Rising Stars: Meet Bri Nicole

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bri Nicole

Hi Bri, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Detroit, MI and raised predominately by a legal guardian. As I got older, going to college was the most important thing to me. I believe that academic excellence was my escape because it made me feel worthy and loved in ways I didn’t usually feel as a child. I graduated with my Bachelors in Social Work in 2022. I chose social work when I was just 16 years old because I knew I wanted to work with those in the justice system. I always felt this connection to criminology while also having the compassion to want to help. Perhaps part of me could see how trauma and social disorganization could affect a person.
Through my time in college I began creating templates to stay organized and I fell in love with it. Developing this skill combined with my desire to help others sparked a whole new path for me. Fast Forward, I currently work as a Case Manager for an alternative sentencing program and just released a guided journal titled “Table for One” that is all about self discovery and solo dating.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve faced many struggles throughout my life. There have been several times where it seemed like everything I had ever been through became too heavy to bear and was hitting me at once. My biggest struggle as it relates to my creative journey and what I do, is the struggle of self worth. When you have wounds from abandonment, violence, years of feeling unloved, unheard and like you don’t fit in, it’s difficult to see yourself as something worthy of good things. I truggled with letting go of things that were hurting me, people pleasing, communication because I didn’t think I deserved to have my needs met and even suicidal ideation. When people would tell me that to be happy I needed to love myself first, I would always respond with “ I do.” However, when I really started to reflect, I had to ask myself “If I really loved myself would I make the same choices? Would I allow the same things to hurt me.” As crazy as it might sound, I’m grateful because those times helped me find my faith in God and ultimately made me stronger. These struggles are the reason I have so much passion to pour into everything I do. When I create, I feel a sense of purpose and free like a child’s imagination. All I want to do is produce things that help others who may be where I was, struggling with self worth, finding a sense of purpose and loving themselves.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In a nutshell, what I do creatively is create journals and templates. I think what sets me apart is the passion that fuels my creations. When I first started, making journals through self publishing was becoming increasingly popular. I started with lined journals but I knew I wanted more depth because I wanted them to foster inspiration. The topics for my products are birthed from my personal journey and I’ve started adding letters from myself to the reader in hopes to create a personal touch. What I’m most proud of are the solo dating books and the suicide safety planning templates I created called “P.s You’re Loved.” (Please stay, you are loved.) I think those two topics are things I have a lot of passion for, experience with and I just want to create a community for them.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I like best about my city is the abundance of opportunity for a variety of things. I didn’t always know it but there is a lot of space for creatives from music, photography to the beauty industry and more. I also recognize that people are willing to share and bring awareness to the resources available. Lastly, there is always a place to find good food. What I would say I like least about my city are the issue of homelessness and blight. I see people experiencing homelessness basically everywhere I go and being that I work in the human service sector I’m often troubled because there’s more people in need of affordable housing and shelter than availability. On the other hand, we have a lot of streets where there is one abandoned house after another. I think less blight would not only open up available housing but make it safer for when children are walking to school.

Pricing:

• Table for One Book Hardcover $20
• Table for One Paperback $15
• Solo Playbook Self Discovery for Men $15

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGALv3NNpI/nU_h8bUpPNdOsfHcukqeXQ/view?utm_content=DAGALv3NNpI&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor
• Instagram: Theeanxiousblackgirl