New Courses on Careers in the Cannabis Industry
Hello to all cannabis enthusiasts! On this 420 Day, April 20th, we not only commemorate the cultural significance and historical roots of cannabis, but we also advocate for its wider acceptance and decriminalization. Whether you’re an avid supporter or a curious novice, 420 Day serves as a communal forum to appreciate the myriad benefits of this extraordinary plant. 420 Day extends beyond mere celebration—it is an opportunity to reflect on the transformative impact of cannabis, particularly in terms of professional prospects. The rapid growth of the cannabis industry is paving the way for a wide range of job openings in areas such as cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and retail. Anticipating billions in revenue, it’s fast becoming one of the most dynamic sectors in the economy. If a career in the burgeoning cannabis industry intrigues you, there’s never been a better time to take the leap. We’re thrilled to introduce our new online cannabis courses, tailored to provide a deep understanding of this vibrant industry. These cannabis industry courses encompass everything from diverse job roles and necessary qualifications to the latest industry trends and developments. Our online cannabis courses cater to everyone—from recent graduates on the lookout for their first job to experienced professionals considering a career transition. Equipped with comprehensive knowledge, these courses serve as your launchpad into the cannabis industry. This spring, we’re launching “Introduction to the Business of Cannabis”. In collaboration with the renowned cannabis education leaders, upLVL, we’re also offering a variety of other courses, such as “The Budtender Experience: The Science and Art of Budtending”, “Commercial Cultivation Essentials” featuring Krysta Jones and Sanja Ganja, and “Cannabis Processing – An Introduction”. Seize this opportunity to access valuable professional resources and certifications through our cannabis industry courses. Sign up for our online cannabis courses today, and embark on an enriching career journey in the cannabis industry. Celebrate this 420 Day by charting your path to success in the cannabis industry. Happy 420 Day! Learn More
Art Imitates Life: Vinnie Bagwell
Vinnie Bagwell is a renowned American sculptor, known for her representational-figurative art pieces that use traditional bas-relief techniques as visual narratives. Her preferred mediums are bronze and bronze resin. With a long list of awards and public-art commissions to her name, Vinnie has earned widespread recognition for her exceptional work in the field of sculpture. Born in Yonkers, New York, Vinnie’s gift for drawing was apparent from an early age. She honed her passion for painting during her high school years and went on to pursue a degree in art from Morgan State University. Vinnie is an untutored artist who started sculpting in 1993. In 1992, Vinnie Bagwell co-authored a book titled “A Study of African-American Life in Yonkers From the Turn of the Century” with Harold A. Esannason. She also contributed articles to various publications, including The Harlem Times and Gannett Suburban Newspapers/The Herald Statesman. Vinnie’s groundbreaking contributions to public art have played a significant role in reframing it to include historic Black images. Her first public artwork, “The First Lady of Jazz” at the Yonkers Metro-North/Amtrak train station, was commissioned by the City of Yonkers. It is the first public artwork of a contemporary African-American woman to be commissioned by a municipality in the United States. In Connecticut, her 7-foot-tall bronze statue of “Walter ‘Doc’ Hurley” was the first public artwork of a contemporary African American in the state. Vinnie is currently working on “The Enslaved Africans’ Rain Garden,” an urban-heritage public-art project commissioned by the City of Yonkers. The project features five life-sized bronzes to commemorate the legacy of the first enslaved Africans to be manumitted by law in the United States, 64 years before the Emancipation Proclamation. She is also in the process of creating “Victory…,” an 18-foot-tall angel outside New York City’s Central Park on Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation commissioned Vinnie to create the 7-foot-tall “Sojourner Truth” in 2020, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and the Women’s Suffrage Movement for the Walkway Over the Hudson in Highland. She has also received public art commissions from the District of Columbia Department of General Services for “What’s Going On!”, a statue of music icon Marvin Gaye, “The Man in the Arena” (Theodore Roosevelt), “Contraband,” and “The Immortals.” The City of Memphis commissioned “Legacies” at Chickasaw Heritage Park, and Hofstra University commissioned “Frederick Douglass Circle,” the 24-inch-tall maquette, which is the centerpiece of the Frederick Douglass Museum and Cultural Center in Highland Beach, MD. Vinnie Bagwell’s work has also extended to the theatre, with Director Ruben Santiago-Hudson commissioning her to create the piano artwork for August Wilson’s play, “The Piano Lesson” for the on-Broadway Signature Theatre in New York City. Her work has been exhibited at various venues, including the inaugural, year-long exhibition to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Rides at the new Freedom Rides Museum in Montgomery, where her 22-inch-tall bronze statue, “Liberté,” was displayed. Vinnie Bagwell’s creativity and exceptional talent as a sculptor have given voice to stories that might have otherwise gone untold. Her work is a testament to the power of art to convey meaning and preserve legacies. Social Media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vinniebagwell Instagram: @vinniebagwell Facebook: Vinnie Bagwell https://makingabrand.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/vinnie-IG.mp4
Olivia Kelly: Building a Personal Brand in Gymnastics | Making History Now
Hailing from the Bronx, 16-year-old Olivia Kelly is making history as a Level 10 elite gymnast and inspiring young entrepreneur. Her mother, a former collegiate cheerleader, quickly recognized Olivia’s passion and talent for gymnastics and has helped her strive for greatness throughout her life. As a young and up-and-coming creative black entrepreneur, Olivia works hard to make her dreams a reality and uses sponsorship involvement to empower other young gymnasts. At just 16 years old, Olivia has achieved many impressive victories in her life thus far. A 2022 World Gymnastics Championship Qualifier A Barbados National Team member, Olivia began gymnastics at just three years old and began competing at the age of 6. As a 2022 World Gymnastics Championship participant, Olivia has won 19 all-around championships, 17 balance beam championships, 15 uneven bar championships, 16 floor exercise championships, and 11 vault championships. Her other awards include: New York State Champion New Jersey State Champion 3x Level 10 USAG National Qualifier USAG Eastern National Champion Region 6 Champion Region 7 Champion MSO Top 5 Gymnasts of the Year MSO Top 25 Gymnasts of the Year Chalk Warrior Gymnast of the Year Today, Olivia is recognized as one of the top young gymnasts in the world, and she has the sponsorships to prove it. But Olivia doesn’t just stop at being a great athlete; she also has a vision for a better world. Her mission is to use her experience and sponsorships as a platform to help other gymnasts and entrepreneurs reach her level of success. A Love of Gymnastics Becomes an Opportunity to Help Others At the age of 12, Olivia began attending an online school at her gymnastics academy. She’s also founded Leos 4 Liberty, a leotard donation organization that helps underprivileged youth gain access to the essential gear they need to continue their gymnastics training. In addition, she’s currently partnered with GK Elite Leotards and plans to publish a kids’ book this April. Sponsorships like these help Olivia continue to spread awareness and provide her with additional opportunities to help others. Olivia’s contributions have helped many families needing assistance pay for the costly gear associated with gymnastics. Between the cost of travel, leotards, and classes, some families struggle to keep up with the investment needed for their children to pursue their dreams. By donating essential leotards and using her sponsorships as a platform to help young gymnasts, Olivia has created an opportunity for many kids in need. She’s also become a role model for many students and peers by volunteering at pet supply drives, her local Thanksgiving soup kitchen, and clothes and food drives each year. Additionally, she participates in Angel Tree, a gift-giving program, to help children in need. Building Her Personal Brand For The Future Along with gymnastics, Olivia’s 3.7 GPA enabled her to receive numerous full athletic scholarship offers to attend college in 2024. She is proud to announce she has accepted one from the University of Missouri. In addition to academics, she is aspiring to be a model for brands like Fenty since she is a huge fan of Rihanna. She is also developing skills as an actress and using her athletic ability as a Hollywood stunt double to expand her brand on the big screen. Olivia is thoughtfully developing a well-rounded personal brand that will enable her to market herself lucratively while inspiring others and creating a lasting impact in the world. We can all learn from the resilience and passion of Olivia Storm Kelly. She’s an inspiring example of a young black creative entrepreneur who has harnessed her own successes to empower herself and others. With her bright future ahead, we look forward to witnessing Olivia’s brand make a lasting impact on the world. Be sure to check out Olivia in this April’s Scholastic Choices magazineand follow her on Instagram and YouTube.
DC Black History Month 2023
In celebration of Black History Month 2023, DC has exciting plans in store to mark the 30th anniversary of Milestone Media. Along with a series of collected editions and new launches, there will be Black History Month variant covers and a brand new anthology featuring the works of Black creators. Milestone Media’s 30th anniversary will be commemorated with the release of the Milestone 30th Anniversary Special, scheduled for March 7th. This 96-page one-shot will feature contributions from various writers and artists, including Evan Narcisse, Chuck Brown, Stephanie Williams, Denys Cowan, and graduates from the Milestone Initiative Talent Development Program. Additionally, Icon vs. Hardware, a five-issue miniseries by Reginald Hudlin, Leon Chills, and Cowan, and Static: Shadows of Dakota, a six-issue miniseries by Vita Ayala and Nikolas Draper-Ivey, will also be launched to mark the occasion. The Icon vs. Hardware miniseries will debut on February 14th, while the Static: Shadows of Dakota miniseries will be released on February 7th. In addition to these launches, DC and Milestone will be collaborating on Milestone Compendium Two, the second volume of the original Milestone releases from the 90s. This massive collection, over 1300 pages in length, will include the Worlds Collide crossover event that saw Milestone books join forces with DC’s Superman line for two months. To honor Milestone Media’s founding father, Dwayne McDuffie, DC will also be releasing The DC Universe by Dwayne McDuffie, a 280-page hardcover collection of his work on DCU titles. The collection will feature stories from various titles such as Action Comics, The Demon, Impulse, JLA Showcase 80-Page Giant, Batman: Gotham Knights, Sins of Youth: Kid Flash/Impulse, and Firestorm: The Nuclear Man. The DC Universe by Dwayne McDuffie will be released on February 7th. DC Power: A Celebration is another anthology that will be released during Black History Month. Like DC Pride, this anthology will feature stories of Black DC characters by top Black artists and writers, including Evan Narcisse, Stephanie Williams, Chuck Brown, Clayton Henry, Valentine De Landro, and more. The 100-page one-shot will include six all-new stories, as well as reprinting John Ridley and Olivier Coipel’s Batman: Black & White story and an excerpt from N.K. Jemisin and Jamal Campbell’s award-winning Green Lantern series, Far Sector. The all-new stories will include Cyborg by Morgan Hampton and Valentine De Landro, Aquaman and Kid Flash by Jordan Clark, Dorado Quick, and Clayton Henry, the Black Lightning family by Lamont Magee and CHRISCROSS, Amazing Man by Evan Narcisse and Darryl Banks, Vixen and Batwing by Chuck Brown and Petterson Oliveira, and Green Lantern John Stewart by Brandon Thomas and Natacha Bustos. DC Power: A Celebration will be released on January 31st. Lastly, to round off the celebration, DC will be releasing six Black History Month variant covers throughout the month. These covers will be available on regular books, and here’s a rundown of what to expect: February 7th – The Flash #792 variant cover with Wallace West/Kid Flash by Mateus Manhanini; February 14th – I Am Batman #18 variant cover by ChrisCross; February 21st – Black Adam #8 variant cover with Malik White/Bolt by Taurin Clarke; February 21st – Lazarus Planet Omega #1 variant cover with Cyborg by Edwin Galmon; February 21st – Wonder Woman #796 variant cover with Nubia by Taj Tenfold; February 28: Action Comics #1052 variant cover with John Henry Irons/Natasha Irons by Khary Randolph
Diddy’s Music Legacy: Why He’s Not Selling His Catalog Just Yet
The decision of artists to sell their music catalogs has been a topic of ongoing debate. In the case of Diddy, it seems that he is taking a long-term approach. In an interview with the Trapital podcast, Tarik Brooks, the president of Combs Enterprises, provided insight into how the rap mogul is handling his catalog. Bad Boy Records is one of the most influential and groundbreaking record labels in the music industry. With a roster that includes iconic artists such as The Notorious B.I.G, Ma$e, Faith Evans, 112, Total, The LOX, and more, Diddy’s label has left a lasting legacy. According to a Complex report from 2016, the label has sold over 400 million records globally and earned at least 38 platinum and multi-platinum singles. Despite his already solidified legacy, Diddy is not in a rush to sell his valuable catalog just yet. Instead, he is focused on where music and his label, Love Records, are heading in the future. According to Brooks, “we’re in no rush to get rid of a portfolio that could be a part of [music’s evolution]. Who knows how you think about those assets in the future?” He also added that Diddy and the team are looking to maximize his catalog “to create the best outcomes.” Brooks also shared that Diddy and his team have the advantage of being able to take their time and conduct experiments at their own pace to figure out what they want to do with the catalog. He stated, “We have the benefit of being able to go slow and kinda take our time and basically run experiments at our own pace to figure out what we want to do. And so from that perspective, people have continually come through with offers, opportunities, and things. And we’ve purposely taken our time as we’ve thought about what Puff’s experience of music is gonna be over the next years as he climbs what he talks about as his second mountain.” In contrast, fellow hip-hop legend Dr. Dre is reportedly selling a portion of his music income streams and additional assets in a deal worth up to $250 million. According to rumors, Peter Paterno, Dr. Dre’s attorney, shopped the deal for several weeks. If the deal goes through, it would include assets such as royalties from two of Dre’s solo albums and his share of N.W.A royalties and producer royalties. Additional assets would also include the writer’s share of his song catalog where he doesn’t own publishing, which may include songs from his iconic album ‘The Chronic.’ In conclusion, Diddy and Dr. Dre are approaching their music catalogs in vastly different ways. While Diddy is taking a long-term approach and focusing on the future of music and his label, Dr. Dre is reportedly looking to monetize his catalog by selling a portion of his music income streams and assets. Each approach has its own merits and it will be interesting to see how these decisions play out in the long term.
Snoop Loopz Rebranded as Snoop Cereal: Master P & Snoop Dogg’s Collaboration with Post Consumer Brands
Get ready to wake up to a crunch that echoes with the beat of rap and resonates with the spirit of entrepreneurship. In an electrifying announcement, rap mogul Master P has disclosed a groundbreaking alliance between Post Consumer Brands, Broadus Foods, and rap titan Snoop Dogg. At the heart of this collaboration? The much-anticipated global launch of Snoop Cereal in June 2023, a crunchy testament to diversity and community economic empowerment. Master P was resolute and inspiring in his comments, “We want to take care of the community and be able to build economic empowerment, so that’s what this brand is about. The deal we did with Post is adding diversity to these stores to be able to have an African-American-owned company,” he emphasized. “Post believed in our brand, and Post believed in diversity.” Hot from his early-morning rendezvous with Post, Master P enthusiastically disclosed that Snoop Cereal, previously christened Snoop Loopz, will make a global splash under three delicious identities: Frosted Drizzlers, Cinnamon Toasteez, and Fruity Hoopz. As per a post on Snoop’s Instagram account, “They don’t want us to use Snoop Loopz on our cereal box even though [that’s] my name.” The fresh nomenclature reflects the array of cereal flavors brought together under the Snoop Cereal banner. TD Dixon, Chief Growth Officer at Post Consumer Brands, expressed his delight over the partnership, “Our purpose at Post is to make delicious food accessible for all. Broadus Foods is a family-owned food company focused on feeding families and giving back. We’ve been feeding families for more than 100 years, so when Snoop and Master P approached us, the thing that immediately aligned us was our passion for feeding all families. We’re excited to partner with a brand that’s committed to family and community just like we are.” The announcement comes on the heels of speculation last week regarding a possible name change for the duo’s existing cereal, Snoop Loopz. Undeterred, Master P said, “They thought we was going to have one,” referring to the cereal that will be WIC-eligible. “Look how God works. It’s a blessing.” Adding a dash of character to the cereal will be a blue Siberian husky cartoon, Captain Ace, gracing the box as the lead. Master P explained, “Our character on the box is the lead character, Captain Ace. He’s the Kobe Bryant of cereal. It’s important because we spend trillions of dollars as African Americans. When you look at Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben, those were the closest products to where we thought we owned those products, but we didn’t. Those were just people’s faces on boxes.” In essence, this high-powered synergy between Post Consumer Brands, Broadus Foods, Master P, and Snoop Dogg marks a spirited endeavor to enhance diversity and promote economic empowerment. They are set to debut an African-American-owned cereal brand, named Snoop Cereal, across the globe starting June 2023. With three tantalizing varieties: Frosted Drizzlers, Cinnamon Toasteez, and Fruity Hoopz, the cereal will also be WIC-eligible, and will sport the vibrant cartoon of Captain Ace, the blue Siberian husky, as the box’s leading character. Get set for a breakfast revolution!
What is Making A Brand?
Welcome to “Making A Brand,” your premier destination for insights on crafting a distinctive brand identity in today’s bustling digital environment. Established in 2021, Making A Brand was born out of a vision to redefine online education. Our platform offers an enriched mix of holistic, contemporary, and user-friendly courses, tools, and resources. Whether you’re taking your first steps as an entrepreneur, gearing up as a marketer, or blossoming as a creative soul, Making A Brand ensures you’re well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the industry. Our mission? To nurture and hone the brand-building skills of tomorrow’s trailblazers. Our community is a mosaic of experience and wisdom. We are privileged to have industry stalwarts like Tony Shellman, Peter Paul, and Maurice Malone share their invaluable branding lessons with us. We understand the hurdles young creators face. Often, initial missteps can lead to financial setbacks and unrealized potential. This is where Making A Brand bridges the gap. By tapping into the expertise of seasoned professionals, you will not only gain clarity on your brand vision but also receive guidance on securing essential funding. With us, your dream projects are more than just ideas – they become tangible realities. In the world of branding, continuous learning and adaptation are key. At Making A Brand, we ensure you get comprehensive insights into product and brand development, empowering you to build a flourishing creative business. Tony Shellman
The Stereotyping of Black Fashion Designers
For years, urban fashion designers have been pigeonholed as “streetwear designers.” While many of these early, primary black, designers do create apparel for their culture, they are first and foremost fashion designers. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the origins of this stereotype and how it continues to impact urban fashion designers today. The Origins of the Stereotype The stereotyping of urban fashion designers began in the early 1990s. At that time, hip-hop music was becoming increasingly popular. As a result, many black fashion designers began creating apparel for this market. However, because hip-hop was seen as a “ghetto” or “urban” form of music, the fashion design industry began to view black fashion designers as nothing more than “streetwear designers”. The Impact of the Stereotype Today Unfortunately, the stereotype of black fashion designers as streetwear designers continues to persist today. This is due in part to the fact that many high-end fashion brands continue to use hip-hop culture to sell their clothes. In other words, they are happy to appropriate black culture when it is convenient or trendy but are not interested in promoting black designers themselves. This stereotype is also perpetuated by the mainstream media. For example, when Kanye West debuted his Yeezy clothing line at New York Fashion Week in 2015, he was widely ridiculed by the media. The fact that he was able to successfully show his collection at one of the most prestigious fashion events in the world was seen as a joke by many media outlets and the fashion industry. This is evidence of how little respect black fashion designers are given by the mainstream fashion industry. Despite their talent and creativity, black fashion designers continue to be stereotyped as streetwear designers. This stereotype has its origins in the early 1990s when hip-hop music began to become popular. Today, the stereotype persists because many high-end fashion brands appropriate black culture without hiring black designers themselves. The mainstream media also tends to ridicule black fashion designers, which reinforces this negative stereotype. Virgil Abloh broke the mold with his iconic brand Off-White. His success with the brand led him to become LVMH’s creative director. Although Abloh received a lot of acclaims there were other prominent Black designers who made a big impact in the fashion industry. Shyne Oliver set the fashion industry on fire with Hood By Air. He has worked with many fashion houses such as Helmut Lang, Diesel, and Longchamp. There have been many collaborations with talented African-American designers and popular brands. Because of the success of Adidas and Yeezy collab, other companies have followed the same model. You see the DNA and flavor of Heron Preston and Pyer Moss in notable luxury companies such as Mercedes, Calvin Klein, and Reebok.
Giovanna Santiago is an entrepreneur who prides herself on her personal style
Giovanna Santiago is an entrepreneur who prides herself on her personal style. She strongly believes in the idea that an individual’s look can influence and impact their performance. In her interview with Marc Esannason, she quoted A.I.: “Look good, play good.” Santiago not only embraces this motto in her personal life, but she also uses it as the basis for her own entrepreneurial venture. Giovanna is the creator of Salut. According to Ms. Santiago, Salut is a “lifestyle brand highlighting the underground demographic of chefs, bartenders, and people who work overall in the culinary scene and nightlife industry.” The company accomplishes this goal by bridging the gap between personal style and professionalism. Salut strives to marry design and functionality in order to not only bring out the unique fashion sense of hospitality and culinary workers, but to also maintain professionalism within the workplace. Santiago accomplishes this by providing a service that allows for the creation of uniforms that are unique and exclusive to the workers themselves as well as the companies they work for. Now, who is Giovanna Santiago, and how did she come up with this idea? Giovanna is nothing short of a hard worker. She has labored in a variety of jobs and has done a substantial amount of research in order to develop her idea. She has worked within the fashion world, working as an intern for a Viacom show for five months. During this internship, she gained a lot of insight into what happens behind the scenes of the fashion world. She dealt with manifests, making sure all products that they received were returned to the companies that sent them, communicating with local designers, and general work behind the runways. After this phase of her life, she moved into the hospitality industry. She began working at The Wing (a private members club for women in New York City). During her time with this business, she worked as a barista for the cafe portion of the club, and she also worked as a bartender. In addition to gaining these two skillets, she met with a lot of powerful and influential women in New York. Due to the nature of her job, she was able to pick the minds of these elite women, and she gained a lot of valuable insight into the business world. After her time in New York, she decided to return back to her hometown of Prince George’s county, MD. Here she went to work at Maketto, which is a Asian restaurant with a streetwear store in the front. During her time at Maketto, she saw that the fashion and the culinary industries could be combined in order to create something different; however, she also saw how she personally could influence both industries in a completely new way. As a result, she decided to combine all of her experience into her own business idea, and, from that point, she began to formulate Salut. Where does MakingABrand™ come into play? Giovanna’s skillset and vast experience have allowed her to cultivate such a standout idea. The work she has done beforehand not only feeds into her knowledge about how to run the business but also how to diversify it. Even though she has all of this knowledge and passion in regard to the conceptualization of her idea, she ran into a wall when trying to figure out a tangible plan for her business. This ultimately led her to seek the help of Makingabrand™. From that point on, she used MakingABrand™ as a resource to develop her business and transform her concepts and intentions into a legitimate business plan.
Funding Fashion: Making Your Business Work for You
MakingABrand™ founder, Marc Esannason, has made it his mission to educate the next generation of creative entrepreneurs. One of the most important lessons that he wants to convey is the necessity for capital and the means to raise funds for one’s business. In order to really explain the importance of financing your ideas, Esannason interviewed the founder and designer of Clubhouse Archives– James Costa. Clubhouse Archives is a luxury apparel brand born of the blockchain for the Web Three community. In order to create his unique business, Costa has utilized his twenty-three years of design and development experience within the apparel industry and has combined it with his experience with the virtual world of Web Three. Clubhouse Archives differentiates itself from other appeal lines by allowing you to purchase physical clothing items which are coupled with digital assets. These assets can include exclusive access to drops, NFT’s, and even membership passes to the business itself. By buying the apparel, you put yourself in a position to not only receive great quality products, but also receive digital assets that can possibly make you money. Most importantly, Costa’s business model allows him as well as his consumers to generate capital through the sale of these digital assets. The digital assets that grant membership passes into the brand grant consumers the ability to become partners with the brand itself. This status permits consumers to develop a collection of their own within the brand. For example, Costa states how if an individual creates a collection, the pieces of that collection will have digital assets attached to them. Once those digital assets are sold, the sale is used for the development of the physical clothing items from that collection. This allows consumers to take part in a personalized self-funding collection. Clubhouse Archives showcases the new market that is currently developing. Web Three is not only a source of great opportunity for innovators like Costa, but it is also a new space full of opportunity for the next generation of creative entrepreneurs. Costa’s business gives insight into not only the possibilities of Web Three and how it can impact your brand, but it also showcases how you can use modern technology to fund your creative ideas. MakingABrand™ wants to inform you of people like this, and we also want to give you the chance to learn from these successful business minds. You can stay informed about creators like James Costa by subscribing to our monthly Newsletter, and, if you choose to subscribe, we will provide you with free access to Costa’s three part fundamental guide: Funding Fashion Non-Traditionally – which drops September 15th.