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Tag: Clark Atlanta University

  • ‘Today isn’t about me, it’s about all of us’: Stockbridge Mayor Jayden Williams

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    A packed house full of family members, friends, elected officials, and residents all gathered for a swearing-in ceremony for the new mayor of Stockbridge, Jayden Williams (above). Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice

    A new year, a new mayor for the city of Stockbridge has finally come. 2026 marks a new era for the city of Stockbridge.  

    A packed house full of family members, friends, elected officials, and residents all gathered for a swearing-in ceremony for the new mayor, Jayden Williams, in Stockbridge.

    Williams was also sworn in alongside newly elected City Councilwoman Lakeisha Gantt, representing District 1, and Councilman Antwan Cloud, representing District 2. 

    Following winning the mayoral race against a two-time incumbent in November, Jayden Williams, 22, officially became the youngest mayor ever in Stockbridge.

    Williams is also pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at Clark Atlanta University. Following his election, Williams said his victory reflects a desire for change among Stockbridge residents.

    Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice

    The swearing-in marks the start of a new term focused on growth, inclusivity, and addressing the needs of a changing community, according to city officials.

    “Today isn’t about me, but it’s about all of us. It’s about what happens when a community decides to believe and decides to do the work that is needed to back that belief,” Williams said. “We’ve knocked on doors, we’ve prayed, we’ve sent messages, but most importantly, you all have challenged me. You didn’t vote for the person, you voted for the promise.”

    That promise he says, is being “all in for Stockbridge.”

    “I’m all in for Stockbridge, all in for our neighborhoods, all in for our districts and all in for our people,” he said. “The future of Stockbridge will be built on transparency, physical responsibility, opportunity, and collaboration. The vision is not abstract, it’s intentional. We’re here to help build Stockbridge to higher heights.”

    Williams says this is why economic development and economic innovation is going to be their administration’s front and center priority because “a city cannot rise if its people are locked out of opportunities.”

    “We are committed to building clear paths to good jobs, supporting small businesses, and aligning education with the real demands of today’s economy, especially in healthcare, logistics industries, and the sectors that are driving our region,” he said. “It is why youth opportunities and community learning will be a priority because when we invest early and coordinate what already exists and truly listen to our young people, we change the outcomes of a lifetime.”

    Williams told the crowd he wants to build exposure and safe spaces where youth can learn, grow, and see themselves in the future of the city, which is why housing and holistic wellbeing is going to be addressed. He said building safe and stable homes are the foundation of healthy families and strong neighborhoods, which includes aligning housing with access to health care, mental health support, transportation, and the quality-of-life services.

    “We’ve got to also support the city as well. It’s why public safety and infrastructure matter because safety is not just about response, it is about prevention, not just enforcement, but trust,” he said. “It means modern infrastructure, coordinated services, well-lit streets, reliable utilities, and partnerships that ensure growth is smart, reliable, and every resident feels safe, seen, and supported.”

    Additionally, he said they will strengthen neighborhoods, promote responsible growth, support small businesses, invest in the youth, and respect the elders because the process that leaves behind is all the process Stockbridge needs.

    “No part of this city will be left behind under my administration, and that is my promise. We are facing some challenges, financial pressures, growth decisions, and in some places, trust can also be an appointment where we must rebuild it,” he said. “There are things that aren’t always going to go right, but there are also things that always will not be ignored. There are things we confront together because leadership is not pretending everything is perfect. Leadership is showing up anyway and doing the work.”

    Furthermore, Williams quoted Shirley Chisholm saying, “If you don’t have a seat at the table, bring a folding chair,” and to this, Williams says Stockbridge did something different.

    “We didn’t just bring the folding chair, we gathered the wood, we built the table, and now together, we’re going to make sure that table is strong enough, wide enough and welcoming enough for everyone,” he said. “This is our city. This is our moment, and together, we are all in for Stockbridge.

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • From Corporate to Fashion: Yolanda White Builds Dayo Women With Softness and Intention

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    Yolanda White, owner, businesswoman, founder. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    Before she became the founder of Dayo Women, a loungewear brand rooted in softness and self-love, Yolanda White built a career in corporate America that spanned decades and multiple industries. A marketer by training with an accounting background, White graduated from Tuskegee University in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, followed by an MBA in marketing from Clark Atlanta University in 1998.

    Her career took her from General Motors to Coca-Cola, where she rose to global group director. But in 2018, after nearly 20 years shaping some of the most recognized brands in the world, she pivoted toward something far more personal.

    “I really first wanted to turn my eye to helping women,” White said. “Women go through transitions in their lives. They do not feel as seen, they do not feel as heard, and so I wanted to make sure I could fill in that gap.”

    From the beginning, White wanted Dayo to reflect the fluidity and complexity of women’s lives. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    Fashion became the unexpected vehicle for that mission. A conversation with a friend opened her eyes to how women often “show up beautiful for strangers every single day” yet “fall apart” when they come home, she said. That moment sparked the idea for a line of elevated, body-conscious loungewear that women could feel confident in both emotionally and physically.

    “It was not fashion first and then the clothes. It was insight, and then it went into a category, into fashion,” she said.

    A Brand Built Around Real Women

    From the beginning, White wanted Dayo to reflect the fluidity and complexity of women’s lives.

    “We create the softest, inviting, figure-flattering clothes that help a woman feel engulfed in softness,” she said. “Our brief is really versatile, functional, and moves with the woman.”

    Her approach to design is rooted in understanding the human body. “A woman’s body changes, not just with age, but it changes through the day. It changes through the month,” she said, explaining that Dayo pieces are intentionally flexible. Straps can shift, silhouettes can adjust, and coverage can be personalized. “Dayo was made for real women. We are not faking it.”

    White, who says she can often identify a woman’s size the moment she walks in a room, has infused Dayo with an ethos of comfort, confidence, and self-acceptance. The company’s tagline, lounge in love, reflects that focus.“If a woman walks in this room, I know her size, I know her height, her waist size, like I know what I’m looking at,” she said.

    “It was not fashion first and then the clothes. It was insight, and then it went into a category, into fashion,” Yolanda White (above) said. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    Scaling a Vision and Learning a New Industry

    Despite her corporate experience, White entered fashion with no background in product development. She hired a New York agency, ACME, so she could “understand the industry” and learn fabric procurement, pattern development, production, and marketing from the ground up.

    Since 2018, Dayo has launched more than seven collections and secured partnerships with notable brands such as Reebok, Diageo, BET, and NARS, among others. The brand expanded manufacturing to Italy, produces natural fiber garments, and has appeared in Saks Off Fifth, in boutiques, and through a partnership with Amazon. 

    Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    Community Impact and Holiday Expansion

    Dayo’s work extends beyond clothing. This fall, White collaborated with Bank of Montreal, Amazon, and the Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project to host Made by Women, a gifting suite at the Four Seasons for women entrepreneurs. Attendees selected complimentary Dayo items and participated in an event that celebrated their impact. “It was our moment to give back to them,” she said.

    This holiday season, Dayo is introducing its first Winter Edit Collection, adding heavier knits, dusters, and sweater dresses through a collaboration with an outside designer.

    “This is something completely different for us,” White said. “We brought in new fabrics, which are more of a sweater, heavier fabric, and we brought in new silhouettes. It has been going exceptional.”

    As shoppers navigate economic uncertainty, White hopes consumers embrace more thoughtful holiday choices. “This giving season is all about being intentional,” she said. “Supporting small businesses, supporting women-owned businesses, puts more intention behind the purchase.”

    Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    A Name Rooted in Identity and Joy

    Dayo carries both personal and cultural meaning. The name is formed from the first two and last two letters of Yolanda in reverse, and is also an African name meaning happiness has come or joy has arrived.

    “This is my signature on the brand without giving my entire name away,” she said.

    A Continuing Mission

    At the core of Dayo, White said, is a mission that goes far beyond clothing. The brand’s purpose is rooted in emotional connection and in giving women a sense of affirmation in the spaces where they are most themselves. “I would describe my business as a business that is focused on letting women be seen, be heard, and feel beautiful through fashion, and specifically through loungewear when they are at home,” she said.

    To shop this holiday season visit https://dayowomen.com/

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    Noah Washington

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  • Incoming Stockbridge mayor Jayden Williams sits down with The Atlanta Voice

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    Jayden Williams, Stockbridge commissioner and soon-to-be graduate from Clark Atlanta University, makes history as Stockbridge’s youngest mayor at 22 years old.

    Born and raised in Stockbridge, Williams says he wants to bring fresh ideas to the community he’s called home.

    Williams told The Atlanta Voice he is focused on making Stockbridge a model for growth and opportunity, prioritizing economic development, public safety, housing, and arts & youth programs, all while preserving the city’s close-knit spirit.

    Furthermore, Williams said his win against incumbent Mayor Anthony Ford has not completely hit him yet, but he feels ready to work.

    “Beating a two-time incumbent is huge, and it just shows that Stockbridge is ready for some change,” he said.

    Jayden Williams, current commissioner of Stockbridge, and a student at Clark Atlanta University is just 21 years old. Williams, the youngest candidate to run for mayor in Stockbridge, hopes to bring fresh ideas to the community he’s called home. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

    Additionally, Williams’ ties to public service started early. In high school, he served as the Youth Council Mayor, and during college, he held several leadership positions. After graduating, he says he felt called to come home and make a difference.

    “I watched a few council meetings and said, ‘This is not the standard I left when I went to Clark Atlanta,’ Williams said. “I knew we needed some change, and I decided to jump in for mayor.”

    As mayor-elect, Williams says his focus will be on growth, infrastructure, and inclusion — making sure all residents feel represented and heard.

    “I really want to see us grow into something where every single resident feels accommodated,” he said. “That includes new residents, young professionals, working families, our teachers, and our seniors. I want everyone to feel like they’re home.”

    Williams says his win carries deep personal meaning for his family, given Stockbridge’s past. He said he hopes this next era for the city shows a collaborative front, especially with Stockbridge being deemed as one of the fastest-growing cities in the state.

    “I want us to show we’re in unison, we’re all one, and we can work collaboratively, especially with an all-black council,” he said. “We’re ready to serve every single generation in this community, and for so long we’ve lacked one generation over another, and so I want to show that differentiability, diversity, and inclusion right here in the city.”

    Williams also says he wants to tackle infrastructure and housing.

    “I want to see how we can work with our planning commission to bring some meaningful ordinances and policies to put some standard opportunities of affordable housing here in the city,” he said. “Just like I ran my platform on the 80-20 rule, 80% housing and 20% townhomes and apartments with the will of the Council.”

    Williams said his administration is putting major developments on infrastructure in Stockbridge that haven’t been fixed in 30 or more years.

    To people who may underestimate Williams due to his age, he says to go back and review what he’s done in the past in his political career thus far.

    “I’m not new to politics, nor am I new to the game. They can ask former bosses of mine, Representative Lydia Glaze, when I worked in the state house, but I’ve also served right here and as the youth council mayor,” he said.

    Also, Williams said, although he has several policies he wants to look at, he’s focused on ensuring he’s protecting the current residents while also bringing in new ones.

    “I really do want to work in protecting the characteristic trait of Stockbridge. The people have something to look forward to,” he said.

    As a message to his constituents, Williams says he’s here to work for you.

    “The campaign was just the job interview, but now that I have the job, we’re here to serve our constituents, which to me, I call all 36,000 plus residents my neighbors,” he said. “I’m looking forward to working with all of them and hearing their voices and concerns so we can push Stockbridge into a new era.”

    For his first year as Stockbridge Mayor, he says he wants residents to see change, not immediate, but progressive change, and going in the right direction.

    “I want to see Stockbridge become an urban suburban city in a smart way. I don’t want to see a mini-Atlanta, nor do I want to see a mini–New York City,” he said. “I want to see something that’s urban, hip, and up with the times, but also have those suburban opportunities where you can feel your neighbor next door and still have breathing room for your kids to play.”

    For advice to anyone who may want to run for a political office, Williams says not to let anyone tear you from your dream.

    “I didn’t let anyone tell me what I couldn’t do. I prayed before the election, before voting, and at the end of the election,” he said. “They said I couldn’t do it; I tell them to have a good day because you’re trying to stop down and process that. You don’t know how far I’ve come to get here, and so just continue to fight for your dreams and don’t push back.”

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    Isaiah Singleton

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  • Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation commits $50M to CAU, Morehouse, Morris Brown & Spelman

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    The Morehouse College golf and football programs have received gifts from the AMBF. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation (AMBFF) is committing $50 million to four Atlanta University Center member institutions. The scholarship investment will be for 10 years, beginning in 2026, and will be awarded to Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morris Brown College, and Spelman College. 

    The $50 million is projected to assist close to 10,000 students at the institutions. The funding is from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation’s Founder Initiative portfolio.  

    The AMBF was founded in 1995 by Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United owner Arthur M. Blank. Since then, the foundation has gifted more than $1.5 billion to universities, charities, and local organizations and non-profits. 

    Some of that charitable giving has gone to HBCU’s, including $10 million to Spelman College’s Arthur M. Blank Innovation Lab, $6 million for improvements of athletic fields at Clark Atlanta, Albany State University, Miles College, and Savannah State University, $3 million to Morris Brown to digitize a one-year hospitality credential, and $400,000 to the Morehouse College golf program and new football helmets for the Clark Atlanta and Morehouse football programs. 

    Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Donnell began his career covering sports and news in Atlanta nearly two decades ago. Since then he has written for Atlanta Business Chronicle, The Southern Cross…

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • String of bomb threats force evacuations at HBCUs & DNC HQ after Charlie Kirk shooting

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    The Democratic National Committee and several historically Black colleges and universities have been forced to evacuate or have locked down after receiving threats the day after far-right pundit Charlie Kirk was fatally shot at an event on a Utah campus.

    Capitol Police responded to a “potential security concern” at the DNC headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, which was deemed to be a non-credible bomb threat.

    “This afternoon, there was a bomb threat to DNC HQ that was determined to not be credible by the U.S. Capitol Police,” a DNC spokesperson told Axios. “Out of an abundance of caution, Capitol Police is conducting an interior sweep of the building. As DNC Chair Ken Martin has said, political violence in every form has no place in our country. We are grateful to the U.S. Capitol Police and DNC building security for responding quickly and professionally.”

    Meanwhile, several HBCUs went under lockdown Thursday, including Alabama State University, Virginia State University, Hampton University, Southern University, Bethune-Cookman Univeristy, and Clark Atlanta University, according to local news outlets.

    Alabama State announced it would be suspending all campus activities on Thursday after a “terroristic threat” was directed at the campus. Police have since issued an all clear, though campus will remain closed. Southern University has also been cleared, but activities will main canceled throughout the weekend.

    Shelter-in-place warnings have been lofted at Spelman College and Clark Atlanta University, the Atlanta Police Department told Atlanta News First. Spelman officials told the outlet that while no threats have been made toward the college, due to their proximity to other universities facing threats they have “increased security presence across campus.”

    Virginia State “remains on lockdown as we continue to prioritize the safety of our students, faculty, and staff,” it said in a statement, adding that “VSU Police, in coordination with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, is actively investigating the credibility of the threat received earlier today.”

    Hampton University also canceled classes for Thursday and Friday, saying in a statement, “Hampton University has received notice of a potential threat and has ceased all non-essential activity, effective immediately.”

    The Daytona Beach Police Department said in a statement that it is “actively investigating a reported threat directed at Bethune-Cookman University” and that “the campus has been placed on lockdown while officers work to ensure the safety of the students and staff.”

    While law enforcement has not confirmed what motivated the threats, they come one day after Kirk, the anti-LGBTQ+ commentator who founded Turning Point USA, died after being shot during a campus event at Utah Valley University. Despite no suspects or motivations being known, conservatives online have blamed “the left” for Kirk’s murder and vowed revenge.

    Democratic Rep. Troy Carter of Louisiana, where Southern University is located, strongly condemned the threats against Black institutions in a statement posted to social media, saying that “HBCUs are pillars of excellence, resilience, and progress. They have nurtured leaders, broken down barriers, and carried forward the torch of justice and equality in America. Any threat against them is a threat against us all.”

    “I am calling on the full weight of the federal government — including the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI — to utilize every available resource to identify, apprehend, and prosecute those responsible,” Carter said. “These attacks cannot be tolerated, minimized, or ignored. They must be met with swift and decisive action.”

    This article originally appeared on Advocate: String of bomb threats force evacuations at HBCUs & DNC HQ after Charlie Kirk shooting

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  • AUC schools lift shelter-in-place after targeted ‘terroristic threats’ made to HBCUs

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    Morehouse-James Hall, which was built in 1901 and last renovated in 1979. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

    Several Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the U.S. initiated a lockdown or shelter-in-place order on Thursday morning after receiving potential threats made against the universities. As of Thursday afternoon, those schools included Virginia State University, Hampton University, Alabama State University, Southern University, Bethune-Cookman University, and Georgia HBCUs Morehouse College, Spelman College, Morris-Brown, and Clark Atlanta University. 

    Spelman, Morris-Brown, and Morehouse announced their lockdowns after Clark Atlanta received a direct threat. Out of precaution and due to their close proximity, the schools initiated their own lockdowns and increased security presence around campus. The shelter-in-place for Morehouse, Spelman, and Clark Atlanta has since been lifted. 

    In a statement made by Clark Atlanta to The Atlanta Voice through text, the university said:

    “We were addressing a situation on campus that requires a shelter-in-place notice as a precautionary measure. That shelter-in-place mandate has been lifted.

    We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of the campus community.  Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Our priority is the safety of all students, faculty and staff.” 

    Schools advised faculty, staff, and students to shelter in place and avoid the campus. Southern University in Louisiana, Virginia State, and Hampton University have canceled Thursday and/or Friday classes, disrupting the academic year less than a month in. These threats come on the day of remembrance for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and a day after American right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at a Utah Valley University event. 

    In several social media posts, officials urge students to remain alert and report anything suspicious. CAU campus police, in conjunction with the Atlanta Police Department, are actively investigating threats made to the campus. 

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    Laura Nwogu

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  • The Mandela Washington Fellowship returns to CAU

    The Mandela Washington Fellowship returns to CAU

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    Clark Atlanta University (CAU) recently announced its selection as an Institute Partner for the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.  

    Beginning June 19 – July 28, CAU will host 25 of Africa’s bright, emerging Business leaders for a six-week Leadership Institute, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. 

    The Mandela Washington Fellowship, is celebrating 10 years of being the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), empowers young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, mentoring, networking, professional opportunities, and local community engagement.  

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    Isaiah Singleton

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  • Pinky Cole Hayes gives 2024 Savannah State Comment Speech and gifts graduates $8.75M Entrepreneurial Starter Pack

    Pinky Cole Hayes gives 2024 Savannah State Comment Speech and gifts graduates $8.75M Entrepreneurial Starter Pack

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    Pinky Cole Hayes, renowned entrepreneur, 2023 TIME100 Next honoree, and founder of Slutty Vegan and Bar Vegan, gave an inspiring commencement speech for the Savannah State University 2024 graduating class, and surprised the graduates with a very special gift. In collaboration with Operation HOPE and One Million Black Businesses (1MBB), Pinky Cole will give every graduate of Savannah State University a membership to 1MBB and the class will receive $8.75 million dollars worth of in-kind services with Operation HOPE, which will include:

    • Entrepreneurial Educational Resources 
    • Mentoring From 1MBB, Including One-On-One Financial Counseling
    • An Eight-Week Small Business Training Course With Business Plan Development And Credit & Money Management Courses 
    • 3-Months Free With Shopify To Build Their E-Commerce Platform For Young Entrepreneurs Ready To Start Their Businesses 

    One Million Black Businesses (1MBB) is a partnership with Operation HOPE and Shopify to start, grow, and scale 1 million Black businesses by 2030 to provide a successful path to wealth creation for the black community.

    “I am passionate about lifting up the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs of our world. I know firsthand what it means to have mentorship and how someone believing in your dream can make a difference. This graduating class has experienced so much adversity. Their college years began with a global pandemic and they have had to navigate their lives through unprecedented events. Through it all, they have thrived and are ready to enter the ‘real world’ with more experience and the confidence to face life’s new challenges. I believe in these graduates, and I hope that this gift will help them as they transition into this next phase of their lives,” says Pinky Cole Hayes.

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    Staff Report

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  • ‘CAU basketball is back’: Panthers win SIAC title

    ‘CAU basketball is back’: Panthers win SIAC title

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    Clark Atlanta University men’s head basketball coach Alfred Jordan (above) took a minute to be alone moments after the Panthers won the 2023-24 SIAC tournament title in Savannah on Sunday, Mar. 10, 2024. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    SAVANNAH, Ga.- It took the head coach a number of years and a number of moves to get to this point in his career. As the buzzer sounded, the Clark Atlanta University Panthers supporters inside Enmarket Arena screamed, and the players on the court started hugging and high-fiving each other; the coach just sat under the basket.

    Clark Atlanta Panthers head men’s basketball coach Alfred Jordan had tears in his eyes when he sat under that basket. He just sat there and took in the scene. In only his second season as a head coach, both as the leader of the basketball program at his alma mater, Jordan led the Panthers back to SIAC glory. The Panthers defeated defending SIAC tournament champion Miles College 65-55 on Sunday afternoon. The Panthers were headed back to the NCAA Division II tournament for the first time since Jordan was an assistant coach under former Panthers head coach and current University of Arkansas-Little Rock head coach Darrell Walker in 2018.

    “This is something I prayed for and what God has for you no man can ever take it away,” Jordan, who was named conference coach of the year, said after the team was awarded the conference tournament trophy and cut down the nets. “CAU basketball is back.”

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • CAU’s Alfred Jordan named SIAC Coach of the Year

    CAU’s Alfred Jordan named SIAC Coach of the Year

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    Clark Atlanta University head men’s basketball coach Alfred Jordan. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

    Clark Atlanta University men’s head basketball coach Alfred Jordan was recently named Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) coach of the year. 

    In only his second season as head coach at his alma mater, Jordan, a former CAU basketball player, led the Panthers to an overall record of 22-5 this season.

    “It feels good, it’s been a long time coming,” Jordan told The Atlanta Voice about earning the honor. “It feels like my patience has paid off.”

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    Donnell Suggs

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