Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® is set to host its 71st International Conference from July 5-11, 2024, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. With over 20,000 members expected to attend, the event, promises to be a landmark gathering, celebrating the sorority’s enduring commitment to community service and sisterhood.

Under the stewardship of International President & CEO Danette Anthony Reed, the sorority aims to “Soar to Greater Heights of Service and Sisterhood” throughout the week-long conference. Attendees can look forward to a range of activities, including transformative service projects, discussions on critical social issues, and celebrations of the organization’s rich history.

The conference kicks off with a significant service project on Friday, July 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., where members will assemble over 25,000 weekend meal bags at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. These meals, part of the sorority’s Childhood Hunger Initiative Power Pack (CHIPP) program, will be donated to the City of Dallas and Dallas Independent School District (ISD). The initiative addresses childhood hunger, a critical issue impacting children’s concentration, learning, and overall well-being.

“Children facing hunger not only struggle with concentration and learning in school but also are at higher risk for health issues and social behavior challenges,” the sorority noted in their press release.

Later that day, at 2:00 p.m., a mass meal distribution event will take place at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center. Alpha Kappa Alpha will partner with the City of Dallas’ Park and Recreation department to distribute 25,000 meals—15,000 to kids in the City of Dallas and 10,000 to the Dallas ISD.

On Saturday, July 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., the sorority will attempt to set a Guinness World Record by packing 8,500 personal hygiene kits in one hour. This effort highlights the often-overlooked issue of access to personal hygiene products among the unhoused community. The kits will be donated to four local organizations supporting the unhoused community in Dallas.

“Our goal is to rally sorority members to assemble 8,500 kits of personal hygiene products, which will be donated to four organizations aiding the local unhoused community in Dallas,” the press release stated. “This initiative symbolizes our unwavering commitment to supporting those in need and working towards a more equitable society.”

With these impactful initiatives, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® continues to demonstrate its dedication to service and community, aiming to leave a lasting legacy of support and solidarity.

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Anime streaming giant Crunchyroll announced today that it has acquired the North American and select international theatrical rights for the upcoming supernatural vampire film compilation, “KIZUMONOGATARI -KOYOMI VAMP-.”

This three-part anime film condenses the previously released “KIZUMONOGATARI” trilogy, originally shown in 2016 and 2017, with animation by the acclaimed studio SHAFT.

The story follows Koyomi Araragi, a high school student who tangles with a captivating but powerless vampire named Kiss-shot Acerola-Orion Heart-under-blade.

Koyomi and Sony Pictures Entertainment will team up to bring the film to theaters for a one-day-only event. North American and Mexican audiences can catch it on August 28th, while Australian fans will have to wait until September 5th.

The synopsis dives deeper into the fateful encounter: Kiss-shot, a legendary vampire stripped of her limbs and drenched in blood, presents a tragic yet beautiful sight to Koyomi.

Scripted by NISIOISIN and brought to life by SHAFT’s animation, “KIZUMONOGATARI -KOYOMI VAMP-” serves as a prequel to the popular “MONOGATARI” series. This condensed version of the original trilogy offers a unique theatrical experience for fans.

Behind the Scenes:

• Directed and written by Tatsuya Oishi






• Original story by NISIOISIN






• Produced by SHAFT






• Running time: 114 minutes

Crunchyroll also recently announced a new season of the “MONOGATARI” series titled “MONOGATARI Series: OFF & MONSTER Season,” set to stream on their platform starting July 6th. This news comes as a sweet treat for fans eager for more from the captivating “MONOGATARI” universe.

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Simone Biles will officially be headlining the USA gymnastics team when she competes in her third Olympics later this month, and her husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens, is already extremely proud.

After news broke Sunday that the 27-year-old gymnast, had, in fact, qualified for her third Olympic Games during the trials in Minneapolis, Owens, 28, took to Instagram on Monday to express his excitement.

“No words can describe how proud of you [I] am baby,” the NFL player wrote in the caption of the post, which also included a carousel of photos featuring one of the couple embracing and shots of Biles in action during the trials. “Just knowing all the work that you put in and everything that you’ve been through, and to still come back and be as dominant as ever, [I] was speechless.”

Owens continued by expressing his gratitude to be “apart [sic] of this journey” with his wife.

“I can’t wait to be able to watch you there in Paris,” he added, gushing that he was “so happy” for her.

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“Cheers to going to your third Olympic Games. Just sounds so surreal being able to say my wife is the best to EVER do it, how did [I] get so lucky 😌 I love you so much 🤞🏽🤞🏽” Owens said, concluding the caption. 

When Biles arrives in Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, she will be only the fourth female gymnast ever to qualify for three U.S. teams. The small list includes none other than Dominique Dawes, the first Black gymnast to earn a gold medal at the Games. 

On Sunday, during interviews with reporters following the trials, Biles revealed that Owens will have time off from the Chicago Bears to accompany her in Paris. 

“I think it’s super exciting that we get to be in each other’s elements and supporting each other’s dreams and goals,” she said, per People magazine. “It is these memories that we make that we’ll never get back.”

She added, “Anytime we can show up for one another and support, we just get super excited because our schedules don’t align that much,” she continued. “So whenever it does, it’s really important for the both of us to show up and support.” 

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Hulu has just unveiled the official trailer for its upcoming unscripted series “Dress My Tour,” set to premiere on Tuesday, July 23rd. All ten episodes will be available for streaming on the premiere date.

Hosted by supermodel and actress Kate Upton, “Dress My Tour” offers an exclusive glimpse behind the scenes of the dynamic fashion and music industries. The series follows 11 aspiring fashion designers as they embark on a raw, emotional journey to create stunning fashion pieces for some of the music world’s biggest stars, including JoJo Siwa, Paula Abdul, Toni Braxton, and Ty Dolla $ign. These designers will compete to prove they have what it takes to make their mark in these competitive industries and win a $100,000 prize.

The series will feature a panel of esteemed judges and mentors, including seven-time Emmy® award-winning costume designer Marina Toybina and creative director, choreographer, and Emmy® award-nominated director Laurieann Gibson.

In addition to the main judges, the series will also welcome an impressive lineup of musical guest judges: Paula Abdul, JoJo Siwa, JT, Ty Dolla $ign, Toni Braxton, Coi Leray, French Montana, and Jessie James Decker.

The contestants vying for the top spot are Keiandrea Daniels, Veejay Floresca, Michael Shead, Rey Ortiz, McCauley Star, Afaf Seyam, Jessica West, Todd Fisher, Julissa Peralta, Cierra Zacchaeus, and Traviance Dunn.

The concept for “Dress My Tour” comes from Dr. Holly Carter, with the series produced by her company Relevé Entertainment in collaboration with All3Media America. Dr. Carter also serves as an executive producer alongside LaNeé Griffin, Keesha Brickhouse, Dean Houser, and Tarvenia “T” Jones. Griffin also takes on the role of Showrunner for the series.

Don’t miss the chance to witness the fusion of fashion and music like never before on “Dress My Tour,” exclusively on Hulu.

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Before she heads to her third Olympics, gymnastics GOAT Simone Biles hung out with one of her biggest fans, who also happens to be Grammy-winning singer SZA. Turns out, the two superstars have something in common, as the “Kill Bill” singer was a gymnast when she was younger.

In an NBC Sports video titled “When SZA Met Simone — Part 1,” they got together to discuss the “All the Stars” singer’s athletic past and engage in a friendly competition.

“It’s my dream to talk to you,” SZA told Biles. “I’m so hype. You’re like my wildest dream.”

When the four-time Olympic gold medalist inquired about the “SOS” artist’s gymnastics past, SZA explained, “I was nowhere near as cool as you. I have never seen anything like you — no one has.”

The singer/songwriter’s goals switched to music when she realized she wasn’t headed for the same level as Biles and her teammates. She revealed that she “needed something to be competitive at.”

“When it was clear to me that I wasn’t gonna be a national gymnast, I was like ‘Okay, let me see what I can do,’” the New Jersey native said.

Their fun banter and mutual appreciation led to a hilarious handstand competition. “She’s going to knock me over,” Biles joked as they almost collided. SZA held her handstand longer, so she won. Though we imagine a handstand competition with a popular singer isn’t high on the list of contests the nine-time national all-around champion is trying to win right now.

We really hope this is all leading to Simone appearing in SZA’s next music video, or maybe a live performance where SZA sings while Biles dominates the floor exercise.

As we mentioned, Simone is headed to her third Olympics. On Sunday, she won the women’s gymnastics U.S. Olympics Trials, officially being named to the team alongside Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera.

If you’re interested in watching Simone and Team USA win more medals (fingers crossed), the 2024 Paris Olympics kick off with Opening Ceremonies Friday, July 26, while women’s gymnastics begins Sunday, July 28. In the United States, all Paris Olympics coverage will be available live on NBC and Peacock.

Depending on who you ask, last week’s presidential debate was the unofficial end of President Joe Biden’s campaign for reelection or a new beginning.

On one side, major editorial pages and politicos called for the president to step aside after a high-stakes debate during which he lost his train of thought at crucial moments and struggled to respond effectively to the onslaught of lies from former President Donald Trump.  

At a time when Biden, 81, needed to convey physical strength and mental sharpness to fight back against polling in which respondents frequently cite his age as a concern, he failed to meet a low bar of a solid performance.

Biden’s campaign stop in Raleigh, North Carolina, just a day after the debate showed what seemed like a totally different candidate from the one at Thursday night’s debate – clear, passionate and highly self-aware.

“I know I’m not a young man, to state the obvious,  I don’t walk as easy as I used to,” Biden told the cheering crowd.  “I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth.” 

It’s this version of the president that his strongest supporters say is the real Biden.

It’s why they are sticking beside him, among other reasons, citing either the impracticality of selecting a new nominee just four months from a national election or their genuine belief that Biden is the best man for the job.

TheGrio spoke with a range of Black voters who are still voicing support for Biden despite criticisms of the debate.  Here are their different motivations for backing President Biden for reelection:

His debate performance wasn’t as bad as people made it out to be.

For Dan Smith, an attorney from New Jersey who is in his mid-60s, Biden’s debate performance wasn’t as poor as some pundits would have you believe.

“I was not offended by his presentation. I was more concerned about the substance of the issues that he was addressing,” Smith tells theGrio.

“He responded to each question that was posed to him by the moderators. He had a clear path that he wants to pursue in his upcoming administration.”

Smith says in contrast, it was Trump who performed poorly.

“Mr. Trump wasn’t prepared. He did not have a plan… He did not respond to the questions that were posed… He just ate up time without delivering the goods.”

Dr. Mark E. Whitlock, 70, pastor of Reid Temple AME Church in Maryland, agreed that many comparisons of Trump and Biden didn’t take into account the full picture.

“President Biden started off slow, but he was truthful,” Whitlock tells theGrio. “I did not understand, and I still don’t understand, how a man with 34 felonies can speak so openly on national television…And propose to lead our country when African-Americans are denied jobs because of a criminal background. Denied entrance into college. Denied entrance into the military. Denied credit if we just have a blemish on our record.”

“I’m appalled with some Democrats that would dare to throw away a man that’s given his life to helping poor people, the lost, the underserved in our country,” he said. “But the Republican Party is not willing to throw away a man that’s got 34 felonies and lies openly and mistakes facts.”

One debate performance doesn’t erase 3.5 years of accomplishments.

“I think people are saying they’re sticking with him, they’re looking at his record and not just his rhetoric. That’s really important,” says Quentin James, 36, a father of two and co-founder of the Black political action committee Collective PAC.

James had more than $30,000 worth of student loans forgiven by Biden’s programs, making him one of the nearly 4.3 million Americans who were impacted by the president’s policies.

The loan forgiveness, James said, made him feel “invested in,” and is a sign of a larger commitment by the Democratic Party to help everyday people. He noted Biden’s efforts to cap the price of insulin, limit bank penalty fees, financially support HBCUs, and his appointment of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman on the Supreme Court of the United States.

James also notes that the Biden-Harris administration has worked around stalled progress in Congress, and even defectors in their own party, such as Joe Manchin, who helped block legislation that Biden proposed.

“I’m trying to give them the actual power to achieve their agenda,” James tells theGrio. “Because they’ve been doing a lot of this through executive action over the past few years, not actually through Congress. And so we got to give Joe Biden and Kamala Harris a fair shot, which means we got to show up and vote, for folks all around the country this, this November.”

For Daryl Crosby, 62, a retired fire chief in California, Biden’s debate performance was disappointing and he said he wished the president would take more proactive steps on immigration issues. Still, he sees Biden’s strengths most on the world stage — an opinion backed by data from the Pew Research Center, which shows that other countries rank Biden higher than Trump when asked about their confidence in the candidates.

Crosby tells theGrio he’s “most satisfied” with Biden’s diplomacy. “I think that he’s inclusive..that he tries to bring ethnicities, genders, different socioeconomic, different religious groups together. I think he stands for the American dream that everyone should have an opportunity as it pertains to some of his federal programs supporting poor families. I like that he recognizes climate is changing and he’s doing all that he can do to support our climate, not just for today, but to think about future generations.”

Picking a new nominee right now is too risky – and too late.

The president’s strengths and weaknesses aside, Black voters like Crosby also cite practicality about their choice this fall and to them, replacing the nominee doesn’t seem wise.

“I understand why people are saying that,” Crosby tells theGrio of those who want a different Democratic candidate. “But I think we’re beyond that point now. I think it would be way too disruptive to try to figure out who would replace President Biden at this point.”

“I just think that we just need to ride it out with President Biden. And even with his poor performance, It didn’t push me to want to support President Trump,” he continued. 

“The Democratic Party itself and all Democrats need to rally around their candidate. It’s important to really articulate what the party stands for and what they’ve accomplished and what they plan to do the next four years,” he says.

Nakia Durham, a 36-year-old independent writer and producer in Georgia, is deeply concerned about protecting women’s reproductive rights and managing student loan debt. She admits that watching Biden debate Trump was disappointing, mostly because of the missed opportunities to state his wins.

There were times, she says, “I felt our current president could have really drove home some important facts with the actual truth. I’m like, ‘hey, you could have said a different answer here that would have been accurate.’ That was the frustration — You’ve got it [Biden]. You’ve got plenty of policy; all of these Congress people and all of these lawmakers and policymakers who are working tirelessly to help you win.”

Despite the missed moment, Durham’s feelings about trying to replace the nominee are clear.

“I don’t think that’s the solution because if Biden steps down, then who do we have?” Durham says. “I’m not in a place to have lost complete faith in President Biden.

“I think asking Biden to step down with no solution whatsoever does a disservice to the issue at hand here. And that is making sure that we don’t allow 45 back in office.”

Donald Trump is a threat to our democracy.

Every voter we spoke with named concerns about the future of democracy in their choice to stand by President Biden.

“Our country is more divided than we were in the ’60s, where we have an ex-president who supports white supremacy, who supports an insurrection of the Capitol, who supports suggesting that, elections are illegal, corrupt, no good, and [he’s] not willing to tell the truth,” says Whitlock. 

“We are going to see, if he’s elected, the repeal of civil rights gains, women’s rights. And clearly, it is not the direction our country needs to go in.”

For Quentin James, this stark threat means many Black voters are choosing to be practical with their vote choice.

“I think a lot of Black voters, it really isn’t about can he do the job. This is really about we need to also beat Donald Trump in November. And the only person who’s ever beat him in a presidential election is Joe Biden,” James says.

“I understand that the choice may look or does look bleak, but I feel like us not voting is a vote for the party who I think does not need to be in office,” says Durham. “So I think it is a call to that: not walk, but run to the polls. And even get more involved in local, you know, local elections.”

“When it comes to November,” she says, “I think we all need to show up in droves because you can’t go… You can’t go anymore backwards.”

Natasha S. Alford is VP of Digital Content and a Senior Correspondent at theGrio. An award-winning journalist, producer, and TV personality, Alford is the author of the book “American Negra: A Memoir” (Harper Collins) and writes frequently on issues related to politics, policy, and identities. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @natashasalford.

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Streaming giant Netflix has revealed the premiere date and first look images for the highly anticipated second season of their Danish romantic comedy-drama, “Baby Fever.” The series, starring Josephine Park as the determined fertility doctor Nana, is set to return on a global scale on August 22nd, 2024.

Season two picks up where the previous season left off, following Nana as she navigates the uncharted territory of motherhood. Now a parent to a young infant, Nana struggles to adjust to the routines and monotony of maternity leave. Yearning for the intellectual stimulation and professional fulfillment of her career, Nana makes a bold move, returning to her former workplace at the Dovi fertility clinic. However, her reintegration is complicated by the arrival of Dr. Hampus, a dazzlingly competent new doctor brought in by Nana’s old boss, Helle.

Adding to the comedic chaos is Nana’s personal life. Desperate for childcare, she enlists the help of her eccentric mother, Lisa LaCour, a dansktop singer whose unconventional methods turn Nana’s tiny apartment into a lively, albeit somewhat chaotic, haven for her newborn. As Nana juggles work, motherhood, and the unexpected return of her former flame, Mathias, the season promises a heartwarming exploration of balancing ambition, family, and the complications of love.

“Baby Fever” is created by the talented team of Amalie Næsby Fick and Nikolaj Feifer. Dorthe Riis Lauridsen serves as producer, with Piv Bernth holding the title of Executive Producer. The series is a production of Apple Tree Productions and was filmed entirely in Denmark.

With its relatable themes, charming characters, and signature Danish humor, “Baby Fever” season two promises to be a delightful addition to Netflix’s diverse repertoire. Mark your calendars for August 22nd and prepare to be swept away by Nana’s journey of self-discovery and second chances.

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It was a normal pool day for Ms. H and two of her children. The mother, dressed in a hijab and modest swimming wear, was with her six-year-old son and three-year-old daughter at the pool in their complex when they were approached by a woman, Elizabeth Wolf, back in May.

Wolf, 42, who was allegedly intoxicated, “interrogated [the] mother about her country of origin and her speaking to her children in a foreign language,” according to a news release from the Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

When Mrs. H, 32, who wishes to remain anonymous, responded, Wolf allegedly tried to grab H’s son, leaving him with a scratch on his hand. The boy was able to get away from Wolf, but that’s when the attacker allegedly grabbed H’s three-year-old daughter and held her head under water, reported CNN.

The original news release also stated “the alleged attacker snatched off the mother’s head scarf and used it to beat the mother as well as kicking her to keep her away while forcing her daughter’s head underwater.”

Mrs. H was able to save her daughter with the help of a by stander. It is reported that the victim “had been yelling for help and was coughing up water.”

When Euless, Texas police arrived to the scene, Wolf allegedly tried to flee but was apprehended and arrested.

Several eye witnesses say Wolf made racist comments towards the visibly Muslim family including one about not being American. As she was being arrested, Wolf said to a by stander “Tell her I will kill her, and I will kill her whole family.”

Wolf has been charged with attempted capital murder and injury to a child. She was initially released after posting bond totaling $40,000, according to the Fort Worth Star- Telegram.

After recent review on the case, however, Wolf’s bond was increased to over $1 million, citing the original as “insufficient for the charged offense, the aggravating factors and the need to protect the public.” Jail records indicate Wolf was arrested again on June 27 and remains in jail.

“We are American citizens, originally from Palestine, and I don’t know where to go to feel safe with my kids,” said Mrs. H. “My country is facing a war, and we are facing that hate here.” Mrs. H says her daughter is “traumatized” and fears “the lady will come and immerse her head in the water again.”

CAIR has called for federal and state law enforcement to investigate this incident as a hate crime. In January, a CAIR civil rights report revealed 3,578 hate-related complaints occurring in the last 3 months of 2023. This 178 percent increase from the year before comes in light of the ongoing Israel-Hamas War in the Middle East.

According to Reuters, over 35,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war begun in October 2023.