The American Council of Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching announced Howard University as one of the nation’s top “Opportunity Colleges and Universities – High Access and High Earnings.” Excerpts from Howard University’s The Dig
WASHINGTON— Recently, the American Council of Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching announced Howard University as one of the nation’s top “Opportunity Colleges and Universities – High Access and High Earnings.” Howard was recognized as a model college in providing access to high-quality education for students regardless of their socioeconomic or cultural background and preparing those students to earn relatively high wages in the context of their geographic locations. The “Opportunity College” classification is ACE and Carnegie’s highest designation for colleges and universities that facilitate social and economic mobility.
Among Opportunity Colleges and Universities with a Research One (R1) designation, the nation’s highest Carnegie Classification for research spending and doctorate production, Howard has the highest “access” ratio, based on “enrollment of Pell Grant recipients and students from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups compared to a similar population in their area.” Among historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Howard graduates have the highest median earnings eight years after graduation.
“This designation by ACE and Carnegie underscores Howard’s legacy of academic excellence and success in preparing generations of students for careers that lead to higher economic mobility and also allows them to contribute to meaningful change across all sectors of our society,” said Ben Vinson III, Ph.D, Howard University president. “It’s also a testament to the accomplishments of our dedicated faculty and staff, and the drive and brilliance of our high-achieving students, who continue to elevate Howard’s local, national, and global impact.”
The classification announcement follows Howard’s designation earlier this year as the only historically Black college or university among Research One (R1) institutions.
“As a top research institution, Howard is a place where students have the opportunity to lead efforts to redefine research and reimagine innovation to help solve real-world problems; thereby increasing the demand for their talent in the workforce marketplace,” said Bruce Jones, Ph.D., Howard University senior vice president for research.
ACE and Carnegie used publicly available information to categorize every degree-granting American college or university. It also used median undergraduate post-attendance earnings for graduates of each institution as reported by the College Scorecard and compared them with earnings of peers ages 22-30 who hold a high school diploma or higher. Geographic and cultural impacts on earnings were also considered.
The designation follows other recent recognition noting Howard’s ability to produce high-achieving graduates. U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges ranking lists Howard as #12 in the nation for social mobility, the only university in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area with a social mobility ranking in the top 40. Last week, U.S. News ranked Howard University School of Law as #13 in the nation in the “Law Schools with the Most Graduates at Big Law Firms” category. The publication also ranked Howard as the No. 1 HBCU for undergraduate programs in business, computer science, economics, engineering, and psychology. Last fall, Forbes ranked Howard as the top HBCU in the nation.
More information about Howard University can be found at howard.edu
P Rob Radio Show Established
by Paulette Robinson
I would like to introduce readers to my new podcast called, “Generation Inspiration.” The show is based out of the United Kingdom, UK,
with streaming partners in New York, Jamaica, and the surrounding countries. My podcast is based in Washington, DC. The Radio Show’s concept is to provide Motivational, Insightful, and Inspirational discussions and content for Generational Impact. Its main focus is Business & Finance, Health & Wellness, Hospitality, Humanities, Art & Culture, Education and the Environment for Personal Discovery, Family, and Community Connectivity. The show airs live, each Friday at 7:00 pm EST for one hour on Silk Radio UK and Energy Radio One NY. The P. Rob show is expanding its platforms domestically and internationally. The P. Rob Show provides “Inspirational Highlights” that are informational resources geared to elevate the listeners in their career paths and to sustain them in their future endeavors.
Adrian Stone, a Top Caribbean Genealogists in the UK and the Founder of Own History, was one of several guests on the show. Stone is a recipient of the 2023 MTM Arts & Culture Award. The UK MTM Awards celebrates excellence and achievements across rich & diverse communities. Adrian has an exhibit in the Science Museum of London, the largest museum in the UK, based on his work. Adrian has been featured on BBC News, BBC Radio, Mast the Magazine, and several publications throughout the UK Other guests include Financial Historian Mark Higgins, a member of the Editorial Board of the Museum of American Finance, who is a frequent writer for the Museum’s Financial History magazine. Insights from his writing and experiences as a consultant to institutional investment plans have been quoted by journalists at CNBC, the Wall Street Journal, Morningstar, and many other financial publications throughout the world. Mark is an Investment Advisor and Consultant for both Small and Multi-Billion Plans.
The P. Rob Show has also featured Bethany Bengtson who is a Fordham MBA and a Financial Analyst. Bethany’s work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, Harvard Business Review, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and Columbia’s School of International Affairs. Additionally, guests of the P. Rob Show included Pamela Roberts, who is an Award-Winning Creative Producer, Historian, Published Author and is a Fellow of the British Royal Society of the Arts and The Royal Historical Society. Pamela is the Founder of the International British Film Festival, which received recognition from H.R.H (the late) Queen Elizabeth II. Pamela is also the Founder of the Black Oxford: The Untold Stories of Oxford University’s Black Scholars, and Oxford University’s First Black Heritage Guided Bus Tours. Pamela authored a book regarding the first Black Oxford University Scholar, Chrisitan Fredrick Cole. Oxford University honored Pamela’ s work by placing a plaque of Chrisitan Frederick Cole at the University, which was recognized by Rev Canon, Dr. Chigor Chike, Chaplain of King Charles III. Pamela has worked with leading institutions, including the BBC, Channel 4, Arts Council England, the British Film Institute.
P. Rob was a recent guest on HOT 91.1 Norfolk State University‘s Radio Station, during International Women’s History Month. Robinson who is an alumna of Hampton, spearheaded a speaker’s event for Norfolk State University’s business alumni association. She was also a panelist for the event, She was a recent judge for the NAACP DC ACTSO Achievement program, Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO). The NAACP ACT-SO Program is a nationally based organization, where black high school students, from grades 9 through 12, in 33 Categories from Visual Arts and Business to Performing and Culinary Arts The student participants work with Community-Based Volunteers for a year to develop projects and performances. The experience culminates in local and national events where students compete for scholarships. The NAACP DC ACT-SO Program was segmented on the recent P. Rob Show.
The P. Rob Show continues to expand its content to educate the masses, with emphasis on the Black Diaspora, Global Economic Societal Awareness and Initiatives, to include Global Entrepreneurial Achievements
Takoma Park To Hold 2nd Juneteenth Celebration
By Patrice Love
The Maple Community Association will hold its 2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration in Takoma Park, .The Maple Community Association was founded to honor this historic milestone and bring the community together, just as the City of Takoma Park has long united in celebration on July 4th.
A vibrant day filled with music, food, performances, and meaningful dialogue will celebrate freedom, culture, and community.
📅 Date: Thursday, June 19, 2025
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Lee Jordan Field, 7825 Piney Branch Rd, Takoma Park, MD 20912
The leadership and contributions of organizations continue to uplift and inspire our community, and we would be honored to celebrate alongside you. Sponsors, vendors, or volunteers help support mentorship and community programming, while volunteers play a vital role in making this event a success.
History of Juneteenth
Juneteenth, officially Juneteenth National Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States. It is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States. The holiday’s name, first used in the 1890s, is a portmanteau of the words “June” and “nineteenth”, referring to June 19, 1865, the day when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the American Civil War.[8][9] In the Civil War period, slavery came to an end in various areas of the United States at different times. Many enslaved Southerners escaped, demanded wages, stopped work, or took up arms against the Confederacy of slave states. In January 1865, Congress finally proposed the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution for national abolition of slavery. By June 1865, almost all enslaved were freed by the victorious Union Army, or abolition laws in some of the remaining U.S. states. When the national abolition amendment was ratified in December, the remaining enslaved in Delaware and in Kentucky were freed.
Early celebrations date back to 1866, at first involving church-centered community gatherings in Texas. They spread across the South among newly freed African American slaves and their descendants and became more commercialized in the 1920s and 1930s, often centering on a food festival. Participants in the Great Migration brought these celebrations to the rest of the country. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, these celebrations were eclipsed by the nonviolent determination to achieve civil rights, but grew in popularity again in the 1970s with a focus on African-American freedom and African-American arts. Beginning with Texas by proclamation in 1938, and by legislation in 1979, every U.S. state and the District of Columbia has formally recognized the holiday.
(Wikipedia Foundation, May 2025)
👉 For more information on sponsorship, volunteer opportunities, or event details, please visit: www.maplecommunityassociation.or con. tact
Patrice Love
Treasurer
Maple Community Association
📞 202-271-1691
The History of Final Generation of Scarification | Course Syllabus (Planned for Fall 2025)
Professor Frankie L. Bethea, Howard University alumna, has developed a course to begin in the fall. The course outline appears below. The course is being reviewed by universities nationally. Above, Professor Bethea and Paulette Robinson, alumna, Norfolk State University,
The History of Final Generation of Scarification: Art and Tribal Make Up, 7 Elements of Art Lecture and Lab is planned for Fall 2025 .This course will delve into the history of African tribal marks and folklore, examining how they connect with the seven elements of art: line, form, shape, space, color, texture, and value. Students will research the significance of these elements within the context of African tribal markings. Ancient Tribal marks or facial marks trace back to the fifth century Egypt BC. A Greek historian named Herodotus wrote that there were Egyptians who would carve themselves with sharp knives to differentiate themselves from each other. Later, African kingdoms invaded each other for land and resources. Burning or Cutting Fathers would give their children tribal marks to prove their legitimacy, also to ID the babies and connect them to the family lineage or ethnic group. Each tribe would have similar masks to protect their interest. The first tattoo was found on a mummy in 1994.
Course Syllabus: Exploration of African Tribal Markings in Stage Makeup
Course Title: African Tribal Markings and Their Influence in Stage Makeup
Course Duration: 15 Weeks
Lecture Hours: 2 hours per week
Lab Hours: 2 hours per week
Prerequisites: None
Course Description:
This course will provide an in-depth exploration of African tribal markings, tracing their historical significance, cultural implications, and artistic applications in stage makeup. Students will engage in both theoretical and practical components, learning to recreate tribal looks while respecting the cultural backgrounds from which these markings originate.
Weekly Breakdown
Week 1: Introduction to African Tribal Markings
– Overview of the course objectives and structure.
– Discussion of the historical context of tribal markings, beginning from their origins in ancient Egypt (5th century BC) to contemporary practices.
– Key Literature: “The History of Tattoos: A Global Perspective” by Dr. Jane Smith.
Week 2: The Seven Elements of Art
– Introduction to line, shape, form, space, color, texture, and value.
– Analysis of how these elements are present in African tribal markings.
– Practical exercise: Identify elements in various tribal markings.
Week 3: Research and Analysis of Tribal Markings
– Guided research on different tribes and their unique marking traditions.
– Resources: Documentaries, academic articles, and online databases.
– Assignment: Present findings on a chosen tribe’s marking practices.
Week 4: Design Principles in Stage Makeup
– Exploration of design principles: balance, proportion, harmony, contrast, and rhythm.
– Application of these principles to makeup design inspired by tribal markings.
– Practical exercise: Create a design layout incorporating these principles.
Week 5: Cultural Significance of Tribal Marks
– Discuss the cultural and spiritual meanings behind tribal markings.
– Study examples of markings used for identification, protection, and beauty.
– Literature: “Body Marks: Tattooing, Piercing, and Scarification” by Dr. Lisa Johnson.
Week 6: Applying African Tribal Markings in Stage Makeup
– Step-by-step tutorials on recreating tribal markings.
– Lab session: Students practice applying tribal markings on themselves or partners.
Week 7: Cultural Sensitivity and Ethical Considerations
– Discussion on the importance of cultural respect and avoiding appropriation.
– Case studies on cultural representation in the arts.
Week 8: Practical Techniques: Part 1
– Workshop on various application techniques for tribal makeup.
– Hands-on practice with tools and materials.
Week 9: Practical Techniques: Part 2
– Continuation of application techniques, focusing on different tribal styles.
– Peer feedback on techniques and designs.
Week 10: Guest Speaker Session
– Invite a makeup artist specializing in African tribal makeup to share insights and techniques.
Week 11: Project Development
– Students begin developing their final projects, applying tribal markings to stage makeup designs.
– One-on-one consultations for project guidance.
Week 12: Final Project Workdays
– Dedicated lab time for students to work on their projects with instructor support.
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Upcoming Events: Maple Community Association and the City of Takoma Park presents “Juneteenth Celebration”
