REVIVED Magazine: HBCU Alumi - The Next Generation of Entreprenuers

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HBCU ALUMNI Tampa’s Next Generation of Entrepreneurs ISSUE 07

SUMMER 2018 $4.99

Note from Editor Sky U. White EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

I first want to thank you for continuing to support our publication!

We have grown in such positive ways and would not be where we are without your support and the support of the urban community. As a Hillsborough County native, I have grown to love and appreciate not only the diversity of our communities, but to also welcome the value of economic growth brought to this wonderful county by the many graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s).

To celebrate our HBCU grads and the success they have brought to the Tampa Bay Area, we have decided to highlight local black owned business created from the exceptional minds of our HBCU alumni by dedicating this issue’s cover story to those who chose to give back to their communities, and by sharing their brilliant talents birthed from some of the nation’s most successful black colleges. Enjoy!

Table of Contents

What's new in our fall issue...

8 GET LIFTED

By Dr. Carleah East #LOVEADVICE Get the advice from the Sapphire Woman on ways to keep your relationships exciting and interesting, leaving both parties happy and satisified.

20 12 HBCU Alumni and the Economic Growth In Black Entrepreneurship

By Sheree Greer #HBCU Highlights on African American Alumni from Historically Black Colleges and Universities who’ve become young, inspiring entrepreneurs in today’s America.

A DIFFERENT

WORLD

Summer 2018’s Hottest Trends

By Andra Richardson #TRENDING Find out all the hottest trends in fashion taking over this summer from accessories to handbags and more.

23 Editor’s Pick

By Sky U. White #EditorPick Spotlight piece on the best kept secret discovered by our editor.

GET LIFTED

by Dr. Carleah East aka The Sapphire Woman

Maintaining Positive Vibes in Your Relationship When in a relationship, we know all too well that conflict can arise. There are probably a hundred and one articles on how to avoid conflict in your relationship. This is not one of those articles. It is summer time! It’s time for teasing, it’s time for secret whispers and sexy moments of eye contact with your boo. So, no more negativity; it’s all about keeping those Good Vibrations going in your relationship.

Here are just a few tips to keep you summer sassy and your mate summer happy.

TEASE TO PLEASE.

CREATE A SUMMER DATE JAR.

Being playful with your mate is one of

This is an opportunity for both you and

the more fun aspects of a relationship.

your mate to write down inexpensive,

Being able to enjoy casual time with

fun activities on scraps of paper and

him/her or fun playful cues. Even the

throw it in the jar. Simply shake it up

non-verbal types are surefire ways to

and when it’s time for you both to have

interrupt your busy life with the sweetest

a little QT, this jar will provide plenty

of pleasantries. We often spend so much

of fun and adventures. Remember, it’s

time in conflict, by either working or

not about the quantity of money that

trying to figure out our next move, that

you spend, it’s the quality of time. Be

we forget to turn our serious switch off

creative, think outside the box. Not only

and turn our teasing and playfulness on.

will you get to know more about your

So, grab your favorite board game, or

mate, but you’ll get to know more about

create your own rules; the options are

your relationship.

limitless!

BE HANDS-ON. Intimacy is not simply about sex, one of its primary focus is the sense of touch. Grab on to each other, embrace each other, hold hands or even draw hearts on each other’s backs and arms. The point is to explore your mate by touch; find out what stimulates him/her. Explore and tickle those places that you’ve never touched (behind the knee, the back of the neck…etc.). Physical touch can be one of the most powerful and positive healing methods and way of affection. Therefore, shower your mate with hugs, kisses, and caresses. This is a sure way to keep that summer heat burning.

ACKNOWLEDGE & APPRECIATE. Although we don’t mean to do this, we sometimes can take our mates for granted. Don’t forget to show your mate that you appreciate him/ her. Not with just buying trinkets or gifting tangible items, but by words and actions. Wear that favorite perfume or cologne they like. Offer to wash the dishes just because. Instead of going out to dinner, prepare a meal together. Although there is plenty to do in the summer sun, a fun afternoon at home can be just as intriguing and just as hot!

Whether this summer brings you a new love or you decide to remix an old one, make sure to focus on all the positive things about your relationship and all the positive aspects of your life. Try not to allow the negativity, or the stress that we deal with daily, to impede on a space that is focused on pleasure and enjoyment. You owe it to yourself and you owe it to your mate to embrace these Summer Sensations and Good Vibrations…let’s get lifted!

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HBCU ALUMNI

AND THE ECONOMIC GROWTH...

PHOTOGRAPHY PRISCILLA DICKSON

...In Black ENTREPRENEURSHIP

BY SHEREE GREER

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In “The History of HBCU’s in America,” an essay by Samara Freemark for the American RadioWorks podcast, The Living Legacy: Black Colleges in the 21st Century, we meet Zack Hubert, an ex-enslaved person who is quoted as saying something simple yet profound to his children: “Get your education. It’s the one thing they can’t take away from you.”

The centuries old call to get an education still echoes today, and we see living proof of that call through the establishment and preservation of our very own Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the thousands of graduates who take what they’ve learned to build better lives for themselves and their communities.

Famous graduates of HBCUs include Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Morehouse), Ralph Ellison (Tuskegee), Thurgood Marshall (Lincoln and Howard), Toni Morrison (Howard), Alice Walker (Spelman), Booker T. Washington (Hampton), Katherine Johnson (West Virginia State), Althea Gibson (FAMU), Jesse Jackson (North Carolina A&T), and many, many more contemporary celebrities and change-makers.

Whether legendary or local, what all HBCU graduates seem to have in common is a strikingly powerful sense of self, an extraordinary respect for Black history, and a deeply personal commitment to success. These characteristics show themselves in multiple ways, from entrepreneurship and community service to continuing family legacies and forging new paths.

DR. OMARI SHEEHY, DDS

DR. JENNIFER SPENCER, PHARMD (Not Shown) Dr. Spencer graduated from Florida A&M University (FAMU) in 2004 with a doctorate of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. A recipient of a Presidential Scholarship that offered a full-ride to the university, Jennifer said that her family, whose only directive was to make sure she attended college, were completely supportive of her choice to FAMU. Jennifer credits her HBCU experience with instilling in her “the idea that as a black woman I would have to work ten times harder, but that I was capable of giving that. My experience solidified that I have a voice worth listening to and my voice could make a difference.”

She has worked in every facet of Pharmacy from retail to academia, each position a chance to delve deeper into her field, fully capable and totally prepared as a result of studying under professors whom she calls, “some of the greatest minds in the world.” After her clerkship apprenticeship, Dr. Spencer decided to stay in Tampa and feels that “Tampa benefits from HBCU grads in amazing ways. HBCU grads are wonderful role models and mentors in our communities fighting for social and economic improvement.”

DR. OMARI SHEEHY, DDS A graduate of two HBCUs, Dr. Sheehy earned his BS in biology from Hampton University in 2007 and his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from Meharry Medical College in 2013. Omari comes from a large family with an ingrained tradition of attending HBCUs. His mother attended Clark while some of his aunts went to Spelman. His father, a Morehouse graduate, taught at Lincoln University and the family lived on campus. With legacies like those, it’s understandable that there are good-natured debates about “which HBCU is better” at family get-

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DR. OMARI SHEEHY, DDS

togethers.

Of his experience at Hampton, Omari recalls, “we had black people from every part of the country with different experiences and cultures…” and that while there, he “never had to fight traditional stereotypes. We were who we were, and we were all proud of it.” The self-awareness and self-acceptance that comes with attending an HBCU developed even more keenly into selfconfidence when Omari attended Meharry.

At Meharry, he never felt like he “had to prove” that he “deserved to be there.” It was an experience that he wishes he could share.

Being in those Meharry classrooms, he knew “that a room full of future black doctors was a rarity that many of us had never seen growing up” and he wished he could “take every little black kid in America to show them that we were no different than them.”

There’s an adage that says you can’t be what you can’t see, and even though Omari was speaking about giving Black youth a glimpse into the classroom, his visibility as the owner of his dental practice, Bayshore Dental Center, is setting an example for sure. A member of the Tampa Bay Area Dental Association and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity Inc., Dr. Sheehy considers Tampa a “young” city with a lot of potential. He hopes that small businesses can flourish and plans to do his part to show his community how dental health is part of our overall health and continue to provide quality, caring, people-first service to his patients.

COUNCIL RUDOLF III

COUNCIL RUDOLF III

Council earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from FAMU in 2000. The son of HBCU graduates—both his parents

so that “through the elevation of your mind, body and spirit, [you

attended Kentucky State—it is no surprise that the legacy continued

can] become one with your dreams.”

with Council’s choice to attend an HBCU himself. He fell in love with

Council shares his entrepreneurial spirit through HigherHustle,

the idea of being a Rattler largely due to the Florida Classics being

but also through his contributions to critical community

held in Tampa from 1978 – 1996. The mix of camaraderie and Black

conversations with the Us organization. He believes that graduates

joy during Classics is unmatched. Council also cites FAMU’s national

of HBCUs should continue to mentor young people and peers to

reputation as a top business school and the legendary leadership

make positive change happen in Tampa.

of “the late great Sybil Mobley” among his reasons for choosing the school for college study.

RONI NIKOL HIGDON

The SET on Fridays, the football games, the family environment

Roni Nikol is professional make-up artist who started her own

all hold a special place in Council’s memory as he recalls his

company, Flawless Faces by Roni, shortly after graduating from

experience at FAMU. It was “fun,” and with all the negativity easily

Bethune-Cookman University in 2005. She earned her Bachelor

associated with Black people and Black experiences, it’s important

of Arts degree in Speech Communication and Interdisciplinary

to hold space for life-affirming, Black joy. Even with the pranks

Studies with a concentration in Marketing & Public Speaking. Roni

and parties, Council explains that attending an HBCU taught him

says attending an HBCU was “in her blood.” Her father graduated

“what it took to set a goal and to see it come to fruition” and helped

from Mississippi Valley State, and her grandmother attended

him understand that his accomplishments were “because my

Bethune-Cookman, which all but cemented her decision to attend

community was there as my support system.”

as well.

Commitment to seeing goals through to success, humility in

Family legacy aside, Roni knew attending an HBCU would not

knowing that no one accomplishes anything on his or her own, and

only expose her to new ways of viewing the world, but also “shine

passion for creating something authentic are three traits Council

a light on social, economic and cultural views that otherwise would

takes into his business, HigherHustle Clothing. The clothing line,

have been kept in the dark.” Roni kept a busy schedule at B-CU that

established in 2005, was created to “provide you with the wardrobe

included marching band, honor society, pledging a sorority, and

to hustle higher towards your dreams, by higher means necessary”

leadership roles in countless student organizations. Her whirlwind

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college life prepared her to be a force of nature as an entrepreneur

and how collectively we have the power to ignite change” as a

who’s built her business from the ground up.

result of attending an HBCU.

As an HBCU student, Roni developed a strong work ethic.

Being born and raised in Tampa instilled in Jamaris a clear

“Masterfully juggling multiple projects at once placed me at

responsibility to give back to the community he calls home. Giving

the top of my field” and knowing that she “can communicate

back to the community that gives to you is a cornerstone of his

effectively to clients, potential consumers, manufacturers, and

understanding of success. “FAMU taught me the importance

mass distributers” contributes to Flawless Faces by Roni’s success.

of support,” he says, “the power of supporting others in their

Roni knew she had to bring her talent and expertise home to

professional/entrepreneurial journey is key. We cannot gain the

Tampa. “Specifically speaking,” she explains, “the area profits

economic or political successes we desire alone. We have to be a

from the development of black-owned businesses (created and/

unit.” He calls on our community to support Black businesses and

or supported by HBCU alumnus) and the social and economic

Black leaders advocating for change.

involvement generated by social groups, organizations, and sororal and fraternal members” from HBCUs.

Dr. Glenn is a co-creator of Crown and Quill Social Club, which promotes inclusive spaces with a focus on the arts, and is a member of The New leaders Council of Tampa Bay. Bringing his

DR. JAMARIS GLENN, PHARMD (Not Shown)

personal career success and his passion for community together,

A first-generation doctoral graduate, Dr. Jamaris Glenn earned

he works to help our community realize our value and understand

his degree from FAMU in 2008. He was actually Howard-bound,

that “we deserve to have a say in what happens to our community.”

but the Bright Futures scholarship and other opportunities made

He acknowledges that “although everyone may not have had the

FAMU his ultimate choice. Before recounting any of his academic

HBCU experience, our trajectory is still the same.”

successes while at FAMU, he makes a point of acknowledging “the process of growth and becoming” as the stalwart take-away

WALTER “WALLY B” JENNINGS

of HBCU experience. Jamaris recalls becoming more aware of his

Wally B. earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Economics

community and his culture while at FAMU; additionally, he cites

from FAMU in 1998, and though his HBCU heart-strings were first

gaining a better understanding of “the influence of the black dollar

tugged by Tuskegee, he says, “FAMU watered the seed of activism

RONI NIKOL HIGDON

WALTER “WALLY B” JENNINGS

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first planted in him by his parents.”

As the founder and director of Heard ‘Em Say Youth Arts Collective, Wally’s road to success wasn’t without detours. He started college on an ROTC scholarship but didn’t pass advance camp. He calls the experience, “a failure that needed to happen.”

He reminded himself of the definition of success handed down from his parents: “Success is leaving something better than you found it.” And success is what Wally B. found just looking around campus at FAMU and seeing “so many young people who looked like me who were going to do great things.”

The spirit of entrepreneurship that helped Wally turn his business degree into a thriving art collective, whose goal is to develop “not just great artists but great people,” is directly fed by the strong self-image he developed while attending an HBCU. Wally discovered his blackness was enough and that “no one gets to legislate” his blackness. Self-awareness and self-confidence infused with what he calls “an obligation to represent ourselves and our people well” contributes to Wally’s belief that “everyone has a part, and everyone’s part is important.” Wally’s work with Tampa’s youth is undoubtedly important as his organization continues to provide the “tools and resources [our youth need] so they are left without excuse” and can “pursue exactly what’s in their hearts.”

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summer’s HOTTEST

BY ANDRA RICHARDSON, WOMEN’S TREND SPOTTER

Summer’s heating up, and the fashion’s even hotter. I’ve been following several different trends this year, analyzing how they have been evolving.

Some of these trends apply to 2018 in general, while others have come out to play just for summertime.

Either way, we can make them all work year-round when we flaunt our individual style. There’s nothing like some Black Girl Magic coupled with a fly outfit, right? And let’s not forget that fashion trends go beyond apparel and accessories—they spill over into our homes.

YELLOW Yellow, more commonly known as “Gen

MAXIMALISM

BLUE

Z Yellow” these days, is a hue that has

This trend is all about the excess of

Did someone say “blue?” I’ll take all

been taking over everywhere, and its

everything in the most fashionable way.

of it! All shades of blue are in style;

vibrancy makes it perfect for summer.

This is where you can get away with

they get lighter or darker, warmer

Although the term has been coined

mixing and matching patterns, colors,

or cooler, depending on the season.

specifically for the new generation that’s

and textures. I would argue to say that

This hue has been trending for a few

on almost everyone’s radar, I’ve seen

Justina Blakeney and her bohemian

years now, and I don’t see it leaving

so many people wearing it. In its latest

vibes really put this trend on the map

any time soon. Sky blue, in particular,

evolution, yellow has been popping

for home fashion. Last year was more so

made its way down spring/summer

up all over social media in the form of

about minimalism, but I believe people

’18 catwalks for designers Carolina

lemon-filled patterns. I can’t lie, I even

are really diving into wellness and

Herrera, John Galliano, Michael Kors,

have a lemon wallpaper on my iPhone

bringing brightness and expression back

and Ralph & Russo. As for my wardrobe,

screen. My most favorite yellow looks,

into their lives.

I’m currently throwing a 2017 sky blue

though, have been off-the-shoulder tops

Christian Siriano cross-body bag over my

and dresses.

shoulder.

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THE 1980S The 80s are back again, y’all. This summer’s go-round is all about the snatched waist, long legs, and bold

2018

trends

shoulders. It’s time to pull out those high-waisted pants and those shoulder pads. To make it more appropriate for the season, consider investing into some statement-making, high-waisted shorts.

BELT BAG The belt bag, aka bum bag or fanny pack, has been another interesting trend to track, and it’s inspired by the 80s. A few years ago when they were hitting the map again, I purchased a black, quilted bum bag to wear around my waist. Fast forward to today, and you

Remember, fashion trends are simply starting points to defining

will see Instagram influencers wearing

your true style. Don’t ever stop being authentically you, each and

belt bags across their bodies instead of

every day.

their waists. Afro-Latina beauty Juju, can be seen rocking one on her Instagram feed (@iamjuju_) in a recent video of her dancing in Havana, Cuba.

TASSEL EARRINGS I started tracking tassels two years ago when I spotted them inside vendor showrooms at the Las Vegas Furniture Market, and they looked absolutely fashion-forward on accent pillows.

Today, I have fallen in love with the various tassel designs I see on earrings and had to grab a pair for myself. I snagged an inexpensive yellow pair from Charlotte Russe. These earrings brighten up any outfit while also adding a touch of sophistication.

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#stepyourstyleup

Deanna and Zelma have been working together so support other mothers who have lost their children to gun violence and other forms of neglect.

Summer Issue 2018 / Issue 07 / www.revivedmagazine.com

SUMMER 2018 Editor’s

revived

Pick

The Ultimate Sweet Tooth As I was scrolling through my Instagram feed, I came across a picture of intricately decorated cupcakes and beautifully glazed candy apples. I was intrigued by the detailed designs and decided to follow “Kimmie Kakes”, a black-owned gourmet desert company based out of Tallahassee, Florida. After following Kimmie Kakes for several months and enjoying the mouth-watering photos, I reached out to owners, Kimberly and Ladell Bryant to not only feature them as this issue’s Editor’s Pick, but to also support a business owned by young Black Millennials.

To learn more about Kimmie Kakes and to place an order, you can visit their website at:

www.kimmiekakes.store Ph: (850) 321-3772

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