Buzz Magazine Miami

Growing up, I believed that the criminal justice system did not work for people who look like me. I experienced the System first hand— from the vantage point of family members being brutally murdered and watching the killers go free, and from the point of seeing family members with mental health and drug addiction issues being criminalized because of their sickness. I worked hard and went to the University of Florida and then off to law school at Nova Southern University Shepard Broad College of Law with the idea of becoming an active participant in Criminal Justice Reform before it was trendy. I decided that for me to change a system that has traditionally been stacked against people of color and the poor that I would have to change it from within.

I served as an Assistant State Attorney with the Office of the State Attorney in and for the 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida, prosecuting serious criminal offenses in the Felony Trial Unit. I developed a reputation for being a tough, fair, and skilled trial lawyer. I was on a constant quest for truth and fairness through every stage of the prosecutorial process.

From an early age my parents instilled in me the importance of honesty and integrity. I am happily married to Real Estate Attorney, Nikeisha Williams Pryor and the father to an amazing son, Trey. I decided last year to run for Broward County State Attorney because I want to ensure that my son can grow and flourish in a truly safe community that is equitable and just for all people.

My origin story in the beauty industry begins at the Aveda Institute of South Florida. There my passion for beauty was awakened! I’d never considered Cosmetology as a respectable career path as I didn’t know many hair artists who lived the lifestyle I dreamt of living while doing what they love. Thankfully, the horizons were expanded through my Aveda experience. Not only did I learn how to weave and foil; I was exposed to the many opportunities beyond the chair that would prepare me for my career as a business owner.

Being on the Editorial Team opened the door to stylist for runway shows, calendar shoots with the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders, photoshoot collaborations with The Art Institute and many other editorial events. I also had the opportunity to assist Keema Chang on video shoots for some of the most recognized artists and models in the music industry. She taught me how to be fast yet efficient we working on set.

After relocating to Tampa, I began to put more focus on the business behind the beauty and Schatzi C Beauty was born. Since being in Tampa I’ve become a published hairstylist in magazines like Black Bride, The Perfect Palette and The Know Tampa Edition. It’s safe to say that I’m really just getting started!

I’m Freddy Espin Artis illustrator, I started to draw since child. For me draw it’s my life, now here in Miami I retook and more than my passion now is my business. Trying to move my art works to the next level.

One Saturday evening on March 2017, I was sitting in my car and was thinking about how much I love shopping and that I’m always buying me and my daughter outfits. I then went into my room, jumped on my laptop and created my first logo and started to think of a business name and I came up with EMBClothing, which stands for “Empowering Majestic Beauty Clothing.” I remember telling a couple of close people, but some laughed and others weren’t sure I had the talent, so at that moment, I started to say to myself I’m going to prove everyone who doubted and laughed. Ending of 2017 to 2018 summer, the business was doing great until I lost my job and that set me back because I needed some income rolling in to keep me going how I want my business to go. Staying home doing research I became more creative in the clothing business. I also started to think about how much I love candles and how my daughter suffers from eczema as well as sensitive skin and I suffer from dry and sensitive skin, I started to think of a scent business of organic homemade soaps and candles and came up with the name EMBScents which stands for “Empowering Majestic Beauty Scents.” Being a young entrepreneur with no team behind you is very hard, depressing, sleepless nights and constant headaches but no matter what I keep pushing, having faith and always say to myself I came this far to not quit and I wasn’t raised to be a quitter. It’s the year 2020 and I’m taking my business to another level because I see, I know and I will succeed to be the entrepreneur I always wanted to be and patience is the key to success!

Michael, a South Florida Native, currently residing in Pompano Beach, perused his love of Art at an early age following in the tradition of his Nana Triphena’s crafts and the paintings of his Mother Ava.

Michael attended the program for Graphic Design at Nova High School creating programs, note pads, etc. While earning a degree in Graphic Design at Miami Dade College; Michael studied a range of artistic disciplines including Photography, Typography, Advertising Design, and Fine Arts.

Over the years, Michael has created works of Art in a variety of mediums including Drawing, Graphic Design, Stained Glass and Painting. In recent years, he has presented works at Pompano Beach Untapped, Art Scavenger Hunt Fort Lauderdale, Compass West Palm Beach and at the W in Fort Lauderdale. Today, Michael has two pieces, each displaying his unique style, at the new Pompano Beach Library.

The Smoogies band is comprised of Harvel Nakundi (drums), Dion Kerr (bass), Vaughn Henry (keys/vocals) and David Chiverton (drums), all formally trained musicians hailing from South Florida. Each member has served interchangeably as leader and accompanist to a variety of performing acts around the world with repertoires spanning across multiple genres.

Harvel (J. Lo, Nicole Henry) and Dion (Jean Caze, Tivon Pennicott) founded the band in Miami after both having spent time in NYC and on the road touring and performing at festivals around the world. Their relationship writing and playing music goes back over a decade when they first met in Miami. They both had a desire to create while cultivating a sense of community. It was only right to include Dave (DW/Zildjian/Vic Firth artist) and Vaughn (Ghost Note, Snarky Puppy) in the group.

The Smoogies began their career with a feature on the digital music series, “The Chivertone Sessions” and notoriety grew instantaneously. From there, they were given the opportunity to hold residency and curate a weekly hangout where the band developed and refined their sound further. They also secured a spot at the prestigious Ground Up Music Festival, and they have not stopped breaking ground since.

The Miami Give Back all started with a hairstylist named Daniella Franquez a young mother of two in Miami,fl who has always loved to do philanthropy work in her community and showing her daughters a different way to view less fortunate by donating her hair cutting services to local events and shelters around Broward and Miami- Dade counties. With a single Instagram post on her work page @beautybydaniella_ “I want to do something for the homeless, who’s in?” set in motion a wave that no one ever imagined would grow into such a beautiful movement. With the help of a few followers “The Miami Give Back” was born. Daniella enlisted the help of friends, strangers, anyone willing to lend a helping hand, and that’s when Rey Zubizarreta @ray_ur_barber, Jean Varela @shinzotheomega and Alex Gonzalez @oso_fresh_cutz stepped up to be the first barbers to hit the streets of Miami with Daniella. Not knowing what to expect, they showed up with two tables, three chairs, a cooler of water, clothes to donate, and a car adapter that ran an extension cord to power the machines to cut hair. It was AMAZING how grateful the homeless was, they must have done at least 50 men and women on the sidewalk under the bridge. When the day was done and they were cleaning up, A homeless man thanked them for the humanity and kindness shown that day and proceeded to ask when they would be returning? Shocked and humbled, the group agreed to dedicate the first Saturday of the upcoming months to come back and service the streets, and The Miami Give Back became a registered non-profit organization and started a mission and a promise to impact the homeless and less fortunate communities by donating haircuts, shaves, clothes, and most importantly someone to talk to and provide hope, possibly motivation to get off the streets. The Miami Give Back has consistently done the monthly events ever since.

I was born into a family of thrifters. Although we were not wealthy my parents had a keen eye for finding hidden gems at thrift stores and estate sales. I guess I caught the bug early on because I remember cutting out of class when I was in 3rd grade to go to a church rummage sale next door and picking up trinkets for my room, and not coming back until the bus took me home. That started my life long obsession with thrifting which eventually turned into my business.