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This past weekend I was asked to play a key role in Rapper Afro Preachah’s video for his hit single “Hot Girls”. The video would portray Afro’s Manager contacting ‘My Inception Magazine’ (a local men’s magazine) in hopes of gaining the ‘hottest girls’ available. Being that this was my very first time in a music video I was nervously excited yet overwhelmed by the professionalism shown by Afro, his (real-life) Manager Kimberly Steward, and the rest of the cast, crew and models.

Some guy on T.V. said Americans have the ‘microwave syndrome’; we want what we want and we want it now. Watching T.V. is like watching a conveyer belt full of all the things I want in life rapidly moving past me, so close I can see it yet so far away I can’t feel it. It can be pretty tormenting.

The fact that there have already been more murders in Minneapolis than during the entire year of 2009 would be enough to outrage any Twin Cities’ resident …but the fact that many in the cities are stating that this is simply ‘gangsters killing gangsters’ should disgust all Minnesotans as this type of disregard for human life is repulsive.

Robyne Robinson made Minnesota history by becoming the State’s first African-American news Anchor. Twenty years later she has become an ‘anchor’ in the cities’ communities by lending her time, resources and experiences to many community based non-profits organizations. Thousands of Minnesota's youth and residents have looked up to Robyne, finding inspiration in her words, efforts and success as one of Fox 9 News’ top television anchors. So why then, would Robyne step out of this spotlight and leave her role as highly coveted news anchor? Will her move negatively influence the thousands of young girls who aspire to be like Ms. Robinson?

Of course not; thousands of young women dream of being on television. Whether it’s reporting the news or making the news they wish to be seen, heard and understood by masses. From actors to news anchors our youth’s vision of the future has been skewed by the glamour, fame and fortune television has to offer. Robyne Robinson obtained this dream, and all it entailed, prior to resigning at a time that many would seek to take their careers to the next level.  Her actions, though misunderstood by some, prove that life is about more than one’s own goals, dreams and aspirations.  

Local writer, entrepreneur and college student, DeSeandra Sheppheard has become well known for her interesting, yet educational writing style. After being hired as Head Columnist for inBox Magazine Twin Cities in 2007 , Sheppheard began actively pursuing a career as a local Entertainment Writer and Minneapolis Socialite. In 2010 she took her writing career to the next level by attaining an “Editor-at-Large” position for inBox Magazine Twin Cities.

Shortly thereafter, Sheppheard signed editorial deals with Hip Hop lifestyle site HHLO.net and (locally owned) MaXXposure Marketing Group. During her career, she has written various articles, biographies, editorials, and reviews for entrepreneurs and websites throughout Minnesota.

Never one to place herself in a box, Sheppheard has researched and written about various topics, people, places and businesses. Being born and raised in Saint Paul, Sheppheard has been able to gain and maintain knowledge of various people, places and entities that make St. Paul/Minneapolis a great place to live, work and play.

Her extensive research on various subjects including Minneapolis fashion, music, entertainment and business only furthered her knowledge and interest for ‘all things Twin Cities’. After graduating from Saint Paul College, she went on to pursue her Bachelors of Science degree in Human Resource Management at Metropolitan State University and began working as a Human Resources Generalist for a local non-profit organization. While furthering her education, Sheppheard expanded her writing capabilities by penning the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Manual for the organization she works for, a task usually completed by top Executives and Strategic Managers.

Though flexing her business writing skills was a great accomplishment, she realized her passion remained in the urban Twin Cities’ lifestyle and set out to pursue yet another goal: becoming the “voice” of the Twin Cities’ urban youth through her Your Voices blog with The Star Tribune.