Cover Stories

T. Denise had an inside view of gang violence and witnessed a plague that affects these poverty-stricken areas; lack of opportunity and career crime. T. Denise stands as a beacon of light for those with little hope of changing their circumstances and is living proof that the situations you are born into does not define you or decide your life. Quite obviously, she's a hard-core advocate for positive change. Given the circumstances that she was raised in, she's focused on turning the pain of the strenuous daily norm from these struggling urban environments into a hub for healing. For her cover shoot, the idea was to take the stigma out of the more gangster-inspired look that surrounded her in her youth. What can be more gangster than getting an education and doing things your own way, of not following the rules but then using that rebellion to plant altruistic seeds in communities similar to those that you were raised in.

Los Angeles, California

If you have ever struggled with breaking free from the chains of your past, addiction, gaslighting, abuse, or any other form of bondage, you know that breaking chains can be a daunting task. Maybe you have chains of negative thinking or limiting beliefs. Perhaps they are chains of insecurity, chains holding you back from reaching your full potential. Regardless of your chains, the very word chain produces an image of something solid, heavy and impossible to break. We often assume that a chain cannot be broken; yet chains are not unbreakable. When put into these chains that shackle us, it is our choice to stay bound or free ourselves.

Everybody gets stuck somewhere along the way, but when you can free yourself to be your true self, you’ll have a beacon that leads you where you need to go. By letting go of the judgement, you embrace positivity and let go of the past. It is a sense of loving yourself, a desire for new experiences and a driving ambition that leads you to make the most of every opportunity that life has to offer. Monica Luisi’s story will inspire you to have self-confidence and faith in yourself despite what others might say.

Michael Schmidt is a US Army Veteran currently studying to become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. Battling opioid addiction, music became his lifeline. When his relationship with EDM (Electronic Dance Music) grew from admiration to creation, his own music was born. He dove headfirst into his passion crafting a dynamic mix of beats that is sure to make waves in the dance music scene. As a new father with a bright future ahead of him, he is an example of the importance of finding yourself in recovery.

How much do you love what you do? When you think of your career do you get excited? When you are at work are you happy? Do you love the people you are working with? Do you wake up everyday ready to learn and improve your skillsets? Most importantly, do you love your life? Larisa’s message of tenacity, doing what you love, and the importance of living by your own rules will help you embrace your originality so you can find your inner rock star.

In her debut novel, After She Said Yes, Kaya Gravitter makes a social commentary about the issue of domestic violence. The feminist fiction draws parallels between Aurora, the main character, and what Kaya has faced in her own life as a survivor of domestic abuse. Her trauma and passion for writing led her to pen this poignant story in order to give solace to women left grappling with the consequences on their mental health. Kaya hopes her words help women speaking out against their abusers and for the women who still haven’t by giving a voice to the voiceless.