Name: Maria Miller

Age: 17

City: Brooklyn, NY

Grade: 12th

What is your dream job and why?
My dream job has changed a lot over the years, but for now I think I would like to be a columnist because I like to listen to people’s problems and try to give them advice. I feel as if I would be able to help individuals and hopefully change their life for the better.

Which hobbies do you enjoy?
I like to read(mainly on wattpad), listen to music, watch movies/T.V shows, and hanging out with my friends.

Who is your biggest crush?
Chris Hemsworth

What’s your fave song to jam out to right now?
It’s so hard to choose only one song so I hope we could compromise to two songs. The first being Weight in Gold(Ekali remix) by Gallant. And the second being You Don’t Own Me by Grace.

If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
I would change the effect media has on people. Media is a great thing, but sometimes it portrays unrealistic things that has a negative effect on young girls. That leads to so many issues that range from low self esteem to eating disorders and so many other problems.

What does empowerment mean to you?
Empowerment means not letting others put you down. It means confidence and self appreciation.

What are your plans after high school?
After high school I will go to college. I’ll figure out the rest of my life as I go along since the best things are unexpected. Hopefully my life will be full of exciting adventures. I would hate to get to a certain point in my life and realize that I have done nothing except play it safe.

How have you helped someone in your life lately?
I gave my fries from Mcdonalds to a homeless guy who was asking for money to buy food.

Who is your role model and why?
My role model is my mother because she always encourages me to do better. Even when we argue I know she only wants the best for me.

Welcome, Maria!

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Passion + talent continues to flourish from actress Kristin Ariza as she shares her flair with the world! Hailing from Orlando, Florida, she captivated audiences in memorable roles including American Horror Story, NCIS: Los Angeles, Scorpion, Castle, Bones, Criminal Minds and Grey’s Anatomy; in addition to recurring roles on Parks and Recreation and Lie to Me. Fans will also recognize her from her role in HBO’s Emmy-nominated movie Confirmation, the Anita Hill v. Clarence Thomas story.

Drawn to acting at a young age, she earned her BA in Theatre from Florida State University and went on to the acclaimed Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia before moving to New York and eventually Los Angeles.

You can catch her sizzling performance in the gritty world that is STARTUP, the newest original scripted drama series from Sony’s streaming network Crackle!

Let’s get to know Kristen a little better…

As an actress you’ve played powerful roles such as ‘Judy Smith’ in Confirmation and currently ‘Tamara Dacey’ in the new drama ‘STARTUP’, what motivated you to step into the world of acting?

KRISTEN: Acting actually found me.  However when I discovered the joy I had in creating characters that I was moved by and that also moved people, I was hooked.

What has been your favorite role to bring to life and how do you connect with each character?

KRISTEN: That’s a tough one…I’ve enjoyed playing so many varied roles. One of my favorites belongs to the stage.  The role was ‘Kate’ in the play, GOOD PEOPLE by David Lindsay-Abaire.  I loved it because it’s about not good people, but real people…flawed people.  We are all a product of our circumstances and was so happy to explore this concept. Also, I absolutely love the theatre.

Sometimes fear can get the best of us, what advice would you give girls who want to follow their dreams + passions?

KRISTEN: Fear isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  It’s in us for a reason. It’s our internal gauge to help us make the right decisions and keep us honest. To those who are interested in pursuing a less than
conventional path- whatever it may be, I say: train, study, observe. Become a student of whatever it is you are wanting to do.  That is how you lessen your fears and get closer to your dreams.

We tend to pull characteristics from others in our lives or from people we admire, who inspires you and why?

KRISTEN: I’m tremendously inspired by my family.  Though we don’t live in the same state, we are very close.  They inspire daily.  As an artist, even without realizing it, you pick up on things.  You become
a parrot of behaviors and isms.

You’re busy building your fab acting career and at times it can get to be a bit overwhelming, how do you regroup and motivate yourself when you’re feeling a little defeated?

KRISTEN: From a young age, I’ve been involved in sports- basketball, track, cross-country.  Now, I hike, I run. I’ve done several marathons. Exercise is a great motivator for me.  It’s my way of
escape and my way to regroup.  Let’s face it, anything you’re trying to pursue full-time isn’t going to always be a bed of roses.  I find it helpful to have something reliable and positive that you KNOW, just
by the nature of you doing it, will make you feel better.  For me, that’s lacing up my sneaks and hitting the pavement.

We are all about empowerment, What does EMPOWERMENT mean to you?

KRISTEN: It means making someone (including yourself) feel more confident.  So, to me, it means embracing your-SELF. Embracing knowledge. Embracing all of the interesting, quirky, unique things
about YOU!

Time for the Faves! Celeb Crush? Artist? Food? Movie?

KRISTEN: Celeb crush??  I might have one for every letter of the Alphabet!  Artist? A lot of ‘girl power’ on my radio right now. Listening to Andra Day, Lissie, Marian Hill, Beyonce  Food? I will
crumble over some good chips and salsa  Movie? Recently I really enjoyed ‘Hell or High Water’ but truly, there is so much great TV out right now. I could binge watch for weeks!

Find out more here

Kristen Ariza

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Being dope + young has pressures that only one could imagine. Not only do you deal with the expectations from every adult in your life but also social pressures from others around you and yes that includes keeping up with the latest of everything. From technology to fashion, it’s as if the walls are closing in second by second to ensure yourself you stay current! To top it off, it doesn’t even help when your closest friends seem to be “balling” out of control and gets to use her parents credit cards as if there are absolutely no limits in the world. Well, I’m here to tell you that it does not matter how much money you have that matters but how resourceful you are with your funds. So it’s definitely okay for you to still have a fly life without having the most money. Trust me on this one. So let’s dig into how you can make your part time check work for you…

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Company You Keep– Ok so you know how the say “watch the company you keep?” Well, you know it’s a true statement in regards to shopping buddies as well. If you know that it’s a difficult for you to say the word “no” when it comes to shopping, watch the shopping buddy who joins you. If your friend constantly is swiping left and right, she’s more than likely is going to want you do the same and this is where pressure comes into play when dealing with unnecessary spending. So the next time you going to shop for something specific bring a laid back friend or just hit the boutique by yourself. Sometimes shopping solo is the best way too! Less stress, less opinions and no pressures!

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No Impulse Buys– So every time you head out to the stores set a plan before you head out the door. If you just need to buy a pair of jeans or a cd, that is what you should come back with. Or even if you give yourself a total amount that you’re going to spend, stick to the amount. This way you can have the freedom to buy what you want to and even indulge in that sale but still stick to the amount you want to spend. Trust me, the best feeling is going out shopping and coming back knowing you stuck to your budget and bought something you wanted! Score!

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Refocus!! Ok, I know the fact that your parents wouldn’t give you money to but the $150.00 pair of shoes that everybody has makes you feel like the end of the world is here. But I’m going to let you end on a little a secret…life goes on. I know your day to day let downs seem never ending and although you should live for today you should still plan for tomorrow as well. So even though it may seem like everybody else is keeping up on the latest trends, saving and setting money to the side is more fulfilling. So even though you may not have every latest thing, once you head off to college you will have enough money aside to not only to easily pay for your books but have comfortable amount to live on and not scraping last minute. Just saying.

Princess Ball which allowed each young girl to come in & feel like royalty while dressing in fancy gowns & meeting The first black Mrs. Louisiana, Mrs. Nomica Guillory.

I Am Gracious is a powerful organization that encourages, empowers and motivates young women, what made you want to create a platform to allow young people to shine?

I would see so many young girls who seemed so focused on getting attention based on the way that they looked and seeking to get that validation from young men or just about anywhere they thought feasible. I wanted to share with them the validation that I had received from my parents and as well as teach them that validation comes from within oneself. We live in a society where the media implants a false image of who and what a young woman should resemble, so I vowed to take a stand to teach the contrary and impart knowledge and wisdom in the young females lives.

Being a voice in the community motivates others to be great, how do you teach teen ladies to be a positive role model?

We do this by teaching them about the importance of participating in a positive way in their family, schooling, and community. Another way is by teaching them to speak positively. It may sound simple, but even we as adults have a hard time doing this. How many times in your life has someone ever said to you, “You’ll never lose weight.” & you took that and literally and didn’t lose the weight? There’s a scripture that says “Death and life are in the power of the tongue”….If I speak negatively, I’ve killed a dream before it has been able to take root. So, I teach the girls to take the negatives and turn them into positives. This means to speak positively about the situations that you are handed in your life, no matter what they may be.

We tend to pull characteristics from others in our lives or from people we admire, who inspires you and why?

I have to say that one person who inspires me is Tamron Hall. She is beautiful & well poised, down to earth and doesn’t allow her image to be defined. But I’d be remised if I didn’t say that the assignment of I Am Gracious wasn’t inspired by God. I would wake up out of a dead sleep and write down visions of things that I was given. Being the person that I am, (very shy and always a background person) I would think, “Why would God give me something like this to do?”, but I had to learn to that it’s not my will, but His.

Founder of I Am Gracious, Trista Ledet Ames

If you had to give one piece of advice to teen girls who are struggling with being comfortable in their own skin, what would it be?

My advice to teen girls struggling with being comfortable in their own skin is to really take a look at yourself & know that you are a beautiful, unique creation made from God Himself. EVERYTHING that God has made is perfect in His own image. Speak these positive things to yourself daily until you begin to believe it!

Working with youth both parties learn from each other, what’s one trait you have learned from working with girls?

I think that I’ve learned the “Hear us out” trait lol! Why couldn’t someone figure that out when I was a teen? Lol Seriously though, they’ve taught me that they really just want to be heard. Their ideas, dreams and hopes, their side of the story, etc. If we would take a moment to pause and just listen, we would find that each girl is on a journey to find themselves and they may need you to be their “compass”, but in order for you to be that to them, you must listen to them so that you can help guide them on the right path.

The day of their completion ceremony from The W.A.I.T.S Plan – A 12 week abstinence awareness program

We’re all about empowerment at C.O.R.E Mag, what does EMPOWERMENT mean to you + your organization?

Empowerment means to uplift any and every individual that you may come in contact with. We never know who may need encouragement, motivation or even a smile to make it through the day!

Fun Faves! Song? Food? Artist? Celeb Crush?

Fun faves about me: I love to mud ride on 4 wheelers (It’s a country thing!), Travel and spend time with my family…We are a big bunch, so it is always a fun time. Favorite song- I love so many different songs that it would be very hard to choose just one. Favorite food – My goodness, I just love food, but I’d have to say my dad’s Jambalaya. My favorite artist – again there are so many, but I’d have to say (Male) my baby brother Joshua Ledet with his soulful sound and crazy range& (Female) Toni Braxton with her deep tone. Now, I don’t really have a celebrity crush, because my husband is one wonderful man that no one compares to him in my book (it’s ok to smile Kevin) 🙂 but if I have I just have to list one, it would probably have to be Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Only because he seems like a genuine, and caring person by the way he shows such care when speaking about his mother and his life & of course I think he’s a pretty good actor in these roles that seem to show his compassionate side for people/children like The Game Plan, Walking Tall & Gridiron Gang.

Find out more here!

I Am Gracious

You’re pretty much amazing. The problem is that everyone around you knows this and wants a piece of you, your time and your energy this semester. So it’s times like these that we give you full on permission to be SELF-FUL! Yep, it sounds better than selfish right? See how to master protecting your time + creativity.

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Ummm NOPE! Have you heard? No is the new black. Or whatever color you want it to be. Okay, we’re going help you get  this ‘no’ thing down in four simple rules:  1.) Don’t lie. 2.) Don’t make excuses. 3.) Don’t over-explain yourself. 4.) Just simply decline. And VOILA! You just nailed the art of saying ‘NO’ to people and situations that drain you.

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Love you but love me more- Yeah spread love…when you have it to spread. Passing out your energy when you don’t have any is like  constantly cooking for others while you’re one the verge of passing out from starvation. If your glass is not full with love for yourself you don’t know how to truly love others around you.

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Your #CHEERsquad- Alright, pull out your mic and your speakers and get ready to give the biggest pep talk of your life. Oftentimes we have so much positivity to say to your friends and fam but when it comes to yourself  we run out. Remember to stay positive, be gentle with yourself and bring on all the joy coming form you.

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Love yourself!

Break a sweat + dance! On July 15th STEM From Dance celebrated their  Summer Showcase 2016 at Achievement First Brooklyn High School!

The beautiful and talented girls participating in STEM from Dance performed an original choreography to music that they’ve created and costumes they have designed – all through coding and wearable electronics.

Let’s take a look!

 You can find more about the organization at the website, stemfromdance.org and follow
them on twitter: @stemfromdance

All good things come in threes! Well, atleast that’s the way it’s coming your way for the perfect summer kit to keep you cool + calm this summer! Yes, it’s true the new semester is creeping right around the corner but don’t sweat. We have the perfect treats to keep your stress down and your health + beauty up while you’re getting your back-to-school list in gear!

Let’s take a peek!

So what’s better than a refreshing drink that your taste buds love and is actually healthy for you? INVO Coconut Water is what you need to pack your fridge with this summer to get your brain cells flowing for a new school year! INVO is packed with 5-essential electrolytes that restores hydration. It is low in sugar, fat free and has as much potassium as one banana. Low in sugar and 99% fat-free, coconut water lets you enjoy the taste of the tropics without the guilt. Sip this treat as you’re walking across campus to ease the pain of your 8 am class! Get more of the scoop on INVO!

Long day? Need a spa break in between your study breaks? Pick up your peace in a cute package. Take 20 minutes, kick up your feet and give your skin the gift of glow with Miss Spa’s Sheet Mask! The silky pre-treated sheet masks helps purify and rejuvenate skin, leaving it looking + feeling refreshed. Perfect for all skin types, especially for dull, tired looking skin. Pick them up at your local Target HERE!

You may be an angel but your nails are allowed to be a devilish! Sinful Colors Nail Polish kicks up your personal style adding a sense of flair to your entire look. Even if you have to rock a uniform at school share your flavor with pops of colors.  Check out hues here! Sinful Colors

You’ll Thank Us Later!

What is good food? Within the context, the group creates two arguments, healthy food which is defined as any natural foods believed to promote or sustain good health (or foods containing essential nutrients that are grown without the use of pesticides and has a low-sodium or fat content), good tasting food defined as

Brittney Grant of Keepingupwithbritt.com

any savory food with a pleasant and fairly strong flavor (or food that is appetizing).

Both arguments are justifiable needless to say the paradigm within our food distribution system often times denies people in lower income communities the access to healthy high quality foods.

For decades, low-income communities have struggled with the lack of access to healthy, affordable food as many lack full-service grocery stores or farmer’s markets where residents have access to high-quality fruits, vegetables and whole-grains. Even with the recent rise of gentrification in many low-income neighborhoods, the quality of accessible healthy food has only merely improved. Many low-income neighborhoods remain stricken by unhealthy fast-food chains that serve high-cholesterol, nutrient–poor, foods at relatively low prices and with frequent consumption may lead to weight gain, lack of essential nutrients consumption, high cholesterol among many others.

When accessible, healthy food tends to be more expensive in terms of fiscal cost while foods containing added sugars and fats are generally inexpensive and more readily available in low-income communities. Even when healthy food is available, fresh produce including fruits vegetables, dairy and meat, it is often of the poorest quality.

In the pursuit of good food one must be willing to go the distance, whether it means traveling to neighborhoods outside of your own or shopping online to cut cost, all efforts are regarded in matters of sustaining a healthier life. Most importantly you must be willing to pay more for quality food, “good food”.

HERE ARE MY TOP 5 PLACES TO SHOP FOR “GOOD FOOD” & A FOOD KEY:

1- BUDGET FRIENDLY

2- LARGE VARIETY

3- HIGH QUALITY

4- CONVIENIENT

WHOLE FOODS MARKET- (2,3)

Although the most expensive on the list Whole Foods Market has some of the finest natural and organic foods available as it maintains one of the strictest quality standards in the industry. It’s wide variety of organic produce, large selection of locally grown food and products in addition to sustainable agriculture makes Whole Foods a lead contender of places to shop for “good food”.

TRADER JOE’S- (1,2,4)

Trader Joe’s is the most widely used place to shop for healthy food, as it is arguably the most affordable in terms of monetary cost. Trader Joe’s does an excellent job at providing great food at great prices. It offers a variety of products including gourmet foods, organic foods, vegetarian foods, frozen foods, imported wine and beer among many others, 80% of which bear one of its own brand names.

THRIVE MARKET-(1,2,3)

Although solely available online, Thrive Market has qualities of both whole foods and trader joe’s. Thrive Market is the first socially conscious online store offering the world’s best-selling natural and organic products at wholesale prices. Carrying over 2,500 of the highest quality food, supplements, home, personal care, and beauty products from over 400 of the best brands on the market at 25-50% off regular retail prices, Thrive Market is definitely one of best places to shop for “good food” at super affordable prices.

Visit Thrivemarket.com/KeepupwithBritt and try Thrive Market for FREE!

FARMER’S MARKET- (1,2,3,4)

The Farmer’s Market is the best place to get sustainable, locally – grown, organic produce. In addition to providing high quality natural and organic produce, shopping at your local farmer’s market helps. Support community agriculture and local business.

Check out grownyc.org to find local farmer’s market locations in NYC.

In search of any additional organic food markets in your neighborhood? Check out ‘The Ultimate List of Organic Stores” for yummy + nutritious food from PositiveHealthWellness.com.

https://www.positivehealthwellness.com/

Read more at Keepingupwithbritt.com

-Brittney Grant of Keepingupwithbritt.com

Mapping out life at any age can get tricky but it’s something about those twenties that can take you for a loop! Thankfully, we have Tyece Wilkins who gives her honest approach on life and motivates women to embrace the twists + turns of growth.  She is the voice behind Twenties Unscripted and author of Twenties Unscripted: A Journey of Womanhood, Writing, and Relativity. Her Twenties Unscripted mission is to cultivate a personal blog that sparks young women to connect to the best, bravest and boldest parts of themselves.

Since Tyece began documenting her twenty-something journey, Twenties Unscripted has appeared in major media outlets such as USA Today and xoJane. After being named by Clutch Magazine as one of the “Top 5 Most Underrated Blogs You Should Read”, Twenties Unscripted went on to win Best Personal Blog in the 2013 Black Weblog Awards. The blog later received the 2015 Black Weblog Award for Best Writing in a Blog. Tyece was dubbed “The One Who Keeps It Real” on My Creative Connection’s second annual list of “45 Millennials of Color Who Are Blazing Their Own Paths.” She has also contributed to many online publications including For Harriet, Brown Girl Bloggers, The Frenemy and Thought Catalog.

Tyece also shares her journey as a speaker and spoken word artist. She has spoken at Southern Illinois University as well as D.C. Blogger Week and has had her work spotlighted by Busboys and Poets as well as WRTR Real Talk Radio. Each year she curates and directs a one-night showcase entitled, “See. Speak. Feel.” where she brings together local artists and performers across the D.C. metro area to share their work with an intimate audience. “See. Speak. Feel.” has been featured in media outlets such as The Washington Afro American and East of the River magazine.

Tyece earned a bachelor’s in communications from the University of Maryland. She resides in the D.C. metro area.

Let’s get to know Tyece a little better…

Sharing your journey and being authentically you not only liberates yourself but encourages others to as well! What first sparked the idea of you launching Twenties Unscripted?

I started Twenties Unscripted at a very different time from the current online world we live in. It was less noisy. Less crowded. Less focused on some of the pomp and circumstance that runs rampant now. So when I started it, I didn’t see it as a launch as much as the continuation of doing two things I loved-writing and blogging. I’ve been blogging since 2009, but after attending the Blogging While Brown conference in 2012, I was encouraged to really get serious about the online space I was carving out. Shortly after the conference, I purchased the domain for Twenties Unscripted and hired a graphic designer to help me with the look and feel of the site.

You recently transitioned your blog into your book, Twenties Unscripted: A Journey of Womanhood, Writing, and Relativity. What did you learn from the process of you writing your 1st book?

Phew, I’m still learning a lot after having written the book even though it’s been a year since it was published! But, there are a few key lessons that reverberate in the back of my mind when I think about the book. Don’t be afraid to leave it all on the page. There were a few people who really wanted to probe about certain stories I told, and it was important for me to create boundaries. I published the work I did for a reason; I left certain stories out for reasons as well. As an author, it’s not your job to explain your work. It is your responsibility to write honestly and deeply enough that the work speaks for itself.

Also, a book is a forever kind of thing-for better or worse. Sometimes it’s easy to forget this. The world is so social media driven and we have access to so much content that’s here today and gone tomorrow. But, a book is a much more permanent part of your creative history. I have to be willing to stand by the words in that book. The beauty of that, however, is that even a year after publishing the book, it is still reaching new audiences every day. It’s a marketing tool that I always have now to promote, and I absolutely love that.

Being a performer, entrepreneur & writer can be tough to juggle. How do you continue to stay centered and productive?

Something I learned the hard way was the importance of carving out time for myself. I spent a lot of the early years of Twenties Unscripted mistaking creative/writing time with time for myself. The two are definitely not the same. While I love everything I do and have done with Twenties Unscripted, I am not my blog. But, I only realized that after countless breakdowns and burnouts. So, now I am a lot more intentional about making time for the woman behind the words and about doing things simply because I want to do them, and not because they provide any professional gain.

We tend to pull characteristics from others in our lives or from people we admire, who inspires you and why?

I have been blessed beyond what I deserve when it comes to the people in my life and the countless ways their presence inspires me. My mother has a heart that stretches from coast to coast, an inner fight that has pulled her through some of life’s ugliest trenches, and faith like I’ve never known. My father works harder than any other person I’ve ever met. My sister Alexis lives and loves with her heart wide open and is always so unafraid to put herself out there. My sister Makeeba stares every challenge square in the eye and somehow finds the nerve to rise above it. I am surrounded by hard work, heart, and resilience and have been insanely fortunate to inherit these things from my family. “Inspired” would be an understatement.

What advice would you give girls who want to follow their dreams and passions?

Something I wrote earlier this year was that “Sacrifice is the price of admission for success. That is a ticket that you can’t bootleg or knock off, as much as some people will try.” Success is not an instant thing nor is it a singular moment; success is the trail you trek by taking measured steps. So, don’t just be willing to sacrifice-be 100% ready to do it.

We are all about empowerment, what does EMPOWERMENT mean to you?

Empowerment means crafting a lifestyle that gives you the space and freedom to offer your most authentic self to the world. Empowerment also means surrounding yourself with the right people to enliven and embolden that most authentic self.

Time for the Faves! Celeb Crush? Artist? Food? Movie?

Celeb Crush – Lenny Kravtiz

Artist – I’ll go for my big three:

Poet: Nikki Giovanni
Spoken word artist: Rudy Francisco
Writer: Cheryl Strayed

Food – shrimp and buffalo wings (not together!)

Movie – Can’t ever just pick one! My top 5:

Love Jones
Hitch
Deep Blue Sea
Mona Lisa Smile
The Social Network

Check out more Tyece here!

Twenties Unscripted

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