Cool Soror with Rashan Ali

The Cool Soror Podcast welcomes Dr. Myla Bennett to the show. An Alpha Kappa Alpha woman, owner of Ederra Bella and certified plastic surgeon hails from Cleveland, Ohio.

Dr. Myla Bennett is recognized as a top plastic surgeon in Metro Atlanta and North Georgia. Since opening her practice, she has created one of the most luxurious plastic surgery facilities in the Atlanta area.

She first attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor where she earned her degree in biology. Dr. Myla continued to pursue her passion at the Ohio State University of Medicine. After receiving her Doctor of Medicine degree from Ohio State, she also completed her plastic and reconstructive surgery as well as her general surgery residencies at the university. Through hard work, dedication, and impressive professional and educational experience, Dr. Myla was admitted into the fellowship program at Ohio State University’s College of Medicine.

In this episode, she talks about her humble beginnings and not taking NO for an answer. She has always been an extremely smart and driven woman who knew she wanted to practice medicine by the time she was in the 4th grade. She set out on that path and never looked back.

Never ashamed of her artistry and intellect she describes herself as “Openly Smart and Openly Cool.” It’s true and she owns that truth and nobody can tell her differently.

Social Media

Twitter: @DrMyla Instagram: @DrMyla

It’s always a pleasure to have the “Cool Bruh” feature on the Cool Soror Podcast and LeKeith Taylor is definitely COOL. A Chicago, Illinois native and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., he is the Chief Marketing and Brand Officer at The Gathering Spot in Atlanta.

LeKeith is a multi-disciplinary brand executive who uses his swiss-army knife skills as a marketer, strategist and creative designer to develop ideas, create solutions, launch properties, and deliver the creative, cultural and business solutions to help brands build value. Having worked with brands such as Nike, Home Depot, Land Rover & American Express he knew his gifts would make more room for him when he started his own ideation and consulting firm, Taylored.

Known for his amazing creativity, LeKeith understands the value of exposure. Having grown up in a single family home, he credits his mother for pushing him to reach beyond his own surroundings, which could have ultimately consumed him. He did just that. Explored the world. Through his travels to 17 countries, he realized that he can do even more in this space.

He is currently working on starting a non-profit called Internationally Local in his hometown that would allow young men to travel abroad. While the program is still in its infancy, he is excited about how transformative this program will be in the lives of Chicago youth.

This father and husband is continuing to push the limits through unique platforms and is liable to come up with a multi-million dollar idea in minutes. It’s clear that LeKeith Taylor will “always be creating” because the world needs his vision: one concept at a time.

Social Media:IG: @tayloredbylekeith Twitter: @tayloredbylekeithwww.tayloredbylekeith.com

The Cool Soror Podcast welcomes Autumn Williams - a Cool Soror of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. A Chicago, Illinois native, Autumn’s parents knew she was athletically gifted at an early age. Trying her hand in swimming, gymnastics and any sport her mother felt like she could thrive in, Autumn would gravitate toward tennis. Tennis would lead her to Kingsville, Texas - a town with a population of 25,000.

The sport of tennis became a rewarding outlet for Autumn at a young age, allowing her to mature into a sought after high school student-athlete. She knew she wanted to attend an HBCU, so she set out to make that happen. Atlanta came calling and so did Clark Atlanta University. Autumn says her experience as a student-athlete at CAU was one of the best of her life. Leading her team to an SIAC (Souther Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) Championship, Autumn was setting the standard for how she would lead the team years later as its head coach.

She took over the CAU Women’s Tennis program in 2010 and earned SIAC Coach of the Year twice during her tenure. She became the only coach in lady Panthers history to win the SIAC championship as a coach and a player. With all the success, Autumn took a leap of faith to join Texas A&M University Kingsville in the same capacity.

During her first year, the Javelina women’s tennis program completed a historic season by earning the most wins in program history. She also was named Coach of the Year.

Autumn has achieved a lot in sport and gained tremendous footing while at Clark Atlanta. She said the entire experience gave her an “extra layer of toughness.” It’s the type of toughness that makes she and everyone under her tutelage great.

Social Media:IG: @autumnmegan Twitter: @autumnmeganFB: AutumnWilliams

Dr. Lakeysha “KEY” Hallmon joins the Cool Soror Podcast today. A Cool Soror of Alpha Kappa Sorority, Inc., Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon is a small-town, Mississippi native, who is among the first on both sides of her family to attain a college degree. She is the CEO of the Village Market ATL, which is a community event created to support black entrepreneurs, artists and small businesses. She describes the gathering as a “big family reunion.” She is also the founder of the nonprofit, Young, Gifted, and Black. Both of these platforms allow her to serve, educate, and empower.


Serving as a social entrepreneur, curator, speaker and passionate educator, Dr. Hallmonstands by the following:

“Each of us must dedicate ourselves to serving the good of our people. We are community. Our fate and futures are interconnected. If we act in oneness and in the spirit of togetherness not only can we survive, we can thrive.”

Throughout all of her work and accomplishments, Dr. Hallmon gives her mother the upmost praise for the reason why she is the woman who she is today. Her life is a reflection of her mother’s dream for her to see the world through different lenses. Those lenses are the eyes and ears of the community she serves: the village.

Social Media:

Instagram: @thevillagemarketatl Twitter: @thevillagemarketatl

www.thevillagemarketatl.com

Lucy Edosomwan joins the show today! This Cool Soror of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is a creative, dynamic and multi-faceted artist. The Nigerian-American beauty was born in New York City. With a mission to change the world, the creative director tells stories through art: photography, film, dance, graphic design and fashion.

Stunningly beautiful inside and out, Lucy is on a mission to become Miss Nigeria USA by participating in this prestigious pageant in New York City this upcoming August. Raised by traditional Nigerian parents, she learned the value of education at a very early age.

Lucy passionately said, “Too often we hear of schools closing and the arts being stripped from the curriculum of education. No more shall we let this agenda endanger the potential of our future generations. Education is the only thing that cannot be taken from us. An educated people is an empowered people. We must become knowledgeable on our world’s problems and fast to fix it. We must arm our communities with the resources they need to flourish, for in this life one community’s progress, is the progress of humanity.”

She has been able to find an interesting middle ground to navigate in this undulated world we live in. Lucy has created the best of both worlds to see her way through. She has grasped and lived with a “Nigerian Mind with An American Understanding.” And she certainly has mastered it.

Social Media:

IG: @soyoulovelucy FB: Lucy Edosomwan

Website: www.lucyedo.com

The Cool Soror podcast is happy to have Ericka McCracken join the show today. This Cool Soror of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., has a witty and beautifully funny personality that resonates with every person she meets.

A talented writer, Ericka has been putting pen to paper ever since she can remember. An English major at the University of Virginia, she never imagined that one day she would be completing her very own memoir. Her first book, ALTARcation is inspirational but challenges the reader to forgive those who have hurt you, including yourself.

Her story reads like an epic adventure filled with joy, sadness, challenges, courage and ultimately triumph. From her life’s experiences, life’s purpose was revealed in an unlikely way. Ericka truly realized the God-given resilience that she always had and knew that her journeys in life were meant to be shared. She realized that the joy is not only in overcoming life’s obstacles but teaching what you have learned. Ericka desires to share how truly powerful forgiveness is so others can either avoid or overcame the barriers that life sometimes presents.

A clever documentarian and producer Ericka is destined to tell stories that need to be told. She is certainly happy that she opened the Pandora’s Box in her own life with the first step: FORGIVENESS.

Social Media:

www.legacyofericka.com

IG: @LegacyOfEricka FB: @LegacyOfEricka Twitter: @LegacyOfEricka

Alan Wiley is a Cool Bruh of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and he joins the show today. He is the current President of the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Greater Atlanta as well as the Director of National Programs in the Eta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He leads the Alpha mentoring program at Brown Middle School in Atlanta.

Wiley was recently recognized by the Eta Lambda chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity as the 2017 Brother of the Year. Also, while a member of the Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha (Washington, DC), he was awarded the C.C. House Man of Merit Award

Wiley serves on numerous volunteer boards and is passionate about making a difference in the community. As the former president of the IBM Atlanta Black Network, Alan counts among his many accomplishments presiding over the implementation of the Digital Divide program created to provide information technology exposure to marginalized communities. He is currently the President of the National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors (NAIFA) North Metro Chapter, which recently received national recognition when it was awarded the Jack E. Bobo Chapter Award of Excellence.

A very accomplished man, Wiley is leading the effort in the Atlanta area for the second annual “Divine Nine 5k Run/Walk” on June 10th. With nearly 1,000 people already pre-registered, the turnout will likely set the precedent for years to come. To register for the race and the get more details about the “Back 2 The Yard” party log onto www.divinenine5k.com!

Social Media:

LinkedIn: Alan Wiley

www.divinenine5k.com

The fearless spirit of entrepreneur Althea Lawton Thompson is as pure as a stream at the break of dawn on a summer’s day. This Cool Soror of Alpha Kappa Alpha has found the key to spiritual decadence through her understanding of vibrations, meditation and yoga. This purpose path did not come overnight. She allowed herself to no longer suppress the thought of going beyond and opened her mind further than the boundaries of organized religion.

Working as an executive for GE Capital in a number of financial services and human resource capacities fulfilled that endeavor, until a layoff in 1996 gave her the opportunity to do what she was truly passionate about – fitness.

Althea earned several certifications in personal training, aquatic fitness, group exercise, indoor cycling, yoga and Pilates. She became a faculty member for the American Council on Exercise (ACE), a continuing education provider for the American Fitness and Aerobics Association (AFAA), and a 200HR registered Yoga Teacher (RYT). In 2001, she produced and released the first of six exercise videos in the Altheatized™ series and began presenting on the fitness convention circuit. She was highlighted in magazines including Best Body, Essence, Parenting, Upscale and Oxygen.

Althea is a woman who wears many hats. Another hat she’ll be wearing is conference director at the Limitlessly Living Conference which is taking place in the Atlanta area on June 10th. She and is sharing her truth and how she found her way to the type of peace many long for. That in itself is Living Limitlessly.

Social Media:www.althealawtonthompson.comwww.limitlesslyliving.com

Jen Price is the very best friend of our host, Rashan Ali. A Cool Soror of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., this urban planner / project manager by day has discovered an entirely new world for herself in the form of yeast and hops. She created The Atlanta Beer Boutique, which is a soon-to-come bottle shop in metro Atlanta. For the past four years, ABB has put on amazingly fun beer events, beer fittings and beer menu pairings. Yes, Jen Price loves beer and she is on a mission to share that love with the masses, particularly women.

Jen got her passion for beer from her father who would allow her to taste “a little bit off the top.” She would lovingly have his beer ready when he got home from work everyday. As life would have it, she wanted to expand her palette and got her first taste of the craft beer scene on an internship in Colorado. She fell in the love with the rich taste. She made it her duty to grow the palettes of her friends and family.

This beer enthusiast can now add author to her title with the release of “The Chicks Guide To Beer.” The guide presents a broad view of beer into seven simple rules. Therein lies the information necessary for cracking the beer code! “Beer Chick Tips” are scattered throughout the guide to highlight key ideas and graphics help explain many of the concepts. The journal at the end of the guide provides users with a place to log the beers they try along their beer journey.

In a very fun and jovial conversation, Jen Price sheds light on happiness and hops! Her personality pours through the mircrophone like a milky stout paired with your favorite piece of chocolate. If you don’t get why that pairs together well, read the book and you’ll get it. Cheers!

Social Media:IG: @thechicksguidetobeer FB: @thechicksguidetobeer Twitter: @thechicksguidetobeerIG: @atlantabeerboutique FB: @atlantabeerboutique Twitter: @atlantabeerboutique

www.thechicksguidetobeer.comwww.atlantabeerboutique.com

Jen Price is the very best friend of our host, Rashan Ali. A Cool Soror of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., this urban planner / project manager by day has discovered an entirely new world for herself in the form of yeast and hops. She created The Atlanta Beer Boutique, which is a soon-to-come bottle shop in metro Atlanta. For the past four years, ABB has put on amazingly fun beer events, beer fittings and beer menu pairings. Yes, Jen Price loves beer and she is on a mission to share that love with the masses, particularly women.

Jen got her passion for beer from her father who would allow her to taste “a little bit off the top.” She would lovingly have his beer ready when he got home from work everyday. As life would have it, she wanted to expand her palette and got her first taste of the craft beer scene on an internship in Colorado. She fell in the love with the rich taste. She made it her duty to grow the palettes of her friends and family.

This beer enthusiast can now add author to her title with the release of “The Chicks Guide To Beer.” The guide presents a broad view of beer into seven simple rules. Therein lies the information necessary for cracking the beer code! “Beer Chick Tips” are scattered throughout the guide to highlight key ideas and graphics help explain many of the concepts. The journal at the end of the guide provides users with a place to log the beers they try along their beer journey.

In a very fun and jovial conversation, Jen Price sheds light on happiness and hops! Her personality pours through the mircrophone like a milky stout paired with your favorite piece of chocolate. If you don’t get why that pairs together well, read the book and you’ll get it. Cheers!

Social Media:

IG: @thechicksguidetobeer FB: @thechicksguidetobeer Twitter: @thechicksguidetobeer

IG: @atlantabeerboutique FB: @atlantabeerboutique Twitter: @atlantabeerboutique

www.thechicksguidetobeer.com

www.atlantabeerboutique.com