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Jordan Green | WeINSPIRE Journalist Dubose-Woodson is one of the co-founders of The Roots Fund. She spent time traveling to foreign countries and working in Michelin-starred restaurants. She never liked any kind of wine, but had a breakthrough with one wine and ended up having wine become a major part of her life. 7-Minute read MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A tall, glass bottle. A bitter taste. A lingering scent of grapes. These are some of the most common things a person pictures when they think of wine. What many people don’t think of is the lack of racial diversity in the wine community. Ikimi Dubose-Woodson started The Roots Fund along with Tahiirah Habibi and Carlton McCoy Jr. to allow people of color to have a fair chance at being a part of the wine industry. Dubose-Woodson started her career in the food industry before she even entered college. Through the Careers Through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP), she was able to go to culinary school on scholarship at Johnson & Wales University. After culinary school, most graduates do a stage where they go work at a restaurant or hotel for a few nights and if they like you then they keep you. Instead of doing this, Dubose-Woodson followed a professor’s advice and decided to travel while learning about different cultures and cuisines. “My instructor said, ‘You have a knack for international taste. You love to play with language, you're great with people. You should go travel and work at a place,’” Dubose-Woodson said. And she did just that. Dubose-Woodson ended up traveling through Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, Austria, Ireland and other parts of Asia and Europe. She spent her time at restaurants that were famous or Michelin-starred. She would go to the restaurants, introduce herself, tell them her experiences and ask for a job for a month or two. It was in these situations that Dubose-Woodson realized that she was attracted to learning about other cultures and people. Dubose-Woodson said, “I think that the best way to grow in this world today — because we're so afraid of difference — is to embrace other cultures and other people. So that's the biggest gain I got out of it, and it allowed me to adapt in basically any environment.” Courtesy of Ikimi Dubose-Woodson. After getting back to the United States, she continued to work in the restaurant industry. She worked as an executive chef before she got put to work in the dining room after a back surgery she had. It was there that she discovered she couldn’t stand wine. Every day at pre-shift meetings they would taste wine, and every day she didn’t like what they had to offer. “Then one day I had a breakthrough,” Dubose-Woodson said. “We had an importer come in and pour wines from Burgundy. It changed my life. They were so drinkable, and I felt like I could taste the earth in them. Burgundy Pinot Noirs are funky, but I loved it.” Yet, it wasn’t until years later that Dubose-Woodson and two peers would come together to create The Roots Fund in 2020. The main goal of The Roots Fund is to bring more people of color to the wine industry by helping them get an education in fields that are related to or can be used for wine companies. This could be marketing, accounting, agricultural studies or something along these lines. “There was a lot happening in every space in 2020. Social injustice, the pandemic happening, super rise in Me Too Movement within the restaurant industry. It was a big time. A lot of things were being uncovered and exposed,” Dubose-Woodson said. Since starting three years ago, the organization has grown to be about three times the size it was when it began. The organization has helped 196 people with its two-year STEP Program. There are 122 active members in the program. The Roots Fund also gives scholarships to students who are aiming to work in the wine industry after graduation. There is the general scholarship that students can apply for three times a year and the Atlanta scholarship for students based in Georgia. Courtesy of Ikimi Dubose-Woodson. Within their programs, they also place an emphasis on mentorship. When a person joins their study program, they are given a mentor that is someone who has been in the industry for years. The mentor will help educate them about the industry and help them network. The inspiration for this program comes from all of the co-founders’ careers being built from having great mentors. “We're breaking down two sets of barriers,” Dubose-Woodson said. “It's not just about the advice and the network – it's also about breaking racial discrimination through people’s perceptions of others by actually working with someone, getting to know someone, and understanding their experience.” One of the goals of The Roots Fund is to be completely transparent with where the money goes. As it relies mostly on donations, they make sure the people donating know exactly what their money is being used for. They are not opposed to switching projects around completely to make sure that the money is actually being used rather than just sitting around. The biggest hope that Dubose-Woodson has for The Roots Fund’s future is that it continues to grow. She hopes to be able to introduce people of color to the wine industry and help them get jobs they didn’t know were possible. The Roots Fund is planning on expanding to HBCUs and high schools. With this, they are hoping to get people started in wine earlier rather than when they are in their 30s. “I think that our legacy is already being written for just being an actionable person of change, not someone that's talking about it or making long PowerPoints and putting out newsletters and a bunch of stuff on our webpage,” Dubose-Woodson said. “People come to us because they feel like we actually do work. They actually see the work happening, and I think that's what sets us apart. That will be our legacy.” Courtesy of Ikimi Dubose-Woodson. Social Wellness, Emotional Wellness

Jordan Green | WeINSPIRE Journalist Tamara Walcott started powerlifting five years ago as a way to save herself from obesity. Tamara Walcott is the world record holder for the heaviest cumulative lift in a competition and the heaviest deadlift in her weight class. She is now an ambassador for Project Rock, started by Dwayne Johnson, and a campaigner for Ulta Beauty. 10-minute Read MEMPHIS, Tenn — For Guinness World Record Powerlifter Tamara Walcott, lifting heavy weights isn’t a chore to clean out a closet – it’s what saved her life. Walcott was not always a world-champion powerlifter. Born and raised in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Walcott was active throughout her childhood and adolescence. Her life hit a turning point when she decided to start living for her two kids rather than herself. At the time that she made this decision, she had reached around 450 pounds. She then started going to the gym in 2016, and in that first year alone, she lost 100 pounds. Walcott admits, “I felt like I was slowly dying, and I needed to do something, and the easiest thing was to go to a gym because most of them are open 24 hours, and that's kind of what I did. So I walked into a gym, I saw people lifting, and boom, I fell in love.” Courtesy of Tamara Walcott. When she first started going to the gym, there were mixed reactions. While people in her gym were supportive and saw her as inspiring, people online were critical of her. She then started powerlifting in 2018 and set a new precedence for herself. However, as time passed and she continued to persevere, Walcott became a staple in her gym. There were often times when people would look to her as a source of inspiration in the gym, and she was happy to be a person they could admire. “A lot of people definitely look up to me, and I don't think it's just from that external physical side, but it's also from that mental fortitude to continue forward,” Walcott says. One of the biggest struggles she had when first starting was her food habit. Walcott says there were times when all she could do was eat as a comfort for how her life was going. It was and still is one of her hardest challenges. “I'm a food addict, and to this day, I'm still a food addict,” Walcott admits. “All I did was replace one addiction with the other. So I think one of the biggest things that I had to overcome, and I'm still overcoming is that food addiction.” Now, five years after she first started powerlifting, Tamara Walcott is the world record holder for the heaviest cumulative total in powerlifting. In 2021, Walcott broke the cumulative total record. This past July, Walcott broke her own record for the cumulative total at 1,620.4 pounds (737.5 kilograms) which is 3.3 pounds (1.5 kilograms) heavier than what she did in 2021. In the same tournament, she also broke the world record for a single deadlift at 639.4 pounds (290 kilograms). “I never pictured myself being the number one of something in the entire world, and I've done that three times now,” Walcott says. “So I've never pictured myself being the number one of something in the entire world. What I did envision is that I would never stop because I drank the Kool-Aid, the bug bit me, and I absolutely knew that I was gonna be lifting for the rest of my life. I just happened to take a record that was sitting there for almost 14 years.” Even though she is a three-time record breaker, Walcott has no intention of slowing down any time soon. She wants to continue to inspire other people higher and higher. Walcott says, “Records are meant to be broken, and I think it's important for someone to be a beacon in order to help others push towards their goals and dreams and aspirations. So I look at it as an honor, to be others’ goal to beat.” Looking at the biggest factors in her continuous growth, there are three main ones. The first two are her children. They were the reason she wanted to lose weight in the first place – she wanted to be there for her kids. The third factor is herself. Every day Walcott strives to be the best version of herself and powerlifting has now become a part of that. “At the end of the day, my original goal was to make sure that I'm here and living for my kids,” Walcott says. “You gotta take care of yourself if you want to take care of others, and, and taking care of others is a big part of my life. I now give myself a hundred percent every single day.” One of Walcott’s more recent claims to fame was being featured in an Ulta Beauty ad that came out in August 2022. She was flown out to California five weeks before her 2022 double-record-breaking competition. While she was there, Walcott says it was one of the most amazing experiences she’d ever had. “One of the biggest things that I think it derived from is that I have a tour called ‘My Strength is My Sexy’ because I am a plus-size woman living in a world that doesn't necessarily embrace a plus-size body,” Walcott says.“So I started a tour that spoke to body positivity that spoke to your strength is your sexy. Being strong is okay. Being bigger is okay. Being bold is okay.” While she was on set the first day, Walcott remembers lifting real weights rather than fake ones because she was in the middle of training. On that particular day, she had to reach 585 pounds on a deadlift, so she did just that while the cameras were rolling. The second day was much calmer, but Walcott recounts the feeling of pure joy being a part of something that celebrates so many different kinds of people. “I was born and raised in the US Virgin Islands,” Walcott says. “I didn't see a lot of people that looked like me on TV. Especially wearing my natural hair, being a dark-skinned woman, a bigger plus-size woman, I did not see a lot of representation of me on television growing up, and I literally was thinking about my own daughter and her dreams and her aspirations.” Walcott has also been an ambassador for Project Rock which is an athletic clothing brand started by Dwayne Johnson. She has been an ambassador since September 2022 and is proud to be a part of something that lets people see athletes that look like her working with big names like Dwayne Johnson. Along with powerlifting, Walcott also tries to find ways to give back to her community and give thanks to those who helped encourage her. In early April 2023, held a charity fundraiser called “The Road to Victory” in honor of her late coach’s legacy, Dan Fox. The fundraiser donations are all going to help fund powerlifting throughout the year. Walcott hopes to make it an annual event. Courtesy of Tamara Walcott. Through all of these social campaigns, Walcott is hoping to show people that being healthy does not always equal being skinny. There are many different kinds of healthy bodies and just because a person is plus-sized does not mean they are not staying fit and healthy. “Every single day I advocate for plus-size athletes,” Walcott says. “I think how I advocate is just showing up as myself, showing up on my good days, showing up on my bad days, showing up when I have difficult times, and showing them every day is not gonna be perfect.” A recurring theme with Walcott is that every person is meant to be here. If a person doesn’t like the way they look or the way they are, there is no point in worrying about things that can’t be controlled. Weight is something that a lot of people can’t control the way they wish they could, whether that is too much or too little weight. Sometimes, just trying your best is enough. “When I got on the scale two years ago at 275, my 275 now looks so different. My quads are popping in this 275, and it's the 275 I prefer. So at the end of the day, you have to remember why you started. It's important to know that you belong and just be here and be present and own your space,” Walcott says. Courtesy of Tamara Walcott.

Brings Optimism to Children Through the Pandemic By Jordan Green | WeINSPIRE Journalist Banji Alexander is the author of “Lockdown Looms: Reggie’s Birthday Party.” Alexander received praise for his book and the positive impact it had on school children in the United Kingdom. Alexander is set to release his second book, a musical, “New King” later this year. MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The global pandemic that took over the world in 2020 was a difficult, trying time for everyone. Life did not exist outside of the home, and if it did, it wasn’t pleasant. With over 5 million deaths from COVID-19 by the end of 2021, it did not seem like there was not much positivity in the air. Children were one of the more heavily impacted groups when looking at the effects of the pandemic on day-to-day life. According to a study done by the Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, 71% of parents said the pandemic negatively affected their child’s mental health. From the same study, 69% of parents said the pandemic was the worst thing to happen to their child. Banji Alexander, a year three teacher in London, saw his students' challenges and decided to help them cope with those intense emotions in a fictional way with his book, “Lockdown Looms: Reggie’s Birthday Party.” Alexander’s parents were strict when it came to academics, and as a result, he devoted most of his time to schoolwork. Even when he wasn’t in school, he spent much of his free time reading rather than getting in trouble. His motivation for becoming a teacher was to inspire the next generation. Growing up, he did not have many teachers that looked like him and came from where he was from. Alexander wanted to be a teacher that kids could relate to. Emma Suffield, chartered librarian and 2018 winner of the U.K. School Library Association’s School Librarian Award, said, “Lockdown Looms: Reggie’s Birthday Party will support and educate children about what they have been through throughout the pandemic. This is a beautiful story written with accessible vocabulary which brings the story of the pandemic to life and is accompanied with fabulous bright and vibrant illustrations.” “I think that for children to reach their full potential within education, it's important that there is a diverse pool of educators who are creating and leading the curriculum and who also understand the social-economical situation in which their learners are coming from,” Alexander says. He wrote his book “Lockdown Looms: Reggie’s Birthday Party” for the thirty students Alexander was in charge of when lockdown was enacted in 2020. He described the process of writing as a “day-by-day process.” Each day after teaching his students, he would write some more of the story and then read what he wrote the next day to his students. Alexander also talked about how he would try to incorporate the struggles his students were going through into the book. One of his students had a parent working in a different country, so he put that into the story. Another child had their grandparents pass during the pandemic, so he incorporated that into the narrative too. It was a way to let students know someone was hearing their problems and letting them know they weren’t the only ones going through challenges. Courtesy of Banji Alexander. Yet, the students were not the only ones going through hard times during the pandemic. Alexander recounts, “I had my own issues. I had issues in my family. I lost my uncle during the pandemic. This book was like therapy to me because some of the themes in the story are hope, determination, adapting to change, kindness, and these were skills and qualities that I wanted my pupils to gain, but they were also qualities I had to remind myself that I was capable of tuning into during that very difficult time for myself and my family.” Alexander also recalls the negative impacts of the pandemic he saw reflected in his students. He mentions higher levels of anxiety, gained weight, and countless hours online as the main factors that affected his students. Alexander says, “Children were looking at things online and not being happy with themselves because they're comparing themselves to the sort of forced reality that they're seeing online.” With the book tour he is on, he gets to share the positive messages from his book with over 2,000 people every week. He has visited over 50 schools on his tour. Alexander notes that he wants people to come away from his story with a generally positive feeling. Some of the main themes within the story are kindness, resilience, adapting to change, and patience. He feels that people should know there is always a brighter ending to things, even if they seem bleak. Courtesy of Banji Alexander. Alexander says, “I think more personally to me for what I've taken away from writing the book is that anything is possible because writing this book has changed my life completely. One minute I was teaching, the next minute, I was on the biggest news stations here: BBC News, ITV News, Sky News, Guardian Newspaper. It literally changed my life overnight.” Along with receiving praise from the media, Alexander also received a letter from the Mayor of London praising him for the work he did with his students during the pandemic. “I felt that it was not just a thank you to me, but it was a thank you to the whole teaching profession,” Alexander says.” When I tweeted about the letter at the time, I extended thanks and gratitude to all the teachers across the country because this was just one thing that I had done personally.” About whether there will be any more birthday celebrations for Reggie, there will not be any more books added to the “Lockdown Looms” series. However, there will be more from Banji Alexander in the form of his second book, “New King.” It will still follow Reggie’s story, but it will discuss what it means for there to be a new ruler for the country and what that will look like for kids around the nation. Instead of being the traditional narrative, Alexander wrote his second book as a musical. During his book tour, Alexander developed a group called Banji’s Class. Forty five students from nine different schools in London make up the group. The group’s main focus is acting, dancing, and singing with a little rap mixed. The group falls in line with Alexander’s love of music and his former aspiration to be a musician himself. He says there is no greater feeling than helping someone realize they can do something they didn’t think possible, and that is what his experience has been with Banji’s Class. One of Alexander's main joys from teaching is inspiring the next generation. He hopes to inspire future doctors, writers, musicians, scientists, etc. There is also an emphasis on teaching his students not to limit themselves to one part of life. He says everyone can do amazing things, but it is just that people don’t lean into that side as much as they should. “I think ultimately that is what I want my legacy to be for a child in 10, 20 years to say, ‘Hey, Banji Alexander inspired me to do what I'm doing now.’ You know that for me is a real legacy.” Courtesy of Banji Alexander.

By Jordan Green | WeINSPIRE Journalist LaRay says he created a new genre he calls “Take Home Music.” He strives to create music that can be taken home and reflected on for days to come. Rob LaRay opened for actress and vegan food star Tabitha Brown’s Los Angeles book tour and restaurant opening. The breakout star reflects on how his music focuses on social injustices towards African Americans and how to continue to move forward. 8-Minutes Read MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Attending the Grammy Awards for many music artists is a dream come true. They dress in their finest clothes, clutch their hands with acceptance speeches as they anxiously await to hear if they won in their category, and go home at the night's end, hoping to be invited back next year. Meet music artist and songwriter Rob LaRay, who similarly celebrated the Grammy Awards this year – only he did it at home. He dressed up, wrote an acceptance speech, and accepted the “Best New Artist” award at the end of the night. He did this in his living room while watching the ceremony and has decided to do it every year until he gets to attend the award show and receive it in person. So you may be wondering who Rob LaRay is. Listeners will discover that his uplifting soulful chords create music that talks about the challenges in life but leaves people feeling more hopeful and empowered for tomorrow. LaRay says he made a new genre he calls “Take Home Music.” Lyrics are meant to be intentionally catchy because the hook, melody and chorus are all simple. The goal is to have listeners be able to sing along after only a few listens. The music incites an uplifting feeling, so the person makes themselves feel better without even realizing it. “No matter the gender, age, religion, he makes music for everyone to be enjoyable,” says Darius Sneed, LaRay’s friend and producer. “If you’re human, you can enjoy it.” Courtesy of Rob LaRay LaRay was only a child when he knew he wanted to pursue a career in music. A Christmas concert with his church choir set his dreams in motion. “I only did the first verse and the chorus, but I remember singing ‘Go Tell It On the Mountain’, and the church was just so excited, and they were screaming my name,” says LaRay. “Then, after the performance, people were coming up to me, and I was just like, okay, I could get used to this.” LaRay started his writing journey in 2016 before releasing his first album, “Black Gold,” in 2018. Even though LaRay’s music is uplifting in tone, he tackles serious issues that the Black community faces every day, including police brutality. “People can relate to those songs, and people were in need of some inspiration, in need of some joy, especially during a tough time when we were losing a lot of black people to police brutality, and my hope was that the music could just be a remedy to some of the pain that we were feeling,” LaRay says. Sneed says LaRay has grown in many ways as an artist since they first met when they were younger. LaRay grew as a producer, a creator, and a vocalist. “He went to school to learn how to produce his own music,” Sneed says. “He’s grown tremendously.” LaRay’s first album, “Black Gold.” Courtesy of Rob LaRay. In 2019, LaRay did a fundraiser event for Student Dream where LaRay performed. After the event, he was asked to work full-time with the nonprofit organization as a music teacher in the after-school workshops. He partnered with Student Dream Music in 2020 as the Creative Director and lead writer for their debut album, “600 Miles to Freedom”. LaRay expressed extreme gratitude for the organization and his time spent there because it was the first year he worked full-time as a musician. In September 2022, LaRay was the headline performer for actress and vegan food star Tabitha Brown’s National Cookbook Tour in Los Angeles. It was his first major event since moving to the west coast. He says Brown is one of his biggest supporters. It showed when Brown made sure LaRay was at the top of the list when they were lining up performers to start coming in at her vegan restaurant in Encino. “She had a conversation with a co-owner and said, ‘I think Robert should have the first show,’ and so, even that meant a lot to me,” LaRay said. LaRay stresses that even though some recording artists have stories of sleeping in their car when they couldn’t make enough money, not every person has to have that story. “Cause here's the thing,” LaRay says, “if you can get a job that can then fund the vision, the dream, the passion, I feel like that's working smarter and not harder. There's no one path to success.” In terms of the future, Rob LaRay will release a new EP named Out of Hiding on February 24. Though his music in the past has primarily focused on the Black culture in America today, he says his new music will show a different side of him. “Yes, we're gonna talk about social injustice, but we're also gonna talk about love,” LaRay says. “We're gonna talk about the hope of falling back in love. We're gonna talk about some good food from North Carolina.” Though he is passionate about elevating social injustices towards the Black community, that is not what his entire focus will be on, incorporating a different layer to his music. Regardless of what he is writing about, be it social injustices or love, he wants to leave people feeling better about their situations. LaRay says, “I love the music that I create, but as one artist, I am not able to heal this. I'm not. I don't take on that responsibility actually. I think it's impossible. It's gonna take the entire nation and an act of God to heal the connection.” Though he did not get to walk away with that gold record player this year, LaRay plans to continue working towards his goal of one day being invited to the Grammys and walking on that stage to accept the award for “Best New Artist.” Courtesy of Rob LaRay

By Kina Velasco | WeINSPIRE Journalist A Latino immigrant and member of the LGBTQ+ community, Humberto Orozco was diagnosed with HIV at just 19 years old Initially, Orozco was ashamed of his status and chose to keep it private, believing HIV was a death sentence Over time, however, his perspective on HIV changed—while the stigma around the virus persists, Orozco chooses to empower and advocate for his community, proving that it is possible to live fully and authentically in spite of HIV 8-Minutes Read SAN FRANCISCO, California – When he was 19 years old, Humberto Orozco received life-changing news; he was diagnosed with HIV. The diagnosis weighed heavily on Orozco, who refrained from publicizing his status for nearly fifteen years. About one year ago, Orozco gathered the courage to disclose the news to his family. Now, he has not only been surviving–but “thriving”–with HIV. Orozco is a public health researcher at Emory University and social media advocate who aims to inspire those in his community by challenging the stigma surrounding HIV. According to HIV.gov, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks cells in the body that help fight infection, making a person more susceptible to other infections and diseases. Currently, there is no cure for HIV, but it can be controlled with treatment. AIDS is the late stage of HIV infection that occurs when the body’s immune system is badly damaged due to the virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2020, 30,635 people received an HIV diagnosis. Through his activism on Instagram, Orozco hopes to encourage others diagnosed with HIV to live more authentically. “What inspires me to keep advocating for my community, which includes people from all walks of life living with HIV, is to bring visibility to folks like myself, even people who may not be public with their status,” Orozco said. Humberto Orozco at the AIDS Walk Atlanta 5K. Courtesy of Humberto Orozco. Orozco understands firsthand the difficulties of disclosing one’s status. “I remember feeling so invisible because I couldn’t share the things I was doing for this type of work, like HIV activism. I felt held back and I couldn’t be myself in front of people that cared about me,” Orozco recalled. The courage to open up to his family came to him just over one year ago. “I think I had, like, a newspaper article [with me] – in fact, there was an article that featured me talking about some of the work I had done at a nonprofit organization related to HIV – so I brought up the paper, I opened it up, and I told my parents,” Orozco recalled. “I blurted it out and I was expecting so much pushback…but what I got was an outpouring of support from my parents, and that’s really all that mattered in the end. I wanted to be sure that they saw me for everything that I am.” “It was then that I realized how much walking around with this secret about my status weighed on me and how much lighter I felt,” Orozco said. Although Orozco is now public about his diagnosis, he believes that people living with HIV still deserve autonomy. “I would tell them that they don’t need to conform to any expectations about coming out or being public about their status, it’s a personal decision and they should do it when they feel ready,” he said. Due to the stigma surrounding HIV, many people living with it feel ashamed. The myriad of misconceptions associated with HIV contributes significantly to this stigma, highlighting the need for advocates who can debunk such myths. In the workplace, Orozco educates others about clinical research on sexual health and HIV. “Unfortunately some of the stigma that is still out there is based on a ton of myths, like one, I admit I still had when I was diagnosed, and that is that HIV is a death sentence,” Orozco said. “Early on in the epidemic, there were a lot of folks who died due to AIDS-related complications, but that is no longer the case. If people start treatment early on, they can live a full life without any impediments.” According to the CDC, death rates among people with HIV decreased by about 37 percent from 2010 to 2018. Orozco also notes that strides are being made in HIV vaccine trials and developing a cure. Humberto Orozco. Courtesy of Humberto Orozco. Other HIV myths perpetuate social stigma. For example, the idea that HIV only affects gay men; “It’s been known that HIV affects anyone, regardless of sexual orientation,” Orozco said. Although HIV affects all races and ethnicities, it disproportionately impacts minorities, including the Latinx community, of which Orozco is a member. “There’s still a ton of shame attached to it and people are not having conversations about ways to prevent HIV, or just HIV period,” Orozco said. “People’s lack of information goes back to just not having open conversations about sexuality because it is very taboo in the Latinx community to even bring up that topic.” In addition to using his platform to facilitate open conversations and empower individuals living with HIV, Orozco also hopes that those without HIV can learn from his platform–for them to see people like him as equals or simply “human beings.” “I want people to leave [my platform] more well informed about HIV, and be empowered to stop stigma when they see it. So those are the big three: education, empathy, and empowerment,” he shared. “I think people need to understand that we all have intersectional identities and one identity doesn’t necessarily define us. I’m an immigrant, Latino, gay person who happens to be living with HIV. So I try to share some of my everyday…just living my life,” Orozco said. Humberto Orozco at the AIDS 2022 Conference. Courtesy of Humberto Orozco. “HIV is not all-consuming,” Orozco stated. “The key to not just surviving but thriving is to feel seen and empowered to live your own life without any limitations based on a status…It’s not going to stop me from living my life… I feel it’s important to remind people that [HIV is] not a wall, it’s just a roadblock that we can get through, and we can still achieve all the goals we’ve set out for ourselves.” To support Orozco, check out his Instagram and Linktree. Every December 1, the U.S. Government commemorates World AIDS Day by reflecting on its response to the global fight against HIV/AIDS and honoring the millions of people who have died of AIDS-related illness worldwide. To learn more about World AIDS Day and be a part of the fight against HIV/AIDS, click here.

Drop Knowledge on Improving Mental Health As a teenager, Jarred Denzel Keller knew he struggled with mental illness–but never truly opened up about it since the term “mental health” was highly stigmatized, or even unheard of by many When Keller was 31, he received a phone call and was told his former roommate took his own life– that was the moment that Keller realized he needed to speak up Since then, Keller has become a dedicated mental health advocate, using his social media platforms to create conversations, share personal experiences that make others struggling feel less alone, and encourage them to keep pushing forward 9-Minutes Read By Kina Velasco | WeINSPIRE Journalist SAN FRANCISCO, California – Imagine sharing an apartment with the same friend for three years and seeing the same face everyday, three years of daily goodbyes, hellos, and all the laughs and late-night conversations. That’s what Jarred Keller’s life was like, until he and his roommate moved out of their New York City apartment. Just three weeks after the two parted ways–Keller heading to Washington D.C., his roommate to Atlanta–Keller received a phone call saying that his roommate, a flight attendant at the time, took his own life during a layover due to mental illness. “When you’re seeing people like my friend who are seemingly fine, take their own lives, you can’t ignore a person like that, who was fine on their day to day, then one day you get a call they’re no longer alive—you need to do something about it,” Keller said. While Keller always knew he struggled with mental illness growing up, he never spoke up until his friend's passing. “That’s what really propelled me,” Keller said. “After he died, I felt like I had to do something, I couldn’t just keep quiet anymore. His death shook me up and made me feel like [I needed] to do more.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year, and more than 50 percent will be diagnosed with a mental illness at some point in their life. Keller has been part of a movement that changes the narrative around mental health–de-stigmatizing it and directing public attention towards the need for more accessible services to prevent further tragedies, while showing us that you can thrive with mental illness. Keller felt that sharing his own story and mental health journey via social media might just be enough to get others to seek help for themselves and prevent tragedies from happening. “I was trying to find something good out of something really sad,” he said. Keller uses his Instagram and TikTok to get people talking about mental health and ultimately normalize it. Since being open about his journey online, Keller has noticed that almost everyone is going through similar experiences, yet the stigma of mental health remains. “I’ll have ten people come tell me the exact same story, and it’s like, we are all going through these things but acting like we’re not - so we can’t bond or have that human connection, because we’re trying to keep up this facade of perfection. If we just let that down, we could support each other more,” Keller explained. What exactly makes Keller’s content so memorable? He is known for posting videos of himself holding up signs with comforting phrases or quotes. Also, he shares videos that offer insightful advice yet incorporate humor to make them more digestible for audiences–through this, Keller is honest, relatable, and able to promote positivity. “It can be tough to balance between something serious and humorous, but I know for me, a coping mechanism has been trying to find humor or something beautiful in something that is sad or super serious. When you come to my page, I don’t want you to leave feeling depressed,” Keller said. Highly recognized for his unique perspective on vulnerability, Keller’s Instagram bio highlights that “There is strength in vulnerability”, despite this idea often being dismissed. “I remember when I first started doing these videos, I would post and put my phone away because I didn’t want to see what people were gonna say about me; I thought they were just gonna rip me apart. But that’s when I started realizing there is a strength in this. You’re doing something that most people will never do…getting on social media and telling the world, it takes a lot to do,” Keller explained. Keller’s work doesn’t go unnoticed. For example, he recently posted a video on Instagram discussing the difficulties of depression, which received ample positive feedback. One user applauded him for “being so open and sharing” and “helping so many people”, while another commented; “You don’t know how relatable this post was for me! The crazy thing is I needed to see this today. This helped me realize I’m not alone in this fight.” While Keller makes sure people know him as “just a normal guy”, he gets recognized and praised by strangers who’ve seen his content on the street or at a local bar. What Keller has found most rewarding thus far has been his recent experience with a family member who watches his videos. “I had a family member, who I held in very high regard, come to me a few months ago and say [they had been taking] depression medication for over ten years. I had no clue that they dealt with that, even in the slightest, because they were the epitome of strong,” Keller said. “That was a moment where I was like, ‘Oh wow, this really is helping people feel a little bit better’ about what they’re going through.” While Keller’s work facilitates open conversations about mental health, improving access to mental health services for all remains a large issue. He says that marginalized groups are already enduring considerable trauma, only exacerbated by their inability to access adequate help. Keller hopes that, once mental health becomes more normalized, this will put pressure on systems and institutions to understand the magnitude of the issue and work on making mental health care more accessible. As a gay, Black man, Keller advocates for the social groups of his peers. “I try to embody a spirit of positivity and champion for the communities I exist within because a lot of times they don’t have anybody speaking for them, or they have people who are actively trying to pull them down,” he said. Despite struggling with his own issues, Keller is still able to spread joy and push forward. Keller’s growing platform is a testament to how much his work resonates with others–and how needed people like him are when striving for a happier, healthier world. If you need suicide or mental health-related crisis support, or are worried about someone else, please call or text 988 or visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s chat to connect with a trained crisis counselor. Jarred Keller. Courtesy of Jarred Keller.

By Grace Sarkisian | WeINSPIRE Journalist TAMPA, Florida - It is rare to find a correlation between college football and mental health advocacy, but former Winston-Salem State University football player Shaun Andrews defied these odds. Andrews can be described as an educator, an entrepreneur, an advocate for mental health, and a start-up founder and father. Andrews is currently creating and editing an app for those suffering from mental health illnesses. Shaun Andrews. Courtesy of Shaun Andrews. “I am the founder of a company called Mind HAC, and basically, we are like Spotify for mental health. I created an app where an individual will register, and we ask them a few questions about what is going on with them, and then we curate playlists specific to what you are dealing with,” Andrews said. The app's contents focus specifically on stress, depression, and anxiety. These contents are layered on top of the music, then layered on top of binaural waves meant to calm the mind. The app is targeted toward those as young as children in kindergarten and those as old as young adults in college. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 6 U.S. adolescents (aged 12-17) experienced a major depressive episode in 2020, and 17% of adolescents (6-17 years old) experience a mental health disorder. “It allows young people to start getting help on their own terms,” Andrews said. Courtesy of Mind HAC Website. It was not until Andrews went through a rough patch himself after feeling stuck in a job he detested postgraduate school that he recognized the significance of advocating for mental health. “The only thing that lifted my spirits was every morning I would wake up, get on YouTube, and I would look up motivational speeches, I would look up music that uplifted me, and things that would calm my mind during the day. It worked, but what I noticed was after about three months, it was really repetitive,” Andrews said. After realizing there was nothing on the market for those with a mental illness regarding customized content serving as an aid for mental health, Andrews decided to leave corporate America and create it himself. In the early days of app development, after gathering the realities and statistics of mental health, Andrews started researching the root of the problem and became a teacher at a Title I school to see the effects of bullying and other youth-related traumas. As Andrews began editing and progressing his app as an educator, he utilized it as a behavioral management tool in the classroom. Andrews also created content for the other teachers he worked with to understand better how the app could be used. Shaun Andrews. Courtesy of Axios Charlotte. “One of the things that I took notice of was, one, that it was outside of the traditional hours of therapy and, two, they were accessing these different channels and I could tell what was going on with each specific person based on their listening patterns,” Andrews said. This led to Andrews looking at how he could develop analytical models around an individual’s listening history to create more laser-focused content to adhere to what the listeners are going through. Andrews now has engaged in a partnership with the Neuroscience Department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where they will study the impacts of the human brain while utilizing the app. The concentration of this study will be on student populations from middle school to college-aged students. Also, Andrews has recently attained another partnership with the University of Louisville to create a research study that analyzes how the app impacts individuals in high-trauma and high-crime neighborhoods. Shaun Andrews. Courtesy of Creative Loafing Charlotte. Apart from the app, Andrews also associates with mental health agencies and is currently working to utilize the app within these youth trauma groups he is serving. Specifically, Andrews has a partnership with The Association of Black Psychologists, where they create content specific to minority groups, for instance, a person of color who encounters micro-aggressions, because traditional forms of psychology are not built around this mindset. “I always tell people just live your life, seek your passion, and just build your life around that, and everything else will fall into place,” Andrews said. You can visit his website here to learn more about Shaun and his mental health advocacy and app design.

Nelly Cheboi always wondered what the world was like outside her village in Mogotio, Kenya Cheboi took her education seriously and earned a college scholarship in the United States—where she was introduced to the power of technology Cheboi went from not knowing how to type on a computer, to becoming a software engineer and founder TechLit Africa, which gives students in rural Kenya access to technology and digital skills from an early age, so they can receive greater opportunities and live better lives 8-Minutes Read By Kina Velasco | WeINSPIRE Journalist SAN FRANCISCO, California - It is impossible to tell what the future holds. For Nelly Cheboi, the future was guided by her childhood dreams of wanting to change the lives of those around her; little did she know that technology would become the gateway for such change. A native of Mogotio, Kenya, Nelly Cheboi grew up in a tin roof house, walked to school barefoot everyday, and went to bed hungry every night–something not uncommon for those in her community. “I used to lay on the floor and look at the light bouncing around, and think of what I could do,” Cheboi recalled. “I was thinking about building estates to fix housing for everyone and help give loans to people for their businesses, and I was only 11.” Nelly Cheboi. Courtesy of TechLit Africa. Cheboi says that there is an astounding lack of upward mobility in Kenya. “Someone who had a business selling tomatoes while I was in my second grade is still doing that now,” Cheboi, now 29 years old, said. She explained that locals use their profits to support the community at large, not just their families, making it much harder for businesses to develop. Cheboi worked very hard in school, always aspiring to be able to take care of her family and lift her community out of poverty. Cheboi’s ambition and unparalleled work ethic ultimately earned her a full-ride college scholarship at Augustana College in Illinois. “When I was growing up in the village, I was constantly thinking, ‘What is life like out there?’ ‘Does every kid have to worry about food and raising their little sister?’ When I got to America, it was really eye-opening. I saw the abundance,” Cheboi recalled. In the United States, Cheboi was introduced to the world of technology. She recalls having consumed plenty of books growing up, but didn’t know a thing about computers. If given a ten page paper in college, Cheboi would choose to handwrite it because she typed too slowly. It was only in Cheboi’s third year of college that she stumbled across computer science - a subject she was fascinated by, but undoubtedly required her to understand technology. Even after college, Cheboi had to spend six months practicing how to type to get a job as an engineer, where she learned how technology could serve the economy. Cheboi realized that, in order to fix the systems in Kenya that kept people in a cycle of poverty, she could encourage her community to work online. That then became the motivation for TechLit Africa. Founded in 2018, TechLit Africa, short for Technologically Literate Africa, is Cheboi’s nonprofit organization that provides students in rural Kenya with access to technology and the ability to learn fundamental digital skills. Computers are donated, transported to Kenya, then refurbished locally. TechLit Africa provides the computers and curriculum to schools, while the schools provide the actual rooms for students to learn in. Schools and parents cover for the costs of local operations, which helps keep the project sustainable. Nelly Cheboi. Courtesy of TechLit Africa. Students are taught three main skills: self-efficacy, troubleshooting and internet skills. Self-efficacy teaches children that they can be whoever they want to be; troubleshooting helps them solve any tech problems they run into; internet skills teach students how to communicate online, market themselves and be safe on the internet. Cheboi wants children to gain intrinsic motivation through the program by having them work with passionate specialists. For example, a specialist teaching audio production would also be a music artist. Students learn that the subject can be fun and enjoyable, while also understanding how it can translate into a career. Although educators are mainly locals, children can learn from international specialists too. Recently, students were able to speak to NASA interns through Zoom. Kids asked questions like, “Can a kid go to space?” and “Can I call my parents in space?” After learning about NASA, one student told Cheboi that when he grows up, he is going to buy his own rocket and fly to space. “What I like about projects like that is that it really opens up their world,” Cheboi said. “What I would’ve given for me to have that as a kid…it’s so empowering, and to think about what their life is going to be like because they have access to all this - that really is so wonderful.” TechLit Africa students. Courtesy of TechLit Africa. Students do not limit their new learning to themselves - Cheboi also shared that an 8-year-old girl is currently teaching her mother how to touch-type, a skill she developed through TechLit Africa. Cheboi marvels at how children from her own community will no longer have to go through the same hardships she did of breaking into the tech world with zero knowledge, and they can learn invaluable digital skills from an early age. Today, Cheboi is working on ensuring TechLit Africa remains sustainable, especially in terms of funding. She says that TechLit Africa’s programs are the highlight of students’ days - but it is difficult to convince parents, teachers and the county government of the relevance of the digital economy and how technology can financially support people. Despite these challenges, Cheboi continues to speak to as many school heads as possible and mobilize parents to keep TechLit Africa going. Her next milestone is to work with 100 more schools. “In a way, [TechLit Africa] is a way to connect two worlds - kids interact, ask questions and imagine what life is like out there while understanding the value of the internet,” Cheboi said. In doing so, kids unlock global opportunities - and a second chance at a more fulfilling life. TechLit Africa students. Courtesy of TechLit Africa. Now a 2022 CNN Hero and Forbes 30 under 30 member, it is an understatement to say that Cheboi has come far from her roots in Mogotio. One thing that keeps her going is looking back at where she came from, and she encourages others to do the same. “It’s very easy to look at where you need to be and get discouraged. Instead of looking ahead, look at how much progress you’ve made - progress is intoxicating.” Keep up with Cheboi via her LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.

By: Alyssa Hernandez | WeINSPIRE Journalist PEMBROKE, N.C. — Imani Vanzap, also known as social media’s number one auntie, is spreading love and positivity through her platform and merchandise line, BECOME! Vanzap accentuates whatever she says by clacking her fan, which is a part of her BECOME merchandise line. “Entrepreneurialism has always been a part of me. I've always sold things and you know. When I was in grade school and they gave you the order forms and you sold candy for school, I was always like one of the top sellers. I just love business and I love being able to create your own footprint in the world by way of providing a service or good or an act,” Vanzap said excitedly. She believes that business should make the world a better place. Though Vanzap has tried many platforms over the years, including Myspace, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat, she has found her most overall success on TikTok with 871.2K current followers. “Like any app, you know there are gonna be things you love about the app and you hate about the app, but I will say by and large that app was my saving grace,” Vanzap said with admiration. Vanzap describes herself as a very “in the moment” type of person. She loves to share her life through social media! She started a show on Instagram called Imani Vanzap Conversations, in which she would talk and connect with other people. However, she plans to change the show’s name in the future. “As a working title, it was called Imani Vanzap Conversations and that was really, honestly, I would say on Instagram where I kind of tried to make a move on Instagram because people were looking for a way out [from distress],” Vanzap said. Imani Vanzap. Courtesy of Chelsee Rice, Vanzap’s administrative assistant. Vanzap calls her haters mosquitos. She emphasizes to her viewers: “Don’t listen to the MOSQUITOS!” She also offers other advice for those looking to start a business or get into social media. Imani Vanzap. Courtesy of Chelsee Rice, Vanzap’s administrative assistant. One piece of advice she had was entertaining an audience of one, which means acknowledging each of your fans as individual people rather than an audience as a whole. Other advice included staying true to yourself and tapping into your childhood because everyone had one. She also had something to say about ideas people may have when starting a business. “You are going to have more ideas that fail before you get to the one that works,” Vanzap said thoughtfully. Vanzap explained how it took her 20 years to get where she is now! She shared how she tried starting many businesses before her BECOME line. She described the journey with a metaphor of mountains and valleys by saying, “The goal is to avoid the valleys.” Vanzap shared she created her brand by “having an ear towards her audience” and seeing what they are receptive to. The reason the line is just called BECOME is that Vanzap feels by adding another word it would make her audience too niche. She feels BECOME can be different for everyone so adding a word after it would take away this factor. Her BECOME line has t-shirt sizes all the way up to a 4XL because she believes everyone should be included in the BECOME brand! Hoodies currently are available up to a 2XL. The BECOME line also sells travel bags, pens and tumblers. Auntie also has a Cameo-like service called Auntie’s Touch. She recently had a guest appearance on Fox Soul’s show “The House”. Vanzap is signed to Music Plant Records and has new music coming soon. One thing Vanzap wants people to know is the world will give challenges, but it is important to not let those challenges get in the way of a person’s goals. “When the world tells you no, you have to make your own yes,” Vanzap said very passionately! To keep up with Vanzap, follow her on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter! Also, check out her website! Watch Interview Here

By Alyssa Hernandez | WeINSPIRE Journalist PEMBROKE, N.C. - According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), researchers estimate that about 1 in every 1,900 babies is born with a limb reduction defect in the United States. They found some of these babies will be born with both upper and lower limb reduction defects. Meet Jessica Cox who has accomplished so much, despite her limb difference. Cox simply learned how to adjust everyday tasks by using her feet. Cox is a motivational speaker who has spoken in 27 countries. She is also a life coach. She became the first armless pilot as well as the first armless person in the history of the American Taekwondo Association. Jessica Cox sitting on airplane. Courtesy of Patrick Chamberlain. “ Everything I have achieved are opportunities that crossed my path. You know, everyone has opportunities cross their path. I was just the person who always said yes I will do it,” Cox said. The CDC says people with limb differences will face challenges such as difficulties with normal development such as motor skills, needing assistance with daily activities and limitations with certain movements, sports, or activities. In addition, they may face potential and social issues because of appearance. Because Cox did not want anyone to feel alone like she did, she founded the Rightfooted International Foundation, a nonprofit about advocacy, mentoring, education and inspiration. “I growing up without arms and thought I was the only one in the world without arms; then I met one other person like me. She changed my life because I was like, “Oh my god, there are other people like me.”That feeling of not being the only one can do a number on someone who feels isolated. I realized that a sense of community is what I want to give others who feel isolated,” Cox shared. Cox also shared that it took her years to accept who she truly was. She explained her family helped her by just being there for her and reminding her she could do anything. She specifically mentioned how her mom helped her by putting her in martial arts. Jessica Cox with nunchunks. Courtesy of Patrick Chamberlain. “ I did face a lot of emotional challenges. I know it sounds like, “Oh, it must be hard to do anything physically with no arms.” In reality, it is more of the emotional challenges of being different, being the only one who is different, and always getting attention because of it,” Cox said. When Cox was in high school, she was presented with the opportunity to speak to a group of seventh-graders about her story. She said yes and this started her interest in becoming a motivational speaker. Cox made the decision in college to become a motivational speaker before starting her foundation. In the future, she hopes to hold hybrid events where people can talk and hang out. Courtesy of Patrick Chamberlain. To keep up with Cox go to her website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Linkedin.

by Alyssa Hernandez | WeINSPIRE Journalist PEMBROKE, N.C. - Jason Linton is on a mission to spread positive vibes through sharing his family’s story all over social media. He and his wife started out as foster to adopt parents and are now adoptive parents to three kids. Over a span of a few years, they had fostered 11 children. To make these children feel comfortable in their new space, Linton always asked what kind of music they liked. “I always wanted to be around music since I was a little kid. My mom tells me when I was in the tummy, she used to strum a guitar over her tummy because she wanted her son to be a musician,” Linton said. Jason Linton TikTok’s wholesome musical dad. Courtesy of Jason Linton. Linton’s interest in music also comes from his father. He shared how his dad would take him to the music store every Saturday when he was a child. Linton said he would miss Saturday morning cartoons to “play on a keyboard he knew he could never afford.” Another memory Linton has is of his father’s record collection. “One thing he always did around Christmas time. He would take us all down to the living room and he had a precious record collection. He would take it out, show me how to clean his record and how to prepare it. I would clean it with this felt cloth. His music was everything to him, so I better not scratch these records,” Linton said. He has incorporated this into his family now, starting with asking the children he fosters what kind of music they like when they walk through the door. Although he and his wife are no longer fostering, they still incorporate music into the home with their three children. Each of his children has shown an interest in something music-related. The oldest Harper is a dancer, Chris is a singer, and the youngest Lillian is a performer. Linton shared his son Chris had no language when he entered the home. He said Chris was a “singer before he could talk.” Chris Jason’s son who was a singer before he could talk. Courtesy of Jason Linton. Prior to doing TikTok, Linton wanted to be a worldwide music producer. Instead, music found him after quitting his job as a special education teacher because of the pandemic. His son has medical needs, so Linton decided it would be better to keep him home. Linton said he was luckily able to support his family through creating content on TikTok. Linton wants people to feel accepted both on and offline. He said people share their stories through his social media about feeling as though they are connecting with a lost family member or how his content gives them serotonin. “ The whole reason for doing this is, so people do not feel alone,” Linton said. Offline he feels he spreads positivity and acceptance in the way he speaks to people and by seeing people the way they want to be seen. With his kids, this is done by fostering who they are as people. He discussed how his daughters have become more confident since entering the home and how his son went from having no language to now roasting Linton. While Linton can see the impact he and his wife have made on his kids, he feels they have changed him just as much. “ I feel like I had to be in control of a lot of things before fostering. Our kids showed me I don’t have control over anything. It’s humbling,” Linton said. He explained when someone is shown they do not have control, there are two options to try: reestablish control or “to follow within that loss of control and let people be who they are.” To keep up with Linton’s journey, you can follow his TikTok and Instagram.

by Destany Fuller | WeINSPIRE Journalist SAN MARCOS, Texas – There’s a timeless saying: ‘everything happens for a reason.’ Dr. Chelsey Green and her accomplishments thus far are the perfect embodiment of that statement. Green is a musician, educator and pioneer working towards changing the standard of what’s expected from string instruments. Green is a native of Houston, Texas, whose musical destiny was determined for her in the womb. Green says that her mother declared her a string player before she was even born, but her musical career didn’t start until she was 4 years old. Young Chelsey Green playing her instrument. Courtesy of Chelsey Green. “I have a family of musicians, and there were no string players,” Green explained. “My mom was like ‘she's going to be our violinist,’ and I started taking lessons when I was 4 years old. It was something that, when I was introduced to it, I really enjoyed it.” Since the start of Green’s career, she’s continuously added to her list of accomplishments. She performed at Carnegie Hall at only 16 years old and has shared multiple stages with numerous international artists, including Stevie Wonder, Kirk Franklin, Lizzo and many others. Green is also decorated academically with bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in musical areas. With these degrees, she has used her knowledge to educate others as an Associate String Professor at Berklee College of Music. Green says she doesn’t take that responsibility lightly. “When I was presented with the opportunity, it was bigger than me,” Green said. “I don’t feel like it’s about me. I feel like it’s about the fact that this opportunity has been afforded to me to be a black woman string professor. I can count the [number] of black string professors on my hands and still have fingers left.” One of the biggest items on Green’s list of accomplishments is her founding of Chelsey Green and the Green Project, a group whose mission is to break down stereotypes within music by using classical instruments to play various genres. “Part of the Green Project for me is just allowing people to enjoy music,” Green shared. “We’re living in such a time; it’s almost like there’s a thirst for being able to relax… part of [the group] is just to show that there’s no ‘one way’ to do anything. You can put your own spin on it, you can make it whatever you want it to be. There’s no box to be conformed [to].” Chelsey Green and The Green Project performing. Courtesy of Chelsey Green. The group has performed around the world, released music on multiple platforms and even offers educational music programs to people of all ages and musical backgrounds. Forming the group was never something that Green had on her agenda. Actually, a group that has made such a statement in the music world only came together after a failed date 11 years ago. “I got stood up for a date one night,” Green explained. “I was all dressed up, I had just come from a gig, I had my viola with me… I showed up to the venue, he was a no-show. Here I was sitting there… like ‘this is not going to pan out’, so instead of wallowing in that I found my way next-door to a venue that was hosting an open mic.” From there, Green was called on-stage to perform by the DJ, who mistook her viola for a saxophone. She then began to improvise over an instrumental of Kanye West’s “Flashing Lights”. Following her performance, conversations between an eavesdropping stranger, Green and the venue owner are truly what opened the door for the creation of The Green Project. “The owner of the lounge came out of the kitchen, listened, and, after I played, asked me to come back that weekend with my band,” Green said. “My band never existed. That was something that did not exist before that moment… Randomly, there was a woman sitting at the table behind me who overheard the conversation between myself and the lounge owner. She just happened to know the entirety of Dru Hill’s touring band.” The woman then stepped in and assured the lounge owner that Green had a band and they’d be joining her Saturday night. After a few calls, that promise was fulfilled. Once the performance was over, Green realized how much she’d enjoyed performing in that capacity. After Dru Hill’s band was gone, she decided to continue with what they started. From there, she held auditions for the band, received a residency at a lounge and the Green Project was born. Green shared how grateful she is for all of the opportunities she’s been presented with over the course of her life and career and hopes that her journey can be a precedent for others. She encourages others to identify their dreams and acknowledge their successes. “My hope is that my journey can tell young women, young men, non-binary people, any ethnicity, any color [that] any dream they have is possible,” Green said. “I think so often, we judge success on outcomes. My prayer is that we really start to see success in the journey… that’s really what I pray stays people’s inspiration, that people keep [their] hope alive, that they stay in a place of faith knowing that there is another side.” To keep up with Green’s work or to hear some of her music, visit her website or various social media pages. Watch the Full Interview Here: