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The Institute for Colored Youth known as Cheyney In Fall 2019, HBCU Gameday and Yard Talk 101 came together to create University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1837, HBCU 101, a televised show that highlights the culture, news, sports and becoming the first Historical Black College. Histor- entertainment at HBCUs. Jahliel serves as the host of HBCU 101 aired on ically Black Colleges and Universities have grown AspireTv Sunday at 12:00pm. tremendously since then. Today there are 107 HB- Social Media: CU’S in the United States. Historically black col- Instagram/twitter/facebook: @yardtalk101 leges and universities (HBCUs) were established Instagram/twitter/facebook: @hbcu101 to serve the educational needs of black Americans. Instagram/twitter/facebook: @jahlielthurman Prior to the time of their establishment, and for Visit us on www.yardtalk101.com many years afterwards, blacks were generally de- www.hbcu101.com nied admission to traditionally white institutions. As a result, HBCUs became the principle means for providing postsecondary education to black Americans. Today, HBCUs must fulfill educational goals far beyond those initially set. Jahliel Thurman a graduated from Virginia State University has created a platform to highlight the best of all HBCUs. We hear all the time about the long lines at the financial aid building and horror stories of living in a dorm but, there is much too brag about when it comes to HBCUs. Being on the “Yard” for four years will teach you a lot about life and yourself. While attending Virginia State University, Jahliel noticed a lot of negative narration around HBCUs. Upon graduation he wanted to shine more light on his experiences in college and others who attended HBCUs. In 2015, Jahliel became the CEO of YardTalk 101, a web-based series that highlights the history of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Yard Talk’s mission is to enlighten the masses on HB- CUs by highlighting their activities, organizations, persons, and services to uplift and connect com- munities.

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Virginia-based teen entrepreneur Tracy Dews dipped his tech toes into the creative ocean at age 12 by creating his first video game as a class project. The innovative teen then created an interactive website for vacation goers to coordinate and plan events, menus, activities, etc., from across several different states. Since then, Tracy has created TJ Dews and Associates Web Development company. He works with small businesses, social clubs, sports clubs and non-profits to bring their vision to life represented on a webpage. At just 16 years old, Tracy Dews is a web developer who uses technology as a creative outlet; while taking 9-credit hours at Virginia Commonwealth University, works part-time at Wendy’s, Junior Counsel Officer at Godwin High School, a Godwin Equity Ambassador for the County of Henrico, a DECA member competing in business chal- lenges statewide while battling with Sickle Cell Anemia. Tracy’s goal is to enter a career field where “I never work a day in my life” then transfer that experience and capital into his own business where he can create jobs and retire early. Tracy enjoys leadership roles and math along with the challenges that come along with solving complex problems.





Every Photograph begins with an idea. The photographer is tasked with not only creatng the vision, but manipulatng it into a masterpiece, beyond any inital expectations. Visual artist, Juwan Morgan has learned the importance of going the extra mile, to provide thegreatest quality of work to his custom- ers. With the background education in Communications concentratng in TV/Video Production from Virginia State University, he has gained the knowledge and skills to enhance his ability to navigate the lens of a camera. Juwan captures themoment in a capitative way.

“You don’t take a photograph, you make it” Bookings: Juwankmorgan@gmail.com

M_Labeled is an upcoming style influencer born M_Labeled and raised out of Brooklyn, NY. Also known as the Slay Queen herself who lives by the code “Fashion is like eating, you shouldn’t Wake! Pray! and Slay! stick to the same menu everyday”. She currently works a 9-5 to keep the lights on but on weekends works expeditiously to create the latest trends for her “Slayers”. M_Labeled is the founder of #SlayedbylabeledM. If you want to slay your day away but don’t really know what to wear don’t sweat it, #SlayedbylabeledM got you. M_Labeled specializes in personal shopping and can guide you in developing and expressing your unique sense of style while “Slaying on a budget” and creating a level of self-confidence. Fashion tips M_labeled Lives by Know your body type and what looks good on you as far as dresses, skirts, pants, etc… Understand what colors look good on you Plan it out, Also use apps to get visual looks down pack Play with prints and patterns … step out of your comfort zone Make clothes work for you Know the difference between when to Slay being casual and when to Slay being extra!!! Know your best features and always show it off There’s never a wrong time to be extra AKA over dress Be confident



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SWIMGOOD was designed with the average, Every Photograph begins with an idea. The photographer curvaceous girl in mind. The girl who may not be is tasked with not only creatng the vision, but manipulatng it a size 4, swimsuit ad body but, is as statuesque into a masterpiece, beyond any inital expectations. and as confident! Our choice of soft compression stretch was made to hug every inch of your body, Visual artist, Juwan Morgan has learned the importance of going accentuating your natural contours. the extra mile, to provide thegreatest quality of work to his custom- ers. With the background education in Communications concentratng A “SWIMGOOD” girl exudes a natural dominat- in TV/Video Production from Virginia State University, he has ing, yet subtle aura of confidence & uniqueness gained the knowledge and skills to enhance his ability to navigate the anywhere she goes. She is truly one of a kind & lens of a camera. Juwan captures themoment in a capitative way. deserves a swimsuit that is one as well! Simone has always been a believer in making women feel beautiful. She created “SWIMGOOD” to cater to all women of different shades, styles, and silhouettes. The “SWIMGOOD” girl is the girl who works hard in life, whether in the gym or in the office! She’s drinking her water, reading her books, minding her own business and deserves a vacation! She’s ready to sip on some rum, bake in the sun & SWIMGOOD.

MESSAGE FROM SIMONE: I’ve always been a lover of my body. I am a woman with curves, however, in May of 2018, I decided to make a lifestyle change. Some people will assume that I lost weight because I wasn’t happy with my appearance but that is not the case. I needed a new mindset, discipline and a healthier way of living. I wanted to push myself to the next level of maturity and growth. The journey was not easy but the outcome was losing fifty-two pounds, naturally. At first, I was inconsistent, unmotivated and wasting not only my time but my trainers. Suddenly, something changed. I started seeing results and the grind became addictive. I began to wake up ready to seize the day and wanting to be the best version of myself and that is truly a great feeling. During my very public journey, I have humbly inspired, motivated and pushed other women to be the best versions of themselves that they can be! And, there is no matched feeling on earth than the feeling of finding your purpose, being happy and spreading love! Simple advice, Keep going, growing and glowing!





Tidewater, Virginia breeds some of the rawest talent from Pharrell Williams, Missy Elliot, Wanda Sykes, and many more. At the age of four, Nicholas discovered that he was talented. He would watch some of his favorite cartoons and start drawing the characters from memory as fast as he could. Throughout his life, Nicholas has studied many methods of creating from graphic design, to painting, to even being a tattoo artist. Through all of his experiences in learning how to create, he found himself one day re- flecting on why he enjoys being an artist. That’s when he began developing “The Tomorrowers”. The inspiration behind “The Tomorrowers” came from the lack of diversity shown for all generations of youth. “The Tomorrowers” is a children’s book about a group of kids owning their creativity and letting their imagination take them on wild adventures all while, tackling social issues our youth face today like bullying, self-confidence, identity-crisis, and more. “Art Enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”

“I want kids today to remember it’s okay to be dif- ferent from other people and to hold on to that color imagination as long as you possibly can. Youth need to be able to not only see themselves but, to see others who may be different from them and learn that it’s okay to be different. Let’s teach kids that their imagi- nations are important to us because through them we can vision our tomorrow.” Highlights: Won the NAACP Award in 2013 for fine art while studying graphic design at Virginia State University One of Atlanta’s top emerging Artist Stylist for upcoming Nickelodeon show Young Dylan Social Media: Instagram: @thealxndr @ttomorrowers Twitter: Nickalxndr

Bookings, paintings, and upcoming events: https://www.bloodlinerevolution.org/ Darien Taylor, also known as “Dicasso”, is a portrait artist from Woodbridge, Virginia who has finally came out of his shell by showing off his artistic talents to the world that he believed he didn’t have for years. Painting has been a talent of his since the age of six, but it was also a talent he kept stashed away like saved money for a rainy day. Dicasso always had that feeling growing up that he wasn’t good enough as an artist and feared nobody would like his work. After years of holding back from pursuing his art career, he finally began to take art serious summer of 2018. He describes his art as a form of realism and cartoon style.



Talytha Michelle Price is a passionate TV/ Film Artist and Healthy Hair Expert of ten years. Originating from Richmond, Virginia, Talytha has always had a passion in her heart for hair artistry. She spent her last two years of high school at Highland Springs Tech Center where she completed the Cosmetology program. Born and raised in the Richmond, Virginia area, Talytha Michelle Price has always had a passion for hair artistry. She became a licensed cosmetologist at the young age of 17 and started working as a stylist at Hair Cuttery before she graduated from high school. She sharpened her talent at Hair Cuttery, while also pursuing a bachelor’s de- gree in Psychology at Virginia State University. Ultimately, Talytha realized that the beauty industry was the most fulfilling path for her, and she decided to make cosme- tology her full-time career. Over the last 10 years, she has continued to develop her reputation as a TV/film artist and healthy hair expert, culminating in 2014 with the launch of her personal brand, the “Healthy Hair Chic Galleria”. Since the launch of her brand, Talytha has continued to evolve as a business woman and artist. She was the proud owner of “Healthy Hair Chic Galleria, LLC,” a salon suite located in Richmond, VA. Talytha has appeared on several “Virginia This Morn- ing” show segments, and her commercials air throughout the day. She is the “Chic” behind the healthy tresses of Richmond’s local news station WTVR- CBS 6 evening news anchor Candace Burns (and DCW), and the go-to stylist for producers, news reporters and anchors in Virginia. Talytha is also a traveling stylist. Talytha is most proud of her contributions to the development of young stylists and other professional women in Richmond through her work as a mentor and member of ACE Cosmetology Advisory Board. Talytha encourages all women to pursue their dreams and believe that anything is attainable with hard work. Her personal goal is to continue expanding her brand across the nation. Talytha Price| Hair Artist Healthy Hair Chic Galleria, LLC ph. 804-426-7087

As a former military brat, it’s hard to pinpoint just one home state but I consider the DMV area to be homebase. I’ve lived in several states as well as abroad. I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. Hair has always been a passion of mine since I was young. It all started with a car ac- cident which prevented my mother from being able to braid my hair for long periods of time. I still wanted to be cute, so I started doing my hair myself. This started when I was 11 and now so many years later, I’ve been doing my hair and my friends hair for 17 years. Many people have asked me what the name of my hairline means and what the “v” sym- bolizes. I’ve always been into numerology and it turns out that my life path number is five. In numerology, 5 represents creativity, free-spirit, change and being a risk-taker. I created Textvres for the woman who has the audacity to get up every morning and be herself unapologetically; cause that takes alot of nerve but that’s exactly how she’s wired. She is one of a kind, versatile, and daring. I believe that the essence of beauty is unity in variety. That’s what I want Textvres to exude; the celebration of all parts of you. I consider all of my customers my muses because they inspire the hairline by going out every day and just killing shit their own way. I started making wigs in college trying to be frugal *cough* cheap (lol) and preserve the bundles I would buy. I did that for years. My friends would ask me about them and even- tually I was making their wigs too. In the last few years, I graduated from hand-sewing to making them on the sewing machine. I also took a class with Alonzo Arnold to perfect my lace application and customization skills. Practice definitely makes perfect. I’ve been making wigs for almost 10 years now (sheeeesh that’s a long time lol) and I’m always learning something new. Personal IG @neekrvch Business IG @shoptextvres

Amy Agbottah is the true definition of making it happen! In addition to a career in Health informatics & Data Analytics, she is the founder of Amy Cynthia Events, the Co-founder of Rental Wives & Pix R Us Photo Booth. Her unique style and passion for transforming any space into a lush and roman- tic setting has helped establish her as a premier planner and event designer for clients all over the east coast. Her positivity, keen eye, attention to detail and knack for perfection is what her clients love about her. She brings the art of creativity and personalization to every single event making her the best at what she does. Amy honors the individual styles of her clients and she continually strives to make every experience one to remember. Amy tell us how you started in the industry of event planning? I began event planning four years ago. It has always been a pas- sion of mine that I have pushed aside. My Boyfriend use to tell people I was an event planner before I would even call myself one. Through his networking, I began to gain clientele. I was so scared to jump into the industry and wanting to take the traditional path of a 9-5. In the process of planning my friend’s wedding and finding vendors, I realized when planning events wasn’t easy and finding vendors was hard. Sometimes I don’t even know how I juggle so much at one time. This may sound so cliché but, I guess when you love what you do so much, you will do anything to make sure that it is done right. Can you tell us more about all the services you offer? Pix R Us is a photo booth company, we pride ourselves on be- ing able to capture and share those moments to last a lifetime for our clients. Once again, my wonderful boyfriend had a bright idea for us to buy a photo booth and I was not excited about it at all. I did not want to spend $10,000 on a photobooth but, he somehow convinced me. I actually got a great deal on the photobooth, but I was scared about how well I would profit from it. Needless to say, he was right about it because it is a hot topic for parties.

Rental Wives provides luxury rentals for Social Events, Wed- · Choose a reliable venue- The location of your event can make dings, and Cooperate Meetings. Here in Richmond, VA there or break your stress level. You might be looking for a non-tra- are very few vendors with quality supplies. Amy Cynthia ditional venue that will create an unusual experience. But you Events provides structure for all events. We plan your event also want one that’s safe, trustworthy, and easy to deal with. from the start to finish and provide quality throughout your · Deal in detailed contracts the more information your initial experience. I strive to make a somewhat stressful process contract contains, the lower the chances of misunderstanding seamless and easy offering all my services to clients. and manipulation. This goes for the contracts you create as Where do you see the future of your companies going? well as those you review from partners. It may seem tedious The event industry is so ripe with demand and opportunities, to read the fine print upfront, but it could save you hours and every day I ask myself what I can do differently, what can I headaches in the long run. do better, how can I take inspiration from other industries · Make it Convenient and infuse them into mine. I want to be able to have expos, · Set the Mood train with designers, and event professionals from all over the · Minimize last-minute changes United States & other countries. I plan to become a premier Bookings: Amy@amycynthiaevents.com planner within several cities and states throughout the United States. With my drive, I can see myself leaving my 9-5 and pouring my heart and soul into my passion. Can you tell us more about all the services you offer? Here are some event planning tips from Amy · Hire a Planner · Always Negotiate with your vendors, with vision & cost. The worst they can say is no. · Set clear and achievable goals for your event. Event planning is incredibly stressful for even the most seasoned pros. There are never enough hours in the day, and something always goes wrong. Anything you can do to be more efficient makes for a better event and a less stressful life. · Stick to a budget

From the North End of Hartford, Connecticut, An- thony & Andre hail from a city with a lack of musi- cal history and high crime rates. Yet, the city has a lot of hidden talent that hasn’t been discovered. Challenging the environment, the duo took this as their motivation when they fell in love with music. Their goal is to shine more light on Connecticut, and the entire New England area through hip hop. Originally the brothers started off as battle rappers under the names Fame & PdotC with fellow CT artist Miles Mega. The group then met Onan who would later become their mentor. With Onan’s help, Fame & PdotC learned song writing skills, lyrical content, and the process of recording music. The duo would walk long distances overnight to record music in Onan’s studio. Eventually, parting ways with Onan, Fame & PdotC took recording music into their own hands by making songs in their bed- room and posting them online. In 2009, Fame & PdotC left Connecticut to attend Virginia State University. While the social and aca- demic atmosphere became their focus, the twins slowly worked on music but didn’t remain consis- tent and their music following eventually faded. In 2014, Fame & PdotC launched the “100TracksOr- Deal” campaign to release 100 songs independent- ly in order to build their following back. During this process the brothers relocated to Brooklyn, NY to gain exposure to the music industry.

How’d you get into the music industry? What Artist influence you? What keeps you motivated? “I think that’s something we tried to figure out in “Drake & J. Cole are our biggest in- “I think just knowing that we’re pursuing our entire journey. Originally, we treated the mu- fluence. Of course, we have our own your passion. We have degrees, careers, sic industry like any other business. We were busi- favorites, but we’re big fans of Drake & and all that good stuff but finding your ness majors in college so we figured networking J. Cole. It’s not like they’re “rappers” to passion is something special. If your job would be the best way. We went to a lot of events us. It’s kind of like they’re regular people stopped paying you but still wanted you to and started meeting people and asking them for who make dope music. They put a lot of work, you would quit right? The great thing their emails. We thought that making friends and emotion, and stories that are relatable in about music is that we could stop mak- always being seen was the way to go. Although, their songs and lyrics. A lot of what they ing money off music today and we’ll still that helped I wouldn’t say that made the most im- write about, people have gone through have the urge to make music because we pact for us. It really wasn’t until we started put- or felt at a point in time in their life. love it that much. There’s no better feeling ting out more content on the internet when we got They also can give you bars when they than browsing Apple Music or Spotify and noticed. So, although we made connections and need to, which is why we like them, they playing our song. It’s because at a point of collected emails at those events, we got more ex- can do both really will.” time this song and the lyrics were all just a posure promoting on our platforms. Everything thought in our head. But to actually be able up until about 2018 has been completely indepen- to play it out loud or perform it, is amaz- dent for us. Even now we’re still independent, but ing. I think that’s what keep us motivated we have a manager who really helps us put things the most.” together. What we’ve learned about the music industry is that there’s no blueprint for this, you What’s your writing process like? kind of have to really just get noticed and build from there. We stream really well on Spotify & “Ant - I listen to a beat for a longtime on Apple music and have a strong fan base in Ger- repeat to try to find a cadence and hum many. We would say networking with influencer’s it. Once I have the cadence, I fill it in helped us the most.” with words. “ “Dre - I usually just freestyle what comes to me, but also try to listen to what the beat is saying.”

Who have you worked with? “We mostly worked with a lot of producers. The way music sounds is just as important as the lyrics. We have a list of producers that we’ve worked with, Sullivan Beats, Cam, Kike Perez, Perry, and Sgull help us to really shape our sound. Direckt from FastLifeBeats is our engineer and makes the quality of our music sound really great. As far as artist we did a song & video with Felly which was really dope for us. We were working with Havoc from Mobb Deep for a brief time but that wasn’t an ideal situation for us.” What was it like making your first video? “Our first video we actually never released it. Making videos take as much work as writ- ing songs if not more. We thought, “bet we’ll just rap our lyrics in front of a camera in different locations”. But that first video was a learning experience, so we started writing scripts for all of our videos. The visual really has the potential to make the song bigger so we want to put just as much effort into the videos as we do in our music.”







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