Tag: chicago

Made Magazine

Chicago is a town known for worldwide successful publications. The Chicago Defender, Ebony, Jet and other publications were born and bred in Chicago and have been Chicago staples for centuries. Recently I had the opportunity to attend Made Media Day at Made at Fame studios in the Chicago Pilsen neighborhood. In the time where many publications are choosing to go digital, Made has come and Made is making its mark in the Chicago media landscape.

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Made magazine is a publication that is looking to change the way millennials get their news. Instead of the news stories delivering shade, the latest celebrity gossip or delivering the ‘tea’, Made magazine seeks to highlight positivity, share resources and ultimately help millennials be successful. The publication has three areas of focus: 1. To Educate, 2. To Elevate and 3. To Empower.

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According to their Website Made Magazine is a “MULTI-CHANNEL PLATFORM TO AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF CONTENT CREATORS. MADE is an aggregator and curator of fresh content MADE to inform and inspire our diverse community of forward-thinking millennials. Our mission is to amplify the voices and platforms of content creators and creative leaders, on and offline. Through our multi-channel platform, we publish a bi-monthly digital and print magazine, daily online outlet and monthly national events to cultivate our community.”

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With this focus in mind, Made also seeks to amplify the voices of creators of color. This is one of the reasons that Made sought the three areas in which their content is published. Made can be seen in print, online and experienced through live events/ summits and conferences. Made is composed of six channels: Made Mindset (Personal Development), Founders Row (Entrepreneurship), Sound & Color (Art), Hollywood Heights (Entertainment), Creative Currency (Finance) and Made Maven (Women).

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According to Made’s publisher Kris Christian, in a time where people are leaving Chicago for places like LA and New York, Chicago is full of opportunities. She states “We have creatives here. People leave but it is important to cultivate a community here.” That is the primary reason that Made has made Chicago it’s home. Made is a magazine for millennials, according to Christian, “60 percent of Made’s readers are female with the other 40 percent of readers being male”.

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Kris Christian, Publisher

Made believes that creativity is the currency of the future. That it takes influential networks, rich resources and optimal exposure to harness the power and future of Black creatives. The vibe of the Media Day definitely showed that there was spirit of creativity as well as collaboration. Not only was the Made teams showcasing the work they had already done, they were providing content creators the opportunity to work with them in order to be featured on one or several of Made’s platforms.

 

 

The publications that were already been printed as well as the digital version of the magazine were impressive. The content was created for the everyday person and was relevant and relatable. The digital version was full of fresh content and easy to navigate. Made is definitely a publication of the future and a welcome addition to the rich literary landscape of Chicago.

For more information or to check out Made: http://www.made-magazine.com/

Be Blessed, Be Fabulous

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Brunch with BMOA

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I recently had the pleasure of being invited to #BrunchwithBMOA at the new McDonald’s Headquarters in Chicago’s West Loop area.  It was a great behind the scenes tour which included an opportunity for me to work in their test kitchen! Not only were we able to experience the behind the scenes, we were also able to find out more about the work that #BMOA does in the Chicagoland community.  Just let me say that they do some amazing work.    That was an experience I will never forget.

The workspace is an awesome concept with no offices and a variety of different configurations and locations throughout the building for your to work.  What an awesome opportunity to have so many options when it comes to where you want to work when you want to.  There were lockers located throughout the building (for those who were wondering where you placed personal items).  There are 9 floors in the building including a rooftop bar, so there are a great deal of options available for where you can work.  For more about the workspace see the blog McDonalds Relocates their Headquarters.

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Test Kitchen

The day started with food.  Of course it’s McDonald’s.  There were a variety of options available, from a concept sandwich sold in the UK with hash browns, bacon, egg and sausage on a tortilla, to yogurt parfaits and create your own McMuffins.  There was also juice and water.  Coffee was available at one of several drink stations located throughout the building.  Needless to say we ate well.  But that wasn’t it.

Another part of our tour was a meeting with one of the chef’s in the test kitchen.  We were able to see the layout of the McDonalds’s kitchen and then we were able to create a concept sandwich that is still in the development phase.  So technically we were product testers for a potential new menu item that may be in restaurants soon.

There were so many artifacts and memorabilia to see from the Happy Meal wall, which showcased every toy that was ever available in a Happy Meal, to the interactive displays.  There was also a historical area where we were able to experience some of McDonald’s first such as the First African American Owner/Operator, Herman Petty.  There is a McDonald’s restaurant on the first floor of the building which showcases global offerings on their menu.  The menu offerings change every three months.  This location also as a small private room for rent.

The tour was an exciting experience.  To go behind the scenes in one of the most recognized restaurants in the world was a pleasure.  I am thankful to the Black McDonald’s Owners Association for the opportunity as well as the swag.  More importantly for the ability to have the VIP behind the scenes experience.  Now to go back and try some of the items on the global menu.

Now in the next post I will share something I learned while on the tour.  How you can eat three meals at McDonald’s and remain under 1500 calories for the day.  Yes you can have McDonald’s all day and maybe not gain any weight.

Be Blessed, Be Fabulous!

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