The phrase “I am too young” is officially stripped from your vocabulary after reading about Victoria Pannell. This dynamic young lady has created more change for her generation than some have in their entire lives. At the tender age of 12 she has decided the path of activism is one she will walk down and conquer.

Victoria Pannell, 12 year old model, actress, activist and honor student is from Harlem, NY. By the young age of 5, she had already appeared on the Today Show to talk about the family’s food pantry and by 6 was the youngest volunteer to go on the American Family Drive which aided the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Victoria does numerous speaking engagements on homelessness, being fatherless, and mental health services for children. She is currently Rev. Sharpton’s National Action Network Northeast Regional Director for NAN’s young people movement. Her powerful words can be heard every Saturday morning on Rev. Sharpton’s live radio broadcast talking about issues the youth face today. The unstoppable activist recently led  an anti-violence march in Harlem  at Wright Brothers Playground.

Time to meet this AMAZING young lady…

What inspired you to make a difference in your neighborhood and change others lives?

I first realized I had a voice after I made a speech at a Father/ Daughter’s dance and I was speaking about about my father not there.  After I said my speech a young man came up to me with his head down and dark shades. As he started talking I realized tears were coming down. He said, “ If I would’ve heard your speech earlier on in my life, I would’ve made better decisions.” After that moment I knew I had a powerful voice that had the power to change people’s lives. My words and my experiences at a young age were able to touch someone.

They’re some adults who are frightened very easily, how did you find the courage to lead the non violence rally and just be a positive leader in general?

I get my strength and energy from all the loving support that surrounds me! All of my family, friends, and even Rev. Al Sharpton gives me words of encouragement on a regular basis. I can never let them down or others who are counting on me down. My mother is always there supporting me. Even when I feel like I can’t do anymore she is always there to  remind me to continue to push myself because others are looking up to  me. She  knows that it’s just not about me but all the people that my words and actions can touch. When you have a strong support system like I do, it’s impossible to not be courageous.

You were named National Action Network Northeast Regional Director, What do you think it takes to be a good leader?

The biggest piece of advice I would give to anyone in a leadership rope is be a great listener. It’s always important to others to be open to opinions and helpful advice. Even if you sometimes don’t feel like listening, it’s important because your words of encouragement  can help improve someone’s entire situation. On the other hand, people looking up to you may give you helpful advice that will allow you to become a better leader too!

You have an awesome singing voice, where do you see your singing taking you in the future?

Well, it was talent I was naturally blessed with. I usually just sing in church. I also sing the National Anthem from time to time. It’s  just something I like to do in my past time. I do not see it growing into a major career.  My main focus is my activism.

Who are your role models?

My biggest role model is President Obama! He has so many people trying to bring him down with a negative energy and  he continues with a positive attitude. No matter what comes his way he still has  a “Yes We Can!” attitude! Being able to push pass people’s negative words and keep rising to the top is a perfect example of a good leader. You’re always going to have people who want to knock you down but you have to take control of your vision so you don’t get discouraged by other peoples opinions.

What is your dream job and why?

My dream job is to be a journalist! I would love to be a journalist because it’s the perfect way to connect with the people. It’s the perfect way to educate them of what is going on in the world

Fun Faves- Food? Artist/ Song?

My favorite food is hands down home made macaroni & cheese with 5 different cheeses! Yum!  My favorite musical artist is Mindless Behavior. My favorite one out of the group is Prodigy. And my favorite song hands down is My Girl by the Temptations!

Check out Victoria Pannell’s speaking in Washington D.C.

Check out the video of the non violence rally Victoria led that we posted for ‘Speak Out’ Wednesday in December…

Good Morning Fly Girls!

So, you automatically know that you’re gorgeous, fly and fierce you are no matter what size or shade you are. It’s a simple fact! It does not matter what any other person thinks or even says about your stunning beauty. As long as you know your worth and flyness, you dictate how others view you as well! As girls of color we sometimes seem divided  by our sizes, hair texture, backgrounds and yes, even different shades. We all can turn on the TV and may see that different skin tones are embraced more in media.

The film’s directors Bill Duke & Channsin Berry  covers the separation that some girls have with overcoming having darker skin tones in their movie “Dark Girls.” Berry said, “When Bill called me with the idea of a documentary about dark-skinned women, I was in right away. Being a dark-skinned Black man, like Bill, I have gone through similar traumas. Being separated and discriminated against by our own people. It stifles your self-esteem. Bill and I shared our similar experiences and immediately understood that we knew the best way to approach this.”

Check out the preview…

So C.O.R.E  girls, do you feel like it’s a separation in skin tones? Do you feel like darker tone girls are not as accepted in media?

Time to SPEAK OUT!

Good Morning Beautiful Girls!

So it’s Tuesday and it’s back to class. You CLEARLY need a song to get you amped up for the rest of the week!

Check it out…

Black Eyed Peas- Rock That Body

The Pentagon Project is a  growing and influential non-profit organization focused on uplifting and liberating  African American female students from financial hardship through scholarships, resources, and opportunities. The Pentagon Project was founded by four Tennessee State University alumnae – Evelyn J. Shropshire, Fredrica M. Piphus, Marsheila J. Hayes, & Sherrae M. Hayes in 2008. Check out how these four dynamic ladies allowed their idea to come to reality!

Let’s meet the FABULOUS ladies behind THE PENTAGON PROJECT and understand this great concept…..

What need was there to develop the Pentagon Project?

As four best friends attending TSU, we each knew the needs of undergraduate women and made the decision, even before graduating, to give back in some manner as alumnae.  Financially, college can be a trying journey for most.  Application fees, textbook costs, food, extracurricular activities, etc. keep students on the never-ending decision continuum – “Do I eat noodles this week, so I can buy books next week?” and so many other questions become part of a person’s thought process.  And as young women who graduated from TSU we felt that we could help our “little sisters” navigate the journey better along the way based on our experiences and the power they each already have within.

Share with the C.O.R.E Readers some of the activities that the Pentagon Project has done in the past and any future events

One pressing need, lack of money for textbooks, led us to begin our first initiative in 2008 – The Pentagon Project Book Scholarship, now named the Dr. Sandra Waters Holt Book Scholarship.  Since 2008, we have expanded our efforts to include two more initiatives.
Our Liberated Woman to Watch Award, which awards an underclassman involved on campus with a professional and fashionable watch as encouragement to continue her efforts and let her know that she is a rising leader on the move.  The Apply Yourself Initiative awards a young woman in high school with a college application fee sponsorship to ease the financial hardship of senior year.

In the future, we hope to expand our efforts to include the So Fly Initiative, a fully-funded college visit for young woman in high school.  Flipping through a college brochure is one thing, but having an opportunity to walk an actual campus and meet key faculty and staff is another.  Envisioning oneself in college is all the more possible during an actual chance to visit, and making the choice to do what it takes to get there is even more achievable.  The Pentagon Project is working to make this initiative a reality.

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

S. M. Hayes: We are deeply inspired by Dr. Sandra Waters Holt.  As the Director of the University Honors Program, she truly provided each of us with necessary resources, support, guidance and simple words of encouragement throughout our journey at TSU.  Her spirit inspired us to pass on what she gave us to other young women, and without her The Pentagon Project would not be where it is today.
Fredrica and Evelyn: We both have a deep passion of the late, great Lena Horne because of the grace and natural elegance she embodied.
Marsheila Joy: I am a believer in the “fabulosity” that Kimora Lee exudes

Sherrae : I truly admire the historical footprint left by Mary Church Terrell.

Where do you ladies see the Pentagon Project in 5 years?

In the next five years we hope to:
– Expand our scholarship from one awardee to five awardees at TSU and beyond
– Expanding our other initiatives to reach three times as many awardees or more
– Continue our relationship with TSU and become one of the lead alumni groups creating change on campus

C.O.R.E Magazine is all about Empowerment. What does empowerment mean to you?

S. M. Hayes: Empowerment is a journey.  People become empowered bit by bit, picking up lessons, encouragement, and “aha” moments along the way as fuel to push forward and make dreams, reality.
F. Piphus: To me, empowerment is being able to help other women activate their untapped talents.
E. Shropshire: Empowerment is all about love.  I am an advocate of love.  In order to have the desire to motivate and inspire others, you must have confidence, or a love of self, and you must also love the people.  If you do not love the people, your efforts to assist them will be futile and not impactful.  Empowerment is loving yourself enough to pass that feeling on to others, by any means necessary.
M. J. Hayes: Empowerment means loving yourself, and others, on purpose.  It’s acknowledging our strengths and weaknesses, highs and lows, and still being able to look at ourselves and say “Honey…you are pretty damn wonderful and there’s no one else like you!”  In the words of Marianne Williamson, ‘…as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.’

What are some of your FAVE Inspirational Quotes??
Sherrae:  “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” – Frederick Douglass
Fredrica: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phillipians 4:13
Evelyn: “Every truth has four corners: as a teacher I give you one corner, and it is for you to find the other three.” ~Confucius
Marsheila Joy: “ You can do anything you put your mind to, and you can do it in stilettos.” ~ Kimora Lee Simmons

C.O.R.E Readers check out these FABULOUS ladies at www.thepentagonproject.org

Contact information for individuals who want to learn more about the Pentagon Project.
Feel free to reach out to us: contactus@thepentagonproject.org and follow us on Twitter @aliberatedwoman

1) A traveler. I’d like my words to mean more because I’ve experienced new cultures and explored the continents of this world in unique and exciting ways. From my few trips to Latin American countries I’ve learned so much more than I could ever learn in a classroom. I’ve learned more about the historical impact of slavery in the Americas and capitalism than I’d probably ever learn in any of my Barnes&Noble reads.

So when you think of what high school you will attend and what college major appeals to you most don’t think of yourself just in terms of your career. Who do want to be? What characteristics would you like to possess, to nurture, to embody? How will you get there? What steps do you need to take to be a good friend, an honest daughter? Remember that there are small things that separate good from great, so strive for greatness.

-Tenicka Boyd

Hey Beautiful Ladies!

So going natural sometimes can be well…a little scary. Getting used to a new texture, trying to come up with funky hairstyles and pushing past others opinions can seem like an impossible task while simply trying to balance your classes. Yes, the fact that it’s just hair remains but it also takes a mental change to switch up on what you think is beautiful. If you are transitioning from permed hair to natural hair, you may need a little EXTRA encouragement. It’s always good to know that you’re not the only one going through the change.The best point is to remember that you are FLY & GORGEOUS no matter what hairstyle you rock!

Check out these vids of fly teens showing and talking about transitioning…

Good Morning Loves!
Since the world has been welcoming Miss Blue Ivy Carter, we thought we would grace you with a new vid from the fly mother. Check it out…

Beyonce- I Care

By Nikia Pope

I admire women who pursue their goals and dreams with a relentless mindset, who possess an indomitable spirit. Sadly enough, not enough of those type of women get the recognition that they deserve. Well that is over, I have dedicated my effort and energy to shining the spotlight on women  who are already shining in their own right in an effort to help them shine even brighter. To bring awareness, to women who are creating their own rules, I don’t know about you but I love those type of women. Those are the women who Inspire, Motivate, Break the Rules and make History. The year of 2012 is all about empowering women, our women’ black women. I created this series specifically to assist women in their effort of creating their own reality and inspiring other women.

I am proud to present to you the first installment of the Women on the Rise Series.

Warning: This young mogul in the making will provide extreme Inspiration, after our Interview I found myself even more inspired to pursue my own dreams.

Name, age (it’s up to you if you want to include your full name)

Megan Gilchrist, age 25

Where you live or where are you from? Where is your business stationed at?

I’m from Minneapolis Minnesota.  I now reside in Los Angeles California for the past year.

As a Child, What did you want to be when you grew up?

I never really liked that question.   I did what I felt.  I was into ice skating, gymnastics, ballet; tap jazz, modern, point, hip hop.  Then when I hit 7th grade I was into sports volleyball, basketball softball and track.  I always knew I was creative and had fun dressing up and making things. I didn’t want to limit myself to one thing.

What do you do for a living or things you would like to do?

I create.  Right now my focus is my jewelry line.  I want to do so much more.  When I see something at a store that I like, I tend to pick it apart and then decide, I can do that myself, or if I buy it, in the long run somehow I end up revamping it.

From where/who do you draw inspiration?

The slightest thing can trigger my inspiration.  I watch old classics movies; listen to really off set music sometimes to kind of draw from different genres.

Lately it’s been from minimalistic artists such as Piet Mondrian, and my mother who is a fine artist, Condetia Madrid.  I’ve been listening to Little Dragon, a Swedish group with an Asian girl lead singer, and I YouTube inspirational stories at least twice a week to get my heart pumping. (Seriously look up the story of Sylvester Stallone and how he made “ROCKY”, amazing.)

 In pursuing your dreams what challenges have you faced and how have you overcame?

When you are taking not such a safe route and depending on yourself, your own product, you can become stuck, you may feel in a slump/ self adsorbed.  You by all means necessary have to stay moving.  There was literally about a month, I did not leave the house, I was depressed. I kind of started straying from what I started.  I sure it was self doubt, behind it all.  But if you do one little thing at least every day, to keep your dream relevant, it can never die.  I blogged, I counted that as work, I followed new people in my field, I count that as work, I journal, I painted, I did anything that kept my creativity going, and soon enough I was getting orders left and right, I had people inquiring and I was back in the game.

What is your mission for your business and for your life?

I want to make people feel as good as I feel when I complete a vision into a finished piece.  I want to create careers for others and be happy everyday doing it.

What mark/ legacy do you want to leave on the world?

I want to be an inspiration for people to do what they love to do.  There is no better way to live life.  There is nothing worse than feeling that nag, or weight on your shoulder because you are about to do something that your heart is not into.  You have to go for it, and give it your all and the time is right now.

What’s next for you?

I am working on my label “GILCHRIST.” I want to make this a long lasting career, to do that I need to make it timeless and chic, yet still have that Gilchrist edge. I’m currently working on my new site, there are several designs that I need to get out, I have a few collaborations with other designers in the work and some Pop-Up shops.

Favorite Inspirational Quote and/or Book and what about it connects with you?

“Cannibals prefer the spineless”- unknown

I’ve been on this quote lately.  It says little but so much.  Humans can be so aggressive when they detect any weakness.  Or people will try you, question you and try to deplete you.  So I take it as motivation to be strong, aggressive and fearless.  I have a very soft voice and kind presence and I think some people judge too quickly.  So I want my work to speak for me first, and my designs are strong and aggressive, and this is only the beginning.

Advice you can give to other young women.

What do you love to do?  Do it.  Find yourself, love yourself and be able to take care of yourself.

What are your fave beauty products?

I swear by Murad facial cleanser, and Yves Saint Laurent “Elle” perfume.

5 words that describe you.

Resilient, Courageous, Brave, Determined, and free.

5 things you have in your bag/purse?

I’m very, very picky about handbags these days.  The ones I have my eye on are a few thousand, so until the contents of that purse double the price tag of that purse, I won’t wear one.  That’s my truth

Where can we find more info about you? Website? Blog? Social Networking Sites?

You can view some of my work on www.all4ours.com /@all4ours

My personal blog: www.yomegz.com / @yomegz

–By Nikia Pope

Name: Tyanthia Jordan

Age: 14

City: Nashville, TN

Grade: 8th

What’s your dream job and why?

I want to be a artist or to be a professional basketball player.

Which hobbies do you love to enjoy?

Drawing, playing basketball, playing any sports that are really great like: softball, volleyball, soccer a little bit

Who is your biggest celeb crush?

Mindless Behavior and Chris brown

Fave song to JAM out to right now?

Boo thang by Verse Simmonds

If you could change 1 thing about the world what would it be?

Violence in the world

What does empowerment mean to you?

To uplift yourself and others!

What are your plans after high school?

To go to college and get my degree so I can work

How have you helped someone in your life lately?

By helping my mama through her surgery

Who is your role model & why?

My role model is my granny because I love her and she loves me. She has always been like a mom to me.

Rockin’ Natural Hair?? Awesome! Sometimes getting a routine of doing your natural hair can be fun but get a little boring at times. It’s always good to check out fresh hair inspiration to remix your style selection. Check out the vid of how to rock the high puff!

Items Needed:

-Wide tooth comb

-Spray Water bottle

-Elastic Headband