Loán Lake

27/11/2025

27/11/2025

For the past 14 weeks I have joined a cohort of eager community leaders in learning how to turn our passion into advocacy. Even with my prior political experience, Christine Edwards Pitkin and her team at Civility Localized and the Civic Impact Academy, gave us an eye opening peek behind the curtain as guest speakers shared the real issues impacting Charlotte and Mecklenburg County and helped us identify how we could use our skills to impact positive change.

Thank you for the stimulating discussions, the countless AHA moments, and a renewed sense of purpose. Great things are on the horizon and I encourage everyone in the Queen City to consider this program.

19/11/2025

Getting media attention is an excellent way of sharing your organization's story when you have a small budget. It's what we in the PR world call "earned media," and it's free. Public Relations is effective because you are sharing your story with the masses through a trusted media resource and it's newsworthy enough for the media to pay attention to it.

When you have a CEO who embodies the company/organization brand, that's when you are .

09/11/2025

God is so faithful! I began writing for Pride Communications, Inc. (Pride Magazine) - Charlotte's only African American magazine - last year and I'm honored to have written the cover story on how Charlotte is attracting Black travelers for this Nov/Dec issue. Thank you Chacara Harvin, MBA, CMP, TMP for your leadership in this space at the CRVA and thank you Alicia Michele Benjamin and Dee Dixon for trusting me to write and tell authentic stories! ✨️✨️

https://www.pridemagazineonline.com/charlotte-welcomes-black-travelers-with-culture-and-connection/

05/11/2025

A DAY IN THE LIFE...Another successful client interview is in the books. One of my favorite parts of being a public relations consultant is working behind the scenes with media to help my clients boost their visibility in print, on radio, or TV. The truth is that it takes effort and strong relationships to turn a press release into an actual news story.

It's not luck, it requires skill. PR pros just make it look easy. 🙂. Thank you to WCNC Charlotte weekend anchor Bracey for helping to share Teen Health Connection's story. This is how news is made.


PRlife

10/10/2025

Hot off the presses is my second article with The Charlotte Observer CharlotteFive newsletter. In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, we are highlighting some of the Latin American restaurants in our area that may not get as much media coverage.
What I love about these assignments is that I get to learn about new places in Charlotte to support and explore just as you, the readers.

Note: This is not an endorsement of any business because I'm not personally visiting them in advance. However, if you get a chance to eat at one of these restaurants be sure to let me know!

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-food-drink/article312321516.html

From tacos to arepas, Charlotte’s growing list of Latin American restaurants transports diners to Central and South America.

09/10/2025

POV: Even when you have experience doing something, there's always room to learn and grow.

I've grown up in politics, worked with elected officials, and contributed to community engagement campaigns, and yet, each weekly session with the Civility Localized Civic Impact Academy cohort reveals something new. The Academy provides practical models on how to design community advocacy programs and campaigns from the ground up. This 14-week program gives a front row seat in becoming a change agent in our community. Now more than ever we have a responsibility to understand how government works and what WE the people can do within our own spheres of influence.

Last week, Jennifer Moxley, CEO of Sunshine Media Network broke it ALL the way down on how to publicize your message and why the first question to answer is 'WHO is the person behind the mission and message?'

Thank you Christine Edwards Pitkin for creating such an insightful and practical model. ✨️✨️✨️✨️

📸: Me

06/10/2025

The Art of Interviewing -- For the past three years I have had the privilege of interviewing and writing profiles for community and business leaders in Charlotte, Baltimore, and Cleveland for a national publication called "Who's Who in Black." What I love is that regardless of the person's status or stature, we are able to have very honest conversations that enable me to use my gifts to tell THEIR story in a new way.

When I sat down earlier this year to interview media legend Cathy Hughes as a Living Legend for "Who's Who in Black Baltimore," she was as down to earth as could be -- full of life, and excited that I was interviewing HER! Meanwhile, as someone who watched her ascent from radio host to media mogul, I was geeking out, and feeling blessed to be given this assignment!

The bottom line is, whether you are telling the story of your personal or business brand, it is critical that you are truthful so that you attract your ideal clientele or audience. This applies if you're a speaker, an author, a restaurant owner, an athlete, or a retailer. You get my drift.

When you have a writer who can draw readers into your story, you've got gold. So, think about how you want YOUR story told so that when the time comes, you're ready.

Read Ms. Hughes' story here: https://lnkd.in/g7QMR29s

📸: COURTESY OF MONARCH MAGAZINE PHOTOGRAPHER PHELAN MARC

02/10/2025

SOUND ON...I thought I'd step from behind the computer to share a bit of advice on why it's important to show up on social media for your business. Be sure to turn the sound on, and let me know in the comments, if you'd like to hear more tips like this.

17/09/2025

For more than a decade, I’ve had the privilege of writing feature profiles on community leaders, business executives, elected officials, and change-makers.

Over the next few months, I’ll highlight some of these stories—and share what they taught me about the power of storytelling. Above all, regardless of their titles, these individuals are real people -- who laugh, and cry, when asked the right questions.

Now, that's a skill that no app can replace, because in the age of AI, one truth still holds: authentic stories, told with care, move people.

17/09/2025

I love it when my Caribbean heritage and my writing skills come together!

I'm excited to share my first published article for Charlotte Five, a subsidiary of the Charlotte Observer. Check out 13 spots in Charlotte to get authentic Caribbean cuisine. Be sure to share your thoughts or other recommendations in the comments in case there's a part 2.

And remember -- build a product so good that others want to talk about you.

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-food-drink/article311957794.html

No passport is required for a culinary escape to the Caribbean with jerk chicken, mofongo, oxtail, plantains and more.

13/09/2025

Sometimes you have to make up your mind to be the change you want to see. Thank you Edwards Pitkin and Civility Localized for the opportunity to learn how to effect change in Charlotte as a civilian. I'm excited for what this cohort will produce by the end of the year.