Pop Stars is based out of Atlanta, GA and was founded by Ayesha Paul. Pregnancy cravings were the catalyst that sparked the idea of Pop Stars after Ayesha's husband grabbed her one of those "tasteless" popsicles from a gas station. Her desire is to give people that feeling of childhood every time they bite into one of her pops.

Pop Stars provides vegan, gluten free and dairy free treats that can be found in Atlanta area Whole Foods stores. You can also get them seasonally at Piedmont Park. 

Girls Auto Clinic was founded by Patrice Banks and is located in Upper Darby, PA. Patrice created her business model to specifically support the millions of women who need auto repair. In addition to providing auto repair services, Girls Auto Clinic offers car care workshops, a FaceBook community and Girls Auto Clinic Glove Box guide.

While waiting to get your car serviced, you can relax in the Clutch Beauty Bar which offers manicures, pedicures, facials and blowouts. Make sure to support Patrice's vision by passing on her company's information to anyone who lives, or are traveling through, the Upper Darby area.

INEX Systems & Designs is based out of Lilburn, GA and is owned by Zebadiah Henry. A self-proclaimed entrepreneur, Zebadiah got his passion for business from his father who owned an electrical company. I had an opportunity to meet Zebadiah at a recent workshop in Atlanta and was impressed with his business model. The name INEX has derived from the INterior and EXterior design and installation that the company specializes in.

INEX is a custom consumer installation and design company which focuses on home security, automation, surveillance, audio/video and home theaters. Reach out to INEX for all your residential and commercial needs!

Roy Tatem is the President of Vanguard Strategies and the current East Valley NAACP President. You may recognize Roy from his fervent activity on Bernie Sanders' campaign trail. Roy and I have known each other for over 25 years and I can personally attest to how dedicated he is to the progression of our community.

Vanguard Strategies is unlike any other consulting agency in that they benefit from Roy's experience and connections in the political arena. If you are looking for some sincere direction with regards to politics, reach out to Vanguard Strategies. 

Movie Pass is headquartered in New York, NY and was co-founded by Stacy Spikes and Hamet Watt. You may have seen some recent information on Movie Pass online or on your local news station. Movie Pass was in the news because they reinstated their unlimited package after shutting it down for a short of time.

Movie Pass is a subscription service which allows you to go to the movie theaters as much as you want (in the case of the unlimited plan). Imagine watching Black Panther every day of the month! Their company has been featured in such publications as TIME, the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and many others! 

Swimma Caps is a South African swim cap company that was founded by Nomvuya Treffers. After realizing that there was not a product on the market that could handle her dreadlocks, Nomvuya decided to invent it. The Swimma Cap is also catered towards braids, afros, weaves and other long hair options.

You know we get a bad rap for not being able (or willing) to swim. But maybe it's just a matter of not having the right Swimma Cap! 

I Am Black Business (IABB) is based out of Atlanta, GA and was founded by three Brothers, including Vice-President & COO Lee Lewis (pictured). Lee and I immediately hit it off from our very first conversation. Our mutual desire to expose our community to Black-owned business was the binding factor. Lee and I have since had several conversations including creating some joint ventures in order to further advance disseminating the information out to our people. It is important that we begin to align ourselves with people who are willing to join forces on a mutually beneficial level.

I Am Black Business is an online directory of Black-owned businesses. What makes IABB different - and subsequently is the foundation of our joint venture - is the focus on assuring that the businesses listed on the platform are vetted as at least 51% Black-owned. IABB also has a mobile app to make it easier for you to find a business in your area!

Miya Bailey is the owner of City of Ink that is located in Atlanta, GA. His shop is known for the custom artwork that is hand-drawn by the artists. City of Ink also has a portfolio of work to choose from if you are looking for a more traditional piece.

Miya has also created a documentary to shed light on the struggle that black tattoo artists have with finding a foothold in the industry. When you're looking for that next tattoo, make sure to check out City of Ink.

Innovative Black Station is based out of Atlanta, GA and was founded by Jabari Blackmon. Jabari is a man after my own heart in that he launched Innovative Black Station in order to expose our community to positive videos of our people. Jabari was introduced to me by a friend who appreciates exposing our community to a different narrative. We have sent formed a partnership in order to support each other's initiatives with exposure.

Innovative Black Station is unique in that it houses interviews while also catering to our musical side! And if you want to get a commercial done for your business, Jabari & his team will shoot a professional one for you. 

Rosie's Coffee Cafe is owned by Sheri Ricks and is located in East Point, GA. They have also recently opened a second location on Northside Dr. next to the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (You can also go across the street to Restaurant 10, which is owned by Ricks as well.) The food, service and prices are all beyond expectations. 

Sheri is an engaged owner who is dialed-in to her operation. She makes sure that all her staff provide each customer with a consistently exceptional experience! 

We Buy Black is an Atlanta, GA based company that was founded by Shareef Abdul-Malik. One of the biggest excuses I hear when talking to people about buying black-owned products is that "I didn't know that was there" or "I didn't know we owned that". Shareef has tackled this problem head-on by creating an online marketplace exclusively for Black-owned products.

We Buy Black sells everything from mouthwash to laundry detergent to cosmetics. The majority of the products that I've highlighted over the months are featured on the site. You can also pick up some products at their kiosks located at Greenbrier and Dekalb malls. 

Chateau 4 Paws is located in Fayetteville, GA and is owned by Janelle Russell-Jones. Janelle launched her business in 2010 and loves working with K9s both big and small. Our dog Mello always has a big smile on his face when we pick him up from Chateau 4 Paws.

This proud mother of a toddler daughter can frequently be seen in the shop being hands-on with her clients. And make sure to stay tuned as Janelle is in the process of launching mobile grooming services! 

Real Talk Sports is based out of Atlanta, GA and is the brainchild of Minister Jonathan Simmons, a.k.a. Big J. Jonathan is one of the most knowledgeable sports minds that I personally know. He is passionate about everything from football to golf - all with a spiritual spin.

You may have seen Big J on the sidelines interviewing your favorite sports figure or celebrity. He also is very active in the community which is displayed on his FaceBook live videos. 

Mielle Organics is based out of Crown Point, Indiana and was started by Monique Rodriguez.  She created a hair care product line that utilizes a proprietary blend of herbs, amino acids and minerals. Launched in 2014, Mielle has now become a global brand with orders in 87 countries.

There is no need to worry about getting your local Mielle fix because the products can be found at CVS, Target and Sally's Beauty Supply stores.

Signal Vault is based out of Sanford, FL and was created by Chris Gilpin. The company and creator may sound familiar to you based on a Shark Tank appearance and investment. Signal Vault protects your credit card information from hackers that can steal your information while your card is still in your wallet!

The Signal Vault technology blocks the signal from the credit card to keep your information safe. It also works for passports that were issued after 2004 containing an RFID chip which connects to all your personal information.

System 5 Electronics is an Atlanta-based alarm company that was founded by Maceo Brown in 1990. If the name System 5 Electronics sounds familiar, then it's probably because you've seen signage on your favorite local business. System 5 is known for its commercial division and has all the latest gadgets and gizmos to protect your business.

Maceo is passionate about giving back to the community through his non-profit - MACEO's Kids -  which stands for "Mentoring Aspiring CEO's". The foundation strives to pair the youth of our community with mentors in the entrepreneurial space.

The Beautiful Restaurant is based out of Atlanta, GA and was founded by Pastor Ronald Williams. Since 1979 The Beautiful Restaurant has applied biblical principles with regards to giving love, concern for the customers as well as preparation of the food. They are open all day for breakfast, lunch and dinner options.

This restaurant is well-known for soul food favorites including fried chicken, mac-n-cheese and cornbread. 

Garraway Property Inspections is owned by Keron Garraway  and is based in Atlanta, GA. This Trinidadian has a passion for home inspections. He is both meticulous and competitively priced. 

No matter if you are looking for a home inspection for yourself or need someone to refer a potential client to, give Keron a call!

Historic Noir Coffee Group is based out of Atlanta, GA and was founded by Ricardo Richardson. While visiting Rosie's Coffee Cafe recently with some friends - I spotlighted Rosie's a couple months ago - we were introduced to the Historic Noir Coffee Group brand of coffee. The blend names honor the founder's Atlanta roots with names such as West End, Fourth Ward and Decatur.

With all the stuff going on with Starbucks and other companies who are insensitive to our community, it's great to know that we have alternatives to the big brands! Let's drive sales for them by asking the restaurants that you patronize if they carry Historic Noir Coffee.

Walter Nash, Jr is the Founder & CEO of Lefty's Spices which is based out of Waldorf, MD. Walter created the company out of his community's numerous requests for his grandfather's BBQ sauce and his mother's fry mix.  He set up a distribution network which includes military commissaries.  

You know how we like to get down at cookouts so if you don't have your own special sauce, make sure to check out Lefty's Spices at a store near you!