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Previous Queen Spotlight Features.
Ashley Rawlinson
By day, Ashley is a Public Health Compliance Manager and has been working in her Public Health career for 15 years. Ashley received her BS degree in Health Education from North Carolina Central University (NCCU) and her Masters in Public Health from Walden University. Ashley is married to Christopher, who she met at NCCU and they have been married for 6 years. Together they have an almost four year old son, Chase who is the highlight and love of their lives.
In 2021, Ashley started and founded HERitage Wines where she is intentionally working to help Black women feel more comfortable in wine spaces through education, exposure, access and community. Over the past 2 years, Ashley has been growing the community of HERitage Wines through a monthly wine membership, wine apparel, wine accessories, and a private wine label. Ashley feels that wine does not have to be uncomfortable, judgemental, or unwelcoming but is best when it’s experienced with people, with food, and in spaces where you can be your most authentic self.
Ashley is level 2 certified through Wine and Spirit Education Trust, has her Women in Entrepreneurship and Business in Wine certifications, and is a scholarship recipient with both The Roots Fund and the Association of African American Vintners. Ashley is creating space for Black women wine drinkers and adding to the 1% of Black owned wine brands in the US through her private label wine. In addition, Ashley is now the second Black and woman owned wine brand in Durham, NC. In her free time, Ashley enjoys spending time with her family and friends, church, traveling, and sipping and learning about wine.
To learn more and/or purchase HERitage Wines, click here.
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Kentoura Cromatie
Wife, Mom, & Boss.
Kentoura was born and raised in Williamston, North Carolina. She graduated from the illustrious North Carolina Central University (NCCU) with a bachelor’s in political science. She has over 10+ years in retail management, Fashion Merchandising Degree from The Art Institute and currently working in the biopharma industry.
While balancing being a wife, a mother, friend, sister, she decided to take on another BEAST, entrepreneurship. Always wanting to make sure she was pushing herself to do more, be more, accomplish more, she realized there was a space she wanted to fulfill. Kentoura prides herself on living her best life. Being the most authentic version of herself she can be for herself and others. All while making sure she’s maximizing all her God given talents, skills, and gifts. In the midst of everything, she knew she needed something to fulfill her creativity and showcase to others who she was – someone with many layers.
In 2022, Kentoura became the Founder/CEO of Layered by Kenn. The objective of Layered by Kenn is to curate vibes and explore the layers of the individual. Layered by Kenn became a vision that was laid on her heart many years ago during a very trying time in her life. A time in her life where being her own boss was the only option. She knew that being an entrepreneur would not be easy, although she was up for the challenge because she knew it would push her to ultimately start to tell her story in her way. Telling her which she knew was needed but would have to be done one layer at a time. She stated that Layered by Kenn was not just a business for her, it was a therapeutic relief - a sense of peace.
She wants to make sure her customers are able to resonate with her throughout the different seasons in her life. Making sure they are able to tap into every layer of themselves in every season hence why Layered drops seasonally . So yes, candles are the focus for now, although there will be many layers of Layered of Kenn coming soon.
When not pursuing her entrepreneurial pursuits, she is being a wife to her supportive husband and a mother to her stepson. As a true Libra, she stated that having balance was key for her, so she’s able to make dinner and pack orders at night. She’s able to take a girl’s trip and make sure her inventory is stocked on the website. She’s able to balance out all aspects of her life that allows her to showcase and express each layer of Kentoura.
She enjoys traveling, cooking, and creating things. A quote she lives by is “Unleashing the layers of richness and complexity while adding a versatile depth and dimension to the spaces that are most sacred to you.”
To learn more and/or purchase your Layered by Kenn merchandise, click here.
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Erica Walker Joynes
An only child, was born in 1960. Although the product of divorced parents, Erica always felt love from both of her parents, Earl Lee Walker and Geraldine King Dodson Walker Randle. Erica was raised in Norfolk, VA and then attended college at Hampton Institute where she majored in psychology. Erica’s graduate degree in human services and social work was obtained from Capella University.
Erica always knew that she was destined to be a social worker. When she was 11 years old, she remembers one day hearing a woman yelling, screaming, and berating her son in a grocery store. The boy cowered and cried, this both angered and saddened Erica until she began talking loudly at the woman asking her how she would like it if she were spoken to like this. This went on until Erica's mother told her to stop and mind her own business (lol). She says that incident was memorable and shocking because she had never been spoken to in such a demeaning manner by anyone, let alone a parent. Even at 11 years old, her heart ached for the little boy.
Erica has always worked in the social services field. She has worked as a mental health case manager, a case worker for the developmental disadvantaged, a high school special education teacher, an adolescent psychiatric counselor, a food stamp worker, a school social worker, but nothing more dear to her heart than that as a social worker and supervisor in the child protective services field.
As a child protective services social worker in Houston, TX and Durham, NC Erica often visited what many consider the “rough part of town”. Daily, she made assessments concerning the welfare of children regarding their emotional and physical well-being, including abuse, neglect, and abandonment. She physically removed hundreds of children out of their homes into foster care hoping that where they were going was better than where they came from. When asked her motivation for being a CPS social worker, she would say that all children deserve a childhood like hers, one where there was never a care about basic needs (food, clothing, shelter) being met, never a care about someone sleeping in your bed or touching you inappropriately, and one where there was always plenty of love and affection.
It is no surprise that the love Erica felt as a child is what she has worked tirelessly to give to others. When Erica’s mother died in 1998 she was heartbroken. The day her mother died they had spoken on the phone twice. Out of her childlike pain “MAD at God” was born. More recently in 2022 Erica’s father died from dementia. This painstaking experience birthed “Papa doesn’t know my name”…. Erica has the uncanny ability to write children’s stories that address difficult subjects such as death/dying, Alzheimer’s/dementia, and her newest book titled “the Beautiful Beast” about childhood mental health. Erica understands that children need help understanding and coping with these BIG subjects. Far too often children are expected to just go back to school without condolence or validation of their emotions. She also recognizes that the parents and adults who care for them need resources to help have the “BIG TALKS”. Erica’s picture books tell complete stories of pain and hope. They include talking points, a discussion guide, and resources for adults who may need more assistance. Erica’s books can be found on Amazon.
One of Erica’s mantras is, “every child deserves to have a childhood”. The books Erica writes are tools to help children and adults manifest this mantra even in difficult times. Erica is happily retired, she enjoys gardening, reading, exercising, and watching smutt TV.
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Cessel J. Boyd, LCMHC, LPC
A loving mother to an adult son, who is originally from a small town in North Carolina. Her passion for counseling and helping others developed in High School. This desire led to obtain a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical (NC A&T) State University in 1997 and a Master of Arts Degree in Professional Counseling from Liberty University in 2011. Cessel is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in the state of North Carolina and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Virginia.
She has 24 years of experience working in the Behavioral Health Field. This experience includes work with students in the public-school system, Prison Mental Health, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Crisis Facilities, Mental Health Hospitals, Non-Profit organizations, Employee Assistance Programs and Private Practice settings. Cessel established C. J. Boyd Christian Counseling Services, PLLC in December of 2014 and the mission is to show clients how their faith and actions can help them reach their wellness goals. The organization desires to improve an individual’s biological, psychological, social and spiritual functioning by partnering with them as they navigate life’s challenges. Since 2014, C. J. Boyd Christian Counseling Services, PLLC has helped clients achieve success while struggling in the following areas: Depression, Anxiety, Trauma, Bipolar Disorder, Addiction (substances, pornography, and screen addiction), Relationship issues, and Workplace/Career/University transitions.
In 2022, Cessel J. Boyd authored two books inspired by her client’s need for supportive material to assist with their healing journey. The book “Jesus Cares About Your Anxiety” was written to help break the stigma around Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder. The guided devotional journal “180 Days of Affirmation and Gratitude” was penned to help the reader reprogram their thinking from negative to positive. These books can be found on Amazon or by clicking the link below.
Amazon.com: Cessel J Boyd, LCMHC, LPC: books, biography, latest update
To work with Cessel J. Boyd and her team contact them at https://cjboydcounseling.com by email at admin@cjboydcounseling.com by phone 888-302-7119 or on social media @cjboydchristiancounseling
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Ariel V. Germain
A proud two-time North Carolina Central University graduate with a bachelor's degree in mass communications, a concentration in journalism, a minor in English literature, and a master's of science degree in athletic administration. She currently serves NCCU as the director of marketing and communication for the division of student affairs.
The Detroit, Mich., native arrived at NCCU in the fall of 2002 as a women's volleyball student-athlete with aspirations to follow in her head coach's (Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree) footsteps to become a collegiate-level coach. After her undergraduate matriculation and as a heavily active member of the NC Central community and notching two Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association conference titles, Germain set out on her collegiate athletic career. Making her first stop at North Carolina A&T State University, where she served as the assistant women's volleyball coach. After that brief stint, she returned to the Nest to re-engage her passion as a communication student by working with the illustrious deputy athletic director for strategic communications, Kyle Serba. Under Serba's tutelage, Germain began her pathway into collegiate marketing and communications.
Her ambition and drive have led her to two stints at Howard University. Where she served as an assistant athletic director for sports information and an associate athletic director for external operations, both opportunities allowed her to showcase her talent for marketing, branding, storytelling, website content creation, gameday operations, and social media development. Her resume includes stints at the Catholic University of America, where she was the first black athletic administrator, Winston-Salem State University (athletic marketing director), and UNC Greensboro (marketing and communications director for student affairs).
Germain returned to NCCU to support the athletic department's marketing and development initiatives at the height of the global pandemic. Once again, under the direction of Dr. McCree, Germain helped the office of resource acquisitions development and implement the Stronger Together fundraising campaign to offset the loss of gameday revenue from the pandemic while retaining engagement. The year-long campaign raised $87,000 within the first 90 days and safely incorporated alums, student-athletes, and Eagle athletic administrators.
After a lengthy stint in collegiate athletics between divisions one, two, and three, Germain made a significant shift in her career into student affairs at the Nest. As the director of marketing and communications for the NC Central University Division of Student Affairs, she found a new niche that ignited a new passion for student engagement through communications.
In this role, Germain supports the Division's 21 departments, handles signature division events, and serves as the marketing and communications chair for the Ultimate Homecoming Experience.
Outside of her work duties, Germain is an active member of the Durham community. She works as an administrative volunteer for StrongHER Together's VillageHERs program. A non-profit organization in Durham, N.C., whose mission is to teach girls to stick together, no matter how different they are, and to use their collective power in the fight for equity.
She volunteers as a resume editor with StepUp Durham, a non-profit that provides free employment training services to Durham job seekers, especially those with challenges to gainful employment.
Germain is a Lincoln Community Health Center Foundation board member and serves on the marketing and communications committee. She is also an NC Central University Department of Mass Communication Public Advisory Council member.
And lastly, she coaches scholastic-level volleyball with the Jammers Volleyball Club (Durham, N.C.) and is a former member of the Riverside High School (Durham, N.C.) volleyball coaching staff.
Germain is pursuing her Ph.D. in communications from Liberty University and attributes her drive and success to being the best representation of herself for her mother and younger sister.
Siloam Gray
The creative force behind The Blooming Boutique, your destination for exquisite floral arrangements. With a passion for flowers that blossomed from a young age, Siloam Gray has turned their lifelong dream into a vibrant reality.
After years of honing their craft, Siloam Gray decided to share their enchanting creations with the world. Their dedication to quality, attention to detail, and an eye for harmonious design sets The Blooming Boutique apart. Whether you're seeking the perfect bouquet for a special occasion or a unique centerpiece to brighten your home, Siloam Gray is here to transform your floral fantasies into reality.
Driven by a commitment to sustainability and a deep respect for nature, Siloam Gray sources their blooms responsibly, ensuring that each arrangement is not only a work of art but also a reflection of our natural world. Every petal tells a story, and every bouquet is crafted with love and care.
Join Siloam Gray on a journey through the world of blooms and discover the magic of The Blooming Boutique. Your floral dreams are just a bouquet away!
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Erin Hutchins
Senior Director of Individual Engagement for Women’s Leadership at the United Way of Greater Atlanta. A native of Anniston, Alabama, Erin is a two-time alumna of Auburn University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2009 and her Master of Public Administration with a Graduate Certificate of Nonprofit Organization and Community Governance in 2011.
With a passion for building sustainable communities, Erin began her career in Albany, Georgia as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Albany for the United Way of Southwest Georgia, followed by a three-year tenure as the Project and Program Director for the Albany Area YMCA 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program in the Dougherty County School System. She then returned to her beloved alma mater to serve as the Inclusion and Diversity Coordinator in the Office of Alumni Affairs for the Auburn Alumni Association, where she created meaningful and engaging programs and events for alumni of color, alumni who are differently abled, and alumni who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community.
In her most recent role with Coxe Curry & Associates, she worked closely with nonprofits throughout metro Atlanta and Georgia in developing and executing successful capital campaigns, annual fundraising campaigns, and other services to support the overall organizational success.
A graduate of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Institute for Leadership Development’s inaugural class of 2015 and a 2013 and 2015 recipient of the 40 Under Forty Award presented by the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce and The Albany Herald, Erin remains an active community volunteer, as an active member of the Junior League of Atlanta. Erin is also a board member of the Black Alumni Collective, a group of Black alumni leaders from around the country who collaborate to uplift the work of black alumni associations individually and collectively.
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Ambie Renee
A“757 native, I'm known as Ambie Renee - the sassy, but also versatile female voice representation at iHeartMedia Norfolk representing all iHeart stations in the Hampton Roads and surrounding areas including 103 Jamz, 92.1 The Beat, and Movin’ 107.7. I am committed to using both my talent and impact to both empower all women while also being an important advocate for the community.
Outside of media, I've launched an initiative known as Finding Her Way because of my passion for women's empowerment. FHW consists of a podcast, women empowerment panels, brunches, and more.
My goal is to positively influence all women to be their best selves. Finding Her Way is a platform for ambitious women with big dreams. It’s a community of amazing women giving other amazing women behind-the-scenes info on how to get started in their fields, grow in their careers, achieve peak performance, and learn how to balance it all as an Alpha woman.
Connect with Ambie Renee via Instagram: Ambie Renee | Media Professional (@ambiereneeonair)
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Armani Graves
A 21-year-old elementary education student with a concentration in History from Burlington, N.C. She was named the 80th Miss North Carolina Central University in March of 2022 and officially crowned October 31st 2022. As a dedicated and active member of the Eagle community, Graves encourages her fellow members of the Nest to take pride in the campus community and the city of Durham. She is a mental health advocate and encourages Women’s Empowerment.
Graves is a member of Sisters of the MAC and the Vice President of National Residence Hall Honorary. she previously worked in residential life and served on the judicial board. She also served as Miss Junior for the 2021-2022 academic school year and has remained on the honor roll or dean’s list since attending NCCU. Armani plans to become an educator when finished with school and one day becoming a superintendent.
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Jahara Davis
Also known as Professor Davis to her students was raised in Fayetteville, NC. She began teaching as a substitute shortly after graduating with her undergraduate degree from North Carolina Central University. However, she accepted her calling to teach in 2014.
Davis has won countless awards in education including 2017-2018 PROJECT LIFT Learning Community Teacher of the Year in Charlotte, NC during her first year at West Charlotte High School. Davis has worked at three Historically Black High Schools (HBHS) in the state of North Carolina- Hillside High School in Durham, NC being her current home where she teaches grades 10th grade English and the English Department Chair. Davis’ motto stems from the community philosophy, “It takes a village to raise a child,” because that is what inspired her catchy thematic classroom: Village University.
Outside the classroom, she is a published author, former editor, and started a non-profit organization, Under1Umbrella. Her proudest accomplishment is being the mother of her two beautiful children, Carter and Davis.
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Kimesha Miller
Birthed outta Philadelphia, PA (Philly), where the word Jawn(n) originated meaning absolutely anything (a person, place, or thing). All our products are handmade with Love and Care by a Philly Jawn, hence the name.
Whipp'd Jawn Skincare & HomeScents, LLC. We are a Vegan Friendly Skincare company, we use a blend of raw butters such as Mango, Shea, Cocoa, and Kokum Butters and that are infused with All-Natural Cold Pressed Carrier Oils to maintain the integrity of the oil during the process. This is important to me because when I produce a product I need to know and speak that with total certainty this product is what I say it is. Our Candles are produce with CoCo Apricot Wax and Phthalate-Free Fragrance Oils with a soothing and pleasant sound of our double crackling wooden wick method.
My daughter had a mild case of eczema as she was growing up and her nor I enjoyed the smell or the texture of the creams and gels that were prescribed or suggested for her. So, why I was in college studying for my Criminal Justice degree I met an inspiring chemist in my Bio class and she was telling me about various Essential Oils and Natural butter blends that would work better, we exchanged numbers and been joined at the hip since. Now that I have made a business out of my knowledge and technique, she still assist me with making sure everything is balanced with minimal processing as possible. Needless to say my daughter has had little to no flare ups when we first started and has been completely maintained over the 6 years I've been producing for her and others.
I enjoy making my products because it is a great stress relief and escape from my profession which is a Youth Treatment Specialist within the Juvenile Justice System, I absolutely love working with at-risk youth and those that have been counted out. I honestly believe it takes a village and somebody that's willing to listen to make a difference. I also volunteer with an organization that provides in home therapy for at-risk youth and their families, as well as with Black Girls Vote and am a member of Black Girl Social Club DMV Chapter. I am and will always be my daughter's biggest cheerleader and advocate I can not advocate for anyone if I don't first allow it at home. In a few weeks I will be graduating with an Associates degree in Criminal Justice and continuing my education at Bowie State University majoring in Criminal Justice with a minor in Child & Adolescent Studies.
Now Come and...
Give Your Skin a Little Love,
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Brianna Kennedy
Brian’s wife, Zion’s mother, and God’s daughter. A native of Savannah, Georgia she found a new home in Durham, NC as an undergraduate student at North Carolina Central University. After graduating she began her career as an educator in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Her love for educating youth and passion as a lifelong learner led her to the Master of Science in Education program at the University of Pennsylvania where she studied education policy.
Afterward, her and her husband moved back to Durham to put down roots and prepare for the birth of their child, Zion. Brianna currently serves as the Director of Programs and Partnerships at the Durham Public Schools Foundation. As partner in creating The Coco Drip, she has also caught the entrepreneurial bug and started The Jet-Lagged Housewife, a blog and brand dedicated to encouraging Black women to delight in travel, luxury, and leisure. You can find out more about Brianna’s travels by visiting www.thejet-laggedhousewife.com.
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Shirley Dor
Chief Creative Director of Haitians Who Blog and Digital Content Creator.
She has worked with small businesses and influencers nationwide on propelling their brands, curating inspiring content, and revolutionizing their social presence. In 2017 she created Haitians Who Blog, a multimedia platform reaching millions of users across social spheres providing resources and access to brand partnerships for Haitian influencers.
She used her blogging career as a freelance writer in sexuality, relationship, and advice to pivot into her professional background as a sex therapist. Using her professional expertise, she built a strong community and social presence surrounding in-depth, candid, and meaningful conversations on love, sex, and relationships.
Expertise:
She uses her multi-level marketing expertise and corporate background to strategize for her client’s digital and social branding, marketing, and creative needs through Dorsainvil Creative.
Honors:
Due to her contributions within the Haitian community, she has been recognized as a top 20 under 40 young professionals, Haitian woman of the year, and rising star.
"Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live"
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Tabitha D. James
An award winning millennial business strategist, five-time author and global speaker who has helped numerous businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits unleash their greatness! A native of the backwoods of Lake View, SC, Tabitha’s commitment to showing others that they, too can be successful in their corner of the earth stems from her personal journey towards success. Since her youth, Tabitha has created her own definition for success, beginning her working career at the age of 17 and earning two degrees before the age of 25 from Coastal Carolina University and Florida Atlantic University.
As a full time entrepreneur, Tabitha’s combined experiences in education and business allow her to help build businesses from the ground up through strategic work plan development, logic modules and creating sustainable funding structures. With a leadership mantra that proves, “A true leader not only leads others, but advises and builds them to become leaders as well”, Tabitha has served in several civic leadership roles in the Pee Dee area of South Carolina in many capacities and is also the Founder and Executive Director of S.H.E. Is Me youth mentoring program, which has served more than 30 young women in just 3 years.
Tabitha is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and is truly dedicated to serving all mankind.
Tabitha’s most recent release, Dear Black Girl: Timeless Gems for Brown Girls Bound to Win, pre-launched on September 1, 2020 and has since reached 27 states and over 130 U.S. cities. To get your copy and other items, visit www.dearblackgirlshop.com
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Dr. Regina Gavin Williams
She is a counselor educator, higher education administrator, National Certified Counselor (NCC), and licensed clinical mental health counselor (LCMHC-NC). She currently serves as an assistant professor of counselor education and program coordinator of higher education administration at North Carolina Central University.
She also works part-time providing telemental health counseling at Aspire Counseling Group, where she specializes in supporting individuals experiencing a life transition such as those related to career/work, parenting/caregiving, or interpersonal relationships. Dr. Williams is also the 2019-2020 recipient of the Chi Sigma Iota Distinguished Alumni Award (Nu Sigma Chi Chapter- NC State University) and a 2016 NBCC Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) Doctoral Fellow.
Dr. Williams has presented at conferences on the local, regional,
and national levels in the fields of counseling and higher education. As a foster youth advocate, her research focuses on the career and college readiness and adult self-sufficiency of adolescents aging out of the foster care system, training therapeutic foster caregivers, and assisting adolescents with post-secondary education and career decision-making. As an educator, Dr. Williams has instructed/co-instructed courses in the areas of counseling, education and diversity. She enjoys creating spaces for students to explore and celebrate their cultural differences, enhancing students' advocacy skills, and assisting individuals with making meaningful connections in their local communities.
Dr. Williams also has a passion for providing spaces of support
for mothers of color, serving as co-creator/co-chair of the conference, Hear our Voices: Advocacy for Mothers of Color. In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Ron, and daughter, Kara, putting together small gatherings for loved ones, live music, and food/wine tasting.
Please visit: https://about.me/reginagavinwilliams
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Indi Felder
The founder of Beauties With Brains and Beauties With Brains: Hair Collection, two powerhouse brands that center women’s empowerment and provide resources to women interested in achieving self-sustaining success.
Though a native New-Yorker, Indira founded Beauties With Brains in Durham, North Carolina while simultaneously working in the legal field. While navigating through the legal field and other prominent institutions, Indira noticed that many women, particularly women of color, struggled with accessing prestige, growing their networks, and ultimately with recognizing their own self-worth. Indira decided to create a solution in Beauties With Brains.
Launched in 2017, Beauties With Brains has become a nationally-recognized brand that inspires women to reach their full potential, follow ambitious career paths, network with business enterprisers, and gracefully lean into success. Along with an annual symposium connecting women across the country to build skills for self-empowerment, Beauties With Brains also offers seminars, branding courses, and community service opportunities. Through her success, Indira has connected with some of the bestselling authors and top spiritual life coaches in the industry, such as Iyanla Vanzant and Toya Wright.
Ever-expanding the brand, Indira launched the Beauties With Brains: Hair Collection in 2019, offering elegant hair styles that compliment every aesthetic. Her collection features top quality, tangle-free, and long-lasting looks – all 100% Virgin human hair. Full of volume and durable, the BWB: Hair Collection is considered the gold standard for human hair extensions.
A serial entrepreneur, Indira continues to grow the Beauties With Brains brand into an empire while remaining steadfast in her goal to uplift women and touch lives.
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Taraza Tyler
A native of Rose Hill, North Carolina, successfully turned passion into nonprofit. She is the Founder of P.O.W.E.R., Inc. Community, which focuses on Parents Owning Wealth Through Education and Resiliency.
Pulling from personal experience, Taraza noticed a lack of readily available resources that would empower, educate, and equip the single mother and father on a daily basis. Advocating for the single parent community, Ms. Tyler intends to break barriers that have been set by a generational miseducation of financial responsibility, stereotypes, misconception, mental and physical health of the well-being of single parents. Mother to Mother and Father to Father are two programs that dive deep into addressing the matters and will begin meeting virtually next month.
With her ear to the ground, Taraza has a personable approach, connecting a growing amount of community single mothers and fathers with free resources, programs, mentors and scholarships.
In the past year, Taraza has partnered with several nonprofit organizations, agencies, counselors, financial coaches, accountants, and college advisors to assist single parents with a successful life with their loved ones and is currently proactive in homeownership assistance.
Her mantra is: “I was once a single mother with very few resources, so I have a special place in my heart for other single mothers and fathers in difficult situations. My purpose is to assist the single parent community with taking back their P.O.W.E.R.
For more information about Taraza and P.O.W.E.R., Inc. Community, please visit at www.powerinccommunity.org.
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Ashley Neville
A Graphic Designer, Illustrator, and Brand Strategist. She is a small business owner currently based in Durham, North Carolina. After starting her graphic design company (Ashlaine Designs LLC) two years ago, she has developed a successful business in the design industry. She has worked on over 250 logo designs as well as rebranded companies. She has successfully managed graphic design projects from corporate to individual organizations. She works closely with clients to create a vision and conceive design concepts. She effectively builds, motivates, and creates unique designs to establish your brand.
Ashley has been a designer for 6 years. Before creating her own company, she was an Art teacher for Durham Public Schools, a mentor, as well a Visual Artist for a small agency in Raleigh, NC. Neville holds a degree in Graphic and Web Design from The Art Institute.
Recently, Neville’s artwork was featured in the December 5, 2017, Article, Paid In Full, Stanford Social Innovational Review, for Stanford University. Neville has designed a mural for High Point University and a biblical mural painting for First Calvary Baptist Church. She is also writing and illustrating her first children’s book, called “A Queen’s Reflection”, which will be released in February of 2021.
Ashley has always had a passion to give back and support others, especially, women entrepreneurs of color. She has also donated work which was auctioned to save art programs in the public school system. She is the founder of two networking groups. “ The Business Woman Link Up" and The Black Innovators In Business. The Black Innovators in Business is a group designed to support, inform, celebrate and network with black-owned businesses. We also discuss social and political issues within the African American community. Such as poverty, the income gap, cultural/generational wealth gap, financial literacy, achievement gap, education limitations, mental health, discrimination, and capital. The Business Woman Link Up group solely focuses on networking, business, interviews, obtaining resourceful information, branding and empowering women entrepreneurs.
In her spare time she enjoys creating art, outdoor activities, cooking, spending quality time with her son, family, and friends.
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Regi Angelou
She is a creative from Queens, New York. She studied African American History at North Carolina Central, a Historically Black University. After college, she moved back home to teach high school students the history of the world, and of the Black experience. Regi advised her school's glee club and was the front woman of an eight piece funk band, 12KO. After earning her Masters, concentrating in Special Education, Regi began to use her free Summers to travel the world and study the education and culture of diverse populations.
In 2016, she and her husband Alex, moved to San Diego, California where she began another Master's program, this time in School Leadership. Regi continued her creative pursuits by writing, starring in, and producing the mini series 'Couple's Therapy', 'Regi So Petty', and 'The List'. Upon completion of her third degree, Regi moved back to her home town of Far Rockaway with the intention to create a project based high school influenced by the best of her research and experiences, Legacy Academy. After a heavily invested 2 year effort to bring Legacy Academy to fruition, New York reached a crucial charter cap which paused the initiative to open the school.
Regi found the time to reconnect with her creative self, and recently released her debut EP, More Free. Over the last 8 years, Regi developed her career as an educator from special education teacher to school founder and principal, and now she is educating through her music.
While making her music, she and her team never stopped working on ways to get the Legacy Academy school model off the ground. They are partnering with a charter school to pilot Legacy Academy this Fall in Brooklyn.
Email: regiangelou@gmail.com
Instagram: @regiangelou
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Krystal George
In a world where the “Me Too Movement” is the topic of every discussion and women are saying “Times Up”, Krystal George is making moves in gender violence prevention. Krystal has been working in the field of gender-based violence for over 13 years.
She is a 2007 graduate of North Carolina Central University (NCCU) and holds a Bachelors degree in Public Health Education. In 2008, she received professional certification through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. and received her Masters of Public Administration from Strayer University at RTP in 2009. Krystal worked over 6 years at the NCCU Women's Center, where she found a passion for helping survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence; and also educating the community about this issue.
Krystal has provided trainings on rape culture, power, and privilege for universities and state and national conferences. She also serves on the North Carolina Campus Consortium Advisory Committee, led by the state coalitions.
In April 2015, Krystal joined the Duke University Women's Center as the Assistant Director for Educational Initiatives. In this role she is responsible for providing expertise in the creation, development, assessment of services related to gender based violence for the Duke community. She also oversees the implementation of environmental prevention, intervention, education and training efforts to engage undergraduate, graduate and professional students in the reduction and elimination of gender based violence on campus. As of November 2018, Krystal is also serving as the Interim Director of the Duke University Women’s Center.
Working at the Duke University Women's Center has allowed her to motivate students of all genders on campus professionally and personally. It has also allowed her to raise awareness of gender violence and gender equity to the university through prevention and programming.
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Iwinosa Idahor
A teacher at heart, Iwinosa knew that she wanted to work with students and impact lives at a very early age. Born and raised in High Point, North Carolina she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Middle Grades Education and her Master of Education in Counselor Education (School Counseling focus) from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development with a focus in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis. She taught Social Studies and Language Arts at the middle school level for over five years. She has worked in higher education as a Co-Instructor and is currently working in Student Engagement, specifically with undergraduate students in the College of Education. Her research interests include examining the qualities of exemplary school and district leadership, the utilization of restorative justice practices in Title I schools, the implementation and evaluation of equity initiatives, the experiences of students who are children of immigrants from across the African diaspora, and participatory action research in community organizing.
During the summer of 2018, Iwinosa had an exciting opportunity to work with UnifiEd in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to amplify community voice at the grassroots level and provide tools to community advocates, supporting a narrative of positive and equitable change within the public school system. She worked alongside UnifiEd staff members to develop and maintain a variety of long-standing initiatives and resources that will help to keep community members engaged in equity work, both at the local and district levels. Iwinosa also served as a mentor to high school students who want to be involved in community organizing and issues regarding educational equity.
Iwinosa wants to continue to impact the field of education and the lives of students through her work in designing, implementing, and evaluating equity initiatives (and resources) for under-served populations, schools, and communities. She is looking forward to continuing her work in providing students and families with an equitable educational experience.
Iwinosa is also actively and passionately involved in her community and church, where she serves on several ministries and committees including leading the youth ministry and sharing her gift of dance and performance through the SAVED (Sacred Anointed Vessels Embracing Dance) ministry. As a leader, believer, and educator, she hopes to continue to inspire youth and young women of color to seek and pursue purposeful lives while empowering others to do the same. She hopes to inspire those that she encounters to simply bring and be their best self...always.
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Lynn L. Douglas
A proud native of Greensboro, NC., and the Founder & Executive Director of Chosen Productions, Inc. She is a 2006 graduate of James Benson Dudley Senior High School and a 2010 graduate of North Carolina Central University where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. While attending NCCU, Lynn was a member of the NCCU Marching Sound Machine, Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority, Inc. and was crowned Miss Black & Gold 2009-2010 for the Gamma Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. In 2011, Lynn returned to NCCU for graduate school and received a Master of Arts Degree in School Counseling in May of 2014. Throughout her collegiate career, Lynn coordinated and participated in several scholarship pageants throughout the state of North Carolina. To date she has over ten years of experience in and believes that it highlights the best that that the community has to offer while instilling principles of professionalism, self-confidence, and a consideration for the needs of others. After a short break, Lynn returned to the world of pageantry in 2014 when she competed for the title of Miss Black Greensboro USA. Upon being crowned Miss Black Greensboro USA 2014-2015, Lynn coined the term,
"The Visionary Institute", which would become her platform title throughout her reign and the first program that Chosen would launch in June of 2017.
Through The Visionary Institute, she assisted high school students with setting attainable goals that would lead to them becoming college bound students. She would later go on to inherit the title of Miss Black North Carolina USA 2015 and have the opportunity to spread her platform work statewide. Lynn strongly believes in the power of being an Educated Black Woman and feels that her purpose is to empower young girls to become the same.
Currently, Lynn is a School Counselor for Guilford County Schools and has almost ten years of experience in the field of Education. She is a 2018 recipient of the NCCU 40 Under 40 Award for her service to the community. Lynn believes that it is her life’s mission to advocate for underrepresented high school students and she works diligently towards fulfilling that mission on a daily basis.