Women you need to know, because I do… #BlackWomensHistoryMonth 2019
During Women’s History Month, I ran a social media series in which I featured a post about a different black woman each day. The women are people that I know in some capacity who I believe others should get to know as well. The point of the series was not only to highlight these women, but to also contribute to building community among black women. This post is an archive of the 31 postings.
Krystle Cameron: You need to know Krystle, because she is the epitome of a BAWSE! She’s a fool in the marketing game, runs an entertainment production company in The Bay Area with her musician husband, cooks gluten-free food that will make you slap ya’ mama, and on top of all that and more, she is rearing a handsome and super intelligent child. In her past life, she was also a damn good spoken word poet.
Dr. Allissa Richardson: Best-known as a proponent of mobile journalism and citizen journalism, she has trained students in the United States and countries in Africa to report news using only smartphones, tablets and MP3 players. She is an Assistant Professor of Journalism in the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California.
Additionally, Richardson is a Nieman Foundation Visiting Journalism Fellow at Harvard University, the 2012 Educator of the Year for the National Association of Black Journalists, and a two-time Apple Distinguished Educator. But I met her when she was a biology student at Xavier working as a Xavier Herald editor, and making the sharp turn from medicine to journalism. I know that was a tough decision, but based on that resume, she made a solid choice. Here’s to one of my peer heroes!
This is my bestie, so she’s obviously an amazing woman!
Ashley Garner is a reporter on WLBT in Jackson, Mississippi, near her hometown Pearl. She is a 2005 graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana. Ashley joined the WLBT news team in 2007 as an Associate Producer. In 2011, she stepped from behind the camera and into the field as a multi-media journalist.
When she is not in the field chasing stories, Ashley loves spending time with loved ones, volunteering, reading, traveling and eating. She’s also married and a mommy to two boys and a fairly new baby girl.
I met Alicia when she volunteered a performance for a fundraising event by Louisiana Artists for Puerto Rico. She was such a wonderful and professional artists, and I had absolutely no idea that she was quite pregnant at the time.
Alicia Rollins is a creative director, author, and content manager originally from Opelousas. Alicia’s performing arts career began at Hamilton Academy of the Arts of which she is a graduate and continued as a member of the competition dance team at Southern University. After her undergraduate career, she began teaching young girls at Winter Dance Company where she would birth the competition team “Flygirls”. Alicia also performed in Debbie Allen’s show “Derek’s Song” dedicated to the late Derek Gordon of the Baton Rouge Arts Council. Alicia’s ultimate vision of success is to influence our youth to reach their highest potential and encourage their God-given purposes. Her life’s mission is to utilize community engagement, mentoring, and educational enhancement to equip our next generation to make a positive impact on our world.
I worked with Ashley in marketing and photography years ago in Baton Rouge for a concert series. She is a super talented powerhouse in marketing and strategy.
Ashley Northington is an award-winning marketing communication strategist, social policy leader, and entrepreneur. The founder of DENOR Brands + Public Relations, she leverages strategic communications as a tool to battle social inequities through the lenses of high-quality public education and entrepreneurship. A champion of stories that matter, Ashley lives to craft and tell meaningful narratives that influence public policy, programs, and partnerships.
Whew, chile. This woman, here. She’s breathtaking on the mic and such a sweet person.
Brittany Marshall is a teacher at her alma mater, Baton Rouge Magnet High School. She emerged on the poetry scene through Forward Arts as a teenager. She was Baton Rouge’s Inaugural Youth Poet Laureate (2016). She is a graduate of Louisiana State University where she doubled-majored in English Secondary Education and Spanish. While a student she represented LSU at the College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational (2017). She is the author of musings of a black girl (May 2017, Penmanship Books).
I interviewed Chenese several years ago when she was living in Los Angeles for an article titled LA to L.A. She’s since moved back to Louisiana, but her grind hasn’t halted one bit.
Chenese Lewis is the epitome of a sophisticated woman entrepreneur and entertainer who has gained international attention as a highly sought-after keynote speaker, expert commentator, as well as a positive body image and self-esteem advocate. Chenese has appeared as an expert on Dr. Phil, Huffington Post Live, and quoted in USA Today. She has also been featured on E! News, Extra,People.com, and many more. And, she’ll be the host for the upcoming Bonner Brothers International Beauty Show, this month in New Orleans!
I met Ebony when I was a super skinny 22-year-old party girl. She’s been my sister-auntie style friend ever since. And we wear the same shoe size.
She is kind to her bones, immensely caring, and obvi beautiful. You can also see by the clothing in this photo that she’s a soldier (Army National Guard). She did a stint in Iraq and I can still remember how heavy we all felt while she was gone. I could say more here, but I invite you to read about her in this article: http://www.espn.com/espnw/features/article/13514606/hurricane-katrina-superdome-new-orleans-national-guard
and this one: https://digbr.com/louisiana-valor-2/?fbclid=IwAR3_PbZuleg1017SxpyOxXzkBlwGJNGwllmlUH31nL0RpMLvlmmWcZH5HZk
Janene doesn’t remember working with me when I was in college, but I remember her name from when she was a college marketing rep for Atlantic and I was the entertainment editor for the Xavier Herald. So, we officially met a few years ago when she was the comm rep for Mayor Broome. With a storied, tried and true career in higher ed public relations, Janene is now the communications director for the Southern University System, which she makes clear each day means a great deal to her, because she bleeds gold and blue.
Kimmie is the little sister I adopted when she was a freshman at Xavier University. She has always been a go-getter, traveler, and a fashionista. She is the founder of fashion jewelry brand Sucre Couture, a mommy, wife, and doctoral student.
Check out this article I found on her from a couple of years ago: https://www.theblackprofessional.com/blog/2017/08/09/meet-kim-fomby-mastering-the-balancing-act-of-motherhood-a-9-to-5-and-side-hustle/
I met Oonarissa in 2012 when she was making her national television debut as an actress on Discovery ID. She told me then that she had two passions: acting and fashion. She’s now a highly-sought after fashion designer and founder of the labels OonaNicole and DoubleOSeven.
Here’s an article about her from October: https://jozefsyndicatela.wordpress.com/2018/10/03/fashions-next-big-designers-hail-from-baton-rouge/
Winter McCray is D4G (Destined for Greatness). I met her years and years and years ago (LOL) through working at the Big Buddy Program. She is an amazing youth development worker who now teaches dance in EBR Schools. She is a founding member of Anointed to Dance — a mime ministry, owner of Winter Dance Studio, and remains a principal dancer for various productions. She is a big ball of fun, but she knows dance — the art and the business behind it. She’s also a selfie queen.
This “Women you need to know, because I do”#BlackWomensHistoryMonth post was inspired by my ride to work today. Donney was bumping the new 2 Chainz album that featured a poet. He said: “I should let you guess who that is — you know her.” And it was Sunni Patterson.
If you have ever been in the same room as Sunni, then you need not read any further because you already know about the beauty, comfort, and electric vibes she carries with her. She’s crazy accomplished when it comes to sharing her words, including that Beats headphones commercial with Serena Williams, a few 2 Chainz projects, and a whole lot more. She’s a pioneer/veteran in these poetry streets all over, but especially in her hometown, New Orleans. But most importantly, I’m saying you need to know Sunni because everybody needs to know someone so awesome that it radiates off of them and onto everyone they meet. You wanna know more, Google her.
Kenesha Antoine, Esq. — CEO, The Bluest Ink / Attorney at Law / Notary Public. This is my lawyer AND notary public of choice! While she can handle a case or issue like nobody’s business, she’s genuinely one of the sweetest people you can meet. Don’t play with her, though. She’s hard working and service oriented — a winning combo.
Kenesha began her service-oriented career by counseling vulnerable youth in the East Baton Rouge Parish Public School System. After practicing social work for some time, she made steps to further her public service to the community by becoming an attorney. She subsequently enrolled at Southern University Law Center and earned a Juris Doctorate degree in 2007. During her tenure at SULC, she served on the Moot Court Board for two years, a distinguished honor reserved for exceptional oral advocates. She also represented minors charged with criminal offenses in Baton Rouge Juvenile Court.
Upon graduating from SULC, she began her law practice by representing individuals with disabilities at no cost for Advocacy Center, a Louisiana non-profit organization. She also traveled statewide and presented seminars on voting rights, fair housing rights and housing-related legislation. Ms. Antoine embarked upon private legal practice in 2009, when she founded the Law Firm of K.D. Antoine, LLC with the goal of making legal representation affordable and accessible to clients of all backgrounds and income levels. Shortly thereafter, Antoine changed the name of her business to The Bluest Ink, LLC, and expanded services to include Office of Motor Vehicle services. In 2012, she was awarded the Multicultural Leadership Award by the Louisiana Diversity Council for her achievements and altruism.
Dr. Leah Cullins is the owner and nurse practitioner at Louisiana Healthcare Services and an Assistant Professor at Southern University School of Nursing. A current class member of Greater Baton Rouge Business Report’s Forty under 40 class, she told the publication that her professional achievements include Sub-investigating 30 pharmaceutical trials, the findings of which ultimately led to the FDA approval of pharmaceuticals that are available, prescribed and administered nationwide; Becoming a National Institutes of Health-National Institutes of Nursing Research Fellow; Participating as a Fellow in the Emerge Louisiana program, preparing women interested in running for public office.
Her community work includes being the chartering president of 100 Black Women of Metropolitan Baton Rouge where she now serves as immediate past president. She is a member of the Southern Women’s Leadership Roundtable-Pennington Family Foundation, Ryan White Program Advisory Council, YMCA Board, It Takes a Village, Junior League of Baton Rouge and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Dr. Eliza Belle: Before I drop her bio, lemme say that I have definitely grown to know Eliza better through social media. However, we met as students at XULA when she and her best friend were featured in my Lifestyles column, The Best of Friends, in the early 2000s. She is awesome and I definitely look up to her.
Dr. Belle is a Licensed Psychologist and Certified Forensic Examiner with over 15 years of experience in the field of mental health and wellness. She serves as the Director of Psychology and Behavioral Services for Alabama’s Department of Mental Health, And is also completing a five-year term as a governor-appointed Board Member of the Alabama Board of Examiners in Psychology, the state’s licensing authority for psychology professionals. Her previous work experience includes the Department of Veterans Affairs, private and state psychiatric facilities, community mental health agencies, as well as college and university counseling centers. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Xavier University of Louisiana, a Master’s degree in Counseling from Loyola University of New Orleans, and a doctorate in Counseling Psychology from The University of Georgia.
She has published research specific to ethnic minority representation, contributed a definition to the Encyclopedia of Counseling, as well as conducted research on the topic of stress and burnout as it relates to professionals of color, and reducing the negative stigma attached to mental illness. She has been featured as an expert contributor in publications including Essence magazine, Ebony, Teen Vogue, Huffington Post, Best Colleges, and Glamour magazine, among others as well as provided mental health awareness information for local television news programs. She is the co-founder of Goals & Girlfriends, an empowerment network aimed at helping women to further their dreams and life plans through the support, knowledge, and experiences of other women.
She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, the Junior League of Birmingham, the Alabama Psychological Association, among other local and national service organizations. She is the recipient of the 2016 “40 under 40 Distinguished Alumni” Award from Xavier University and 2018 Nominee of the “40 under 40 Top Alumni” Award from the University of Georgia. Dr. Belle resides in Birmingham with her husband Kalon and two young daughters, Marley and Avery. She is bonus mom to a teen daughter, Kayla.
Chelsea Lynne: I can’t exactly remember how long I’ve known Chelsea, but she’s a real one for sure. Chelsea is an educator and writer, and about 90 other things. (LOL) I’ve always been impressed with her drive and look forward to watching her continue to flourish.
Christin Rankins: I met Christin when she was a teen poet competing in poetry slams through Word Play, where we also learned that she can SANG, sang, sang. She has always been a powerhouse performer, who not only nails comedic timing, but is naturally funny, extremely kind, thoughtful, giving, stunning, and hard working. She’s a WORKING actress, who you may have seen in Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016), among other films. She also recently launched a T-Shirt line, Berry Thick, which celebrates women with an emphasis on plus size women. I will never not be proud of Christin, and I’m excited to continue watching her grow. BTW, she’s also rearing a sassy little lady who is her second coming, for sure.
Rodneyna Hart: She’s a ball of positivity, energy, and obvi creativity. I met her 13 years ago while grabbing a meal after a night of partying. Back then we were both working hard towards the careers we have today. Last year at an arts events and after two glasses of wine (I don’t do wine lol), I rambled on and on to her about how proud I am to see her manifest the things she used to say she wanted.
A current class member of the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report Forty under 40, Rodneyna list her professional achievements as Co-curator for Prospect .3+Baton Rouge Notes Upriver Invitational, which included converting a 15,000-square-foot office space into a pop-up art gallery featuring more than 300 works of art by more than 100 artists; Spearheading the return of a dormant organization and unaffiliated defunct program; Creating and orchestrating a workplace giving campaign early in career to benefit the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. Her community work includes being active in several art-related groups. She serves as an advisory member for the Of Moving Colors Board of Directors and is a state representative for the Louisiana State Arts Council.
She’s a boss, yo… art boss or as she would say, a Beyoncé.
Kim Hamilton-Wims: When I think servant-leader a picture of Kim pops into my head. She is one of the most genuinely kind and (ALSO) kick-you-in-the-ass person I know. She is the epitome of someone who balances things very well and I’m inspired by this about her. You might see her rip and run all day between her work as a chemist, volunteer projects, family time, and committed service as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She’s gonna greet you with a smile and a kind heart. She’s one of the best kind of people, but you’re gonna have to get your own Kim, this one is mine.
Tarriona Tank Ball: You probably already know her or I’m sure you’ve heard of her, but I just had to include her on this year’s list. When I met Tank, she was about 19-years-old and performing a poem for her mentor, Peaches, at her birthday party. Tank has always been a powerhouse person. I said person and not performer, because if you know Tank you know she’s always who she is, all the time, every day, every second. This is why so many of you love her on stage, because it’s authentic af. I love, love, love watching the rise of her band, and I will always be grateful to have shared and continue to share space with her as both a personal comrade and as a super fan of hers. If by some chance you don’t already know who she is, please make yourself familiar. You will not regret the experience.
Quiana Lynell: She is fiercely talented, super giving, an amazing teacher, and a great mommy to two brilliant girls. If you’ve ever seen her perform just one song or spent a few minutes talking to her, you already know that she’s headed for the moon. I admire her ambition and have been so happy to see her climb to much success as a jazz vocalist, being celebrated, awarded, and well-traveled. A few years ago, she trusted me to provide her with a media and marketing goal-setting session. As a consultant and as someone who stood in smoky bars years ago watching her work, I can truly say that it’s been amazing to watch her smash those goals exponentially. Check out his story about her, and get to know her because she’s going to be around for a very long time.
Dr. Sarah L. Webb is an assistant professor of English at the University of Illinois Springfield. She is an amazing and thoughtful instructor who I’ve had the pleasure of watching teach while she was studying for her graduate degrees. She’s also pure#blackgirlmagic who works tirelessly as a change agent in many areas. Most noteworthy is her website and social initiative, Colorism Healing, which raises critical awareness, promotes healing, and finds solutions to colorism through creative and critical work. She wears the most gorgeous smile, has a pleasant demeanor, and is an amazing example of a servant heart.
Chef Traci Vincent Druilhet: Kind is an understatement when referring to Traci. She is an amazing sweet soul, who gives of herself generously and with cooks from the pits of her heart. Her food is as delightful as she is and I’m grateful to have met someone like her.
She is a 2003 graduate of Louisiana State University’s Manship School of Mass Communications, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication with a concentration in Public Relations. After graduation, she moved to Washington, D.C., and was able to secure employment as a legislative aide on Capitol Hill. In 2011, despite the demands of a fast-paced legislative environment, Traci was able to obtain an advanced degree with a Master of Arts in Government from Johns Hopkins University’s Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts & Sciences in Baltimore, MD.
In 2015, she successfully completed all course requirements from the Louisiana Culinary Institute (LCI) in Baton Rouge and now holds an Associates Degree in Advanced Culinary Arts. While at LCI, Traci served as President of the Student Council and Representative of Class 36. She has participated in the following cooking competitions — Race to Cannes and LCI’s Home Plate. Also, as a freshman culinary student, in 2014, her culinary team “The Fond” placed second in the seafood gumbo category at the Heart Strings and Angel Wings Foundation Annual Gumbo Cook-off in Henderson, LA. Traci is a 2014 recipient of the James Beard Foundation Louisiana Chefs for Cookery Award, a 2015 National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) Academic Scholarship award, and a two-year recipient of the Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation’s Hospitality Leadership Scholarship Award.
She is the sole proprietor of TVA Consulting, LLC. In her role as a consultant, she provides practical, and customized nutritional advice to each client on how to live healthier lives and make better food choices. When she is not studying nutrition or working as a health coach, Traci is volunteering with the Culinary Club at White Hills Elementary in Baker, LA, working as a staff writer for Geaux Health & Fitness Magazine, and performing cooking demonstrations on how to prepare healthy, and culturally-appropriate, delicious meals. As a food educator and wellness chef, Traci also teaches private cooking classes.
She also volunteers in East Baton Rouge Parish Schools to educate youth about healthy snacks preparation and food choices. For the past six years, she has partnered with the New Orleans Chapter of the Links, Inc., for their annual ‘’Obesity Day’’ Saturday School to educate children and families around Orleans Parish about how to prepare healthy meals. As a private chef, Traci offers a myriad of custom meal preparation options for individuals and families. She has participated in cooking competitions with the Epicurean Society and Geaux Rouge. She has also catered conferences and galas with customized menu options.
Cindy Hurst: I met Cindy on the poetry scene in Baton Rouge in 2006, but I really got to know Cindy over a five hour long cup of coffee at her home in Little Rock. She has had the career(s) of 12 lifetimes, has an in-depth knowledge and passion for many things, and does all those things very well. From child psychology to private investigation to cooking to film-making, and more, she is THE renaissance woman.
A native of Baton Rouge, she is the owner of The Sankofa Project, a film production and publishing agency developed to tackle cultural and gender issues.
I want to tell you more, but I’m not 100 percent sure which lifetime she’s in right now. (LOL) Very, very good person to know, watch for, and learn from.
Jessyca Williams: I’ve known Jessyca for more than a decade and over that time, one thing has remained solid — she does the things she sets her mind to. I remember when she decided to start making jewelry and she did. When she wanted to become a teacher and she did. When she wanted to learn to sew and she did. Along with so many other things, Jessyca has balanced motherhood with teaching, jewelry making, and designing and making Queen Me 31, LLC clothing. And she can braid. She’s a good person to know, because you can be so inspired by the hustle in her.
Erika LeSha Elzy: Erika is an extremely creative person who channels art in a variety of ways including writing, cosmetology, and making special meals for her children. I met Erika some years ago at Soul’d Out Sundays and what I immediately liked about her is that she is extremely determined, dedicated, and caring. If Erika sees something in you, she will pour what she can into your dreams, expecting nothing in return. She is super genuine and can hold some really, really great conversations.
Taylor Scott: I’ve known Taylor since she was in high school. I was immediately blown away by her writing, wit, and insight. She’s only continued to grow into an amazing grown person, and I’m super glad to know her. She’s gracious, kind, and overall a class act. She’s also one of my favorite writers and someone I’d feature a million times over.
Taylor is an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s First Wave program — the only collegiate hip hop and spoken word community of its kind in the country. She holds a Masters Degree in English from Louisiana State University, where she had an individualized, interdisciplinary course plan that included black diasporic literary and performance studies. She is now a doctoral student. She has graced many stages including the Little Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway, Contacting the World Theatre in Manchester, England, and Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. She directed the Bellhops, a Madison-based blues and hip hop theater ensemble. In 2014, the Bellhops premiered Honey In My Tea, a 45-minute production that centers the narratives of black women, at the Overture Center for the Arts.
April Baham is an ambitious artist who has worked in her industry in every way she could from sketching to designing to gallery guiding, and now as a cultural program analyst at the Division of the Arts. Her climb has been commendable. She told me that her first paying gig was when way back when shedesigned the logo for the now defunct Simple But Dope Productions, the predecessor to Soul By Demand. April suffered a significant setback when she had a run in with a big rig a few years ago. Seeing her testimony and even watching her relearn to walk and continue on her way is easily one of the most inspiring things you could see. Get you an April.
TeYonna Beaman: The things this woman has done at such a young age through trials and tribulations has inspired me greatly. She was super pregnant and had a toddler when she graduated from Rowan with honors and an amazing GPA. She got accepted to both of the graduate programs she applied to, and is now studying for that degree while rearing her two daughters and working full time. I’m so grateful that my nieces have such an amazing mommy to look up to.
On this last day of my #BlackWomensHistoryMonthseries, I dedicate this post to my gorgeous, brave, and strong aunt, Elaine Chustz Green. This photo comes from a June 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article titled “The Defiant Ones: As young girls, they fought the fierce battle to integrate America’s schools half a century ago.”
I have so many things I can say about my aunt, but I’m just gonna tell you that if you’re black and you attended Baton Rouge High, you owe a thank to her and the other women who desegregated the school.
FROM THE ARTICLE: “Elaine Chustz Green integrated Baton Rouge High in 1963 and later become the principal of a Detroit public school.” Read more: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/defiant-ones-school-desegregation-180969011/
