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How to Ensure Your Black Employees Feel Included and Valued

Black employees deserve to feel both valued and included, but to do that, organizations must create fair systems. It involves removing systemic barriers, curating intentional leadership, carefully listening to your employees, and more. There’s no denying that inclusion can lead to a workplace that’s healthier and more effective across the board. Doing this can ensure that your […]

Published

3 months ago

February 18, 2026

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Black employees deserve to feel both valued and included, but to do that, organizations must create fair systems. It involves removing systemic barriers, curating intentional leadership, carefully listening to your employees, and more.

There’s no denying that inclusion can lead to a workplace that’s healthier and more effective across the board. Doing this can ensure that your star players don’t slip through the cracks. Organizations should invest in the full potential of all their team members.

Clear actions will guarantee real results that you and your employees can be proud of. It all starts with leadership accountability, transparent growth pathways, and other staple aspects.

Why Is Inclusion Especially Vital for Black Employees in the Workplace?

Inclusion acts like the glue that affects all other aspects of a functional workplace. Examples include the following and more:

Employee retention
Team morale
Overall performance

If one or more employees don’t feel like they’re a respected and important part of the process, then you can expect to see a decline in everything from productivity to brand reputation. This is where a well-thought-out work culture comes in. It should be based on a foundation of fairness.

It’s important to emphasize that Black professionals, in particular, often face specific challenges that others may never fully experience themselves. For instance, they may encounter day-to-day bias, an overarching lack of representation in leadership, and a more narrow access to development opportunities.

Instead of tiptoing around these issues, it’s always far better to discuss and address them with understanding and frankness. Doing so can demonstrate a keen sense of respect for your employees, as well as set the stage for longstanding credibility.

Let’s not forget how beneficial such actions can be for business as a whole. Diversity in teams can eliminate tunnel vision and lead to better decisions moving forward. You can also expect a higher degree of creativity and adaptability.

What Actions Can Support Black Employees?

Black employees should also have a crystal-clear idea of the opportunities available to them. That way, they can work toward having a real career rather than a mere job. As such, higher-ups should explain what it takes to get a promotion and what each promotion comes with.

Some employees may want to pivot into another sector, so this is something that should be clear as well. Perhaps there’s an employee who has discovered a passion for working with people rather than behind the scenes. How they can take that step without losing the progress they’ve made so far can make all the difference.

Employers should also consider the following practical steps as a way to get started toward nurturing a more inclusive and valued workforce:

Conduct Honest Culture Assessments

While it can be hard to view situations with an unbiased eye, one way you can do this is by focusing on data-driven assessments. These are some examples that can contribute to a more accurate picture of the situation:

Anonymous engagement surveys
Listening sessions
Equity audits

Each of these options can work with the others to fill in any blind spots that may exist. Doing so can help leaders pinpoint undue gaps in pay, promotions, and even employee experience. Over time, you’ll have a more inclusive workplace.

Strengthen Leadership Accountability

Inclusive behaviors are cemented in fair and obvious expectations. For instance, when evaluating managers, be sure to include aspects tied to the following measurable goals:

Mentorship
Team equity
Retention outcomes

Also, when you invest in training that doesn’t brush over cultural sensitivity in the workplace, you’ll create leaders who are better equipped to get the most out of their teams. They’ll even have the tools to correct biases in real-time.

Build Structured Mentorship and Sponsorship

Access to advancement often hinges on relationships, visibility, or both. Formal mentorship programs are a great way for Black employees to receive necessary guidance and skill development. Executive sponsorship ensures that high-potential employees can get the strategic opportunities they need and deserve.

Career growth pathways shouldn’t be confusing. That’s why you must define criteria for promotions, leadership development programs, and more.

Recognize Contributions Equitably and in a Public Manner

Diversity and inclusion initiatives should be backed by real recognition. With recognition comes a keener sense of belonging. By having ongoing peer-to-peer recognition programs, you’ll encourage deeper appreciation across all of your business departments.

Of course, these recognitions should be done equitably. Make sure that they align with the company’s values and depend on data-driven factors. Kudos’ employee recognition software makes this process far easier and more streamlined.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can Companies Measure Progress in Diversity And Inclusion Initiatives?

Everything begins with dependable data. You can gather such data through engagement surveys and retention rates. Promotion statistics and pay equity analyses can also fill out the larger picture.

Be sure to note how many people are participating in any mentorship programs or leadership pipelines you’ve instituted. By reporting these numbers transparently, you can fine-tune your process and achieve even better results over time.

How Exactly Can Managers Better Support Black Employees?

Managers are at the forefront of inclusion. By taking their role seriously, they can do the following to support Black employees:

Listening actively
Providing clear and constructive feedback
Advocating for equitable opportunities

Consistent one-on-one conversations can carve out spaces for employees to share both their concerns and aspirations. Fair performance evaluations and visible sponsorship are also staples that can solidify trust and lead to long-term growth.

Black Employees Deserve Inclusion and Recognition

In a world where people can feel left behind, it’s important to ensure that your Black employees are able to contribute to their fullest potential without having to deal with biases and other workplace issues. Everything starts with acknowledgment, but it also calls for an in-depth assessment and real action. The sooner you start, the sooner you can create a team that celebrates everything strengths and brings the best out of each other through employee engagement.

Our evergreen content allows you to stay in the loop on all of the most important news, tips, and more. Be sure to browse around and remember to visit back as often as you can.

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2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring Review — Is This $136K EV Sedan Worth It?

AUTONETWORK ON BLACKPRESSUSA — Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, but it still feels elegant instead of trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Published

4 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

Oakland Post

The 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring is the kind of luxury EV that makes people stop and ask a simple question: Is this really better than a Tesla Model S, Mercedes EQS, or BMW i7? At $136,150, it has to do more than look futuristic. It has to feel special every time you get in it.

Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, yet it still feels elegant rather than trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Inside is where the Air Grand Touring really makes its case. The 34-inch Glass Cockpit Display and retractable Pilot Panel screen give the cabin a clean, modern look that still feels different from other EVs. The Tahoe Extended Leather and Lucid Black Alcantara headliner lifts the sense of occasion, and the front seats are a highlight. They are 20-way power-adjustable, heated, ventilated, and include massage. That matters because luxury buyers at this price expect comfort first.

Rear passengers are not ignored either. You get 5-zone heated rear seating, a rear center console display, and power rear and rear side window sunshades. Add in the Surreal Sound Pro system with 21 speakers, and the Air feels like a true long-distance luxury sedan.

Lucid also gives this car serious EV hardware. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, 900V+ charging architecture, and Wunderbox onboard charger are big talking points. Buyers in this segment care about range, charging speed, and everyday ease, not just raw performance. That is where the Lucid continues to stand out.

On the technology side, the Air Grand Touring includes DreamDrive Premium, with 3D Surround View Monitoring, Blind Spot Warning, Automatic Park In and Out, Automatic Emergency Braking, and a Driver Monitoring System with distracted and drowsy driver alerts. This one also has DreamDrive Pro, which adds future-capable ADAS hardware.

There are still some real-world annoyances. Based on your notes, the windshield wiper control is hard to find and use, and that matters more than people think in a high-tech car. When controls become less intuitive, even a beautiful interior can feel frustrating.

Still, the 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring succeeds where it matters most. It feels luxurious, advanced, comfortable, and thoughtfully engineered. For buyers who want an EV sedan that feels truly premium and less common than the usual choices, this Lucid makes a very strong case.

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Snoop Dogg Celebrates 10 Til’ Midnight at the Compound

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles.

Published

4 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

admin

Snoop Dogg celebrated the premiere of 10 Til’ Midnight at his Inglewood recording studio & multipurpose facility, The Compound, but the night felt like much more than an album release. It felt like Los Angeles. It felt like legacy. And it felt like another major move from one of the city’s greatest cultural architects as he continues to prove that he is not just dropping music — he is building moments, shaping narratives, and pushing the culture forward in real time.

What made the event so powerful was the clarity behind the vision. During a panel conversation with DJ Hed, Snoop opened up about the heart behind 10 Til’ Midnight, explaining that the project was created to help bridge older and younger generations while also speaking to the long-standing divisions between Bloods and Crips in a unique way through film. That alone gave the project a different kind of weight. This was not just about songs. This was about using creativity as a tool for connection. This was about taking a story rooted in Los Angeles and telling it in a way that could bring people together.

Snoop Congratulated By Rapper & Fellow 10 Til Midnight Cast Member G Perico (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles. The film was shot in the city, including at WePlay Studios in Inglewood, which gave the entire project an even deeper hometown feel. It was not just a West Coast story in content — it was a Los Angeles-made production from the ground up.

That matters because, in a city like this, authenticity still carries weight. Snoop understands how to make sure that what he creates does not just represent Los Angeles on the surface, but actually comes from it.

What also makes 10 Til’ Midnight significant is that it represents another major step in Snoop’s evolution as both an artist and executive. Public reporting around the project identifies it as his 22nd studio album, but the bigger story is what it represents in this season of his life. This is one of several consecutive moves he has made in his 50s that show he is still building, still expanding, and still finding new ways to reinvent what the next chapter looks like.

Snoop Dogg at the Premiere of 10 Til Midnight (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

Now, as the head of Death Row Records and the newly aligned leader of Death Row Pictures, he is taking the brand into a new dimension. That is what made this moment feel bigger than music. Snoop is not just protecting the legacy of Death Row — he is stretching it. He is expanding it beyond records and into film, visual storytelling, and larger creative worlds that can continue carrying the label’s impact forward. Public reporting has noted that this project arrives as part of that broader cinematic push.

That is a major Los Angeles move because the city has always been built on the intersection of music, film, neighborhood identity, and cultural storytelling. With 10 Til’ Midnight, Snoop is leaning all the way into that intersection.

The room at The Compound reflected that. It felt like a private premiere, but it also felt like a statement — a reminder that Snoop Dogg’s staying power has never been based only on nostalgia. It comes from his ability to remain connected, remain visionary, and remain in tune with how to move the culture without losing the essence of who he is.

That is why this premiere mattered. It was not just about celebrating another album. It was about witnessing a Los Angeles legend continue to evolve, continue to unify, and continue to use art to tell stories that hit deeper than entertainment alone.

In that sense, 10 Til’ Midnight became more than a project launch. It became another example of how Snoop Dogg is still taking Los Angeles to the next level — using music, film, and legacy together to build something bigger than a moment.

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OP-ED: Small Businesses Need Minnesota to Act on Pass-Through Tax Policy

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN RECORDER — A Twin Cities immigrant entrepreneur who built several businesses including grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods is calling on Minnesota lawmakers to extend the Pass-Through Entity tax option before it expires, warning that its loss would hit small businesses already recovering from Operation Metro Surge with higher federal tax bills.

Published

4 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

admin

A Twin Cities Small Business Owner Is Urging Minnesota to Extend a Tax Policy That Could Save Thousands of Businesses

By Daniel Hernandez | Minnesota Spokesman Recorder

I came to the United States as a teenager with a clear goal: to build something meaningful through hard work. I put in long days in construction, restaurants, and landscaping; doing whatever it took to learn, save, and eventually start my own business.

Over time, I built and ran several successful ventures, including an event photography company, a magazine, a tax and accounting firm, and now grocery stores serving neighborhoods across the Twin Cities where other retailers chose not to invest. I’ve created jobs, supported families, and committed to communities that deserve stability and opportunity.

That’s why I’m speaking out now.

Small business owners in Minneapolis and the communities we serve are recovering from serious disruptions, including the impacts of Operation Metro Surge. That event hit immigrant communities especially hard. In my own case, I lost nearly half of my 60 employees and saw revenue drop by about 85%. While I worked to provide competitive wages, health benefits, and paid time off, the real hardship fell on the people who lost their jobs and income.

Even as we rebuild, small businesses are facing another challenge. The Minnesota Legislature is considering letting an important tax policy expire: the Pass-Through Entity tax option.

Here’s what that means in plain terms.

Many small businesses, including mine, are pass-through businesses. That means the business itself doesn’t pay income tax. Instead, the owners report the income on their personal tax returns. But under current federal rules, there’s a limit on how much state tax we can deduct. That often leads to higher federal tax bills.

The Pass-Through Entity option fixes that. It allows the business to pay the state tax directly, which means the business can fully deduct those taxes on its federal return and lower the total amount of income taxed federally. The result is straightforward: small business owners pay less in federal taxes, without reducing what the state collects.

This policy is not new or controversial. Thirty-six states already offer it. It doesn’t cost Minnesota anything, it’s revenue neutral. And it benefits more than 66,000 businesses across the state.

In a state where the cost of doing business is already high, it’s hard to understand why we wouldn’t offer the same basic tax treatment as states like California and Illinois.

Small businesses have carried a heavy load in recent years, through a pandemic, rising costs and public safety disruptions. We’ve adapted, reinvested and stayed committed to our communities. What we need now are practical policies that support that work, not make it harder.

If the Minnesota House does not act soon, many businesses will face significantly higher federal tax bills. That’s money that could otherwise be used to hire workers, raise wages or reinvest in local neighborhoods.

I urge Gov. Tim Walz and members of the House Tax Committee to pass House File 3127 and extend the Pass-Through Entity election.

Small businesses are the backbone of our communities. We’ve proven our resilience. Now we need our state leaders to show the same commitment to us.

Daniel Hernandez is the owner of Colonial Market located at 2100 E. Lake St.

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