Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald, Eric Thornton. FirmCare Life Sharing is a cutting-edge healthcare company with a passion for serving families and individuals of all spectrums. We are licensed by the State of Georgia through the Department of Community Health and Medicaid programs Georgia Pediatric Program (G.A.P.P), Community Care Service Program(CCSP), and SOURCE. We are dedicated to providing our clients with the highest quality home healthcare and healthcare consultation solutions.

1. Who is Eric Thornton?
2. Tell me a little about FirmCare Life Sharing and how you came up with your company's name.
3. Who does your company service?
4. How does FirmCare help the community?
5. What led you to provide Healthcare services?
6. What motivated you to choose the entrepreneurial path?
7. Are you involved in any other businesses or industries?
8. What is the low-income community?
9. How do you get paid when dealing with underserved communities?
10. The impact of COVID-19 on your business.

I’ve always had a heart for giving back and a passion for helping my community. I was born and raised in Atlanta, GA, growing up on the south side in Riverdale, GA. I attended school in Atlanta from preschool to 8th Grade thereafter, I moved to Decatur and attended Southwest Dekalb High School. I was blessed to have great parents and although they divorced when I was very young, they afforded me and my sister a great childhood. I always knew I wanted to make a difference in the underserved and especially the developmentally disabled community. I also knew that I wanted to become an entrepreneur and use my leadership skills to positively affect the community in a way that I couldn’t while working for a major bank. I had to step out on faith and take a risk and I did so by opening a home healthcare company–FirmCare Life Sharing. My company has an emphasis on helping developmentally disabled children and seniors in low-income communities within and around the metro Atlanta area as well other cities within the state of Georgia.

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald, interviewed Dr. Lynn Richardson. The popular financial expert Dr. Lynn Richardson returns to the Money Making Conversations Master Class to dispatch another round of financial advice. In this episode, Dr. Lynn explains the significance of building generational wealth in the African American community and how to start investing for your future even if you don’t have that much money. She also touches on the importance of having a life insurance policy and discusses ways to start taking control of your financial future while avoiding financial pitfalls. She breaks down how life insurance can be used as an investment and an asset.

Topic Covered

How to pick life insurance

How to make your life insurance work for you.

What are some ideas for getting some extra income?

Eliminating debt

Increasing income

Saving more

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald, interviewed Ozell Graham. He is a US Army Veteran who started The Fade Shop Brand in 1996 inside a tent while serving his country deployed in Bosnia during Operation Joint Endeavor. After eight years of Honorable Service, Ozell transitioned back into the civilian workforce, moving to Arkansas to pursue his career in Cosmetology. Upon graduation, Ozell moved to Dallas, Texas, where he worked in several barbershops where he learned more about hair and how to run a business. In 2005, Ozell stepped out on faith and followed his dream of entrepreneurship, and opened his first barbershop in Dallas. He currently has three successful locations in the Dallas Metroplex, and a Hair and Skin Care Product Company called AT Ease!

AT Ease Hair and Skin Care's Mission is to provide universal hair and skin products, education, and training to consumers so they can maintain personal grooming for healthy hair and skin, leaving them relaxed and worry-free.

*Talking Points/Questions
Here are 5 Effective Steps to help you grow and Maintain a Healthy Beard
Step 1- Let your facial hair grow
Step 2: Once you have a beard, big or small, you want to wash it using a beard wash. This will remove any dirt, product buildup, and dry or flaky skin that can cause a blockage that stunts hair growth. Keeping it clean will also open your pores and allow your beard to grow smoothly through the skin.
Step 3—After your beard is clean, you want to add a non-pore-clogging beard moisturizer or oil. This will keep your hair and skin moist to prevent dryness, protect the hair from breakage, and prevent skin cracking. Doing this will also improve your hair and skin's texture.
Step 4-Brushing or Combing your beard daily helps distribute the natural oils to moisturize, while stimulating blood flow that can improve beard growth because the more nutrients that are going to your beard follicles will return a healthier beard.
Step 5-Maintain a nice curb appeal on your beard keeping your borders (top and bottom) clean and neat by using a trimmer or razor. Doing this will be a great foundation for that Stand Out Beard.

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Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer, Rushion McDonald interviewed George Acheampong and Carter Cofield. They own Melanin Money, which aims to empower the Black community through financial literacy and wealth-building. They have been recognized for their innovative approach to bridging the wealth gap and fostering a culture of financial empowerment. Melanin Money has implemented the challenges they have had to overcome, as well as their advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

The interview would cover topics such as:

- The inspiration behind founding Melanin Money

- Key milestones and achievements in your journey

- Strategies for promoting financial literacy within the Black community

- Personal stories of success and overcoming obstacles

• Future goals and projects for Melanin Money

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald, interviewed Dr. Rebecca Homkes. She is a high-growth strategy specialist, best-selling author, executive adviser, and Consultant.

Dr. Homkes teaches at two business schools and runs a USA-based LLC SRT Strategy. She is a Lecturer at the London Business School, Faculty at Duke Corporate Executive Education, Advisor and Core Faculty for BCGU (Boston Consulting Group), and a former fellow at the London School of Economics Centre for Economic Performance. A best-selling author, global keynote speaker and recognized thought leader, she is also the global Faculty Director of the Active Learning Program with the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), leads several fintech accelerators, and serves on the Boards of many high-growth companies. She earned her doctorate at the London School of Economics as a Marshall Scholar and is now based in Miami, San Francisco, USA and London. UK.

Company Description *

Talking Points/Questions *

Why we need to get away from viewing uncertainty as something inherently negative

• Planning vs. preparing: Why leaders need to set planning tools aside and instead go into preparation mode when facing uncertainty
• How leaders can develop a pragmatic strategy in these uncertain times (election, market volatility, etc).
• Why few economic and business decisions should be delayed entirely until after election
• How to distinguish the difference between purposeful, strategic waiting from passive waiting— as the latter will put you farther and farther behind
• Depending on who wins, immigration, trade and offshoring will be impacted— How businesses can plan for contingency NOW
• Kickers and killers for companies: Stop asking "What could happen?" and focus on these 2 questions; What could break us? (a killer) and What could make us? (a kicker)
• An brief overview of Survive, Reset, Thrive: Leading Breakthrough Growth Strategy in Volatile Times

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Demond Martin.

He founded WellWithAll, a Black-owned, purpose-led health + wellness brand. Their mission is to improve wellbeing for all of us to achieve generational wellness. We invest 20% of our profits in the fight for health equity in Black, Brown, and underserved communities.

1. Origin Story: What was the spark that drove you + your co-founder to start WellWithAll?
According to Pfizer, Black people are at a higher risk for heart disease, stroke, cancer, asthma, and diabetes compared to their white counterparts. But that is not all. Based on research recorded by Psychiatry, Black people with any mental illness have lower rates of obtaining mental health services, including prescription medications and outpatient services, compared to white men and women.

Demond Martin, Co-Founder + CEO
An investor and philanthropist, Demond was a senior partner at Adage Capital Management where he invested in the consumer sector for 22 years. A graduate of Harvard Business School and former assistant to President Clinton’s White House Chief of Staff, Demond has served as a trustee on a number of non-profit boards including the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, the Grammy Global Venture Board, and the Obama Foundation.

We encourage + support our customers on their wellness journey while inspiring us all to do good in our communities and in our lives.

Talking Points/Questions *

1. Origin Story: What was the spark that drove you + your co-founder to start WellWithAll?

2. Product/Solutions: What are solutions/products that WellWithAll offers to solve for better wellbeing?
**Demond to share how our product, content, community are here to help put more life into years (pursue our joy/living well), especially for Black and Brown consumers who have been underserved or overlooked in the wellness space overall.

3. What does generational wellness mean to you?
**Dialogue between Demond and Rushion and their respective points of view.

4. Conscious Capitalism/Biz Model: WellWithAll doesn't just sell quality products, it also has a passion and purpose.
Can you share more about your innovative business model to build heath equity for driving positive social impact and change?
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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviews Travis May, Sr. and Alair Castro from Northwestern Mutal, one is a financial advisor and the other is a Diversity & Inclusion Specialist discuss how Black Entrepreneurship bridges racial wealth gap. The racial wealth gap refers to the disparity in assets of typical households across race and ethnicity. The gap in assets is far wider than disparities in wages across races. Income inequality, housing policies, limited educational opportunities, and a lack of support structures contribute to the racial wealth gap.

Talking Points
- Can you provide an overview of the Community Conversations initiative and its purpose?
- This is the third Community Conversation you’re hosting—what impact have the previous two events had so far?
- Travis joined the firm as a result of the first conversation. How did that connection come about, and how has his journey exemplified the goals of these conversations?
- In what ways do you feel these events are making an intentional and impactful difference in the Black community?
- How does Community Conversations help identify individuals who align with the firm’s vision and goals?
- What makes these events unique in fostering relationships and opportunities within the Black community?
- Northwestern Mutual is a financial partner that offers personalized plans, top-rated services and life insurance.
- What inspired Northwestern Mutual’s Callaway Black office to focus this year’s panel series on Black entrepreneurship as a solution to bridging the racial wealth gap?
- Why do you believe entrepreneurship plays a pivotal role in narrowing the racial wealth gap, specifically for Black communities?
- What unique challenges do Black entrepreneurs face in starting and scaling businesses compared to other demographics?
- How have historical barriers, such as limited access to capital and systemic racism, impacted Black entrepreneurship, and what changes are being seen today?
- How important are mentorship and financial literacy in supporting Black entrepreneurs and future generations of business owners?
- What resources or programs do you believe are most effective in helping Black entrepreneurs succeed in today's business landscape?
- How can financial institutions, such as Northwestern Mutual, support Black entrepreneurs in accessing the funding and resources they need to grow?
- What role do community-based organizations and initiatives play in empowering Black entrepreneurs and addressing wealth disparities?
- Can you share any success stories of Black entrepreneurs who have directly benefited from your efforts or the broader financial ecosystem in Atlanta?
- How can the success of Black-owned businesses help inspire and empower younger generations in closing the wealth gap?
- In your view, what are the most effective strategies for ensuring that Black entrepreneurship leads to long-term wealth building within families and communities?
- Looking forward, what do you hope to see in terms of Black entrepreneurship and wealth-building in the next decade?
- How can the community come together to support Black entrepreneurs and ensure that their efforts are sustainable and impactful?

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Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald, interviewed Sheila Michelle Foye. Her career began with the Gas Company here in Atlanta just before natural gas was deregulated. She began as an Office Assistant and moved lattice style into mission-critical senior leadership roles within organizations and across industries such as SunTrust Banks (Truist), CapGemini, Accenture, Cox, and healthcare giants such as Morehouse School of Medicine, Piedmont, and Grady.

Foye leveraged her corporate knowledge gained over the years to become an award winning, respected successful Entrepreneur in Drug Testing and CLIA-waived Laboratory Testing. Drug Testing was chosen due to her oldest son’s murder (age 24), which was drug/ gang violence related and her family history of substance/alcohol abuse that made for a rocky road in life.

Nearly two years into the business, Michelle was able to innovate and pivot Precis Screening by establishing a consulting arm that has now assisted more than 3,000 Entrepreneurs and counting.

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