Usher Launches “Spark Lab”; a creative suite for Atlanta youth innovation

By Jannah Bolds
EIC, The Bold Opinion



Usher’s Laboratory has a very nice ring to it.

‘Spark Lab’, in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, is a youth development and engagement effort that sprouted from Usher Raymond IV’s Social Impact Tour. This tour, which kicked off last August in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the After School Alliance, has reached over 4,800 youth across 11 cities including Washington, D.C.; Detroit, MI; Philadelphia, PA; Oakland, CA, Houston, TX, Brooklyn, NY and more. 

“​The Spark Lab and Entertainment Industry Club is about providing our youth with the tools, confidence, and opportunities they need to turn their dreams into reality,” said Usher Raymond IV, Chairman of Usher’s New Look. “It’s an honor to help inspire the next generation of leaders and innovators. We are invested in our future. We’re invested in youth and I’m an example,” he added.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 09: Usher (C) along with guests cut the blue ribbon during the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Usher Raymond IV Spark Lab at Joseph B. Whitehead Boys & Girls Club on December 09, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Boys & Girls Club)

The ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the 25-year legacy of USHER’s New Look and its unwavering dedication to transforming the lives of under-resourced youth through comprehensive, passion-driven leadership programs. With the Entertainment Industry Club set to launch in 2025, this initiative reaffirms USHER’s ongoing commitment to creating brighter futures for young people nationwide.

“Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta is thrilled to announce this year’s much-anticipated launch of the Usher Raymond IV Spark Lab,” said David Jernigan, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta.

“Usher’s Spark Lab will not only be a resource to our Club members, but also a space where they can gain hands-on experiences in fields like music production, filmmaking, photography, and more. This initiative perfectly aligns with our mission to ignite the unlimited potential of kids and teens by creating safe, inclusive, and engaging environments, empowering them to find their spark and pursue their passions.”

Learn More about Usher’s youth development efforts by visiting Ushersnewlook.org.

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Collective action leads to collective uplift

By Broderick Flanigan
Contributor, The Bold Opinion



Now is the time to get organized.

We have the outcomes we have because those who wanted a certain person in office were organized. The 2025 plan is the contemporary pinnacle display of their level of organization and political culture.

I say culture because culture is a powerful tool when used in certain ways. By culture I mean a way of being, language, customs, beliefs, social clubs, etc. I’ve observed this display of cultural values playing out in the southeast as it exalts one group in the spirit of white supremacy and denies freedoms and opportunities to another. The disparities in procurement and the racial/gender wage gaps are prime examples. Redistricting was a chess move we weren’t prepared for.

It is time for us to start thinking of creating the type of communities and society we want to build or create. That’s what our opps have in mind. In the future no matter who’s in office or at what level of government, these should be our main priorities. (Open to well thought out criticism or suggestions) 

We have five points of connection to organize around. 

  1. Labor- Federal jobs guarantee at least $20/h with adequate benefit packages and the new federal minimum wage $15/h including tips for workers. Wage standards on all publicly funded projects include provisions for people harmed during enslavement in the US. 
  2. Reproductive Rights/Healthcare – expanding ObamaCare, Medicare, etc. which are all important to have access to. Restore Roe v Wade. (Includes provisions for people harmed during enslavement in the US.)
  3. Housing – decent, safe, and affordable housing is a human right. Housing affordability is linked to a person’s income so labor and business opportunities for low wage earners should always be connected to this issue. (Includes provisions for people harmed during enslavement in the US).
  4. Education – K-12 education reform and the prioritizing/funding of literacy in early childhood education. Every child should be able to read well. (Includes provisions for people harmed during enslavement in the US.) This includes mandatory political education for the movement as well. (A movement/organizing curriculum needs to be developed or updated to help shape a new culture around organizing)
  5. Immunity – no public official or employee should have immunity from the rule of law. No government action is above human life. No matter who won the election, we needed a guide to political action. No single leader or political candidate will save or do the work for us. Candidates who come for us and from us must take concrete action on the things mentioned here. 

When we build solid cultural practices around these things and move collectively with direct action, policy writing, voting, boycotting etc, we will see change. Organizing is the key. Therefore, now is the time for us to start thinking of creating the type of communities and society we want to build and create for generations to come. 

Asé

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An Impactful Legacy: The Humanitarian Accomplishments of Dikembe Mutombo

By Jannah Bolds
EIC, The Bold Opinion



Remembering Mt. Mutombo

Today, we’re pausing to remember the NBA legend and humanitarian, Dikembe Mutombo, who succumbed to his battle with brain cancer.

Dikembe Mutombo, the towering basketball legend known for his shot-blocking, finger-wagging and gentle personality, has made a long lasting mark on and off the court. While his professional career in the NBA earned him eight All-Star appearances and Defensive Player of the Year awards, it is his humanitarian work that stands out as a defining legacy.

A native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Mutombo has dedicated much of his post-basketball career to improving healthcare, education, and the overall well-being of those in the United States, his home country and across Africa.

His Roots of Philanthropy

Born in 1966 in Kinshasa, DRC (then Zaire), Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo grew up in a modest family of ten. Education was a priority for the Mutombo family, and this deeply instilled value would later influence his charitable initiatives. Mutombo attended Georgetown University on a basketball scholarship, but his original intent was to study medicine and become a doctor. Though his basketball talents led him down a different path, his passion for helping others through healthcare remained a consistent theme in his life.

The Dikembe Mutombo Foundation

In 1997, while still playing in the NBA, Mutombo founded the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation with the goal of improving the quality of life for the people of the DRC. The foundation has focused primarily on health and education, two areas where Mutombo recognized a significant need in his homeland.

The cornerstone of his work through the foundation came in the form of the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital. Named after his late mother, the hospital opened its doors in 2007 in Kinshasa, the capital city of the DRC. The $29 million, 300-bed facility became one of the largest and most modern hospitals in the region, providing critical healthcare services to a population long underserved by medical infrastructure.

Before the hospital’s construction, Kinshasa, a city of over 10 million people, had very few functioning healthcare facilities. The Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital has since become a beacon of hope, providing maternal care, emergency services, surgeries, and treatments for diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis. By 2022, the hospital had treated over half a million patients, many of whom would not have had access to such care otherwise.

Dikembe Mutombo NBA basketball Hall of Fame Atlanta Hawks

Advocacy for Polio and Other Health Causes

In addition to building hospitals, Mutombo has also been an outspoken advocate for disease prevention. He has worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF to raise awareness about the importance of vaccinations, particularly for diseases like polio. Mutombo’s voice has been crucial in global campaigns aimed at eradicating polio, a disease that remains a threat in parts of Africa.

Mutombo has also advocated for better maternal and child health programs, emphasizing the importance of access to proper healthcare for mothers and infants. His efforts have helped to bring international attention to the healthcare crises affecting African nations, influencing policymakers and global health organizations to invest in long-term solutions.

Education and Youth Empowerment

Mutombo’s commitment to education has been another pillar of his humanitarian work. Believing that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty, he has funded scholarships for students in both the U.S. and the DRC. He has supported various educational initiatives aimed at providing young people with the tools they need to succeed.

In his home country, Mutombo has funded the construction of schools and educational programs, particularly in rural areas where access to education is limited. His foundation also provides financial support to Congolese students seeking higher education, ensuring that they have the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to contribute to their communities.

Mutombo’s commitment to empowering the next generation extends to his work in the U.S. as well. He’s been a consistent advocate for young athletes, stressing the importance of balancing sports with education. Through his foundation and personal involvement, he helped guide many young people to pursue college degrees while developing their athletic talents.

Global Humanitarian and Advocacy Work

In recognition of his tireless work, Mutombo has been appointed as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, a role in which he continues to advocate for education and healthcare initiatives around the world. His efforts have earned him numerous awards and accolades, including the NBA’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, which recognizes outstanding service to the community, and the Sport for Good Award from Laureus.

Mutombo has also been actively involved in disaster relief efforts, raising funds and awareness in the wake of humanitarian crises. Following the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010, Mutombo was one of the many public figures who stepped up to provide aid and relief, further cementing his reputation as a global humanitarian.

Legacy of Compassion

What makes Mutombo’s humanitarian work particularly noteworthy is his hands-on approach. Whether it’s through hospital visits, fundraising events, or public speaking engagements, he remains personally involved in the causes he supports. His towering presence—physically and metaphorically—continues to inspire countless individuals and organizations to invest in Africa’s future.

While Mutombo may be best known in the U.S. as an NBA icon, in Africa and among global health advocates, his name is synonymous with compassion, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. The impact of his work has transcended sports, leaving a legacy of hope and change that will continue to benefit generations to come.

In a world where many athletes rest their arms on their trophies after retiring, Mutombo stands out as a role model through his extraordinary humanitarian efforts. His journey from Kinshasa to NBA stardom and back to Africa as a philanthropist is a testament to the power of giving back—and his legacy will live on long after the game buzzer.

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