RISE Urban Nation: Amplifying Black & Pan-African Voices Worldwide

Bio:

Adesola Akindele is a 20-year international serial entrepreneur and novice angel investor who believes that entrepreneurship is the key to economic prosperity, especially for underestimated and under-represented economic groups. As an economist, she is never shy of looking ahead or at the bigger picture, examining key metrics that differentiate success and failure in business ownership and leadership. 

Adesola is on a mission to help Black & African founders learn how to face their internal and external struggles to overcome the emotional plus socio-economic barriers that hinder economic success, equity, and ownership. Adesola is keen on Pan-African collaboration to foster an exchange of skills, ideas, and solutions. These collaborations are opportunities for startups and investors to learn first hand from mistakes, processes, and resolutions to better products and services that help communities RISE to any challenge and thrive in any environment. 

Connect with Adesola:

Website Hygear: https://www.myhygear.com/ 

Website Adesola:http://www.adesolaakindele.com/connect

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the RISE Urban Nation Podcast—where we amplify Black and Pan-African voices, stories, and strategies shaping the future of business and culture.

If this episode inspired you, make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Stay Connected:
🌐 RISEUrbanNation.com
📲 Instagram: @RiseUrbanNation
🎥 YouTube: Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation
🔗 Linktree: All Links

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About Dr. Pamela Ellis

I founded Compass College Advisory because it felt good to do so. It’s truly my calling.

When we meet, you’ll discover my two passions:

1. Learning

2. Helping kids thrive into successful, happy adults

I’ve been in education long enough to know that it can fuel or fizzle a spirit that wants to go to college to create a successful career and life. Competition, application essays, tuition…can easily get overwhelming to a high school student and their family.

It’s painful to see students get overwhelmed and lose steam…or not take a stand for their skills and talents. With proper guidance, the whole process can be exciting and FUN! I want to help your teen to feel enthused and supported.

What drives my passions?

Practicality, dedication and insight.

I’m here to help you step-by-step with a plan that makes sense for your teen’s dreams. We’ll take that plan and I’ll support your teen to finding a college that feels like home, without overpaying.

You’ll get over two decades of experience in education by your side, committed to inspiring and partnering you.

Connect with Dr. Pamela Ellis! 

Website: https://compasscollegeadvisory.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEducationDoctor/?ref=br_rs

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/compass-college-advisory/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCET4NmRIyKLcs7nSoLI_d5Q

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the RISE Urban Nation Podcast—where we amplify Black and Pan-African voices, stories, and strategies shaping the future of business and culture.

If this episode inspired you, make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Stay Connected:
🌐 RISEUrbanNation.com
📲 Instagram: @RiseUrbanNation
🎥 YouTube: Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation
🔗 Linktree: All Links

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About Karl: 

I am a man on a mission to create more profitable partnerships between black-owned businesses and large corporate brands. As a first-generation immigrant from Cameroon, I grew up having to always be different versions of myself. Whether it was under my parent's roof where I had to adhere to cultural standards, or out in the world having to connect with my white and black peers. Initially, it was a struggle to connect with my true personal identity, as I didn't fall into any particular group stereotype. However, as time went on, I came to realize that I was simply, Karl and that there was an inherent power by just being myself.

As I've embraced my true being, I've discovered that my love for building relationships with diverse groups of people from all backgrounds, coupled with my ability to create revenue-generating opportunities for businesses of all sizes has uniquely positioned me as a relationship broker between minority-owned businesses and large corporate brands looking to communicate with more diverse audiences.

At the end of the day, if we are able to set our differences aside, I believe that the one color we can all get behind is GREEN, and there are tremendous opportunities to make more of it if we work together in partnership.

Website: https://streamlinedpodcasts.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/streamlinedpodcasts

LinkedIn: 

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-sona/
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/streamlinedmedia/

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the RISE Urban Nation Podcast—where we amplify Black and Pan-African voices, stories, and strategies shaping the future of business and culture.

If this episode inspired you, make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Stay Connected:
🌐 RISEUrbanNation.com
📲 Instagram: @RiseUrbanNation
🎥 YouTube: Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation
🔗 Linktree: All Links

Unite. Uplift. Ignite. 🔥

BIO:

Sip & Share Wines is a boutique winery producing a diversity of handcrafted vegan wines. We're passionate about creating community with wine, especially for wine lovers often overlooked and underrepresented by the wine industry. Our wines are approachable to all palates, fun and made to sip and share. Purchase a bottle or join the wine club at sipandsharewines.com.

In January 2019, Sip & Share Wines released the 7 Words Wine Collection, all of the wines are vegan. In January 2020, we released the Gem Collection of limited production wines.

Sip & Share Wines Conjure Zinfandel was featured in Forbes Magazine as one of the 10 drinks for the summer. Nicole Kearney, Sip & Share Wines' Winemaker/Founder was named one of 40 African American Tastemakers (Under/Over 40) by Sabrina Jackson.

We've participated in The Hue Society’s  The Black Wine Experience wine tasting and Roses & Rose’ Brunch at Essence Fest in 2019 and 2018 in New Orleans. Being there lead to being named by Kiarra Sylvester as one of “5 Black- Owned Wines You Should Be Sipping Right Now” published on Xonecole.com.

The Indianapolis Recorder has followed our growth with two stories that show where we are now and where we began.

Nicole’s serious relationship with wine began in 2008, when she attended graduate school for her Master in Fine Arts (MFA) in Dramatic Writing at Spalding University, Low Residency MFA program, in Louisville, Kentucky. Surrounded by writers of all genres – playwrights, screenwriters, fiction, non-fiction, and poets they shared about their lives and craft while sipping wine. Over two years, they would continue to sip and share wines with each other. It was there her passion for wine knowledge and the spark for her future endeavor was ignited.

In 2011, Nicole’s good friend Mark gifted her a 32 bottle wine refrigerator as a housewarming gift. Of course, she had to fill it! She had a party asking people to bring wine. She gave them some parameters (She drank red almost exclusively at that time) and sent her friends on a wine hunt around town. It was an incredible success. Her guests got to try different wines and her wine chest was magically filled. Little did she know, she had just hosted her first home wine tasting.

In December 2013, her friend Niesha invited her to a wine tasting. She accepted without hesitation. The hostess, Marla graciously welcomed Nicole into her home. The wine tasting was fantastic, conducted by an independent representative of a national home wine tasting company. Nicole tasted new wines, beginning a love affair with South African wines. The group of women she was introduced to that night bonded over their enjoyment of wine. They decided to host a party monthly at each other’s homes.

In January 2014, Nicole’s friend had a wine tasting in her home. The time for the tasting to begin was approaching, Nicole asked “Where was the ‘wine lady?’ Her friend answered she didn’t know. She had not talked to her in a month. Having a house full of guests, Nicole gathered a few of her wines then called a friend, Taffanee and asked to “borrow” a few more bottles. She brought a case. That night Nicole became ‘The Wine Lady.’

Nicole guided the guests through a tasting of twelve wines from around the world, sharing what she learned with others. That night she helped many people find their way from, “I only drink…” to, “Wow, this wine is delicious.” This  gave me great pleasure. Her friends suggested she consider getting into the wine business. She started doing some initial research, then moved on with my life. She had plays and streaming series to finish writing.

Her interest in being in the wine industry was refueled in Spring 2015 after several incidents occurred at corporate wine tastings – her name not being on the attendee list, her guests almost being turned away, being seated in the back and continuously told to be quiet despite her wine tribe purchasing a lot of wine. The spark was reignited.

In June 2016, Nicole attended Open Bite Night, a community block party to support a friend. I mentioned to a friend, Niesha, “There should be a vendor who only sells adult beverages.” She said, “Why not you?” A few weeks later, Niesha contacted me to let me know she had registered me for the event.  There was no charge for first-time participants and they provided the table and chairs. I decided to no longer put off my dream and step out on faith. “Sip & Share Wines” was born.

On October 1, 2016, Sip & Share officially opened for business at Open Bite Night: Ridiculous. We SOLD OUT of our handcrafted Red and White Sangrias (now Abundance and Awaken). The Sangrias quickly gained a following, from being served by-the-glass out of a punch bowl to people wanting more than a glass to enjoy as they checked out the various vendors at the different events where we set up.

Enter Mason jars with straws in the lids. It was a hit! Then folks begin to ask to take Sip & Share Sangrias home with them. In March 2018, Sip & Share Wines became a licensed federal winery and began the process of producing a diversity of vegan wines.

Gratitude to everyone who has supported, continues to support and those who will support Sip & Share Wines on our journey. Stay tuned, sign up for our newsletter. You don’t want to miss our next move.

Creating Community With Wine 🍷 

Connect with Nicole! 

Website:  https://sipandsharewines.com/

@sipandsharewines on Facebook & Instagram  

909-SIP-WINE (909-747-9463)

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the RISE Urban Nation Podcast—where we amplify Black and Pan-African voices, stories, and strategies shaping the future of business and culture.

If this episode inspired you, make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Stay Connected:
🌐 RISEUrbanNation.com
📲 Instagram: @RiseUrbanNation
🎥 YouTube: Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation
🔗 Linktree: All Links

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For the SD for Haiti Project, people can get more info about the event and tickets at: https://us.patronbase.com/_TheHoldingCompany/Productions/K7/Performances
 

Kofi Andoh:

Kofi was born and raised in Ghana. He came to the US as a teen and received multiple engineering and fine arts degrees at Boston, Columbia, and Wayne State University. Over the years, Kofi has proven himself to be a passionate musician and a playwright and still works as a systems/controls engineer in the aerospace industry. His love for humanity, food, and life led to the birth of Word Of Mouth Kitchen. He is enjoying the experience and challenges of the mobile restaurant/catering business. He looks forward to the wonderful adventures ahead and dazzling the taste buds of the community with his creations.

Website: http://www.wrdofmouthkitchen.com

Facebook: 

• https://www.facebook.com/wordofmouthkitchen
• https://www.facebook.com/KANDOH2021

Instagram: Wordofmouthkitchen

Wesley Etienne:

Wesley Etienne is a multi-instrumentalist with Haitian American roots. He currently plays in California with bands Boostive & Mitchum Yacoub.

Instagram: Wesleyblows

Email: [email protected]

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the RISE Urban Nation Podcast—where we amplify Black and Pan-African voices, stories, and strategies shaping the future of business and culture.

If this episode inspired you, make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Stay Connected:
🌐 RISEUrbanNation.com
📲 Instagram: @RiseUrbanNation
🎥 YouTube: Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation
🔗 Linktree: All Links

Unite. Uplift. Ignite. 🔥

Bio:

Sacha Walton has graced the physical and virtual stage nationally and internationally, providing a fresh take on entrepreneurship through a holistic approach to business. This multi-dimensional Woman of Inspiration Award winner is not only a speaker, but is a business strategist, podcast host, author, and event producer. She inspires her audience with captivating topics that empower and transform. Sacha loves being transparent with her audience when sharing her signature talks and passion topic, Mental Wellness & Entrepreneurship: Keys to managing well-being. Embracing her story of various challenges, primarily with the 2020 pandemic has led this dynamic woman to encourage many entrepreneurs in any industry with a message of perseverance. 

Website::

http://swimgtgroup.com/

Social Media Links:

1. https://www.facebook.com/sacha.walton.9 
2. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sachawalton
3. https://wwwtwitter.com/thatgirlsach
4. https://www.instagram.com/thatgirlsach
5. tiktok.com/@thatgirlsach
6. https://www.clubhouse.com/@thatgirlsach?utm_medium=ch_profile&utm_campaign=zSKjvnhbeMuVcaaRfWG3Nw-356466
    

YouTube Channel

https://youtube.com/channel/UCFw5Cmkvt4BzmD8n-N78sXw
 

Podcast:

https://www.facebook.com/According2Sacha

Media Reel:

https://youtu.be/o0zidYHWPrk

Contact Info:

• Ph: 757-453-5980
• Email: [email protected]

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the RISE Urban Nation Podcast—where we amplify Black and Pan-African voices, stories, and strategies shaping the future of business and culture.

If this episode inspired you, make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Stay Connected:
🌐 RISEUrbanNation.com
📲 Instagram: @RiseUrbanNation
🎥 YouTube: Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation
🔗 Linktree: All Links

Unite. Uplift. Ignite. 🔥

BIO:

LaToria Pierce is an engagement specialist, entrepreneur, and the CEO/Founder of future of work/tech startup Handoff. Prior to launching Handoff, Her work spanned public engagement, marketing, and fintech areas. LaToria has led social impact initiatives and managed engagement strategies for both local and national nonprofits in domestic violence outreach and policy, as well as in financial health for older working adults and families with limited income. Through entrepreneurship in media, LaToria learned the power of dialogue. As a host and producer in community TV and global automotive spokesperson, she discovered that the most effective way to understand how to serve people is to “let people speak and listen to them with the intent to understand." LaToria shares her mission in life and purpose to be "....building up others through my words and empowering communities through my work." 

LINKS:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @latoriapierce

Facebook: @teamhandoff

Instagram: @teamhandoff

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latoriapierce/

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the RISE Urban Nation Podcast—where we amplify Black and Pan-African voices, stories, and strategies shaping the future of business and culture.

If this episode inspired you, make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Stay Connected:
🌐 RISEUrbanNation.com
📲 Instagram: @RiseUrbanNation
🎥 YouTube: Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation
🔗 Linktree: All Links

Unite. Uplift. Ignite. 🔥

Bio:

Trisha Leconte is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, masterful teacher, and top-ranked executive strategist. She is also one of the nation’s go-to experts on branding and design. 

“Find your message and turn it into a movement” is what Trisha does best. She helps individuals, brands and corporations create engaging content that gets noticed. She also works with these brands to help them achieve growth when it comes to engagement by helping them overcome mental blocks so they can reach their ideal audience with ease.

Trisha has trained under some of the greatest thought-leaders of our time including: Bob Proctor (she is a certified Proctor Gallagher consultant), Les Brown, Brendon Burchard and Jim Rohn. Her work has also been noticed in the media, including most recently Entrepreneur.com who did an in-depth feature of her craft on their podcast. 

Trisha, who holds a Master’s degree from Santa Clara University, has an extensive background in business, having spent over a decade in working in corporate America as a Software Engineer. Her passion, however, is helping trailblazers spread their message to the world. She is on a mission to wake people up to the idea of abundant possibilities for all!

LINKS:

Website: thebrandremix.com, brandedmedia.io

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trisha.leconte/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trishaleconte/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trishaleconte/

New book: The Brand Remix: 5 Reasons Why Personal Branding Isn't A Luxury | https://amzn.to/3b9ACGA

RUN THE RECEIPTS!

The time has come to RUN the Receipts! Please Take this 5-min survey to find out how your industry ranks in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

BUILD YOUR LOGO AND WEBSITE! 

Shout out to our sponsors Tailor Brands, for your continued support. Save 30% on any Tailor Brands purchase by using code RUN30 at checkout. www.tailorbrands.com

SHARE YOUR BRAND & MESSAGE IN A PODCAST TOUR! 

Coaches, consultants, and experts can leverage ALA Public Relations to build brand awareness, share their stories, and engage with new customers. They take their clients on a podcast tour that helps their business grow.

And here’s our special gift:

RUN guests at 10% off a podcast tour. Click here to schedule an intro call.

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the RISE Urban Nation Podcast—where we amplify Black and Pan-African voices, stories, and strategies shaping the future of business and culture.

If this episode inspired you, make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Stay Connected:
🌐 RISEUrbanNation.com
📲 Instagram: @RiseUrbanNation
🎥 YouTube: Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation
🔗 Linktree: All Links

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ILLUSTRATED BLACK HISTORY

By George McCalman

~ A Compelling Collection of 145 Original Portraits and Profiles Celebrating Black Pioneers, Created and Curated by an Award-Winning Graphic Designer ~

“This vivid survey of Black history leaps off the page.” —Publishers Weekly

“A unique and engaging entry point into Black history.” —Booklist

From determining the subjects, to the design of the pages, to illustrating the portraits and images throughout, McCalman has created a book reflective of his subjects who paved the way when no road existed.

McCalman first began crafting the portraits of Black pioneers in honor of Black History Month more than six years ago, an obsessive artistic endeavor that would evolve into a carefully curated collection of soulful portraits celebrating Black icons throughout America’s 400-year-old history. Creating equal space to celebrate legends and discover Black heroes who have gone unseen, McCalman’s comprehensive work features trailblazers we recognize and those we should know. This is American history.

ILLUSTRATED BLACK HISTORY(HarperOne; Hardcover; September 27, 2022) also features essays by Emil Wilbekin (Editor in Chief, Vibe), Bryant Terry (Author, Black Food), Patrice Peck, (Editor, Cosmopolitan magazine) Oriana Koren (Editor, For the Birds Trapped in Airports) and Marvin K. White (Poet, Glide Memorial). Among the remarkable individuals illustrated and profiled are:

• Madeline Anderson, documentarian and producer of “I Am Somebody” about the 1969 strike of women hospital workers
• Guion S. Bluford, military pilot and the first black person to travel into space
• James Baldwin, literary luminary and activist
• Abby Fisher, culinary guru
• Vivien Thomas, medical pioneer and surgeon
• Aretha Franklin, singer songwriter extraordinaire

ILLUSTRATED BLACK HISTORY is a one-of-a-kind project about unique subjects by a triple-threat artist, author and designer that pays homage to Black Americans and their historical achievements and recognizes the breadth and abundance of Black excellence. 

About the Author: GEORGE MCCALMAN is an artist, graphic designer, and creative director. His studio, McCalman.co, creates long-lasting brands for clients across arts, lifestyle, food, and mobile media. He is a senior lecturer in graphic design at California College of Art and is the author and illustrator for the San Francisco Chronicle’s monthly “Observed” column. He lives in San Francisco. More at https://www.mccalman.co/

LINKS:

Website:  https://www.mccalman.co/

Twitter:@McCalmanCo 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/mccalman.co/

Instagram: @McCalmanCo 

RUN THE RECEIPTS!

The time has come to RUN the Receipts! Please Take this 5-min survey to find out how your industry ranks in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

BUILD YOUR LOGO AND WEBSITE! 

Shout out to our sponsors Tailor Brands, for your continued support. Save 30% on any Tailor Brands purchase by using code RUN30 at checkout. www.tailorbrands.com

SHARE YOUR BRAND & MESSAGE IN A PODCAST TOUR! 

Coaches, consultants, and experts can leverage ALA Public Relations to build brand awareness, share their stories, and engage with new customers. They take their clients on a podcast tour that helps their business grow.

And here’s our special gift:

RUN guests at 10% off a podcast tour. Click here to schedule an intro call.

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the RISE Urban Nation Podcast—where we amplify Black and Pan-African voices, stories, and strategies shaping the future of business and culture.

If this episode inspired you, make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Stay Connected:
🌐 RISEUrbanNation.com
📲 Instagram: @RiseUrbanNation
🎥 YouTube: Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation
🔗 Linktree: All Links

Unite. Uplift. Ignite. 🔥

JAMES DUBOSE 

James DuBose is an innovative, visionary, and thought leader known for producing culture-shaping content and sharing the voice and lived experiences of Black people around the globe. DuBose built his entire career with his focus on four fundamental pillars, which are to inspire, educate, uplift, and entertain Black audiences.

He experienced a rapid rise through the ranks and currently serves as the General Manager and Head of Programming of Fox Soul, a new, live, and interactive streaming channel dedicated to African American viewers. Fox Soul is available on YouTube, Samsung TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Vizio, Tubi, Xumo, iOS, Android, Apple TV, Foxsoul.tv, Twitch, Caffeine, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

DuBose has built an impressive catalog of assets known for garnering record-breaking television network numbers. He executive-produced and syndicated the entertainment show Dish Nation, E! Network’s WAGS Atlanta, as well as the hit projects under his DuBose Entertainment banner, such as Kevin Hart’s One Mic Stand, Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is, Monica’s Still Standing, Tiny and Toya, Toya: A Family Affair, Trey Songz: My Moment, The Michael Vick Project, Hell Date, and Comic View, among others. DuBose has also started to take his innate storytelling and creative ability to the theatre and currently has films in development with Grindstone Entertainment/Lionsgate.

FOX SOUL

FOX SOUL is the Black community’s premiere free streaming platform serving unapologetically black, consumable by all entertainment around the clock to 44+ million viewers. With over 1,300 hours of live and interactive programming annually, we are home to some of the most iconic faces and voices of our culture: Cocktails with Queens hosted by Claudia Jordan, the award winning FOX Soul's Black Report, the black filmmaker showcase known as FOX Soul's Screening Room hosted by Vivica A. Fox, Get Into It with Tami Roman, Worth a Conversation with Jay “Jeezy” Jenkins, The Book of Sean hosted by Dr. Sean McMillan, and more. We share YOUR voice and YOUR Truth 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information on FOX SOUL, visit on YouTube and FOXSOUL.TV.

RUN THE RECEIPTS!

The time has come to RUN the Receipts! Please Take this 5-min survey to find out how your industry ranks in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

BUILD YOUR LOGO AND WEBSITE! 

Shout out to our sponsors Tailor Brands, for your continued support. Save 30% on any Tailor Brands purchase by using code RUN30 at checkout. www.tailorbrands.com 

SHARE YOUR BRAND & MESSAGE IN A PODCAST TOUR! 

Coaches, consultants, and experts can leverage ALA Public Relations to build brand awareness, share their stories, and engage with new customers. They take their clients on a podcast tour that helps their business grow.

And here’s our special gift:

RUN guests at 10% off a podcast tour. Click here to schedule an intro call.

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the RISE Urban Nation Podcast—where we amplify Black and Pan-African voices, stories, and strategies shaping the future of business and culture.

If this episode inspired you, make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Stay Connected:
🌐 RISEUrbanNation.com
📲 Instagram: @RiseUrbanNation
🎥 YouTube: Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation
🔗 Linktree: All Links

Unite. Uplift. Ignite. 🔥