America’s first female TV meteorologist, who also happens to be Black, dies at 90

Dr. June Bacon-Bercey, the country’s first female TV meteorologist and the first Black woman to earn a degree in meteorology, has died.

The trailblazing meteorologist broke racial and gender barriers to win the American Meteorological Society’s (AMS) prestigious Seal of Approval for her “excellence in television weathercasting,” according to AccuWeather. Bacon-Bercey, 90, actually died on July 3, 2019, but her daughter, Dail St. Claire, reported news of her mother’s passing to AccuWeather recently.

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In addition to working as a meteorologist for an NBC station in Buffalo in 1970 – a position she filled as an emergency replacement when her predecessor was fired, Bacon-Bercey has also worked for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, the National Weather Service (NWS) and Sperry Rand.

As important as her groundbreaking work in meteorology was Bacon-Bercey’s commitment to see that other minority women pursue careers in science like her, with a specialty in meteorology.

In 1977, Bacon-Bercey won $64,000 on the TV game show The $128,000 Question, and she used the money to start a scholarship fund for women interested in majoring in atmospheric sciences.

“Education was No. 1, so scholarship was a passion and she always wanted to share it with those who were less fortunate,” her daughter told AccuWeather.

At the time, Bacon-Bercey told The Washington Post that she started the scholarship as a way to encourage women to pursue careers in science even though they wouldn’t see many people who looked like them.

“I was discouraged (from becoming a meteorologist), and other women were discouraged,” Bacon-Bercey said in the Post interview. “If they feel they’ve got some money behind them, it might be better.”

Twelve women ultimately received scholarship money and would go on to careers in geochemistry, physics, astronomy, meteorology, and/or oceanography, with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA, MIT and TV stations throughout the country.

Bacon-Bercey also established a meteorology lab at Jackson State University and was instrumental in starting the AMS Board on Women and Minorities, also with an aim to increase minorities and women in her field of study.

READ MORE: Rochester meteorologist fired for racist on-air reference to MLK sues former station

“She was obviously extremely successful,” Ralph Bouquet, NOVA’s director of education and outreach told AccuWeather. “She did so much and also gave back in so many prominent ways – with a scholarship, with setting up a meteorology lab at Jackson State University, just really impressive things that one person was able to accomplish. How many people could have done that, could have been in that position to produce so much but also give back so much?”

Capping off a lifetime of achievements, Bacon-Bercey was named Minority Pioneer for Achievements in Atmospheric Sciences in 2000.

The post America’s first female TV meteorologist, who also happens to be Black, dies at 90 appeared first on theGrio.

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Trump’s Nominee To Lead SBA Commits To Expand Resources To Black Businesses Among Her Priorities If Confirmed

As a new year begins, obtaining financing remains among the largest obstacles blocking many black-owned businesses from growing and reaching new heights. The lingering problem comes after the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship voted 17-2 in December to approve Jovita Carranza’s nomination to serve as the new administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). No votes came from Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Ed Markey (D-Mass).

Carranza, who has served as deputy administrator of the SBA and is currently U.S. treasurer, was nominated by President Trump in April 2019 to oversee the SBA. Her selection came after the federal agency’s previous administrator, Linda McMahon, stepped down. Carranza must go before the full Senate for consideration. Chris Pilkerton is now the SBA’s acting administrator.

During a committee hearing in December, Carranza was questioned on many SBA-related issues. They included how the agency would help small businesses gain access to the SBA’s 7(a) and alternative microlending programs. Another inquiry was how the SBA would offer better outreach to underserved communities and entrepreneurs.

The ante is high for small businesses as the SBA guaranteed more than $28 billion in loans to entrepreneurs in its fiscal year 2019. There are more than 30 million small businesses in America, including reportedly around 2.6 million black-owned businesses.

If confirmed, Carranza testified in hearings before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship earlier in December that a priority for her will be to expand access to SBA resources among entrepreneurs in disadvantaged communities, including African American and Latino businesses, as well as businesses started by veterans. “By better connecting these small businesses with SBA support services, we can help even more underrepresented entrepreneurs overcome barriers to financial capital and gain access to lucrative government contracts.”

She added one of her priorities will be to open more doors for women-owned businesses. “Women entrepreneurship is on the rise, but we can do more to ensure they have access to relevant resources and professional support so that they can scale and take their businesses to the next level.”

Another priority for Carranza will be disaster relief. “We don’t know when catastrophe will strike, but when it does, it’s important that the SBA disaster loan process is operating at peak efficiency. That includes not only meeting the needs of affected businesses in a timely manner but also ensuring inter-agency coordination and cooperation. When small businesses are out of commission, it negatively impacts not only the local economy but also the regional and national economy.”

Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship Ranking Member Ben Cardin (D-MD) issued this statement after the committee’s approval of Carranza:

“At a time when the face of business ownership in America is becoming more diverse, SBA needs strong leadership and innovative thinking to help entrepreneurs from underserved communities as they overcome pervasive, historical barriers. During last week’s nomination hearing, Treasurer Carranza expressed her commitment to supporting underserved communities and advocating for small businesses within the administration. I look forward to working with Treasurer Carranza to empower America’s entrepreneurs so they can build successful businesses and create jobs.”

Cardin’s comments came after he earlier in December pressed Carranza for her support on SBA programs that aid underserved entrepreneurs.

In more support for Carranza, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, issued a statement:

“I congratulate Ms. Carranza on being favorably reported to the Senate floor. If confirmed, I look forward to working collaboratively with her to modernize the SBA, optimize the agency’s programs, and increase interagency coordination.”

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Trump’s Nominee To Lead SBA Commits To Expand Resources To Black Businesses Among Her Priorities If Confirmed

As a new year begins, obtaining financing remains among the largest obstacles blocking many black-owned businesses from growing and reaching new heights. The lingering problem comes after the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship voted 17-2 in December to approve Jovita Carranza’s nomination to serve as the new administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). No votes came from Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Ed Markey (D-Mass).

Carranza, who has served as deputy administrator of the SBA and is currently U.S. treasurer, was nominated by President Trump in April 2019 to oversee the SBA. Her selection came after the federal agency’s previous administrator, Linda McMahon, stepped down. Carranza must go before the full Senate for consideration. Chris Pilkerton is now the SBA’s acting administrator.

During a committee hearing in December, Carranza was questioned on many SBA-related issues. They included how the agency would help small businesses gain access to the SBA’s 7(a) and alternative microlending programs. Another inquiry was how the SBA would offer better outreach to underserved communities and entrepreneurs.

The ante is high for small businesses as the SBA guaranteed more than $28 billion in loans to entrepreneurs in its fiscal year 2019. There are more than 30 million small businesses in America, including reportedly around 2.6 million black-owned businesses.

If confirmed, Carranza testified in hearings before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship earlier in December that a priority for her will be to expand access to SBA resources among entrepreneurs in disadvantaged communities, including African American and Latino businesses, as well as businesses started by veterans. “By better connecting these small businesses with SBA support services, we can help even more underrepresented entrepreneurs overcome barriers to financial capital and gain access to lucrative government contracts.”

She added one of her priorities will be to open more doors for women-owned businesses. “Women entrepreneurship is on the rise, but we can do more to ensure they have access to relevant resources and professional support so that they can scale and take their businesses to the next level.”

Another priority for Carranza will be disaster relief. “We don’t know when catastrophe will strike, but when it does, it’s important that the SBA disaster loan process is operating at peak efficiency. That includes not only meeting the needs of affected businesses in a timely manner but also ensuring inter-agency coordination and cooperation. When small businesses are out of commission, it negatively impacts not only the local economy but also the regional and national economy.”

Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship Ranking Member Ben Cardin (D-MD) issued this statement after the committee’s approval of Carranza:

“At a time when the face of business ownership in America is becoming more diverse, SBA needs strong leadership and innovative thinking to help entrepreneurs from underserved communities as they overcome pervasive, historical barriers. During last week’s nomination hearing, Treasurer Carranza expressed her commitment to supporting underserved communities and advocating for small businesses within the administration. I look forward to working with Treasurer Carranza to empower America’s entrepreneurs so they can build successful businesses and create jobs.”

Cardin’s comments came after he earlier in December pressed Carranza for her support on SBA programs that aid underserved entrepreneurs.

In more support for Carranza, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, issued a statement:

“I congratulate Ms. Carranza on being favorably reported to the Senate floor. If confirmed, I look forward to working collaboratively with her to modernize the SBA, optimize the agency’s programs, and increase interagency coordination.”

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Golden Globes 2020: Beyoncé Happened

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Black Flea Market in D.C., Breaks Ground on Permanent Home

Market 7, which is home to a variety of black-owned businesses, has broken ground at a new location in the District of Columbia.

Last month The Neighborhood Development Co., Asturian Construction, and Market 7 hosted a ground-breaking ceremony to start the construction of Benning Market; a new multi-use development site that will include a 7,000-square-foot food hall in the Ward 7 section of Washington, D.C. The venue is located at 3451 Benning Road NE.

The market celebrated the ground-breaking on their new permanent location on its Twitter account, “Cheers to our permanent home! Thank you to everyone that attended. #Fall2020 #Ward7Strong #Market7dc #WeBuiltThis“

The flea market that brought black businesses together in a parking lot was started in 2017 to meet the needs of local people who had to travel to other parts of the city for retail and food options. It has partnered with local urban farmers, entrepreneurs, and community stakeholders in order to provide market-based solutions to the crucial health and economic problems facing the Ward 7 community.

In two short years, the marketplace has gathered 60 new small businesses to the Ward 7 community through alternative pop-up markets. “There is no reason why I should have to cross the bridge to go and get items, produce, food, clothes, and services, which is what most of us have to do in Ward 7 and 8. Having something like this is important,” Dr. Judy Walton, a resident of Ward 7, said in a statement. 

More than 80% of Ward 7 residents have to travel to Ward 6 or into Maryland to shop for some or all of their food and grocery needs, although they preferred not to leave the area to do so. 

Market 7 will be the anchor tenant at Benning Market and will continue its work to address the food and retail disparities in communities east of the river. Ward 7 residents will benefit from the cultivation of the new food hub since they have experienced very limited food options for several years.

“This is more than just retail,” says founder Mary Blackford in a press release, “Market 7 is a real, multi-generational, community-based approach to sustaining Ward 7. The new Market 7 at Benning Market will be an exciting expansion of the work we are already doing to bring abundance, vitality, and total wellness to our community by creating a space where our local food ecosystem and small businesses can thrive.” 

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