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Clark Atlanta Alumni in Birmingham Area Welcome Dr. French

BIRMINGHAM TIMES — One thing Miles College President George T. French Jr., PhD, has learned since announcing his resignation from Miles and new position at Clark Atlanta University (CAU): the alumni at his next stop have a strong presence in the Birmingham metro area. French will assume the role of president at CAU, which has a student body of 3,485, on September 1. He has served as president of Miles, which has about 1,700 students, since March 2006.

Published

7 years ago

September 3, 2019

Oakland Post

From left: Elias, Gaynell and Daagye Hendricks and Dr. George French during a welcome reception for French at the Hendricks' home hosted by the Clark Atlanta University Alumni Association Birmingham Chapter. (Photo by: Erica Wright | The Birmingham Times)

By Erica Wright

One thing Miles College President George T. French Jr., PhD, has learned since announcing his resignation from Miles and new position at Clark Atlanta University (CAU): the alumni at his next stop have a strong presence in the Birmingham metro area.

French will assume the role of president at CAU, which has a student body of 3,485, on September 1. He has served as president of Miles, which has about 1,700 students, since March 2006.

Recently, the CAU Alumni Association Birmingham/Central Alabama Chapter held a dinner party for French at the downtown residence of Elias and Gaynell Hendricks; Elias and the couple’s daughter, Daagye, are CAU alums.

“This is somebody who means so much to our city and so much to us personally, as we’ve seen Miles grow. To have him go to my school [causes] a flutter in my heart,” said Elias, a graduate of the CAU class of 1969.

He told French, “Your Birmingham family appreciates you for what you’ve done in the past and certainly even more for what we know you will do for [CAU] in the future.”

The dinner party for French attracted CAU alums from the Montgomery, Ala., and Atlanta, Ga. areas and the group’s National Alumni President Devin White.

“When we first started the process of finding a new president, some people were worried [that we would not be able to] fill that need in such a short time period, but as a [CAU] slogan says, ‘I’ll Find a Way or Make One,’” said White. “We are so elated to have Dr. French as our incoming president, … and we look forward to the upcoming receptions and greetings for him and introducing him to the institution.”

French told the gathering that he was ecstatic about the opportunity to lead CAU, “a preeminent institution already within this nation, within the world. I am clear in vision, I am clear in thought, and I am clear that God has given me this opportunity to lead … for such a time as this.”

Calvin Briggs Sr., EdD—CAU class of 1994 and executive director of the Southern Center for Broadening Participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)—said French is transitioning from one exceptional college to an exceptional university.

“We have a beautiful relationship with Birmingham and Atlanta, and we hope to continue that,” Briggs said to French. “We’re going to do everything in our power to support you, uphold you. We know you’re a dynamic individual. We know you’re exceptional and a servant leader. You were at Miles College for 14 years, which means you’re probably going to be at [CAU] for 20. … We have faith in God, and we have faith in you and that you are going to do the right thing and elevate [CAU] to its highest heights.”

Kenya Johnson-Coleman, who graduated from CAU with a bachelor’s degree in 1996 and a master’s in 1998, came from Montgomery for the occasion.

“[CAU] is home for so many of us, and we are excited to have you and see what you do with CAU in the future,” she said to French. “I was so excited when I heard you would be the next president at [CAU] because I’m familiar with what you’ve done for Miles and that community. I know you will do exceptionally well at [CAU], and I just can’t wait to see what you have in store for our beloved university.”

Arlillian Bushelon, a 2005 CAU graduate, said French will fit in nicely with the school’s slogan.

“When I first went to [CAU], I found the slogan ‘I’ll Find a Way or Make One,’ and I was like, ‘Really?’ But as you matriculate, you learn the true meaning of [the slogan],” she said to French. “You will definitely figure that out once you get to CAU. I wish you the best.”

Click to view slideshow.

Miles Says Goodbye

Also attending the CAU alum dinner party were several Miles alumni, who said they are sad to see French go but excited for CAU. Former Birmingham Mayor Richard Arrington and Miles College alum said CAU is getting “a proven leader.”

“I have mixed emotions [about French leaving],” he said to the group. “I think Birmingham and Miles College are losing a proven leader, but I hope and know [you] will hold up his arms and support him.

“[French] has done wonderful things at Miles College. Remember what leadership is about. … It takes a special person to really be a leader, and George French is really a leader. He has transformed Miles College. … Anybody can steer a ship, but to lead it in the right direction and do things, that takes a leader—and that’s what you all got in George French. You’re going to be proud that you have him as president.”

Gwen Amamoo, a Miles graduate and a member of the school’s board of trustees, said French was going someplace where he will be appreciated: CAU is a place where he’ll be “supported and loved. … When he gets there, lift him up and give him the support he needs. Most of all, pray for him and anybody else who is going with him.”

From One Home to the Next

French ended his tenure at Miles on August 16. The school has been his home for more than 23 years, the last 14 as president, and he recalled some of his fond memories of Birmingham and Miles.

“My youngest daughter is getting ready to graduate from Spelman [College],” he said. “When I took her there as a freshman, they asked her previous address, and she said, ‘Dad, you realize I don’t have a previous address other than Miles College? I was born on the campus of Miles.’ My time here in Birmingham has been so fruitful. … My oldest daughter was part of my first graduating class of Miles College, and I was able to give her her degree. She went to medical school and graduated from medical school. Two weeks later, she got married, and I’m her pastor, so I got to marry her. I’ve had some engaging experiences with my children through the [historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs)] experience.”

French knew it was time to leave when he found himself “too comfortable.”

“There comes a time in life when … you’re too comfortable, you’re not really in the struggle and making a big difference,” he said to alumni at the dinner party. “I’ve done everything I wanted to do for Miles and everything they’ve asked me to do, and now I’m comfortable. … I’m not about to sit in a rocking chair, sit on that beautiful campus and just live out life. No. I’m ready for this challenge. … When I get to Atlanta, people [may] call you and say, ‘French is walking in there like he runs it.’ Yes, I am because I will be your president of CAU.”

To read what Miles College students had to say about French, click here.

This article originally appeared in The Birmingham Times.

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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.

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2 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.

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2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

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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.

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2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

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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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