Tryneal Addison is the Host of  the awesome teen talk show “What Girls Think!” Hailing from Saint Paul, MN,  this young entrepreneur launched her very own show to motivate, encourage and chat it up with fellow teen girls. This driven  11th grader has connected with teens from all over the nation and different cultural backgrounds to discuss real life issues teen girls deal with on a day to day basis.

The weekly show gives  an exclusive peek into the minds of 5 dynamic young women as they take their stance on a variety of subjects, from timely world events that are critical to life, to frivolous topics that are simply for fun.

Let’s get to know Tryneal a little better…

What originally motivated you to launch your own teen talk show, What Girls Think?

I think what motivated me the most, is the cry I am hearing from our teens. I see their hurt, there pain, their sorrow, their unanswered questions. I want to Motivate, Educate and Recreate the lives of youth. To do that, I wanted to create a platform that gave us a voice, where we felt that twe had our own special place to relese our thoughts. I feel like we deserved that much. The platform of it being a talk show is a bonus.

Your talk show is a great platform for teen girls to discuss everyday issues! Why do you feel it is important for teen girls to voice their opinion and share thoughts among each other?

Well first off, us being young women , we have alot to say! The issues that us young women face our surprising. We go through alot in our young lives. We face alot of issues. I feel like we deserved a place where we could all come together and speak, share our thoughts and views. I feel that is important that we created something not only to help us (Hosts Of What Girls Think!) but that empowered girls from around the world!

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

There are alot of people and thigs that inspire me! First off, I would like to say my mother. She is my rock. I honestly would not be who I am or be where I am without her. She is very supportive, strong and fierce! She is my mom, but she knows how to come down to my level and be my bestfriend when I need her. I would also say, Oprah, Ellen, Katie Couric, Wendy Williams, Ricki Lake, Debroah Norville and Robin Roberts.

Being a teenage girl comes with so much pressure, what advice would you give to your peers on staying true to themselves?

I would say, just always love yourself. Love is a very easy but hard feeling. It can be tricky and hard to understand. I feel that loving yourself should be easy and that If you don’t love you, who will?! Believe and and always trust God. He has your back. Don’t ever be afriad to run to him in your time of need. Lastly,
“Smile because you can, Because you have the right ,and because your worth it”

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

In 5 years I see myself being a host of my own talk show. I see myself enjoying life and all it has to offer. I will take time to figure out who I am. I might find love, I might travel the world, I mean all I can say is I hope its only up from here!

We are all about empowerment at C.O.R.E Mag, what does empowerment mean to you?

Empowerment means everything to me. I feel that all of us as people and women should feel and be powerful. The way I feel about empowerment is all in my favorite poem.
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

Fun Faves! Food? Artist? Celeb Crush?

Fave food is Italian! I love Chicken Alfredo! My fave artists are Luther Vandross, Beyonce, Adele and Rihanna. Celeb Crushes are, Tristan Wilds, Trey Songz and Mandela Peebles.

Check out more Tryneal here...

What Girl Thinks!

Fly, fresh & fashion forward describes 23 year old blogger, Amber Alexander! Originally from Brooklyn, New York Amber is the creator of the dope blogazine Beauty & The Street. In an efforts to fill a void of online publications for eclectic urban young women of all shades who are passionate about style, music, beauty, and women’s topics, she launched Beauty & The Street.

Amber’s blogging has earned her an honorary feature in legendary designer Thierry Mugler’s ‘Womanity’ campaign, Orbit Gum’s blogger campaign, a slot to do exclusive coverage at Rebecca Minkoff events with selected bloggers, Fashion Week, and a cameo in The New York Times blog ‘The Local’ in 2010.

She’s also held internship positions at various companies within the fashion/beauty industry including Purple Lab NYC, Funky Fanny’s Vintage and Teen Diaries Online in addition to personal assisting for former high-fashion model Lois Samuels on her self-titled line The Vessel by Lois. Being passionate about music and culture Amber also regularly contributed to ground-breaking movement Afropunk’s official website and Brooklynbodega.com. Recently she’s been featured on The Fashion Bomb, Independent Fashion Bloggers, and Ebony.

Let’s get to know Amber a little better….

What originally motivated you to jump into the creative field of fashion & blogging?

Initially I just wanted an outlet to talk about celebrity style and gossip, so I started a blog. At the time it was simply for fun!

Beauty and The Street is a dope fashion and lifestyle blogazine, what inspired you to launch your site?

Why thank you! At one point I used to read a million blogs and though I enjoyed them all, none spoke directly to me. As a young woman of color with multiple interests and an unconventional perspective on style I felt it was my duty to fill the void.

In fashion it’s important to stay fresh and current, how do you keep your creative juices flowing?

Well, I don’t watch tv or read magazines so I just allow my everyday experiences to inspire me. I enjoy people-watching in NYC, reading a ton of books, watching retro flicks, and listening music (my favorite). Those things get my juices flowing daily.

Describe your style.

Wow that’s such a hard question for me, because I look different all the time. I would call myself urban-eclectic. I tend to pull from different types of style whether it’s street, punk rock, bohemian, etc and blend them all together. I’m pretty much a chameleon.

What has been the highest point of your career so far and why?

Thus far the highest point in my career honestly is hearing great feedback from readers who felt like they never fit in anywhere. I’ve always felt like an odd-ball and it is nice to know that young women like myself can connect with Beauty & The Street. It’s the best feeling in the world!

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

I admire my parents because they taught me the importance of entrepreneurship, my twin sister because of her impeccable style, and my young sister for not giving a damn what anyone thinks. Those are all great characteristics to have, especially in the fashion industry.

Where do you see yourself and Beauty & The Street in the next 5 years?

In 5 years I see Beauty & The Street as THE go-to online destination for fashion and culture with staffed contributors on board. There’s more but you will see for yourself 😉 Personally, I would like to be deeply active in my community there is a lot of work that needs to be done in the inner city.

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

Empowerment means to know who you are, ignoring naysayers and going after what you truly deserve. After all, no one else will do it for you!

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

Roti and Jerk Shrimp, I’m West Indian so I love Caribbean cuisine.

I don’t have a favorite song but as of late I have been listening to Frank Ocean – Pink Matter often.

Ehhh, I am not crushing on any celebs per se but Nas is pretty hot lol

Check out more of Amber Alexander & Beauty & the Street here…

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Do YOU know that you should be F.L.Y everyday?? I’m not talking about the clothes you wear or the hairstyle you rock but you should be Forever Loving Yourself all the time! LaNetta Price launched F.L.Y. Mentoring Services Inc. which is an organization dedicated to teaching life skills, etiquette and self esteem to African-American girls between the ages of 11-17.  The Houston based organization is completely dedicated to reaching out to schools, churches and various youth organizations to provide unique workshops  in order for girls to mature into confident, graceful young women.

Let’s get to know LaNetta and F.L.Y Mentoring a little better…

Please share how the idea of F.L.Y Mentoring  was develop and the mission behind the movement

The initial idea of F.L.Y. Mentoring Services came about through my mentoring with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. I developed a great relationship with my Little Sister and really began to see the effect of this great pairing. I definitely began to feel as if I was really making a positive difference in her life. This experience was very rewarding and I began to think bigger. I wanted to find a way to impact and empower more girls. F.L.Y. soon became my great vision. I wanted to dispel the negative images of young black girls in our community. I understood that there were millions of girls that did not have positive role models, which is clearly visible in our communities. I wanted the opportunity to show girls how valuable they are and not to succumb to common stereotypes. F.L.Y. Mentoring Services is designed to equip girls between the ages of 11-17, with valuable life skills which include self-esteem and etiquette. F.L.Y. is an acronym which stands for FOREVER LOVING YOURSELF. The program focuses on empowerment through confidence. I certainly feel as if a confident girl can do anything that she puts her mind to. This confidence can radiate through schoolwork as well as personal relationships. The girls in F.L.Y. are gaining valuable skills that will guide them through adulthood.

F.L.Y. stands for Forever Loving Yourself, what piece of advice would you give to teen girls on how to truly love themselves?

I would tell girls that in order to love yourself you have to exude confidence. This confidence is reflected in the way that you treat your body, nurture your mind, and feed your spirit. Confidence is not only the way that you treat yourself, but the way that you treat others as well. If you are a confident individual you will exude that energy in all aspects of your life. A girl that loves herself wants nothing but the best for herself. She works hard and doesn’t give up. A girl that loves herself can be seen from a mile away. She is positive, respectful, smart, strong, classy, and beautiful from the inside out.

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

I have definitely learned that the teenage girls of today are dealing with tremendous pressures of society. I truly believe that we are living in a different time and age where media is playing a large role in how our girls feel about themselves. The girls have basically taught me that there are few to no positive or “like” images of themselves on T.V. As a community, we must recognize this and begin to come up with a more positive outlet for our girls.

What is the main goal you accomplish when you host different workshops for the young ladies?

One main goal I accomplish in each workshop is developing a sense of sisterhood. I allow the girls to be themselves and teach them to accept differences. The girls are placed in a positive environment where they can uplift and learn from each other. This has a tremendous effect on how the girls feel about themselves. If they see another girl accomplishing a great goal, they are more likely to strive to reach their own personal goals. If the girls see another girl carrying herself with grace, they are more likely to want to duplicate that behavior. I honestly cannot sum up one goal for all of these workshops. I truly believe that each girl takes a piece of each workshop and applies it in order to strengthen certain areas of her life.

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

I am inspired by my mother who was and still is such a great role model in my life. She has built her life around helping others and I have the desire to do the same. Throughout my life she has taught me to be a caring, respectful, giving, and classy individual. She has given me experiences throughout my life that I can only pray to give my daughter. I have watched her work diligently in her career as well as in her job in caring for her family. She has an unparalleled work ethic. I strive to gain this in all of my endeavors. I feel that every girl should grow up with a positive role model in her life. A young girls’ first role model should be her mother. She should see her image reflected through her mother. I have learned many life lessons from my mother. She inspires me to be strong and independent. She inspires me with her positivity and her grace. With my mothers’ watchful eye, I was able to be my own quirky self without having to conform to what others thought about me. Overall, my mother has taught me to work hard and continue to strive for my dreams.

Where do you see F.L.Y Mentoring in the next 5 years?

In the next 5 years I see F.L.Y. chapters in several states. I want to provide this unique and empowering experience to as many girls as possible. I also plan on having yearly conferences for girls around the country. These conferences will be a larger version of the intimate F.L.Y. workshops. Girls will be able to meet other girls from around their city or state and form unique bonds. I want to expose them to great female leaders and other positive role models from around the country. The girls will be truly motivated throughout these conferences. Lastly, I see F.L.Y. being able to create a unique way for teens to express themselves, and become empowered through the media.

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

Empowerment is such a strong word. In my opinion, empower means to teach. It means to equip an individual with the skills it needs to succeed. I feel that once an individual is empowered, they in turn should empower others. It is our responsibility as adults to empower our youth. To empower is to make a life-long affect on one’s life. I truly believe that with more teen empowerment programs, we can change the current generation and mold an upcoming generation.

Fun Faves!!- Food? Song? Artist?

It is very hard to narrow down my favorite food to one thing. I absolutely love lasagna as well as all soul food. What is better than greens, ribs, chicken, mac and cheese flushed down with pound cake or banana pudding?! I am also a very big candy addict. I seriously need help with this issue. ☺ I do not have a favorite song, but one has been my favorite for the past year, which is currently on my website www.flygirlsmentoring.com It is an inspirational song called “Beautifully Made” by Leah Smith. This song has truly touched me as well as countless others. It exemplifies what a lot of girls think about themselves when their self esteem is low but also shows us that we are all beautiful. My favorite artist of all time would have to be Anita Baker. I love all types of music. My faves are certainly gospel, R&B, pop, and jazz.

Check out more F.L.Y Mentoring here…

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It can be difficult to stand up for what you truly believe in  at times but Hannah Spivey is a perfect example of making her voice heard. Not only is she a strong advocate against domestic violence but she is the  author of “Ebony the Beloved” which discusses the trials of domestic violence abuse as well.The main character, Ebony is a young girl who endures phases of abuse and just wants to be loved.

This talented writer and woman empowerment supporter  is originally from south Florida. Overcoming bullying at a young age, Hannah found comfort in writing. She currently works as a ghost writer and freelance writer. And is also working on 2nd novel and 4th ebook!

Let’s get to know Hannah Spivey a little better…

What originally motivated you to step out on your dreams and become an author?

When I lost my job as a student worker at a University I never graduated from, I discovered my real niche in writing. In addition to that, my love for fiction and reading also prompted me to become a professional writer.

Pursuing the path of a writer comes with many triumphs and some trials as well, what has been the biggest challenge you’ve overcome so far in your career?

Finding a publisher was hard, because I didn’t know much about the publishing industry at the time, and I had no money to publish my book. Once I found a publisher to invest in my book, I had to wait a year for the book to be published. Then after the book was published, I was querying people about interviews and everything. It has been a very tough journey, especially while not having any money. These triumphs have taught me so much about being an author and how to market, research, promote, and sell myself.

Your book “Ebony the Beloved” discusses domestic violence, what made you want to tackle this topic?

We constantly hear about women being battered, but of their stories go unheard of. I wrote Ebony as a way to cleanse my soul and give more women the inspiration and courage to become a voice in the domestic violence community.

What advice would you tell a young lady who is dealing with domestic violence?

I’d tell her seek help and advice and RUN for the hills. But she’d have to be serious about escaping her abusive relationship. Unfortunately, many abused women who leave their abusers end up running back to them. If these women are serious about leaving their abuses, I’d give them a plethora of resources.

Being a teen can be tough when you’re growing up, what was the most vital lesson as a teen you learned that carried into your adult life?

I was taught how to manage my money wisely. I can’t say I always followed the money management advice, but I can say it still works wonders. And the second most vital lesson I learned is never envy what a person has because you don’t know what they could have done to obtain it.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

I see myself as prosperous author and speaker.

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

Empowerment means self-sufficiency, diligence, resilience, self-respect, and humility.

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

Lol, my favorite food is Cheese Pizza, Turkey and Roast Beef Sandwiches, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Pistachio Ice Cream, and grapes. I have too many favorite songs and I have too many favorite artists. Umm…my most favorite artists would be Jackie Wilson, Bobby Womack, and Lloyd. My celebrity crush is Lloyd, of course. Lol

Check out  more Hannah Spivey here..

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Ebony the Beloved

Be Inspired!

Name:
Darryel Patton

Age: 12

City: Nashville, TN

Grade: 7th

What is your dream job and why?
I want to be a veterinarian because I love animals.

Which hobbies do you enjoy?
I like to draw.

Who is your biggest crush?
Princeton from Mindless Behavior

What’s your fave song to jam out to right now?
Tonight we are young

If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
I would change global warming.

What does empowerment mean to you?
Empowerment means to strengthen others and your self.

What are your plans after high school?
I plan to attend college.

How have you helped someone in your life lately?
Yes, I have helped my mom because she always supports me.

Who is your role model and why?
Yes, my brother because he went to college and I want to follow his foot steps.

Talented, driven and simply ustoppable describe the spirit of the  fresh & amazing singer, Anita Nicole! With a dynamic voice and a humble heart, Anita Nicole has nowhere to go other than straight to the top!

The youngest of 3 children, Anita Nicole was born in London, England to parents of Jamaican, Grenadian and Carriacouan descent.

Anita Nicole excelled in both academics and sports at school, breaking several sprinting records and representing her school at the borough championships each year, she was also in the top 10 of her year for GCSE results which were published on her school website.

However, it was music Anita Nicole wanted to pursue. The moment  after hearing a radio interview with Katie Melua on Robert Elm’s BBC London show, she decided to audition for The Brit School, where she know attends. 

Adele, Jessie J, Leona Lewis, Marsha Ambrosius, Amy Winehouse all went to the prestigious school and Anita Nicole is working hard to ensure her name follows that illustrious list in the near future.

Let’s get to get to know this amazing singer a little better…

Check out her latest single “Will You Ever Be?”

Check out more of Anita Nicole here…
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Young, Ambitious and Beautiful not only describe this amazing organization but also the women behind this influential platform.Y.A.B. is an organization started by 3 college educated African American young women that wanted to bring together other young African American women that not only possess a “job” or “career”, but bring a unique aesthetic to what they do. Lauren Bealore, Courtney Griffin, and Daisy Sutton all came together to showcase young women of color excelling in all aspects of life: health, hair, beauty, fashion, career and networking, education, food and nutrition, entrepreneurship, and scholarship. The mission statement’s purpose is to act as a breakdown of the acronym alone…which in turn leads to the question: what does it mean to be Young, Ambitious, and Beautiful? Well, to answer that question you must meet the ladies of Y.A.B!

Let’s get to know them a little better…

Please share how the idea of Young, Ambitious & Beautiful was develop and the mission behind the movement?

We started Y.A.B. because the three of us realized that there was an untapped market of young women networking with one another. Based on our experience at Michigan State University together, we realized that many of our peers were excelling in so many different areas and their success needed to be showcased to more people. As a result of our brainstorming and collaborative effort, we formed Y.A.B. We chose the acronyms Young, Ambitious, and Beautiful because we felt that these three words were the depiction for the type of women we wanted to promote career wise. Our mission behind the movement was to seek out these young women of color and build a network with them to in turn have them build a network with one another, fostering a network of professional sisterhood.

Daisy Sutton

Working with youth both parties learn from each other, what’s one thing you have learned from working with young ladies?

From different projects that we have been involved in, we have learned that the impact that you have on others doesn’t have to come at a certain age. Whether 14 or 24, both can learn from positive experiences and also both could have had strong and realistic experiences that have shaped them into the person they are today.

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

Our motto for Y.A.B. is “lifting as we climb” and that is what we feel that it means to empower another person. Empowerment to us means support, motivation, and encouragement and that is what Y.A.B. is all about to help women of color achieve their goals.

Where do you see Y.A.B Society, Inc. in the next 5 years and what is your ultimate goal for your organization?

Well as mentioned earlier, our ultimate goal is the television network plethora of lifestyles for African American women, focusing in on healthy food and cooking shows hosted by women of color, family sitcoms, talk shows hosted by women of color, movies starring women of color, and much more. In the next 5 years, we see Y.A.B. expanding to different cities, including internationally as well. We don’t want to just have a mission statement, we want to start a movement.

Fun Faves!!!- Food? Song? Artist?

Lauren Food: Guacamole, Song: “Ribbon In the Sky” by Stevie Wonder, Artist: Drake

Courtney Food: Seafood Pasta, Song: “Nobody’s Supposed to be Here” by Deborah Cox, Artist: Raheem DeVaughn

Daisy Food: Red Beans and Rice, Song: “Purpose” by Spensha Baker, Artist: India

Check out more Y.A. B here…

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“I’m not good at math!” or “Science, isn’t really my thing.” How many of you are guilty for letting those words slip from your mouth?? Well, after being introduced to The Dennis Project,Inc. you will want  eliminate those negative thoughts forever!  Aunatria Tennille Davis launched and founded The Dennis Project, Inc. which  is committed  to increase awareness and access of minority girls underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics also known as STEM.

The Dennis Project provides enrichment programs that support inner city youth. As a result, young people are expected to make positive contributions to their community and be equipped to enter a competitive workforce.

Time to Meet The Dennis Project…

Please share how the idea of The Dennis Project was develop and the mission behind the movement?

The Dennis Project, Inc. was founded in celebration of my family, the Dennis Family located in Miami, Florida. As Miami-Dade County public school teachers, community leaders and positive role models the Dennis family women have uplifted their community by becoming a positive change and teaching others to do the same. Although faced with many adversities these phenomenal women have held true to their faith, family tradition, love of education and willingness to help others. Their roots are established in the inner city community, where they have made an incredible impact.

The Dennis Project, Inc. is an effort to continue the legacy by providing programs that enrich, engage and empower young people from inner city areas and provide the tools to become positive contributors to their community and society as a whole.

Your organization empowers young girls through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, Why was it important for you to focus on these specific subjects when it comes to young girls?

• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the science, technology, engineering and mathematics, known as STEM, fields are expected to add 2.7 million new jobs by 2018, yet women and minorities are vastly underrepresented in those fields.
• According to the National Science Foundation (NSF), women make up 46% of the total workforce but hold only 24% of jobs in technical or STEM fields.
• African-Americans and Latinos each comprise 13% of the total workforce and only 3% of the technical workforce.
• In a survey conducted by the Council of State Governments 77% of female scientist said significant numbers of women and minorities are missing from the U.S. STEM work force because “they were not identified, encouraged or nurtured to pursue STEM studies early on.”

These statistics coupled with the lack of young people who are properly exposed to STEM related studies, motivated me to get involved in the awarene
ss movement. If our children are not exposed they will be deprived of careers that will dominate America’s workforce and in some cases left behind.

What are some of the activities that The Dennis Project have done in the past and any future events?

The Dennis Project has delivered several STEM programs for example: In January and February, we delivered a program under Girls Represent! The workshops included 100 middle and high school low-income, minority girls to explore the field of engineering. Prior to the workshop, a survey revealed that 95% of the girls had never considered a career in engineering or any STEM related career, and under the impression these fields “were only for men”. By the end of the workshop 80% of the girls were now considering STEM fields, thinking of registering in a science class in the next school year, and no longer thought engineering and science is for men. It was AWESOME!

In addition, The Dennis Project has partnered with the Girl Scouts of America’s Get Real! Mentoring Program whose mission is to empower and enrich the lives of inner city middle school girls. The Dennis Project delivered several STEM related programs and the girls learned the chemistry behind their make-up and other every day products that girls enjoy. They also did several science experiments and learned the facts about STEM related careers and how science is in everything we do and how important, yet fun science is.

The Dennis has also partnered with private schools and other local youth organizations that service young girls in elementary school in order to spark an interest in science early on.

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

My inspiration began very young within my immediate family. Although, there were several great men represented in my family, the women were the glue that held it all together. The most influential was my grandmother Amelia Dennis. She was a mother of five who found herself a single mother early on. In order to provide a better life for her children she left the comfort of her middle class neighborhood and forced into an inner city housing project. She then empowered herself with the tools she needed to change her life first, her children, and those around her. She earned a GED, was honored as magna cum luade at St. Thomas University, obtained her Florida Teaching Certificate, and emerged from the housing projects.

She then gave back to that same community by teaching in inner city public schools for over 15 years.  Her career was cut short by breast cancer in 1994, when I was 17 years old. Yet, through her life my grandmother taught me how to be a leader, a positive by example, have respect for self and then others, be honest, be loyal, love my family, and most importantly acknowledge and honor God in all I do. By the time she left us, she had already instilled in me all I needed to become a success. All I had to do is walk in the path that was laid and I every day to try to do just that!

We’re all about empowerment at C.O.R.E Mag, what does empowerment mean to you?
In my opinion empowerment is not only to possess but create the necessary tools to change one’s own life and then make an effort to provide those tools to others, so their lives can change too. A famous quote that love states: It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.  ― Leonardo da Vinci. With that said, one that is empowered, happens to things.

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

The girls I work with teach me something new daily. It’s too often that adults feel there is nothing to learn from young people. But as I often listen to the girls’ hopes and dreams  I absorb their innocence, potential, honesty, ambition, silliness and willingness to take leaps of faith in life to achieve goals. These are things we all need to be constantly reminded of.

Where do you see The Dennis Project in the next 5 years and what is your ultimate goal for your organization?
5 years from now I see The Dennis Project as a well-established organization servicing thousands of young people all over the United States. My goal is to expand our programs outside of the Tri-county areas of Miami and venture into many other states.
My ultimate goal is complicated because I don’t place limitations on myself or the organization. Yet, ultimately we would like to open a magnet school that focuses on STEM related subjects as well as a variety of programs that promote college and career readiness, leadership and wholesome values.

Check out more of The Dennis Project, Inc…

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Name: Re’Gan Brown

Age: 13 years

City: Nashville,TN

Grade: 8th

What’s your DREAM  job and why?
My dream job is  to be a Pediatrician because I like working with babies and children.  It’s my chance to make a difference in the world!

Which hobbies do you enjoy?
My hobbies are art  & crafts, photography, and making bracelets.

What does empowerment mean to you?
Empowerment to me  means to have the power  to lift up others around you.

What are your plans after high school?
I want to attend college and start my journey of becoming a top Pediatrician!

How have you helped someone in your life lately?
I’ve helped someone lately when I gave advice to a friend who was in need and in a difficult situation

Who is your role model and why?
My biggest role model is my  granny because she is a hard worker and motivates me to be a better person.

Talented, Beautiful & Hilarious are all the words that describe the ultra funny comedienne, Aarona Browning!  Originally hailing from Chicago, Aarona has been performing on stage since the young age of five. Whether in plays or in person she always displayed a delightfully twisted view on the world, which has now become her comedy act.

Aarona has a sassy, enlightened perspective that evokes laughter and demands attention. She began enhancing her skills behind the mic with improv classes from Second City-Chicago, The Annoyance Theater and later iO West (Los Angeles). Less than six months after she began stand-up comedy, Aarona became a working comic and was selected as a “New Face” in Jamie Foxx’s Laffapalooza Comedy Festival in Atlanta, GA. She not only shared her gift of comedy in the states but has performed overseas at  a variety of international venues. Aarona has traveled to the UK performing at The Drum Centre (Birmingham), Jonguleurs (Birmingham) and The Bernie Arts Centre (London) to perform.

Creating another outlet for her fans to follow her, Aarona launched her monthly show at the Hollywood Improv Lab called “Velvet Circus”, a stand-up comedy show featuring original sketches and music videos written, directed and edited by Aarona.

Let’s get to know Aarona little better….

Growing up there is so much pressure to go into specific fields, What was you “Aha” moment when you knew comedy was for you?

My “aha” moment came in 1996 when I saw Chris Rock’s “Bring The Pain” comedy special. It was the funniest thing I ever saw. It was SO FUNNY I spent a lot of time trying to figure why it was funny. I wasn’t the same after that. Something about that made me keep saying to myself, “I wanna try that”. I knew I loved being on stage. I had been performing in choirs and plays since age 5. It still took me 10 years to get over the fear of trying it. I was a store manager for a video store and all my employees kept telling me I was funny and should do comedy. I shunned them. I completely dismissed it because I was afraid of not being good. Out of all the things they could have suggested I’d try, it was ironic that comedy was the only thing they kept saying. The first time I got on stage at “Jokes And Notes” a comedy club in Chicago, I did really well! I got that feeling that everything I was doing before this was meaningless and if I didn’t keep doing comedy I would be robbing myself of something great. I asked God to give me sign to let me know this was for me 6 months later I was selected to be a Jamie Foxx Laffapalooza New Face. 

Unfortunately, females often get stamped as not having a sense of humor or even a personality at all, how did you overcome those stereotypes?

Frankly, I don’t listen to the nay-sayers. There are plenty of funny women throughout history who have made a contribution to the field of comedy and MADE MONEY!! (Hello). There’s Betty White, Joan Rivers, Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Burnett, Marla Gibbs (Jeffersons & 227), Wylonna from “Good Times” was hysterical, Roseanne, Ellen, Whoopi Goldberg, Margaret Cho, Mo’Nique, Wanda Sykes, Tina Fey, Amy Phoeler and Kristen Wiig. All of these women have done things I would love to do with my career… and if they can do it, then so can I!

Who are your fave comedians that you’ve been inspired by and how have they influenced your personal style of comedy?

My number one is Chris Rock. Before seeing “Bringing The Pain”, I loved watching comedy. I watched every episode of Def Comedy Jam and ComicView growing up. But it was his delivery and subject matter that stuck with me the most and made me say, “I wanna do that”. My second influence is definitely Martin Lawrence. I came up in the heyday of “Martin” mania and all his catchphrases were hysterical, his physical humor and commitment was unreal.

I always enjoyed the humor of both Roseanne and Margaret Cho. They were two women who blew up while I was growing up and it showed me that telling “your truth” is just as important as having something clever or quirky to say. My good friend, Deon Cole, also taught me how to use silence to draw in my audience and take them on a ride. I also admire Robin Harris’ work a lot. He showed me the importance of brutal honesty and being quick-witted.

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

Empowerment means “being in the know”. It’s all about being aware that you control your destiny. So many times we feel like our lives are in other people’s hands. Being empowered means you have the knowledge (and sometimes the life experience) that no one can hold you back but you! When you’re empowered, you’re unstoppable!

What is your ultimate goal when it comes to comedy?

I got several:) I want a few hour comedy specials, I want a Grammy for a comedy album, I wanna write a book, be on a few TV shows, be in a few films and have an awesome entourage of fellow comedians who I shoot original projects with, like Adam Sandler does!

Fun Faves!!- Food? Song? Artist?

Fave foods…. anything with cheese!!! I’m a mouse and I live for cheese! Namely mexican food with cheese!

The Velvet Circus

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