Cover Stories
Stories That Inspire
Powerful U is a revolutionary personal evolution company founded by James and Steph Purpura that is focused on improving the human condition. Their goal is to “improve the lives of billions of people,” one person at a time. According to James and Steph, “Everything you are, everything you see, everything you experience, is determined by perception. It is your emotions that give your life the only meaning it has.” The philosophy behind Powerful U is that no person has ever made a bad decision. People make what they believe to be the best decision for themselves based on the information they have.
Randall Mella is a hip hop dancer and choreographer from Edmonton, Alberta. He has competed in world-class competitions such as Hip Hop International, Artists Emerge and World of Dance. Randall has danced on set for the Netflix series Julie and the Phantoms and performed alongside Lia Cole for multiple music videos and live shows including a tour in Asia. His dance crew, Cool Giraffes, have made their mark on the hip hop competition scene finishing in first place at Hip Hop International Canada 2019 and in the top ten at Hip Hop International 2018.
Recycling helps to reduce the size of our landfills and the strain it takes on our planet. The recycling industry is one of the most innovative industries in the world. Those who want to participate successfully must be able to react flexibly to the industry’s dynamics and constant changes. While they are in an ever changing business, ScrapRight is a software company that is determined not to change what once made companies great, and that is customer relations, community support and the responsibility of contributing to help save mother earth.
Christine Reidhead is an academic, author & humanitarian making a difference in Africa, Mexico & the US. Growing up in the supportive community of Benson, Arizona is where Christine learned the importance of hard work and dedication. As the youngest of five children it has always been her lifelong purpose to help others, especially children. Christine is the founder of AfrikRising, a nonprofit organization that provides critical resources to the children of Africa. AfrikRising has created a positive influence in childrens’ lives who face starvation, educational limitations and health disparities.
Chris Kelly is a Black Founder and Education 3.0 Curator of world-class digital educational experiences. He has spent the last four years teaching at the International College of Beijing, and has now returned to the US to launch Onyx Global, his first initiative as a Founder. He is also a Doctoral Candidate in Adult & Professional Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, focusing on International Education Administration and Leadership. He trains people on how to become efficient effective learners for the rest of their lives through The Onyx Learner Academy, a self-directed digital learning experience that will help learners both in-person and online, for post-COVID and on into the future.
Master Newborn Care Specialist, Postpartum Doula and Pediatric Sleep Consultant, Amber Gilmore, is a hands-on educator in caring for newborn babies with more than a decade of professional experience. Her services cover childcare, clinical care of newborns, developmental knowledge, family support and parental coaching. Amber has received mentoring from Baby Nurse To Go as well as extensive training and education. Amber became a Certified Nanny through the International Career Institute, Certified Master Newborn Care Specialist through Newborn Care Solutions Institute and Certified Infant and Child Sleep Consultant through the Family Sleep Institute.
The world is full of entrepreneurial businessmen and women who have defied the odds to achieve success. Every once in a while, however, there comes along someone whose journey is so remarkable that one can’t help to stop and take notice. Velma Trayham is that entrepreneur. She has demonstrated it is not how you start, it is how you finish. Her story of perseverance and faith is truly inspiring and she’s sharing that inspiration with audiences at a personal level.
