Founder, Author, & Curator of Safe Spaces for Black Women™
Kara Coulter Klarisa Coulter
Curriculum Specialist, AHN Foundation
Research Assistant, AHN Foundation
We are officially past the halfway mark of the year. And while the world is getting more trifflin’ and hateful towards Black women. Let me remind you: I created this space to do the opposite: validate, encourage, and elevate the voices of Black women.
This edition is deeply personal. Unbothered & Becoming is not just a theme; it has become my way of life. It is a reflection of where I am right now: choosing peace over drama, alignment over comfort, and truth over lies and “fakeness.” I am leaning in hard on pivoting by walking away from what no longer works for me without second-guessing my decision.
The power of choosing peace over drama brings comfort, allowing me to pivot without second-guessing my decisions.
This issue was written to remind you that you are allowed to be unbothered, take your time, and begin again without shame. Whether you are shifting your boundaries, reassessing your priorities, or simply choosing rest, you are not behind. You are right on time.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for choosing yourself. And thank you for allowing Alicia Nicole Magazine to be a part of your becoming.
With love and intention,
Alicia Nicole
in this issue
Welcome to theJulyedition ofAlicia Nicole Magazine.Amonthlyreminderthatvalidates yourgrowth,we encourage rest, and evolution is onyourterms.
Here iswhatyouwill find inside:
Unbothered and Becoming Ourcoverstoryreflects on alignment, freedom, and the quiet reset that transforms everything from the inside out.
The Mid-YearSelf-Check
Sixreflective prompts to assessyouralignment, priorities, and energy. No shame.Just honesty and redirection.
We also share past and upcoming events.
Manythings are brewing thatyouwon'twant to miss.
This issue is forthewomanwho is tired of chasing, performing, and is readyto reset.
You are not behind.You are becoming.
Alicia Nicole Presents…
This October, Blackwomenwill gatherin the desert foran experience that transcends rest and redefines restoration.The 4thAnnual Relax, Release, & Restore Retreat returnswith unmatched intention and elegance, hosted at the fabulous JWMarriott Resort in Palm Desert.
Surrounded bypalm-lined serenity, cascading pools, and breathtaking mountainviews, this four-day, three-night retreat is more than aweekend getaway; it is a declaration.Asacred space where softness is honored, sisterhood is prioritized, and everydetail is designed to nourish the mind, body, and soul
From private Oasis cabanas to soul-stirring conversations, this retreat is curated forthewoman who gives everything and is nowreadyto receive.
SPACE IS LIMITED. LUXURYIS GUARANTEED.YOUR RESTORATIONAWAITS. OCTOBER 9–12, 2025 | PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA TO LEARN MOREAND RESERVEYOUR PLACE,VISIT: CLICKHERE THE RETURN OFREST:AN INVITATIONTO RESTORE
RELAX RELEASE RESTORE R TEAT
We are more than halfway through the year, and I am ready to share some things I have not shared with most.
Starting this lifestyle brand has been both exciting and challenging. When I decided to build a brand that embodies my passion, providing Black women with a space of safety, luxury, and restoration, I was excited
True story: I never thought that living in my truth would cause many to love and support me, and others not to. I am a supportive person, sometimes it is to my detriment.
Starting this lifestyle brand has been both beautiful and brutal Exciting and deeply personal I built this brand with a clear vision to offer Black women spaces rooted in safety, luxury, and restoration, not just in theory, but in a luxurious, real, and lived experience.
It was never just about my book (Safe Spaces for Black Women) or events. It was about creating what I needed, and what I know so many of us still need A space where we can take off the armor, breathe deeply, and feel seen without explanation
Here is the part I did not expect.
Living in my truth brought overwhelming love and support from women who immediately understood it. It also brought distance from some I thought would never need a reason to stay close
That duality has been complex to hold
I am naturally supportive. I show up. I give freely. Sometimes to my detriment. So, to feel unseen by those I have rooted for has been painful. It has also been clarifying
This season has taught me that alignment is costly. But peace while fulfilling your purpose is worth the price.
I am still building, believing, and becoming. And if you are, too, know this
It is not your job to shrink to make others comfortable with your becoming
Keep creating. Keep showing up for yourself. The women who are meant to find you will.
Thank you to everyone who has supported the Alicia Nicole Experience with your presence, reposts, words, or quiet prayers I see you And I do not take it lightly
This is still just the beginning.
And I am not afraid to keep going, exactly as I am
Taking this stance is not easy Sometimes it leaves you feeling isolated with just your thoughts. The strength in this is that you feel safe in that space because, when you love yourself, you ' re willing to release anything and anyone that doesn't support your self-love.
Sis, to become who you are meant to be, you must become unbothered Unbothered with losing people, how people see you, and fear Continue elevating with an unbothered spirit
I'm Speaking
Safe Spaces for Black Women™ is more than words to me; it is a way of life. I create them, I desire them, and I wrote a whole book about it.
I am taking my research on the road and presenting at the Black Girls in Social Work Conference. Stay tuned for more information!
Announcing Alicia's Podcast Return
After a much-needed hiatus, the “Hey Sis! With Alicia Nicole” podcast is returning on Tuesday, July 8th! This season, we are celebrating the power, presence, and purpose of Black women who are shifting culture, building legacy, and creating space for us to rise. We have changed the format, and I am excited to introduce it to you here first!! Each episode, I’m sitting down with phenomenal women doing impactful work in their own way, on their own terms, to empower our community.
In this special episode of Hey Sis! With Alicia Nicole, I am joined by Patricia Gaitlain, the visionary behind Black LinkedIn. What began as a digital space has evolved into a powerful movement for representation, connection, and unapologetic Black excellence in the professional world.
Patricia shares the story behind founding Hashtag Black LinkedIn, what it means to cultivate belonging in spaces that weren’t built for us, and how she’s helping Black professionals show up fully, without code-switching, shrinking, or compromising.
If you have ever wondered whether there’s room for you in spaces that feel closed off, this conversation is a reminder that you can create your own and bring others with you.
You can listen, subscribe, and learn more about the Hey Sis! With Alicia Nicole Podcast @ alicianicole.org/listen!
Alicia Coulter, MPH, MSW, CEO of the AHN Foundation, had the honor of attending a powerful screening and panel discussion hosted by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell’s office at the Natural History Museum as part of the 2nd District’s Racial Justice Learning Exchange.
We viewed “A Time to Yell – More Than a Statue,” a compelling documentary that examines the 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville and the more profound truths about race, resistance, and America’s reckoning with glorifying Confederate soldiers and other figures that exemplify white supremacy.
By Klarisa Coulter
It can get pretty stressful in the household during the summer when all the teens and college kids are home for the summer with nothing to do but sit at home and eat all your groceries. With the final weeks of summer upon us, here are a few hobbies or activities to keep your teens occupied and out of your hair!
Try outdoor yoga or group workouts
Swim, visit the beach, or a lake
Draw, paint, or get into digital art
Write stories, poems, or a journal
Learn a new language
Learn to cook new recipes
Volunteer somewhere meaningful
Get a summer job or internship
Work on college or scholarship prep
Practice driving
Start a small business or side hustle –Sell art, offer tutoring, or resell clothes.
Read for fun –Pick a few books you’ve always meant to try.
Bullet journal or scrapbook – Stay organized and document memories.
Even though summer is on its way out and the new school year is about to begin, there are still so many ways your kids can utilize their time wisely by learning something new, adopting a new hobby, or simply getting to know themselves better during a period of a few months! Encourage your teen by helping them know themselves!
Safe Spaces for Black Women is Alicia’s love letter to Black women. Having survived workplace abuse through validation, encouragement, and elevation, she took the initiative to provide a roadmap for Black women to not only survive but thrive through and beyond the trauma. Have you read Safe Spaces for Black Women yet? If not, check out what people are saying on Amazon or Barnes & Noble Online and then purchase a copy!
