For those who may be wondering, this app is named Reachfolk, it’s about to make Black Society’s life a little easier–one city at a time. Created by podcaster and author Daniel FreeMan (who wrote the Bestselling book titled: How To Make A Dollar Out Of Fifteen Cents!), the platform is currently in its beta stages, and a campaign to raise the funds to complete the development of the app has been launched which can found by following this link.

Whether you’re looking for a Black Owned hookah lounge or a mechanic, Reachfolk is a surefire way to stay connected–no matter where you are.

B. Clark

Van Jones is the co-founder of the Ella Baker Center For Human Rights in Oakland, CA. He is also a Yale-educated attorney who has authored two New York Times bestselling books, and has been heavily involved in high levels of the U.S. government.

Oh yeah, and he also cares about Melanoid youth.

In fact, Jones cares so much about Melanoid youth who are disenfranchised, that he has created a vehicle of empowerment for them. #YesWeCode is an initiative that targets “low opportunity” youth (namely Melanoid youth) and provides them with the necessary resources and tools to become world-class computer programmers. In an age where our youth lag far behind youth outside of Black Society, Mr. Jones has taken on the task of giving our youth the opportunity to compete–and in many cases outperform–their non-Black counterparts in the tech fields.

Watch Jones discuss the mission of #YesWeCode in the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvI9wnCaHjY

As stated in the video above, the goal of the organization is to get 100,000 low-opportunity youth to be trained to become coders. The impressive fact about this movement is that the majority of the youth benefiting from this will be Melanoid youths who would have otherwise saw doors slammed shut in their faces by similar initiatives in the dominant society.

Van Jones’s contribution to the empowerment of our youth is highly commendable, and necessary at this point in time. To date, there is a lack of initiatives such as #YesWeCode that will change–and broaden–the concept of success among Melanoid youths. As the world becomes increasingly tech-dependent, our next generation of young Black professionals will be better prepared for the demands of the world around them.

To enroll young Melanoid prospects into #YesWeCode, follow the link below.

http://www.yeswecode.org/search

B. Clark

Tristan Walker is the visionary behind the creation of Bevel, a collection of shaving and grooming products with Melanoid men in mind. Because so many Melanated men suffer from Pseudofolliculitis Barbae, aka “razor bumps”, our skin requires special care that will maintain healthy skin after shaving. Mr. Walker has filled a large void by creating these products.

As a long-time entrepreneur in the Bay Area’s Silicon Valley, Walker got his start in the area by working as an intern for social media giant Twitter. In an interview with the San Francisco Business Times, he explains,  “I want Walker & Co. (Walker’s company which created Bevel) to be the last thing I do. I want it to outlast me. I want to create a brand that lives on and that people really trust.”

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Walker’s accomplishment with his mission is that he has been able to do so from Silicon Valley, an industrial sector of the U.S. that has traditionally lacked a substantial Melanoid presence. His accomplishments don’t stop at Bevel alone. Walker has launched a non-profit by the name of Code 2040, which seeks to steer more Melanated young professionals into the tech industry.

By creating Bevel, Mr. Walker has given Melanated men a healthy alternative to the traditional selection of shaving products that often fall short on their advertised objectives of clean shaves with no skin damage. This in itself, is “cool”.

To purchase Bevel products, go to getbevel.com .

B. Clark

The Nigerian siblings have shown their love for computers since an age when many barely learn to recite their time tables. Osine developed interest at the age of 7. It was also at this age that he and his brother, Anesi Ikhianosime, who was 9 at the time, came up with the idea of starting a company. Fed up with Google Chrome, they decided to embark on a way to remedy their frustrations with the widely-used web browser by developing their own.

After learning to code at the ages of 12 (Anesi) and 14 (Osine), their hard work paid off, which allowed their efforts to launch Crocodile. The app currently has approximately 5,000 downloads. To add to this remarkable feat performed by the young Melanoid siblings, they embarked upon this project in 2013, around the same time they started to learn to code.

The younger Anesi has already stated that he wants to create another app that will solve real world/real life problems, such as traffic and communication issues. Considering the ages of the young Brothers who have already earned the title of ‘problem solvers’, The future shines brilliantly for them both. The following video shows an ad for the browser, which launched recently.

Check out the story here.

by B. Clark