Posts by Eddy "Precise" Lamarre
Christopher LeMark and Coffee, Hip-Hop & Mental Health are changing lives
Christopher LeMark’s life experiences have shaped him into an individual who has found his purpose in serving other people. LeMark is the founder of Coffee, Hip-Hop & Mental Health, an advocacy organization that creates safe spaces to discuss mental illness and shares resources with communities where they are not readily available. Rolling out spoke with LeMark…
Read More14 Parish Restaurant & Rhum Bar brings Caribbean food to Chicago’s South Side
Racquel Fields is a self-described snotty-nosed kid from the South Side of Chicago. She has taken the nurturing she received from adults as a teen working for After-School Matters and used it to help her build a successful business. Fields and her former partner, Tim Bradshaw, created 14 Parish, a Caribbean style restaurant, in 2016.…
Read More‘Womanish’ exhibit makes space for female representation and celebration
The representation of women in all spaces has been a rallying cry that has grown louder in recent years. The recent nomination of U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris as the Democratic vice presidential candidate points to a shift in sensibility when it comes to how women are viewed in spaces of power. Sisters Dionna and Danyelle…
Read MoreJa’Mal Green explains why Black voices are important in politics
Ja’Mal Green represents the next wave of Black leadership in Chicago. In his young career, he assisted Bernie Sanders with outreach during his first presidential campaign in 2016, challenged politicians and ran to become mayor of the Windy City in 2018. He is ambitious and bold and has become the go-to source when it comes…
Read MoreArrow Benjamin uses his pen to effect change
Arrow Benjamin is no stranger to the music industry. His pen is official and he can confidently include names like Beyoncé on his resume as a songwriter. Benjamin has recently taken his pen and created a “Sirens” a socially charged song that speaks to the world’s plight when it comes to race. Rolling out spoke…
Read MoreRobiar Smith shares her experience as a Black woman in pest control
Robiar Smith, the founder and owner of R.B. Pest Solutions on Chicago’s South Side, is driven by legacy. The former IT professor and consultant has taken her training in the corporate world and created a business that honors her family and blazes a trail for other Black women. Rolling out spoke with Smith about why…
Read MoreLloyd, Bobby V and Pleasure P pull up to ‘The Drive-In Fest’ in Chicago
On Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020, the “pulse of Black Chicago,” Afrotrak, presented The Drive-In Fest at the Soldier Field parking lot in Chicago. The millennial R&B event was headlined by Lloyd and featured Bobby V, Pleasure P and Chicago native Josh K. The Drive-In Fest continues a trend of concerts being held in parking lots…
Read MoreNorth Carolina artist Prince Navon is next up
15 year-old Prince Navon has already worked with a few of music greats in his young career. The legends Teddy Riley and Jazzy Pha have laced the young phenom with some of their magic. The North Carolina native has been dubbed the next big thing. His most recent song, “Miss Me,” is heating up on…
Read MoreSinger-songwriter Polly A shares her inspiration and why we are chosen
Polly A has a voice and a spirit that cuts through the noise. Her lyrics are purposeful and direct. Polly boasts an impressive background with the esteemed Florentine Opera Company, while her influences are steeped in the sounds of Bob Marley and Yellowman. Her move to New York to attend Columbia University opened up a…
Read MoreCEO Lucas Payne says collaboration is important in business
Lucas Payne is the co-founder and president of Force Energy Group LLC and the CEO of Force Medical Supply. He has been highly driven and passionate about the reality of green energy. Force Medical Supply was created out of the need for for personal protective equipment (PPE) in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Payne,…
Read MoreNicole M. Jackson explains why Black businesses matter
Nicole M. Jackson was born and raised in the Bronzeville community on the South Side of Chicago. She has consistently been an active member of her community. Her time as a teacher at McCorkle Elementary and the principal of Hales Franciscan High School demonstrates her love of adding value and giving back to her community.…
Read MoreKaren V. Jenkins levels the landscape for analysts with KidAlytics
Karen V. Jenkins is a Chicago based Research Data Expert who represents transformation in the world of education. As the founder of KidAlytics, she is using her extensive skills and education to level the playing field when it comes to technology. KidAlytics was created to fill the gap when it comes to analytics between grades…
Read MoreFuneral director details horrific scene of mass shooting in Chicago
A mass shooting on the streets of Chicago left Devry Graham shocked and saddened. “Growing up I never saw anything like this,” said Graham, the owner of Graham Funeral Directors and Cremation Services at 1018 W. 79th St. His business is run from inside the Rhodes Funeral home, about half a block from where the…
Read MoreSongstress Smiley goes viral and shares her inspiration
Smiley has been burning up the internet for the past year. Her song, “Unthinkable,” went viral after collecting 27 million views via YouTube. Smiley has not looked back. The Chicago native is fresh and ready to take the world head-on. Her voice is strong and versatile. The future is bright for Smiley and it is…
Read MoreImage architect Law Roach shares why he gives back
Image architect Law Roach’s work has graced many of the most prominent red carpets in Hollywood. His list of clients is extensive and well-known, including Mary J. Blige, Tiffany Haddish, Celine Dion and millennial powerhouse Zendaya, who have worn jaw-dropping looks styled by Roach. The South Side Chicago native has a keen perspective on design…
Read MoreChicago’s Keisha Rucker explains how the community helps her business thrive
Keisha Rucker, co-owner of The Soul Shack restaurant in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, is weathering the storm of COVID-19. Rucker recently celebrated the one year anniversary of her business. Known as “Mz. Hyde Park,” Rucker is a staple in the community and continues to thrive. Rolling out spoke with Rucker about her food,…
Read MoreAudrey Todd shares how a car accident changed her life forever
Audrey Todd is a mentor, minister and writer. The Chicago native has parlayed her life experience into to something that adds value to the lives of young people nationwide. Issues with abandonment, drug use and foster care could have easily led Todd down a different path. A car accident changed her trajectory. Rolling out spoke…
Read MoreAnthony Di’Angelo Ingram Jr. credits fatherhood for making him resilient
Anthony Di’Angelo Ingram Jr. is a father and rap artist known as D2G. The Chicago native and Columbia graduate speaks fervently about the responsibility of fatherhood. Rolling out spoke to Ingram about the type of legacy he would like to leave to his two children, what fatherhood has taught him about himself and the importance…
Read MoreGregory Winfield encourages his children to be the best they can be
Gregory Winfield is a South Side Chicago native and the father of three children. Along with being a manager of a Fortune 100 company and a DJ, he also volunteers his time and services with the children and elderly in his community. Rolling out spoke to Winfield about being a father and how these times…
Read MoreBrian Lee says the Bible is his playbook for fatherhood
Brian Lee is a man of God, a husband, father, teacher and coach. He has been married for 16 years and has two children. Rolling out spoke to Lee about his approach to fatherhood what it has taught him and why the Bible is his playbook. What legacy are you leaving for your children and…
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