June 29, 2020
To help you navigate these uncertain times, we’ve compiled timely news and resources related to small business, education and connectivity. We hope this provides both information and comfort as we continue to weather these challenges.
T.D. Jakes Foundation in action
For five weeks this summer, thousands of students from all over the world will learn about science from Takeisha Turner. Read our blog post to learn more about Takeisha and why she’s so excited to be a role model for young women of color.
Are you a displaced worker looking for job opportunities? We’ve compiled job opportunities in essential sectors such as grocery and drug stores and restaurants, along with remote opportunities in technology. Find them here.
Owning a business is never easy, but it’s even more challenging now, with so many owners unable to meet overhead or pay salaries. Click here to learn more about the resources available to small-business owners.
Small business assistance
June 30 is the deadline for small businesses to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, and relief is even available to business owners who have begun to reopen. Greg Reibman, of the Newton-Needham Regional Chamber in Massachusetts outlines what small business owners need to know.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) say several online companies are misleading small businesses about applying for COVID-19 relief SBA loans, falsely claiming that they are affiliated with the SBA and can expedite loans. Learn more.
Scholarship opportunity
McDonald’s USA is launching a $500,000 Black & Positively Golden® Scholarship Fund to help students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) continue their education this fall, despite impacts of COVID-19, with scholarships to be awarded for the 2020 to 2021 school year. The award is part of the launch of the 2020 ESSENCE Festival of Culture: Unstoppable Virtual Experience, in which McDonald’s officially kicks off its partnership with the ESSENCE Girls United HBCU initiative. Read here.
The Digital Divide
America must start treating broadband access as a public good, just like water and electricity. Read an excerpt of Katrina vanden Heuvel’s column on the digital divide, which she refers to as a national emergency.
Education updates
As we await a return to “normal,” one educator says, “the worst thing that could happen for schools is just that—a return to normal.” Read her post to learn why educators must use this time to learn how to think, teach and learn differently.
Even as Texas is seeing record highs in COVID-19 cases, Education Commissioner Mike Morath said public schools will be able to reopen for on-campus learning in the fall, but there will be flexibility for parents who choose to keep their children at home to participate in school remotely. Details of the reopening will be released this week. Learn more.
Many Dallas ISD high school students can now enroll in African American and Mexican American history courses for the fall semester. Last year, more students in enrolled in these courses than ever before. As a result, the district increased the offering from 14 to 34 campuses.
Amazon is funding computer science education and teacher professional development for all 154 elementary schools in Dallas ISD, bringing educational opportunities to more than 78,000 students. Part of the Amazon Future Engineer program, the tech giant is working with BootUp to provide computer science and teacher development training, which has been modified for a virtual setting. Read the release.
Together, we can and will get through this.
Hattie Hill
President & CEO
T.D. Jakes Foundation
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