From New Orleans to the Big Screen: Actress Ciera Payton Shares her Journey

An accomplished actor, writer, social activist and entrepreneur, Ciera Payton is a well-respected pillar of the entertainment industry with an unwavering dedication to the arts while growing up in the city of New Orleans. I had the pleasure to catch up with Ciera as she shared her acting and entrepreneurial journey, her non-profit organization The…

Poetic Moment Brings Writing and Speaking to the Center Stage

PoeticMoment is an Afro Latina educator, author, and award winning poet.  She uses her education and poetry as a way to start important dialogue to bring forth real societal change. It is through these two communities where she challenges what was expected of her despite various struggles, traumas, and identities she now claims. I caught…

Lifestyle Blogger Kim Thomas Gives Gems on Blogging and Branding

Kim Thomas is a lifestyle blogger + photographer based in Memphis, TN. Launched in September 2010, her blog KP Fusion provides of-the-moment fashion, style and beauty tips + trends with a little Memphis, TN flavor thrown in. Whether it’s high, low, fast fashion, vintage, or something new, like a well-edited wardrobe, there’s a place for it on…

Poetree Sets You Free: The Life of an Artist

  “I went full force into exhibiting beauty, culture, naturalism, feminism and the power of individualism, or what many say: being unapologetically yourself, through social media and the next thing I knew I was featured in Essence, Billboard, Shea Moisture, Ispy,  and Sa Beauty.” – Poetree  I caught up with Poetree and we chatted about…

Playright and Screenwriter Sonhara Eastman Creates Magic For Stage and Screen

As the creator and producer of the powerful web series Black Girl’s Guide to Fertility now streaming, Sonhara Eastman creates stories for stage and screen that illuminates the black experience while also spreading awareness about stories that need to be told more often. I caught up with Sonhara as we discussed the inspiration behind Black…

Life Talks With Laura Smartt: Mental Health Issues

To the person dealing with mental health issues…   I know it’s hard. Everyday just getting out of bed is hard. How you want to stay there and not interact with the world. Outside is where happiness happens, and you just can’t seem to find it. The questions that arise. “Are you okay?”, “Why are…