Celebrity Coverage
‘Power Book II’ actor Michael Rainey Jr. leads the $2.4 million financial literacy program, Essence
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 14: Michael Rainey Jr. attends the RARE Foundation Ceremony on November 14, 2024 in New York City. (Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
could also be over, but Michael Rainey Jr. proves that his star power extends beyond Hollywood.
Rainey is deeply attached to his Staten Island roots donated $600,000 to start out a financial education initiative which goals to equip local highschool students with the knowledge and tools to construct financial security and generational wealth. His generosity is the foundation of a program that can provide young people on Staten Island with life-changing financial education.
The $2.4 million initiative is a collaborative effort between Rainey and the Restoring America Foundation Recovery Education Foundation (RARE).and Equifax. While Rainey’s $600,000 contribution provides the funds obligatory to run and sustain the program, the remaining value comes from in-kind contributions. Equifax provides students and their families with credit monitoring, identity theft protection and academic tools, while RARE provides financial literacy materials and infrastructure to deliver the program at three Staten Island high schools.
The initiative was launched at Port Richmond High School, where Rainey met with students to share his own journey toward financial independence. “If I were these children who come from this exact class, the first thing I would do is go home and ask their parents what awaits them. “Credit score is,” Rainey Jr. says. “And then, over time, you become an authorized user of that card and start building your own score.”
The program will provide as many as 250,000 students with access to comprehensive financial knowledge resources. This features a one-year subscription to Equifax Complete Premier for credit monitoring and identity theft protection, access to e-books like and (written by 7-year-old financial literacy advocate Preston “Kid Kredit” Luzunaris), and a 12-course digital skills curriculum in the field of finance. Students also can access free one-on-one loan counseling to higher understand the basics of financial management.
For Rainey, this initiative is deeply personal. He grew up on Staten Island and knows the barriers many young people face after they do not have a financial education.
According to the organization’s website, the RARE Foundation strives to offer disadvantaged communities with “essential financial recovery education and training.” The program also reaches out to students’ families, offering parents and guardians resources on financial literacy and identity protection. This community-wide approach goals to create lasting change by making financial literacy a family priority.
This is not Rainey’s first act of giving back to his hometown. He recently joined the Staten Island Turkey Drive, which distributes holiday meals to families in need. Through efforts like these, Rainey cements her legacy as a job model for using success as a platform for meaningful change.
By donating $600,000 to this initiative, Michael Rainey Jr. does greater than just give back – it empowers a generation to take control of their financial future. Staten Island students learn skills that can shape their lives, their families and their communities for years to return.
For Rainey, that is where true wealth lies: sharing the tools for fulfillment and constructing a legacy of opportunity.
Celebrity Coverage
ICYMI: Tessa Thompson’s Mocha Lip, Danielle Brooks’ Updo and More – Essence
With just a number of weeks left until the tip of 2024, the celebrities are setting the tone for the brand new 12 months this week. And although mocha mousse is predicted to be fashionable in 2025, neutral shades in darker tones have gotten more and more popular. Paired with an array of beauty eras – from elegant Nineteen Twenties updos to 2000s-style round pink, the brand new Hollywood showcases its best 12 months-end beauty moments.
Tessa Thompson and Issa Rae are the newest to debut mocha lips holiday shade near the season, and Coco Jones’ lipstick was cranberry red. Doechii’s perforated suggestions and signature face-lift tape made it probably the most avant-garde look of the week, and within the sweetest moment, Chloe and Halle Bailey’s round pink cheeks made pink cheeks a winter styling staple.
From makeup to hairstyles, Sabrina Elba and Alva Claire opted for light, coffee colours, and Jourdan Dunn’s short hairstyle proved relevant at any time of the 12 months. Meanwhile, Lupita N’yongo, Danielle Brooks and Venus Williams’ braided buns showed just how classic this style may be.
In case you missed it, take a have a look at 17 of the perfect celebrity beauty moments from the week below.
Celebrity Coverage
Black artists shine with 2024 Christmas albums – Essence
This holiday season, a few of the most talented Black music artists are reimagining the sounds of Christmas. From the soulful sounds of gospel legends to the contemporary kind of rising stars, these albums offer something for everybody who wants so as to add splendor to their celebrations. Whether it’s fresh takes on timeless classics, moving original songs, or reissues of beloved favorites, these projects bring joy, warmth and a way of community to everyone.
Jennifer Hudson makes her holiday debut with a track that mixes powerful vocals and heartfelt melodies. CeCe Winans brings a spiritual touch and Coco Jones adds her unique talent. Celebrating her thirtieth anniversary, Mariah Carey returns to the zeitgeist, and the reissue of Boyz II Men offers the right, cozy soundtrack.
As you decorate the halls and meet your family members, let these albums fill your space with music that uplifts, inspires and sets the right holiday mood. Here’s a more in-depth have a look at Black artists bringing joy to the world with their Christmas 2024 releases.
Celebrity Coverage
Let Anok Yai’s spiky bun inspire your holiday hair look – the essence
Images by Dave Benett/Getty
Earlier this week, Model of the Year nominee Anok Yai appeared at the Fashion Awards gala at London’s Royal Albert Hall. And regardless that the night ended there controversial joke for this yr’s award, the look of her hair stood out, as did her skilled achievements.
Paired with an archival John Galliano gown from 1994, her hairstyle was as avant-garde as the supermodels of the day – and was the most groundbreaking look of the night. On the foundation, a pixie cut with micro-mushrooms framed her sculpted features, and the sides stopped just at the tip of her eyebrows.
However, the summit took an unexpected turn. Almost like a headdress, straight, long strands gathered at the top of the head, overlapping right into a bow. The look was romantic and evoked the essence of Mugler’s Alien Hypersense, of which it’s the face. “I carry a bottle in every purse, it’s an addiction” Yai said in front of the red carpet.
The iconic outfit was repeated by Rihanna, who two days later arrived in an identical style at the thirty eighth annual Footwear Awards Gala in New York. With slight moderation – longer, blunt bangs and full updo – hairdresser Nafia Biała used an identical technique. Could this be the hottest hair trend of the season? These two icons actually suggest that.
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