Ace of LA, black Commes des Garçons tee on, black snapback faced backward, speaks from his studio in a reclined black chair.
As he speaks, it is clear he is reflecting on his journey, with a visceral understanding in a solemn tone that he always wanted to be a photographer, and thus was always going to be.
He dropped out of high school at an early age to become a photographer. And amidst family members and peers thinking it was a hobby, temporary, or just fun-and-games, photographer Ace of LA stuck with his craft because he knew it was anything but.
He started taking pictures of people he wanted to photograph; “people that gave you that magnitude in front of the camera…” He then transitioned into photographing models, often with no pay.
But Ace of LA doesn’t see free work as just that, because that endeavor is always going to end up in securing a bigger paid opportunity.
“We are in a never-ending journey,” Ace of LA says solemnly. There isn’t a day that goes by where he does not learn something new about himself and his craft.
“The only thing I can tell that young shooter is just to keep being hungry, keep wanting to create, and keep wanting to excel.”
Ace of LA
Ace of LA’s ability to live in the moment enables him to stay grounded and focused on the task at hand. Treating every project like it is a big-budget blockbuster means he is always seeing the best work emanating from his eye and fingertips.
Stay tuned for more of his work and his fashion line here, and check out the rest of our Finally Focused series below.
“Everyone’s story is really, really different. It’s about timing, and it’s about just being ready, so that when your time comes, you can make sure you come correct.”
Flo Ngala- New York based photographer
Beginnings
Hailing from Harlem, NY, the confident and collected Flo Ngala explains to us how that quote fits much of her career thus far. In eighth grade she got a camera, a Minolta-X-something to be exact, and that opened her up to be creative with the lens throughout high school.
Then, Ngala remarks that working for Gucci Mane was probably the first thing that really catapulted her career. Like she said later in the episode, when that time came… she made sure she came correct.
Working as a personal photographer for Gucci then opened up the door to working as a personal photographer for Cardi B. And portfolio opportunities blossomed from there.
A blossoming portfolio
Flo Ngala’s West African roots inspire her to pursue powerful images and moments. And capture the authenticity of diverse and unique vibrant cultures. In 2019, she landed a cover photo for The New York Times with insightful reporting on Black figure skaters from her hometown.
The talented New Yorker also kicked off the year working with Netflix on a project. Then she proceeded to a Rolling Stone job, capturing much of the intensely visceral moments connected with the protests in New York City this Summer. Notable other clients include Nike, Reebok, WWD, and Vogue.com.
“I like being able to just move, and not have to worry about people knowing what’s happening. Just kind of see things, and getting them in the moment,” says Ngala.
The tenacity with which Flo Ngala operates is really what sets her apart and has made her so successful this early into her adult life. Emblematic of how she sees herself behind the lens, one of Ngala’s Instagram posts is captioned, “You don’t photograph people with equipment, you photograph them with energy. The camera is the medium, the photographer is the messenger.”
With an intrinsic understanding and acknowledgment of her roots, a New York energy that only real New Yorkers know, and an innate desire to capture powerful moments that are often forgotten, Flo Ngala stays Finally Focused.
Like the Flo Ngala episode? Check out Finally Focused Episode 2 with Producer Joe Hood
“There’s a lot of different types of producers and there’s a lot of different levels of involvement for producers, but I really made my way by being involved from content to completion. The idea of a creative producer.” – Director and Producer Joe Hood
That was Joe Hood talking, Illinois native and current LA director, producer, writer, etc.
Hood is the founder and Creative Lead/Lead Producer at Hoodworks Video, a full-service video production company based in Los Angeles, CA.
The visionary director went to school at NYU before dipping out West for more lucrative opportunities. With his pit bull by his side, Hood told us about his creative journey.
Some of the projects Hood has worked on are acting as the VFX artist on Dripjacker by Zaytoven and Lil Gotit, the editor on Body by Pretty Ricky, and the writer and producer on Fox 5 by Lil Keed and Gunna, which has amassed over 3.4 million views since June.
Hood has worked in many different parts of the media industry, from social media work to BuzzFeed and L’oréal commercials to the music video/ creative process now where he has more freedom.
But he stressed that one of the main reasons he has moved around so much in the industry is because he focuses more on the opportunities for himself and others that open up, rather than just over saturating the process with content.
“Being a creator of color… unfortunately it automatically defines you. So at some point, you have to decide how you want to define you and what it means for you,” said Hood.
He stressed how creatives of color almost need to have MORE versatility going into jobs than their causation counterparts, as it’s almost like “they want you to prove yourself in things they haven’t even proved themselves in yet.
“You can’t be successful and prepared unless you’re versatile.”
Hood’s creative journey and his day-to-day process are inspiring in its authenticity and his bluntness about the way the industry works. Keep an eye on the creative director moving forward, as his mission, as in ours, is to diligently stay Finally Focused.
Like the Joe Hood episode? Check out Finally Focused Episode 1 with Director Paulette Anges Ang
Erling Haaland has played his last game for Borussia Dortmund, as he is set to join Manchester City this summer. The move is a massive one, quite possible even earth shattering, for City, for the Premier League, and for the world of English football as a whole.
Along with Kylian Mbappe, Haaland was on the shortlist of most-sought-after players this season. He is a tour de force of power, technique, and superb instincts, something all the best strikers seem to possess. And he chose Man City, the club his father used to play for, to help elevate him to an even greater level.
Erling Haaland chose sky blue
Haaland had many suitors as the summer approached. Real Madrid, perhaps the most prestigious club on the planet in terms of attracting stars, was one of the several teams rumored to be interested.
However, Haaland chose City, and England, to be his next step after Dortmund and Germany. One can surmise the reason for Haaland’s decision lies in the growth of City as a club, and how Haaland can see himself growing under manager Pep Guardiola.
Even Haaland’s teammate at Dortmund sees the vision.
“[I] told him I was really happy for him, that he was able to fulfil the next step of his journey and his dream as a footballer,” Dortmund star midfielder Jude Bellingham told the Times.
How does the move change the scope of Man City?
The signing of Erling Haaland not only elevates the spectacle of the extremely competitive Premier League, but it also solidifies Man City as a bonafide titan in the world marketplace of football.
Manchester City can confirm that we have reached an agreement in principle with Borussia Dortmund for the transfer of striker Erling Haaland to the Club on 1st July 2022.
The transfer remains subject to the Club finalising terms with the player.
What was the main concern heading into the 2021/22 season for City? What has been the main talking point nearly every time they have stumbled? The team’s lack of a true number 9.
Haaland is the heir apparent to Sergio Aguero and the enormous void he has left behind since leaving City. The Norwegian has a knack for putting the ball in the net. Twenty two goals in 24 matches in the Bundesliga this year tells the story.
The Premier League is a vastly different league, it cannot be denied. As NBC Sports pundit Robbie Mustoe said, defense is a bit tighter and stronger in the Premier League than it is in the Bundesliga.
Still, superstars overcome obstacles, and the best players perform even better when they’re surrounded by greater talent. Just look at another Bundesliga product City bid highly for in Kevin De Bruyne.
This attacking pair under the stewardship of Guardiola will be a force to be reckoned with, and the one perceived problem ailing City all season long, finishing, should soon not be a concern.
What does this mean for English soccer?
Man City and Liverpool have both steadily ascended, or at worst maintained pace of their respective apexes in recent years (if one wanted to argue Liverpool’s 2019/2020 and City’s Centurions sides were better).
While we have seen English teams such as Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United and José Mourinho’s Chelsea reach immense heights before, there is an inevitability with these two sides at the moment. A disappointing final half hour from City in the Champions League semifinal with Real Madrid aside, most of us would look at these sides as the two best in the world.
Furthermore, if Chelsea hadn’t dealt with extreme and unorthodox ownership turnover, they might be battling with City and Liverpool right now for the league title. In some competitions, like the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, they already were.
Chelsea will find a way to reshuffle, even with defensive questions looming large. Liverpool will continue to scale the tower of all-time great sides, and closely watch other transfer targets to try and match City’s shiny new toy. And City will do as they have always done under Guardiola: renovate, innovate, and dominate.
The world of English soccer is bright, perhaps brighter than ever before. The top of the Premier League is naturally the focus, but the competition at the bottom is just as intense.
Whether you are a fan of Manchester City or not should make no difference if you enjoy the presentation that the Premier League provides.
English soccer just got grander, and we are all better off for it.
The Washington Football Team and United Airlines are joining together to provide economic relief for Black-owned small businesses in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) areas through COVID relief grants.
Proud to partner with @united to launch a COVID relief grant to support economic recovery for Black-owned small businesses in the DMV. pic.twitter.com/7tG8lYOHrw
What will these COVID relief grants do for the greater-D.C. area?
The grants from United Airlines and the Washington Football Team will be put toward business functions such as employee compensation, rent, and operating costs.
“It’s important for us to support the small businesses that bring immeasurable value and cultural vibrance to our DMV community,” said Doug Williams, Super Bowl XXII MVP and Senior Advisor to the Washington Football Team President, Jason Wright.
“We know that Black entrepreneurs face many barriers when it comes to running their businesses and recognize that the last year has been particularly tough on small, minority-owned businesses. Which is why we are excited to partner with United to provide additional resources and support for the members of our Shop Black Directory.”
Washington Football Team’s Doug Williams
Washington Football Team’s Black Engagement Network
The Washington Football Team’s Black Engagement Network has been around since June 2020, and the young initiative is designed to provide support for Black-owned small businesses in the DMV area.
The B.E.N. envisions bringing Black talent to the forefront of operations and leveling the playing field as best as possible in DMV communities.
To be eligible for the grants, businesses must be a certified Black-owned diverse supplier, employ fewer than 15 employees, have been in business for over a year with annual revenues of less than $250,000, located in the DMV, and a member of ‘Shop Black’ since or before May 1st, 2021.
Small businesses from the Shop Black Directory are implored to apply from today, July 15, to August 5 by visiting here.
It is an uncomfortable fact that Black-owned businesses are at risk much more than others. Yet still, it is one that we must accept to fully understand. United Airlines and the Washington Football Team are doing their part to try and provide relief and support in extremely difficult times.
“Something that I’ve always really lived by is making sure that people have the opportunity and space [to feel] comfortable,” says Hella Awkward Co-Founder Britt Rowe.
“And encouraged to just tell about [their] own lives. And that’s what I think Hella Awkward is giving the space for… for people of color to really do that.”
Hella Awkward is a card game that serves to bring friends and families closer than they could have ever imagined. The game, through its prompts and questions, provides a space for loved ones to learn more about people that, in some cases, they have known for all of their lives.
The game’s mission is also intrinsically related to the experiences of immigrants and BIPOC. Conversations that are usually considered out of bounds, especially by older generations, are now encouraged. Hella Awkward, in its essence, is about being vulnerable and emotional with caring people around you.
“When it came down to designing our game, we knew early on that it was essential for our game to capture the right expression and vibe. Not only were we designing a card game, but we’re really crafting a space for people to embrace a shared, inclusive experience of vulnerability, reflection, and good laughs altogether.”
Jane Lim, Co-Founder of Hella Awkward
Hella Awkward’s inception
During 2020’s quarantine, Brandon Rhodes and his partner Jane Lim were engaging in an activity that many of us found ourselves in: binge-watching.
In this case, it was Issa Rae’s Insecure, and the pair realized that the show was sparking important and intriguing conversations that subsequently brought them closer together.
They thought maybe they could “bottle up” certain conversations and create a way for everyone to have the experience. From relationships to dating to sex to anything that can be labeled “real talk,” Hella Awkward opens the floor for conversations that may be considered taboo, or just difficult to bring up.
Brandon quickly realized Hella Awkward could be a game-changer and called his sister Britt, who he knew also loved Insecure. The trio soon after got to work.
They realized in development that Hella Awkward established connections between groups that may not have always had the opportunity. It is well known that among certain demographics and immigrant groups, select conversations are implicitly off-limits.
“Some of my friends, other Black men, we talked about different topics of conversation that we didn’t generally talk about… you know, everything from dating to relationships and different things of that nature.”
Brandon Rhodes
The group also saw the game as perfect for multicultural millennials. Too often are they rushing off to the next task or duty without stopping to reflect. And it is in those honest reflections, no matter how brief, that real answers are found.
Moving forward with lightning in a bottle
At first, the trio would sit down on a Zoom call and start developing questions.
But creating the questions was the easy part. Nailing down on the ones that deserved to stay proved harder.
“In order to gauge if we thought it was a good question or not, basically all three of us had to answer the question. And if it wasn’t a good conversation, then we didn’t use it.”
The trio soon realized that they started to get even closer than they already were. And then they tried out the questions on their roommates and family members, and kept the ones that stuck.
The next steps were getting feedback and survey results. That helped them refine the game. It helped them nail down the categories they wanted, and it helped them understand that they had a hit.
“I played with some of my guy friends who I’ve known for 10 years and I learned new things. We actually cried on the call. So it just gave us a lot of confidence that this was something that could be something bigger. You want to play it with friends to get closer.”
Brandon Rhodes
Brandon put it like this: “Our tagline is ‘People you know. Stories you don’t.‘”
Brilliance in newfound conversation
First dates or certain family dinners can be extremely uncomfortable. They can be hella awkward. But what about the conversations with friends of 10 or more years? Or significant others of half a decade?
Hella Awkward puts you back in those uncomfortable situations where at first you feel an embarrassing rush of heat, and then as your body cools down, you realize it was a rush. “How did I not know that about you?” you may find yourself asking your partner.
“I come from a theater background, so having people share their story and have it be received and acknowledged and heard is so important,” says Britt.
Speaking freely and starting a business as BIPOC/immigrants
“You know, when I was growing up, our grandparents didn’t have conversations about what their life was like growing up in the South or being sharecroppers. They didn’t talk about those sorts of things. So I think this is a great gateway to open up those ways of connecting and being able to express yourself and get to know each other in a fun way.”
Britt Rowe
Tangents are encouraged in Hella Awkward. Stories are meant to go off-topic. And when wine is involved, that is often naturally the case.
As for starting the business itself, it was no easy feat. Britt specifically spent days upon days on YouTube learning about business accelerator programs and other ways she could spearhead the process from idea to product.
“It was so exciting and [now] crazy that I’m a business owner. I’m a Black young woman. It feels incredible… this was not possible for a previous generation. You weren’t able to have this business and be Black. And so I really feel connected to my own culture and able to really shape the lens. I want to say that I want to encourage these folks.”
Britt explained that they have Black women who are starting their own companies send them DM’s, and she can help them out and give them advice and suggestions. Thus, not only is she connected to her culture, but she is able to give back and help the larger community win.
“It’s just incredible to see [that] the community has been so supportive. And connecting with other Black game-makers too,” says Britt. “To do it with my brother, it’s just so amazing.”
The feedback the group has gotten has also been incredibly inspiring and affirming. Brandon shared that someone commented that the game is like a cheaper couples therapy, and “it’s just a cool piece of feedback to get.”
Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
Brandon says that their story started from just being inspired. They had a desire to make something happen. He put it in a way that most procrastinators should heed: “If you’re passionate about something, [if] you have an idea you believe in, go out and make something happen.”
He shared further advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.
“My biggest piece of advice is that you just need to go and do it. Whatever your idea is, there’s a way to test it out. There’s a way to find if there’s a product-market fit and there’s a way to refine it. And that’s exactly what we did from the beginning.”
Brandon Rhodes
Of course, a lot of Brandon and Britt’s advice is more literal and less abstract: Make it happen with the least amount of money possible. Speak about the idea with friends and family and try to refine it.
And if you are the one able to put the money towards the process, do it. That will show investors that you put in the work yourself to create something tangible. There is no bigger signal of being all-in.
Jane’s biggest takeaway from the creation of Hella Awkward was building a product through a labor of love.
“The team dynamic played a major role in inspiring us to start Hella Awkward in the first place. We’ve always had a strong understanding of how we each could contribute and complement each other with our strengths collectively. Ultimately, when you have the shared experience of working with people you love, the journey of building a business becomes way more rewarding.”
Finally, as Britt puts it, “Use your network to your advantage. You just never know who is going to be the resource that you need to push you in the right direction.”
Takeaways from Hella Awkward
“The biggest takeaway or the biggest hope that I have is that people just feel more comfortable sharing and being vulnerable. If we can do that for people, it’s going to be meaningful. They’re going to feel it. They’re going to feel the love and intention that we put into the game itself.”
Brandon Rhodes
Britt echoed her brother’s sentiments.
“I just want people to feel like they are safe enough to be vulnerable with people and know that they can really dive into their emotional self and just connect. That’s what I want people to hear.”
Think about Apples to Apples where you’re not trying to win an argument. Or Cards Against Humanity where you’re not trying to always be funny. What about a game that sparks memories, storytelling, and forges deeper bonds in relationships like fire against an iron blade.
The passion for connection was palpable in my phone conversation with siblings Brandon and Britt. Starting a business themselves was also a source of inspiration.
So the next time you think you know everything about your parent, your sibling, your spouse, or your best friend, take another look. Hella Awkward will give you the chance to meet them all over again. Get your game set here.
Juneteenth, both in its foundation and in its process of becoming a national holiday, illuminates much of the U.S.’s enduring legacy today. The delay in declaring the end of slavery, the concerted effort in squashing the truth from the history books, and performative justice in “celebrating” Juneteenth is all indicative of white supremacy.
White supremacy is like the bugs that feed on trees during the spring and summer. It is seen by most only when it is sought out, it is silent until exposed in all of its sinister sway, and yet it permeates everything in its path, wreaking destruction for the betterment of itself and nothing more.
What Juneteenth reveals about white supremacy is that not getting to the root of the issue, and rather providing performative “justice” is its bread and butter. And since the U.S. has yet to feel major ramifications from doing so, it will not stop anytime soon.
They painted BLM instead of defunding the police, clapped for essential workers instead of raising the wage, and made Juneteeth a holiday instead of making sure Black folks can vote. Always a symbolic victory instead of a material change.
— Read Jackson Rising by @CooperationJXN (@JoshuaPHilll) June 16, 2021
White supremacy dictated Juneteenth, so it’s no surprise it decided when it became a holiday
We know about the history of June 19. We know that with coordinated efforts in many parts of the U.S., white slaveowners made it impossible for their slaves to understand they were free. As such is the case with much of U.S. history: make people oblivious and ignorant to the truth, and the status quo will prevail.
Secrecy, silence, and sinister efforts. It would be hard to find a decade in the U.S. short history where these were not found. But it is all in preserving white supremacy that efforts can be understood. Preserving the preexisting power structure requires a lack of understanding and coalition.
Texas is suppressing voting rights and teaching truths about racism and history while Juneteenth becomes a holiday.
It's the whiplash for me.
To be black in Texas = stuck between federal bread + circuses on one side – and the suppression of black political power on the other.
— Karen Attiah IS ON INSTAGRAM @karenattiah (@KarenAttiah) June 16, 2021
So if the truth is muddied about the history of Juneteenth, and political pundits and commonfolk alike can say “well, we made Juneteenth a national holiday, so…” white supremacy can rage on. And it is here that we realize that infringing upon the masses ability to understand and act, is the greatest weapon white supremacy has at its disposal.
And it will continue to use that weapon until its dying days.
Juneteenth is a national holiday. But should we care?
For white supremacy to reign supreme in the West as it has for centuries, it must be not declared explicitly. The U.S. specifically must work under the guise of being a meritocracy.
White supremacy convinced many white people of the benefits of slavery. And to those who were unconvinced but still participated, their crime is perhaps even more heinous.
But what is more startling is the faction of lawmakers in DC making Juneteenth a holiday right now. No one is crying out for it. What we are crying out for is laws to be put in place to make sure everyone, not just suburban and rural whites, have an equal opportunity to vote.
Can’t get an anti-lynching bill passed, the For the People Act to protect our voting rights or the George Floyd Justice and Policing Act.
What we are crying out for is justice against the police officers who get away with police brutality far too often. Finally, what we are crying out for is the opportunity to teach the youth the truth. Whether that is about just Juneteenth or the U.S.’s history in its entirety makes no difference. It all relates, and it all comes back to white supremacy.
Where do we go from here?
If we don’t have the ability to educate the next generations, what do we have? Well first, we have the opportunity to call out plain b.s. when we see it. Making Juneteenth a national holiday is nothing more than a distraction. Acknowledgment is the first step to moving forward.
What we can do is tell our youth at home the truth, even while formal education in America is further desecrated. And we can continue to push back against performative efforts like DC is taking part in now. If they don’t hear us now, they’ll hear us when we’re louder, when more of us are informed and upset.
Exploring Juneteenth in the 19th-century tells us a lot about the way the world was. Juneteenth being made a national holiday today tells us a lot about the way the world is. Merging these connections will illuminate our guiding light moving forward, we just have to do it together.
National outcry followed the reported hijacking of a young and prominent journalist from Belarus, who long feared the government would find a way to attack him.
26-year-old Belarusian journalist Raman Pratasevich was on a flight from Greece to Lithuania, where he had been seeking refuge, when the flight was ordered to drop down off course in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, where Pratasevich was swiftly arrested.
The regime forced the landing @Ryanair plane in Minsk to arrest journalist and activist Raman Pratasevich. He faces the death penalty in Belarus. We demand immediate release of Raman, @ICAO investigation, and sanctions against Belarus. pic.twitter.com/ondPBd0kU9
— Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (@Tsihanouskaya) May 23, 2021
This follows the protests last year in Belarus of President Lukashenko’s questionable election win. He has cracked down on public dissent, and his regime is increasingly authoritarian, still with the backing of Russia.
But that doesn’t mean that Belarus is entirely unique in its treatment of journalists. Journalists are at risk in many other areas too, including Palestine, Colombia, and even the U.S. The question still remains: is the world strong enough to stand up for them?
Are journalists globally under attack?
Journalists are the gatekeepers of complete truth. They are the guiders of instruction, and also the harbingers of danger.
For an authoritarian regime where the party in power is the state, journalists are perhaps their biggest enemy. They speak truth to power, as it is their jobs, and, as many see it, also their moral obligations.
So when an entire building carrying offices of the AP and Al Jazeera is shot down in Gaza, journalists and photographers are brutally attacked in the U.S., and most recently, a prominent journalist in Belarus is hijacked off of an airplane, warning signs must be cautioned.
The owner of a Gaza building that was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike is filing a complaint with the International Criminal Court, his lawyer said.
The 12-story al-Jalaa tower was home to some 60 residential apartments as well as the press offices of the AP and Al Jazeera. pic.twitter.com/RF4sULxd0R
Except we are also past the point of warning; people in power globally have understood the same basic premise for holding onto that power for generations: stop the journalists first.
This is not a new problem
People in power have always feared journalists. It is the reason former President Trump worked so hard to lambast the “fake news,” and only give special treatment and access to journalists who covered him favorably.
Not only have we seen journalists in danger before, but we have seen authoritarian leaders follow similar playbooks forever. The state can arrest anyone under suspicion of “treason,” “terrorism,” or simply still even, “posing a security risk.” The state gets to make the rules, and everyone else is forced to go along.
What journalists need is global condemnation of unfair treatment of them being under attack. They need governments brave and morally sound enough to threaten sanctions, or even military involvement if certain standards protecting journalists is not met.
The problem is, attacks against journalists happens in just about any country, so each can be called hypocritical for calling out others.
The murder and cover-up of Jamal Khashoggi stands as the most recent example, as the U.S.’ ties to Saudi Arabia caused them to not hold the state accountable, in what was seen pretty clearly as murder and also dismemberment of the Saudi Arabian journalist and dissident.
The journalists in Belarus and worldwide are still under attack. Where do we go from here?
It is hard to be optimistic about the safety of Belarusian journalist Raman Pratasevich at the moment. It is hard to be optimistic about the state of journalism as a whole worldwide.
Where the hope does come, however, is in the brave and intrepid reporting seen daily from journalists across the globe. If you are a journalist, look at the reporters next to you, in front of you, behind you, and there is where you will see the hope to continue on.
Rome was not built in a day, and Rome was not destroyed in a day. The more and more people that speak on international human rights violations and the attacks on journalists, the more we can all work towards a equitable future.
People often ask, can journalists also be activists? Does the impartiality of standing up for a cause or people ruin the journalist’s credibility?
Objectivity is not the mission. Fairness is. Take a step back and examine what is right, and therein lies your answer. Our thoughts are with Pratasevich and all other journalists in danger worldwide.
There are certain things in life that cannot be learned until you experience it yourself. This is especially true for student-athletes, who face a burden and workload that often feels like an insurmountable obstacle. So for The Zone founders Erik Poldroo and Ivan Tchatchouwo, creating a library for mental health and wellness resources was almost like a second chance.
See, Poldroo and Tchatchouwo were student-athletes themselves, the former as a division 2 baseball player and the latter a division 2 basketball player, both at Concordia College in New York. The understanding was that student-athletes deal with a lot of stress and anxiety, and there needs to be a place that can help remedy these issues.
The Zone is where wellness is preached and more importantly, acted upon. The company offers resources for universities such as Stony Brook University, Lehigh University, and Florida A&M, in addition to many others.
Follow below for a conversation with Poldroo and Tchatchouwo that traces the inspirations behind two friends’ mission, not only for the greater good of student-athletes, but also to right the wrongs they faced themselves years before.
The Zone and what it does
Kulture Hub: Can you explain in layman’s terms exactly what you and The Zone staff do? What is the day-to-day like?
Erik Poldroo: Most definitely- The Zone is a SaaS that puts wellness coaching in every athlete’s pocket, so they can feel and perform their best. By creating a library of mental health, nutrition and other wellness resources, students have the easily accessible materials that they need, when they need it in order to prioritize their well-being.
In addition, we provide an easier solution for athletes to be able to seek help by pinging a counselor/therapist, and allow for athletic program staff to better understand the morale of their teams through aggregate data sets (For example: 64% of the baseball team is feeling overwhelmed, 44% of the basketball team is feeling down etc.) in order to better service them thereafter, provided through The Zone’s mood tracker.
Our day to day consists of wearing many different hats such as servicing our current partnerships with Universities, establishing new relationships with Universities, and continuously building out our technology to further add the capabilities that we plan to add on by the fall school year. We view our company framework as such: How can we increase Awareness, then how can we educate the future generations on things they face, with the goal of having them create these habits and applying those habits consistently.
The inspiration behind wellness in The Zone
KH: What was the main factor in inspiring you and your co-founder to create The Zone? What were you seeing specifically that begged for a company like yours?
EP: We started The Zone because we personally went through mental health struggles throughout our time as student-athletes and didn’t always know who to open up to. Wellness resources were scattered, counseling services can be intimidating, and the fear of explaining how we felt came with potential repercussions (such as losing playing time).
Erik Poldroo at Concordia College (via The Zone)Ivan Tchatchouwo at Concordia College (via The Zone)
That is why we aimed to create a one-stop-shop so athletes have a safe & brave space to open up how they feel, never have to worry about where to look ever again while allowing them to feel supported with the appropriate resources they need and allow program staff to better service them thereafter. Making sure help is efficiently accessible to them at any moment.
Student-athletes and their resources
KH:Athletes in general are often told to stick to their sports, to be grateful for their opportunity to play a game, to “shut up and dribble.” How do you think that affects student-athletes in particular who additionally have an entire course load to manage?
EP: I think with student-athletes it can be incredibly overwhelming. Division 1 student-athletes on average spend 41 hours a week on their respective sport alone. This can give little time to truly focus on academics without feeling stressed, or having to sacrifice something in between such as lack of sleep and/or performance in the classroom/on the field.
Ultimately, this takes a toll on the mind. Also with most staff programs being understaffed and overwhelmed we want to give them a way to get anonymized data on what is actually going with their programs so they can be proactive and not reactive.
Wellness in The Zone, especially as a Black man
KH: Can you talk about wanting to bring wellness and The Zone to HBCU’s in particular? What is that process like?
Ivan Tchatchouwo:Being a Black male from an African household by way of Cameroon and then being raised in the inner city I know first hand what it’s like to put mental health on the backburner and not be able to speak about it because of the stigma. So when I faced a big injury my junior year and my season was over I went through a long depression and didn’t have an outlet until things went south.
Understanding that from personal experience we realized the importance of creating a mental wellness culture at HBCU programs. With helping kids improve on their mental well-being we are helping create habits that will impact them in the workforce, as parents, as partners etc.
We thought it was paramount to instill these tools within predominantly Black institutions to help the kids improve academically, athletically, and personally as they go through their day-to-day journeys on campus.
Ivan Tchatchouwo
Student-athletes deserve more
KH:How has your and your team’s past as student-athletes enabled you to be successful in your business and also see eye to eye with these current student-athletes?
EP:Being in their shoes at one time, we know exactly what student-athletes are going though. We aren’t a team who are just funneling resources their way without personally experiencing the student-athlete journey ourselves. This has enabled us to develop trust with our athletes and connect with them on a personal level to provide them with what they are looking for and enabled us to have early adoption from our users.
Kevin Durant is widely known for his unstoppable game on the court. But what he has done in recent years off of the floor has been almost just as impressive. Otis, a stock market for the culture, allows fans to purchase a piece of Kevin Durant’s jersey that he wore for his Nets debut.
Otis is an investment platform that lets anyone buy shares of “cultural assets.” These assets could be anything from a Banksy artwork to Michael Jordan’s game-worn Air Jordan 1’s. Durant’s debut Nets jersey is the latest asset up for investment. It can be purchased and/or traded here.
Kevin Durant’s debut jersey (Courtesy of Otis)
The specifics of the sale
Durant’s game-worn jersey is valued $47,600. Still, fans can purchase a piece of the jersey for as little as $10.
Fans will purchase shares on Otis, then watch as they fluctuate just like stocks. Shares can be traded whenever as parties seek to gain a profit. Recent drops on Otis have seen 150% to 400% increases on initial investments.
With the Nets standing as favorites in many people’s eyes to win the championship, Durant’s first game-worn jersey may end up being even more famous and valuable than can be imagined right now.
Kevin Durant’s debut jersey (Courtesy of Otis)
Kevin Durant’s debut in a Nets jersey
Durant’s debut with the Nets was pretty impressive for a guy coming off an achilles injury. After being out for more than a year, Durant showed why he is one of the best players the NBA has ever seen.
In 24 minutes, Durant put up 22 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. The Nets dominated the Celtics with Durant and Irving, leading to a 125-99 victory.
Even before acquiring James Harden in a trade, the Nets were filled with star power. Durant stands as the headliner, and expectations were high from the moment he signed with the team.
He showed up big in that first game, and aside from injuries holding him out here and there, he has all season long.
For the Nets, it’s championship or bust
Now, as the Nets reach the real stage, the playoffs, it’s championship or bust. What has been a peculiar season has reached the place where teams show whether they are real contenders or not.
The Nets have formidable opponents along the way, should they reach the NBA Finals. What is more, is that they have big teams and players they must go through if they want to reach that stage. And for a relatively small team, it will be easier said than done to shut down the likes of Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
1/ NYC has not seen an NBA title for nearly 50 years.
However when Kevin Durant & Kyrie Irving signed with the Nets in 2019, championship aspirations returned to the Big Apple.
Monday 12PM ET Otis drops Kevin Durant’s game-worn Nets Debut Jersey.
With Otis allowing the sale of Kevin Durant’s jersey, it is all about seeing how the postseason unfolds. Because for those who have a piece of Durant’s first jersey as a Net, the value may only rise. And for Nets fans, they damn sure hope it does.
