Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alicia Ritchey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alicia, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
My company’s mission ties intricately to my journey—a transition marked by apparent uncertainty as I relocated 2011 to Cordele, a small rural town in Southwest Georgia. Cordele is my mother’s hometown and one of my favorite spots to visit throughout my middle and high school years.
When I arrived in Cordele, the disheartening statistics and profound challenges made it evident that our beloved town had undergone significant changes. Driven by a desire to contribute to the betterment of the city known as the watermelon capital of the world, in 2013, I launched indigoLife™ Magazine. The name “indigoLife™” is inspired by the color indigo, which lies between royal blue and dark purple. As a symbol of royalty, the color purple aligned with my aspiration to help inspire the community to achieve a higher level of excellence in their homes, communities, and marketplace. The term “indigoLife™” was a perfect name for the Magazine in that it embodies the quality of life that emerges from positive character and fosters prosperity and goodwill.
Early on, I recognized the value of sharing uplifting stories and the potential of the Magazine as a boost to community revitalization, using the magazine stories to reshape perceptions of Cordele, its residents, and its neighboring areas. Motivated to uncover what I refer to as “Black life treasures,” I sought out locals who, despite little recognition, were making significant contributions in various fields, whether in education, government, faith-based organizations, or social and civic spheres—all for the betterment of Cordele. The Magazine shared narratives of resilience and perseverance through an inclusive lens. In 2014, I established the company indigoLife™ Communications as an inclusive community-building media outlet and as the official publisher of indigoLife™ Magazine.
Along with the positive magazine stories, which gained rapid momentum, there needed to be a platform dedicated to empowering women, particularly black women, whom I learned comprised the largest demographic in Cordele. Thus, the Annual indigoLife™ Women’s Empowerment & Cultural Expo was born. The event focused on educating and empowering women, allowing them to engage with industry experts and acquire tools for personal, social, and professional advancement.
In addition to our three pillars—inspiration, education, and empowerment—Innovation was a fourth pillar of my community-building efforts. With a shortage of industry in Cordele, empowering women as entrepreneurs became essential. I envisioned women as the driving force behind the industry needed to propel Cordele forward. Thus, my focus expanded to encompass business development and innovation, recognizing the pivotal role women could play as catalysts for economic growth and social progress.
Out of my journey grew a mission to provide inclusive solutions, cultivate inclusive leaders, and foster thriving inclusive communities through creative publishing, training, and consulting. These facets of my journey culminated in the present-day vision of indigoLife Communications, Inc.— to be a premier hub of resources dedicated to “inspire, educate, empower, and innovate—a blueprint for transformative action in community development and nation-building.”
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself and your business to our readers? What type of products and services do you provide? What problems do you solve for your clients? What do you think sets you apart from others? What are you most proud of?
My current venture, IndigoLife Communications, Inc., has existed since 2014. We focus on three areas: creative publishing, training, and coaching/consulting. Through our creative publishing arm, we produce a quarterly magazine, IndigoLife Magazine. We also provide book publishing services to those interested in publishing their works.
Our training services are provided under our dba, A Ritch Enterprise. Topics of our training focus primarily on leadership development, conflict resolution, and teacher education. We aim to help our clients see the world through an inclusive lens. Toward this end, our service delivery uses the concepts of a single framework known as The Ellison Model, an approach to inclusive community building developed by cultural sociologist Dr. Deryl G. Hunt.I feel very fortunate to have been mentored by Dr. Deryl G. Hunt, who dedicated years to educating me about his approach and had faith in my ability to write curricula for use in public and private sectors and training materials for national and international presentations. Dr. Hunt identified me as the principal education consultant for half a dozen research projects that examined the efficacy of his framework in diverse settings. Recognized as a senior expert on The Ellison Model, I am committed to keeping Dr. Hunt’s vision of building an inclusive society alive. Aligned with Hunt’s approach, my company’s philosophy comprises the principles and values of inclusive community building. At indigoLife Communications, Inc., we use the tenets of The Ellison Model to help our clients identify and develop for themselves a sociocultural brand that communicates trust, honor, and respect, evident in how they engage with their consumers and other stakeholders.
Undoubtedly, The Ellison Model is the product differentiator that helps us stand out among our peers. All our products and services are resources—cultural bridges—intended to forge meaningful connections in the workplace, in communities, and the personal lives of our end-users. Hinged on the principles of The Ellison Model, our products and services are transformative community-building tools we use to help our clients identify and address pockets of conflict, division, disconnections, and aspects of ineffective leadership that could lead to stagnation, poor decision-making, a damaging brand, and an unhealthy social climate. Our team uses this approach to train leaders across government, public, and private sectors.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
To share a story from my journey that encapsulates my resilience, I go back to when I relocated from the big city of Miami, Florida, to live with my parents in Cordele, a small town in rural Southwest Georgia. Before that time, I worked alongside my former husband as co-owner and CEO of a successful construction management company in South Florida. This was followed by a three-year stint of returning to work in the public school system to serve as a classroom educator, a writing coach, and a professional development facilitator while pursuing a doctoral degree.
Relocating to Cordele proved to be a blessing in disguise, offering solace in the aftermath of a divorce and providing a conducive environment for reflection and renewal. I left Miami, however, without employment, business prospects, or even a clue about what was in store. I vividly remember the uncertainty and apprehension that accompanied this transition. With the weight of $513,000 of debt and the imminent threat of termination from my doctoral program looming overhead, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. Despite these challenges, I leaped, guided by the promise of hope for a fresh start and an encouraging word from my mentor, Dr. Deryl G. Hunt, who advised me that all would be well.
One day, in late August 2012, while I was sitting on the porch with my parents, a friend, Sharon Samuels, called to announce submitting her doctoral dissertation. This was a wake-up call and a stark reminder of the urgency to reignite my academic pursuits before time ran out. With just 49 days left to salvage my educational dreams, I threw myself into the task with unwavering determination.
The road ahead was daunting. I still had two unfinished chapters and three more chapters needing rigorous editing. However, fueled by a newfound sense of purpose, I met the October 19th deadline head-on. I finished all five chapters just in time to submit a first complete draft to my committee for consideration of a dissertation defense date of November 9th. I never stopped editing the document, so when I passed my defense with the stipulation of getting the manuscript professionally edited, I was already prepared to hand in a second draft. I met all requirements for graduation, and just as we said we would, Sharon and I, both of us at the same time, marched down the aisle with our arms locked with our dissertation chair, Dr. Linda.
The burden of my academic studies was behind me, yet I found myself at a crossroads, still grappling with the ambiguity of what lay ahead. In the ensuing months, I dabbled in various ventures, from selling clothes to hosting small festivals on my farmland and other events throughout the city. I also continued with a summer education program for local youth. The summer program was a huge success. I was widely known as a world-class educator and a guru of education program development. Not long before, I was sought after for private tutoring, gaining the trust of local families to help advance their children’s academic mastery and performance.
In the fall of 2013, I launched IndigoLife Magazine, unsure how the community would receive it. With the first publication, I experienced the humble beginning of 300 annual subscribers; some purchased single issues for their family members and friends. However, for ten years, IndigoLife Mag was the sole publication of its kind, serving Southwest and Middle Georgia. We dubbed ourselves the nation’s premier magazine for inclusive community building.
In 2014, I formed indigoLife Communications, Inc., a business entity that promoted inclusive community building through our quarterly publications. After adding our women’s empowerment event, our focus included the magazine, our programs, and training and consulting.
I must mention that after eleven years, the debt of $513,000 was completely paid off, and my company began growing at a steady rate, though not without its share of challenges. We have since expanded our professional publishing division, where we not only publish stories of inclusiveness but also help minority authors publish diverse genres of writing that can inspire, educate, and empower demographics within their respective communities.
My journey has been a testament to resilience in the face of adversity. From navigating personal hardships to spearheading community initiatives, each challenge has only strengthened my resolve to make a difference in the world and have a meaningful impact on those around me.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Over the years, the event grew in popularity, attracting hundreds of attendees from across the US and the Caribbean. What began as a local initiative evolved into a three-day extravaganza featuring keynote speakers, panel discussions, and evening socials, drawing repeat attendees and newcomers eager to partake in its empowering atmosphere.
However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to derail our momentum. Faced with the prospect of canceling the event altogether, I initially hesitated to explore virtual alternatives due to logistical concerns and my unfamiliarity with digital platforms.
I had conversations with Crystal Harvey and Dr. Sheva Quinn, both trusted colleagues, who ultimately convinced me to embrace the virtual format. With their guidance, I seamlessly transitioned to a virtual event, outsourcing the virtual management to capable partners and my friends at ICB Productions, Inc.
The success of our virtual event caught the attention of one of my friends, Reggie Nance, from AARP New York. This led to a serendipitous collaboration that transformed my business model from in-person business to consumer to virtual business to business. What began as a hopeful sponsorship opportunity blossomed into a partnership that led to my company producing a diverse range of nearly 40 virtual events for AARP New York’s extensive membership base.
This pivot sustained our business through challenging times and expanded our horizons, enabling us to reach a broader audience. My company no longer only served 400 to 500 people over a weekend. Instead, we produced virtual events for AARP New York’s 2.3 million members. Despite so many businesses being forced to shut down, making this pivot helped us to generate revenue substantial enough to stay afloat without having to close our doors during a global crisis; it allowed us to expand our portfolio of services with new and impressive capabilities; and it gave us the confidence to take on significant clients beyond our normal scope. In retrospect, embracing innovation and adaptability proved instrumental in surviving and thriving during uncertain times.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.indigolifeonline.com AND www.aritchenterprise.com AND www.watermelonforbreakfast.com
- Instagram: @aritchdoc
- Facebook: Alicia D. Ritchey (personal) AND facebook.com/indigolifecomms (business page) AND facebook.com/aritchenterprise (business page)
- Linkedin: Alicia Ritchey, Ed. D.
Image Credits
Belinda Vickerson