2023 Influencer Edition

EMPOWER ATLANTA

SHOULD INFLATION AFFECT YOUR INVESTMENT MOVES?

THE SAME

HOUSE

Bringing Together All People

GENEXA Medicine Made Clean

41 JALAIAH HARMON

42 DINA MARTO

43 IV KULTURE

44 TAX SEASON IS NEVER OVER FOR BUSINESS OWNERS

45 SHOULD INFLATION AFFECT YOUR INVESTMENT MOVES?

47 HOW TO AUDIT YOUR GROCERY BILL

48 ENTREPRENEURSHIP 101: HOLIDAY MARKETING

49 GREENLIGHT REINVENTS FINANCIAL EDUCATION WITH LEVEL UP

50 RAMON REYES

52 BACCARAT HOTEL

54 BEST TRAVEL TIPS IN 2023

MAGAZINE EMPOWERATLANTA

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Towanna Hogue

MANAGING EDITOR

Jada Hogue

MUSIC EDITOR

Jerome Hogue, II

DESIGN EDITOR

Saheed Adio

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Scott Tyler

ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE

Alexis Harder

John Buchanan

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Credello

Davaul Carter

Stephanie Howard

Brittany Rogers

Teala Smith

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Matthew Murphy

Evan Zimmerman

Empower Atlanta Magazine (ISSN 2693-339X) is published quarterly, with four issues per year by T.H. Publishing. Principal office address: 1201 West Peachtree Street., N.W., Suite 2300, Atlanta, GA 30309. Mailing address: P.O. Box 362, Conyers, GA 30012. Main number: 1 (833) LOVEATL. Copyright © 2020 by Towanna Hogue. All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. The one-year domestic print subscription rate is $59.95 plus shipping for each edition. The digital subscription rate is $4.00. The single edition rate is $14.99 plus shipping.

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to our 2023 Influencers Edition of Empower Atlanta Magazine. How many of you truly understand what an influencer is? An influencer can inspire others on social media platforms to promote music, dance, fashion, or commercial products to their followers. On our cover, we are featuring Matthew Morris, also known as MattyBRaps, and MattyB. He is a 20-year-old singer known for doing covers of songs and rapping and uploading them to his YouTube channel. He has over 14 million followers on YouTube alone. The sky is the limit for Matthew, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for him.

Over the past couple of years, we all have been dealing with the loss of loved ones. Depression and suicide are on the rise. Have you heard of high-functioning depression? The symptoms are the same. However, they will still smile, achieve and accomplish goals and accolades, and be helpful and supportive to others, but they will suffer in silence. Some people you would never know suffer from depression if they didn’t tell you. Some even commit suicide, and their loved ones are left puzzled, not understanding why.

Steven “tWitch” Boss and the former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst shocked the world when we heard they both suffered from depression and committed suicide. Continued prayers to their families. Please remember to check in on family and friends because even though everyone appears to be ok, especially on social media, the hard truth is that everyone is not.

We all are being affected by inflation. There has been an increase in interest rates, rent, gas, food, and more. Is this a good time to purchase real estate, cars, or invest? Or should we change or adjust our spending habits? We have real estate and finance experts to address some of these issues and give our readers great advice.

We celebrate Black History Month and pay tribute to African Americans who struggled with adversity but still fought for equal rights for black people. Unfortunately, the fight continues today, but our elders laid the foundation for us to fight peacefully without violence. We also celebrate National Women’s Month. In 1908, thousands of bold, brave, and fearless women marched for better working conditions, labor laws, and voting rights. Women have played an important role in American History and have held key positions. All women deserve to be honored.

We will continue to inform, inspire, and make a difference in every edition of Empower Atlanta Magazine. We sincerely appreciate each of our readers and advertisers for continuously supporting and believing in our mission.

Yours truly,

MS sat me down.

I will dance at my

daughters’ weddings.

Jim Dad. Podcaster.

Diagnosed in 1998. Explore powerful stories of people doing whatever it takes at nationalMSsociety.org/jim

Jan Lennon

Airport Deputy General Manager, Operations

Jan Lennon is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Deputy General Manager of Operations. She leads the divisions that ensure the safety and security of travelers, employees, and guests, including airport operations, public safety and security, law enforcement, fire, and medical personnel, emergency management, maintenance, transportation, and traffic enforcement. Ms. Lennon is also responsible for operation mitigation plans and security considerations for the airport’s multibillion-dollar capital improvement program, ATLNext.

With more than 25 years of leadership in public safety and security, emergency management, and corrections, Ms. Lennon spearheaded many innovative and successful public safety and security programs at the airport, most notably having created a comprehensive program to mitigate and reduce insider threats across the ATL complex. She also developed and launched Hartsfield-Jackson’s first Human Trafficking Awareness Campaign.

Ms. Lennon represents Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on the Transportation Security Administration’s Aviation Security Advisory SubCommittee. She is active in the security practice areas of the American Association of Airport Executives, Transportation Security Services, Vice Chair, and Airports Council International. In 2016, Ms. Lennon received her International Airport Professional (IAP) certification after successfully

By Towanna Hogue

completing the Global Airport Management Professional Accreditation Programme (AMPAP), which promotes professional excellence in airport management. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice/Security Administration.

What led you to pursue a career in this industry?

Since a child, I have always been fascinated with security and criminal justice. I never set out to be the Deputy General Manager of an airport; however, I always set out to be the best at what I did, be an influential leader, and pursue a career helping others.

What challenges have you experienced as a woman in your role as the Deputy General Manager of Operations?

My outlook on challenges is that they are defined by the individual. What someone else may perceive as a challenge, I typically do not. I consider myself solution-driven. So, when faced with something that may be considered a challenge or an obstacle, for me, it is something I know is solvable and something that I will break through and overcome. I welcome a good challenge. That is why I stay ready in order to defeat them.

How do you remain up to date on new security measures and helpful tools used to help keep travelers, employees, and coworkers safe?

I stay aligned by sitting on national boards that address issues that impact the aviation industry nationally and globally. We discuss solutions, best practices, and recommendations that will impact the safety and security industry for generations to come.

What project or initiative that you have led are you most proud of in your career thus far?

There are many, but if I have to narrow it down, I would have to say my work on the complete overhaul and implementation of our current employee security screening program and initiating the ATL Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention 365 Program.

Another program I must mention, prior to my career in the aviation industry, I worked as a deputy jail warden at a correctional institution. During my time there, I implemented over 40 diverse, successful programs that helped successfully integrate inmates back into the community. The impact of these programs was substantial in reducing the recidivism rate.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world. Human trafficking is being reported on the rise in Atlanta. What security protocols does the airport have in place to combat this societal issue?

Our implementation of the ATL Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention 365 Program helped to bolster our work in a more collaborative way. What we did with this program—since we have people from all over the world traveling through our airport—we allowed our airport to serve as a global conduit to educate the masses about this critical issue. This includes training our staff about the indicators of human trafficking and what they should look out for. Stakeholder engagement, where we go out to the schools and educate our youth and members of our community. Activating the media through press conferences and using our marketing collateral to get the word out. We recently held a series of elected officials roundtables where we work with our legislators and practitioners to review current legislation and determine if laws need strengthening, revising, and/or amplifying.

How do you handle stress and pressure, especially after dealing with a crisis at the airport?

When dealing with pressure or stress, I lean on the support of family, friends, and faith. I do not let it consume me. When it is time to deal with a crisis,

I rely on my 9Rs of Emergency Management: Report, Resources, Respond, Rescue, Resolve, Relief, Recover, Record, and Resiliency. This is something that is second nature to me and allows me to work seamlessly in the event of any crisis or emergency.

What accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction and why?

When I leave Hartsfield-Jackson at the end of the day, making sure everyone gets home safely with no loss of life is my greatest satisfaction. That is my No. 1 goal.

Tell me about one security-related situation that had a positive outcome under your leadership.

In 2014, we had an egregious, highly publicized security breach when an airport employee smuggled contraband through the restricted areas

cannot be rigid in one way of thinking in this role. Lastly, your integrity and core values must be rock solid. Never compromise your integrity under any circumstances.

and onto flights to New York. After an in-depth review, we created a robust employee screening program that has mitigated and deterred this type of insider threat. The Employee Screening Program is the foundation and backbone of our vigorous insider threat program. Today, our Employee Screening Program has proven to be a model to follow across the aviation industry. We continue to evolve and enhance our security posture to ensure a safe and secure community environment for our travelers, employees, and stakeholders.

What do you enjoy most about your current position?

I love the people that I work with. We have an amazing leadership team here at Hartsfield-Jackson, starting with our General Manager Balram “B” Bheodari. My colleagues, and our leadership, are an amazing community of professionals who are actiondriven. I like to say we “stay ready, so we never have to get ready.” That energy makes me truly enjoy coming to work every day.

What advice would you give someone seeking to work in this industry?

One of the most important skills someone must have working in this industry and in a position like mine is the ability to make decisions. You need to be able to make them in different situations, be it impromptu or constructive. You must also be nimble and adaptable. This industry and the conditions of an airport can change by the second, and you

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MattyBRaps Matthew Morris

Matthew Morris, famously known as MattyB or MattyBRaps, is a Georgia native who rose to internet fame in 2010. He first became interested in music at 7, which led him to make music in his home basement studio. After making a song and video, Matthew decided to post them on YouTube. His post gained over 500,000 views and made the front page. Matthew kept the momentum going and became an internet sensation by remixing popular music. He’s covered hits by stars such as Justin Bieber, Rihanna, and more. In 2014, his channel surpassed 1 billion views. He currently has 14.7 million subscribers on YouTube and over 7 million followers across all other social media platforms. Matthew is now 20 years old, and while he may not be creating covers anymore, he is still making music and creating content for people to enjoy. Here is what Matthew wanted to share with our readers.

How did you get the name “MattyBRaps”?

Whenever I was little, I had the nickname “MattyB” with all my brothers. When we started my Youtube channel, we used my nickname “MattyB” and added raps because I wanted to be a rapper.

When did you become interested in music?

My big brother loved music and was actually on American Idol. I would always hang out in our basement studio making music, and that is when I really got interested in making my own music at seven years old.

Do you still create covers & remixes? If not, would you consider doing it in the future?

I do not create covers or remixes any longer. Making covers was really fun for me as a kid, but for the last 5+ years, I have been focusing on making original music. As far as doing some in the future, I think it would be cool to work with other artists and make remixes to their or my songs.

How did the idea to start making YouTube videos come about?

As I watched my big brother make music, I begged him more and more to let me make a song. He eventually gave in and let me make a song and video. That’s when we decided to post it on Youtube.

Were you always an entertainer, or did it evolve as your channel got more popular?

Looking back, I think it was definitely something I was born with, but at the same time, I was so young, and it just seemed like a fun thing to try. I believe I really grew as an entertainer when I started doing concerts and performing.

What made you want to go to college & what are you majoring in?

I wanted to go to college to learn more about business. I have learned so much about the creative side and continue learning in that, but I also want to be well-rounded and learn how to succeed in business as an entrepreneur.

What advice do you have for people trying to gain a following on social media?

Be original and genuine. I think people want to relate to someone they feel is real. Make content that shows who you are and what you think

By Jada Hogue

is funny or meaningful, and let the audience connect to that content.

What do you like to do outside of creating content and making music?

I love to weightlift and work out with my friends. I also enjoy skateboarding, and I recently started to learn to wakeboard. I don’t play team sports competitively as I did in high school, but I still enjoy it recreationally.

How would you say social media fame has impacted your life?

I don’t think it has affected me as much as some might think. While I have had to deal with certain things that other young kids may not, I was still able to go to school normally, play sports, and hang out with friends my whole childhood.

Where do you envision yourself/your channel in the coming years?

I want to continue making music and content that makes people laugh and feel emotion. I would love to be someone my generation can continue to trust and follow. I would hope I can create content that impacts their lives in a positive way and be a positive role model. I have expanded and launched a new Tiktok channel @iam_mattmorris and have uploaded my first podcast on Spotify entitled “The Matthew Morris Show.” http://thematthewmorrisshow.com

Please let me know if there is anything else that you would like to share with our readers!

I would like to thank Empower Atlanta Magazine for giving me the opportunity to share my story.

BEFORE THEY MAKE PLANS WITH FRIENDS …

Establish some family rules for social and extracurricular activities.

Young people don’t always have all the facts when it comes to alcohol and other drugs. Talk with your children about the risks of underage drinking and substance use, and be clear and consistent about your expectations. For tips on how—and when—to begin the conversation, visit www.underagedrinking.samhsa.gov

Aaliyah Jay

Aaliyah Jay is an influencer and entrepreneur hailing from New York. She first gained recognition on YouTube as a beauty guru after posting her first videos in 2012. She started posting her daily make-up routines and tricks, which led her to amass over 6.6 million followers across all social media platforms. Not only does Aaliyah produce content focused on beauty but also travel, vlogs, fashion, and more.

Aaliyah’s had a passion for fashion since the age of 10 years old when she sewed her very first handbag. Over the years, Aaliyah cultivated a vast knowledge of fashion history, trends, and forecasts. Her passion and knowledge have led her to create ‘Twisted Saints,’ a fashion brand for free expression and empowerment.

While still influencing, Aaliyah recently decided to create ‘Karen & Rita,’ a jewelry and accessories company inspired by her grandmother Karen and her great-grandmother Rita. It is a brand that strives to make a statement with its products and have its presence known. The company stands for equality, women’s rights & LGBTQIA + rights.

Aaliyah has built a loyal fan base in this industry over the past 5+ years. She always seeks to be true to herself in the content

she creates and in everything she does. Aaliyah hopes to inspire others to be authentic and reach for big dreams and goals. Follow on Instagram @Aaliyahjay.

Imani Ellis

Imani Ellis is the Founder of CultureCon and The Creative Collective NYC, a community dedicated to facilitating brave spaces for Black and Brown creatives. Built from Imani’s one-bedroom apartment as a means to foster meaningful connection, TheCCnyc has since parlayed into the fastestgrowing community devoted to creatives of color.

TheCCnyc’s marquee event is CultureCon, a conference celebrating the impact diverse voices have on culture. Past speakers include Tracee Ellis Ross, Will Smith, Regina King, John Legend, Spike Lee, Lena Waithe, and more. CultureCon is the first-of-its-kind ideas conference that caters to all aspects of creative and young professional life.

In addition to community events, The Creative Collective NYC provides countless resources and workshops. At the height of the pandemic, The Creative Collective NYC launched CultureCon At Home, a virtual campus that reached over 22,000 creatives in over 131 countries worldwide, and Creative Curriculum, a series of digital masterclasses touching on everything from entrepreneurship to navigating the corporate world.

Named a “2021 Breakthrough Creative” by Ebony and a “Diversity Champion” by Adweek, Imani has been recognized by Forbes as a “Visionary” and “One To Watch” by Black Enterprise. Imani graduated from Vanderbilt University with a major in communications and a double minor in German and Film. Follow on Instagram @Imaniimani.

James Henry has not only changed the game in digital sketch comedy, but he has also broken barriers into Broadway and has established himself in the hosting industry. Over the past year, he has made his Broadway debut in TikTok’s live musical, “For You, Paige,” which is Emmy Considered, outstandingly hosted marketing showcases for brands such as Method Men and two live game shows with less than 48hrs to rehearse and adjust to over 40 pages worth of script changes and rewrites viewed by over 50,000 active viewers tuned in around the globe. James has altered the way brands and content creators develop their content with his commitment to producing high-quality sketches on television/film sets. He continues to inspire creators to think outside the box and reinvest in themselves and their ideas.

James has increased the usage of studio rentals in the Los Angeles area by content creators developing more intricate storylines taking their ideas to the next level. There is a very fine line being slowly merged by digital content on social media platforms such as TikTok/Instagram and digital streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu, which, needless to say, is being pushed and encouraged by James and his work to give creators an opportunity to be the next Insecure creator, Issa Rae, or Abbott Elementary creator, Quinta Brunson. Both started their successful careers on social media.

James Henry has been sticking to his hustle and craft for high-quality viral comedic content. He has broken barriers of hosting, acting, and

James Henry

branding himself into a young mogul. In 2020, James was featured in Forbes for his successful business partnerships ranging over 70 Fortune 500 companies. In 2021, he made Fortune magazine’s top 25 creators list, where they stated, “By producing and performing original content so highly crafted you’d think his videos were the latest HBO prestige series.

His meticulousness and commitment to originality are not just a symptom of his work ethic, but of the realities, Black creators face on the platform”. He was the 2022 host for TikTok’s main keynote at VidCon alongside TikTok’s COO, Vanessa Pappas. James has collaborated with A-list celebrities such as Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, Marshmello, Swae Lee, and NBC’s The Voice, that have sought out his collaboration from his humorous and entertaining work. He has also had his videos featured on daytime talk shows such as Ellen Degeneres and The Real. He’s been featured and interviewed by The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times, Bloomberg, Shondaland, and more! He’s a face you’ve probably seen and a name that will soon be in every household due to his exuberant charisma, determination, and diligent work ethic!

Follow on Instagram and TikTok @Jameshenry.

Kevin Tyler Norman

Kevin Tyler Norman, known on TikTok as @kevintnorman, is a 2022 TikTok LGBTQ+ Trailblazer and queer Latinx content creator from Los Angeles, CA. He combines humor and his love of reading to help promote diverse and queer stories. His goal on TikTok is to inspire people to read more, introduce them to LGBTQ+ books, and amplify queer voices.

Kevin has always been a book lover. Some of his fondest memories from growing up are of him and his mom going to bookstores and sitting for hours amongst the stacks reading. Books became a way for him to process the world, and when struggling to understand his sexuality, he turned to books to guide him through his coming out process. “I didn’t really have anyone I could talk to when I was coming out, and I didn’t know anything about what it meant to be gay. Books helped me feel normal and made me believe I could find love one day.”

After graduating from the University of La Verne with a BA in Liberal Arts, Kevin moved to Hollywood, CA, where he began pursuing acting. He starred in various television shows like Criminal Minds, Melissa and Joey, Love Victor, Game Shakers, and more. However, growing tired of waiting from acting job to acting job, he wanted to find new ways to express his creativity. When he was laid off during the pandemic and auditions began to halt, Kevin started to fall back into reading. “I suddenly had a lot of free time to read and introspect. One day, while mindlessly scrolling through TikTok, I saw a video of someone showing

off their favorite books. Suddenly, I knew what I wanted to do with my time off.”

That video inspired Kevin to start his TikTok channel. Through TikTok, he found a way to combine his love for books, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and performing. He began to post videos about his favorite must-read LGBTQ+ stories, and now he has amassed over 180,000 followers on the platform. “I had to do a lot of research when coming out, and I didn’t know where to look. So I wanted to make that process easier for someone searching for understanding about their sexuality. I wanted to create a space where people can discover queer stories and feel celebrated for who they are.”

Kevin is now one of the top LGBTQ+ book influencers on TikTok. He has collaborated with major publishing houses and brands like Barnes & Noble, Target, Book of the Month, and Netflix. He has been featured on NBC News, Spectrum News, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Adweek, Oprah Daily, Teen Vogue, Bustle, and LA Magazine. He appeared in Forbes for producing the first ever BookTok Creator Panel in partnership with Barnes & Noble. He was recently honored by TikTok as a 2022 LGBTQ+ Trailblazer for his work in the LGBTQ+ and book community. An award that is only given to 12 LGBTQ+ TikTok creators from all across the United States.

Veronica Tharmalingam

Veronica Tharmalingam is a brand of luxury handbags for evening outings celebrating an unconventional lineage of women spawned by a fierce Indian Warrior Queen. Bold, vibrant, and elegant, these unique bags are an invitation for women to find their own inner queen and to dare to express it with class, authenticity, confidence, and style.

The Veronica Tharmalingam handbags are made by hand near Mumbai, in India. There, in the workshop where thousands of years of traditional savoirfaire are used to craft every fabric, every thread, every button, and every seam, each bag is created as a unique and exclusive piece of art. Raw silk, primarily used for the fabrication, is traditionally associated in India with royalty and is also a component of life’s most important events.

Behind the brand, a woman, a vision. Veronica Tharmalingam is the greatgreat-granddaughter of Rani Mangammal, the Warrior Queen of ancient Madurai. She grew up in Chennai, in the Southern Indian State of Tamil Nadu, before moving to Paris at the age of 12. Like her mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, and great-great-grandmother before her, Veronica’s life was shaped by India’s values and traditions, yet never bound by its conventions. With her brand and bags, she wants to empower women to live the way her ancestors taught her to live: driven and artful, grounded and tasteful, wisely determined, and boldly elegant.

Follow on Instagram @veronicatharmalingam.

Chef Joe F

or the last decade, Chef Joe has been cooking creative and delicious dishes across the country. Born and raised in New York City, Chef Joe was exposed to diverse cuisines and restaurants from around the world! These experiences are what helped him develop an interest and passion for cooking. Like most chef’s Chef Joe took time to build his craft within restaurant staples, but in a short amount of time management realized that he has a knack for knowing how to present and order dishes in a way that would enhance their flavor. Customers commented on how much the quality and taste of the food overall had improved and introduced the now-answered question of…Can you come to cook for my next event?

Chef Joe has used his innate talent and overall passion as the only thing fueling his career. Making it truly remarkable that his talents have brought him to be able to prepare dinner for some of the world’s greatest talents like P. Diddy, Nas, Jermaine Dupri, Wu-Tang, Andrew Young, Latto, and Bow Wow, to name a few.

For the past decade, Chef Joe has been delivering authentic, delicious food for so many amazing people. Chef Joe prides himself in not only providing a product that tastes good, but he implements strict quality control to ensure that his food is safe to eat and adheres to all food and safety regulations, and encourages his staff to attend continuing education seminars.

Chef Joe’s current goals are to continue to provide above-bar expectational service through his Company: The Chef Joe experience, travel, try new food, and continue to support the youth in their careers via culinary with his charity From the Heart of Smart. Follow on Instagram @theofficialchefjoe.

THE SAME HOUSE TO GALVANIZE ATLANTA BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO BACK THE BELOVED BENEFIT AND SUPPORT GREATER ECONOMIC MOBILITY

The Same House is a new organization dedicated to bringing all of Atlanta, and America at large, together to solve similar challenges faced by communities across the country. Rodney Bullard, former Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility for Chick-fil-A, Inc., will take the helm of the new organization.

The Same House was formed following the multi-year success of the Beloved Benefit in Atlanta, an event that has raised $12 million to support economic mobility since 2019 and will continue as part of The Same House. In the spirit of that iconic event, the mission of The Same House will be to further economic opportunity and mobility through education, employment, and entrepreneurship.

Bullard announced that global music icon John Legend will perform at the 3rd Annual Beloved Benefit scheduled for August 24, 2023, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. The event will feature an unforgettable program with community stories, honorees, business leaders, nonprofits, and community members. As part of future plans for The Same House, Bullard hopes to scale this event nationally in the future.

In sharing the origin of The Same House, Bullard noted that the organization is “inspired by the late, great Congressman John Lewis when he proclaimed on the 2019 Beloved Benefit stage that ‘We all live in the same house.’” Bullard added, “The Same House will not replace the Beloved Benefit – rather, it will build on the concept to support communities across Georgia and beyond.”

The Same House approach is anchored in programs, experiences, and storytelling which encompass:

PROGRAMS

STORYTELLING

Ignite social action through media and Share stories and build campaigns that highlight the power and possibility when communities serve together

For more information on The Same House and the 3rd Annual Beloved Benefit or to make a donation, visit www.thesamehouse.org.

About The Same House:

The mission of The Same House is rooted in the values and aims of the Beloved Community. It is about bringing together ALL people to help bridge divides, practice compassion, and collectively tackle our communities’ greatest challenges and needs – particularly around economic opportunity and mobility. Focus areas include education, entrepreneurship, and employment. Visit thesamehouse.org and follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @wearethesamehouse.

About The Beloved Benefit:

Founded in 2019, the Beloved Benefit is based on the idea of the Beloved Community amplified by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and born out of respect for the inclusivity and collaboration of all Atlantans. The event brings together business leaders, nonprofits, and community members to not only learn about each other but also build a foundation for future work together. The Beloved Benefit at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is representative of Atlanta, with musical acts, food, and performances that highlight the city’s vibrancy and diversity. The event has raised more than $11M to date and has helped shape Atlanta’s legacy in cultivating a community free of poverty, hunger, and homelessness, where racism and prejudice are replaced with love and brotherhood. 100% of the funds raised go directly to nonprofit organizations aligned with The Same House mission

Visit belovedbenefit.org and follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @belovedbenefit.

Advance

economic opportunity through programs

Grant-making, fellowships, and other partnerships for individuals and organizations serving core thematic areas

EXPERIENCES

Connect communities through powerful events and experiences

Soul-stirring and bridge-building experiences to spark compassion and raise funds that strengthen American cities

12x Grammy Award-Winning Artist John Legend to Headline 3rd Beloved Benefit on August 24, 2023

On it.

Ending racial injustice requires all of us to work together and take real action.

What can you do to help?

Educate yourself about the history of American racism, privilege and what it means to be anti-racist. Educate yourself about the history of American racism, privilege and what it means to be anti-racist.

Commit to actions that challenge injustice and make everyone feel like they belong, such as challenging biased or racist language when you hear it.

Vote in national and local elections to ensure your elected officials share your vision of public safety.

Donate to organizations, campaigns and initiatives who are committed to racial justice.

Let’s come together to take action against racism and fight for racial justice for the Black community. Visit lovehasnolabels.com/fightforfreedom

TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL

West End in 2018, which is testimony to Tina’s extraordinary legacy. This tour clearly has special resonance for Tina herself, and now more than ever, we can’t wait to uplift audiences across America with her joyful and triumphant story,” the producers, Tali Pelman from Stage Entertainment and Jimmy Nederlander said. “We can’t wait to introduce America to the two-megawatt superstars—Naomi Rodgers and Zurin Villanueva — who will share the role of Tina, Garrett Turner in the role of Ike, and the incredibly talented company who are hitting the road on tour!”

Produced by Stage Entertainment, James L. Nederlander, and Tali Pelman, in association with Tina Turner, TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL was written by Tony Award nominee and Pulitzer Prize winner Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins.

Regions Bank Broadway in Atlanta is delighted to announce that tickets for TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL are currently on sale for eight performances from February 21 to February 26, 2023.

The cast is led by Naomi Rodgers (Frozen) and Zurin Villanueva (The Lion King, Mean Girls, Shuffle Along, The Book of Mormon), who will evenly share the role of Tina Turner, each playing four (of eight) performances a week. Also starring are Garrett Turner as Ike Turner, Roz White as Zelma Bullock, Ann Nesby as Gran Georgeanna, and Lael Van Keuren as Rhonda.

The ensemble includes Daelyanna Kelly Benson, Antonio Beverly, Taylor A. Blackman, Aliyah Caldwell, Lillian Charles, Max Falls, Zachary Freier-Harrison, Reyna Guerra, Gordia Hayes, Andre Hinds, Takia Hopson, Ayvah Johnson, Geoffrey

Kidwell,

Williams, Gracie Phillips, Nicole Powell, Terance Reddick, Shari Washington Rhone, Jacob Roberts-Miller, Aniya Simone, Chris Stevens, Jeff Sullivan, and Carlton Terrence Taylor.

“It has been years since I toured the U.S., and I am very excited that my own musical can now bring my music and story to my fans in their home cities across America. It’s a homecoming, and that is very special to me,” said Tina Turner.

“We are delighted to begin this next chapter for TINA –THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL. The North American tour will see the show enjoy its sixth production around the world since opening in the

TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is directed by Tony Award nominee Phyllida Lloyd with choreography by Tony Award nominee Anthony van Laast, set and costume designs by Tony Award nominee Mark Thompson, musical Music Supervision, Arrangements & Incidental Music by Nicholas Skilbeck, lighting by Tony Award nominee Bruno Poet, sound by Tony Award nominee Nevin Steinberg, projection design by Tony

Parris Mone’t Lewis, Nia Nelson-

Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade.

Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade.

An uplifting comeback story like no other, TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is the inspiring journey of a woman who broke barriers and became the Queen of Rock n’ Roll. One of the world’s bestselling artists of all time, Tina Turner has won 12 Grammy Awards, and her live shows have been seen by millions, with more concert tickets sold than any other solo performer in music history.

This new musical, based on the life of legendary artist Tina Turner and presented in association with Tina Turner herself, received its world premiere in April 2018 in London, where it opened to five-star reviews and has broken box office records at the Aldwych Theatre. In March 2019, the German production opened at Stage Operettenhaus in Hamburg, and the Dutch production opened at the Beatrix Theater, Utrecht, in February 2020. A third European production opened in the Fall of 2021 at the Teatro Coliseum in Madrid, Spain.

TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL

originally opened on Broadway on November 7, 2019, and was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The production reopened at Broadway’s Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on October 8, 2021, following the 18-month industry-wide shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Broadway production ended performances Sunday, August 14.

Produced by Stage Entertainment and Ghostlight Records and featuring the original London cast, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical: Original Cast Recording is available worldwide on CD, both online

and in stores. The CD features a 20page booklet, which includes liner notes, synopsis, and production and studio photography. The album was recorded in February 2019 at Angel Studios and RAK Studios, produced by the show’s Music Supervisors, Nicholas Skilbeck and Kurt Deutsch, and co-produced by Tom Kelly. To download or stream the album or order the CD, please visit http:// www.ghostlightrecords.lnk.to/riverdeeptinaturnermusical.

When she was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in October 2021, Tina Turner became one of only three women in the institution’s history to be inducted twice (she was initially inducted in 1991 alongside Ike Turner).

phenomenon in the 1980s. The feature documentary is from Academy Awardwinning directors Dan Lindsay, T.J. Martin, and Lightbox, the production company founded by Academy Award-winning producer Simon Chinn and Emmy-winning producer Jonathan Chinn, together with Emmy-nominated producer Diane Becker.

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL are currently on sale. Tickets start at $39, with a select number of premium tickets available. Tickets will be available at the Fox Theatre box office at 660 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30308, by visiting foxtheatre.org/ tina-turner-musical or by calling (855)285-8499. Group orders of 10 or more

The Emmy-nominated feature documentary TINA is now available to stream on HBO Max. A revealing and intimate look at the life and career of musical icon Tina Turner, TINA charts her improbable rise to early fame, her personal and professional struggles throughout her life, and her even more improbable resurgence as a global

may be placed by calling the Fox Theatre at (855)-285-8499.

Follow @TinaBroadway on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to learn more about TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL National Tour and to purchase tickets in a city near you.

Award nominee Jeff Sugg, orchestrations by Tony Award nominee Ethan Popp, wigs, hair and makeup design by Drama Desk Award winner Campbell Young Associates, and casting by The Telsey Office.

Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade.

Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade.

Apple TV+ adds more star power to the music

“My Kind of Country”

and announces Friday, March 24 global premiere featuring Reese Allen, Mickey Guyton, and Orville Peck joining In on the search

Apple TV+ has revealed that trailblazing country singersongwriters, including Grammy-nominated and 2021’s CMA New Artist of the Year Jimmie Allen, four-time Grammy nominee Mickey Guyton and critically acclaimed songwriter, country recording artist, and activist Orville Peck join the groundbreaking new music competition series, “My Kind of Country,” as scouts searching the globe to find talented artists and break the next big country star. Reese Witherspoon and Kacey Musgraves are featured in the series, set to premiere globally on March 24 on Apple TV+.

“My Kind of Country” is a fresh take on a competition series, breaking down barriers in country music by providing an extraordinary opportunity to diverse and innovative artists from around the world. Scouts Allen, Guyton, and Peck each hand-pick a roster of exceptional up-and-coming artists and invite them to the home of country music in Nashville, Tennessee, to showcase their unique sound. The competition winner will receive a life-changing prize from Apple Music, receiving unprecedented support and exposure on the platform.

Reese Witherspoon and Kacey Musgraves executive produce alongside Hello Sunshine’s Sara Rea and Lauren Neustadter; Sandbox Entertainment’s Jason Owen; the illustrious Emmy nominated showrunner Izzie Pick Ibarra (“The Masked Singer,” “Savage x Fenty Vol 3,” “Dancing With the Stars,” “Ladies of London”); and Done + Dusted’s Katy Mullan (“The Disney Family Singalong,” John Legend’s “A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy,” “The Little Mermaid Live!,” “Dear Class of 2020,” London Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies). Emmy Award-winning Adam Blackstone serves as music director (musical director to Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, Faith Hill, and Rihanna and for Super Bowl Halftime Show, the Academy Awards, the Grammy Awards, “The Masked Singer”).

Jimmie Allen

Grammy-nominated and 2021’s CMA New Artist of the Year, Jimmie Allen has been blazing trails since the beginning of his breakout career, including two consecutive No. 1 hits off his 2018 debut album “Mercury Lane” and a Best New Artist nomination at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards earlier this year. He was also nominated for Male Artist of the Year at the 57th ACM Awards (which he co-hosted alongside Dolly Parton & Gabby Barrett) and Outstanding New Artist nominee at the 53rd NAACP Image Awards. Allen won both the ACM New Male Artist of the Year award and the CMA New Artist of the Year award in April and November 2021, respectively.

In July 2020, Allen released his star-studded collaboration project “Bettie James,” and in June 2021, Allen released the project’s follow-up

album “Bettie James Gold Edition.” His third album, “Tulip Drive,” was released June 24, 2022, and its lead single, “Down Home,” reached the top of the Country Aircheck/Mediabase chart in January 2023, marking Allen’s fourth career No. 1 hit. He has amassed more than one billion on-demand streams, graced the cover of Billboard, and performed on The Kennedy Center Honors, Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Good Morning America, TODAY, ACM Awards, CMA Awards, CMT Music Awards, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and more. He is a current member of the 45th Kennedy Center Honors Artists Committee.

Much like his approach to music, Allen’s other creative pursuits know no boundaries. His debut picture book, “My Voice Is a Trumpet” – a powerful story about speaking up for what you believe in at any age – was published in July 2021. Allen is currently on the road as a special guest on Carrie Underwood’s “The Denim & Rhinestones Tour” on all 43 U.S. arena dates through Spring 2023.

Mickey Guyton

Capitol Nashville’s Mickey Guyton “raises the rafters and distills emotion with impeccable clarity. Her high notes thrill, her nuance in storytelling captivates. A star for our times claims her place” (NPR). The four-time Grammy nominee and 2022 TIME Breakthrough Artist of the Year Guyton recently released songs “I Still Pray,” “How You Love Someone,” and “Somethin’ Bout You” following her critically acclaimed 2021 debut album “Remember Her Name.”

With “Remember Her Name,” Mickey made history as the first Black artist to earn a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album. The title track, “Remember Her Name,” also landed Mickey with Grammy nominations for Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance. This follows Mickey’s groundbreaking Grammy nomination as the first-ever Black female solo artist to earn a nod in a country category (Best Country Solo Performance) for “Black Like Me,” which she performed as part of the 2021 awards ceremony. “Black Like Me” was named one of the Top 10 all-genre songs of 2020 by NPR, Billboard, and Associated Press. She also co-hosted the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards on CBS along with Keith Urban, and she was named CMT’s 2021 Breakout Artist of the Year. Audiences around the world watched Mickey deliver a powerful message of inclusivity and togetherness with her “awe-inspiring,” “soulful and soaring” national anthem at Super Bowl 56 in Los Angeles.

Mickey and her music have been featured on the cover of Billboard and profiled in The New Yorker, The New York Times, and Rolling Stone. Over the last year, she has been featured in American Songwriter, BBC

music competition series Country”

Witherspoon, Kacey Musgraves, Jimmie search for country music’s next big star

News, CBS This Morning, Ebony, Elle, Ellen, Entertainment Weekly, Essence, HITS, Sesame Street, SHERRI, The Jennifer Hudson Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine’s Vulture, PEOPLE, Pollstar, Sesame Street, TODAY Show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, USA Today, Variety, VIBE, The View, Vogue, The Washington Post and many more.

Orville Peck

Orville Peck is a country recording artist and songwriter known for his deep baritone voice, strong musicianship, and songs that are sincere yet bold in their storytelling. Never confirming his identity, Orville, who is openly gay and lived an itinerant life across South Africa and the rural south, is never seen without his signature, fringed mask. Following the release of his self-produced debut album Pony in 2019, Orville signed with Columbia Records and released his Show Pony EP. Released to immediate critical acclaim early last year, the EP features a duet with global icon Shania Twain and puts Orville’s triumphant songwriting skills and intentional craftsmanship on full display. He then followed that up with “Bronco,” which he released in chapters, alongside a multitude of cinematic videos. He was also hand selected by Lady Gaga for her Born This Way 10th Anniversary album. Orville, known for his unique personal style, has collaborated with many fashion brands, including but not limited to Dior, Michael KORS, ADIDAS X Ivy Park,

and Pamela Love, amongst others. Known for his live shows, Orville was one of the first artists to return to touring and has toured across the US, Europe, Australia, and Canada. He has had sold-out shows at Hollywood Bowl and Ryman Theatre, as well as major festival appearances at Lollapalooza, Stage Coach, and Coachella, amongst others. When Orville is not performing or touring, he lends his time to activism and the causes he is committed to.

About Apple TV+

Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and it is available to watch across all your favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries, and series have been honored with 310 wins and 1,363 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”

Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL, and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $6.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.

For more information, visit apple.com/tvpr and see the full list of supported devices.

Reese Witherspoon and Kacey Musgraves (L-R) in “My Kind of Country,” premiering Friday, March 24, on Apple TV+.

Mickey Guyton, Orville Peck, and Jimmie Allen (L-R) in “My Kind of Country,” premiering Friday, March 24, on Apple TV+.

TRUTH BE TOLD, A +LIFE MEDIA ORIGINAL SERIES

Hosted by Emmy and GLAAD award-winning journalist Tony Morrison, “Truth Be Told” invites guests to share their stories and what motivated them to start living life fully in their truth. Tony wants to inspire others to do the same by sharing stories from those who have overcome the impossible and who, as a result, are living in their fullness today.

Tony Morrison (he/him) is GLAAD’s Senior Director of Communications and an Emmy award-winning journalist. GLAAD is the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization. Previously, in his time at ABC News and Good Morning America, Tony spearheaded the creation of the news network’s first LGBTQ+ employee resource group for LGBTQ+ journalists and allies and oversaw the brand’s social and digital strategy as a senior producer. Tony also co-hosted the D23 Inside Disney podcast, Disney’s official podcast. In a personal essay published in August 2021, Tony shared his experience of living with HIV in secret over the course of eight years. This widely-read piece has brought greater awareness and understanding to many; Tony is shredding stigma by sharing his story and being a force for change.

“Our stories are our superpower,“ said Morrison. “Cultivating a safe space where incredible people can empower themselves and others is a gift I don’t take for granted. This next round of powerful voices are shining examples of authenticity who are shedding light on powerful and moving queer experiences.”In “Truth Be Told,” Tony sits down with celebrities, newsmakers, and changemakers living extraordinary lives who had no other choice but to live life in their fullness.

The latest round of guests kick off with drag artist, Eureka O’Hara, as she tells all: from overcoming addiction to her journey in coming out as a trans woman on-camera for the world to see in season 3 of HBO’s “We’re Here.”. Her truth is one that has truly set her free. She updates us on the latest as she explores her unapologetic self. Following Eureka, Tony will speak with actors Eva Reign and Sarah Anne Masse, GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis, Broadway star Shoshana Bean, trans advocates Jasmine Davis, Eden Rose Torres and more.

+Life is a multi-platform brand including resources, informative articles, and a weekly interview series, “Plus Talk.” Inspired by founder and onair journalist Karl Schmid’s own story of living with shame and fear of having HIV due to the amount of ignorance and stigma surrounding the virus, the platform is dedicated to eliminating the stigma of HIV while raising awareness about HIV/AIDS testing, prevention, treatment, and education- bringing these conversations mainstream. +Life’s content now has more than 14 million views and over 33 million impressions across its channels. A weekly lifestyle series, “Plus Life,” airs on ABC’s Localish network, entertaining and inspiring viewers with celebrity interviews, health and wellness tips, and motivational stories of people overcoming obstacles and impacting their communities.

New episodes will debut every Thursday. For more information, visit pluslifemedia.com.

PURCHASING REAL ESTATE IN A NORMALIZING MARKET, IS NOW A GOOD TIME TO INVEST?

By Teala Smith

There are many speculations encompassing the real estate market and a foreboding housing bubble. It is true the housing market is shifting towards normalization, but a shift does not equal a housing market crash.

Potential homebuyers fear the housing market regardless of the state of the market. When rates are low, people doubt the appreciation value of the real estate and worry the housing market will crash. When rates are high, people have the same doubts and continue to worry the housing market will crash.

The Great Recession of 2008 left the general population living in a state of fear and anxiety regarding the housing market. The economic havoc experienced during this time was disastrous, but the downfall of the recession came with red flags that lending enterprises chose to ignore. The housing burst was fueled by cheap credit and risky lending standards. Lending guidelines have changed since then, and strict lending standards have been enforced to prevent future housing market crashes.

The real estate market during 2020 was a complete anomaly in terms of market appreciation, inventory shortage, and mortgage interest rates. Even though real estate prices have seen a slight reduction in the most recent six-month period, it is important to note this shift in real estate is a market normalization and is not likely to lead to a housing market crash.

There are no perfect conditions to buy real estate, and it is not possible to “time the housing market.” Educating oneself in the real estate industry is the best way to decern

whether an individual is ready to take the dive into homeownership. Renting can be an easier solution for short-term scenarios, but one begins building the foundation of generational wealth by purchasing real estate.

Investing in real estate can essentially be thought of like opening a savings account. Every month a portion of the payment goes into a savings account, where it accrues in the form of equity. Through the duration of homeownership, the home is increasing in value in the form of appreciation. When the homeowner decides to sell the property or withdrawal equity, all the principal paid will have doubled or even tripled, leaving the homeowner with equity in the form of liquid assets.

When it comes to purchasing real estate in an inflated market, the common opinion of nonreal estate professionals is purchasing during inflation is not an ideal time to purchase. On the contrary, some positive aspects of purchasing in a normalizing market are less competition from other potential homebuyers, lower sales prices, and more buyer negotiating power. Home prices are lower; therefore, homebuyers purchasing during inflation take advantage of discounted real estate prices.

Interest rates may be slightly higher now than in the most two-year period, but a smart buyer will take advantage of today’s market conditions, purchasing the ideal home and refinancing in the future.

Since the hike of interest rates earlier in 2022, lenders have started rolling out new loan products to help combat the current circumstances and help homeowners ease into the real estate. Of these new products, a 3-2-1 Buydown and guaranteed rate pledges are popular tools in today’s market.

Overall, when future homebuyers understand the value of real estate, this knowledge becomes priceless and builds financial freedom to be passed down for generations to come. A normalizing housing market comes with positive factors like lower sales prices, less buyer-on-buyer competition, and buyer negotiation power. When it comes to purchasing real estate, it’s important to remember the housing market has natural fluctuations, but overall real estate is a triedand-true method of investing with ROI far surpassing any other type of investment portfolio. Some may live in fear of a housing recession, but given the facts we have today, and the shortage of inventory, a housing market crash is unlikely. Real estate still ranks as one of the top investments an individual can make.

ADDRESSING THE SILENT KILLER: HIGH FUNCTIONING DEPRESSION & SUICIDALITY

By Brittany Rogers, MA, LPC, CADC

I’ve worked in the mental health field for about five years. In those five years, I’ve worked in different treatment settings with different populations and had my fair share of treating and supporting people who suffer from depression and suicidal thoughts. In most cases, these clients have had debilitating symptoms that have resulted in multiple hospitalizations or treatment center stays over their lifespan. They often have other co-occurring diagnoses and/or struggle with substance abuse or other maladaptive behaviors such as self-harming.

Their symptoms and behaviors are so unmanageable that they struggle to live a productive or seemingly fulfilling life. They stop going to work or school, stop hanging out with friends, appear sad or distressed most of the time, and lack a general sense of motivation or interest in anything. The people closest to them can usually pick up on the fact that something is wrong or off because their behavior isn’t in alignment with the person they’ve known them to be. The person doesn’t have to come out and say, “I’m depressed” or “I’m suicidal” because they begin to wear their depression and/or suicidality on their sleeve, allowing their support system to intervene or try and offer help.

What if the mental illness isn’t easy to spot?

But what happens when a person wears their mental illness well? What happens when the depression and suicidality aren’t as easy to spot, and you can’t see the downward spiral? How do we support a person when we have no inclination that they are suffering or that they are merely moments or one tough circumstance away from being motivated to check out on life?

After all my experience with depressed and suicidal clients, this year was the first time I was personally affected. This past year, I’ve known three highly functioning people who have committed suicide. I wasn’t extremely close with any of the three, but from what I knew and could see, they all appeared to have meaningful and fulfilling lives with support systems that loved and cared about them. The last of the three, a college friend, was in medical school. She was a social butterfly, traveled the world, and was going to change lives. She took her own life two days before Thanksgiving, and her death motivated me to write this piece.

It was through experiencing and processing the loss of these people that I realized that there is a huge deficit that exists in addressing what I would consider a silent killer, the combination of high-functioning depression and suicidality.

What is high-functioning depression?

I firstly want people to understand that depression is different from general sadness. It’s a combination and criteria of symptoms that last a minimum of 2 weeks. Sadness is typically a symptom of depression, and other symptoms can include loss of interest and pleasure in things that once brought joy, hopelessness, worthlessness, or guilt, significant weight loss or weight gain, excessive sleeping or crying, difficulty concentrating and staying committed to tasks, and loss of energy or recurrent thoughts of death. In the mental health field, when people refer to depression, they are usually referring to Major Depressive Disorder. The media has convinced us that depression only looks one way, the sad, gloomy, can’t get out of bed narrative.

Over the years, people have coined the term “High-Functioning Depression” to describe the experience of people who may not meet every criteria of the diagnosis yet still experience intense symptoms of depression. These symptoms can look like going to work or other commitments but isolating, sleeping, or crying immediately after. Spurts of excessive irritability and anger or feelings of inadequacy. Heavily drinking or using substances when not at work or fulfilling other obligations and/or forcing themselves to participate in social activities. Caretaking for others and putting themselves and their needs last, putting value into others because they don’t see it in themselves. Constantly being in social settings or unhealthy relationships because being alone with themselves is too painful. Feeling tired all of the time, even when they get adequate amounts of rest, gaining or losing weight unintentionally, doing regular tasks feels like a huge chore, and feelings of happiness are usually fleeting and don’t last long. They can be so emotionally drained from having to be “normal” and functioning in public that oftentimes other parts of their life are being unkempt or falling apart.

Suicide and depression

What makes the combination of high-functioning depression and suicidal ideation so lethal is the fact that being highfunctioning creates such an illusion to others that everything

You’d be surprised by the number of people who have passive suicidal thoughts like “I wish I could go to sleep and not wake up”

is ok that when a person acts on taking their own life, there is overwhelming shock and confusion that follows. When a person takes their own life, people often refer to their death as “they died from suicide,” and that actually isn’t the case. People don’t die of suicide. They die of depression. Suicide is the action urge to solve the problems that come with depression because the symptoms are too painful and discomforting to bear. When a person takes their own life, there are usually a lot of questions that exist for the people closest to them. They often say, “I never would’ve known,” or “how could we not see that coming” and the truth is the person more than likely doesn’t want others to know or see it.

People with high-functioning depression that commit suicide can be high achievers in many aspects of their life while internally struggling with emotional distress for a long time. They put on a brave and happy face for the sole purpose of convincing others that things are fine, especially when they’ve made up their mind already about what they want to do. Don’t be mistaken. However, all suicides aren’t planned. Many are impulsive, an act of making a permanent decision driven by overwhelming and debilitating emotions at the time. It’s the impulsive suicides with no preparation (such as giving away belongings), a suicide note, or an explanation left behind that can be an indication that the thought had existed in the person for a while and they just finally reached a place of developing true intent.

When people commit suicide, the first thing the people closest to them do is make it about themselves, “How didn’t I know,” “Why didn’t you come to me.” Although it is normal for people to harbor guilt associated with losing someone to suicide, I’m here to tell you that suicide has nothing to do with other people. It ultimately doesn’t matter how happy we’ve perceived the person to be. The pain and agony of living becomes stronger than the will to live. Their needs are no longer being met by external factors, so they choose not to have to wake up every day feeling the heaviness of living life. When someone becomes

committed to this, unless they are in treatment, there’s nothing you could’ve done to stop them.

You’d be surprised by the number of people who have passive suicidal thoughts like “I wish I could go to sleep and not wake up” or “Maybe the world would be a better place if I wasn’t around.” Many people would tell you that they would never actually kill themselves, but the option of being able to check out on life has crossed their minds in times of struggle or being emotionally overwhelmed. Most people would never openly discuss having these thoughts with others due to potential judgment and stigma or being deemed “crazy”, but the reality is by not having a safe space to discuss these thoughts; we don’t give ourselves the opportunity to receive support or intervention. We’ve just begun to make the conversation around mental health speakable and normalized. However, there is still a lot of stigmatization around this topic, especially within the African American community.

How to support loved ones

There are steps we can all take to be of better support to those around us. The first thing we can do is listen. We all need to do a better job of genuinely checking in with our loved ones, actively listening to them, and creating a safe space so they know they can be vulnerable with us. Check on everyone, not just people you perceive to be strong. Get out of the habit of using social media as a means to check on people. People only show you what they want you to see, and they’re not going to post, “I’m dying inside.” And honestly, we’re so conditioned to skim past posts if someone was posting cries for help, it’s likely that we wouldn’t notice them until it is too late. If you suspect someone is struggling mentally or emotionally, support them in finding treatment or a therapist. Depression can cause people to be so unmotivated that they can’t find the resources on their

own, so ask them if they need help finding a professional and follow up with them about it.

Understand that a person being on medication is never enough. Anybody’s primary care physician can prescribe an antidepressant. Medication only helps with chemical imbalances in the brain. It will not teach someone the proper skills to help manage their depression or suicidality. Lastly, health professionals and providers must step up and advocate for systemic changes. There are so many people who need help and who seek help but do not have access to resources due to not having the best of the best insurance. Medicaid, Medicare, and government-assisted insurance holders are falling through the cracks, especially when it comes to quality and accessible mental health services. Don’t just write a script when told that someone is struggling with depression. Research and educate them on the treatment options available to them.

People with high-functioning depression wear a mask that is extremely hard to see behind. If you’ve lost someone due to them taking their own life, do not allow guilt to consume you because that weight is not yours to carry. People have different ways of achieving peace, and we must learn to accept that even when we don’t understand it. We must remember that just because a person carries their mental illness well doesn’t mean it isn’t heavy. If you struggle with any sort of mental health issue, just know that help exists. Your doctor, job, insurance provider, and the internet are all resources available to connect you with a mental health professional. Therapyforblackgirls.com and melaninandmentalhealth.com are great websites connecting

people with clinicians of color across the country. Therapy and treatment can be life-changing, and they can also save a life.

Let’s continue to work to remove the stigma associated with going to therapy. We can do that by going ourselves and speaking openly to others about the benefits of our experience. I am a therapist that has a therapist, and I am proud to share that with others. For more information on mental health from a millennial therapist perspective, please visit my YouTube channel, “Keeping It A Buck W/ B.”

Brittany Rogers, MA, LPC, CADC

could really flourish in Atlanta, and the city offered our employees a high quality of life. More than two years after the move, we feel more confident than ever that Atlanta is the best home base for the company and our staff as we continue to expand the business and plan for future growth.

Was it a difficult process to create medicine that is clean and effective?

The biggest challenge during this process was finding a manufacturer to work with on the research and development of a clean delivery system - a delivery system without any artificial fillers - for medicine. We met with over 60 manufacturers across the country, and they all told us that this couldn’t be done because artificial fillers and stabilizers were needed to keep the medicine shelf stable and palatable. We finally found one manufacturer that was willing to give us a trial run. It took time and a couple of years to find the right inactive ingredients, but we have now successfully established an organic preservation system for medicine that is patented. Our IP allows us to make conventional medicines with the same effective active ingredients found in the category leaders but without any artificial fillers, dyes, sweeteners, or other artificial ingredients for the first time ever.

Why do you believe Big Pharma creates medicine with artificial ingredients that aren’t needed if clean medicine is possible?

The pharmaceutical industry is much more challenging to break into than most consumer categories because of the massive size of the “Goliaths” that currently dominate the space. To transform an industry so large and regulated often takes an outsider to innovate and motivate, and that’s what we hope to do with our patented technology.

David Johnson

CEO & Co-Founder of Genexa

David Johnson is the CEO and CoFounder of Genexa, the first clean medicine company that makes medicine with the same active ingredients people need, but without the artificial ones they don’t. Genexa offers cleaner, effective, over-the-counter medicines spanning all traditional categories of OTC medicine, including pain and fever, cold and flu, and digestion and allergy, with products for infants, kids, and adults alike. We talked to David to discuss Genexa’s clean products,

By Jada Hogue

their effectiveness, and advice he would give to other trailblazing entrepreneurs.

What do you believe makes Atlanta a good place for companies to be headquartered?

When deciding to relocate Genexa’s headquarters in 2020, we went through a nationwide search. We ultimately chose Atlanta because of its vibrant business community, leadership in the manufacturing space, and its diverse and dynamic talent pool. My co-founder and I felt that Genexa

We’re a privately owned, people-centric company, and the big pharma companies in this category don’t have that flexibility. They are understandably focused on their bottom lines and have used the same artificial inactive ingredients for years. Change takes time, but between the innovations we’re bringing to market and the shifting desires of consumers, we feel confident that we are moving in the right direction to create the clean products people want and deserve.

What do you believe are the major problems with modern medicine?

I think competition is important for every industry and allows for more innovation that ultimately benefits the consumer. I am very grateful to the many retailers that have embraced the innovations we are bringing to the industry by giving Genexa shelf space and allowing us to expand our retail presence so that customers finally have a clean choice in their medicine aisles. We’re currently in 45,000 storefronts across the United States and counting.

Was getting adequate funding an issue when starting Genexa? If so, how did you all overcome that issue?

Last year we closed a very successful and oversubscribed financing round, breaking the record for the largest Series A in consumer pharma history. When we sat down with investors and talked them through what we were doing as well as the larger shift to clean that every other consumer segment was experiencing, they recognized the opportunity quickly.

We are fortunate to have many notable celebrities invested in the company as well. Hollywood has traditionally been ahead of the curve when it comes to wellness movements. Celebrities from Gwyneth Paltrow to Donald Glover have signed on as investors. Having celebrity investors in the company has provided new platforms for bringing education and awareness around the clean medicine movement to new audiences.

Can you describe a discouraging experience you’ve had when starting Genexa and how you overcame it?

After finding a manufacturer that gave us a chance at research and development, we proceeded to fail at our first few attempts to create a clean delivery system. It was very discouraging, but we never lost sight of our mission.

We persevered and believed that we could deliver a clean product to consumers without loosening our standards. Today, we’re very proud of the robust Ex List we have created and published on our website detailing all the unnecessary inactive ingredients we promise to never put in our medicines.

What are some personal qualities that you believe led both yourself and Max Spielberg to success?

Neither of us had any industry experience before we started Genexa, allowing us to bring a fresh perspective to our work. We’re also very determined people and have persevered through a lot of roadblocks which has been critical to our success thus far.

What are some of your long-term business goals?

Our goal is to develop a clean option for every over-the-counter medicine that is currently on the market. Beyond product development, we’re hopeful that long-term our innovations will have significant ripple effects on the industry and be a motivator for the FDA to rethink what ingredients we deem to be “safe” in the U.S., as compared to the European Union and other governing bodies that have already banned some of the ingredients that are commonly used in our over-the-counter medicines in the United States.

How did you handle and overcome rejection in the company’s early stages?

You must take everything in stride. If making clean medicine was easy to do, someone else would have done it by now. Our children and our families have been key motivators to keep going. Becoming new dads was what inspired this idea to begin with – we knew that kids, and people everywhere, deserved real choices - clean options without all the common allergens, artificial dyes, sugars, and more.

What is some advice that you’d like to give trailblazing entrepreneurs?

Do something that makes you uncomfortable. To be a true disruptor and challenger brand, you must do something different and get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Genexa’s products are available in Walmart, Target, CVS, Kroger, Target, Walgreens, Whole Foods, and Sprouts, as well as online at Genexa.com and Amazon.

Follow on Instagram and Twitter @Genexa.

Career Mastered 2023 National Women’s History Leadership Awards

Outstanding Women Achievers in Competitive Fields Selected; Honorees are Exceptional Role Models of What Women Can Accomplish

Linwick & Associates, LLC is a global human resources consulting firm with offices in Metropolitan Detroit and Charlotte, NC. They recently announced that the Career Mastered Awards Class of 2023 will be honored during the National Women’s History Leadership in Action Charity Awards hybrid event on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Career Mastered Women’s History Leadership in Action Awards is the crown of the March 14-16 Career Mastered Diversity Summit & Leadership Awards, routinely attracting a sell-out crowd. Linwick & Associates, LLC., in conjunction with its sponsors, will honor the achievements of women who have made a compelling mark in business.

Honorees represent powerful women across diverse industries and disciplines. These women leaders are Game Changers who have mastered their work and have learned the necessary steps to move ahead and build successful careers. The honorees are exceptionally strong role models of women shattering limits and what a woman can accomplish. IMPACT: I’m Still Standing is the 2023 Theme. “It is a powerful time to be a woman,” says Dr. Lisa J. Lindsay Wicker, President & CEO of Linwick & Associates and Career Mastered Founder. “We’re thrilled to honor remarkable women who make a difference each day while inspiring future generations. Sharing ‘her’ story and achievements provides an expansive pathway of history for years to come.”

NATIONAL CAREER MASTERED WOMEN’S HISTORY LEADERSHIP AWARDS CLASS OF 2023

Master Award Honorees:

1. The Honorable Phinia Aten, Chief Judge, Rockdale County Magistrate Court, Georgia

2. Tracey Brown, President, Walgreens Retail, and Chief Customer Officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance

3. Karen Swensen, Founder, Life’s About Change; Today Show “Changing Chapters” Contributor, Former News Anchor, WWL-TV

Leadership Award Honorees:

1. Jillian Blackwell, Global Sr. Marketing Manager, Amazon

2. Dr. LaCesha Brintley, General Surgeon, Ascension Providence Hospital

3. Natalie Brown, Senior Director, Corporate Citizenship, Ally Financial

4. Ann Cone, Senior Vice President, CBRE

5. Kathy Pressley, CPM, VP Asset Management, MECA Commercial Real Estate

6. Marilyn Horn, President & Chief Financial Officer, 98Forward

7. Dr. Miranda Hill Jones, Pharmacist & Lawyer, Kroger, Metro Drug Information Services Metro Health & Wellness

8. Trina Smith Joseph, Managing Partner, Coro Realty Advisors

9. Meghan Juday, Chairman of the Board, Ideal Industries

10. Marlo Orlin Leach, Managing Member, Leach & Lowe

11. Dr. Kim Logan-Nowlin, President & CEO, Kim Logan Communication Clinic Inc.

12. Barbara McKay, Media Personality and Author

13. Marcia Mickle, Plant Manager, ARO Homes

14. Bre Mills, Vice President, Midwest Area Manager, JP Morgan Chase

15. Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell, Principal, RBM Law Group

16. Denise Quarles, Head of External Affairs, Siemens

17. Christine Chipurnoi, MS, CPCU, RPLU Partner / Executive Vice President, USI

18. Gloria Samuel, SVP, Director of Program/Project Management, Fifth Third Bank

19. Trina Scott, Vice President, Civic and Community Affairs, Rocket Companies

20. Ellen Smith, Partner, Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP

21. Sadhvi Subramanian, SVP, Market Manager, East Commercial Real Estate, U.S. Bank

22. Roberta Sydney, Independent Board Director, ARIS (REIT)

23. Michelle L. Taylor, Director, New Product Quality CHVAC Trane Technologies & Independent Board Director, Griffon Corporation

24. Marisa Thompson, Managing Director, Development, The Fallon Company

25. Margi Vagell, Senior Vice President & General Merchandising Manager, Hardlines, Lowes Companies, Inc.

26. Lisa Vogel, Founder & Senior Vice President, Boston National Title Agency, LLC.

27. Mary Wilken, Chief Operating Officer, Insite Properties, LLC.

28. Dr. Geneva Williams, President & Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Geneva Speaks, LLC.

Emerging Leaders

1. Diamond Brown, CEO & Founder of Diamond’s Body Care

2. Synettra Coleman, VP, Business Development Manager, JP Morgan Chase

3. Samara Cook, Strategy & Analytics, Deloitte Consulting LLP

4. Vivian Delgado, CEO, Vivid Inc.

5. Velita Faulk, Founder, Official Ink Notary Services

6. Jacinthe Galpin, Director Command Center, Lowes Companies, Inc.

7. Melissa Blount-Garner, VP and Director, Community Affairs, Fifth Third Bank

8. Cornetta Levi, Health Care Supervisor, Walgreens

9. Tracy Lewis, CEO, Lewis & Associates LLC.

10. LaQuita Monley, CEO, LaQuita Monley Solutions

11. Lauren Fitzpatrick Shanks, Founder & CEO, KeepWOL

Please visit https://careermastered.com/ for additional information.

eral challenges, including marriage, divorce, cancer, and starting over with readers world-

emotional abuse, with the hope of helping people in similar situations and their families deal

Paige Shari Addison

Paige Shari Addison is a live event host and social media marketing strategist from East Atlanta. After receiving her degree in communications, she launched PSA Management and Consulting company in September 2016. That fall, she created the first strictly RNB concert in Atlanta, GA. The success of her show gained the attention of many festival curators and major brands. By utilizing her social media platform and networking skills, she has been able to partner with companies such as Nike, AT&T, and Glossier to reach their desired markets.

Her credibility translated on stage as a host, where she was able to

continue to use her personality and humor to command a live crowd. Her stage presence at Atlanta’s Revolt Summit solidified her spot for the preceding tour stop in Los Angeles. Along with engaging the masses by the 1000s, Paige Shari was able to intimately connect with audiences on the ground at MTV’s Making the Band auditions and Mercedes Benz Stadium’s weekly affairs. Paige Shari is a personality who infectiously gets the crowd and listeners engaged.

Follow on Instagram @Paigeshari.

La’Ron Hines

La’Ron Hines is a 20-year-old singer, actor, dancer, and content creator. La’Ron is from a small town in Mississippi but currently resides in Los Angeles. Before his social media success, La’Ron had endeavors of wanting to be an actor. As a kid, La’Ron worked on many projects, including a commercial with NBA All-Star Kevin Durant and a movie with award-winning actor Kevin Costner.

As La’Ron got older, his success shifted to social media at a much higher speed. La’Ron began his rise to social stardom with his TikTok series titled “Are You Smarter than a Preschooler.” The series has gotten La’Ron millions of views and over 9 million followers. The success of the preschooler series allowed La’Ron to open his avenues up even more and has given him the opportunity to create content with many celebrities such as Dwight Howard, Tyga, Issa Rae, Normani, and many more. He has also been featured on shows like the Golden Globes as well as a feature on Lena Waithe’s BET Show “Twenties.”

La’Ron is also an NAACP Image Award winner for the 2022 Most Outstanding Social Media Personality Award. Follow him on Instagram and TikTok @Laronhinesofficial.

Jenee’ Naylor

Jenee’ Naylor is the creator of the ever-growing and highly popular online community, HighLowLuxxe, where she aims to dispel the idea that great style and luxury experiences are out of reach. Born and raised in St. Louis, MO, she graduated undergrad with a fashion merchandising degree. She spent most of her twenties working retail at places like Nordstrom and Aldo before starting her career at Target.

After four years in Target leadership and three years as a Store Director, she left to pursue blogging full-time in May 2019 as she no longer had time to do both. She shares her experiences as a wife, friend, daughter, and entrepreneur through her social platforms. Her ultimate hope is that by sharing her passions, personal journey, experiences, and struggles, she can inspire others to do the things that bring joy and go after their dreams…in style, of course! Follow on Instagram @highlowluxxe.

Jalaiah Harmon

Jalaiah Harmon’s meteoric rise to internet fame began when she created the “Renegade,” a viral dance to the song Lottery by K Camp. The routine grew to be one of the most viral TikTok dances to have taken over the platform. It has been replicated by numerous users, including Lizzo, Charli D’Amelio, and David Dobrik. The “Renegade Dance” challenge came to life in September 2019, when Jalaiah was only 14 years old. Over 30 million people took on the Renegade Dance Challenge. The dance not only led Jalaiah to internet fame, but she also landed #40 on Forbes Top Creators 2022 list. Forbes revealed she made approximately $1 million in 2021 earnings.

Jalaiah is a professionally trained dancer in more than five genres, including hip-hop, ballet, and jazz which she regularly showcases in her content across social platforms. She has been tapped by countless brands to create original choreography for their campaigns, along with being the face of them, including Warner Bros’ SCOOB!, Champion, Coke, and Lulu’s to name a few. Her dancing skills and lifestyle content has garnered 3.5 million loyal followers across platforms and made her a staple in the TikTok community. Follow on Instagram @Jalaiah and TikTok @Jalaiahharmon.

Dina Marto

Dina Marto is a seasoned entrepreneur, having shattered gender and ethnic glass ceilings during her nearly 20 years as a music executive and small business owner. She is a female powerhouse, being known as the behind-the-scenes “secret weapon” to being in the forefront with her many TV cameos, #MartoMinute inspirational videos, panel discussions, and speaking engagements. Named to Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “40 Under 40” list at just 27, Dina’s Arab-American roots make her an anomaly in a male-dominated arena, where women of her background have seen rare success.

As the founder and visionary of Atlanta staple Twelve Music & Studios, established in 2012, she curated one of the South’s most soughtafter creative environments to develop talent and produce Billboard-shattering hits. In 2015, Dina received a Proclamation from the City of Atlanta for her contributions to the music industry. After seven years of managing and operating, she recently transferred ownership of the recording studio, successfully selling her first business.

Entrepreneurship has always been a fundamental part of Dina’s ideology; starting her first venture, an entertainment public relations firm, at age 19 while still in college. It was then that Dina was identified by music mogul and former Chairman Antonio “L.A.” Reid as a rising star executive, thus hiring her to work on his A&R team at Island Def Jam. During her tenure, she served as the righthand to the late Shakir Stewart, then executive vice president of Def Jam, and managed the label’s Atlanta office. This is where Dina developed an ear and eye for talent, acting as A&R coordinator for albums by Young Jeezy, Nas, Rick Ross, Janet Jackson, LL Cool J, and more throughout a six-year period.

After the untimely passing of her mentor Shakir, and in true entrepreneurial fashion, Dina struck out on her own again. She founded Twelve Music & Studios to nurture and secure the careers of artists, songwriters, and producers through major record and publishing deals. Currently, she manages a hand-selected group of talent, including Sony Music Publishing composer and musician Ink of Vintage Nation, as well as consults emerging and established artists. She has worked closely with rapper Rick Ross and super-

producer Polow da Don, who both made Twelve Studios their creative home, along with Epic Records and Empire Distribution previously.

Dina is on the management team for superstar Tip “T.I.” Harris and helped launch his popular podcast “expediTIously,” which became #1 on Apple Podcasts. Dina continues to solidify her status as a highly sought-after manager, thought leader, and executive, aiming to cultivate talent and brands by providing guidance and opportunities to flourish.

Continuing on her path as a builder, Dina has partnered with longtime friend and marketing professional Courtney Rhodes to form C & D The Agency; an all-women-led management agency dedicated to empowering minority women. Dina is eager to combine her passion for mentoring and leading the next generation of businesswomen with changing the dynamic of how women collaborate to form a team of global innovators.

Dina is a proud Palestinian who was born in Amman, Jordan and grew up in Marietta, Georgia. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Oglethorpe University. Presently, Dina serves as the Vice-Chair of Events for the Women In Music Atlanta Chapter and on the Creative Industries Board for Invest Atlanta. In 2017, Dina and Twelve Studios were awarded $10k from the Wells Fargo Works for Small Businesses Neighborhood Renovation Program. She actively helps the community through her philanthropic endeavors, focused on inspiring minority women and entrepreneurs, and raising awareness about mental health.

Follow on Instagram @missmarto.

Taja Slydell, Ty Slydell, Tianna Hill, Toi Sharae

Co-Founders of IV KULTURE

Our story began in 2015 with the desire to create a more inclusive beauty brand that kept Black health at the forefront of the ingredients. As four sisters, they recognized the need to create more healthier nail care options and launched their nail lacquer line from their hometown of Riviera Beach, FL.

IV KULTURE (pronounced ‘Four Culture’) is a family-owned vegan nail lacquer line that offers a safer beauty option that is vegan, cruelty-free, and eliminates ten harmful ingredients that have been linked to skin, fertility, and other health issues. When they started to dive more into the beauty cosmetics industry, they realized that many of the most harmful ingredients used in beauty products are targeted toward Black women (which studies support). This became the driving force behind their brand.

As four women whose careers span across entertainment, health, and the non-profit industries, they wanted to influence the way women think about the products they put on their bodies as much as women think about the food they put into their bodies.

“The Cosmetic Act that regulates the beauty industry hasn’t been updated in over 80 years - meaning brands aren’t required to ensure their product is safe and free of harmful ingredients,” says co-founder Tianna L. Hill. “So when we created a vegan nail lacquer line, we knew that it would be challenging to get consumers to think of beauty cosmetic products synonymous with health because, unlike the food industry, the space is fairly unregulated.”

Today, IV KULTURE has grown to include not just nail lacquers but also custom press-on designs curated by Black Nail technicians around the country, says co-founder Ty Slydell. “During the height of the pandemic, many nail artists found themselves at a disadvantage with nationwide salon closures. We worked closely with many artists to curate press on nail designs that didn’t require on-site visits for application. It became our newest and most valuable product launch that helped support many nail technicians and launched the beginning of our 2% Nail Technician Initiative, supporting equity and inclusion in the nail community.”

“We have a mission through our 2% initiative to build a Black nail tech directory that spans across 50 states in the U.S., help 400 Black nail techs obtain their license to operate, locate apprenticeship opportunities, and support the cost of nail insurance and cosmetology school testing fees. We are the clean beauty solution - for the people and for the culture,” says co-founder Taja Slydell.

Since launching IV KULTURE, they have caught the attention of many notable celebrities and influencers,

including Kandi Burruss (Real Housewives of Atlanta) and Karlous (Wild ‘N Out, 85 South Show), among others. Cofounder Toi Sharae, who also serves as a Certified Personal Trainer in the health community, said, “People often make the assumption that beauty and health can’t coexist with one another, but IV KULTURE nail lacquer proves that sometimes the best nail care option can also be the healthiest.”

To learn more about IV KULTURE, please visit www.ivkulture.com. They offer a variety of products to choose from.

Instagram @IVKULTUREBEAUTY Facebook @IVKULTURE

TAX SEASON IS NEVER OVER FOR BUSINESS OWNERS

By Donald Williams Owner of Williams Accounting & Consulting

Over the past decade, entrepreneurship has been on a steep incline, which was further accelerated by the events of the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that approximately 5.4 million businesses were created in 2021 alone, trumping the 4.4 million businesses that were created in 2020, which was the hardest year for businesses during the pandemic.

Unfortunately, the more new businesses are created, the more opportunities there are for these fledging business owners to make simple mistakes that could deal a hard blow to their new venture later on down the road. And one area where many new entrepreneurs seem stumped is their taxes.

Without guidance, it’s easy for new entrepreneurs to make the mistake of filing their business taxes the same way they file their personal income taxes in the past. Most taxpayers will rush to complete to file their taxes by the federal deadline of April 18.

However, for businesses, tax season doesn’t end on April 18. It’s an ongoing process that happens quarterly. With businesses, taxes are filed

quarterly, and this year’s dates are on April 18, June 15, and September 15. January 17 of next year are the deadlines for businesses to file their taxes.

Normally, an individual who is an employee receives a W-2 form at the beginning of the year, which shows the earnings that their employer took out throughout the year, which is known as that person’s estimated taxes. In this case, the employer withholds the individual’s taxes and pays them to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for each individual based on an estimate. Anything over is given back in a tax return. However, businesses pay taxes quarterly and are responsible for calculating exactly what they owe the IRS.

Not following or being aware of IRS guidelines can hurt a business. It is very common for businesses to find themselves in tax debt due to what is called the estimated tax trap. Most of the time, these businesses are actually paying taxes, but not correctly. Without following guidelines, they are miscalculating what they owe, which can lead to a hefty surprise tax bill from the IRS later on down the road.

In 2020, the IRS reported that it was owed almost $400 billion in taxes, with the number one cause being owing more than expected on taxes. This is exactly why people need accountants, not just businesses but also individuals. We are here to help. The average person is not only unable to handle their own taxes, but there are a lot of guidelines, benefits, and changes that they are unaware of. This goes for business owners as well.

If you are an individual or business owner and don’t have an accountant, you are shooting yourself in the foot. It is unfortunate that many people allow themselves to go into tax debt because they won’t bother to hire an

accountant. There are a lot of new business owners on the scene, and many of them will end up paying more in the long run because, eventually, they will be forced to hire an accountant to clean up the mess they have made for themselves.

With over 20 years of experience in accounting, Williams Accounting & Consulting provides financial advice and services to individuals and businesses from both business locations in Atlanta and New Orleans. For additional information, visit https://williamsacct.com.

Follow on Facebook and Instagram @WilliamsAccting.

SHOULD INFLATION AFFECT YOUR INVESTMENT MOVES?

By davaul C arTer

As you know, inflation heated up in 2021, following years of pretty stable – and low – numbers. And now, in 2022, we’re still seeing elevated prices. As a consumer, you may need to adjust your activities somewhat, but as an investor, how should you respond to inflation?

First, it helps to know the causes of this recent inflationary spike. Essentially, it’s a case of basic economics – strong demand for goods meeting inadequate supply, caused by material and labor shortages, along with shipping and delivery logjams. In other words, too many dollars chasing too few goods. Once the supply chain issues begin to ease and consumer spending moves from goods to services as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes, it’s likely that inflation will moderate, but it may still stay above pre-pandemic levels throughout 2022.

Given this outlook, you may want to review your investment portfolio. First, consider stocks. Generally speaking, stocks can do well in inflationary periods because companies’ revenues and earnings may increase along with inflation. But some sectors of the stock market typically do better than others during inflationary times. Companies that can pass along higher costs to consumers due to strong demand for their goods – such as firms that produce building materials or supply steel or other commodities to other businesses – can do well. Conversely, companies that sell nonessential goods and services, such as appliances, athletic apparel, and entertainment, may struggle more when prices are rising.

Of course, it’s still a good idea to own a variety of stocks from various industries because it can help reduce the impact of market volatility on any one sector. And to help counteract

the effects of rising prices, you might also consider investing in companies that have a long track record of paying and raising stock dividends. (Keep in mind, though, that these companies are not obligated to pay dividends and can reduce or discontinue them at any time.)

Apart from stocks, how can inflation affect other types of investments? Think about bonds. When you invest in a bond, you receive regular interest payments until the bond matures. But these payments stay the same, so, over time, rising inflation can eat into your bond’s future income, which may also cause the price of your bond to drop – a concern if you decide to sell the bond before it matures. The impact of inflation is especially sharp on the price of longer-term bonds because of the cumulative loss of purchasing power.

However, Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) can provide some protection against inflation. The face value, or principal amount, of each TIPS, is $1,000, but this principal is adjusted based on changes in the U.S. Consumer Price Index. So, during periods of inflation, your principal will increase, also increasing your interest payments. When inflation drops, though, your principal and interest payments will decrease, but you’ll never receive less than the original principal value when the TIPS mature. Talk to your financial advisor to determine if TIPS may be appropriate for you.

Ultimately, inflation may indeed be something to consider when managing your investments. But other factors – especially your risk tolerance, time horizon, and long-term goals – should still be the driving force behind your investment decisions. A solid investment strategy can serve you well, regardless of whether prices move up or down.

HOW TO AUDIT YOUR GROCERY BILL IN UNDER 10 MINUTES TO SAVE MONEY

The benefits of auditing your grocery bill

There are a few reasons why auditing your grocery bill can be a valuable activity. First, it can help you identify areas where you’re spending unnecessarily high amounts of money. In fact, many people who practice good financial habits like sticking to a budget and using a debt reduction calculator find the audit process easy and sometimes even fun to do.

Second, it can help you identify areas where you could reduce your overall spending by making changes to your diet or shopping habits. Finally, audits can also help you identify any areas where you may be overpaying for groceries.

How to audit your grocery bill in under 10 minutes

You will need the following:

1. A pen and paper or note app on your phone

2. A calculator

3. A budget

Step 1. Create a grocery list. The easiest way to reduce your grocery expenses is by making a list of the things you need and buying only

those items.

Step 2. Calculate the cost of each item on your list. The easiest way to do this is by going directly to the store, but you can also use the local ads grocery stores put out weekly or look online for estimates.

Step 3. Compare the cost of each item to your budgeted amount. If an item is over budget, consider whether you can get a similar product at a lower price or if there is a cheaper alternative available.

Step 4. Reevaluate your grocery shopping habits and make any necessary adjustments. If you find that you’re consistently spending less money on groceries than you would have thought, you may decide to upgrade your food choices. You can also divert those extra funds to something like paying off debt or building your emergency savings. However, if you find that you’re overpaying for groceries, it may be worth investigating whether you’re getting the best deal possible by comparing prices at different stores, waiting for things to go on sale, or buying in bulk.

Tips for reducing your grocery bill

There are a few easy tips you can follow to reduce your grocery bill: Be mindful of what

you’re buying. If you have many similar items in your pantry or fridge, consider buying them in bulk and storing them in the refrigerator or freezer.

Shop at discount stores. Not only will you be able to save money on the items you purchase, but you’ll also be supporting smaller businesses.

Compare prices before you buy anything. Use websites like Consumer Reports or PriceGrabber to find the best deals on groceries.

The bottom line

In under 10 minutes, you can audit your grocery bill and save money. By creating a grocery list, calculating costs, and comparing prices, you can quickly find where you’re spending more than you intended and make adjustments to your shopping habits accordingly.

Source: C redello

With rising inflation and supply chain issues, it’s no secret that groceries can be expensive. However, there are ways to audit your grocery bill and save money without making any major changes. Here, we’ll outline a few simple tips to help you save money on your groceries.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP 101: HOLIDAY MARKETING

By Stephanie howard, MBa

New Year, same holidays, so now is the time to plan on leveraging holiday marketing! Love or hate them, holidays are culturally significant to many consumers and are a great way to grow your business. From major celebrations like Christmas to minor holidays such as Valentine’s Day, adding holidays to your promotional mix can be just the boost your bottom-line needs. As the new year ends begins, now is the perfect time to develop effective strategies to leverage holidays through the upcoming year.

Here are a few tips to leverage holidays:

1. Know the major and minor holidays for your target customers

The list of holiday celebrations keeps growing, so it is important to review the target customer profile developed for your business. Then make a list of holidays celebrated by your core customers. Sort them between giftgiving holidays and holidays of recognition. The Gift-giving holidays are an opportunity to develop packages or bundles of items to increase sales or move inventory that is slower to sell. Holidays of recognition are those special days that your target customer expects to see the observance of in your content messaging. Veteran’s Day is a good example of this. There might not be a giftgiving need, but recognizing minor holidays that are important to your core audience goes a long way in developing a deeper customer relationship. If it is a struggle to keep up with trending holidays, Google Trends is a great tool to use in developing content. Google Trends analyses the popularity of search queries and provides a wealth of information that can be leveraged to develop effective marketing messaging.

2. Identify the holiday pain points for your customers

While holidays are usually a time for celebration or observance, they can also be a source of stress for your customers. Giftgiving holidays such as Religious Celebrations, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and more bring added anxiety in finding the perfect and appropriate gifts. Be their holiday solution by offering valuable fixes to the identified problems. For example, if gift wrapping is the issue, think about utilizing packaging customized to the colors or shapes that embrace the holiday. If your business has an online presence, consider utilizing Social Listening Tools to monitor keywords or receive feedback from direct messages or tags. There are numerous social listening tools offered at a wide range of prices to fit within your marketing budget.

3. Offer supplemental services such as wrapping or delivery

Holidays offer a unique opportunity to test additional services or distribution options. Presenting gifts in a socially accepted way leads to increase demand for gift wrapping or unique packaging. Offering gift-wrapping services is a strategy to encourage customers to visit store locations or could be an addon service for online purchases. Holidays can sometimes cause temporary distribution chaos for your business, so be creative about how customers can receive their items. Brickand-mortar businesses should rearrange inventory to holiday-specific areas of the showroom, which will help with the flow of in-store shoppers. Offering in-store pick for online orders is also useful to avoid delivery issues during peak shipping times of the year, like Christmas.

4. Follow trends to ensure you are creating the right value offerings

Staying current on trends is central to consistently creating the value your customers desire. This is very challenging in the Business to Consumer (B2C) space since societal preferences are constantly changing. Keeping up with industry trends does not have to be difficult but does require an openness to new ideas and a willingness to engage with research. Google for Small Business offers many resources to help grow your business and leverage their analytics for success.

5. Include holidays in your marketing content

and messaging

Holidays are very helpful when developing marketing content for each season, as each holiday has keywords or images that are

consistently used during that time of year. Whether it is saying “Trick or Treat” during Halloween or adding heart graphics to your visual messaging, let the holiday brand team up with your business brand to take the pressure of content creation.

Stephanie Howard is the Director of the Mercer Innovation Center and Lecturer of Marketing at the Stetson-Hatcher School of Business at Mercer University. She is an experienced marketing professional and advocate for small business development.

GREENLIGHT REINVENTS FINANCIAL EDUCATION WITH LEVEL UP — A GAMIFIED FINANCIAL LITERACY CURRICULUM FOR KIDS AND TEENS

FAMILY FINTECH PIONEERS NEW INTERACTIVE FINANCIAL LITERACY GAME TO BOOST MONEY CONFIDENCE, KNOWLEDGE, AND SKILLS

Greenlight® Financial Technology, Inc. (“Greenlight”), the fintech company on a mission to help parents raise financially smart, independent kids, announced the launch of Greenlight Level Up™, an interactive, curriculum-based financial literacy game. Level Up goes beyond the National Standards for K-12 Personal Financial Education developed by the Jump$tart Coalition and Council for Economic Education to empower young people with money skills and confidence.

93% of teens believe they need financial knowledge and skills to achieve their life goals, and 97% of parents agree.* Still, only 23 states require a personal finance course for students, and teens score an average of 64% on the National Financial Literacy Test, showing a clear gap in financial education that is accessible and effective for young people.

Built by academic and game design experts, Level Up reimagines financial education with an industry-leading curriculum, challenges, and rewards that keep kids and teens engaged. Using the Greenlight app, kids can play Level Up and put their

parents follow along with their progress. Level Up is designed to empower kids and teens with money confidence, knowledge, and skills through these key features:

Best-in-class curriculum: Level Up expands beyond the National Standards for K-12 Personal Financial Education with a curriculum that develops real-life financial skills and money confidence, in addition to core knowledge. Lessons cover earning, spending, saving, investing, managing credit, income, taxes, and more, each built using an outcomes-driven educational matrix. Rich with multimedia content, lessons use an intentional combination of words, illustrations, and sounds for an inclusive learning experience aimed at multiple intelligences.

Story-driven gameplay: The curriculum comes to life in fun, bite-sized challenges packed with videos, minigames, and a mix of multiple-choice, true or false, and scenario questions. Players are rewarded with coins**, XP, and stars based on the percentage of correct answers and earn badges as they advance to the next level.

Animated visual design: Designed with kids and teens in mind, the Level Up experience is vibrant and whimsical, uniquely blending education with entertainment. Lovable, unexpected characters like a wise wizard, a jetpack-toting goat, and even a pineapple sporting sunglasses guide players through the animated world of Level Up on their journey to becoming financially smart.

curriculum that teaches financial literacy in a fun and relatable way.”

“Level Up is such an amazing game. It’s animated, colorful, and packed with super helpful financial lessons,” said Nikki M., parent of a 12-year-old daughter who participated in Level Up beta testing. “Starting at the very first level, it has important lessons that I wish I was taught when I was younger. This is such valuable knowledge that my daughter will have for life.”

To date, Greenlight’s award-winning banking app has helped more than 5 million parents and kids learn about the world of money together. Level Up is included in-app for all Greenlight customers on all subscription plans, starting today. Level Up will also be available for free for schools, teachers, and students through Greenlight for Classrooms, a web-based financial literacy library tailored to K-12 grade levels, coming later this year.

To learn more about Greenlight Level Up, visit greenlight.com/level-up-financialliteracy-game.

*Survey insights were collected by Greenlight through a Researchscape survey fielded between March 18 and March 20, 2022, among 1,096 respondents in the U.S., split between teens ages 13-18 and parents of 13-18-year-olds.

Greenlight Coins (i) are not cash or a cash equivalent, (ii) have no cash value prior to redemption, and (iii) are not redeemable or exchangeable for any cash equivalent. See the Level Up Program Terms for details.

learnings into action by earning, spending wisely, saving, investing, and more while

“Greenlight’s mission has always been focused on empowering kids and teens to learn about money,” said Jennifer Seitz, Certified Financial Education Instructor and Director of Education at Greenlight. “Level Up advances our mission even further with an engaging, gamified

hotel operations to ensure that guests have a superb experience. His responsibilities include food and beverage, operations, finance, human resources, and sales and marketing. Ramon ensures the hotel runs smoothly by making sure every room is serviced daily, and people are getting their money’s worth, and by never cutting corners.

Ramon was inspired to break into the hospitality and tourism industry by his high school mentor, that exposed him to it. He learned a lot about the industry due to the travel and tourism academy provided by his high school. After graduating, he attended the University of New Orleans and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Following his Bachelor’s degree, Ramon decided to pursue a Master’s degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism.

After a 2-year job search, he landed his first job in the hospitality industry as a doorman. Ramon leveled up in his career by getting his foot in the door, persistently sending his resume to hotels, and having a relentless approach. His passion and enthusiasm are what aided him in his journey to becoming a leader and running one of the finest hotels in Atlanta. Ramon stated, “Make everyone around you feel obligated to give you a shot.”

General Manager of Omni Atlanta Hotel Ramon

Reyes

With hard work and dedication, Ramon Reyes worked his way up from humble beginnings as a doorman to becoming the General Manager of a luxury 4-star hotel, Omni Atlanta Hotel, at CNN Center. He oversees all daily

As a General Manager, Ramon takes great pride in guiding and inspiring others. He prioritizes being a fully present leader by walking the hotel multiple times daily to maintain visibility. Ramon understands the importance of connecting with his team, so he interacts and gets to know them. “I’ve worked with great and not-so-great leaders and learned something from both. With good leaders, I’ve learned what to repeat, and with bad leaders, I’ve learned what not to.”

To plan your next romantic getaway or to indulge in one of their amazing culinary specialties and refreshing cocktails, visit www.omnihotels.com.

Baccarat Hotel New York

The Baccarat Hotel New York is the first hotel and global flagship for the 250-year-old Baccarat crystal brand. The glamorous hotel is located in the heart of New York City. It is recognized as a verified five-star hotel by Forbes Travel Guide. The interiors of the hotel were imagined and realized by Gillies and Boissier. Tony Ingrao and Stephen Sills oversaw the aesthetics of Baccarat’s 60 magnificent residences. The ambiance, relaxed atmosphere, and gorgeous chandeliers are visually appealing and sure to leave a strong impression. The vases, glasses, everything is Baccarat!

This hotel offers a variety of dining options, including the Grand Salon, The Bar, Le Jardin, Afternoon Tea, and in-room dining. Culinary Director Gabriel Kreuther is a Michelin-starred and James Beard award-winning chef. During his 30-year career, he has earned numerous awards and accolades, which leaves all guests in good hands.

The Baccarat Hotel offers a luxurious 114 rooms and suits. Amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi, Rouge 540 custom bath amenities, linens by Mascioni, a minibar, and twice-daily housekeeping service.

Some of the features and amenities of this hotel include a 15-meter indoor pool, the very first Spa de La Mer in the United States, a curated art collection, and a fitness center for guests to enjoy.

To experience exquisite service at the most luxurious hotel in the perfect location in Manhattan, book your stay at www.baccarathotels.com.

BEST TRAVEL TIPS IN 2023

By naTalie g raHam

Traveling can be exciting and adventurous. However, at times, it can be challenging and expensive. Here are some travel tips I came up with to help you in your travel endeavors in 2023.

AVOID PEAK DAYS

Many people don’t know this, but a great travel Hack is to use google flights or any other vendor and click on their FLEXIBLE option IF that’s feasible for you. The flexible feature allows you to see how much it costs to travel each day for that month.

I’ve found that Tuesdays and Wednesdays are typically the cheapest days to fly. Plus, you’re avoiding the weekend crowds and the hefty price that usually follows that as well.

LEAVE FOR THE AIRPORT EARLY

I know this sounds like a cliché. However, the holidays can be stressful enough already with planning and having to run around. The last thing you want is to be stressed about the possibility of missing a flight. Also, when you arrive early, you

can catch up on all of those magazines that have been stacking up that you’ve been meaning to read.

PACK LIGHT

Erykah Badu said it best. “Pack light. You can’t hurry up ’cause you’ve got too much stuff.” If you can avoid it, choose a carry-on as opposed to a checked bag. Also, by using a carry-on, you don’t have to worry about cousin Fred’s gift possibly getting lost. Another hack is packing a smaller packed suitcase inside of a larger empty one. This helps to bring gifts back home. If you’re like me and there’s no such thing as really packing light, make sure you apply for memberships like CLEAR, TSA precheck, or global entry.

You can set up your TSA appointment here:

https://tsaenrollmentbyidemia.tsa.dhs. gov/

HANDS-FREE

Carrying a backpack will help you a lot when you’re traveling. You can add more things in an organized way. Pack your snacks, books, magazines, earplugs, small

blankets, etc., in one spot without having to be weighed down by a heavy briefcase or purse.

TRAVEL WITH CASH

The market can sometimes be unpredictable, so carrying cash is always a great idea. Remember, if you’re checking into a hotel, there’s always someone to tip, rather it’s the bellman or valet or those working in restaurants. If you’re traveling internationally, this is even more important.

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