Chris Denson watched a lot of stand-up when he was younger. He was a latchkey kid and when he returned home from school in the afternoon, he would turn the channel to Caroline’s Comedy Hour and Def Comedy Jam. He didn’t know it then, but he was enamored with the way the comedians used observation to explain universal experiences like romance, food, or the mundane details of everyday life. Read More . . .

Love McPherson is constantly asked if her real name is Love. She is a certified marriage counselor and relationship expert, so she understands why they ask. Her parents were married for 60 years and her mother named her Love because of the love she had for her father. With 26 years in the clinical field, Love borrowed her parents’ relationship wisdom to help couples do the work needed to have the kind of love her parents had. Read More . . .

Two years ago, Susan Smallwood was interested in hosting her Champagne x Caviar event at a new caviar lounge that was opening in Ft. Lauderdale. The general manager of the lounge introduced Susan to the owner’s grandson, who was open to the idea of her hosting her event there. But when Susan began looking for images to market and promote the event, she had a hard time finding images of people of color enjoying caviar. Read More . . .

Duane Doku is a creative artist born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia. He is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) with a degree in fine arts. He’s been drawing since he was 3 years old. “My craft consists of concept design, illustration, product development as well as branding,” he says. “My main influences are Michelangelo, Daniel Sprick, and Kanye West.” Read More . . .

Nia Nicole is a mother, 5th-grade math teacher, entrepreneur, and author. She believes everyone has at least one book in them. Her debut book Pressing Through to My Purpose details the painful yet unique journey that led her to discover her purpose. “I started writing Pressing Through to My Purpose as a release from everything I was going through,” Nia says. Read More . . .

Pan-Seared Aged Bone-In Ribeye w/ Sauce Forestiere

“This recipe is one of my favorites to make. The very slow and safe process called ‘dry aging’ creates a flavor that brings forth the true beefy flavor of ribeye. To match the boldness of the beef, I created a delicious wild mushroom sauce.”

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Boys Home of Virginia is situated on 1,400 acres of land in Covington, Virginia. The property  features rolling mountains and a beautiful creek, creating a haven for all who visit or call it  home. This non-profit organization originated in 1906, serving at-risk male youth. The mission is  simple: help each student become a productive and successful member of society. Read More . . .

The words of feminist, cultural critic and intellectual bell hooks have the power to stick with you. Her words touched and healed generations of women and men. In her more than 30 published works, she discussed the intersections between gender, race, love, capitalism, and class, and made her perspective accessible to a general audience.  She gave Black women a voice and helped us all understand how the personal is political.  Read More . . .

This will be short and brief: The U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade is shameful. But this shouldn’t be a moment to panic. This is a moment to organize. This is a moment to look to our neighbors and community for support. Reproductive choice is freedom. Reproductive choice is economic security and opportunity.  Read More . . .