One of the first things we call can do to improve black mental health. The social and emotional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has not been easy for most. The feeling of uncertainty circling around us heightens our collective fear about present-day life and what it will resemble post-pandemic. Remaining positive helps to reduce stress levels and is an essential trait to have during any crisis. Creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle encourages a more optimistic perspective during these times. Here are five easy tips for self care you can do while staying safe while infusing black wellne ..read more

Phase One of the reopening of Washington D.C. since its COVID-19 shut down in late March starts today. This is the first step in Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Three Phase plan to restore normalcy back to residents and visitors alike. She, like most mayors around the country, has remained hesitant to fully have a complete reopening of the city as new cases of Coronavirus surface daily. Of the over 100,000 reported number of deaths nationwide from this pandemic, 492 were within the Metro Washington Area, not including the surrounding counties of Maryland and Virginia. This statistic will curtail everyt ..read more

Amini Bonane having the Miss Black DC 2020 Crown bestowed upon her by Jessica Stamp—Miss Black DC 2019. Amini Bonane knows the power of numbers. Currently in the middle of gaining her Certification in Corporate Finance from Harvard University as a graduate student attaining her masters, Amini Bonane does so while completing her bachelor's at George Mason University where she studies Finance, Philosophy and Law. (Yes, working on both degrees at the same time.) Bonane’s growing list of achievements elevates itself to a more impressive status seeing as she’s done all of this before the age of 25 ..read more

Alone.  For some, no other word in the English language is more terrifying. The thought of standing in line at the movies or outside of a concert by themselves makes them instantly decline on even purchasing a ticket. Those who share this often feel the same when the topic of heading to a faraway destination arises. Desires of strolling along Rio’s Copacabana Beach, walking through Machu Picchu or late-night club-hopping in Tokyo ends for many once they realize the non-existent members in their party. International travel can be taxing for the seasoned and very stressful for those leavin ..read more

Kaywanda Lamb, Founder & CEO of Spanish for Black Girls Kaywanda Lamb loves teaching Spanish. She is the Founder & CEO of ‘Spanish for Black Girls’ a comprehensive language-learning program where students attend her classes to gain the knowledge and expertise that comes with Kaywanda’s fluency in the language. Her success by helping her clientele with their own use of Spanish is a product of her true love for the language that started way before it was taught in her sixth-grade classroom.  An Appetite For Spanish  “I remember when I was younger that I was always fascinated b ..read more

Karen Akpan with her nephew, nieces and son as they smile for a photo while camping in the Sahara Desert on their recent trip to Morocco. Karen Akpan seemingly has all the answers for traveling internationally with a child. Her first-hand experience of flying across time zones and crossing borders with her son Aiden (6) was and still remains the catalyst for her growing brands ’The Mom Trotter’ and ‘Black Kids Do Travel’. Karen’s smart tips on how to wisely pack for a child and ways to ensure their comfort during long flights have made her a guest on Los Angeles’ FOX 11’s Good Day L.A. and wa ..read more

Waves rolling in onto Tulum’s white sand. February is icy. It chills scheduled plans and freezes all aspirations of leaving the amazing combination of blankets and mattress. One thing this season can never cool is the love you have for that special person who keeps you motivated during the day and warm at night. The conversations and insights shared during quarantine brought you two closer together. It's time to celebrate this accomplishment by trading your sweats and pajamas for trunks and swimsuits, the area rug for golden sand and the plasma screen for views unlike any other. Go and feel t ..read more

Traveling around the world can be expensive and a hassle if done the conventional way. Airlines are catching on as of late. They know more people want to travel the world, so they are beginning to offer around the world tickets that are easy to book, but are still expensive. On our quest to plan an around-the-world trip, Whitney and I agreed we wanted to minimize the cost as much as possible. Therefore, we started researching different ways to do so and found out you can travel around the world by only using reward points gained from travel reward cards while flying business class. That indeed ..read more

African Americans have always had to carry an extra amount of weight on their shoulders. Slavery, Jim Crow, police brutality and the ongoing systematic racism in the forms of hate crimes, degrading stereotypes and many of the negative stigmas adding to the stress of being black in America. This is the shortlist of the societal barriers at our sides affecting our collective outlook and that of the individual’s own unique journey in life. No person can be perfectly lead a healthy life while silently walking around with these burdens especially with a COVID-19 constantly reshaping our health ..read more

The 2019 Black & Gold Party in Bangkok. It was February 2017. The New England Patriots had just miraculously come back from a 28-3 deficit to ground the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime to win Super Bowl LI at Houston’s Reliant Stadium. Tori Rogers, a marketing and public relations specialist, worked at some of the media events all over her hometown leading up to the big game. She had recently worked for education technology giant Texas Instruments and wanted to take her talents elsewhere. Being in a major media market was her desire. Eyeing the next move in her career meant a change in ..read more