• Entrepreneurship

by Mitti Hicks

June 17, 2025

Dee M. Robinson Is Fostering Change With ‘Good Trouble’ Bourbon

Women now make up 30% of bourbon drinkers, and that number is growing. 

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Good Trouble Bourbon founder Dee M. Robinson is one of the few women of color at the forefront of a new era: more women are drinking bourbon than ever before. 

Bourbon, rooted in American tradition, is having a cultural resurgence. The market for Bourbon is projected to reach $11 billion by 2028, up nearly 7% since 2024. The face of the bourbon drinker is also changing fast. According to Bourbon Real Talk, women now make up 30% of bourbon drinkers, and that number is growing. 

Robinson was inspired by the legacy of Congressman John Lewis’s call to “get into good trouble” when she created the brand in 2018.  She says each bottle was created not only to savor but also as a tool to serve a higher purpose. 

“I wanted to honor the legacy of John Lewis and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. When I created this, I thought about how we want to show up. We believe that bourbon is more than a drink. We say it’s a call to action and a call to gather. This brand is about connection, conversation, and positive change.”

What Makes Good Trouble Bourbon Unique

Robinson spent five years refining the recipe with an 8th-generation Kentucky master distiller. What makes the bourbon different are the vanilla and caramel notes that come together with the high-rye she chose to use. It was important for Robinson to create a bourbon that people would love. 

“I believe that more people would learn to love bourbon like I do if they actually had an opportunity to drink really great bourbon,” Robinson said. “Most people say they don’t like Bourbon because of the heavy burn and I knew we could present something that smooth and satiny.” 

The time she invested in getting the recipe right is paying off. The bourbon recently won gold at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, plus recent gold and silver wins at the New York International Spirits Competition. Forbes Magazine listed Good Trouble Bourbon as one of the best bourbons for under $50. 

How Robinson Is Giving Back To Next Generation of Good Troublemakers 

Good Trouble Bourbon is more than a drink. In the spirit of Lewis, Robinson is making sure to be an agent of change by being socially active. Robinson is on a mission to even the playing field for underrepresented youth. 

Good Trouble gives back — a portion of proceeds supports the Shine Your Light Foundation, which funds youth opportunity, equity, and community-driven initiatives. One initiative that Robinson invested in is funding STEM programs and golf fellowships for people of color who teach youth from similar backgrounds how to play golf in the Charleston, South Carolina area. 

“Kids need to see leaders that look like them,” said Robinson, who also serves as a trustee for the PGA Foundation. The foundation works on creating more diversity and inclusion in the sport. “In my lifetime, I had to see it to believe it.” 

What’s Next For Robinson and Good Trouble Bourbon 

Through her brand, Robinson said she is working on rewriting the future of the industry to one that includes more voices, stories, and seats at the table. 

Since putting the first bourbon in barrels in 2018, Good Trouble has launched online, and Robinson and her team now ship to 40 states. The bourbon can be found in retailers in Chicago, and this is just the beginning. 

While the flagship brand ages for at least four years, Robinson and her team are gearing up to release a limited 7-year and 10-year edition of the bourbon. 

“I also have a new limited edition that will hit the market, celebrating another story of resilience with blues music,” Robinson added. “When you think about what the blues is rooted in, it’s storytelling and resilience. I decided to launch a new limited edition that will come out this summer, celebrating the stories, hardships, and triumphs that blues music represents.” 

RELATED CONTENT: Black Bourbons And Whiskeys To Cop For Father’s Day

• News

by Mitti Hicks

June 17, 2025

Tanzania Will Require Mandatory Travel Insurance

The non-refundable travel insurance will cover medical emergencies, accidents, and baggage issues for up to two months. 

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Tanzania will require that all foreign visitors have travel insurance. The government is introducing a mandatory travel insurance fee of $44 USD for non-residents entering the country. 

The non-refundable travel insurance will cover medical emergencies, accidents, and baggage issues for up to two months. 

Citizens of the East African Community (EAC) member states are exempt from purchasing the insurance, according to Business Insider Africa. 

Why Tanzania Is Implementing Mandatory Travel Insurance Policy

The mandatory fees aim to create a safety cushion for travelers in the event of emergencies. What remains unclear is whether uninsured travelers have caused a strain on Tanzania’s health industries.  

However, there are some concerns that the added health insurance will cause a financial burden or deter people from visiting. Tour operators, for example, argue most travelers have valid health insurance from their home countries or providers. 

“Forcing an additional policy purchase may discourage some travelers and affect our industry’s competitiveness,” one tour operator told Business Insider Africa. 

Zanzibar, Tanzania’s most visited/busiest city, already has a policy in place that requires foreign visitors to purchase travel insurance. Zanzibar’s policy charges $44 for adults and $22 for children ages 3 to 17. Visitors are required to purchase the insurance through Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC). Children below 2 are exempt.

In the grand scheme, $44 is not a bad price compared to the alternative: a medical emergency out of pocket. 

According to Johns Hopkins University, many health insurance companies will pay “customary and reasonable” hospital costs abroad. Very few, if any, will cough up the money for a medical return to the U.S. Medical evacuations can cost anywhere between $25,000 and $100,000, depending on your location and health condition.

In addition to adequate health insurance, the Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs advises international travelers to learn what medical services their health insurance will cover before going abroad and to carry both their insurance policy card as proof of insurance and a claim form.

RELATED CONTENT: Purchasing Power Drops In Major African Cities Half-Way Into 2025

• Arts and Culture

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 17, 2025

Motown Museum Will Stop Tours This Fall As $75M Expansion Effort Hits Final Stage

The museum will stop tours in October for nearly a year.

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The Motown Museum will suspend public tours this fall as expansion efforts ramp up, shutting down the popular Detroit mainstay for nearly a year.

The news came June 16 as the “material timelines” for its $75 million expansion have shifted. The Motown Museum has stood as a major attraction in Detroit since its reimagining in 1985. The museum currently sits in the Hitsville, U.S.A. building, Motown’s original headquarters and recording studio. However, a 40,000-square-foot complex will soon stand behind it.

The museum’s chairwoman, Robin Terry, released an update on the extended timeline of the construction. She promised visitors that its new offerings will showcase the full legacy and impact of the hit record label.

“To continue momentum with our expansion, this is a necessary step toward completing our bold vision for Motown Museum,” explained Terry in a statement obtained by The Detroit Free Press. “When we resume tours, the expanded museum will be completed. Visitors from around the world will experience an immersive, one-of-a-kind tribute to the Motown legacy, with more important stories of those who built it being told, inspiring and engaging generations to come. Throughout this process, Hitsville, U.S.A., will continue to be thoughtfully preserved and receive needed maintenance and care.”

After years in the making, the final stage of construction commenced in September 2024. However, its scheduled start date of Summer 2026 will take a few more months. Once completed, it will feature immersive exhibits and a cafe for guests to dine in the middle of music history.

It will join Hitsville, U.S.A.’s other new establishment, the Esther Gordy Edwards Centre for Excellence. Unveiled in April, the complex will accommodate rehearsal and performance spaces for the Museum’s communal programming. It is also located down the street from Motown’s original space on West Grand Boulevard. Altogether, the buildings will support Motown’s Hitsville NEXT, a creative hub and entertainment space that educates entrepreneurs and artists.

“To actually have a place for us to create (signifies that) Motown isn’t a thing of the past, but is still living and breathing today,” said Mikhaella Norward, winner of the museum’s 2019 “Motown Mic” spoken-word competition, at the time. “This is a very special space for us.”

For those still planning a trip to Hitsville, the museum’s front plaza will remain accessible during this downtime, as well as its retail activation for souvenir-loving patrons. Given its new performance center, Motown’s summer camps, the “Amplify” singing competition, and the “Motown Mic” spoken word event will also take place this summer. The Motown Museum will officially suspend public tours starting October 1.

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• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

June 17, 2025

Traci Powell, Black Homeownership and Business Advocate, Dies At 44 

Clients labeled her as “personable, energetic, and innovative” and a “blessing.”

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The family of Traci Powell, owner and broker of Philadelphia’s Realty One Group Purpose, announced the business owner passed away at the age of 44 on May 22, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. 

While the cause of death has yet to be determined, Powell was known throughout the City of Brotherly Love and across the country as an advocate for Black businesses and home ownership. Becoming the owner and CEO of Realty One Group Purpose in 2024, Powell’s leadership shone, resulting in her being selected as the number one real estate broker in The Inquirer’s Philly Favorites advertising supplement in April 2025.  

Clients labeled her as “personable, energetic, and innovative” and a “blessing.” One client touched on how patient Powell was during her homeownership journey. “Her patience with me was beyond that of a Realtor, but more resembling a friend,” one said. Another labeled her as “one of the best in the industry.”

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Traci Powell (@realestatetraci)

The real estate professional wasn’t shy about sharing her struggles within the industry, but decided it was right for her at an early age. At just 16, according to The Philadelphia Tribune, Powell worked alongside her father, also a broker and investor, all while attending classes at George Washington Carver High School for Engineering and Science. Studying chemical engineering at Drexel University, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., she chose to prioritize her real estate career over attending college events and sorority galas.

“I had to be steadfast mentally,” she said during a 2021 appearance on the podcast, Buy the Hood.  

“It was a heavy influence.”

Her sacrifice paid off, leading her to become the first vice president of the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers and then vice president and director of residential sales at Mosaic Brokerage Group before opening Realty One Group Purpose. 

Her work as a real estate professional and conference speaker reached beyond Philadelphia’s lines. Honored with the “40 Under 40” award by Philly Real Estate Week, Powell ranked among the top 4% of buyer agents and the top 15% of listing agents on the national level. In 2014, Powell made an appearance on HGTV’s popular House Hunters series, assisting a client in the home-buying process. 

Survived by her parents and several family members, loved ones highlighted how her work made a difference to people she came in contact with. “She made an impact on every person who had the pleasure of making her acquaintance, and undoubtedly everyone who called her family or friend,” her family said.

As a board member of Inspiring Minds Philadelphia, a nonprofit for children, she once said in a LinkedIn post that she wanted to “make sure every young person has the tools to dream big and achieve even bigger.” “She brought new ideas, fresh thoughts, and had a passion for seeing us succeed and grow,” Inspiring Minds Executive Director Andrea Garner said.

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• News

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 17, 2025

NYC Deli Owner ‘Island Ock’ Starts Viral Program That Inspires Local Kids To Keep Their Grades Up

Kids can come to the Staten Island deli to reap the benefits of their hard work with free snacks.

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A neighborhood deli owner in Staten Island is inspiring kids to keep up the good work in school with his own reward system.

Wail “Wally” Alselwi, known on TikTok as the “Island Ock,” has used his own business to encourage kids to score good grades for snack gains. Young scholars in the Staten Island area and New York City can take part in his “Grades For Grabs” initiative.

Kids can flock to Zack’s Finest Deli & Grocery with their report cards in tow for a wide range of treats. Since 2023, Alselwi has garnered praise and support for his way of supporting the local youth. For those with a straight-A average, Alselwi even gives $100 bills.

According to BET News, the idea came to life from a simple bet with a local tiny patron, 12‑year‑old Zamier Davis. In 2023, Davis earned a free milkshake after completing his side of the bargain with better grades. Alselwi filmed the encounter. The viral moment inspired him to offer the prize to all kids who drop by.

Kids can take part in “Grades for Grabs” even when report card season is over. A video that has garnered the most recent cheers includes a middle schooler named Bryant. After the young boy showed his improved grades, Alselwi surprised him with a $100 bill, even using his deli shopping spree to get a gift for Mother’s Day.

@islandock1 #Islandock #zacksfinest #fypシ #foryoupage #deli #Ocky #gfg #gradesforgrabs #reportcard #school #nyc #statenisland #library #viralvideos ♬ original sound – island ock1

Alselwi’s program has already attracted over 484,000 followers to his Instagram. The beloved deli owner also launched a GoFundMe to continue the reward system, boosting the scores and the smiles of kids across his neighborhood. It remains ongoing, with $99,000 of its $110,000 goal already reached.

“Many kids lack encouragement, and sometimes, all it takes is a small incentive to boost their confidence and push them toward greatness,” wrote Alselwi on the fundraiser. “Imagine a student working extra hard to improve their grades, knowing their effort will be recognized and celebrated. That’s the impact we’re making!”

Fans and supporters can also chip into the snack fund by buying the deli owner’s “Island Ock: merchandise found on his website.

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• Arts and Culture

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 17, 2025

Two Sisters To Open Bookstore Cafe In Brooklyn That Highlights Food Books Of the Black Diaspora

BEM will open up this fall and only feature Black-authored works with heavy food themes.

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Two sisters will soon open a bookstore cafe in Brooklyn’s Bed-Stuy neighborhood. Their main dish? A collection of food books that highlights the Black Diaspora’s culinary style.

As they await the fall debut of their physical store, Gabrielle and Danielle Davenport launched BEM in 2021. The sibling entrepreneurs started the brand online, building an in-person clientele through pop-ups. Now, they have secured a location, amplifying this historically Black community with a curation of books that represent them.

“People have told us very explicitly, ‘We need this,’” Danielle told Eater.

BEM’s Macon Street location will feature only Black authors and works that tie into its food-focused theme. From The Edna Lewis Cookbook to Crystal Wilkinson’s Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts and even Toni Morrison’s Beloved, each book will either focus on cultural recipes or deep connections to the Black culinary experience.

The sisters first developed the idea in 2019 through Brooklyn Public Library’s PowerUP program. They sought to answer the long-awaited prayer for Black food bookstores, especially in the culturally rich neighborhood of Bed-Stuy. There, Black people of many backgrounds, from the Caribbean and Africa to the American South, call the area home.

This bookstore for culinary expertise and conversation was also fueled by communal support. A Kickstarter campaign launched in 2024 boosted the women’s financial backing to $75,000. They do not own their actual place yet, with the seller offering a lease instead. However, the business owners still feel optimistic about BEM’s future in Bed-Stuy.

“There’s just so much energy around stories,” added Danielle. “We talk a lot about it being a place for discovery.”

They hope to become a mainstay in the neighborhood, offering more than one’s typical bookstore cafe through its dedication to Black works. Whether as a research ground for scholars or an author’s stop on a book tour, BEM is ready to spearhead the rise of Black food bookstores.

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In the meantime, they will collaborate with Nicole Taylor, author of Watermelon & Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebrations, for a Juneteenth event that soaks up the culture.

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