Author: Carma Henry

     With the freeze placed on student loan repayments set to end December 31, Biden has gotten behind the Democrat-led House’s HEROES Act, which calls on the federal government to pay off up to $10,000 in private, nonfederal student loans for economically distressed borrowers. “People having to make choices between paying their student loan and paying the rent … debt relief should be done immediately,” Biden stated during a news conference on Monday, November 16.

     “Perhaps the biggest looming pardon question is whether Trump will consider granting himself a pardon, amid state investigations into his business and finances and the prospect of federal investigators scrutinizing him after he leaves office,” CNN’s Evan Perez noted.

The nation’s first Caribbean-American heritage museum welcomed members of the media, Caribbean-American leaders and the corporate community to a soft-launch opening on Monday, November 16, 2020. Now open at the Westfield Broward Mall in Plantation, Florida, Island SPACE Caribbean Museum, a new site of archives, events, resources and information, tells the comprehensive story of Caribbean and Caribbean-American societies, and facilitates small meetings, events and educational programs. 

The Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department is proud to present the 3rd Annual Exit 36 Slam Poetry Festival, an enriching and entertaining showcase of the best local and national spoken word artists and writers. While poets will be competing live at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center from December 10-12, due to COVID-19, the festival will be live streamed to the public. Participation plans include: Poetry Package for $10, Workshop Package for $15 and Festival Pass for $20. For tickets, registration and details, visit www.pompanobeacharts.org/exit36.

     The USPS Operation Santa program celebrates its 108th year in 2020 by opening for nationwide participation. Now, more than ever, the program is needed to help less fortunate kids and families during the holidays.

     Nearly three years after losing his parents in a murder-suicide, MasterChef Junior contestant Ben Watkins died Monday from cancer aged 14, his family said. Watkins, from Gary, Indiana, showed off his culinary skills when, at 11, he joined the 2018 season of MasterChef Junior hosted by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.

A recent survey for Junior Achievement (JA) by research firm ENGINE Insights shows that nearly one-in-four teens (22%) say they are less likely to consider starting a business as an adult due to the impact of COVID-19 on small business. The release of the survey results coincides with National Entrepreneurship Month in November. The 2020 survey of 1,000 teens between the ages of 13 and 17 was conducted from October 20 to 25, 2020.

The pair donated $1.75 million through their nonprofit organization Why Not You Foundation—which is centered on advancing children’s education and health initiatives and eradicating poverty towards the rebranding of a program dubbed Cascade Midway Academy. The high school was slated to open its doors early this year, but the school’s launch was postponed due to the global pandemic. The school’s founders Scott Canfield and Garth Reeves connected with the Wilsons and were provided with financial support.

     “The launching of this new partnership and integration reflects a significant first for the Walgreens API team,” said Andrew Schweinfurth, Manager, Walgreens Developer Relations. “As we welcome Culture Greetings and founder Dr. Dionne Mahaffey, we acknowledge that she is the first African American female founder to join the platform.”

BOYCE Funeral services for the late Nicole Hawthorne-Boyce – 47  were held November 18  at James C. Boyd’s Memorial Chapel with Pastor Sean T. Griffin officiating.…