Black-Owned Luxury Salon and Wellness Spa in DC Setting a New Standard of Inclusive Beauty

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Founder of Black-Owned Luxury Salon and Wellness Spa Setting a New Standard of Inclusive Beauty in Washington, DC

Ngina Thomas, the Founder and CEO of Studio Chique, a Black-owned luxury salon and wellness spa in the heart of Washington, DC, is redefining the beauty landscape with an elevated, exclusive experience that seamlessly blends expert hair care, holistic wellness, and refined indulgence.

Thomas, a trailblazing entrepreneur who built her business with unwavering faith and courage, created Studio Chique as a testament to purpose-driven leadership. Guided by conviction and resilience, Ngina transformed her vision into a premier luxury destination—creating a space where beauty, wellness, and empowerment intersect. Her leadership has positioned Studio Chique as both an industry standout and a source of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs.

THE STORY OF NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY AND THE HUGUENOT LEGACY THAT LEADS TO VENITA BENITEZ

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 THE STORY OF NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY AND THE HUGUENOT LEGACY THAT LEADS TO VENITA BENITEZ

Founding Era, Foundational Black American and
American Descendant of Slavery

Venita Benitez Reflects On Her Legacy

National - Every year on February 1, the United States observes National Freedom Day, a national observance established by Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman in 1948. The date marks the signing of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery and opened a new chapter in the nation’s long struggle toward liberty.

President Harry S. Truman Signing The Proclamation Establishing National Freedom Day

National Freedom Day is a moment to reflect on what freedom truly means — not as a single event, but as a journey shaped by countless individuals who fought, fled, sacrificed, and persevered so that future generations could live with dignity and choice. It honors every story of resilience, every act of courage, and every family that carried the idea of freedom forward, even when the world tried to silence them.

The Original Founder Of National Freedom Day Movement, Major Richard Robert Wright Sr. 

It is within this national context — a day dedicated to the meaning of freedom — that the story of the Chapelier – Chappelear family becomes especially powerful.

The lineage begins in the ancient Protestant stronghold of Uzès, Languedoc, where Rev. Louis Chapelier served as a minister during one of the darkest periods for French Huguenots. When the Edict of Nantes was revoked in 1685, ministers like him were targeted first. Their churches were destroyed, their families threatened, and their faith criminalized. Yet Rev. Chapelier stood firm, anchoring a family whose courage would echo across continents and centuries.
    

Award-Winning Black Podcast Host Dr. Catrise Austin to Reveal PR Strategies at Podfest 2026

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Award-Winning Black Podcast Host to Reveal PR Strategies at Podfest 2026

Dr. Catrise Austin, award-winning podcast host, CEO of Celebrity Branding, LLC, and nationally recognized branding, PR, and media visibility strategist, will take the stage at Podfest Multimedia Expo 2026 to share proven strategies that help podcasters turn content into visibility, authority, and revenue.

Dr. Austin will present “7 PR Strategies That Work for Podcasters” on Thursday, January 15, from 9:00–9:30 AM, offering podcasters and entrepreneurs a practical framework for earning media attention, building credibility, and monetizing their message beyond downloads.

A recipient of the 2025 Best Podcast Host Award at the Dental Socials Awards, held during The Dental Festival in Delray Beach, Florida, Dr. Austin brings more than 25 years of national media experience to the Podfest stage. She is the host of the Let’s Talk Smiles podcast and the founder of Celebrity Branding, LLC, where she helps podcasters, authors, speakers, executives, and healthcare leaders become the most visible and in-demand voices in their industries.

Black Woman’s Federal Disability Lawsuit Advances Federal Recognition of Endometriosis as a Disability

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Black Woman’s Groundbreaking Federal Disability Lawsuit Advances Federal Recognition of Endometriosis as a Disability… and She Did It All Pro Se

After a rare and potentially precedent-setting summary judgment ruling, 27-year-old Christian (Cece) Worley — a Black, second-year law student — has successfully reached a settlement in her disability discrimination lawsuit against the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS). In her amended complaint, Worley alleged in part that NCDPS failed to accommodate her under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in May 2022 after she disclosed and requested accommodations for the symptoms of her endometriosis, a chronic and debilitating reproductive disorder affecting 1 in 10 women in the United States. At the time, Worley was employed as a Juvenile Court Counselor Trainee.

Worley filed the lawsuit without an attorney in June 2023 in the Eastern District of North Carolina after repeated denials of legal representation by various lawyers. Worley says she was told by legal professionals that the law surrounding endometriosis as an ADA disability was “too open to interpretation” and not “fully developed.” Despite this, Worley’s pro se case (Proffitt v. NCDPS, No. 5:23-cv-00306) survived summary judgment. On July 18, 2025, federal Magistrate Judge Robert T. Numbers II found sufficient evidence that a jury could conclude Worley’s request to telework on only the first day of her menstrual cycle was reasonable, and that NCDPS’ denial may have constituted unlawful discrimination. Notably, he also found that the symptoms of her endometriosis were severe enough to establish disability under the ADA. The magistrate judge’s order was later adopted in full by District Judge Terence Williams Boyle on September 30, 2025.

To the best of available case law, this is the first time in North Carolina that endometriosis has been recognized as an ADA disability, and it appears to be the first time in the nation that a plaintiff was allowed to proceed to trial on this legal theory. The case settled on December 19, 2025, and included favorable monetary terms for Worley and a commitment by NCDPS to implement enhanced, department-wide ADA training for management personnel.

Young Black Author’s “Beautiful Dreams” Becoming a Reality as Books Earn International Awards

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Young Black Author’s “Beautiful Dreams” Becoming a Reality as Books Earn International Awards

Open Hearts Big Dreams (OHBD) – Open Hearts Big Dreams (OHBD) started because a little girl named Leyla Angelidis dreamed of a world where kids from her birth country of Ethiopia could get access to lots of beautiful books, just like she had living in the United States. Recently, one of the books that now-teenage Leyla Angelidis coauthored with her mother, Ellenore Angelidis—Beautiful Dreams, illustrated by Nahosenay Negussie—has been nominated for inclusion on the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) 2026 Honour List of outstanding books for young people globally.

Beautiful Dreams, which was nominated for “Best Illustration,” is part of the OHBD Fine Art series, featuring fine artists from Ethiopia and other parts of the world. The book’s message is that little girls can dream about becoming anything they want to be—a dream that Leyla Angelidis holds for children everywhere.

Joel and Jessica Myers Build App to Help Others Heal in 2026 and Beyond

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After Surviving a Year of Grief, Black Couple Builds an App to Help Others Heal in 2026 and Beyond

The year 2025 was filled with unexpected loss, life lessons - and a surprise blessing - for Joel and Jessica Myers. Jessica abruptly lost her beloved mother, Janice, after a short illness. Joel was coping with his own losses too - the deaths of his brother and grandfather - all while the couple navigated the pressures of daily life and entrepreneurship. Amid it all, they learned they would soon become first-time parents too.

The series of events invoked a whirlwind of emotions. The grief was heavy and often arrived in waves that felt disorienting, relentless, and often impossible to bear. In their home, where the weight of unanswered questions often hung the heaviest, sound offered an unexpected form of relief. It resonated from a crystal singing bowl that emitted tones designed to help the body and mind settle.

For the Atlanta couple, this simple practice, known as a sound bath, became a lifeline, an immersive experience in which listeners are surrounded by sustained tones and vibrations produced by instruments such as crystal bowls or gongs. Unlike traditional music, the focus is on frequencies and resonance rather than melody. Many practitioners describe it as a form of auditory meditation; a way to give the brain space to decompress, process, or simply rest.

"Sound helped me detach from the intensity of grief," remembers Joel, a lifelong musician and co-founder of the couple's new tech venture. "Inside the sound, I could visualize, I could breathe, and I wasn't emotionally set back by everything I was carrying."

Get The Scoop On How Destiny’s Child Reimagined Tribute Honors Legacy, Sisterhood, and Timeless Music

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Destiny’s Child Reimagined Tribute Honors Legacy, Sisterhood, and Timeless Music

The iconic sound, style, and sisterhood of one of the greatest girl groups of all time will take center stage with the Destiny’s Child Reimagined Tribute, an unforgettable string experience celebrating the music, influence, and cultural impact of Destiny’s Child. Dr. Matthew Knowles, Beyoncé’s father, will attend every show to share an in-depth history of the iconic girl group.

The Candlelight: Destiny’s Child Reimagined Tribute is more than a performance—it is a powerful homage to the group’s groundbreaking legacy, highlighting themes of empowerment, resilience, faith, and unity that defined a generation. Through inspired string quintet performances, storytelling, and creative reinterpretations of classic hits, the tribute honors the artistry that shaped pop and R&B music worldwide with the back drop of thousands of candles surrounding the stage.

The Candlelight Experiences transforms breathtaking venues into immersive, candlelit concert settings that celebrate the power of live music and artistry.

Black Woman Launches Contemporary Fashion Line for Women Sizes Small to 3XL

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Black Woman Launches Contemporary Fashion Line for Women Sizes Small to 3XL

Erinn Dumas, CEO and Creative Director of e.Laniese, has launched her inaugural contemporary women’s clothing line, where each piece is available in sizes small to 3XL, and the pants are tall-friendly with a 34” inseam. This collection beautifully incorporates its theme of resistance with fall trends. From T-shirts that pay homage to black notables such as Dorothy Dandridge and Josephine Baker to red track pants with a leopard stripe and a red rose bomber jacket, this collection has something for everyone.

e.Laniese is taking a no-holds-barred approach with this collection. When most high-end fashion houses go up to a size L, and other black women’s fashion houses’ clothing goes up to 2XL, e.Laniese is one of the few fashion houses that goes up to a 3XL. This collection truly incorporates the various sizes of American women.

Malatrice “Mali” Montgomery and Ayanna “Nikki” Carver's Olive Oil Brand Vine & Olive Grows to 4 Locations in Atlanta

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This Black Woman-Owned Olive Oil Brand Now Has 4 Locations in Atlanta and Continues to Defy the Odds

At a time when small retailers across the country are fighting to stay afloat, two Atlanta women are quietly building a culinary brand that’s capturing national attention.

Malatrice “Mali” Montgomery and Ayanna “Nikki” Carver, co-founders of Vine & Olive, the fastest-growing Black-owned olive oil brand, are proving that passion, community, commitment, and exceptional flavor can cut through even the most competitive food marketplace. The longtime friends and self-described food lovers have grown their premium olive oil and balsamic vinegar company into four thriving retail locations, all while each maintaining demanding full-time careers.

Black Entrepreneurs Create 10-Inch Kappa Alpha Psi Collectible Figure That Pays Tribute to Black Greek Enthusiasts Worldwide

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Black Entrepreneurs Create 10-Inch Kappa Alpha Psi Collectible Figure That Pays Tribute to Black Greek Enthusiasts Worldwide

Meet Kappa brothers David Campbell and Kevin Hood, the creators of Super Nupe, the first officially licensed collectible figure representing the ultimate Kappa Man.

Since its launch in 2024, Super Nupe has captured the hearts of Kappa Alpha Psi members and Black Greek enthusiasts nationwide. The collectible embodies the fraternity’s achievement, pride, and brotherhood, making it the perfect holiday gift and an ideal way to honor the upcoming Founders Day milestone.

Campbell (Sigma Chapter ’85) and Hood (Sigma Chapter ’87) both initiated at the University of Michigan, the Sigma Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc, transformed decades of friendship and shared fraternity experiences into a stunning collectible that captures the essence of Nupe excellence. Super Nupe stands as a powerful symbol of the fraternity’s motto, “Achievement in Every Field of Human Endeavor,” now immortalized as a collectible.

Get The Scoop On New Book Erased On Paper Who Was Left Out of “We the People” — And Why It Still Matters 250 Years Later

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Erased On Paper

Who Was Left Out of “We the People” — And Why It Still Matters 250 Years Later

In 2026, the United States will mark 250 years since its founding — a milestone that invites celebration, reflection, and national pride. Across the country, banners will fly, reenactments will unfold, speeches will praise liberty and democracy, and the familiar words of the Constitution will once again be recited with reverence.

“We the People.”

But as America prepares to commemorate its birth, a harder question deserves equal attention: Who, exactly, was included in that promise — and who was quietly left out?

The founders’ language was bold and aspirational, yet the reality of early America was far narrower. Millions of people living within the nation’s borders — enslaved Africans, Indigenous nations, women, and countless marginalized communities — were excluded from political power, legal recognition, and full citizenship.

Their labor built the economy. Their land anchored expansion. Their lives shaped the nation’s trajectory. Yet their names, rights, and identities were often missing from official records.

History books tend to frame this exclusion as a moral failing that was eventually corrected through constitutional amendments and civil rights victories. That narrative is comforting. It suggests progress resolved the problem.

The truth is more complicated.

Much of America’s erasure did not occur through violence alone. It happened quietly — through paperwork. Through census classifications that distorted identity. Through land deeds that erased rightful ownership. Through court rulings that redefined lineage. Through recordkeeping systems that valued some names while ignoring others. Over generations, these administrative decisions reshaped families, severed histories, and altered legal standing in ways still affecting Americans today.

This is precisely the question explored — and answered — by authors C.B. Deane and Venita Benitez in their manuscript Erased on Paper: How American Law Rewrote Identity and Left Us Out of “We the People.” Through legal analysis, archival research, and personal discovery, their work reveals how identity itself was rewritten not only by culture, but by law.