HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) announced billionaire philanthropist Robert F. Smith as this year’s featured speaker at its second annual virtual HBCU technology conference for historically black colleges and universities. Presented by HP with support from partners, Microsoft and Intel, the four-day conference September 13-16 will open with a pre-recorded virtual fireside chat with Smith hosted by HuffPost Editor-in-Chief Danielle Belton on Tuesday, September 13, at 11 a.m. Eastern.
Smith, who is the founder, chairman, and CEO of private equity firm Vista Equity Partners, is a digital transformation expert who founded the nonprofit Student Freedom Initiative to address college student debt and other barriers to success for HBCU students. Smith’s participation in the conference has ignited a broader conversation with HP around how the two organizations can work together to accelerate digital transformation at HBCUs through enhanced infrastructure, cybersecurity, talent development and access to tech careers. HBCUs produce 25 percent of Black tech talent and 42 percent of Black engineers.
As part of HP’s ambition to become the world’s most sustainable and just technology company, it launched the HBCU Technology Conference in 2021 to accelerate digital transformation at HBCUs and prepare for their students’ digital futures through: • Greater access to tech careers • Supporting innovation and tech entrepreneurs • Enhanced cybersecurity, tech infrastructure and faculty support • Working with and empowering HBCU leaders • Advancing access to quality healthcare
“We know that equal access and representation drive better outcomes which leads to innovation. After two years of remote learning and increased cybersecurity threats to institutions, advancing the infrastructure that supports tech curriculum, prepares students for tech careers, and mitigates security threats which is critical to advancing equity.”
Lesley Slaton Brown, Chief Diversity Officer, HP.
IT, Faculty, Staff and HBCU leaders will be able to take part in a four-day virtual conference that will include industry insights and workshops on topics such as safeguarding HBCUs against cybersecurity attacks, talent development, tech curriculum and diversifying the tech workforce.
“HBCU partnership with the tech industry will increase awareness and access, and offer opportunities to be at the table with advocates who can go to bat for the brilliant talent on HBCU campuses who will add value to tech corporations. Equally important is to have in place modern tech infrastructure to protect against ransomware attacks that threaten students’ privacy and institutions’ ability to thrive.”
Thomas K. Hudson, J.D., President, Jackson State University
HP’s commitment to HBCUs In addition to the tech conference, HP, a founding member of the HBCU Business Deans Roundtable, hosts an annual HBCU Business Challenge and invites students to craft a solution to an HP business challenge. The most recent HP Business Challenge, won by South Carolina State University’s team, called for the HBCU teams to build a model to change the bottom line for HP’s Reverb G2 Omnicept Edition virtual reality headset.
The 6th Annual HP HBCU Business Challenge has officially launched, and registration is now open. Go to http://www.hp.com/diversity for more information.
HP helped solidify the first relationship of its kind between the New York Stock Exchange and an HBCU. HP also joined the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus’ HBCU Partnership Challenge to further strengthen its relationships and programming with HBCUs.
In 2020, HP launched an innovative 3D printing learning pilot program at North Carolina A&T State University and partnered with Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) and presented the school with an endowment to establish the HP Cybersecurity Scholarship. HP’s growing investments in HBCUs demonstrate its commitment to reflect the diverse markets and customers that the company serves.
Musician extraordinaire, pioneering mind in the multimedia, and CEO of The CDUB Brand, Carlton Whitfield, proudly announces the acquisition of two major apps for musicians. Created by Thomas Hanes, Piano ClubHouse and Organ Clubhouse teach aspiring musicians organ and piano proficiency through app based learning. When asked what motivated this purchase, Whitfield states “it’s a huge part of who I am.” He praised the respective learning platforms as “one of the first platforms where I got my start as an instructor.” Whitfield has contributed numerous lessons to the library of the nearly 500 instructional videos available. “It fits perfectly into the plan of where I’m taking my CDUB Brand.” Under the CDUB Brand, Whitfield leads the industry in offering modern ministries the full worship experience, without the need of a full 7-piece band. Loops By CDUB puts fully backed performances of the industry’s most-performed worship songs at users’ fingertips. The ease of use has made the app a favorite among most and a necessity for many, alleviating the strain regularly faced by many smaller ministries. The apps are available through the IOS and Google Play app stores. The CDUB brand is synonymous with solution based app programming. With the explosions of “Whoop Triggers” pastors who regularly closed their sermons with the backing of a band found help and hallelujah with the app that allows users to experience the accompany of percussive hits that help punctuate the celebration section of a sermon.
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With its latest acquisition, the CDUB brand is quickly becoming a leader in the mobile learning market. Though Gospel music appeals to many demographics, learning platforms of the genre and its nuanced playing styles remain scarce. The CDUB brand looks to change that by adding Piano Clubhouse and Gospel Clubhouse to its cadre of music technology solutions.
HOUSTON-BASED ENTREPRENEUR LAUNCHES “MELANINPEOPLE” – A NEW SOCIAL MEDIA APP FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY
Created by Adeyinka Adegoke, MelaninPeople is a social networking app designed to connect a range of Black and brown individuals, businesses and professionals.
MelaninPeople is a social media app that aims to connect Black and brown people within one convenient media network. The platform connects black people worldwide to increase socio-economic awareness and foster business and professional relationships. The app is designed in such a way that individuals, entrepreneurs, and organizations can promote their brands to the community.
According to the CEO of the company, “Culture is one of the most vital tools used to bring humans together.” MelaninPeople recognizes the need to connect and welcomes people from all professional backgrounds, including music, entertainment, medicine, faring, fashion, engineering, and beyond. Although the app is all-encompassing, users can easily narrow down connection preferences by honing in on their specific field. The good thing about this app is that anyone can use this app including non-blacks who love the black community and want to support with positive energy.
Upon downloading the MelaninPeople app, users can create an account (personal or business account) based on their preference and socio-economical goal and instantly enjoy the membership benefits. With an interface comparable to other social networking platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Tiktok etc, communication is done through short-form videos (30 seconds max), pictures, magazines, podcasts, and private messaging.
MelaninPeople also has a digital marketplace, in which users can buy and sell various products and services. Users can also post and share links of their favorite videos, music, and current news and events. The posts are shareable to other social media platforms.
The MelaninPeople app provides a platform for people of color to produce original content and have freedom of speech. In this particular season that we are in, expression without restriction is vital. Future plans include providing a way for the users to monetize their content using tokens. Our goal is to reward our users said Adeyinka who is the CEO and founder of the company. “We will be doing this through a monetization and token-based system in the second or third quarter of 2021.”
Small black businesses will be able to promote their products or services and get it into the hands of more customers when this feature gets launched. We are fully aware that the majority of black and brown people all over the world use apps daily as content creators and get little to nothing in return as monetary value. The MelaninPeople app is strategically positioning itself to revolutionize this.
“As MelaninPeople, our spending is projected to grow significantly in the years ahead according to Nielsen,” says CEO and founder Adeyinka Adegoke. “Since 2000, the African-American market has seen a 114% increase in buying power, which was estimated to be $1.3 trillion in 2018. In fact, the minority markets in the United States Of America have a combined $3.9 trillion buying power, according to Newswise (2019).”
Adegoke created MelaninPeople in response to the need for a singular, digital meeting space for Black and brown people. He envisioned an online community where people of color could socially interact while supporting each other’s professional goals without restrictions. Adeyinka comments, “I wanted to hire a professional plumber for a big project that ran into thousands of dollars and really desired to support a Black-owned business just because I am aware that there most black businesses do not have the same leverage as their counterparts.” It was very difficult and challenging to find one. I did not find any despite looking for them on other social media platforms. It is very a stressful activity to search everywhere on the internet for something that should be found easily in minutes.
MasterClass expands catalog of music courses for aspiring musicians with first online class from ‘SexyBack,’ ‘Drunk In Love’ producer, Timbaland
Timbaland, Courtesy of MasterClass
MasterClass, the online education company that enables anyone to learn from the best in the world, announced today that prolific producer and artist, Timbaland, will offer his first online class exclusively through its platform. Timbaland will provide students insight into his uniquely creative and collaborative process inside the studio, while reflecting throughout on his approach to some of his most iconic hits. Timbaland’s class is now available at www.masterclass.com/tmbd. Students can enroll in the class with unlimited access for a one time purchase of $90, or subscribe for unlimited access to this class and all new and existing classes through the All-Access Pass for $180 per year.
“Timbaland has had some of the most influential and unforgettable hits of the past two decades,” said David Rogier, co-founder and CEO of MasterClass. “His creative process is both innovative and judgement-free and his delight in making music is infectious and inspiring. With his MasterClass, aspiring musicians have the opportunity to learn music production from a multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning recording artist through an intimate and fun behind-the-table experience.”
Courtesy of MasterClass
With a discography spanning the world’s most influential recording artists across a range of musical genres, Timbaland’s inventive approach to music and production has set a gold standard in the industry. For over two decades, Timbaland’s distinctive style has led to platinum-selling collaborations with leaders in the industry including Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Sam Smith, Jay-Z, Missy Elliot, Aaliyah, Rihanna, Coldplay and more. His unparalleled ability to create compelling beats and unforgettable hooks has been recognized across the music industry, with his work having received dozens of nominations and awards including recognition at the People’s Choice Awards, ASCAP Awards, BET Hip Hop Awards and Grammy Awards, among others. Beyond his various accolades, Timbaland’s industry influence transcends himself, as the iconic producer has dedicated much of his career to the mentorship and support of other producers and aspiring musicians.
“When it comes to music production, the key is believing in your own ideas and finding collaborators that can help those ideas breathe,” says Timbaland. “In my MasterClass, students will walk away with the essentials to bring their own beats to life, giving them the confidence to find collaborators that believe in their vision as much as they do.”
Courtesy of MasterClass
Timbaland’s course is designed for aspiring recording artists and producers at any level and offers invaluable insight into the production processes that have defined his music. The course lays a foundation from creative inception to final production, giving students a chance to develop their own unique styles with a firm understanding of how to manifest that rhythm. Starting with the basics, the course teaches students foundational processes such as building a beat from scratch, working with a vocalist to create a melody, and layering in samples. As students progress, the course builds upon these lessons by delving into sound mixing and design, ultimately establishing a process for creating complex musical compositions. Going beyond instruction, each lesson is colored by first-hand accounts of Timbaland’s own industry experiences. Timbaland and his co-producers also create two new songs from scratch throughout the class. The songs are available for download to those enrolled in the class along with stems that students can use to remix into their own tracks.
MasterClass continues to expand its catalogue into new categories, bringing leading instructors to its engaged base of subscribers. MasterClass provides educational, inspiring, and engaging classes taught by the world’s greatest minds. With more than 50 classes that dive into processes, techniques and philosophies, MasterClass helps students progress more rapidly towards their own mastery, explore new passions, and learn new skills. It offers a unique learning experience, including video lessons, interactive exercises, course materials, peer interaction, and more. Students can subscribe for unlimited access to all new and existing classes through the All-Access Pass for $180 per year, or enroll in an individual class with for a one time purchase of $90. The course can be accessed online at www.masterclass.com, the MasterClass mobile app for iOS and Android and Apple TV.
ABOUT MASTERCLASS Founded in 2015, MasterClass started with the idea that everyone should have “access to genius.” The online education platform provides affordable, engaging, and inspirational online classes taught by world-renowned instructors, making it possible for anyone to learn from the best.
MasterClass’s current roster of courses includes:
Business: Howard Schultz (Business Leadership)
Culinary Arts: Gordon Ramsay (cooking), Alice Waters (home cooking), Thomas Keller (cooking techniques), Wolfgang Puck (cooking), Dominique Ansel (French pastry), James Suckling (wine appreciation)
Film and Television: Werner Herzog (filmmaking), Martin Scorsese (filmmaking), Ron Howard (directing), Spike Lee(filmmaking), Mira Nair (independent filmmaking), Jodie Foster (filmmaking), Ken Burns (documentary filmmaking), Helen Mirren (acting), Samuel L. Jackson (acting), Judd Apatow (comedy), Aaron Sorkin (screenwriting), Shonda Rhimes (writing for television)
Music and Entertainment: Steve Martin (comedy), Christina Aguilera (singing), Usher (performance), Reba McEntire (country music), Herbie Hancock (jazz), Deadmau5 (music production), Armin van Buuren (dance music), Hans Zimmer (film scoring), Tom Morello (electric guitar), Carlos Santana (art and soul of guitar)
Writing: James Patterson (writing), David Mamet (dramatic writing), Judy Blume (writing), Malcolm Gladwell (writing), RL Stine (writing for young audiences), Margaret Atwood (creative writing), Dan Brown (writing thrillers)
Photography: Annie Leibovitz (photography), Jimmy Chin (adventure photography)
Design and Fashion: Frank Gehry (architecture), Diane von Furstenberg (how to build a fashion brand), Marc Jacobs(fashion design)
Sports and Games: Serena Williams (tennis), Stephen Curry (shooting, ball-handling, and scoring), Garry Kasparov (chess), Daniel Negreanu (poker)
Politics and Society: Jane Goodall (conservation), Bob Woodward (investigative journalism), Karl Rove and David Axelrod(political campaign strategy), Paul Krugman (economics and society)
Science and Technology: Chris Hadfield (space exploration), Will Wright (game design)
Media Stage Produces Professional AV for Meetings at Affordable Prices
Media Stage, an award-winning Florida based audio visual service company with offices in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and Puerto Rico, is now offering corporate meeting producers professional level HD video projection, LED video walls, concert quality sound systems, theatrical digital stage lighting, and complete scenic designs at a cost well within the budget of even the most cost conscious business client.
Now in its 29th year of corporate AV rental and event service, the Media Stage staff delivers complete AV support to businesses and producers across the U.S. Most recently, the company staged an elaborate multimedia extravaganza at the New York City Sheraton, in the heart of world famous Times Square.
“Our job is to make an event planner’s vision a reality,” said Larry Blocker, Vice President and General Manager at Media Stage. “Whether projecting computer mapped videos onto luxury cars or building a complete outdoor concert stage and sound system, our talented technicians will deliver a perfect live production, hassle free and within budget. Customer satisfaction is Job #1 at Media Stage.”
The privately held company maintains its own 18,000 square foot production and staging facility where it stores and maintains one of the most extensive state-of-the-art audio visual presentation inventories in the U.S. All equipment is top of the line including Barco Industrial projectors, Meyers concert speaker arrays, Gloshine digital video walls, and a wide selection of scenic and staging options.
While supervising his operations team load one of the company’s owned and operated fleet of trucks for a show in Los Angeles, company founder Wilson Alers smiled, “We started out with a couple of overhead projectors and a flip chart. Today, we have enough enterprise-quality computing power, driving digital lights, sound, and large screen video projection to satisfy even the most demanding event producer and corporate client. But we still follow the guiding principles I set out all those years ago: deliver an outstanding audio visual experience for all of our clients regardless of size, from small private meetings to Fortune 500 conventions, and always at the lowest, most affordable cost”.
For more information or a free show quote: Call 800-418-8388
New Indie Streaming Social Platform set to launch at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival in Austin, Texas
Dousic Media Group
Dousic Media Group (DMG), is set to launch its new Dousic Social Platform at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival in Austin, Texas between March 10th thru 13th, 2019, located at Booth No. 1239, Halls 2-5 in the Austin Convention, where the newly upgraded Dousic website and App will be unveiled.
Dousic is an interactive social media platform that engages users with a diverse discovery experience. In the Dousic community the public can personalize their content and creators can monetize their products.
“With Dousic we wanted to create a social media platform for people like photographers, models, authors and musicians, so that they have total control of their destiny by owning their brands and products via the website and the App. In addition, Dousic is a fully functioning social media platform giving users a wide variety of connectivity such as chat, audio or video calls, all in one convenient location,” said Michael Ferguson, DMG Executive Vice President/Founder.
DMG Founder and CEO, Brian Moore, emphasized that “the Indie Music Industry has been trying to find its footing for some time and from where I sit there is still a clear lack of understanding of how to ensure that Indie Creators get an even playing field and are being properly compensated. Accordingly, we have designed Dousic to give them back brand control and content ownership.”
Following on from SXSW, our future website and App enhancements will ensure Dousic is a place where Creators maintain full ownership and control, giving them stronger leverage when in negotiations with Record Labels.
Dousic’s Mission is to provide a global hub for an interactive and personalized entertainment experience. We are committed to helping Indie Creators reach their full potential. https://dousic.com
