10 minute read
La’Roy Crumble Latony and Willie 18
Informatoin provided by Daron Sellars Photo by Still Shots Photography
The National Black Professional Athletes Foundation (NBPAF) is honored to announce a partnership with two powerhouse organizations to address longstanding systemic inequalities in communities of color. In collaboration with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Southern Section and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), NBPAF will host multiple virtual awareness events this year across the South to continue the important conversations on social justice, advocacy, and police reform. The events’ target audience will be underrepresented minority youth who are disproportionately affected by racial injustices.
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Daron Sellars, CEO of the National Black Professional Athletes Foundation (NBPAF) is eager to launch this initiative and feels the impact will be immediate. “Being able to partner with organizations like USTA Southern and NOBLE are important to NBPAF, particularly when it comes to social justice issues and the effect on young people of color. We want to engage early to help them understand how to navigate the complexities of the current environment in which we find ourselves in today. Having events with people who look like them in the sports world as well as the legal system is imperative with building trust and we want to be on the forefront of creating transformative and impactful change.” USTA Southern shares this sentiment and looks forward to collaborating on the upcoming events as well. Home to over 20,000 youth through their National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) chapters, USTA Southern has worked for decades to all youth, regardless of race, gender, and income through tennis instruction, academic support, leadership development, and life skills. The late Tennis Champion and social activist, Arthur Ashe founded the National Junior Tennis League in 1969. USTA Southern Director of Diversity, NJTL & Grants, Cee Jai Jones adds, “Partnering with the National Black Professional Athletes Foundation allows us to bring a social responsibility initiative to our teens in an impactful way. We are excited for them to gain greater awareness and insight on social justice from athletes and public servants while also empowering them to serve as change agents in their own communities.” The first event will kick-off virtually in February and will be hosted in Greensboro, NC, a historical city to many civil rights demonstrations. Other cities where events will be held later this year include Atlanta, GA, New Orleans, LA, Memphis, TN, Nashville, TN, Louisville, KY, and Birmingham, AL. The National Black Professional Athletes Foundation honors the history, legacy, and accomplishments of black athletes through a global platform that empowers them to change lives through community advocacy. Inspired to make an impact.
For more information, please contact the National Black Professional Athletes Foundation at www.nbpaf.org/contact h
La’Roy Crumble Wine Company
By Ayana Bryant Photos by Seawards Dawson
Starting a business during a global pandemic could be a daunting task for most, but Latony Crumble and Willie Wilkes have embraced the challenge with open arms. The year of 2020 introduced several obstacles to the world but also birthed La’Roy Crumble Wine for these two business partners.
Wilkes, 31, originally from historic Memphis, TN didn’t necessarily intend on becoming a business owner within the wine industry when first starting his career. Upon graduating from Job Corps pursuing the electrical trade, Wilkes then relocated to Atlanta, Georgia with hopes of becoming an electrician.
When this career path revealed itself to be unsuccessful, Wilkes then returned to school and pursued a track in heating and air. This opportunity eventually led him to meet his now business partner Latony Crumble.
Crumble, a Virginia native and former professional dancer saw the potential of creating his own wine from being so heavily involved in the entertainment industry. So, from there an idea as well as a distillery contact in Detroit would propel the duo to start La’Roy Crumble Wine.
The name La’Roy comes from a cross between Crumble’s first name Latony, and Wilkes middle name, Roy. This black owned business is based out of Atlanta, Georgia and has grown pretty quickly since their launch in late 2020. La’Roy Crumble has developed five signature flavors that are currently available for retail, a Moscato blend, an Alicante, a Dago red, Pinot Grigio, and a Chamblee.
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When asked what motivates and inspires them to continue growing their business, both gentlemen stated that being able to network with so many people and seeing the growth they’ve already acquired is the biggest drive for them. For Latony Crumble, his faith has played a big role in never giving up stating “I believe God gave me a gift to start something from the bottom and bring it to life.” Wilkes explains that connecting with people has always been an easy thing for him and that he is grateful for this business opportunity. He sees it as “a platform to be able to reach an even broader group of people”.
Crumble and Wilkes discussed the challenges they have faced. One of them is being unable to secure investors and acquire loans to start their business, but they explain it has only encouraged them to work harder to fund it themselves. They both understand they are still in the early stages of this new journey and face more challenges that haven’t yet been reached.
After only operating in four months of business and starting out with five different flavors of wine, both Wilkes and Crumble have no desire to slow down any time soon. Plans to continue growing their business are already in motion with four new flavors already in development. So, what lies in the future for La’Roy Crumble Wine you might ask? “The sky’s the limit and I see no limits on where this brand can go” says Wilkes. Plans for mainstream distribution are definitely in the cards. Despite the challenges and issues these young men might have encountered, they both say that it hasn’t deterred them. They plan to continue moving forward one day at a time. Let’s all raise a glass to the success of this thriving new business and say Salud!
For more information about La’Roy Crumble Wine, and to purchase your selection, please check out the company via Instagram @La’Roycrumble_wine, and on Facebook at La’Roy Crumble. h
Innate Success Corp.
By Teyah Gilmore Photos by Shmeka Gibson
People who have innate abilities are bred with special qualities. These qualities can help them become successful in their career or life. Shmeka Gibson and Innate Success Corp. focus is to bring out their clients’ natural talents, because being special is not for the ordinary.
Located in Memphis, TN, Innate Success Corp. provides a variety of business options, tools and resources needed to develop business owners, organize business practices, enhance the leader traits in individuals, and promote potential business leaders. Innate Success core services also gives guidance and writes grants for companies allowing them to potentially have funds for future projects.
Innate Success core service provides sustainable advice and business models for companies. Other aspects include data analysis, a virtual learning site and personal/professional development workshops that help the clients build a stronger foundation. Many of the services are offered through contracts or a paid membership through the virtual learning site. In sense, they are planting seeds for companies to grow, and not just for the companies that can afford it.
Shmeka is a strong advocate for the community and offer many opportunities for individuals looking to start a business or enhance a skillset. She offers a business mentorship program for start-up and grassroot businesses to receive organizational and program development. Gibson also has her own radio show called “Mindset Shift” which airs on Sunday mornings at 10:00 am, EST. As a writer, she has authored three books based on a model she created called Changing the Mindset©. This model applies Psychology principles to help people alter their behaviors to change their behavior. Her business is centered around the Changing the Mindset© concept.
Shmeka believes that everyone deserves to have a chance to be great, mainly because she was given one as well. Before Innate Success Corp. (previously known as SG Consulting and data started in 2018) was re-branded and launched in 2021, Shmeka was on a journey to finding her own innate gifts. Her career began with her working in social services, 17 years ago. However, at that time in her life, she felt it was time to change. “I’m going through the data piece. I’m going through processes and systems, and then, that’s when I decided to change my degree from counseling to industrial organizational psychology.” exclaimed Shmeka while working for a company before her own. Continued on the next page
Gibson worked for many companies that enhanced her skills and pushed her to the fullest potential. She always had a skillset in data base management and processing systems, but those skills were nurtured and enhance through her professional experiences.
Through life, she experienced relationship shifts and business trail and errors, but she was not determined to give up.
Things took off fast. One of her published books in her Changing the Mindset©. trilogy would give her the break of her life. “Probably about a month later, I did a story with a local magazine here in Memphis. They were asking me questions about my consulting business and grant writing and wanted to know how businesses become sustainable. That magazine article was a success and from that moment, I went from making $30,000 annually to booking $30,000 contracts,” she says. From those contracts she supported organizations with applying for emergency relief funds and non-profit grants. Those opportunities helped her, and her staff stay employed during the pandemic and to sustain her business. Donations poured in for the mentorship program which allowed Innate Success to offer free services to 20 businesses worldwide to help their business also stay sustainable. Gibson also donated to other nonprofits during the pandemic. Therefore, the community so strongly resonates with her. From her family, friends, and constituents in the community, Shmeka has been supported along the way. From mentoring workshops to almost finishing the final Changing the Mindset© book, she intends to return that love by helping clients and communities be their best selves. In the pages of her legacy, she hopes that it is written that her focus is not only about success, but how she got there and helped other people.
“When I leave this earth, I want people to say that Shmeka creates opportunities for other people. Shmeka made sure she brought out the best in you, and excellence was always, always the standard when you interacted with Shmeka,” she says.
Considering this, Shmeka also loves to give people joy. In the meantime, she will continue to pour into the lives of others and serve her community, with a heart of joy.
