News Bites From Across South Carolina And The Nation

*High School Students Now Applying For Disney Dreamers Academy Mentorship Program*

Teens from around the country are trying to put their best foot forward in hopes of being among the 100 students selected for the 2023 Disney Dreamers Academy. Applications are now underway for the inspiring and transformational mentorship program at Walt Disney World Resort for Black teens and students from underrepresented communities.

The application process for the 16th annual program, set for March 23-26, 2023, runs through October at www.DisneyDreamersAcademy.com. The 100 teen participants receive an all-expense-paid trip along with one parent or guardian to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida to experience a combination of inspiration, education and fun at The Most Magical Place on Earth.

The program is an important part of Disney’s commitment to supporting diverse communities by encouraging the next generation of Black students to think big, so they can relentlessly pursue their dreams and make a difference in the lives of others.

*BlerDCon Returns To Virginia To Celebrate Black Nerd Culture*

After a two-year absence, BlerDCon returned to Crystal City in Virginia to celebrate all things "blerd."

Starting in 2016, Blerdcon is an event that highlights and celebrates black nerd culture in an inclusive environment. This year's convention was no different.

Taking place over the weekend, July 8-10, fans of anime, gaming, comics, sci-fi and popular culture of all backgrounds gathered to celebrate some of the things they love.

With this year's theme of "Homecomin'," con-goers were provided with a 24-hour venue, filled with round-the-clock programming including panels, anime screenings, gaming tournaments, workshops, live podcasts, cosplay contests, celebrity guests and more.

Founded by Hassan Parrish and Hilton George, the pair sought to create a haven where blackness and nerd culture could co-exist in a comfortable space. In an interview with The Grio, George spoke about the stigma that comes with "nerdom."

“We in the Black community have not resolved our relationship with nerdom and whiteness,” George said. “Oftentimes Black nerds don’t have to just turn in their cool card as all nerds often do. They have to turn in their Black card, too."

*SC Mother Worried After ICU Nurse Vanishes*

An ICU nurse is missing, gone without a trace. Her mother was terrified something awful happened to her. 39-year-old Shauna Brown has a lot going for her. A good job and in school to become a registered nurse. But it’s the circumstances around her disappearance that has her mother so worried.

“She left about five or six in the morning and she had on her scrubs to go report directly to the hospital,” said Mozella Brown, Shauna’s mother.

On July 10 Shauna Brown was headed to Alabama for clinicals.

“She has a clinical in every discipline and the clinical she was working on the emergency care at St. Francis Hospital in Birmingham where she would go for a few days during the week and come back here,” said Mozella.

Her mother said calls to Shauna went straight to voicemail, but she figured she was just tired.

“She’s a pretty quiet homebody. Work, church, and that’s it,” said Mozella.

Her mom says she was supposed to be home a few days later to go to work at Prisma Health Baptist.

“She was supposed to be back by Thursday and then Baptist had a welfare check done because they hadn’t heard from her and they were trying to call her and that’s when I really panicked,” said Mozella.

And when Mozella called the hospital in Alabama, things only got worse.

“They said they were trying to reach her too because she hadn’t reported there,” said Mozella.

The last time she heard from Shauna was when she left on July 10.

“I said I love you. I do remember saying that,” said Mozella.

Now she’s sure Shauna is in trouble.

“I can’t accept the fact that she’s just walked away. Something had to have happened. Something’s not right,” said Mozella.

She was last seen driving a black Toyota Corolla with a South Carolina license plate. If you know where Shauna may be or have seen her, call police or contact CrimeStoppers.

*Sesame Place Apologizes After Black Girls Snubbed At Parade*

A Sesame Street-themed amusement park has apologized and promised more training for its employees after a video showing a costumed character waving off two 6-year-old Black girls during a parade went viral online.

The nine-second video, posted to Instagram by Jodi Brown, the mother of one of the girls, showed the character Rosita high-fiving a white child and woman, then gesturing “no” and walking away from the two girls who had their arms stretched out for a hug and high-five during the parade at Sesame Place in Philadelphia.

“I will never step foot in @sesameplace ever again,” Brown said online.

The family’s lawyer, B’Ivory LaMarr, told the Associated Press the family is appalled and disturbed by the incident and “the injuries propagated to their children.”

In an initial statement Sunday, Sesame Place said the park and its employees stand for “inclusivity and equality in all forms.” The statement also noted that performers sometimes miss requests for hugs because the costumes they wear make it difficult to see at lower levels.

“The Rosita performer did not intentionally ignore the girls and is devastated by the misunderstanding,” the statement said. However, many people expressed outrage online and some called for a boycott of the amusement park.

The park issued a second statement Monday, apologizing again and promising that it was “taking action to do better.” Among those efforts would be inclusivity training for employees.

Both statements and the video triggered a stark response on social media, which LaMarr said helped shed a light on “the existence of these issues.”

“A lot of African Americans tend to become very passive because we unfortunately are accustomed to dealing with this type of racism in various spaces,” he said.

Located in Langhorne, a neighborhood in Philadelphia, Sesame Place has been the official “Sesame Street” theme park for more than four decades. It opened in 1980.

“You would expect a reputable organization the one as well revered as Sesame Street and Sesame Place to stand on those principles and values in which they portray,” LaMarr said. “Instead, what this family saw was a company that comes out and they’re very dismissive of the harms that were caused.”