THRIVE Crew February Issue
TORIA SIMMONS Toria Simmons , a writer and designer with creative talent , is the single mother of a 3 year old son . Born and raised in Charleston , SC , Toria graduated from Macedonia High School , and moved to Atlanta GA where she attend American Intercontinental University and received a BFA degree in Visual Communications . With a background in visual communications , she would go on to work for Ace Media and Freelance for five years and then move on to Gildan Active ware , where she has gained experience in distribution over the last 6 years . With a new take on a life as a single mother , Toria felt like it was time to do something for herself . Always pleasing others , but never truly pursuing her passion . She decided to start doing for herself . With the help of an old college friend , J . Nicolle , Toria decided to join Ms . Jennifer Pink and JVillage and become a JVillager . Now , working with J . Nicolle on her business ; J . Nicolle Style House under the JVillagers ’ program as a Virtual Assistant where she is assisting in designing flyers , creating press releases and media kits and also embarking on her creative writing talent . Toria works on small projects such as plays and scripts in her spare time . She has a strong passion for creative writing and loves a challenge . She looks forward to fulfilling all her goals in life and embarking on new ventures .
KHALILAH OLOKUNOLA She speaks | she authors | she builds | she lights fires in women . Khalilah Olokunola was not born with a silver spoon she worked for it . Despite growing up in an upper middle class home , life happened and she found herself faced with a myriad of scenarios that she reaped the consequences of . Today , Khalilah is a successful Entrepreneur who holds more than 10 years of event production , innovation , business development & brand strategy experience to the company . She has a proven track record in connecting brands to their base & assisting women in different stages of life with developing new businesses or restructuring those already in existence . She also knows how to throw a heck of an event ! She has been named a Woman to Watch by WILMA magazine & nominated for the Women of Achievement Award by the YWCA . She is the current chair of The New Hanover Commission For Women receiving an acknowledgement from the White House in 2013 for her work in reviving a defunct board during Women ’ s history month , Founder of Powerful WomenILM , Co-Founder of Wilmington Fashion Weekend , Partner at Smart Stylenista - The first collaborative / co-selling fashion tech platform & Managing Partner of The Well Heeled Hustle . Khalilah is the author of Be Brave-An interactive workbook & Journal of intentional lessons of leadership for powerful women who aspire to lead . She is happily married to Al with 4 children ages 21 , 20 , 7 and 8 . Along with a pup named Ms . Bailey they call Wilmington , NC home by way of Brooklyn , New York
J . NICOLLE J . Nicolle , J . Nicolle , Style Resuscitator is a single mother of twoboy 15 and girl 5 . J . Nicolle has passion for fashion and has since a young child . Born and raised outside Philadelphia , Pennsylvania J . Nicolle took to her dream since a 10th grader and headed off to Atlanta , Georgia in 2000 to pursue a BFA degree in Fashion Design & Marketing . Becoming pregnant with her son her first quarter in college , J . was told that she would not make it to graduation . Despite the naysayers she did that and more . She not only graduated she graduated on time received her degree with all that she endured through the process . J . Nicolle has accomplished a so much from staring her own Virtual Assistant company to now being the chief editor for THRIVE Magazine and the chief resuscitator for Stylized THRIVE , to hosting her own radio talk show Style Resuscitation on Sage Network and in the progress of starting her own styling company J . Nicolle Style house which will launch soon .
J . Nicolle knows all to well how hard it is to keep yourself fashion forward as single mom . J ., gives tips and tricks , and inspires moms especially single moms to ( C ) create ( P ) personalize ( R ) resuscitate their fashion .
MONICA SUMTER Monica Sumter , also known as the up and coming author / speaker MoGeSu , is the single mother of one daughter , Monét , whose full time dance career is rapidly growing . Born and raised in South Carolina , Monica decided to step out on faith by writing and self-publishing two adult romance novels , “ Dreams Really Do Come True ” and “ Truly Yours ”. The experience not only got her in contact with new and encouraging people but it also inspired her to begin the process of starting her own non-profit organization , # GrownWomanhood which promotes growth and bonding among women . Being that her message is of love , relationships and finding true happiness she is excited to spread her wings even more as one of 5 hosts on the Sage Mentoring Moments Radio Talk Show . Monica is truly an on-the-go single mom working on achieving her goals one accomplishment at a time !
THRIVE MAGAZINE 3