recipes. However, many people stick to their parents’ and grandparents’ tried-and-true culinary dishes. While the consistency of grandma’s sweet potato pie and deeply brewed sweet tea never misses, former NBA star Al Harrington is putting quite the unique spin on some of his favorites from his grandma that he believes will not disappoint. Harrington enjoyed a long and successful career in the NBA, spending 18 seasons with seven teams. During his time, he averaged 13.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. As he approached the final years of his basketball career, Harrington entered an industry many may not have thought of for him. However, inspiration from a loved one sparked his entrepreneurial pursuits. Harrington had a close relationship with his grandmother Viola. She had long suffered from...

Niesha Butler has returned to her roots to teach the next generation of children to “Go Pro.” The New York native opened the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Champs Center for children to thrive in their career paths on Saturday, July 16, 2022. Now, the ballplayer turned software engineer hopes to remind the learning community success is possible in sports and beyond. “We’re excited to bring quality S.T.E.M. curriculum to the Brooklyn and Greater New York City kids. As a kid growing up in this same neighborhood, we were always encouraged to play sports, and through S.T.E.A.M. Champs and the S.T.E.A.M. Champs Foundation, we are encouraging kids to know both and excel in both areas of life,” Butler said in a statement to AfroTech.

An old saying states, “A lie don’t care who tells it.” And recently, the City of New York gave in to what thousands hold as their truth. Black and Latinx teachers have alleged that the state licensing exam was biased for years. After years of contention with a major lawsuit, the city conceded to the claims, and so far, $835 million have been awarded to educators.

Grant Williams was a Wu-Tang Clan affiliate who lived an otherwise quiet life in Staten Island, NY. The Hill reports that Williams, who was friends with Ghostface Killa and frequently worked in the studio when the Wu would record their now-classic albums, had his whole life changed after Shdell Lewis was gunned down in front of the Shelton Houses. At that time, the NYPD was struggling to find Lewis’s killer — and some witnesses claimed, without any evidence, that Williams was the gunman. Furthermore, according to the AP, prosecutors linked a hat with a Wu-Tang Clan logo to Williams. However, the hat was reportedly never DNA tested. There was, ultimately, no credible evidence to confirm that Williams was responsible for Lewis’s death — but that didn’t stop a jury from convicting him of second-degree murder back in 1997. He was sentenced to 25 years to life. And with that, Grant Williams went from being a Wu-Tang Clan affiliate to a convicted murderer. Recently, however, Williams was...

The process of “watching and telling”(otherwise known as snitching) is paying off for one New York man. In 2019, former Mayor Bill de Blasio enacted the Citizens Air Complaint Program . According to the program’s website, the policy is intended to help cut down on idling emissions from gasoline and diesel motor vehicle which are known contributors to health-related impacts, including asthma, respiratory and cardiovascular harm. The policy is also an attempt to be a solution to climate change. In order to provide an incentive to this program, local citizens who are willing to report commercial idle vehicles ( school buses, commercial fleet, etc.) can receive a reward in the form of money. The witness of these idle vehicles would have to record the time that it sits idle. If the vehicle is in a school zone, the witness would need to record it for one minute. If it is not in a school zone, then the recording time increases to three minutes. To round out this process, a picture of the...