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With Keia Clarke at the helm, New York Liberty takes bold steps in playoff run – Essence

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In the world of skilled sports, representation matters.

For New York Freedom — a WNBA team with a front office comprised primarily of Black women — this team is greater than just a visible statement, it’s a testament to the power and influence of Black women in leadership positions, especially in a league dominated by Black female athletes. As the Liberty soars to latest heights each on and off the court, their success is fueled by a vision that embraces inclusivity, diversity and empowerment of ladies, especially Black women.

This is ClarkeCEO of the New York Liberty, has played a key role in this transformation. Her journey, from her beginnings in the sports industry to becoming one among the few Black women to carry a CEO position in skilled sports, has been nothing in need of inspiring.

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In an interview with ESSENCE, Clarke shares how her experiences have shaped her leadership style and impacted Liberty’s success. “From being a former athlete to entering the sports space, first through a sports museum, then a sports magazine, and ultimately the league office, gave me a vantage point where I really had a chance to understand multiple levels and multiple verticals of the industry.”

With Keia Clarke at the helm, New York Liberty make bold playoff push

As a result, her philosophy is predicated on making a work environment that celebrates diversity and encourages people to grow as their authentic selves. She continues: “I always want to be authentic and really intentional with people who come to work as themselves,” Clarke explains.

The Liberty’s rise to fame, especially this season, shouldn’t be only a result of outstanding results on the field, but additionally deliberate strategies implemented behind the scenes. Clarke attributes that success to the exertions and dedication of many individuals, each past and present, who’ve nurtured the league over the years. “It’s been a work in progress,” he says. “There are a lot of people who have put in a lot of time and effort, really nurturing and working to cultivate and grow this league, putting the players first.”

A concentrate on elevating female athletes has been a cornerstone of the WNBA’s growth, and Clarke is particularly happy with the ways Black women have led the way in shaping the league’s identity. “Black women are cultural contributors,” she said, noting that the WNBA’s 80 percent Black athletes reflect a league that thrives on the influence of Black women each on and off the court. “What we wear, what music we listen to, what’s beautiful, what’s cool, is often led by Black women,” Clarke added. In this fashion, the Liberty, under Clarke’s leadership, reflects the influence and leadership of Black women in the broader culture.

The Liberty have grow to be not only a basketball team but a cultural force in New York City, and their home at Barclays Center has solidified their presence in one among the most diverse cities in the world. That move to Brooklyn was pivotal, transforming the fan experience and aligning the Liberty brand with the city’s wealthy cultural landscape. Clarke summed up the change by saying, “The atmosphere in the arena has just changed in such a way… We represent something that actually goes beyond basketball.”

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As the Liberty chases its first WNBA championship, Clarke is concentrated on sustainability — ensuring the momentum the team has built isn’t only a moment, but a long-lasting legacy. “My focus right now is just sustainability and making sure this isn’t just a moment — that this momentum becomes the norm,” Clarke explained. Part of that strategy includes progressive partnerships like the recent deals with Barclays and Bumble, in addition to the direct-to-consumer streaming service, Liberty Live, which lets fans connect with the team in latest ways.

But perhaps the most vital aspect of Liberty’s success is the impact they’re having on the next generation of athletes and fans. Clarke believes Liberty’s presence and leadership, especially in New York, has a ripple effect that extends far beyond the court. “Our community efforts are very, very focused on encouraging young women and girls to play basketball and empowering women and girls through a variety of self-esteem and character-building initiatives,” Clarke said.

The opportunity to steer New York Liberty as a Black woman hasn’t escaped Clarke. She recognizes the challenges of breaking down barriers, but she also feels it’s her responsibility to create space for others. “Leadership development and diverse hiring are two-way streets,” Clarke says. “While it’s an organizational responsibility … I would encourage young women, especially Black women, to be prepared. To be ready for the moment … and not wait until you have all the credentials.” Her advice is to be self-employed and never be afraid to take risks in industries where representation stays limited.

As the Liberty proceed their quest for WNBA dominance, the importance of Black women leading each on and off the court can’t be overstated. From Clarke’s progressive leadership to the undeniable talent of their players, the New York Liberty are a primary example of what happens when diversity is a priority at every level of the organization. And in a league where Black women players make up the majority of the roster, it’s imperative that their voices are usually not only heard, but given the opportunity to steer.

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In a world where sports often set the tone for culture, the New York Liberty are proving that representation matters just as much at the top because it does on the field. Clarke’s leadership is a model for what the way forward for skilled sports can seem like—one where Black women aren’t just a part of the conversation, they’re leading it.


This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Taraji P. Henson played in the upcoming thriller Tyler Perry

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Tyler Perry Studios is preparing for the next release of the film – and that is one other thriller. This summer, Taraji P. Henson, Teyana Taylor, Sherri Shepherd and others are to look in the upcoming thriller of Perry “Straw”.

According to Netflix“Słomiana” concerns the “Lonely Mother, whose world spreads in chaos, when her day goes from evil to worse to catastrophic, when she tries to take care of her sick daughter. Pushed to the edge through the world, which seems indifferent to her existence, is forced to face impossible elections in a society that does not offer her safety net.” Taping her character Janyah as a single mother was something she could confer with from experience.

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“Janiyah is a woman who doesn’t have much in life, but she has a lot of love for her child,” said Henson Entertainment every week. “I’m a lonely mother, so I understood her journey and her struggles. She is a lonely mother who tries to utilize the cards which have been given in her life best.

Noticing how the film “shows how easy it is that people in a difficult situation can be disregarded or deprived of civil rights by a system that is to protect them,” added Henson:

“If likelihood is high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high it’s possible it’s possible likelihood is high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high you almost actually can possibly possibly possibly be a fighting single mother, you likely can in no way times pay for this extraordinary lunch, and kids who cannot afford this extraordinary lunch, get a separate lunch. And you already know what is happening then? Children begin to hassle your child. As parents, they feel the pain of our youngsters deeper than them, so it meant for her.

The film, which based on Henson is crammed with “crazy twists”, which could surprise the viewers, was reportedly shot inside 4 days, while the actress worked on one other project.

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“Thinking that we shot in four days when I was still working on” Night Fight Night “,” Henson explained. “But that is what I like in Słrier Perry; he’s fast, and I’ll even be fast. He knew he had a limited time with me. He used it accurately … The topic is a bit dark, so I used to be once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once glad that I used to be once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once living only in the world of this character for 4 days, because this energy is transferred, and just somewhat little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little bit of a follow you. I used to be once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once glad when it happens, and I’m very different from one other character.

“Straw” takes place at Netflix on June 6.

Tyler Perry says that there is a

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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2025 San Francisco Art Fair Extated Creativity, Equity and Community Connection – Essence

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Photo loan: Drew Bird, Courtesy of Art Market Productions

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From April 17-20, thirteenth edition San Francisco Art Fair He brought an electrical pulse to the Fort Fort Fort Pavilion, attracting over 22,000 participants from throughout California and more. Of the 88 galleries and 45 participating partners, this 12 months’s event celebrated the creative spirit of Bay Area through dynamic exhibitions, programming, including and deepened involvement in constructing community.

Organized by Art Market Productions, Branch A21, began with a live VIP preview, through which over 4,500 guests participated. Collectors, curators, artists and similar ones gathered to take up a job which is able to define the weekend. Local favorites, paying homage to PT.2 Gallery, Jessica Silverman and Micki Meng, offered outstanding presentations, while exhibitors for the primary time, including Anthony Meier and Madsen, spoke daring statements with programming, which they raised regional talents. Sales reports showed significant activity throughout the least levels-from $ 500 local images $ 45,000, Rojas, sold by Jessica Silverman Gallery-Inventory, each healthy collector’s commitment and adaptation to trends emphasized contained contained contained throughout the Art Basel X UBS Art 2025 report.

In addition to selling the heartbeat of this 12 months’s fair, there was programming. Panels, performances and projects of public art emphasize how art intersects with justice, identity and local traditions. One of probably essentially probably probably essentially probably probably probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially probably probably essentially probably essentially probably probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably essentially probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably probably probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably probably probably essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably probably probably probably probably probably probably probably essentially probably essentially probably probably essentially probably probably essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably essentially probably probably probably probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially probably probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably the most powerful moments got here throughout the Saturday panel “Art and Impact in the East Bay”, through which the artist and cultural strategist Favianna Rodriguez emphasized the urgency of practice based on the goal.

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“I really believe in the power of art,” said Rodriguez. “If we are thinking about artists in the whole story – Nina Simone, Frida Kahlo, James Baldwin – helped change the way we think. At the moment it is important that the artists wonder what really depends. Regardless of whether it is an environment or reproductive rights of women, or takes care of LGBTQ or your health care, we need artists to show us what is possible.”

This forward -looking way of considering lasted to the Sunday panel on the Nexus SF/Bay Area Black Art Week, a rapidly developing platform organized by African diaspora museum To emphasize the work of black artists in San Francisco and Oakland. Together with the second edition on the horizon, Nexus is gaining momentum each as a vacation and a call to act – with a purpose to deepen the visibility of black visionaries.

2025 San Francisco Fair Fair Extated Creativity, Equity and Community Connection
Photo: Jessica Monroy Creative

Moderated by Abram Jackson, the panel contained powerful voices, including the last word word word word director of Monetty White, Lava Thomas artists and George McCalman and galleryist Jonathan Carver Moore. Together, they unpacked the double need for representation and infrastructure, citing Nexus as a bridge – not only between artists, but between the past and the long term. Together with the 20 th anniversary of the Museum on the horizon and the upcoming exhibition, Energia around Nexus seemed expansive and confirming.

“This year at the Art Fair in San Francisco it was important for us at Art Market Productions to create real spaces to combine – especially for the black creative community, which is such an important part of the Bay Area artistic scene,” said Kelly Freeman, director of Art Fair. “Thanks to Nexus and Black Brunch Club, we were able to combine artists, collectors and supporters in a way that seemed personal, significant and solemn. These meetings that remind us of why cooperation is important in art – and why it is so important to strengthen the voices that shape the future of the bay.”

The Black Brunch Club, which took place contained contained contained throughout the showroom of the Fair Collector, closed SFAF 2025, nevertheless it was a smaller act than it was a vacation. This served as a reminder that black creativity won’t be only aesthetics – it’s a pedigree, life line and a lens for the long term.

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Other outstanding sessions throughout the fair included printing workshops of the Museum of Craft and Design Museum, satirical lecture by Marc Horowitz on the absurdist history of art and a movable panel on motherhood and artistic practice with the participation of Silverman and the artists of the C. Tut and Libby Black. On Friday, a well -displayed conversation on “investing in black art for home” referred to how collecting is possibly each an act of protection and personal transformation. A non-public party took place the the equivalent evening Jay collection, autographWhere did the guests like music together with wine Gifts. The meeting was organized to extend awareness for further triennale, a brand latest platform introducing contained contained contained throughout the spring of 2027, which is able to have time visual art in northern California.

Throughout the weekend, public projects paying homage to Creativity Non -Profit San Francisco studied interactive entry points for beginners and experienced collectors. Meanwhile, organizations paying homage to Berkeley Art Museum and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts emphasized institutional cooperation and interregional story.

“This year’s fair has confirmed what we always know – that Bay Area has a resistant and deeply engaged art community,” said Freeman in a press release. “The enthusiasm in the pavilion was electric – from the quality of the works presented in significant conversations taking place at stands and programming. We are proud to provide a platform that raises this creative ecosystem and invites important voices in folds.”

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This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Ayesha Curry under the fire for admitting “the lack of athletes” before she married Stepha, when fans say that she humiliates the NBA star

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The revelation of Ayesh Curry about her teenage dating rule bored the debate about whether the public statements of the culinary entrepreneur sometimes obscure the achievements of her husband of the NBA Super Gwiades.

Referred in an interview with the Christian broadcast network, wherein she turned to the strict policy of “without athletes” before meeting Stephen Curry as a teen, she caused mixed reactions of fans who wonder if such sincere disclosures unintentionally undermine the refined public pendant of the war warrior.

Ayesha Curry was again on the first pages of newspapers, after the renovated video depicts her, explaining her comments “without athletes”, which she wrote as a teen. (Photo: @ayeshecurry/instagram)

During the conversation from March 2025, with the host Efrem Graham Ayesh, she considered the irony of her former attitude, recognizing how her younger I made broad generalings about sports personality.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Paaxjwfdpoq

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“And it’s so funny!” She said: “When you are a teenager, you don’t necessarily think about what you are saying and you tend to generalize, and as (you) a change, you put different people into different boxes.”

Adding: “And so embarrassing at the bottom that this is capital letters, such as” without athletes! They are so smug! “And what kind of generalization is that? “

A 36-year-old mother of a four-person one explained how Stephen’s meeting questioned her prejudices. Looking back, she principally knew him all her life – for the first time she met the future NBA champion when she was over 20 years – and described their meeting as a divine intervention.

“And so I feel that that is the way it’s God, don’t judge the book by the cover, because I met my husband – well, I met my husband (when) I used to be once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once 14 years old, but I went on a date with my husband at the age of 19 or (he was) my friend, and he was a exact opposite of this.

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CBN YouTube viewers expressed Mixed reactions to interview.

“Could the embarrassing Steph stop? How to close,” commented one of the viewers, blowing her up for saying things that, he believed, he casts dirt on her husband’s image.

Another support offered: “I am glad that he now has its own marriage and relationship!” Referring to the thought that she just just won’t be comfortable in her relationship.

But many comments applauded her, recognized her strong faith, and likewise celebrated their family.

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The third person noticed: “The man thinks about curry, he was not in the drama on the pitch and outside and has a beautiful family.”

Another added: “Everyone is incredibly beautiful, they just shine with a good spirit. Basketball Obama …”

This just just won’t be the first time Ayesha met with criticism of her public comments.

Earlier she caused controversy, discussing her feelings that she didn’t pay the attention of men compared with how her husband is bombarded with women’s admiration.

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During the previous interview, she expressed uncertainty about women thrown in Stephen, while she felt invisible to other men, comments that were later criticized for being inappropriate for a married woman.

Despite the periodic slack, Currys maintained a sturdy public presence when their family increased in front of the eyes of the fans.

Their oldest daughter, currently 12-year-old Riley, for the first time captured her heart as a premature toddler who interrupted the press conferences of the NBA finals of her father 2015. Recently noticed on the game Warriors, which stands almost as high as her mother with an area of ​​5 feet-8, transformation of Riley from Sassa 3-year-old, who quoted Big Sean lyrics in the composed teenager, caused fans to surprise during a fraction of Time.

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The curry family now covers Ryana, 9, Canon, 6 and Baby Caius, who ends 1 this month. During her journey Ayesh built her own empire as the creator of the cookbook, television personality and entrepreneur, while Stephen continues his dominance in basketball at the age of 37.

Explaining their family’s approach to public life, Ayesha emphasized the authenticity.

“I think we are trying to keep it really. And we try to be nice people,” said CBN. “People look at our family, but I think it is important that everyone knows that no one is perfect, and we are just trying to live at the moment.”

While critics can perceive Ayesh’s apparitions as embarrassing against Stephen, the 4 -time NBA champion seems distrustful.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Paaxjwfdpoq

His recent birthday tribute to his wife showed his unwavering devotion: “Where are we starting to describe what you mean, our family, all who have been blessed enough to meet you. You light a room,” he wrote.

Indeed, despite the sporadic storms in social media and perceived excessive objects, Currys carried out almost 13 years of marriage with no much scandal, maintaining their status of one of the most admired pairs of basketball.

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(Tagstransate) ayesha curry

This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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