The Chicago Journal

Black-Owned Company ThykSkynn Aims to Amplify Peace Through Bulletproof Clothing

Cases of gun violence have been rising exponentially over the past decade, especially among the members of the black community. The human rights issue drove and inspired fashion designer Michael Allen to build ThykSkynn, a black-owned clothing brand that merges fashion and bulletproof protective gear.

ThykSkynn is the first of its kind in the country to merge intricate clothing styles with bulletproof materials. The company upholds a mission to spread peaceful protection around the world, emphasizing that a vest does not promote violence but rather raises awareness of the need for protection. The apparel brand seeks to protect the energy, mentality, spirituality, and physicality of its wearers.

ThykSkynn is the CEO’s initiative to contribute and make a difference in the lives of individuals across the country. With the number of innocent people losing their lives every day to gun violence, the founder has heard enough. Determined to give innocent people a way to protect themselves while incorporating fashionable styles peacefully, the company became a life-changing armor, readily available for anyone.

Currently located in Atlanta, GA, the brand has served many with its innovative products. Besides clothing, ThykSkynn also carries a line of bags designed to match diverse ages and personalities. 

Each ThykSkynn design is made with lightweight level IIIA kevlar material that stops anything from a 44 magnum handgun and anything below that caliber. The vests are fashion-forward, with designs carefully crafted for both men and women, and they can be worn in more ways than one. The company also offers custom-fit vests to ensure comfort and wearability for its clients. Each vest is individually hand-stitched by some of the most talented young designers in Atlanta, further generating jobs and opportunities in its community.

Asked what motivated him to create ThykSkynn, the CEO shared that he was tired of seeing innocent people of color being killed without reason. “I saw a need for a way that my people could feel like they have a second chance at life. I saw a vision of an innocent man or woman being ‘mistakenly’ shot by an officer and instead of the office being the only side of the story told, the victim would now be able to speak on their behalf in court,” said Michael. “That is my motivation,” he added.

Additionally, Michael proved his determination to set an example in the fashion industry by persevering in learning how to sew to make his vision come to life. With his creative freedom, unique style, and skills, the CEO was able to create innovative styles in show periods of time. ThykSkynn is truly reimagining what fashion can do to keep people safe and how it can challenge industry standards to go beyond style and take a more humane approach in creating apparel.

In five years, the CEO wants to reach more people across the country. “I see ThykSkynn being more than a bulletproof company but a lifestyle and a symbol that reflects true peace of the mind, body, and spirit,” said Michael. ThykSkynn is leading the industry to incorporate bulletproof materials more into fashion and shape a safer world for everyone from all walks of life.

To learn more about ThykSkynn and their game-changing clothing, visit their website.

‘Feeding GA Families’ on Their Crusade to Feeding the Underprivileged Amid the Pandemic

When the pandemic struck early last year, the entire globe went through troubled times. Among the many crises that occurred, people lost their jobs and homes, making it difficult to find a way for them to feed their families. To combat such difficulties, organizations and charities stepped up to ensure that everyone still manages to have food on their table. Among those helping is the non-profit food pantry Feeding GA Families.

Feeding GA Families or FGF is a 501(c)3 state-licensed non-profit community services agency. It was founded in 2010. Initially, the agency fed the homeless in Atlanta, but they expanded to providing cooked community meals and to hosting two weekly food pantries for those in need. Feeding GA Families is a resource that food insecure people can utilize in their times of need, especially today as the pandemic continues. 

The organization’s efforts provide food for over 80,000 people annually throughout the state of Georgia. Feeding GA Families have several service programs, such as a community outreach, unhoused outreach, student outreach, community hot meals, a career learning center, clothes closet, and services assistance. among their service programs. The unhoused outreach provides packaged food and care kits distributed to the homeless in Georgia, Maryland, and Washington, while the student outreach provides packaged snack kits for low-income area students. To cook hot meals for the community, teams and volunteers prepare and distribute food to several community-planned events throughout the year.

Feeding GA Families services are provided through their primary funding sources like crowdfunding, onsite monetary donations, in-kind donations, and board member contributions. Their services are provided with no questions asked as they aim to help those in need when they are in need, without restrictions to residency, prior income, or family size. The organization has three initiatives: the Open Door Policy, the Healthy Eating Initiative, and the Dietary Restrictions Inclusions. 

Their Open Door Policy welcomes anyone in need to receive assistance. As such, they make the process of receiving much-needed help as simple as possible. For their Healthy Eating Initiative, they encourage the inclusion of fresh fruits and vegetables in their everyday meal planning, with the aid of farmers, food banks, grocery stores, small businesses, corporate donors, sponsorships, and volunteers. Feeding GA Families also gives them away at the pantry and meal planning ideas and recipes highlighted on FGF’s social media pages. The organization works with shoppers’ dietary restrictions and concerns as much as possible, including allergies, vegetarian and vegan diets, and health-related diets like diabetes, high blood pressure, and autoimmune diseases.

While there are countless other organizations, Feeding GA Families stands out for its longevity and unique services. They offer home delivery through volunteers making door-to-door, mailed shipments, and grocery delivery orders. They also provide unique options for people with special diets or dietary restrictions.

Feeding GA Families hope to continue providing their services to families and individuals, especially amid these uncertain times.

To learn more about Feeding GA Families, you may visit their website. Their works can also be seen on Instagram.

TSL Rentals Provides the Luxury Experience for Property Rentals in Southern California

TSL Rentals reimagines luxury property rental and corporate housing with a wide range of top-shelf housing options, offering the best locations and views in Southern California. Company founder Kyle Biskit opens a window into a unique lifestyle fit for business travelers, entertainment personalities, and high-profile celebrities.

More than just having a beautiful place to stay in, TSL Rentals provides its clients with opportunities to experience luxury. TSL Rentals has some of the most exclusive properties in Southern California in its listing. These highly sought-after properties include luxury villas in Hollywood hills and beach houses that offer stunning ocean views.

Clients can also enjoy large cabins in Big Bear Lake, properties with views of the canyon, or architectural masterpieces. The famous Skywave House in Venice by architect Anthony Coscia, which was recently featured in LA Times, is one of TSL Rentals’ most popular listings. Regardless of what locations or activities they are looking for, clients are guaranteed to experience luxury. TSL Rentals’ properties are available for both short- and long-term stays. The company has hosted numerous celebrities and high-profile clients, including professional boxer Roy Jones for his fight with Mike Tyson.

Kyle Biskit’s unique lifestyle instilled in him the idea of establishing a luxury property rental business. Before founding TSL Rentals, Kyle experienced being shot multiple times. Kyle also recalls a time when he was so broke that he had no idea where he would get his next meal.

On the other end of the spectrum, Kyle Biskit also experienced staying in 4- and 5-star hotels throughout Southern California and the rest of the West Coast for two straight years. Around the time, Kyle was starting to rise above the many obstacles he faced in making it in the business world. People told him he was wasting money. However, they were unaware that Kyle was using the experience to learn the ins and outs of the hospitality industry. He took note of what he discovered and used it to build his multi-million-dollar hospitality business, TSL Rentals.

TSL Rentals is guided by the company slogan that “it’s not just a company, it’s a lifestyle.” Kyle Biskit founded the business to help more people experience the distinct lifestyle that he lived. So, Kyle decided to secure various luxury properties and have discerning clients stay at his homes.

As a person of color, Kyle recognizes the unique responsibilities and opportunities that he has in uplifting his community. In the past year, significant events have reignited the discussion on race relations and issues, shedding light on the challenges of Black entrepreneurs. Kyle Biskit hopes to use his success as a platform to empower others, especially people of color, so that they can break free from obscurity and humble beginnings to achieve success.

Kyle Biskit is currently focusing on continuously scaling TSL Rentals into one of the best Black-owned hospitality businesses. Tapping into other markets like Miami and Texas will be instrumental in attaining this goal. Currently, Kyle has already started tapping into the luxury hospitality market in Detroit.

Visit TSL Rentals’ website for more information.

Revolutionary and Unconventional: How Cannon Wealth Solutions Transforms the Financial Space

Much has been said that the secret to achieving success requires talent, skill, and precision. And while proficiency is undoubtedly one aspect that serves as a precondition in creating a path towards greatness, it all boils down to grit, passion, and determination. Indeed, some trailblazing moguls owe much of their successes to the amount of devotion they have invested in chasing their dreams. And in the case of Robert Cannon, it was his burning zeal and compassion that allowed him to dauntlessly dwell into an industry filled with tension and ruthless rivalry. Through his passion-driven spirit and creative mind, Robert was able to open doors of opportunities and offer endless possibilities through Cannon Wealth Solutions.

Widely acknowledged for his excellence in business and finance, Robert Cannon proves worthy of his sterling image across a cutthroat industry. And although he is highly praised for his expertise and precision, Robert vehemently recalls that his successes are borne out of his persistent desire to help those struggling to get ahead. Because of this burning passion, Robert made a difference in the world by breathing life into his brainchild, Cannon Wealth Solutions.

Zealously created by Robert Cannon, Cannon Wealth Solutions is a wealth management  company that offers financial strategies and solutions. It serves as a platform that allows people to talk about their money, understand the relationship between wealth, needs, wants, and savings, and know what to do next. To simply put, Cannon Wealth Solutions is a firm that serves the best interest of people and guides its clients on creating the best course of action for their wealth and investment.

Being a company that boasts of innovative solutions, Cannon Wealth Solutions is mostly recognized for its state-of-the-art and interlaced strategies. With a diverse team and a virtual office structure, it offers coordinated methods between the CPA, lawyer, investment manager, and financial advisor in order to provide clients with the best-suited solutions fit for every unique circumstance. 

Known for being one step ahead of the industry, Cannon Wealth Solutions uses a system that efficiently leads its clients towards reaching the summits of success. Introducing Robert Cannon’s Maverick Investment System, it guides its clients through a distinctive wealth management and investment process designed to propel individuals towards achieving financial success.

But beneath these promising milestones lie a founder whose passion and dedication ultimately catapulted the company towards greatness. With more than three decades of working with affluent businesses, investors, and entrepreneurs across the United States, it comes as no surprise how Robert Cannon has been gracing the realms of commerce and finance with his caliber and devotion. Had it not been for this revolutionary mogul’s brilliance and the team’s impeccable prowess, Cannon Wealth would not have reached the peak of triumphs.

Needless to say, the business and finance industry is ruthlessly competitive. However, Robert Cannon serves as a genuine attestation that passion and precision can lead a truly driven person towards the summits of success. And as he continues to take the reins of Cannon Wealth Solutions, he hopes to inspire others in taking a step towards financial management and planning.

To know more about Cannon Wealth Solutions, you may visit its website.

Yathatisall Merges Art and Music With New Rap Styles

Musician and actor Najeeb Al-Amin, best known as YaThatIsAll, is a trendsetter for making music. With the passion, talent, and determination necessary to climb up to the top, he is regarded as Chicago’s top Afro hip-hop artist. The rising hip-hop artist has been releasing hit songs for years, his unique sound and style setting others’ pace to follow.

Originally from South Side Chicago, the singer-songwriter discovered his love for music at a tender age and gradually trained himself to great heights in showmanship- a real spectacle to behold. At the age of seventeen, YaThatIsAll is a young MC studying audio design and working as a sound engineer in his home city in collaboration with several artists to make hit songs. YaThatIsAll is recognized by fans and significant artists as a generic rap artist and a true creative when making Music. His debut mixtape, which he made working closely with Zoawe Joseph the First and Fifteenth Co-Founder Chilly, was well received by tens of thousands of fans who acknowledged that this great use of lyricism rhymes would take him far in the music industry.

 YaThatIsAll is stirring a revolution in the music industry with his new mixtape entitled Proof. He blends his Afrobeat rap sound with fan style comic book storytelling, helping his audience visualize the tracks. The mixtape and accompanying comic book artwork will be released on Instagram and his website

YaThatIsAll cannot only sing and rap, but he can also do it fluently in three languages. Additionally, he has the remarkable ability to write his songs and plays multiple musical instruments, including the guitar, percussion, and keyboard. He continues to dive into his iconic music influences, learning from them as he hones his craft. The young artist is always striving for greater heights, and he has worked with many globally-acclaimed artists, including award-winning Nigerian pop star 2Face and Chicago rap legend chief Keef.

 He wishes to amass a broad fan base of hardcore Afro Rap, Trap, and Hip Hop music fans and anyone who is a fan of good music as he introduces his distinctive rap style to the world. He considers himself different from his completion because, according to him, he is the original Midwest Afrobeat HipHop – Drill Scene and Punk Rap trendsetters. He admits that his passion for Music drives his consistency, and his distinctive style represents Afrobeat rap styles at the highest.

In the future, YaThatIsAll is looking to collaborating with other artists and businesses to promote the African and Afro-American culture through different sharing platforms. He is an ambassador of peace and acceptance as he wants to use his Music to encourage others and impart social and racial awareness in the world community. He is hopeful that a feature film will be shot based on his comic book artwork Proof.

YaThatIsAll Music is available via his website. He is also on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, where he shares his thoughts and music progress with his fans.

Hunter Watts: Creating High-Value Investment Strategies in a Socially Conscious Era

High-level financial consultants have mastered strategies that help mitigate risks and grow capital multiple times over. One such finance consultant is Hunter Watts, the ethical finance pioneer.

Hunter is the founder and CEO of Watts Enterprises, a consulting company that provides its clients with game-changing and cutting-edge technologies and facilitates corporate financial strategy and investment. The holding company houses multiple technology and investment-based companies that offer solutions to various industries. 

The son of a fourth-generation oil family, Hunter has always had a deep thirst for knowledge and business acumen; becoming a self-made financial consultant at the ripe age of eighteen years old. Watts has a clear vision of where he wants to be and what will take him there. Today, he has built a trustworthy consultancy, which allows him to grow his wealth while also helping others experience more financial freedom.

The exponential rise into financial greatness started on year one for Hunter, raising over $3.3 million within thirty days. That would only be the beginning as the budding finance consultant would raise another $12 million in the next two years. 

Much of Hunter’s success comes through his innate talent in creative finance. He is a master at data analytics, market research, high-growth investment strategy, and capital funding pitches. Much of Hunter’s success came through the guidance of his first mentors, Jacob Berryman, and Walter King; allowing Watts the technical know-how combined with the room to think outside-the-box when approaching financial solutions.

Since 2016, Hunter Watts has built a solid base of large clients, mostly dealing with multimillion-dollar corporations. He provides advisory consultation to shareholders, board members, and executives to grow their investments effectively.

Yet Hunter maintains that his first passion is people. “My heart belongs to helping others,” shares Hunter Watts. “My drive to actively reverse oppression and persecution has fueled me to start a fire in the finance community.” He is quick to point to the bombing of Black Wall Street and the Rosewood Massacre as two events that spur his righteous anger. “What we have seen throughout modern history is an overt and violent attempt to silence, oppress, and trample people of color, starting in their wallets. I refuse to allow this to continue as the norm” says Watts. 

The senior finance and investment expert is gearing up for even more growth and more significant impact as he aims his sights towards private investment. In June 2020, Hunter partnered with Ezell Taylor and his company EDT Financial to start a private investment company to empower and enrich first-generation investors. To date, Watts has facilitated over $68 million. Joined with EDT Financial, Hunter hopes to take that even further as the tandem looks to reach $4 billion in revenue by 2025.

Hunter Watts is driven by a desire to create generational change in the world of finance, most especially those who have been systematically oppressed. He continues to champion for those who don’t have a voice by being that voice for them until they have the tools to find their own. 

Learn more about Hunter Watts and Watts Enterprises by checking out his LinkedIn account and Instagram profile.

SoundMind, the Purpose-Driven Powerhouse Set to Address Mental Health Issues

The advent of technology and the latest developments in the field have contributed to improvements in many aspects of human life. In particular, Mobile applications have not only helped people approach and operate countless personal and professional endeavors with ease but have also played a significant role in the promotion of physical, social, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. SoundMind, an emerging powerhouse in the tech space, has made it its mission to address the growing mental health crisis that continues to plague millions of people worldwide, and its initiatives in the field have propelled this esteemed institution to the forefront.  

Founded by Brian Femminella and Travis Chen, SoundMind is a growing force within the industry and is acclaimed for its dedication to finding research-based, innovative, and accessible solutions to mental issues. Its commitment to advancing the field of mental health research and connecting that with the latest technologies that anyone can have at their palms is in line with its passion for empowering society. 

SoundMind is spearheaded by a highly-competent team consisting of students and graduates from top universities throughout the United States, including the University of Southern California, Purdue University, and Drexel University. Wielding the power of today’s technology and capitalizing on the expertise of the brilliant minds behind the company, it has developed a mobile application whose unique approach to tackling mental health is bound to elevate this purpose-driven venture to greater heights.

SoundMind has spent over two years studying, conducting, and publishing research on thanatonsonics—the relationship between sound and violence—as well as neuroplasticity, cognitive feedback, cultural competency in the mental health field, and binaural beats. The effort it has expended is to ensure that it will be able to deliver a research-backed tool that people can utilize to foster their quality of life.  

The technology that stands at the heart of this future household name allows it to create preferential audio soundscapes based on the user’s likes and dislikes. With over 30,000 sounds and songs within its library, it hopes to shorten the period of various traumatic responses experienced by mentally distressed individuals. More impressively, the SoundMind application gives users the freedom to specify any auditory triggers. Their input helps the app utilize machine learning to curate the perfect sound therapy for each user. 

On top of providing music therapy as a way to manage symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and more, SoundMind has also incorporated into its app numerous brain exercises that focus on specific cognitive impairments possibly caused by a suffered trauma, such as those relating to memory, concentration, and attention. Moreover, its team of trauma-informed individuals has gone the extra mile to deliver a safe and beneficial space for any users in need. Through the Rapid Response feature, users can input emergency contacts and dial trauma or suicide hotlines quickly.

From the get-go, SoundMind has immediately created a space for itself within the industry. It has gained recognition for developing an application that is bound to help millions of people upon its release in 2021 and for its dedication toward bridging the divide between innovative technologies and underrepresented communities, including the veterans, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC. With this inclusive app, SoundMind is on its way to changing the course of mental health forever. 

Learn more about SoundMind by visiting its website

RekMed Is Molding Future Medical Professionals Through Educational Planners Designed for Medical Field Success

The path to success in the medical field is far from an easy one. With an overwhelming amount of information to master over the years, most medical students often struggle to learn effectively and keep their notes organized. The experience becomes even more difficult for students with learning disabilities. Jennifer Grooms knows the struggle all too well. Suffering from dyslexia her whole life, her nursing school journey was filled with anxiety and panic. Still, she managed to pull through and become a successful nurse today. This time, she is on a mission to give back to the medical community by helping aspiring medical professionals succeed in their careers through RekMed. 

RekMed is a company geared toward providing the medical community with patent-pending and high-quality educational planners designed to assist in the organization and learning of medical students and professionals. The planner aims to assist students in the field of medicine and nurse practitioners, doctors, medical assistants, and all other medical professionals.

The company was established by a medical field visionary, Jennifer Grooms. She is a former emergency department nurse with 14 years of experience and was a trauma nurse for eight years who recently took a break in serving the medical field. Her experience as a nursing student was difficult on a whole different level. She had to take several medications to calm down her nerves when overwhelming anxiety would kick in during exams. But with impressive learning and organization skills, she managed to do well and finish nursing school. Years later, she would become a successful trauma and emergency department nurse. 

“It hit me one day—it’s really not about how hard the information is. It is just about how it is taught to someone and how to get it in their brain,” shares Jennifer. As a trauma and ER nurse, she mastered the craft of helping patients learn more about their diagnosis. With this experience at hand, she discovered her passion for teaching and helping others learn. “If I was able to teach them, maybe I could help my fellow nursing students learn so they don’t have to struggle like I did,” she says. This fueled her to establish RekMed and transform her vision into reality.

Today, RekMed is quickly gaining significant traction in the medical community, reaching seven figures within the first year of its inception. The company continues to successfully provide unique patent-pending educational planners and learning resources specifically designed to help students and medical professionals learn and organize their learnings. While much of its focus is on the nursing field, the company is thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of several new planners for veterinary technicians, critical care nurses, paramedics, and dental professionals.

As RekMed continues to grow and expand, Jennifer Grooms hopes to manage her company on a CEO-level while serving random hospital shifts to keep her nursing skills up to date. The nurse-CEO takes pride in the fact that RekMed’s planners are making a success-driven impact in the lives of future medical professionals, paving their path toward success in the medical arena. 

Learn more about RekMed by visiting its official website.

SOS Anywhere Provides Users an Extra Layer of Personal Safety

With human trafficking on the rise by staggering numbers, the need for safety awareness is more important than ever. Over the last decade human trafficking has tripled. It is estimated that 20.9 million people are trafficked worldwide with 77 percent being women. We live in a technology era where many of our needs can be met at the click of a button. What if we could just as easily stay safe from predators? From the teenage girl leaving the grocery store alone at night to the single mom pumping gas with her child in the car or the senior who goes out for a morning jog and forgets her phone. It is easy to get distracted and often our surroundings are ignored.

SOS Anywhere is a new mobile emergency device that helps give safety, security, and peace of mind to the wearer. Without the need of a phone, SOS offers 24/7 protection everywhere you go. With the click of a button, alert up to 20 people of your exact location using any cell phone tower in the United States as well as in 213 countries. This GPS device is small, lightweight at only .88-ounce, and comfortable to wear with a silicone band. It is shock and waterproof resistant, meaning you can wear it anywhere your adventures take you.

The SOS Anywhere band medical alert system is only $3 a month with a one-time band fee of $97. SOS Anywhere is the most affordable emergency alert band on the market so you do not have to put a hefty price tag on peace of mind.

About SOS Anywhere:

SOS Anywhere’s new emergency alert band provides independence and peace of mind for thousands of seniors and their families in all 50 states. The company has dedicated its whole mission to bringing awareness in these uncertain times. 

Find our more information online at www.SOSAnywhere.com.

Billy Nolan Introducing Exclusivity into the Fragrance Industry

Billy Nolan is a businessman, entrepreneur, and the founder of All Star Motivation, a fragrance brand in the U.S. Billy started All Star Motivation on July 31st, 2010, in Las Vegas, Nevada, with only one goal in mind, to be the biggest and the hottest fragrance brand in the United States. And in the last ten years, the company has sold over 2 million fragrances in 5 locations. The company prides itself on the uniqueness of their fragrances, and according to Billy, no other brand does it better. In his words, the best part of building the brand is knowing their products are exclusive to their customers and clients’ love.

It was Edward de Bono who once said, “Companies that solely focus on competition will die. Only those that focus on value creation will thrive.” Therefore, when Billy was asked what makes his brand different from his competition, he said, “we aren’t in any competition. Nobody is making the kind of fragrance we have. Nobody is selling the amount of product as quickly as we are. It is just that unique. Why would you want to buy one of the 1000’s designer fragrances that everyone else is wearing? Your mom, sister, and wife all probably wear the same department store fragrance. No, thank you. All Star Motivation and our customers know All Star Motivation isn’t just a fragrance; it’s a LIFESTYLE.”

All Star Motivation targets anyone who doesn’t fit the mold on their target audience, and according to their website, they provide unique fragrances for Distinct Individuals. The brand has built a cult and eclectic following of people from every walks of life who love to smell different. Athletes from the NBA, NFL, NHL, rappers, rock stars and Boxing legends make up the client list.

Billy says exclusivity was the main reason he started All Star Motivation, a part of the fragrance industry for about nine years. He has seen the market gets flooded with essential fragrances; he decided to get creative and create something unique from what is the norm in the industry. Exclusivity allows him to control his brand, his story, which he considers priceless, and responsible for its growth.

As impressive as 2 million sales in 5 locations across the country sounds, Billy admits that this is only the tip of the iceberg because the goal for the next five years is to take All Star Motivation from obscurity to the mainstream. And this is achievable considering the number of plans and new fragrance products that the company intends to release to the public in the coming years. One such is the Boss B.I.T.C.H. (Babe In Total Control of Herself) for women, and the Grind and Shine redesign for men and women is one of the most unique fragrances ever made by All Star Motivation. The next five years are all that matters at the moment, and Billy has just one message to the public, “Don’t get left out. All Star Motivation isn’t just a fragrance. It’s a lifestyle.”

Billy’s ultimate goal is to get readers to understand that it is okay to be different and not fit the mold of what is considered normal. All Star Motivation is here to bridge that gap and provide them with fragrances that help them stand out in a crowd and dare to be different.

To keep track of All Star Motivation and their future product releases, check their website.