Meet Arleeta Outlaw

Arleeta Outlaw was reared in Burke County, Georgia and currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a Georgia Certified Educator with over twenty (20) years of public-school teaching. She has played several different roles in education (e.g., Mentor Teacher, Master Teacher training College students, Grade Level Leader (4 years), Hiring Team, Club Sponsor, School Council (2 years), etc.). Her performance in these roles earned her “Teacher of the Month” and a slew of other prominent accolades.

Another noteworthy hat she wears is that of an Entrepreneur. In fact, she owns and operates two businesses; one geared towards education, Eagle Academics, LLC, that can be found on Facebook and Instagram at @eagleacademics. It offers individualized enrichment and remedial tutoring sessions for elementary, middle, and high school students, online via ZOOM, for the convenience of families. Preparation for the SAT is also available as well as best educational practices for parents to equip them with the tools needed to effectively assist their kids while at home. She is also the sole proprietor of a wellness business which she has run for over five years, Lipstick Inc. Products and other information can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at Lipstick Inc as well as https://bellame.com/lipstickinc .

Arleeta is always on the go, but her daily motivation derives from her four children and her relationship with God. She wakes each day with a grateful heart and a desire to be a blessing to someone. She starts with a prayer, listens to a sermon, drinks her herbal tea while listening to Gospel music. She enjoys spending as much time as possible with her children due to the amazingly close bond they share! She loves to cook, and recently, developed a love for painting and gardening. In addition, she loves reading and journaling, inasmuch, she aspires to add the title of Author to her list of titles. She also desires to complete her doctoral studies in Education.

She has traveled to Jamaica on a mission which afforded her the opportunity to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Middle School students. The summer of 2019, she and her children were blessed to travel to Alaska on another grand mission. Their travels have taken them to and through multiple states. Arleeta has earned a Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Augusta State University, a Masters of Education in Instructional Technology from Troy State University, as well as an Educational Specialist in Reading from Nova South Eastern University.

Meet Jason Riggins

Jason “Jay Boogie” Riggins is a native of Chicago, IL. He left the Windy City in after high school to enlist in the United States Air Force. Jason was fortunate enough to travel the world while serving his country. He lived in places like Japan, Baghdad, Turkey, England, Germany, Italy, Kuwait, and many more. Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB) in South Dakota was his first duty station. However, his second one, Robins, AFB in Warner Robins, GA, would be his most memorable. Robins is where he had to cope with the loss of his mother. Jason once stated, “I had to grow up fast after my Mother passed.” He cultivated what turned out be many lifelong friendships as he grew even stronger. Jason became a member of a rap group alongside Michael McDonald (also known as Malice Black) where they recorded a song about his mother and Michael’s grandmother. Perhaps, the greatest memory of Robins was meeting his soulmate, Daydra, who would soon become his wife and best friend.

Jason recently retired from the Air Force and currently lives in Little Elm, TX. Soaking up the retired life, he spends the bulk of his time with Daydra. You can find them out painting their town, traveling beyond their local region, or even having their own dance parties, as Jason is a seasoned disc jockey. He is writing when he is not engaging with his wife. In fact, Jason is a published Author. In 2016, his first book, “What A Man Really Wants To Say…About Relationships” was published, and can be purchased on Amazon, which he dedicated to the memory of JoAnn Marie Riggins, his Mother, Mentor, Motivator, and Angel. His second book should be out by the Fall of 2020. Jason even wrote and published a poem at the age of nine!

In addition to this list of accomplishments, he skillfully secured an acting role as a 50. Cal Gunner in the critically acclaimed movie, “The Lone Survivor”. For fun, Jason studies those entertainers who paved the way and listens to great music. He enjoys playing with his dogs as well as writing books and manuscripts. Jason has amassed a master’s degrees in Criminal Justice and in Business.

Meet Kristle Jones!

Kristle Jones lives in the metro area of Augusta, GA. She grew up just south of Augusta, in Waynesboro, GA, the county seat of Burke County. Kristle has accomplished so much in life, considering her humble beginnings. Doing a lot with a little, amid family and good friends, is what many folks in this part of Georgia experience…a reason why it is such a close-knit community.

Kristle was a top-notch student-athlete in high school and enrolled in college upon graduating. She excelled, but soon found herself not focusing on her studies. She decided to enter the workforce and prospered, due to her exemplary work ethic. Several years later she returned to college where she earned an Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Administration. Aside from having and raising her beautiful daughter, Keira, she says completing her college degree is one of her greatest accomplishments.

Another noteworthy accomplishment is becoming a successful entrepreneur. In 2020, she launched Sunflower Inspiration & Co. She stated, “It was actually a hobby of mine that turned into a business venture with me making all sorts of crafts. Charm bracelets, beaded bracelets, hand soaps, body butter, foot scrubs etc.” Kristle’s life goal is to ultimately work for herself. It appears she is well on her way given the experience, knowledge, skills, and other abilities, she’s amassed over the years.

For the last five years or so, Kristle has worked as a Client Services Professional for a major human resources management software and services provider. She is a woman of tremendous faith that she nurtures on the daily. Taking long walks, meditating, and listening to various music are some of the things she does for motivation and inspiration. Kristle enjoys frequent conversations with her mom, family gatherings, making her crafts, traveling, and exploring new foods.

Meet LA Ticia Sunshine Wilson

La Ticia Wilson was born in the Wilshire District of Los Angeles, CA, but spent a significant amount of time growing up in the infamous South-Central L.A. She currently resides in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Army combat veteran enlisted in the hospitality specialty (92G). She entered the Federal Government as a Presidential Management Fellow at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. She has rose to become a Division Director. Here, she leverages her knowledge and previous experiences to help lead her organization to the next level. She touts her ability to effectively collaborate, formal education, and her go-getter attitude to get the tough assignments accomplished.

Before starting work, she usually spends at the least fifteen (15) minutes reading quotes about life and writing her reflections. Speaking of which, she’s a seasoned creative writer and has been the Chief Executive Officer of “Imagine It! Creative Writing Services, LLC. When she is not hard at work transforming ideas into action, she is enjoying a fresh cup of coffee, a white and yellow candle, and to gather her thoughts…planning her next move(s). Waking up in silence sets the stage to tackle her day and what is to come.

Her greatest motivation is out doing herself! It is not that she is never satisfied, she simply strives to be better, and get better, every day. Pushing herself to uncomfortable spaces to learn new things about herself is one of the ultimate goals. Growing spiritually and professionally is a critical part of the grand plan. La Ticia has traveled to Africa, The Middle East, the Caribbean and throughout Europe. La Ticia states, “I like to self-express so you can find me singing Karaoke, dancing, writing and my most coveted time is being by myself.” Creating and recording spoken word poetry on Soundcloud is another favorite pastime as well.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Theater with Minor in Telecommunications from “her” beloved Historically Black College & University (HBCU), Fayetteville State University as well as an MBA with a focus in Marketing. Visit www.laticiasunshine.com to find out even more about this dynamic woman.

Who is Michael "Big Mike" McDonald?

Michael “Big Mike” McDonald is from Mobile, AL and now lives in Atlanta, GA with his lovely wife, Amber. He usually kicks his day off engaging in discussions with his wife over a robust cup of coffee. An Air Force veteran, standing over 6’5, Big Mike is an opposing figure by many. However, his seemingly menacing size isn’t what keeps your attention once you get beyond his shadow. One of Big Mike’s God-given talents is his relatability. He has a natural ability to engage with anyone on a multitude of topics which bodes well with how he spends a lot of his time.

He is currently a respected podcaster and budding entrepreneur. You may have heard of his podcast, “The Big Mike Drop”, if you haven’t, you really need to check it out! It’s a social activism podcast he created in 2019. Its mission is to be the number one source of honest, fair, and reliable commentary on the issues that face the Black community today. His love for history and social studies, equips him quite well for tackling the tough societal issues of today during his shows. We’d definitely better watch out once he completes his bachelor’s degree in sociology because he’s already a force to be reckoned with.

Big Mike has traveled to Jamaica, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Sicily, Ireland, England, and to over twenty states. He enjoys shooting guns, recording his very own raps, listening to podcasts, reading, and helping to nurture his son, Che. Lastly, he relishes quality time with his Mom, along with the rest of the family, but his greatest motivation comes from his beloved late Grandmother.