Celebrating Black Women’s History Month: Unstoppable Live Episode 3
Following a full and powerful Women’s History Month in March, Create Connect Collab (CCC) entered April with a clear intention: to recognize International Black Women’s History Month by honoring Black women who are making history right now in their own communities.
In a recent Unstoppable Podcast conversation on IG Live, CCC co-founders Starla Kay Mathis and Lateva Woolfork discussed…
The work and impact of Create. Connect. Collab.
The realities of entrepreneurship for Black women
Two remarkable CCC members: Victoria Reed and Ashandra Jean
This blog captures that conversation and centers the stories of Victoria and Ashandra, two women who are actively shaping history through healing work, emotional intelligence, real estate, and community building.
What is International Black Women’s History Month?
International Black Women’s History Month began in 2016 by Sha Battle, a Georgia-based entrepreneur and advocate, to specifically honor and celebrate the achievements, contributions, and rich history of Black and minority women across the global diaspora.
The observance encompasses a variety of important themes and goals:
Global Focus: It honors Black women across the diaspora, including African American, Afro-Latina, Afro-Caribbean, and Afro-European women, among others.
Intersectionality: It provides a space to acknowledge the unique challenges Black women face due to the intersection of race and gender, while simultaneously celebrating their triumphs over these barriers.
Multidisciplinary Recognition: The month celebrates pioneers and leaders across all sectors, including science, technology, politics, civil rights, literature, and the arts.
Want to learn more about International Black Women’s History Month?
Check out these incredible resources to learn more and how you can get involved:
An incredible article by Medium Highlighting incredible Black Women who have made History
The CCC Story: From Living Room to Community Hub
Before bringing guests into the conversation, Starla and Lateva reminded everyone what Create. Connect. Collab. is and how it started.
CCC first took shape around 2017, when small gatherings in Starla’s living room brought people together to share:
What they were trying to do
What they needed
What they could offer to each other
At that time, the meetings were co-ed. People were starting to hear about "MasterMinds" and wondered what that really meant. Through lived experience, Starla and Lateva discovered that when people sit in a room and talk openly about their goals, obstacles, and resources, things start to move.
In 2020, CCC officially launched as a women-focused community. Since then, CCC has:
Welcomed 250+ members
Impacted 2,000+ women in Indianapolis and surrounding areas
Created an intentional space for women to learn, connect, and grow together
What Members Gain From Our Mastermind
Many people ask what a mastermind is and whether it is worth joining. Starla described that…
A mastermind helps you make decisions faster
You are surrounded by women who can say:
"I tried that and here is what failed."
"Here is what worked well for me."
"Here is who you should connect with to move forward."
You also learn from listening to others. As other women share their journeys, you realize steps you did not know you needed to take.
CCC as a Lifeline: Boundaries, Pivots, and Not Quitting
In March’s MasterMind, the prompt was:
"How are we making HER-Story and writing our own chapters?"
From that discussion and similar conversations, some common themes stood out:
Many women are pivoting:
Changing business models
Shifting goals
Moving from employment to entrepreneurship or vice versa
Many are learning to:
Set better boundaries
Protect their peace
Say no when necessary, and yes with intention
One powerful example involved a woman who recently moved into entrepreneurship after a sudden restructuring at her company. Situations like this are becoming more common.
CCC encourages members to think about:
Which skills and gifts they can lean into, such as:
Speaking
Facilitating youth programs
Marketing
Counseling
Other talents that can become sustainable work
Another recurring issue is the tension between doing the work and growing the business. Members often say things like:
"I am getting the work done, but I am not making time to bring in new work."
"I am not sure what to outsource or when to hire help."
These questions lead to regular conversations in CCC about team building, time management, and sustainable growth.
"CCC Has Made Me Not Quit."
At one point, Lateva shared a vulnerable truth:
CCC has been a key reason she has not quit entrepreneurship.
She described months where income was extremely low and the temptation to return to a traditional job was strong. For example:
One month she might make $10.
Another month, $5.
Another month, $15,000.
The income swings can be intense and discouraging. It is in those moments that supportive communities matter most. CCC gives her, and many others, a place to be honest, encouraged, and reminded of their purpose.
Member Spotlight: Victoria Reed, Founder of Rise and Reclaim
The first featured member in our Unstoppable IG Live was Victoria Reed, founder of Rise and Reclaim. For Starla and Lateva, seeing her take the virtual stage was meaningful, because they have watched her growth up close.
The Story Behind Rise and Reclaim
Victoria launched Rise and Reclaim in June 2025. The idea for her work came from her own healing journey after leaving a relationship that was emotionally and psychologically abusive.
Through that experience, she noticed two important realities:
1.) Many people do not recognize emotional abuse. They lack the language to describe it. They may not have seen it named anywhere in their families or communities.
2.) Because emotional abuse does not leave visible wounds, it is often:
Dismissed
Minimized
Not taken seriously, even by those who care
This kind of dismissal leaves many women feeling isolated and abandoned.
Victoria created Rise and Reclaim to address these gaps. Her mission is to help women:
Understand what emotional abuse looks like
Heal from its effects
Reclaim their voice
Reconnect with their identity, which is often weakened or lost in abusive situations
Her services include:
One on one coaching
Group coaching
Webinars and workshops
From Phone Notes to Strategic Plan
When Victoria first started imagining her business, it existed mostly as notes in her phone. Over time, and with support from CCC and other communities, she has:
Developed a strategic plan for her services
Clarified who her ideal clients are
Created a framework for how she walks women through understanding, healing, and reclaiming themselves
All of this has taken place while she continues to work in her corporate HR career. Her long term goal is to give more of her time to Rise and Reclaim, but for now she is building step by step.
Victoria described her current focus as "boots on the ground" work:
Showing up in the community
Attending events
Building trust and recognition
Helping people understand who she is and what she stands for
How Victoria Found CCC
Victoria was introduced to CCC through Black & HR and her connection with Kristin Lampkin. Victoria attended a Black & HR quarterly meeting at a coffeehouse in Indianapolis. She shared that she wanted to start a business. Kristin told her about the Emerging Women in Business Summit that CCC cohosts with a local AKA chapter. Victoria wanted to go, but the summit was sold out. Kristin reached out to Starla, who made room for Victoria to attend anyway.
Victoria described that Saturday as life-changing. By the end of the event:
She felt clear that she could start her business.
CCC offered a discount to join the membership that day.
She became a member before leaving the summit and has been part of the community ever since.
In that time, she has:
Practiced and refined her 30-second pitch in MasterMinds.
Conducted a focus group to better understand her audience, based on feedback from CCC conversations.
Used CCC sessions as a space to test language, receive feedback, and gain confidence.
The Role of CCC in Victoria’s Growth
During the live, Victoria credited CCC, Starla, and Lateva for the way they have influenced her:
Seeing Black women who look like her leading events and taking up space showed her what is possible.
Being in rooms where vulnerability and ambition can coexist has helped her trust her own voice.
Having a supportive community reduced the isolation that often follows experiences of abuse.
Starla shared that she and Victoria had completed around six months of intensive work together on Victoria’s pitch and clarity. Seeing Victoria speak live about her journey and business was a powerful moment of reflection on that growth.
Victoria’s take on Black Women’s History Month…
When asked about Black Women’s History Month, Victoria acknowledged that she did not know April carried that recognition until Starla and Lateva invited her to the IG Live. She had taken time the night before to reflect.
She lifted up several key ideas:
Black women are statistically the most educated demographic in the United States.
The narrative often focuses on the obstacles, but not always on the level of excellence and commitment Black women show.
Locally, she sees many Black women:
Taking courageous steps
Starting businesses
Serving their communities
Supporting one another
When people describe Indianapolis as "cliquish," Victoria responds that this has not been her experience. She often suggests they join CCC, because the community she has found is one of support and openness.
Her final emphasis was on the resilience of Black Women and the importance of naming it.
How to Connect with Victoria
Victoria shared several ways people can connect with her and her work:
Instagram and TikTok: @risingtoreclaim
Website: www.risereclaim-coaching.com
Free 15 minute consultation:
Booked through her website
Includes an overview of her services and framework
Member Spotlight: Ashandra Jean, Realtor and Emotional Intelligence Life Coach
The second featured member in the IG Live was Ashandra Jean. Starla affectionately described her as the "quiet assassin", because she has been doing meaningful work behind the scenes for years and is deeply involved in CCC, especially around the Unstoppable conference and connections in the community.
Ashandra is a realtor and life coach who focuses on emotional intelligence.
In her life coaching, she helps people develop emotional intelligence skills so they can:
Navigate life more calmly and clearly
Respond instead of react
Grow through personal development
Her core focus is to transform people through personal development using emotional intelligence techniques. Whether someone is working on career decisions, relationships, or general life direction, her approach centers on awareness, responsibility, and intentional choices.
In real estate, she supports people in finding and securing property, which ties to her strong interest in legacy and community stability.
Community Involvement: Jumpstart Indy
On the real estate and neighborhood side, Ashandra has been involved with Jumpstart Indy, through Martindale Brightwood CDC.
Jumpstart Indy:
Focuses on community development and educating people about real estate and neighborhood investment.
Helps participants understand how to develop communities in ways that support residents, rather than harm or displace them.
For Ashandra, this work has highlighted the importance of community development for Black residents in Indianapolis and surrounding areas. She learns, grows, and then brings that knowledge back into her real estate and coaching work.
Community Involvement: The Great Escape
On the emotional wellness side, Ashandra is involved with The Great Escape, a space created by her friend Tiffany Noel.
The Great Escape is:
A monthly emotional and mental wellness gathering
Designed as a safe place for people to check in with themselves, rest, and recharge
Focused on helping people prioritize emotional and mental health
Ashandra shares information about The Great Escape regularly and sees it as another way to offer support, especially to those carrying a lot of responsibility.
How Ashandra Found CCC and What It Has Meant
Ashandra has been part of Create Connect Collab for three to four years. She believes she either heard about it from someone or discovered it through social media.
At first, she mostly observed from the background. Over time, she became:
A consistent presence at events and sessions
A connector who introduces other women to CCC
A supporter of major CCC experiences like the Unstoppable conference
She described CCC as a place where:
You can find out about what is happening in the city
You can learn about resources, cohorts, and programs such as Jumpstart Indy
You can participate in honest conversations about business and life
You can be real about your challenges and still be seen as capable and valuable
For Ashandra, CCC is one of the communities that helps her stay informed, grounded, and supported.
Ashandra’s Legacy: Real Estate, Emotional Intelligence, and Community Care
In both real estate and coaching, Ashandra’s work is about:
Stability
Personal growth
Legacy
She knows that:
Real estate can create long term stability and generational impact.
Emotional intelligence helps people manage that journey without burning out or breaking down.
By investing in:
Community development programs such as Jumpstart Indy
Emotional wellness spaces such as The Great Escape
Collaborative communities such as CCC
Ashandra is building a legacy that centers both external stability and internal health.
How to Support and Connect with Ashandra:
Instagram: shaunjean_
Jumpstart Indy: https://mbcdc.org/event/jumpstart-martindale-brightwood/
The Great Xscape: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-great-xscape-tickets-1979870939276
CCC and Everyday Black Women’s History
Throughout this Unstoppable IG Live conversation, one message was clear:
Black women are making history in real time.
They are doing it by:
Starting and growing businesses like Rise and Reclaim
Leaving abusive relationships and building paths of healing for others
Supporting community development and emotional wellness
Refusing to quit when entrepreneurship feels unpredictable
Holding space for one another in MasterMinds, conferences, and community programming.
Create. Connect. Collab. exists as a community where this work is visible, supported, and celebrated. Starla, Lateva, Victoria, and Ashandra each offer a different example of what it looks like to live out purpose, serve community, and keep moving forward, even when things are hard.
Black Women’s History Month is about recognizing these stories, not only in national headlines, but also in local rooms, membership communities, and live conversations like this one. CCC is one of the places where those stories are told, strengthened, and passed on.
Join Your Sisterhood in Business
Create. Connect. Collab. Monthly Membership -
All Access To:
The Private Create. Connect. Collab. Facebook Group
Our Private Group Me
Monthly Virtual MasterMind
Monthly Virtual Educational MasterClass to Elevate Your Digital Presence and Business
Monthly Check-In
Discounted Event and Retreat Tickets (Virtual AND In Real Life, when that’s a thing again!)
Discounted Merch
Most Importantly…Community Connection, Support, and Engagement!
Create. Connect. Collab. Yearly Membership -
All Access To:
The Private Create. Connect. Collab. Facebook Group
Our Private Group Me
Monthly Virtual MasterMind
Monthly Virtual Educational MasterClass to Elevate Your Digital Presence and Business
Monthly Check-In
Discounted Event and Retreat Tickets (Virtual AND In Real Life, when that’s a thing again!)
Discounted Merch
Most Importantly…Community Connection, Support, and Engagement!
About the Hosts:
Starla Kay Mathis is a wife, mom of two, speaker, plus-size model, photographer, and multi-preneur. She co-owns Mathis Media, a full-service media and marketing agency, with her husband, and together they also run Mathis Media Studio, specializing in Portrait, Family, Milestone, Seniors, Newborn, Weddings, and “In The Box” Photography. She is a Co-Founder of Create. Connect. Collab., a hybrid community for women business owners, Starla provides professional development, accountability, and networking. A community-driven leader, creator of safe spaces, and published photographer based in Indianapolis, she believes in creating a life you love and living it.
Business Website: https://www.mathis-media.com/
Personal Website: https://www.starlakaymathis.com/
Business Instagram: @mathis.media
Personal Instagram: @starlakaymathis
Lateva Woolfork is a Detroit girl living in an Indianapolis world — a visionary entrepreneur, speaker, faith leader, and proud mom of six. She is the Founder of Socially Coordinated Consulting (SoCo PR), a communications and brand strategy firm elevating mission-driven organizations through public relations, community engagement, and authentic storytelling. As Co-Founder of Create. Connect. Collab., Lateva empowers entrepreneurs to build sustainable businesses and meaningful connections through community and accountability. A dedicated small-business coach and advocate, she is committed to helping founders gain confidence, clarity, and strategy for growth. Lateva is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program, a member of Stanley K. Lacy Leadership Class XLVIII, and an Indy 40 Under 40 honoree for her civic leadership. Known for her warmth, humor, and authenticity, she creates spaces where people feel seen, supported, and strengthened in every season.
Business Website: https://www.socopr.com/
Personal Website: https://theallpurposewoman.com/
Instagram: @latevawoolfork
