Blog
Xavier Ochsner Makes History With Gulf South’s First HBCU Medical School
On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine announced that it received preliminary accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). The milestone brings the college one step closer to becoming the only HBCU medical school in the Gulf South. Collectively, HBCU medical schools train about 70 percent of the country’s Black […]
Two Years of Great Day Latte: Kimberly Knight’s Vision for Coffee and Community
Great Day Latte celebrated its second anniversary on Sunday, October 4. It’s another milestone for the Downtown Mobile coffee shop Kimberly Knight created with a vision that went far beyond coffee. From the outset, Knight envisioned Great Day Latte as a place of community, culture, connection, and empowerment. Her story is one of vision, strength, […]
October on the Gulf Coast: Fall Festivals, HBCU Culture, Health Events and More
Fall is here, and October brings a full calendar of events across Mobile and the surrounding Gulf Coast communities. From HBCU culture and live music to fall festivals, health resources, local history, family activities, and community conversations, there are plenty of reasons to get out, connect, and enjoy what the area has to offer. Vivian’s […]
Community Resource Guide: 5 Food Pantries Serving Mobile and the Gulf Coast
The cost of living has increased drastically over the last decade, affecting thousands of people across America. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, SNAP participation nationwide declined by more than 5 million people between July 2025 and June 2026, a decrease of approximately 13%. The organization estimates that more than 1.5 million […]
From the Pump to Your Grocery Cart: How Rising Diesel Prices Reaches Your Grocery Bill
Diesel: The Cost You Don’t See You may never buy a gallon of diesel. But diesel may still affect what you pay for chicken, milk, vegetables, seafood, and other things in your grocery cart. That is because food does not simply appear on a grocery store shelf. Before it gets there, it needs to be […]
Keep the Music Playing: How the Excelsior Band Is Preserving Nearly 143 Years of Legacy
“The Excelsior Band has been entrusted to my husband, Hosea, to nourish, protect, and grow the band’s footprint and ensure its long-term vitality.” – JerryIn Rushing London There are some sounds that belong to a place. In Mobile, Alabama, the sound of the Excelsior Band is one of them. Before you see the black suits, […]
Heritage Woven Into Legacy
Heritage: The Value Was Already There Gee’s Bend is a small community in the Black Belt area, situated in a bend of the Alabama River, and so isolated that, for many generations, the only dependable means of getting in or out was by ferry. It’s a type of place where a tradition can remain close […]
From Basketball to Banking: What Harrison Barnes’ Bank Purchase Says About Wealth, Legacy, and the Power of Long-Term Thinking
“Patience and risk management are huge pillars of successful banking. These same concepts appear in basketball, with different names; for example, shot selection.” – Harrison Barnes. Harrison Barnes did not buy a mansion with his money. He bought a bank. In August 2026, the NBA champion invested $25 million of his own money into acquiring […]
More Than a Ride: How Nett Express Is Moving a Community Forward
Before Vivian’s Door, I was working hard, but now I’m working with purpose – Ninette Ayivor. After breaking both hips, a simple trip to the doctor became a source of anxiety for one Nett Express’s clients, who is a senior. No longer able to walk without assistance, she relied on a walker and lived on […]
More Than a Match: Why Tiafoe vs. Shelton Matters for Tennis
Why this matchup is historically significant When Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton walk onto the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday, the stakes will be bigger than a place in the US Open final. For tennis, this is one of those moments worth remembering. Two Black American men will meet in a US Open […]
