The BOSS Network Blog

Her Journey… Take a good look at Shante Bacon because she is a prime example of what can happen when you dream big, and then relentlessly go after it.  Raised in the drug-riddled neighborhood of Jamaica, Queens, there was very little around her indicative of what her successful future would behold, except a strong affinity for the then emergent hip-hop culture. “There was a lot of talent out of my neighborhood, so it never seemed farfetched to me that I could do this for a living,” says Bacon, who grew up in the same neighborhood as future hip-hop legends LL Cool J, Run DMC, and Salt-N-Pepa. “What made it a reality for me was when I was a kid, my brother was pursuing a career as a rapper and he would go to Def Jam Christmas parties and that had me all starry eyed about it.” After reading an article in her brother’s Billboard magazine as a child, her goal was officially set: she wanted to work for Russell Simmons as part of the Def Jam empire. “There was a little itsy, bitsy,...

In today's world, everything is instant, technology-driven, and consumer-relationships are vital to any business. To succeed, it is crucial to have a team of savvy and innovative professionals to cultivate a brand. Providing fresh and inventive public relations and marketing expertise, The Millennial Effect (TME) develops and executes strategies to refine a brands equity. Like the millennial generation, TME shares the core values of achievement, confidence, and unparalleled service. Twenty-Three year old Victoria Marie has a natural hunger for success and a pattern of making the impossible, possible. This native Detroiter made her way to Howard University in Washington, DC and there was where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Legal Communication with a concentration in Public Relations. She is a Lady of Alpha Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and inspired by the sorority's motto of "service to all mankind," Victoria continues to do so. Sh...

A trend-setting, creative public relations and events management firm, Aliah Public Relations is a NJ-based boutique firm specializing in small businesses, start-up businesses, nonprofit organizations, and associations. Aliah Public Relations strives to execute the most dynamic and results-driven campaigns and events using strategically designed publicity, brand management, marketing, and emerging social media. Aliah Public Relations offers hip, forward-thinking public relations, brand management, and marketing services. Every aspect of our communications activities is grounded in our clients' business objectives. At Aliah Public Relations , we make it our aim to know each client's goals inside out and become an integral part of the client’s team, allowing us to achieve impressive results. We strive to solidify or reinvent the perception and spread the information to gain public awareness. Aliah Public Relations connects with our clients to deliver powerful mess...

*Stilettos and Sounds LLC* *was founded in 2005 as a boutique entertainment Public Relations  and special event production firm with the vision of helping small businesses and individual clients leverage a variety of outlets to communicate their news to the public in a "Stylishly Loud"manner.  In the process of doing so, Stilettos and Sounds crafted personalized publicity and marketing efforts for artists, entertainers, urban brands,liquor companies, non–profit organizations, and small businesses allowing these companies for the first time to communicate their news directly to customers, prospects, analysts and the media.  *These are the philosophical guidelines for the Stilettos and Sounds activities:*    - Belief in the value of public relations and the message PR can deliver    - Focus on best practices and standards    - Encourage and promote the highest ethical behavior    - Encourage innovation    ...

Reni Somoye is a freelance publicist, marketing consultant and journalist with a B.A. in Communications from Rutgers University (with concentrations in Leadership and Africana Studies). Her passion to create and drive movements fuel her drive to be hard at work producing events, crafting stories and build connections. Over the years she has worked with fashion designer Norma Kamali, HOT97 FM, EA SPORTS and the National Basketball Association, among other partners whom she has assisted to elevate their visibility and drive profitability in the marketplace. Her experience includes radio, print, brand experiences and in-house public relations. Currently, she is the U.S. contributor for the This Day Style, an African based publication, which chronicles style for the discerning female consumer whom is looking for global cues in her pursuit to exude her best sense of style. Furthermore, she is actively involved in the community and also serves a...

Felicia York is a freelance make-up artist based in New York City. A true child of the city, she is heavily influenced by many facets of urban life.  From the graffiti tagger to the uptown girl, she is determined to make sure each has a place in DLB Cosmetics. Felicia has an extensive background in administration on the corporate level. Leaving it behind for the pursuit of her love for beauty and glamour, she says, “I had a thought. Every woman is beautiful. I feel like it is my calling in life to find it, make her see it, appreciate it and enhance it.” Through her make-up artistry, that is exactly what she has done. As the Beauty Editor for MANIK Magazine, fashion and lifestyle publication for the plus-sized fashionista, she has built ties with the very community she calls her own. Her other work includes but is not limited to mention in Honey Magazine, The Envie Beauty Report , countless photo shoots, fashion shows and celebrity clientele. A woman of many talents, Felicia is a...

Read through her impressive resume and you’ll understand why nationally syndicated radio and TV talent, EGYPT is a major force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry! EGYPT simultaneously holds down duties as the Midday Personality on NYC’s 107.5 WBLS , host of Fine Living Network’s “Bartender Wars” , correspondent for NBC Universal’s “The Maury Show” , and co-host of the syndicated daytime TV hit “Home Delivery” (now re- airing on the Ion Network). She is also widely recognized as the voice of Premiere Radio Networks “ Synopsis ” entertainment report on “Live In The Den With Big Tigger” which is broadcast in over 72 cities across 3 continents, making her one of the most recognizable voices in the syndicated radio arena. This multi-media do-it-all has been consistently making a name for herself in the TV, radio, commercials, on stage, and most recently in the blogsphere with her entertainment website EgyptSaidSo.com which boasts millions of hits per month . Known fo...

Ilyasah Al-Shabazz leads a life dedicated to empowering young people by capitalizing on the arts & entertainment to encourage the undertstanding of history, culture and self-expression.  As Assistant Coordinator for the Office of Academic Affairs - City University of New York, Ilyasah organized training programs to encourage higher education for innercity at-risk youth. She continues to mentor at various group homes, lock-up facilities and high schools through production of The WAKE-UP Tour™ X-Tra Credit Forums— her exclusive youth empowerment program. In the area of Government – Ilyasah served for approximately twelve years on the Executive Youth Board for the Office of the Mayor in the City of Mount Vernon, New York. She also served the City of Mount Vernon as Director of Public Relations, Director of Public Affairs & Special Events, and was later promoted to Director of Cultural Affairs. Ilyasah served as an official member of the United States delegation that accompa...

DJ and Founder of Black Girls Rock! Beverly Bond is a distinguished Businesswoman, Mentor, Executive Television Producer and Writer. A true music connoisseur, Beverly Bond‟s passion for music and her uncanny ability to read the crowd has solidified her as one of the premier DJ‟s in the world. Over the last decade, Ms. Bond, a former Wilhelmina model, has brought her versatile talents to the most exclusive events in the world with performances at the VH1 Fashion Rocks Awards, The ESPN X-Games, The U.S. Open, The NBA All-Star Game, The American Music Awards and to a myriad of celebrity clients including Prince, Alicia Keys, Sarah Jessica Parker, Erykah Badu, Diddy, Derrick Jeter, John Legend, Venus Williams, Jessica and Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Z, Martha Stewart, and Michael Jordan. As a Mentor, Activist and Philanthropist, Bond founded BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc., a non-profit youth empowerment mentoring organization to empower inner-city girls ages 12 to 17 through the arts. Bond also founde...

Founded in 1988, Harlem United Community AIDS Center, www.harlemunited.org , works to improve the lives of people living with or threatened by HIV/AIDS through comprehensive prevention, housing, and healthcare services. Our mission is to provide one hundred percent access to care and to obtain zero disparity in health outcomes caused by racial, gender, and economic barriers. With more than 300 staff and an enduring commitment to quality patient-centered, community-based care, we serve more than 12,000 New Yorkers annually. Our clients are among the most medically underserved and economically disenfranchised individuals living with HIV/AIDS. In addition to HIV/AIDS, many suffer from hepatitis C, diabetes, extreme poverty, substance use, and mental illness. A true one-stop shop, Harlem United provides supportive housing, healthcare, and HIV prevention services to Central and East Harlem. We have more than 500 units of congregate and scatter site housing, with unique programs including...

Shakara Bridgers is a successful entrepreneur, author, mentor and blossoming chef from Harlem, New York. She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. A year after graduating, Shakara returned to New York to pursue a career in entertainment- first working in finance and marketing for Red Distribution, a division of Sony Music and then in event promotions for Barbados -based Guttaperk Entertainment. In 2007, Shakara partnered with her friends Jeniece Isley and Joan Davis to co-write and self-publish the bestselling cookbook, The Get 'Em Girls' Guide to the Power of Cuisine under their own publishing company; Subira Publishing. In 2008 the ladies signed a two book publishing deal with Simon & Schuster for the re-release of The Get 'Em Girls' Guide to the Power of Cuisine (2008) and The Get 'Em Girls' Guide to Planning the Perfect Get-Together (2009). The partner...

Widely viewed as a Gen-X Thought Leader, Saideh Browne serves others as the Principal of Impact Agency NY; a successful speaker management agency. She’s also Founder/Executive Director of the National Women's Cancer Alliance; both organizations are dedicated to creating a profound and lasting change in the lives of others. Her message of possibilities and a solid quality of life for everyone is magnified throughout the culture of her agency. It was during Saideh's personal quest to find the true path to happiness that propelled her onto the platform of empowerment. During a year of private study and reflection, she penned her first book From Hip-Hop to Heaven, released in 2004. Since then, Saideh has written, on average, one book per year. Her books successfully integrate the hits and misses in her own life with that of her growing audience. Through her speaking engagements, she seamlessly shares tips and solutions on living a life of possibilities. Every year since it'...

Ms. Tania Peterson Chandler began her career in the human services field shortly after graduating from John Jay College of Criminal Justice with a degree in Legal Studies. Guided by her desire to help those involved in the Criminal Justice System she began working for a not for profit agency as a Court Advocate for adolescents.   Motivated by her continued passion to help, she continued her career at her current employer The Education & Assistance Corporation (EAC), a leading not-for-profit organization in the New York metropolitan area. EAC’s mission, to respond to human needs with programs that help empower individuals to take control of their lives was directly aligned with Ms. Peterson Chandler’s passion to help.  Ms. Peterson Chandler started with EAC as a Court Liaison and soon rose through the ranks to her current position of Regional Director of Administration for EAC’s New York City Services. As Regional Director Ms. Peterson Chandler is responsible overseeing...