Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

First came the testimony and closing arguments – Congress members laid out a four-year reign of terror that was Donald Trump’s presidency.

Then came the verdict – Congress voted to impeach Trump, and in the process, placed an exclamation stamp at the end of perhaps the most divisive presidency in American history.

It also marked the first time that a president was impeached twice – in Trump’s case, it is the second consecutive January that House members agreed to the strongest rebuke it could provide a sitting president.

Trump was impeached in 2020 for obstruction of Congress and abuse of power. This time, Congress nailed him for “incitement of insurrection,” a shameful charge – probably the most dishonorable of any president.

The Senate must now host a trial and decide whether to remove Trump, who has just one week remaining in his term. 

“For years, we have been asked to turn a blind eye to the criminality, corruption, and blatant disregard to the rule of law by the tyrant president we have in the White House. We as a nation can no longer look away,” Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) declared.

Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern, the Chairman of the House Rules Committee, blasted: “President Donald Trump and his allies were stoking the anger of a violent mob.”

“A member of this very body proclaimed on that stage, today is the day American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass,” McGovern, of Massachusetts stated. 

“Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani called for trial by combat. Then Donald Trump told the crowd, ‘we’re going to have to fight much harder. You’ll never take back our country with weakness.”

Despite some pushback from die-hard Trump supporters in Congress, the House voted to impeach the 45th president.

Unlike the first time the House impeached, Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), the Senate Republican leader, has declared support for impeachment.

At least seven other Republicans have voiced that they too favor impeaching Trump.

If convicted in the Senate, Trump would no longer be eligible to hold public office, lose his $200,000 pension for the rest of his life, and forfeit a $1 million per year travel allowance.

Trump would still maintain eligibility for secret service protection.

The House impeachment resolution that passed on Wednesday cited “incitement and insurrection” for the President’s role in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

 Before introducing impeachment legislation, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) attempted to pass a resolution to ask Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove the President from office.

The law has only been used a handful of times, most recently when, on Jun. 8, 2002, President George W. Bush’s powers were transferred to Vice President Dick Cheney for about an hour because Bush was under sedation for a medical procedure.

Section 4 of the Amendment strips power from the President. 

It states that the Vice President and a majority of Cabinet can deem the President unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.”

If the 25th Amendment were invoked, Pence would assume the presidency and serve out what remains in Trump’s term.

However, Pence declined to invoke the measure.

“[Trump] needs to be removed. He’s dangerous,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated, echoing the sentiments of more than 200 members of Congress.

“The president not only incited an insurrection against our government – but has in word and in deed led a rebellion,” Congresswoman Omar declared on the House floor. “We cannot simply move past this or turn the page for us to be able to survive as a functioning democracy.”

Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-Calif.) also railed against the Pro-Trump insurrectionists as “terrorists radicalized by Donald Trump.”

 “We were attacked by terrorists, but this time the terrorists were radicalized right here in the United States,” Congresswoman Chu said. 

“Worse, they were radicalized by the President, who intentionally lied to his supporters that the election was stolen, and then told them when to come to D.C., where to protest and who to direct their anger at. 

“The need to remove Trump from office could not be more urgent. He is too dangerous to remain in office. Donald Trump must be held accountable. He must be impeached.” 

In the impeachment legislation, Congress members wrote that the “President demonstrated that he would remain a threat to national security, democracy, and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law.”

Further, the resolution states, “President Trump warrants impeachment and trial, removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.”

Specifically, the resolution identifies Trump’s Jan. 2 phone call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger urging him to “find” enough votes to overturn the state’s election results.

“We cannot allow this unprecedented provocation to go unanswered,” House members said in a statement. 

“Everyone involved in this assault must be held accountable, beginning with the man most responsible for it – President Donald Trump. We cannot begin to heal the soul of this country without first delivering swift justice to all its enemies — foreign and domestic.” 

Cupertino, Calif. – Apple has announced a set of major new projects as part of its $100 million Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI) to help dismantle systemic barriers to opportunity and combat injustices faced by communities of color. These forward-looking and comprehensive efforts include the Propel Center, a first-of-its-kind global innovation and learning hub for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); an Apple Developer Academy to support coding and tech education for students in Detroit; and venture capital funding for Black and Brown entrepreneurs.

Together, Apple’s REJI commitments aim to expand opportunities for communities of color across the country and to help build the next generation of diverse leaders, the tech giant said in a news release.

“We are all accountable to the urgent work of building a more just, more equitable world — and these new projects send a clear signal of Apple’s enduring commitment,” Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, said in the release. 

“We’re launching REJI’s latest initiatives with partners across a broad range of industries and backgrounds — from students to teachers, developers to entrepreneurs, and community organizers to justice advocates — working together to empower communities that have borne the brunt of racism and discrimination for far too long. We are honored to help bring this vision to bear, and to match our words and actions to the values of equity and inclusion we have always prized at Apple.”

Last June, Apple announced REJI in the wake of protests around the world following the killings of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and countless others. 

The initiative builds on Apple’s work to advance racial equity in education, the economy, and the criminal justice system, and is led by Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, Lisa Jackson. REJI complements Apple’s internal efforts to improve diversity and inclusion at every level of the company.

“Every individual deserves equal access to opportunity regardless of skin color or zip code,” said Jackson. 

“For too long, communities of color have faced gross injustices and institutional barriers to their pursuit of the American dream, and we are proud to lend our voices and resources to build new engines of opportunity that empower, inspire, and create meaningful change.”

Apple is working with Southern Company and a range of community stakeholders to support the launch of the Propel Center, a first-of-its-kind innovation and learning hub for the HBCU community.

Apple’s $25 million contribution will enable the Propel Center to support HBCU students and faculty through a robust virtual platform, a physical campus in the historic Atlanta University Center, as well as on-campus activations at partner institutions.

The center is designed to support the next generation of diverse leaders, providing innovative curricula, technology support, career opportunities, and fellowship programs. 

The Propel Center will offer a wide range of educational tracks, including AI and machine learning, agricultural technologies, social justice, entertainment arts, app development, augmented reality, design and creative arts, career preparation, and entrepreneurship. 

Experts from Apple will help develop curricula and provide ongoing mentorship and learning support, along with offering internship opportunities.

The Propel Center was imagined and designed by Ed Farm, a groundbreaking organization that works to promote innovation and educational equity. 

The initiative builds upon Apple’s partnership with Ed Farm and the company’s work with three dozen HBCUs, bringing coding, creativity, and career opportunities to campuses and communities across the US.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Apple on this extraordinary project,” said Anthony Oni, Ed Farm’s founder and chairman of the board, and a vice president at Southern Company. 

“The Propel Center will help cultivate leadership and drive innovation in tech and beyond, acting as a springboard for change in communities across America.”

As part of Apple’s ongoing partnerships with HBCUs, the company is also establishing two new grants to support HBCU engineering programs. 

Apple’s new Innovation Grants will help HBCU Colleges of Engineering develop their silicon and hardware engineering curriculum in partnership with Apple’s experts. 

The new Faculty Fellows Program will support HBCU educators pursuing R&D with mentorship programs, curriculum development assistance, and funds to equip their lab spaces.

Building on its longstanding scholarship program with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Apple is also now offering scholarships to 100 new Apple Scholars from underrepresented communities. In addition to financial support, the Apple Scholars program includes mentorship and career development experience at Apple.

Later this year, Apple will open an Apple Developer Academy in Detroit — the first of its kind in the US. Detroit has a vibrant Black entrepreneur and developer community, with over 50,000 Black-owned businesses, according to US Census data. 

The academy is designed to empower young Black entrepreneurs, creators, and coders, helping them cultivate the skills necessary for jobs in the rapidly growing iOS app economy. 

Launched in collaboration with Michigan State University, Apple Developer Academy courses will be open to all learners across Detroit, regardless of their academic background or whether they have any previous coding experience.

The Apple Developer Academy will offer two programs in Detroit. 

A 30-day introductory program is designed for learners who are considering app economy careers and looking to better understand what it means to be a developer. 

The full academy program is an intensive 10- to 12-month program that will help aspiring developers build the skills needed to participate in the iOS app economy, and even start their own businesses. 

Apple expects the academy’s programming to reach close to 1,000 students each year with a curriculum that covers coding, design, marketing, and professional skills.

And next month, Apple will host the inaugural cohort of its Entrepreneur Camp for Black Founders and Developers for a virtual experience, offering one-on-one code-level guidance from Apple experts and engineers, as well as mentorship, inspiration, and insights from top Apple leaders.

To address systemic barriers to access and funding faced by Black and Brown entrepreneurs, Apple is today announcing two new investments in the venture capital and banking spaces, with both projects designed to provide capital to minority-owned businesses. 

The company will invest $10 million with Harlem Capital — an early-stage venture capital firm based in New York — to support its investments in 1,000 companies with diverse founders over the next 20 years. 

In addition to providing capital to entrepreneurs of color, Harlem Capital will also lend its expertise to Apple’s broader efforts to advance access to economic opportunity. 

The firm will offer guidance and mentorship to students at the Detroit Developer Academy and participants in Apple’s Entrepreneur Camp for Black Founders and Developers. 

Apple will also support Harlem Capital’s internship program, focused on opening doors for aspiring women and minority investors.

The company will also invest $25 million in Siebert Williams Shank’s Clear Vision Impact Fund, which provides capital to small and medium-size businesses, with an emphasis on minority-owned companies. The fund looks to support businesses that operate in or serve underserved markets, and that foster inclusive growth initiatives.

As part of its REJI work, Apple continues to build on its contributions toward community colleges, nonprofit advocates, and local organizations working to empower and expand opportunity for the next generation. 

Apple is making a contribution to The King Center, a living memorial to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to share his teachings and inspire new generations to carry forward his unfinished work. Next week, Dr. King’s daughter and the CEO of The King Center, Dr. Bernice A. King, will issue a call to action encouraging young people to give back to their communities as part of Apple’s “Challenge for Change” series — a set of conversation guides and learning-based challenges on issues related to race and inequality.

Apple’s contribution to The King Center joins the company’s previous donations to nonprofit organizations that advance equity and justice, including the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama.

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

American Petroleum Institute (API) President and CEO Mike Sommers said there’s growing confidence that America’s future will be brighter and cleaner because of today’s natural gas and oil abundance and an adapting, evolving industry. 

“Today, I’m going to outline a path, a vision, for an affordable, secure, reliable cleaner energy future one marked by a shared commitment across many industries to innovation, action, and problem-solving,” Sommers avowed.

The remarks kicked off API’s annual State of American Energy address. Sommers outlined actions the natural gas and oil industry is taking to support the nation’s economic recovery and a vision for an affordable, reliable, and cleaner energy future.

The virtual event drew more than 2,000 attendees. 

It featured young professionals and energy leaders, including a New Mexico teacher, a Pennsylvania-based union trade leader, and the National Newspaper Publishers Association President and CEO, Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.

“We’ve become conditioned to pitting using energy against making environmental progress, yet history has shown that this is a false choice,” Sommers expressed. 

“Both developing energy and reducing emissions are essential to advance our society and protect the environment without energy and environmental progress.”

The State of American Energy report revealed that the natural gas and oil industry remains a reliable foundation for America’s economic recovery.

The industry stands ready to help the country build – today, tomorrow, and in the future – through innovation and new technologies, to supply affordable, dependable energy while continuously improving environmental performance, Sommers outlined.

 “Natural gas and oil are both supporting our nation’s recovery, and eventually come back from the Covid-19 pandemic,” Sommers maintained.

“Our products served as critical building blocks for millions of face masks, surgical gowns, and other PPE worn by frontline workers. Our crews worked long shifts to make those products and power hospitals and plants.”

He noted that the industry had refrained from political battles and focused on the essential work the nation depends upon in producing and delivering American energy, which contributes to national security, answering the climate changes with action and ingenuity while keeping energy affordable.

“Thanks to American technology and innovation, the United States is now the world’s leading producer of natural gas and oil,” Sommers told the gathering.

“Securing America’s energy future has long been a point of unity since the 1970s, and nine US presidents have focused on American energy security and advocated for reducing our nation’s dependence on foreign oil.”

He insisted that energy affordability is more important than ever as the country recovers from the pandemic. 

“A government that’s focused on recovery for all should reject policies that could drive up energy costs and hurt those who can least afford them,” Sommers said.

“That is the case we’re making, and we are working with President Joe Biden and his administration. Our country has a lot of economic ground to make up, millions of more jobs to recover, and when the business at hand is the economic revival, no industry can help more than this one. The pandemic offered reminders of just how crucial the natural gas and oil industry is to everyday life.”

Dr. Chavis, a longtime environmental justice advocate, said the more than 230-member NNPA, which represents the Black Press of America, has enjoyed a great partnership with API and expects to continue as both strive to ensure that all residents have access to affordable energy.

“There are energy poverty places in America where we don’t get access to energy and natural gas that’s affordable,” Dr. Chavis declared. “We need to make sure that natural gas is accessible to all communities. We want to overcome these so-called energy poverty places in America.”

Chavis continued:

“One of the things we’ve enjoyed over the years is the close working relationship between the American Petroleum Institute and NNPA. As we begin 2021, the outlook is how to make progress, how to expand opportunities. 

“I’m hopeful that 2021 would not only be a year of transition, but a year where we focus on diversity and inclusion not only in terms of words but with deeds, and I think there are so many opportunities in the oil and natural gas industry in America. And, of course, API is leading the [way].”

During the event, Sommers announced the launch of API Energy Excellence, which establishes benchmarks on safety, security, and environmental protection that every API member will be expected to pursue and reach. 

API Energy Excellence defines superior and ever-improving performance that will unify the industry’s future progress in critically important areas to the nation, local communities, and ourselves, Sommers remarked. 

Core elements range from safety culture and community engagement to employee training and equipment design and aim to accelerate safety and environmental progress by sharing best practices and new technologies and annual progress reporting.

“With this new program, we’re creating a roadmap for accelerating performance across all segments of our industry,” Sommers said. 

“For nearly a century, API’s standards have supported the safe and environmentally responsible development, production, and transportation of natural gas and oil operations. API Energy Excellence is the next big step.”

View API’s State of American Energy Report here.

The Washington Football Team rid its nickname after the uprising that followed the killing of George Floyd/Washington Football Team

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

Protests and unrest in 2020 sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis shined an even brighter spotlight on police brutality against African Americans. 

The actions led to renewed calls to remove Confederate statutes and other racially-insensitive structures. 

Professional sports team, including the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Indians announced they would drop the names that many said were offensive to Native Americans. 

Despite incremental progress, many still argue that unless much more is done to show that Black lives matter, removing racist monuments and changing racially insensitive team names and logos are just mere distractions.

In other words, those who spoke with the Black Press on the subject said they are eager to see more tangible results.

“Dismantling Confederate monuments and ridding sports teams and brands of racist imagery is not enough,” Marcos Martinez, the owner of the blog, http://www.themenwhobrunch.com, wrote in an email.

“For there to be racial progress, there need to be drastic improvements in failing schools in minority communities,” Martinez exclaimed. 

He noted the many academic studies that prove education leads to better life opportunities. 

“I know this firsthand because I lived in Brownsville, one of the most impoverished neighborhoods in New York,” Martinez remarked. 

“Many of my [peers] who attended the schools in Brownsville didn’t graduate or didn’t pursue higher education. Most of them are either incarcerated or deceased due to gun violence.”

Darryl Smith, the founding partner for the firm, Florida Car Accident Law Team, said backlash remains from the dismantling of racist statues and the changing of names by some sports teams.

“The dismantling of the monuments and the rebranding of the teams’ racist imagery is not an end unto itself, and that should be remembered in the face of the expected backlash from those who really don’t want to see that imagery go away and make outsized noise about it,” Smith offered.

“We want to remember that these things are distance markers on the road to moving society toward a more inclusive future,” he continued.

“[Monuments] are inappropriate for spaces that are meant to represent all of the people in a particular jurisdiction as opposed to a select few. This is different from the concept of fighting systemic racism.”

Since the murder of Floyd in May, an estimated more than 100 Confederate symbols have been removed from around the country, including a Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from the U.S. Capitol that had represented Virginia for more than a century.

In July, the Washington Football Team announced it would drop the racist nickname, Redskins, after Pepsi, Nike, and FedEx received letters from investors calling on them to end their more than $620 billion sponsorship deals with the team.

The Cleveland baseball team later announced it would drop “Indians” as its nickname after the 2021 season.

“Changing sport teams names and tearing down statues are great PR moves by companies and politicians, but we’re never going to fix the problem until we educate the youth,” pronounced

Workers remove statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from U.S. Capitol/ Photo By Jack Mayer, Office of Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam

, the founder of https://coffeesemantics.com/.

“Racist parents that raise racist kids is the reason why we still have an equality issue in America. Kids aren’t born racist. They are raised to be racist,” Hickey declared.

“It’s the same as when people say pit bulls are mean. There is no such thing as a mean pit bull, only mean owners.”

Ken Eulo, the Smith & Eulo Law Firm’s founding partner in Orlando, Florida, said tangible change is needed. 

“In 2021, rebuilding is likely to be a recurring theme. Black Americans want to reinforce the idea of rebuilding and developing communities in what we hope will be a post-COVID-19 society,” Eulo said. 

“We want to see news, think pieces and human-interest stories that lend themselves to the idea of this being the time for Black innovation and excellence in a way that may not have been advisable before.”

This year needs to be a time “where we as individuals and a community find new ways to uplift ourselves after a year where we saw widely held beliefs, and long-standing conventions broken and cast aside in the wake of a global pandemic,” concluded Smith, of the Florida Car Accident Law Team, 

“This is a time where finding ways to function outside the box can reap real benefits at a time when all bets appear to be off,” Smith demanded. 

“We need to see examples of Black people and black communities thriving in the face of this unprecedented adversity, and examples of our political and economic influence being wielded for the betterment of Black Americans and the Black diaspora.”

Congresswoman Says Trump Should Be Impeached, Charged

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

California Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters said the Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund ignored warnings that an attack by domestic terrorists was imminent days before insurrectionists violently imposed their will and overtook the hallowed government building on Jan. 6.

In an exclusive interview today with the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s daily morning BREAKING NEWS: LET IT BE KNOWN, the beloved congresswoman, who’s known by the millions as “Auntie Maxine,” declared that there’s growing evidence of complicity by many in the attack that has claimed six lives, including two Capitol police officers, and over 50 law enforcement injuries.

Because President Donald Trump incited the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, Congresswoman Waters insisted that he is held accountable, and she implored families of the victims to pursue civil lawsuits against the United States government.

“I do believe that charges against the president should be pursued,” stated Congresswoman Waters during the live Jan. 12 interview, broadcast over the social media platforms of the Black Press of America.

Congresswoman Waters has served in the U.S. House since 1991. 

“First of all, to the families of those who died, they need to sue the U.S. government because the Capitol Police and others who had the responsibility of organizing security for this event failed,” Congresswoman Waters emphasized. 

Waters continued, “Either they are incompetent, or they lied, or they’re complicit. This is a very complicated combination of individuals and operations that I think played a role in this attack on our Capitol.” 

“I had an hour-long conversation with the [now former] chief of police of the Capitol days before this took place. I brought the issue about security up in our caucus, and the head of the House administration had the Capitol police chief call me.” 

“I asked him what he would do to keep these so-called protestors off of the Plaza and not close to the Capitol, and he assured me that there would be barricades and that they would not get anywhere near the Capitol.”

Photo Caption: Rep. Maxine Waters Receives a lifetime achievement award from the National Newspaper Publishers Association/NNPA File

Sund resigned after the U. S. Capitol attacks and was replaced by Morgan State University graduate, Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman.  Congresswoman Waters recalled pointing out to Sund that the Proud Boys and other right-wing organizations that support Trump had already arrived in Washington. 

“In my estimation, the chief didn’t seem to have a handle on this,” Congresswoman Waters determined. 

“I asked [Sund] about whether they had the cooperation of D.C. Police, and he said ‘absolutely.’ I asked if they would have police on top of the building because that’s where snipers go,” she continued.

“That’s how Martin Luther King and John Kennedy were killed – from high buildings. He assured me that they had it all under control, that they understood. It turns out, none of that was true.”

The congresswoman added that there were law enforcement and military types involved and among those in the terrorist attack. 

She is seeking a “deep investigation” into the attack, including a probe into whom Trump may have worked with, and who paid for the tour buses that brought the terrorists to Washington.

“This is serious,” Congressman Waters asserted. “A lot of entities were involved in this. Many of the rank-and-file Capitol police were left naked, without riot gear, and without the ability to defend themselves. 

“They got overrun, and these terrorists got inside and were calling out for [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi and looking for her. Even the woman who was shot and killed … when they searched her belongings, they found a video in which she said she was planning to ‘put Kamala Harris and Maxine Waters’ on notice. These people were out to kill. For the president, impeachment is a certainty, but criminal charges? Absolutely.”

Congresswoman Waters concluded by reasserting the vital importance of the Black Press of America and pledged to continue work with the NNPA to keep Black America and all people aware of the unfolding situation during the upcoming transition to the Biden-Harris Administration.

Click here to view the entire interview with Congresswoman Maxine Waters.

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

Located deep in the heart of Georgia, about 90 miles south of Atlanta, stands Fort Valley State University, one of America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Nowhere is the university’s motto, “Empower the Possible,” underscored better than its Cooperative Development Energy Program (CDEP).

Launched 34 years ago by Dr. Isaac J. Crumbly, CDEP offers minorities and women the opportunity to pursue dual degrees in STEM disciplines. 

Fort Valley State University (FVSU) students join the dual-degree program for three years; then transfer to a partner institution to study engineering, geosciences, or health physics. 

In five years, graduates earn two bachelor’s degrees — one from FVSU, another from the partner school. 

According to the United Negro College Fund, the increasing number of African Americans studying and working in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields is revolutionary.

Largely due to the efforts of the country’s HBCUs, African Americans are entering their STEM degrees better equipped to thrive in college, to graduate and to find successful careers, the UNCF reported.

Through CDEP, Fort Valley State University students have participated in over 850 internships with the public and private sectors of the energy industry, gained over 320,000 hours of hands-on work experience, and earned over $4.5 million to help finance their education. 

Since 1992, CDEP has awarded over $13 million in scholarships to academically talented minority and female students. 

In collaboration with its partnering universities, FVSU-CDEP has awarded more than 360 STEM degrees.

Tomieka Searcy, a senior geologist at BP; Jerome Murphy, a senior geologist at Exxon-Mobile; Eric McIntyre, an engineering supervisor at Georgia Power Company; and Roccio Castilla, a geo-scientist at Exxon-Mobile, count among the success stories of the CDEP program. 

“The CDEP program can bring a kid in the ninth grade in and get them through high school, get them through five years of college, three at FVSU, and a partner university, and deliver them into a job,” Dr. Crumbly remarked. 

“That type of pipeline program generally don’t exist. This program delivers.”

Dr. Crumbly has earned national recognition for his creativity of introducing innovative programs and has received numerous awards which include recognition by two presidents: A letter of commendation from President Ronald Reagan in 1988 for exemplary achievements as an educator, researcher, and role model. In January of 2011, he received President Barack Obama’s Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. 

Through Dr. Crumbly’s relentless and tireless work, and because of CDEP, Fort Valley State University has ranked number one in the nation in graduating African Americans in Mathematics and Statistics in 2011, 2014, and 2015. 

FVSU-CDEP has recruited and graduated 154 mathematicians, 54 chemists, and 24 biologists. 

Dr. Crumbly’s vision has prepared many CDEP scholars to pursue careers as engineers and scientists working in industry and governmental agencies.

The students are creating a human resources pool that addresses diversity in America’s STEM workforce, Dr. Crumbly stated.

They enroll in dual degree programs in engineering, geology, geophysics, and health physics.

Academically talented students enroll at FVSU for the first three years and pursue a major in mathematics, chemistry, or biology.

For years 4 and 5, students transfer to one of CDEP’s partnering universities to complete a major in engineering, geology, geophysics, or health physics.

After the five-year program, students earn a BS degree from Fort Valley State University and a BS, MS, or Ph.D. from one of CDEP’s partnering universities.

In addition to FVSU, CDEP’s current partnering institutions include the Georgia Institute of Technology, Pennsylvania State University, University of Arkansas, the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, and the University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Crumbly did note that there remains at least a couple of challenges facing the program and students.

“It’s not easy,” Dr. Crumbly stressed. 

“We are an HBCU, and at HBCUs we don’t have endowments like other institutions. We do need to establish long-term funding from donors.”

However, Dr. Crumbly remains committed.

“My encouragement comes from looking at these kids and trying to get them into careers regardless of obstacles,” he said. “The CDEP program works. This model works. The only things we need are funding for the program and commitments from the industry.” 

To learn more about the program or to contribute to CDEP program you can click on https://www.fvsu.edu/contact-cdep/ or call (478) 825-6243.