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May 2022 PUBLISHER

Michelle Taylor Willis michelle.taylorwillis@citylifestyle.com EDITOR

LIFESTYLE LETTER

These Moms Are on Fire!

Erikka Searles Mitchell | emitchell@citylifestyle.com AD DESIGNER

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Emily Lisenbee CONTR IBUTING WR ITER S

Justice Frederick, Kristen Wright-Matthews, Stevie Peterson CONTR IBUTING PHOTOGR APHER S

Hey y’all! It’s May and it’s all about moms here in #SoFu! We are taking this opportunity to showcase the hottest moms as we go in the summer. Thank you so much for your submissions but we could only feature a few! There are a lot of hot moms out there. I’d love to introduce you to our winners. Remember that song by MIMS, “This is Why I’m Hot?” No? I barely remember it but I bet you won’t forget the answers of our moms when we asked them what makes them hot! (Also, that song is quite the earworm. You’re welcome!) This month we are happy to highlight another hot mom who is as cold as ice, our own local Atlanta Olympian, Bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor. I caught up with Tinashe Kinjase-Bolden from the Alliance Theatre and we talked Toni Stone and the upcoming reimagining of “Trading Places” featuring a female protagonist! It was also fun to learn about some local beauty queens with roots right here in #SoFu. We close out this month with some style tips! As always thanks for reading, #SoFu! We know you will enjoy. Happy Mother’s Day to you and yours!

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M AY 2 0 2 2

inside the issue The Ladies’ Issue

F E ATU R E D

D E PA RTM E NTS

12 Celebrating 50 Years of Dance Legacy

Lifestyle Letter

City Scene

16 #HMSOFU Hot Moms of #SoFu

Must See

Local Limelight

Our Town

Inspired By

Athlete Life

HEA LT H + WELLNE SS

Back Stage

A RTS + C U LT U R E

Locals Only

B EAU T Y

Expert Help

FI NA NC E + LEGA L SE RV IC E S

SoFu Lifestyle Presents Some of Atlanta's Hottest Moms

28 Celebrate Imagination With Alliance Theatre’s Tinashe Kinjase-Bolden 34 Risk Tolerance & Investment

What is Risk Tolerance and How Does it Affect the Investing Process?

O N T H E C OV E R

Photography: by Tim Rogers of TWR Photography Summer Jackson is one of the Hot Moms of #SoFu!

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Where neighbors can see and be seen. 1

1: 3rd Annual Spring Brunch Lady Stallions Kickball Enterprise partnered with the Men of Sandtown. 2: They honored Councilwoman Catherine Rowell, Marvin Arrington, and police officers and firefighters. 3: They honored senior citizens, teachers and first responders with a delicious brunch.

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E EL

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50 YEARS OF DA N

LEGACY

ARTICLE BY STEVIE PETERSON

M UST SE E | A RTS + CU LTURE

As a child, Norma B. Mitchell attended dance classes at the Phyllis Wheatley YMCA. Her instructor was a gentleman from Russia who taught Black youth the art of dance. Mitchell continued to perfect her dance technique even as she worked for Atlanta Public Schools and as a biology professor at Morris Brown College. In 1972, Norma’s Academy of Fine Arts was founded. Youth in Atlanta could enroll to learn the art of dance, ice skating, baton twirling, theater, and music appreciation (instrument instruction and vocal lessons). In 1985, Norma B. Mitchell suffered a massive heart attack; her daughter, Djana Bell, was faced with a difficult decision at only 20 years old. Watching her mother’s successful journey into dance instruction and desiring to continue her mother’s legacy, Bell became the artistic director in 1985. An advocate of true technical training because she believes that dance is an art where technique is extremely important, Bell likens her approach to dance to that of Debbie Allen’s. Instead of falling prey to the everchanging nature of the dance industry, she has continued to adhere to her brand of instilling discipline and the true meaning of technique. Students of Norma’s Academy of Dance are often well-prepared to earn collegiate scholarships and are more marketable for job opportunities in professional dance companies, television and film, and Broadway productions due to the discipline and attention to technique learned while attending the academy. Norma’s Academy of Dance, currently the longest continuously operating Black-owned dance studio in Atlanta, offers classes in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, modern, contemporary, and pointe. The academy continues to serve as a haven for youth in the community Dance and the desire to ensure that youth have access to a safe learning space runs in the family. Bell’s eldest daughter, Elyse, holds an MA in Arts Management from George Mason University and a minor in Dance from the University of Georgia. Her youngest daughter, Erin, works as the office manager and instructor/choreographer at the academy, and she will graduate from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia in spring 2022 Not only will the legacy continue, but it will expand. Many alumni have opened their own dance studios, often leaning on Bell for guidance, advice, or mentorship. Other alumni have returned to instruct the current students, while others have enrolled their young children in the academy with its proven track record. The newly formed nonprofit organization, The Norma B. Mitchell Legacy, will increase the number of scholarships available to students in the community who would like to enroll in dance classes. Although the pandemic forced the cancellation of the in-person “Legacy of Love” event, a showcase of various performing artists and celebration of women living with the challenges of heart disease, dance instructors and students created a video presentation that could be enjoyed virtually. With restrictions now easing, an opportunity to attend Norma’s Academy of Dance’s 50th Anniversary concert in person takes place Saturday, June 18, at Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech. Ticket sales begin on Saturday, May 21. For ticket information, visit NADance.com. Instagram: @nadance72

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It’s the small things that add more life! The City of South Fulton offers its residents something that we’re all learning, once again, to appreciate—quality of life. The big things—malls, franchises, big box chain stores—are not necessarily the things that make communities more livable. Little things often do that. With limitations on globetrotting, the essence of travel and experiencing new things is not only found in far off places. Exploring South Fulton and supporting local businesses can be fun and plays a key role in sustaining the community and showcasing it as a viable destination. Small business, local merchants, family-owned restaurants. Neighbors whose names you actually know. These things all help to make communities more livable.

# H M S O F U H OT M O M S OF #SOFU SOFU LIFESTYLE PRESENTS SOME OF ATLANTA'S HOTTEST MOMS PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIFFANY MCDONALD POWELL (TIFFANY POWELL PHOTOGRAPHY) AND TIM ROGERS (TWR PHOTOGRAPHY)

Jessica Lampkin, Photo by Tiffany McDonald Powell

JESSICA LAMPKIN OCCUPATION: Mom. Wife. Consultant. Community Servant. Jessica is a Senior Manager in SAP with Deloitte Consulting. Her family consists of her husband and 2-year-old son. She serves her sorority chapter, this community and all mankind in her role as Publicity chair. Through her chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she has provided bags of food to kids that struggle with food insecurity in #SoFu schools. She also organizes Deloitte’s massive annual volunteer event for over 1200 employees to conduct community service across Atlanta and mentor young black female professionals. JESSICA SAYS SHE IS A HOT MOM OF SOFU FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: “I am of honorable character, striving for excellence and integrity personally and professionally. I am occupied with giving my time, talent and resources to better my community and I have a timeless commitment to parenting my son and others in my ‘village’ with love and respect. I want him to grow into a wellrounded, compassionate human being.”

LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | L IFE + CULTURE

SUMMER JAC K S O N OCCUPATION: Mom. Journalist. Professor. TV Personality. Lifestyle Expert

Summer Jackson is just “Mommy” to her two daughters but to the rest of us, she is a TV journalist at CBS46 and the host of “Atlanta Plugged In!” She’s a professor at Clark Atlanta University. She’s also a Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle Expert at Macy’s. And finally she’s an entrepreneur with her own business, Summer Jackson Media Group, LLC. WHAT MAKES HER A HOT MOM? “My mommy motto is that I believe being a hot mom begins within! You cannot pour from an empty cup. In other words, for me to be the best mommy to my daughters, I have to take care of myself and have balance and joy in my life. Since becoming a mommy, I have been dedicated to maintaining that truth for myself and helping other moms to achieve that goal too!” CONTINUED >

Photo by Tim Rogers (TWR Photography) MAY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / S O F U

DAW N CARVER OCCUPATION: Mom. Wife. Child Advocate. Designer

Dawn designs swimwear, kimonos, and resort wear for her business, Courbee Apparel. She works with an amazing production team here in Atlanta. Dawn helps to create all your resort wear needs for fabulous vacations or lounging at the pool. Check out Courbee Apparel’s IG and website CourbeeApparel.shop. In addition to being a wife to an amazing husband and mom of two wonderful boys, she volunteers with child advocates, helping young children find placement to ensure a safe environment with basic needs being met. Dawn works with abused and neglected children throughout the state. She has been a volunteer for many years and before the pandemic was vice chair of the Governance Council at her boys’ school and PTA President. “I AM A HOT MOM BECAUSE not only am I doing motherly duties 24/7 and working for the betterment of the community I also take the necessary steps to focus on my overall health and diet. A healthy diet is crucial along with exercise as we age and if we’re going to continue to be a support to our husbands and children, we have to be mentally and physically healthy.”

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CRISTY JONES MISS FULTON COUNTY 2022

If there was ever a better representation of resilience and perseverance in today’s climate, it would be best rendered by Miss Fulton County 2022 herself, Cristy Jones, MPA. The Spelman College alumna (class of 2017) has had a love of both pageantry and the city of Atlanta since she was a kid, and since 2021 would have been her last year of eligibility, the Cleveland State Master’s Program Graduate knew she had nothing to lose in simply applying. Little did she know that that application would open a door to new opportunities.

O UR TOWN | BEAU TY

Cristy’s first priority on her journey to her future crown was her health and fitness. “I initially wanted to compete in Miss USA. The maximum age for that is like 28 or 29… I was planning on doing a really strict diet and exercising regiment.” Almost to her goal, Cristy was unexpectedly let go from her job and battled through a depressive episode, a detail she was very comfortable shedding light on both here and on her own platform. Between her starting her graduate program at UGA and joining Weight Watchers, Jones was ready to recommit to herself and her journey. At the time the opportunity came around to run for Miss Fulton County 2022, she was still wary about the timing since she had yet to see a pageant winner who looked like her. As “a Black woman, being Bipolar, being plus-size, like there were so many odds stacked against me, which is why I wanted to do this more. I needed to prove to myself that no matter what the odds are, no matter my size, no matter what I’m going through mentally, I’m still a queen! I’m still worthy of being loved and being treated as such.” Jones took charge of her education very early, having taken part in a Dual Enrollment Program while she attended Westlake High School. She continued to Spelman for her BA in International Studies, which she acquired in less than three years after switching her major three times. Socially, Jones felt like both an introvert and an extrovert. She was accepted into the Bonner Scholarship Program, completing a plethora of community service projects and interned with the Atlanta Mission and in the office of the late Congressman John Lewis. She also became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Despite experiencing burnout from her hectic schedule, she has called that chapter of her life “a testament to God and Him sustaining me.” “I have a lot on my plate, and I tell young ladies I mentor: ‘You cannot pour from an empty cup.’ You have to be cognizant of what you’re doing, making sure what you are doing and making sure that what you’re doing is intentional because college is a beautiful time… but if you’re trying to be president of every club and keep all A’s… it’s important, but at the same time, your mental health is so much more important.” Jones has aspirations to run for Miss USA in the future and dreams of becoming a College President.

ARTICLE BY JUSTICE FREDERICK

S P R I N G I N T O

S T Y L E ! ARTICLE BY EVONYA EASLEY

Spring has sprung and we are 2 years out of a pandemic. We have all changed mentally, physically, and emotionally. We have evolved as people and so has our style—some of us don’t go into the office at all and some are on a hybrid schedule. We have gained and lost weight, our lives have changed, and in the midst of these changes with everything going on around us and the world, let’s control what we can, which is how we show up for ourselves in the present. Style is a way to self-express before saying a word! It’s a form of self-care, because studies show we dress how we feel about ourselves. Even when you are not feeling your best, dressing like you do can and will improve your mood and confidence, so dress from the outside in or the inside out! Adding a bright colorful top or print or statement accessories releases dopamine, which gives a mood boost that can go a long way in making you look and feel your best!

I NSP IR E D BY | BEAU TY

Dress how you want to be addressed! We can help with our style app—download the app and include your style stats: height, weight, budget, and pics. A real live stylist can help you with everything from clearing your closet to shopping for new pieces for your wardrobe. Life is the occasion; let’s dress for it! Visit LoveEFashion.com to learn more about the upcoming Midsummer Dream event scheduled for June! Download the mobile app! https://styledbylovee.com/ Follow E on Social Media! https://www.instagram.com/styledbylovee/ https://www.instagram.com/loveevonya/

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Bobsled Balancing ActAtlanta Area Mom Elana Meyers Taylor TELLS SOFU LIFESTYLE BEING AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST IS NOTHING COMPARED TO BEING A MOM TO A KID WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

ARTICLE BY KRISTEN WRIGHT-MATTHEWS

AT H LE T E LIF E | HEALTH + W E LLNE S S

Mom-athletes continue to prove it’s possible to manage careers in professional sports and motherhood. Illustrious bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor is no exception. Winning five medals in four Olympics, she has medaled in every event she has ever competed in. In Beijing, she was elected by Team USA members to be their flag bearer for both opening and closing ceremonies, the first time this has happened since 1948. She is the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Games history, but the title she is most proud of is Mother. With her second-place finish, the 37-year-old mom became the oldest woman to medal for the United States at the Winter Olympics in any sport and the oldest woman to medal in any Olympic bobsled event. She won a silver and bronze in Winter Games 2022, but her most prized possession is her 2-year-old son, Nico. Meyers Taylor says driving a bobsled is easier than being a mom.

In bobsledding, they look for strong, fast, and powerful women. Especially now that Nico is up and crawling, I need these skills. — Elana Meyers Taylor

“In bobsledding, I’ve got every track memorized, and I know the speeds required, but there is no predictability in parenting,” she says. “With Nico, I know only a few things for sure, like he’s going to go to sleep, he’ll need to eat, and he will need his diaper changed.” Nico was born with Down syndrome and deaf in both ears, so she keeps a busy schedule managing his care with her husband and trainer, U.S. national team bobsledder Nicholas Taylor. “The cool thing about our journey is we’ve been able to share the responsibility,” says Meyers Taylor. “He equally looks for us both and gets whatever he wants. It’s a good mix.” Meyers Taylor can also count on her own dad, Eddie Meyers, a former professional football player for the Naval Academy and the Atlanta Falcons who traveled to Beijing as a caregiver for Nico. Families were allowed to travel if the athlete was breastfeeding. Meyers Taylor met with SoFu Lifestyle to discuss how she balances her career and motherhood. SFL: Does Nico like watching you race? EMT: He loves watching on T.V., but he doesn’t like the feel of snow. Elmo, however, takes the cake over any bobsled race. SFL: How do you balance motherhood with training? EMT: Every season, there are eight races. October to April, we’re on the ice, running and lifting 4 to 6 hours a day, six days a week. Nico goes to workouts with me. He’s been a part of this the entire time. In summer, we’re home in Atlanta. We’re gone from November to February.

SFL: Do you find any similarities between bobsledding and motherhood? EMT: In bobsledding, they look for strong, fast, and powerful women. Especially now that Nico is up and crawling, I need these skills. You can tell he is the child of two bobsledders. Changing his diaper is an athletic feat in itself! SFL: How does it feel to be a decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympics history? EMT: It’s going to be really hard to top two medals and closing out the Olympics with being a flagbearer. SFL: Are you considering calling it quits? EMT: There are definitely more days behind me than in front of me in bobsledding. SFL: What’s next for you? EMT: The sky is the limit. We want to add to the family. SFL: What is your favorite mom moment? EMT: Every day with Nico is my favorite. I cherish every moment. We weren’t sure what our communication would look like, so every sound he makes is amazing. It’s incredible. Singing him to sleep is the best. I don’t take anything for granted. SFL: What is your favorite self-care thing? EMT: Manicures and pedicures. I do those alone. Elana Meyers Taylor’s plate is already full, but she still finds time to volunteer as an Athlete Mentor for Classroom Champions, a nonprofit organization partnering Olympic and Paralympic athletes with students and teachers in underserved communities. Twitter: @eamslider24

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ARTICLE BY ERIKKA SEARLES MITCHELL

Celebrate Imagination With Alliance Theatre's Tinashe Kinjase-Bolden

There’s a proverb from Zimbabwe that states: “If you can envision it, you can accomplish it. If you can imagine it, you can reach the heavens.” Tinashe Kinjase-Bolden came all the way from Zimbabwe to pursue a degree in Theater, New York City and Broadway bound! She says that she got her start as an actor, but she knew that the “breadth of storytelling could be so much broader.” She later moved to L.A., where she continued to explore with her eye for visual storytelling through structure. “My journey was clearly headed to directing.” I asked her how Atlanta got so lucky to have her. She said she had met her husband Keith in L.A. and he had been offered a position at Spelman College. It was

B ACK STAGE | A RTS + CULTURE

here in Atlanta where she caught the eye of Susan Booth and Jody Feldman, where Kinjase-Bolden had her professional directoral debut a show written by fellow Zimbabwean Danai Guirera at Synchronicity called “Eclipsed.” It was here in Atlanta where she found her artistic home at the illustrious Alliance Theatre. She and Booth developed a close mentor/mentee relationship as Susan helped Tinashe hone her craft. Now as the BOLD Associate Artistic Director at the Alliance Theatre, she also provides leadership at the Reiser Lab and in the Spelman Fellows program. In addition, she serves as director on shows such as the groundbraking “Toni Stone” and she will serve as the associate director of the all-new revamped “Trading Places.” “Toni Stone” was a triumph on its own, one of the best pieces of art that I’ve seen on stage in Atlanta. Kinjase-Bolden speaks personally about how she highlighted the intersection of racism and sexism where we find the main character. She was able to pull back the theatrical curtain, using the onstage props to serve many uses. She knows her audience is smart and took advantage of the opportunity to “celebrate imagination.” I can’t express how excited I am to see this new imagining of the 1983 Eddie Murphy film that features a Black female lead who uses her wit to get ahead. She works with Kenny Leon to bring this vision to the stage in what she calls a “full-circle moment.” Kinjase-Bolden has worked with Leon previously in “School Girls: Or the African Mean Girls Play,” written by Jocelyn Bioh, right here in #SoFu. With humor, physical comedy, excellent music and choreography by the incomparable Fatima Robinson, this new “Trading Places” is a must-see! Join Tinashe Kinjase-Bolden and the award-winning Alliance Theatre in what she calls a “fun celebration of overcoming odds and obstacles,” starting on May 25 and running through June 26. For tickets, visit AllianceTheatre.com.

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Atlanta Student Wins Miss Georgia Teen USA Courtney Ianna Smith, 15, a student at Atlanta Public Schools and an Atlanta resident, competed with young women from across the state for the title of Miss Georgia Teen USA 2022. Courtney will represent Georgia at the national 2022 Miss Teen USA pageant later this year with the hopes of bringing the national crown to her native state at one of the most anticipated events of the year. Courtney is the daughter of Angela King Smith and Courtney Ian Smith. She attends Maynard Jackson High School, where she is a scholar and athlete involved in varsity cheerleading and student clubs. Outside of school she is a social media influencer as well as a working actor represented by East Coast Talent. After high school, Courtney aspires to attend a four-year college to study journalism and politics. The Miss Georgia Teen USA® and Miss Georgia USA® pageants are the official preliminaries to the Miss Teen USA®, Miss USA®, and Miss Universe® pageants.

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COURTNEY SMITH WILL REPRESENT GEORGIA AT THE NATIONAL 2022 MISS TEEN USA PAGEANT!

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MAY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / S O F U

Risk Tolerance & Investment WHAT IS RISK TOLERANCE AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT THE INVESTING PROCESS? ARTICLE BY ERIC WIMBUSH, CFA

Financial advisory firms use some form of risk tolerance measure to guide the investment process. Risk tolerance can be defined in many ways, but we will use a simple definition for discussion purposes. Risk tolerance is a client’s ability and willingness to take market risk. As defined by Investopedia, “‘Market risk,” is the risk of loss due to the factors that affect an entire market or asset class. Market risk is also known as undiversifiable risk because it affects all asset classes and is unpredictable.” When discussing an individual’s risk tolerance, it is important to further define the ability and willingness aspect of the definition. The ability to take risk means that the client has the financial resources and the appropriate timeframe to bear the up and down movement of a portfolio due to market risk. As the old adage goes “a person should never invest more money than they can stand to lose.” The willingness to take risk means that the client understands the potential movements of the market and how this can affect their investment portfolio and knowingly invests armed with that knowledge. The investing process is all about balancing risk with the potential return/growth that can be gained from investing. Seraphim Wealth Advisors provides detailed education to its clients that allows them to make educated decisions about their financial future. Each person has a unique risk profile that should be used to build a suitable portfolio. Do you know your investing risk tolerance? Visit us at SeraphimWealth.com to learn more about investing and what’s suitable for you.

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