How a Dental Entrepreneur Turned Reality TV Star Is Leading the Charge on Ethical AI Innovation
As Georgia prepares for its May 2026 primary elections, one candidate stands apart not just for her television fame or medical expertise, but for her pioneering embrace of artificial intelligence and automation technology.
Dr. Heavenly Kimes at the Georgia State Capitol
Dr. Heavenly Kimes, the dentist-entrepreneur and “Married to Medicine” cast member running for Georgia’s 13th Congressional District, has been quietly revolutionizing how small businesses can harness AI for growth—long before it became a political talking point.
From Dental Chairs to Campaign Trails: A Technology Pioneer
For over a decade, Dr. Kimes has integrated cutting-edge AI and automation systems throughout her dental practice, Smiles by Dr. Heavenly. From automated appointment scheduling and patient communication systems to AI-powered diagnostic imaging that helps detect oral health issues earlier than traditional methods, her practice has become a model for how healthcare professionals can leverage technology to improve patient outcomes while maintaining the human touch.
“I’ve seen firsthand how AI is revolutionizing healthcare and helping millions of people receive better, more efficient care,” Dr. Kimes explains. “In my practice, we’ve used AI-powered systems to reduce wait times, improve diagnostic accuracy, and free up our staff to focus on what matters most—building relationships with our patients and providing compassionate care.”
This isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about accessibility. Dr. Kimes’ AI-enhanced practice has been able to serve more patients across metro Atlanta’s underserved communities, using predictive analytics to identify at-risk patients and automated systems to ensure follow-up care doesn’t fall through the cracks.
Bringing Silicon Valley Innovation to Main Street
What sets Dr. Kimes apart from typical political candidates is her practical, boots-on-the-ground understanding of how AI can democratize business success. Her experience spans beyond healthcare into real estate, finance, and now campaign management—all areas where she’s implemented smart automation to level the playing field for smaller operations competing against larger, well-funded competitors.
Her congressional campaign itself showcases this philosophy in action. Using ethical AI tools for voter outreach, data analysis, and volunteer coordination, the Kimes campaign has achieved remarkable efficiency metrics: over 23,000 direct voter contacts since January 2026, precisely targeted outreach across six counties, and a grassroots operation that punches above its weight class.
An Education-First Approach to AI Integration
Dr. Kimes’ vision extends far beyond her own business success. She advocates for comprehensive AI literacy programs in Georgia schools, believing that students—particularly those in underserved districts like parts of the 13th—deserve to graduate with skills that will make them competitive in an AI-driven economy.
“We have a responsibility to ensure that the next generation isn’t just consumers of AI technology, but creators and innovators,” she emphasizes. “That means investing in STEM education, supporting HBCUs in developing AI curricula, and making sure every student in Georgia’s 13th District has access to the tools and training they need to thrive.”
This isn’t abstract policy speak. Dr. Kimes has already begun partnerships with local schools, providing internship opportunities at her practice where students can see AI applications in real-world healthcare settings.
The Ethical AI Imperative
Perhaps most importantly, Dr. Kimes brings a healthcare professional’s understanding of ethics to the AI conversation. Her approach emphasizes transparency, accountability, and human oversight—principles that guided her practice’s technology adoption and now inform her policy positions.
She supports federal frameworks that encourage AI innovation while protecting consumer privacy, worker rights, and fair competition. Her business experience gives her unique insight into how regulation can foster responsible development without stifling the small business innovation that drives economic growth.
“The future of AI isn’t just about the technology—it’s about ensuring that innovation serves humanity and creates opportunities for everyone, not just tech giants,” Dr. Kimes states. “As someone who’s built businesses by embracing these tools ethically and responsibly, I understand both the tremendous potential and the important guardrails we need to put in place.”
A Different Kind of Tech Policy Leader
While Silicon Valley executives and career politicians debate AI from boardrooms and committee hearings, Dr. Kimes offers something different: real-world experience implementing these technologies in ways that create jobs, improve services, and strengthen communities.
Her dental practice employs over a dozen staff members whose roles have evolved—not been eliminated—thanks to AI integration. Her campaign demonstrates how grassroots political operations can compete more effectively using smart technology. And her policy vision reflects an understanding that AI success requires investment in education, infrastructure, and ethical frameworks that work for everyone.
The Georgia Advantage
Georgia is already emerging as a southeastern tech hub, with Atlanta’s growing AI and fintech sectors. Dr. Kimes believes the state—and her district specifically—can lead the nation in showing how AI adoption can drive inclusive economic growth.
From supporting Atlanta’s AI startups to ensuring rural communities have the broadband infrastructure needed for AI-powered telemedicine, her congressional agenda would position Georgia’s 13th District as a model for responsible AI integration.
Looking Forward
As the May 19th primary approaches, Dr. Kimes represents a new generation of political leadership—one that doesn’t fear technological change but embraces it thoughtfully. Her campaign showcases how AI can make political engagement more accessible and effective, while her policy vision promises to bring that same innovative thinking to Washington.
For Georgia’s 13th District, the choice is clear: a candidate who understands AI not as a distant threat or abstract promise, but as a practical tool for building a more prosperous, equitable, and efficient future for all constituents.
In an era when many politicians struggle to understand the technologies reshaping our economy, Dr. Heavenly Kimes offers something invaluable: proven experience making AI work for real people, real businesses, and real communities.
Dr. Heavenly Kimes is running in the Democratic primary for Georgia’s 13th Congressional District. The election is May 19, 2026, with early voting beginning April 27. Learn more at drheavenlyforgeorgia.com
There are moments in culture when someone quietly builds the kind of infrastructure that changes everything — not overnight, not loudly, but steadily, intentionally, and with purpose rooted in community.
Angel Livas is doing exactly that.
As the founder of ALIVE Podcast Network, Livas has grown what began as a small audio platform into a global ecosystem for Black storytellers — a place where voices are not simply amplified, but protected, supported, and positioned to thrive. Four years in, the milestone is not just about numbers. It is about proof that when creators are given ownership of their narratives, something powerful happens.
“We started with two podcasts,” Livas shared during our conversation. “Now there are more than a hundred voices connected through the network. It’s about making sure people know their voice matters.”
And yet, she speaks about growth with humility rather than celebration. For her, success is less about arrival and more about responsibility — the responsibility to keep building, to keep creating space, and to keep pushing forward even when the path feels uncertain.
Building Something Bigger Than Content
ALIVE Podcast Network did not begin as a grand ecosystem. It started with a simple idea: create a home for Black storytelling. But like many visions rooted in purpose, it expanded beyond its original shape.
What was once audio-only now spans streaming television platforms, creator tools, and a growing digital marketplace designed to help entrepreneurs share not only their stories but their products and services.
“I thought it would always be audio,” Livas reflected. “But the vision kept growing. It became about creating a full environment where creators can learn, distribute, and monetize what they build.”
The evolution feels less like a business pivot and more like a natural unfolding — a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful growth happens when we allow vision to expand beyond what we initially imagined.
A Studio at the Center of Influence
One of the most striking developments in the network’s journey is the launch of a state-of-the-art production studio inside Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Building, just steps from the White House.
For Livas, the location is symbolic.
“This isn’t just a podcast studio,” she explained. “It’s a full production space — a place where our stories can exist at the same level as any major broadcast.”
But beyond the technology and lighting rigs lies a deeper intention: ownership.
In a media landscape where shows can disappear overnight and creators often feel replaceable, building a permanent physical space feels like an act of cultural grounding — a declaration that Black creators deserve rooms designed with them in mind.
“I want people to walk in and say, ‘I created something here. I told my story here.’ That’s powerful.”
Leadership Shaped by Fire and Faith
Behind every polished milestone are moments of uncertainty that rarely make headlines. Livas spoke openly about the challenges of stepping into the tech world as a non-technical founder — navigating unfamiliar territory while carrying the weight of investment, expectation, and vision.
“The biggest lesson is perseverance,” she said. “You have to walk through the difficult parts to reach what’s on the other side.”
That perseverance has reshaped her leadership style, teaching patience and the importance of stepping back when necessary.
“Sometimes you have to pull back in order to move forward,” she explained, comparing growth to a toy car that must be wound backward before it races ahead.
It is a reminder that leadership is not always about constant motion — sometimes it is about knowing when to pause, reflect, and realign.
Wellness, Purpose, and the Stories That Heal
Among the network’s newest projects is ALIVE & Well, a show dedicated to founders whose work grows from deeply personal experiences. The inspiration comes from observing how often innovation is born from necessity — from people who create solutions because they could not find them elsewhere.
“It’s about being alive in everything you do,” Livas said. “Not just surviving, but building from a place of wellness and purpose.”
The series reflects a broader shift in storytelling — one that values transparency, healing, and impact over surface-level success.
Giving Flowers Without Conditions
Programs like the Eminence Leader Badge highlight founders making measurable contributions to their communities. Unlike traditional recognition programs driven by sponsorship dollars, this initiative centers community validation.
“I wanted it to come from the people,” Livas said. “Not from someone paying to be seen.”
The philosophy is simple yet powerful: when we celebrate each other authentically, we create ecosystems where success feels collective rather than competitive.
Advice Rooted in Intention
When asked what guidance she would offer aspiring creators, Livas returned to the fundamentals.
“Know your audience. Be consistent. Build systems,” she said. “Structure creates sustainability.”
It is advice that feels less like a formula and more like an invitation — a reminder that building something meaningful requires clarity, discipline, and a willingness to grow beyond comfort.
A Vision Still Unfolding
As ALIVE Podcast Network moves into its next chapter, Livas remains focused not just on expansion but on legacy — building spaces where creators can stand fully in their voice without fear of being erased.
“This isn’t just about content,” she said quietly. “It’s about ownership.”
And in a world where stories are often filtered through someone else’s lens, that ownership may be the most powerful narrative of all.
How Rachell Dumas Turned Nine Pregnancy Losses, Medical Dismissal, and Survival Into a Blueprint for Advocacy
Rachell Dumas, CEO & Founder
Some stories don’t begin with a title or a résumé. They begin with a moment — a moment when your body is sounding an alarm, and the people who are supposed to help you treat it like background noise.
For Rachell Dumas, that moment didn’t happen once.
It happened again and again — across appointments, emergency rooms, pregnancy losses, postpartum complications, and dismissive conversations that demanded she prove pain before she could receive care.
She is a registered nurse with advanced training. She speaks the language of medicine. She understands charts, protocols, and systems. And still, she found herself in the same position too many Black women know intimately: trying to survive a system that doesn’t always believe you deserve to.
“I had a different lens when it came to what patients go through,” she told me. “Once I became pregnant and started that journey, I experienced racism in the healthcare system — being dismissed, being medically gaslit.”
Then she said something that should stop all of us cold.
She had to fly from Atlanta to Dallas to save a pregnancy — because her concerns weren’t being taken seriously at home.
That experience wasn’t just traumatic. It was clarifying.
Because sometimes pain doesn’t just break you — it reveals what has been broken all along.
A Turning Point That Should Never Have Happened
In 2020, Rachell was pregnant with twins. She was bleeding. She went to the emergency room, followed up with her OB, and later returned with severe pain — “10 out of 10,” she said — vomiting, sick, and certain something was wrong.
She describes being sent home. Dismissed.
Then she lost one baby.
Later, on the day of her gender reveal, she woke up wet, went to the bathroom — and lost the other baby.
When she returned to the hospital and told the doctor what happened, the doctor questioned whether she had even been pregnant.
Rachell Dumas with her baby
From Personal Pain to Public Purpose
Rachell has been a nurse for nearly a decade, but her experience as a patient transformed how she understood medicine.
“Now I started to look at what patients go through from a patient’s lens,” she explained. “People can’t always speak the medical jargon to advocate for themselves. They know something is wrong, but they don’t always have the language — and they don’t know what they don’t know.”
That gap became her mission.
It’s why she founded A Light After Nine, a nonprofit supporting not only mothers but entire villages — families navigating pregnancy loss, infertility, and maternal trauma through education, advocacy, and community.
Because loss doesn’t land on one person.
It lands on relationships, identities, bodies, and futures.
And too often, people are expected to carry it quietly.
HEARD Was Born When Even Her Degrees Didn’t Protect Her
After giving birth to her son, Rachell thought the medical trauma might finally be behind her.
It wasn’t.
Six months postpartum, she woke up with vision loss and stroke-like symptoms. She went to the hospital, explained what was happening, and says she was misdiagnosed with a stomach bug — sent home without vision.
So she did what too many patients are forced to do: she sought care elsewhere.
At another ER, she was placed into stroke protocol and diagnosed with a rare brain condition — idiopathic intracranial hypertension — caused by fluid building up in her head. She later underwent two brain surgeries.
Even as a nurse. Even with medical knowledge. Even speaking the language.
She still had to research, advocate, and fight for her own care.
Her conclusion was simple and powerful:
If she had to do all that, what happens to the patient who doesn’t know where to start?
That’s why she created HEARD, a patient advocacy platform designed to help people document concerns, communicate clearly with providers, and escalate when they feel dismissed or unsafe.
“Patients cannot do these things and don’t have these resources,” she said. “So I created HEARD to level the playing field.”
The Real Problem Isn’t the Patient
When I asked why so many patients feel unheard, Rachell didn’t blame the people already suffering.
She named the truth.
“It’s not really a patient issue. It’s really the provider issue.”
Patients become exhausted. After repeating symptoms again and again without being believed, many stop trying. And healthcare systems aren’t always designed for clarity or compassion.
Her advice was practical and powerful:
Bring someone with you. Someone who can listen, take notes, and help repeat your story back when you’re tired.
She also addressed an uncomfortable reality — medical jargon still influences who gets listened to.
That’s why platforms like HEARD matter. They help patients translate lived experience into language the system respects.
A Personal Question, and a Grounding Answer
As a 28-year-old Black woman who hasn’t had children yet, I asked what many women are thinking but don’t always say out loud: I’m afraid of not being listened to. I’ve considered home birth, a doula — anything that feels safer.
Her answer started before pregnancy even begins.
She emphasized preconception care — thorough checkups, labs, understanding your baseline health — so issues are identified early instead of discovered during crisis.
Then she said it plainly:
“Get you a doula as soon as possible. The research shows having a doula improves healthcare outcomes… They bridge the gap.”
A doula helps interpret, advocate, communicate, and hold steady when your body is doing something entirely new.
Because pregnancy can be beautiful — and exhausting.
And no one should navigate it alone.
Trauma-Informed Care Looks Like Preparation, Respect, and Listening
When I asked what trauma-informed care should truly look like, Rachell described something simple — and radical.
Know your patient before entering the room.
Make appointments meaningful.
Ask about mental health, financial stressors, and support systems.
Include partners and families instead of sidelining them.
Above all, listen and believe your patient.
It sounds basic.
And yet it is the piece most often missing.
What Needs to Change: Research, Access, and Affordability
Rachell’s vision for maternal health equity bridges policy and humanity.
She highlighted the need for inclusive research — because when Black patients aren’t represented in studies, treatments may not reflect our realities.
She also spoke about coverage gaps and rising costs. When care becomes unaffordable, patients delay visits — and delayed care often turns preventable issues into emergencies.
Affordable healthcare isn’t a luxury.
It is how we reduce harm.
It is how we keep mothers alive.
Sometimes the Best Support Is Silence
One of the most powerful moments in our conversation came when I asked what validation looks like during grief.
Her answer wasn’t a script. It was honesty.
“Sometimes we don’t have to say anything,” she said. “We just need to share silence with people.”
Because even well-intentioned words can miss the mark.
Instead of performing comfort, she encourages presence. Accountability. Listening without needing to fix.
A Legacy Measured in Lives Saved
When I asked what legacy she hopes A Light After Nine and HEARD will leave, her answer was expansive.
“I hope that billions of people are able to save their lives, or save the lives of others through advocacy.”
And then she spoke about her son — a three-year-old toddler whose existence reflects resilience, survival, and purpose.
Before we ended, she reassured me:
There are more positive birth stories than negative ones.
But the negative ones are loud, harmful, and devastating enough that preparation, advocacy, and supportive care are non-negotiable.
“Advocate for yourself,” she said. “Get that support… and leave if they’re not paying attention.”
If you have ever walked out of a doctor’s office with more questions than answers, if you have ever felt rushed, unheard, or quietly dismissed, I want to begin here: what you felt was real. Too many Black patients leave medical spaces carrying not just diagnoses, but doubt—about whether their pain mattered, whether their concerns were taken seriously, and whether they were seen as fully human.
For many Black families, healthcare does not feel neutral. It feels fragile. It feels conditional. And too often, it feels like survival depends on how much you are willing to advocate for yourself.
In a deeply honest conversation on social justice and equity in the medical space, advocate Angela Greene and physician Dr. Eboni January named what so many people experience but struggle to articulate: healthcare inequity is not random. It is systemic. It is shaped by power, policy, and whose lives have historically been valued.
“Healthcare inequity boils down to who has money and who has power,” Greene said. “This system was never built to be fair, and it was never built with us in mind.”
Naming the System, Not the Individual
Angela Greene did not frame this issue as a collection of unfortunate moments or individual failures. She spoke about systems—the structures that quietly shape outcomes long before a patient ever enters an exam room. Repeated dismissal, she explained, sends a message that does not end when the appointment does.
“It reinforces the message that we don’t matter, that we don’t belong, or that we’re not worthy,” Greene said.
Over time, those messages settle into the body. They shape how people view their health, their worth, and whether seeking care feels safe at all. Mistrust is not something communities invent. It is something they learn through lived experience.
Physician & Black Maternal Health Advocate, Dr. Eboni January
A Doctor Who Knows Both Sides of the Exam Room
Dr. Eboni January offered a perspective that bridges two worlds—the clinician and the patient. She understands the system because she works within it. She understands the harm because she has lived it.
“I’m fighting two wars,” she said. “The same biases my patients face, I face too.”
She described bias not as an abstract idea, but as something that shows up in daily interactions—professional disrespect, assumptions about intelligence, and the dangerous minimization of symptoms. These experiences do not disappear at the end of a shift. They accumulate. They exhaust. And over time, they push many physicians of color out of the field entirely.
“We’re exiting the field or not going into it at all because of the biases presented to us,” Dr. January said.
When doctors of color leave medicine, communities lose more than representation. They lose trust. They lose advocates. And they lose access to care that feels safe.
Why Access Alone Is Not Enough
One of the most common misconceptions about healthcare is that access guarantees fairness. Greene and Dr. January made clear that this belief does not match reality.
“No matter your education or economic status, you are still at risk,” Dr. January said. “Equal access does not mean equal outcomes.”
Black patients may enter the same hospitals, see the same technology, and still receive different care. Delays in treatment, assumptions about pain tolerance, and less urgency—particularly in high-stakes moments—continue to shape outcomes. When trust erodes, people wait longer to seek help. Preventive care is postponed. Emergencies become the entry point into the system.
And the cycle repeats.
The Harm We Don’t Measure
Some of the most lasting damage caused by medical dismissal cannot be found in charts or discharge summaries. It lives in fear. It lives in hesitation. It lives in the quiet decision to stop going to the doctor altogether.
“When patients don’t trust the system, they avoid care until it’s an emergency,” Dr. January said. “And that creates a vicious cycle.”
This cycle is often passed down. Children watch how their parents are treated. Families share stories of being ignored or dismissed. Long before someone schedules their own appointment, they have already learned what to expect.
The Myth of Neutral Healthcare
The belief that healthcare is neutral often belongs to those who have never been harmed by it. As Dr. January explained, “Your perspective becomes your reality.”
For families who have witnessed loved ones restrained, ignored, or threatened for advocating for themselves, neutrality is not an abstraction. It is a myth. Bias does not always announce itself loudly. More often, it hides in policy, in silence, and in decisions delayed just long enough to cause harm.
What Real Change Requires
Both Greene and Dr. January agreed that meaningful change requires more than statements or good intentions. It requires accountability. It requires systems that value culturally competent care. It requires training that is ongoing, measurable, and tied to real outcomes.
Dr. January emphasized education—not just for providers, but for patients—so people are empowered to advocate for themselves with clarity and confidence.
“Give yourself a fighting chance against racism,” she said.
Greene reminded us that advocacy and visibility are essential tools for accountability.
“If we don’t tell these stories, who else is going to do it?” she asked.
Why These Stories Matter
Dr. Eboni January
Stories are not distractions from data. They are how truth becomes undeniable. Black media plays a vital role in connecting history to present-day outcomes and helping communities understand what care should look like—and what should never be accepted as normal.
“When you don’t have a doctor who looks like you, you’re going to have a problem,” Greene said, pointing to the widening gap between patients and providers they trust.
A Conversation That Stays With You
This discussion reflected the lived realities of countless Black families—ignored pain, delayed diagnoses, and consequences that could have been prevented if someone had simply listened.
Healthcare inequity affects real bodies. Real families. Real futures.
And as this conversation makes clear, equity in the medical space is not a luxury. It is not optional. It is urgent. It is personal. And it is long overdue.
CEO/Founder of Financial Revolutionn, Aaliyah Duah
Some people talk about wealth. Aaliyah Duah is building a whole movement around it — and she’s doing it in a way Gen Z can actually understand, connect to, and enjoy.
In our sit-down, Aaliyah broke down how she started Financial Revolutionn as a teenager, why she refuses to teach finance in a boring way, and how she’s using games, media, and real-life examples to shift how young people think about money — starting now, not “one day.”
“I saw us with $1,000 shoes and $0 in our pockets.”
Aaliyah told me she was exposed to entrepreneurship early — both of her parents are entrepreneurs — but what really pushed her was watching her generation make money choices without the right tools.
She said the difference wasn’t that finance was “boring.” It was that she had to figure out how to make people care — because people already knew her as the “basketball and jokes” girl, not the finance girl.
Then one day, she made a decision: “I’m gonna start a financial revolution.” She created the page, committed to the mission, and didn’t look back.
The book that flipped the switch
When Aaliyah started reading Rich Dad Poor Dad, it challenged what she thought she knew about money. That opened the door to everything else — podcasts, books, learning the language of wealth — until she reached a point where keeping it to herself didn’t feel right.
She explained that this information doesn’t just affect one person. It spreads.
“If I can get my peers on a revolution… they can impact their circles too. It becomes a domino effect.”
The #1 thing Gen Z is missing: starting NOW
One of the biggest gems Aaliyah dropped was simple, but powerful:
If you can’t budget with $10, you won’t budget with $10,000.
She believes Gen Z often waits to “have money” before building habits — but the habits are what create stability when the money comes.
The biggest early mistake: listening to too many voices
Aaliyah didn’t give the usual internet answer. She said one of the biggest mistakes young people make is over-consuming advice.
With so many people online yelling “Do this! Do that!” it creates confusion — and confusion leads to doing nothing.
Her advice: pick one or two trusted sources for financial guidance, and focus.
Why she made a game instead of a class
Aaliyah made it clear: finance is serious, but learning it doesn’t have to feel like punishment.
She created Broke or Brilliant, a financial literacy game built around competition, fun, and those “aha!” moments people remember.
And when we actually started playing on camera? The energy shifted instantly — laughing, guessing, learning, and turning missed answers into teaching moments.
That’s the point.
“People learn when it’s fun… when it’s a moment.”
A game-to-game moment: Culture Ticket meets Broke or Brilliant
Broke or Brilliant card game
Since I have my own game (Culture Ticket Revoked), we had a dope exchange where we played each other’s styles.
She asked me a question from Broke or Brilliant — and I got introduced to the 529 plan (a college savings plan for kids). What I loved most? The game doesn’t just tell you you’re wrong — it
tells you why, so it becomes knowledge you can actually use.
Then I hit her with my Culture Ticket music questions… and let’s just say, we had a few “brain freeze” moments on BOTH sides. 😭
That part of the interview was important because it showed something real: even smart people blank sometimes — but the learning sticks when it’s interactive.
Being a young Black woman in finance spaces
Aaliyah said she doesn’t let demographics intimidate her. She walks into rooms knowing she deserves to be there — and she stays confident by staying prepared.
Her mindset is simple: confidence comes from pouring into yourself.
The “3 money moves” Aaliyah wants people to make
When I asked what someone can do today if they feel behind, she gave practical steps:
Open a high-yield savings account (instead of a regular savings account)
Open a brokerage account
Start investing consistently — even if it’s small
Her message was loud and clear: you don’t need to wait for the “perfect” moment to start building your future.
The legacy she’s building
Aaliyah’s ultimate goal isn’t just teaching people finance. It’s teaching people that it starts with them.
And when one person shifts, it impacts families, circles, communities — and creates opportunities that can last beyond one lifetime.
Tap in with Aaliyah Duah
To learn more, follow Aaliyah’s work and check out her platform here: Financial Revolutionn:
In an era where visibility is often confused with virality, Kayla Tucker Adams stands firmly in a different lane—one rooted in truth, strategy, and long-term impact.
As an award-winning public relations executive and the founder of KTA Media Group, Kayla has spent more than two decades shaping narratives that don’t just make noise, but move people. From Fortune 100 companies and national nonprofits to education leaders, authors, and change-makers, her work proves one thing: PR isn’t about spin—it’s about storytelling with integrity.
I sat down with Kayla in Atlanta for a candid conversation about leadership, representation, crisis, mentorship, and what it really takes to build a brand that lasts.
From the Church Aisle to the Media Spotlight
Kayla’s journey into communications didn’t begin in a boardroom—it began in the church.
Raised in Texas, she discovered her gift for communication early on through Easter and Christmas speeches, Sunday school teaching, and youth leadership roles. Public speaking wasn’t something she learned to overcome—it was something she naturally embraced.
“I was never afraid to get up and speak,” Kayla shared. “That confidence and love for storytelling started very young.”
Inspired by legendary media figures like Oprah Winfrey and trailblazing Black anchors in the Dallas–Fort Worth market, Kayla pursued a degree in radio and television broadcasting with a minor in business—laying the groundwork for what would become a powerhouse career in public relations.
Why PR Is Strategy—Not Spin
One of Kayla’s strongest convictions is also one of her boldest: PR without strategy is ineffective.
At KTA Media Group, every client relationship begins with deep listening. Before pitching a single outlet, Kayla wants to understand how clients see themselves—and why.
“Your brand story is the foundation. Without it, visibility won’t land where it needs to.”
Her team builds detailed PR and visibility roadmaps—strategic blueprints that guide everything from messaging and media placement to long-term brand elevation. The goal isn’t just press; it’s progression.
The Two Biggest Gaps Brands Walk In With
According to Kayla, most clients arrive with passion—but often missing two critical pieces:
The right budget
Realistic timelines
Many people understand they need exposure but don’t fully grasp the difference between PR and marketing—or the time it takes to build credibility from the ground up.
“Visibility is built, not rushed,” she explained. “We don’t wake up one day and land national TV without a foundation.”
Leadership, Flexibility, and Unlearning Limits
As a Black woman leading in high-stakes spaces, Kayla credits adaptability as one of her greatest leadership lessons.
She also had to unlearn something surprising: saying no too soon.
“I learned never to say what I don’t do,” she said. “Because growth will stretch you into spaces you never expected.”
That openness has allowed KTA Media Group to expand into advocacy, policy-adjacent work, entertainment, and industries far beyond its original scope—without losing its strategic core.
Narrative Equity: Why Representation Still Matters
In today’s political and media climate, Kayla believes narrative equity is non-negotiable.
She emphasizes the continued importance of Black and minority media—not just for representation, but for accuracy, cultural context, and truth.
“We tell our stories better. And we tell them with responsibility to our communities.”
From global education stories to culturally nuanced coverage, Kayla’s work highlights what’s at stake when stories are misrepresented—or not told at all.
Crisis Management: Less Talking, More Truth
When brands face crisis, Kayla sees one mistake more than any other: talking too much, too fast.
Social media reactions, premature statements, and defensive responses often make situations worse. Her advice?
Stop. Assess. Tell the truth. Investigate. Then rebuild.
“Even if the narrative isn’t true, the crisis still happened—and your brand still needs repair.”
PR as a Tool for Real Community Change
Some of Kayla’s favorite work lives at the intersection of visibility and service.
From scholarship programs and food drives to community give-backs and nonprofit partnerships, she believes PR should amplify impact—not ego.
“When people see leaders doing good, it inspires them to do good too. Influence creates ripple effects.”
Mentorship as a Responsibility, Not a Bonus
Mentorship isn’t an add-on for Kayla—it’s a calling.
She regularly speaks at colleges and universities, hires interns who grow into leaders, and pours into young professionals navigating PR without a roadmap.
One press release lesson from a legendary journalist early in her career still shapes how her team writes today—a reminder that knowledge shared can change generations.
Rest, Boundaries, and Sustainability
Despite working long hours, Kayla is intentional about self-care.
Her priorities are clear: prayer, movement, health, and boundaries.
“I’m not scheduling meetings before my workout,” she said plainly. “That’s non-negotiable.”
Her philosophy is simple: the work will always be there—but you have to be well enough to do it.
Advice for Women Seeking Visibility
For women who want to be seen but don’t know where to start, Kayla’s advice is direct:
Execute.
Start with free tools. Share your journey. Speak. Volunteer. Collaborate.
KTA MEDIA GROUP
“Your gifts will make room for you—but only if you use them.”
Visibility follows courage, consistency, and collaboration.
Closing Thoughts
Kayla Tucker Adams isn’t just building brands—she’s shaping legacies. Through truth-centered storytelling, strategic vision, and deep community investment, she reminds us that public relations, at its best, is public service.
Aaliyah Duah didn’t start her company, Financial Revolutionn because finance felt trendy. She started it because she noticed something was missing in her community and among her peers: the knowledge to build real wealth.
Growing up in New York City, Duah watched how money was used in ways that felt familiar to many young people—spending on clothes, food, and whatever might impress others. “That’s all we did,” she said. “That’s all we valued.” But reading books at a young age shifted her perspective. The more she learned, the more she realized that the financial habits around her weren’t accidental—they were shaped by what people were taught to prioritize.
“We’re taught how to spend our money, how to make money for other people,” she explained. “But we’re not taught how to make money for ourselves and actually how to build wealth.” When she looked around, the bigger picture became impossible to ignore: many neighborhoods lacked true ownership and long-term assets. Duah knew that if young people could get access to the right information early, they could rewrite that story.
Building Financial Revolution for Her Generation
She also recognized a second barrier: the delivery. Traditional financial education can feel boring, disconnected, and hard to apply—especially to teens and young adults who are already overloaded with information. Duah believed she could close that gap by meeting her generation where they are.
Her approach centers on making financial literacy fun, relatable, and practical—without sounding like “that financial person” who walks into a room and loses the audience before the lesson even begins. “I knew I had the ability to relate to my peers and teach them what they needed to know in a way that is fun,” she said.
That vision has only expanded as her platform has grown.
Taking the Stage at InvestFest and Beyond
Duah recently spoke at InvestFest, where she hosted a panel alongside Travis Brown and Council Member Kevin Riley. Their conversation connected the dots between policy, politics, and education—highlighting how systemic issues inside schools can directly shape what young people do, and don’t, learn about money and opportunity.
For Duah, the takeaway wasn’t simply about pointing out what’s broken—it was about the responsibility to advocate. “We have to demand more,” she said, noting that many schools, particularly those serving Black communities, need stronger resources and support. “We have to speak up and we can’t just be okay with the problems we see.”
Meeting Students Where They Are
Her work doesn’t stop at public conversations. Duah shared that she runs financial literacy programming in 25 schools across New York City, working with both middle and high school students. Through those programs, she’s learned that attention is the real currency—and if young people don’t feel engaged, the most valuable information in the world won’t land.
“You can’t just feed people a whole bunch of information,” she said. “You have to have activities. You have to make it real for people.” Her goal is to show students where financial literacy already exists in their daily lives and why it matters, before asking them to change their habits.
Turning Financial Education Into a Game
To make those lessons stick, Duah created games that transform finance education into something interactive. One is a trivia-based game called Broke or Brilliant, where players answer financial questions and earn currency cards for correct responses. Another, called Rap Cards, uses rap lyrics to teach financial terms—because, as Duah pointed out, much of the music young people listen to already references money.
Her approach is simple: if culture shapes behavior, then culture can help teach better behavior, too.
Reimagining the Game Show Format
Building on that momentum, Duah is developing a live concept called the Broke or Brilliant Game Show, which she describes as a blend of Jeopardy, Family Feud, and Wild ’N Out—except the questions are rooted in real-life financial situations.
Unlike many entertainment game shows, her model is designed to make learning part of the experience. She wants people thinking on their feet, answering questions like “What’s a Roth IRA?” and leaving not only entertained, but smarter.
Duah also sees this format as a way to build community. She envisions Greek-letter organizations competing, crowds coming together, and financial literacy becoming something people want to attend—not something they avoid.
Redefining Wealth and Legacy
At the heart of Financial Revolutionn is a bigger belief about wealth: it isn’t just financial. It’s also the ability to help others become self-sufficient.
“I want future generations to understand the power of doing things themselves,” Duah said. “A lot of times we just lack the information.” She believes that giving young people the tools to build their own wealth creates a ripple effect—because those individuals can then turn around and help others do the same.
Walking Into Rooms—and Bringing Others With You
That philosophy also shapes how she moves through spaces where there aren’t many people who look like her. For Duah, it starts with knowing who you are in every room, being prepared, and refusing to be shaken by doubt. And once she gets access, she tries to widen the door. “The next time I get there, bring somebody else with me,” she said.
She shared how she attended InvestFest alone as a teenager—flying to Atlanta, renting a car, and showing up by herself. The next time, she brought her friends. She described a similar mindset shift after visiting Ghana, which changed her perspective so much that she began exploring how to bring HBCU students on future trips for the same experience.
The Truth About Entrepreneurship
Duah is also clear-eyed about entrepreneurship. She cautions against believing the social media version of success, where a quick e-book and a viral post equal instant wealth.
“That’s not entrepreneurship,” she said. Entrepreneurship is the unglamorous work—handling taxes, scaling, managing people, meeting deadlines, and figuring out how to fund a big vision. It’s consistency and discipline, not a highlight reel.
Advice for the Next Generation
That same realism shows up in her advice to young people unsure where to start. Duah says the first step is belief—because mindset drives action. The second step is simply starting, especially when it comes to investing. She encourages young people to begin with whatever they can afford, emphasizing that time is the advantage they have right now.
She also recommends building the habit of saving through a high-yield savings account, even if it’s just small weekly deposits. Her point is that discipline scales. The habit that helped her save $25 a week in college is the same habit that allows her to save far more today.
“The only thing that’s changing is the amount,” she said. “But the mindset, the discipline, none of that changes.”
A Movement Built for the Future
In a world full of distractions, Aaliyah Duah is focused on one thing: getting and keeping Gen Z’s attention long enough to change their financial future.
Through education, culture, games, and community, she’s proving that financial literacy doesn’t have to feel intimidating. It can feel like something young people own—because for her, that’s the point.
For more, follow on social: @AaliyahDuah & @FinancialRevolutionn
Security has become increasingly complex, and few professionals can claim the unique blend of athletic discipline, law enforcement expertise, and entrepreneurial vision that defines Thomas Ricks. His journey from high school football fields to professional stadiums, and ultimately to the boardrooms and red carpets where he now protects some of the most recognizable names in sports and entertainment, represents more than just a career evolution—it’s a testament to the power of purpose-driven service and the enduring impact of true leadership.
“Thomas Ricks… is a guy who was raised in a household rooted in service, right, protection, values, with discipline,” he reflects on his foundation. This philosophy has guided every transition in his remarkable career, from SWAC legend to SWAT operator, from US Marshal to the co-founder of Bricks Enterprises, one of Atlanta’s premier security firms. His story illustrates how the principles learned in one arena can transform and elevate performance in entirely different fields, creating a legacy that extends far beyond any single accomplishment.
Within the HBCU community, Ricks is remembered not just as an exceptional athlete, but as a symbol of perseverance, dedication, and the transformative power of seizing opportunity when it finally arrives. His journey from patient backup to All-American quarterback serves as inspiration for countless young athletes who understand that success isn’t always immediate—sometimes it requires years of preparation, unwavering commitment, and the wisdom to recognize that every moment of struggle is preparation for greatness.
Rooted in Service: A Foundation of Integrity
The seeds of Ricks’s commitment to service were planted early in a household where integrity wasn’t just taught—it was lived daily. His father, a 22-year military veteran, provided a blueprint for principled leadership, while his mother’s 30-year career as a school teacher demonstrated the value of dedicated public service. “I had a duty to have integrity that was instilled in me at an early age,” Ricks explains. “I’ve always had a love for the uniform.”
This foundation became even more crucial when, at 18, Ricks faced a life-defining moment that would accelerate his maturity and sharpen his sense of purpose. In an NBC Sports interview during the 2004 Bayou Classic (Southern University vs. Grambling State University) game, he reflected on this pivotal time: “I have a four-year-old son and you know when he was born I had to grow up fast. And, just staying in school and practicing every day… so he can have a better future, it’s just been my inspiration so you know I just think that’s my motive that drives me and keeps me in the game.”
This early responsibility didn’t derail his ambitions—it refined them. The young father channeled the discipline and structure from his upbringing into achieving excellence both on the field and in life. The values that guided him during those formative years would later become the cornerstone of his approach to leadership in every arena he would enter. Whether commanding respect in a huddle, leading a SWAT team through dangerous operations, or building trust with high-profile clients, the lessons learned from balancing fatherhood with athletic aspirations created a foundation of maturity that set him apart from his peers.
“You got to have your reasons why,” he emphasizes, describing how his son became both his anchor and his motivation. Rather than viewing teenage fatherhood as an obstacle, Ricks transformed it into fuel for his drive to succeed at the highest levels. This perspective—seeing challenges as opportunities for growth rather than barriers to success—would become a defining characteristic throughout his diverse career.
The values instilled by his parents created an internal compass that guided his decisions even in environments where young athletes often lose their way. “If I thought of something, or thought to do something that would disappoint him or make him look at me sideways, then I would reconsider,” he says of his father’s influence. This moral framework would prove invaluable as he navigated the pressures of college and professional sports, later serving as the ethical foundation for his work in law enforcement and private security.
The discipline required to excel academically while managing the demands of Division I athletics and early fatherhood created a work ethic that would distinguish Ricks throughout his career. His ability to compartmentalize responsibilities, maintain focus under pressure, and consistently perform at high levels regardless of external circumstances became hallmarks of his professional approach in every field he would later enter.
The All-American Quarterback: A Legend in the Making
“I just wish he would have had more time… he is the epitome of ‘I stuck with the program and when they finally gave me my opportunity’ he made the absolute best out of it. Everything you saw was out of one year of his body of work,” reflects Perry White (On The Yard Network, Youtube) in the Off Script Channel’s video “SWAC RUMBLE: Who’s the REAL Legend? Ricks, Hymes, Luke or Carrie?!” This sentiment captures the essence of Thomas Ricks’s collegiate legacy—not just as an exceptional athlete, but as a testament to the power of perseverance and the impact one can make when preparation meets opportunity.
At Southern University, Ricks transformed from a promising recruit into one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), becoming what many consider a true legend within the HBCU community. His journey to becoming the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2004 wasn’t a straight path—it was a masterclass in patience, preparation, and the kind of leadership that transcends traditional metrics.
Initially recruited as a quarterback, Ricks spent his first two collegiate years playing safety, demonstrating the versatility and team-first mentality that would become his trademark. “In college, my first year, I was brought in as a quarterback… my freshman year and sophomore year, I played safety, like, I was a strong safety, and then transitioned back to quarterback my junior and senior year,” he recalls. This positional flexibility taught him to see the game from multiple perspectives—a skill that would later prove invaluable in his security career, where understanding different viewpoints and anticipating various scenarios are crucial for success.
What made Ricks’s eventual success even more remarkable was the respect he commanded from his teammates despite his unconventional path to the starting position. As noted in the SWAC RUMBLE discussion, “The respect factor that he gets from his teammates is incredible. As a fifth year senior he’s never started… they elected him captain.” This extraordinary vote of confidence speaks to the character and leadership qualities that his teammates recognized long before the wider world would witness his on-field brilliance.
When Ricks finally claimed the starting quarterback position for his senior season, he didn’t just succeed—he dominated in a way that redefined what was possible. The 2004 season marked his crowning achievement, as he led Southern University to the SWAC Championship Game for a second consecutive year while earning All-American honors. His dual-threat performance that season was nothing short of spectacular: 2,786 passing yards with 24 touchdowns through the air, while simultaneously leading the team in rushing with 694 yards and 9 additional touchdowns on the ground. Highlight Reel:
These numbers tell only part of the story. What made Ricks truly exceptional was his ability to elevate everyone around him. His leadership style—patient, inclusive, and built on mutual respect—created a team dynamic that maximized the potential of every player. Teammates who had watched him wait his turn, contribute wherever needed, and maintain unwavering dedication to the program’s success, responded with fierce loyalty and elevated performance.
“I’ve always been that, been that guy, to be able to, you know what I’m saying, put myself in a position to make it work,” he reflects on his ability to adapt and excel in changing circumstances. This philosophy—making the most of every opportunity while preparing for the next one—became the foundation for his success not just in football, but in every subsequent career transition.
His college highlights showcase not just athletic ability but the mental toughness and strategic thinking that would define his later career. Whether scrambling out of the pocket to extend plays or making split-second decisions under pressure, Ricks demonstrated the composure and quick thinking that would serve him well in high-stakes security situations. Beyond football, he was also a dual-sport athlete, competing in track and field, which further developed his physical conditioning, competitive drive, and understanding of individual excellence within team frameworks.
Ricks earned his Bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation and Leisure Studies from Southern University, demonstrating his commitment to both athletic and academic excellence. This educational foundation, combined with his athletic achievements, created a well-rounded profile that would serve him throughout his diverse career. Later, recognizing the importance of business acumen in his evolving professional journey, he earned his Master of Business Administration from Columbia Southern University in March 2019, bringing strategic insight to complement his operational expertise.
Following his collegiate success, Ricks continued his football career professionally, playing in Arena Football 2 with the Alabama Steeldogs and the Albany Conquest, and later in the Austrian Football League with the Graz Giants. These experiences broadened his perspective and reinforced his ability to adapt to new environments, different playing styles, and diverse team cultures—skills that would prove essential as he transitioned into entirely different career fields. The international experience, in particular, taught him to communicate effectively across cultural barriers and adapt his leadership style to different contexts, abilities that would later distinguish him in the global security industry.
The Evolution of a Protector: From the Field to the Force
Ricks during his time as a U.S. Marshal
Ricks’s introduction to security began unconventionally—as an 18-year-old bouncer in Baton Rouge clubs while pursuing his college football career. “Not knowing what I was doing, but I was there. I had muscles, a stature, and I can handle myself,” he recalls with characteristic humility. This early exposure to security work planted the entrepreneurial seeds that would later flourish, while also providing him with ground-level understanding of crowd dynamics, conflict de-escalation, and the importance of projecting calm authority in volatile situations.
His athletic prowess led him from college All-American honors to professional football, but the call to serve in a different capacity grew stronger as his son got older. The same leadership qualities that made him a team captain and the patience that defined his college career informed his decision-making as his priorities evolved. After retiring from professional sports in 2008, Ricks made a deliberate choice to prioritize fatherhood and explore new avenues for service. “The only reason I did retire from pro ball… is because I was a early… teenage father, and my son was getting older, and Daddy was away all the time,” he explains. “I retired, went home, stabilized my home, and became a father to my son.”
This decision, like his patient approach to earning the starting quarterback position, demonstrated his ability to see beyond immediate gratification toward longer-term goals and responsibilities. The leadership lessons learned from waiting his turn, supporting teammates, and maximizing limited opportunities directly translated to his approach as both a father and a future law enforcement professional.
The transition into law enforcement wasn’t just a career change—it was a natural evolution of his service-oriented mindset and leadership abilities. Ricks didn’t simply join the force—he excelled rapidly, serving in key leadership roles with the United States Marshals Service and rising to Lieutenant in Special Operations with the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office. His diverse experience investigating “murders, rapes, robberies, just any type of different heinous crime” provided him with a comprehensive understanding of threat assessment and crisis management that would prove invaluable in his later career.
The same qualities that made him an effective team captain—calm under pressure, ability to read situations quickly, and natural command of respect—translated seamlessly to law enforcement. His approach to building team cohesion, developed through years of bringing together diverse personalities in athletic settings, proved invaluable when leading tactical units where trust and coordination can mean the difference between life and death.
His commitment to excellence in law enforcement led him to pursue elite-level training at the Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC), where he mastered essential security skills typically reserved for federal agents operating in high-threat international environments. This advanced training encompassed surveillance detection, emergency medical response, IED recognition, advanced firearms proficiency, and defensive driving maneuvers. He also completed the Protective Service Operations Training Program (PSOTP), gaining specialized instruction in protecting high-profile individuals and dignitaries against criminal and terrorist threats, including hands-on experience in motorcade operations and comprehensive mission planning.
The discipline required for this elite training mirrored the dedication that characterized his athletic career—long hours of preparation, attention to detail, and the understanding that excellence comes from mastering fundamentals while continuously pushing personal limits. The strategic thinking developed through years of reading defenses and anticipating opponent moves translated directly to threat assessment and tactical planning.
The transition from law enforcement to private security wasn’t just about changing employers—it represented an evolution in how Ricks viewed protection. He draws a critical distinction between reactive and proactive security approaches: “That’s the difference between executive protection and a bodyguard… But how do you avoid that? So that’s part of being a professional.”
This philosophy emphasizes prevention over reaction, planning over improvisation—principles that echo his approach to football, where success came from extensive preparation and anticipating various scenarios. “You always go into things with a plan. You need to know certain information in order to construct this plan,” he explains. His approach involves comprehensive advance work: knowing exit routes, hospital locations, police response times, and venue security protocols before clients even arrive. This meticulous preparation transforms potential chaos into controlled environments where clients can focus on their objectives while feeling completely secure.
Bricks Enterprises: A New Chapter in Security Excellence
Tatiana Brown and Thomas Ricks, Co-Founders, Bricks Enterprises
The founding of Bricks Enterprises represents the culmination of Ricks’s diverse experiences and his partnership with Tatiana Brown, whose military background and extensive human resources expertise complement his operational skills. The company name itself tells a story of collaboration and remembrance—combining their surnames (Brown and Ricks) while honoring her late husband, Naim Brown, who passed away in a car accident.
“She has an extensive background. She’s former military and an extensive background in human resources combined with my background, so it’s a power team,” Ricks explains. This partnership creates a full-service security firm that offers executive protection, commercial and residential security, large-scale event management, and private investigations—all delivered with what Ricks describes as “proactive, professional, and high-impact security solutions for clients across industries.”
The leadership principles that made Ricks a respected team captain—building trust through consistency, leading by example, and maintaining high standards—form the foundation of Bricks Enterprises’ company culture. Just as he elevated his teammates’ performance through his approach to preparation and professionalism, Ricks has built an organization where every team member understands that their individual excellence contributes to collective success.
What sets Bricks Enterprises apart in a crowded field is their client-centric philosophy, rooted in the relationship-building skills Ricks developed throughout his athletic and law enforcement careers. “It’s definitely a relationship driven world,” Ricks notes. “If your client, or the person that you’re dealing with does not feel safe, then you’re spinning your wheels and you’re making no progress.” This understanding goes beyond physical security to encompass the psychological comfort that allows clients to function normally in potentially threatening environments.
The firm’s evolution reflects broader changes in the security industry, particularly the integration of physical and digital protection. Ricks’s cybersecurity training, developed during his time protecting high-profile officials, adds another layer of comprehensive security. “I don’t know if this is a trend now in the industry, but it just makes so much sense to pair your physical and your cyber security,” he observes. This holistic approach recognizes that modern threats often begin in digital spaces before manifesting in physical confrontations.
Ricks on assignment: NBA star Anthony Davis (left), and WNBA star Brittney Griner (right)
Bricks Enterprises has established itself by securing major events including the Super Bowl and BET Awards, and providing ongoing protection for WNBA teams. Each engagement requires customized security plans that consider the specific venue, client needs, and potential threat vectors. “You got to know, again, from the very beginning what your resources are, first of all, and then, second of all, what are the possible threats? How do you mitigate those threats?” Ricks explains.
The same analytical approach that made him an effective quarterback—studying opponent tendencies, identifying weaknesses, and developing multiple contingency plans—now drives his security planning process. Clients benefit from the strategic mindset of someone who spent years making split-second decisions under pressure while maintaining awareness of constantly changing dynamics.
The Mind of a Leader: Presence, Planning, and Poise
Ricks (left) and his team during his time as Assistant Chief of the protection detail for Atlanta Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (center).
Central to Ricks’s philosophy is his approach to leadership under pressure, shaped by experiences where life-and-death decisions had to be made instantaneously. The same composure that allowed him to perform as a team captain despite never having started, and later to excel in high-stakes law enforcement situations, now defines his approach to executive protection.
“There’s really no pressure more than having to decide to pull the trigger or not pull the trigger,” he reflects, drawing from his law enforcement background. This perspective provides context for his calm approach to high-stakes security situations. The pressure of performing in front of 50,000 screaming fans, or the weight of making tactical decisions that could save or cost lives, creates a foundation that makes most business-world challenges manageable by comparison.
“Pressure is only felt when you acknowledge it,” he states with the confidence of someone who has faced genuine pressure and emerged stronger. His method for managing stress involves thorough preparation and staying within his area of expertise—principles learned through years of athletic competition and honed through law enforcement training. “Focus on what you can focus on, handle what you can handle. And you know, do it to the best of your ability.”
The importance of professional presence cannot be understated in Ricks’s approach. He believes that proper bearing and confident demeanor often prevent situations from escalating. “A lot of times it’s the way you carry yourself, the presence that you hold. If you walking around looking clumsy, then somebody most likely will try you,” he explains. This principle extends beyond physical intimidation to encompass the professionalism that builds client confidence and deters potential threats.
His commitment to excellence in presentation mirrors his approach to uniform standards from his football and law enforcement days. “You won’t find me coming to work wrinkled. You won’t find me coming to work unprepared. I’ve always been that guy or that asset to make sure that I’m always thinking of things that people don’t normally think about.”
This attention to detail, developed through years of athletic preparation and reinforced through law enforcement training, creates the foundation for the level of service that sets Bricks Enterprises apart. Clients recognize when someone has prepared thoroughly, just as teammates could always tell when Ricks had done his homework on opponent tendencies or tactical situations.
A Legacy of Service and Protection
Bricks Enterprises – click to visit bricksenterprises.com
Thomas Ricks’s journey from patient backup to SWAC legend, from team captain to SWAT leader, from federal agent to successful entrepreneur, demonstrates how foundational values can guide radical career transitions while maintaining core identity. His evolution through professional sports, law enforcement, and entrepreneurship hasn’t been about abandoning previous chapters but rather about building upon each experience to create something greater.
The thread connecting every phase of his career is service—whether to teammates, communities, or clients. His approach to security reflects the same principles that made him successful as an athlete: preparation, discipline, teamwork, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. These qualities, combined with his law enforcement expertise and business acumen, have positioned Bricks Enterprises as a leader in an increasingly competitive industry.
The respect he earned from teammates who elected him captain despite his unique path to the starting position mirrors the trust he now builds with clients who rely on his expertise in life-or-death situations. The patience and dedication that defined his college career—sticking with the program and making the most of his opportunity—continues to guide his approach to building lasting business relationships and developing comprehensive security solutions.
Perhaps most telling is Ricks’s approach to family, which extends beyond blood relations to encompass his broader community of responsibility. When DNA tests revealed that a child he had been supporting wasn’t biologically his, his response exemplified the values that define him: “Blood don’t make family. So I’m Daddy.” This commitment to responsibility regardless of personal cost illuminates the character that clients trust with their safety and that has driven his success across multiple careers.
The legacy Ricks has built extends beyond individual accomplishments to encompass the example he sets for others facing their own moments of transition and opportunity. His story resonates particularly within the HBCU community, where his journey from patient backup to All-American serves as inspiration for young athletes learning that success often requires faith in the process, dedication to continuous improvement, and readiness to excel when opportunity finally arrives.
Today, as Ricks continues to build Bricks Enterprises while maintaining the highest standards of professional security service, his story serves as an inspiration for anyone seeking to transform their experiences into meaningful service to others. His journey proves that with the right foundation, clear purpose, and unwavering commitment to excellence, it’s possible to excel in entirely different fields while staying true to core values of integrity, service, and protection.
From the SWAC fields where he first demonstrated his leadership potential to the boardrooms and event venues where he now ensures client safety, Thomas Ricks has consistently proven that true legends aren’t just made by individual achievement—they’re defined by their ability to elevate others, adapt to new challenges, and maintain excellence across diverse arenas of service. His legacy continues to grow, not just through business success, but through the example he sets for the next generation of leaders who understand that greatness often comes to those who prepare faithfully and perform excellently when their moment finally arrives.
Success often leads people away from their roots, Mike Page chose a different path. The music industry entrepreneur and founder of the Mike Page Foundation made a decision that defies conventional wisdom: he invested his time, money, and passion back into his hometown of Elgin, Illinois. Through his annual “Love on the Lawn” festival, Page has transformed a simple community event into what some are calling “the biggest family reunion in Illinois.” But this isn’t just a story about a festival—it’s about a man whose commitment to community runs as deep as his grandmother’s unwavering love, and whose vision extends far beyond a single weekend of music and celebration.
The Roots of Philanthropy: Grandma’s Legacy
To understand Mike Page’s relentless drive to give back, you have to understand the woman who shaped him. Page speaks of his grandmother with a reverence typically reserved for saints, calling her “Elgin’s community grandmother.” When his mother went to prison, it was his grandmother who stepped in, raising him and his sisters with an iron will wrapped in boundless love.
“That’s why I’m prepared. That’s why, really, nothing can affect me or break me. Because she really got me prepared for it all,” Page reflects, his voice carrying the weight of deep gratitude. His grandmother didn’t just provide shelter—she instilled in him the discipline, faith, and work ethic that would become the cornerstone of his character. Through her example of tireless community service, she planted seeds that would bloom decades later in the form of his foundation and festival.
But perhaps most telling is Page’s humble assessment of his own philanthropic efforts: “I’m just trying to catch up to my grandma. I’m at like, 10% of what she did.” This isn’t false modesty—it’s the perspective of a man who witnessed true community leadership up close and understands the magnitude of impact one person can have when they dedicate themselves to others. His grandmother’s legacy isn’t just personal; it’s the blueprint for everything Page does today.
From Milwaukee to the Mic: A Journey of Inspiration
Page’s journey from a “rough upbringing” in Milwaukee and Elgin to success in the music industry reads like a testament to resilience. But for Page, his personal story isn’t about celebrating his own achievements—it’s about showing others what’s possible. He carries the weight of representation, knowing that young people in his hometown are watching, wondering if success is attainable for someone like them.
“I hope they can see that it’s possible without having a father in your life… you can still make it out when you just got good people around you, good family,” Page explains. His words carry particular power because they’re backed by lived experience. He understands the challenges that come with growing up without certain advantages, and he’s living proof that those challenges don’t have to define your destiny.
Page’s philosophy is refreshingly straightforward: lead by example. “Just lead by example… by showing them, bringing things to my town, and showing them, yeah, I’m from here, and I did this, and you can do it, too,” he says. It’s a philosophy rooted in the belief that inspiration is more powerful than instruction, that showing up consistently in your community speaks louder than any speech about overcoming adversity.
For Page, every success is measured not just by personal gain, but by its potential to inspire someone else to make what he calls “righteous” choices at life’s inevitable “fork in the road.” His journey from difficult circumstances to industry success becomes a roadmap for others, proof that with the right people around you and unwavering determination, transformation is possible.
Love on the Lawn: More Than a Festival
The Origin Story
The “Love on the Lawn” festival didn’t emerge from a boardroom or marketing strategy—it was born from nostalgia and necessity. Page remembers a different Elgin from his childhood, one where community bonds were stronger and love was more tangible. The festival represents his attempt to recreate that atmosphere, to bring back the sense of unity and connection he witnessed in his grandmother’s work.
“Love on the Lawn” is Page’s answer to a question many communities are asking: How do you rebuild genuine connection in an increasingly disconnected world? His answer is deceptively simple—you create a space where love is the leading value, where families can gather without fear, and where the community can see itself reflected in something beautiful.
A Leap of Faith
The festival’s growth story reads like a case study in the power of authentic intention. In its first year, Page charged admission and drew 550 attendees. But something magical happened when he stepped back and observed his creation: “when I stepped back and looked at it… I knew right then, like, Man, we got something beautiful… even when it was only 500 people out there. Man, I could feel it, the energy.”
That energy convinced him to make a bold decision for the second year—eliminate the admission fee. The result was immediate and dramatic: attendance jumped to 3,000 people. By the third year, 5,400 people were gathering on the lawn, transforming Page’s vision into one of Illinois’s most significant community events.
But this growth came at a significant personal cost. Page admits, “I lost probably, like, $30,000” in the early years. Yet his motivation transcended financial considerations: “I didn’t really expect them to give us nothing. I really wanted to do this out of our own system, showed our people what we could do.” This wasn’t just about organizing an event—it was about proving to his community that they could create something extraordinary without waiting for outside validation or support.
The Elgin Identity
One of the festival’s most significant achievements has been helping Elgin establish its own identity while maintaining its connection to nearby Chicago. Page observes that Elgin residents are “trying to be their own thing, because they would have said they was a suburb of Chicago.” The festival has become a bridge between these two identities, bringing national and international talent like DJ Kid Capri and Lenny Williams, along with performers like comedian Tierra, to Elgin while celebrating what makes the community unique.
The strategic location of the festival—just a two-minute walk from the Elgin National commuter rail station—makes it accessible to Chicago residents while firmly planting the event in Elgin soil. This geographical positioning mirrors Page’s philosophical approach: honoring connections while celebrating independence.
The festival features local vendors and includes a free kids’ zone, ensuring that community members aren’t just spectators but active participants in their own celebration. This approach transforms “Love on the Lawn” from entertainment into empowerment, from consumption into community building.
Click the flyer to join Illinois’s biggest family reunion!
This year’s 4th annual festival, taking place on August 30th at Festival Park in Elgin from 2-10 PM, promises to be the biggest yet. The lineup features legendary DJ Kid Capri as the headliner, alongside an impressive roster of DJs including Rod Boogie, Slugo, Khaaliq, Sundance, and CZR. The event also features a special performance by soul legend Lenny Williams, with comedian Tierra returning as host, bringing what the festival describes as “the love and the laughs.” The event now offers premium experiences including a Platinum VIP Lounge with tent seating for 12, complete with drinks, VIP bar service, exclusive bathroom access, and VIP parking—a far cry from the grassroots gathering that started with 550 people just four years ago.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of Illinois’s biggest family reunion. Tickets for Love on the Lawn 2025 are available now at LOTLfest.com. Join thousands of others on August 30th at Festival Park (132 S Grove Ave, Elgin, IL) and experience firsthand the love revolution that Mike Page has created. This is more than a festival—it’s a celebration of community, connection, and the power of coming together.
A Vibe of Love
Perhaps the most remarkable statistic about “Love on the Lawn” isn’t its attendance numbers—it’s what hasn’t happened. “It’s like we haven’t had one argument or fight at our event in… four years,” Page proudly shares. “because I think we lead with love, and they know what they coming out there for.”
In an era when large gatherings often require extensive security and still experience incidents, this track record is extraordinary. It speaks to the power of intentional culture creation, of leading with clear values and maintaining them consistently. The festival’s family-friendly atmosphere isn’t accidental—it’s the direct result of Page’s commitment to creating a space where love is the operating principle.
The Future: A Funnel of Success
Festival Expansion
Page’s vision for “Love on the Lawn” extends far beyond Elgin’s borders. His ultimate dream is to expand the festival into a two-day event locally while simultaneously bringing the concept to other cities that could benefit from its message. Minneapolis and Atlanta top his list of potential expansion cities, communities he sees as needing the same infusion of love and unity that has transformed his own hometown.
This expansion isn’t about franchise building—it’s about replication of impact. Page has created a model for community healing and empowerment, and he recognizes that other communities could benefit from adapting his approach to their unique circumstances.
Building a Legacy
Beyond the festival, Page envisions the Mike Page Foundation as a comprehensive support system for youth development. His plan includes a “funneling program” that would guide young people from Pop Warner football through college, using both sports and music as vehicles for growth and opportunity.
One of his most inspiring ideas involves creating a Hall of Fame wall at a local field in Elgin, showcasing the achievements of community members who have succeeded in various fields. “I want them to see, you know, if you see it it’s possible, so, I want to bring more (examples) of that,” Page explains. This isn’t just about celebration—it’s about making success visible and attainable for young people who might otherwise believe their circumstances limit their possibilities.
The Hall of Fame concept reflects Page’s deep understanding of the psychology of inspiration. By highlighting local success stories, he’s creating a bridge between dreams and reality, showing young people that success doesn’t require leaving your community behind—it can mean coming back to lift others up.
Conclusion
Mike Page’s story challenges conventional definitions of success. While many measure achievement by how far you travel from your starting point, Page has found his greatest triumph in the decision to return home and invest in the community that shaped him. Through “Love on the Lawn” and the Mike Page Foundation, he has demonstrated that with love, discipline, and hard work, it’s possible to transform not just individual lives but entire communities.
His work represents more than event planning or youth programming—it’s about planting seeds of hope in soil that others might have written off as barren. Page’s commitment to his grandmother’s legacy, his community’s potential, and his own values has created something that transcends entertainment: a movement based on the radical idea that love, when consistently applied, can change everything.
As the festival continues to grow and the foundation expands its reach, Page remains focused on the fundamental truth his grandmother taught him: real success isn’t measured by what you achieve for yourself, but by what you make possible for others. In a world often defined by division and disconnection, Mike Page is proving that community, commitment, and love remain the most powerful forces for positive change.
From boardrooms to bookstores, Derek Amarillas is redefining what it means to take risks and live boldly. The former finance executive has stepped into the literary world with Socko, a heartwarming children’s picture book that celebrates individuality, resilience, and the freedom to be unapologetically yourself.
Inspired by his own childhood experiences of feeling “too much” and often misunderstood, Derek created Socko—a flamingo who proudly wears tennis shoes and just wants to dance. But Socko isn’t just a character; he’s a symbol of courage, self-expression, and the inner artist that lives in all of us.
“Growing up, I had to carve space for myself in rooms that didn’t feel built for me,” Derek shares. “Socko represents the part of me that insists on showing up boldly, even when the world says, ‘tone it down.’”
Originally written as a gift for his mother-in-law, the story quickly evolved into something more powerful after a close friend read it during a difficult time. Her emotional response lit a creative fire in Derek, leading him to publish Socko and share it with the world.
But it wasn’t without doubt. “Imposter syndrome is real,” Derek admits. “There were moments I questioned if I was good enough. But I realized creativity, for me, has always been about survival. It’s how I’ve adapted and made sense of the world.”
What makes Socko even more personal is the intentional symbolism packed into every detail—from the flamingo’s flair to the bold sneakers, inspired by Derek’s husband’s love of statement footwear. “Your look is your legend,” he says. “Tell it with pride.”
Beyond the pages, Derek is committed to uplifting young readers through school partnerships and community programs. He’s especially excited about upcoming collaborations with ASL programs, where the story will be shared through sign language to reach even more children in inclusive and accessible ways.
“Socko the Flamingo with Tennis Shoes,” written by Derek Amarillas Available now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJWVX7TM
“The feedback I’ve received—especially from kids and parents who find pieces of themselves in Socko—has been overwhelming,” he reflects. “It reminds me why I do this.”
So what’s next for Derek Amarillas? With a vault of creative stories already written and a renewed sense of purpose guiding him, he’s just getting started.
You can purchase Socko the Flamingo with Tennis Shoes—published by Palmetto Publishing on July 29, 2025—on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJWVX7TM
One thing’s for sure: in a world that often tells us to dim our light, Socko teaches kids—and adults—to lace up their sneakers, stand tall, and dance anyway.
Advice Rooted in Intention
