Tag: scholarships for international students

With burnout knocking on her doorstep back in 2008, Michelle found herself feeling physical symptoms daily while at work. A nurse of 23 years, Michelle states “I remember finding myself reflecting the good days when I loved what I did daily and was happy to serve day in and day out.” She served many years as a hospice nurse who witnessed death frequently, found herself experiencing compassion fatigue. In addition to heavy caseloads and 365-day schedules, she saw her personal life suffering. Once those relationships began to deteriorate, she knew that it was time to get some help. It was through therapy after losing her mother and husband that put her life back on the right track. “It was then I found my sense of purpose and a new way of legacy thinking that made me want to leave my mark in nursing, on behalf of my mother.”

Michelle is from St. Petersburg, Florida, and is an International Speaker who has empowered nurses and black women in Jamaica, Bahamas, London and Paris, is also an 8-time Author. She developed the RNterprise™ Academy to provide participants with 21 hours of coursework focuses on business startup, business planning, paid public speaking, and how to self-publish books of their own. Her Mastermind produces nurse brands, speakers and trainers across the nation (NurseEntrepreneurSociety.com).

She comments, “After finding success with my first book RNterprise!, I knew there was a need for this type of personal development training for minority nurses. I heard reports of bullying, hostile work environments and even racism at work from colleagues who felt stuck. I realized that with entrepreneurship, there was no ceiling and the lane that is created, is from one’s own expertise as a professional nurse.”

She continues, “When launched in 2016, there were not many coaches who were pouring into other nurses like I envisioned, so I created this brand. Fast forward and now we have helped over 65 nurses become self-published authors, 40+ open businesses, and 25+ get paid as a public speaker or trainer.” Her Facebook group holds almost 4,000 nurses from across the globe.

“It brings me joy to walk in my lane, and still support healthcare in an ancillary way. These nurses excel by leaps and bounds, once they come into alignment of their true message.” Participants can take courses individually, or they can complete a deeper and broader program by personally engaging in a year-long Mastermind.

The Mastermind gives a much richer experience that develops a sisterhood and network of nurses who become lifelong members. An official certificate following its successful completion, along with obtaining this skill set, they leave with opportunities to expand across the globe.

Michelle has given powerful talks on these topics at Florida State University for the past 2 years, The American Managed Care Association Conference, The Commission for Case Management Symposium, and has won the Florida Nurses Association ICON award for Nurse Entrepreneurship.

Her articles can be found in the Care Management Journal, Brainz Magazine, and Journal for The National Black Nurses Association. Selected as a Linkedin Future Leader in Nursing, Michelle was chosen to visit Linkedin Headquarters February 2019 to discuss with the platform what the future might look like for nurses.

“In the culture that we live in, we would be remiss not to add more entrepreneurship/ intrapreneurship education for nurses within the curriculum. I am excited to expand this program as a certificate program or full elective for nursing programs. Our goal is to train nurses in these less explored areas of Healthcare so that we not just give the best care, but can be extremely mindful of costs, be available for public speaking, writing, and to develop programs in our areas of expertise,” she adds.

Additional information about the RNterprise Academy, including the upcoming yearlong Mastermind schedule can be found at MichelleRhodesOnline.com. The new enterprise version of courses will be available for Schools of Nursing only. Look for the pre-release in early 2021.

For press inquiries please contact Bianca Flemister at 813-750-7375 or support@greenerhodesconsulting.com

“We are excited to announce our new slate of online offerings for the fall and to welcome new students to join us in a hands-on learning experience that will connect them intimately with their African heritage through Yorùbá language and culture,” said Lande. “African-Americans across the country, young and old, are seeking to reconnect with their African identity, as reflected in the rise in Afrocentric homeschooling, increased ancestry DNA testing, and even Ghana’s 2019’s Year of Return. Furthermore, given that the national educational system is insufficient in teaching children about African-American topics, let alone Africa, our Yoruba Basics coursework is more important for kids in 2020 than ever.”

Yoruba is one of the oldest known languages in the world, with originating roots in West Africa. To this day, it continues to be spoken in Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Ghana, Brazil, and even Cuba. With Yoruba Basics focus on cultural application, classes teach the basics of Yoruba history, cultural etiquette and norms, alphabets and tones, numbers, everyday verbs and sentences, and much more. Songs and stories about the Yoruba people will highlight the Yoruba heritage while teaching is anchored by native speakers. Yoruba Basics is also a leader in the creation of African educational products and resources.

“We are proud to offer an accessible and affordable platform that benefits those who are eager to strengthen their affiliation with Africa and help preserve the continent’s rich cultural history through education,” continued Lande.

Registration is open now for fall 2020 with coursework beginning September through May, 2021. Prices begin at $59 per month.

For more information and to register for fall 2020 classes, visit YorubaBasics.com.

For press inquiries, contact (224) 286-1883.

DeMario and Dawn Nicole McIlwain, the husband and wife team behind Agile Week Carolinas, a dedicated annual platform for companies, teams and individuals to discover what’s new, changing, or trending in Agile, is excited to launch a first of its kind, social networking site for Agile Professionals. “Essentially, like a Facebook of the Agile community,” says DeMario.The Agile community is made up of an estimated 1.5 million Agile practitioners globally who use Agile principles in their daily work to support, manage and deliver small-large scale projects, and/or to solve complex problems.

The growing use of Agile methods have resulted in increased value for organizations who will continue to adopt Agile frameworks at an enterprise level. According to a Feb 2020 article source at Allied Market Research, the enterprise agile transformation services market in the U.S. is predicted to reach $18.19 billion by 2026:

As the demand for Agile grows, with it, a booming surge of Agilists who desire to stay connected.

This is where AgileConneX solves the problem, in that its social network makes it easier for Agilists to meet online and stay better connected to the conversation, as they look to contribute, collaborate and co-work virtually in an Agile world.

Unlike the hassle of today where navigating the noise of other social networks leaves this fast-growing community with hit or miss engagement, AgileConneX enables Agilists to exchange ideas, access opportunities and share resources globally!

When members sign up, they are instantly eligible to access a variety of community groups, can directly connect with members of the global Agile community and will be able to network with like-minded individuals who share common interests.

AgileConneX also promotes engagement by rewarding members with points for things like setting up a complete profile, posting content, liking member’s content and overall responsiveness. The creators want it to be a social network where emerging, established and expert Agilists feel welcomed, inspired and connected!

Join or learn more by going to AgileConneX.com

For press inquiries, contact Dawn Nicole McIlwain at 800-440-6853 or dawnnicole@charlotteagile.com

Meet Michael Robinson, founder and CEO of Bingo-Bango Fresh Fruit Soda Company, a thriving all-natural Black owned soda brand in the country. The North Carolina-based offers handcrafted all-natural, fresh fruit soda that the community loves.

Before venturing into his own company, Robinson had some experience in the beverage business. He once worked with his brother at Carolina Vineyards & Hops, a wine and beer lounge. He also worked as a representative for Coca-Cola for more than a year.

But entrepreneurship was his destiny. And so, one day, using his family’s juicer, he started crafting his own fresh juice and experimenting with different flavors. He sold those at local flea markets and festivals, where he went through some setbacks. But with the support of his family and friends, he decided to launch Bingo-Bango in 2018, one of the only Black-owned soda companies in the nation.

“I saw a niche for something, an all-naturally flavored fruit soda,” Robinson told Winston Salem Monthly.

Robinson credits his success to his entrepreneurial roots as well. His parents own Crown Trophy and Award and his brother and sister-in-law now own and operate Carolina Vineyard & Hops. The Bingo-Bango term was inspired by his late grandfather Emile Worthy Sr. who used the phrase to “symbolize something that’s unique or exciting or creative or artistic.”

Bingo-Bango offers different fruity flavors such as strawberry lemonade, cran-apple honey, and lemon peach pomegranate. Until now, Robinson makes the concoctions himself and even hand-delivers packs of bottles to homes, stores, and breweries in North Carolina.

For more information about Bingo-Bango, visit Bingo-Bango.com or follow the brand on Instagram at @BingoBangoSoda

FÜ Lifestyle is the newest Black woman-owned accessories brand designed by fashion designer Eva Moore for modern progressives. With its debossed FÜ logo print, the brand’s Lifestyle bag is a bold statement for the fashion-forward and progressive-thinking alike.

“This is my response to the ubiquitous logo-covered bags we’ve all seen forever,” said Moore, admitting that the FÜ brand had tongue-in-cheek origins. “You like initials? How about these?”

For Moore, a devoted animal and human rights activist, the bag is the vehicle to express her irreverence toward “pretentious” fashion norms and her disgust with the “hate-filled” and divisive politics of the outgoing administration.

Growing up, Moore aspired to a fashion career but abandoned her passion when told that her designs were too unconventional. The 2016 election and the catastrophic last year served as catalysts to launch “hell or high water, which is here and now.” The flagship, regularly $199, has been reduced to $149 to celebrate the launch and features:

• Signature logo paisley lining
• Laptop compartment
• Water bottle pocket
• Key fob
• 3” dual magnification compact mirror with lanyard

Reminiscent of a pocket watch, the compact’s lanyard clips to the tote’s hardware or, if one prefers, a belt loop. It’s a modern take on a bygone de rigueur style item. Moore asserts that it’s less about vanity and more about “not showing up with kale stuck in my teeth.”

FÜ – A Multipurpose Homonym

FÜ is not only the abbreviation for a familiar expletive; they are also the initials for Moore’s audacious alter ego. Frida Überschätz is an African and German American designer with “unfortunate initials” and an “almost laughable” surname, which means “overrated” in German. Undeterred by her moniker, Frida embraces her name’s uniqueness and uses it to her advantage.

The FÜ bag is for the daring, forward-thinking, and those “willing to give an FÜ to everything wrong in this country and the world. It’s definitely not ‘you- know-who’s’ handbag,” she quips.

5% of profits will go to Planned Parenthood. Learn more at FULifestyle.com

Etsy Shop: Etsy.com/shop/FULifestyle
Instagram: @fridauberschatz

About FÜ Lifestyle
Founded in 2014, the FÜ Lifestyle brand focuses on providing top-quality statement accessories for the bold, cheeky & unconventional who want to make a statement against injustice without saying a word.

For press inquiries, contact 214-369-1464 or frida@fulifestyle.com.

Attend the official “Rise” launch of the Black Channel Partner Alliance and Inaugural Tech Acceleration Program
Out of 64,000 Microsoft Partners in the United States, less than 1% are Black-owned. The Black Channel Partner Alliance (BCPA) exists to convert these numbers and lead the transformation by scaling Black-owned technology businesses. As a wealth-building organization committed to accelerating the growth of Black innovators and Black-owned technology businesses, BCPA will be providing mentorship, coaching, and a community to support, and ensure growth.

Join them for BCPA’s “Rise” Launch Event, a virtual celebration commemorating the official launch of the Black Channel Partner Alliance and their inaugural Tech Acceleration Program on Saturday, February 20, 2021, at 10am. Learn more about BCPA as an economic and equity empowerment 501(c) nonprofit organization, supported by Microsoft. Hear from their founders, sponsors and supporters about coaching and mentoring, and learn how YOU can be a part of their growing community!

“I’m excited about sharing with all our community partners, allies, and other founders the details of the fantastic program the Black Channel Partner Alliance has designed to accelerate the growth of Black-owned tech companies in the Microsoft ecosystem,” says Frank Valdivieso, Corporate Vice President, Commercial Partner at Microsoft.

For Black-owned technology businesses, Black tech professionals, and business owners, to supporters and investors of nonprofit organizations that serve Black communities this could mean the difference in simply existing and maintaining to scaling and thriving. Understanding that diversity in the IT industry could profit an additional $400 billion in revenue each year, Microsoft is doing its part to contribute to those gains through the Black Channel Partner Alliance and all of its efforts and programs.

Event: BCPA “Rise” Launch Event
Date: Saturday, Feb 20, 2021, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual platform provided by Meylah Corp.
Ticket Info: BCPA “Rise” Launch Event Tickets, Sat, Feb 20, 2021, at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite

About BCPA
About Black Channel Partner Alliance BCPA is a wealth-building organization committed to accelerating the growth of Black innovators and Black-owned technology businesses through mentorship, coaching, and community. Out of 64,000 Microsoft Partners in the United States, less than 1% are Black-owned. BCPA exists to transform these numbers and lead the transformation by scaling Black-owned technology businesses. Learn more at BCPAlliance.com or send an email to outreach@bcpalliance.com

Registration: EventBrite.com/e/bcpa-rise-launch-event-tickets-139813005463

For more information about this topic, please contact Tonya McKenzie at (510) 589-3764 or email at tmckenzie@sandandshores.com

What began as a love of collecting unique items that speak to the African American spirit and experience, now serves as a way for Mary Wilson, an African American entrepreneur, to share her passion with others. It was 25 years ago when she established Heritage House in Charlotte, N.C., originally coined as an African accessory shop.It was truly a family affair from building counters, installing display fixtures, decorating, and even store management. The shop specialized in art, books, cards, gifts, home décor, and gifts that reflected the African American tradition of faith, family, fitness, and fun. Five years later, Mary made the difficult decision to close the doors of her brick and mortar shop as she transitioned to a position as a corporate attorney. And while Charlotte locals could still find some of her items at The Gallery, a shop within her home church, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, it wasn’t quite the same for Mary.

“The Charlotte community was so quick to embrace us,” Mary shared. “My husband, Cornell, and I loved the sense of community and the friendships that developed after opening our store. Making the decision to close was incredibly tough. I missed seeing customers and searching for the next unique item to showcase at Heritage House.”

For Mary, her passion to discover unique items that celebrate African culture into the hands of people around the world has remained alive over the years. In October 2020, Mary launched Heritage House as an online store, giving individuals from around the world the opportunity to browse and purchase items that celebrate and support the rich African American culture. Her husband, Cornell, a retired Marine has joined her in this new adventure.

“My vision is to share the breadth and depth of who we are as African Americans and to honor the great diversity within our community,” Mary shared. “I am humbled by and grateful for the support of all those who have and will share in this journey.”

To learn more about Heritage House and to shop its unique curated collection of art, books, cards, gifts, and home decor, visit HeritageHouseGallery.com or follow the brand on Facebook and Instagram.

Rae and La Middleton, twin sisters from Maryland, have launched R and L Crab Company, a Black-owned crab delivery service that has become the very first of its kind in their area. The two chefs who both lost their jobs in March due to the pandemic have definitely turned a setback into overnight success.

They first thought of the idea when they both were craving crabs at a brunch, but there were no crab deliveries in the area. Together, they decided to make one on their own and that’s when R and L Crab Company was born.

“We went home that day and started making flyers,” La told Fox45 News. “We were shocked to get our very first order that day.”

Since then, they have received many orders and they aim to provide top-notch personalized service. Once they get the order, the crabs are cooked and delivered within 30 minutes. They said they never reheat and they do everything themselves, from cooking to deliveries.

They are looking forward to expanding the business, especially as the crab season in Maryland approaches and despite the ongoing pandemic.

“We made a lot of mistakes and are still learning as we go, but I can say I know how to start a business and it may not be a traditional way but I don’t think there’s a traditional way to do anything,” said Rae.

For more information about R and L Crab Company, visit www.randlcrabllc.com

Thomas Lopez-Pierre, President and CEO of the Black Lives Matter Real Estate Forum, LLC, has launched a social impact private equity real estate fund called BLMREF Fund I, LLC and has already begun raising funds from accredited investors with an initial targeted goal of $25 million.“I have been a securities lawyer for 25 years and preparing the legal documents for this venture was especially fulfilling. I look forward to my new role as Co-Chairperson of the Founding Advisory Board of The Black Lives Matter Real Estate Forum, LLC,” said Clem Turner, Former Partner – Alternative Capital Practice Group Leader, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC.

The Fund will invest in small-to-midsize multi-family property developments in Black and Hispanic communities that display favorable rental markets, employment, and population growth across America (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
The Fund has a pipeline of actionable opportunities, driven by its network of experienced Black and Hispanic real estate joint-venture partners that will minimize risk, improve execution, and increase profits.

“I am honored to have been selected to receive investment capital from BLMREF Fund I, LLC. I believe in its mission to provide real estate developers like myself with the investment capital needed to build wealth and create jobs in our communities,” said Askari Foy, MBA, CPA, Co-Founder of Venture Alliance Real Estate Enterprise, LLC, and former Senior Officer – National Director – Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

BLMREF Fund I, LLC will NOT invest in commercial real estate development opportunities that require the displacement of residential tenants. The Fund, however, will build wealth and create jobs for Black and Hispanic people by raising millions to invest between $100,000 and $1 million with multiple Black and Hispanic real estate developers (i.e.: joint-venture partners) to develop small-to-midsize multi-family property developments in Black and Hispanic communities across the United States.

$1,000 is the minimum amount to invest in the Fund (all racial groups are encouraged to invest.).

“I am excited to invest in the upcoming offering of BLMREF Fund I, LLC because of its focus on building wealth and creating jobs,” said Dennis W. Greene, former Federal Investigator – Compliance at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The Forum will build a national membership of Black and Hispanic professionals, host real estate panels, publish policy papers, meet with government officials, and much more. It recently appointed 50 Founding Advisory Board members of Black and Hispanic Real Estate Professionals/Construction Contractors, Lawyers, Medical Doctors, Certified Public Accountants/CPA’s, Investment Bankers, and other professionals.

The Forum will not only launch social impact private equity real estate funds to finance multi-family housing, but it will also advocate for economic policies that build wealth and create jobs for Black and Hispanic people.

“I support the mission of BLMREF Fund I, LLC. to build wealth and create jobs and I am honored to provide my 17 years of legal expertise as a real estate lawyer as a Co-Chairperson of the Founding Advisory Board of The Black Lives Matter Real Estate Forum, LLC,” said Derek Warner, Esq., Law Offices of Derek Warner, Esq.

This summer, the Forum is poised to launch a second real estate fund, to raise an additional $50 million to invest in small-to-midsize multi-family property developments. This opportunity will be open to both accredited and unaccredited investors.
“‘Black Lives Matter’ is more than a catchy slogan about police brutality for me. My twin brother was killed by an NYPD Officer at 28 years old, so, unfortunately, I understand all too well the pain of having a family member killed by the police,” said Thomas Lopez-Pierre, President/CEO of Black Lives Matter Real Estate Forum, LLC, Fund Manager of BLMREF Fund I, LLC and a New York State Licensed Real Estate Broker.

To learn more about the Black Lives Matter Real Estate Forum, LLC or BLMREF Fund I, LLC, visit BLMRef.com

DISCLAIMER: This is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities. Offers are made only by prospectus or other offering materials. To obtain further information, you must complete their investor questionnaire and meet the suitability standards required by law.

For press inquiries, contact Matthew Scott at 646-325-3263 or media@blmref.com

Kree D. Filer, a young Black female lawyer from Los Angeles who comes from a family of many lawyers, has now opened a private law practice herself. She says that she looks forward to working with and representing her own clients via her new firm which is called The File Law Office.

Filer has always wanted to follow the footsteps of her grandfather, Maxcy D. Filer, a well-known civil rights activist and former member of the Compton City Council, and her father, Judge Kelvin D. Filer, who had a private practice before becoming a judge at the Compton Courthouse.

That’s why after earning a BA in Women’s Studies at UC Santa Cruz, she decided to attend Loyola Law School where she received her JD Degree in 2016.

Aside from her grandfather and father, she also has an uncle and cousins who are lawyers. She says that her uncle, Anthony S. Filer, Sr., a supervising attorney for Community Legal Aid SoCal taught her the importance of giving back and helping those who could not afford legal services.

Her first legal career experience was working at the law office of her cousin, Lance M. Filer, where she served as an associate attorney for almost 3 years. She then became a staff attorney at a non-profit legal agency called The Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers where she handled complex dependency matters at the Edelman Children’s Courthouse for over a year.

With those work experiences, she’s confident she can make it on her own. “I also know that a private law practice is a business and respect the challenges and opportunities that will be presented in this endeavor,” Filer, who is the first woman in the family to become a lawyer, told Los Angeles Sentinel.

Filer says her firm is a general private practice that focuses primarily on criminal defense, dependency cases, and civil litigation.

“I know that I love the theater of the courtroom and I am not afraid to take on legal challenges. I am committed to providing the best legal representation on behalf of all of my clients. I particularly want to help those who are most in need and, in that way, make a positive contribution to our community.”

Learn more about her law firm at TheFilerLawOffice.com

Despite the pandemic, Katrina Wilson, founder of Crême Brûlée has been proclaimed as “recession-proof” and is moving forward to develop her multicultural salon in downtown Detroit.

After receiving nearly $600k in funding including grants and loans to launch her multicultural salon, Crême Brûlée, last year, she was eager to hit the ground running. That all came to a screeching halt when coronavirus hit the scene. Restrictions imposed by the government made it difficult to get things done.

However, Katrina is refusing to give up on her dream. She comments, “Crême Brûlée has been a dream of mine for 10 years, and for the last 2 years, it has truly been a very challenging journey. I was told no 23 times before I received a yes. I was able to overcome every adversity faced through three simple words: prayer, preparation, and patience. God selected me for this role because I possess certain knowledge, skills, and character traits that will enable me to lead others on a journey of continuous improvement and success.”

She continues, “Early in my entrepreneurial career, I made the decision to uphold high standards of performance, dedication, and loyalty to the people I serve. I also welcomed challenges which allowed me to be proactive and use my resources wisely. I was not afraid to fail. Along the way, I’ve learned some quite interesting lessons, but 2020 taught me the most valuable. It taught me to continuously seek opportunities despite whatever circumstances I am in.”

“Understanding my life’s purpose and the legacy I must leave helped me demonstrate honesty, compassion, integrity, respect, and sensitivity towards every lender that denied my application. I never took business; personal, which allowed me to look at every rejection letter and persevere,” she adds.

A Groundbreaking Ceremony is Taking Place to Celebrate

Katrina’s resilience and determination have kept her business dreams alive while many other businesses have gone away permanently. Not only has she been able to acquire an additional $200K in funding for the salon, but build-out of the interior has also commenced. To celebrate, the team is hosting a “Groundbreaking Ceremony” on January 28, 2021. The salon grand opening is scheduled for early Spring 2021.

The future home of Crême Brûlée Detroit will be at 6406 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202.

For more information, visit CremeBruleeDetroit.com

About Crême Brûlée:

A luxury beauty affair awaits you. Upon arrival, visitors will be greeted by welcoming staff, light relaxing music, and a peaceful aura. Enjoy opulent add on services that include a state of the art beverage bar including premium cocktails, champagne, red and white wines, prior to entering your luxurious experience. Whether you are enjoying a relaxing massage, facial, hair, nail, or any other services, our staff will consult you to learn what your specific needs are and will evaluate them accordingly.

Their services have been thoughtfully conceived to allow for your interior and exterior beauty to shine. Arrive at their centrally located New Center Salon & Spa and let them bring you into a euphoric realm while pampering you.

For inquiries about joining the team or becoming a client, contact Katrina Wilson or call (313) 768-9608 (Monday – Saturday: 11am – 7pm). You can also follow Katrina and Creme Brulee on Instagram @paidandprivate and @cremebruleedetroit.

Vegan Fine Foods, a Black-owned all-vegan grocery store based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is planning to open locations in every major city across the United States by 2024. The expansion will happen by rapidly opening both franchises and company-owned locations.

“I spent years living in food deserts with little to no accessibility to nutrient-dense foods and I see how damaging that can be for underserved communities,” Vegan Fine Brands founder Steven Smith told VegNews.

That is what urged Smith to launch his vegan company in 2016 after leaving his engineering career at Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo. He aims to provide a one-stop shopping experience for vegan and plant-based products.

In 2019, Vegan Fine Foods underwent developments since they raised more than $1.4 million to purchase more equipment, implement a new point-of-sale and inventory management system, hire key staff, and create an e-commerce platform, which has yet been launched.

Now, Vegan Fine Brands, Inc. is comprised of a Vegan Fine Foods store, Vegan Fine Body product line, and Vegan Fine Cafe. It is currently hosting an equity crowdfunding raise on StartEngine, which has so far raised over $180,000.

“I’m competitive and driven and my extensive business background has given me the tools and connections to see this through. My commitment to increasing access to quality plant-based products for everyone deepens my conviction.”

For more information about Vegan Fine Foods, visit VeganFineFoods.com

Loved ones are remembered through memorable keepsakes
Meet Venroy Joseph, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of veJov Design, LLC, a Black-owned graphic design firm based in Pennsylvania that has been creating funeral programs since its founding. However, when the pandemic began, the agency began to receive a much larger demand for funeral programs for loved ones.

This has led Venroy and his staff to become more creative and unique with his designs. One of their most unique ideas was a funeral program designed as a passport for a woman who loved to travel. The pages throughout the “passport” program included stamps of every country she visited.

“I read her life sketch and discovered that her love for traveling began on school trips. On those trips, she always wanted to see new places and carried a camera with her wherever she went—there was no stopping her. She traveled to more than 20-something countries,” Venroy says. “I wanted to capture the essence of who she was and have people who came to her funeral learn about her remarkable life. My approach to designing a funeral program is similar to what I do with any branding project, by finding out about them and presenting them in a way they are understood to their particular audience.”

He says that his company has created more than 55 funeral programs, and they create each one to be as personable and unforgettable as the person they are creating them for. “Funeral programs are meant to honor a loved one, and we go the extra mile to make sure the loved one is remembered,” he adds.

More than 1.7 million people have died from COVID-19 to date, according to the Johns Hopkins University data report, and more than 11,000 deaths have occurred in Pennsylvania since the beginning of the pandemic, according to a New York Times database. As a result of the growing number of deaths, there has been a rise in private funeral services during the coronavirus pandemic. Before coronavirus, about one in every 100 obituaries mentioned a private service; now that figure is one in 10, according to a USA Today analysis of Gannet newspaper obituaries.

veJov Design, as a small Black-owned business, is working hard to stem the impact of the pandemic. While many small-owned businesses have been forced to close down, veJov Design has been able to hire more employees and garner additional business.

“Our office has transformed into a virtual environment where we can work with our clients seamlessly, without missing a beat,” says Venroy. “Despite COVID-19, we are moving full-steam ahead and looking at things strategically to keep going.”

For more information or to request a quote for graphic design services, visit veJov.com or call 610-228-2630 or email engage@vejov.com.

In 2011, at the age of 26, Ashley Lamothe became the youngest franchise owner in Chick-fil-A history. However, her story with the company started many years before when she began working at a Chick-fil-A restaurant outside of Atlanta at the age of 15. It turned out that she liked the job, and when it came time to attend Spelman College, she began working at the Chick-fil-A restaurant near campus as a director on the leadership team.
“At the time, I thought it was just a great job to have while pursuing my degree in theatre,” says Ashley. That is, until her restaurant Operator pulled her aside to ask about her long-term goals and recommend a career in leadership.

“I’d never considered it. Sometimes you just need someone to help you see your potential,” says Asley.

Changing up the plan

She changed her major to economics to pursue owning her own Chick-fil-A restaurant – a dream she achieved in 2011, only five years after graduating from college. Perhaps it was only fitting that Lamothe’s first restaurant was the Chick-fil-A restaurant across the street from the University of Southern California. However, in Spring 2018, she opened her second location in downtown Los Angeles.

Her passion

Ashley says her passion is to help her team grow. “I want to help them get to where they want to go, whether it’s a career with Chick-fil-A, or studying law or medicine, or anything. I want to help them make that next step, just like so many have done for me,” says Ashley.

Ashley’s hard work is paying off. Most recently, she was awarded the company’s Symbol of Success, an honor reserved for Chick-fil-A Operators whose businesses experience particularly high sales growth.

“It’s humbling to be honored. But I feel like I’m just getting started,” she says.

Follow Ashley on Instagram at @ashleythe0ne

Micah Harrigan, a 10-year old entrepreneur from Philadelphia who started selling lemonade on the sidewalk last summer, is ready to upgrade his business. In fact, he just purchased a school bus that he plans to convert into a food truck.

Micah, a 5th-grade honors student, thought of the lemonade business idea last winter. Since it wasn’t ideal at that time, he was only able to work it out last March before the stay-at-home orders were executed.

He started packaging the lemonade and iced tea in bottles and bags but it wasn’t cost-effective. Three months after, he discovered 16-ounce clear plastic cups with lids and used those to pack lemonade he sold at his sidewalk stand. On the first day, his company, Micah’s Mixx, instantly sold out.

With the help of social media promotion from Micah himself and other people who shared his story, his sales continued to increase. He eventually began doing pop-up events and sold more than 1,500 bottles. He saved up from his profits and also received donations in cash and in-kind from people who believed in him.

His mother, Danielle, first thought of purchasing a trailer to attach to her car but realized that it wouldn’t be easy to drive that in the city. That’s when they began searching for mini school buses online. Eventually, they found and purchased a yellow minibus for $4,000 that was previously owned by a private school.

Now, they have started a GoFundMe page to help raise the funds needed to convert the bus into a food truck with counters and refrigeration, which would cost around $10,000. So far, they have raised over $1,700 of their goal.

Once Micah is able to officially launch his lemonade food truck business, he says that he hopes to sell more bottles of lemonade to pay his mother back and give away free lemonade to the homeless people who live in his city as well.

For more details about Micah and his journey, follow him on Instagram @micahsmixx

Darnell Washington, a native son of Tulsa, Oklahoma, who has over 30 years of experience in television broadcasting sales, management, and ownership, has created a new streaming service called the Black Wall Street TV Network. He says he was inspired by the extraordinary success of the original entrepreneurs of Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the early 1900s.

Black Wall Street in the past was a name synonymous with successful Black-owned businesses. While there are still successful Black-owned businesses, it is an area where there are also races of every kind. The current state of business in this now vibrant and economically stable area is pushing towards the future of great success. The BWS-TV Network will enhance the Tulsa area by bringing more promotional entertainment and name recognition to this new era of success. And since BWS-TV Network is an AVOD (Ad Based Video on Demand) Network, it is free to anyone who has an internet connection.

The BWS-TV Network is sure to be a favorite “go-to” streaming TV network. All adults and kids will want to tune in. In May 2021, the success of the ancestors of Black Wall Street will bring unprecedented news and attention to the Black Wall Street massacre of 100 years ago. The name will be recognized throughout the United States and around the world.

Today, in Tulsa, there are many hotels and businesses, and even the U.S. BMX Headquarters is under construction. OSU University is located there, as well as Langston University, an HBCU. The Tulsa Driller’s Baseball Team Stadium is also located there along with the new Greenwood Rising History Museum in construction.

That being said, the Black Wall Street TV Network plans to take advantage of the publicity along with their promotion through various media to attract viewers of every kind. This gives the network an opportunity for promoting one of the hottest technologies in television viewing today.

Washington comments, “The network plans to honor and celebrate the anniversary by embodying the entrepreneurial spirit of the original Black Wall Street Ancestors while providing a variety of programming to its viewers.”

For more information about the Black Wall Street TV Network, visit their official web site at BlackWSTV.com

For press inquiries, contact info@blackwstv.com or 918-884-6811.