Celebrity stylist Le’Ana Alexander creates luxe holster for hair pros on the go
Le’Ana Alexander is a Los Angeles-based beauty professional who has been styling hair for 12 years. In her pursuit to become a celebrity hairstylist, the New Orleans native moved from her hometown to Houston and then in 2014 decided to take her skills to LA. From there, her career took off. She began working on […]
Chantel Powell offers relief for smelly kids with Play Pits
Chantel Powell became an entrepreneur out of necessity. One summer, while shuttling her then-6-year-old son, Kameron, between basketball camp and football practice, she noticed that each time the car door flew open and he buckled in, it was clear that he was not only scoring buckets on the court but also sweating buckets under his […]
Toy company CEO Rickeno Bullard shares tips on manufacturing
Rickeno Bullard is the CEO and President of a dynamic burgeoning toy company and a serial entrepreneur. He founded Michael Worldwide LLC (MWW) in 2005. The company is known for its popular functional plush toy boxes, BoxBugz. We spoke with the CEO at the about entrepreneurship at the 2019 New York City Toy Fair. What motivated you […]
Sylvia Sampleton invents an interactive math game to help students
Sylvia Sampleton is the president of Strategic Multiplication Solution Equal Infinity LLC. She’s a teacher of 19 years and the inventor of an interactive math game for school-aged children. She was issued a patent from the director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Nov. of 2013. In the near future, she’ll be […]
Stacey McBride-Irby motivates young girls with Sunjai doll
You may remember Sunjai Williams Lifetime TV’s dance reality series “Bring It!” The 21-year-old Pennsylvania resident and a former member of the Dancing Dolls 4 Life dance team from Jackson, Mississippi, struggled to become a better performer on the show, which is now in its fifth season. The show made Williams a star, and now […]
Tech CEO Bruce Hamilton designs mobile app creator platform ‘Doly’
Los Angeles tech entrepreneur Bruce Hamilton believes in the power of technology. As the founder of media holding company Culturify, he launched the mobile app platform Doly. Doly provides aspiring entrepreneurs and creatives the opportunity to create their own mobile app at an affordable price. Hamilton is concerned more about the outcome, rather than the […]
5 Black-owned tech companies on the rise
Since 2007, we’ve seen an uptick of Black-owned businesses in the United States. In 2016, the United States Census Bureau did a study and found that the number of Black or African-American-owned firms grew 34.5% between 2007 and 2012 — from 1.9 million to 2.6 million in 2012. This increase came from Black women, who […]
Urbanime founder Chris Walker creates ‘Relic,’ merges hip-hop and comic books
What may seem like mission impossible for one is mission clear for Chris Walker, founder of Urbanime and creator of Relic, a highly-anticipated, 45-page digital graphic novel, which will be released in February 2018. “Our focus is to tell stories that take all aspects of hip-hop and culture and throw them into fantastic narratives,” he […]
Bush Foundation exec Duchesne Drew offers insight on their $900M endowment
As the community network vice president for the Bush Foundation, Duchesne Drew oversees and integrates the work of three teams: communications, community innovation, and leadership programs. He shares, “A key part of my role is building partnerships with related organizations and leaders as well as helping to link and grow a diverse mix of networks across […]
Meet the Black millennials: Everette Taylor, Cardi B & more who made the 2017 ‘Forbes’ 30 under 30 list
The Forbes “30 under 30″ list is a phenomenal example of how bright the future is for African American millennials. Forbes has curated a list reflective of our genius. These leaders and culture creators illustrate a rich inclusion and diversity effort. Rolling out’s RIDE Conference speaker alum Everette Taylor, 28, who serves as CEO of […]
T.I. and Dallas Austin team with Ga Tech grads to create Mulaah tech system
Clifford “T.I.” Harris and Dallas Austin recently teamed up with Georgia Tech alums Vernell Woods and Dennis Campbell to create an amazing and brand-new, cutting-edge technology platform, Mulaah. Mulaah is the first mobile system that helps the community by ultimately putting money back into the hands of the users that download and utilize the mobile […]
Calling all Atlanta-area college students: RIDE with us Sept. 22-23
Rolling out introduces its inaugural tech summit, Rolling Out Innovation Digital Entertainment (RIDE) conference. The two-day event will host progressive thought leaders. BLERDS, Afro-Bohos, artists and artisans, moguls, authors and auteurs will convene on Sept. 22 and 23, 2017, in Atlanta at the Loudermilk Conference Center located downtown at 40 Courtland Street. We’re tackling some […]
2 college friends create Wearhaus Arc, the 1st shareable headphones
Wearhaus Arc are the first ever social headphones ever created. Although they’re comparable to Beats by Dre, the social arc has a different approach to the music culture that caters to music lovers, and the extroverted. Wearhaus Arc started in 2013, as just a tech startup between founders, and ex-UC Berkeley students Richie Zeng and […]
Former Wall Street exec creates Black dolls to inspire girls of color
Múkami Kinoti Kimoth is a storyteller, an artist and an experienced entrepreneur with a deep desire to positively impact lives, primarily those of women and girls. She has created 13 symbols of femininity and royalty that are more than just dolls, but superheroes, “avatars” equipped with individual personas, life missions, who are innovators, trailblazers and catalysts. […]
Maleficent, Cruella De Vil and other Disney villains get a Forever Stamp
On Saturday, July 15, the U.S. Postal Service will celebrate the rich legacy of the Walt Disney Studios Ink & Paint Department by dedicating a sheet of 20 Forever stamps featuring 10 classic Disney Villains. Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan will be joined by Disney officials in dedicating the stamps. “The Postal Service is highlighting the Disney […]
Artist Mario Moore highlights social justice in art
Detroit native Mario Moore’s “US IS THEM” exhibit at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is “challenging attendees’ perceptions on subjects surrounding politics, religion and racism, while simultaneously telling stories through traditional and non-traditional art platforms.” A New York City resident, Moore received a BFA in illustration from the College for […]
14 Black inventors and their inventions we love
Madam C.J. Walker, nee Sarah Breedlove, was born on Dec. 23, 1867, near Delta, Louisiana. After suffering from a scalp ailment that resulted in her own hair loss, she invented a line of African American hair care products in 1905. She was the first self-made woman to become a millionaire in America.
Justin Adu talks leadership, teamwork and new book
Justin Adu is the associate creative director of digital and social media at Carol H. Williams Advertising (CHWA). Prior to leading the digital and social media executions for clients like General Motors at CHWA, Adu’s diverse career has impacted notable brands, organizations, and public figures. In an effort to continuously expand his creative concepts, he recently self-published […]
SMASHD: Music-turned-tech executive James Andrews on trends at A3C Conference
When you allow him to tell his own story, SMASHD Ventures CEO James Andrews will say he’s been launching startups, products and rock stars since ’93. “A founder you put a bet on is the one who bets on themselves… if you are a deejay, a producer who will do whatever it takes are usually […]
International artist Claude ‘DJ Wildlife’ Thomas shares how Jesus inspires him
“Awards are cool but I find the best award is doing what I like to do for a living. I’d like to be recognized as a guy that will work with anyone while making others happy and get more work.”