Guest: Uncle Rodney Gainous Topic:   Growing up in DC, finding your purpose, and making smart choices 💪🏾 💬 Meet Uncle Rodney Hey Sugars 💜 — this week’s tea is a little different. You know we love hearing from our aunties, but today we’re hearing from one of our uncles  — because it takes a village  of men and women to help you grow into your best self. Meet Uncle Rodney Gainous , program analyst for DC’s Department of Employment Services  and a proud mentor to youth acr

Auntea: Latoya “Toya” Liles-Walker ☕ Topic:   Confidence, calling, and staying true to your sparkle 💌 Sugar Q: “My mom wants me to go to college, but I want to do hair full-time. Do I really  need college?” “Focus on the craft. Focus on the passion. The money will come.” Auntea Toya got real  with us on this one — because she’s lived it. She started doing hair as a teen, spending Saturdays in the salon with her mom, learning everything from how to answer the phone to how t

Auntea: Karen Samara ☕ Topic:   Staying grounded, trusting your gut, and defining love on your own terms 💌 Sugar Q: “Do the decisions I make in high school even matter?” Auntea Karen keeps it real: yes, they do. “Back in my day, the choices you made shaped your path — academic, vocational, or professional. And even now, what you explore in high school sets the tone for your future.” So try things, sugar! Join that club, take that random art class, or run for student council

Auntea: Martine Moore-Brown ☕ Topic:   Finding Passion, Confidence & Community 💌 Sugar Q: “Auntea, why are trades so important?” “Everyone’s not college material — and that’s OK!” Auntea Martine said, smiling. “We’ve taken too many trades out of schools, and now young people don’t have things to do with their hands — or their creativity.” That’s why she created the MoRap Training & Sewing Academy  — a space for DMV youth to learn sewing, entrepreneurship, and confidence. “

✨ From Tech to Threads When you think of DC fashion, Auntie Theresa  is that girl. She’s the original stylepreneur , blending tech smarts and fashion finesse to bring life (and color) to the District’s scene.Before boutique culture was a thing, she opened Letty Gooch —a cozy corner of style that felt like your stylish friend’s closet. “I wanted something that reflected us —bold, creative, and confident,” she says. But what you might not know? Auntie Theresa didn’t start in r

Auntea: Kasey Bostic ☕ Topic:   School, Faith & Finding Your Own Way 💌 Sugar Q: “Do you feel like Black girls in DC are in trouble?” Kasey didn’t hesitate. “I don’t think it’s a crisis — but we do  need advice and role models. That’s what High Tea Society gives us. It’s that space to talk about real stuff, without judgment.” 💡 The Tea: You’re not in trouble, sugar — you’re just growing. But you do need a tribe to guide you. 📚 Sugar Q: “Why did you want to be a teacher?”

Auntea: Joy Kingsley Ebeh ☕ Topic:   Fashion, Faith & Finding Your Moral Compass 💌 Sugar Q: “How do I know when to trust my gut?” Auntea Joy learned that lesson early — in heels. 👠 “I once went to a modeling job and found out it was for a cigarette company. They wanted us to give out packs in clubs — to people who looked 18. I couldn’t do it. I said no, even though I thought it might ruin my career.” That moment changed everything. 💡 The Tea: When your gut whispers “no,”

Auntea: Kristi Love ☕ Topic:   Breakups, Self-Worth & Protecting Your Energy 💌 Sugar Q: “I just broke up with my boyfriend. How do I get over it?” Hey Sugar 💕, Whew — breakups sting. Whether it’s your first he played in my face moment or your “we were supposed to be forever” heartbreak, the pain is real. But Auntie Kristi Love? She’s been there — and she came through with some healing tea. 💔 When He Chose Someone Else (in your sweater!) Auntie Kristi told us about her mi

Auntea: Krystal Branton ☕ Topic:   Growing Through Hard Times, Peer Pressure & Toxic Friendships 💌 Sugar Q: “My mom is behind on rent. I’m thinking about dropping out to help her. What should I do?” Hey Sugar 💕, We feel  you. When things get tough at home, it’s natural to want to step in and help. But Auntea Krystal says one thing loud and clear: “Do not  leave school.” She gets that the pressure is real — keeping the lights on, putting food on the table — but she also wan

Guest: Auntie Tori Gaylord 💅🏾 Topic:   Confidence, choices & staying true to yourself 💬 Meet Auntie Tori Hey Sugars 💕 — today’s tea is all about confidence, self-worth, and keeping it real when life starts testing your shine. Meet Auntie Tori Gaylord  — media and branding consultant, former TV producer, and DMV native who’s been behind the camera (and now, in front of it!) inspiring the next generation of girls to love who they are — and where they come from. “I’m from