inspire magazine #21

2 | INSPIRE Magazine

BLACKICE BELLExecutive Editor

EDITORSAsif Lakhani , Dominique Cannon

COPYWRITERTerri Hodge

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSAsif Lakhani, Fanicia Howard, JaNea Buckingham

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERSJeremy Bennett, James Williams, Jerrica Raglin, Samonia Portraits

INSPIRE PHOTOSHOOT TEAMBlackIce Bell, Rio Sirah, Hana Hudson

VIDEO DIRECTOR/PRODUCERJames Williams

PUBLIC RELATIONSAhshia Guss

MODELRayneika Hunter

Front Cover:PhotographerBlackIce Bell

BodypainterRio Sirah

MUAHana Hudson

ModelRayneika Hunterv

www.thecoldbutterfly.com | 3


Photographer: james D. WilliamsModels: Kameron TownsendHair: Nina LeeMUA: Christine Amelie Saint LouisWardrobe Stylist: Kyla Cherry


When I decided to become a risk-taker, I knew it was not going to be easy. In the beginning, I worried about everything; I wanted every detail to happen accordingly to plan. I was getting

in my own way.

Once I realized I could not keep living this way, I started concentrating on what could be done and hoped and prayed for the best; the results were miraculous. I felt a genuine sense of assurance and peace. I noticed I had solutions for what I once deemed problems, and positive energy began to radi-ate into other relationships; projects paid off ten-fold.

The trick to being carefree is all about practicing two principles: accept the things you cannot change and focus those things that you can. These are the same principles publicized in the “Serenity Prayer” and reaffirmed by several ancient philosophers and self-help book authors.

Anyone can take on this personal philosophy and reap the benefits immediately. It is as simple as asking yourself, “what can I do about this right now,” whenever problems arise. If you think of a solu-tion—pursue it. When concentrating on your goals, you will be able to enjoy the success of the your labor. Furthermore, you will attract opportunities and new experiences through this new perspective and attract others with the peacefulness you possess within.

If you find the problem is bigger than you, then simply remind yourself that the problem beyond your control. Whether or not you stress about your issues, problems will come and go. Realize that past occurrences cannot be changed. Instead of wasting time and energy trying to control the uncon-trollable, you should spend more time progressing in other areas.

Practicing these principles allows you to appreciate the present and the process you are creating for yourself. When making progress, you are always excelling. Make this process a habit and you will continue to see the positive benefits flow. Eventually, you will reach success because your focus is sharp and clear.

BE CAREFREE AND OBTAIN SUCCESSBY JANEA BUCKINGHAM

“Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens. Some things are up to us, and some things are not up to us.” -Epictetus


Not long ago, on New Year’s Eve, I was laying in bed, staring at the ceiling, telling myself, and the Creator, that 2014 is my year. I did not party or go to church. I stayed home to think, pray and contemplate this year’s plans. On New Year’s Day, while most people are recovering from

their hangovers, I woke up early to put projects into motion. Within a couple of weeks, back-to-back snowstorms hit Atlanta, effectively shutting down my photo booth for a few days.

After the snowstorm, my MacBook crashed. If you know me, you know how skeptical I am of Apple products; that crash proved my point even further. Although my data and past photo shoots were backed up in the cloud, losing my work delayed this current issue and on top of that, I lost over $2,000 of designing software.

But I am still here, still healthy and still too stubborn to give up. Instead of seeing these mishaps as a sign to give up, I perceive them as taking my hits early on so I can enjoy the rest of the year. Even as I am typing this, I have yet to find a solution of getting this issue out. But knowing me, I will make it happen. Everything happens for a reason. In spite my personal strife, you will be reading this issue right on time.

So kick back, relax, and enjoy the stories and the beautiful images contained in this issue. I fought very hard to get this to you all. Trust me, it is worth it. Enjoy.

BlackIce Bell

EXECUTIVE EDITOR LETTER


As the year’s novelty comes off, and whether we either out-did or under-did ourselves with our New Year’s resolutions, the next big holiday quickly approaches—Valentine’s Day!

Some may think that this “Hallmark holiday” is a waste of time and money, but if you are anything like me, Valentine’s Day is one of your favorite holidays out of the whole year.

So this year, if you plan on sitting at home with a tub of ice cream feeling sorry for yourself, think again.

Here are a couple of few ways you can to spend your Valentine’s Day:

•Have a “Girl’s Night Out.” What a great way to celebrate being single? Get a group of your girlfriends together and have a fun night out on the town!

•Pamper yourself. Why sit at home, with watching a chick-flick if you can go out and have a wonderful spend your day getting a manicure, pedicure your nails done, or getting a massage? You

deserve it!

•Instead of waiting to be surprised, Plan a surprise for your crush. Guys like girls to who take charge every once in a while. Plan a romantic dinner date with the guy you have had your been eyeing

on for weeks. Nothing wrong with a girl who goes for what she wants!Whatever it is that you have planned for that day, make it wonderful and enjoy yourself!

XOXO, Sarah

VALENTINE’S DAY LOVIN’SARAH CHARANIA

http://eraforsarah.blogspot.comPhotography by: Malika Jooma


Even before he owned a business in the avi-ation industry, Jamail Larkins was making

a name for himself in it. At age 12, Larkins was operating an airplane. By 14, he got his pilot’s license—in Canada. He would have done it in America, but there were age restrictions, so he did the only thing he really could do: create a crowdsourcing campaign that relied on inves-tors to fund his journey.

Today, the 30-year-old* pioneers (or pilots, rather) the biggest fractional airplane owner-ship and management company, Ascension Air, in the Southeast—as if owning his own airplane at 18 was not cool enough. Recently, his accolades earned him a spot on the Forbes “30 under 30” for the Energy & Industry seg-ment.

Fractional ownership is putting a down pay-ment on a plane, and letting the aircraft ex-perts at Ascension Air maintain it. Those who pay can use the plane when needed and know that is properly being cared for when it is not in use.

“Most general aviation pilots fly somewhere between 88 to 100 hours a year, usually the equivalent to three to five days a month,” Larkins says. Spending that much money on something used so rarely is “not the most effi-cient use of capital.”

Larkins compares his services[owning, using, managing] to the Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton where “you’re going to pay for that [unbeliev-able] service that you’re going to get.” Other fractional ownership companies provide more of a Hampton Inn-route, “which is going to get you a good overall service, a little bit more on the economical side,” Larkins says.

For him and his staff of about 20 people, it only makes sense that his company operates on the high end of the spectrum. The Cirrus Turbocharged SR22T GTS is Ascension Air’s most popular airplane among customers. The single-engine airplane sells for $118,000.

Just about 18 months after Ascension Air’s first flight, in January 2012, the company became three times larger than its closest competitor in the Atlanta area, Larkins says. That other company has been in Atlanta for a decade.

His demeanor is calm, and he is a CEO you really want to work for. In the most ideal scenario, people soon will be. Larkins feels his company is still in the startup phase. “The main reason is because Ascension Air is only operating here in the Atlanta area,” he says. “I believe that there’s about 20 markets inside the United States where we can do what we’ve done here, in Atlanta, across the country,” he says. In his opinion, “one out of 20 is still in the startup phase,” and the logic behind that is certainly right.

Larkins is smooth, intelligent, and fascinating. One anecdote he shared: The Friday before we spoke to him, he started his day in his Atlanta office. After lunch he got in a plane and flew to DC for an awards banquet and dinner and was back in his own bed that same night.

His passion for aviation is evolving, and that’s a great thing for the industry. He’s growing as a businessman (“trial and error”), and his contemporaries are taking note. Larkins re-cently won the Ron E. McNair Award, named after the second African-American to fly in space. The award is for “to honor outstanding Americans, who have significantly contributed

THE ACE OF AVIATIONBY: ASIF LAKHANI | PHOTO BY BLACKICE BELL


through recruitment, education, and training in the field aeronautics,” according to the National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees website. To accomplish this, Larkins invests time, effort, and resources in his “DreamLaunch tour that introduces aviation to people at an earlier age than when they would typically have taken interest in it. In addition, Larkins also works to increase the endowment at his alma mater, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; his goal with that is to get more students to graduate with less debt.

In the future, Larkins sees other regions of the world becoming serious contenders in the world of pri-vate aviation. Consolidation between public and private aviation is happening right now, he says, citing a Chinese firm that just bought out Cirrus. The majority of global and private aviation happens inside of the United States right now, Larkins says. While America will always remain integral to that part of the industry, soon other countries will establish themselves in it. He doesn’t know where he and his company will factor into it all, at least not right now.

“Africa, South America, and the Middle East are places I have yet to go to, but I look forward to going to,” he says when asked about personal travel. As for roadblocks due to his age and color, Larkins says they were there, but there were also opportunities that stemmed from them. “Because I was so different than the norm, it definitely allowed people to remember me,” he says.

The name is Jamail Larkins, the company is Ascension Air. Don’t forget it.

*Larkins turned 30 a little while after our conversation and shortly after the Forbes piece was published online.


Photographer: BlackIce BellMUA: Hana HudsonModel/Stylist: Rayneika Hunter


Photographer: BlackIce BellBodypaint: Rio SirahMUA: Hana HudsonModel/Stylist: Rayneika Hunter


Ms. Holly Lowe-Jones’ a woman whose life’s journey has been nothing short of competitive or and challenging. As a trained athlete, she has and participated in a variety of rigorous athletic events, such as the Olympic Triathlon and Half Ironman.

She seeks out to complete the Ironman Triathlon. This particular triathlon consists of a series of events which are: a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bicycle ride, and a 26.2mile marathon run that must be completed in that particular order within 17 hours.

Lowe-Jones is candid about how much dedication and sacrifice she has put into her career, es-pecially as an athlete. She even talked about the gruesome reality of runners often losing their toenails due to the intensity of marathons. She also expresses how expensive participating in marathons can be. Costs for her range up to $700 to participate in events and admits having to pass on an opportunity before because of costs.

She was and is resilient. Whether her setbacks were financial or personal, she always managed to regroup. I also picked up on her sense of humor as we spent a great deal of time talking about the stereotypes and pressures of being an attractive athlete and tips on staying healthy.“I would leave this world with my outlook on life, which was perfectly articulated by Aristot-le, ‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.’”

Today, Jones works as a commercial actress and manages celebrity talent for reality television. Despite her busy schedule, she still finds the balance in her active schedule to be the dedicat-ed mother of twins.

INTERVIEW OF HOLLY LOWE-JONESBY FANICIA HOWARD | PHOTO BY POWELL PHOTOGRAPHY, INC.

WONDER WOMAN OF THE MILLENNIUM


Photographer: Samonia PortraitsPhotographer Assistant: Richard LaddModel: Valerie LeBlanc Makeup Artist: Renelle AtkinsonHairstylist: Lillian Jones


Photographer: james D. WilliamsModels: Naomi GlayHair: Nina LeeMUA: Christine Amelie Saint LouisWardrobe Stylist: Kyla Cherry

inspire magazine #21

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new perspective

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positive energy

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positive benefits flow

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