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