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Ava Robinson

Ava's creativity shines through her articles that spotlight young entrepreneurs in the fashion and creative industries. From fashion designers to art startups, she celebrates the visionaries making waves in artistic entrepreneurship.

Black Pilot
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Black Pilot Makes History by Opening a New Aviation Training School in Florida

by Ava Robinson
written by Ava Robinson

Captain Barrington Irving, who at 23 became the first black and youngest pilot to fly solo around the world, founded the Barrington Irving Technical Training School in Miami, Florida. He wants to equip future pilots through the school with the knowledge and abilities necessary to succeed in the aviation business, especially those who identify as persons of color.

Irving has established a professional and technical training facility in South Florida for 2022, working with industry and community partners, including NBAA, Miami-Dade County, the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, Atlantic Aviation, and Bombardier along the way.

The aim is to create a varied pool of students with an emphasis on several business aviation disciplines from local, national, and international backgrounds. The center offers cutting-edge courses, innovative teaching methods, and specific technical and professional certificates.

Irving was pleased to announce that fifteen people had graduated from his training program in its inaugural year. Every graduate in the class could find employment in the aviation industry. Irving saw great significance in the event, which took place at Miami’s Opa-Locka Airport—the site of his flying career.

Irving told News 7 Miami, “I am so proud of them and to know where they started from.” “I started at Opa-Locka Airport. These youths are signing with local businesses that pledge to “give you a chance and an opportunity to flourish within our industry,” among other things.

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Black Special Education
YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

A Black Special Education Student Who Graduated With a 1.8 GPA is Now a Best-Selling Author and Therapist

by Ava Robinson
written by Ava Robinson

Following his graduation from high school with a grade point average of 1.8 and seven years of experience working in special education, Ronnie Sidney, II, is now a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), therapist, author of best-selling books, and business owner. Even though he was classified as an African-American student with cognitive difficulties, he completed his studies at Old Dominion University. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services in 2006. He graduated with a Master of Social Work degree from the School of Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2014.

Currently, Sidney is an entrepreneur and a best-selling author who has won several awards. Nelson Beats the Odds is a semiautobiographical comic book published in 2015. It is a bestseller on Amazon and tells the story of a young guy who fights with the embarrassment of being placed in special education. In addition, he published another book that was quite successful and was titled Tameka’s New Dress. This book discusses issues like bullying, kinship care, parental substance misuse, and childhood trauma in a way that is delicate enough for even the most minor children to understand.

The Darden Award is a distinguished award presented to Darden College of Education alums who have made outstanding achievements. 2017 Old Dominion University awarded Sidney the Darden Award for his extraordinary efforts. In 2020, Sidney appeared in the Virginia Commonwealth University magazine Shafer Court Connections. Additionally, he was one of the 200 university graduates included in The Power Issue, which celebrated alums who had inspired others.

Sidney’s difficulties in his early academic career sparked a yearning to pursue social justice and help young people from inner cities. Throughout his career, he has worked in the disciplines of academic counseling and mental health counseling for more than fifteen years.

Beyond his professional and academic life, Sidney is a devoted husband and the father of four wonderful children. He is also a successful businessman. In addition, he is a member of several boards, one of which is the advisory board for the Center on Transition Innovations (VCU-CTI) at Virginia Commonwealth University. This organization disseminates data and materials backed up by research and cutting-edge techniques in the field. The Essex County Economic Development Authority and the Essex Youth Football Association both count him as an active member of their respective organizations.

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Nigerian Entrepreneur
YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

Meet the Nigerian Entrepreneur Who Creates Dark Skin Prosthetics For Black Amputees

by Ava Robinson
written by Ava Robinson

A Nigerian entrepreneur and the first African sculptor to specialize in hyperrealistic prostheses for black amputees, John Amanam is the subject of this introduction. To solve the shortage of skin-tone-matching prostheses available on the market, Amanam established his firm, Immortal Cosmetic Art Ltd., with a bachelor’s degree in arts and a personal goal to remedy the issue.

Amanam’s family placed an order for a prosthesis from another country for his brother, who had lost a limb in an accident, but the prosthetic did not match his skin tone. This is where everything began. With his fine and industrial arts degree, Amanam decided to design a prosthetic covering that would be a perfect match for his brother’s dark skin.
Amanam is currently producing flesh coverings for missing body parts, such as ears, noses, fingers, and breast shapes, that are uniquely matched to the color of the skin. This was a personal struggle that she turned into a vocation. Individuals who have suffered the loss of a limb are the target audience for his efforts to offer solace and enhance their sense of respect.

Amanam, who spoke with Afro News, said, “It is important for comfort.” “When you go out there and you find out people are looking at your hand—possibly white on black skin—it could cause discomfort.”

It is a source of pride for Amanam, as they pioneered prosthetics to prioritize hyperrealism. He ensures that each object’s veins and nails are apparent through meticulous sculpting, rendering them indistinguishable from actual anatomical components.

“There’s a difference between something being naturalistic and something being realistic,” according to him. “If you were to look at a leg or a product that had the appearance of a leg, you may state, ‘Yeah, this is a leg.’ However, you may look at the artificial limb and think, “Oh, this might be real.” The distinction lies in the fact that these individuals are unable to discern between those that are real and those that are not real.

According to Amanam, his objective is to broaden the scope of his business and make his products accessible throughout Africa despite the difficulties of satisfying high demand. He emphasizes how important it is for Africans to confront their issues and develop solutions within their parameters.

It is of the utmost importance that we, as Africans, make an effort to investigate our issues. He suggested that we use our intellects and the resources at our disposal to discover a solution to our difficulty. “If the white man would solve your problem, he only did it to suit his own needs and his profit; the African would do it to suit the African society.”

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Joe Robinson
YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

Black Author Releases New Edition of “Think Outside the Cell: An Entrepreneur’s Guide for the Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated”

by Ava Robinson
written by Ava Robinson

Joe Robinson, an author and businessman, has just released a revamped and extended edition of his critically praised book, Think Outside the Cell. Robinson’s goal is to continue his mission of educating those whom the criminal justice system has harmed. When it was initially published, this motivational and educational book pioneered entrepreneurship manuals expressly developed for those who had previously spent time in jail. Including the revolutionary information from the original book and valuable new data and ideas, the most recent version provides a wealth of assistance that will make the route to entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and personal empowerment far simpler and more likely to be successful.

Joe is pushing men and women around the country to take advantage of what many people consider to be inherent entrepreneurial abilities to construct the life they want and break the cycle of recidivism through his initiative known as Think Outside the Cell. This step-by-step guide is packed with straightforward information on a variety of topics, such as how to get other people to embrace your ideas and help launch your business, how to avoid taxes legally, how to establish good credit, and the steps to take to remove occupational restrictions that many states place on convicted felons. Utilizing a customer avatar to zero in on your ideal customer’s aspirations and pain points, making the most of the internet for business, and utilizing social media to establish deeper relationships with both existing and potential customers are some of the topics that are covered in the recently released edition, which contains a wealth of new information.
There is a strong connection between Joe’s life experiences and his love for his cause. He hails from East New York Brooklyn, which was the region most severely impacted by the terrible effects of the crack era during his formative years. He was born and raised in this neighborhood. His exposure to the harsh reality of economic imbalance and the repercussions of financial illiteracy can be attributed to the unstable atmosphere in which he found himself. It also helped him become more resilient.

An event that kindled a great desire to reach out to individuals who find themselves in similar circumstances, contending with a plethora of barriers and challenges following release, was the 25 years of incarceration that he endured. This experience had a tremendous impact on his path. Joe’s unyielding dedication to enhancing the economic well-being of this particular portion of the population is the driving force behind his unrelenting efforts to normalize talk about money.

Joe’s objective is not confined to teaching simple financial principles; instead, it is about assisting individuals in embracing their ambitions by fostering a significant transformation in their mentality around money, cultivating healthy relationships with money, and offering the skills and information necessary to invest intelligently.
Think Outside the Cell has featured the late John C. Whitehead, who held the positions of U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and co-chairman of Goldman Sachs, Steve Mariotti, founder of the highly regarded Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, Wahida Clark, author of urban fiction with millions of copies sold, Julio Medina, founder of Exodus Transitional Community, and others.

Amid renewed attempts to assist formerly jailed individuals, who are disproportionately black and Latino, in successfully reentering society, the publication of Think Outside the Cell brings about this development. As an illustration, the Clean Slate Act recently passed into law in New York, automatically expunges certain convictions once a predetermined amount of time has passed. People who have been jailed in the dozen or so states that have passed such laws now have the opportunity to have a second chance that is more likely to be successful.

The program Think Outside the Cell offers a significant alternative that has the potential to assist in providing these individuals, along with millions of others who have returned home or are making preparations to do so in the future, with the fundamental components that are necessary to develop productive lives.

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Image Credits: Leonardo.Ai (opens in a new window)/
ARTSBUSINESSCULTURE & LIFESTYLE

Sydney-based generative AI art platform Leonardo.Ai raises $31M.

by Ava Robinson
written by Ava Robinson

Situated in Sydney, Australia, Leonardo. AArtificial intelligence is one of the most recent startups in generative artificial intelligence that has successfully attracted capital. Today, the artificial intelligence art production platform that caters to both business customers and individual consumers stated that Blackbird, Side Stage Ventures, Smash Capital, TIRTA Ventures, Gaorong Capital, and Samsung Next were among the investors that contributed to the USD 31 million round. Samsung Next was also one of the investors.

In December of the previous year, the proprietors of Leonardo.AI announced that the platform had reached seven million members, who had created more than 700 million images together. The founders of the platform reported this. The company recently made the business edition available, which allows hosting on a private cloud and includes tools for collaboration. Beginning with the production application programming interface (API), corporate users can develop their technical infrastructure on top of Leonard.Ai’s platform by utilizing the application programming interfaces (APIs) they can access.

Leonardo was developed to appeal to those employed in creative fields such as gaming, advertising, fashion, and architecture as the intended audience. The use of artificial intelligence enables users to modify and develop a large number of assets in the same style, which enables them to be reused. In addition, they can develop and train their models according to the requirements of photo recognition.

Some examples of use cases are storyboards for individuals working in the video production sector and prototypes of characters used in video games. With the introduction of Google Deep Dream, J.J. Fiasson, the firm’s Chief Executive Officer and co-founder, initially became interested in generative artificial intelligence (AI). At his most recent company, Raini Studios, a game studio, he continued his research into generative artificial intelligence.

We started considering the prospect of applying generative artificial intelligence in the content production framework, the first area where we started investigating the possibilities. In the year 2021, it was still early. I stumbled into that network and met a few dedicated AI researchers, now the firm’s co-founders,” he says to TechCrunch. “Despite this, we went down the rabbit hole and played with many of the open-source generative artificial intelligence tools now available.”

The One Leonardo AI team finally broadened the platform to support a wider variety of scenarios, even though their initial intention was to focus on generating game component content. As Fiasson pointed out, “There are a lot of different vertical use cases of the platform, and we’ve built it in a way that supports multiple use cases, and we expect to continue building it in a way that supports multiple use cases.” One of the components of our strategy for moving ahead into the future is to increase the number of business-to-business (B2B) components our platform offers.

Open-source software and hardware were utilized in the construction of Leonardo. After that, artificial intelligence (AI) was taught using synthetic data and data taken from Creative Commons. Specifically, the degree of power users have over their creations sets Leonardo apart; according to Fiasson.AI, it must differentiate itself from other generative artificial intelligence art platforms, such as Adobe Firefly, BlueWillow, and Midjourney. The Live Canvas tool, for example, allows users to enter a text prompt and immediately draw out what they see the finished output to look like. Leonardo, for the entirety of the user’s drawing. Artificial intelligence creates a photorealistic image in real-time, considering both the text and the drawing suggestions.

According to Fiasson, “I believe that control is synonymous with utility,” and he continues. The only thing you are doing when you don’t have as much control is producing appealing images, which is why we consider it fundamental.

Here is Leonardo. Ai will be able to recruit new members of its sales and marketing team owing to the increased money it has received, allowing it to begin expanding its business solution. In addition to this, it plans to grow its engineering personnel at the same time.

Eric Goldberg, an animator and director, said to Reuters at a press preview of the exhibition on Thursday that “the majority of people’s first cinematic experience is typically a Disney movie, and that connects us all in, in a huge, huge way.”

“These characters can remain true and universal for decades,” said Goldberg, who worked on several Disney characters, starting with the Genie in the

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YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

Black Teen Made History When He Became the Youngest Store Owner at a South Carolina Mall

by Ava Robinson
written by Ava Robinson

In 2018, Jordan Jackson, who was just 19 years old, became the youngest business owner in his area when he established his retail store, Birch & Pen, at Northwoods Mall in North Charleston, South Carolina. Currently, he is responsible for organizing several pop-up marketplaces featuring his brand and other local enterprises.

Since he became aware of his aptitude for style and how money came from it, Jackson desired to be a “young boss.” Before opening his shop, he began selling clothing through his online store, where he garnered broad acclaim for his creativity and expertise in the fashion and design industries.
It was first recognized as a clothes and accessories store catering to men’s and women’s high-fashion, fashionable items. He founded it with the assistance of his mother, Keisha, who was very supportive of him.

At the shopping center, Jackson was honored with trophies and accolades. On the other hand, after just one year, he decided on the retail store, highlighting that the closure does not signify the end of anything but rather the beginning of something new.

During an interview with ABC News 4, Jackson stated, “I was here to show you guys that it is possible to follow your dreams.” “So, without a doubt, make sure that you live your life without any regrets, and do so each and every day.” This does not mark the conclusion; it is only the beginning.

In the future, a few years from now, Jackson will have collaborated with other companies to establish several pop-up markets in Baltimore, Maryland, which is his hometown. Because of his enthusiasm for design, he organizes lifestyle marketplaces full of inspiration. These marketplaces offer apparel, home décor, cuisine from their businesses, and other local products they sell.

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YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

Black Woman’s Line of Collard Greens and Chitterlings Spice Blends Now Available at Walmart

by Ava Robinson
written by Ava Robinson

Meet Erica Gillespie, the visionary founder of Feisty Spices, a collection of delicious spices and mixes owned by black people and influenced by her culinary background, which ranges from her grandmother’s kitchen in Alabama to Ghana’s cultural rhythms. Her Collard Greens and Chitterlings spice mixes are among her most popular items, and you can buy all of her products at Walmart, Amazon, Grocery Outlet, and other local grocery shops. Her products are also available for purchase at other grocery stores.

Erica, a distant descendant of jazz singer Dizzy Gillespie and living in Atlanta, began her adventure in the world of cuisine with a simple yet significant observation that she made in her grandmother’s kitchen. There, she saw how various spices transformed meals into experiences she would never forget.

Because it was founded in 2020, Feisty Spices has exceeded all expectations. With only a tiny $500 investment and a burning desire to make a difference, the brand almost instantly became well-known and achieved success. Erica received her first buy order for thirty thousand dollars from a big grocery chain five months after the brand’s introduction. The company had committed to distributing the brand to its respective stores across the United States.

Feisty Spice was a brand that rapidly became a nationwide kitchen need. Erica was founded with a passion for flexibility and a dedication to providing her culture with something distinctive. Having its origins in tradition and innovation, her company is distinguished by offering one-of-a-kind mixes that are versatile enough to be used with any cuisine. This makes the brand the only one with access to these unique recipes.
“Feisty spice isn’t just a seasoning; it’s a cultural necessity,” according to Erica. In light of the widespread prevalence of health problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure, she believes that her spice mixes are essential for the culture. She offers many low-sodium blends suitable for ketogenic diets and does not include any MSG. These blends provide healthier alternatives without sacrificing flavor.

You may purchase Feisty Spices through Walmart Marketplace in the United States and Mexico, Amazon Prime, and the company’s website, which can be found at FeistySpices.com.

Additionally, the brand can be found at some shopping centers around Atlanta, such as the Grant Park Market and the Chandler Park Market. Additionally, it is supplied throughout Alabama via Pic n Sav grocery shops in various locations.

To demonstrate her dedication to advancing culinary techniques, Erica states: “I will continue to create unique blends in the hopes of providing healthier options for cooks across the United States that do not compromise flavor.”

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ARTSCULTURE & LIFESTYLE

Japan’s teamLab readies renewed digital museum in Tokyo mega-complex.

by Ava Robinson
written by Ava Robinson

Construction teams and digital artists are working hard to create an immersive museum that will serve as the cultural anchor of Tokyo’s most recent megaproject. This museum is constructed in an underground maze under Japan’s highest building.

Over two million people visited the Borderless Museum that TeamLab, a multinational collective of artists, established in 2019. This achievement earned the group a Guinness World Record. The museum is located on the island of Odaiba in Tokyo Bay. The term originates from the fact that digital art pieces are designed to mix in with one another and invite visitors to explore at their own speed.

In preparation for rebuilding the property by Mori Building, one of the most prominent developers in Japan, the attraction was shut down the previous year. In February, it is scheduled to reopen in the Azabudai Hills complex, located in the heart of Tokyo.

“To be able to create this kind of large space in which we can exhibit is important to us,” said Toshiyuki Inoko, the creator of TeamLab, in an interview on Friday.

Mori’s vision of integrating residential and commercial developments with cultural attractions is being implemented, and relocation is a component of that strategy. The Mori JP Tower, which is 330 meters (1,082 feet) tall, is scheduled to open next week. In addition, shopping arcades, residential towers, medical facilities, and a school are all in various stages of construction in the surrounding area.

Several components of the new borderless facility are getting close to being finished. These components include “Flowers and People,” a continuous computer projection of petals budding and scattering, and “Bubble Universe,” a mirrored chamber filled with glittering bulbs that appear to extend into infinity.

In recent years, teamLab has garnered a worldwide reputation for its creative and interactive set pieces, combining visuals and the senses. In previous initiatives in Tokyo, digital art was combined with a sauna experience, and a laser light display was used to enhance a performance of Giacomo Puccini’s opera “Turandot.”

“We as a team want to create something that makes people feel that the continuity itself is beautiful,” according to Inoko.

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Lights are projected on a canal during a Loy Krathong celebration to encourage people to use digital krathongs instead of actual ones, to reduce waste, in Bangkok, Thailand, November 27, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Suen/ File photo
ARTS

Thai’s give a digital spin to ancient ‘floating basket’ festival.

by Ava Robinson
written by Ava Robinson

As part of an eco-friendly reimagining of an old celebration, youngsters from Thailand constructed digital rafts and sent them soaring down digital rivers.

People have been sending ‘krathongs’ down rivers for decades to make wishes and pay respects to water spirits. Krathongs are little baskets of plants stuffed with flowers, candles, and bamboo.

The Loy Krathong celebration, also known as the “floating basket” festival, is a magnificent event that illuminates Bangkok’s canals and rivers at night. However, the festival organizers frequently face the challenge of clearing the waterways of hundreds of thousands of wet vessels the following morning.

This year, participants created over 3,000 drawings of ‘krathongs’ and scanned them into computers during the festivities to reduce the amount of required cleanup.

A vivid picture of the water’s surface was then projected onto the patterns once they had been created.

The reduction in the number of trees that are chopped down is a significant benefit. Things are thrown into the water when you float, which is the genuine basket thing. Jirayada Surapant, who is 11 years old, displayed her creation alongside a canal in Bangkok on Monday evening. She stated that this would contribute to the reduction of garbage.

On Tuesday morning, there was still much work to be done. Monks use row boats to collect the physical krathongs and then recycle them into animal feed. This process takes place across the capital city.

While standing on the side of a boat, the revered monk Mathee Vatchara Prachatorn said, “The trash will end up in the sea, at the river mouths, completely filling them.” “To reduce trash, everybody has to pitch in; all the villages must help.”

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Cast member Timothee Chalamet attends the world premiere of "Wonka", at Royal Festival Hall, in London, Britain, November 28, 2023. REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska
ARTSBUSINESSCULTURE & LIFESTYLE

Timothee Chalamet turned to a vocal coach to the stars for ‘Wonka.’

by Ava Robinson
written by Ava Robinson

When Timothee Chalamet was getting ready to play Willy Wonka in a new film that chronicles the tale of how Roald Dahl’s famous figure came to be, he received voice lessons from a renowned vocal coach. This was done in order to prepare him to follow in the footsteps of Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp.

“Wonka” is a musical film, and the actor who played the role of the chocolate-loving scientist in “Dune” and “Call Me by Your Name” portrays a younger version of the character.

According to the author, “it was intimidating because the character is beloved, people are very protective over characters they love, and people are skeptical about Hollywood remakes.” But I believe that we did an excellent job. During the global premiere of “Wonka” on Tuesday at London’s Royal Festival Hall, Chalamet sent a statement to Reuters in which he expressed his satisfaction with the picture.

The individual, who is 27 years old, stated that he had collaborated with Eric Vetro, who is a voice coach to a number of artists, including Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, and John Legend.

When asked about his preparation for the musical parts in the film, he stated, “A lot of work, a lot of vocal lessons with Eric Vetro in Los Angeles, and a lot of training were involved.”

“Wonka” depicts a figure who wears a top hat and a long garment, arriving at a mythical city after spending several years at sea. Even though the town is home to some of the best chocolatiers in the world, Wonka still has his sights set on opening his own store. During the course of his pursuit of his ambition and his conflict with a strong chocolate cartel, he becomes friends with a little orphan girl and a curious tiny creature with orange skin and green hair. This creature is an Oompa Loompa, and Hugh Grant provides the voice for it.

The director of “Paddington,” Paul King, is also involved in the writing and directing of the film.

We wanted to develop a movie that would serve as a companion piece to the Gene Wilder movie, which clearly has these timeless iconic melodies,” said King. “We wanted to build a movie that would stand as a companion piece.”

According to Simon Farnaby, who also contributed to the writing of the script alongside King, “There are a lot of clues that Roald Dahl left as to what Willy did before ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,’ so we felt confident that if we just picked up on those clues, we could make something that Roald Dahl would be proud of.”

Cardin in 2020.

Rodrigo Basilicati Cardin, the late designer’s great-nephew, told reporters that the ocean and environmental preservation inspired the new collection, which centered on the color blue.

On a deep blue catwalk, models displayed indigo-blue clothing beneath the enormous reinforced concrete dome of Oscar Niemeyer’s futuristic building.

The Espace Niemeyer was where French Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel unveiled his electoral platform at the beginning of the year. However, other events like fashion shows and music videos are periodically held there.

Over 100 designers, including Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermes, and dozens of new foreign designers, will be featured during Fashion Week, which runs through October 3. French fashion brand Balmain’s exhibition will also take place despite the theft of some of its inventory.

The automobile carrying about 50 goods between a Paris airport and the label’s offices in the French city was taken by thieves. Balmain said it will exhibit its spring/summer 2024 collection after replacing the lost pieces.

Dior and Saint Laurent are expected to open later in the week, followed by Courreges and Dries Van Noten on Wednesday and Lanvin and Givenchy on Thursday.

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