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Some stories don’t unfold—they accelerate. From the buzz of Wilberforce’s music halls to the bright lights of 550 Madison Avenue, we trace how a sister’s blueprint, a fearless ask, and the quiet grind of craft turned campus life into a creative career. Our guest, Shava—songwriter, artist, producer, and proud Flint native—opens up about the unique alchemy of HBCU culture: choir discipline that builds stamina, student media that hones voice, and professors who raise the bar until excellence feels normal.

We walk through the moments that matter. Gospel Choir gave room to improvise; University Choir demanded precision and presence. That mix of freedom and rigor prepared her to seize opportunity when Sony’s HR leader stepped on campus. With support from the co‑op program, she landed in New York, learned the language of catalogs, copyright, and trademarks, and saw how legacy marketing protects and amplifies artists. Back home, she poured those lessons into education—mic’ing up students, producing stories, and turning classrooms into studios where young voices learn to lead.

The creative arc continues with “Through Me,” a faith-rooted project that carries both testimony and technique. She also shares the evolution of She Hope Publishing, an intentional shift toward optimism, ownership, and legal clarity for independent creators. If you’re hungry for practical steps—how to pitch internships, protect your work, balance service with studio time—this conversation delivers strategies you can use today. And if you needed a push, here it is: exhaust every possibility, because time moves whether you act or not.

If this story sparked something in you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs momentum, and leave a review with one step you’ll take this week. Your voice helps others find the show—and your action might start your next chapter.

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Two best friends pick up the thread right where campus left it. We rewind to Wilberforce University—move-in day, the union, freshman choir—and unpack how a demanding director, tight-knit classmates, and steady mentors forged habits that still carry us. The memories are hilarious and human (yes, there was a snowball ambush), but the takeaway is serious: community and standards can change the trajectory of a life.

Jami shares how a professional singing career evolved into producing films and series for Lifetime, BET+, TV One, Amazon Prime, and Tubi. She breaks down what producing actually means—location scouting, creative judgment, schedule wrangling, and protecting story truth. We spotlight the Miss Cleo biopic and why it reframes a '90s punchline with context and compassion. We also tease fresh releases, including a revealing Turkey Leg Hut documentary, plus a Tubi Original, The Caregiver, with a sequel on the way. If you’ve ever wondered how an HBCU foundation translates into a Hollywood workflow, this conversation connects the dots.

We bring it home with service and celebration: HBCU Night at the Wonder Chamber toy drive, ways to donate if you can’t attend, and the HBCU Community Awards and Gala, where Jamie will receive an Icon Award for her impact. Our message to students and emerging creators is simple and firm—finish what you start, keep your circle strong, and let your craft meet a higher standard. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a push, and leave a review with your favorite HBCU memory or mentor shout-out. Your story might be the nudge someone else needs.

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A quiet kid from Philadelphia. A long drive past Ohio cornfields. A campus that didn’t offer luxury, but taught resilience, community, and the kind of confidence that lasts a lifetime. That’s where our conversation with Alumni Association President Dell Woods begins—and it quickly becomes a blueprint for how HBCUs transform potential into leadership.

We swap homecoming energy for real talk about what makes Wilberforce work: rigorous professors who sharpen critical thinking, peers who feel like family, and alumni who show up with time, talent, and treasure. Dell credits a famously tough business instructor for pushing her beyond comfort zones and into a career defined by clarity and grit. From that foundation, we dig into the practical levers that move a university forward—paying national and local dues, launching or joining alumni chapters with just five members, and telling authentic stories that recruit the next class of scholars, artists, and entrepreneurs.

There’s urgency here, too. New dorms are coming online, and alumni are sponsoring the second building to make sure students live on campus and thrive. Enrollment has doubled, but the mission continues: wear the gear, share the wins, host a college fair table, mentor a first-gen student, and keep the pipeline strong. We spotlight the legacy of renowned Wilberforce figures, the power of HBCU bonds, and the simple truth that every voice and every dollar counts when you’re building a future bigger than yourself.

If you love Wilberforce—or you’re curious about what an HBCU can do for a student who needs a village—this conversation brings the receipts and the roadmap. Subscribe, share this episode with an alum or a college-bound student, and leave a review to help more people discover the Wilberforce story. Your voice helps keep the Woo thriving.

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