Martell Mason’s Sepia Coffee elevates Detroit’s North End

In the heart of Detroit’s North End, something special is percolating—Sepia Coffee Project, a minority-owned, Black-led coffee roastery redefining how communities experience coffee. Led by Martell Mason, CEO, and head roaster, Sepia Coffee is more than just a café. It’s

Rosezena Pierce, trademark copyrights attorney

How Rosezena Pierce is changing trademark protection

Trademark attorney Rosezena Pierce draws from her dual career background to protect entrepreneurs from costly intellectual property mistakes while advocating for community empowerment. Attorney Rosezena Pierce speaks with conviction as she delivers a metaphor that crystallizes her entire legal philosophy:

Greg Tarzan Davis transforms from teacher to action hero

From the classrooms of New Orleans to the high-octane world of billion-dollar action franchises, Greg Tarzan Davis has carved an extraordinary path in Hollywood. The Louisiana native, who once taught first grade while nurturing dreams of acting, now finds himself

rob lockett, lisc, detroit

Rob Lockett leads LISC Detroit with bold, servant vision

Rob Lockett isn’t just leading LISC Detroit—he’s reshaping how community development works in a city poised for transformation. Since stepping into the Executive Director role in late 2024, Lockett has brought a bold, service-centered vision to an organization with a

Warren Thompson

CEO Warren Thompson building a billion-dollar family empire

Warren Thompson is the President and Chairman of Thompson Hospitality Corporation, the largest minority-owned food service and facilities management company in the U.S. Under his leadership, Thompson Restaurants operates 18 brands across 70-plus locations, with 6,000 associates and nearly $1

Sekou Thornell, club,

Where culture meets cool in Sekou Thornell’s Kitboys Club

In the hazy midday light of a neighborhood pitch in Atlanta, Sekou Thornell watches as a gathering of young players move fluidly across the field, their interactions transcending mere sport. For Thornell, creative director and founder of Kitboys Club and

Greg Tarzan Davis, New Orleans Star, Teacher to Mission Impossible

The New Orleans edge that fuels Greg Tarzan Davis’s stardom

Greg Tarzan Davis has quickly established himself as one of Hollywood’s rising stars, appearing in billion-dollar franchises alongside industry titans. The New Orleans native, who made his film debut in 2019’s The Call of the Wild, starring Harrison Ford, has

edtrust, ceo, education, power. superpower

Denise Forte wields the superpower of human connection

Denise Forte doesn’t just talk about educational equity – she engineers it. As president and CEO of EdTrust, Forte has become a pivotal force in reforming America’s educational landscape by leveraging a surprisingly straightforward superpower: relationship building. Named one of

Reginald F. Lewis Museum

How the Lewis Museum’s exhibit redefines cultural immersion

In an age when attention spans shrink and digital experiences dominate, creating meaningful encounters with history presents unique challenges for cultural institutions. Robert Parker, curator at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture, has met

Shantesica Gilliam, Black Maternal health

Dr. Gilliam’s 5-step approach to Black maternal health

For Dr. Shantesica Gilliam, the disturbing statistics on Black maternal mortality aren’t just numbers, they represent lives disrupted and families forever changed. As an assistant professor in Spelman College’s Environmental Health Science Department, Gilliam has pioneered a revolutionary approach to

Bob Kendrick illuminates legacy of Negro Leagues Baseball

In the heart of Kansas City stands a monument to triumph, resilience, and the entrepreneurial spirit of Black America. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum preserves not just baseball history, but a seminal chapter in American civil rights. Leading this vital

Dr. Maya Dominique, black maternal health

Dr. Dominique transforms maternal care in health deserts

In a repurposed community center in Gary, Indiana, one of America’s most pronounced food deserts, Dr. M. Dominique stands before a crowd of expectant mothers, demonstrating how to prepare nutrient-rich meals without salt or sugar. The women, many from neighborhoods

edtrust, ceo, education, power. superpower

EdTrust CEO Denise Forte breaks education inequality myths

In the complex landscape of American education, few leaders possess both the policy expertise and passionate advocacy displayed by Denise Forte. As president and CEO of EdTrust, Forte has emerged as one of the nation’s most influential voices on education

mother, miscarriage, motherhood, healing, grief

How to celebrate mother’s day after miscarriage

There is a sacred alchemy that happens when a woman’s body creates life. For a time—whether weeks or months—you held the universe within your womb. Then, in a moment that defied all expectation, that universe collapsed. The stars went dark.

Chaz Williams-Ali, Detroit Opera, Central Park Five

Chaz Williams-Ali brings life to Central Park Five opera

Chaz Williams-Ali represents a new generation of classical performers breaking barriers and expanding representation in traditionally exclusive spaces. The acclaimed tenor currently stars in the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera “The Central Park Five,” portraying Raymond Santana, one of the five young

Chris Womack, ceo

Southern Company CEO Chris Womack on energy and leadership

At the helm of one of the nation’s most influential energy conglomerates, Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO Chris Womack, navigates the complex intersection of infrastructure modernization, climate imperatives and economic pragmatism. Overseeing an enterprise that serves 9 million customers

MetLife CMO Michael Roberts, INROADS

CMO Michael Roberts paves INROADS to success at MetLife

As MetLife’s chief marketing and communications officer, Michael Roberts has reached impressive heights in corporate America, serving on the company’s Executive Leadership Team. Since joining MetLife in 2021, Roberts has focused on ensuring marketing and communications are integral to the