Black-Owned Tech Startup Raises $225M

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BLACK-OWNED TECH STARTUP IN LOS ANGELES RAISES $225 MILLION, THE LARGEST INVESTMENT EVER FOR A TECH STARTUP LED BY AFRICAN AMERICANS

Los Angeles, CA -- A new Black-owned startup is making history as they have now received the largest investment ever for an African American led technology startup in the nation.

Black Unicorn Factory is an African American Accelerator program that is about to take the US by storm with its game-changing accelerated growth strategy for small businesses. This enterprising new development program, now commonly referred to as an 'accelerator' has raised $225 million dollars in funding from investors.

This is historic because currently only 1% of all venture capital is invested in African American startups. Currently, there are over 500 unicorns in the world but not one is owned by an African American.

Black Author on "Building Your Beauty Empire"

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ENTREPRENEUR UNVEILS BLUEPRINT TO SUCCESS IN NEW BOOK, “BUILDING YOUR BEAUTY EMPIRE: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCH YOUR BEAUTYPRENEUR JOURNEY”

Nationwide -- Entrepreneur and Medical Aesthetics Practitioner Lyndsey Brantley announces the release of her first book, Building Your Beauty Empire: The Ultimate Guide to Successfully Launch Your Beautypreneur Journey. The new author is the founder of Camellia Alise, an all-natural skincare brand and spa based in Houston, Texas.

Using her own experience as a backdrop, Brantley details her challenges and triumphs of launching her own products, creating training curriculums, winning multiple pitch competitions, and opening a brick and mortar spa and training studio.

Launching a Black-Owned Beauty Brand Just Got Easier

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HOW THIS BLACK FEMALE TECH ENTREPRENEUR MAKES LAUNCHING A BEAUTY BRAND 10X EASIER

Nationwide -- For businesses to thrive new requirements being met or exceeded is very much necessary. Experts and insiders agree, having a professional web presence is more important now than ever due to the pandemic and everyone shopping online. A trend that is certain to continue and grow. We aren’t surprised to see many of the new beauty industry businesses are being led by Black women. Anyone who understands Black history and culture knows that not only do Black women not play around when it comes to their hair and melanated skin, but they have been the foremost trendsetters in the American beauty industry since its birth.

Now with a clear spike in Black-owned beauty entrepreneurs starting their businesses to help cater to the needs of Black and brown women, a passionate professional tech firm is emerging to help. Brand developer and web designer Tiffani Alvaran, owner of PreMade Babe, has been on the scene with ready to launch websites and ready to post graphics that have been helping business owners get their business up and running in a quick and affordable way.

Black-Owned STEM Academy to Help Brown Communities

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FOUNDER OF BLACK-OWNED ACADEMY URGES MORE STEM EDUCATION FOR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES

Atlanta, GA -- Marlon Lindsay, founder and CEO of 21stCentEd (A virtual STEM and CTE academy), announces the urgency of providing STEM education for all - especially for black, brown, and other minority communities. “Absent from economic opportunities created by a STEM education – for the most part – are black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC),” says Lindsay. He continues, “It is not merely a social good or altruism to include these historically underrepresented groups; it's an economic imperative.”

STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math – when taken together as an integrated discipline, provides opportunities for students to develop the enduring skills of critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. A STEM project, by its nature, is an experience in the skills dubbed as 21st-century skills.

Black-Owned Wireless Carrrier and Streaming Service Partner

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LARGEST BLACK-OWNED CARRIER, FIGGERS WIRELESS, PARTNERS WITH BLACK-OWNED STREAMING SERVICE, KWELITV

Nationwide -- Figgers Wireless, the nation’s largest Black-owned carrier, is offering current and new subscribers of kweliTV 25% off all of its phones, TVs, F-Buds, speakers, or the first month of the Unlimited Plan when they join or renew their subscription.

kweliTV, a streaming service that curates independent Black films, is also giving all Figgers Wireless customers 25% off its monthly subscription plan as well as other perks that come with a kweliTV membership.

The collaborative deals went live on October 5 on both Figgers Wireless and kweliTV’s websites.

“We felt the timing and synergy was perfect for this partnership and we are very excited to introduce our state of the art services and products to kweliTV consumers,” said Germain Bebe, COO of Figgers Wireless.

HBCU Grad Launches $10.7M Venture Capital Firm

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ENTREPRENEUR LAUNCHES $10.7M VENTURE CAPITAL AND PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM CALLED HBCU SEED

Nationwide -- While attending Oakwood University as a business major, Terrel Davis became a serial student entrepreneur who recognized three significant problems that HBCU students faced: lack of resources, services, and funding. As such, he decided to establish HBCU Seed, a venture capital and private equity firm that solely invests in businesses owned by HBCU students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

As an HBCU student, Davis witnessed firsthand the socioeconomic difficulties that student entrepreneurs had to face. HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) generally only receive minimal financial support and amenities. That in turn leaves less money for them to support student entrepreneurs.

Experts say that the future of HBCUs is bleak since state legislatures and the federal government have reduced their funding in favor of financing institutions with larger endowments. When Davis established his own business, he was met with the same problems.

African Americans Can Study in Ghana

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IS STUDYING IN GHANA THE ULTIMATE BLACK COLLEGE EXPERIENCE?

Nationwide -- Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) traditionally have a mission to meet the educational needs of Black students, provide a safe space for them to grow, learn and express themselves and foster mutual respect for Black culture among a broader population.

Although not an HBCU in the traditional sense, Webster University Ghana, located in Accra, the capital city of Ghana boasts a holistic education program that marries academics with culture, history, and a continuously evolving aesthetic and worldview that is both African and global. Studying at this American university on the African continent offers an educational experience buttressed by the cultural richness of Africa’s first independent country.

Black Homeowners Fight Foreclosure; $1.2M Lawsuit Against Bank

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BLACK HOMEOWNERS FIGHT BACK AGAINST FORECLOSURE; $1.2M LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST ARTISANS’ BANK

Nationwide -- With a tsunami of foreclosures on the horizon, Black homeowners facing foreclosure must act judiciously when pandemic moratoriums have been lifted. Two important facts in fighting against a foreclosure action or lawsuit is to know which jurisdiction, Court, controls foreclosures. State courts have jurisdiction over foreclosures. Federal courts have jurisdiction over debt collection and consumer civil rights.

Homeowners without a lawyer, may in writing file an objection and request a hearing with a judge at State court. Lenders may file either or both of two types of ways for the mortgage debt to be paid (judgment): in rem (property) or in personam (in person). Should the home be sold at a lesser value than what is owed, a lawsuit with a judgment against the person, the lender may place liens against personal assets such as financial accounts, other real estate, etc.

Homeowners must be assured that they can fight back against any action to take their home. For homeowners with an impending foreclosure, seek out free help from a nonprofit agency that has a Housing Counseling” program.

Professor William Maxwell, Founder of The International Conference on Thinking XIX® (ICOT), Looks To End Racism

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CONFERENCE TO HOST 200 OF THE NATION’S MOST SKILLED BLACK THINKERS TO EXAMINE SOLUTIONS FOR RACISM IN AMERICA

Nationwide -- Professor William Maxwell, founder of The International Conference on Thinking XIX® (ICOT), is inviting high-achievement-oriented families to delegate at least one skillful thinker to attend a conference dedicated to ending racism.

Since the birth of this country, several distinguished scholars have warned that, like a cancer, racism would cause the death of democracy in America. The French nobleman, Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, 1835; Sweden’s Nobel Laureate Gunnar Myrdal’s An American Dilemma: The Negro Problem and Modern Democracy, 1944, Harvard psychologist Gordon Allport’s, The Nature of Prejudice, 1954, and many others warned that unless remedied, racism would cause “the streets of America to run red with blood.” Although “democracy” and the equality of humans is the official creed of America, Myrdal found that only 2% of American Whites believed in the equality of the races as taught by all the revealed religions of God.

According to Harvard psychiatrist Martha Stout, 4% of the American population are sociopaths and are apparently growing in number. In 2020, several extremist White Power organizations, one with more than 5,000,000 followers, urge Whites to buy more guns and ammunition and get ready for a race war that they hope to instigate around the 2020 elections. Their hidden goal is genocide. Thus, the urgency of this Emergency Summit Conference.

Dr. Shawn Smith Launches Diabetes Meal Plan For African Americans

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FOR BLACK FOLKS WHO WOULD LOVE TO SAY, "I USED TO HAVE DIABETES"

Austin, TX -- Dr. Shawn Smith, CEO and founder of the My Black Diabetes Meal Plan, has released the first-ever core product for reversing diabetes in African American pre-diabetics & Type 2 patients. It is called The 28 Day Plan. Designed to address the systemic challenges Black Americans face when dealing with diabetes, the program makes eating well a habit, not a chore.

The 28 Day Plan has taken the team over 560 hours of nutritional investigation to acquire and build. The core plan comes with easy to use software built around Black ‘soul food’ culture, detailed recipe and grocery lists, and a baseline of food combinations that have been used to take user A1cs (the three-month snapshot of blood sugar levels) from a 12 (high and unhealthy) to 5.2 (normal range).

Each plan is supported with a unique alkaline approach and backed by decades of peer-reviewed nutrition science shown to be the most impactful on blood glucose levels in long-term participants. With a growing community of Black diabetics also available through the platform, Black people facing diabetes learn quickly that they have a community of supporters who are going through the same experiences and are eager to grow together.

Black Woman-Owned Traveling Nail Bar

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ENTREPRENEUR LAUNCHES THE NATION'S NEWEST BLACK-OWNED “TRAVELING NAIL BAR”

Nationwide --  Markecia Dudley is a 28-year old wife, mother, nail technician, and entrepreneur. Born and raised in Georgia, she found her passion in doing nails at the age of 8 years old.

Growing into her teenage years, Markecia started her studies in nursing to become a labor and delivery nurse at Georgia Highlands College in Rome, Georgia. After 4 years of schooling and not getting into nursing school, she decided to return back to her first passion and that’s where the beauty of her doing nails began again.

Discover How Rayki Tai Turned Debilitating Illness into Groundbreaking Natural Hair Care Brand

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NYC ENTREPRENEUR RAYKI TAI TURNED DEBILITATING ILLNESS INTO GROUNDBREAKING NATURAL HAIR CARE BRAND

Nationwide  -- Wholesome Hair Co, founded by Jamaican/Nigerian entrepreneur Rayki Tai, emerged onto the natural hair care scene with a vegan product line in February 2020. Customer feedback prompted Rayki Tai to address what sets Wholesome Hair Co. apart from others in the natural hair industry. Her story is profound.

In the 1980s, Rayki went from a haunting conversation about hair with her mother right before she died, to living in a Nigerian boarding school struggling to manage her own hair. Rayki’s subpar hair grooming violated school standards, and one day Rayki was berated in front of the entire student body by the vice principal, who decided to shave Rayki’s head bald. As an unwilling twelve year old, Rayki creatively negotiated a deal with the vice principal to let her keep her hair.

After returning to the United States years later, Rayki had an unfortunate incident with a lighter that left her near bald. Desperate for a way to regrow her hair quickly, Rayki tried many products with big claims of fast hair growth. However, the growth was gradual.

App Empowers Foodies to Support Black-Owned Eateries

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ENTREPRENEUR LAUNCHES NEW APP TO EMPOWER FOODIES TO SUPPORT BLACK-OWNED EATERIES

Nationwide -- Finding and supporting the best black eateries is now a lot easier thanks to entrepreneur Braxston Richmond's launch of the new app, Black Foodie Finder.

Touted as the ‘Best Urban Foodie App’, Black Foodie Finder is an app database of Black-owned restaurants, food trucks and other eateries all across the United States. The app features a list of Black-owned restaurants from over 6,000 locations that offer everything from soul food and barbecue to cultural cuisine, vegan dishes, and more.

Black Foodie Finder is a versatile and easy to use app that allows users to search for restaurants by state. This app also allows users to shop black-owned food products, find chef catering services and hand-picked events centered/and or supported by the black community. Users can also find and add favorite recipes with images and instructions.

Music Festival in Liberia Encourages Black Americans to Explore Roots

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JATUE RICHARDSON LAUNCHES MUSIC FESTIVAL IN LIBERIA TO ENCOURAGE BLACK AMERICANS TO EXPLORE THEIR ROOTS

Nationwide -- Esteemed Liberian American business professional Jatue Richardson, has announced the creation of Eden Fest, a celebration of African music and arts. Jatue hopes the festival will encourage Black Americans to return to Africa to explore their lineage and culture while jump starting the economy in Liberia through tourism.

Jatue currently works in Human Resources at one of the largest transit authorities in the United States and regularly collaborates with area leaders to combat poverty through job creation and workforce development. Recently recognized by Forbes for her work at one of America’s Best Employers for Diversity and Inclusion, Jatue hopes to bring her years of experience in Human Resources to persuade corporations to invest in Africa.

HBCU Experience Book Tells 54 Stories

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FIRST BLACK-OWNED COMPANY TO PUBLISH BOOKS BY PROMINENT HBCU ALUMNI RELEASES ANOTHER BESTSELLER

Nationwide  -- The HBCU Experience Movement, LLC has released a new book entitled The HBCU Experience: The North Carolina A&T State University 2nd Edition featuring Dr. Jibreel Khazan (Ezell Blair Jr.) Dr. Khazan was one of the A&T Four who led the Woolworth Sit-Ins in Greensboro, NC on February 1, 1960.

Led by visionary author/co-founder Ashley Little, the book highlights 54 stories of Prominent Aggies throughout the world. The Aggies share their personal stories of how North Carolina A&T State University molded them into the people they are today.

The company, led by Ashley Little, Uche Byrd, and Fred Whit, aims to change the narrative by sharing Black stories and investing financially back into our HBCUs to increase young alumni giving and enrollment.

Discover How Dr. Fredrick Jacobs, CEO of Celebrity's Soul Food, Launches the First National and Fastest Growing Soul Food Franchise In America

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Dr. Fredrick Jacobs, CEO of Celebrity's Soul Food, Talks Launch of the First National and Fastest Growing Soul Food Franchise in America, Multitasking and Passion for Food

Nationwide (October 21, 2020) - Celebrity's Soul Food, "The fastest growing soul food chain," is making its mark. Dr. Fredrick Jacobs, the Chief Executive Officer and mastermind behind this ingenious concept is giving "soul food," its due credit nationally as they make history. Celebrity's Soul Food and their new franchisees have become the new catalyst of soul food to the world.

Dr. Jacobs (known as Dr. J, The Counselor), the exceptional CEO of Celebrity's Soul Food® shares about the launch of the first national and fastest growing soul food franchise in America, multitasking, and his passion for food.

The Celebrity’s Soul Food menu spotlights local flavors and specialties, serving up soul food prepared from scratch and utilizing high-quality ingredients. Dishes vary from classic favorites such as Fried Chicken, Shrimp & Grits, Cornmeal-Dusted Catfish, and Braised Oxtails to innovative twists such as Gold-Dusted Chicken Wings, Jerked Jackfruit Pineapple Bowls, Barbeque Glazed Alligator Ribs, and Red Velvet Chicken & Waffles.

We were able to catch up with Dr. Jacobs who spearheads one of the most talked about new soul food chains on the rise. He shared his thoughts on Celebrity’s Soul Food model and more...

Black News App Launches to Change the Perception of African Americans

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ENTREPRENEUR LAUNCHES EMPOWR BLACK NEWS APP TO CHANGE THE PERCEPTION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS

Nationwide -- Meet Adrian Le'Roy Devezin, founder of Empowr News, a news app built by Black engineers for a Black-owned nonprofit featuring only Black news publishers.

Adrian comments, "To control our perception in the media, we as a people must support Black publishers. While there are few similar news apps out there, none make it simple to support only Black-owned publishers. Until we can own media, we cannot control our perception by the media."

Empowr News is convenient to catch up on the latest news while supporting only black-owned publishers.

Was There A Black Presence In The Americas Before Columbus?

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“BLACK HISTORY AND THE COLUMBUS MYTH: EXPOSING THE TRUTH”

By Legrand H. Clegg II

Christopher Columbus did not discover America! After years of celebrating Columbus Day each October and teaching our children that this land was discovered by the European explorer, this year protesters across the country have pulled down his statues and denounced his image. At long last, they are debunking the Columbus myth.

Lost in all of this activity is the fact that Black people from Africa actually reached America thousands of years before 1492; and it is long past time for this to be acknowledged and celebrated in the Black community, and to be included in the American school curriculum.

The evidence of an ancient and medieval Black presence in the New World is vast and increasing every year. So why is the public unaware of such revolutionary information?

Dr. Jerisa Berry Launches The Hair Growth Box

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DR. JERISA BERRY LAUNCHES THE HAIR GROWTH BOX FOR WOMEN EXPERIENCING HAIR LOSS

West Palm Beach, FL -- Celebrity Fertility Expert, Emergency Room Physician, Urgent Care Co-owner, Mother and Wife, Best-selling author – are all titles that Dr. Jerisa Berry wears well. Fighting on the frontlines is a part of the oath Dr. Berry took to protect and save lives during her career. However, during the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, she suffered from hair loss and alopecia. Many women lose their hair and often do not know where to start for regrowth.

She comments, “It was devastating to run my fingers across a bald spot and I had to look at my fingers again to make sure what I felt was real.”

Only 12% of women experiencing hair loss seek restoration treatment. These and other questions Dr. Berry sought to answer after she was diagnosed with alopecia areata this year.

Specifically, she is now launching TheHairGrowthBox.com, a package of herbs, antioxidants, polyphenols, and other nutrients that work to nourish the scalp as well as other products from reputable hair and skin vendors. Women focus a lot on what topicals to apply to the areas and scalp while forgetting to be consistent with nutrients the scalp and body need that they may be deficient in. It is Dr. Berry’s goal that what helped her may help others.

African American Master Guitarist Offers Virtual Lessons

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AFRICAN AMERICAN MASTER GUITARIST OFFERS VIRTUAL LESSONS TO BEGINNERS USING UNIQUE AND FUN TEACHING METHOD

Nationwide -- Although the guitar is one of the most difficult instruments to learn how to play, there are always alternatives to giving up. Many people try to learn but quickly get frustrated. The 2020 pandemic has created enormous challenges while forcing many musicians and business owners to think outside of the box.

Earl Carter is a Grammy Awards voting member, Billboard-charting contemporary jazz artist, and touring sideman/multi-instrumentalist. He has been playing guitar for over 45 years and has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share. Inspired by his older brother, he began playing at the young age of eleven. After experiencing a performance by the jazz fusion group “Return to Forever”, he immediately knew exactly what he wanted to do when he grew up.

Although self-taught, he was also formally trained on woodwind and brass instruments and was always one of the top musicians in school. During concert band, one of his instructors allowed him to practice alto saxophone in a private room because he was too far ahead of the other students. He later used his classroom knowledge of music theory to sharpen his guitar playing skills.

Black-Owned Water Brand Partners For Breast Cancer Awareness

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BLACK-OWNED WATER BRAND PARTNERS WITH AUTONATION’S DRIVE PINK BREAST CANCER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

Miami, FL -- In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, AutoNation, America’s largest and most recognized automotive retailer and Keen Water, one of the nation’s top water suppliers, have teamed up to supply AutoNation’s 36 South Florida locations with their premium bottled alkaline water.

AutoNation continues to support the communities that they serve. During a time when awareness of social injustice is heightened, AutoNation increased its support of local communities and welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with Keen Water, a small, Black-owned business.

“AutoNation is pleased to support Keen Water. Partnering with Keen Water during October, to bring premium water in Drive Pink branded bottles, is a great way to remind our Associates and Customers that it is Breast Cancer Awareness month. AutoNation is committed to drive out cancer as we race to over $25 Million donated to cancer treatment and research,” said Marc Cannon, AutoNation Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Experience Officer.

Talent Agents Create Black Agent Network

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TALENT AGENTS JOIN FORCES TO CREATE BLACK AGENT NETWORK

Nationwide -- theFstate, Makena’s Talent Agency, and The Jackson Agency have partnered to form the Black Agents Network (BAN) to provide a centralized network of Black-owned talent agencies so that talent, advertisers, producers, and studios can easily fulfill their Diversity and Inclusion pledge.

BAN will serve as a virtual directory of vetted Black-owned talent agencies thereby ensuring our entertainment community has the support it needs.

“With over 400 years of disparity and with intentional roadblocks being put in place for the detriment of BIPOC we have been successful in creating global contributions and advancements in multiple industries that benefit society as a whole. How much further along would the world be if we used the very same effort in support of BIPOC rather than a hindrance?” says Ezra Jones of theFstate.

With consistently stale growth in entertainment as it pertains to Black professionals, around 4% of key decision-makers in the content creation arena are Black. Combined with the coded language used by corporations as it pertains to finding “qualified talent pools,” it’s important now more than ever that the leaders in independent entertainment are stepping up and creating a community.

Learn How 29-Year Old Sharenika Lashay Became Victim to Sex Trafficking

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29-YEAR OLD WOMAN REVEALS HOW SHE BECAME A VICTIM TO SEX TRAFFICKING

Nationwide -- Meet Sharenika Lashay, a young African American woman who encountered sex trafficking while pursuing a career in modeling and acting. Many have heard about the cautionary tales about the entertainment industry, but Sharenika actually had to endure a glimpse of that darkness.

Growing up in the rural city of Thomson, Georgia, Sharenika had big dreams of becoming an aspiring model and actress. Those dreams were tainted when she realized her talents weren’t a factor in her journey to success.

Many predators use the guise of bright lights and superstardom to lure in young women especially in industries fueled off women’s physical attributes. Sharenika’s experience was no different.

Her aspiring model/actress dreams led her into a tragic encounter with the underworld of sex trafficking which has taken millions of victims and counting to this day. There is a highly protected system that frames sex trafficking as child prostitution and uses several other methods of entrapment to subdue their victims.

Police Attack Black Woman Filmmaker

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BLACK WOMAN FILMMAKER WHO PRODUCED FILM ABOUT POLICE BRUTALITY CHARGES THAT SHE GETS ATTACKED BY POLICE

Nationwide -- Brittany Chrishawn, an award-winning African-American filmmaker and social justice advocate who produced a film that explores police brutality, has been brutalized herself by police officers in Jacksonville, Florida. Her film Illville most recently won an award at The Cannes International Pan African Film Festival 2020. (Watch the live encounter on YouTube)

The police allege that Brittany assaulted an officer with a plastic spoon while he was seated in his car in her driveway, but there’s video footage showing the officer getting out of the car to collect the plastic spoon from the ground to use as evidence against her.

We live in a time where police misconduct has been exposed for the epidemic that it is, but far too many stories of victims who’ve survived police brutality go untold, and these are the victims who have to endure fighting wrongful convictions without the strong support of the public eye and national media outlets. This story deserves the public's attention because victory with this case will provide a benchmark for people of color who may be subjected to this type of police misconduct in the future. It will be a great step forward in this age-old fight for basic human/civil rights.

Hip Hop Artist Says New Song Renewed His Love of Music

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HIP HOP ARTIST SAYS NEW SONG RENEWED HIS LOVE OF MUSIC

Nationwide -- People dream of following their passion. P.A.T. is doing it. His latest release, “Getting Over You,” is a love letter to his first love, hip hop.

The song follows P.A.T.’s fears of never succeeding in the music industry and his concerns of falling into the trappings of fame when he does succeed.

P.A.T., whose given name is Patrick Barnett, lays out his despair in the first line of the song: What if I never make it, I never see my dream. He goes on to share his thoughts about abandoning his aspirations of performing on stages across the world and keeping his songs locked away in a desk drawer. The song takes a turn when he remembers why he creates music: I fell in love after I fell in lust. I confess sins to music, because that is what I trust.

From Divorced Single Black Mom Electra Davis to CEO Emerges As a Boss Lady

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DIVORCED SINGLE MOM OF TWO FINDS NEW MAN, LAUNCHES SIX FIGURE CHEMICAL-FREE HAIR COLOR BRAND

Nationwide -- Meet Electra Davis, the 36-year old founder and CEO of Mysteek Naturals - a popular Black-owned line of chemical-free hair color products. She launched her successful company just two years after becoming a divorced single mother with two children.

A victim of child abuse

Electra grew up as an only child living in Buffalo, NY, with her mom. However, her mom worked and partied a lot, and Electra was often left with her grandparents. As a result, one of her uncles began sexually abusing her from age 5 to 8.

After this was discovered, she went to go live with her father. She began working at 14-years old, and started paying rent to her Dad when she was just 15. She was even forced to buy her own groceries and was given one side of the refrigerator to only eat the food she bought. Two weeks after graduating high school, she joined the Army at 18-years old.

Black Woman Mentors Over 1,000 Prisoners

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THIS BLACK WOMEN HAS A COMPANY THAT MENTORS OVER 1,000 PRISONERS

Nationwide -- During these challenging times, Lynda Monroe is inspiring over 2 million people monthly with her story of resilience and life coaching for success. When she was born, her doctor said she would not live past 10 years of age due to her congenital heart defect. She successfully defied the odds when she became a mother at 17-years old. However, as an unwed mother, this caused her to be ostracized by her church family and forced her to mature quickly. These experiences and more motivated her to reach deep inside herself to get her feet on solid ground.

Now, she is the CEO of a multi-media empire that touches millions through her activism to help prisoners integrate successfully back into society. Her business includes her podcast: The Lynda Monroe Show (with over 2 million streams monthly), her web sites, social media, and public speaking.

Over her career to date she has been able to get 50 inmates released from prison, giving them a second chance at life. In addition, she has successfully mentored over 1,000 prisoners. She is an extraordinary multimedia mogul who continues to take the world by storm.