OHIO EDITION
AMPS MAGAZINE American Minority People Succeeding
Toiné
Houston Unapologetic Unapolo getic
Sunisa
Lee Volume 1, Issue 4
Page 1 www.cleveland.ampsmagazine.com
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contents VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4
What’s Inside... Imani Capri ................................. 6 Still Spinning: DJ Spinderella..... 9 Toiné Houston........................... 10 Congratulations Sunisa Lee...... 11 Chanelle’s Treatz........................ 13 Legendary Greats....................... 16 Taken it to the streets................ 18 Kelia Gipson............................... 20 Akin Affrica ............................... 29 the AMPS Ohio Team
Publisher
Romeo Barnes
Editor
Mia Barnes
Writers
Kalinda Meadows
Contributing Photographer Kelly Barnes
Graphic Designer Gerald Wright
AMPS Ohio is a franchise of AMPS Magazine, a national entity, with headquarters in Orlando, Florida. This magazine is published bi-monthly. AMPS MAGAZINE CORPORATE Orlando, Florida 33837 317-426-7790
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Get AMPS Apparel by Supporting Our BusinessIpse, Ti. Serte hocus re, m
A WORD FROM THE CEO This is the fourth issue of AMPS Magazine, Ohio Edition. I wanted to take this time to introduce to you A.M.P.S. (American-Minority People Succeeding). This is where Substance and Style meets Supreme Standards. Our mission is “superior application development through dedicated professionalism while maintaining a customer-centered focus to lead the industry in ideas and creative solutions”. Our events marketing and promotions department is designed to present positive entertainment and events that the Louisiana communities deserve. We specialize in helping brands create a unique connection with consumers at our events as well as create an opportunity for you to meet other business owners, executives, present and future customers, and other socialites. Simply put, “We’re Accomplished By Making You Successful.” Gerald D. Wright CEO
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about the publisher Welcome to the fourth issue of AMPS Ohio Magazine. Thank you to everyone who contributed time and effort to get this issue out! The support I have received is simply amazing. Thank you to everyone who put together an article, submitted an ad, did interviews, or made calls. This was a real team effort and look at the results. What you have helped to create is invaluable. With AMPS Ohio Magazine we are offering something new and exciting. We will be showcasing businesses with beautifully put together Ads, every issue will feature a section on our Missing Children, there is a section on our Great Legends, every issue will feature articles on everything from music, sports, entrepreneurship and more. So Ohio get ready, AMPS Ohio Magazine has arrived. Thank for being a part of this journey. You are truly appreciated. AMPS Ohio Magazine Publisher Romeo Barnes Thank you for your continued support.
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Imani Capri Voice. Power. Public Service
“Your voice can change the world.” – Barack Obama Imani Capri never envisioned herself becoming a political candidate or doing anything in politics. As a freelance journalist, business owner, author, empowerment speaker, certified Reiki practitioner and host of two FM radio shows, she was used to offering commentary and analysis on politics and politicians’ actions. Little did she know, that she would, eventually, move from making watch-dog analysis to actually running for a political office. Today, she is Candidate Imani Capri running to be President of City Council in Maple Heights for the November 2, 2021 ballot. She is also endorsed by The Black Women’s Political Action Committee and The Cleveland Stonewall Democrats. In Maple Heights, a city with a population of approximately 22,000 residents, the President of City Council runs the City Council meetings, acts a liaison between City Council, the Mayor and residents and is next in charge of running the city in the Mayor’s absence. Although it was Maple Heights’s residents who recruited Imani to consider a run for a political office, she was very clear that this opportunity was really about something bigger. “For me, this run is really about helping people to tap in to their courage to use their voices and to help inspire our residents to more deeply understand the power we have to change or influence things when we are involved and make our voices heard,” Capri said. “If we look at the current delicate state of our democracy, at all levels, it is clear that its survival depends upon how much the people own it and
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their power to shape it, not politicians. I don’t really strive to become a politician but am more centered in how to be an effective student and public servant who inspires Maple Heights residents to really recognize and own their power to create the next chapter for our city.” Outside of her drive to help change the world, she loves to travel, is an avid Salsa dancer, loves spending time with her family and dog Domino, power-walking underneath the sun, eating great food and stealing away to visit beautiful beaches when she can. Imani isn’t always all business. She very much enjoys having fun, relaxing and enjoying life. When she is in need of a reset or to release stress, being in nature helps her to re-center and recharge. She also chants Nam-Myoho- Renge- Kyo as a primary part of her spiritual practice of Nichiren Buddhism. To learn more about Imani Capri, her candidacy or her campaign, please follow and contact her at: Facebook – Imani Capri for Council President Instagram – imanicapri4councilpresident Email: friendsofimanicapri@gmail.com Website: www.electcapri.com
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Still Spinning: DJ Spinderella On Saturday, September 11th 2021, DJ Spinderella brought down the house at Fresh Fest Cleveland. The Fresh Fest was hosted at Rid-All Farm (one of the largest and most popular urban farms in Cleveland) and Otter Park which was previously vacant and repurposed land in the Kinsman Area. The Fresh Fest showcases the areas urban farms, promotes healthy eating, has an array of activities and musical guests that included local artists Kyle Kidd, Chelsea Pastel, Gumbo Dance Party, Sammy Deleon Latin Jazz Group, Red Rose Panic and Jah Messengers. The event’s headliner Spinderella is mostly remembered from the 80’s and 90’s as the DJ and member of the legendary group Salt & Pepper. Their hits included Push it, Shoop, What a Man and Let’s Talk About Sex. Today as one of the most famous female Dj’s in the world, Spinderella brought her musical genius and style to the Fresh Fest Cleveland, and didn’t disappoint! She kept the crowd going while dropping hits like “This is How We Do” It by Montel Jordan, “Jump Around” by House of Pain and “Just a Friend” by Biz Markie; her turntables never stopped spinning.
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B
Toiné Houston
orn and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Toine Houston is a STEM leader and music artist. Growing up, she felt disjointed from her peers as a child without married parents. She always says that despite this, “they helped build that foundation of excellence for me.” A straight-A student since high school, Houston attended Illinois State University before transferring to DePaul, where she graduated in the top five percent of her class with a User Engineering Degree, the only black woman there to do so. She also completed her master’s program there. Houston worked for several different industries, including private, public, and the government. Her nine-to-five is being a leader in STEM, working as a lead user experience engineer/consultant for a company called Sales, a position she loves. Houston can see herself in this job- a career that allows her to be innovative and use research insights to build amazing things- for the rest of her life.
STEM isn’t Houston’s only talent. She spent over fifteen years doing theatre, another love, and made a hobby out of writing poetry. For a while, she had a nice balance between STEM and art. About ten years ago, she met a man named Ty Heels, who presented the opportunity for Houston to put one of her poems into a rap album. Today, Houston gets to consider both her position in STEM and her work as a performer as jobs, with self-taught animation being her hobby. “And I was just able to now say I’m an internationally known recording artist,” she says. Houston has performed in the United States and the United Kingdom, getting to experience touring as an artist before the Covid-19 pandemic began. All her experience in working as a professional has boosted her confidence in her art. “Like I’m, I think I’m pretty good. Yeah.” More than “pretty good,” some- or many- might say. Houston also has a podcast called The Wrap-Up Experience that she started with one of her best friends, Asia Robeson, another lyricist/actress. Something Houston finds in both art and STEM is not seeing a lot of black women Houston says that she wanted it to infuse not only their experiences as black women in user experience (which is less than eleven percent), but she wants to do it in a way that embodies the entertainment and musical things they do. The Wrap-Up podcast is a play on words; it’s “wrapping up” different experiences they’ve had in small packages. They also deliver in rhymes and raps, something Houston has never seen before. “So instead of us waiting,” she says, “let’s be creative.” After releasing four episodes, Houston recognizes that people are resonating with itwomen of color, women in STEM, and those who deal with microaggression and Imposter Syndrome, for example- but has pulled back releases for now to redo branding/marketing.
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Even so, she has big dreams for the podcast, including doing Ted Talks about it. Back in the early nineties, Houston looked up to Lauren Hill; she still does. She was also a Queen Latifa fan, as well as MC Lyte, Monie Love, and others. Out of everyone, though, Lauren Hill stayed with her all these years. “But it was something about Lauren that was just so different,” Houston says; storytelling is what stuck out to her about Hill, although she considers Chris Brown to be her celebrity crush. A few favorites of Houston’s are neo-soul (favorite genre of music she listens to), cheddar cheeseburgers (favorite food, with Chicago-style pizza coming in second), and Chicago (favorite city to live in- no surprise there, as Chicago is where Houston says she always ends up). Houston encourages readers to not give in and to be “very unapologetic about the mark you want to make in this world.” That’s “mark” in the singular form. “Because all you need is one.” Houston is adamant about having thick skin to deal with all the rejections; keep going, she says, stand strong “who you are as a creative.” You can find Houston on her website, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Congratulations Sunisa Lee Sunisa Lee 2021 Olympics Gold Medal Winner Women’s Gymnastics All-Around Event This is what dreams are made of! We are saying Congratulations to Sunisa Lee, the newest U.S. Gymnastic sweetheart who won GOLD in the 2021 Toyko Olympics in the Women’s Gymnastics All-Around Event! Just 18 years old and headed to the University of Auburn this fall, Sunisa you have won the hearts of many as you became the newest member of the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team to earn a gold medal in this event! The U.S Women’s Gymnastics Team has taken home the gold in the All-around gymnastics games since 2004. Thank you for carrying the torch of victory that many thought would be out of reach without your U.S. teammate Simone Biles. Your love of gymnastics and dedication showed through as you blazed gracefully through each event, from the floor routine to balance beam to the uneven parallel bars you showed the world what you were made of. One can only imagine what it is like to have to perform without the crowd to cheer you on and also be without your family and number 1 fan, your Dad in the stands. With the departure of U.S. Olympic Teammate Simone Bile from most of the Olympic Gymnastic games, the doors opened for members of your team to earn gold medals during the 2021 Olympic Games. Sunisa, you and your teammates stepped up and stepped through. You are the first Hmong American on a U.S. Olympic Team and your now the first Hmong American to win a gold medal. Many people don’t know that during the Vietnam War the Hmong were recruited to fight alongside American forces to ward off communism. After the war ended the Hmong were not safe and many were killed many more fled their country and became refugees. Not only have you made your team, coaches, and the United States proud but your family and the Hmong Americans community as well.
scores or anything like that…” we are proud to say he was right. Whatever your next steps are, know that we are behind you every step of the way. Congratulations on your accomplishments and becoming The 2021 Olympic Gymnastics All-around Champion and bringing home the Gold.
Sunisa we know the road to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics was tough. With your biggest supporter your dad, becoming partially paralyzed in 2019 due to a fall, then the 2020 Olympics being canceled due to the 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic, and losing precious family members to Covid-19. We applaud your resilience in coming back from the setbacks you encountered on the road to the Olympic games… including breaking your foot. We know it couldn’t be done without the help of those rallying around you like your medical team, the support of your parents and family and other athletes like Simone, you persevered. On the day of the finals you said your father told you, “To do what I normally do, just do my best and not to focus on
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Chanelle’s Treatz
Chanelle Harris Owner/Baker Chanelle’s Treatz, LLC
This black-owned business opened in March 2018 in the heart of Cleveland, OH. Chanelle’s Treatz is proud to be known as a from-scratch bakery. Our bakery specializes in custom and unique cakes, cheesecakes, cookies, and pastries. Our baked goods are designed with our customers in mind. We cater to their specific holiday, celebration, or special event. We provide catering services to larger companies looking to bridge the gap between store-bought baked goods, and baked goods that holds a personal connection to them.” A little about me: “I love the fact that I can be creative and I can express my creativity through my cakes. I enjoy bringing other people’s visions to life. When people are excited about the product I have created for them it is very rewarding. I started making cupcakes for my nursing school potluck, and I’ve been baking ever since. My attention to detail and creativity makes me unique.” If you like to order you can reach me at : Web site: https://www.chanellestreatz.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chanellestreatz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chanellestreatz Telephone: (216) 505-0083 Email: chanellestreatz@gmail.com No orders too big or too small we can handle it all. Delicious, fresh, and handmade!
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Legendary Greats
Jane Bolin
This Legendary Great, Jane Bolin was born April 11th, 1908 in Poughkeepsie, New York. She would go on to become the first melanated woman judge in the United States. Her mother Matilda a British Isle immigrant and her father Gauis Bolin a lawyer also had 3 other children aside from Jane, who was the youngest of the four. Jane soon found herself loving the law the same way her father did. (Gauis Bolin was the first melanated graduate of Williams College as well as the first melanated president of the Duchess County Bar Association) Jane continued her education after high school and attended Wellesley College, while there she faced the challenges of being only one of two black students in her class. In spite of the constant pressure of racial tension this legendary great graduated with honors. Her decision to pursue a law degree was not met with enthusiasm by her teachers or her father. It wasn’t until her father saw how determined she was that he encouraged and supported her. She was accepted into Yale Law School and was the only melanated Law Student and she graduated as the first melanated female to graduate from Yale Law School in 1931. Throughout her lifetime Jane continued to strive forward and continued being the first in many other avenues. Her love of the law lead
Listen to some of Reaux Fareal music.
Reaux Fareal is a musician in New Orleans, LA. He is a Vocalist, Author, and a Filmographer. Mixing Reggae with Soul and Hip Hop, he has created his own style, calling it ‘Treggae”. His smooth tenor on Hip Hop/Trap beats give a universal feel to today’s contemporary music arena. He has been on HBO, MTV, TBN, and Fox Sports. Throughout his life he has starred in more than 40 stageplays, beginning at 7 years old. He has written and directed four of his own. In 2017 he produced and directed a movie, ‘Get The Ring’, which is now featured on Amazon Prime. Reaux is also a 2x National Spoken Word Winner.
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her to become the first melanated female to join the New York Bar Association. She then joined her father to practice law partly because of the discrimination of her gender and race. She would later work along side her husband was also a lawyer. During her career Jane was very passionate about the injustice to her people particularly the youth. She was appointed as the first melanated female assistant corporate counsel for the New York City Corporation Counsel. By the time Jane was 31 years old she was being appointed judge of Family Court making her the first melanated female judge in the United States. For over 20 years she remained the only one. She continued on the bench for 40 years. Retiring at the age of 70. As judge she made many changes to the system including prohibiting probation officers from discriminating by not taking cases of minority people, she also fought to ensure that public and private child care services did not discriminate because of a child’s color. She would go on to work with Eleanor Roosevelt to work on programs to help stop juvenile crime among young men. This Legendary Great passed away in 2007 at the age of 98. Jane had one son.
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Taken it to the streets B
ry Sims has taken it to the streets literally, with Traffic Trims Mobile Barber Salon in Columbus, Ohio. Operating for less than a year, Bry has found a way to stand out from the rest. Having worked in the traditional salon setting before she knew what she wanted and didn’t want when it was time to open her business. A stylist for 15 years, Bry 31 began looking for a mobile trailer last year. She eventually found a couple who had out grown their trailer and for $7,000 and an additional $5,000 for renovations she was in business. Her salon is equipped with a barber chair, shampoo sink and restroom, the essentials needed for her barber salon. It is power by a generator that is located in her pickup truck. Bry stated that being mobile has, “Allowed me to maximize my profit, maximize my time and have the freedom to do what I want.” As a single parent to 12 year old twins this is important to her and allows her to keep
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her children priority as well as focus on her customers without the worries of constraints. Being a stylist is in Bry’s blood her mother Arlene Boles, was a beautician so Bry grew up helping in the salon by sweeping up and doing towel service for her allowance. Her mother was killed in a domestic relationship with Bry’s father when she was just 16 years old. Without her parents to fall back on Bry has had to be very focused and determined at a young age to achieve what she needed for her own family. Right now Bry is working on establishing presence for herself in Columbus and the surrounding areas. At this time she has a wide open market with no other mobile salons in the area. When many see her mobile salon she says they’re not sure if she’s a food truck or what. She is equipped with a blinking stop sign that’s says, “Stop for a haircut” this certainly stops the curious and has established her with new customers and a new following. With every street corner, parking lot or driveway being her location she’s free to set her hours as well as take care of other business. The idea of traveling or moving to a warmer climate has also crossed Bry’s mind. Moving her business on wheels give Bry great options that many businesses don’t have. Be on the look out for Bry and Traffic Trims coming to a street near you. Honk if you see her and STOP for a hair cut.
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Kelia Gipson Growing up in Southern Illinois, Kelia Gipson had a very well-rounded childhood. From pageants to sports, she ran track and was cheer captain before joining the air force post-high school graduation. While in the air force, she was stationed in several locations such as Germany and France. With two years left on her military contract, she stayed in Orlando, Florida, and went to school for pharmacy while working at a local store. One day, while she was on a lunch break, a photographer approached her and asked her about modeling. Gipson had modeled as a child, but not since then. She ended up collaborating with the photographer and transferring to a base in Los Angeles. She hit the ground running and has been modeling for years now. After some experimenting, Gipson has discovered she prefers a “more editorial, more fashion, and more artistic style of shooting.” Meanwhile, she’s recently gotten back into regular exercise. “Everyone thinks I have like this crazy routine,” she says, even though she only went back to working out in the last couple of months. Gipson adds that it’s partly genetics and partly because she was such an active child and in the military. When asked about the Black Lives Matter movement, Gipson says that she’s “all for supporting black lives in general.” She was ecstatic when attention was finally being brought to the movement, as “let’s be real, we’re in a country where black lives have not mattered for years.” For centuries, really. Growing up, Gipson didn’t really look toward celebrities as role models; this still applies today. This includes celebrity crushes, or lack thereof- it just didn’t happen for her. She did look up to different models over the years, though. A few faviortes of Gipsons: she loves seafood. Her favorite city to live in is Los Angeles, where she currently resides. She picks Apple over Android, and her music genre of choice depends on her mood, but dance hall and afro beats are way up there on the list. Her favorite quote to live by is one she thought up herself: “You don’t get to do this twice.” Gipson elaborates, saying that there’s no way to retry or go back in time. Gipson admits that all of what she says may sound super generic or corny but doesn’t back down on it. This is also true to words of wisdom she has for people who want to get into the modeling industry: “Always stay true to yourself.” Don’t do anything because you want to get famous or because it’s popular, she says. Gipson relays how she learned too late how important it is to be very well-grounded and strong
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Letha Moore - Richards (Owner) Uniek Kreations Uniek Kreations has been in business since 1998, I started my salon at the age of 23 without a lot of knowledge on running a business but with a lot of determination on being successful.
We specialize in all phases of hair and nails. Located at
12814 Buckeye Rd Cleveland, Oh 44120 (216) 991-1904
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February 17, 2022 3516 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44115 7:00PM
T h e T i p Of f Fu n dr ai ser
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because some opportunities aren’t good opportunities; they may be imoral or not fit with what you want to look back on. Gipson continues, answering questions about herself and her work. “I’m extremely spontaneous, so it’s like, I just do random stuff.” She currently works for some unnamed brands, and used to work for a beach swim brand as well. On top of all this, she has a new fashion collection being released this fall. She talks about finding a balance between what people want for these projects and what she wants. When asked about her thoughts on Juneteenth becoming a national Page 28 holiday, Gipson says that’s it’s a step forward- but
it’s a small step. She’s very adamant on her stance that real action needs to be taken. “Giving us a holiday, but then we still have people dying at the hands of police officers doesn’t really benefit us.” She also encourages aspiring models, black models in particualr, to not be disouraged. Gipson elaborates on the difficulty of receiving proper acknowledgement for BIPOC, especially women, and drops the reminder that “it’s okay to create your own lane in this day and age.” You can learn more about Gipson on her website and Instagram.
Akin Affrica
Click Picture to watch Video
Akin Affrica is the creator of Zanzibar Soul Fusion, owner of Cleveland Breakfast Club, The Vegan Club at Shaker Square and Angie’s Soul Cafe. He owns and operates the most successful soul food restaurants in North East Ohio.
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MISSING CHILDREN Let’s continue to keep our eyes, ears and hearts open to finding our missing children Children across the nation continues to disappear. It takes all of us to bring them home safely. Let’s do our part.
HELP BRING THEM HOME
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AMPS MAGAZINE of OHIO Romeo Barnes, Publisher Youth and Unity
(216) 414-0155
www.cleveland.ampsmagazine.com Email: romeo@ampsmagazine.com Page 32
American Minority People Succeeding
