At My Brown Ballerina.com, we cultivate interest, awareness and inclusion for urban brown girls in Dance, Ballet and Classical Music. Our vision is to be a leading contributor to grow interest in urban communities for fine arts and produce products which drive our vision.
Studies have shown that the arts such as music listening helps aid with anxiety. -Sage Journals, Harney Johnson & Havelka
Multiple research studies support the notion that students who engage in the study of the arts perform better in math, reading, and writing. The Arts Education Partnership performed a meta-analysis of 62 studies that revealed that students who study music have increased achievement and proficiency in math. Reading and cognitive development were found to increase, as were verbal SAT scores. -Public School Review, Grace Chen

Tracy Lightner, CEO & Creator

Beginnings

Tracy was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. Her grandmother, Susie Burton provided her with piano lessons at the age of six. Her talent blossomed and her grandmother had her sit with four instructors (Behn, Walker, Cleveland & Matlock) with a focus on music theory, gospel and classical music. Her skills led her to play for the school’s choir. She headlined city wide piano recitals and served as youth choir pianist at the church she attended from the 5th through 11th grade. She also played the piano at numerous events at the University of Texas at Arlington and others. Each of these opportunities were rewarding and certainly helped shape her to be successful throughout her career.

Current

Tracy earned her Bachelor's Degree in Communication from Dallas Baptist University (DBU) and interned with the State of Texas in Human Resources. Later, she earned a Master's degree in Human Resource Management from DBU. She was enrolled at university to earn her Doctorate in Health Care Administration when the global pandemic changed her plans. She transitioned to entrepreneurship, farming, created a line of products for urban brown girls in the arts of dance, ballet and classical music - "My Brown Ballerina!"

Community

Tracy is a leader in the communities in which she resides. For over a decade, she led others in the fight against obesity. She founded the organization ThickHealth.org! where she and her two daughters met with city officials, schools, businesses, churches and the public to provide services and resources such as the ThickHealth.org! Healthy Me Walk-a-Thon, health fairs, networking events and more. Their efforts have been featured by major networks such as: FOX, CBS, NBC, TBN and other media outlets. She continued her community service as the Elite winner of Ms. All World Beauties Pageant in 2018. She won the “Community Service” and “Talent” awards. "Isaac’s Song" made its debut during this pageant. She was honored to also receive the AWB Lifetime Ambassador title. Her passion in music led her to create "My Brown Ballerina." As Tracy searched for a music box with a brown ballerina -there were none to be found, so she created one. She installed her music composition, "Peach Blossoms At Dusk" and now available, a music box for urban brown girls across the globe... created by a brown girl!
Contact: info@mybrownballerina.com

Katrina Beasley hails from the Westside of Chicago as the youngest of four. She graduated from Whitney Young Magnet High School and received her B.S. in English from Illinois State University. She also completed her graduate studies, earning an MBA in Information Technology Management from Capella University. Since 2004, she has held several positions at a Fortune 50 company as she is the CEO of Typify7 Media Company and the Editor-In-Chief of (She Is The Ish) SITI GIRL Dallas Magazine.
Katrina uses her experience as a four-time Pageant Queen titleholder, published author, Editor-In-Chief, podcast creator/host, and development coach to empower young women to reach beyond their potential. She created the 7 Figure Girl (7FG) Brand to be the premier lifestyle brand for women to be outstanding in spirit, character, business, and life through her multiple media platforms with her media company. Recently she has received several awards including the SITI GIRL Magazine Editor-In-Chief of the Year 2023 and the Speak That Movement 2023 Women of Empowerment Award. She currently holds the title of Mrs. Texas All World Beauties 2024. Her passion is dedicated to being a role model as she pursues a God centered life and business platform. Katrina is married to Brandon Beasley, is the proud mother to Kenneth and bonus mom to Alexandria and Jayden.
Contact: https://www.7figuregirls.com/
https://www.sitigirlmagazine.com/dallas/

Traci N. Morgan is a North Carolina native who grew up participating in various areas of the Arts, including dance. From the ages of 5-13, she was an active dancer with Salimah Dance Troupe in Greensboro, NC. This amazing company is what helped Traci fall in love with dancing and set the foundation for her to join the Board of My Brown Ballerina.

Professionally, Traci is a Certified Coach and Human Resources Executive. She provides effective career coaching and strategies, leadership / personal development training, and strong business operations consulting. To this day, Traci uses different types of dance routines to her workout regimen to stay active and healthy.

Becoming a Board Member of My Brown Ballerina is an honor she feels blessed to accept with the hopes of expanding the vision and mission of the organization.

Nikohl Ray, a dynamic entrepreneur, is the owner of the 25-acre Bell-Hughes Mansion Legacy Estate and farm. Alongside her entertainment business, Yellow Diamond Entertainment, she is a passionate advocate for landownership, empowering individuals to realize their landownership dreams through educational resources and courses. Nikohl is also currently acquiring expertise in mushroom farming, further expanding her diverse interests and skills. Her unwavering commitment to both entertainment excellence and supporting aspiring landowners makes her a true trailblazer in these fields.
Contact: nikohl@yellodiamondent.com

Bryia Lightner, Volunteer

Bryia Lightner is a dedicated Registered Nurse with a passion for neonatal care, boasting an impressive eight-year career in the field. Specializing primarily as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurse, Bryia has played a vital role in the well-being and development of countless newborns during their crucial early days.

Bryia embarked on the journey of nursing after earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 2015. Armed with a solid educational foundation, Bryia entered the healthcare profession with a commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of the most vulnerable.

In addition to her nursing career, Bryia is the proud owner of Best Baby Organics, an all-natural skincare company dedicated to providing safe and nurturing products for infants and people with sensitive skin. Drawing from her extensive experience in neonatal care, Bryia has channeled her expertise into creating products that prioritize the delicate needs of an infant’s skin.

Outside of her professional accomplishments, Bryia is also a loving wife to Arvin, and parent to a three-year-old son Micah. Balancing the demands of a successful nursing career and entrepreneurship with the joys and challenges of motherhood, she exemplifies resilience and determination.

With a holistic approach to healthcare and a commitment to promoting well-being from infancy, Bryia continues to make a significant impact on the lives of both newborns and their families. Her journey stands as a testament to the power of passion, education, and a compassionate heart in shaping the future of healthcare.
Contact: admin@shopbestbaby.com