January 11, 2021
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
Today, in the United States, there are approximately 2.6 million Black-owned businesses—a number has risen by more than 30 percent in the past decade. Click here to visit the T.D. Jakes Foundation’s helpful resource guide to help those looking for ways to support Black-owned businesses.
Need additional resources around STEAM? The T.D. Jakes Foundation has compiled a list of STEAM resources for the arts, coding, and engineering and even resources specifically for kids and teachers. Check out our STEAM resources here.
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.
2020 Elections 
On Wednesday, January 20, Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States. Kamala Harris will also make history, becoming the first female vice president and the first Black person and person of South Asian descent to hold the office. For those without cable access, there are still multiple ways to stream it online, visit Harper’s BAZAAR for the full list.
In the 2020 election, more than 1 million African Americans cast ballots in Georgia. Since November, organizations such as the New Georgia Project and Black Voters Matter have worked to bring out even more voters for the state’s two U.S. Senate runoff elections last week. In one of those races, Democrat Rev. Raphael Warnock, a pastor from Atlanta, defeated Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler, making him the first Black Democrat elected to the Senate from a Southern state. Read more about Georgia’s historic election via NPR.
Small Business Assistance
According to newly released rules and guidelines, the Small Business Administration will give priority to minority-owned businesses that have struggled to obtain coronavirus aid with the relaunch of the Paycheck Protection Program. The relaunch will include specific guidelines for minority, veteran, and female employers. Congress set aside $40 billion for businesses with 10 or fewer employees. Read the full story in Politico.
Education Update 
Dallas ISD is partnering with an HBCU, Paul Quinn College, to open a new secondary IB school. This partnership will serve as an opportunity to bring more rigorous programs and school choice options for Southern Dallas students. Read more on the partnership via Dallas ISD.
On January 5, 2021, the world watched in shock and horror as a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol. In the wake of this tragedy, educators across Texas initiated complex discussions on democracy, race and civic engagement. Read more on the conversations sparked between teachers and students via the Dallas News.
Technology
Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX recently sent a new communications satellite into space for the nation of Turkey. Falcon 9, the new satellite, will be able to provide expanded communications capabilities to Turkey, as well as parts of Asia, Europe, and Africa. Read the full story in CNET.
Together, we can and will get through this.
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