HBCU Grad Returns with First Ever Adult Coloring Book Celebrating Black Colleges

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HBCU GRAD RETURNS WITH FIRST EVER ADULT COLORING BOOK CELEBRATING BLACK COLLEGES

Nationwide -- Latoya Nicole, bestselling author and owner of Entrepreneurs Color Too, is back with the release of her newest edition Alma Mater and it's just in time for graduation! The coloring book is full of highlights that showcase the Black College Experience including its education, diversity and culture.

The illustrations are inspired by beautiful Black women and range from Greek life and the Royal Court to STEM and science labs. It even includes activities that test your HBCU knowledge.  "I couldn't be more excited to release this book," says Latoya. "I've been so humbled by the response thus far and the overwhelming interest."

When asked what inspired her to create Alma Mater, Latoya replied, "My godmother, who recently passed away, was an advocate for education and we share the philosophy that HBCUs are an important part of history. As an ode to her I wanted to create something that not only promoted education but also captured the spirit of Black Colleges in an artistic manner.

10-Year Old Author of Several Books Honored by Black Sorority

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10-YEAR OLD AUTHOR OF SEVERAL BOOKS HONORED BY BLACK SORORITY

Nationwide -- Rianna Facey is a ten year old author. Her published works includes books titled The Cat That Wouldn't Go Away and I Have Big Dreams.

Both books were published in the year 2018. Rianna was recently honored for her work by Lamba Kappa Mu Sorority in a ceremony at the Forum in Baltimore, Maryland on March 23, 2019. Photos from the event appear in the Afro American Newspaper's April 6th edition.

Rianna's story first appeared on Fox 45's Project Baltimore segment in May 2018. She has appeared in additional segments on Fox 45 since May 2018 which include her most recent live interview on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 to talk about her participation on a panel for the Black Writers Guild Youth Showcase on April 6, 2019 at Enoch Pratt Free Library.

Phenomenal Woman Empowerment Network Challenges Women to Stop Accepting Mediocrity

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8TH ANNUAL PHENOMENAL WOMAN EMPOWERMENT NETWORK EXPERIENCE CHALLENGES WOMEN TO STOP ACCEPTING MEDIOCRITY

Photo from the launch of the new PWEN Chapter in Tulsa, OK, on March 9, 2019

"I Declare War" to Inspire Women to Eliminate Excuses, Silence Their "Inner Critic" and Achieve Success, May 4 in Phoenix

Phoenix, AZ -- Valley women will "declare war" on negative self-beliefs preventing them from leading successful lives at the Phenomenal Woman Empowerment Network (PWEN) Experience on Sat., May 4th from 9:30am to 4:30pm at the Raven Golf Resort in Phoenix. The 8th annual event will challenge women to eliminate excuses, silence their inner-critic and stop accepting mediocrity in their relationships and careers.

According to PWEN founder, Sharise L. Erby-Castle, "This years' experience is focused on working through adversity. So much of the time, thought leaders, social media influencers, only focus on the good stuff - success, prosperity - when in reality; times are tough for many people.

Depression is real, and people are committing suicide at an alarming rate. I 'declare war' is about teaching women how to get through the hard times and help them reclaim their lives through the testimonies of real people who have overcome adversity and are still standing today."

See How The ESSENCE Festival® Celebrates It's 25th Year Anniversary By Bringing the 90’s Heat

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The 25th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival® Brings the 90’s Heat with Special Performances of the Hottest Albums Celebrating 25 Years

NEW YORK -- The ESSENCE Festival® presented by Coca-Cola, the world’s largest cultural, entertainment and empowerment experience and largest celebration of global Black culture, is set to bring the 90’s heat with special performances that celebrate the 25th anniversary of some of the top albums of the decade. The Festival also just announced the official night-by-night performance line up for its concert series taking place July 5th, 6th and 7th at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. 

With hits that remain timeless, the 90’s era of R&B and hip-hop music significantly impacted our global culture – setting musical trends and a standard of excellence that made space for artists to thrive as creators, visionaries and entrepreneurs. By spotlighting some of the era’s most forward-looking, game-changing albums that are also celebrating their 25th anniversaries, the celebration will reach beyond nostalgia to new school—with special performances to elevate the groundbreaking sounds that continue to influence the most popular, chart-topping artists of today. 

“We are celebrating our 25th anniversary with an extraordinary, multigenerational, cultural celebration featuring nearly 100 Black artists who know that the ESSENCE Festival is ‘home,’” said Michelle Ebanks, CEO of ESSENCE Communications. “Through an imaginative slate of 25th anniversary curations and a fresh take on our night-by-night line-up, this year’s milestone Festival will creatively represent some of our culture’s most important and influential bodies of work – past, present and future. We are excited to place the spotlight on the music that captivated and inspired our global communities—all reimagined exclusively for the ‘only-at-ESSENCE’ Festival stages.” 

Afrocentric Apparel, Accessories and Home Decor

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WEB SITE SHOWCASES MODERN AFROCENTRIC APPAREL, ACCESSORIES AND HOME DÉCOR

Atlanta, GA -- Noticing a distinct need for more positive messages in a very hostile climate, Chocolate Ancestor, LLC was formed to add creative expression to the everyday lives of those people who believe in love and healing. ChocolateAncestor.com is an online modern Afrocentric apparel, accessories, and home decor store catered to consumers in the Black community.

The company's mission is to promote through beautifully crafted products love and peace, and use the products to educate, express, and enunciate the importance of humanity, community, and spirituality. The diverse line of clothes and accessories make expression much easier, giving people a chance to endorse the positive things they practice and believe in daily.

Products include apparel (shirts, hoodies, crop tops, joggers, socks), accessories (bookbags, handbags, tote bags, laptop bags/sleeves, hats), home decor (office supplies, pillows, blankets, shower curtains, rugs, umbrellas, placemats, mugs), and specially made gifts. There is something for everyone, and customers appreciate the originality that each piece holds.

Owner, Latoya Long, was instantly moved to create a business with meaning after attending a NAACP rally, following the heartbreaking deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. The signs created simply were not enough.

Grammy Award Winning Musician, Mel Brown, Levels Up Jobseekers

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GRAMMY AWARD WINNING MUSICIAN, MEL BROWN, LEVELS UP JOBSEEKERS

Brown has launched a self-service video interviewing platform for job candidates called Connexion Pointe, and a free interactive ebook called '3 to Get Ready'.

Phoenix, AZ  -- "In February 2019, the national unemployment rate dipped to 3.8 percent," according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For the soon-to-be graduate, young professional looking for upward mobility or those with years of experience that need to stay relevant, it is imperative for them as job seekers to find innovative ways to distinguish themselves from their competitors.

For people of color, the need to stand out in a crowded field takes on even greater significance. Mel Brown, two-time Grammy Award winning bassist, has developed an effective tool to give job seekers an essential competitive edge.

Brown carved out a successful niche in the highly competitive music industry by using innovative digital and video techniques to promote his skill and talent to industry executives. In fact, he created his first big break by using a video to land a feature spot in Arsenio Hall’s late night band in November 1993. Over the last 26 years, he has refined those techniques which prompted him to aggregate them into a digital platform called Connexion Pointe.

See The Visionary Woman Who Creates The Superhero Universe For Women of Color

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BLACK WOMAN CREATES SUPERHERO UNIVERSE FOR WOMEN OF COLOR -- CELEBRATES JANET JACKSON & DIANA ROSS!

Durham, NC -- With Captain Marvel dominating the box office, Aza Comics, one of the only superhero brands centered entirely around women, is gaining popularity by giving women of color a voice. "I just asked women what they wanted to see," says CEO and serial entrepreneur, Jazmin Truesdale. "I wanted to create superheroes that truly empowered women of color. Even the format of Aza's books cater to the way women read."

'Novel-comics', a phrase coined by Truesdale, takes the traditional novel and comic book format and merges them together for the ultimate reading experience. 

As the rise of female superheroes continues, Aza Comics stands out with its unique roster of multicultural characters and fan-favorite leading Black superheroine, Kala. "I was told by publishers that Kala wasn't marketable but now she is Aza's most popular characer... go figure," Truesdale says, rolling her eyes. "I wanted to showcase all these incredibly different women working together as a unit and kicking butt," says Truesdale. "The best way to inspire is by example and Aza's characters were inspired by real women of color who did incredible things."