People love to assume that youth automatically equals naivety. Society expects that because you are sixteen in high school or twenty in college, your heart is an open playground where anyone can leave their mess and call it “character building”. Then wonder why there are villianous-like women walking around with…
We talk a lot about “changing the world,” but sometimes we miss the chance to change the very hallways we walk through, our your children walk through, every day. If you’ve ever felt like your voice as a Black student, or parents of a Black student, was being marginalized or…
Roots to Roses was such a lovely title for the event and look who picked up another award and feeling blessed about it!
I remember sitting in my dorm room at the University of Michigan, staring at my business plan and realizing that while my vision was mine, the execution was going to require a village. I wasn’t just looking for “friends” to hang out with on the Diag; I was looking for…
The hardest part of the journey isn’t finding love…it’s believing you are worthy of it once it finally stands in front of you. Many of us are “overachievers” in everything except receiving. We know how to give, how to nurture, and how to build, but when a man shows up…
We’ve been conditioned to think that love is a lightning bolt; something that hits you and leaves you breathless. But often, the love that lasts isn’t a bolt; it’s a slow-burning fire that warms you without burning you down. Recognizing love in 2026 requires looking past the “aesthetic” of a…
We spend so much time getting ready for a date; the hair, the outfit, the fragrance; but how much time do we spend getting our hearts ready for the weight of another person’s soul? Preparation isn’t about being “perfect” for a man; it’s about being whole for yourself so that…
As Feb. 15th rolls in, I’m listening to some of my friends complain about the annoyances of their mates for the Valentine’s Day weekend or the situationship that didn’t mature or just seeing posts of sistahs upset about wasting their time and I just thought some things were things people…
In the middle of the night, I was re-watching Black Panther and I realized that we often talk about the strength of the Dora Milaje, but we don’t spend enough time talking about the Soft Power of Shuri. She is the ultimate Blackprint for the Scholar Goddess. She is the…
Honestly Sis, sometimes you have to go dark for a moment to come back brighter than the world is even ready for. As I’m sitting here reflecting on the future of Alona Leoine Couture and the Alona Leoine Foundation, I’ve realized that excellence isn’t just about what you do, but…
I was looking at my financial dashboard this morning and realized that in 2026, a high credit score isn’t just about a “good number”…it is a certificate of freedom and financial integrity. It is the difference between asking for permission and giving yourself a green light. As we move deeper…
I was putting on my pearls this morning and I felt the weight of them against my skin; not as a burden, but as an anchor. Every time we choose how we present ourselves to the world, we are participating in an ancient tradition of storytelling. Welcome to February. For…
I was looking at the calendar this morning, realizing we’ve survived the coldest month of the year by tending to our own internal fire. We didn’t just “get through” January; we built the foundation for a year that has no choice but to respect our name. As we prepare to…
There is a specific kind of power that comes when you realize that “No” is not a wall, but a gate…and you are the only one with the key. As we hit the final stretch of January, I want to have a conversation that is often whispered about but rarely…
I was putting on a string of pearls today and I’m reminded that they aren’t just jewelry; they are a testimony. A pearl is born from irritation: a grain of sand that shouldn’t be there, but the oyster layers it in grace until it becomes a gem. Happy Birthday to…
My mother always told me that my menstrual (period) is sacred. She raised me to see my body as a vessel of divine timing but, as I stepped out into the world, I realized that society didn’t share her reverence. To the world, our cycle is often treated as “the…
To keep this audit deep and real, we have to look past just the surface level and look at the mentality behind the male. In 2026, dusty energy isn’t just what his bank account gives off. It’s about his character, his discipline, and how he treats the COLLECTIVE of Black…
I was scrolling through the group chat last night and realized that we are officially in a new era of discernment because in 2026, a “nice guy” with a job is no longer the baseline; it’s the bare minimum for us. Now that we’ve passed “Dating Sunday” and the apps…
I was lying in bed this morning, watching the sunlight slowly stretch across my room, and I realized that the first sixty minutes of your day are the most contested minutes of your life. Between the notifications, the family group texts, and the noise of a new political era, everyone…
