My journalism journey is centered on sharing cultural experiences, travel-related luxury and wellness products, and the unique stories of travelers worldwide. As an editor and travel writer, what inspires much of my work is the ‘why’ behind the best places to stay, play and gourmet, as well the compelling narratives of history happening in the now. These bylines are some of the most exciting pieces I’ve had the opportunity to craft with the support of amazing interviewees and agency and brand partners.
I was commissioned for this article by an editor on the RS editorial team. The commission consisted of writing a 500-word Caribbean-focused piece that spotlighted three destinations in the region and the on-island culture, cuisine, and adventure for various vacation themes.
If you’re considering planning your first itinerary through Switzerland, consider these distinctly different cities to ease into Swiss culture.
Journalist Malika Andrews shares her most memorable stays in the newest season of 'Perfect 10,' a digital series by Hotels.com.
The lead songstress of Tank and the Bangas recently partnered with Expedia, sharing the best eats and music spots for this year's Jazz Fest.
Kingston is a city brimming with warmth and creativity. Explore the birthplace of reggae music and its rich history and culture
The travel industry’s look is still very homogenous, however, a growing number of Black women leaders are using their prowess to change that.
At 40 Harriet Tubman Way, an unassuming road in Lowcountry South Carolina, sits a wealth of American history–Black history–that you’ve likely never seen in any textbook.
From safety travel items to trendy wardrobe pieces, Spring Break vacations are best enjoyed when you’re prepared.
When he’s not in the studio or making rounds on red carpets, Lecrae loves to get into the world to explore. Lecrae takes intentional journeys around the world before each album launch.
When travelers consider a visit to The Bahamas, an affordable all-inclusive or a cruise tends to come to mind. Luxury offerings aren’t quite as widespread, but there’s one stay that stands out among the crowd: Baha Mar Resort.
The Bahamas recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of its independence. Formerly a British crown colony, the country celebrates the affair each year with events that honor its culture and freedom. Junkanoo, a tradition they celebrated since slavery, holds a special space in Bahamians hearts.
Avid travelers know the quest for optimizing your travel game and gear is ongoing. One of the biggest considerations, especially when space is of the essence, is finding the right accessories that are both efficient and effective. The newest wave of trending luggage is collapsible suitcases, and one of the top brands is Rollink.
Nigerian Celebrity Chef Tolu Erogbogbo, also known as Chef Tolu Eros or “The Billionaire Chef,” developed a love for entrepreneurship after starting his first business at the age of 13 selling snacks to his classmates. The culinary entertainer discovered his passion for food while studying at the University of Wolverhampton. He took his first job at a restaurant and started a business he called “Chicken Guy.” In 2009, he moved back to Nigeria to open his first restaurant at the age of 21. During that time, Erogbogbo unknowingly started what would become his life’s passion. It’s a passion rooted in a love for food, flavors and West African culture.
‘Safe’ and ‘welcoming’ are two words visitors use to describe Accra, Ghana, making it the perfect place for Black people to visit. Accra, the capital and largest city in Ghana, is located on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea in western Africa. Named “Africa’s capital of cool” by the New York Times, Accra is known for its colorful textiles, contemporary art, popular nightlife and entertainment scenes.
Of all the experiences people seek when visiting South Africa, going on safari easily ranks at the top of the list. While a one-day safari may be best for shorter trips, the best way to enjoy the full safari experience is during an overnight stay. There are several game reserves to choose from, but Shamwari Private Game Reserve is by far the ultimate luxury choice.
Air travel is a quick trip in the sky until you’re looking at a flight lasting more than a few hours. Whether traveling across the country or to a bucket list destination on the other side of the world, packing the right essentials can make all the difference.
Honeyland aims to celebrate the past, present, and future of Black cuisine and beverage across the globe. The lineup will also highlight Black musicians and artists who have shaped the modern landscape of music today. For its inaugural festival, Honeyland finds its home in one of the country’s most eclectic food and music scenes.
Not far from the mainland of Puerto Rico, lies a sister island where you can go to disconnect. Vieques, also known as La Isla Nena, “Little Girl Island,” is a 52-square-mile island where the pace of life is a leisurely dream.
‘Safe’ and ‘welcoming’ are two words visitors use to describe Accra, Ghana, making it the perfect place for Black people to visit. Accra, the capital and largest city in Ghana, is located on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea in western Africa. Named “Africa’s capital of cool” by the New York Times, Accra is known for its colorful textiles, contemporary art, popular nightlife and entertainment scenes.
Brunch & Budget
Pockets Change
See Change Financial
Website Design & Strategy
Digital Marketing
Email Marketing (Newsletters)
Copywriting
Graphic Design
SC Creative Group (freelance)
From 2017 to 2021, I worked alongside the passionate team behind several brands to lead their website, email, and brand design strategy. What started as a 5-month marketing management project for one brand (covering brand asset consulting, advertising & social campaigns, social media and website design and strategy), expanded into 3-years of on-going collaboration across three brands in the financial education space.
The network of brands included: Brunch & Budget, affordable financial planning for people of color; Pockets Change, an organization that builds intergenerational financial resilience with students, families, and educators through hip-hop pedagogy; and See Change Financial, a radical financial community for creators of color who are taking control of their finances as a liberatory catalyst to lead value-filled lives.
During our 3-year client/consultant relationship, our work together supported the increased visibility and brand amplification they sought to achieve in unifying their brand message, mission, and visual identity.
We redesigned the site architecture, layout, copy, and visuals of each brand, creating an engaging, ever-updated online presence that kept each community informed and engaged. I also led the creation and implementation of marketing management systems including newsletter and social media content planning, design, and scheduling.
By helping Pam, Dyalekt, and Andrea (the creators) spend less time on promoting their business, they were able to lean into more programming and serving more educators, young adults, parents, and youth. In addition to re-purposing their decade-plus history of financial planning wisdom via their Brunch & Budget podcast, I also made sure during our time working together that they leveraged all opportunities to raise awareness, dollars (fundraising), and impact through storytelling.
One of the biggest achievements of supporting their brand growth goals came through a fundraising campaign for Pockets Change. After implementing a new donor engagement strategy and amplifying the initiative across platforms and partner networks at my recommendation, I helped the organization raise $19,000 in November 2021.
[Graphic Design] Social Media Content Management
During the era of social highlights via quote cards and brand-forward graphics and insights, I designed a set of social media templates for the team’s internal use. These templates helped onboard their interns into social media management while I supported by spearheaded strategy and copy for social and email behind the scenes.
Pockets Change Website Revamp Preview (2019)
Brunch & Budget Website Revamp Preview (2018)
Greenlight
Creative Strategy
Experiential Marketing
Copywriting
Fizz (Atlanta, Georgia)
Greenlight is a financial technology company on a mission to raise financially smart kids. Through its debit card for kids and application subscription, the company makes it easier for parents to teach their kids about money management while giving them a parent-monitored space to learning about things like saving, stocks, and direct deposits. The “all-in-one money app for families,” Greenlight gives kids independence while giving parents peace of mind.
The fintech company contracted Fizz, a word-of-mouth marketing agency based in Atlanta, to help expand brand awareness as it sought to increase users and identify ways to penetrate the market on a national scale for the first time.
As a contracted strategist, I worked alongside the in-house agency team to develop a robust creative WOM marketing strategy that included more than a dozen experiential digital and live brand activations. The goal of the overall strategy was to identify niche sectors within the broader target demographic and pinpoint opportunities (events, life moments, everyday activities, etc.) that would allow the brand to organically make life a little easier – as on-the-go parents and schedule-stacked kids – creating a chance to get curious and engage with GL market managers about the brand.
Working alongside the in-house strategy and design teams, my role was to develop word-of-mouth-marketing concepts into detailed experiences. This included researching a calendar of brand-aligned community and sporting events, developing a go-to-market plan for each concept, and presenting relevant branded swag ideas along with identifying vendors, costs, specs requirements, etc. to pass along to the project manager for execution.
The link below is a preview of one of the concepts I spearheaded the research, copywriting, and strategy development on. This concept was part of a larger word-of-mouth marketing strategy deck.
[Word-of-Mouth Strategy Concept] Greenlight ‘Very Invested Parents’ Strategy
Jim Ellis Automotive Group
Event Planning & Management
Vendor Procurement & Management
Budget Management
Copywriting
Design
Jim Ellis Automotive Advertising Agency
One of the joys of maintaining great professional relationships is being able to work with old employers on new initiatives. Jim Ellis Automotive Group is Atlanta, Georgia’s largest family-owned automotive group.
While the company’s marketing manager was out on maternity leave, I was tapped to step into her role. As the interim marketing manager, one of my responsibilities was to lead and execute the grand opening celebration of the automotive group’s 18th dealership – Jim Ellis Toyota of McDonough Grand Opening – a newly remodeled 57,000 square foot facility.
This project was exciting for a few reasons. Namely, the ability to lean into the breadth of my expertise. During this project, I led every aspect of the event, from securing vendors and media communications to run-of-show planning, invitations, and on-site management.
On Tuesday, May 21, 2019, Jim Ellis Automotive Group celebrated the official grand opening of Jim Ellis Toyota of McDonough. By all accounts, the affair was a successful introduction of the trusted Jim Ellis brand to Atlanta metro’s Southern region.
The event was well-regarded by those in attendance including Jim Ellis Automotive’s President, Jimmy Ellis, special guest executives from Toyota HQ, and – most importantly – the dedicated dealership staff, family, and friends. Special guests included Jim McEachern (Vice President, Southeast Toyota Field Operations) and Billy Copeland (Mayor of McDonough, GA).
The dealership’s acquisition and grand opening received media coverage locally and in notable national outlets including Business Insider and Auto Remarketing.
This project is a great example of my ability to work across teams, using my diverse background to easily navigate multiple corporate brand standards and guidelines, coordinate design projects, draft promotional and media-related communications, manage vendors (catering, event decor, entertainment, photo/video) and budgets, handle experiential logistics, and oversee on-site execution.
[Blog Post/Press Relase] Jim Ellis Automotive Group Acquires Toyota of McDonough
[Blog Post/Press Relase] Jim Ellis Automotive Celebrates the Official Grand Opening of Jim Ellis Toyota of McDonough
Jim Ellis Automotive Group
Event Planning & Management
Vendor Procurement & Management
Budget Management
Copywriting
Design
Jim Ellis Automotive Advertising Agency
One of the joys of maintaining great professional relationships is being able to work with old employers on new initiatives. Jim Ellis Automotive Group is Atlanta, Georgia’s largest family-owned automotive group.
While the company’s marketing manager was out on maternity leave, I was tapped to step into her role. As the interim marketing manager, one of my responsibilities was to lead and execute the grand opening celebration of the automotive group’s 18th dealership – Jim Ellis Toyota of McDonough Grand Opening – a newly remodeled 57,000 square foot facility.
This project was exciting for a few reasons. Namely, the ability to lean into the breadth of my expertise. During this project, I led every aspect of the event, from securing vendors and media communications to run-of-show planning, invitations, and on-site management.
On Tuesday, May 21, 2019, Jim Ellis Automotive Group celebrated the official grand opening of Jim Ellis Toyota of McDonough. By all accounts, the affair was a successful introduction of the trusted Jim Ellis brand to Atlanta metro’s Southern region.
The event was well-regarded by those in attendance including Jim Ellis Automotive’s President, Jimmy Ellis, special guest executives from Toyota HQ, and – most importantly – the dedicated dealership staff, family, and friends. Special guests included Jim McEachern (Vice President, Southeast Toyota Field Operations) and Billy Copeland (Mayor of McDonough, GA).
The dealership’s acquisition and grand opening received media coverage locally and in notable national outlets including Business Insider and Auto Remarketing.
This project is a great example of my ability to work across teams, using my diverse background to easily navigate multiple corporate brand standards and guidelines, coordinate design projects, draft promotional and media-related communications, manage vendors (catering, event decor, entertainment, photo/video) and budgets, handle experiential logistics, and oversee on-site execution.
[Blog Post/Press Relase] Jim Ellis Automotive Group Acquires Toyota of McDonough
[Blog Post/Press Relase] Jim Ellis Automotive Celebrates the Official Grand Opening of Jim Ellis Toyota of McDonough