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The Demise of DEI: A New Dawn for Black Economic Autonomy with the Inauguration of Black Business Enterprise (BBE) Certification, Echoing Booker T. Washington’s Legacy

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1 year ago

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The National Business League Secures Historic USPTO Federal Trademark for Black Business Enterprise (BBE), Revolutionizing Economic Equity and Sovereignty for Black Entrepreneurs Globally

TUSKEGEE, Ala., Jan. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — More than six decades or 61 years after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Black communities remain tethered to systemic inequities. Today, the National Business League (NBL)® makes history by securing a USPTO Federal Trademark for the Black Business Enterprise (BBE)® Certification and Scorecard Program (Registration Nos. 98127825 and 98130839). This landmark initiative reclaims Booker T. Washington’s vision of self-reliance and economic sovereignty.

NBL Secures Trademark for Black Business Enterprise (BBE), Revolutionizing Economic Freedom for Black Entrepreneurs

“The time for waiting and pleading is over,” declared Dr. Ken L. Harris, President and CEO of the NBL. “Integration has failed to deliver economic justice for Black businesses and communities. DEI initiatives and affirmative action have fallen short, leaving us chained to systems that exclude and diminish us. The BBE Certification is our economic emancipation proclamation for the 21st century.”

Failed Promises of DEI and Economic Inclusion: Decades of systemic neglect and performative gestures have exposed the shortcomings of so-called inclusion initiatives:

Legal Setbacks: The 2023 Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and UNC decision dismantled race-based affirmative action, rendering DEI strategies ineffective.Empty Commitments: Corporations pledged over $200 billion for racial equity since 2020, yet the promises produced negligible results for Black businesses.Shrinking DEI Efforts: Political and corporate entities, alongside Black gatekeepers, have retreated into performative actions, abandoning real progress.Colonial Lexicon: Words like “minority,” “marginalized,” “people of color,” and “disadvantaged” perpetuate dependency. The BBE movement rejects these labels, embracing ownership, power, and autonomy.

The BBE: Reclaiming Economic Power: Currently, Black businesses represent only 1% of certified minority firms, excluding them from more than $500 billion in public and private sector contracts. The BBE Certification transforms this dynamic with:

Certification: Reserved for businesses with at least 51% Black ownership, prioritizing equity for Black entrepreneurs and honoring the $1.5 trillion in annual Black consumer spending power.Scorecard: A digital accountability tool ensuring corporations and government entities equitably spend with Black businesses.Proven Success: Piloted through the National Black Supplier Development Program, generating $150 million in contracts with corporations like Comerica Bank, Cummins, DTE Energy, Ford, GM, Lear, Magna, Stellantis and Toyota,

A Call to Action: The BBE Certification national launch will take place at the 125th Quasquicentennial National Black Business Conference in Atlanta, August 20–23, 2025, alongside the Black Economic Freedom Movement’s Digitize 1 Million Black Businesses by 2028 Campaign.

Dr. Harris challenges: “We will no longer beg for seats at tables where Black enterprise is undervalued. We will build our own tables, anchored in ownership and self-reliance, working only with those who genuinely support Black economic freedom.”

About National Business League: Founded in 1900 by Booker T. Washington, the National Business League (NBL)® is the nation’s oldest and largest trade organization committed to advancing economic equity for Black businesses. Visit www.nationalbusinessleague.org.

About National Alliance for Black Business (NABB): Co-founded in 2022, NABB unites the National Black Chamber of Commerce, the World Conference of Mayors, and 100+ other Black organizations to drive growth and prosperity for Black businesses. Visit www.nationalallianceforblackbusiness.com.

NBL Media Contact:
Minehaha Forman, MBA
Email: mmforman@gmail.com
Phone: +1-510-220-0759

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SOURCE The National Business League

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Florida Physician Specialists Data Breach: Edelson Lechtzin LLP Launches Investigation into Exposure of Personal Information

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49 minutes ago

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May 3, 2026

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National class action firm offering free case evaluations to individuals impacted by the Florida Physician Specialists cybersecurity incident

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national class action law firm, is investigating data privacy claims arising from the Florida Physician Specialists data breach. Florida Physician Specialists learned of the cybersecurity incident between November 27 and 29, 2025.

What Happened

Florida Physician Specialists discovered that its network was hacked between November 27 and 29, 2025. An investigation launched in late November 2025 confirmed that an unauthorized third party accessed its network. The review of the exposed data was completed on April 6, 2026.

Information Exposed

Affected personal data includes full names and one or more of the following: Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers or state identification numbers, other government identification numbers, financial account information, credit or debit card information, medical information, and/or health insurance policy information.

Who May Be Impacted

Individuals who received a data breach notification from Florida Physician Specialists may face an increased risk of identity theft and fraud.

Your Legal Options

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a potential class action to pursue legal remedies on behalf of individuals whose sensitive personal data may have been compromised in the Florida Physician Specialists breach. The firm will evaluate your rights and potential claims at no cost.

Recommended Protective Steps

Review account statements and credit reports regularly and remain vigilant for suspicious activity. Confirm whether your information was involved in the Florida Physician Specialists incident and preserve any letters or emails you received about the breach. Consider placing fraud alerts and credit monitoring.

Contact Us for a Free Case Evaluation

Speak confidentially with a data privacy attorney today: Marc Edelson, Esq., Edelson Lechtzin LLP, 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300, Newtown, PA 18940; Phone: 844-696-7492 ext. 2; Email: medelson@edelson-law.com; Web: www.edelson-law.com. Or click HERE to request a free consultation.

About Florida Physician Specialists

Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Florida Physician Specialists is a multi-specialty private physician practice serving patients in Northeast Florida.

About Edelson Lechtzin LLP

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. In addition to data breach litigation, the firm handles class and collective actions involving securities and investment fraud, federal antitrust violations, ERISA employee benefit plans, wage theft, and consumer fraud

Media and Partnership Inquiries: Use the contact information above to connect with our team regarding interviews, co-counsel opportunities, and referral partnerships.

Legal Notice: This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/florida-physician-specialists-data-breach-edelson-lechtzin-llp-launches-investigation-into-exposure-of-personal-information-302760742.html

SOURCE Edelson Lechtzin LLP

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Sandhills Medical Foundation, Inc., d/b/a Sandhills Medical Data Breach: Edelson Lechtzin LLP Launches Investigation into Exposure of Personal Information

Published

49 minutes ago

on

May 3, 2026

By

National class action firm offering free case evaluations to individuals impacted by the Sandhills Medical cybersecurity incident

MCBEE, S.C., May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national class action law firm, is investigating data privacy claims arising from the Sandhills Medical data breach. Sandhills Medical learned of the cybersecurity incident between November 27 and 29, 2025.

What Happened

On May 8, 2025, Sandhills Medical discovered it had been the victim of a ransomware attack. Sandhills Medical began an investigation with the help of cybersecurity experts and a forensic firm. That investigation determined an unauthorized third party accessed Sandhills Medical’s server directly and obtained personal information for select patients.

Information Exposed

Affected personal data includes names, personal health information, and birth dates. This data breach has affected an estimated 169,017 people.

Who May Be Impacted

Individuals who received a data breach notification from Sandhills Medical may face an increased risk of identity theft and fraud.

Your Legal Options

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a potential class action to pursue legal remedies on behalf of individuals whose sensitive personal data may have been compromised in the Sandhills Medical breach. The firm will evaluate your rights and potential claims at no cost.

Recommended Protective Steps

Review account statements and credit reports regularly and remain vigilant for suspicious activity. Confirm whether your information was involved in the Sandhills Medical incident and preserve any letters or emails you received about the breach. Consider placing fraud alerts and credit monitoring.

Contact Us for a Free Case Evaluation

Speak confidentially with a data privacy attorney today: Marc Edelson, Esq., Edelson Lechtzin LLP, 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300, Newtown, PA 18940; Phone: 844-696-7492 ext. 2; Email: medelson@edelson-law.com; Web: www.edelson-law.com. Or click HERE to request a free consultation.

About Sandhills Medical

Based in McBee, South Carolina, Sandhills Medical operates as a Federally Qualified Community Health Center (FQHC) that provides community-based primary health care services.

About Edelson Lechtzin LLP

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. In addition to data breach litigation, the firm handles class and collective actions involving securities and investment fraud, federal antitrust violations, ERISA employee benefit plans, wage theft, and consumer fraud

Media and Partnership Inquiries: Use the contact information above to connect with our team regarding interviews, co-counsel opportunities, and referral partnerships.

Legal Notice: This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sandhills-medical-foundation-inc-dba-sandhills-medical-data-breach-edelson-lechtzin-llp-launches-investigation-into-exposure-of-personal-information-302760743.html

SOURCE Edelson Lechtzin LLP

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Danish Publisher Automates Digital Textbook Delivery with Integrated WooCommerce-Webdoxx Solution

Published

6 hours ago

on

May 3, 2026

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Danish educational publisher eliminates manual processing errors and delivers instant access to more than 20 digital learning products

LONDON, May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Forlaget 94, a Danish educational publisher serving commercial colleges and vocational schools since 1994, has transformed its digital textbook distribution by implementing a fully automated WooCommerce-Webdoxx solution.

“Using the Webdoxx-WooCommerce integration we have achieved full automation of order processing, fewer errors, and happier customers,” Tom Gertsen, IT Manager at Forlaget 94

Previously, Forlaget 94 relied on manual processes to distribute digital textbooks to customers. As demand for online educational materials grew, the publisher required a faster, more reliable way to manage orders, provision access, and reduce the risk of administrative errors.

Through its integration of WooCommerce with Webdoxx, Forlaget 94 now runs more than 20 educational products through a 100% automated workflow. The solution automatically processes customer orders and provides instant access to purchased digital textbooks, improving the experience for both customers and internal teams.

“The result is full automation of order processing, fewer errors, and happier customers,” said Tom Gertsen, IT Manager at Forlaget 94 and architect behind the WooCommerce-Webdoxx integration. The automated system has enabled Forlaget 94 to eliminate manual errors, accelerate customer processing, and increase customer satisfaction through immediate access provisioning. The implementation demonstrates how educational publishers can modernize digital content delivery while maintaining secure, managed access to learning materials.

Webdoxx, a service created and managed by Drumlin Security Ltd, provides online DRM and managed document delivery services for publishers, educational organizations, institutions, and commercial content providers.

About Forlaget 94

Forlaget 94 is a Danish educational publisher established in 1994, providing educational products for commercial colleges and vocational schools.

About Webdoxx

Webdoxx is an online DRM and managed document delivery service created and managed by Drumlin Security Ltd. The platform supports secure access to digital publications and documents across a range of sectors, including education, healthcare, government, finance, and publishing.

Media Contact

Mike de Smith, Drumlin Security Ltd, 44 7768404712, info@drumlinsecurity.com, https://www.drumlinsecurity.com/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/danish-publisher-automates-digital-textbook-delivery-with-integrated-woocommerce-webdoxx-solution-302759942.html

SOURCE Forlaget 94

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