Chris Howard’s story began in Plano, Texas, where he experienced the difficulties of being one of a few black people in a predominantly white neighborhood. Chris recalls moving from Little Rock, Arkansas to Plano, Texas, and walking into his fourth-grade classroom. The school was modern for its time. There were no walls, so you could see into the next classroom. He was the only black student in his entire fourth-grade class. It was easy for young Chris Howard to feel alone in a sea of faces that did not look like him. Read More . . .

Loki Mulholland is a filmmaker born and raised in Arlington, Virginia, whose work explains some truths about our country’s history. “I like telling stories with a heart that moves people and expands their understanding of the world around them,” he explains. “But first and foremost, I want people to be invested in the characters I portray.” Woolworth’s sit-in, the Freedom Rides, the March on Washington, the Meredith March, and the Selma to Montgomery March, among others. Read More . . .

Avery Cheatham-Banks is an emerging influencer and clean life guru. The Richmond native, who now works out of her home in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, shares beauty and lifestyle tips through her brand The Boheaux. The Boheaux is a “cleanish/greenish” beauty and lifestyle passion project, blog, and Instagram page. “I’ve always been a skincare fanatic, and in the past 10 years or so, I have taken my interests to adopt a holistic lifestyle and use cleaner ingredients on my skin and in my everyday life,” she says. Read More . . .

Sean Powell knew that he wanted to help others long before he graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Business in 2011. Growing up, his mother was a foster parent to children who were dealing with disabilities. This awakened a sense of altruism in Sean that continues to motivate him. He imagined creating a foundation.  Engage, The Foundation was started after Sean and a couple of friends had successful experiences mentoring school-aged boys within the city of Richmond. Read More . . .

Theodora Lee is a partner and trial lawyer at Littler in San Francisco, and the founder and owner of Theopolis Vineyards, located in the Yorkville Highlands of Anderson Valley in Mendocino, California. Her passion for wine began when she relocated to San Francisco from Texas in 1987.  “I was influenced by my law firm mentors, many of whom owned vineyards,” she explains. She recalls one law firm mentor who grew grapes in the Dry Creek Valley AVA and the summers she spent hanging out in Healdsburg, California. Read More . . .

Crispy Deviled Eggs with Cracklin’ Collard Greens

“This one is certainly my go-to whenever I’m entertaining or have company over, goes fabulously with cocktails.”

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Each month we highlight a community program that aligns with the values of SoulVision Magazine. We believe engaging with one’s community is critical to fostering positive change in the world. The Joan Trumpauer Mulholland Foundation was created to “end racism through education while teaching people about the Civil Rights Movement.” The Foundation believes it is not adequate to just teach kids to not be racist.  It is important to teach them to be anti-racist. This means actively working against individual and systemic racism. Read More . . .

Charles M. Reynolds, Jr. knew he had to make a good enough living to provide for his family. Accordingly, he left his teaching job in 1965 and accepted a position as the very first African-American Assistant National Bank Examiner in the South, and the first African-American National Bank Examiner in the United States. In 1971, he became the president of Citizens Trust Bank in Atlanta, Georgia.  At age 34, he was one of the youngest bank presidents in the nation. Charles was responsible for the creation of Citizens Bancshares Corp, a bank holding company of Citizens Trust Bank. Read More . . .

Recently, we were blessed with a commissioned gift of figurines from the great Acori Honzo. He sent us images of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. The surreal life-like figurines are arranged in a conversation on a park bench somewhere in America. What would they talk about today? They started out in very different places and before they were assassinated in ’63 (Malcolm) and ’68 (King), their views had become very similar. What are the conversations we need to have today? Read More . . .