Fall 2021
Imma Adamu
Food
Imma Adamu is an American chef, blogger, recipe developer, and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles, California. She is the CEO and founder of Immaculatebites.com, a food blog that explores different cuisines from her adventures around the world. Imma specializes in African-rooted food such as soul food, southern, caribbean, and creole dishes.
Currently, Imma’s website has 2 million unique monthly visitors and collectively has a million followers across her social platforms which include Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Kendra Barnes
Real Estate / Investment
Kendra Barnes is a full-time real estate investor and founder of The Key Resource. Her real estate investments afforded her the ability to retire from the 9-5 life at the age of 32. She created The Key Resource to inspire, empower and educate people about the power of home ownership and real estate investment.
Nitika Chopra
Health / Wellness
Nitika Chopra is the founder and CEO of Chronicon which is a platform and community dedicated to elevating the lives of those living with a chronic illness. As the host of “The Point of Pain” podcast and the talk show “Naturally Beautiful” which aired worldwide on TV, Nitika is committed to breaking the cycle of isolation that comes from being chronically ill and is focusing on increasing their visibility.
Tinger Hseih
Travel / Food
Tinger Hseih is an entrepreneur with the travel and food blog Dash of Ting, which brings cultures together through food. Tinger has been featured and hosted shows for Trip Advisor, Tastemade, Thrillist, and Buzzfeed as well as collaborated with brands such as Whole Foods, Qatar Airways, Paramount Pictures, and the Mexico Tourism Board. In addition to her work as a content creator, host and influencer, Tinger is also the founder of the marketing consultancy Dash of Media, specializing in influencer marketing.
Aileen Luib
Lifestyle / Finance
Aileen Luib is the founder of the lifestyle, fashion, and beauty blog The Baller on a Budget, which was created to help millennial women become more money savvy without depriving themselves of the many luxuries the modern-day young adult desires. Her philosophy that no one should have to compromise in order to create their dream life has reached over 1.2 million people online. She has been featured on Wall Street Journal, Vox, Bloomberg Tax, and more.
Vanessa Mota
Food
Vanessa Mota is the founder of My Dominican Kitchen, a bilingual platform that helps busy parents put together tasty traditional Dominican and Latin-inspired meals. She is passionate about creating quick and easy versions of the recipes she grew up eating to share with those who want to cook foods filled with Latin flavors that don’t take a ton of time to prepare.
It is her mission to show you that you can make great flavorful dishes at home without spending the entire day in the kitchen.
Marta Rivera Diaz
Food
Marta Rivera Diaz is a formally trained chef with more than 25 years of cooking and baking experience. She created Sense & Edibility® to encourage advanced and novice cooks alike to explore and succeed at executing culinary fundamentals and techniques never before explained to them. Keen to stay on the cutting edge of innovative dishes and techniques, Marta melds her multi-cultural background and extensive travel history into creative recipes that inspire others. She is the proud wife of a retired U.S. Army soldier and mother of 16 year-old twins. Marta currently resides in San Antonio, Texas.
Renee “Renz” Robley
Food
Renee "Renz" Robley is a South Florida-based food blogger and founder of Homemade Zagat, a blog showcasing authentic Afro-Caribbean cuisine. She wants to use her platform to not only feature the food but also highlight the knowledge and traditions of her community.
Kimberly Smith
Activism / Culture / Lifestyle
Kimberly Smith is an Indigenous activist, organizer, and citizen scientist from the Diné Nation. She advocates for environmental justice, food sovereignty, permaculture, art expansion, and Indigenous knowledge. Kim is the Founder of Indigenous Goddess Gang, an Indigenous-led community and online feminist magazine. Kim and the IGG collective are curating a digital space to reclaim traditional and healing knowledge from an Indigenous feminist lens.
Nzinga Young
Food
Nzinga Young is a Brooklyn-based vegan influencer who works to create a positive and collaborative online space. As a born and raised vegetarian and 6 year vegan, her platform allows current and aspiring vegans to share tips, ask questions, and openly discuss topics without fear of judgment. Nzinga spent years working for various Animal Rights nonprofits and speaking on vegan issues.
Art by Nichole Washington