Brownstone was founded to create an outlet where young African-American girls (13-18) can read and share content reflective of their interests due to the lack of representation of African-Americans in mainstream teen magazines such as Seventeen and CosmoGirl. We offer a fun alternative source to the latest in mainstream fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. Through positive representation, we strive to honor the historical legacy of women of color and combat stereotypical messages that have been used to demean our value and potential. By celebrating our culture, we empower girls to embrace their beauty and authentic selves. Brownstone is currently functioning as a blog, with plans to launch into an online magazine by the end of the year.
Meet the Team:
Tymika Morrison - "It Was All Dream"
Fast forward 5 years later to 2008, Tymika's dream began to come to fruition. In July 2008, Brownstone was created and the blog site was launched September 2009. It may have taken a way but Brownstone is finally here!
Outside of Brownstone, Tymika is a graduate of UC Berkeley ('06) and USC ('08). She currently works in technology public relations as an Account Associate at Borders + Gratehouse PR Firm in San Francisco. Tymika is a self-proclaimed tech geek and enjoys volunteering in her free time.
Kyle Holland - "With Boundless Appreciation"
When Kyle was 10, she wondered why she wasn’t allowed to watch R rated movies. When she was 13, she didn’t understand why she didn’t have a stick-figured body. When she was 16, she didn’t have a clue on how she was going to get through college applications, and by the time she turned 19, she still hadn’t mastered how to hit life’s curveballs. It wasn’t until the age of 22 that Kyle started to discover her purpose in life. And now at age 25, she is able to look back and smile, for she knew that had it not been for all the positive energy, advice and experiences from the people around her throughout her teenage and young adult years, she wouldn’t have succeeded. In the summer of 2008, Tymika Morrison, founder of Brownstone, presented Kyle with an opportunity to give back. With boundless appreciation to those who helped her along the way, she accepted the role of Editor for Brownstone and was excited to become a resource, sister and friend to young African American girls.
In addition to giving back through Brownstone, Kyle graduated from UC Berkeley (’07) and USC (’08). She currently serves as the Communications & Development Director for the Brotherhood Crusade in Los Angeles. She enjoys hanging out with friends and family and loves braiding hair.
Martine Rouzan - "Paying it Forward"
Martine got involved with Brownstone by re-connecting with college friend, Tymika. Ironically, Tymika & Martine always said they would work together and when Tymika presented the Brownstone concept to Martine, she couldn’t turn down the opportunity. As a teenager, Martine attended an all girls high school whose focus was to “empower young women to make a difference” and Brownstone does exactly that. For Martine, the most beneficial part of working with Brownstone is the ability to shine a positive light on young women of color, a light that is often dimmed by mainstream media.
Martine is a graduate of UC Berkeley and is currently an Event Coordinator for the Pasadena Center Operating Company in Pasadena, CA. Even though she is no top chef, Martine loves getting creative in the kitchen as well as reading, scrapbooking and enjoying every girls guilty pleasure – shopping.
Spring 2011 Interns
Carla Banks
Carla is also very passionate about fitness and health. Her background is in track & field, which she played throughout her high school years. At Cal, Carla is a member of the Women’s Rugby team and plays outside center or inside center. As a writer, Carla hope readers can take her experiences and learn from them. And that young girls will be able to be a positive influence on other girls around them and have the tools to take on any challenge that they face.
Alexandria BlandAlexandria is a current senior at California State University, Dominguez Hills that majors in Communications. Her career goal has always been to become a broadcast journalist yet and she enjoys blogging as a hobby. With this as the case, she started her own blog, WhatAlexWrites. She is happy to have found the Brownstone Blog and looks forward to contributing to it for she sees it as an outlet to influence other young women.
Alexandria strives to stay as busy as possible in order to reach her professional goals and this is evident throughout her involvement in numerous activities. She is currently an intern for both, the Brownstone Blog and Fox News Los Angeles. She also mentors for the Los Angeles Public Library's Adult Literacy Program. All of these activities are in addition to her full-time employment at a Social Services agency. Alexandria's personal motto comes in the form of a Will Smith quote, "I want to do good. I want the world to be better because I was here."
Amanda Scurlock
Amanda Scurlock is a junior at UC Berkeley with a major in English. She is a Los Angeles native and attended Crenshaw High School. Since her freshmen year in college, Amanda has stayed heavily involved in Black student organizations on campus. As a sophomore, she became a board member of the Black Recruitment and Retention Center, an outreach organization with a goal of getting more Black students into college. She is currently Editor In Chief of Onyx Express, a magazine created for and by Black students.
In high school, Amanda was an alto in the Crenshaw Elite Choir. She was also a member of the girls step team called Phi Gamma Shaw and a student run business called Food From The Hood.
Amanda grew up being extremely shy and future oriented. Amanda’s hobbies are playing video games, reading fiction novels and writing stories. In the future, she would like to be a journalist or a screenwriter. She also strives to learn how to speak Spanish fluently.
Brownstone Family:
Amanda Scurlock
Amanda Scurlock is a junior at UC Berkeley with a major in English. She is a Los Angeles native and attended Crenshaw High School. Since her freshmen year in college, Amanda has stayed heavily involved in Black student organizations on campus. As a sophomore, she became a board member of the Black Recruitment and Retention Center, an outreach organization with a goal of getting more Black students into college. She is currently Editor In Chief of Onyx Express, a magazine created for and by Black students.
In high school, Amanda was an alto in the Crenshaw Elite Choir. She was also a member of the girls step team called Phi Gamma Shaw and a student run business called Food From The Hood.
Amanda grew up being extremely shy and future oriented. Amanda’s hobbies are playing video games, reading fiction novels and writing stories. In the future, she would like to be a journalist or a screenwriter. She also strives to learn how to speak Spanish fluently.
Brownstone Family:
Guest Bloggers
- Karissa Allen
- Chevonne Collins
- Jamiah LaShay
- Alexandra Scott
