Philly native Rhonda Simmons, an educator, author, preacher and entrepreneur, founded a home for unwed teen moms in Texas, a state that is ranked amongst the highest in teen pregnancy rates. Rhonda was candid with us about what inspired her to be passionate about this work.

We discussed the impact of artificial intelligence on academia, marketing and its role in the future of employment. Rhonda shared her perspective on critical race theory and the importance of educating our youth.

Through her foundation, The Simmons Empowerment Foundation Inc. (TSEFI), Rhonda authored Dear Future Me: The Journey Begins and created an empowerment summit of the same name to uplift and motivate others.

Social Media: @tsefiorg on all platforms
Website: www.tsefi.org
Podcast: Empowered Heart to Heart- on Spotify, iHeartRadio www.tsefi.org/podcast
Resources: Don’t Drop the Mic by TD Jakes

Ayanna shares the misconceptions surrounding being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder later in life and the disparity in resources available for people of color. We discuss the difference in identifying black and Hispanic children with autism relative to white children and the services needed to reach their full potential.

Not letting autism stop her, Ayanna is a creative artist that has made dolls, clothing and paintings. Ayanna is a former choreographer with work seen on BET, ABC Family, the Maury Povich Show, and at The Apollo Theater and she’s illustrated 22 books and 4 coloring books. Ayanna was honored at the United Nations and given a proclamation making April 26th Ayanna’s Day in Westchester County, New York.

Ayanna walks us through sensory overload for people on the spectrum pertaining to sounds, smells and coping mechanisms. Specifically, Ayanna works with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy DBT that teaches mindfulness and journaling. Ayanna shares the experiences of seizures and fainting spells that many people with autism have that are not always discussed.

Social Media: @Phenomenallyautistic and linktree for merchandise

Resources: @AutisticsUnmasked non-profit organization

Books: Cupcake Girl and Her Birthday Adventure by Chanelle A. Watson, Illustrated by Ayana Davis; We Are Magical and We Are Still Magical- coloring books by Ayanna Davis

Dr. Felecia Pullen, founded and is the President and CEO of Let’s Talk SAFETY, Inc., a not-for-profit that includes: SAFE in Harlem, a CDC-funded teen-led prevention coalition; The PILLARS, Manhattan’s first OASAS-funded Recovery Community & Outreach Center; and The SAFETY Net, a teen-designed Clubhouse in Harlem.

Dr. Pullen shared her personal experience with drug use that fueled her desire to help others on their recovery journey. We discuss the grind to secure funding to keep community programs open, her role in the Netflix documentary Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy and the effect that addiction has on her beloved Harlem neighborhood. Dr. Pullen continues to create partnerships with community leaders to offer holistic, complementary, alternative approaches for individuals and their families.

Social Media:
@Safeinharlem, @pillars.nyc

Resources
www.safeinharlem.org, www.pillarsnyc.org, www.Drpphd.com

As someone who is usually in the background, PG County’s own Crystal Brooks stepped into her light to build and run Love You More, Inc, a non-profit organization that aids in building young girls’ and women’s self-esteem. After becoming a certified Master Life Coach during the pandemic, Crystal started Love You More Legacy, a coaching company to further her mission to empower women.

Crystal is the author of the Best-Selling book When Silence is Misunderstood, where she shares her story of overcoming sexual and physical abuse to help others heal. Crystal’s journey included listening intently to the messages from God and continuing to pour into her community. Look for more great things from Crystal including her radio show, Traffic Jams, on www.theundergroundlab.com/radio and a new podcast Process the Purpose.

Social Media
On Instagram @loveyoumoreinc @lymlegacy
Website: www.loveyoumoreinc.com & www.lymlegacy.com

Resources
Hope for Justice www.hopeforjustice.org

Dr. Cecilia LaRoche turned her love of math and chemistry into a lucrative and fulfilling career in dentistry. Recognizing that she was a hustler early on, Dr. LaRoche gravitated towards commission-based work to be in control of her pay. As the first doctor in her family, she discussed how a chance encounter with a black male dentist at a two-day symposium piqued her interest in dentistry.

In this episode we cover cosmetic dentistry, the benefits of getting children braces and/or retainers earlier in life, low-cost dental work at dental schools and current trends in dentistry. Dr. LaRoche highlights that dentistry is a feel-good industry and was grateful for the exposure to a field that is dominated by white men.

Social Media:
On Facebook and Instagram @Larochedental, www.Larochedental.com
Location: 205-07 Hillside Avenue Suite 17, Jamaica, NY 11423

Resources:

• Bennett College (HBCU)
• Dental Association (ADA)
• National Dental Association (NYC NDA), Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures Dental Van Initiative

Kimberly “The Modern Steward” Hairston-Neal has made her love for organizing and time management into a family business alongside her husband, who manages the contracting side. Kimberly’s specialty is helping individuals simplify their life to make time and space for the things they love. The Modern Steward also helps professionals relocate in the Pittsburgh area and offers virtual services for closet edits and pantry organization.

In this episode, we discuss the differences in being a minimalist, essentialist and maximalist. Kimberly also talks about how functionality helps with organization and sustainability in the long-term. We dig into what is situational and chronic disorganization and how customized systems help your life flow better.

Social Media: Follow @themodernsteward on all social media platforms and at www.themodernsteward.com

Resources:

• NAPBO-National Association of Black professional organizers
• @Blackgirlswhoorganize for a registry of women of color organizers
• NAPO-National Organization of Productivity and Organization

Michele shared how she pursued both her passions from a young age, wanting to be a nurse and a cosmetologist. Michele explains different types of nursing career tracks and what ultimately worked for her as a traveling nurse. Seeing her mom and other patients lose their hair to cancer, Michele thought of a way to help women find their beauty and confidence again.

Michele created a custom wig company affectionately called BougeeNBrooklyn which fits her love for feeling beautiful and fabulous at any time. The beauty business has space for more women of color led companies and Michele shares some resources and tips that will help other entrepreneurs. To add to her legacy, one of BoujeeNBrooklyn’s top priorities is to donate wigs to women experiencing hair loss due to cancer treatment and therapy through her Wigs for a Cure Foundation ©.

Instagram @boujeenbk
Tiktok @boujeenbrooklyn

BoujeeNbrooklyn Custom Wigs LLC.
www.boujeenbrooklyn.com

Resources
Black Entrepreneurs NYC (BE NYC)
https://www.nyc.gov/site/sbs/businesses/black-entrepreneurs-nyc.page

We interviewed Brooklyn’s own Nicole Shawan Junior, a writer, leader, advocate and truth teller. They reminisce on a love of writing going back to the 80’s performing their stories for their family as a child and having a mom that nurtured a love of reading. They talk about their journey to working at PEN America helping incarcerated individuals get access to writing opportunities and payments to help stop the exploitation of incarcerated writers. They also founded Roots. Wounds. Words. Inc. which have helped so many writers of color find their voice.

Their mother’s influence in advocacy and seeing so much of their family be incarcerated, shaped their desire to enter the legal field. They are transparent about going from being the prosecutor to the perpetrator, coming face to face with one of their greatest fears of being arrested. This is a raw interview from Nicole who is currently writing a memoir to share their story in more detail.

@nicoleshawanjunior on all social media platforms
@rootswoundswords
www.nicoleshawanjunior.com

Resources
The Sentences That Create Us: Crafting A Writer’s Life in Prison by Pen America
This Will Be My Undoing: Living at the Intersection of Black, Female, and Feminist in (White) America by Morgan Jerkins
The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr.
Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler
A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown