An appearance on Oprah’s “Super Soul Sunday” is usually an affirmation that the guest is officially recognized as an intellectual or a spiritualist who has transcended ordinary life experiences to join the ranks of the enlightened. They are typically the sages who’ve lead stellar lives and have long been considered pillars of society. But, award-winning author and motivational speaker, Shaka Senghor joins that company social commentators after taking a turn on the path to higher understanding, which lead him to a 19-year stint in prison. Senghor’s incarceration was

Entrepreneurship often comes to people later in life after they've explored various paths in high school, college, and beyond. But for Keeana Barber, it was different.  From the moment she entered this world until she could barely remember, the spirit of ownership coursed through her blood!  Witnessing her mother's resilience as a businesswoman navigating the world of fashion and art was inspiring and empowering. Despite the hustle, her mother remained steadfast in her pursuit of success.  Watching her mother balance ownership with raising a family fueled Barber's own aspirations.  Moreover, observing her

Alvin Merrifield understands what it means to disrupt. By blending his cultural background and experiences in two dominant industries, technology and finance, Merrifield seeks to bring a unique approach to the social media industry. With his new venture YapIt, Merrifield encompasses content sharing, monetization, and health in one app. Currently in its beta stage, YapIt seeks to change how users benefit from the content they share and time they use on social media. “We use social monetization versus just social media,” Merrifield expressed. “Social media was created solely as

New non-profit aimed at helping single parents attain a college degree Too often, there is a parent, usually a mother, who is pursuing that elusive four-year college degree, when things start to happen — not enough money for child care; the car breaks down; the house bills need to be paid, but so does tuition… That’s where the newly-formed Pittsburgh Scholar House wants to step in. And stepping in as the CEO of the non-profit is a person who’s no stranger to rebuilding communities — Diamonte Walker, Ed.D., the former

Dwayne Ashley is renowned for his bold, strategic thinking and wise counsel in philanthropy. He is a successful entrepreneur in the course of his career, he raised more than $ 1 billion. He is committed to social justice and helping organizations of color maximize their fundraising success. Bridge Philanthropic is the nation's largest and only full-service African-American-owned fundraising firm.   Ashley has managed capital campaigns for numerous notable institutions and celebrities, including Jazz at Lincoln Center, The United Negro College Fund, and Madonna. Ashley gives us insight into

As we celebrate Mother's Day, a day dedicated to honoring the love, sacrifice, and resilience of mothers everywhere, it's imperative that we acknowledge the crisis of increasing preventable deaths among Black mothers. Despite advances in modern medicine, Black women continue to experience alarming rates of maternal mortality and morbidity, highlighting deep-seated disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. The statistics are staggering. The tragic reality is that Black women in Michigan are dying at more than 2.2 times the rate of White women due to pregnancy-related causes and Black