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Diageo North America Establishes Innovative Program With HBCUs to Develop Future Leaders and Help Shape a More Equitable Society
February 3, 2021 GMT
Diageo North America establishes program with 25 HBCUs (Graphic: Business Wire)
NEW YORK (BUSINESS WIRE) Feb 3, 2021
The North America business of Diageo, a global beverage leader, is committing $10 million to support 25 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and creating permanent endowed funds to provide financial aid grants anticipated to benefit thousands of talented students in need over the years. Funds will be available for HBCU students across different disciplines and majors, and distributed according to each institution’s financial aid process.
Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a resident of Greensboro, home of the Feb. 1, 1960, Woolworth sit-ins, wants you to know that racism no longer exists.
As Black History Month was only days away, Robinson, a Black man, felt moved to make that decree at a state Board of Education meeting last week.
âThe system of government that we have in this nation is not systematically racist. In fact, it is not racist at all,â Robinson said of proposed new standards for social studies instruction in public schools that would include discussion of some chapters of Americanâs past and present that have routinely been underrepresented.
February 03, 2021 - 9:46 AM
NEW YORK - British-based beer and spirits maker Diageo is giving a combined $10 million to 25 historically Black colleges and universities across the United States, continuing an upswell of giving to the institutions following last summer s racial justice protests.
The money, given by the company that makes and sells brands such as Guinness beer, Johnnie Walker whiskies and Smirnoff vodka, will create endowments to help colleges financially assist students. Diageo said itâs trying to help offset the higher student debt that graduates of historically Black colleges often accrue.
Diageo also said it will create innovation hubs at some of the colleges, providing students with experience, mentorships, guest lecturers and helping faculty developing curriculum. Locations for the hubs will be announced later.
Diageo, British beer and liquor maker, giving $10 million to Black colleges
Updated Feb 03, 2021;
Posted Feb 03, 2021
A woman pulls a pint of Guinness beer in London, on May 9, 2008. (Photo credit should read Leon Neal/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images
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British-based beer and spirits maker Diageo is giving a combined $10 million to 25 historically Black colleges and universities across the United States, continuing an upswell of giving to the institutions following last summer’s racial justice protests.
The money, given by the company that makes and sells brands such as Guinness beer, Johnnie Walker whiskies and Smirnoff vodka, will create endowments to help colleges financially assist students. Diageo said it’s trying to help offset the higher student debt that graduates of historically Black colleges often accrue.
Ensuring that students have access to high-speed internet topped the Public School Forum’s list of Top Ten Education Issues for 2021.
Access to broadband became critical for students and school districts last spring when Gov. Roy Cooper ordered schools closed for in-person instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Without high-speed internet, many students were unable to connect to remote learning. Students in the rural parts of the state found connecting to classrooms especially difficult.
According to the public schools advocacy group, 192,000 of the state’s 1.5 million students lived in homes without access to high-speed internet.
It also reported that more than 30 percent of state households cannot afford broadband, lack needed infrastructure or the digital literacy skills to effectively access and use high speed internet.