Gabriela – Page 2 – The Recap Report

Vince Ashton: Jack of All Trades, Master of All

Written by Gabriela on February 18, 2022. Posted in Entertainment, Food.

With a lifelong love for entertaining, Vince Ashton is fulfilling his wildest dreams! 2022 is already boasting success with his television debut on the upcoming Food Network show, The Great Chocolate Showdown and his newly minted position as the official host of College Park.

Vince Ashton has loved performing since the age of 3. As an only child, his mother and grandmother knew he would end up being on stage—whether it be singing, dancing, hosting or making magic with pots and pans on the small screen. An Atlanta native and recording artist, at age 31 he’s lighting up stages with his authentic approach to pop culture, fashion, and music. He redefines the classical story of the urban kid who dreams of making it to the big time through his passion for education, people, and faith.

With many memorable moments in his career, he has performed for former first lady Michelle Obama, opened for Grammy Award Winning R&B songstress Monica and became a recurring actor/dancer on the hit YouTube Show “Face the Music.” His well rounded body of work landed Vince the position as the official entertainment and events host of all College Park, GA festivities.

Vince is from neighboring city East Point and states, “I have family members that still reside in College Park. This opportunity hits home…because it is home. I often say grown here not flown here and I represent the southside of Atlanta to the fullest. It’s important to me because I’ve watched the city itself grow, thrive, become a haven for black owned businesses and so much more… I’m honored to be a part of all that’s happening there.”

On top of performing, Vince started his own cheesecake business, It’s a Cheesecake in 2017. He always loved to cook but never deemed himself an “official” baker—but one holiday season it all changed. He made an oreo cheesecake recipe and he never looked back. His friends enjoyed his recipes and encouraged him to go into a business. That next month he created new flavors including peach cobbler, salted caramel macchiato, and triple berry white chocolate. Next, he did a product photoshoot, tasting event, developed a business plan and logo, and before he knew it, It’s A Cheesecake by Vince Ashton was born. The new venture came at a pivotal time as he was unexpectedly laid off from his 9-5 job, thrusting him further into entrepreneurship. He put his head down and focused on managing his very own business and it has been elevating since! Currently, his cakes are sold online and exclusively at Lenox Mall’s restaurant, Cheese ATL.

His business success led him to his debut tv appearance as he will be featured on season 3 of The Great Chocolate Showdown on Food Network Canada. Vince says you can expect diversity, creativity like no other, tons of laughs, high energy and inspiration. “My castmates all came from different backgrounds and their personal stories as well as their own uniqueness and baking styles were just incredible. It’s going to be a GREAT SHOW!”

With all this greatness surrounding him, Vince remains grounded by staying connected to his faith, church and worship. His work onstage continues as he is slated as the resident anthem singer for the NBA G-League’s Atlanta SkyHawks for the 2022 season.

Learning to work smarter, not harder, Vince has become honest and realistic about his bandwidth and tries not to overextend himself. He has expanded his management and public relations teams to manage his growing business imprints.

Catch Vince on the Great Chocolate Showdown premiering in Canada on Tuesday, March 1st at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network Canada. The U.S. installment will air on the CW Network in future months.

In the meantime, follow all things Vince on social: @VinceAshton

Quitting Corporate America: Rahkim Sabree

Written by Gabriela on February 15, 2022. Posted in Business, Influential People, Uncategorized.

Rahkim Sabree is a financial coach, TEDx speaker and author who recently went viral for this tweet. Sabree, who is a personal finance enthusiast with a decade of banking industry experience at various levels quit his job for mental health reasons. He is an advocate for mental health, especially in the Black community. Rahkim is grateful for the responses from others on social media. He says his tweet has permitted others to evaluate what makes them happy.

Rahkim’s parents separated at the age of 15. It’s when he became conscious of the household finances. Then, when he went into banking at the age of 21 his interest in finance sparked. According to Rahkim, while being a part of the banking industry he became the “resident finance guy” to his family and peers. He realized the advice he was giving family and friends was going right over their heads. He then made it a goal to make sure others understood financial literacy.

Rahkim hopes to create transparency around finances, so people can heal from their financial traumas. He teaches how to use fear to your advantage and use it to reach goals. Financial literacy is often not taught in schools, discussed at home or in the workplace. This creates a secrecy around money and how to handle it.

A lack of understanding of how money works creates an attitude of scarcity that says, “I need to get as much as I can before it all runs out!” Rahkim states “I help to discuss money in a simplified way by addressing commonly held attitudes and beliefs about money while exploring the intersection of financial education, pop culture, and best practices to take the taboo out and create opportunities for empowerment.”

More recently, he has had an interest in mental health and finance, especially for People of Color. Rahkim says trauma in these communities plays a huge factor in finances, it shapes the everyday decisions made. He wants his community and others to be financially empowered, which is why he is so big on financial education.

Rahkim is working on his third book, I Fired My Boss, Escaping Corporate Trauma. It’s focused on his experience in corporate America. He is published in Entrepreneur, Business Insider, The Grio, Black Enterprise, and Parents Magazine.

Check out his website here:https://www.rahkimsabree.com/

Follow him on social: @rahkimsabree

NYFW Stylist, Angel Johnson

Written by Gabriela on February 11, 2022. Posted in Health and Beauty.

Coming from a strong entrepreneurial background and upbringing in Cincinnati, it is no surprise that Master Cosmetologist and Educator Angel Johnson followed in her family’s footsteps—becoming a successful business woman. The Atlanta-based cosmetologist has had her work appear on some of the world’s most respected stages, all while being a renowned instructor and salon owner.

Her journey into the beauty world started at the age of 12 when Angel cut her little brother’s hair with a home clipper set. The guard fell off and he had a landing strip straight up the back of his head! As you can imagine, that caused an uproar, but getting into trouble didn’t stop her. The incident actually motivated her to improve her cutting skills. From there she became the neighborhood barber.

Diving into her love of hair and wanting to get official credentials, Angel decided to go to cosmetology school. While in school her focus was cosmetology and barber skills and eventually expanded to include skin care, nail care, hair removal, hair replacement, and instructing. While Angel was very successful behind the chair, she yearned for more so she took a leap of faith by starting over in Atlanta. She currently teaches at the Aveda Institute and is on staff with the Black-owned hair care brand Design Essentials as an instructor and product specialist.

No stranger to celebrities, runways and camera shutters, Angel has had the opportunity to style hair and nails at New York Fashion Week, Brooklyn Fashion Week, Miami Swim Week and several independent fashion showcases! Some of the major designers she’s styled for are Raul Penaranda, Bibhu Mohapatra and Dope Tavio and the list goes on and on! One of her proudest professional moments was seeing the models she styled during NYFW in Harper’s Bazaar China.

Besides being a celebrity hair stylist, Angel is also a cultural activist. She is a proud supporter of the Crown Act and has even created her own educational movement called We Are Cross Cultural. Her aim is to unite people from all cultures to love and respect one another.

Keep an eye on Angel, she has many projects she will be executing this year! The Next Fest hair shows are coming up, March 6 in Houston and April 10th in Nashville. Her social media page @shameinthesalon will be expanding to include a podcast and she will be hosting a signature masterclass on salon business in Atlanta in March.

Follow her on social: @call_on_an_angel

GKSuper and Saffire Super Saiyan Into 2022

Written by Gabriela on February 11, 2022. Posted in Entertainment.

Super Records Entertainment is bringing a new style to the music industry and is changing the way that we look at independent artists. Founded by music masterminds GKSuper and Saffire Super, the dynamic duo is launching a creative media powerhouse and have established themselves as a dominant force in Atlanta’s bustling independent musical landscape.

Lyrics and beats have always been in GKSuper’s veins which was something he used to comfort himself after a difficult change within his family. The album All Eyes On Me by Tupac Shakur taught the musical creative how to express himself growing up as a black male facing a devastating loss. At 13, he knew that becoming an artist would be his path to success, and he delved into producing beats and penning songs to accompany them.

While she didn’t begin her creative career in music, Saffire activated her fashion industry experience and business acumen to propel the Super Records imprint. She states, “my background as a personal stylist has helped me understand fashion and design enabling me to create our brand logo and clothing merchandise.” She also has experience in modeling which helped her play with different angles and capture certain vibes when it comes to photography and music video production. She would later become an artist under their label as well.

GKSuper and Saffire at a live performance

In 2018, they were spontaneous in establishing Super Records Entertainment. They stated, “We didn’t really know what it took to run a record label but we focused on learning every aspect of the music business.” The Super Squad is proudly and completely independent as they write, record, produce, mix, upload & track, shoot, film, and edit all of their graphics, music, and music videos. Because of his many abilities, GK refers to himself as an “artistic entrepreneur.”

Bringing 15 years to the game, the music veterans have plenty of advice to offer to other independent creatives. “Don’t be lazy- you will be required to do more work to make your vision possible,” the musical entrepreneur says. “Learn the extra skills that it takes outside of recording. Don’t waste time with others that are not willing to put in the work that is required to be great.” Some of GK’s musical influences are Jay-Z, Kanye West, Tupac, Eminem, Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar, Andre 3000, Twista, Dr. Dre, Prince, and Michael Jackson. He hopes to follow in their footsteps, appealing to listeners who relate to impactful lyrics.

Some of their personal favorites from their own catalog are Pick Up High- because they get to perform together, Atlanta Braves- which pays homage to their home baseball team, We All Struggle, Back-Up, and We are the Gods.

2022 will be a big year for the Super Squad as they are working to take their brand to the next level. They have expanded their team to include two young producers, Webbo & Jxyro, and an upcoming videographer PushFetti. GKSuper is also working to release new tracks for their supporters. With a jumping label, large discography, and accompanying merchandise line, Super Records is sure to leave a lasting impression either in us or on us.

Visit their website: https://www.superrecordsent.com/

Follow them on social media: https://www.instagram.com/therealgksuper/ & https://www.instagram.com/its_saffire/

Black Republican Devin T. Robinson X Egypt Sets Out To Awaken Black Americans

Written by Gabriela on February 11, 2022. Posted in Influential People.

Born and raised in Ft. Lauderdale Florida, TEDx speaker Devin “Egypt” Robinson was encouraged to be involved in the arts from a young age. His mother was a pioneer in the hair extensions industry, and was an innovator, creating unique ways for women to wear hair weaves. As a creative person herself, early on she noticed her son’s love for drawing and urged him to continue to build upon his gift. His artistry eventually transitioned into a love for acting, writing, directing and painting. All of the aforementioned are due to finding his footing in art at a young age. This love for painting and drawing evolved into a desire to bring images to life via stage and film.

While attending college at Florida Atlantic University, he decided to pursue his love of the arts and received a degree in acting. After this he actively pursued acting and eventually started directing and producing films. Egypt says, “I always felt being in this industry was my calling. Not just the art portion, but the ability to inspire and reshape minds. Art is just the vehicle. My destination is reimagining the image of Black people.”

Following his mother’s entrepreneurial footsteps, Egypt launched his first business, Change A Man Media in 2016, a film production company. Through this imprint, he wanted to do more than simply produce films—his ultimate intent was to change how Black people are portrayed in the media. He wants to take charge of the narrative and show the true picture. His most noted project, Black Men: Naked Truth (2019), is a one-man show that chronicles seven untold stories about Black men has received rave reviews and in 2022 he plans to release Tranquil Inferno, a film about the unseen side of Oklahoma’s Black Wall Street.

In addition to acting, producing and filmmaking, Egypt likes to be active in his community. While in college, his main mission was to educate African-Americans about the perils faced and how to overcome them, starting with the impact AIDS had on the Black community. Using art was an easy answer to gain the attention of others, hold them and teach. Because of what he learned, Egypt became the President of the AIDS Awareness Poets organization. He is a huge advocate and organizes educational activities around the prevention of HIV.

In 2021, after 20+ years as a devout, protest-attending, active Democrat, Egypt became enlightened to some internal political points that prompted him to move his voting support and registered as a Republican. He plans to use his platforms to vocalize his awakened standing and appear as a guest on media outlets that will allow him the opportunity to reach more people with messaging on why he made a decision considered taboo within the Black community he’s so proud to be part of.

Egypt is currently producing a dating reality show to encourage healthy dating techniques based off of the four relationship books he’s written.

To purchase the one man show, Black Men, Naked Truth, click HERE!

You can check out his work here: www.blackmennakedtruth.com

Follow him on social: @EgyptX

Think Quick: Security and Safety with Joshua Sullivan

Written by Gabriela on February 3, 2022. Posted in Business.

For more than 15 years, Joshua Sullivan has been in the security business. Headquartered in the DMV area, he is the founder and CEO of Discreet Security Services and Investigations, specializing in private investigations, security services, executive protection, and basic to advanced medical training. On top of owning his business he is the K9 program manager for Alabama Canine and a volunteer firefighter.

Life never stops for Joshua and every day is different!

As a person always appointed to leadership positions and with the encouragement of mentors, midway through the pandemic, Joshua decided to launch his own safety focused business. Comfortable with his experience and leadership abilities he was confident that he could offer reliable, solid defense services to the federal government and civilians alike. While opening a new business during a pandemic was not an easy task, Joshua says it’s a blessing in disguise. Since inception, Discreet Security Services has never stopped working and business is booming.

Becoming an entrepreneur hasn’t been an easy road. Joshua jokes, “I thought I would be able to work less when I became my own boss, that hasn’t been the reality at all. I’m pretty much on the clock 24/7. One day I might have to cover someone’s overnight shift and then have a day full of meetings right after.” A family man, his children and family come first, his business is a close next priority.

Working with a plethora of credible corporations Joshua gained the ability to understand how to run a successful business. Being the federal program manager at the Tuscaloosa based company, Alabama Canine has allowed him to get upper management experience, which he deems essential to his success. In this position he has been instrumental in efforts to stop the opioid crisis plaguing the nation, training canines for police forces and performing security services for schools homes.

In addition to Joshua’s successful business and career, he has also been a volunteer firefighter since the age of 16. Even when he isn’t on active duty he keeps up with all of his certifications.

In 2021, he earned the credentials to be named the second certified instructor with the globally renowned A.L.I.V.E. Active Shooter Survival Training founded by Michael Julian, who holds the only other credentials to conduct the training.

To learn more about Joshua Sullivan and to book Discreet Security Services, you can check out the website here: https://dssimd.com/

Marketing Mogul, Olivia Scott

Written by Gabriela on February 1, 2022. Posted in Business, Influential People.

Marketing expert of over 20 plus years, Olivia Scott is your go to gal. From juggling her marketing consultancy agency, Omerge Alliance to being an assistant professor at NYU & Loyola and creating Freedom at the mat, what she can’t do?

Graduating from the prestigious school of journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Olivia thought she would become a journalist after college. That’s not the way things panned out. After graduating, she began her career at Atlantic Records, Leo Burnett the following year and never looked back. She knew marketing was her calling.

Looking over her resume, Olivia has had nothing short of a successful career. She was the chief marketing officer for Carol’s daughter, marketing consultant for Andre walker hair and has also led programming strategy and booking for wellness & entertainment experiences for essence festival.

As the hardworking and talented woman she is, Olivia decided she wanted to give back to the community. Being a yoga enthusiast. Olivia wanted women of all backgrounds to be able to indulge in unapologetic self-care through prayer, meditation, intention-setting, yoga-inspired physical movement, affirmations and journaling. That’s why she started her latest project, Freedom at the mat. The self-care experiences are designed to reconnect women with their inner voice, which she calls our inner divine, while also releasing stress and strengthening their bodies & minds.

As a person with decades of experience, working for her own company and agencies she gave advice to those starting out. “If you’re fresh out of college, I recommend you work at an agency. You get to experience different clients and get to see what you like.” Olivia goes on to say that you shouldn’t limit yourself at the start of your career. That is one of the most crucial things.

With a recent relocation to New Orleans from New York, Olivia is currently enjoying the chance of pace and creativity.

You can check out Omerge Alliance here:https://omergealliances.com/

Freedom at the mat:https://freedomatthemat.com/

Editor in Queen of She Rose Magazine, Candice Rose Eastman

Written by Gabriela on January 19, 2022. Posted in Lifestyle.

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Candice Rose Eastman didn’t have an easy life growing up. Coming from a low income family, she describes her time in Vegas as “being surrounded by brokenness. “From a young age she saw the effects of gangs, violence and gambling. Even though it was hard growing up in Vegas, she is thankful for it. “ It’s made me tough, resourceful and has allowed me to search for peace and allowed my spiritual growth.”

Candice is the founder and self-titled, “Editor in Queen” of She Rose Magazine. After 23 years as a professional in the hair industry she decided it was time to pursue her dreams. She grew tired of the mundane feel of her life and was ready for a change. As an intuitive and in-tune woman, she birthed the idea of a magazine focused on empowerment and telling the stories of real, non-celebrity women–thus She Rose was created. The quarterly magazine’s mission statement is to provide a platform that offers creative freedom, connection, growth and inspiration for all women.

The digital platform is centered on creative freedom and affords opportunities for herself and other women to authentically share their creativity with audiences who would benefit from their work. “Having to learn to rise, and having a sense of peace in my life is where She Rose came from.”

She Rose is a project that celebrates global women from all walks and facets of life. Flipping the pages, readers can expect to see women from all cities, backgrounds, creeds, political parties, income levels, colors, religions, sexual orientations, ages, and more. Each issue offers breathtaking artwork, inspiration, heart-warming stories, profound advice, captivating gifts, and ancient wisdom to its readers. The women featured are purposefully chosen to remind the world to keep going in the direction of one’s visions and that we are all connected.

Candice vows to continue to support women who have great aspirations like herself and help them connect to others with like minds.

She Rose Magazine has recently launched their newest issue, The Goddess! You can check it out here: https://www.sherosemagazine.com/issues/.

To keep up with She Rose Magazine, you can follow their Instagram @sherosemagazine

PanamaDaPrince: Fashion, Music and Passion

Written by Gabriela on December 21, 2021. Posted in Entertainment, Fashion.

Hailing from New York City, PanamaDaPrince always knew he wanted to be in the entertainment industry. He started his music career at the young age of sixteen and never looked back. His parents were a big influence in his passion for the arts.

Today, his operating titles today include artist, fashion designer and creative director.

PanamaDaPrince received major opportunities early on that most artists only dream of. He was able to be the opening act for notable artists. He served as a vital show opener for Hip-Hop pioneers, Wu-Tang Clan & D-Block at Webster Hall in 2013. In addition to opening for G-Unit rapper Lloyd Banks at Stage 48 the following year.

Always having a passion for fashion ,Panama launched his ALPHA clothing brand in 2016. He merged his two passions, fashion and music. “Transcend every obstacle” & “lead the pack” quickly converted into the clothing brands mantra. Some of the stars that have worn his brand include Swizz Beats, Teyana Taylor and Ashley Graham.

After achieving success with his music and clothing brand, Panama was determined to give back to his community. In the wake of the protest for the police killing of an unarmed George Floyd in 2020 he donated the profits from his sales to support protesters’ legal fees. Tired of being a victim, PanamaDaPrince utilizes his platform to bring awareness to these constant social injustices and to spark a positive change.

Post-pandemic Panama, released the highly anticipated record, “Mase Flow”. The song & music video featured hip-hop star Fatman Scoop. The song was a an online success with nearly 30,000 views.

Panama continues to elevate in his entrepreneurial success. The notoriety of his influence has allowed him to collaborate with mainstream brands such as G-Shock.

On the horizon of 2022, he is currently working on his album, If Only You Knew dropping in the near future.

To keep up with PanamaDaPrince follow him @panamadaprince on Instagram

Heat It Up This Winter With Snack’s Online Video Dating Tips- Dating App For Gen Z

Written by Gabriela on December 20, 2021. Posted in Business, Lifestyle.

Happy holidays!

With people desperately seeking someone to spend the Holidays with this year, dating apps are more important than ever! How do you make that perfect impression on an app? Or now on video with TikTok? Snack video dating app Founder and CEO Kim Kaplan has a few tips….

5 TIPS TO STAND OUT ON VIDEO DATING

1. Keep It real. As much as this has been said before, the best way to find the right matches for you is to be yourself. The best part of video-first dating is that you can see people that have a “realness” about them, as opposed to the Kardashian-era curated, edited, filtered content we’re used to on Instagram. Instead, think of your posts as you would Snapchat or Instagram. Snack gives you a chance to share small snippets of your life that show off who you are.

2. Face first. This one seems self-explanatory, but it’s worth remembering! After all, this is a dating app, and other users want to see you, not just clips of your morning latte or your cat doing a trick. Oh, but guys, please forget about the shirtless bathroom selfies.

3. Add text or subtitles. Ever find yourself scrolling with the volume off? Us too. By adding text or subtitles, others can still engage with your video without sound and it makes your video accessible for those who us who keep our phones on silent.

4. Make a conversation starter. Ask a question or bring up a fun, light topic. Example: What’s your favorite Snack? Does pineapple belong on pizza?

5. Upload multiple videos. Remember, this isn’t a one-and-done kind of deal. The more videos you upload, the more you are going to show up in other user’s feeds. But don’t fret, you don’t need to spend hours recording videos. Simply upload videos that you’re already making for your other social apps.

6. Start with a strong hook. Just like other social media apps, the best way to capture someone’s attention is by kicking off your video with a strong hook. We suggest starting with an enticing question or sharing something personal about yourself.

7. Be fearless. Don’t be afraid to take a selfie video and show off that TikTok dance you secretly learned in your bathroom. Putting yourself out there can be a lot, and you should be proud of yourself for taking the leap of faith. To help get you started, try one of our question filters on Instagram @getsnackapp to get inspired and have a helping hand from your personal cheerleaders, Snack!

Author: Gabriela