WI Bridge - November 2017

RAHEEM DEVAUGHN IS HOME FOR THE

Holidays

NOVEMBER 2017 | VOL 3, ISSUE 11

NOVEMBER 2017 | VOL 3, ISSUE 11

PUBLISHER

Denise Rolark Barnes

PHOTO EDITOR Dejah Greene

LAYOUT EDITOR

Dominiqua S. Eldridge

Proudly For #LocalsOnly

Inside ComplexCon 2017 with Lafayette

Meet Imani Pope-Johns

EDITOR’S LETTER It’s that time of year again where the holidays are front and center and the days are filled with seasons greetings, food, drinks, parties and gifts.

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Jade James-Gist

I sat down with him this month during Macy’s Christmas Window unveiling where he shared his love for the holidays, musicianship and service.

The hometown hero and nationally known R&B singer is a breath of fresh air when it comes to celebrities. He’s a talent that carries himself well on and off the stage, gracefully picking up the torch of many musicians/ activist who came before him.

Cawker Ave Apparel Reps the Real D.C.

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Meet Imani Pope-Johns PAGE

Sarafina Wright

In what is considered a cheerful time singer Raheem DeVaughn wants people to use the holiday spirit to push them to give back.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

The Holidays Are About PAGE Service for Raheem DeVaughn Singer Teams Up with Macy’s for Christmas Window Unveiling

ON THE COVER WI BRIDGE TEAM

In this issue you will also meet Imani PopeJohns a PR maven making waves in D.C. and get familiar with local apparel company Cawker Ave. We even went all the way to Long Beach, Calif. to be on the ground at ComplexCon. Check out the dope pics and correspondence from Bridge contributor Lafayette.

Don’t forget to follow and like us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Do you want November’s digital edition?

Visit us at http://washingtoninformer.com/ category/wi-bridge/. www.facebook.com/wibridgecommunity @InformerBridge www.twitter.com/informerbridge

www.instagram.com/washinformerbridge

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The ladies of the Bridge Jade, Sarafina and Dominiqua caught up with each other on Saturday, March 25, a beautiful spring day at Union Market in Northeast. / Photo by Steve Garrett.

Web: http://washingtoninformer.com/news/wi-bridge/

Email: wibridge@washingtoninformer.com #WIBRIDGE

Singer Raheem Devaughn performs at Macy’s on G Street Northwest for their annual Christmas window unveiling to kick off the holiday season on Saturday, Nov. 18. /Photo by Shevry Lassiter.

NOVEMBER 2017 | VOL 3, ISSUE 11

Cawker Ave Apparel Reps the Real D.C. Proudly For #LocalsOnly

By Sarafina Wright WI Bridge Editor

Street-wear brand Cawker Ave wants to keep the authentic culture of D.C., Maryland and Virginia [DMV] alive in the face of cultural appropriation and gentrification by designing a brand that’s for #LocalsOnly.

The e-commerce site launched in October boasting an emerging cult-like, cool-kid following that is intent on representing the region like local favorites such as mumbo sauce, PA Palace, Backyard Band and phrases like “Kill Moe, On Muvas, Whole Time and Real Live.”

“Y'all need to know that #CawkerAve is special because it's a reflection of our city through the eyes of many instead of just one person,” creator of Cawker Ave who would like to remain anonymous said.

“The designs and ideas are sourced from thoroughbred natives who: think “Still Ray” is better sung by BYB; to-date, park faced out from going to go-go's; ate mumbo sauce long before it was a band or packaged and sold; and had Nike boots, 992's, and/or Foams as a wardrobe staple at some point in life.”

From the streets of Glenarden, Md. to Barry Farms and Southeast the brand asserts that Cawker Ave, a unisex line, strives to be a platform and highlight local creative talent.

Launching earlier this summer with just t-shirts, the brand now produces socks and jackets.

The shirts have sayings like “Waldorf Air” poking fun at the distance from D.C. to Waldorf, Md, and “Girla” a typical response in a conversation between girlfriends.

“We rock with and support our own. Always.

202 x 301 x 703,” the creator said. “It's D.C., DMV or nothing. This is unapologetically ours!”

View the line at https://www.cawkerave. com/

Photos courtesy of Cawker Ave.

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Cultural Director/Executive Chair of ComplexCon, Pharrell Williams strikes a pose on Saturday, Nov. 4 in Long Beach, Calif. /Photo by Anthony Trevino.

Inside ComplexCon 2017 with Lafayette

By Lafayette Barnes WI Bridge Contributor

Have you ever wondered what it would look like if all of the cool people from the internet gathered in one room? Every brand, celebrity or influencer that you've interacted with online? Well that was just the beginning of my experience from Nov. 4-5 in Long Beach, Calif. at ComplexCon 2017. During my visit I Rapper Big Sean headlines day one of ComplexCon rubbed shoulders with sneaker culture icons on Saturday, Nov. 4 in Long Beach, Calif. /Photo by such as DJ Clark Kent and reggeaton superstar Anthony Trevino.

J. Balvin. I also witnessed some of my favorite artists such as Pharrell and Migos. A major highlight was seeing alternative band N.E.R.D back together again after a 3 years hiatus. I also witnessed designer and founder of Off-White, Virgil Abloh and Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami put on a t-shirt screenprinting seminar and got a first look at many exclusive sneaker and fashion releases for 2018.

Complexcon was a great experience and the ideal opportunity for consumers and companies to connect with brands, learn about pop culture and have some fun. For more information visit Complexcon.com.

Rapper Andre 3000 stops by ComplexCon on Saturday, Nov. 4 in Long Beach, Calif. /Photo by Anthony Trevino.

Pro-tip for next year: Arrive early, bring cash for purchases, and study the event map.

Actress Karrueche stops by ComplexCon on day one on Saturday, Nov. 4 in Long Beach, Calif. / Photo by Anthony Trevino.

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Aerial view of the Nike Air Force activation on day one of ComplexCon on Saturday, Nov. 4 in Long Beach, Calif. /Photo by Anthony Trevino.

Rapper Kendrick Lamar speaks at ComplexCon on day two on Sunday, Nov. 5 in Long Beach, Calif. / Photo by Anthony Trevino.

NOVEMBER 2017 | VOL 3, ISSUE 11

Meet Imani Pope-Johns One of 25 Top African American Millennials in PR

By Sarafina Wright WI Bridge Editor

In one of the Huffington Post’s newest series highlighting the top African American Public Relations professionals in the country, Imani Pope-Johns, 28, a Howard alum finds herself in an elite group. Leading Influplexity, a boutique PR firm in Silver Spring, Md. the 2012 Howard graduate in just a few years has ascended to the top of the ranks in the competitive world of image management. Meet Imani Pope-Johns.

How did you get started in PR? I have a background in journalism, public relations and marketing, in that order. I got started in the communications field after obtaining an internship with J’Adore Magazine as a market research intern in Fall 2008. I was new to Twitter and started following magazines. I tweeted J’Adore, “Do you have any internships?” and the publisher told me to send over some samples. I went from interning for three months to a staff writer attending NYFW, and covering other entertainment or lifestyle stories. For about 2-3 more years I would submit work for various publications. So in late Fall 2010, I had stepped away from interning for a DC-based publicist to being approached to work on my own with a celebrity music manager. From that moment, I was in public relations full throttle and excited about it. I had the confidence to keep going and so I did.

How would your describe Influplexity and why did you start the agency?

Influplexity is sophisticated influence. I came up with the word by combining “influence” and “complexity” and decided that my public relations boutique would take the hard part out of earning media placements. I started the company in May 2015 after resigning from my assistant manager position at Drybar. I realized that everyone around me was able to do something they loved.

What is the process of building a client base for a new PR agency?

The process is not easy. I mostly gain clients through word-of-mouth, and stray away from bidding for now. I’ve always promoted my interest in PR - and when put to the test, I make sure I can hold my end of the pitch to the client. In PR, there’s a lot of research to do,

Imani Pope-Johns, founder of Influplexity PR. /Photo courtesy of Imani Pope-Johns.

and if one is not able to prepare work and research the details, they might as well forget it. Nothing is given to you and if it is, there may be something you have to do to help someone in the end. There’s a lot more helpfulness now that I’m 28, than when I was 21 doing this. Being young in PR can be a threat, especially when you are where they are mingling with the right people.

How competitive is the PR world in Washington, DC? I’d say I get more love in New York City or in Atlanta, than I would within the D.C. area and anyone can say that. I could be a rapper and say the same thing. I’m not sure why it’s like that, but I’ve always felt it.

Who are your clients and how do you Why do you think you were chosen for such a prestigious list early in choose who to work with?

I’ve learned that just because the client has the your career? What are you doing that budget, does not mean they’re the best for you. I works? agree with being selective and making sure you can align yourself with the people running the business. My current clients are Dio, a natural wine bar in Washington, D.C., and Zach and Zoe Sweet Bee Farm in New Jersey. I started with musicians, magazines and event companies, to hair brands, public figures and now I’m in lifestyle, beauty, home, and I love startups of any kind. I choose clients based on my personal interests. Since I love décor and I’m licensed in cosmetology, I want to work with brands I can really get behind.

I think I was chosen because I’ve been holding on for seven years. I’ve made some serious sacrifices to get this far, and sometimes I’m so unsure that I would let it all go. Then I find this spark, and go at it from another angle. I’m truly not able to pinpoint this honor, but I’m glad someone saw it in me. Running a business is tough and we don’t always look for the glitter and gold when we’re in the thick of it.

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Singer Raheem DeVaughn at Macy’s Metro Center in Northwest on Saturday, Nov. 18 for their annual Christmas Window Unveiling. /Photo by Zaid Hamid

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NOVEMBER 2017 | VOL 3, ISSUE 11

The Holidays Are About Service for Raheem DeVaughn Singer Teams Up with Macy’s for Christmas Window Unveiling hero, the energy and the fact that they are here it makes perfect sense.”

In theme with the spirit of the holiday season DeVaughn performed a holiday interpretation of ‘This Christmas’ along with his musical partner Wes Felton.

“We recently just released an album entitled ‘Footprints on the Moon,’ and we call ourselves ‘The Crossrhodes,’ Rhodes like the scholar and it’s very heavy, politically charged, socially conscious music.”

“In the spirit of the holiday we always think about eating good, buying gifts and going shopping, but for me it’s about being of service to the homeless, those who are displaced and people who are just having a hard time.”

DeVaughn believes that the percentage of those struggling are high not just in the District, but globally, which is why he does his part where he can.

Singer Raheem DeVaughn chats about music, the holiday and service at Macy’s Metro Center in Northwest on Saturday, Nov. 18 for the annual Christmas Window Unveiling. /Photo by Shevry Lassiter.

By Sarafina Wright WI Bridge Editor

A hometown hero, singer and activist, Raheem DeVaughn returned to the District to welcome the holiday season in alongside Macy’s with an unforgettable performance and message.

The department store held their annual Christmas Window Unveiling on Saturday, Nov. 18 at Macy’s Metro Center in Northwest bringing back childhood memories for the performer.

“Ironically I’m coming from doing a turkey drive,” he said. “We did it with DJ Quick Silva and Tony Lewis Jr. who is a big community activist in the area as well as KitchenCray. We gave food to 300600 families today alone and that’s stuff we do throughout the year.”

DeVaughn’s community work and reputation precedes him throughout D.C. and unlike many artists who resent the lack of support, DeVaughn feels the love from the people.

“As it relates to D.C. as far as the people are concerned we get a lot of love, but I would like to see the corporate side of D.C. support, excluding Macy’s,” he said.

DeVaughn insisted the local radio stations in the city could do a better job with supporting local artist, but he understands the business.

“My relationship with Macy’s is special,” he said.

“I always remembered Macy’s from shopping there, my parents going there or just hearing about the parades that they do, the holiday festivities and the unveilings as Thanksgiving approaches.”

“It’s not to bash or beat anyone up, this is a very tough market to have your music played in and it feels extremely hard when you’re a local artist,” he said. “Part of that is due to the fact that D.C. radio dictates what the rest of the country is doing and what they listen to believe it or not.”

“I always thought it would be cool to be apart of one of these. This is the first time that I ever partaken in one of the unveilings and performances. I remember hearing about it last year and thinking man why didn’t they get me.

But everything happens in its own time.”

“In the Radio One arena, the other sister stations around the country play close attention to what D.C. is playing so it makes it a very political thing.”

“It’s humbling you know being a hometown

“The album that Wes Felton and I just dropped serves a whole other purpose it’s not just about entertainment. We’re not trying to seduce someone to the bedroom we’re out here trying to save lives

through the microphone, community work, speaking engagements, nothing related to us being on stage and singing,” he said.

“I would love to see more of the powers that be supporting positive messages. As far as the people are concerned I get that love because of the vibration I put out, you get that back. And there may be some people that don’t love me, but I hope they at least respect the efforts that I do.”

With Christmas around the corner, DeVaughn does take the time to enjoy holiday classics like ‘Silent Night by the Temptations,’ but his all time favorite Christmas record is by R&B group Boys II Men. “The dopest Christmas album to date is Boys II Men, ‘Christmas Interpretations,’ he said.

“What I loved about that album is that it was all original songs with the exception of one or two.”

“The songs were so good and it didn’t feel forced.”

As for his own Christmas album DeVaughn claims he’s working on it.

“I have a Christmas album that I’ve been sitting on for some years. The album’s been in existence since 2010. The cool thing about making music as artist is we have vaults of songs. Regardless if it sits for 20 years, once you put it out it’s a new record to the public. There will definitely be a holiday record at some point.”

For a man that gives so much of himself to his fans and community he only has one special request for the holiday season.

“I would like for everybody who reads this interview to make a donation to the Love Life Foundation in hopes that we can continue to feed those and clothe those that are displaced,” he said.

“So we can continue to advocate for women, children and men, fight domestic violence and continue our efforts and partnership with AHF which is the Aids Healthcare Foundation.”

“When you make a donation these are the things you support. That would be a great Christmas gift for me.”

Visit http://lovelifefoundationdmv.org for more information.

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